#CEO of giving to much credit where its not due

[amaribelt]

malleus draconia and the pipe organ and why i love it

so. this is going to be a long post and thats because i have to basically tell you the entire history of the pipe organ and how this relates to malleus 'very scary' draconia. i am extreamly sorry but their will be a summary at the end if you just dont care but it would mean alot if you listen to this ramble of mine

CW: lots of mentions of religion churches and cathedrals one cult mention and some book 7 spoilers

-PART ONE TOCCATA AND FUGE IN D MINOR

Pipe organs are everywhere, from weddings and baseball games but one of the most common places to hear an organ is horror movie scoring, from youtube videos of creepy organ music to its first use in a movie doctor jeckle and mr hyde and other arrangements in things like phantom of the opera pipe organs have almost become one with fear dread and horror witch is quite odd with its religious connotations that we will get to in a second.

the pipe organ originated from greece its earliest predecessors are from the 3RD CENTURY BC, these things are quite quite old and required a lot of man power to play before technology. a pipe organ is a piano on steroids it has a bunch of connecting pipes and all of these pipes have different stuff in them to give it a variation of sound sometimes their are reeds like in woodwind instruments and sometimes their are those cut outs from things on recorders. whenever an organist plays a key wind goes through the pipes to make a sound, back in the day air was supplied though enslaved people but now we have electric moters attached to our pipe organs but because of how big pipe organs are it would take many people to get all the air needed to play these things, the Winchester cathedral organ took 2 people to play it and 70 men to blow air into it and the sound from said organ can be heard from throughout the city.

pipe organs are not small and dainty these are MASSIVE instruments that construction has to bend around to make space for all of the organs equipment their are rooms whose sole purpious is for the function and upkeep, organs are an absolute monster of an instrument not only in volume but in the sound they make some of these tones cant be picked up by *human ears* the atlantic city convention hall has a pipe that is 64 feet (19.5072 meters) and that is FOUR AND A HALF STORIES TALL.

-PART 2 BACH, CHURCHES AND HOW ORGANS WORK

not only are these things massive their are petals on the bottom that organists have to PLAY their is music solely for the foot keys their are 3 rows of manuals (keys) and stops (things you pull out to control a selection of pipes and thats where 'pulling out all the stops' came from you are going to 100 percent) and so their is a lot of skill that goes into playing an organ. so unless your like an octopus and have 8 arms or your just insane (just kidding i love you organists) playing the organ was hard

NOW THIS IS WHERE BACH COMES IN, basically one day bach watches into a church with their organ takes a prewritten melody and improvise an 8 part harmony so for non music nerds he went up to an organ started playing the pre written music and off the TOP OF HIS HEAD created 7 other melodies that he had to play with both his HANDS AND FEET. and you wanna know why this is so damn cool, it was almost impossible for organists to practice as theirs nothing that sounds quite like an organ and pianos werent invented yet so if you wanted to practice your organ playing then you were going to need a team of people just to get the air to play and then your scales are going to be heard by everyone in the town. so anyone who could play the organ were hyper privlaged music genius types, because no one would hear them practice on an organ let alone a harpsichord they just show up one day and start playing. thats the kind of person an organist is

those glorified harmonicas that were portable organs werent what people were playing on they would be playing on the organs that were so big they had to be built around by architechs, this is where the church comes in. the fact that you couldnt move them made them great for churches cathedrals and religious establishments and because of how big these were churches were the only ones with the money to fund these organs. theirs a phycology behind it too because these instruments are so big so powerful that the only person that could fulle these endeavors are god himself. so if you could play the organ you were some loner freak of nature who is one of the only people who could handle this machine

-PART 3 JECKLE HYDE AND JESUS

sooo way back at the top i mentioned its first use in jeckle and hyde were picking up that thread again because this is where this comes into play, so in the opening credits of the movie they played toccata and fuege in D minor. (the song i linked in the very top) but following that we get a scene of jeckle playing another peice by Bach  Ich ruf zu dir Herr Jesu Christ (i call to you lord jesus christ) Herr Jesu Christ is originally in F minor but they transposed it to be in the same key as tocatta and feuge they did this not only to show they put thought and care into how these two peices would sound back to back on screen but they did it as musical shorthand

they are using a religious peice of music and instrument to show what kind of character this is, these are gigantic powerful pieces of instruments with heavy religious connotations, i swear we are getting malleus i just need to keep explaining a little more just keep this all in your mind and compare it to what we know about malleus and what other people VIEW the being that is malleus draconia. 3 years after the film jeckle and hyde we get toccata and fuege in another horror movie the black cat, this time played on an actual organ this movie follows a cult leader who plays an organ notably the track that is now associated with villainous characters due to its use in jeckle and hyde. throughout the black cat we hear other organ pieces throughout the film we are no longer looking at religious organ music in the pure and fluffy way it was originally used in churches now we are hearing a sick and twisted use of the organ being used to celebrate satanic cults all of the religious imagery has been corrupted it has had a quite literal fall from grace.

