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cinnamoonblue · 11 days ago

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Chapter I | Lucky you

Summary: One reckless night leads to the biggest and most unexpected change in your life. How will this affect your current life and how you and the charming stranger you met only once will manage to handle the bringing of a new life to this world together is a challenge yet to be discovered. Will you be able to make the right choices while battling your own demons? Who knows, all you must be worried about now is that your period is late...

Main characters: Portgas D Ace x Reader

Supporting characters: Marco, Thatch, Whitebeard, Luffy, Sabo, Nico Robin, Boa Hancock, Isuka

Description: Modern AU | Firefighter Baby Daddy!Ace

WARNINGS: english is not my first language, explicit language, NSFW, 18+ only, contains explicit sexual themes and content, use of alcohol, slow burn, conflicted feelings, conflicted relationship, emotional distress, jealousy, suggestive themes, previous toxic relationships, mention of depression, mention/description of pregnancy, strangers to co-parents to lovers, mentions of a lot of anxiety, mentions of cheating, mentions of mental trauma, social anxiety (+ more warnings will be added if needed to)

Additional tags: Reader is super awkward and has social anxiety and low-self esteem but this changes (I don't want to spoil), Ace is emotional invalid when it comes to love, but this also changes (no spoilers)

WORD COUNT: 16,2K

main masterlist | story masterlist | next chapter ->

NOTE: I'm so excited for this story and what is about to come out of it and the journey I have planned for Reader and Ace. I really hope that you guys will like it as much as I enjoy writing it. I'll yap more in the end note, so for now enjoy ♡

Positive. All three tests show the same results, from the cheapest to the most expensive one the answer is clear – you are pregnant. Or better said – knocked up. This is everything else but a planned pregnancy.

Sitting on the tailed floor of your bathroom you try to take deep breaths but nothing your therapist has taught you works. Your heart is about to explode, and your mind is going wild. Panic is slowly overtaking you.

How did this happen? It was just one time. The one single time you let yourself have a one-night stand after almost two years without any sex or interaction with a man of any kind and you end up knocked up? This must be some kind of a joke.

5 weeks earlier

The waiting room of your therapist��s office has an inviting atmosphere, with two comfortable white fluff armchairs to sit on while you wait for your turn. A plush rug lay on the floor, muffling the sound of footsteps and creating a sense of serenity. Magazines and books are neatly arranged on a small modern glass table, offering a variety of reading material to distract anxious minds. Potted plants and tasteful artwork adorned the room, and the smell of lavender fills out the space.

Despite the calm atmosphere you are always a bit anxious before your therapist visits. Playing nervously with your fingers as you pull the edges of your hair has been a habit of yours when you are nervous since you can remember.

The reason why you went to therapy was because you have ended a three-year relationship, or your ex-partner did. During those three years you have lost a big part of yourself and who you are... were. If someone three years ago told you that you will end up in a toxic and mentally abusive relationship you most likely wouldn’t have believed them. The man you had fallen in love with, wasn’t the same man who you felt out of love and broke your heart and spirit.

It has taken you a lot and it still does to bring yourself back piece by piece, but slowly and steadily with the help of your therapist and close friends you are getting back on your feet.

The door to her office opens and you slightly lift your head. Watching your therapist sending her current patinate away with a warm encouraging smile, with whom you don’t dare to make any eye contact with; with that same smile she looks at you and invites you to enter her office. Giving her a small nod you get up and leave the comfort of the soft armchair and walk to her with a shy smile.

Walking into the now very familiar office, you take your usual spot on the nice light brown leather sofa placed in the middle of the room, next to her comfortable armchair made of the same leather. The walls painted in soothing shades of white and beige create a harmonious and calming backdrop. Natural light filters through large windows, gently illuminating the room and casting a warm glow. Potted plants add a touch of nature, while the painfully familiar artworks on the walls contribute for the minimalistic aesthetic of the office.

Once you put your bag and jacket aside you turn to your therapist as she closes the door and takes a seat on her chair. Nico Robin, a nice, intelligent and extremely gorgeous woman, an expert in her job, is the person who helps you to get back on your feet for the past ten moths. A close friend of yours at work has recommended you her and until this day you feel like you own your friend a huge favour for this. Who know how deep of a hole you would have dig yourself into if it wasn’t for your friend suggestion one day for you to go to therapy.

“How are you feeling today (Y/N)?” She asks crossing her legs one over the other as she opens her notebook and waits for your response. “I love how your hair is today. Have you been to the hairdresser?”

Nodding with your head you give her a confident smile before your response, “I’m good and quite excited. And yes, I was before I came here. I thought to myself – why not treat myself today.”

“I’m so happy you’re slowly getting this mindset back. You deserve it. What are you feeling excited for today?” Taking her glasses off she leans back on her armchair with curiosity spread across her features. So far into your sessions you have never mentioned being excited as current feeling; sad, lonely, confused, scared, lost, from time to time good, are your usual response, but excited – so far until today she hasn’t heard it from you.

“Well-” Leaning back on the sofa, you cross your legs and fix your posture to straighten your back a bit, but mostly to look more confident in what you are saying. “My best friend has a birthday today and we are going out, and surprisingly I really do want to go out. I haven’t felt like this in... well, you know. Months.” You chuckle with a half shrug.

Your self esteem and self worth have been broken to the ground after, and during, the time spent with your ex-partner. You recently gain some confidence to go out like you used to before. Because of all the things said from your ex, you felt like you must hide from the world. You felt so belittle that the thought of strangers outside of your family and friends to see you made your blood run cold, which also affected not only your personal, but professional life as well.

Now, thanks to the weekly therapy sessions with Nico Robin your confidence is slowly but steady coming back. Some weeks are better than the others, but you try not to get too hard on yourself, because the progress of getting yourself back together is acknowledge even by you.

“I’m so glad to hear this. Have you threated yourself with a nice new outfit as well?” Robin smiles, more to herself than you as she hopes that you will give her a positive answer.

The first time you have walked into her office broke her heart a bit. She always keeps her professional behaviour, but seeing and hearing how a young beautiful woman like you had been constantly put down and unappreciated, while being the complete opposite off all those things made her blood boiled, especially from unsuccessful insecure men like the man who is now your ex.

“Yes, I did.” And you feel amazing about it. You don’t remember the last time you actually bought something that made you feel so desirable and sexy without doubting yourself. “Can you guess?” You playfully challenged your therapist.

She hasn’t seen much so far of this playful side of yours and she would be lying if she says that she doesn’t enjoy it. Parts of Robin feel like this is a glimpse of the old you, the one before your three years of hell. “A dress?”

“Mhm.” Humming you encourage her to continue with further guesses about the dress.

Bringing one endpiece of her glass’ frame close to her lips and biting it Robin takes her time to answer you. No matter where this outburst of confidence comes from, you won’t be so bold to go for something revealing, so it should be still something nice and convenient. “Maybe a long floral or one-color dress.”

“No.” You shake your head with a small sly smile.

“Knee high length?” Robin raises one of her brows.

Pulling one strand of hair behind your ear you shake your head again and give her the answer. “A little black dress.” A big smile spreads across your face and a laughter escape past your lips as you see the surprised reaction written on your therapist’s face. “And high heels. Red bottoms.”

For a moment and entirely purposely Robin drops her therapist persona and replies to you as a friend. “As you should and as you deserve. I’m proud of you.”

But this moment doesn’t last long as you are quick to brush it off as nothing. “It’s just a little black dress, me and probably twenty other women will be wearing the same outfit anyway.”

And here is the you she knows. Quick to belittle yourself as you are someone who doesn’t turn heads when she walks somewhere. You do, but sadly, you are too blind to see it yourself.

Going back to her professional persona, Robin moves a bit on her chair to make herself more comfortable, before she starts with the questions for which only you have the answers to help yourself. “Why did you belittle yourself again?”

The smile on your face fades quickly. “I don’t know.” You slightly shrug. “As I said, I won’t be the only one wearing this and this type of dress is always a safe play.”

“That’s true.” Robbin nods, agreeing with what you have said. “But you do know that you will get noticed tonight, right?” For some people the way Robin picks her words now might sound unprofessional, but she makes the choice of wording it that way purposely.

As much as you don’t want to have any kind of connection with any man right now, deep down you will be lying to yourself if you say that you won’t mind a glance or two from someone. At the end of the day, you are a young woman in her prime years trying to gain her confidence back and of course a man is not the key, but we are all human beings, one way or another we all look for some kind of validation or a sign that we are desired.

“In a way.” You quietly say, your voice comes out almost as a whisper. “But I doubt. I’m more looking for… for the feeling of looking myself in the mirror and say ‘wow, I still got it’.” Lifting your fist in the air and faking a fake enthusiasm makes Robin shake her head slightly.

“You’ve always got it.” She tells you confidently. “You must see it as well. Feel it.” Writing a few things down in her notebook, without looking at you she continues to speak. “But I asked you this not because I think you are looking for male attention, I’m asking because I know you will get some, and I want to know how you feel about this. Do you think what happened last time can happen again?”

Taking a strand of your hair between your fingers, you swirl it around as you take your time to answer Robin. What will you do if someone approaches you? Definitely cut them off. You are not interested in any kind of interaction with a man, and you don’t think that you will be any time soon.

The last time a guy tried to hit on you was two months ago when you and your best friend Boa, went out for a drink in a bar close to your place. It was the first time in months that you got dressed up and ready to party, but sadly it didn’t last long. The guy was polite and nice, but the memories of your ex came back in the moment you felt the smell of the guy’s perfume as it was the same as your ex’s. It made you so uncomfortable. You had to grab Boa by the hand and drag her out of the place as fast as possible as you felt like you were choking for air. The night ended with you curled up in your best friend’s arms while crying on the sofa in the middle of your living room, reliving memories you have been trying to erase so badly.

“I don’t know what I will do.” You sigh avoiding your therapist’s eyes. There is a stubborn slip end on one of your hairs and you decide to focus on it while opening yourself up. “I don’t think that I’m ready to do anything, yet. Mostly because it’s hard to trust their intensions. My ex was also nice in the beginning, but it was all a mask.”

“But you must learn how to trust again, don’t you think?” There is no scolding or judgment in her voice nor eyes. Robin doesn’t want to make you feel bad; she wants to help you get out of your shell.

Nodding a few times you clicked with your tongue, shrugging still focused on your hair. “I know. I just don’t know how ready I am to do so.”

“Baby steps.” Robin says encouraging.

The rest of your session goes with talks about how you should try to relax in places such as bars and clubs. How you should slowly start getting out of your comfort zone, or like Robin likes to call it – your fear zone and start letting yourself going out a bit more.

“Imagine going out for a drink as another commercial deal you seal.” She gives you an example. “How do you manage so good at work if you feel so stressed out about something as simple as going out with friends in a place where a lot of people happen to be?”

A loud sigh escapes past your lips. “It’s different.”

“How so? Elaborate.” Playing with the pen between her fingers, Robin leans on the palm on her hand and waits for your response.

“First – when it comes to work, I’m quite confident in what I do.” This is something no one can deny you.

While you were in university studying business and marketing, your mother arranged you a job as an intern in a television commercial company. There you met a lot of interesting people and got close to your boss, who happened to be an old college friend of your mother, who soon after you graduated, offered you a permanent job as marketing advisor for the company. You have been working there for five years now and just two years ago your interest changed and you decided to become an agent at the same company, representing mostly models from across the country.

“But also, work me and personal life me are two completely different people.” Most of your colleagues barely know who you are outside your job. You have always been very private in your life, only your closest friends know what is going on in it, and you are very selective with whom you let close to yourself.

Of course, in the past year, your work and personal self-mixed up due to the depression you had fallen into, but you are back on track now and you plan to keep it that way.

“Why do you think work you manages better?” Her intense blue eyes pierce through you.

“Because as you know I work mostly with models, and these people are always so confident or they fake it so well, therefore I must fake my confidence, too.” Letting go of the hair strand you wrap your hands around yourself, trying to protect yourself from being exposed, slowly getting back into your shell, your voice lowers almost to a whisper. “Fake it till I make it, I guess.”

Putting her notebook aside, Robin sits on the edge of her chair and reaches out, placing her hand gently on your shoulder. “There is the answer.” She says with a smile. “If you can fake it for the people you represent to sign them jobs, then you can fake it as something as simple as going out for a drink.”

“But you know the problem isn’t the going out for the drink.” You jokingly chuckle, trying to hide the uncomfortable feeling behind the lightness of your tone.

“I know.” Pulling away from you, the dark-haired woman nod. “That is why tonight I want you to do exactly what you said.” She gives you a challenging smile as you turn your head in confusion towards her. “I want you to fake this confidence the moment a man approaches you and just try to not think much of it, and remember – you always, and I mean it, always have the choice over what you want and need.”

With a deep sigh you nod. “I’ll try my best.”

“You said it yourself – fake it till you make it. Sometimes we must do things that make us uncomfortable for the sake of overcoming them. You’re strong. I believe in you.” She gives you a little wink before you continue with another topic.

The laughter around the table and the cheers of another round of champagne echoes as you celebrate your best friend’s birthday. You have gathered in one of the latest most popular and fancy restaurants in the city, and Boa, being Boa, has booked one of the private dining rooms in the restaurant for only you and the rest of your group of friends.

The room is dimmed lighted, creating this nice and welcoming atmosphere. The walls are painted in a serene shade of off-white colour. The centrepiece of the room is a long oval dining table made of white marble. A lush arrangement mix of white peonies and lilies are arranged along the centre of the table, their delicate petals contrasting beautifully against the neutral backdrop, among with the white candles and their soft, ambient lighting casts a warm glow over the table, the gentle shadows of them dancing on your faces.

The overall effect is one of understated luxury, something Boa has grown up with and always chase, where every detail has been carefully considered to create an atmosphere of refined elegance and comfort for her special day.

You two have been best friends since first grade. She has been your rock many times in life, and you were hers. Boa is the sister you have never gotten to have, and you are the same to her, even though she has two younger sisters, you have a higher spot in her heart than them.

Before you know it, you two and the rest of the girls are saying goodbye. All of you are tipsy, and tomorrow all of you must work as it is Wednesday and Boa is leaving in the afternoon for a photoshoot abroad for a famous brand, which means she will be gone for at least a week, and she doesn’t want to miss celebrating her birthday with her friends. Till this day you can’t believe that she trusts you so much to a point that when you decided to become an agent, she immediately left her old one and switched to you and the company you work for.

“Girl, you and I are not going home yet.” She wraps one arm around your shoulders and leans on you, clearly drunk.

Giggling, as you have also drunk a bit too much of champagne, you try to reason her. “But we have work tomorrow, and you have a flight to catch. Don’t you wanna be fresh in the morning?”

“I wanna party with my best friend.” She leans more of her bodyweight on you, which makes you trip almost by sending you both on the ground, as maintaining your balance on high heels while being quite tipsy is something you are not very good at.

You both laugh loudly as you pull away from one another. “Okay, okay. Where should we go?” You raise your hand up to call a taxi to pick you up and drive you to some bar you two usually end up going to.

It doesn’t take long for one to stop. Both of you take a seat at the back and as you are about to tell the taxi driver where to drive you, your friend has something else in mind interrupting you before you can tell the driver where to take you. “Mister, please take us to some cheap old rock bar.” She drunkenly laughs.

“What?” You turn your head to her in disbelief.

Boa laughs ones again, before nodding to the driver to drive to where she has told him to. “Relax.” She pushes your shoulder playfully. “We are trying something new tonight.” With an unbothered shrug she leans back on the seat and closes her eyes for a minute.

“I don’t mind, but… is it safe?” As much as you are drunk, you are still quite aware of all the possible dangers there might be, especially in a place such as cheap bars.

“It will be, trust me.” Boa replies and takes your hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I need to let go a bit tonight, so I thought maybe a game or three of pool might help with some cheap tequila.”

You are about to protest when you remember what you had promised your therapist earlier today. That you will try to fake it till you make it, and this is an opportunity to do so.

“Fine, but nothing too crazy.” Pointing your finger at her warning, she just laughs at you.

The taxi driver soon stops the cab in front of some local bar that looks more like a pub, but neither you nor Boa protest. You pay the man and both of you get out of the taxi. “I just hope that they have a pool table, that is all I want.” Boa tells you as she takes your hand and leads the way inside.

Entering the place a lot of eyes are on you two. You with your little black dress with sheer black high stockings and Boa with her long red dress with a slit are definitely not dressed for a local pub.

“I don’t like this.” You whisper to her as she makes your way to the bar. “A lot of people are looking at us.”

Looking over her shoulder, she winks at you. “They always are.” Reaching the bar, she lets go of your hand and turns towards you. “Plus, the place is not bad.”

Boa is right. The place is not bad. It is not the usual place you and she are used to hanging out in, but it is not a bad place.

The bar is quite big and there are a lot of people around it or sitting around the tables across the main floor. The dim lighting casts a warm glow over the space, and the walls are covered with posters of legendary rock bands. The air buzzes with youthful energy as groups of friends laugh and chat, their voices blending with the rock music playing in the background.

Towards the back of the pub is the area with a few well-worn pool tables. The clinking of billiard balls and the occasional cheer from a winning shot add to the lively atmosphere.

Despite the initial wariness, you find the environment surprisingly inviting. It’s a place where everyone just seems to be enjoying the night, letting loose and having a good time.

“Here.” Boa says as she hands you a beer in hand. She knows that you are not a fan of beer, neither is she, but by the looks of it tonight you both are doing something out of your usual comfort zones. “I also got us a shot of tequila.” Following her gaze, you see the bartender pouring two shot glasses with the transparent liquid.

“You’ll be the death of me tonight.” You sigh, shaking your head as you grab the shot glass and cheers with her before drinking the shot in one go. The after taste burns your insides and you bite on the lemon as fast as you can so you can get rid of it. “God, I hate tequila.” Your whole-body shiver as the sourness of the lemon hits your tastebuds.

“Your nineteen years old self used to say otherwise.” Your friend makes fun of you, reminding you of the times when you were wild teenagers.

Sarcastically rolling your eyes with a shake of your head you tell your friend, “Uh, I wish I was her again.”

Boa gives you one encouraging smile before raising her own beer glass “I think we are slowly getting her back.” Hearing her saying this gives you a little boost of confidence. Clinking the beer glasses you both take a sip of it and make a face after swallowing the alcohol beverage.

Shaking your head with disgust you put away the beer and tell your best friend to go wait for a pool table while you buy new drinks for you. Boa doesn’t need to be told twice before she turns around and makes her way to the back of the bar.

While you are busy ordering your new drinks, not paying attention to the people around you, a few tables away from you three men are sitting, sipping beers and playing cards.

The day shift at the fire station has gone smoothly, which means there were no emergency calls. The three men sitting around the worn-out wooden table at the bar are here not only to relax a bit after long hours at work, but also to celebrate the possible rank promotion of one the youngest member in their department.

“I still can’t believe Pops select you for a Captain, skipping two whole ranks at the time.” Thatch, a tall man in his early forties, with a light brown hair styled with a lot of gel to stay sleek back, chuckles amazed but proudly as he puts a card down, waiting for his colleague and friend to make his move.

Marco, a man in his forties, sitting right next to Thatch, lightly hums as he pushes his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Our boy is slowly making sure to catch up to us.” Glancing with his light brown eyes at his young colleague and dear friend, he waits for his next move.

Taking his sweet time with his next move the raven-haired young man in front of them just smirks before taking a sip of his beer and placing it back on the table. Running the tip of his finger on top of the cards in his hand he finally picks one and confidently places it on the table.

“Am I catching up to you or are you slowing down?” His cocky smirk grows bigger as the card wins him the game.

“Your luck is through the roof today.” Thatch groans as Ace reaches to take the pile of cards.

“Lucky me, what can I say.” Ace says handing the cards to Marco to shuffle them so they can start a new game. “Still, just because I was selected doesn’t mean I’ll be approved.”

“You will be Ace.” Marco encouraging nods as he shuffles the cards. “If Pops recommended you himself, that means he sees a lot of potential in you and your skills.”

“Plus, the salary you’ll get once promoted will get you that dream car of yours faster.” Thatch winks at him, knowing how to motivates the younger guy, who is like a little brother to both him and Marco.

Letting out a boyish laugher, Ace nods a few times. He has been saving to buy his childhood dream car for four years now and he is so close to reaching his goal. For a lot of people, the amount of money and time he has spent on saving for something such as a car is ridicules, but to Ace – it is the most logical thing he could do in his mid-twenties.

Independent and in his prime, Ace is living life the way he has always wanted to live it – freely and without regret for anything. Every choice he has made so far has let him to better days. He regrets nothing. He doesn’t regret dropping off college to become a firefighter. Helping people has always bring him joy, but so does the adrenalin of doing dangerous activities, and what is more challenging than throwing yourself in the flames of a burning building while trying to save someone’s life.

“Until they approve Pops’ recommendation, I can’t get my hopes up.” Taking the cards in one hand and looking at the hand he has gotten, Ace mentally smirks to himself – another win is on the way to him.

“Don’t think much about it.” Marco calmy tells him, putting the first card on the table. “After all, getting approved is the easy part, the exams and the physical test on the other hand ar-” Before he could manage to finish his sentence, he gets interrupted by his phone ringing. Pulling it up from the front pocket of his pants, he excuses himself from the table once he sees that it is his wife calling.

“I’m so happy I don’t have these problems anymore.” Thatch points with his eyes to where Marco left. He and his ex-wife divorced a year and a half ago, and since then the relationship between them has improved. The tone has gotten friendlier, no more fight, but more agreements as they must share custody over their teenage daughter.

“And I’m so happy I’ll never have them.” Ace snorts as he draws a card from the pile.

Thatch can’t help but laugh at his young friend’s comment. “Oh, Ace. I can’t wait for the day you’ll get swept away by a girl and I pray I’ll be there to witness it.”

“You can only dream about this day.” The young rebel guy response. He has made up his mind a long time ago about relationships and the whole family idea – he doesn’t want it. He has seen what married life or being in a relationship has done to most of his colleagues and friends, of course not all of them are bad – Marco being the best example of them all. He and his wife were high school sweethearts and have been together for more than twenty years with three kids, the youngest being five years old.

But this doesn’t come only from his friends’ experience, it also comes from the way he has grown up. Ace never understood the relationship between his mother and father. His father was gone most of the time, working as captain on cargo ships, and while it provided good for their family, Ace can say that most of his life he grew up without a father as he was never home.

“Didn’t it almost happen?” Thatch knowingly raises one brow at Ace.

Rolling his eyes with a sarcastic chuckle, Ace shakes his head. “No, not even close.”

“Really? I’m quite sure it you two were almost there.” Placing a card down on top of Marco’s one, Thatch leans back on the benched seats.

“What?” Ace looks at him with a surprised look on his face. “No, Isuka and I were not even close to anything as being in love or whatever.”

