#vulnerable insecure

[lordandladywhistledown]

You can tell by the reaction people have to Penelope asking Colin to kiss her whether they ever experienced being a wallflower/insecure fat girl at a party or not.

Because you say it's pathetic, I say it's relatable, no matter how desperate it may sound. If you've never had your insecurity eat you up from the inside (but also the outside, as Portia literally told Penelope that she was delusional for thinking she was gonna find a husband in her third season out) to the point you genuinely, wholeheartedly believe no one will ever love you unless you physically change, then obviously the scene is off to you.

But Pen literally told Colin she felt stupid for thinking she's gonna find a husband (she just started believing what the ton and her mother said) and that she knows no one would want to kiss her. And for a romance girl like her, do you think the thought of never having a kiss, never experiencing that passion, would be easy to bear? I can so relate to being the most romantic of the bunch but also being the loneliest and aching for physical and emotional romantic love.

She is so vulnerable and so real in that moment but y'all gotta bitch about it because it doesn't make sense to you. It doesn't make sense to me either because she's gorgeous, but that's the thing - no one ever told her she's gorgeous and actually meant it. And even if they did, there must be 10 more people who didn't that keep that insecurity in her, specifically her sisters and her mother.

Nicola said this one was for the wallflowers, and it truly is, so if you find scenes like this cringe, you just don't relate to the character enough to feel it and recall moments when you had the same thoughts as her.

[sameboot]

Paraphrasing again buuut I wanted to try illustrating this scene!

[userhangmanpage]

I think I have something that's gonna hurt you worse.

[bossthebicon]

"Do you want to be more than just an intern?"

[lazylittledragon]

i went on a couple of crazy writing sprints this week so please enjoy some out of context bits from my 3 different novel WIPs in no order with no theme

honourable mentions:

[lokiusmybeloveds]

I'm certainly not so emotionally attached to Stobotnik because of the idea that Stone could look at someone who deemed himself unlovable, someone deemed unlovable by the world, and love him not in spite of his flaws but because of them

[aventurineswife]

hello! i was wondering if you could write something with aventurine and a male reader (or gn, if you prefer) who has trouble accepting gifts due to financial insecurity as a child? if you dont want to write this, please feel free to ignore and/or delete it!

You Deserve Something Good

Summary: Aventurine gifts you a pendant as a symbol of his trust. However, due to your childhood financial insecurities, you struggle with accepting gifts without feeling indebted. Through a quiet, heartfelt exchange, Aventurine challenges your beliefs about generosity, showing that sometimes, not everything in life is a gamble. This interaction marks a fragile but important step in overcoming your past fears.

Tags: Aventurine x GN!(can be read for male too)Reader, Character Development, Gift-Giving, Survivor’s Guilt, Emotional Vulnerability, Insecurity, Slow Burn, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Angst.

Warnings: Minor emotional discomfort, Past financial insecurity (mentioned), Brief mention of trauma.

A/N: sounds like me lmaoo 😭🙏

The warm, golden light of the late afternoon filtered through the large windows of Aventurine’s office, casting long shadows across the room. His desk, usually covered with papers and digital projections of strategic plans, was now neatly cleared—save for a small, elegantly wrapped box resting at the corner. Aventurine paced back and forth, his hands tucked behind his back as his mind worked over the situation at hand.

You, his guest for the day, sat across from him on a plush chair, your hands resting nervously on your lap. Your eyes darted from the box to Aventurine, who wore his usual, enigmatic smile, though there was a trace of concern hidden beneath his cool facade. You couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment—the excitement of being in his presence, but also a strange sense of discomfort that crept in whenever the topic of gifts arose.

Aventurine’s voice cut through the silence, smooth and deliberate as ever.

“Don’t look so nervous. It’s just a small gesture.” He gestured to the box, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and a more calculating curiosity. “I think you’ll find it... quite useful.”

You hesitated, and his smile didn’t waver. His gaze held you steady, never letting you look away. Yet, even with his charm and the obvious care in his tone, a tightness clung to your chest. You couldn’t remember the last time someone had given you something without there being strings attached—or worse, without that feeling of needing to repay the favor.

Aventurine had caught wind of your discomfort, though you’d tried your best to mask it. It wasn’t just the gift itself, it was the idea of receiving something valuable—of someone else spending their resources on you. The child in you still recoiled from that feeling, that quiet panic.

“Go on,” he encouraged softly, his voice lowering in a rare moment of sincerity. “It’s yours, if you want it.”