in carnival of souls our main character is in a sort of purgatory and throughout the film she plays guess what an organ for the church. over time shes not able to keep up with the holy and religious music the church expects her to play as her playing goes into something erie and haunting that upsets the minister, as she looses her connection to the living world she cant play the religious music on the organ and thats haunting to the people around her. it isnt the organ thats scary but whos playing it. this man has channeled the power of god in the power of his own home to play this holy instrument and because of the nature of the organ organists have to spend lots of time alone and praticing multiples times a week so they dont sound awful think of this with a religious background all of the power of a god but not pure intentions

-PART 4 MALLEUS DRACONIA

ohh boy we finally made it to malleus draconia this essay of a tumblr post is quite latterly lagging down my laptop but i have a LOT to say. i feel like a lot of people misinterpret malleus as a character due to the fact that hes been a shadow looming over us in the main story although its implied that the character Yuu knows malleus on a much deeper and its implied they spend lots of time together its important to know that we as the audience and the reader dont get to see that, we are purposely being withheld information about him and that adds to the ominous aura he gives off to not only students in NRC but also us as the viewer, we *know* theirs a different side to malleus that we can see in vignettes but thats only a sneak piece into the multilayered cake that is malleus draconia.

somewhere it was revealed that malleus' threateneing aura was a blessing and i dont remember where i saw it but i swear i saw it on a chapter 7 translation so if anyone knows what im talking about please let me know, because of this he has been 'cursed' to be feared by all humans and respected by all fae to the point they treat him and anyone in the draconia family as a GOD. (see heres that religious mention again) i don't want to say malleus has a god or superiority complex but the people around him certainly do see him as superior due to his family heritage and the fact that hes one of the top 5 mages at such a 'young' age (for fae standards) and due to his magical status and what his family has done for the biar valley other are not only put off by him he has that intimidating aura curse thing that makes other people who arent fae put off and avoid him. something that was ment as a blessing has only caused more sorrow for malleus as people isolate him, he has so few opprotunities to have a social life.

its heavily implied (i swear it said it somewhere im just tierd its 11:55 at night as of writing) that music is an important part of fae culture, lilia has a tallent for multiple instuments and can supposedly sooth crying infants. malleus' humming is overlayed durring his spell when he overblots and in lilias dream we hear his mom singing so its all heavily implied that music is important to fae in twisted wonderland just like it is in our real life folklore.

we see malleus play the organ at the end of the endless halloween event and although theirs one line that suggest that malleus has a bit of trouble not everyone is able to improv on an organ like bach did, we still see him play in the twistune although we dont hear it but its implied that malleus can play the organ(we hear like one bit of the opening but we dont hear it during the song but the like 3 seconds are good so)

it makes perfect sense for malleus to play the organ its an instrument that requires alot of isolation and dedication to master lest you have the whole city know you cant play, the godfearing loyalty of fae in the briar valley who treat the draconia family like gods and the humans so afraid of them they avoid them like the plague. the religious connotations of the organ with the twisting of that religious imagery all line up so well with malleus draconia as a character. the twisting of a once holy instrument into something horrid and demonic just fits with malleus so well i wish it was all intentional but i know im giving too much credit where its not due as this is just the unhindged hyper fixated ramblings of a teenager.

-TLDR </333

the pipe organ has lot of religious connotations and has often flipped those one its head to give a spookey vibe in horror movies witch is why pipe organs have become a holy wood go to for a evil character. these instruments are so expensive and require to much work to put into them characters associated are offten high class and loners preferring to keep to themselves, sometimes their is a religious aspect to the character and that correlates with their playing of the organ. malleus draconia is viewed by many as a god has a terrifying aura to him and is prown to isolation by his peers.

giving the twst devs to much credit is the name of my game as i see too much symbolism in things where theirs not

thank you for reading especially if you read all of it i love you alot<333333333333333333333333333333333333333

[reel-fear]

Genuinely so curious who Mike thinks is gonna be buying The Cage or the new DCTL GN bc with the way he tweets as far as he's concerned, it's not gonna be:

The queer people he has actively admitted he will never show any representation of in the games.

2. The POC he has actively fought against representing in his franchise. [Who he also mocked for thinking they would be represented in his franchise]

3. The Bendy fandom which has always been concerned with topics of diversity esp in the sense of queer people since its creation. Who he has responded to really poorly esp in regards to the GN.

4. The fans who critique him. [He blocked me for doing so lol]

5. His fans in general who he tweets about like this currently. [He's being vague about why people were mad at him or sent him 'nasty messages' because if you actually looked into why you'd see he was in the wrong. Either way, a very hateful way to speak abt ur own fanbase.]

Reminder while Mike is trash talking his fans he has always treated them rather poorly. The fans who won the fanart contest for Chapter 5 never got their posters actually in game due to it being rushed. Not only was chapter 5 a big slap to the face story wise, but it was literally so rushed he couldn't be bothered to add in the art his fans gave him for his game FOR FREE. [Meatly blames this on a crazy timeline, reminder him and Mike are the literal ceos of this company. The proposal of future updates here is also pretty cruel considering Mike nowadays happily admits he corrupted Chapter 5's source code and therefore literally can't update it At All currently. Because he is a moron]

At least they got to be in Boris and the dark survival, and by that I mean that was the Only game they got to be in so far, isn't that just treating your fans like you love them? Shoving their hard work into a spin off game almost nobody has played or addresses much. [Hell, who knows if with the Lone Wolf rebrand they'll even stay there. In which case they'll be in None of the games, only in the credits of BATIM]

6. The Bendy fans who just generally disagree with him on stuff. Like the new ink demon design where there is literally a public poll showing people generally prefer the old one.

