#branch: round 4

[gir-sims]

Business is blooming at Marcella's Farmers Market

[holeforzenin]

The door creaked open with a heavy sigh, and there he was — your husband, toji. His shoulders were broad and slouched, heavy work bag slipping off his arm as he rubbed his neck with a low hiss, clearly worn out from his long shift. But the second his heavy boots crossed the threshold, a burst of giggles and tiny feet came barreling towards him.

“Daddy!!”

Your two boys—wild little 4 and 5-year-olds—practically tackled his legs, wrapping their small arms around his thighs like little baby koalas on a branch. They were both talking at once, babbling about their day, about the snacks you gave them, about the bug they found outside. Toji chuckled under his breath, eyes softening as he reached a heavy, calloused hand down to ruffle their messy hair.

And then came the waddling.

Your 1-year-old daughter, still a little unstable on her feet, made her way over with little squeaky steps, arms up in that wordless, universal baby plea: ‘Pick me up, Daddy’. She plopped herself right onto his boot, clinging on like it was her own little island while she blinked up at him with an adorably wide, gummy smile.

“Hey, hey,” Toji murmured, his voice rough from exhaustion but still thick with affection as always. “Look at my crew, huh? You guys miss me or something?”

The boys shouted “Yes!” while the baby just giggled, kicking her tiny feet against his shoe. Toji’s gaze finally flicked up to you, and the moment his eyes landed, they softened even more.

There you stood, hands resting on the curve of your swollen belly—round and glowing with your fourth little one on the way. The house was full, loud, chaotic, and growing but the sight of you carrying another piece of him made his chest ache in that familiar, overwhelming way. Like his heart couldn’t hold it all.

You made your way over too, smiling widely as you slipped your arms gently around his waist to hug him, careful with your belly pressing between you. “Welcome home, baby”.

He let out a low grunt, eyes warm as he watched you with love. “C’mere,” he rasped, and with that same easy strength, he scooped you up with one arm, making you squeal softly as your legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. His other hand came down, palm wide and gentle as it cradled the back of your oldest son’s head, the way a father instinctively shields his kids. The younger boy and baby stayed hugging his legs and feet, all of you tangled around him like he was the center of your little world.

Which, really, he is.

“Hard day?” you whispered, forehead pressing against his as your hands settled against the solid bulk of his shoulders.

“Was, but now?” He exhaled against your skin while rubbing his nose on your cheek, voice full of quiet devotion. “S’perfect”.

He kissed you softly, careful of your belly between you while your kids stayed latched to him like little ducklings, the whole family wrapped around him—his safe little world.

Eventually, after several more minutes of standing there swarmed, he finally shuffled you all to the living room, groaning as he slowly lowered himself onto the couch with all of you still attached. “Alright, alright—lemme sit before you all break me”.

But sitting only made him more of a target.

You nestled yourself into his lap properly, your belly resting softly against his stomach as your arms draped around his big shoulders. Toji instinctively rubbed your back, his other hand settled gently on your bump, thumb idly tracing slow, loving circles.

“Hey, baby bean,” he murmured to your bump, voice going soft like it always did when he talked to the new little one inside you. “You giving Mommy a hard time today?”

You smiled sleepily, your head against his chest. “Not too bad. Just kicking a lot”.

The boys clambered onto the couch next. Your oldest was immediately fascinated with Daddy’s thick arms. “Whoa… your muscles are huge,” he said in awe, carefully rolling his toy car up and down Toji’s bicep like it was some kind of ramp. “Look, Mommy! It’s a race track!”

Toji smirked confidently, flexing slightly to make the car bump. “Hey now, don’t scratch me up, huh?”

Meanwhile, your younger boy wiggled his way to Toji’s hand, grabbing his large palm and carefully trying to crack his fingers like he’d seen Toji do so many times. “Lemme do it! Like this, Daddy?”

“Gentle, kiddo,” Toji laughed while letting him try. “You’ll break my whole hand”.

And your daughter—sweet little thing had wormed her way behind him on the couch, tiny fingers tangling gently into his dark hair. She giggled softly every time his hair tickled her palms. “Hairrr,” she babbled.

“You like Daddy’s hair, princess?” Toji tilted his head slightly toward her, voice so warm it could melt.

The whole scene made your heart ache in the best way—your big, strong husband surrounded and smothered by his kids, doting on all of you while you carried yet another life the two of you created inside of you.

“You’re getting attacked, baby,” you teased softly, tracing your fingertips along his jaw.

“Wouldn’t want it any other way.” He kissed your forehead. “My whole world. Right here”.

You leaned in, pressing a slow kiss to his lips while your children happily continued their ‘assault,’ completely unaware how precious this moment was. Toji hummed into your kiss, hand still rubbing soothing circles over your belly like it was second nature now.

Eventually, when the kids started to tire themselves out a little, Toji leaned in close, voice dropping low just for your ears, lips brushing your temple.

“Later tonight… once these little monsters are finally asleep,” he murmured, voice warm with affection and a little husky with promise, “you’re gonna sit on my lap again, baby. Real close this time”.

You flushed instantly, biting your lip as you smiled. He grinned, watching your reaction with that same glint in his eyes, full of love and want.

But for now, he was perfectly happy, sinking deeper into the soft couch, into your warmth, into the pure, beautiful chaos of your growing family — his favorite place on earth.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: sea urchins

As I continue the slow grind of covering every living group of echinoderms for this series, it was inevitable that I would eventually encounter the only echinoderm I've actually studied. Sea urchins are among the most iconic of marine invertebrates, but many people just think of them as part of the scenery. I'm here to show you that there's more to these creatures than just being spiny lumps on a rock.

(Image: a purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) being held in someone's hand. It is a round, globular animal with a dark purple color. Light purple spines emerge from it all over its body, with the longest being around the middle. End ID)

(image: a long-spined sea urchin (Diadema savignyi). It is a black sea urchin with spines longer than its diameter. End ID)

Urchin is an old-fashioned word for hedgehog, and sea hedgehog is a fitting name for these round, spiny animals. Sea urchins tend to be fairly small, with a diameter of 3 - 10 cm (1 - 4 in), though some species have very long spines that make them seem larger. The main body of an urchin is round and enclosed in a (usually) hard shell called a test made of calcium carbonate. The test is covered with a slayer of skin and muscle that controls the spines and small, pincer-like structures called pedicellaria. Within the test are the internal organs. As with other echinoderms, sea urchins are radially symmetrical as adults, with five segments arranged around the center like pizza slices. The two main body holes are found on the top and bottom of the animals where the segments converge. At the bottom is the mouth and at the top is the anus. Each segment also has a hole near the anus used to release gametes and one will have a larger pore called the madreporite, which is used to control the amount of water within the urchin's body. The mouth is a unique structure known as Aristotle's lantern, consisting of five tooth-like structures (one for each body segment) that interlock together and sharpen themselves. Behind the teeth is a rasping tongue.

(image: a close-up of an urchin's mouth, showing the Aristotle's lantern. It is a hole surrounded by a fleshy lip. Five spade-shaped teeth are emerging from the edge of the hole. End ID)

Internally, most of the body is taken up by the digestive tract and water vascular system. The digestive system lacks a stomach, with the esophagus attaching directly to the small intestine. The digestive tract forms a loop as it passes through the body. The water vascular system uses seawater to form hydrostatic pressure that moves the tube feet. All starfish, urchins, and sea cucumbers have tube feet, small, transparent, tentacle-like structures they use for movement. Tube feet are hollow and retracted into pores on the skin normally. To be used, they have to be inflated with water, which makes them stick out of the body, where they can be controlled with muscles. Tube feet end in suction cups that can be used to grab into structures around them. Seawater drawn in through the madreporite serves as the source of pressure needed for the tube feet to function. In urchins, tube feet cover the body and are used for locomotion, moving food to the mouth, and moving objects on or off the body. The main body cavity is filled with circulatory fluid that uses special cells to move oxygen and nutrients around the body. The nervous system is simple, consisting of a central nerve ring around the esophagus that branches into nerves that connect to the rest of the body. Urchins have no eyes (except for the family Diadematidae, which have eyespots), but are sensitive to light. The gonads are usually small, but during mating season they can swell to fill much of the body cavity.

(Image: a drawn diagram showing a cross-section of a sea urchin, with the different organs and body parts labeled. End ID. Source)

Sea urchins are found in oceans worldwide, from intertidal zones to the deep sea and the tropics to the poles. They are bottom-dwellers who feed primarily on algae, which they scrape up with their teeth. However, they will also take a variety of food, including carrion, aquatic plants, and other slow-moving or sessile animals like sponges, polyps, bivalves, worms, and sea cucumbers. Urchins can play a key role in regulating algae populations through their ecosystems, but they also rely on predators to keep from overeating necessary algae. Famously, California's kelp forests were almost destroyed by urchins eating the kelp after their primary predator, sea otters, were driven to near extinction. Urchin's primary defense against predators is their hard tests and spines. As most of the edible portion of the urchin is within the test, predators have to get through both layers of defense first. The spines are hollow and each can be moved independently of each other, allowing them to be positioned toward a threat. Many species contain venom within their spines as an added layer of defense. This venom is rarely dangerous to humans, but can cause swelling and painful reactions. Another layer of defense is the pedicellaria, which are good at removing small animals and parasites from the skin. The flower urchin, Toxopneustes pileolus, has modified its pedicellaria into flower-like structures that extend beyond the spines and can deliver a sting that can be fatal to humans.

(Image: a flower urchin. It is a pinkish urchin covered with flower-like structures that extend to the length of the spines. It has placed some bits of shells on top of it. End ID)

Sea urchins possess distinct males and females, though the differences are internal, making it impossible to tell which is which based on visual examination. During mating seasons, the gonads swell as they generate gametes. Urchins tend to reproduce in groups at synchronized times (possibly correlated with the phases of the moon in shallow-water species) to maximize the possibility of fertilization. When ready to mate, the gametes are squeezed to empty their contents through the genital pores and into the water column. Sperm must find egg in the water to fertilize it. Most sea urchins provide no parental care, but in some species, the female will retain the eggs in her spines to protect them. The eggs hatch into bilaterally symmetrical larvae called plutei that drift with the plankton. As they develop, a section of the larvae will develop into a radially symmetrical adult rudiment. This piece will eventually break off and become the juvenile urchin while the rest of the larva dies. Because echinoderms start out as bilaterally symmetrical larvae, we can infer that they developed from bilaterally symmetrical ancestors and the radial symmetry of adults is a more recent development.

(image: a series of photos showing the embryological development of a sea urchin from a single cell to a cluster of cells, to a bell-like structure, to growing several arms, to the eventual adult developing and breaking off. End ID. Source)

Fossils show that the oldest sea urchins had large, club-like spines that they walked on, with the modern spines being a later development. Most of those urchins died out with the dinosaurs, leaving the pencil urchins of order Cicaroida as the only living members. All other living urchins are Part of the clade Euechinoidea. Amongst them, there are still some oddballs, known as the irregular urchins of clade Irregularia. These urchins have moved away from radial symmetry, with less symmetrical segments and the anus and mouth moving from being on the top and bottom to being on the sides in the heart urchins. Heart urchins have gone from bilateral symmetry to radial symmetry and are now going back to bilateral symmetry. Heart urchin mouths don't have an Aristotle's lantern. Instead, they use strands of mucus to capture food and cilia to pull the strands back inside. Sand dollars, also known as sea cookies or sea biscuits, are also in this clade. These are flattened urchins with short and very fin spines that resemble velvet. They are burrowers who spend much of their time buried under sand and as such are rarely seen alive. The name sand dollar comes from their tests, which are similar to old dollar coins and can often be found washed up on beaches. While still radially symmetrical, sand dollars also have a secondary form of bilateral symmetry, with a distinct front and back end that often look different. Irregular sea urchins also tend to have fewer gonads and associated pores than regular sea urchins.

(image: a red pencil urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus) nestled among coral. Instead of spines, it has a series of long, thick, red clubs. End ID)

(image: a purple heart urchin (Spatangus purpureus). It is an urchin elongated on one direction and with a few rows of long spines amongst short ones. On the surface facing the camera is a large hole that could be the mouth or the anus. End ID)

(image: a group of irregular sand dollars (Dendraster excentricus) partially buried in the sand. They are round, flat animals with a velvety covering of tiny spines. The are sticking out of the sand. End ID)

Sea urchins have been known to humans for as long as people have lived near the ocean. Stings can occur when people step on them and can cause pain and irritation, but are rarely medically significant. That being said, some people can have allergies to the venom, which could be a big problem. Spines left in the wound should be removed, as they can continue injecting venom. Urchins are a food source for people around the world, specifically the gonads, which are the only meaty part of the animal. The gonads are often marketed as roe or corals and can be eaten raw or cooked. Urchins are also used as a model organism in embryology due to the interesting and well-studied nature of their larval development. Urchins are vulnerable to pollution, habitat loss, and over-predation. Ocean acidification due to climate change poses a major threat to them, as it reduces the quality of their tests.

(image: tow sea urchins served as food. They are upside-down with the bottoms removed. The gonads are visible within as five orange, spongy structures that take up most of the body cavity. End ID)

[joojconverts]

4T3 Conversion of HistoricalSimsLife's CC Catalogue

So… here we are, haha! This is the grand project I’ve been working on for about three months now! I made a promise to all of you, so I’m here not only to fulfill that promise and make a bit of a comeback but also to celebrate reaching the incredible milestone of 3,000 FOLLOWERS!!!

I’m so grateful to all of you for everything that has happened since I joined this community, it’s one of the little shining points of my life, lol. So, let me give back by bringing your sims MORE THAN 150 pieces of CC, including clothes, hairstyles, accessories, and buy mode objects!

You’ve probably already guessed that I have A LOT to say about this set, so please, follow me after the cut! 💖

Hope you like it, enjoy!

In this compilation are included sets, mini-sets and standalone pieces that the original creator made! Posepacks, patterns, mods, and pieces categorized as “modern” are not included! HistoricalSimsLife has a lot of 3T4 conversions, and naturally they're also not included EXCEPT for the ones that are mesh edits (e.g. here and here)! TSM to 4 conversions are also not included, as you can find every item converted to TS3 here by votenga! I also re-converted CC that I had previously converted before, such as the printing press set and the dandy suit!

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I'll link the CC just so you know what I'm talking about!

Known Problems:

Most of the time the sleeping animation that comes with the One With Nature mod looks off when making your sim sleep under the prehistoric lean-to shelter. I'm not sure why but instead of sleeping horizontally they sleep vertically, so they clip with the branches that are on the floor. Two times while I was testing they slept horizontally tho, so I'm not sure if I can fix it. Sorry!!

The drawer (chest) of the Kativip Library set doesn't have an animation!

The telescope's eyepiece looks a bit off when a sim is using it. The way the mesh is made is very different from ts3's telescopes, and it would be quite hard to make it looks seamless and also it wouldn't look good, as ts3's telescopes all look kinda silly imo hahah. Hope you don't mind it very much!

The celtic cape might clip depending on the clothes being used and the animation being played!

The round weave rug of the Rustic Living Set generates some white lines when zooming really far out. I thought it was UV map, but I tweaked it and they're still showing up. It's only apparent if you look closely tho!

LIGHTING GLITCHES ONLY APPEAR ON CAS!

* Note that teens and elders have neck gaps. This is sadly the price for having them available! For teens, try using this and this slider by gruesim!

Please let me know if you find any problems!

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ALL OG CREDITS GO T​O @historicalsimslife, Kativip and EA/Maxis! IT'S NOT MY MESHES, AND IT’S NOT MY TEXTURES, I JUST CONVERTED THEM TO THE SIMS 3!

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Buckle up now...

NOTES & INFO:

The whole catalogue is quite low-poly and gameplay friendly, so don’t worry about that!

The whole catalogue is categorized into folders once you extract the zip, so you can pick and choose if you're playing in a specific era!

The buy mode items have collection files so you can find them a lot easier (except for the crib, the map painting and the aztek sink)! Just put them inside your "collections" folder in ts3's documents folder!

I highly recommend using the One With Nature mod by @spheresims while using the prehistoric collection!

The printing press letter plate works as a functional computer, and it's categorized as so!

The printing press desk and chair both have 4 matching presets! They're all different wood presets!

The hollow food storage works as a functional fridge for your prehistoric sims!

The Pile of Rocks cave works as, you guessed it, a cave! Actually no lol, it works as a tent, and your sims can sleep inside! It also has 5 presets, all stone textures, first one is an overlay, the rest is recolorable!

The sleeping underlay works as a sleeping bag! It has 2 recolorable presets!

The Skyrim lean-to has 2 presets! First one has an overlay texture, second one is recolorable!

The prehistoric lean-to shelter has 7 presets. The last one (fur) is recolorable, the others are overlays!

The rustic living set has two bed frames (single and double bed) and two matresses! All you need to do is to put the bed frame first, and then the matress on top of it, now you have two separate objects that can be customized!

The weave rug has 6 recolorable presets!

The round weave rug has 7 presets, and they're all combinations of recolorable and overlayed parts!

Both love seats and both bed frames of the rustic living set have 3 presets, different types of wood! Not recolorable.

The matresses also have 3 presets, they're combinations of overlayed and recolorable parts!

The old map painting has 4 non-recolorable presets!

The aztek sink has 4 presets, and they're combinations of overlayed and recolorables parts except for the last one! It also works as a functional sink!

The two empty boockases of the Katvip library set work as displays, so there are many slots for you to put decor on!

All hats/caps are hat-slider compatible and unissex!

The Dandy Lady hat (renamed it from ts3's hairstyle) has 3 different versions: One with feathers (that I made), one without them, and one without feathers nor decorations (renamed as Gone to Riding Hat)! You need to have V1 installed for the textures of the other two to show up, as they're linked!

The maid dress has 4 different versions (i know the post says 3 but it's 4 lol), as you can see on the preview! They work just like the Dandy Lady hat, above!

The Pirate Dress has an overlay you can find in accessories! Using it with the outfit you can recolor the belt and the buckle! If you don't use the accessory, those parts will just be a usual overlay texture!

You need to use a no feet mesh to use the Boy's 1700s Frock Coat, you can find one here!

The Boy's 1700s Frock Coat has has an overlay accessory, same thing as the Pirate Dress! With it you can recolor the belt, the pockets and the buckle!

The Edwardian Tea In The Garden dress has 6 presets, 5 of them are floral overlays, and the last one is a solid version.

The Regency Morning Dress has 11 presets. First one is a solid version, the last four are patterned overlays, and the rest are recolorable patterns.

The Ester Wedding Dress has 4 recolorable presets, the patterns of the bodice change!

The Simply Rococo Dress has 15 totally recolorable patterned presets!

The Embroided Rococo Dress has 2 presets: the first one is the original texture as an overlay, and the second one is a recolorable version of it (though not as good, since it's a very complicated texture).

The Vintage Men's Exercise Outfit has 6 patterned presets, all recolorable!

The Edwardian Men's underwear and the Edwardian Men's nightgown both have 2 presets, one striped and one solid. Both recolorable!

The Dandy Suit has 9 presets, first one's solid and the rest are patterned, all recolorable!

The Celtic Warrior Outfit has 2 presets. In the first one the plaid is an overlay, original texture. In the second one you can change it however you want using CASt!

The Bodacious Boy Suit has 2 presets! The mask is different, so you can recolour different parts!

The Vintage Girl's Dress With Bows has 8 presets, one of them is a solid version, another one is a recolorable patterned preset, and the rest are patterned overlays!

The Colonial Living Girl's Dress has 5 presets, last one is a solid recolorable version, and the rest are patterned overlays!

The Victorian Tweed Dress Top has 6 presets. The last one is a totally recolorable preset, the other 5 are overlay presets!

The Celtic Dress Top has 2 presets. First one is a long sleeved version, and the second is a vest like top with long sleeved white shirt underneath. Both recolorable!

The Victorian Tweed Dress Skirt has 6 presets, same thing as the top!

The Celtic Dress Skirt has 2 presets. First one has an apron with it, and the second one doesn't! Both recolorable.

I think that’s all haha! Now to the download! <3

G-Drive |  Dropbox

☕  buy me a coffee or become a patron!

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Credits & Special Thanks:

@historicalsimslife, Kativip and EA/Maxis for all the meshes and textures! Check out the full catalogue here!