You shook your head slightly, still unsure how to proceed. Your hand fidgeted, unsure whether to reach for the box or to push the idea out of your mind entirely.

“I… I’m not sure I can accept it.” You couldn’t quite look him in the eye, your gaze slipping to the floor as you spoke. The words were out before you could stop them, but there was no turning back now.

Aventurine’s eyes narrowed just slightly, and his lips curled into the faintest of smirks. He was quick to pick up on your hesitation, the subtle shift in your body language, and the unspoken words you hadn’t yet said aloud.

“Ah, I see.” He was quiet for a moment, eyes never leaving you. Then, with the skill of a man who knew how to wield words like weapons, he leaned forward just slightly, his voice soft but unyielding. “Tell me, what makes you think I’m offering this with strings attached?”

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. “I just… it feels wrong. People give gifts because they expect something in return.” Your voice faltered. “I’m not sure I have anything to give back…”

Aventurine studied you for a long moment, and for the first time, something deeper than calculation flickered in his gaze—understanding, perhaps. A deep, almost imperceptible sigh escaped him as he straightened himself up, leaning back in his chair.

“Not everything is a gamble,” he said after a pause, the weight of his words settling between you like a quiet confession. “Not every offer is a risk or a transaction. Sometimes... a gift is simply a gift.”

You swallowed thickly, still uncertain. How could he be so sure of this? How could he not expect something in return? For someone like you, who had spent so many years learning that generosity had a price, it was hard to believe that any kindness could come without a catch.

Aventurine’s voice softened again, like a gentle coaxing. “You don’t have to give anything back, you know. I won’t ask for repayment, not in the way you think.” His fingers traced the edge of the box with a care you hadn't expected. "The only thing I want is for you to let me show you that things can be different.”

You looked up at him, eyes meeting his magenta gaze, which held an almost inscrutable depth. For the first time, it wasn’t just the strategist or the manipulator you saw—it was the man, stripped of his game face, offering you a simple truth.

With a hesitant hand, you reached for the box, your fingers brushing the smooth, silver wrapping. Aventurine’s eyes softened just a fraction as he watched you, a silent hope in his gaze.

“You deserve something good,” he murmured, almost as if to himself. “Even if you don’t believe it.”

Taking a deep breath, you carefully untied the ribbon, peeling back the wrapping to reveal a sleek, silver pendant. It was simple but elegant, shaped like a roulette wheel with a single gem at its center—a tiny aventurine stone, the color of luck and chance.

Your breath caught in your throat, and for a moment, all the words you had wanted to say felt stuck. This wasn’t a grand gesture of manipulation or a trap you had to navigate. It was just... a gift.

You glanced up at him, and this time, you allowed yourself to meet his gaze fully.

“Thank you,” you whispered, the words feeling like a fragile step forward into something new.

Aventurine’s smile returned, a little warmer now, though still carrying that enigmatic edge. “I’m glad you accepted. Now, let’s see what else life has in store for you. After all, if you think this is a gamble... just wait for the next one.”

[doomer-soyjack]

I don't know why people get so defensive and morally superior when you point out the nature of human relationships is transactional. I'm not denying or diminishing your "love", I'm just pointing something out.

[noodles-and-tea]

!!

[cinamun]

Solo | Next

The wholesome portion of today's update ends here.

However, just in case you wanted to see how Jayce put not only his wife's insecurities to rest, but her body to rest also, the adult version of today's update is linked below.

18+ only <-

[hungharrington]

i’m almost 22 and have never even kissed a boy (which i’m chronically insecure about). it’s made me feel very nervous regarding intimacy or “doing it wrong”. i feel like steve would be great coach and reassure the reader it’s okay and that they’re doing great. nothing to embarrassed about. (my soul needs this so bad)

hi honey !! i think you r so right & steve would be the perfect guy to give all the assurances <3 i hope u know that kisses don’t matter too much til they’re with someone you’re rlly sweet on so i wouldn’t sweat it angel x this one is sfw! wowzer!

You’re on your couch and in Steve’s lap and worried about just about everything. 

Steve’s being sweet about it, his hands resting gently on either side of your waist, his thumbs swiping up and down to comfort you. He’s watching you closely, unaware he’s just taken your first, second, and third ever kisses. How could he know? you think, on the side of insecurity— it seems everybody else your age has already kissed someone. 

“You okay?” He asks, hazel eyes tracing over the soft features of your face. He loves your nose and the shape of your bottom lip— strange things to like perhaps, but Steve doesn’t care. 