“Yet, you spent two years being on and off.” Putting his cards faced down on the table as Marco hadn’t returned yet, Thatch crossed his arms across his chest.

Doing the same thing with his own cards, Ace places them face down on the wooden table and leans back on his chair, propping his hand on the top of the chair next to him, he looks at his friend with a look that says that he is very wrong. “We spent two years on and off because when she stopped chasing me, I was interested in chasing her and vise versa.”

He and Isuka haven’t been in contact in more than six months, and this has been a big relief for Ace. The situation between him and his ex-girlfriend, if he could even call her this, was nothing else but a hot mess. Both were not ready at all to make any compromises, both thinking in many cases and situations being better than the other, both playing games, but most of all neither of them ready to settle, or at least Ace wasn’t ready.

The last time they saw each other was also the last time they fought over where they stood. For Ace it was clear – just people who have sex with each other from time to time and hang out if they really don’t have anything else to do. But to Isuka it wasn’t like this. She wanted something more than just being fuckbuddies with a man she has fallen for. She was tired of the games and so was Ace, but in the end while she felt like he was the right person for her, he did not feel the same way about her.

There was something that was missing. Ace couldn’t never find full comfort in her company or look at her and be like ‘Wow, I’m so lucky to have this woman by my side.’, even though Isuka was the full package – beautiful, smart, well established in her carrier, but Ace just couldn’t see himself with her. He couldn’t see himself with her or anyone else. Not because he didn’t want to. He tried. He tried many times, especially with Isuka, but at the end of the day something wasn’t enough for this magical moment of a click between two people to happen.

That is why, six months later now, he never tried to contact her again or response to one of her messages she sent a while ago.

He doesn’t mean to be rude to her or an asshole, but it just doesn’t feel right to let her on once again or tired to be friends as this has been clear from the start that it would be impossible between them especially after sleeping together for the past two years.

Ace has always believed that the friendship between a man and a woman who have had intimate relationship is impossible, and his situation with Isuka has been already complicated it doesn’t need to get any more than that.

“I’m actually glad we ended it.” He murmurs more to himself than Thatch.

Walking back into the now a bit too crowded bar, Marco grabs his jacket in a hurry before turning to the guys. “I’m sorry guys, my youngest is with a very high fever and we must get home.”

“Oh, poor champ.” Ace says, giving Marco a sympathizing look. He knows Marco’s family very well. On a few occasions he and his wife have even dropped the kids off to Ace to look after them while they go out for a date night or they must do some kind of a work which doesn’t allow them to have the kids around. “Tell him I’m buying him some ice cream when he gets better.”

“He’ll make sure to keep this promise, you know.” Pointing with his finger at Ace warningly, Marco lets a little laughter escape his lips. “It was nice to hang out with you guys. See you tomorrow.”

“Take care, say hello from me.” Thatch calls after Marco before he leaves. Turning back to Ace, Thatch gives him a mischievous look, one that tells Ace that nothing but trouble will be following them for the rest of the night. “As much as I love Marco, with a married man around is hard for two single men to have fun, am I right Ace?”

“You were married until a year and a half ago yourself - don’t forget that.” This reminder from Ace made Thatch roll his eyes.

“But I’m not anymore.” Leaning with his body closer to the table, Thatch put his elbows on the table and nods at Ace to lean closer. “I saw two gorgeous women walking in like ten minutes ago. I think they are by the pool tables. Wanna go say hello?”

Turning his head where the pool tables are Ace tries to see the girls Thatch is talking about but there are too many people standing on the way for him to take a look. Shaking his head he turns back to his friend. “Nah, man. Not tonight.” Grabbing the handle of the beer mug Ace lifts it to his lip to drink the last sip of it. “You want one more?”

Thatch rolls his eyes with a click of his tongue. “Sure, but you’re not fun.”

Laughing at him, Ace stands and makes his way to the bar. It doesn’t take long to get new beers but coming back to their table he finds it empty. Taking a deep breath in, he turns to where the pool tables are and see his friend standing there talking to a girl a bit taller than him, in a red dress, dressed up a bit too much for a local bar like this one.

Shaking his head in disapproval, Ace makes his way to his friend. “Thatch!” He calls out the man’s name who sometimes tends to go far and beyond for the lady’s attention.

“There he is.” Thatch excitedly announces, reaching with his hand to Ace, signalling him to come faster. “This is my friend Ace – Ace this is Boa.”

Leaving Ace, no choice but to shakes the girl’s hand, he places the beers on the side of the pool table, before taking her hand in his to introduce himself. “I’m sorry if he’s bothering you.” He is quick to apologise.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Boa is far from Thatch’s level. Tall, gorgeous, built like a model, who knows she might even be one, would never pay attention to a man like Thatch, who even for his forty something years still looks very good.

“Are you kidding me? Your friend here is so much fun.” Boa gives Ace a small smirk before she turns back to Thatch. “So, you’re saying you can beat me on pool?”

“Well darling, I’m not just saying it, I plan to prove it.” Thatch returns the smirk, grabbing the cue stick from the table. “Would your friend mind?”

“No, she won’t.” Boa replies as she accepts Thatch’s challenge and leans over the table to collect the pool balls. “You can play one game with her after I made your friend cry.” She tells Ace while placing the balls in the triangle.

“Oh, Boa now you get me fired up.” Thatch chuckles. “Where is your friend by the way?”

“Toilet. She’ll be here any second now.”

Hearing this Ace rolls his eyes a bit. The last thing he wants right now is to watch his friend playing billiards, while he must entertain Boa’s friend.

Despite what people might think of Ace, usually being either a player or a guy who gets lot of attention from girls, he is the quite opposite. He is very selective. Yes, he might flirt here and there, but that’s it. Neither he is a fan of one-night stands. Not like he hasn’t had his fair share with them, but it isn’t something he really is looking forward to, especially tonight.

Taking his beer from the pool table, Ace steps back and leans with his elbow on one of the side high tables. Pulling his phone from the back pocket of his jeans he starts scrolling, not paying much attention to his friend and the girl in front of him.

Coming back from the toilet and seeing your best friend playing billiards with some man made you sigh. ‘Great, now I’ll be third wheeling.’ you can’t help but think. It is not a surprise for you though. Boa has always had all eyes on her. Usually when you two go out, or with the rest of your friend group, men tend to go and try to hit on her first. They are never successful most of the time, so seeing this man who is obviously older than you two, playing with her is a bit of a surprise, but tonight is all about trying something new, right?

Walking next to her, you tap her on the shoulder, as she is waiting for the man to shoot his shot. Turning around to face you, a big smile places on her face. “Oh, there she is.” She excitedly exclaims, catching the man’s attention. “Thatch this is (Y/N), (Y/N) this is Thatch.”

The man walks to you and gently shakes your hand. “Sorry for taking your place here.”

You wave you hand to brush him off. “It’s fine don’t worry. I’m not even good at billiards.” Cucking softly, you reply.

Coming next to you Boa places the palms of her hands on your shoulders as she leans closer to you with a smile. “Thatch here is not alone. He’s here with a friend.”

It takes all your willpower not to roll your eyes. Last thing you want to do tonight is wasting your time engaging in conversations with some forty years old man’s friend. Faking a laughter and a smile you reply, “Oh, how nice.”

“Hey, Ace come meet (Y/N).” Thatch calls out his friend’s name. Turning your head to the direction where both Boa and the man are looking, at the same time a guy your age looks up from his phone and your gazes meet.

Strangle enough your heart skips a beat the moment your eyes lock. Getting up from the chair and putting his phone in his back pocket the guy takes a few steps and stands in front of you. He is tall, well built – muscular but not too much to a point where to question if he takes something to be built like this or not, raven black hair with dark brown eyes and freckles all over his cheeks, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, he is pretty good looking. A bit too good looking. You don’t remember the last time you have found a guy this attractive from just one look at him.

Ace on the other hand is starstruck on his own. To be honest, he has imagined everything else, but a cute pretty face like yours. He thought that if Boa is this pretty there is no way that her friend could possibly be prettier, but he was wrong. Very wrong. Your eyes, your lips, your nose, the colour of your skin and the way the little black dress is hugging every inch of your curves makes his heart beat a bit faster than it should.

Clearing his throat, he reaches with his hand for yours. “Ace.” Is all he says. In response he gets your name. Your hands staying a bit too long in a handshake. When the realisation hits you both you are quick to pull away.

This doesn’t go unnoticed by neither Thatch nor Boa, but he is the first to speak. “You know, my boy Ace here is actually very good at playing pool, maybe he can teach you how to do it better.”

“Are you Ace?” Boa turns to him with a smile as she hands him her cue stick. “Go ahead, please. She really needs someone to teach her a thing or two about billiards.”

Shyness and awkwardness take over you in seconds. “N-no, it’s fine.” Turning to Ace you shake your head and pull your hands up a bit like a little kid who just got caught shoplifting a candy. “You don’t need to do this, I-I’m a lost cause.” An awkward chuckle leaves your lips. “Plus, they are not done with their game, right guys?” Turning to your friend and Thatch, you are met with disagreement from them.

“No, we’re pretty done, right Thatch?” Boa smirks.

“Yes, I think we are. Wanna go out for some fresh air?” He totally ignores the looks Ace is giving him. In Thatch’s mind his dear friend needs to get laid, and by the looks of it there has been an immediate spark between you two, so it will be a shame if you don’t get some alone time to get to know each other.

Without wasting any second Boa agrees to Thatch’s offer and before you and Ace can protest, they are out of your sigh.

An awkward silence takes over you both, despite the loud music and the people around you. Seeing how tense you are, Ace feels bad, so he decides to make the first move. Taking a step to you, he leans a bit closer so you can hear him better. “I’m sorry about him. I told him to not bother you or your friend.”

This closure gives you goosebumps, so you take one step away before you turn to face him. “No, please, no one is bothering anyone. He seems nice.”

“He is, but if you want us gone, let me know.” Winking at you, he walks to the pool table with the cue stick in hand. “Wanna play one round while they are out?”

Biting on your lower lip, you nod. “Sure, why not? But keep in mind I’m very bad at it.” Grabbing the other cue stick while he is rearranging the balls in the triangle, you shyly walk closer to him.

“Nice.” Ace says more to himself than to you as he removes the triangle and turns to you with a charming smile. “Wanna go first and break them?” Taking his cue stick again he goes to the other side of the table to look for the chalk. Finding it, he walks back and gives it to you.

Taking it from his hand you thank him before applying it to the tip off your cue stick. Leaning your body and positioning your fingers to stable the stick in your hand better on the pool table, you take a deep breath before hitting the white ball in the middle. It rolls and hits the rest of the balls, but they barely move.

Scrunching your face from embarrassment you turn to Ace. “Told you, I’m bad at it.”

“Nah, it was good. All you need is a little bit more force.” Instead of going for his turn he takes all the balls again and puts them for a start break. “Go on, just a little bit more force.”

Doing the exact same thing, but with a little bit more force now, this time when you break more than a few balls move. Sadly, none of them roll to one of the pockets in the table so now it is Ace’s turn.

From his first hit he manages to get one of the balls in one of the side pockets. After it he gets two more balls in before missing and it is again your turn.

This goes back and forth a few times, none of you speaking much, until the game is finished and of course, he wins.

Ace wants to engage in a conversation with you, he really does, but he can clearly see how tens you are, almost like you are uncomfortable around him as you keep your distance like you want to run away, which makes him a bit sad, but who knows maybe you have a boyfriend or you just don’t feel attracted to him at all. Your distance has grown even bigger after he has asked you to help you fix your posture while you were about to make your move, to which you give permission to him to touch you.

You on the other hand are still on fire after that touch from him. The way he has gently placed his hands on the back of your shoulders to straighten them and then the way he wrapped his fingers around your hand, moving your arms with his to make the hit. The feeling of his touch on your bare skin made you feel something you haven’t experience in a long time, and you can’t be sure if it is because of the alcohol or the effect this charming stranger has on you, but for some reason you could feel how your body temperature has risen up.

That is why, you create a bit of a space between you two, which for some weird reason does feel wrong. You want to speak with him, but there is this pressure in you, this feeling of anxiety that is slowly creeping up that you will mess things up, so maybe is better to now say anything at all. But saying nothing also feels wrong.

Building all the courage you can built in a span of a second you turn to him with a small smile, your fingers immediately find their way to the edge of one of your hair strands and start playing with it.

Clearing your throat to catch his attention better you finally speak up. “So, Ace – what brings you here tonight?” Leaning the back of your lower body on the pool table, your head is turned to him as you observe him.

This question takes him by surprise. So far all you have talked about was billiard or how bad you are playing it, nothing too personal. Leaving the cue stick on the pool table, he walks closer to you, half charming smile on his face as he leans with one hand on the table next to you. “Let’s say little promotion from work. What about you?”

“It’s Boa’s birthday.” You reply shortly, you breath caught up in your lungs from how close he is standing next to you. Giving him a quick glance before you look away, you shoot another question. “W-what do you do for work?”

“I’m a firefighter.” His response catches your attention quickly.

“Wow, really? That’s amazing and so brave.” Letting go of your hair now your eyes are on his. “What made you become one?”

“It was a mixture of a few things.” He replies, a bit more focused on your face, for whatever reason trying to memories every spot or line there is on. “I’ve always love helping people, but I also love adrenaline rush, so this sounded like the best opportunity a few years ago.”

This sounds a bit familiar to you or the you, you used to be like. You still help people as much as you can if you are being asked to, but the adrenaline part? It has been years since you have done something spontaneous or crazy. “So, you’re a bit of adrenaline junkie?” You chuckle with a little playful smile which you don’t realize has appeared on your face, but Ace catches it immediately.

“Maybe a bit too much sometimes.” He smirks, crossing his hands over his muscular chest, he nods at you. “What about you?”

“What about me?” You awkwardly laugh, not sure if he asks about your job or if you are adrenaline chaser like him.

Ace can’t help but laugh a bit. He has notice that the moment the attention is turned towards you, you froze, which is in a way adorable, but it also made him wonder if he is the reason why you are so tens, or this is how you are usually. “Are you an adrenaline junkie, silly?”

You can feel the heat rushing to your face when he calls you ‘silly’. It is something in the way he says it, so unintentionally playful, yet made you feel like you are sixteen again. “No, I’m not.” You say with a shake of your head. “Used to be, but not anymore.”

The slight change of your tone doesn’t go unnoticed by Ace, for which he decides to test his luck and see if he can play around this. “So, there is a wild girl hidden somewhere behind the shy one I’m speaking to right now?”

He is smooth, you give him that. Biting on your lower lip you shyly shrug. “Yea, maybe.”

Nodding his head, Ace can feel that he is slowly starting to make you relax. After all you haven’t broken eye contact with him for a while now, so this is a good sign. “What can I do to get a glimpse of this wild side of yours?”

“What can you do, huh?” Laughing at his question you place two fingers under your chin, acting like you are trying to think of something before you answer him. “Hmm, maybe if you have a time machine and you meet me back in college then you will definitely have a glimpse of wild me.”

Clicking with his tongue he raises one brow at you. “Okay, which collage you went to, so I know where to go to?” Telling him the name of the college you went to makes his brows raise in surprise. “No way. Me too. Which year?” You tell him the year you started and graduated making him snort. “What a coincidence. Me too, but I dropped off after a year or so.”

You are as surprise as he is. Sure, your college was pretty big, but there is no way you two have never crossed paths before. You are sure you would have noticed him, after all he is quite the charm. “What program were you in?”

“Something about social studies. To be honest I don’t remember anymore.” Shrugging he brushes off the subject, as to him it doesn’t really matter. “This means you must be twenty-seven? Twenty-eight?”

“Twenty-seven.” You nod with a smile. “You?”

“Twenty-seven.” He returns the smile.

Ace is about to ask you something more when he gets interrupted by your friend Boa and Thatch, who comes after her with four shots in hand. “Hey, there you two.” Boa says as she wraps her arms around you. “How did your game go?”

“He beat me.” You quickly reply, looking at Ace from under your lashes as he gives you a little wink.

“She almost got me though.” Even though he is speaking to Boa, his eyes don’t leave yours.

“Guess we can take over next?” Thatch comes in between you three giving every single one of you a glass of shot in hand.

Bringing the glass to your nose to smell what’s in it, your face scrunches from the smell. “What is this?” You look at your friend with disgust.

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “We just told the bartender to make something strong and... well, strong.”

Taking a step closer to you, Ace leans and whispers in your ear. “You don’t need to drink it if you don’t want to.”

Before you can answer, Boa interrupts having guessed what Ace might have told you, she points her finger at him warningly. “Oh, she must. This one needs this drink more than any of us here.” Moving her finger in your direction she commands you to drink.

“Thank you for trying.” You tell Ace as you raise you glass to your lips and drink whatever is in the glass. Boa and Thatch follow, leaving Ace no choice but to do the same.

Whatever was in this shot, it is now burning your insides. “God, I need water.” You say more to yourself than anyone else.

“Come with me.” Ace tells you, taking your hand in his as he leads the way to the bar where they have water.

To your surprise, you don’t feel as tens as you used to a like ten-twenty minutes ago. He somehow managed to build a bit of a trust in you, so having your hand in his, letting him lead you somewhere, doesn’t feel alarming at all. It feels okay. It feels like you can trust him.

Reaching the end of the bar where the water station is place, Ace pours a glass of water and hands it to you, but to do this he has let go of your hand, which you wish he could hold for a little longer. Thanking him you take the glass from his hand and quickly drown the glass.

“Are you okay?” His voice sounds calm, but also concern for you, and you can see the same thing in his eyes.

“Yes, I’m. Thank you for asking.” Putting the empty glass to the side you give him a small smile.

“You know if you don’t want to do something you can always say no.” He doesn’t like the way your friend forced you to drink the shot, leaving you no choice when you obviously didn’t want to drink.

“I know. Don’t worry.” You are not sure what made you do this, it is probably the alcohol, but you reached for his hand and gently squeezed it. “She did it out of love, believe me.”

Ace is a bit too shocked by your action to acknowledge what you have just said to him. Part of him feels like he is a teenager again. All you have done is take his hand in your and give it a little squeeze, yet this simple gesture made his whole-body freeze.

Whatever was in this shot it starts to kick in. Your eyes are all focused on his hand. His skin is surprisingly soft, the palm of his hand is big, his fingers long and running your eyes up him arm, you can see the way his muscles are flexed, freckles here and there. “You know, if they are going to play now, I don’t really want to stand and watch, mostly because my feet are killing me in these heels.” Finally looking up to meet his eyes you give him a curious look. “What were you guys doing before joining us?”

Swallowing hard, trying to keep his cool, trying to ignore the way your fingers play with his, he gives you a short answer. “We played cards.”

Your eyes lit up when you hear this. “Really? I love playing cards! What game did you play?”

“Poker.”

“Wanna play?” You ask him with playful flame light up in your eyes.

Raising his eyebrows in surprise Ace smirks. “You know how to?”

“Maybe.” Returning the smirk, you trace your finger on the back of his hand. “Play with me and you’ll find out.”

You are drunk. There is no way that the shy girl a few minutes ago and this new playfully version of her now are the same person if there isn’t alcohol involved. Or maybe this girl is there all the time, hidden behind many layers of who knows what, but Ace is not going to back down now, when he is finally catching this glimpse of you.

“You want me to play with you, huh?” He can’t help but tease you. Biting on your lower lip you slowly nod. “Alright pretty girl. I’ll play with you.” Nodding slowly, he smirks. Looking down at where your fingers are tracing up and down his forearm, he gently grabs it and pulls you closer to him.

This action itself makes you instinctively put your other hand on his chest. His chest feels exactly how it looks – defined and muscular. Looking at him from under your lashes your breath gets caught up in your lungs, and he has caused this to you how many times tonight? Two? Three? More?

Leaning closer to whisper in your ear, as even with your heels on he is still a bit taller than you, the way his breath tickles your skin gives you goosebumps. “What do we bet on then?” Pulling away to look at your eyes, a cocky smirk grows bigger in his face. “I mean, what do I get after I win?”

Faking a dramatic gasp, you take a small step back, pulling your hands away from him and crossing them over your chest. “What makes you think you’ll win?”

Hearing the playfulness in your voice, Ace chuckles. “Just a feeling.” He shrugs.

“What do you want then?” One of the tables next to where you two are standing gets available and you point with your head towards it, indicating to Ace to follow you there. Taking a seat facing each other you still await his answer. “Come on, tell me. What do you win… if you win.” You say, matching his coy smile.

“If I win, and I will.” He says. “I want you to show me more of this wild girl, you mentioned earlier.”

Sober you would have back off from such bet. Hell, sober you probably wouldn’t have the courage to go this far into a conversation with some man you have just met, despite how charming the stranger is. But sober you is long gone, and after all tonight is all about trying something different, so why not?

“And what if I win?” You raise one brow challenging.

“Whatever you want sweetheart.”

Trying to ignore the nickname and how charming and smooth he can be, you look away for a moment to think what you would possibly want from him, but nothing is coming up in your mind. “I’m not sure, but I can decide once I beat you. Deal?”

Reaching with your hand across the table for a handshake to seal the deal, he takes your hand in his and give it a strong, but still delicate squeeze. “Deal.”

“Go on, bring out the cards.” You say, making the pupils of his eyes widen as he realises that they are in fact not with him.

“Um, give me a second and I’ll be back.” Getting up quickly from the chair he stops for a second and turns back to you before he makes his way to where Boa and his friend play billiards. “Do you want something to drink?”

You are not sure if drinking is the best idea, but why not? Why not get loose for one night? Nodding you tell him what to get you and he tells you to wait for him.

It is hard to explain how you are feeling currently. You are all over the place. You are excited, you feel energetic, you feel flirty, playfully; yet you also feel a bit anxious and stiff, but despite all this you feel good. You are having a great time, and you feel good. Right now, you are not sure if you are subconsciously faking it until you make it, but you are content. Plus, the company you have found tonight is quite enjoyable.

You are not sure how many minutes have passed since Ace has gone away, but he is back, which makes you turn all your attention to him. Placing your drink in front of you, you thank him.

Pulling up the cards he starts to shuffle the cards. “Since we aren’t betting on money, should we play it three out of five?” Setting up the cards in front of you and then him he awaits on your answer.

“Sure.” You reply with a confident coy smile.

Three out of five, turns to five out of eight. Five out of eight turns to eight out of ten. Eight out of ten wins turns into you two loosing tracks of time to a point where both your friends come to you to check if you want to leave but you tell them to leave you, because you are not done yet.

At first Boa wasn’t very convinced in leaving you with Ace, but it was the spark in your eyes that she hasn’t seen in a long time that made her wish you a good night and to text her once you are home.

You are totally lost in the moment with Ace. He is fun, he is charming, he is silly, he is so easy to be around. And also, he feels safe to be around. For whatever strange reason you trust him.