Thank you @deniisu-sims, @suteflower, @sideshowsnob and @twinsimming for the general support (and help, where needed lol) when creating this collection!

💖 @eternalccfinds @katsujiiccfinds @sisilou @darkccfinds @xto3conversionsfinds @wanderingsimsfinds

[andypantsx3]

𝑤𝘩𝑒𝑛 𝑖 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 : 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑖 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑜 𝑥 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 : 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑖𝑣

𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦: In order to placate your anxious mother, you agree to return to your hometown to participate in a mating run—knowing full well that betas rarely get chased, never mind betas nearly old enough to age out of the practice. You’ve decided to treat it like a vacation, a chance to visit with your childhood friends, the mating run itself a nice relaxing hike.All in all it’s a solid plan—until alpha Todoroki Shouto, your best friend's little brother,steps in and blows it all to pieces. 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡: omegaverse, no quirks au, alpha!shouto, beta!reader, mating rituals, age gap, best friend’s little brother, older reader, afab reader, some class differences, aged up characters, semi-public sex, slight small town romance vibes, background implied dabihawks for some reason, smut, knotting, 18+; mdni! 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ: 7.6k | chapter 4 of 4

Then

“Shouto duty,” was the first thing Touya grumbled as he emerged from his house.

A little shadow with red and white hair peered out from behind him, big eyes staring up at you. Shouto was dressed in a periwinkle t-shirt and khaki shorts in the late spring heat, and he was nearly vibrating with excitement. You reached out reflexively to pat that fluff of hair, and Shouto seemed to lean into your touch like a cat, probably starved of affection from his fussy older brother.

“My lucky day,” you said, grinning at the way it made Touya roll his eyes.

Shouto nearly launched himself off the steps, looking quietly thrilled to be tagging along. He shoved himself in between you and Touya as you walked, as if unable to bear Touya’s proximity to you, making Touya bark out an annoyed, “Oi, watch it.”

Shouto ignored him, turning to you. “Y/N, I have something to tell you.”

You looked down at him curiously. “What?”

“I lost a tooth,” he said, staring up at you seriously. You laughed, knowing most kids would have smiled to show off their tooth gap, but Shouto had always been a little bit more withdrawn, though he was fairly open around you.

“When?” you asked, ignoring Touya’s scoff. “Did the tooth fairy come?”

Shouto nodded. “Last night. I am adding the money to my inheritance for you.”

That made you laugh again, and you bumped his shoulder. “You’re a good kid, Shouto. I think you should buy yourself something with it though. Especially in this weather—it’s good popsicle weather.”

Shouto looked like he was seriously considering this. “Do you like popsicles?”

You nodded. “Definitely.”

He seemed to pocket that information, and you hid a fond smile. That kid was too sweet for his own good, when it came to you. You wondered when his little case of older-brother’s-friend worship would end. You hoped not for another few years, at least.

“Fucking finally,” Touya said when he caught sight of Rumi and Keigo at the end of his neighborhood, his booted steps growing faster, as if eager to get away from the two of you.

You didn’t mind—Shouto was easy company.

“Oi!” Keigo called out to you, waving a skinny arm. You accompanied Shouto over, watching with a little bit of self-satisfaction when Shouto ducked a hair ruffle from Rumi, the look on his face almost reminiscent of Touya.

You were still his favorite, it seemed.

The usual round of arguments commenced about what to play now that all of you were united, Touya snottily vetoing everyone’s suggestions—except, notably, Keigo’s. Eventually you settled on hide and seek, something Shouto could participate in too, since it didn’t involve convoluted rules, and established a set distance you could go.

Finally Shouto was dubbed the first seeker, and the rest of you took off into the surrounding neighborhood.

You immediately beelined for the sprawling oak at the edge of the neighborhood, its thick, leafy branches the perfect place to conceal yourself. Touya, Keigo, and Rumi had long caught on to the fact that you were almost always to be found up a tree, but Shouto hadn’t played this game with you before.

Thirty seconds and one bark-scraped palm later had you settled in your hiding place, just as you caught Shouto’s shout from afar, “Ready or not, here I come!”

You quieted your breath, listening for the sound of his approach. This late in spring, the cicadas were already roaring. The leaves rustled around you in the breeze and you could hear some other band of kids shrieking and laughing, far in the distance.

It was nearing ten minutes on by the time you heard the thump of Shouto’s sneakers approaching, and you could just make out that distinct mop of bright hair through the branches. He poked around behind bushes, peering at eye level, but didn’t seem to think to look up for you. You watched him hunt through the surrounding area, then dash off when you heard a distinctly Keigo squawk not too far away.

You were nearly asleep on your tree branch when you heard his return, and you sat up quietly to watch him again. You were impressed that he seemed to know you were somewhere nearby.

As you watched him rifle around, you wondered if you should drop a hint, just because he’d been so sweet to you earlier. He’d been so adorable insisting he’d save you his tooth money.

You deliberately rustled a branch, leaning on it so it made a loud creak.

Immediately, Shouto’s head snapped up. Two mismatched eyes narrowed in on you, and his face seemed to brighten when he saw you. A small smile quirked the corner of his mouth.

“Caught you,” he called up to you.

You stuck a leg down tauntingly. “Not yet.”

Something passed over Shouto’s face, and his gaze seemed to sharpen. “I have, too.” You could almost hear a foot stamp in his voice.

You grinned. “Not until I get down.”

A determined look settled across Shouto’s features, and he prowled over to the tree. You watched him jump for a lower branch, catching it securely before hefting himself up. His arms were skinny, but his movements were sure, intent. In no time at all you were helping lever him onto your own branch, pulling him up alongside you.

“I caught you,” Shouto repeated, settling a proprietary hand on your arm. His hand was warm, and his fingers caught your wrist tightly.

You smiled. “I let you catch me by making all that noise, you mean.”

A tiny frown pulled at Shouto’s mouth. “I knew you were around here,” he said, something almost like a pout in his voice.

You laughed. “I did notice you came back. Those are some good tracking skills—although don’t forget to look up. I’m usually always up a tree, when it comes to hide and seek, and Touya and the others I think have caught on too. They’re probably up their own trees somewhere.”

“I do not care about finding them,” Shouto said. His straightforward tone startled a laugh out of you.

You settled back against the branch, Shouto still gripping your arm firmly. “Should we let them wait, then?” you asked, grinning. “I bet Rumi will come out on her own pretty soon, she’s so impatient.”

Shouto nodded. “I will stay here with you.”

The sincerity of the statement warmed you, the way Shouto’s serious little proclamations always did. He was too sweet for this earth. “Then shall we discuss which popsicle you’re going to get later? I have some recommendations.”

Shouto nodded seriously, and you launched into your nonsense, pleased. The leaves rustled around you, the breeze cool and pleasant against your skin. It felt like time stretched out around you, thick like taffy, slow and lazy and easy in the late spring breeze.

You thought absently that wished you could have a million more moments, Shouto the easiest company beside you, just like this.

Now

The morning of the run dawned warm and dry, sunny with a light breeze.

It was perfect hiking weather, and that was the only thing that kept you in good spirits. You tried not to think about Shouto—about how he was going after someone today, how you’d possibly seen him for the last time before he did. He’d said he’d find your tree, but there was really no guarantee his omega was going to run in the same direction as you.

You ate breakfast on the couch with your mother, listening to her excitedly chatter about your prospects today. You hammed it up a little bit, pretending you had any interest in being chased by an alpha, so that you could milk it later and avoid promises to commit to next year’s run. You hoped it would be enough of a deterrent for her—every year you grew older without a mate, she seemed more desperate to find you one.

You repacked your bags, readying yourself to board your train back to the city tomorrow, feeling mournful. Then you spent the rest of the morning finishing up the small things your mother had let go while you were gone, YouTubing your way through a door knob repair, and some weather stripping replacements. You lifted her air-conditioning into the window, swearing and sweating the whole time and wishing you had even a fraction of Shouto’s easy alpha strength.

After everything was finished, you packed up for the run, placing all your snacks and the sandwich Shouto had helped assemble into a small backpack, stuffing in a water and a book after. Then you scrounged around in your clean laundry for some hiking clothes, settling on leggings and a tee-shirt, no reason to try to impress anyone.

It was late morning by the time you ducked out of your house and started the trek to the preserve on the edge of town. Throngs of people were already gathered when you got there, alphas and omegas alike crowding the entrance. An overwhelming mixture of scents washed over you, the sweetness and florals of the omegas, the tang and spice of the alphas, even the small muted underwash of a few betas.

The overstimulation was nostalgic, and brought to mind your first few runs—the anticipatory hope you felt, the determination not to get caught for some one-time mating with an alpha who wouldn’t prove to be your life mate. It had been years, and you knew the outcome already this time, but some small thrill of anticipation thrummed in your veins regardless.

You kept to the edge of the crowd, sprawling out on the grass until the organizers called for the omegas and running betas to come forward to their starting mark. The alphas and remaining betas would be called to the mark a half hour later, to follow their intended targets into the preserve.

Then the whistle was being blown, and the crowd of omegas around you surged into the forest.

The first hundred meters of the preserve were a tangle of wild trees and overgrowth—omegas typically stayed on the trails until the forest opened up, several paths intersecting and leading away into hills and towards a pond, with the last one stretching towards the coast. This was your usual route and you followed it until the trees thinned out, then stepped off the path to tromp through the woods in the direction of the coastline.

You kept a brisk pace, wanting to get as far in as you could before the alphas were let in. Eventually the spruces and firs gave way to mostly coastal scrub pines amid tall grass, and you could smell the ocean through the trees, hear the crash of the waves against the rocky outcroppings.

You stepped out of the woods along a small coastal path that stretched for miles, and followed it a few minutes more until it flattened out. There was a small meadow laid into the coastline, spanning several square meters of pale seagrass and flowering bushes, shaded by an enormous willow tree—your target.

The meadow had a beautiful view of the shining blue waves through the barren scrub trees, but more importantly it was out of the way, little known to people who did not frequent the coastline trails. The willow was the perfect cover, its trailing fingers and dense greenery more than enough to hide one disinterested beta.

You ducked through the leaves, latching onto one of the lower branches and heaving yourself up. It had been years since you’d climbed anything—the city not exactly chalk-full of great climbing trees—but you were pleased to find it just as satisfying. You scrambled up into the canopy, testing your weight against your designated branch, finding it still held you easily.

Perfect.

You immediately rewarded yourself with a granola bar, settling onto your branch and chewing contentedly, pleased with the temperature. The sun was hot, but in the shade of the leaves and the salty breeze drifting in off the sea, it was perfectly comfortable.

You’d just gotten out your book to read, flipping to the spot you’d last left off at, when the chirp of nearby birds stopped. The meadow seemed to grow quiet around you.

You sat up, alert, at the soft tread of a bootfall close by. Your breath froze in your lungs. An omega, looking for a place to hide? Or some alpha?

Except then a long-fingered hand parted the hanging tendrils of the willow, and a familiar head of scarlet and white hair was ducking inside the canopy.

Embarrassingly, your heart swelled. Shouto had made time to stop in before finding his omega.

“Shouto!” you shouted down, pleased.

Shouto’s face tipped up to you, a tiny smile on his mouth. He looked especially good today, you thought, a navy tee shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, baring the flesh of his biceps, a flush on his cheeks from the warm spring sun. He looked a little taken apart, windswept like he’d run here, and you furiously stamped down on the flash of heat in your tummy.

Nope. No.

“Y/N,” Shouto intoned quietly, his eyes glittering up at you. “Caught you.”

You were momentarily taken aback by the sound of something unfamiliar in his tone, some strange intensity in his voice and expression. It sounded almost like it meant something to find you here, something more than a momentary pitstop on his way to his omega—but of course that was ridiculous.

You waved down at him, smiling and sticking a leg down tauntingly like when you were kids. “Not yet.”

Shouto’s eyes narrowed, a flash of something predatory tinging his handsome features.

In the blink of an eye, he crossed to the tree, dense muscle coiling and pulling beneath his tee shirt as he pulled himself up. This time he needed none of your help, moving with a panther-like grace. He pulled himself onto the branch immediately below yours, close enough that it put him at eye level with the bottom of your chin.

Then he reached out and snared your ankle in one large, warm hand, a smug sort of glint in his eye. The follow up caught you went unspoken.

Another laugh bubbled up out of you. “Alright alright, this time you got me,” you agreed, flexing your ankle in his hold.

Shouto’s mouth turned up, clearly pleased, but he did not let go. A thumb stroked softly along the hollow beneath your ankle bone. A surprised shiver caught you, sliding up your spine.

“You, um, got here so quick,” you said, trying to think past the sudden fuzz of static in your brain. You hoped your voice sounded impressed and not embarrassingly breathy. “Did you at least note which way your life mate went?”

Shouto’s head tilted, his bangs falling into his eyes as his thumb petted across your skin again. “I did.”

You nodded approvingly, tensing against another shudder. “Did they come out this way? You’re probably the first alpha to make it out here but you won’t want to waste too much time.”

Shouto’s mouth twitched, those heterochromatic eyes trailing down your face. “No time spent with you is a waste.”

That made your face warm. You tried to prod him with your foot, but Shouto’s grip was firm. “You’re going to want to save the charm for your life mate, mister.”

“I am,” he said simply, tone sincere.

You felt your brow furrow—now what was that supposed to mean?—when suddenly Shouto leaned forward, abandoning his grip on your ankle. His hands found the branch at either side of your hip, trapping you inside his reach. You stared down at him, stunned with his sudden proximity.

You felt suddenly a little caged in, your breath pulling up short. What was he—?

“Will you come down to me?” Shouto asked, eyes intent on yours.

The ask felt significant, though you had no idea how. And he was so close, so focused on you.

But you had no clue exactly what he would need you to come down for. Maybe he wanted to split lunch or something? You had your sandwich in your bag, and it would be easier on the ground, you supposed.

Although Shouto probably shouldn’t go running around on too full a stomach, especially if he—with his omega, after—if they…

You found you couldn’t think it, your mind shying away like you’d prodded a nerve.

Really, Shouto should be going soon, before any ranging alphas made it this far out and sniped his life mate before he got to them.

With that thought, however, some selfish thing recoiled inside of you. You desperately craved just a few more minutes with him—this achingly familiar boy, this mind-numbingly beautiful man—before he wasn’t really yours to think of anymore. These were the last few moments you’d get to spend with him before everything changed. It took less than a second to make up your mind.

“Yeah,” you said, smiling. “I’ll come down.”

You shifted, gathering your backpack and maneuvering off your branch carefully. Shouto gave you just enough space to get down, a hand finding your waist as you steadied yourself. He shadowed you down, close at your back to make sure you didn’t slip.

He was acting the consummate gentleman—but there was a strange tension about him, something about the way he moved and the intensity with which he was trailing you. There was something expectant about it, something almost impatient.

Maybe he needed you to hurry up so he could get going. That was probably it.

You turned to your backpack as soon as he guided you safely to the ground. You’d barely gotten it unzipped, however, when Shouto suddenly crowded into your space, startling you.

You stumbled a reflexive step back, breath whooshing out of you when your back connected with the trunk of the willow. Shouto followed, still watching you with that unnerving intensity.

His fingers dipped under your chin, softly turning your face up to his. His gaze was serious—more solemn than you had ever seen him. You went still in his grasp, heartbeat rabbiting in your chest.

What was with him today?

“Shouto,” you said slowly. “Are you… alright?”

Shouto leaned down, pressing his forehead to yours. His slow exhale ghosted over your mouth, thumb stroking across your jaw. It sent a swarm of shudders down your spine, and you suddenly weren’t breathing at all.

“I have dreamed of this moment a thousand times,” Shouto said, his tone reverent. It was almost a whisper.

His tone implied there was something incredibly significant about this moment, but you could not for the life of you think of what. Especially not with his face so close, clouding up your thoughts.

You felt your brow furrow against his, and you opened your mouth to ask him what on earth he could be talking about.

Except before you could, Shouto’s hands took either side of your face. And then he bent his head—and pressed his mouth to yours.

All higher thought immediately evacuated your brain, leaving only a sudden zing of panic and the horrible, wonderful excitement of Shouto’s mouth on yours, of Shouto’s strong body so close to yours. Rough bark scraped against your back as Shouto’s front slotted warm and firm against your chest, and the feeling of all that strength pressed so tightly to you made you dizzy.

“Sho–-? Whuh—?” you said, slightly muffled into his mouth.

But Shouto only took the opportunity to slide his tongue into your mouth, soft and wet and so unbelievably hot your brain short circuited. Every single nerve ending in your body lit up as you realized Todoroki Shouto had his tongue in your mouth, and that he was kissing you so thoroughly and meticulously it felt as though this was the last kiss he’d ever be allowed. You heard yourself let out a gasp that turned into an embarrassing moan as he pressed harder against you, pinning you between himself and the tree.

Your mind felt like it was melting, Shouto’s mouth doing terrible things to your thoughts’ coherence. Your hands went to his shoulders, and you found yourself opening up to him, every inch of your skin hot. Every flick of his tongue, every brush of his lips felt better than you could have ever imagined, and you were helpless to do anything but let him have you.

Your thoughts were a puddle when Shouto finally let your mouth free. All you could do was stare up at him, shocked.

“Y/N,” Shouto said, his eyes searching your face. “You came down for me.”

His handsome face wore an expression you hadn’t ever seen before as he regarded you, something almost—possessive? His hands had slid to your waist, his touch hot through the material of your shirt.

Your brain swam. Words, what were words? “I—? Uh, yes—?”

Shouto seemed to understand you weren’t getting his point. “‘If I’m not an alpha, and I have to hide somewhere, I’m going to find the best tree in the preserve and go up it and not come down until I find my life mate,’” he said.

It sounded like a quote, and it took you an embarrassingly long moment to realize it was something you had said, years and years and years ago, when you were both kids.

Was he saying—? But that was absurd. No, there was no way. You hadn’t—he wasn’t—

“But you’re Shouto,” you groped around your thoughts for logic and reasoning. “You’re Shouto.”

Shouto watched you patiently, a white eyebrow raising slightly.

“You can’t mean—?” you sputtered. “No. You’re Touya’s baby brother. I’m too old for you. The first time I held you, you were a baby.”

Shouto pressed impossibly closer to you, a long-fingered hand winding its way into yours. “I am not a child, Y/N. And you are not that much older than I.”

You struggled to think through the feeling of his body pressed to yours. You knew it. You knew he wasn’t a child. But all the same, you’d spent long enough telling yourself he’d been meant for someone else. Long enough convinced that you were too old for him.

Long enough that you were absolutely certain this had to be a mistake.

“You’re off limits,” you told him, trying to press him back. Shouto did not budge, however, as solid as stone under your hand.

“You are my life mate,” he said. He raised your joined hands to his mouth, kissing over your knuckles. An electric jolt went through you at the feeling of that mouth on you again, firm and warm. “I have known my whole life. I am off limits to all but you.”

A storm of emotion churned in your gut, everything from guilt to disbelief to pleasure to relief. To hear it said so plainly, after all this time—you are my life mate—by a man who was already so beloved to you. By a boy you’d loved as a friend, a man who you wanted to love as more.

But you couldn’t—he had to deserve better.

“I won’t take advantage of you,” you insisted.

A small smile pulled at Shouto’s mouth. “I am not a child. And I am an alpha besides. Your alpha.”

You fought down a furious flush.

“But Shouto there’s so many things–!” you insisted. Beyond being older than him, beyond being a staple in his life since he was young. You were quickly realizing so many of the promises he’d made when he was younger, he actually meant.

“Your inheritance—I never meant to accept that from you for real. And your family, they would not like that I—”

The rest of your words were muffled in Shouto’s mouth, as he bent his head and kissed you again. A flick of his tongue turned even that into a muffled squeak instead. Why was he so good at this?

“Much of my family understands what it means to pursue something singularly,” Shouto said against your lips. “What it means to give everything you have in service of pursuit.”

Your stomach flipped. The Todoroki single-mindedness that you had been convinced had skipped right over Shouto. Suddenly years of solemn watchfulness over you, years of following you like a shadow, years of sharing all his toys and his thoughts and promising to take care of you—it all made a terrible, perfect sort of sense.

Single-mindedness. But not as destruction, as Enji’s and Touya’s had been. As devotion—as thoughtfulness, something so uniquely Shouto you wanted to cry.