You nod but don’t say anything. The motion is a bit jerky. Your hands are planted on his shoulders, holding them probably a bit too tight. Exhaling a breath, you nod again and pretend the fondness in his gaze isn’t making you shy.

“Yeah,” you finally speak, voice smaller than you intend. “Just- just wanna like—“ you swallow, eyes darting to the ceiling for a moment, if only to avoid his intense eyes. “I wanna get this right.” 

A car engine drones by outside in the dusky evening. Steve gives a little chuckle and his hands on your waist tug forward, pulling your attention down and your body an inch closer to his. It’s warm— every part of him is glowing warm. 

“I don’t think there’s any way you can get this wrong,” He admits, awfully sincere about it. 

It’s the truth. Steve likes you a lot. You could probably bite his lip too hard and make it bleed and he’d still find it pleasant. You have that effect on him. 

You don’t know that though. So, every stress seems very, very real. Are you kissing firm enough? Too firm? God, are your lips too dry? 

Your tongue flicks out to wet them, your hands giving his shoulders a nervous, minuscule squeeze. In your chest, your heart is torn between rabbiting in its anxiety or shrivelling in insecurity. 

“I mean,” you laugh a little, if only to cover your embarrassment. You duck your head to avoid his face, murmuring, “If there is, I’m sure I’ll find it. I haven’t, uh, exactly done this… too much.”

“That’s fine,” Steve says instantly. His warm, large hands give a tender squish on your waist, before sliding up and around to curl snugly around your body. He sits up a little straighter, his nose nudging against yours. 

“No, Steve,” you say, cheeks a touch heated. You count his eyelashes so you can avoid his eyes, you voice dropping volume towards the end of your sentence. “I mean, like… like ever.” 

Surprise flashes in his eyes for only a moment. His gaze darts down to your lips quickly but then he’s smiling, nudging closer, and stealing a quick kiss off your lips. Now he’s taken your fourth kiss too. 

You flush, something warm pinging its way up your spine. 

“That’s okay,” He murmurs, sounding like he really means it. 

“It is?” 

“It’s great. You’re great.” He kisses you again—your fifth— so sweet it tastes like sugar on your lips, his arms around you pulling you in closer. You drown in it, enamoured by how it feels to have his lips against yours. God, he makes you dizzy. 

Steve breaks the kiss but stays close, his arms pulling you closer still so you’re straddling him properly. He’s warm, so warm— and so freakin’ nice to you. 

“You don’t find it weird?” You can’t help but whisper. Your eyes crush closed, unable to face him. 

“Weird?” Steve echoes. “Are you kidding me? It’ll take more than that to freak me out.” 

One of his hands shifts up, moving up off your waist to cradle your jaw gently in his large palm. He peppers a string of kisses along your cheek and jaw, beginning to suck a sweet spot beneath your ear. Your hips shift before you realising, subtly grinding down into his. Flames begin to burn in your stomach. 

“It’s—I mean it’s kind of, like, a little embarrassing, don’t you think?” You continue, voice a little breathier than before. You’re not sure what you’re trying to convince of him of— you certainly don’t want him to stop. 

Steve’s lips brush over the barely forming bruise on your skin and your breath hitches. 

“Are you feeling embarrassed?” 

One slow kiss against your neck, his plush lips accompanied by the heat of his tongue. You squirm in his lap but don’t answer, fearful of being too truthful. You are and you aren’t. He isn’t making you embarrassed but you are, just a little. 

Your silence makes Steve pause, digging his face out of your neck to meet your eyes. “Hey. You shouldn’t be embarrassed- if you are for some other reason, we can— we can like stop—“ 

“No.” You cut in, God, now you’re seriously giving him the wrong idea. “No, oh my god, I sound so stupid- it’s not you— Steve—“ 

He cuts you off with another kiss, your sixth, and steals your runaway thoughts. It blissfully chases away your nerves for just a moment. 

“Great.” He smiles against your mouth, giving another squeeze of your waist. “Cos you don’t need to be.” He kisses your mouth again, seven. “All you need to be is enjoying yourself, okay? 

You like the sound of that— adore the way he’s so seamlessly finds the thing that sets your nerves alight and soothes it so easily. You whisper back, “Okay,” and gift him your eighth kiss, sweet and fierce. 