“Accept it, Ace.” You giggle as you win yet another hand.

Running a hand through his messy black hair, he holds his head with the palms of his hands. “You have to be kidding me.” Looking up at you with a big smile on his face he finally gives in. “Fine. You win.” Taking his glass of beer, he raises it to give you cheers.

Drinking the last sips of your drinks you place your elbows on the table leaning closer to him. “So now what?” The tone in your vice is a mixture of playfulness and genuine curiosity. You don’t want to say goodbye to him, not yet, but due to how empty the bar is starting to look, you are guessing that soon they are closing.

“You’re the winner. We do as you wish.” Mimicking your actions, he leans closer to you as well. His eyes focused on your lips. Your lipstick long gone, but your lips still look as alluring as he first saw you. It takes him all his willpower to withhold himself from grabbing your chin and pull you closer to himself to capture the taste, the feeling of having your lips on his.

You see and feel the way he is looking at you. The way he is looking at your lips. The way there is a new kind of light in his eyes, causing the sparkling of the same energy to start burn into you.

“I don’t want to go home yet.” The words leave you before you can process or stop them.

“Wanna come over to my place?” Ace, despite how drunk he is himself at this point, is aware of the risk how this might push you away, but something in him is telling that it is now or never.

At this point you are not sure if it is the alcohol, his company or the burning feeling of your skin that makes you slowly nod, eyes more focused on his lips now than his eyes. Eager to taste the feeling of his lips on yours.

How you have gotten to his apartment is a bit of a fog in your mind. All you remember is that you have called a cab and now you are at his place. His lips finally on yours. They feel exactly like you imagined them to be – full, soft and very skilful. You don’t remember the last time being kiss with so much passion and desire. It has been years.

But right now, caged between his hard muscular body and the door of his bedroom all your drunken mind can focus on is his burning kisses and his hands roaming around your waist and hips.

Ace is drunken by the taste of you. He feels like he can spend hours just covering you in kisses. You taste like the sweetest fruit he has ever tasted, despite all the alcohol you both have consumed.

Hearing your quiet and desperate whispers and moan drives him crazy. Finally allowing himself, he lifts the edges of your dress up to your waist and grabs a handful of your ass, squeezing it, causing a loud moan to leave your lips. “Fuck, you’re so hot.” He whispers against your lips as he slowly starts making his way down from your jawline, slowly trailing kisses down to your neck and collarbones.

Tracing his hands up to your waist and back he finds the zipper of your dress. He slowly unzips your dress despite his eagerness to trace the rest of your body with his lips.

With the dress off your body, you are left in nothing but your black stockings and underwear. Taking his sweet time observing every curve of your body he gets on his knees and start tracing kisses around your tummy, while slowly running his hands up and down your hips.

You are barely standing on your legs. If it isn’t for the support of the door behind you and the way Ace has your body pinned you would have probably already melted on the floor. The wetness between your legs grows with every passing second and you are not sure how much more you can take from his teasing.

It is like he has read your mind as he traces his finger on the waistband of your stockings, slowly slitting his index fingers on each side of your waist and taking them down. With the stockings finally off, he takes one of your legs in his hands and places it on his shoulder while holding you with his other hand steady around the waist. Running his fingers agonisingly slowly to you calf up to the outside part of your thigh, he trails the tip of his nose along the skin of your inner thigh, making you arch your back from the feeling of his breath there.

“God, your skin is so soft.” He says placing kisses on your inner thigh after every word. “You smell so good, baby girl.” Giving you a harsh squeeze on the thigh he softly bites on it, making you hiss from the mixture of pain and pleasure.

With tremble in your voice, you finally manage to say something. “Please.”

Looking up at you and meeting your pleading eyes, Ace lets go of your thigh and gets up on his feet. “Please what, baby?” Hints of teasingly mocking in his tone. Placing his hands on your waist he buried his head in the crook of your neck, leaving small kisses all over it.

Nothing but soft whines and whispers leave your lips, making Ace smile against the skin of your neck. “Come on, say it. Show me how much of a wild girl you can be.” Lifting his head from the crook of your neck, your eyes meet.

Finally, you wrap your arms around him, pulling him in a passionate hot kiss. Running your fingers all over his broad muscular shoulders up to his messy locks. This man has unlocked something in you tonight that you have thought you have lost long time ago – your passion, your sexuality, your desire.

Breaking the kiss, you lock eyes with his. Your chest raising up and down, your heart beating fast as you try to catch your breath and make up your mind. “Please, fuck me.” You whisper. “Fuck me like I’ve never been fucked before.”

Ace doesn’t need to be told twice. He lifts you up in his arms, your legs wrapped around his torso, while he carries you to his bed. Laying you down on it he finally takes off his T-shirt, making you realise that he has been dress the entire time until now.

Now with his shirt off, despite the darkness in the room and the only source of light being from the streetlights coming from outside the window, you get to finally not just feel but see his define toned up muscle body. You push yourself a bit with one hand on the bed to lift your body up so you can reach up better and trace your fingers from the top of his chest all the way down to his tone up abdomen and happy trail.

His skin is soft, from what the light allows you to see, you notice that he has quite lot of freckles spread across the top of his chest and shoulders mostly.

Pushing you to lay down on the bed he hovers over you and lock your lips in another passionate messy kiss. Reaching down to his jeans, you finally find the belt buckle. Feeling you struggling with unbuckling it, Ace pulls away from the kiss and take it off together with his jeans, leaving only his boxers on, which seems to grow tighter with each second.

You can’t help but bite your lip from the sign of the outline of his cock, hidden behind the tight material of his boxers. With the tips of your fingers, you trace down a path starting from the top of his happy trail to the outline of the tip of his member, following down the covered length.

This action alone makes Ace flex his abs and buckles his hips towards your hand, a hiss of pleasure leaving his lips. Hearing the sound of pleasure leaving his lips, this gives you the confidence to continue by stroking his member over his underwear.

“Oh yeah, baby girl. Just like that.” Throwing his head back, Ace close his eyes from the pleasure, making you give him one stronger squeeze, causing him to moan. He is melting in your hand and you are not even touching him properly but over his still covered dick.

Seeing how much effect you have on him, you raise your body a bit to pull him closer to you with your free hand and he follows. Without giving him any time, you start covering his neck with kisses.

Despite all the distractions from you, Ace’s hands make their way behind your back and unclamp your bralet, tossing it to the side without a care. Pulling away from you he shamelessly stares at your naked breast. “Fuck.” He breathes out, tracing with the top of his fingertip on the soft squishy outline of your chest making his way to your already hard nipples, barely touching while circulating his finger around, giving you sweet agonising pleasure.

You pull your hand away from his cock, letting your hands trace over his back muscles. The feeling of him on top of you making you crazy, while he covers your chest with kisses and softly punches one of your hard nipples. A gaps leaves your lips as he finally takes your other breast in hand and gives it a squeeze before wrapping his lips around your nipple, sucking on it, making your back arch.

“God, fuck me already.” You whine under him, hands buried in his hair, pulling it a bit.

Letting go of your nipple, he gives it one last kiss before he looks at you. “Oh baby girl, I’m not a God, but your prayer will be heard.” He chuckles with a smirk, hands going down to your panties. Hooking in two fingers on the waistband of the lacy material he takes them off, leaving you in nothing. Ace places his hands on your ankles, slowly moving them up to your knees, where he spreads them apart, making you all exposed to him.

Your chest is going up and down, heart beating fast as he places himself between your spread legs and hovering over you, with one hand holding himself up to not crush you and the other tracing up your thigh slowly reaching your dripping cunt.

“You’re dripping wet, baby girl.” His voice has gotten a bit raspier as he whispers in your ear, his hand now covering your pussy. Sliding his middle finger in between your lips to spread you apart you both share a moan of pleasure – you of the feeling of him finally touching you where you wanted him the most, and he from all the wetness and warmth he feels from your pussy.

Running his finger up and down, teasing your clit and entrance, Ace finally enters your burning hole with it slowly, giving you time to adjust despite how wet you are, and then he slowly start to move it, trying to find that sweet spot in you, while his thumb is on your clit, rubbing and playing with it.

The moment he curls up his finger and finds that sweet spot in you, you are turned into a hot mess under him. “More, fuck.” A loud moan escapes you. “More, Ace. Please.”

Sliding a second finger into you, Ace smirks as he traces sloppy wet kisses along your neck up to your ear, biting the soft part of it. “You greedy little thing, aren’t you?” He teases you, increasing the peace of his fingers.

“Yes. Fuck yes, I am.” You breathe out, body arching as you feel the sweet burning sensation of release forming in the bottom of your belly. “Please, don’t stop now.”

Mocking laughter comes from Ace as he takes one look at your face, your eyes barely open, lips parted. “You’re close, aren’t you baby?” He coos, moving aside a strand of your hair that has fallen over your face. Whining and nodding at him, he just chuckles at you. “Then don’t hold back, baby girl. Because I don’t plan to fuck you properly until I make you cum at least once before that.”

He doesn’t need to tell you twice, nor it would have mattered as your first wave of pleasure and release hits, and you are falling into pieces under him. Your gummy walls squeezing hard around his fingers, coating him with your pussy juices. You’re a mess under him and Ace loves it. “Yes, baby girl - that’s it. Let it all out.” He says as he continues to finger you not cutting off your pleasure and he doesn’t stop until he sees you calming down a bit from your high.

Removing his hand from you, he unapologetically takes his fingers in his mouth and licks them clean. “Damn, baby. You taste so good.” He tells you as he pulls away from you to reach out to the nightstand next to the bed. Opening the first drawer Ace grabs the first condom he sees and takes it. Getting up from the bed he finally takes down his boxers, the feeling of release hitting his bare skin.

He is not sure if his dick has been this hard ever before, but it doesn’t matter, because he is finally going to fuck you, and he plans to do it good. Ripping open the condom package he takes it out and slides it on his length. Getting back on the bed and nestling himself between your legs, he props his hands on each side of your head.

“Are you ready for one more?” He smirks, moving one of his hands away to guide the tip of his dick to your entrance.

Spreading your legs a bit more you are aching to finally feel him inside of you. If he has made you seeing starts just with his fingers you hope, he can do the same with his dick.

You have felt how big he is when you tease him earlier, but now with him slowly entering you, inch by inch, stretching you open for him with the just the tip of his dick, it makes you roll your eyes in ungodly pleasure mixed with a bit of a pain.

“Fuck! You feel so good.” Ace moans throwing his head back from pleasure once he gets all of him inside you. Your gummy walls wrapped around him in a tight warm grip. Noticing that you need some time to adjust on having all of him inside of you he places some kisses across your collarbones. “Tell me when you ready, baby.”

Wrapping your arms around his neck you just nod, giving him the permission to move. He doesn’t need to be told twice. Slowly, but hard Ace starts to rock his hips, moving steady in and out of you.

“Don’t go all nice on me now, Ace.” You grab his hair and pull his head up to make him look at you. “Fuck me.”

Freezing on top of you, he grabs your hand away making you let go of his hair as he stands on his knees, his body towering over yours. “I tried to be nice remember this.” He tells you before he grabs your hips pulling you even closer to him as he puts them on his shoulders. Now with your waist arch he gets a better access to your ass and gives it a hard smack, before he starts slamming into you.

His thrusts are fast and hard – exactly how you like it. His dick hitting all the right spots in you while his hands are gripping your waist strongly, keeping you in place. Seeing how much you enjoyed the slap on your ass, he does it one more time, causing you to scream his name with pleasure and your pussy squeezing around him. But your pleasure is quickly cut as he pulls away from you and your needy cunt.

“Fuck no.” He curses grabbing his hair with both hands in frustration. The condom has broken. Reaching to his nightstand to search for another one he can’t find any. Taking the broken condom off him he throws it to the side. Looking back at you and the confused look you have on your pretty face, your naked body spread across his bed, your pussy covered in your juices squeezing around nothing missing his dick he makes a quick choice one he hopes he won’t regret later.

Grabbing your face in both of his hands he gives you a sweet sloppy kiss on the lips. Tracing his hand down on your body to your clit he starts to play with it. “The condom broke. Please, tell me you’re on a pill.”

You heard nothing from what he says. All you can focus on right now is how good is he making you feel, which leads to your response being a moan, which Ace overhears for a yes – yes, you are on a pill.

Instead of getting to continue with what he has been doing, Ace tells you to turn around on your belly and lift your ass as high as you can. Doing exactly what he has told you, you embrace yourself with what is coming. The feeling of his dick until now in you has been a bit painful, but in this position, you in all fours, he is going to abuse the life out of your pussy.

Seeing the red mark formed on your ass cheek from before Ace can’t help but slaps you once more, watching the way your ass juggles from the impact of his slap. Guiding his dick to your entrance he taps it a few times with the tip, causing you to buckle your hips at him, begging him without words to fill you up with himself.

Sliding his dick in, both of you share a moan from the new sensation, the feeling like you have never been this close to anyone before is driving you both mad. Grabbing a handful of your hair, Ace pulls it, making you arch even more. “Now be a nice bitch and take it as the good girl you are.” He hisses with pleasure as he starts to rock his hips in and out of you unapologetically hard and fast.

You are a mess of pleasure and moans. The last time you have had sex was more than a year ago, maybe even a year and a half, and it wasn’t even good. But this man, right here and right now is literally rocking your world and you are willing to take every inch he has as long as the pleasure never leaves you.

Pulling your hair to get you closer to him as he leans to you, he whisperers in your ear. “You like being fuck like this don’t you? Like a little slut ready to take every inch I give to her.” In response you moan, but he wants more. “No, no, no. Use your words baby girl.”

“Yes, yes Ace.” You say, your voice almost breaking. “I’ll take all of you, just don’t stop.” Letting go of your hair he pushes your head back to the pillows.

Your pussy is squeezing and dripping all around him, making a mess on the bed and you haven’t even cum yet, but he feels like you are close, very close and he himself is not far away from his own pique.

The feeling of your second orgasm for the night starts to build up. That same feeling he has made you feel earlier is coming back – the trembling in your legs, the heat in your lower belly, all of this is coming back but stronger.

One more smack on your red ass cheek follow by a hard thrust is all what is needed to send you to the edge. You cum all over his dick, your cunt squeezing around him hard, so hard that before he can stop himself and pull out, Ace is cumming inside of you. Coating your walls white with his hot cum.

It takes some time for both of you to calm down. After collecting his breath Ace finally pulls out of you, watching your little sweet pussy leaks some of his cum mixed with your own.

Leaning over your limp body he gives you a kiss on the shoulder. “Are you okay?” He softly asks.

You are not sure if you are here on planet Earth or somewhere far away in the galaxy. You have never been fucked like this. You hear Ace asking you something, but you are too wasted and tired to answer, all you can do is just look at him.

“Hey, please tell me.” He pleads with a soft tone. It’s obviously that you are exhausted, but he needs to know if you are okay, if he has been too harsh with you or not. “Was it too much? Are you hurt?”

Hearing the worry in his voice you try your best to answer him. “Don’t worry Ace, I’m fine. You’re fine. We’re fine. Let’s go to sleep now.” You tell him with a sleepy voice and very heavy eyelids, but with a satisfy smile across your face.

Seeing your sweet smile as you turn around on your back, gives him the peace and the satisfaction that you are in fact okay and obviously pleased. “Give me a sec. I need to clean us both.” He winks at you, but you don’t see it as your eyes are already closing and you are already asleep by the time he comes with a warm wet towel to clean the mess you to just made.

The sunlight coming from the open curtain of the window irritates you. Scrunching your nose and squeezing your eyes shut as you try your best to remain asleep and ignore the irritation. Giving up, you finally open one eye. You almost never forget to put the blinds down, how drunk have you been last night to forget it?

Lifting just your head, dizziness hits you up like a truck, making you grab your head and squeeze it. A groan leaves your lips. You haven’t felt like this in a very, very long time. Your mouth is dry, and you are extremely thirsty. Giving yourself some time to adjust to the light and the heavy feeling in your head, you blink a few times. Something is wrong.

Raising one eyebrow you wonder since when the ceiling in your bedroom has turn white? Are you still drunk? Running one hand over your face you look to your right side. Instead of seeing the door to your bathroom you are met with a big dark oak chest of drawers and a lot of basketball and rock bands posters on the wall.

The moment you realise you are not home, and in fact that you are in somebody else’s apartment, you freeze. “Fuck.” You quietly curse yourself. Slowly you move your eyes down to your body, wrapped up in dark blue light covers. You can feel that your body is bare, but you hope that you are wrong and when you look under the covers you will find yourself dressed in your little black dress. Sneaking a peak under the covers, you gasp. You are as bare as the day your mother gave birth to you.

Your internal panic is interrupted by a little shift of the covers next to you. The memories of last night hits you like a truck. The guy you met in the bar with Boa, and then staying with him to play poker, and then going with him to his place and you two having sex; all of this comes at once.

You withdraw a deep breath and stop breathing. What do you do now? Is he awake? You hope he isn’t.

Allowing yourself to breath again, you slowly turn your head to the left, eyes squeezed tight, afraid to open them. Counting to three in your mind, you slightly open one eye and thank whatever power is out there that he is still asleep and his head is turned to the other side, and you are met with nothing else but his messy dark locks.

You need to think fast and stop panicking. Whatever has happened happen. Now you need to get out of here before he wakes up.

Taking the covers off from you, you slowly slide you right leg to the floor, making sure that your movements are as quiet and quick as possible. Once you feel the wooden floor on the tip of your toes, you lift your body with one hand and get up from the bed, almost loosing your balance and tripping on the ground you managed to stay still.

Cursing yourself one more time as the headache hits, you grab your head but remind yourself that there is no time for this. You have stepped on something soft. Looking down you sigh in relief. It is your bra. One out of three, no five of your items found. Putting it on quickly and tiptoeing around the room, the next thing you come upon is your dress. With one quick swift move you put it on your body and finally you don’t feel so exposed. Walking to the other side to the bed your eyes land on your stockings and purse right next to the door. Four out of five found now what is left is your panties.

Where the hell could he possible thrown them? Walking to the door to pick your stockings and purse you turn around to make sure that he is still asleep and thankfully he still is.

You can’t help but stare at his sleeping form. He is cute. Laying on his belly, both hands wrapped tightly around the pillow, slow steady breaths leaving his slightly open mouth, some of his dark locks falling over his face.

Part of you wishes you haven’t slept with him, that way maybe you two could have been friends or something, but now you must remind strangers.

Looking down your eyes spot your panties. Right next to his side of the bed. Right next to the bed. But what is next to your panties makes your eyes widen. A condom. Obviously a used one. You are happy to know that you two have used protection so there is one last thing for you to worry about, but couldn’t he throw it away in a bin or something? Scrunching your face in disgust you look away.

You have two options – tiptoeing to there, maybe risking waking him up, but grab them, or just turning around open the door and run. The decision is taken fast. With one swift and quick move you are out of his bedroom, leaving your panties behind. A parting gift goodbye for the great time you had last night some might say.

Leaving his bedroom, you find yourself in the living room and from there it doesn’t take you long to find the entrance door. There you also found your heels. Putting them on, you quickly leave the place. Running down the stairs and then outside the street, as fast as you can considering the fact that you are wearing twelve centimetres heels.

After three or four streets away from his place, you finally stop to catch your breath. Your heart is beating fast. You still can’t believe what have you done. Laughter starts building up in you and soon you find yourself laughing loudly. You can’t believe what you have done – in the best way possible.

You feel alive. You feel you. The you, you have been once. The you, you have missed so much.

With trembling hands, you pull your phone from your purse. You barely have any battery left and a lot of missed calls and text, mostly from your best friend Boa. Looking around you see a taxi passing by, so you raise your hand to stop it. Getting in the backseat of the cab, you tell the driver your address.

With the remaining life of your phone’s battery, you call Boa. She should be leaving for the airport soon. She picks up almost immediately.

“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been texting and calling like crazy? Are you okay?” She doesn’t even bother to say ‘hello’ or ‘good morning’, she is straight to the point as usual.

Clearing your throat your response. “Sorry. I’m fine, just… lost track of time.”

“Lost track of time? Really?” She snorts mockingly. “Did you just get up? Your voice sounds so raspy. And why are you talking so quietly? Oh my, are you not alone?” If only you could see her face right now. It is all lighten up with curiosity.

Looking at the front mirror making sure that the driver is focused on the road and not on your phone call you quietly answer. “I’m on my way home, in a cab.” As much as you are a bit ashamed, you are also a bit euphoric. A small smile forming at the edges of your mouth.

The gaps from the other end of the phone is loud. “Did you sleep with him?”

Even thought she can’t see you; you nod while humming in response, a little giggle escaping your lips. “Yes. Yes, I did.”

“You slut.” Boa screams in the phone, giggling with you and sharing your euphonical feeling. “How was it? I want all the details. Was it good or bad? You know it doesn’t matter. What is important here is that after what – two years, you finally got laid.” You start laughing at the overly excitement of your friend over you sleeping with a guy. “Don’t laugh. Tell me. Now.” She demands.

“Well, I can’t right now.” You mumble, glancing at the driver. “But all I can tell you right now is-” Lowering your voice even more you whisper in the phone. “Two times, Boa. He made me finish two times.”

The memories of the charming stranger fucking you last night comes to your mind like a vivid picture, making your pussy squeeze itself, causing you pain, a sweet aching reminder of how good he has made you felt.

“Two times? Two real orgasms? Like real real?” Boa is in shock from what she has heard.

“Real real.” You repeat.

“Wow. I’m speechless. He didn’t give me the vibes of a guy who know how to fuck.” She chuckles.

A bit surprised by what you have heard, you ask in between giggles. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” She laughs. “I felt like he would be one of those guys who just stick it and move it you know, no beat, no rhythm, no nothing.”

“Yes, I get what you mean, but no.” You can feel the blood rushing to your face. “He was very rhythmic with both hands and, well… you know.”

“Lucky you. I’m so happy for you, you have no idea.” She tells you. “When are you two meeting again?”

“Yeah, about that.” You withdraw your breath with a hiss. “I ran away before he wakes up.”

“You did what?” Boa screams.

“Come on, Boa. You know how I’m currently. Last thing I need is a guy in my life.” You murmur a bit sad, the reality slowly coming to you as you remind yourself that you just had one good night, but one night like this doesn’t chance your current life.

“You don’t need to date him or anything like this.” You can’t see her, but you can feel over the phone the roll her eyes make. “You can use him for a booty call. Your personal sex toy.” She whistles.

“We didn’t exchange any contacts.”

“Oh my, you’re a lost case.” She sighs. “Anyway, at least you got laid pretty good. But want more details.”

“When you come back, I’ll tell you.” Running a hand over your face, you lean your head on the backseat.

“But this is in like a week or so.” She whines. “You know what? Fine. When I come back. I need to get to the airport anyway, but one last thing before we hang up.” She tells you know in more serious tone. “Go and buy a plan B.”