7. The Bendy fans who can see he is actively lying to them. To their fucking faces.

He says this has always been the case, but screenshots and links to tweets regarding the books being canon prove it was not. Does he really think bendy fans are stupid or something? [Unless he's admitting here he lied to Kress when he told her the books were canon which sounds worse!]

8. Anyone who doesn't like the idea of giving money to a guy who laid off tons of employees then afterwards thought it was a great idea to express his anti-union views! Also brag about how good of an employer he was, according to his employees, he was not!

So in summary; Mike is an awful person who has not learned anything from the awful things he did. I will not be purchasing The Cage because, combined with this and his absolute refusal to take any kind of critique or see any differing interpretation of his franchise, I have no reason to think my problems with the franchise will ever be addressed or fixed. I probably will pirate The Cage along with any future Bendy Products [Including the movie] and will do my best to avoid giving it any kind of monetary support. Unless this changes any time soon, I can't see myself making anymore positive Bendy posts soon.

Mike has just managed to make it so hard to speak positively or optimistically of this franchise when he's so willing to broadcast how little he cares about it or its fans. I'm at the point where I refuse to pull any of my punches with my problems with it. What's the point of trying to play nice with my critique when either way the people creating it don't care?

So with this post, I want to invite anyone who feels similarly about the franchise to tell me, make a post or send an ask talking about how all of this makes you feel. It may not change how things are, but genuinely seeing other people share my feelings of anger makes me feel better. It feels nice to see when other people share our same concerns and worries. I'd also love to know if anyone else thinks they'll be avoiding purchasing Bendy products over this.

I'm not forcing anyone to participate in it nor trying to say anyone who doesn't supports mike but genuinely maybe if we can collectively decide to boycott things like the movie, graphic novel and The Cage... It might at least make the bendy devs acknowledge how much they have destroyed their own fandom's faith and trust in them.

The way Mike tweets about his actions like he had no control over why people were mad at him at least proves to me he takes NONE of it back nor regrets it. If you didn't know about his actions and only went off his tweets, you would be led to believe Mike has been needlessly picked apart by fans over things he couldn't control [or in his own words, had his words twisted and taken out of context]. That is not how you speak about your actions if you have actually learned better from them.

anyway, that has been my bendy dev callout post. This is an open invitation to anyone feeling similarly upset about the way the franchise is going to talk about it. It's genuinely nice to see how people feel about this and the more we talk about the more it's likely the bendy devs are forced to address our concerns. I don't think they will but hey, that's why I'm not gonna support them with my money anymore nor am I gonna be nice to them in any content I make critiquing Bendy. I mean I'm also basically making this post just in case anyone asks me Why I feel this way towards to bendy devs/as a way to respond to anyone who thinks I am too harsh in my critique in the future.

As always, it seems the best part of Bendy isn't actually anything about canon but about what the fan's are creating with the ideas Bendy failed to do anything interesting with.

Also the books, the books slap.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011)

The only thing preventing Atlas Shrugged: Part I from receiving the lower rating it deserves is its audacity. The first two-thirds are impenetrable and boring. The last third clobbers you with so many bewildering developments that when the credits tell you this is only Part I, you want to see what’s coming next. It's hard to believe even a dedicated Ayn Rand fan would like this film, though if they’re as nutty as this movie makes me think they are, they’d probably drop on their knees and worship anything tangentially related to her.

Set in 2016 (5 years after this film was released), gasoline costs $37 a gallon. Railroads are the only economic form of transportation but even they are in rough shape. Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling), Vice-President of Taggart Transcontinental railroad, defies her brother, James (Matthew Marsden), the CEO of Taggart Transcontinental, and begins replacing steel rails with Rearden Metal. Named after its inventor, Hank Rearden (Grant Bowler), this new metal is 10 times lighter than steel, but far stronger. Unfortunately, politicians, lobbyists and other industry leaders scheme against Dagny and Taggart; laws are passed forcing them to break up their companies and limit the production of Rearden Metal. The State Science Institute releases a report implying Rearden Metal is dangerous. Despite these obstacles, Hank and Dagny carry on. Meanwhile, talented and hard-working employees are quitting their jobs before disappearing entirely. All of these mysterious disappearances point towards the enigmatic John Galt.