God how had you missed this?

You rallied yourself for one last defense.

“Shouto. At the very least you need to consider if you’re making a mistake. Alpha-beta couplings are nontraditional—maybe your senses are off here. Maybe because I’m a beta and I was around when your brain was still forming and you liked me then it feels like there’s something but—”

Shouto’s grip on you flexed, and suddenly his determined expression flickered, a crease forming between those perfect brows.

“Do you see me as a child still?” he asked.

You shook your head. Not since you’d seen him prowl across the Todoroki kitchen, miles of sleek muscle flexing, that perfect campfire scent fogging your brain, tall and gorgeous and unmistakably alpha. And especially not since you’d come to understand the expanse of his life—the home he’d made, the job he had, the goals he’d taken.

“Then do you… not want me?” he asked.

Your heart immediately sank, aching with the soft flicker of hurt that crept across his features.

Your hands had shot out to hold his face before you knew what you were doing.

“Shouto, of course I want you,” you found yourself saying. “Who wouldn’t want you? You are perfect. You are so kind and have always been so good. You are sweet and funny and so beautiful it hurts to look at. Of course I want you. But I don’t want to hurt you—”

“Then say yes,” Shouto insisted.

God you wanted to. You wanted to. You had been so jealous this whole week, you realized, of whoever his life mate was going to be.

The realization crashed into you like a wave, knocking you off balance. You wanted all of Shouto’s time, all of his attention, wanted to curl up in his apartment on that plush couch with him and all but bodily fuse to him, never to come apart again. You wanted to spend a million afternoons cooking in that kitchen, running lunches to him at the firehouse, kissing him, laughing with him, indulging in him—in how kind and sweet and good he’d always been.

Your face must have said it all, because Shouto was crowding back into you.

“I am going to be so good to you, Y/N,” he promised, his mouth drawing closer.

You shivered. Some part of you still felt like you needed to resist him, needed to make him see. But the other part of you, the largest part, wanted to melt in his embrace. Wanted to let him kiss you and kiss him back, wanted to thread your fingers in that fluff of hair and sink into the relief of his companionship.

Shouto hammered the final nail into your coffin with the unerring precision of a boy who’d known you for twenty years.

“Trust me to take good care of you,” he said, his voice dipping to a low whisper.

And that was it—the refrain from all those years ago, before you’d ever understood what he was promising you. Even if you were uncertain about everything else, you would always be certain about Shouto’s care. Shouto’s inherent goodness.

Surrendering, you let yourself fall.

“I do,” you told him. “I trust you. I—always will.”

Then you closed your eyes and let him kiss you.

You could feel Shouto’s soft smile against your mouth, feel a renewed intensity in the way he poured himself into you with his next kiss. You almost sagged against him in sheer relief—the relief of knowing, against all odds, that your life mate had found you even across the years that had threatened to separate you.

Shouto kissed you with a startling vigor, leaving you breathless against the willow when he moved down to your neck, pulling your tee shirt wide to suck several very insistent markings into the hollow of your throat.

You leaned into the rough bark as he mapped his way lower, and lower, only startling when he dropped to his knees before you, pressing his face into the crease of your hip.

Your heart shot into your mouth, a shock of heat licking up your spine. “Shouto!” you stammered.

Shouto only uttered your name into the fabric of your leggings, the material thin enough that you could feel the heat of his exhalation on your skin. One of his hands came up to take your calf, the other creeping up into the band of your leggings, carefully pulling it down.

You watched him as he did, stomach fluttering.

He gently helped you step out of your leggings and panties, leaving you bare and vulnerable to him. You would have been more embarrassed if it wasn’t for the way his eyelashes fluttered appreciatively, and the immediate way he ducked his head to press his mouth right to your core.

You muffled a moan into your palm, thunking your head against the tree trunk.

You could feel Shouto’s slow smile as he hefted your thigh over his shoulder, hands grasping your waist. “Mine,” you heard him utter, soft and low, before licking right over you, possessive and deliberate. It made every inch of your skin flush hot, every nerve ending come to life under his mouth.

You could still hardly believe what was happening, even as you muffled more sounds into your palm as Shouto worked you, with the attentive diligence he’d always done everything when it came to you. You could feel those mismatched eyes on you, cataloging your every reaction to what he did.

He learned all too quickly exactly what you liked, and you were a writhing mess within minutes. Shouto pinned you to the tree with an iron arm across your stomach as you arched and screamed, not letting up until you’d come against his mouth, chanting his name like an oath.

He looked very pleased with himself when you were done, his hair ruffled from your hand, face flushed.

He looked too good to be real.

“I want—Shouto, please—” you said, nearly incoherent but apparently utterly shameless now that he’d had you.

Shouto got to his feet to kiss you again and you flushed when you could taste yourself on his mouth. “Come home with me,” he murmured, tone low.

“You don’t want—?” you said.

Shouto shook his head. “Not here. I’ve imagined this a thousand times, how I wanted it to happen. I’ve thought about what you deserve. I’ve thought about how I will not want to separate, after, not even to take you back home. Come home with me first.”

Fire spread across your cheeks at the idea of Shouto imagining it with you, over and over again. The way he said home, like it was both of yours.

“Okay. Okay yes,” you said, breathless.

Shouto helped you back into your leggings and gathered up your abandoned pack, which you’d apparently dropped and forgotten entirely the moment he’d kissed you. He held your hand in his the whole way back through the woods, occasionally cocking his head or scenting the air, and then taking a long detour around some place, like he didn’t want to share your presence with whoever else was in the woods.

The walk was long, but so easy in Shouto’s company, even with this new dimension of your relationship settling itself between you two. It was frighteningly easy, in fact, after everything.

You talked about everything and nothing, reliving the entire week together, Shouto sharing that he’d hoped you’d see him as a man, had taken the time right up until the run to try to be sure. Ears flaming, you’d shared that you’d been gone for him the moment you’d seen him in the doorway of the kitchen. Shouto’s smug look immediately mopped up any of the reflexive embarrassment you felt sharing that.

By the time you made it to Shouto’s you’d also managed to shoot a text off to your mother, and an emergency extension of your time off to your workplace.

Shouto was on you as soon as the door shut behind you, catching your noise of surprise in his mouth.

Your arms came around him, and he walked you back to his couch, following you down onto it and laying himself out over you. The weight of him made you shiver again, the heaviness of all that muscle anchoring you down.

Shouto kissed you absolutely boneless into the cushions of his couch, hands wandering everywhere, skimming under your shirt, calluses catching on the fabric of your leggings. Everywhere he touched felt like it was on fire, your nerves singing with pleasure. Shouto seemed to be trying to take his time with you, but you could sense something underneath that, his usual layers of patience eroded.

Feeling brave, you let your hands wander to the buttons of his pants, working them open. Shouto’s breath left him in a hiss as you wrapped your hand around him, feeling him hard and hot and velvet smooth in your palm.

“Ah… fffuck, love,” he muttered into your neck. He chased it with the soft scrape of his teeth, groaning when it made your grip tighten on him reflexively.

His hips flexed, sliding him through your fingers, flush and full. Butterflies fluttered to life in your stomach, and a hot streak of arousal licked up your spine. Your own hips shifted, lifting up into him, and you realized with a sudden desperation that you wanted him inside you, didn’t want to wait another second.

“Shouto please, please, please,” you found yourself babbling, stroking firmly down the shaft of him.

Shouto’s eyes were dark when they found yours again. “Anything, I would give you anything,” he said, his voice tight.

“I want you inside of me, please,” you said, your face burning with the admission.

The sheer elation flashing across his handsome face quelled any more embarrassment. In what felt like barely a breath, Shouto had you bare to him once more, flinging your leggings and shirt somewhere towards his kitchen. He covered you again, fitting himself between your thighs with another appreciative groan before pressing in.

You were so wild with want that he slid home easily, despite his impressive size. His skin burned hot against yours, and he felt so perfectly right over you, inside of you, that you had to fight down something like a sob.

Shouto looked equally as overwhelmed, staring at your face rapturously. “I have loved you my whole life,” he said, his tone wondering. “You are finally mine.”

Your entire body went hot with his declaration. You had not realized until today that you loved him too. But now that you did, it felt like everything made sense, that all was finally right.

You managed to gasp out as much between Shouto’s thrusts, as his hips bucked into yours, slowly at first, and then faster, more sure. He kissed you everywhere—your face, your neck, your shoulders, layering in soft bites like he could not help himself.

“Say it,” he groaned, mouthing at the underside of your jaw. “Please say it.”

“I love you,” you said. A yelp escaped you when Shouto suddenly seized you around the waist, rolling you on top of him and holding you to him as he levered the two of you upright. The position in his lap only made him sink deeper inside of you, and you hissed with the feeling, your fingernails digging into his back.

“Ah, fuck—Shouto!” you cried.

Shouto’s hands on your waist guided you with an easy strength—your head spun with the reminder of his power, the reminder that you had an alpha—your alpha—inside of you.

“Going to take good care of you,” he panted into your hair, pausing to kiss the shell of your ear even as the snap of his hips undid you. “Going to take such good care of you.”

Your fingers flexed on him, and you could feel your toes curl. You did not know what to do with all of the emotion welling up inside you, the well of your pleasure almost overflowing. He ground up into you, making your eyes nearly roll back in your head, and you fought down a scream when the pad of his thumb pressed to your clit, heightening every sensation.

“Oh Shouto, please—” was all you could manage.

Shouto looked enraptured, drinking in every change in your expression. As you squirmed and writhed under his touch, you felt him start to swell inside of you.

Both apprehension and arousal swirled inside of you, a beta’s body a little less adapted to knotting than an omega’s. But the firm circle Shouto’s thumb was drawing on your clit, and the low murmur of his voice in your ear, began to drown out any other thought.

“I have you, love,” Shouto said. His mouth dragged across your throat, leaving a sucking bruise along the column. Your nails scrabbled at his back as he swelled even further inside of you, starting to catch on your walls and make it harder to press back down on him.

“I have you,” Shouto said again, his voice rough with pleasure. The reassurance that he did, and the knowledge that he was barely managing his own pleasure struck you like a bolt of lightning. Something inside you unraveled and came loose, and you muffled a cry into Shouto’s broad shoulder as your orgasm slammed into you like a tidal wave.

A low swear escaped Shouto, and his knot swelled even further. His hands suddenly seized tight on either side of your waist, holding you down on him as he thrust up into you. You felt a sort of pressure you’d never anticipated, so overwhelming it was nearly painful—but then Shouto’s knot slid into you.

Shouto groaned into your neck, biting down hard. You writhed over him, your pleasure wringing you out until finally you slumped against him, shivering. Shouto eased back, propping himself up on the arm of the couch, you stuck to his chest like a sweat-slicked barnacle.

“That was—so much more intense than I ever imagined,” you said, when you’d recovered your faculty for human language.

You could feel the curve of Shouto’s smile against your neck. “For I, as well,” he said. “Though I had imagined it a great many times—we still have many other fantasies I intend to live out.”

You were embarrassed to feel yourself tighten around him. Shouto hissed, leaning back to pin you with a look—then looked more smug than you’d ever seen him.

“Like that, do you, love?” he asked.

The pet name made your ears heat, and you couldn’t help but pinch him. “You used to be so sweet, when did you get this fresh?” you demanded.

“Fresh is the least of what I intend to get with you,” Shouto informed you seriously. “I take my duties as a child bride very seriously.”

Your jaw dropped open, and you pressed back from him, gasping when it shifted him inside you. “You—! You heard—?”

Shouto’s smile was far too handsome and self-satisfied to be allowed. “That is when I knew I stood a chance.”

Your face burned. You couldn’t believe him. “You’re a menace.”

Shouto leaned into a press a kiss over where he’d sunk his teeth into you, butterfly-light. The touch of his mouth was warm and his campfire scent washed over you, fuzzing your thoughts. His mouth moved up to catch yours, and you let him kiss you until you realized you’d started to squirm in his lap again.

Several minutes later he had you coming on his knot again, locked against him and muffling the sounds of your pleasure into his neck.

He looked, if possible, even more satisfied, and you lifted a hand to thread through the strands of his hair, silky and damp.

“I can’t believe this is real,” you said, several orgasms having made you loose-tongued. You rubbed a strand of his hair between the pads of your fingers.

Shouto turned his head to drop a kiss to the base of your palm. “We have time enough to make you believe it, love.”

Another butterfly took wing in your stomach at the pet name. You wondered if you’d ever get used to hearing him say it.

“I’ll have to figure out my work—I don’t know if they’d let me work remotely all the way from here?” you said, thoughts suddenly shifting. You sort of doubted your company would make the exception for you, and a pang shot through your heart at the idea that you might have to leave Shouto to work in the city on weekdays. At least until you found another job, which might take months to arrange.

You did not want to be separated from him, now that you’d let yourself have him.

A hand caught your chin, thumb smoothing along your jaw. “I do not think you will have enough time,” Shouto said, a slim brow raising slightly. “What with the bookstore opening.”

You stared at him, wondering if you’d just had some sort of auditory hallucination.

“The—what?” you asked.

“The bookstore opening,” Shouto said. His mouth made the shape of the words exactly, and so it could not be that you’d hallucinated. But—

“What bookstore?” you asked.

Shouto’s mouth pressed into a deliberately flat line like he was trying not to smile.

“Yours. Downstairs,” he clarified—which did not clarify at all.

Your mouth dropped open against his fingers, your eyebrows shooting for the moon. “My—? Downstairs—?”

Your mind scanned back over the events of the last twenty-four hours, the first time you’d caught sight of the shop downstairs again as you’d followed Shouto home. The way it seemed so well-maintained, the windows glinting crystal-clear in the soft evening light. Your eyes reflexively dipped to the blonde wood of Shouto’s floor, the very same that had been installed across the floor of the shop, and an understanding suddenly dawned on you.

“I remember everything you have ever told me,” Shouto had said when you mentioned you’d been in love with the shop downstairs.

“No way,” was what left your mouth as you glanced back up at Shouto, disbelief rising.

Shouto was watching you carefully, his handsome face serious. “Your name is on the deed.”

A wellspring of emotion rose up inside you like a geyser, and you slammed yourself back into Shouto, throwing your arms around his shoulders. “Shouto—I. You didn’t need to—there’s no way I can accept—this is incredible, you’re incredible—but I’d be taking advantage—I can’t—”

A warm, long-fingered hand slid up your spine to rest on the back of your head, holding you against him. “I have always been yours,” Shouto murmured. “Everything I have has always been yours. If it is too much now, we can wait. But I, and everything I have, will always be yours.”

You blinked, embarrassed to realize you’d started dripping tears into Shouto’s shoulder. Shouto didn’t say anything, fingers petting through your hair as you tried to fight the emotion down.

“I promised to take good care of you, and I intend to,” he said. Pressed against him, you could feel the way the words rumbled in his chest.

You closed your eyes and shoved your face in his neck, letting him hold you to him. Everything about today felt too good to be true, but you knew with absolute certainty that Shouto had always been too good to be true, himself. And yet you’d told him you trusted it, when he said he’d take care of you.

And you did—you realized you would always trust it, trust the beautiful boy you’d known all your life.

“I’ll need to pay you back on your investment,” you said some minutes later, when you finally found your voice again. You leaned back to look Shouto in the face, trying not to be embarrassed about the drying tear tracks.

“There is no need,” he said, eyes finding yours.

You realized you were still in his lap, though his knot had softened, and you thought you might be able to separate now.

But now you had other plans—and an investment you wanted to enthusiastically return.

“I insist,” you said, leaning forward to mouth at Shouto’s neck.

You caught the flash of his eyes widening, and his head fell back as a sharp breath left him. “I—see,” he said, his voice growing rough as you sucked a careful mark into the skin of his shoulder.

You smiled against his skin. “You will,” you promised, feeling bolder than ever. It felt like you were daring to believe it, that you’d found your life mate, that you really got to have him, that he’d loved you as long as he’d lived.

You wanted to return all those years of love, now that you loved him too.

“I’m going to take good care of you too,” you informed Shouto, hips already flexing over his.

You felt him start to grow hard inside of you again, and he turned his head to catch your mouth. You could feel his smile against your lips.

“I trust it,” he said, his voice dropping low.

You smiled too, grinning against your lifemate’s mouth, intent on proving yourself worthy of that trust.

Though perhaps that could wait until you’d delivered some of the many fantasies it sounded like he’d stored up. There was no reason to rush.

You had the rest of your life together, after all.

[autismswagsummit]

The Bracket has been set!

This year's competitor pool is hot, with 23 returning competitors and 41 new appearances. In Round 1, the matches will be broken up into 4 waves, divided by the quadrants displayed on the bracket. The matches will all be listed below the cut, for everyone's reference.

SIDE A, PART 1

Donatello Hamato (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) v.s L Lawliet (Death Note)

Mary Anta (Cemetery Mary) v.s Rui Kamishiro (Project Sekai)

Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia) v.s Branch (Dreamworks Trolls)

Snufkin (Moominvalley) v.s Futaba Sakura (Persona 5)

Gordon Freeman (Half Life) v.s Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes)

Blathers (Animal Crossing) v.s Princess Bubblegum (Adventure Time)

Jonathan Sims (The Magnus Archives) v.s Zane (Lego Ninjago)

Tomoko Kuroki (Watamote) v.s Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)

SIDE A, PART 2

Frieren (Sousou no Frieren) v.s Papyrus (Undertale)

Tech (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) v.s Ferb Fletcher (Phineas & Ferb)

Stanford Pines (Gravity Falls) v.s Twilight Sparkle (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

Berdly (Deltarune) v.s Gregory House (House M.D)

Data (Star Trek) v.s Idia Shroud (Twisted Wonderland)

Peridot (Steven Universe) v.s Penny Polendina (RWBY)

Sig (Puyo Puyo) v.s Marcy Wu (Amphibia)

Jotaro Kujo (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) v.s Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney)

SIDE B, PART 1

Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece) v.s Alhaitham (Genshin Impact)

Laios Touden (Dungeon Meshi) v.s Iggy Maxwell (Our Wonderland)

Dendy (OK KO: Let's Be Heroes) v.s Gin Ibushi (Your Turn To Die)

Norma Khan (Dead End: Paranormal Park) v.s Link (The Legend of Zelda)

Starfire (Teen Titans) v.s Luz Noceda (The Owl House)

Siffrin (In Stars And Time) v.s Huey Duck (Ducktales 2017)

Lilo Pelekai (Lilo & Stitch) v.s Saiki Kusuo (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)

Woo Young Woo (Extraordinary Attorney Woo) v.s Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic the Hedgehog)

SIDE B, PART 2

Razputin Aquato (Psychonauts) v.s Linhardt von Hevring (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

Ranpo Edogawa (Bungou Stray Dogs) v.s Entrapta (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Murderbot (The Murderbot Diaries) v.s Kieran (Pokemon Scarlet & Violet)

Twyla Boogeyman (Monster High) v.s Marina Ida (Splatoon)

Hiccup Haddock (How To Train Your Dragon) v.s Batman (DC Comics)

Abed Nadir (Community) v.s Red Son (Lego Monkie Kid)

Uzi Doorman (Murder Drones) v.s Bingo Heeler (Bluey)

Gillion Tidestrider (Just Roll With It) v.s Spongebob Squarepants (Spongebob Squarepants)

[pocmuzings]

welcome  to  a  guide  for  2025  rpc  and  a  throwback  to  the  importance  of  creating  well  rounded  ,  developed  characters  .

a  general  lovenote  and  reminder  on  how  to  create  characters  people  want  to  rp  with  ,  as  discussed  by  g.    please  note  ,  these  are  all  my  own  thoughts  and  feelings  ,  but  i'm  not  '  married  '  to  any  of  this  .  i'm  happy  for  open  conversation  ,  thoughts  ,  feedback  etc  ,  but  i  don't  tolerate  aggressive  messaging  .

the  first  thing  i  think  about  when  i  think about  my  character  ,  whether  for  a  rp  ,  a  book  ,  a  short  story  ,  or  a  1x1  partner  is  .  .  .  where  is  my  character  ?  not  just  physically  ,  but  emotionally  .  what  got  them  there  ?  what  have  they  already  overcome  ?  what  do  they  have  LEFT  to  overcome  ?