“We used protection.” Rolling your eyes and clicking with your tongue, a makeshift of a hum and laughter leaves your lips.

“Better safe than sorry.” You friend replies.

“Better safe than sorry.” The words of your best friend repeat in your mind like a broken record. You still can’t believe that all three-pregnancy test are positive.

How? How did this happen? You two have used a condom. You saw it with your own eyes. Did the condom break? It must have. But still, it is your fault for not taking extra precautions. You shouldn’t have forgotten to take the plan B when you should have taken it.

None of these matters now. You are pregnant. You are pregnant and it’s your fault – partially. It is the guy’s fault as much as it is yours. How could he have finish in you? Was he out of his mind when this happen?

Being pregnant right now is not the worst thing around this situation. The worst thing is that you have no idea how to contact or find him. All you know about him is … his name and if you remember correctly, he is a firefighter. But that is all. You don’t remember where he lives, you don’t know how usually he goes to the bar you two met at nor you remember where the hell this place is, you basically know nothing about this man except that you are knocked up by him.

“Good job (Y/N). Now what?” You ask yourself.

Now you need to find your baby daddy. No, now you need to decide if you are going to keep the baby, so maybe you don’t need to worry about finding the dad, right?

END NOTE: I have edited the beginning probably five or more times, (also side note - this was my second time writing smut, so any type of criticism over it is welcomed). I wanted to show how low Reader confidence is while still making it logical to say - fuck it, and go and sleep with a man she has just met. I hope I managed to deliver it good enough. Why she is the way she is will be revealed later on, so no spoilers, just be patient. Same goes with Ace. His past will be revealed on later on. This is just chapter one - the beginning of this journey, with I hope you are willing to follow ♡

Every like, comment, reblog and message is deeply appreciated by me so feel free to share ♡

Thank you for reading my storied ♡♡♡

Taglist - OPEN: @orange-milky @igoontoonepiece @m1kkso @boomboom-tanjiro2019 @aceismyloveforever @firelilyofthevalley @ye-old-hermit-woman @fulltravelerdreamland @ffinosie @sungiebby @mrstraffy @ren-ni @acidblack @certain-tragedies @pmgranate @praline357 @stuckinthewrongworld @hlkenoace

Comment down below if you want to be tagged when a new chapter is up ♡

writing, format, header & dividers © cinnamoonblue fanart by @usa_rinko_ on Twitter/X ©cinnamoonblue, do not copy or plagiarise my work.

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fivewholeminutes · 5 months ago

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How to avoid being spoiled with ST members' identities

A not so short guide for tumblr newcomers

Hello new fans and (probably) tiktok refugees! This is a guide on how to enjoy sleep token online without being spoiled and also, a guide on how not to be a twat at the same time.

It is rather long, but please give it a chance. If not for you, then for other people who do not want to be spoiled.

I was thinking about making a reminder post about it for ages and recent post from @zelink-stan02 inspired me to make it sooner!

Tumblr is one of not many places online where the chances of you getting jumpscared with the guys' faces and names are minimal. You're not completely safe here, but it's still way better than on other platforms. And a lot of users try to keep it that way.

So, the basics for people who want to avoid spoilers online!

No twitter. That is a place of no honour. No exceptions. Nothing good ever comes from ST twitter. Also i am not calling it x.

Tiktok is also not safe. But most of you probably know that.

Pinterest is a super quick way to see all their faces.

Idk about facebook, but i bet there are morons commenting with their legal names there too. Like on twitter.

Googling is very tricky. Image results will most likely show you their faces among 20 first photos and if you do google them. Well. The main search used to show the names as suggestions up here before; I'm glad to see that for now this is fixed:

BUT LO AND BEHOLD. Pictures tab gives you a treat (derogatory) of a full vessel's name RIGHT THERE:

First suggestion. They're not even trying. So yeah, googling is very tricky.

I didn't scroll further to the right, but i bet ii's name is there too. (Their names are spoiled most often, cause they're writing the songs.)

7. If you look for the lyrics, google sometimes shows vessel and ii's legal names in songwriters' credits. I haven't seen it recently, but it doesn't mean you won't see [redacted] instead of "Vessel 1" and so on in the credits. Try not to scroll too far when checking the lyrics. I think Apple music shows their names in lyics all the time, someone correct me if I'm wrong though.

FORTUNATELY,

if you want pictures, band info, older rituals' shenanigans etc. etc., we have real mvp's here on tumblr!

@sleepanonymous has it all. Including an archive of band-related stuff and also older (mostly) vessel's stuff without any names or faces revealed. Just older songs, if you're curious! Sleep Anon has a neat google drive archive too. Please check the tags and other links in their pinned post!

We also have another pillar of our community here, @thesleeptokenarchive, who shares older rituals' details, song release dates and many other important information and dates.

My dear friend @a-s-levynn created this beautiful archive with band pictures for people who want to find that very specific picture without having their faces spoiled. Behold, the Sleep Token Reference Archive (STRA). Perfect for artists, but not only!

Beautiful people @kaddyssammlung, @vulcanette and @chaosandchaos are posting cool band photos they find regularly. Others too, but these three are the most active! We're also lucky to have @hecetas here, posting their original photos of the band (and not only!)

Also, The Choir is not anonymous. The band itself shared their actual name, Espera, and the ladies are not faceless. It was their decision, band supported it, so you don't need to worry to keep them anonymous.

Last but not least! How not to be a twat in the sleep token fandom space on tumblr:

Do not tag any band-related stuff with their names or older projects' names.

Do not post photos of their faces and tag it as the band or band members.

If you want to sceam about the love you have for that one older Vessel's project, the not solo one, you can do it here: @wings-of-clay

If you are a curious being and face/names reveals don't mean much to you, you can always scream about their past projects with your closest friends in the DMs. Or ask literally anyone here if they want to talk about those things without revealing those things' names publicly. Most of us have their faces and names spoiled anyway. But trust me, you don't need to put any names for us to understand what you mean.

Not exactly a tumblr thing, but! One of the band members streams on twitch. It is an unspoken rule to NOT mention anything band-related in the chat. No "worship", no band name, other members' names, nothing. He wants to keep those things separate. You get blocked there or he stops streaming for everyone if you're too pushy.

And remember folks, digging too much into their personal lives guarantees a court case against you!

I'm not joking. There is a person who is going to face charges for being way too parasocial and stalker-y about them. Do not be like that person. This applies to all public figures, not only sleep token. But some people take anonymity as a challenge to dig even deeper for all their info.

Last, but not least! I have the names spoiled and i don't mind talking about old projects and stuff. So I'm here for you if you want to google something, but are afraid of a face reveal, or if you just wanna talk about the older stuff (tho i admit, i don't know much about previous bands/projects of all of them). However, I will not be engaging in anything related to their private lives or families and I will block you on spot if you mention anything like this to me.

#sleep token #we're over this at least every half a year here but yeah.#reminders about the. uh. etiquette(?) we have here are necessary i think #cause it's really a bit different here than on twitter and other places #and most of the fandom here doesn't accept people who do not respect the band's wishes to stay anonymous

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lizdenys · 2 months ago

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Outer Wilds (Video Game) AO3 Tags appreciation post

Of course, no one cares about spoilers quite like Outer Wilds fans care about spoilers:

major outer wilds spoilers

Slight game spoilers

DLC Spoilers / Echoes of The Eye spoilers

art book spoilers

allusions to the dlc but nothing in depth

spoilers for a small but important part of the story

don't read it unless you've played it

as in plot and quite literally a solution to a puzzle, so don't read if you want to solve them all yourself

DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED ECHOES OF THE EYE OR FINISHED THE MAIN GAME

all the spoilers ever for everything outer wilds you have been warned

idk what else to tag pretty much everything is a spoiler

I can't even write tags without spoiling

DO NOT SPOIL YOURSELF MY GOD

I'm a little afraid of posting this because it might spoil something inadvertantly

Spoilers!, but this is outer wilds, you probably know the drill

so don't spoil yourself!!

So here's the requisite Outer Wilds "There will be spoilers!" warning because there will be spoilers throughout this post from this point on, okay?

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's start this off like every run, with a cozy campfire, shall we?

Campfires

Campfire stories

there will be mallow roasting over a campfire

Marshmallows

S'mores (OMG how much I wish someone - anyone - got to make a s'more.)

And Riebeck is a big marshmallow

Implied/Referenced Drug Use

just two high buddies chillin and talking about stuff

Now that we're all enjoying perfectly-roasted marshmallows, let's get to it:

breaking spacetime in pursuit of science

they/them pronouns

it is more difficult than I thought to avoid gendered words

Based on my friend's inability to fly and ability to land anywhere

feldspar is a newbie to anxiety

Dark Bramble scary

Third wheeling except your crush is in love with the entirety of space

quantum tomfoolery

the tyranny of linear time

Something about the horror of eternity

the fabric of spacetime is hanging on by a thread

infinite possibilities brain go brrrrrrr

impulsive feelings about chert today

the hatchling just wants to share their findings they're so excited

little tiny bit of cosmic horror

this was written in about 20 minutes (I really need to know if this "about 20 minutes" was, in fact, 22 minutes.)

they're gonna be fine in 22 minutes just

this heist could have been a meeting

Hornfels needs an advil

somebody go save hatchling im begging get this kid a marshmallow

they can have one happily ever after as a treat

Feldspar and I both have no idea how to raise a baby in general

there is so much trauma in this owl

this literally came to me in a dream

Gabbro is depressed in this one because you can't convince me being so blase about losing their ship, and being able to meditate through a supernova is the hallmark of someone mentally well

gabbro is also doing so fine and normal and also does not have any hearing problems (lie)

They all need a hug, Except the anglers

Someone invent therapy for these three, They're going to need it so badly

Spacetime needs therapy after this

Anyway let's go die horrifically in space! ::D

trauma bonds

also i totally stole the main premise for this fic from a mod

when gossan goes low slate goes lower

hatchling was not supposed to be a kazoo player but they're really stubborn

i just think the player should be allowed to play an instrument (Me, too.)

Quartz-Typical Disregard for Ethics

canon typical disregard for affliction

There is an eject button for a reason

does it count as major character death if they come back?

Is it still considered the end of the world if its the entire universe thats dying?

the possibly applicable archive warning is major character death, but you knew that already didn't you?

the many deaths of you

Canon-Typical Suicide, thats an insane tag but its Outer Wilds sooooo

Five Stages of Grief, with a 6th secret stage (Can we call this "the sixth location of grief" please?)

i really tried not to make it sad at the end but the loops are tragic man

I Made Myself Cry

Okay, let's wrap up with all the varied "not beta read" tags this exquisite game lends itself to, nay, demands:

No beta we die like REDACTED

no beta we die like. well. you know

No beta we die every loop

no beta we die like the hatchling

no beta we die like hatchling (horrifically)

no beta we die like gabbro, chill and overstressed

No beta we die like real hearthians

no beta we die like everyone in outer wild does

No beta we die like the sun

no beta we die like the sun every 22 minutes

NO BETA READERS WE DIE LIKE THE STARS

no beta we die like the universe

No beta we die like any time-looper worth their salt

No beta we die like the homeworld

NO BETA WE DIE LIKE NOMAI

No beta we die like 5/6ths of best girl (I teared up reading this tag.)

no beta we die like the prisoner (I nearly sobbed reading this tag.)

No Beta We Just Cry

No beta we die like the fish (Not gonna lie, this one is my personal fave.)

#ao3 #ao3 tags #ao3 tags appreciation #outer wilds #outer wilds spoilers #echoes of the eye #echoes of the eye spoilers #no one cares about spoilers quite like Outer Wilds fans care about spoilers #I personally don't care about spoilers generally #I also personally don't care about spoilers specifically even in Outer Wilds #even though I don't care about spoilers the way most Outer Wilds fans care about spoilers I respect the way they care about spoilers #parts of Outer Wilds were spoiled for me and honestly it was truly completely fine and I still had the full emotional discovery experience #just had to get that off my chest

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the-thunderbabies · 14 days ago

Text

Thunderbabies* Introduction

Hello, Everyone.

It is Yelena Belova, your favorite eh, what are we calling ourselves now? Avengers? Thunderbolts? Whatever. Welcome to our regression blog. Don't ask why I made it. Not even I know. Anyways heres some ground rules.

RULES

Please keep things civil. Last thing I want is to have to filter out through more drama than usual. (I already get enough of that from Walker.)

Venting is okay....to an extent. Any serious vents will be deleted or ignored. We are not your therapist. ......I've gotten word from Bob that saying that was too mean. Just don't bring so much negativity into the space. Yes?

We will get to your ask eventually. We are still "superheroes" you know. Sometimes we do not have time to answer asks.

If something goes beyond me or any other Thunderbolts boundaries we are absolutely shutting it down

If you are under the age of 15 please do not dm unless important.

BYI (OOC)

This is a RP blog with my own headcannons. I am not a system, I am a singlet.

I am 19 years old, and have AuDHD + Depression + Anxiety and is a Full time college student, with multiple other blogs. This is just a side blog. It may take a while to get to asks. I also know little to nothing about the COMIC Thunderbolts* and this blog is based off of the MCU movie. I'm also Transmasc (He/they), Afro-Hispanic, and a Flip (Has no cg or little). This blog does have spoilers for the movie. Beware. Mild cursing might also appear on this blog. Big tws for mentions/depictions of guns, abuse, child abuse, torture, mind control, panic attacks, and mild blood. Every post with these will have a trigger warning.

Main agere oc rp blog: @blues-agere-toybox

Good Omens (CG!Aziraphale) blog: @your-angelic-caregiver

Personal Regression/spam blog: @baby-blues-playroom

DNI

You support DDLG/ABDL

If your blog is a kink blog or reblogs NSFW things

If you are a TERF, LGBTQ+ Exclusionist, Transmed or other

Trump Supporter/Conservative

Are racist, homophobic, misogynistic etc.

Apart of ED or SH tumblr/Glorify these things

Think cringe exists/shame people for their intrests

Anti Agere, Furry, Therian, Petre, and other

Sexualize use of diapers and padding

Anti-Palestine/Pro-Israel

Proshippers, MAPS, lolicons, etc.

Bot accs/Blank accs

People under 13, people over 30

Discourse accs

Anons

🩷,🐁, 💖, 🦊, 🌙

Ask Box (OPEN)

Thunderbolts* Introductions

Now that all of that rules and guidlines crap has been put into place I guess its time to give our own little introductions.

Yelena Belova

"Wow. It's me. Your favorite. Nice to see you too."

Pronouns: She/They

Roles: Flip (No Lean) , Trauma Regressor, Baby Regressor, Kid Regressor, Big Sister Caregiver

Little Age: 1-12

Special Note: Eats WAY too much pudding when regressed.

Font Color: Orange

Tags: #Ask Flip Yelena

Alexei Andreovitch Shostakov

"HAHA! YES!!! IT IS ME! RED GUARDIAN! I AM HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE ONES!"

Pronouns: He/Him

Roles: Caregiver, Father Caregiver

Special Note: Ends up yelling right after putting kiddos down for naptime due to not knowing how to control his volume. Has to put them all back to bed again...

Font Color: Red

Tags: #Ask CG Red Guardian

James Buchanan (Bucky) Barnes

"Hey. Uh...kiddos. Don't expect to see me regressed often. Or at all for that matter. Also, please don't terrorize Alpine alright? Just give her gentle pats and some space okay?"

Pronouns: He/They

Roles: Flip (Regressor Lean), Trauma Regressor, Baby Regressor, Protective Caregiver, Padded Regressor

Little Age: 0-5

Special Note: Usually regressed more often around Steve and Sam, without them he tries to hide or hold back on regressing. Hes not used to letting his walls down so easily. Hopefully that changes.

Font Color: Purple

Tags: #Ask Flip Bucky

Ava Starr

".....I'll give you an extra lollipop is you go over to Walker and bite him."

Pronouns: They/She

Roles: Flip (CG Lean), Aunt Caregiver, Big Sister regressor, Older Kid regressor, Padded Regressor

Little Age: 8-16

Special Note: Ultimate Wine Mom when caregiving. And does in fact use her powers to steal candies/snacks.

Font Color: Pink

Tags: #Ask Flip Ghost

Johnathan (John) F. Walker

"What? What the hell is this?"

Pronouns: He/Him

Roles: ???

Little Age: ????

Special Note: Doesn't understand regression no matter how much its explained to him. Insists hes not a caregiver or a little, but just the other day Bucky SWEARS he saw him throw a tantrum. Probrably nothing right? I mean hes already a manchild-

"I am NOT a manchild alright? I just don't do....whatever the hell this is. Im a Veteran not a-"

Ok. We've heard enough from you. Moving on.

Font Color: Blue

Tags: #Ask Agere John Walker

Robert (Bob) Reynolds

"Oh-is-is it me? I-im next...? Hi.."

Pronouns: He/They

Roles: Regressor, Trauma regressor, Baby Regressor, Toddler Regressor, BPD regressor, Little Brother regressor, Clingy regressor, Crybaby regressor, Padded Regressor

Little Age: 0-4

Special Note: Is always attached at the hip to Yelena when regressed. Will panic and cry if he cant find her. Is always very nervous of accidentally becoming Sentry or Void when regressing, their tantrums are BAD.

Font Color: Green

Tags: #Ask Little Bob

#thunderbolts agere #marvel agere #mcu agere #marvel mcu agere #agere marvel #agere rp #marvel comics agere #avengers agere #sfw ageredips #sfw agere #sfw padded agere #sfw dips #Ask Flip Yelena #Ask CG Red Guardian #Ask Flip Bucky #Ask Flip Ghost #Ask Agere John Walker #Ask Little Bob

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shewasverynice · 1 month ago

Text

Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen

⚠️ SPOILER HEAVY ⚠️

Major Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Full tags/warnings on Chapter links post

Major Characters: Original Character, Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, Ieiri Shoko, Yaga Masamichi, Nanami Kento, Haibara Yu, Tsukumo Yuki, Choso

‎‧₊˚✧ Chapter 63 ✧˚₊‧

Nanami and Rin stood in the dimly lit storage room, the only light filtering in from a small, grimy window near the ceiling. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of old wood, making the space feel even more claustrophobic. Rin leaned against a stack of crates, arms crossed with Nanami across from her in a similar position near the wall.

"So, you know the way out of the main area," she murmured, "but not past the outer perimeter?"

Nanami nodded. "Suguru’s defenses are layered. Even if we slip past the sorcerers, his curses patrol the woods beyond. We’d be walking blind."

Rin exhaled sharply, rubbing her temple. "Damn it. I’ve been scouting for weeks, and every exit is either guarded or monitored. Even the supply runs are tightly controlled now."

Nanami adjusted his glasses, the faint gleam of light reflecting off the lenses. "A distraction, then. Something big enough to pull attention away from the perimeter."

Rin’s eyes flicked up to his. "That’s our only shot. But it’d have to be massive—something that forces them to scramble." A pause. Then, hesitantly, she added, "...What about Haibara?"

Nanami stiffened. "Why him?"

"His technique," Rin said. "If we need chaos, a song could cause a hell of a ruckus." She frowned when Nanami didn’t respond immediately. "Wait… is something wrong with him? He seems fine when I visit him."

Nanami’s jaw tightened. "He’s not fine."

Rin’s hands wound together. "What do you mean?"

"He wants to kill Gojo."

Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes widening in shock. "What? No—Haibara wouldn’t—"

"He would," Nanami cut in, voice low and grim. "Geto and his shape shifter have been manipulating him. Feeding him lies, twisting his jealousy. He’s convinced himself it’s the only way to end this."

Rin’s fingers curled into fists. "That’s… that’s insane. Haibara wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone—" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "God, what did they do to him?"

Nanami didn’t answer. The silence between them was heavy, suffocating.

Finally, Rin straightened, her expression hardening. "Then we get him out too. Whatever it takes."

Nanami nodded. "Agreed. But we need a plan—one that accounts for all the variables. Including Haibara’s state of mind."

Rin chewed her lip, thinking. Then, slowly, a dangerous glint entered her eyes. "What if we use Suguru’s own game against him?"

Nanami raised a brow. "Meaning?"

"If Haibara’s supposed to be their weapon against Gojo… then maybe we make Haibara think that’s exactly what we want too." She smiled, although he could see her disdain at the idea of manipulating her friend. "We can leave with him and then maybe knock him out or something and get him some help before he does something he regrets."

Nanami considered it. It was risky. But then again, so was staying.

"Fine," he said. "But we move fast. And we don’t give Haibara a choice."

Rin nodded. "We get him to safety but don't take him anywhere near Gojo until he's stable."

The storage room door suddenly burst open, making Rin yelp and nearly knock over a stack of crates. Nanami barely flinched, but his hand twitched toward his weapon—only to relax slightly when he saw it was Boe.

She stood in the doorway, one hand on her hip with a smirk on her face. "Your plan won’t work," she said bluntly.

Nanami narrowed his eyes. "How so?"

Boe stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind her. "Haibara’s not stable enough to be part of any kind of escape plan. If you try to use him, you’ll just get dragged down with him."

Rin frowned. "What do you mean? He’s been acting weird, but—"

"Suzu’s been in his ear," Boe interrupted. "And they aren’t letting him leave without getting something out of it."

Nanami’s expression darkened. "Suzu."

Rin’s nose wrinkled in confusion. "What’s their angle anyway? Why mess with Haibara?"

Boe shrugged. "No clue. But whatever it is, it’s bad news. Suzu doesn’t do anything without a reason, and they don’t care who gets hurt in the process."

Nanami exhaled sharply. "They’re a problem. So is Lily."

Rin groaned. "At least we know Lily’s a traitor. Suzu’s just… unpredictable."

Boe nodded. "Exactly. And Suguru only keeps Suzu around because he thinks he can control them." She rolled her eyes. "Spoiler: he can’t."

Nanami rubbed his temple. "Then we cut Suzu out of the equation. If we can’t rely on Haibara, we need another way."

Rin bit her lip. "What if we talk to Suzu? Maybe we can—"

"No," Boe cut in sharply. "Don’t. They’re dangerous. The only reason they’re even here is because Suguru strong-armed them into it. You start poking around in their business, and you will regret it."

A tense silence fell over the room. Then Rin sighed, rubbing her face.

Nanami adjusted his glasses, his voice low. "Then we find another distraction."

Boe leaned back against the crates, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "The real solution is simple," she said. "Get Gojo and Suguru in a room together. Make them talk."

Rin let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "Fat chance. Those two would rather level a city than have a civil conversation."

"Obviously," Boe said, rolling her eyes. "But the root of all this? It’s them. Their ideals, their egos, their refusal to bend. Everything else—the curses, the rebellion, even Haibara’s breakdown—it’s all just collateral damage."

Nanami was silent for a moment, considering. Then, slowly, he said, "What if we brought Yaga here instead?"