I don’t know much about Ayn Rand or her philosophies. We're only judging this film on its own merit. Unfortunately for Atlas Shrugged, its psychopathic and delusional beliefs are obvious. This film is a contrived roundabout fantasy what-if scenario whose thinly veiled goal is demented. Atlas Shrugged has no idea how crazy it sounds - or perhaps writer John Aglialoro and Brian Patrick O’Toole, along with director Paul Johansson really believe what they’re selling. Everyone is conspiring against Dagny and Rearden. Why? The public is told Rearden Metal is dangerous. How? It doesn’t matter. The point is, people think it’s bad. Railroad workers don’t want to drive on it, everyone expects the bridge made from the adamantium-like substance to crumble. People are scared but our protagonists don’t take the time to dissuade their fears. Instead, they plow forward, cursing those union workers for trying to stand in their way.

Our protagonists hear about a factory whose management tried paying all their staff the same wage. They can’t understand why anyone would even try because all they care about is making money. Rearden admits it, he says “All I care about is making money”. This is our hero. He lives in a world of cartoon characters. His frigid wife hates him and his metal. She practically looks at the Rearden Metal bracelet he gives her as if it was made of tinfoil and dog turds and gets rid of it while he watches. You know it’s so Dagny and Rearden can “fall in love” - or whatever these two reptiles would call love - but you so don’t care. It’s hard to care about anything because the setup is so artificial. It creates this bizarro-world scenario where someone being able to make all the money in the world is a good thing, where someone having a monopoly is desirable, where fairness and competition are the worst things that could happen.

You can tell the people in charge of Atlas Shrugged were so busy padding themselves on the back for "telling the truth" they didn’t stop and think. We can buy that railroads are the only viable means of transportation due to fuel shortages, but the source material clearly took place like 80 years ago. Transporting it to the present day when we have the internet, television, cell phones and solar & nuclear power raises dozens of questions. When Dagny and Rearden leave their office, the streets are littered with “Going out of Business” signs and vandalized cars. People can’t afford anything anymore. Well, “normal” people can’t. These two fat cats are driving all over the country, looking for a mysterious engineer (whose identity you can easily decipher) as if gas doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Their road trip could've been done over the phone. Even in 2011, audiences must have thought “Couldn’t they prove Rearden Metal is good with TV specials and viral marketing strategies, or a demonstration?”

Over and over, the movie has to contort itself to make this world work. To its credit, it ALMOST does. You don’t understand why Rearden and Dagny are constantly being thwarted so you hate the same people and things they hate. There are split seconds where you actually sympathize with them, which means a lot considering how loathsome their ideals are outside of this very specific scenario.

I wish I could say that Atlas Shrugged: Part I was a fascinating mess but it isn’t even that. So much of it is political wheeling and dealing, a slow burn towards a “romance” you don’t care about or a quest to solve a mystery you could unravel in your sleep you will be bored for most of the picture. It does pick up towards the end, at the point in the story where any other film would wrap up, but this one just starts becoming interesting. That upward climb does make me curious to see what the next part will be like but that’s just me. I doubt anyone reading this would care. (On DVD, March 31, 2023)

[talksthesuccess]

EPIC WAR DUNE: PART TWO

In 2024, Dune: Part Two, a science fiction epic, directed by Denis Villeneuve and co-written with Jon Spaihts, is the sequel to Dune (2021).

This adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel continues the story of Paul Atreides battling House Harkonnen on the desert planet Arrakis, aided by the Fremen. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and numerous actors who appeared in the first film are part of the cast.

In 2016, Legendary Entertainment acquired film and television rights for the Dune franchise, after obtaining the rights the film finally started to develop.

Villeneuve signed on as director in 2017, to make a two-part adaptation of the novel due to its complexity. After the first movie’s huge critical and financial success, Legendary gave Dune: Part Two the go-ahead in October 2021.

Previously, it was going to be released in November 2023 due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, the film premiered at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, on February 6, 2024, and was made available for purchase on March 1 in the US.

It earned captious praise, is considered one of the greatest science fiction, and has grossed over $711 million worldwide. By surpassing its predecessor the film has become the second-highest-grossing film of 2024 and also the highest-grossing film in Villeneuve’s career.

PRODUCTION

The production of Dune: Part Two was handled by many producers:- Villeneuve, Mary Parent, and Cale Boyter, with Tanya Lapointe, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Thomas Tull, Jon Spaihts, Richard P. Rubinstein, John Harrison, and Herbert  W. Gain signed on as executive producers and Kevin J. Anderson as creative consultant.

There was a plan to make a sequel made by Legendary CEO Joshua Grode.

Dune: Part Two, was officially approved by Legendary on October 26, 2021. Villeneuve and his wife Lapointe began pre-production work.

The key point of the discussion which happened before the agreement of the sequel was to ensure the sequel would have an unshared or exclusive window where it would only be shown theatrically. Legendary and Warner Bros. agreed to give a 45-day window before it would be shown through other channels.

WRITING

The creator of Game of Thrones, David Peterson, started working with the team in April 2019 to design the languages for the movie.

The plot for this movie was written as soon as Dune was released and Dune: Part Two was confirmed. This allowed for an early start to production after the picture was given the go-ahead.

Villeneuve called the movie the “second part” and declared that it would pick up right where the first left off. The first movie was more “contemplative,” he said, while the second will have more action. He portrayed this film as “an epic war film”.