whenever  i  write  or  create  a  character  ,  i  think  about  them  in  the  same  way  i  think  about  any  story  making  .  stories  (  typically  and  in  some  manner  )  have  beginnings  ,  climaxes  and  ends  .  they  also  have  problems  that  need  to  be  solved  (  or  not  solved  )  .  there's  an  arc  we  follow  .  we  go  up  the  mountain  ,  then  back  down  again  .

a  beginning  is  not  necessarily  '  born  in  1982  ,  to  two  loving  parents  '  .  it  doesn't  need  to  be  a  beginning  of  time  ,  but  can  just  be  the  beginning  to  your  characters  story  .  e.g  '  despite  having  two  loving  parents  ,  she  had  a  deep  focus  on  soccer  .  if  not  soccer  ,  then  maths  .  if  not  maths  ,  something  else  .  from  a  young  age  ,  she  strove  for  perfection  and  being  the  best  at  something  .'

this  beginning  sets  the  tone  of  your  character  .  in  a  few  sentence  ,  we  can  already  see  what  kind  of  person  she  is  and  know  that  she  has  some  internal  demons  she's  battling  .  we  don't  necessarily  need  her  entire  family  tree  unless  it's  critical  to  the  story.

from  there,  we  have  our  climax  or  problem  statement  ,  where  things  really  begin  to  boil  .  again  ,  it  doesn't  necessarily  need  to  be  '  everything  came  to  a  head  when  her  mother  died  '  .  we  can  make  it  more  character  focused  by  writing  '  in  2012  ,  her  mother  died  and  she  threw  herself  into  trying  to  create  the  perfect  replacement  family  .  she  got  married  to  4  different  men  in  the  space  of  5  years  ,  and  has  5  children  shared  among  them  ,  as  well  as  2  step  children  .  but  she  is  unable  to  settle  down  .  she  feels  restless  .  she  finds  it  hard  to  be  a  mother  because  everything  reminds  her  of  her  own  mother  ,  and  the  loss  she's  endured  .  '  now  ,  we  already  know  two  things  about  our  character  :

1  .  she  wants  to  be  perfect  and  the  best  ,  including  at  creating  families

2  .  she  is  terrified  of  her  role  in  motherhood  due  to  the  loss  of  her  own  mother  and  feeling  unmoored  without  her

this  can  then  take  us  to  the  problem  solving  portion  of  the  character  .  this  is  usually  where  i  like  to  start  my  character  in  rps  and  1x1  and  novel  worlds  .  we  have  these  2  issues  and  2  core  beliefs  within  the  character  .  they're  instrumental  to  her  .  how  are  we  going  to  overcome  it  ?  ARE  we  going  to  overcome  it  ?

we  can  begin  to  think  of  the  butterfly  effect  in  terms  of  our  character  .  we  can  begin  to  think  of  the  tree   and  its  branches  growing  within  her  ,  extending  out  to  other  characters  .  we  can  see  how  she  effects  other  people  ,  including  those  close  to  her  ,  not  close  to  her  ,  new  friends  ,  old  friends  ,  new  love  interests  ,  past  interests  .  we  can  create  drama  and  connections  because  we  have  a  strong  foundation  .

so  .  where  does  it  end  ?  does  it  need  to  end  happily  ?  simple  answer  is  no  .  your  character  can  end  in  the  exact  same  place  as  they  did  at  the  beginning  ,  but  the  point  is  that  we've  gone  on  the  journey  with  the  character  .  maybe  we've  seen  her  talk  to  her  mother's  grave  .  maybe  we've  seen  her  go  to  grief  counselling  .  maybe  she's  gotten  pregnant  or  married  again  .  the  problem  statement  doesn't  stop  her  or  stick  her  in  one  place  .  in  fact  ,  if  anything  ,  it  can  encourage  her  to  keep  making  the  same  mistakes  .  on  the  coin  flip  ,  she  can  learn  .  she  can  grow  .  she  can  heal  .  she  can  mend  the  relationships  with  her  kids  ,  her  past  partners  ,  rekindle  love  ,  or  find  new  love  .  the  whole  point  in  the  made-up  'ending'  for  a  character  ,  is  that  we  have  options  .  we  haven't  locked  her  down  .  we  can  continue  to  plot  ,  connect  ,  develop  ,  etc  ,  as  we  go  along  .

QUESTIONS  AND  THOUGHTS  I  CONSIDER  WHEN  CREATING  A  CHARACTER  :

how  has  your  character  ended  up  where  they  are  right  in  this  moment?  think  about  where  you’re  starting  them  from,  and  what  that  looks  like  realistically.  not  just  physically  :  how  did  they  get  to  this  place  ?  but  also  mentally  :  what  did  they  have  to  do  to  become  the  person  they  are  ?  was  it  good  or  bad  ?  everything  you  are  and  do  and  become  as  a  human  is  made  up  of  tiny  almost  inconsequential  decisions  or  choices  you  made.  you  decided  to  study  x.  you  broke  up  with  y.  your  parent  passed  away  so  you  had  to  come  back  to  your  childhood  home.  your  illustrious  career  came  crashing  down  and  you  need  a  place  to  cool  off.  you  never  left  here,  you’ve  been  here  from  the  beginning,  because  you’re  searching  for  something.  what  is  it?  what  is  the  thing  that  has  your  character  right  where  they  are  in  this  exact  moment  ? 

what  emotion  do  they  feel  the  most?  regret,  anger,  longing,  nostalgia  ?  this  helps  drive  your  characters  motives  past  and  presently.  it  also  helps  you  understand  their  goals.  what  they  want  to  achieve  and  why.  maybe  they  yearn  for  longing  and  friendship  and  connection  because  they  never  got  it  as  a  child,  whether  at  home  or  at  school.  maybe  they  regret  not  keeping  in  touch  with  their  childhood  friends  because  now  they  are  surrounded  by  people  they  can’t  trust  and  work  in  a  shitty  environment  where  you  have  to  climb  over  others  to  get  on  top.  everyone  has  a  goal.  everyone  has  an  emotion  that  drives  it.  what  is  your  characters  and  why  does  it  matter?  how  does  it  present? 

when’s  the  last  time  they  cried  and  why?  everybody  cries  and  everybody  cries  in  very  different  ways.  it  says  a  lot  about  the  emotional  state  of  a  character  and  their  emotional  health.  are  they  in  tune  with  their  emotions  and  cry  at  appropriate  times?  do  they  compartmentalise  it?  do  they  only  cry  when  angry?  dig  into  it  and  think  of  the  why  why  why.  why  does  my  character  only  cry  at  this  one  thing?  why  does  my  character  only  feel  safe  crying  alone?  why. 

what  is  your  characters  biggest  regret  in  life?  did  they  get  on  a  plane  when  they  should  have  stayed?  did  they  study  a  subject  only  because  their  parents  wanted  them  to?  did  they  not  kiss  the  girl  when  they  wanted  to?  let’s  be  honest.  our  lives  are  filled  with  “if  only  i’d  done  xyz”  .  if  only  .  this  also  provides  a  great  opportunity  to  MAKE  these  plots  and  plot  with  other  people.  now  we  can  come  up  with  exes  or  ex  best  friends  or  old  flames  or  whatever  whatever  ,  because  there’s  a  good  chance  your  character  regrets  something  that  impacts  someone  else  and  they  regret  it  BECAUSE  of  that  impact  . 

ADDITIONAL  THOUGHTS  AND  TIPS  I'VE  PICKED  UP  WHILE  RPING

honestly  the  more  “whys”  you  can  answer  for  your  character,  the  more  in  depth  you’re  getting.  in  order  for  other  people  to  understand  your  character,  you  need  to  understand  them  yourself.  you  can’t  expect  people  to  write  with  your  character  if  they  don’t  really  have  much  of  a  stable  personality  and  your  plots  don’t  make  much  sense.  remember:  plotting  should  contribute  to  your  character  and  their  development.  human  relationships  don’t  just  exist  because  we  like  them.  they  exist  because  they  serve  an  unserved  part  within  ourselves. 

genuinely  think  of  their  hobbies.  it’s  all  well  and  good  to  say  “she’s  a  bookworm  and  loves  puzzles”  “he  likes  music”  but  like.  what  does  that  actually  mean?  WHY  do  they  like  certain  things  ?  do  they  like  reading  books  or  writing?  do  they  like  fantasy  and  escapism  because  it  reminds  them  of  childhood?  do  they  listen  to  only  their  dads  favourite  music  because  they  miss  him?  do  they  make  playlists  for  niche  and  specific  moods  only  applicable  to  them?  why  are  their  hobbies  important  to  them? 

consider  their  connections,  not  just  future  but  npc  and  current.   how  would  5  close  friends  describe  them  in  one  word?  how  would  their  ex  describe  them  in  one  word?  what  is  one  thing  that  others  could  safely  always  rely  on  your  character  for  (eg  designated  driver  on  nights  out,  always  having  some  type  of  fidgeting  device,  knowing  a  phone  app  to  help  you  meditate  or  streamline  a  process  etc  etc).  we  all  exist  in  the  worlds  of  our  loved  ones,  past,  present  and  future.  we  leave  marks  with  them.  we  are  known  to  them.  so  what  is  your  character  known  and  loved  for? 

pick  your  plot  first,  not  your  fc  or  your  character.  i  know  this  sounds  counterintuitive  but  when  you  have  a  plot  for  a  character  and  a  clear  path  for  development  -  it  helps  everything  else  fall  into  place.  the  worst  thing  are  characters  that  are  plotless  (specifically  for  group  rping).  i’m  going  to  be  honest  here:  your  character  has  to  have  something  to  give  other  characters.  whether  it’s  drama,  information,  hidden  secrets,  a  connection…  your  character  has  to  have  something  of  substance.  i’d  actually  prefer  they’re  a  stereotype  then  they’re  just  aimless  and  personality-less.  when  you  have  a  big  overarching  plot  and  path  for  your  character,  it  will  not  only  help  you  plot  with  others,  but  also  help  keep  your  character  moving  and  not  JUST  reliant  on  others  to  pick  up  the  slack

rping  has  always  used  the  yes  and…?  rule.  that  extends  to  your  characters.  instead  of  yes  and…?  think  of  So…  what?  your  character  loves  to  bake.  ok.  so  what?  what  does  that  mean  for  a  thread,  or  another  character?  why  do  we  care?  maybe  we’d  care  if  your  character  bakes  experimental  stuff  and  loves  to  test  it  on  other  muses.  maybe  we’d  care  if  your  character  used  to  be  a  professional  baker  but  hasn’t  baked  lovingly  in  a  while.  maybe  we’d  care  if  your  character  is  a  baker  but  has  lost  their  charm  and  schtick  and  can’t  bake  the  way  they  used  to.  this  stuff  is  important.  don’t  just  stick  arbitrary  things  onto  your  character  and  expect  others  to  care,  especially  when  you  don’t  care  and  have  just  put  it  on  your  character  as  a  random  quirk.  that’s  not  how  people  and  humans  work.  everything  means  everything. 

your  character  doesn’t  have  to  be  likeable  but  they  do  have  to  be  memorable.  evil  nasty  girls,  manipulative  jerks…  yeah  that’s  all  ok!  but  also  you  kinda  have  to  show,  don’t  tell.  you  can’t  just  SAY  your  character  is  the  “head  bitch  in  charge”  and  then  she  never  actually  talks  or  says  anything  or  does  anything.  sorry,  but  in  order  for  me  to  see  your  character,  you  actually  have  to  write  them  or  at  the  very  least  headcanon  them.  otherwise,  they’re  just  a  blob  of  musings  in  the  ether. 

in  order  to  create  a  character  ,  you  have  to  write  your  character  .  i  see  this  a  lot  in  groups  ..  people  love  to  create  a  character  pinterest  ,  graphics  ,  aesthetics  galore  .  its  amazing  !  but  they  don't  actually  write  the  character  and  it  can  close  off  a  lot  of  opportunities  to  plot  because  people  don't  know  who  your  character  really  is  .  i  hate  to  say  it  ,  and  its  not  true  for  everyone  but  :  if  you're  relying  on  aesthetic  ,  then  you  could  be  lacking  in  the  actual  creation  and  writing  aspect  .  plus  ,  people  have  come  here  to  WRITE  with  YOU  .  not  just  see  fan  edits  of  your  character  .  write  .  write  badly  .  write  starters  ,  even  if  they  scare  you  .  write  with  people  you  don't  know  .  write  with  yourself  .  write  with  your  best  friend  .  but  you  have  to  actually  do  the  writing  part  .

[midnitetech]

Download All My Mods in One Zip!

This folder includes everything that is up-to-date!

NOTEWORTHY NOTEBOOK

DOOMSCROLLING 

MEET UP APP  

LYRICAL ICON SCENARIO 

POWER OUTAGES 

SIMAZON UNLIMITED

SIMOLEONS SIDE HUSTLEZ 

SIMU ONLINE DEGREES 

SIMU ONLINE SKILL CLASSES

WRITE BOOKS OVERHAUL 

GAME DEVELOPER

HOLISTIC HEALTH CONSULTANT

CHIROPRACTOR

FREELANCE 3D MODELER

ALL HOURS CAREER PACK 

FLEX PART-TIME CAREER PACK 

RETAIL CAREER PACK 

LIBRARIAN

ODD JOBS MEGAPACK 

SEQUENTIAL ARTIST

STORYTELLING CAREER PACK 

CYBERSECURITY HACKER

REAL ESTATE AGENT

HR

BANKING

WELL-ROUNDED ASPIRATION (CHILD)

CAREER-FOCUSED ASPIRATION 

DISCOVER LIFE ASPIRATION 

CUSTOM CAREER UNIFORMS

RENAME WORLDS MOD 

SWITCH CAREER BRANCHES

FACIAL CLEANSER 4 ALL

GENERIC LOTS: EMPTY NO MORE 

CAS NAME RANDOMIZER 

EP17_DISABLESPECTERS

EP15_LESSPOVISITS

ODDJOBS_HIDEMAXIS

MAKEUPHIDER

STYLEDLOOKHIDER

STAY ASLEEP

THUNDERSTORMS_NOSCARED

⚠️REQUIRED⚠️

🌐Lot 51's Core Library 📁midnitetech_modlibrary 🎮Required DLC: Any DLC requirements are listed in the original posts above. You can now delete all midnitetech...ts4script files, bar midnitetech_RenameWorlds.ts4script (if you have it). My new midnitetech_modlibrary includes everything you'll need. Lot 51's Core Library is still required. This does NOT include my very old careers—they're being updated separately. See the link below the cut to track old content updates.

Get help, reach out, or explore more of my creations—all in one place!

Download & extract to C:\Users\....\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods

PATREON ($5 or Patreon membership)

NOT INCLUDED:

FIXED CC OBJECTS BY PBOX

LUXURY PARTY HAIR EDIT

ECO LIFESTYLE HAIR EDIT

EMPTY SAVE FILE

OLD CAREERS✳️

OLD CAREER PACK✳️ 

SATURDAY JOBS PACK✳️

TRAVEL WRITER CAREER ✳️ ✳️ Due for an overhaul. Track old content updates here.

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Actinopterygii - Osteoglossiformes

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Order: Osteoglossiformes

Common Name: no common name for the whole order

Families: 6 - Pantodontidae (“Freshwater Butterflyfish”), Osteoglossidae (“bonytongues” and “arowanas”), Arapaimidae (“arapaimas”), Notopteridae (“featherback knifefishes”), Gymnarchidae (“African Knifefish”), and Mormyridae (freshwater elephantfish”)

Anatomy: elongated body; toothed or bony tongues; long or absent dorsal and anal fins positioned near the caudal fin; large swim bladder enables them to breathe at the surface of the water; most are adapted for surface feeding

Diet: arthropods, fish, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, bats, and small birds

Habitat/Range: slightly acidic freshwater in South America, Africa, Australia, and Southern Asia

Evolved in: Late Jurassic

(source)

Propaganda under the cut:

Freshwater Butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) (image 4) have very large pectoral fins. If enough speed is built up underwater, a butterflyfish can jump and glide a small distance above the surface to escape predators. It wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides, with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles.

Arowanas (genus Osteoglossum) can jump up to 2 m (6.6 ft) out of the water to pick their prey off of branches, tree trunks or foliage, which has earned them the local name "water monkeys". They are the largest fish in the world to catch most of their food out of water.

Male arowanas brood their young within their mouth, only fully releasing them when they are about 7 cm (2.8 in) long.

The endangered Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) (image 1) is also known as the “dragonfish”, due to its large metallic scales and long barbels giving it a resemblance to the Chinese dragon. The popularity of this beautiful, auspicious fish has had both positive and negative effects on their status as endangered species, as they are in high demand in the home aquarium trade. Legal pet Asian Arowanas must be bred in captivity on a fish farm for at least two generations, have a certificate of authenticity and a birth certificate, and an implanted microchip to identify the individual. There are over 150 CITES-registered Asian Arowana farms in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asia countries, producing Asian Arowana for commercial purposes. But the actual number of Asian Arowana farms in the world could be much higher than that, probably over 350, the majority of them unregistered.

The Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) (see gif above) is the largest truly freshwater fish, commonly measuring 200 cm (6.6 ft) with records of up to 450 cm (15 ft). Adults may weigh up to 200 kg (440 lb).

Arapaima parents have been observed using their mouths to dig holes in the substrate to create a nest for their eggs. The males will remain by the nest to protect their offspring for three to six months.

Arapaima are becoming increasingly rare in their native habitat of the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia river basins, but are invasive in Bolivia and Indonesia after purposeful and accidental releases.

A 13-million-year-old fossil of an Arapaima (or very similar species) has been found in Colombia, in the Villavieja Formation, which dates from the Miocene epoch.

The African Arowana (Heterotis niloticus) (actually a relative of arapaimas rather than arowanas) is the only Osteoglossiform to feed extensively on plankton.

Native to freshwater habitats in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam, the Clown Featherback (Chitala ornata) (image 2) is considered one of the world’s most invasive species, as it often outgrows home aquariums and is then released into the “wild” outside its native range.

The Giant Featherback (Chitala lopis) was declared to be extinct in 2020, but a small surviving population was rediscovered on Java, Indonesia in 2023.

The African Knifefish (Gymnarchus niloticus) and freshwater elephantfishes (family Mormyridae) (image 3) are able to produce a steady but weak electric field, used for finding their prey, usually small invertebrates buried in muddy substrates.

The African Knifefish can swim equally well forwards or backwards, relying on its electric senses to “see” behind it.

Freshwater elephantfish are known to have a large brain size and unusually high intelligence.

The Medjed (likely a fish in the genus Mormyrus) was a kind of elephantfish sacred in the city Oxyrhynchus, in ancient Egyptian religion, as the fish that ate the penis of Osiris. Archaeologists have found fishes depicted as bronze figurines, mural paintings, or wooden coffins in the shape of fishes with downturned snouts, with horned sun-disc crowns like those of the goddess Hathor.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Locked Out of Heaven 4

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, power imbalance, age gap, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your father invites a work friend to the neighbourhood barbecue.

Characters: Nick Fowler (Dad’s friend trope)

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Asking for more or putting ‘part 2?’ is not feedback.

Love you all. You are appreciated and your are worthy. Treat yourself with care. 💖

The leaves rustle as you watch a squirrel scale the branch. The moment of peace gives you time to catch your breath. Even so, your head is still spinning. If your dad knew you were here...

You swallow tightly at that thought. Why didn't you think of that sooner? He'll be upset you're not studying. Or that you didn't turn the dishwasher on. Oh no.

"Why so down, princess? You miss me?" Nick comes up the steps of the gazebo.

You look up and wipe away your worry. You have bigger concerns. Like him and the way he makes your insides gooey.

"Sour cherry," he holds out a cone. You lean forward on the bench and thank him. You take it carefully.

He sits next to you with his cone, his thigh touching yours. You eye the scoop of gelato. You swipe over it with your tongue. Mm. That's different.

"Good?" Nick asks.

"Oh, yum," you force a smile. "Yours."

"Let's see," he focuses on the gelato. He sticks his tongue out, spreading it wide, and drags it over the round scoop. He hums and licks his lips. "Delicious."

Your gaze clings to his lips. You tear your eyes away and stare at your own cone. You flick your tongue against it, taking small licks as you watch the grass ripple.

"This is nice. Peaceful," he comments. "I like this."

"Yeah, er, it's...good," you utter.