Boe blinked. "Yaga?"

"He was a mentor to both of them," Nanami reasoned. "Practically a father figure. If anyone could force them to listen, it’s him."

Boe scoffed. "Sure, if Suguru would ever agree to that. But he won’t. He’s terrified of facing Yaga. He’d burn the world down than admit he failed him."

Rin sighed, rubbing her temples again. "So it has to be Gojo, then."

Nanami’s jaw tightened. "There are two problems with that. First, convincing Gojo to come here willingly. He’s just as stubborn as Geto—maybe worse. And second..." He hesitated. "If Gojo steps foot in this compound, Haibara will get involved. And in his current state, that could destroy him."

The weight of his words settled over the room.

Boe exhaled sharply, pushing off the crates. "Then we don’t give Haibara a choice. We contain him before Gojo arrives."

Rin raised a brow. "How? He’s not exactly in a cooperative mood."

A slow, calculating smirk spread across Boe’s face. "We use Suzu."

Nanami stiffened. "You just said not to mess with them."

"I said we shouldn’t. But if I do?" She shrugged. "Suzu’s been whispering in his ear for weeks. So I'll let them keep whispering—just long enough to steer him where we need him to. When the time is right, I'll get you two out and you'll go bring Gojo here."

Rin’s eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting you're going to put yourself in danger for us to leave but not you?

"Yeah, well, I have some things I need to take care of," Boe shot back.

"How are we going to get Gojo here, anyway?" Rin asked, but then she sighed and said, "We'll have to bring Sarah back here."

"Yep," Boe said, popping the "p" on the end with heavy emphasis.

Nanami was silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he gave a single, reluctant nod. "Fine. I don't like putting her in danger either, but if this goes wrong—"

"It won’t," Boe interrupted, though her confidence sounded more like a gamble than a guarantee. "Trust me."

"What do you plan to do?" Rin asked, stepping forward and gently holding Boe's hand. Her brows furrowed and her eyes held on hers begging for her not to say something foolish.

Boe gave them both a lazy salute, pulling her hand from Rin's as she turned to leave. "Don’t worry, you can count on me. Just be ready for anything," she said, her tone light but her eyes unreadable. Then she slipped out of the closet, the door clicking shut behind her.

Rin stared after her for a long moment before turning to Nanami, her brow furrowed. "I’m worried about her," she admitted quietly. "She’s acting… strange."

Nanami adjusted his glasses, unfazed. "How can you tell?"

Rin huffed, crossing her arms. "Because I know her. You wouldn’t get it."

A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Nanami’s mouth. "No, I suppose I wouldn’t."

Rin’s cheeks flushed pink, and she swatted his arm. "That’s not fair," she muttered, looking away.

Nanami didn’t respond, but the slight amusement in his expression lingered. After a beat, Rin sighed, shaking her head.

"We should get moving," she said, her voice firmer now. "If Boe’s really going to try and pull this off, we need to be ready. We might not know when the time comes."

Nanami nodded. "Agreed."

But as they stepped out of the closet, Rin couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. Boe was hiding something, and whatever it was, she wanted to find out.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

The lights were dim across the war room as Suguru and Tsukumo hunched over a map spread across the table. The layout depicted a sprawling estate—one belonging to a powerful family deeply entrenched with the jujutsu higher-ups.

"You’re sure the ashes are still there?" Tsukumo asked, her fingers tracing the perimeter of the property. "And they haven’t made a deal with Yaga?"

Suguru smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Positive. The old man is too proud to grovel to Yaga. And after what we did to his daughter, he’d rather die than hand them over willingly."

Tsukumo’s eyes flicked up, sharp. "What about Sarah? If we hit this estate, we could get her back at the same time when Gojo comes to—"

Suguru waved a dismissive hand. "She’s not important right now."

"The hell she isn’t!" Tsukumo slammed her palms on the table, making the map shudder. "If she’s still making ashes for Gojo, she’s handing him the win on a silver platter!"

Suguru’s expression darkened, but his voice remained eerily calm. "Satoru would never ask her to use her technique. He cares about her." He scoffed. "Sentimental weakness."

"And what if you’re wrong?" Tsukumo pressed. "What if he’s already using her? We have no idea what’s happening over there!"

Suguru exhaled through his nose, irritated. "We already have ashes from the night they left. If we need more, we’ll take them. But until then, there’s no point inviting Satoru’s wrath prematurely."

Tsukumo scowled. "You’re being reckless. If this backfires, you won’t get a second chance."

Suguru’s lips curled into a cold, knowing smile. "If I have to start over, I will. And it’ll be easy this time." He tapped his temple. "I already know how it all plays out."

Tsukumo scoffed, then leaned forward with a sharp grin.

"Alright, Mr. Know-It-All—did you even consider that maybe she’d make the ashes for Gojo willingly? Because, oh, I don’t know… she loves him?"

Suguru shook his head, smirking. He crossed his arms and said, "She doesn’t even know she can do that right now. She’s floating around in dreamland, probably living it up with Satoru without a single care in the world."

Tsukumo’s smirk widened. She pointed at him, letting out a single impressed huff of laughter. "Ohhh, I thought I smelled a Binding Vow on this whole mess. What’re the terms?"

Suguru’s expression darkened with satisfaction. "In exchange for her forgetting she can make the ashes, she gets to stay in a permanent state of bliss. No pain, no guilt—just happy ignorance." He tilted his head as he explained. "I got her to take the vow herself a few nights after we left. She was drunk, high, sobbing—begging to go back to Yaga and Satoru. So I… convinced her to take it."

Tsukumo arched a brow and tilted her head back. "Let me guess—you got her all wound up first?" she asked, tapping the table with her knuckle.

"Had to be done," Suguru said with a careless shrug, spoken as if it was as easy as taking out the trash.

"Damn," Tsukumo chuckled darkly, "That’s pretty cruel."

"She won’t remember it anyway," Suguru said with the wave of his hand, "We can fix her later with another vow if we need to."

Before Tsukumo could reply, the door creaked open. Suzu slinked in, their movements loose and uncoordinated.

"Wassup?" they slurred, blinking lazily at the two of them.

Suguru rolled his eyes. "So good of you to finally join us. We're planning the next move."

Suzu groaned, stumbling toward the table before collapsing dramatically into a chair. "Ugh. Do you need me for this one… or can I, like… chill?" they huffed, flailing a hand aimlessly in the air.

Suguru’s smile was thin as he answered, "You may be needed.

"Fiiiiine," Suzu whined, let their head thunk onto the table.

Tsukumo tapped the edge of the map with a sharp nail, eyeing Suguru. "Alright, who exactly are we needing for this?"

Suguru leaned back, fingers steepled. He considered things for a moment before he said, "Let’s keep it simple. Suzu slips in after taking the form of the first guard we kill, while the rest of us cause chaos outside."

"And who’s on distraction duty this time?" Tsukumo asked, arching a brow.

Suguru shrugged and answered, "Doesn’t matter. Whoever’s feeling pent-up. Just let them go wild—Suzu works fast."

Suzu, still slumped over the table, lifted an imaginary wine glass in a lazy toast, grinning, but Tsukumo’s frown deepened. "Should they even be unsupervised?" she asked carefully, "Some of these people we've picked up have real beef with the higher-ups. What if they go too far?"

Suguru smirked.

"Send Lily with them."

"Oh, come on,"Tsukumo groaned, throwing her hands up. "We know she’s playing both sides. What’s the point?"

Suguru’s grin turned wicked and he said, "It’s funny watching her scramble to stay ‘neutral.’"

Tsukumo rolled her eyes. "Fine. When’s this going down?"

"One week," Suguru said smoothly. "Spread the word for me, would you?"

Tsukumo exhaled through her nose, already dreading the logistics. "I’ll do it. But you better be ready to step in when this inevitably blows up in our faces."

Suguru just chuckled, turning back to the map as Suzu let out a drunken giggle, their head lolling against the table.

Not long after, Suguru strode down the dimly lit corridor of the compound, his sandals whispering against the wooden floors. His chin was lifted, his posture regal—just enough to remind every sorcerer he passed of their place beneath him. Their bows were swift, their murmurs of "Geto-sama" hushed and reverent. He granted them nothing more than a slight nod, the barest acknowledgment, before moving on.

The moment they were out of sight, his lips curled into a cold smirk.

This was how it should be.

If not for Satoru—always Satoru—he would be the undisputed strongest. No debates, no challengers. Just power, absolute and unchallenged. The thought sent a familiar thrill through him, sharp and intoxicating.

He reached his chambers and pushed the door open, expecting silence, solitude—only to freeze when he sensed another presence.

A figure stepped from the shadows, the soft rustle of silk betraying her before the dim light caught her form.

She was exquisite—a vision of traditional Japanese beauty, draped in a deep crimson kimono that slipped precariously off one porcelain shoulder. Her raven hair, half-unraveled from its pins, cascaded in dark waves, framing a face like carved alabaster. Red lips, petal-soft, parted in feigned surprise as dark eyes fluttered up at him, demure yet dripping with invitation.

Suguru didn’t react.

"No," he said flatly. "Not her tonight, Suzu."

The illusion shattered. The woman’s form rippled like disturbed water before melting away, revealing Suzu lounging against his bed instead, their usual lazy grin revealing their slightly sharpened teeth.

"Tch. You’re no fun," they sighed, stretching like a cat. "What would you prefer, then? A different face? A different body?" Suzu’s form rippled once again, the air around them bending like heat off pavement. Their figure shrank slightly, curves softening, limbs tapering into grace. Long, dark brown hair spilled down their back like ink over silk, and wide caramel eyes blinked through fresh tears.

They sniffled once, delicately, and then—Rin’s voice: soft, warm, wounded.

“How about this one?” she asked, wiping at her cheek with the back of her hand. “You do enjoy making her cry from time to time, don’t you? Is that Geto-sama's mood today?”

Suguru stood across the room, removing his outer robe with a sigh. He folded it neatly, hanging it on the wooden frame with practiced ease. His eyes didn’t lift until she spoke, and when they did, they were flat.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Not her either.”

There was no cruelty in it. Just weariness. The same disinterest he’d been dragging through every encounter lately like a broken limb. Rin—Suzu—deflated.

“If I’m being honest,” Suguru continued, settling himself on the bed with a slow, sprawling sigh, “Rin’s been boring me too. Just like the others. And besides—” he paused, gaze flicking to her. “She’s with Nanami. I shouldn't cross that line with a friend any more.”

The shape shuddered. Suzu returned, features neutral, eyes unreadable. They sat at the edge of the bed, watching him, unmoving.

Suguru smiled now, content, his arms folded behind his head as he looked to them expectantly.

Suzu tilted their head. The corner of their mouth curled. Dangerously.

Their form shimmered again as they crawled onto the bed. This time, their figure became Sarah—playful, pretty Sarah. Green eyes gleaming, shoulder-length brown hair bouncing with every shift of her weight. She was soft in all the right ways, familiar and inviting. She giggled.

“How about something new?” she purred, crawling over him. “Something… forbidden?”

Suguru’s hand rose, brushing her hair behind her ear with almost unconscious gentleness. His face didn’t shift much.

“No,” he said again. “That wouldn’t feel right.”

Sarah pouted, but smiled anyway. She leaned in, kissing the tip of his nose like a challenge.

“Don’t pretend you don’t want to.”

He smirked. “I do. Just… not this time. Another, please.”

Suzu huffed as their form dissolved again. They sat upright, visibly frustrated. Their hair began to shift again, brown giving way to stark white.

Suguru’s expression snapped to steel before the change had finished.

“No.”

The face was nearly done forming. Blue eyes emerging behind white lashes. That damned, familiar smirk.

“What about this?” Satoru’s voice was low, dangerous, intimate. “You never did get to—”

“Get off me!” Suguru snarled, shoving the form away with enough force to rattle the bed frame.

Suzu hit the floor, halfway between Satoru and themselves, gasping. Their body crackled as it returned to normal, trembling.

“What the hell?!” they spat, rising to their knees. “What’s wrong with you?!”

“Get out,” Suguru said coldly, standing now, jaw tight.

“Oh, I see how it is,” Suzu hissed. “I’m not enough for you, is that it?”

Their laugh was bitter as lightning. Their form began to shift again, slowly this time, their tone laced with venom. Hair crept longer, past their shoulders. Darkened. The air dropped ten degrees.

Suguru’s eyes widened. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Suzu just grinned.

Their hair shimmered into deep, unmistakable purple.

“I said,” Suguru growled, “DON'T YOU EVER BECOME HER!”

Suguru's command cracked through the room like a whip, raw and jagged with something far beyond irritation—something that made the air itself feel charged.

Suzu froze mid-shift, their form flickering between Boe’s sharp features and their own, their grin turning razor-edged. "Ohhh?" they purred, tilting their head. "Now that’s interesting."

Suguru’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t moved from the bed, but his fingers had dug into the sheets, knuckles white.

"Get. Out."

Suzu’s laughter was low, taunting. "Make me."

For a heartbeat, the room felt like it was holding its breath. Then—Suguru moved.

One moment he was sprawled on the bed; the next, his hand was around Suzu’s throat, slamming them against the wall. The impact rattled the shelves, sending a vase crashing to the floor.

Suzu gasped, but their grin never faltered. "Wow," they choked out, "someone’s touchy—"

"Enough," Suguru hissed. His grip tightened, not enough to truly hurt, but enough to make the threat crystal clear. "You do not push this."

Suzu’s eyes gleamed, unfazed. "Why? Because it bothers you?"they wheezed. "Or because you’re scared of what you’ll do if I—"

Suguru’s other hand came up, fingers twisting into the fabric of Suzu’s shirt. "Try it," he whispered, voice venomous. "And I’ll remind you exactly why no one else in this compound dares to fuck with me."

A beat.

Then Suzu’s form melted—not into Boe, not into anyone, but back into their own lanky, androgynous shape. They raised their hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "Fine, fine. Damn. You’re no fun tonight."

Suguru released them with a shove. "Out."

Suzu rubbed their throat, chuckling as they sauntered toward the door. But they paused at the threshold, glancing back. "You know," they mused, "for someone who’s so in control… you sure lose it fast when she’s involved."

Suguru’s glare could have flayed skin.

Suzu winked. "Just saying~!"

The door slid shut behind them.

Silence.

Suguru exhaled, running a hand through his hair. His pulse was still too loud in his ears.He turned toward the window, where the moon hung heavy and cold. He whipped around towards the door, leaving his outer robe behind.

His footsteps thundered down the long wooden hallway, echoing against the paper walls and polished floors like a warning. His robe flared behind him, his jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached. The pulse in his neck was pounding, hot and erratic. Something had broken — snapped — inside him the moment Suzu's hair had shimmered purple.

He reached Boe’s door and didn’t hesitate.

SLAM.

The sliding panel door nearly cracked in its track as he burst inside.

Boe jerked upright from her chair by the window, the gentle evening light painting her lavender hair gold at the edges. She was still holding her phone, mid-text, when it slipped from her fingers and clattered to the tatami floor.

“Suguru?” she said, startled. “What the—”

He didn’t answer.

He lunged.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her hard against him, and his mouth crashed into hers like a storm breaking against the shore.

Her hands pressed against his chest instinctively, patting, pushing—she gasped against his mouth, struggling for breath—but he didn’t let up. Not yet. His grip was desperate, almost fevered. Her lips parted under his, breath catching, and for a flickering second, her eyes fluttered closed.

Her hands curled into his white under robes.

He lifted her easily, carrying her as if weightless, and sat down heavily in the chair she’d just occupied, settling her on his lap. His mouth never left hers. There was a low, hoarse sound in his throat — not quite a groan, not quite a sob — and he clutched her tighter, like she might vanish if he let go.

“Suguru—wait—stop—” Boe gasped, trying to pull back.

Her voice trembled, betraying her. Please, don't stop.

His hands curled at her waist.

Her fingers threaded through his robes, brushing against his bare skin.

“Get—off—me—” she hissed—but her legs tightened slightly around him.

He kissed her again, hard.

Then—CRACK.

Her hand whipped across his face with a sharp, echoing slap that snapped his head to the side. He barely had time to react before her knee came up and slammed into his chest, sending him stumbling back out of the chair.

He hit the floor with a grunt, winded.

Boe stood over him, chest heaving, hair wild, mouth red from the kiss. Her eyes burned.

“What the fuck,” she snarled, voice shaking with fury, “do you think you’re doing?!”

Suguru sat up slowly, one hand pressed to his chest. The other lifted to his lip, where blood now welled. He wiped it off with his thumb, staring up at her with glassy, ragged breath.

“I need you,” he said simply, his voice hoarse and cracked.

Boe’s face twisted. “Fat chance,” she spat.

Then she kicked him hard in the chest again—not enough to break anything, but enough to knock the wind out of him a second time—and stormed past him, stepping over the wreckage of her fallen phone and splintered dignity as she threw the door open and disappeared into the hall.

Suguru remained on the floor, dazed, and alone again.

And still not enough.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

The morning sun filtered through the curtains in narrow beams, catching dust in the air like snow that hadn’t landed yet. Sarah didn’t look at him as she folded her sweatshirt and tucked it carefully into her bag. She moved with an efficiency that could’ve passed for calm—if not for the way her fingers trembled every time they touched something of hers. Her phone charger. The metal water bottle he'd given her to remember to take care of herself. The worn hoodie he used to wear that she’d stolen one night, laughing, saying she liked it better over-sized.

Satoru stood across the room. Silent. Still.

Not because he didn’t trust her—never that. He was watching her because some part of him, some stubborn, aching piece, was praying she’d change her mind.

But she didn’t.

Sarah kept packing. Quietly. Neatly. Like every breath hurt and she was trying not to let it show. But he could hear it. The soft hitches. The way she kept blinking too often. She hadn’t cried yet this morning—but the tears were there, waiting. She was just trying to spare his feelings. Letting herself suffer for him just as she always did.

He didn’t move toward her. He didn’t speak.

Because she had asked for space. Because she’d said it was over. Because this—this—was what was right. This was how it had to be. This was the way it would always be.

Satoru bit down on the inside of his cheek, hard, and reminded himself that he was the one who broke her heart first. He was the first one to make her cry.

He deserved this.

Every second of it.

This quiet unraveling was his punishment—for taking her in when she was lost, for letting her stay, for letting her laugh and take up space and fill every hollow corner of his empty heart until it hurt not to look at her. And for pushing her away. For not being brave enough to admit what he’d already known.

He loved her.

It hit him again like a falling star—bright, sharp, burning its way through his chest.

He loved her.

He had loved her all along and everyone had been right. The only one who hadn’t seen it was him—until it was too late.

She was at the door now, bag on her shoulder. Her shoes sat neatly at the entryway, just as she always left them. He watched as she stepped into them slowly, methodically. She still hadn’t looked at him. Not once.

He could see her pause. She hadn’t moved.

He held his breath.

She was thinking about turning around. He knew she was. He could feel it, like a shift in gravity. His hands twitched at his sides. He shouldn't say it. He knew he shouldn’t say it.

But his lips moved anyway.

“Don’t go.”

It was quiet. A whisper. Barely louder than a breath. But it carried. It cut.

Her shoulders dropped, arms falling uselessly to her sides. Her head tipped back—not looking at him, just back, as if she could force the tears not to fall by sheer willpower.

Please, he wanted to say again. Please don’t go.

But he didn’t.

Because she didn’t say anything.

She didn’t move.

And then—she finally did.

She stepped forward into the morning sun. And the door closed behind her with a soft, final click.

Satoru stood alone, arm still raised halfway as if reaching for her, though she was already gone.

He let it fall.

The room was too quiet. The kind of quiet that rang in your ears. He didn’t cry—he couldn’t. His eyes were already dry. His heart felt like it had been wrung out and left on the floor. He turned, slowly. It felt colder again, like it always had. The familiar feeling of being alone, just like he always had been. Just like the world wanted him to be.

He stared at the floor.

He’d loved her and he’d let her go for a chance at the ghost he'd chased for so long.

For a moment, Satoru didn’t move, and then something inside him finally snapped.

The lamp on the end table was the first to go. He didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. His hand shot out and smashed it to the floor, the shattering glass shrieking against the silence like a howl.

The pieces scattered across the wooden floor like constellations, but he didn’t stop to look.

He spun around and kicked the chair by the wall so hard it splintered. The wood cracked and tipped, legs twisting, laundry spilling out in a heap — one of her forgotten shirts landing across the floor.

He stormed down the hallway, chest heaving. The string lights she’d hung there—delicate little bulbs she said made the place “feel less sad”—twinkled like they didn’t know better. He grabbed a handful and ripped them down, the wire snapping, bulbs bursting like tiny fireworks as they hit the floor.

He kept going.

Through the house like a hurricane, a force of ache and anger and regret all rolled into one.

He slammed back into his bedroom, standing before the bed like it had personally betrayed him. It was still unmade. The sheets tangled, the blanket half on the floor. Where she had laughed. Where she had cried. Where she had whispered I’m scared into his chest and he had pretended not to be.

Where she’d slept her last night in his arms.

Satoru’s breath came hard and fast and then he grabbed the edge of the mattress and heaved it up with a roar, tossing it off the frame and into the wall with a thud that shook the floor. It bounced once and slid down awkwardly, baring the wooden slats beneath like a rib cage.

His fists clenched at his sides, shaking.

He stood there in the wreckage of the life they’d almost had—his chest heaving, his throat raw.

And finally—He sobbed.

A guttural, unfiltered sound that tore from deep inside him like something ancient and broken. His legs buckled and he sank to the floor, hands burying into his hair, body folding in on itself. The walls blurred around him as hot tears poured freely now, no longer held back by pride or pretense.

“I’m sorry,” he choked out to the empty room. “I’m so sorry.”

But she couldn’t hear him. Not anymore.

Prev Main Next

#fanfiction #writing #a03 fanfic #jujutsu kaisen #jjk #gojo satoru #geto suguru #fix it fic #nanami kento

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roonilwazlibimagines · 8 months ago

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If you want to hear the tragic love life of a random person on the internet or want to prevent a girl from giving a boy a second chance he does not deserve please read more :))

So a fun fact about me is that I’ve genuinely only liked 2 boys in my lifetime (as a 22 year old). And the first boy was a mess but earlier this year when I was reflecting about him (and trying to leave him 2023) I decided on two things. 1) I was going to de-centre boys from my life (which was going to be easy bc before him they were so far away from my centre and just meant I had to drop the three boys I was (barely) talking to) and 2) there were many reasons we didn’t work out but a big one was that I was scared to be vulnerable in front of him and so when a guy inevitably came into my life, I would try to be as vulnerable as appropriate with him because that’s the only way I’ll form a new connection!