CASTING

The film Dune: Part Two cast Pugh and Butler as stars in the film. Without holding an audition, Butler received the part offer and spent four months of training in Budapest. From May to July Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, and Souheila Yaccoub joined the cast as Shaddam IV, Lady Maegot Fenring, and Shishakli.

Tim Blake Nelson was brought on board in January 2023 in an unspecified capacity. Anya Taylor-Joy revealed that she had been cast in the movie when she went to the London premiere in February 2024.

Villeneuve commented that it took “so much work to keep that secret” and expressed amazement that her role had been kept under wraps for so long. Her part had been disclosed in a Letterbox casting credit list for the movie.

MUSIC

Hans Zimmer wrote the score for the first movie and came back to do it for this one. Zimmer had written more than ninety minutes of music before the movie’s announcement to support Villeneuve with his narrative.

WaterTower Music released the two singles “Harvester Attack” and “A Time of Quiet Between the Storms” on February 15, 2024. On February 23, the entire soundtrack CD became available.

RELEASE

Dune: Part Two was cleared to be released on October 20, 2023. But it was later postponed by over four months to March 15, 2024, due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.

Dune: Part Two was released in the IMAX 15-perforation 70 mm format to twelve sites globally, and in the conventional 5-perforation 70 mm format to 38 venues worldwide, following the success of Oppenheimer (2023) in the medium.

On February 6, 2024, the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City hosted the international premiere of Dune: Part Two. On February 15, an additional premiere took place at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square.

The movie was screened for a dying man on January 16, 2024, in a palliative care facility in Saguenay, Quebec, the home province of Denis Villeneuve.

Read More:- 

TOP 10 EXCELLENT SMARTPHONES GLOBALLY

[cbdmodernpuff]

Does CBD Help Discomfort Relief?

Kyle Wright was made use of to living in discomfort. The 31-year-old that lives in New York City consistently felt the effects of decades-old injuries from playing sports as well as bartending, and contended with the back as well as shoulder pains triggered by light scoliosis.

Then, at a street fair in Denver, where he utilized to live, a person provided him an example of CBD lotion, an item stated to include cannabidiol, one of the lots of chemicals found in the marijuana plant. (While medical and leisure cannabis have CBD, the component itself doesn't deliver the "high" that's attributed to a different chemical, THC.) Wright gave it a shot. "I was actually amazed at exactly how effective the lotion was," states Wright, that now runs a partnership mentoring organization with his partner. "About 15 mins later on, it seemed like the tension had actually evaporated with my skin."

Wright quickly started getting CBD cream and also utilizing it on his wrists, shoulders, back and also neck-- all locations that craved focus after long days tied to the computer. He remains to make use of a salve or cream regarding two times a week and also almost never ever makes use of Advil or advil, his former default remedies. "My joints really felt looser, my muscles felt relaxed and the discomfort is dramatically minimized," Wright says.

CBD Backlinks

Wright is much from the just one applauding the power of CBD to treat pain and other disorders in what's advertised as a non-addictive, side effect-free and also non-psychoactive method. The Brightfield Team, a marijuana marketing research firm, also predicts the industry will certainly get to $22 billion by 2022, thanks to people like Danielle Jenkins, a 29-year-old that operates in not-for-profit management in Telluride, Colorado, who claims a topical CBD product was "the only point" that aided particular leg muscular tissues in the upper leg after a hockey injury. Sissy Testa, a 31-year-old academic counselor in Chicago, likewise speaks highly of CBD to relieve both stress and anxiety and also its linked neck discomfort. Mitchell Roth, a movie producer in San Francisco, goes as far as to credit scores CBD for breaking his spouse's addiction to opioids, which she initially utilized to take care of discomfort related to endometriosis. She's currently off both materials.

Some physicians are on board, as well. Dr. Charlton Woodly, a podiatric doctor in Texas that has no monetary risk in CBD items, integrates CBD into clients' recovery from surgery, breaks and sprains. "I utilize it in my method due to the fact that, unlike pain medications, such as Tylenol, CBD does not cause kidney or liver concerns while giving the very same discomfort alleviation," he says. And Dr. Philip Blair, a family doctor that functions as medical supervisor of the CBD brand name Elixinol, states he's made use of CBD with over 2,000 individuals after the study as well as his experience persuaded him the substance, as a matter of fact, wasn't as well good to be true. Within minutes of providing a person CBD, he claims, "I see relaxation of their facial muscle mass, they end up being extra meaningful and spontaneous, their eyes grow and their shoulders loosen up. I listen to a deep sigh of relief."

However some scientists and clinicians warn versus prematurely jumping on the CBD bandwagon, which is getting participants and also momentum given that the passing away of the 2018 Ranch Expense, regulations that completely legislates hemp, a variety of the marijuana plant. But even that interest is illinformed, claims Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard medical professional and also CEO of InhaleMD, a Boston-area practice focusing on cannabis therapies. The costs, he claims, will help farmers as well as the economic situation given that it will stimulate the growth of brand-new products like fabrics. Yet, he includes, "that has absolutely nothing to do with medication." Right here's what else he as well as various other wellness specialists claim customers require to recognize:

1. CBD isn't entirely lawful.

CBD companies, some healthcare experts and also some news reports make blanket asserts that CBD is totally lawful in every state. Tishler says that's much from the fact.