[awaywithself]

Thinking about zosan where they butt heads during the day, shoes to blades, scalding words, scathing glares. while none of it holds any real weight, they still play up this grand facade of hating each other, swearing by the stars they can’t stand to be in the same room.

but when night falls, those same stars pay witness to how zoro lingers in the galley as sanji cleans up after dinner, dozing off to the gentle clinks of washed plates. they see how sanji climbs up to the crow’s nest long after everyone has fallen asleep, with blankets and a bottle of zoro’s favorite sake in tow.

they see how zoro ambles into the men’s quarters after night watch and clambers into his hammock, bumping not-so-subtly into sanji’s. they see how sanji gently rouses at the movement, and when zoro’s settled, his breathing even, he slides out of his own bed and climbs in with him. he nudges him over, zoro huffing with childish and weightless petulance as he shifts to give sanji the space to curl into his side. they stay like that for however long the darkness of night lasts, sanji’s head on zoro’s chest and zoro’s arm around him, tucked close into each other, warm under the blankets and briefly, blissfully impervious.

and when the sun rises, chasing away the stars and their secrets, they part and do it all over again.

[againstme]

URGENT: LOSING HOUSING

i'm losing access to my housing on the 29th of may, and i'm trying to gather funds to make it over to my friend in portland that has a place for me to stay.

i've got my plane ticket for the 5th of june, i need to secure funds for the storage container payment for the month by the 29th, and i need to have enough to take an uber from the airport to my friend's as soon as possible.

the storage container is 150 dollars, and the uber can range from 40-60 dollars. that needs to be secured as soon as possible.

the most direct way to help me with that is through my p@yp@l and vnmo, both are linked, and $chxseallen. gofundme takes a percentage and is a slower disbursement.

i also need to cover costs of living while i'm still working on getting a job and place, for things like food, transit, medication and appointment co-pays, and other general essentials. the gofundme to assist in that is below:

please share if you can, that would help a lot.

[slow-reader-reads-books]

I find the most interesting difference between Shen Jiu and Shen Yuan isn't "malice" and "kindness" but rather Shen Jiu being a desperate-to-survive sore loser and Shen Yuan being an uncompetitive good sport, and it's interesting to see how their differences kind of flow from those two opposing traits

Both are desperate to survive in their own ways, however I guess you could argue Shen Jiu did everything to secure the life he wanted, meanwhile Shen Yuan idled and idled until fire was put under his ass and he finally had to do something to secure better living standards for himself

You could argue Shen Jiu has a stronger will to survive, but even being alive he didn't seem to enjoy it and be happy all that much. Meanwhile Shen Yuan strives for very little but generally is happy with the bare necessities and choosing to just loudly inflate his complaints about little things instead, which probably endears him to the people around him

[q1ngqve]

What if Ratio's s/o is feeling a little insecure about herself and Ratio's like "Are you saying I have bad taste? 🤨 Quite dumb of you to say. Allow me to show you how much I adore you..."

Fingers his s/o to the point where she squirts, and then stuffing his cock inside her cunny while whispering about how much he loves her...

"perfection is not defined by arbitrary standards imposed by society. true beauty emanates from authenticity, and you, my love, possess an authenticity that shines brighter than any star in the cosmos."

CW; insecure reader, fingering, squirting, overstimulation, penetration (v)

he'd be offended (lowkey) because he thinks very highly of you! so don’t blame him when he frowns, a slight downward tilt on his lips as he asks why you would ever feel / think this way

"are you saying I have bad taste? quite dumb of you to say so." despite his harsh words, his tone is soft and comforting, wrapping his arms around you in the process, head resting on your shoulder

you are literally the most amazing person he's ever met (I would say perfect but he knows nobody is perfect), he just couldn't wrap his head around your reasons for being insecure, but he understands that everybody has their low days, and it just so happens to be yours!

and what good is he as your boyfriend if he doesn't cheer you up and show you just how beautiful you are to him?

plants kisses on the side of your neck lovingly, and you giggle softly as his hair tickles you, making him chuckle between his kisses. separates himself from you before grabbing your wrists and leads you to the bed, gesturing for you to lie down

"god, you are beautiful."

leans down to kiss you passionately, tongue running along your bottom lip as he removes your pants, flinging it to the side of the room. you pull back to catch your breath a few seconds later, eyes flickering away from his intense gaze. his red eyes burning straight through the wall you built, staring right into the deepest part of your soul, and you suddenly feel incredibly vulnerable

"I'm not..."

your boyfriend's head shakes, a sigh leaving him, "then allow me to prove you otherwise, show you just how much I adore you." your eyes meet his once again, and you feel your cheeks heating up at his statement

with a small nod of head as consent, his hand reaches for your face, cupping your cheek for a moment before moving down to your neck, to your collar bones, his mouth following after the trail he left behind

you squirm in place, feeling extremely insecure about yourself, today really isn't your day. he notices this almost immediately, and distracts you by sucking on your nipple through your shirt, letting his warm tongue prod at the perky bud

whines leave your lips as his hands trail further down, dipping in your damp panties, drawing slow, sensual circles on your clit with his middle finger, "ratio..."