Then came Josh (that’s not his name but we’re going to go with it) who was one of three of the boys I was talking to. And he refused to be dropped. ‘I’m not talking to anyone at the moment’ he had weirdly told me when I was walking on the treadmill and had politely asked him ‘what about you?’ when he had asked what was going on in my life.

At this stage we had only been talking for six months and I literally can only recall one conversation from those six months which highlights just how uneventful they were.

But now we were talking heaps! And I knew, the voice in the back of my head would not leave me alone, that he was a douchebag (spoiler alert, I was right) but I really liked taking to him, sue me. And, points for him, he was really good at talking and actually took some time to get to know me!

Flash forward about a month ish and he really badly hurts his back :( but we’re very much in the talking stage so whatever is actually going on in his personal life isn’t too big of a concern.

UNTIL!!! We had been talking for 3 months and NOTHING had happened! Besides a very small comment about how he was upset we lived so far away from each other (1hr in peak traffic) (but also let’s remember he was the one who started this, ALREADY knowing this). So I decided May 1st he was out of my life. Boys were not my focus this year and he was taking up space.

So May 1st comes and he’s telling me about his back and then very casually mentions ‘after I sort out my back I’ll date you’. I read it at work and immediately threw my phone in my bag. I was right. He is a douchebag.

But then somehow we began talking more so much that we became best friends on Snapchat (yes, I know it’s a red flag that the 25 year old boy I’m talking to uses Snapchat as his main platform, I already knew he was a red flag but I really liked taking to him okay? We genuinely have so much in common and maybe I started getting my hopes up, especially because if we’re best friends on Snapchat that means even if he is talking to other girls, he’s talking to me more, right?) Yes, I know maybe there’s another girl who he messages on text, or Instagram, or whatever the fuck it is, but our conversations were soooo flirty. Like talking about our first date, going to each others houses, etc etc.

But then it was like one day he woke up and decided he hated me :) he’d leave me on delivered for a full day and then be like ‘sorry what did I say?’ He made a weird comment about how he hoped he’d make me cry. I saw he tagged another girl on an instagram reel (yes, there’s many explanations for this but like that shots public?) and then he started telling me how pretty his physio was?

When I tell you I was HEARTBROKEN :((( I had literally JUST gotten my hopes up and he immediately crushed them. So I left lol. I stopped messaging him, I stopped saving his photos, I’d go a day without replying and then wait another 12 hours to reply again after he’d reply back in seconds.

Then I went to Europe and had a hot girl summer and I even started talking to another boy but then Josh came back and decided he wasn’t done ruining my life.

And then we started again, and he started messaging me heaps and we were sooooo flirty and I foolishly let myself fall for it again. (But we are being kind to me because I really wanted him and I feel like when you don’t fall for lots of guys often it’s hard to stop talking to a guy you genuinely enjoyed talking to you know).

And things were great! I give second chances, I’m not ashamed to admit it, I know life is complicated. But then he brought up his physio again and that was it for me. Why tell me?

And when I called him out on it he said it was because ‘that was all he had going on at the moment’ as if he didn’t message me every hour of every day.

So I stopped messaging him again and whenever he’d tried to initiate something flirty I’d turn it down and my responses were harsh and mean because I knew I didn’t have the strength to actually leave him but I needed him to know this wasn’t okay.

Then, everything blew up :) and he made a comment about how he respects women or something like that and I was like ‘lol okay give me an example’ and he was like ‘you’ll find out when you’re deserving of it’s and I was like ‘what does that even mean?’ And he was like ‘you’ve disappeared’ and I was like ‘and before that?’ And he was like ‘I was always thinking about you’ and I said ‘so was I’

And this was all in like seconds of each other but it was really late at night (yikes, I know) and he wasn’t responding and I was sick of feeling shit about myself so I sent another message and was like ‘I believe you were thinking about me but then you did all of those things I’ve mentioned in this and now I don’t believe you’

And then he responded and was basically like ‘I’m sorry you deserve better, I’m just not in the right headspace and a lot of people are mad at me at the moment, people actually close to me and I should have told you’

And I know he’s depressed because we spoke about it so I was like ‘I understand but I wish you would have told me and if you were thinking of my like that you wouldn’t bring up other girls’ and he was like ‘the worst part is I don’t even remember doing that and I’m sorry bc I know how that feels’ and I was like ‘I genuinely don’t know what to say, I don’t think you can even begin to imagine how I feel right now’

And he just kept apologising and he was like ‘I’m sorry I made you feel like this’ and i said I was going to try to go to sleep and he kept saying sorry so then in the morning I was like ‘why go through this all with me?’ And he was like ‘I was in the right headspace when we first started talking and I’d be dumb not to try with you but then I got injured and now I’m just not in the right space mentally or physically’ and I was like ‘so you wanted to try, but you don’t want to anymore?’

And he was like ‘I can’t, I need to focus on myself’ and I think I was lucky I was with my cousin when I was getting all of these messages otherwise I think I would’ve driven to his house and put him out of his misery myself

And I kept the conversation going on for a little bit bc I just didn’t have the courage to end it with him I was so hurt :((

And we left it at me asking him if he was in the right headspace would this conversation have gone differently? And he said ‘I think so’ so I said ‘okay. Thanks’ and he said and I quote ‘:(‘

And I have been crying non stop and I feel so dumb bc I knew this was going to happen and I let myself get excited when I knew I shouldn’t have and also, it’s so hard for me to like a boy and he’s the first boy I’ve ever found actually attractive but also liked his personality when he wasn’t mean to me

So it’s whatever, I was going to cry about it but I knew I’d get better and really, I know it’s for the better, he lacks direction, I don’t think the word ‘goal’ is in his vocabulary and just has no motivation (which is very much the opposite of me). But it just hurt because I really liked him and sometimes you don’t get to decide that :(

Anyway, but then HE JUST FUCKING MESSAGED ME ON SNAPCHAT???? AND ITS JUST A SELFIE OF HIM DOING A THUMBS UP IN BED????? (I did the thing where you open it in aeroplane mode so he doesn’t know I’ve seen it) and I want opinions on what I should do (in the end I’ll do what I want lol, but I really feel like I need an outsiders opinion)

SO, do I A) say, why did you send that to me? B) leave him on open or C) a secret third option I don’t know about

If you read this I genuinely hope you never feel sad ever again and I love you so much <333333

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greatqueenanna · 2 years ago

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So, with this tiny drama with Hans and sociopathy, I decided to ask a friend of mine, who has ASPD, what he thought of this whole situation with Hans. A bit of history - as you all know, I like Helsa, so back in 2014 when it was revealed that Hans was a sociopath, I went into research mode to try and discover more about this. That is where discovered Sociopath World, a website made for sociopaths to discuss how they navigate the world and to give advice to 'empaths'.

This is where I met my friend - we'll call him BG. BG is a clinical psychologist, film buff, and, as said, diagnosed with ASPD. Now, I didn't directly ask him about Hans at the time, I just asked him about the Hans - Elsa dynamic a lot without using their names (cuz, you know - I'm a shipper lol) we've been friends ever since, and I ask him all the time about film characters.

When I started talking about Hans and sociopathy more recently, I got an anon where someone questioned if I should be talking about this, so I decided to finally ask BG about Hans. I shared with him Jennifer Lee's comments, some posts within the Hans/Helsa tags, and of course recommended he watch the movie. To my surprise, he did it fairly quickly and sent me a reply today.

Few things to keep in mind - BG is very blunt, so sorry if you find some things he says a bit offensive or accusatory. Also, keep in mind (something he mentions as well) that he doesn't speak for everyone who has ASPD. Also, don't worry, he knows I'm posting his response here. I did edit a few things for privacy purposes. He knows this too.

Now, I originally wanted to include his response in my Hans and Sociopathy post, but to make sure that the post didn't end up being too long, I decided to place it here instead. His response is under the read more.

Thanks for contacting me, I always like evaluating people’s fascinations with ASPD. This is a unique one, a cartoon character. I’m usually asked to evaluate Elsa (spoiler, she’s not a sociopath) from this movie, so it’s a nice change of pace. Prince Hans is a sociopath. Let’s get into it.

So what we first have to establish about anyone trying to defend those with ASPD are their motivations. No one defends those with ASPD just for kindness's sake, not unless they have a positive experience with someone in their life (which is exceedingly rare with ASPD). Here, we’re talking about a cartoon character that was first established as a ‘good’ and then turns ‘evil’ for a shocking twist.

From what I’ve seen from this character’s fans, is that they focus heavily on the ‘tragic’ backstory of said character and the end-game motivations they have for him. Which in this case is the fact that they want to pair him up with other characters with their morality not being questioned. From what I’ve seen, that’s all they care about. They see an attractive character that they think has the potential to be paired with another, and they are upset that this attractive character has traits and behaviors that they are opposed to. Look, I know it sounds mean, but none of these fans would really care if the character was not attractive, charming, and easily paired with the female leads. That is the main motivation here.

I’m not saying they are not interested based on the character’s own merits and intrigue, they like to speculate about his past and childhood. But given the most popular depiction is him is with the female leads in a romantic sense, it is very obvious where the fans stand and why they are defensive of him. He’s attractive, he’s charming, he was really nice and chivalrous at first. But the reality here is that they are in love with who he is pretending to be. It honestly looks like the cases I deal with every day with real ASPD and Empath couples. The empath in the relationship is always making excuses for the sociopath, and I have indeed had cases where the empath denies the diagnosis. It’s really interesting to see this in behavior in fan spaces as well.

Now, here’s the thing. I don’t really care about film representation. Most people I know who also have ASPD don’t care either. We don’t really care about the things that empaths place on a pedestal. We don’t care about role models or feeling accepted and represented. Empaths always make us out to be villains or funny anti-heroes because they can’t fathom our behaviors being used for good. It's a reality we face, especially in this day and age when feelings and being empathetic dominate the social world. There is no easy way to showcase a sociopath being a hero within empath standards. Our definition of a sociopath being a hero is getting what they want. Hans would be a great representation if he got what he wanted. Do I speak for everyone? No. But honestly, I question anyone who claims to be a sociopath and actually cares about empath’s feelings towards us, or bases their value on fictional characters like what empaths do. Especially since most people who have ASPD are not even diagnosed, they can’t exactly question a representation of something they don’t know that they have.

Let’s change gears towards the comments the director made. The critique you got was that there isn’t enough evidence to support a diagnosis of ASPD with Hans because the narrative doesn’t explicitly state it and we don’t know a lot about his past; so can’t make a genuine diagnosis. In most cases, that would be correct. However, the director makes it very clear that her intentions for the character was for him to be a sociopath. She wrote him with this intention and made sure to depict him in that way. Thus, we don’t need to see his childhood or even make a diagnosis based on his behavior. He is written and labeled as a sociopath, so he is one. End of story. Sure, we can critique how the depiction was handled, and even the motivations behind making him a sociopath, but it doesn’t change the facts of the character.

I went a little off track here, but I feel this needed to be said first and foremost. Let’s get back to the actual comments. She states that she has a sociopathic mind and that she was writing him based on these traits. She also stated later that Hans being sociopathic was more interesting. You can even see the excitement she has when the person she’s talking to says “he’s a talented Scoiopath” and she says “He’s very talented!” She loves this aspect of him. It's her pride and joy. She obviously thinks sociopaths are interesting and cool, to the point where she thinks she may have some traits. Here, we know her intention behind it was romanticization. Is it a bit weird? Yea. It’s weird. She's romanticizing a disorder so it's always weird. However, the depiction was still fairly accurate. Cartoony and villainized, but accurate.

Which I guess leads us to the actual depiction. He’s a very typical Sociopath. Not much else to say. He has the sociopath stare, he mirrors behavior, he hates that his brothers dared to ignore him, he jumps into danger without a second thought, and smiles when he’s about to commit murder on Elsa. It's kind of funny how accurate he is. It’s like watching a comedy show where they say something relatable and you can’t help but laugh. The director says that her stand-out moment for him was when he questions Anna’s comment of being ‘just her’. For me, it’s when he stands up after being knocked out by the blast, without even acknowledging that he’s in deep shit, and just says ‘but, she froze your heart!” I laughed so hard. Only sociopaths would do this shit. “Anna, how dare you. You should be dead.”

And that’s all I have to say. Thanks for reaching out, it was definitely entertaining and a nice break. Have a great day.

#frozen #Hans #Prince Hans #Helsa #opinions and commentary #greatqueenanna/analysis

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draystersden · 3 months ago

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I think I figured out the general storyline in terms of why everything's happening and how it all ends for the AU. I'll talk about it below for note-keeping and references down the line (as always subject to tweaking), so don't read if you don't want to be spoiled!

I won't be explicitly talking about this information on other posts, but if it comes up, I'll use a general spoiler warning tag (#spoilers cw) alongside the AU's tag.

It is true that Zygarde predicted the planet's impending collapse due to human overpopulation, and that Yveltal was going to soon fly and cut numbers down by wiping out cities. However, a certain god chose to take advantage of this.

Giratina. The shadowy creatures are entities from the Reverse World, inhabitants resembling mimicries of people and pokemon that had steadily become corrupted due to the imbalance in the main world. Giratina rallied them up into its own army, and directed an assault on the real world.

It goes a step further to directly possess Yveltal itself, using it as the pseudo leader of the army and taking advantage over its power encompassing the concept of Death.

Giratina's goal is simple: cut down all life on Earth to restore balance, and to get back at Arceus for petty revenge via killing other gods. Yet, despite being technically tasked with aiding in the stabilization of reality and life, it doesn't honestly care if it does end up fixing the balance problem or if it worsens. Its existence is beyond Life and Death, so nothing's going to happen to it anyway. Its primary motivation is ultimately just to have fun.

Giratina doesn't get exposed as the true villain of the AU until much later, after many endeavors of Drayton and the others to uncover the mystery of Vitae Arbor, save Vessels from criminal organizations, and stop the entities (I imagine they would've had at least one run in with a frenzied Yveltal prior to learning the truth - leading them to erroneously believe Yveltal's the cause for the world's suffering).

Vitae Arbor is essentially Xerneas' true form, a massive tree growing rainbow crystals from its branches that lies in the gap of spacetime between the main world and the Reverse World. The pokemon that people identify as Xerneas is only a mere avatar, a way for it interact with reality in a more direct way.

Drayton and his friends eventually reach the dimension it's in with the help of many supporting characters, and get to communicate with Xerneas. It tells them that its counterpart (Yveltal) is not itself, and that an interloper is the cause for Earth being under assault. It guides them to the other side of the dimension space, where Yveltal's true form "Mortis Boleti", an organic structure resembling massive devil fingers, dwells. That's where the interloper is.

At this point in the AU, Drayton's virtually at his most powerful since his bond with Kyurem has deepened considerably. Yveltal's corrupted avatar drops in on them, and they face off against it, granted protection from the worst of its instakill powers because of Xerneas' blessing. After a very difficult battle that pushes everyone to the limit, they subdue it. All of its energy exhausted, the avatar goes dormant.

Giratina is forced to show itself, and it briefly congratulates Drayton's team on at least proving humanity is worth something after all, before fleeing to the Reverse World. With its retreat, the malicious entities everywhere all crumble away. Both Xerneas and Yveltal personally thank Drayton and his team, as do many other gods. Their efforts have changed many opinions on the sheer resilience and determination humans can have, and the goodness they're capable of.

Vessels no longer need to exist per se, so many gods break the connection with their own. However, it comes to light that because of how deeply Drayton is connected to Kyurem now, the soul link has became a permanent part of them. It can't be severed without both sides dying. Regardless, there is a silver lining.

Xerneas, as another thanks for succeeding in his trial, nullifies the biological changes and bestows upon Drayton *most of* his original appearance. He goes back to looking fairly normal, but he still has access to all of Kyurem's power. It's basically a win-win situation for him in that regard, at least.

The world is in shambles, thousands - if not millions - of people are gone (some of those people Drayton knew / got to know personally), but at least humans and pokemon together have the opportunity to rebuild. A future of peace with greener pastures await them. If push comes to shove, he can still fight to protect others.

There is the question as to why the fabled "Original One" of all creation never stepped in. Drayton only assumes it's probably dormant too. In reality, Arceus had witnessed everything. It could've stopped Giratina much earlier, but it identified the situation as a test for Earth, and instead chose to observe. It wanted to see the gods below it could work together with the life on Earth to ensure the survival of everyone and everything. Satisfied, it properly goes dormant then.

TLDR: Giratina is the ultimate big bad, being the cause of Yveltal's corruption and the entities attacking Earth. The sympathetic / misunderstood antagonist angle that can be taken with it is cool and all, but it's been sooooo overdone; both in canon material and in fanworks. In my stuff, Gira is genuinely a scumbag lol.

#au ; vessel of the gods #saved #( ngl im also starting to get a dragon quest esque vibe in this au too 😂 )#( drayton does kinda fit the yusha trope; but at the same time ironically doesnt )#( hes a young; charming guy who CAN be heroic & courageous. but hes also lazy. )#( sb: ''only you can save the world!'' dray: ''...ok but do i have to??'' )

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koco-coko · 1 year ago

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OC Info Post: Bonnabel de Saint-Germain

(This is most certainly my most self-indulgent and somehow also my most thought-out OC. Enjoy my unadulterated silliness)

@drewadoodle hi here's the mansion baby (apparently i have one for the castle trio too except that one's fully an adult so if I post her I can tag you in that one too if ya want)

General:

Full name: Bonnabel de Saint-Germain

Nickname: Bonnie, Bon-Bon (Arthur specific), Bell (Theo and Vincent specific)

Birthday: November 8th

Likes: Outdoors, Pastries, Mousette, Reading

Dislikes: Sour Flavors, Math, Rules

Background: A mysterious infant showed up on Le Comte de Saint-Germain’s doorstep one night during a banquet with the residents, and she’s been called his daughter ever since. All she came with was a homemade birth certificate, a stuffed toy of a pastel blue bat, and a wax-sealed letter. The contents of said letter are only known to Comte and Leonardo and he has refused to share it with anyone else, even Bonnie herself. A strange injection Bonnabel took as a newborn has made it so that they are unable to detect what kind of vampire she is, though Comte doesn’t seem too concerned about that fact…

Through the Ages

(aka the main differences between Bonnabel’s different ages without getting into deep spoilers because I’m writing a fic with her hehe.) (Bonnabel is almost always portrayed in the Childhood stage. Sometimes teenage [mostly with castle trio])

Childhood– Bonnabel, wild and carefree. Don’t even try to make her sit still– she’ll bite your hands with dull, stubby fangs until you let her go. The biggest nuisance and agent of chaos the house has seen in a while. Temper tantrums and dramatic outbursts are common, and as a vampire, she’s really yet to understand her strength. Still… There is something endearing about her reckless abandon and pure fascination with life. She’s sweet and kind all the same, she just has her moments.

Teenage years– Outdoor play time has turned into calm walks through the garden and snack time is now tea time. Although Bonnabel’s matured since being in single digits, everyone can tell something about her is just… off. Maybe it’s the way she’s shy about everything, how reclusive she’s become, how utterly captivated she is by space, or perhaps the way she’s withdrawn from everything other than her studies. Her self-image couldn’t be worse (how could she ever compare to the greats of history she lived amongst, really?), and she’s really been pestering Comte about her past as of late.

Adulthood– Bonnabel, after many, many challenges, trial and errors, heartbreaks, and betrayal, has finally grown into her own skin. Well, sort of. She’s gained back some of the excitement she had when she was a little girl, but it’s been distilled into a fine wit and humor. Now, she simply does as she pleases, whether that be studying something to the point of burning into her brain to simply staying in all day and catching up on some novels. She’s a vampire! She’s got all the time in the world to get things right.

Physical:

Eye color: A pale orange, with slight hints of crimson in her pupils. It’s not very noticeable from far away but in the right sunlight it’s a bit more

Hair color- Sandy blonde, like Vincent’s hair. Just a bit more colorful than that.

Disabilities- Undiagnosed because of the century, but most certainly has ADHD and dyscalculia (unable to some basic math)

Height- Childhood: 4’1, Teenage: 5’0, Adulthood: 5’11

(i dont have any drawings so um yeah i just used to ikevamp doll haha)

Relationships:

I’ll be splitting the characters into archetypes– how Bonnabel sees each of the residents as a family unit, then going a bit more in-depth.

Brothers– Arthur, Vincent, Theo, Isaac, Napoleon, Jean

– Napoleon: The big brother. No matter how Bonnabel’s feeling, whether she wants to play or vent to him, he’ll make time available. Bonnabel likes hiding and cuddling into his cape and constantly pesters him to teach her fencing. Instead, he’ll teach her how to cook pastries (it’s not like Jean or Vincent are going to do it).

– Arthur: He’s the one Bonnabel goes to if she wants to get away with something or is bored out of her mind. He’s the fun brother and almost lets her get away with anything. Especially when it comes to teasing Isaac. He’ll also sneak her chocolates from time to time. She loves playing detective with him and likes to act out scenes from books with him. Plus, Vic and Bonnie are utterly enamored with each other, so it’s always a good time with Arthur.

– Vincent and Theo: How could they not feel like her big brothers? Vincent is the only person Bonnie is nice to no matter her mood and he’ll let her watch him paint if she’s ever interested. They tried finger-painting when she was little, but she tried to eat the paint and it’s been banned for the time being.

Theo, on the other hand… It’s a bit more tenuous. Bonnabel didn’t understand being called a mutt or pup was a sign of affection at first, but the two clicked once the misunderstanding was cleared up. As a little girl, Bonnabel drew a picture of all three of them holding hands with both Vincent and Theo titled ‘big brothers’ and that might be the closest Theo was to ever crying in front of his brother. He now has it framed in his room.

– Isaac, Mozart, and Jean: All in the same boat- didn’t get along at first, but later on they became close. Mozart’s relationship with loud and wild Bonnabel is… strange, but he does seem to be able to talk sense in her. She only recently got unbanned from the music room. Mozart’s bedroom is still off limits. Isaac was wary of her (especially because she liked Arthur so much), but they get along once she’s older and quieter. Sometimes they stargaze together. Jean has always been kind to her, but never got too close. Well, until Bonnabel insisted they study reading together and now it’s not uncommon to see them reading fairy tales together. Jean has promised to teach Bonnabel fencing one day, too, behind Comte’s back.

Weird Uncles– Dazai and William

Dazai: Dazai is a nutcase, but in a fun way! He’s always speaking in riddles, but at least he’s not boring, right? She doesn’t interact with him that much, but when she does, she’s surprised by the words of wisdom she receives. She also has joined forces with him to absolutely torment Isaac, except she’s the one who has to apologize and learn a lesson. He’s fun, just weird.

William: Bonnabel doesn’t see him often. When she does, Puck is close behind and the girl and rabbit become inseparable. Bonnabel is utterly infatuated with Puck and gives him all of her attention, booping his cute little nose at every chance. The one bad thing about seeing Will is, well… tiny little Bonnabel can’t understand him at all. Vincent or Comte have to translate for her if they ever visit the villa because she’s too shy to ask him to speak simpler.