"Woah, hey, princess, look at me," he says.

You flinch and do as he says. You look at him as his cheek dimples and his lips slant. He reaches to trace his thumb above your top lip down to the corner.

"Making a mess," he pulls back and licks clean his thumb. "Mmm, tart."

Your breath rushes out as you gape senselessly. Did he really just do that? You snap your mouth shut and slowly suck in air through your nose.

"Wanna try some of mine?" He offers.

You look at the pale yellow gelato then his bold blue eyes. You bat your lashes and rub your lips together. You can still feel his thumb there. An image flashes in your mind as you bit the tip of your tongue. You imagine him pushing his thumb into your mouth. Oh god.

"I don't mind. Come on." He tilts the cone toward you.

You can't speak. You want to say no. You should say no. Yet, you really want to do everything he tells you too. Why?

You lean forward and cautiously lick the cone. He watches you intently. Your cheeks burn as you taste the melting cream. You sit back and cover your mouth.

"Very good. Sweet," you say.

"I like sweet things," he purrs.

"Uh... me too."

He leans back against the gazebo railing, resting his elbow over it. He spreads his knees wide as he stretches his arm behind you. He continues to lap at the cone lazily. He pops his lips and tickles along the back of your arm.

"Princess, I got some bad news." He says.

You sit up straight, prickling with anxiety. Stop looking at his chest. It's just that necklace catch your eye, right?

"Bad news?"

"Ha, sorry, I didn't mean to scare ya. You know, I thought you should have my number just 'cause..." he sighs and ways his knee back and forth. "I gotta go away. It's work. They put me up in a hotel and I gotta send back reports." He scoffs. "Gets real lonely. So if I send you a text or two, can you answer me?"

"Oh uh, sure," you shrug. "Okay."

"Ah, sweetheart, that'll be amazing." He pets your arm. "I think I'll miss you. You gonna miss me?"

You raise a brow. You barely know him, really. You hide your mouth behind the cone. You look around.

"No?" He wonders.

"I... I guess. I'm sorry. I guess... well, yeah."

"Yeah? Good," he drawls. "Pretty princess waiting for me. That's something to work for."

"Uh huh," you gulp and press your lips to the cone without thinking. You cringe and pull back, licking clean your lips. You catch him staring at your tongue.

"Mm, mm," he hums and sits forward, bringing his arm across your shoulders. He pulls you closer. You could melt like the gelato dripping down your knuckles. "You do me one more favour, princess." You nod as you try not to choke. "Don't tell dad about this, alright? We both know he's a hard ass. We're just having some fun, aren't we? Getting ice cream, getting to know each other. Nothing wrong with that." He grips your bare shoulder. "Can you keep this our little secret?"

You turn the cone. You bring it closer and hover it just in front of your lips. "Yes, I won't tell."

"Good girl," he cooes as he keeps his arm around you. "I know you wouldn't lie to me."

💜

Your dad gets home at his usual time. You're where you should be, studying at the dining room table. You always move there before he gets back. He gets mad when you have all your clutter on the couch.

He grumbles at you and hollers for Austin to get downstairs. You lean your pencil on your lip and for a moment, it's more than just plastic; it's Nick's thumb brushing the soft skin. You sit up straight as the voices draw you back to reality.

Sometimes, it feels like you're just another piece of furniture. Your dad barely says hello. Austin isn't much better. When he does talk to you, he calls you brainiac or something worse. If only your dad knew he was paying a junior to do his schoolwork. It doesn't really matter anyway. As long as he stays on the team.

You close your books and stack them under your laptop. You head into the kitchen to get dinner started. You don't do much. You put the prepackaged sides and meat in the oven. Your dad never cooked so he never taught you. He just ordered from a catering company. It's expensive but if it's anything he enjoys, he never cheaps out.

You lean in the corner of the counter. You're restless. You keep expecting your dad to storm in. To accuse you of lying. He doesn't.

Him and Austin enter the kitchen but don't even notice you on their way to the deck. The door shuts and you check the timer on the stove. You're not very hungry. You're nervous. There's so many uncertainties. Will your dad find out? Will Nick message? Is this anything or just a game? Better yet, is it all in your head?

💜

You yawn and nestle down into the pillows. Your lab is early in the morning. You'll need to be rested up. You're exhausted yet wide awake. You just haven't been able to settle.

You close your eyes and try to make your body relax. As you do, you stretch your arms to the sides, fingertips at the edge of the mattress. You feel tiny in the bed. Alone.

Your phone vibrates as if on cue. Before you can let him invade your mind, Nick texts. You hesitate before you unlock the phone. The conversation pops up. Shoot, he'll know you read it.

'Hey princess. Got where I need to be. Bed time?'

You chew your lip. You can't figure out how to answer. You type and backspace so many times. You hope he isn't watching those three dots.

'Just laying in bed. Glad you're safe.' That's fine, right? Nothing weird.

'Big room. Far away. Location is confidential but nice. Am I keeping you up?'

'No. Can't sleep.'

You hit send and stare. Ugh. You should say more but you really don't know what to say.

That worry quickly turns to fright. You sit up as you hit the volume button to hush the ringer. He's video calling. Oh no.

You answer just to stop the vibration. You see the rectangle in the corner, your silhouette lit by the glow of the phone. The rest of the screen is taken up by Nick.

"Hey, I can't see you, princess."

You squeak. You twist around and reach for the lamp. You turn it on and sit back.

"Sorry," you speak softly. "Had the lights off."

"That's alright, princess. Just wanted to see that pretty face." He smirks.

"Oh..." you see your own smile in the corner and want to hide. You're so stupid.

"Lonely here. Just me. Observation mission. Real scintillating stuff."

"Really?"

"Nah.Not really." He tilts his head. "How about I show you the room?"

"If you want," you tense and look above your phone, listening intently to the hallway.

"You're quiet, princess. I can barely hear you."

"Yeah, er... sorry, I don't wanna wake anyone up." You say. You know you won't, everyone else is still awake. You just don't want them to hear you.

"So caring," he praises. "Here, let me flip this."

Suddenly, the image switches as the lens view changes. You see the suite. It's nice. The furniture is modern. A round poof to match the geometric pillows on the couch and the square chair. The decor is the sort of upscale that is almost uncomfortable.

"It looks nice," you whisper.

"Yeah, baby?" He walks around. "Got a bar..." he goes to the glass bartop. "Mini fridge," he shows you the transparent door and all the bottles. "Lots...." he aims at the shelves of glasses. "But no one to share it with."

He walks along the balcony doors that look onto a sparkling skyline then back to the room. He approaches an open door and goes through. He shows you the bedroom. It's just as big as the other room. The bed is neatly made in all white and a large circle mirror hangs behind it, reflecting the rest of the space and something more...

You cover your mouth as your eyes round. "It's a nice bed, huh? Haven't tested it out yet. I'm restless."

"Uh huh," you murmur behind your fingers as you stare at the mirror.

He's in nothing but his boxers. You can see his naked torso and legs. He's slightly obscured by the distance and bed, but you can't look away. His muscles are thick and carved out perfectly.

"You okay?" He asks.

"Nick..."

"Princess," he counters.

"I..."

"Go on, princess."

"I can... see you."

He clucks and flips the camera back to his face. He chuckles. "You like what you see?"

You blink. You open your mouth then shut it. You try again. You have no words.

"I work out so... I hope so," he says.

Silence. Still.

You're dumb. You're lame. And he knows it. You can't even speak because he's the first man ever you've seen like that. And the hottest one.

"Well... you saw me, how about you let me see what you got on?" He purrs.

You cough. "Huh? Er?"

"Come on. Unless... you're not naked, are you?"

You gasp and tug at your collar, visible in the lower part of the frame. He laughs again.

"Teasing. Come on, baby. I'm so far away. I miss you."

"Miss me?" You gulp.

"Sure. I think I've been pretty damn obvious." His face turns serious and you can see the movement around him. He sits. "Sweetheart, I could get in a lot of trouble for it. For just saying so, but I'm really into you. You know that right? You probably see right through me, huh?"

You stare. You look at yourself in the corner. You look terrified. You are terrified. Your heart is thumping so loud.

"If you're not into it, you can just end the call right now." It's hard to tell where he's looking but you just know he's watching you. Waiting.

"I...I'm just... surprised," you croak.

"Surprised? By what?"

"That... that... you... you're saying you like me?"

HIs mouth slants, "baby, I more than like you."

Your brows rise and your head pulses dizzily. Woah.

"You okay?"

"Good," you eke out. "I'm... I..."

"So... can I see your jammies?" He asks,

The question helps you focus. You let out a droning 'uh' as you look down at yourself. You glance at him again.

"Once sec."

You get up on your knees then lean on one hand. You put the phone against the foot board and back up. You angle to get yourself in frame. You feel so strange. It's nothing special. Striped linen pajamas; a button-up tee and pants.

He hums. "You look good, princess. Cozy."

You scramble to grab the phone again, "I do?"

"Sure. I think you'd look even better in something... silkier. It's so hot out. I'm sure a cute little night gown would be much better."

"Oh, maybe."

"Something... pink? I think you'd look good in satin."

"You... do?"

"Well, I think a lot of things about you. I can't lie about that," he lays back and holds his phone by his stomach so you can see his chest. Your eyes threaten to roll back. You feel faint. "I keep thinking about how much room there is in this bed. How nice it'd be to have you next to me."

"Oh?"

"Oh," he echoes coyly. "What do you think? You like that idea? Get all nice and cuddly together?"

"Sure," you breathe. "That's... that's... nice."

"It's damn near perfect," he sighs as your eyes stray to his chest hair. Something about the curls makes your thighs clench. "Right now, just talking to you like this, that's close enough."

[tteotlma]

Sugar and Skin

4. Fractured Focus || Previous - Next

A late-night encounter lingers in the quiet hum of the shop, a step too close and a touch nearly made, leaving behind something unspoken—something that refuses to fade.

TattooArtist!Bucky x Baker!Reader (4.6kwc)

tw: 18+ MDNI; mild language, subtle tension, implied attraction, slow-burn, strangers to friends to lovers, mentions of smoking, lingering touches, close proximity, unspoken intentions a/n: pls forgive me if some of the phrases are repetitive... i dont know how else to word and reword the same motions sometimes ((babes im so sorry for the wait.. it's been crazy... I started training at my new job.. i quit that job.. I saw hugh jackman in new york city, fell behind in school work so i had to catch up and then i got a new internet crush... so it's been CRAZY anyway..)) enjoy!!

The shop was unusually quiet for an early afternoon, the faint hum of the fridge muffled through the walls of the back room. Bucky sat in his station chair, feet propped on the black recliner stretched across from him as he leaned back, a sketchbook balanced on his lap. The pen in his hand moved slowly, purposefully, trailing delicate lines across the page. 

He wasn’t even sure what had drawn him to this particular image. At first, it had been a simple twig, then small berries began to take shape, clustered tightly together. His usual sketches were bold and heavy—intimidating designs for ink that would sit on someone’s skin forever. But this? This was… different. 

The soft red ink shaded each berry into a round plump form, almost glistening on the page. Leaves sprouted from the stems, broad and delicate, with the faintest etchings of veins running through them. Thorns lined the thin branches, sharp and deliberate, giving the otherwise soft drawing a quiet angst. 

Bucky’s brow furrowed slightly as he added detail to the sketch, his focus sharp yet relaxed. The raspberries, though he never called them that in his mind, seemed to grow beneath his hand, as if they were waiting to spill from the page. His hand lingered over the image, caught up in the small folds of a leaf and the way the weight of the fruit bent the stem. 

“You know,” Steve’s voice broke through the stillness, startling Bucky just enough for his boot to slip from the bench. He straightened, quickly closing the sketchbook with one hand as his sharp blue eyes flicked up toward his friend.

Steve stood at the counter, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth twitching like he was trying not to grin. “I’ve been reading up on insubordination,” he began, feigning seriousness as he leaned casually against the counter. “And technically, I’m your boss, which means when I send you to get my stuff and the stuff is given to you, I expect you to bring everything to me.”

Bucky sat up straighter, his boots hitting the floor with a dull thud. “I do,” he said defensively, his tone clipped. “I did.”

Steve’s grin broke free, his feigned seriousness dissolving. “Relax, Buck. I’m kidding.” He waved a hand, stepping away from the counter. “You don’t even know what I’m talking about yet and you’re already giving yourself away.”

Bucky gave him a sharp look, his brows pulling together in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Steve replied with a laugh, shaking his head as he approached. His eyes flicked to the sketchbook still tucked under Bucky’s hand. “What’ve you been working on?”

“Nothing important,” Bucky said quickly, but Steve ignored him, leaning over to tug the book free.

Steve flipped it open before Bucky could protest, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the page. “Huh.”

“Huh?” Bucky repeated, annoyed.

Steve tilted the book toward him, tapping the edge of the page. “This isn’t your usual style.”

“No shit,” Bucky muttered, grabbing the sketchbook back and closing it with a snap.

“Relax,” Steve said again, his grin softening. “It’s good. Just… different. Almost delicate.” He raised a brow, but didn’t press further, stepping back toward the counter. “Anyway, don’t forget to grab my coffee tomorrow, thanks.”

Bucky scoffed, watching as Steve disappeared into the back room. When the shop fell silent again, he glanced down at his sketchbook, the edges of the raspberries still vivid in his mind. With a quiet sigh, he leaned back in the chair and flipped the book open again, his pen hovering over the page.

The raspberries stared back at him, vibrant against the soft cream of the paper. Bucky tapped his pen against the edge of the page once, twice, before letting it trail back to the delicate stem, adding another small thorn.

—-

The shop had emptied out hours ago, leaving only the quiet hum of the fridge and the soft scratching of Bucky’s pen against paper. The raspberries on yet another page had taken form in a way that felt almost absentminded, the delicate shading of each berry and the sharp, spiked edges of the leaves coming together without much thought.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking toward the clock. It was late. Too late to still be here, but something kept him rooted to the spot. He exhaled sharply through his nose, flipping the sketchbook shut with one hand before running the other through his hair.

He needed air, maybe a cigarette, probably both.

Pushing himself up from the chair, he grabbed his jacket, shrugging it on as he made his way toward the door. The air outside was crisp, the streets quiet save for the distant hum of a passing car.

And then—

The soft scuff of a shoe against pavement made him glance up.

She was standing a few steps away, caught mid-stride under the dim glow of the street lamp. 

Bucky froze.

For a moment, neither of them moved. 

The light above buzzed faintly, bathing her in warm hues against the dark backdrop of the street. She clutched the strap of her bag a little tighter, her fingers flexing against the worn leather as if she hadn’t quite expected to run into him either. 

His tongue darted out to wet his lips, the smoke from his lips curling faintly in the cool night air. 

“Didn’t think you’d still be here.” She said, voice quiet. 

“Neither did I.” He finally said, voice low and rough from hours of silence. 

A pause.

The silence stretched, thick and unyielding. It wasn’t the comfortable kind, but neither of them seemed to want to break it too soon.

Bucky shifted his weight slightly, exhaling another slow stream of smoke. His fingers twitched against the worn leather of his jacket, debating what to do with his hands. He could feel the way she was watching him—cautious, curious, like she was trying to decipher him.

His voice came quieter this time, more curious than anything. “Didn’t think this was your usual route.”

She took a slow step forward, fingers flexing against the strap of her bag. “Oh, I just wanted to run through some stuff with Steven if he was still here.”

Bucky’s gaze flicked toward the darkened tattoo shop behind him, then back to her. “You just missed him.”

A beat of silence passed, thick with something unspoken. She nodded, lips pressing together like she was weighing whether to say something else. Bucky didn’t move, didn’t press, instead he just watched, his empty hand sliding into the pocket of his jacket as the air between them stretched.

The distant sound of a car rumbled through the street, headlights sweeping past them for only a second before disappearing around the bend. The glow of the streetlamp flickered slightly, casting shifting shadows across the pavement.

Bucky’s gaze flickered down, catching the way she rubbed her fingers against the worn strap of her purse —a nervous habit, maybe. His own fingers curled inside his pockets.

The stillness felt heavier than it should’ve, settling in his chest like a weight. He exhaled through his nose, then brought the cigarette to his lips, taking a slow drag. The tip flared in the dark, smoke curling around his face as he held the breath for a moment before releasing it into the night air.

“You smoke a lot?” Her voice cut through the quiet, soft but pointed.

Bucky flicked his eyes down to the ember at the tip, rolling the cigarette between his fingers, considering. Smoke curled lazily in the space between them. “Depends on the day.”

She hummed, tilting her head slightly, like she was turning the answer over in her mind, weighing it.

Bucky brought the cigarette to his lips again, taking another long drag, letting the burn settle deep before exhaling slowly. The air between them clouded with it, thinning as it drifted up toward the streetlamp’s glow.

“One of those days, then?”

His fingers twitched.

Bucky looked at her—really looked at her—his gaze tracing the way the dim light softened her features. She wasn’t looking at him, not fully, just watching the ember flicker, waiting for an answer.

He inhaled again, slow, the nicotine further grounding him.

Then, he let out a short chuckle almost a scoff, low and almost to himself. “You could say that.”

She shifted on her feet, fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag. The words seemed to catch in her throat before she finally managed, “Actually, do you think maybe I could just… leave something inside for Steven?”

Bucky’s brow lifted slightly, but he didn’t move. “Yeah?”

She nodded quickly, a little too quickly, and gestured to the folder tucked in her bag. “It’s just—uh—it’s nothing urgent but—. Just some things I drafted for him for that thing you guys are doing.”

Bucky’s gaze flickered to the folder, then back to her face. She wasn’t looking at him—not directly. Her fingers fumbled slightly as she messed with the folder in her bag, like she was feeling the weight of the silence just as much as he was.

He exhaled through his nose, slowly, then shifted his stance. “Yeah, alright,” he murmured, reaching beside him to pull the door open. “Come on.” 

Bucky watched as she hesitated for only a fraction of a second before stepping toward him, her movements quick but deliberate.

She slowed just as she neared him, close enough that he could see the way her breath caught, the faintest hitch in her chest before she steadied herself. Her eyes dragged up his frame, lingering for just a beat too long before finally meeting his gaze.

As their eyes met, Bucky exhaled slowly, the cigarette perched between his lips, smoke curling between them in the narrow space. His free hand held the door open, fingers curling around the edge as he leaned into it, using the frame as lazy leverage. The glow of the tip cast flickering shadows across his face, the low light making his sharp features even sharper, the silver glint of his nose piercing catching faintly.

She hesitated for another second, her fingers twitching against her elbows as her arms crossed her chest. His gaze dipped slightly, just for a fraction of a breath, before flicking back to hers. He didn’t say anything, just watched her, the slow pull of smoke filling the space between them like something tangible.

Then, with an almost reluctant exhale, he reached up and plucked the cigarette from his lips, the barest hint of a smirk ghosting across his features as he dragged his tongue across his lower lip. The motion was slow, almost thoughtless, but she caught it—her eyes flicking to his mouth for just a second too long. His gaze met hers again, amusement glinting beneath the surface.

“You gonna go in,” he murmured, voice low, “or we just gonna stand here?”

Her breath hitched, just barely, before she shifted, stepping past him into the shop.

Bucky didn’t move from the doorway right away. He lingered just long enough to watch her falter in her steps before stepping further into the dim shop. The scent of her—something warm, something faintly sweet—brushed past him, but he didn’t let his gaze linger.

Instead, he sighed slowly, rolling the cigarette between his fingers before flicking it into the little tray by the window. His steps were unhurried as he followed her inside.

“You know where his desk is,” he muttered, nodding vaguely toward the back. The soft click of the door seemingly echoed in the vacant shop 

“Right. Yep.”She moved without another word, sneakers scuffing lightly against the hardwood as she disappeared past the main workstations. 

Bucky stood still for another second, fingers flexing slightly at his sides before he exhaled through his nose and trudged to where he sat earlier. Staring at the discarded papers strewn throughout his area, he sighed again shrugging off his jacket. The leather slid off his arms in one smooth motion, and he tossed it lazily onto the back of his chair.

Then, as if none of this was anything, he sat down. 

His eyes flicked to the sketchbook, still open to the crimson crops decorating the pageg. The red ink bled into the page in soft gradients, the delicate shading giving them weight, depth. He hadn’t planned on sketching them again, but somehow every time his mind came up empty, the shape of sweetness had come easy, his hand moving without thought, refining the curve of each berry he drew, the way stems wove together, thorns barely visible but always there.