CBD Backlinks

Until lately, the united state Medicine Enforcement Administration took into consideration all cannabinoids, consisting of CBD, a routine 1 medicine, which suggests it was as unlawful as heroin from the federal government's perspective. And also while CBD is no more a timetable 1 medicine, it stays unlawful until the united state Food and Drug Administration releases new policies and also firms remain in conformity, Tishler describes. The only kind of CBD that's lawful in the federal government's eyes is the prescription medication Epidiolex, which the FDA accepted in 2018 to deal with seizures associated with 2 unusual types of epilepsy-- as well as absolutely nothing else. (CBD might be legal, however, if obtained through a state medical marijuana program.) And also although hemp, which is managed by the united state Department of Farming, is legal so long as the THC web content is negligible, individuals that intend to make CBD by farming hemp need to have a license to do so via the federal government or, in some cases, their state, Tishler clarifies. Sadly, there's no good method to understand if your producer has actually gotten this, he claims.

Still, the federal government isn't implementing CBD's illegal status, and also some states like Colorado are actioning in to fill in regulative voids locally. Simply put, customers aren't likely going to obtain in lawful difficulty for buying or using CBD, however that's not the same as a green light.

2. The study on CBD for pain relief is appealing, however nascent.

Researchers understand that CBD works in treating unusual kinds of epilepsy, but they have not performed any kind of human researches exploring if as well as how it functions to handle discomfort. Nonetheless, animal researches use hints. A rodent research study in the European Journal of Discomfort, for one, showed that topical CBD assisted reduced arthritis-related pain as well as swelling. In a recent study released in the journal Pain, Dr. Gabriella Gobbi as well as colleagues suggested that low-dose CBD was effective at reducing discomfort and anxiety by disrupting a neurotransmitter linked to both. Blair, that worked as a Military battle physician in the first Gulf War, states there may be 150 mechanisms through which CBD works in the body.

But Tishler claims the strongest assistance for cannabis as well as pain relief includes THC, which might or might not be made use of along with CBD." [CBD] need to be better studied by physicians as well as scientists, and then go though the drug advancement stages and authorized by regulatory agencies before being marketed," claims Gobbi, a teacher in McGill College's neurobiological psychiatry unit.

3. Buying CBD can be high-risk.

Because CBD fails governing cracks, it's tough to absolutely understand how much CBD you're getting and also if you're getting it in any way, in addition to what you could be obtaining instead, like chemicals and also toxins. "It's a wild west marketplace," Blair claims. One research discovered that nearly 70 percent of all CBD items sold on-line consist of amounts of CBD that are either greater or lower than what was reported on the tag. And also, business utilize various CBD resources, removal methods and also manufacturing techniques. At least, CBD may be a waste of time and also money for some people.

CBD Guest Post

If you agree to take the risk, seek products that are American-made, organic, full-spectrum (suggesting it likewise consists of other possibly useful compounds located in hemp) and also don't include thinning or flavoring representatives, suggests National Discomfort Report, a wire service that covers chronic discomfort.

4. No substance is safe for every person.

CBD seems to be rather risk-free-- the most serious of reported adverse effects are reasonably benign concerns like exhaustion. There's additionally nothing to suggest it can be addicting, the Globe Wellness Organization reports. Yet health experts worry that CBD (if, of course, that's what you're obtaining) can interact with other medicines and supplements in a potentially hazardous means. And, Even if it originates from a plant does not imply it's harmless; regarding half of medications including those "poisonous" sufficient to be utilized for chemo originated from plants, Gobbi mentions. Talk with a doctor that's a professional in pain about the very best treatment option for you, she recommends, "and also bear in mind that CBD is a medicine with adverse effects."

[knjsnoona]

Restoration

genre: smut || slice of life pairing: jin x reader word Count: 10.1k rating: 18+ warnings: language, light dom!jin, explicit sexual descriptions, choking, fingering summary: Return to your childhood hone with your partner, Jin only to discover how much it’s changed. project: this part of the bcc summer games event~ it’s was for the image prompt which is the one under the name of the fic in the banner lol this was meant to be short, but then i included this whole first half smh credits: a HUGE thank you goes to my amazing beta reader @destructiveasparagus​ ! helped me find where my weaknesses lie and super incredibly helpful in how to learn from my mistakes! thank you so so much! i hope to improve with my future works!

It had been a long time since you’d been to your hometown, so long you barely recognized it as you drove in with your fiancé. Streets you once ran around on as a child—knowing each backstreet like the back of your hand—now seemed like the paths of a maze; roads that stirred distant memories of laughter and joy. 

Eyes catching new shops where your favorite childhood hangouts once stood, a dull ache laced with both nostalgia and discomfort begins to stir within you. It seems the town had decided to be more modern… more suburban you guessed. It kind of made you sad if you were honest with yourself. You were expecting to return to the home you once loved, and to be bathed in the memories of each corner, shop, and alley.