Parents– Leonardo and Comte

Comte: Dearest papa! It’s his life mission to make sure Bonnabel never has to know a day of pain or fear. Sure, perhaps the idea of raising her without the same pressures of nobility and vampirism that he did is a selfish wish, but she’s smiling everyday in the mansion. He has to be doing something right, right? Comte was Bonnabel’s whole world as a little girl. Going into her teenage years, their relationship becomes strained, much to Comte’s confusion and sorrow. (And yes, the pun in Bonnabel's name was intentional, even if he tries to deny it).

Leonardo: Babbo! Whenever there’s a Comte level matter but Bonnabel’s worried he’ll be mad at her, she goes to Leonardo. While hugging Comte smells like fine wine and perfumes, Leonardo smells like book pages and cigars. Both scents have become safe places for her. They take naps together a lot. Especially when Bonnabel is upset. Sometimes she’ll find him sleeping on the floor and join him because she’s bored, using his chest as a pillow. A lot of Bonnabel’s toys and even her bed are made by him.

Auntie and ‘Mama–’ MC/Mitsuki and Sebastian

– When Bonnabel was learning how to talk, she called Sebastian ‘Mama’ and it kind of stuck. Nowadays, she just calls him Sebby (he’s not the biggest fan, but nothing he’d really want to complain about), but sometimes they still joke about that name despite Bonnabel having zero recollection of it. Unfortunately, Bonnabel almost never listens to what Sebastian has to say unless he flicks her forehead.

Mitsuki was called Auntie from the start. Bonnabel respects her a lot and will mostly listen to her authority, so she is definitely more of an aunt than a sister to her. This is also due to Mitsuki having to help Comte in certain aspects of raising her, such as bathtime and the likes. A part of their strong connection simply is the fact they’re the only women in the mansion.

BONUS! Castle Trio (met at Teenage Stage)

Charles-Henri: After a bit of apprehension, they get along pretty well. Whenever Bonnabel starts stressing out, Charles will pop up and distract her with games, food, or something else. He also tends to encourage any of her fixations no matter what, when, how and why.

Faust: Bonnabel is completely creeped out by him, but… He seems to know her somehow. Sort of like an uncle you haven’t seen in years but keep telling you things they remember. Bonnabel thinks he might know about her birth parents, but she's too shy and nervous to ask him. He’s… polite, at least. Doesn’t seem to try and bother her very much, but he still gives odd vibes. She does not want to be alone in a room with him.

Vlad: Oh… him. Yeah. It’s weird. On one hand, they have a shared trauma they can bond over, and on the other, he’s trying to hurt her family. Sure, he saved her from certain death that one time, but his dream has become so twisted she can’t help but distrust him. Still, it’s not as if they don’t get along. Actually, they have a lot more in common than one might think.

#koco talks ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp oc #ikemen vampire oc #ikevamp oc: Bonnabel

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sunnysduet · 2 years ago

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--- i'll protect you no matter what, sunny. you can count on me!

hi hello welcome to my blog :) you can call me sunny, i'm 20 years old, and my pronouns are literally anything but it/its! my preferred neo is moon/moons.

i literally only talk about omori honestly. if you don't like that or want to avoid spoilers, the general tag for just talking about the characters in a non-spoiler way will just be "omori" but if something i'm talking about has major spoilers, i'll tag "omori spoilers"! but that's if i can remember. i don't PROMISE that this will be a spoiler free experience; i will do my best, but i'm not perfect, so bear that in mind! in general if its very very VERY important to you to avoid omori spoilers at all costs, this blog probably isn't for you. come back when you've played the game and i'd love to talk! 🫶

i also write a lot of omori fanfics! you can find me here, at basilsflowers on ao3!

i also kin; i don't talk about it incredibly often in most cases but if that's a problem for you this blog probably isn't for you! my main kin is sunny and my second main is basil, i don't care if doubles interact but if that's a problem for you, you have been warned. regardless of kinning, i reserve the right to block anyone without explanation because this is my blog and safe space and i will keep it that way. <3

DNI if you speak badly about sunflower as a ship, as well as sunny, omori, basil, mari, aubrey, hero or kel! i do not want to hear it!! i will block you!! basic dni criteria also applies; no transphobes, homophobes, racists, etc. if you invalidate neogenders/pronouns dni.

i will probably also use this for venting!! if that upsets you this is your warning! topics will range from a wide variety of things, including but not limited to severe mental health conditions, losses in the family, family drama, etc.

i think that's everything out of the way... i hope you enjoy your stay in this silly little blog!

everybody makes mistakes. you've been running from this one for a long time now. you'll forgive yourself, won't you? ---

#pinned #no clue how to use this website anymore!!!!!!#come along for the ride

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flamurai · 11 months ago

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#𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐈 independent portrayal of 𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐊𝐘𝐎𝐉𝐔𝐑𝐎 from the demon slayer: kny series with sporadic activity ( slow reply ) in pst. written by vera and established 7/17/2024 ! minors and personals do not interact. not spoiler free and headcanon based. please read my rules before following. duplicate friendly.

𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐄: 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 ˖˖˖ 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 ˖˖˖ 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙨 ˖˖˖ 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨

𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐒: cadavors / malient

IMPORTANT. writer is 29. i tend to follow canon depictions of this character, with a sprinkle of my own creativity. i'm very oc and crossover friendly but lean more toward following manga/anime style blogs. please don't interact if you are a minor, as there will be ns.fw content and shipping topics.

WRITING/DISCORD. i enjoy decorating and formatting my posts, not excessively but there's personality choices in my writing style. there will always be icons used, among other things regardless if you choose differently. i may not be inclined to follow if you use big gifs/pictures.

writing on disco will be iffy for me but if you find discomfort writing certain topics on the dash, let me know and we can exchange handles if we haven't already.

also, i don't write with minor characters that aren't in the demon slayer kny universe.

FOLLOWING. i don’t follow everyone, it’s overwhelming. my blog is mutual exclusive and strict on who i allow onto my dashboard due to mental health reasons. PLEASE HARD BLOCK IF YOU AREN'T INTERESTED IN WRITING. ( i promise it's nothing personal, if we don't mesh from your POV, then protect your peace. ) i'll always read your rules before following, and also a second time once we've started interacting. consider this a safe space, i'll never disregard you or your character's boundaries.

if you're a multi with ocs or even have characters with a kny verse, please have a backstory for them with details regarding their situation in said world ( or have a doc of sorts that i can read ). if we're going to plot anything, i need specifics and will feel less inclined to write if not. i can't write your character. as for choosing a character, i ask that you lean on your own judgment. i'm not going to ask for someone who is low energy for you to write, this comes from a caring place. i want to write with passionate people.

PHOBIAS/THEMES. i don't have triggers except: transphobia, racism, pedophilia, and hate speech in general isn't okay. otherwise, i'll write any other subject, i'm just desensitized having been roleplaying for 10 years. i'll use the appropriate tags for things, but please understand i'm just a human being with adhd that can barely remember to function properly.

MAINS & EXCLUSIVES. i’m far more compliant with mains than exclusives, since i have trust issues and require a lot of feedback if we decide upon the former. it’s just a serious matter for me and i don't want to humor exclusivity if you're a low activity partner. just don’t encourage me to become exclusive if you’re just gonna have our ship collect dust, i will immediately drop it without warning.

SHIPPING. i portray this man as pansexual and panromantic so let’s ship, i love it. we can plot out the dynamic, figure out what works and how they tick. i have no shame in wanting to write toxic, platonic, lust driven, enemies, and anything under the sun. i'm here to have an interesting time, nothing offends me and i can't be bothered to act shy. i ship everyone in this series WITHIN THE AGE OF CONSENT. again, keep your children away.

pre-established won’t be an issue, though i’d prefer an ooc discussion beforehand. just to get the quirks out of the way. below will be my affiliated relationships for this character.

N.SFW THEMES. now on the topic of smut/ns.fw, i know there's a stigma against it but honestly i love a healthy balance in writing it. i just go with the flow if that's what the situation leads to. ( flirt with him, give sexual tension, be disgusted for all i care ) just keep in mind that i use poetic/soft core writing when it comes to it, i just don't want to be crude and icky with my descriptions. all of which will be under a read more and may be subject to deletion later on.

i have unresolved trauma when it comes to female lower anatomy and will not write smut involving it. ( i can talk about nsf/w topics but depicting it is a no go ) this doesn't effect shipping or romance - only sexually explicit content being written between characters. anything leading to it will be explored but gradually fade to black.

#ৡ ₊ 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆. ⊹ OOC.

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cosmereplay · 2 years ago

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get to know your fellow fanfic writers better ༊ ✧.*

Tagged by @chaos-monkeyy (1000 years ago 😅)

1. when did you post your first ever fanfic?

I started posting in Feb 2021!

2. first character you wrote for:

I think the first chapter of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy was from Shallan's POV.

3. main character(s) you’re currently writing for:

Not much has changed: Kaladin, Shallan, and Adolin take up a great deal of space in my head and in my fic, including my current WIP Plausible Deniability (Explicit), for which I'm currently procrastinating the last chapter as I do this, lol

4. character(s) you haven’t written about before but plan on writing about soon:

I don't think I've published any Elhokar! I do have a Moash/Elhokar I started in 2021 that I would like to figure out and get out there.

5. fandom(s) you’re currently writing for:

Stormlight Archive, my beloved. My obsession for the last three years!

6. platonic pairing(s) you currently write for:

I did an RP with @wanderingchanneler with Kaladin & Szeth reluctant road trip travellers to friends, and xe's been working on editing and posting it. It's updating weekly - Convergence (Teen)

7. romantic pairing(s) you currently write for:

Mostly Shakadolin, but otherwise it's fairly eclectic. Actually now that I think of it, I write a lot of sexual stuff, and I write a lot about love, but I don't write a ton of explicitly romantic stuff. Except maybe Shakadolin 😂

8. your top 3 tags on AO3 (if you post your works on AO3):

If it's only Additional tags, then it's Oral sex, RoW spoilers, and then a four-way tie of Fluff, post-canon, canon compliant, and PWP. If it includes character tags you'll never guess: Kaladin, Shallan, and Adolin, in that order.

9. your current platform where you post your works

AO3, baybee!

10. snippet of the wip you’re currently working on:

Here's Teen-rated excerpt from my draft chapter of Plausible Deniability:

“What do you mean, you don’t feel the same way anymore?” Laran demanded. “We. . . did things together! Didn’t you like it?” “No, no, it’s not that,” Veil said. Storms, how could she describe what had happened to her desire? “I just don’t feel like doing those things anymore. I still want to do other stuff. . . ” Laran crossed her arms, lit from the side by Salas’ violet light. “What, like kissing? Over the clothes stuff? It’s not like you ever wanted to be out with me in public. What’s left?” Veil shrugged. “Okay, we could play Towers at the barracks. Have dinner at your stew–” “Oh, so you can ogle the Highmarshal while I dodge Lyn’s questions about the nature of our relationship? Yeah. Sounds great,” Laran fumed, turning abruptly to look out over the mountains. Veil could tell where this was going. “We could do whatever you want. What do you want to do?” she asked, trying not to sound like she was begging. The tall Windrunner was silent for a while, then let out a long sigh. “I don’t think I want anything else. You know, Veil, some relationships shine like spheres, and others flash like lightning.” She turned to look at Veil. “It was bright while it lasted, but I can hear the thunder now. Goodbye, Veil.” Without another word, Laran stepped up onto the balcony railing and pushed off, flying at speed into the darkness. “Everstorms!” Veil cursed into the night. She hoped it wouldn’t go this poorly with Ral when she saw her tomorrow.

Tagging @felagund-fiollaigean, @rydiaasuka, @if-one-of-us-falls, @illustraterg, @cosmererambles, @meadowlarkx and anyone else I can't remember at the moment, pretend I tagged you if you'd like to do this!

#tag games #stormlight fanfic #if you want to know something about me #send me an ask!

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super-novatuna · 2 years ago

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Discussing/Going Slightly Crazy over Tears of Themis Main Story 09: Grey Frontier, a Post

will definitely contain spoilers under the cut!

HOO BOY TALK ABOUT MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. NONE OF MY PREVIOUS QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED AND NOW I HAVE MORE HOLY MOLY

my heart dropped when i didn't see a Trial level. more questions, less answers.

let's start by discussing the squares in the little bingo made by @/actualbird, who i will not tag because i do not want to spoil him accidentally. thank u zak for ur services :D

one thing to note is that there are NO bingos this chapter, mainly because one thing most of us probably didn't expect lmao: NXX SEPARATED.

unthinkable. unimaginable. like there's practically NO team stuff in ch9. that's insane. artem was flooded with heirson cases, vyn was dealing with.. whatever the fuck he was doing, marius was presumably busy with managing the backlash of the trial in 08, and that leaves luke, who even though is the one that mc can tag along with for a case is still busy on his own with nsb stuff. hardly any teamwork happening, besides if you count marius' "interrogation" where luke gave him his button back and vyn just guiding mc to figure out what the suicide notes meant... yeah. not to mention artem being skye's attorney???. 99% Win Rate Artem Wing. hello. I have never been more confused. what's the plot behind this? are they all orchestrating a behind-the-scenes plan that'll come together, or are they really all doing their own shit? I'm leaning more towards the former given the nature of the game but gosh this is taking a TURN

translation errors were a lil funny but i could still understand the point which is all i need.

vyn doesn't say anything ominous but saying kys out of nowhere counts a little i think.

jerome 🫰 hes cute but he's uncanny and I'm so curious as to what he's up to. telling the little girl to get marius to pay was nice but there must've been an underlying intention.

no nxx team meeting (i mean with luke and artem. that barely counts because artem was so busy he just let luke have her).

mc figured out abt luke's illness but from what I'm seeing nothing is quite clear and she doesn't know he's got three years oof. artem has a clue but I'm sure he knows nothing either. and marius and vyn have their suspicions but nothing's sure or confirmed.

LUKE PROTECT ROSA !!! YEAHHHH watch ur back u bitchass macho king

do parallels btwn skye and the incident with luke in the hospital count as symbolism idk I'm counting it. i think there's some symbolism a little bit.

for our romantic moment before something terrible happens, ah yes, sweet and worried words on a phone call and then luke has a whole episode. yay. delightful. luke don't fucking die.

no tot story would be complete without an absurd mid-story debate. damn, right in front of the secret nsb station???

no weird luke gadget 😔 sorry he was busy being sick

found family? they aren't even together the marluke moment was barely anything. artem worried about luke having an episode... counts a little. not enough to warrant even a question mark 😔

no nxx meeting, no hilarious bullshit from a boy. sad.

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE SHAKES HYV WHAT IS GOING ON

free space luke is dying

AARON YIPPEEE. good dad.

vincent is a good boy but no intel from him. just him being Best Assistant. Bestest ever.

I didn't cry but i am close to a mental breakdown

LUKE DEPRESSION ASHDJKWKW poor guy.

not sure if Emotionally Charged and Slight Conflict counts as an argument but personally i think kinda?

no baldr because NO TRIAL AAHFJSJJSK

not only do i have more questions about the new Big Bad but I have questions about WHATEVER THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH THE WHOLE TEAM.

voice acting 🔛🔝 as always.

NO COURT 😓😓😓😭😭😭

marius was pretty badly injured what the hell WHERE'S HIS PERSONAL BODYGUARD AJDJFWJ LUKE CAN U DO A LIL FAVOR PERHAPS

artem? almost no artem. AND NO CAPTAIN MORGAN IN THIS STORY AT ALL 🥹🥲

luke's hands. r so pretty. in both goddamn illustrations. eeeee

okay and that's all the bingo points sorted, most of it sorted. two other things that piqued my interest was

1. skye harper. she loves taking care of people and she hates seeing people suffering. gerard suffered because of his mom and so many patients suffered because of tyson turner. she wants to protect her patients and the people she favors. i support her actions btw she's so cool for that. artem also supports her so that's a point in our favor! i also think her drinking all night when gerard disappeared definitely is relevant somehow, we'll see in the next chapter.

2. mc is probably feeling a little left out ngl. everyone's got their own thing, and she can't really actively participate in much because she got doxxed and her personal life is being pried into. and she can't do much about anything, not even help artem for some reason, and she's definitely having a personal conflict especially with luke's... everything. i just love mc's character so much i hope she snaps soon tbh.

thus ends my crazy goings. if u read all the way here kudos have a cookie 🍪

and when we get to the whole team about luke's illness... rubs hands together. hoo boy ch10 is going to go CRAZY.

ALSO the nsb is definitely shady and marius does not trust em all that much. i think he trusts luke but his affiliation with the nsb is causing some distance. aaa.

#tears of themis #tears of themis spoilers #tot spoilers #tot main story #novatuna's brain at work

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ahsokathegray · 2 years ago

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Who We Are Without Our Armor

Pairing: Rexsoka

Prompt: Rexsoka Monthly Mar. ‘23 - I Do Want That Back, You Know

Summary: Alone and drenched in a dark abandoned shop, Rex and Ahsoka see one another more clearly than they ever have, yet somehow still managing to have their affections interrupted.

Tags: unresolved sexual tension, spoilers for bad batch s2

Word Count: 6,197

A/N: If you haven’t already, go give @rexsoka-monthly a follow and join us in supporting and creating prompt-based Rexsoka content! 🫶

read on ao3! / masterlist

Rex was hot on her heels as they ran through the alleyway, splashing up water as they put distance between them and the footsteps thundering close behind.

Through her peripheral vision, Ahsoka could see him lower his rangefinder, ensuring that his eyes weren’t deceiving him in the night’s downpour. The way his breathing changed told her that they’d managed to lose the squad of Imperials pursuing them.

They let up after a few more paces and made some additional turns before pressing against a wall in a concealed alcove. Their chests heaved as they recovered from the pursuit. Ahsoka placed a hand over her heart and looked over at her companion. Rex’s visor was streaked with rain. She was envious of his armor in that moment. Her own clothes were drenched, leaving her soaked to the bone. The dark blue material looked almost black when wet.

Ahsoka wiped the rain from her brow and kept her hand up to shield the water from finding its way into her eyes. Rex was looking back at her, still trying to catch his breath.

“In there!” Ahsoka shouted over the weather, pointing to a door left ajar at the end of the alcove. Rex gave a curt nod in understanding and put himself in front of her, leading the way with his twin pistols outstretched. He’d given Ahsoka two vibro-blades before the mission, but they were almost as useless in her hands as one of his deecees had been.

He was glad that Bail kept her away from more life-threatening situations. She could only do so much with Force abilities she couldn’t publicly use. It had only been a year since the rise of the Empire. It wasn’t safe for her to be out so much.

The patter of rain continued, bouncing off of the roof now rather than off of their skin. As they passed over the threshold, Ahsoka wicked the beads of water away from her arms, still keeping close behind Rex. She found the door panel and pressed the button to close it, sealing them inside and erasing their trail. She continued to follow Rex, watching his six as they made their way through the vacant building. It looked to be a clothing store, or what used to be one anyway. The shop had evidently been long abandoned and Ahsoka had the sinking feeling that it, like so many other establishments across the galaxy, had gone out of business due to the rise of their new government.

People were afraid and rightfully so. Not even a year into the Galactic Empire, and the Emperor had already shown favor in utilizing fear to control the galaxy and its inhabitants. She supposed she should’ve expected such filth from the disguised Sith.

They then found themselves in what appeared to have been the main portion of the store. The windows were boarded up and toppled racks of clothing were lying on the floor. Ahsoka stayed in the center of the room while her Captain ripped back several sets of curtains. The old changing rooms were stacked high with empty crates. Most of them had already been rifled through — their contents piled high on the floors and not leaving much space for them to maneuver around in.

Rex kicked aside some loose articles of clothing and lowered his blasters, his shoulders falling with his decided state of safety. “We’re alone,” he concluded, his voice crackling through his helmet’s vocoder. He then took it off and set it down on a nearby surface, “And safe. For now.”

Ahsoka never got tired of hearing the shift in his voice after he removed his helmet.

In its absence, she could see that his body glove had not been able to evade the torrential downpour they’d just hurtled through. The parts that were left exposed in small sections through his armor were drenched. He set his helmet down on a nearby surface and beckoned her with two fingers to come closer. Ahsoka’s feet carried her over to him before she could even process the action.

His eyes softened, roaming over her features. He’d been vocal about his contempt over her lack of armor from the time she’d been assigned to Anakin. Rex didn’t say so now, but she knew well that he was thinking it. She had some armor, the beskar Bo-Katan had gifted her, but it still didn’t suffice. Rex’s standards for safety were high. He’d cover her in the beskar if he could.

Ahsoka gazed up at him as he did his routine inspection, making sure she’d not been grazed, scraped, or bruised in any way. More often than not, she managed to collect a few bruises that he’d always worry over.

In the aftermath of the Tribunal, Rex had acted as her medic, using the minimal supplies in the kit they’d found to tend to her injuries. Even though they’d been apart for a few months now, their dynamic never changed. Ahsoka loved that about him… about them.

She shivered as Rex placed a gloved hand to her shoulder, the soaked material making her that much colder. He spun her around to get a good look from all angles, ensuring she had not sustained even the most minor of injuries.

“I’m fine, Rex. Those troopers weren’t very good shots,” she assured, spinning back to face him.

Her worried Captain seemed content with her lack of injury and reluctantly removed his hand from her shoulder, bringing it to the back of his neck. “You know why I have to make sure,” he spoke lowly, voice still gravelly from the shouting they’d been doing.

“I know,” she responded, offering him a kind smile and shivering.

Rex noticed the action and began looking around him in the dark. He bent down and grabbed the nearest article of clothing and handed it to her, “Here. To dry off with.”

She took the fabric and gave him a quiet laugh, “Rex.”

He arched an eyebrow.

Ahsoka gestured to the entirety of the room. It was filled to the brim with clothing. She didn’t have to just dry off with an old shirt. She could finally trade in her Mandalorian garb for something new, clean, and not soaking wet. Rex could do so as well, though she knew he would be partial to his armor.

“What do you say we get out of these clothes?” Ahsoka suggested, gesturing to the dry clothes around them.

A flush crept up Rex’s neck and his ears suddenly felt hot. Ahsoka was intoxicatingly close, and soaked, and looking up at him with water-beaded lashes. He swallowed in an attempt to clear the lump in his throat. The small amount of moonlight coming in from the boarded windows danced in her eyes and across her skin. Rex knew the intended meaning of her words, but couldn’t help the way his heart leapt against the underside of his chestplate.

He swallowed again, “I — I’m not sure that’s a good idea. They could still be out there.”

“We can block the door if it gives you some peace of mind, but you’re still coming out of that armor. Really Rex, when’s the last time you washed that body glove?” she tossed, laughing quietly and walking towards one of the dressing rooms.