His fingers hovered over the edge of the paper, the pen tapping idly against the margin. He wasn’t really thinking just tracing lines, smoothing out shadows, letting the motion guide him. The act itself was grounding, something to focus on, something to fill the quiet.

Bucky exhaled slowly, dragging the pen along the edge of a leaf, darkening the veins, sharpening the points where the thorns curled. The thorns had come later, after the berries, after the delicate lines and soft shadows. He didn’t know why, exactly—just that the drawing had always felt unfinished without them.

The shop was quiet. Too quiet.

The soft shuffle of footsteps barely registered until he felt a presence at his back.

"You've been busy."

The words were soft, spoken just behind him. Close.

Bucky stilled.

His fingers flexed against the pen, grip tightening slightly as the voice settled over him—quiet, but not uncertain.

He didn’t turn immediately.

Instead, he let the weight of her presence settle, let the space between them shrink just enough to be fully noticeable.

Then, slowly, he angled his head, catching her in his periphery.

She was standing closer than expected, her arms crossed loosely over her chest, her gaze flickering between the scattered sketches on the desk before landing on the one beneath his hand.

Bucky stared at her, waiting.

She nodded toward the page. “Didn’t take you for the delicate type.”

His mouth twitched. “I’m not.” He spoke too quick for his liking.

“Mm.” The sound was quiet, skeptical.

But she didn’t step away. Instead, her attention slowly dropped, shifting away from the sketchbook. It was subtle, something no one would notice unless they were really looking at her. Unless they were paying attention.

His gaze tracked the way her eyes flickered downward, no longer fixed on the paper but on him.

Her eyes traced the ink along his forearm, the dark lines and sharp, angular designs shifting over his skin as he involuntarily flexed his fingers. His tattoos were nothing like the sketches that were strewn about the room. They instead were stark, intricate, built from jagged lines and interlocking symbols that looked almost mechanical in their precision. They sprawled up his arms in bold, geometric bands, twisting and branching in patterns that mimicked circuitry, disappearing beneath the sleeve of his shirt like a secret map etched into his skin.

And she was still looking.

Bucky felt the way her focus kept drifting back, like she was trying not to, like she was searching for something else to land on but every time, her eyes traced the same path. His fingers, then his hands, and then arms, the way the veins ran just beneath the surface of his skin.

She swallowed.

“So,” she said, her voice quieter than usual, like she was only speaking to fill the space. “You, uh… sketch a lot?”

Her eyes flicked up briefly to his then to the book beneath his hand, like she was forcing herself to focus on the book in front of him instead of the way his biceps flexed slightly when he shifted in his seat.

Bucky tilted his head slightly, not answering right away, just watching her.

“I mean, I guess that’s obvious,” she continued, fidgeting slightly where she stood, fingers twitching against her arm as she still had them crossed loosely against her chest. “Tattoo artist and all.” She quickly glanced at him. The motion was quick, barely there, but Bucky caught it.

He caught all of it.

His tongue flicked against his lower lip, slow, measured.

“Yeah,” he finally murmured, voice still hushed, and rough around the edges.

That should have been the end of it. She should have nodded, maybe said something about how it made sense, how he was good at what he did, then gone back to whatever excuse she had for still standing there.

But she didn’t.

Instead, her fingers flexed against her arm again, her weight shifting like she was debating something before finally nodding toward his sketchbook.

“This one’s…” she started, “not what I expected.”

Bucky’s brow twitched, his fingers tightening just slightly where they rested against his book.

She was still looking.

Still filling the silence.

Bucky dragged his tongue along the inside of his cheek, the corner of his mouth twitching just slightly. Her focus flickered between the sketchbook and his arms, like she was trying to settle on one or the other but couldn’t quite manage to stick the landing.

Instead of calling attention to it, Bucky let the silence stretch, watching the way she fidgeted slightly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Not nervous—just… preoccupied.

Her eyes flickered to the sketchbook again, as if reminding herself why she was standing there in the first place. “It’s just different from what I thought you’d draw.” Her voice was even, casual, but the way she kept her arms crossed tightly over her chest gave away that she wasn’t as relaxed as she sounded.

Bucky tapped his pen lightly against the edge of the book, watching her through half-lidded eyes. “Yeah?”

She nodded, her gaze darting across the page. “I guess I figured it’d be more like…” She hesitated, searching for the right word… before her eyes drifted again not toward the sketch, but to him. 

“You know,” her gaze traced the length of his fingers where they rested against the edge of the sketchbook, absentmindedly running his fingers against the edges of the paper. 

“Like the kind that…” her eyes then traced higher, following the veins that cut sharply along his forearm, disappearing beneath the rolled-up sleeve of his shirt. The intricate lines of his tattoos stretched over the muscle, shifting subtly with every small movement. 

“That…?” Bucky tucked his lower lip between his teeth, trying to hid his enjoyment in whatever was happening in front of him. 

Her attention lingered on his bicep a sec, then trailed upward again, sweeping over the broad plane of his chest, the way the fabric of his shirt stretched tight over it, dipping just slightly at the collar to reveal the edge of what seemed like the same tattoo.

Her lips parted slightly, eyes flitting up—finally—to meet his.

Bucky was still watching her.

She immediately cleared her throat, and stood straigh shifting her weight.

“I-I’m sorry it’s been a long day, I think I’m losing my train of thought.” 

Bucky didn’t miss the way her arms tightened against her chest, the huff of air she let out blowing a few stray strands of loose hair from her face. He watched, eyes tracking every small movement, as she reached up to push the hair back behind her ear, her fingers brushing lightly against her cheek.

Then she took a step back.

His gaze followed her as she leaned against the edge of the metal dresser behind her, shifting slightly until she was fully braced against it.

And then—

His jaw ticked.

He didn’t mean to look.

Didn’t mean to notice the way the hem of her jeans hugged the soft curve of her thighs, how the fabric subtly creased and pulled as she shifted her weight back against the dresser. It was brief—just a flicker of movement—but Bucky felt something twist in his chest.

His grip on the pen tightened, fingers flexing against the smooth barrel, accidentally leaving a violent mark across the page.

His brain felt like it stalled for half a second, before jolting back into motion, forcing him to drag his eyes away.

He shifted in his seat, rolling his shoulders like it would shake off whatever strange pull had settled over him. The shop was too quiet, the air thick with something unspoken, and Bucky suddenly hated how aware he was of everything—the faint scent of sugar and vanilla clinging to her skin, the soft hum of her breathing, the way she had caught her bottom lip between her teeth for half a second before releasing it.

He needed to say something. Needed to break whatever this was.

“You figured what?” he asked, his voice coming out lower than he intended.

Her brows lifted slightly, like she had forgotten what they were talking about. “Huh?”

Bucky tapped his pen against the edge of the sketchbook. “You said you figured I’d draw something different.”

“Oh. Right.” She let out a quiet breath, eyes flicking back to the page—though her posture was a little stiffer now, like she had caught onto the shift in atmosphere. “I just meant… I guess I thought your style would be more bold. Darker, maybe.”

Bucky hummed, his grip relaxing just slightly on the pen. “Most of the time, it is.”

She tilted her head, considering that. “So what made you change?”

He hesitated, the pen stilling against the paper.

For a second, he thought about lying—thought about brushing it off as nothing, as a mindless sketch, as something without weight.

But the raspberries stared back at him, delicate and vivid, surrounded by the sharp twist of thorns.

“Dunno,” he murmured finally, voice quiet, unreadable. “Just happened.”

She hesitated just a moment longer, adjusting the strap of her bag again, fingers gripping it as if she needed something to ground herself. “Artists,” she finally said, the word a soft exhale, laced with something almost amused, almost fond.

Bucky’s gaze flicked to her hands, to the way she flexed her fingers against the strap, before dragging his eyes back to her face. He didn’t say anything, just watched as she shifted, as she took the first slow step toward the door.

“It’s getting late. I should go.”

Something about the way she said it made something in Bucky’s chest press tight—like it was the natural conclusion, the only logical ending to whatever this had been.

Still, before he could stop himself, before he could think about it, he was standing.

She noticed immediately.

He moved without hesitation—quicker, smoother—and as he straightened to his full height, the shift in his posture made her steps falter just slightly. Her head tilted up, her brows twitching in the faintest flicker of surprise.

His fingers flexed briefly, then curled into his palm.

"Um…" He cleared his throat, fidgeting just slightly. "Sh—should I take you home?"

Her breath caught, just a fraction. Her fingers twitched against the zipper of her sweater.

Bucky felt the words sit heavy in the air between them, waiting.

She blinked at him, like she wasn’t sure if she’d heard him correctly.

He forced himself to hold her gaze, suddenly wondering what had even prompted him to ask. The words had left his mouth before he’d fully thought them through, hanging between them, heavy and uncertain.

“I got my bike out back,” he added, quieter, as if that somehow explained everything.

She stared at him for half a second longer, her expression unreadable. For a fleeting moment, Bucky thought she might actually say yes.

But then her lips parted, and a dry, almost amused lilt colored her voice.

“Your bike?”

Bucky exhaled slowly through his nose, nodding once. “Yeah.”

Her fingers flexed again, then curled into her palm. “And you think I’m just gonna get on the back of it?”

His brow twitched, but he stayed still. “Why not?”

She held his gaze, something flickering behind her eyes before she let out a slow breath. “That’s not a good idea.”

Bucky’s fingers curled slightly at his sides. “Why not?”

Her lips parted like she had an answer, but whatever it was never made it past her tongue. Instead, she just exhaled again, her grip tightening around the strap of her bag. “It just isn’t.”

His jaw shifted, considering her for a moment, before he gave a slow, almost reluctant nod. “Alright.”

Something in her posture eased, but only just.

Still, neither of them moved.

“Really,” he opened the door for her, stepping halfway through, his frame filling the doorway. “It’s not an issue.”

“No, really–”

She moved, and suddenly, they were in the doorway, the narrow space between them forcing them chest to chest. Closer than either of them had prepared for. The narrow space between them barely existed, her breath catching as she realized just how little room there was to step past him.

“Oh, Um..” Her voice coming out rushed. “Sorry i didn’t mean… I wasn’t—” and then as if second nature, her hand lifted. Maybe to steady herself, maybe for something else. But the moment her fingers grazed the fabric of his shirt, just barely, she froze.

Bucky did too.

“Paying attention…” She drawled out, staring at the stretched fabric over his chest. The touch of her hand was fleeting, but it sent something sharp through the space between them, something tense, something neither of them knew how to speak on.

She pulled her hand away quickly, like she’d been burned, like she hadn’t meant to do it at all.

“U-um—thank you,” she murmured, quieter this time, a little breathless, a little uncertain as she cradled the hand that touched him to her chest. Like she had been hurt. She stepped fully through the doorway. 

Bucky’s eyes flickered down, watching the way her fingers curled slightly against her palm. Something about it made his chest tighten, made his jaw flex, but he didn’t move. Didn’t say anything.

Not until she did.

“Maybe next time," she murmured, "Goodnight, Bucky.” She smiled at him softly before turning in the opposite direction, and heading back towards her store. 

Maybe next time.

Bucky’s fingers flexed at his sides, his pulse thrumming in a slow, steady beat against his ribs. He didn’t know why he was still standing there, watching her walk away, or why the sound of his name on her lips sent something sharp and unfamiliar through him.

His throat worked around the weight of whatever the hell this was.

He could have said goodnight. Could have given her a nod, a grunt—something easy, something that wouldn’t feel like stepping into whatever was settling between them, thick and unspoken. Instead, he just watched as she disappeared over the bend of the sidewalk.

The door groaned softly as it swung back into place, the brass bell giving one last muted chime.

Bucky stood there for a moment longer than he should have.

Then, with a slow exhale, he reached for the lock, twisting it into place before dragging a hand threw his hair and around his jaw.

His other hand tugged at the fabric of his shirt, the ghost of something warm against his chest making the material feel too tight all of a sudden. Like it had shrunk in the last thirty seconds.

Bucky rolled his shoulders, flexed his arms stretching them down his sides, but it didn’t shake the feeling.

With a quiet sigh, he turned back toward his station, eyes drifting over the scattered pages, the open sketchbook. The raspberries stared back at him, vivid and red, surrounded by sharp, curling thorns.

Bucky dragged his tongue over his molars, then reached for his pen, twirling it once between his fingers before setting it down.

He should go home.

He would.

Eventually.

But for now, he sat back down, flipping to a fresh page.

And, without thinking, he started to draw.

—

a/n: again thank you so much for your patience w/ this chapter huhuhu~ please reblog to support! I also love feedback, and comments :)

Literally your comments are hilarious

taglist (lmk if you want to be added!) : @cheezemanz @shirukitsune @miharuwrites @multifandomkid @violetpassionfruit @sapphirebarnes @grilledcheesewithjalapeno @angelbabyyy99 @theendofmaterialgworl @venuslovey @blackhawkfanatic @lazyneonrabbitt @singsosworld @danzer8705 @xamapolax @otterlycanadian @that1geek06

[gir-sims]

Round 4 of the Branch household is up for reading on my Dreamwidth! You can read it here, or any other of my BACC updates here :)

[izu0m1i]

MERCY BE DONE (YANDERE!BATFAM X RELIGIOUS!CULT!READER)

Warning: Hallucination(nightmare), Blood(briefly mentioned), horror theme and vibe, yandere tendencies, curse words

Chapter 4: Round and Round and Round and Root and Round and-

Tim awoke from his dreamless night, one that didn't bring his restless mind any peace. He felt more tired.

Getting out of his tent, he noticed that the field where his family and he had set camp was gone. The forest was gone. Only red grass, with a red sky and a blood red moon, was in sight. He scrambled back, turning to go back to his tent, but it was gone.

"What the fuck?" he yelled twisting around to look at his surrounding, only to be meet with a tree??

The tree sits hunched in the center of a sunless hollow, its massive trunk blackened like charred bone. The bark is ridged and split like burned flesh, weeping a thick red sap that smells faintly of rust and roses. Its roots do not burrow—they coil and twist above the ground, wrapping around old stones, long-buried bones, and the remains of past offerings.

The branches do not rise. They bend downward, hanging like the arms of something in mourning—or waiting.

The leaves, if any remain, are brittle, sickly gray, and whisper even without wind.

Beneath the tree’s base is a wide spiral cavity, like the earth itself opened its throat. This tree....a maw lined with gnarled roots and black soil that pulses faintly, like it breathes. But who was kneeling in front of it? Y/N

She had a white night gown on, dirty from sitting on the ground. Herr long dark (H/C) was in a low braid, with vine thorns braided in the hair. She was whispering.

"Y/N?" Tim asked, confusion swirled in his mind. Why was she here? Where is here? What is that thing? Lots more questions popped into his mind but Y/N didn't answer when called out

Against his better judgment, he stepped forward, one, twice....till he was behind her. Now he could see the black veil obscuring her face, while on her lap was a small dagger with blood coating its blade. He swallowed and put a hand on her shoulder, kneeling down to her. "Y/N" he tried again, this time firmer, earning him a slow turning of her head to him. She slowly raised her right hand to his cheek, holding it gently, stroking it with her thumb. He ignored the wet and sticking feeling forming underneath his left knee, how something wet was being rubbed against his cheek. His sole focus was on her and her obscured face. "Tim" she said softly, sighing in contempt, as if his mere existence brought her joy. Like something hollow was filled.

Warmth spread down his chest, making his heart beat faster with each stroke of her thumb. He didn't know why. He doesn't even know her. Yet this feeling....

He slowly removed his hand from her shoulder and went to take the veil off. He wanted to see her face-nay he needed to see her face.

Just before his fingers touched the edge of the veil, the breath in his lungs stopped—not from fear, but reverence.

Beneath his knee, the ground pulsed. Wet warmth seeped into his pants, not like water. Thicker. And it pulls.

“Tim,” she whispered again, but her voice was layered—his name echoed back from the roots, warped and doubled, as if another voice wore hers like a mask.

“Do you want to see?” she asked gently. “It’s all right. The Root already sees you.” she said in the sweetest tone, putting her hand on his chest pushing him on the ground, him not even resisting to focuesed on the feeling of something curling around his chest.

To warm

To tight

Y/N straddled his lap and leaned close to him. The dagger had fallen on the ground, but no sound came. Only the heavy breathing of the young man. Lifting the veil only to reveal her pretty pink lips as she whispered, coming more and more closer to his own lips. "You're perfect." and as their lips almost met-

Something wet was thrown over him, waking him up with a jolt. Jason laughed at him, a bucket in his hands indicating he was the one who threw the water. "JASON!" he yelled, scrambling to get out of his now-wet sleeping bag. Tim groaned, getting out from the tent, dragging the wet sleeping bag behind him before throwing it at Jason, who was distracted by Dick calling for him.

He rubbed his face, stopping to touch his lips before looking down at his hands that were trembling. He wasn't mad or angry (a bit at Jason but not for it to tremble like that), he wasn't afraid of what he experienced...in fact, he wanted to go back.

Back to her

Back to the tree

“Morning,” a soft voice said.

Tim flinched, turning—and there she was. Standing a few feet from camp, a woven basket cradled in her arms. She wore a pale blue dress, simple cotton, with a white apron tied around her waist, still barefoot. Her hair was braided again—tighter now, neater—but he couldn't see the traces of vines tucked between the strands.

“I thought you all might be hungry,” Y/N continued, stepping forward. “Fresh bread. Blackberry compote. Eggs. And tea with honey. All local for the city folks.” She smiled—gently, as if she’d never seen him in a dream, never whispered to him, never touched his cheek with bloodstained fingers.

Stephanie cheered and thanked her, Bruce giving her a small nod before saying his thanks as well, which only made her laugh.

Soft

Melodic

Like a hymn hummed from a place deeper than breath.

Tim stared, heart in his throat. His lips still felt warm.

She tilted her head. “You look pale, Tim. Bad dreams?”

He swallowed. “I… yeah. Something like that.”

She smiled wider—too perfect.

“Then it’s a good thing you’re awake.”

Muahahahahaha another chapter fresh out the oven. Idk why but i keep linking Y/N with Ellen (Nosferatu's) and Perle(Perle) .... but you know thats just me. Anyways, the next chapter (its in the making! I swear!) might be updatet in 5 days? a week tops! If my schedule clear up. If you don't hear from me expect it in 10-15 days a new one. This one is half profread, half not (my friend who helps with my grammar had quit after seeing how many grammar mistakes I make- love them though) Have a good day or night and stay safe out there!!

Promolog <3

Chapter 1 <3

Chapter 2 <3

Chapter 3 <3

Chapter 4 (you're here babes!)

[kimkenta]

Timelines, Jewelry, and Sex? Oh My!

Despite all efforts to keep myself from constantly overanalyzing love scenes on this site, here I am once again. And this time I've brought three (3) of them!

It was honestly inevitable because in a series like this where sex quite literally drives the plot, these scenes are necessary to understanding the story and characters, and in turn must be discussed. That said, walk with me lovelies. We have a lot to cover. Theories and takeaways are in blue, and questions and discourse are welcome.

Great and Tyme's love scene was so beautiful and truly a joy to witness which is why it pains me to say that it was not real. At this point, we can all agree that there are multiple timelines in play. That's why I think their love scene and the moments that lead up to it were what Great wishes their relationship was like if he had made all the right choices and met Tyme under different circumstances.

I think their relationship started with a one-night stand possibly initiated by Tyme to get closer to Great and his family.

Now before I attempt to provide evidence to support my thesis, I need to point out one thing about the timelines—they are parallel. Great's first 4-minute out of body experience establishes that point.

Sure, going back in time allows him to make a different, often better choice, but the timeline in which he made his initial choice continues.

That is why we see him wake from the "nightmare" of seeing Manee lying dead on the ground after he hits her and drives off. That timeline is still in motion and part of him has experienced and is still experiencing it.

The notion of parallel timelines is further supported by the final scene in episode 4 where we see two timelines seemingly collide as Dome returns home in one and is dead in another.

I highly recommend reading this post by @becauseimanicequeen which has an extraordinary breakdown of possible timelines and the differences between them.