Becoming more frustrated with each new sight you didn’t recognize, you sink into your seat releasing a sigh. Crossing your arms loosely over your chest, you look down at your knees. Chewing the inside of your cheek, you pondered what your neighborhood would look like. You hoped against hope that at least that small corner of your memories wouldn’t be betrayed. 

“You okay?”

Catching your attention, you look to the side at your fiancé who had turned to look at you as he made a stop at a red light. His handsome features twisted into concern, which brought a small smile to your lips. Softly nodding, you try to assuage his worries.

“I’m fine, Seokjin. Just realizing how long it’s been since I was home is all,” melancholy weaving into your voice, gaze forlornly sweeping out the windows of the vehicle again. 

“Changed that much, huh?” eyes still on you, every so often shuffling to make sure the street light hadn’t changed yet. 

You nod, watching as a couple of teenage girls walk with some name brand iced coffees in their hands, eyes glued to their phones, as they giggled about something mundane. Feeling like a creep for staring, you shake your head and look back at the man by your side. “It’s definitely changed.... too much.”

God, you’d never identified with a boomer harder than you did at this very moment. Words of when I was kid at the tip of your tongue, wanting to rant about all the things you remembered as a kid and how it had been ruined now. You’d never regretted leaving home before, not until this moment. All of your treasured spots, destroyed by gentrification. How depressing. 

But then you look at what you had gained from your departure from home and you realize how silly you’re being. You had found tons of struggle out in the world on your own. Learned what it was like to truly live in a woman’s world; having to work twice as hard for half the pay of a man; earning the way you had to always be cautious and on the lookout for dangers that lurked around every corner when the sun went down; learned how to pick yourself back up and work harder, when you were passed up on a promotion in favor of the manager’s son. 

But you made it through every obstacle. You were a fighter, and never shied away from fighting to get what you wanted. To deal with the dangers of walking around at night, you took self defense classes. You quit the job that underpaid you. And when the manager at that other job finally offered you that promotion, you gave them your two weeks. You decided to take a position at a startup company that saw your worth, valued your opinions and took your ideas into consideration. A company where you were promoted and given more power to help it grow. It had grown into a multimillion-dollar business. Whose technology had been implemented in every hospital in the country. And the genius behind its creation and production sat by your side.

Kim Seokjin had been a godsend. You’d bumped into him one night at a bar after a particularly rough day of work. You had dropped into the seat beside him, not sparing a single glance his way as you ordered a beer. Shoulders slumping, you rubbed at your eyes in frustration pushing your tears back in. Noticing your distress, he reached out to you. He asked after your well being, taking you by surprise. Cautiously you spoke to him that night, only to be pleasantly surprised by his kind nature. While sharing the struggles of your days with each other, he brought up his start up and how he was looking to fill the position. Handing you a card before you both parted ways, he offered you a position without even knowing your qualifications. 

Long story short, you took the position, worked your way up and fell in love with the company's CEO. Of course, there were those that always felt the need to fill the office with unnecessary drama. Hushed whispers in the break rooms, and muttered words across the cubicles of how you had slept your way to the top. But you shrugged them all off, no water off a duck’s back right? Besides, how do you sleep your way to the top of a tiny startup? There was no top or bottom. The tomfoolery of the envious, honestly.

The car jerking into motion brings you back to the present. Blinking the memories of the past decade or so out of the way. Vision returning to your present day home town, suddenly not so bothered by the changes. Your home had grown up and adapted, just as you had. That thought alone brings a smile to your face. A hand slipping over your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze, making you completely beam as you take Jin's hand in your own ringed hand. Placing a soft kiss on the back of his hand, as you hold it tenderly in your lap, his quiet laugh filling the space in the car as you continued on your way.

Some ten minutes later, you pull up the front of your childhood home; warmth filling your chest as you notice how little it’s changed. Aside from a few cosmetic changes it was still the same. And there they were, all the memories rushing in at once. The feelings you had been anticipating finally hit you. Now you felt like you were truly home as you were surrounded by all the wonderful memories of your childhood. 

A gentle hand on your lower back brings you back, you smile up at Jin who stands by your side. A reassuring smile adorns his plush lips, as he rubs small circles on your back in a show of support and affection.

“You ready?”

Taking one large lung full of air, you hold it for a couple beats before deflating and nodding up at him. The steadying warmth of his hand on your lower back fills you with all the confidence you needed as you made your way up the stone patch. 

Worries of how your family would react to you being back niggling the back of your mind. You tried to keep in touch as much as you could but there were times it was almost impossible due to financial stability or work load. Damn, a small bit of guilt began to bloom in your chest. So you stand frozen, finger just a few inches from the doorbell. Maybe you should’ve called before showing up. 

Sensing your internal struggle, Jin wraps his arm around your shoulder, pulling you into his side. Plush lips press to the crown of your head leaving a quick kiss. “Everything’s going to be fine, babe,” he whispers into your hair. 

“How do you know? I mean- I’ve been gone so long… they have to be angry with me. What if they think I don't care?” you fret, teeth gnawing at the inside of your bottom lip, hands twisting into the hem of your shirt, wrinkling the smooth fabric in the anxiety. 