your body tenses when a finger slips in, "stunning. absolutely stunning." a breathy laugh escapes him as your hands fly to the back of his neck, pulling him down to kiss him fervently, "feels good, hmm?"

another finger joins the first, embarrassing squelching sounds fill the room as he pumps them into you with precision, hitting all your sensitive spots. it doesn't take long before you come undone on his fingers, and you feel a shudder run down your body when he smiles, "one more."

he doesn't give you the chance to calm down, plunging his fingers back in, and you clench around him, hard. the overstimulation making your head go empty, all negative thoughts of your body leaving your brain

when he hits that one spongy spot deep in you, your nails instinctively dig into his shoulders, successfully making your boyfriend smirk at your reaction

"wait— slow down! or I'm gonna—"

and of course he doesn't heed your warning, pushing and curling his fingers at a faster pace, thumb rubbing your clit, the occasional brush of his ring leaves your knees weak, your hips bucking on its own accord, trying to get that delicious friction again

a sudden warmth fills your core, your brain shutting down, and all you could hear was white noise buzzing inside you, your legs clenching together with his arm still between them

ratio curses under his breath at the sight before him — you with your back arched, eyes closed, mouth open, hips grinding against his hand as you ride out your high. he knew you were cumming, but he did not expect you to squirt, drenching his lower arm with your juices, the wetness shining under the bedroom light

your legs are pushed apart as you feel him climb between them, the clanking sound of his belt falling to the ground has you opening your eyes. you find yourself whining his name pathetically at the sight of him stroking his erect dick, the tip red and angry, curving at a slight angle with his veins looking like they may burst anytime

"apologies, my dear, but my patience is running out."

air gets knocked out of your lungs the moment he pushes all the way to the hilt, pulling a scream out from you. your body shakes uncontrollably from the overstimulation, hands desperately clawing at his chest and shoulders, trying to ground yourself with all your might

his hands grab at your hips, lifting you up slightly to thrust into you better as he kisses you again, this time so hard and rushed that your teeth clanks at some point. he'd pull away when you push at him, almost suffocating from the kiss, and you'd watch with tears in your eyes as he grits his teeth, jaw flexing each time he hits your cervix, soft grunts sounding at the back of his throat with each thrust

"you. are. absolutely. phenomenal." each word comes out hoarsely with each thrust, "every inch of you, perfection." tears stream down your face at his words, tiny gasps of whatever insecurities leave your body, "and don't you ever forget that."

you feel your pussy spasming around him, you're so so near to the edge, and you know he will he send you over with ease — angling his hips at the perfect angle, his own high approaching with each spasm of your warm gummy walls

"fuck— cum with me, please."

and you tense, gripping down on him like a vice, barely registering his groan of your name against your neck as you fall over the edge yet again. spurts of hot liquid fill your insides, leaving you a whimpering, crying mess under him. your boyfriend above you pants against your neck, his arms giving out slightly to press his body weight on you, trapping you beneath him, the weight and heat a comforting anchor for you to come back down

it takes a few minutes for the both of you to recover, and when you do, he's already kissing your collarbones, hands kneading your body softly, massaging at the red hand prints of his grip on your hips from before

sobs leave you unexpectedly as you wrap your arms around him, breaking down against his chest, wetting the fabric there. ratio's hands reach for your hair, pushing the fringe on your face back behind your ear, his thumb brushing the stray tears away from your eyes

soft tenderness appears in his own eyes as he leans closer to you, forehead touching yours, "while I may not fully comprehend the intricacies of your emotions, rest assured that my commitment to you remains unwavering. you are the reason my heart beats with such fervor, and you are cherished beyond measure."

you break into small giggles as more tears pour, and your hand reaching up to cup his face when you notice his nose and eyes turning red, tears welling in those beautiful shades of red and purple

"I love you."

[pepperpixel]

Initial drawings of that old man… I literally, I haven’t finished reading the book of bill yet!!! I had to stop and take a break for a week to feverishly draw fanart of myself petting fords floofy hair and giving him attention and shit…!!!! The urge was too great….!! I’ve literally. I had a crush on this guy the instant he was first REVEALED in the show, but I did not have the artistic prowess to draw good looking old men back then… but I do now… thank god… thank fucking god