Taking what we've seen so far into account, my theory is that each 4-minute jump creates a new timeline or a new branch in an existing timeline that later merges back into it's parent timeline while all events and memories remain intact. Lukwa provides a bit of insight on this during her interview with Dr. Den:

What I plan to discuss in this post is based on the premise that there at least 4 timelines in play for Great-Tyme's part of the story:

Great hits Manee and drives off → has his first 4-minute jump (4MJ) → a new timeline is created; this one continues with memories intact → ?

Great hits Manee, stays, and calls for help → visits her at the hospital and delivers flowers to her room where they talk for a bit → bumps into Tyme and tries to leave, but ends up having a 4MJ → a new timeline is created; this one continues w/ memories intact → ?

Great leaves the flowers he brought for Manee at the nurse's station → first instance of seeing visions of he and Tyme having sex on 2 different occasions → bumps into Tyme, says sorry, and helps him pick up the papers → Title kills Dome and Great has a 4MJ → a new timeline is created; this one continues w/ memories intact → (this is where Tonkla and Win would come in, but they're not my focus atm) → ?

Great saves Dome and takes him to the hospital → Tyme sutures his wound; Great recalls visions of him riding Tyme → Tyme saves him from being choked out/killed by Title in the garage → Tyme brings Great his favorite iced tea and is rejected when he asks Great out → Great has a 4MJ, explains what's been going on to Tyme and asks him out → claw machine date at the mall and almost kiss in the car (interspersed with another round of visions of his other self and Tyme from T2 sleeping together; I'll explain later) → Tyme attacks Korn looking for answers about Nan's whereabouts → Great confronts Tyme at the hospital → has a second 4MJ and promises to help find Nan → Great finds Nan, but hesitates and fails to save her → has a third 4MJ, manages to save Nan, and escapes with Tyme's help → they quickly drop Nan off at the hospital and skip town → sleep together

Since Great has had three 4MJs in T4 (the current timeline), it is plausible that 3 additional timelines may have been created but I don't think that's the case because (1) four is a thematic number in the series and (2) T4 is the timeline that offers the most continuity in sequence of events.

It's also interesting to note that Great's 4MJs have become more frequent and life-threatening which could mean that he's on the right track and/or nearing the end.

That aside, the timeline I want to focus on is T2, which is where I think one of their sexual encounters takes place. Let's take a look at the timeline as if Great's 4MJ does not occur:

Great hits Manee, stays with her, and calls for help

Great visits Manee at the hospital and delivers flowers to her room where they talk for a bit

Great, unnerved by his conversation with Manee, bumps into Tyme and leaves

Great meets Tyme at a bar and they end up having a one-night stand

This scene was the sole catalyst for this post because Great seems to be wearing the same outfit he had on when he visited Manee at the hospital—jewelry and all.

Our rich boy may like wearing black and white, but he is not one for repeating outfits.

While chatting at the bar, they're conversation indicates that they remember bumping into each other at the hospital. However, unlike in T3 and T4, they don't seem to know each other beyond that. It's possible that Tyme may have some info on Great because he is investigating his family, but they're essentially strangers both to us and each other. This Dr. Tyme (T2) is not the rizz-less one we know and love from T4 because he manages to charm his way into spending the night with Great (this is speculation; Great very well could have done the charming and Tyme got lucky). How do we know this? Great's visions from the first time he bumped into Tyme at the hospital (T3) and the almost-kiss in the car (T4) show us what happens next.

Great-Tyme are seen holding hands as they enter Great's condo. I will admit that this is quite familiar behavior for people who've essentially just met, but holding hands with your one-night stand is entirely possible. That aside, if you look closely you'll notice that Tyme is wearing a silver paperclip bracelet and Great is wearing his favored watch.

These are the same pieces of jewelry that they're wearing when Tyme kisses Great's chest on the pool table ... which is insane choice of a flat surface to start a romp on when the bed is literally a few feet away, but I get it. Where else would one serve a full-course meal if not on a table?

Anyway~ Tyme is also wearing a necklace which will be of note in a sec, but what I find interesting is the stark difference in this Tyme's gaze and demeanor in comparison to the one in episode 4. He appears to be more confident and decisive.

A man on a mission and who knows exactly what he's doing. That said, if we ever get the entirety of this scene, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't kiss Great on the lips because there seems to be an emotional distance between them that is not present in the love scene we saw in episode 4.

Now back to Tyme's necklace. He appears to be wearing it in another scene from the trailer where he's standing next to Great's window so it's safe to assume that it's the same day.

I can't decide whether his gaze is menacing or not, but he is holding a rag and something black and shiny that looks like a switchblade a phone so we'll just have to wait and see.

So far we've looked at 2 of the 3 Great-Tyme love scenes shown in the trailer. The third, which also takes place in Great's condo, is one that also gives me pause because once again, Tyme's gaze is different.

Something about the way he looks at Great does not read as the Tyme we've been seeing over the last 4 episodes.

But what's most notable to me in this love scene is that neither of them is wearing any jewelry. Great doesn't wear jewelry at home, so not having any jewelry on in this scene isn't out of the ordinary. Tyme on the other hand, is NEVER without his smartwatch. And as I'm writing this, I've realized that we've never seen any indication of what time it is when Tyme is alone. The only instance we've seen a clock in direct relation to Tyme is on his phone when he exchanged numbers with Great at the skatepark.

So, is any of what we've seen so far real?

Yes and no. The only thing that has been real and consistent throughout Great-Tyme's storyline is the certainty of death; impending or otherwise. And because of that, neither Great's nor Tyme's perspectives are reliable.

It may feel like we are getting the full picture, but there is always something missing in between.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Now off to episode 5 to see how wrong I am XD

[zosan-secondchances]

The Pirate King of the North: Part 11

With Initial Concepts of Sanji's Skypiea Outfit

Main Themes: V̴i̵l̴l̸a̶i̸n̷ ̴S̵a̴n̴j̵i̷, Alternate Universe, Zosan Ship

Warning: Long post ahead and some One Piece spoilers. Contains strong language and explicit content.

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 (Special) | 19

Law asked to play judge in the first round so he can properly gauge what he's up against. Sanji gladly entertained this to keep him interested and took the step forward to make the first move of their little game.

He positions himself ten metres away from a nearby tree that's angled over the edge of the riverbank. After warming up a couple of times by jumping on the spot, he runs up to it, extends the claws of his gauntlet then begins to use all fours to gradually increase his speed as he clambered up, twisting around the trunk several times, defying gravity, before leaping off the very top–his movements barely seen but the trail of stripped leaves and bark that he leaves behind. Mid-air, he does a series of impressive twirls and flips before landing flawlessly with a roll on the other side of the river. Standing upright, he takes a small bow then raises a hand to gesture over Zoro to take his turn in a challenging way.

Law claps slowly. The sound echoes across. He's not looking too impressed.

The swordsman cups a hand over his mouth and shouts.

Zoro

BOO! SEEN IT!

Sanji

ACK–! I was trying to show Law an example of what we can do!

Law

It's pretty standard even for you.

I'll give you basic points for ordinary.

Sanji gasps sharply. He throws a hand over his cheek like he'd just been slapped in the face, feeling offended.

Sanji

B–BASIC?!

Let's see you do better then, moss for brains!

“Standard”.... “Ordinary”....

The blonde grumbles the last couple of words grumpily as he kicks pebbles and sticks on the ground.

Zoro smirks at his reaction then calmly approaches a different tree. This one, unsurprisingly, has long vines dangling over it. He begins to climb it without a rush.

Law

Oh, here we go….

Sanji

What's with him and swinging…?

When the swordsman reaches the topmost branch that he can stand on, he reaches for a thick vine hanging in front of him and gives it a couple of strong tugs to test its durability. Confident it can take his weight, he clears his throat and grips the vine with both hands.

Sanji and Law both look at the swordsman in anticipation, expecting that he'll do something extraordinary given that the man had wanted to swing since the moment they arrived on the island.

After a pregnant pause, Zoro leaps off the branch, bellowing out loud booming noises projected from the back of his throat. There was nothing fancy in his swing. It was all just long guttural singing that echoed through the jungle. When he finally lets go and lands in front of Sanji, he looks absolutely pleased with himself, placing his hands on his hips.

Sanji

That's… that's it?

Zoro

Told ya it was good.

Sanji

After all that, that's all you got?

Law teleports, appearing in an instant between them.

Law

Zoro takes the round.

Sanji

WHAT?!?

Zoro

Hah!

Sanji

But why?!

Law

Points for… the unexpected.

Sanji throws his hands up in the air in frustration as Zoro raises a clenched fist in the air in victory.

—

They trudge through a particularly lush terrain. Zoro walked ahead, slicing long shrubs and leaves out of the way as the two followed behind him. Law has a snobbish look on his face.

Law

Not a good start, Pirate King-ya. Are you sure you played this game before?

It was Sanji's turn to look like he wanted to smack the man in the head. He takes a long drag of his smoke to compose himself before stomping on the leftover cigarette butt.

Zoro

I've seen him do crazy shit but that was just sad.

The blonde snaps and grabs the swordsman at the back of his collar to pull him face to face.

Sanji

Cocky shitty swordsman aren't you? You're supposed to be supportive of me!

Zoro didn't look surprised, fully remembering that Sanji has a certain temper whenever his ego gets damaged. He shrugs his shoulders.

Zoro

Hey, you set the stakes high. I can't let either one of you take advantage of my Warlord status.

And if you know Traffy, he has a certain love for spontaneity.

Still feeling pissed, Sanji lets go of the man. He walks ahead and lights another smoke.

Sanji

What does that even mean?

Zoro and Law follow him. The swordsman sheaths his sword, yawns then rests his hands at the back of his head.

Zoro

I mean, I wasn't too surprised when Luffy told me he's seeing him. At first, I thought it was just a once off–

Law

Zoro-ya!

Zoro

What? Was it supposed to be a secret?

Sure made that clear when you made out drunk in the middle of The Sunny–

Law

Enough already!

Sanji spins, walking backwards. His face lit up.

Sanji

No–tell me more! Traffy, I rarely hear anything about you and the Straw Hat!

Law pockets his hands, looking smaller with his hunched shoulders while grumbling to himself. There’s a tint of pink in his ears.

 Sanji

Trafalgar D. Water Law…

Law

WHAT?

Sanji

You’re in love!

Zoro grins widely.

Law

ACK–

Sanji mirrored the swordsman’s smile. He teasingly prods.

Sanji

So…? Tell us how it happened….

Law

No.

Zoro

But he is, though.

Law

Shut up or I’ll slice your head off and keep it in a bag for the rest of the trip.

Sanji

Ohohoho! You’re cute when you’re defensive.

Zoro

Careful, the first time I met Traffy, I saw him behead a bunch of Marines. Left them alive too.

Sanji

Huh! What a useful power.

Sanji turns around to walk forwards. He dips his head down so his face is hidden behind his fringe, nursing the cigarette between his lips.

Sanji

Still, I don’t think you should be ashamed when you’re in love with someone.

Zoro and Law quietly observe him, detecting some sadness in his tone of voice. The swordsman considers his statement very carefully, suddenly having doubts if the man shares the same feelings as he does, or if there’s something that he did wrong.

Law

I have a feeling you’ll like him.

The blonde’s head tilts slightly towards him, listening closely.

Law

He…has this…effect on people. Even animals. He brightens up the room wherever he goes….

There is a moment of silence as the other two process that comment. 

Zoro

I miss him too, Traffy.

Law averts his gaze to the side, trying to hide a smile and the ever reddening state of his face.

Sanji

I’d like to meet him one day. I keep hearing good things about the guy.

Zoro

He’s one of a kind. You’d know it when you see him.

After this, if you like, I can–

Sanji suddenly stops. He holds his arm out, signalling everyone to halt.

Law follows his instruction but Zoro accidentally bumps into his back.

Law

What is it?

Sanji

I believe I found our next obstacle.

Come on then! And be careful where you step.

The blonde steps aside and pulls back the shrubs to give way for the two to walk through. When they do, they find themselves on a cliffside with a rickety old bridge in front of them that connects their end of the island to the next. It’s barely holding itself together with most of the planks already rotted from weather and age. 

Zoro

Huh. I knew we’d been ascending but I didn’t realise how high up we were already.

Sanji gives one of the support ropes a shake. The bridge wobbles, causing certain planks across the span of the bridge to give away and fall into the White Sea far below.

Law

Zoro-ya, you and me. Let’s do this.

Sanji

So keen! What’s got you all fired up?

Zoro

He’s just sore because he’s still shy about the whole Luffy thing.

Law

Am not!

I’ll kick your ass. You’ll see.

Sanji

Hold on, I want to watch from that side.

The blonde takes off his shoes and jumps on the rope that he’d been shaking. Effortlessly, he balances himself with one leg with his other raised up to his chest. He begins walking on the bridge with ease, still smoking his cigarette with one hand and holding his shoes with the other. He spreads out his arms now and then to shift his weight when gusts of wind cause the bridge to wobble slightly.

Zoro and Law watch his nerve-wrecking tightrope act as he makes his way over the White Sea. Both watching him nervously but also in silent amazement. Feeling that he had eyes on him, Sanji stops on his tracks and turns.

Sanji

What?

Zoro

How are you doing that?

Law

You remind me of one of those circus acts.

Sanji scoffs at that and breathes out smoke. He looked almost angry at the topic mentioned.

Sanji

I was part of one, when I was younger. I was taken in by a pirate troupe before they sold me to…you know what? I-it’s a long story.

I’ll meet you on the other side!

Sanji sounded like he didn't mean to reveal those details out loud. He spins and continues his way across.

Zoro and Law share a look, intrigued by the hint of the blonde's not very well known past which clearly caused a sudden shift in the man's demeanour. The swordsman continued to eye him, but now, more worriedly. He makes a point to make sure he checks in on him later as he knew he didn’t like talking about his history surrounding his life as a slave. He wonders if talking about Luffy had somehow triggered memories.

When Sanji gets to the other side, he vaults down on land and gives them a wave, signalling to go.

Law

So, Zoro-ya?

You did win the last round after all. Do you want to go first?

Zoro

No, I… I need to think.

Law

Don’t hurt yourself.

Zoro

Tch.

Law flicks his wrist and casts his Room ability.

Law

Tact!

Zoro jumps back to give the man some space, fully aware of what comes next.

The ground directly beneath the doctor floats up, shaped like a miniature island enough to hold his weight. It parts itself away from the main earth to carry him midair. Adjacent to the extracted ground, more mini islands pop up and begin to follow the one he’s standing on. They begin to spin around him as he flies towards the other side of the cliff.

The swordsman watches Law make an impressive show of his flight to Sanji. He should be focused on thinking of different ways that he could win the round so he can get two points ahead of everyone. Instead, he finds that he has his mind set on something else.

When he sees Law finish with a spectacular landing with his Tact ability, Zoro walks behind the nearest and tallest tree he could find. With one smooth swipe of Wado, the tree tips forward. The tall end of it crashes loudly on the other side, creating his very own bridge. He jumps up and speedily walks through.

On the other side, he’s met with Sanji’s bright blue eyes and wide grin–a sight that will never get old in his opinion. 

Sanji

Again, with the little-to-no-effort attempt? You realise that I like it when people make a show of–mmph!

Zoro wraps a hand around the blonde’s hair and the other around the small of his back, yanking him into a sudden kiss. He tips the man backwards, lowering him towards the ground. He didn’t hesitate to push his tongue into the man’s mouth to pleasure him, causing surprised moans from the blonde in reaction. Sanji wraps his arms around his neck while his leg hooks around his back.

Law

OH, COME ON! THIS IS NOT FAIR!

Law spins around swiftly, walking the opposite direction to avoid seeing the couple in action.

The swordsman pulls back to look at Sanji eye to eye. He receives fluttering eyelids and a flustered face in return. The blonde reaches out to caress his face tenderly as they breathe in each other’s air for a moment. Right there and then, Zoro felt the utmost need to confess his love to him but decided against it because of the doctor’s presence. He wants him to know. He needs him to know.

The blonde giggles and licks his lips seductively.

Sanji

Aren’t you full of surprises today?

I believe I’ve reached a verdict….

Zoro straightens them both up. Sanji runs his hands over his open robe, fixing the crumpled fabric, then takes a step back.

Sanji

Law wins the round.

Law turns back rapidly. Zoro’s mouth is agape.

Zoro and Law

EHH?!?

Sanji shrugs, raising his hands as if to surrender.

Sanji

You made a great point earlier–the stakes are high. I can’t be biased just because we’re fucking. And I did say that I like it when people make a show of things. And Law's was just flashier. Nice try, but you can’t buy me like that.

Zoro felt hurt. Not because he didn’t win the round but because it didn't sound like he made much of an impact judging on the blonde’s tone of voice. He now has more doubts if his feelings for the man are reciprocated or felt at all. He considers the fact that the blonde is still allied with Doflamingo. Sanji had made it clear that they have had prior history together but he’s never specifically stated where they stand or what his intentions are with the other Warlord since getting together with him. He remembers Niji’s warning to him that he’s just a phase, making him even more worried.

Speechless, he watches the blonde walk off to the dirt path ahead.

—

They approach a waterfall in front of them. While they see a safer way around by following the path, Zoro suggests that they climb it instead as their next obstacle. The other two agreed and named him the next judge for the round.

Law

Think you can handle this, basic man?

Sanji lights up a cigarette and takes a long drag of smoke before exhaling.

Sanji

Tch. Bring it, mediocre doctor.

Zoro speedily runs up the rockface until he reaches the top of the waterfall so he could watch from above. He peeks over the edge and gives the two contenders a wave to signal them to go.

Law doesn't give the blonde a chance to make the first move. He takes a deep breath, then withdraws his sword and slices a nearby boulder at its base, detaching it from the ground. Following his swing, he swipes his blade upwards, slicing the boulder into smaller pieces and sending them up high. An aura of blue surrounds the area almost immediately, in which the doctor begins to make a series of teleportation and aerobatic jump maneuvers to climb his way up–zigzagging in the air, swapping places with the stones that he'd sent flying. At the very tip of the cliff, he lands gracefully on his feet, exhaling the air he'd been holding in his lungs. He gives Zoro a casual tip of his hat, making everything that he's just done look effortless.

Zoro nods back and raises an impressed brow as if to say “not bad”.

Out of nowhere, the grounds start shaking, and a giant Sky Shark bursts out from downstream the waterfall. Zoro and Law had to jump back to avoid the eventual drop as the giant creature lands in a huge crash by the riverbank. It raises its head up in the sky, roaring an earthshaking cry before it collapses dead on the ground in front of the two. Sanji pulls out his bloody claws from the back of its head and straightens up, his face full of pride from the successful hunt. Law presumed that he'd controlled the shark’s movements using its nervous system to swim up the cloud stream somehow.

Zoro looks between Sanji and Law, unsure with the decision. A sweatdrop flows down his brow. After some hesitation, he opens his mouth to say something but gets interrupted.

Sanji

Who's hungry? I believe it's dinner time.

Zoro and Law blink at him, then gaze towards the sky. They'd been so focused on the game that they didn't even realise the time. The sun is a couple of hours away from sinking.

Law

SHIT!

Law shuffles through his coat pockets in panic. He pulls out the Skypiea map and scans through it, his eyes shifting left and right rapidly. He lets out a pained groan and slaps his forehead, almost knocking his cap off his head.

Law

Fuck! We've been going the wrong way for at least three hours!!!

Zoro

…I think we're having way too much fun with this.

Sanji hops down from the shark's head and gives that devilish smile of his.

Sanji

But you are… having fun…aren't you?

Zoro takes his time admiring the man's features before smirking back at him.

Zoro

I don't know about Tra-guy, but I am.

Law crosses his arms. Sanji can't help but notice that he's slightly pouting.

Law

I can't say I'm not, I suppose.

Sanji grins at them playfully.

—

Sanji cringes at the way Zoro gutted the giant Sky Shark. Granted, they had limited tools to prepare a proper meal, bringing only what’s necessary that can be used for multiple purposes. One of them is apparently the man’s katana which he thought was overkill. He’d at least hoped that the man would be more efficient with pulling the meat out of the creature.

Zoro had used his swords to cut it open like a mad brute he is. He jerks his sword from its flesh, causing its guts to messily splatter on the ground. Afterwards, he turns his attention to the fins, slicing them clean off before tossing them aside out of his way. Before they fall onto the ground, Sanji catches them one by one.