Rex’s eyes narrowed in amusement and he stammered, “No you can’t. It’s the stale air in this room. No telling the amount of fungus that’s probably grown in here.”

Ahsoka flashed him a smirk, “Relax. I’m just messing with you. Help me move a few of these crates.”

The Captain shook his head and laughed under his breath, grabbing as many as he could carry and following Ahsoka back to the door they’d entered through. Together, they blocked it with the crates from an entire dressing room, obstructing one area and clearing another. The crates were still empty, but would act as a bit of insurance if the Imperials came back around in an attempt to be thorough.

“There. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing,” Ahsoka concluded and placed her hands on her hips.

Rex seemed content and nodded in agreement, extending his arm, “Well, what do you say we go shopping, Lady Tano?”

Her nose scrunched and her face contorted in a delighted smile, “Lady Tano?”

“My bad. I forgot. It’s Ashla now,” he corrected, shooting her a wink and flashing his teeth.

She rolled her eyes in response and gave him a teasing punch to the bicep, leaving his side in search of some Togruta-friendly clothing. Rex shook his head and smiled to himself, watching as she bent at the knees to search through the clothes. He walked in the opposite direction and found the men’s clothing. They each sifted through the mess, digging out miscellaneous items and trying to determine how they would accommodate their weapons and lifestyles.

He had picked up a gray shirt with matching bottoms when Ahsoka came up behind him, her own picks in hand. “That’s not what you’re going with is it?” she asked, pointing at what he was holding. Rex’s brows knit together and Ahsoka laughed, “Come on. Put those back. I think I can do better.”

“It’s just clothes, Ahsoka,” he retorted, but obliged anyway. He fiddled with a chipped piece of his hand gauntlet while she rummaged through the other options. Her lekku swung as she dug through a half empty crate and Rex found himself in awe of her. Being with her now felt like it had back when they’d first been on the run together, holed up in countless abandoned shelters with an odd sleep schedule and lingering looks that lasted longer than they should’ve. Somewhere in the midst of all the loss, the hurt, the desperate need for security, and a piece of the past… his professional admiration for Ahsoka had… expanded.

She was kind-hearted, and tender, and didn’t deserve a thing that had happened to her. If he could give her the galaxy, he would, but it wasn’t his to give. He told himself that strides he was making against the Empire weren’t just for himself and his brothers, but for her as well.

Rex knew she blamed herself for much of what had taken place, falsely under the impression that she somehow could’ve prevented any of it. He thought that, if he were to save enough of his brothers, that it might rid her of the guilt she carried about the men who died in the crash that day.

His heart had broken for her — for the love of her — and it broke all over again when she suggested that they part ways. He’d inwardly scolded himself for allowing his personal feelings to get in the way. His small habit for letting them slip through and drive him was something the General had known about him. He wondered if Ahsoka had noticed it as well. A bit of Anakin rubbed off on each of them, it seemed.

“Oh I think this is the winner,” came Ahsoka’s voice from the floor, breaking him from his thoughts. She held up the pieces for him to see.

Rex opened his mouth and closed it, at a loss for words. He tried again, “It’s uh…”

“You don’t like it?” she asked, her expression falling.

His cheek muscle twitched, “It’s very… colorful.”

Ahsoka gave him a playful scoff, “That’s the problem? I thought you liked a bit of color.”

“I like blue.”

“This has blue,” she argued, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth and a sparkle lighting her eyes, “And purple and white and… whatever this other color is called.”

Rex blinked a few times before taking the fabric from her, “I wouldn’t call that blue.”

She gathered up her own items again and laughed, “Do it to amuse me at least. If my vision doesn’t translate, then you can come back for the all gray outfit.” Ahsoka made a move for the changing room they’d emptied and stopped short. “Rex?” she whispered, turning to face him. He was still standing in the same spot, his eyes having never left her. “Could I maybe ask a big favor of you?”

“Anything, Ahsoka,” he answered without hesitating.

“I want you to be in there with me,” she revealed, looking up at him hopefully and with a twinge of embarrassment darkening her lekku.

A breath hitched in Rex’s throat and he momentarily forgot how to use his lungs. He knew better than to read between the lines, both where his heart was concerned and where her’s was.

The mere implication of what she was asking reminded him of a situation they’d found themselves in only a month after the crash. They’d been presented with the opportunity to take showers — to wash off the grime and the exhaustion that had accumulated for nearly a week at that point. Neither one of them was willing to pass up on such a luxury. Ahsoka had been halfway reclothed when Imperials began going door-to-door in the town they’d been hunkered down in. She had to grab her clothes and redress on the run, consequently providing Rex with an eyeful of her bare back.

As a clone, he was bred for staying focused in compromising, distracting situations, but he didn’t miss the way her flawless sienna skin peeked out from behind the length of her rear lek.

That night had been one of many that caused him to acknowledge how his view of her had shifted. However, in the urgency of needing to flee the area, Rex could only be concerned with keeping her safe. The skin he’d seen wasn’t for him to appreciate, but to defend and protect.

“Rex?”

“Of course,” he rushed, inhaling sharply and following her to the small room they’d cleared. Ahsoka fingered the thick curtain briefly, an action that he knew to be the result of her nerves. Ahsoka bit her lip and then disappeared into the changing room, backing into a corner to give Rex some space to fit inside. He followed her and pulled the curtain closed enough to conceal them, but still allowing for some outside light to trickle in.

He turned around, his neck still hot as he finally made eye contact with her. It suddenly felt as if all the air in the room had vacated.

Ahsoka looked beside him, noticing she’d put him on the side with the mirror. Rex observed this too and spoke up quickly, “Here. Switch places with me.” Ahsoka nodded and the tension lifted for a brief moment as they shifted around. The sound of wet gear and clothes sounded in the room for several seconds before disappearing entirely and creating a gap for the tension to return.

“Back to back?” she asked, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Rex’s chest felt tight, but he was able to repeat her words, “Back to back.”

They turned and Ahsoka suddenly felt senseless. Each of them had armor and gadgets to remove first, not really warranting any privacy just yet, but Rex had already begun removing pieces. She bit her tongue and began unclasping her beskar gauntlets, letting the armor gather at her feet. The process was a slow one as the sound of Rex’s plastoid being removed and stacked filled her montrals.

Her own mind began to betray her, crafting mental images of Rex in various states of undress. She was reminded of the first time she’d seen him in just the lower half of his armor. They’d been newly on the run and he had been losing sleep for days on end. She’d finally convinced him to take some of it off — to actually get comfortable for once. He argued that he’d slept with it on for years, that he was accustomed to the feel, that staying awake for extended periods of time was second nature. Eventually, he’d caved, but only with the promise that she would keep watch as he slept.

Ahsoka knew he’d never admit it, but Rex had been wary about removing his protective shell… both literally and figuratively. He fell asleep sitting against a wall with her that night, his head falling to rest on her shoulder.

She smiled at the memory. Seeing the men in half their armor or even just in their fatigues was a part of life for so long. For some reason, it had struck her differently when it had been Rex. It had been more intimate somehow. She knew then that her presence had the same effect on him that his had on her. In all the pain they’d just endured, Rex was able to find security in her. Her heart had been beating furiously that entire night, but not as hard as it had when she’d seen him solely in his blacks the first time just a few nights after.

Screwing her eyes shut, Ahsoka tried to keep her mind from wandering, from the temptation of looking into the mirror beside her and seeing him in that state again.

Despite having been apart for a few months, her feelings were still just as strong for him, but being here with him now she realized they’d grown even stronger. It had hit a nerve when she’d first felt it, striking a fear within her that she didn’t recognize. The feelings alone were enough to frighten her, but her fear over those feelings caused her to make the rash decision.

There wasn’t a day that passed that Ahsoka didn’t regret suggesting that they part ways.

Her heart had grown tender for him. She didn’t know if it was Anakin’s teachings or his personal interpretation of the Jedi Code that had influenced her… or her decision to walk away from the Order that had given her a new perspective. Either way, it was very real and it demanded her to acknowledge it. She’d just needed time to assess it all and without Rex’s distracting presence, as reassuring and comforting as he was.

She threw her head back in exasperation, standing uncomfortable in her thoughts and her wet clothes. Once more, her chest beat furiously against her ribcage. What she’d decided in their time apart — the peace she’d found in not being a Jedi — led her right back to him.

“Rex?” she called over her shoulder, getting the words out before they got lodged in her throat.

Her Captain stacked another piece of his armor on the floor and hummed in response.

“Are you still decent?”

“I’m still decent. What do you need?”

Ahsoka turned around and was presented with a full view of his back. She’d never seen it before. It was tanned and muscular, rising and falling as he breathed. Ahsoka had imagined it many times over, but it still wasn’t what she expected. He had several scars and physical evidence of being one of the Republic’s best soldiers. The discoloration and mangled skin clawed at her heart, but it also made her love him that much more. He wouldn’t be Rex without them.

Rex seemed to feel her gaze and carefully glanced behind him before he decided it was safe to face her. Sighing, he expressed his concern, “You’re going to catch something if you don’t hurry up and change.”

Anxiously, Ahsoka toyed with the hem of her battle dress, squeezing a bit of water from the fabric with her fingers. Rex’s blacks were slung across his hips in a way that made her lose her breath and she fought not to shift her gaze downwards. He’d removed nearly all of his armor and his body glove was just as wet as her clothes were. He was completely alluring, and strong, and just as scarred on his front as he was on his back. There was a large scar near his heart and her brow markings dipped, but she quickly caught herself and met his eyes again.

“I’m sorry,” she rushed, “I’m sorry for leaving.”

There was a thick silence between them. Rex was quick to reassure her, “You didn’t leave, Ahsoka. We chose to separate. It was the smartest course of action at the time. I’m putting myself more at risk with what I’m doing for my brothers. We were a danger to one another being so close,” he reasoned, crossing his arms.

It took a bantha’s strength for Ahsoka to keep her eyes at an appropriate level, but it didn’t go lost on her the way his muscles flexed with the action. “Just hear me out, Rex. I left. We’d grown so close — closer than we’d ever been during the war. I…” she took a step in his direction, “I struggled for such a long time. Force it’s been so many months now… and transmissions only do so much. Rex, I had something to work out with myself, with not being a Jedi, with letting them go all over again because now it’s really gone, with—”

“‘Soka,” Rex interjected, reaching a hand out to take hold of her arm. His fingers curled gently around her bicep and he took a step forward, minimizing the distance that still separated them. “Just say it already,” he encouraged, the half smile that she adored tugging at one corner of his mouth.

It took more bravery than she’d been prepared for, but Ahsoka no longer felt the frenzy of nerves in her body. She took him in, all of him — his warm eyes, the faint line in his cheek from his crooked smile, the slight pink tint in his lips, the healing scar on the right side of his head. Ahsoka reached out and placed a hand to the center of his midriff. Rex’s muscles flinched under her hand and he looked down before back to her. Instead of removing her hand, like she anticipated, he covered it with his own and pressed, splaying her fingers.

A shaky hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer, leaning inward as well. The soft skin of his lips ghosted over her left montral, pulling a gasp from her.

“It’s just me, ‘Soka. You can say it,” he whispered, his voice melting into the skin of her montral.

His words left her breathless and she took full advantage of their proximity, shooting her hands around his neck and pulling him down to her. She met his eyes briefly before pressing her lips against his in a graceless manner. Rex cradled her cheek in his hand, his fingertips grazing her lekku and causing her shudder. The sudden action caused her lips to part in a whimper and the lips of her Captain fit perfectly in between. Their mouths moved awkwardly at first before they fell in sync. Ahsoka found herself backing into the wall behind her and they both let out breathy laughs as she nearly tripped over the mess of beskar she’d made.

“Stay here with me tonight,” she rasped in between kisses, unable to satisfy her need for the taste of him. “We can leave before sunrise, but I want you with me tonight.”

Rex’s mouth moved against hers and then shifted into a toothy grin, “That’s the plan.”

The thud of their combined heartbeat sent electricity through Ahsoka’s veins as she momentarily pulled away, catching her breath. The desire between them was irrefutable… finally tangible. Ahsoka’s hands drifted downwards over Rex’s hot skin, grazing the waistband of his blacks when comms chatter echoed throughout the room. She froze and her grip on Rex’s hips tightened. He hissed and bit his lip, a vulnerability still lingering in his eyes. He’d heard it too.

The distinct sound of Imperial troops could be heard outside of the abandoned establishment. Ahsoka held her breath and started to peek out from behind the dressing room curtain, when the minimal light that trickled into the store suddenly disappeared. She pressed her mouth into a thin line. Their pursuers were outside, thankfully not by the door, but rather by the windows that had been boarded up.

Rex’s hands settled on either side of her head, pressing hard into the wall and acting as her shield. His eyes flicked downwards in search of his pistols and he caught sight of where Ahsoka’s hands still rested on his hips, causing his mouth to go dry. Looking past her fingers, Rex found where his blasters lay next to his stacked armor. He needed to get Ahsoka’s attention, but her gaze was fixed on their unwelcome guests outside.

Rex pressed his hips forward a few inches, putting him almost flush with Ahsoka and causing her hands to move and a pitchy gasp to escape her throat. Her worried blue irises finally met his.

With a tilt of the head, he indicated to where his blasters were behind him.

Ahsoka understood immediately. Her grip on him loosened and, with both hands, she used the Force to gently lift them. The act was effortless as the weapons floated to either side of Rex. He carefully removed his hands from the wall and grabbed the grips of each. Ahsoka could hear her heartbeat in her montrals, it was high from the possibility of being found, but higher from what she and Rex had just been engaged in.

Her Captain swallowed and set his jaw, hardly dressed but in his battle-ready stance despite the fact. His neck was taut and his eyes narrowed, feet apart... She took a selfish moment to soak him in, memorizing it all — the clothes on the floor, his natural protectiveness of her, the reality of what they’d been about to do if troops hadn’t passed by outside.

The shadows of their pursuers still covered her face, even the smallest of their movements reflecting on her skin. Ahsoka lowered her head, her body tensed, and her fingers curled into fists, ready to retaliate.

But the attack never came. The comms chatter died along with the footsteps and the street lights shone through the boards again. Ahsoka eased up before Rex did, releasing the suffocating breath she’d been holding. She leaned further into the wall and let her head fall back. Rex pushed the curtain aside and crept near the windows, making sure they’d all left. The same was done by the door.

“They’re gone,” he said, returning inside their small dressing room.

“That was close,” Ahsoka replied, placing a hand over her chest, “Can you imagine if we had been…” She stopped herself before she could finish asking the question. He’s already imagined it.

Rex set his twin blasters back down and sighed, “Yeah. That would not have been good.”

Ahsoka pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth. He’d just acknowledged what they’d been about to do. It wasn’t just her imagination. It had been reciprocated. They evaded each other’s eyes, looking at the floor rather than breaching the topic of the situation they now found themselves wrapped up in.

“‘Soka,” Rex rasped, repeating the nickname that made her weak in the knees. An ungloved hand reached out to cup her shoulder. His lips were still swollen from their kiss. She didn’t let her gaze linger there long, and instead prepared for the inevitable mention of an unfortunate lapse in judgment. Rex’s hand retracted and he took a step back, “We should probably get dressed.”

Her heart dropped, “Yeah. Good call.” She backed away as well and squared her shoulders, determined not to show him her disappointment. If he viewed it as a mistake, then she couldn’t argue against that. Ahsoka turned around and waited for the sound of Rex to do the same before reaching for the tab at the nape of her neck. She pulled down, focusing on the sounds of her own clothes rather than the sound of Rex’s blacks hitting the floor.

Curiosity got the better of her and she carefully lifted her eyes to the mirror, shielding the full view of Rex with her lashes. His thighs were tan and impossibly toned and his… Her still breathless Captain discreetly adjusted himself. A blush settled into her cheeks from the action and her stomach flipped as he pulled on the pants she picked out for him. Ahsoka averted her eyes just as quickly as she’d lifted them and inhaled deeply.

Her wet clothes were discarded with a bit of struggle and then she rejoiced in the feel of dry undergarments. The shirt she’d picked out was soft, and the jumpsuit was snug on top. It was almost as comfortable as the one she’d had a few months back. She then began fitting her rear lek into the headdress she’d found when Rex began to grunt in frustration.

Ahsoka stopped what she was doing and listened. He was having an issue with one of the pieces. “Need some assistance back there?” she chanced.

The rustle of fabric suddenly ceased. “If you don’t mind. What you’ve picked out is almost as difficult as decoding Seppie encrypted data.”

At that, Ahsoka turned around. Rex had the pants and the shirt on, but was holding the vest at an awkward angle. She stifled a giggle and moved to help him. He sighed and offered the fabric up to her, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“For starters, you have it inside out,” Ahsoka observed, allowing her amusement to peek through. She turned it back right side in and began fooling with it until it opened correctly. She then held it up to where Rex could clearly see the arm holes. He pulled on and rolled his shoulders, making sure it was the correct size. Still, something didn’t look right. He craned his neck to look for the utility belt when Ahsoka finally pinpointed it. “Rex,” she said, “It’s your collar.”

His brows furrowed and he tugged at the vest again, unable to decipher her meaning. Ahsoka shook her head and stepped closer, lifting her hands, “Here. Let me.”She pulled the vest away from his neck to access the shirt underneath. The collar was flipped, tucked uncomfortably inside.

Rex swallowed and became very still. He watched her face as slender, orange fingers dipped inside the neck of his shirt and made contact with his skin again. Ahsoka pulled it free and began adjusting it, pulling the uneven lengths to sit the correct way and nesting them inside the collar of his vest. His heartbeat was erratic and she was just as close as she’d been earlier. He felt her hands begin to slip away and seized the chance while he still had it. Rex gently wrapped his hand around her forearm, keeping her where she was and then stroked the soft skin with his thumb.

“Rex,” Ahsoka spoke his name, her voice smaller than it had been just moments ago.

He looked up from his hand was to face her, unable to stop himself from whispering, “Mesh’la.”

“What?” she asked, her brow markings dipping.

“It means…” he started, “It means that you look… good.”

Ahsoka felt her lekku darken, convinced there was a truer meaning to the word. She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to say something, anything, but Rex bent down to reach for his belt. Turning to the mirror, he put it on, adjusting it to his waist size. He turned and made sure everything was situated correctly, tugging and pulling on what he wanted to fix. Ahsoka stood beside him, observing them both in the small mirror.

“I like it, actually,” he decided, messing with his collar once more. “I don’t mind this at all. May not be blue, but looks decent,” he teased, shooting her a wink.

Her stomach flipped again and she crossed her arms, “Yeah, I hate to pat myself on the back, but I think I did alright. I…” Ahsoka trailed, not finishing her thought. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him in the dressing room, the image of them together in civvies, and the sting of what they’d done still vibrating on her lips, caused Ahsoka to see them for what they were. They weren’t anything that they’d ever been before. She saw a retired soldier, a civilian of the galaxy, a man, a friend. Rex. He was every star in her galaxy. He was no longer her Captain, no longer a part of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was who he wanted to be now, as was she. She wasn’t a soldier, a Jedi, or even his Commander anymore.

For the first time, she could clearly see who they were without their armor, and she was still in love with him all the same.

He had been looking in the mirror as well, only now, she noticed that he was turned towards her. Ahsoka tore her longing gaze from their reflections and found his comforting eyes. “You what?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.

“Am unconditionally in love with you it seems,” she whispered, her bottom lip quivering.

Rex smiled that half-smile she adored and gave a breathy laugh, “Is it the new outfit? I can always take it off.”

Ahsoka rolled her eyes and leaned in closer, “I’d love you even in that gray tragedy of an outfit you had first.”

“I’ve loved you from afar for too long now,” he revealed, leaning in to kiss her when his comlink began going off. His jaw tightened and he pulled it out of the pocket on his belt, pressing the button. “This is Rex. Who do I have?”

The voice was that of a frantic clone on the other end. He sounded out of breath, “Captain Rex? My name is Slip. Another trooper gave me your frequency. I’m gonna need a pick-up as soon as you’re able. Things are getting covered up over here, men are disappearing.”

“Where’s ‘here’, Slip?” Rex questioned.

“You’re not gonna like it, Captain. I’m on Coruscant.”

Silence filled the small room for a beat before Rex responded, “I’ll be there in one rotation trooper. Hang tight, I’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you. Thank you, Captain!”

The comm light went dark and Rex held the device loosely in his fist, looking at her apologetically. She already knew what that look meant. He sighed, “Not that I want to delay this any further, because believe me, I don’t. I’ve been dreaming of this moment, but is it possible for us to postpone it until after I get back?”

Rex’s eyes were turned down in defeat, his heart yearning for her but unable to resist his brother’s cry for help. Duty came first.

“You’ll know where to find me,” she smiled, placing a gentle hand to his face before stepping out from the curtain and back into the main portion of the store.

They managed to find a few more items in the mess. Rex was neatly packing away his armor into a bag and fitting each piece snugly into one another while Ahsoka pulled on a pair of boots. Rex had just fastened a single holster to his belt when she looked up. “Won’t you need a double? I’m pretty sure I just saw one somewhere around here.”

He merely shook his head and placed one of his pistols into the accessory, picking up the other and offering it up for her to take.

“Rex—”

“I want you to take it and use it for target practice. I’ll be wanting to see how your skills have improved once I arrive on the Tantive. This shouldn’t take more than a few rotations. We… have some unfinished business to tend to, that I’d very much like to resume as soon as possible,” he said, a pink flush creeping up his neck and ears.

She accepted the blaster and placed it into her own holster, giving him a soft smile.

He moved to grab his bag before stopping to add, “And I do want that back, you know.”

“Yes, Captain,” she playfully saluted.

Rex slung his bag over his back and together, they removed the crates from the door and emerged from the abandoned shop. The sky was lighter now, but not quite sunrise, and the rain had finally let up. She and Rex walked in silence back through the city and past its borders until their ships came into view. They were exactly how they’d left them the day before, just a little bit cleaner.

Ahsoka cleared her throat, “You remember how to get to the Martez’s garage, right?”

“I do,” he confirmed, placing his packed armor into the lower compartment of his Y-wing and turning back to her, “Be careful heading back.”

She shook her head and playfully rolled her eyes, “Just come here.”

Rex strode to her and enveloped her into a hug — one tight enough to lift her a few inches from the ground. He cradled her rear lek and placed a chaste kiss to her forehead. They stood that way for several moments, relaxed in each other's arms, encased in comfort and the promise of seeing one another again in a few day’s time. Neither one of them was rushing to let go, but the embrace still ended all too soon.

“Alright. Go,” Ahsoka whispered, “Hurry back. I’ll be holding you to that rain check.”

Rex laughed as they strode towards their ships, “Yes ma’am.”

#rexsoka monthly #march 2023: i do want that back you know #rexsoka #rexsoka fic #who we are without our armor #ahsokathegray

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