Sanji

Err…Marimo, you know we can use these right?

Zoro

Hah? But the big chunk of meat isn't in them.

Sanji

While the body should give us enough to last us for at least a week, we can use these to stretch it longer, maybe even another week. These still have some good stuff in it.

Zoro

That’s good–I didn’t know that. Why don’t you prep those for cooking then? I’ll keep at this.

The swordsman begins to slice the shark’s skin open with his katana, tearing the perfect meat that Sanji knew was inside them.

Sanji

H-hey! I uh…why don't we just trade jobs and find us some firewood instead hmm? Maybe set up the fire too while you’re at it.

Zoro

But I got a big sword. This is a big fish.

The blonde carefully lays the giant fins on a pile of large leaves that he had put aside earlier. He rummages through his pack to pull out a leather scroll containing various kitchen knives that he'd borrowed from the Polar Tang. He spreads it out on their makeshift table.

Sanji

I got it covered.

Impressed and surprised with his collection, Zoro follows his instructions and walks off. The sound of trees being felled is heard from a distance.

Law returns to their dedicated campsite with an armful of various herbs and crops. He drops them unceremoniously next to the shark fins. Sanji recognises most of them, much to his relief, but some look alien to him.

Sanji

Thanks. Uh… are those edible?

Law

Most of them. Some I need for medicinal purposes.

Sanji

Why did you mix it all in–?

Law

Is this good to go?

The doctor grabs one of the fins he’s set aside and settles himself on the makeshift table. He begins to cover the meat with some of the herbs he'd collected but the blonde notices that some of the weird-looking ones had been mixed up.

Sanji

They still need to be peeled and cleaned–AHH! DON'T!

D-doctor…why don't you fetch us some water instead?

Law

Hah? Why don’t you do it? I'm already in the middle of this.

Sanji

You're butchering it…. Just–just–

Zoro

Oi, Traffy! I just got a fire going!

Law

Perfect. Let's get to it.

Law grabs a random stick from the ground and skewers the fin messily, bits of loose meat and herbs fall off on the ground. He walks towards Zoro but then a hand grabs onto his coat and pulls him back.

Sanji

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Seriously, how are you two still alive?!

Zoro and Law

Hah?!

Law

It's just food.

Sanji

Not in that state, it's not!

What's this–? Traffy, did you shove an entire garlic inside it?!

Zoro

I thought you don't give a shit about good food?

Sanji

I care about it being edible!

Sanji yanks the doctor backwards and swipes the skewered fin off his hands.

Sanji

You–get some water. And come back with some more of those vegetables but DON’T just dump them all in a mixed pile with your doctor crap. Sort them out!

And you–clean up this mess! Don't you go camping? If we leave food out it'll attract unwanted creatures while we sleep!

Zoro

Why do I get to clean?

Sanji

You make the mess, you clean it up!

Zoro and Law watch the grumpy man take charge of the whole thing, effectively shooing them away from their made up kitchen station.

—

By nightfall they settled around the fire to feed themselves with Sanji's cooking. They also have extra food that the blonde has portioned and set aside which should last them a couple of weeks. Upon realising that they have to pack them up and carry them for the road, Zoro clears his bag to make way for the food. He starts pulling out bottles of booze that he'd stolen from the Polar Tang which Law wasn't too happy with.

Sanji

Nothing goes to waste.

After giving Law his portion, he winks at Zoro as he hands him his bowl of stir-fry Sky Shark with rice and native produce. Grabbing a bowl for himself, he settles himself next to the swordsman by the fire.

Sanji

The same goes with the booze. We better drink it all up.

Zoro

You read my mind.

Zoro leans over and kisses his cheek lightly.

Zoro

Thanks for the meal, Curlybrows.

Sanji

It's nothing.

Law

Yes, thank you, Mr. Prince-ya. It’s much appreciated.

Sanji

What, are you going to give me a kiss too?

I don’t think Marimo would appreciate that.

Law

Go to hell.

Sitting at the opposite side of the fire, Law takes a bite and audibly groans out loud in pleasure, causing the two to look at him curiously.

The doctor notices them staring and closes his eyes, trying to ignore them.

Law

What? It's good.

Zoro blinks at that and takes a bite himself. He pauses for a second as his eye widens. Suddenly, he begins to chow down on the food as fast as he can.

Zoro

YO ROIGHT! ISH SHO GOOD!!!

Sanji

Slow down or else you'll choke–

The swordsman does. He repeatedly punches his chest to clear out the blockage. Sanji gives his back a couple of good whacks, causing the man to cough. Finally, Zoro takes a big gulp and downs the rest with the help of his drink.

When they finished their meals and each had at least a couple of bottles of booze to themselves, they sat around the fire to unwind, fully satisfied from their fill of food and tipsy from all the drinking. Zoro was first to spill his thoughts from his loosened tongue.

Zoro

You lied to me.

Sanji blows smoke from his lungs then tosses the spent cigarette into the fire. He looks at him curiously.

Sanji

What about? I personally thought that I've been good recently.

Zoro tilts his head slightly towards him.

Zoro

You have. But I thought you told me one time that you don't give a shit about good food?

That was one of the best meals I've ever had.

Law

I agree. Seems like there's a lot we don't know about you, Mr. Prince-ya.

Sanji's face goes red from the flattery. He hugs his knees to his chest and rests his chin on them. He sighs.

Sanji

When I was young, I used to cook for my sick mother. It was around the time when my father had just locked me away. I kept begging the guards to bring me recipe books and ingredients to cook with. Some of the kind ones obliged. I really wanted to get good at it. Maybe, I thought, it would help heal her somehow…. That's when I read about the All Blue. I uh…even wanted to find it. It was a childish dream.

The blonde takes a swill from his bottle. He smacks his lips then leans back with a hand on the ground behind him for support, looking up to the clear skies above them.

Sanji

When she died, I tried to keep it up to get some semblance of joy out of…something. But being in isolation for so long and having my siblings beat me down for trying, it just led to nothing good…I don't know…. Over time, I lost interest, along with my will to live. I think the old me died right there and then, in that old dark cell where my father kept me. Along with any dreams I had.

Eventually, because I stopped asking the guards to bring me anything, I was forgotten. Starved. I had to go without any food for months before someone would remember and bring me their scraps out of pity.

Sanji gestures at the pile of food that they had bundled up sitting near their packs.

Sanji

So yeah, I don't give a shit about good food. But I won't let any go to waste in my watch. There's so much you can do to even the smallest parts of an ingredient.

Zoro and Law look at him sadly. The doctor sighs, then stretches his legs on the ground outwards, trying to warm his feet in front of the fire.

Law

Well, I thought your food was delicious. What you learned from those recipe books must have stuck with you. Clearly you have a natural talent for it. Imagine what you can do now if you get back to it…if that's something you want to do that is.

Sanji doesn't look at him, but he gives his statement a long good thought.

Sanji

Thanks…Traffy.

Zoro gazes between the two of them. He stretches his arm out with an open palm, asking if he can share some of Sanji's drink. The blonde obliges and hands the bottle over. The swordsman gratefully takes and drinks from it. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand before staring up at the sky, watching a couple of falling stars fly by.

Zoro

Kuina.

Sanji and Law look at him curiously.

Zoro

She was my goal. She's one of the reasons why I wanted to be the world's greatest swordsman.

We both made a promise to each other…but one day, she just suddenly passed. Some unfortunate accident with a flight of steps. It happens, I suppose. But now I carry our shared dream with me, and I intend to fulfill it, no matter what it takes.

Sanji

She sounds special to you. Is that why you're so keen on defeating Mihawk?

Zoro chuckles lightly.

Zoro

Yes, partly. But then…you happened.

Sanji

Oh…but–

Zoro

You're not a swordsman, I know. But defeating you became my goal. How can I top Mihawk when I can't even beat you?

The blonde looks down at the fire, thinking hard. He's unsure on what can be done to rectify this, or what to do with the information that Zoro had thought of him in this way for so many years without him knowing. He certainly doesn't want to get back to their old ways just so the man can fulfil his dreams.

Law

Have you tried to face Mihawk recently, Zoro-ya? Surely fighting the Pirate King of the North for a couple of decades would have given you a lot more experience than just your normal training regimen.

Zoro's brows shoot up at that realisation.

Zoro

No…. I haven't challenged him since I was nineteen.

…Why didn't I think of that?

Sanji lays down on the ground, resting his hands behind his head.

Sanji

I'm not saying that you're better than me in a fight…but you did kill me that one time. If not for my siblings, I would have been a goner for good.

The swordsman laughs out loud. He slaps his forehead with a hand as he leant backwards.

Zoro

That's true! I have beaten you!!!

Sanji

That was one round! We had many more battles afterwards. Don't let it go to your huge moss head!

Zoro

Uh-huh. How does it feel to have the silver medal?

Sanji

Shut up. Keep that up and I'll show you who's really on top here.

Zoro stops laughing but smirks at the man. Sanji returns his smile with his own.

Zoro

Don't make promises you can't keep.

Sanji

Guess I'll just have to show you….

The swordsman leans over and plants a soft kiss on the corner of his lips, lingering there for a moment as they both take in each other's breaths.

Law rolls his eyes and looks away. It seems like there's going to be more of this and the day is barely out. At the corner of his eye, he sees the bottle being offered to him by the swordsman. Reluctantly, he takes it.

The doctor looks down at the bottom of the bottle through its mouth. He purses his lips, hesitant to talk. After a while, he takes a swill and hugs his knees to his chest. He stares sorrowfully at the campfire in front of them as he speaks weakly.

Law

I think Cora-san is well and truly dead.

Sanji sits up and both him and the swordsman look at him in disbelief.

Law keeps his gaze averted, feeling ashamed. From his coat pockets, he pulls out the stack of letters that he'd collected throughout his journey prior to the two joining him.

Law

I don't know when and how…but he left all these for me to find. I'm guessing it's whenever he was away from home while he was still undercover. I think he left me these as a gift. Like he's trying to show me something.

I…I didn't want to admit it to anyone else. I haven't told the rest of my crew either. I was afraid no one would want to come along if they knew the truth.

Zoro looked shocked but Sanji wore an impassive face. He waits until he sees Law looks at him eye to eye before he speaks.

Sanji

How do you know he's truly dead? What if he's waiting for you right at the end?

Law

I saw his corpse, Mr. Prince-ya.

I wanted to believe that it was possible for him to be alive when I first found his letters…but I just kept remembering his dead body right before my eyes….

He looks down at the tattoos on his hand.

Law

My knowledge as a trained surgeon only solidified the fact that there was no way for him to survive all that.

Sanji sighs, but doesn't prod any further. Instead, he resides in returning his gaze to the stars above.

Sanji

I'm sorry. That must have been hard.

Zoro

I agree. That's rough, Traffy.

Law

Wait, you two aren't mad or upset? You're not just going to bail from all this?

Zoro

I agreed to come along because we're friends. And I intend to stick around. Plus I know that I won't hear the end of it from Luffy if I don't help. 

So…what's keeping you, Curls?

Sanji raises his brows at the two of them, feeling surprised at being questioned.

Sanji

If you had told me all this earlier, I may have left, that much is true.

Law

And…now?

The blonde smiles at the doctor then scoops out Zoro's hand and places a kiss on the palm of his hand. The swordsman's eye softens as they hold hands.

Sanji

Unfortunately for you, I’ve grown fond of you lot. Guess you're stuck with me for a while.

Suddenly, all of Zoro's doubts from earlier in the day washed away, almost like there was no trace of it. He'd never been more sure about what he wants for the rest of his life.

Sanji shifts on his side and props himself on his elbow, resting his cheek on the palm of his hand.

Sanji

So, Marimo-kun? Your final verdict for this round?

Law blinks dumbfoundedly at that, then his eyes widen and mouth drops open at the slow realisation.

Law

THE FOOD AND ALL THIS WAS PART OF YOUR STUNT, YOU BASTARD?!

Zoro grins widely.

Zoro

Curls wins this round by a long shot. Sorry, Traffy.

Sanji laughs heartily.

—

The dim light from the campfire shone through Zoro and Sanji's shared tent. It was dark but they had just enough light for them to see their silhouettes.

The swordsman loomed over the other on their sheets, pounding hard into him at a slow pace.

Sanji arches his back and tries to move his own hips. He grips the sheets behind his head to get a better angle.

Sanji

M-Marimo…I need–ah–I need…more–

The swordsman indulges him and thrusts faster, pulling the man's hip upwards as he pushes down to penetrate deeper. He hears the man under him let out a stifled moan from the new angle.

Zoro

Fuck…you're so tight. You fit me so well….

His movements become erratic as he approaches his peak.

With desperate eyes and a flushed face, Sanji speaks through broken breaths.

Sanji

Ah–I want you to…f-fill me up…and m-make a mess of me...

Zoro groans at that. He pulls out suddenly to flip the man onto his stomach and pin him to the ground. He grabs his hips up to reinsert himself in one smooth motion.

Sanji

AHH! R–right there!! Fuck!

The swordsman starts a brutal unrelenting thrusts to give Sanji exactly what he asked for.

Repeatedly feeling Zoro hit his sweet spot and the friction of his own dick on the ground quickly takes Sanji over the edge. His eyes roll at the back of his head in pure bliss and, with a cry, he spills over their sheets. The swordsman follows almost immediately, filling him with a generous load.

They both take a moment to catch their breaths and recover from the high. With a grunt, Zoro pulls out and collapses next to his companion. He buries his face into the other's blonde hair to nuzzle the back of his neck with his nose, not seeming to get enough of his scent.

Sanji reaches out behind him to grab the swordsman's hand. He brings it over his shoulder to plant a kiss on his hand.

Sanji

For the record…I liked your swinging earlier today.

Zoro chuckles at that.

Zoro

Yeah? I'm glad you enjoyed the show.

Sanji

And then the way you suddenly kissed me after that other, poor attempt of a stunt–was so hot.

Being showered with compliments left the swordsman speechless. Instead of speaking, he wraps his arms around the blonde's waist to pull him in a tight embrace, smooching the back of his head in appreciation. He kicks himself for having any sort of doubts about the man earlier in the day.

After a short rest, Sanji turns his head to face Zoro. He gives a light peck on his nose, his fingers slide up to play with his earrings.

Sanji

Think you can handle round three?

He starts pecking him under his jaw, moving his way down. He gives him a small bite at the nook of his neck.

Zoro chuckles lightly, still trying to catch his breath as he gets pushed to lay on his back.

Zoro

In a moment. You drive me crazy, do you know that?

Sanji lets out a pleasurable moan in response and mounts him, giving him a barrage of kisses from his neck down to his chest, earning him a deep sigh in satisfaction.

Zoro

Fuck, you're gorgeous.

The swordsman cups his face and pulls him up gently to get a proper look at him, then slides his hands up and down the man's front, eyeing him up and down.

Mouth agape, Sanji grinds his dick over the other's already growing semi.

Zoro

F-fuck…

Zoro props himself on an elbow then sits up to wrap his arms around the blonde's waist. He buries his face on his neck, under the cover of his disheveled hair. He takes a long whiff of his scent as he slides his hands up and down his back.

Sanji

Sorry, I can't wait. I just can't get enough of you.

Sanji tilts his head to claim his mouth. His hands travel up to tangle his fingers in his hair. He pulls him closer to deepen the kiss.

Zoro groans out loud as his mouth gets penetrated and explored with the blonde's experienced tongue. He welcomes him, leaving his mouth agape as the other makes a mess out of him.

They stay like this for a while until Sanji pulls himself to look at the swordsman who tips slightly forward to follow the momentum, craving for more.

Sanji

What's on your mind?

Zoro

Hmm?

Zoro's eye flutters open, looking into the other’s wide diluted blue eyes.

Sanji

You've got something in your mind…. I can tell. Are you okay?

Zoro

I…y-yeah….

Sanji caresses his face with the back of his hand.

Sanji

You know, we don't have to go for another round if you don't feel like it. You know that you can say no, right?

Zoro

No, no, I do want to. It's just….

Zoro leans forwards until their foreheads touch together.

Zoro

I'm just thinking how much you mean to me. And how much I've fallen for you. I'm crazy for you, and I hope you know that. I don't want to ever let you go.

Sanji's eyebrows shoot up, then his expression softens, feeling his face go red. He gives him a warm smile.

Sanji

Zoro… you know that I lo–

Out of nowhere, blood bursts out of the blonde’s nose, spilling over Zoro’s chest. It continues to twinkle down his chin.

Sanji

Not again!

Sanji pinches the bridge of his nose and tilts his head back as he lifts himself off the swordsman to sit back on his heels.

Zoro

Hold on, let me get my old robe.

Sanji

Don’t be silly. It’ll stain. I’ll grab some rags from outside.

There's something that I've always wanted to tell you too…. Don't go anywhere.

Sanji gives him one final wink before grabbing his cloak and wraps himself in it.

Zoro smiles sweetly at that, feeling excited especially after getting a hint of what the blonde had wanted to say.

Zoro

A-alright. I’ll be here.

The blonde gives his hand a reassuring squeeze then steps out into the chill of the night.

He makes his way past their campfire towards their packs where he finds the old cloth that he had in mind. He cleans his face quickly with it before grabbing a fresh one for Zoro. He spins to return to their shared tent but comes to a halt when he feels a tingle at the back of his neck.

His observation haki kicked in but he wasn’t fast enough, only just managing to raise his arms just in time to stop sharp strings wrap around his neck. They coil around his wrists, binding them.

Sanji

ZO–!

A hand from behind covers his mouth and he disappears from the campsite in an instant, leaving a small trail of leaves twisting upwards.

Sanji didn’t return to their tent that night. No sounds can be heard but the crackling of fire.

----------

There are no visible scars on Sanji's body in the concept art as I wanted to focus on the overall shapes of the outfit designs. I haven't picked a variant to go with yet but maybe I'll have something ready by next chapter!

[dazedblackwolf]

Hey pack, here's a set of exercises designed to enhance both mobility and muscle in a way that feels animalistic, powerful, and connected to your species. [this is directed at wolves and canines]

Wolfy Mobility & Muscle Workout Set

Daily Mobility Flow (5–10 minutes)

Do this as a warmup or wind-down. Focus on fluid motion and control.

1. Cat-Cow Spine Flow (1–2 minutes)

* Start on all fours. Inhale, arch back (cow); exhale, round (cat). Think of it as waking up your spine—like stretching in the forest.

2. Beast Crawl Hold (30 seconds x 2)

* Knees hover 1 inch off the ground. Core tight. Picture the moment before the pounce.

3. World’s Greatest Stretch (1 minute per side)

* Deep lunge with twist. Opens hips, spine, chest.

4. Deep Squat Rocks (1–2 minutes)

* Drop into a deep squat. Shift weight side to side. This helps with grounded readiness—like crouching in tall grass.

Wolfy Strength Training (3 times per week)

Aim for 3 sets of each. You can do this bodyweight-only or add resistance if you’re ready.

1. Quadruped Beast Crawls

* Forward, backward, lateral (15–20 seconds each direction). Builds core, shoulder stability, and animal-style movement.

2. Push-Up Variations

* Standard push-ups or inclined if needed. Optional: “Wolf push-ups”—lower slowly, explode up (8–12 reps).

3. Jump Squats / Crouch Explosions

* Deep crouch into leap (8–10 reps). Like a wolf leaping through underbrush. Builds power.

4. Bear Plank Shoulder Taps

* Hold bear plank (knees off ground) and tap opposite shoulder (20 taps). Great for balance, core, and staying light on your paws.

5. Glute Bridges / Hip Thrusts

* Builds powerful haunches. Add weight or do the single-leg version as you level up.

6. Superman Holds

* Lie on stomach, lift arms, chest, and legs. Hold for 30 seconds. Engages posterior chain—feel like you're running full sprint.

Optional Add-Ons

* Sprints (hill or flat): Tap into raw energy. 20-second bursts.

* Tree Climbs or Pull-Ups: Use what’s around you. Jungle gym? Branch? Hang and pull.

* Shadow Prowling: Crouch-walk slowly in a circle. Stealth practice. Builds quads, glutes, control.

Wolf Ritual Cooldown (2–5 minutes)

* Walk barefoot in grass or on dirt if possible.

* Stretch arms wide, let yourself yawn, snarl, or shake off energy.

* End with a breath in the nose, out the mouth—you are the creature, and the earth knows your scent.