Chuckling softly, the arm around you turns you to face the tall male. Eyes roam your face, a warmth in them that always somehow seem to soothe your nerves. And sooth they did as you could feel your worries begin to ebb away. 

“Hey, none of that,” he chastises, as he presses his hand lightly to your jaw, thumb tugging your bottom lip down. “You’re going to chew yourself raw. And we don’t want that. I don’t want you hurting yourself.” He places a gentle kiss on your lips as if to soothe away any stinging there.

Your lips can’t help but spread into a smile at how he was being such a mother hen. He was always like this, not just with you but with his employees as well. It’s what made him such a good boss, and an even better partner. Lady luck was feeling extremely generous the day she led you to Jin in that quaint bar.

Returning your smile, he quickly places multiple kisses around your face—on your nose, your cheeks, and your forehead. Arms wrapping around your waist to hold you close, as you giggle at the onslaught of kisses he bestowed you with. The sound of his mirth joining yours, pulling back to hold your cheeks gently. Eyes looking into your own as he assures you, “Everything is going to be fine, so stop stressing for once. We’re here to relax okay?”

Sighing, you nod with a smile still perched on your face. “You’re the best, you know that?”

“Of course, I am. And the most handsome!” all the confidence in the world seeping out of his words, smugness painting over his pretty features. 

You scoff playfully, smacking his arm. “And yet you like claiming you’re humble,” shaking your head you turn back to the door and ring the doorbell without hesitation. 

“Well, I’m not bragging if it’s a fact,” comes his witty retort which has your eyes rolling. This was nothing new with him, the man knew he was good looking. I mean you’d have to be blind to not think so as well. But you know, can’t let his ego inflate too big. 

“I don’t know… I've seen better looking,” you shrug nonchalantly as you press the doorbell again, hoping someone was actually home. Yeah, you definitely should’ve called ahead. 

“What? Where? Who is he!? Wait, are you talking about that kid in marketing? What’s his name?” he instantly barrages you with a succession of questions, jealousy bleeding into his tone. “That pretty boy with the deep voice! You-”

He’s suddenly cut off by the jingling of a handle and the lock being turned, as the door swings open. Your mother stands before you, surprise marring her features. Features that remained the same after all these years, a few wrinkles showing her age joined the painting that was your mother’s face. You’d pictured—imagined—scenarios of seeing her again, of how it would go but the feelings you felt now were far more intense than anything your mind could conjure up. . 

You were sure the shock she wore was mirrored by you, as you stood there taking the other in. Your heart hammered away at your chest, pumping emotions into every vein throughout your body until it began to leak out of your eyes. As the first drop made it’s journey down your cheek, you stepped forward prompting your mother to mirror your actions, crashing into each other's arms. You didn’t realize you could miss someone so much and up until that point had been unaware that you had missed being held in the arms of your mother.

You could feel her tears seep through the shirt on your shoulder, happy greetings and words blubbered in excitement. Laughing you pull back enough to look at her, a watery smile greeting you. 

“I’ve missed you, Momma,” your voice trembling with the emotions overtaking you. 

“I’ve missed you too, sweet pea. I’m so happy to see you safe and healthy. I was worried you weren’t eating well this whole time. I know how you can get, you get too involved in what you’re working on and forget to eat,” your mother rambles on, word vomit just pouring out of her. All the words she hasn’t been able to share with you now fill the space between you. As a teenager you would’ve been annoyed, but now as a grown adult you were endeared by her light nagging. 

“She still does that,” Jin's voice catching both of your attention. “Not eat, I mean.”

You turn to him, a self-satisfied smile on his lips, and an incredulous look on yours. Wow, not even two minutes, and he was already selling you out to your mother. You shake your head at him, eyes trying to signal for him to stop. He simply chuckles back.

“Oh is that right?” Your mother gives you a look, before looking back at your handsome partner. “And who might this be?” Eyebrows raise in question to you. 

“Oh! I’m so sorry. Momma, this is my, um, fiancé, Kim Seokjin. Jin this is my mother,” you awkwardly introduce them. Biting the corner of your lip as you look at your mother out of the corner of your eye. 

She looks at you, surprised at your engaged status, which you hadn’t had the chance to bring up during the brief, rare calls home. You can see the message hidden in her eyes, we’ll talk about this later, before turning to Jin. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you. My, you’re a handsome one.”

You close your eyes and internally groan before turning to Jin pointing a cocky smile your way. He sure was annoying when he was proven right. Gloating prick.

He gives you a quick eyebrow wiggle before turning to smile at your mother. “You’re too kind, really,” acting embarrassed, as he rubs the back of his neck and bows in gratitude once more.

“Oh! And he’s modest!” your mothers cheers delightedly.

Wow, he pulled the fake modesty card. You shake your head at him as you quietly scoff, lips almost quirked in a smile, as he winks at you. He was something else. But he was your something else. He was worth it. Headaches, terrible jokes and all.

“So… is anyone else home?” you questioned, curious as to whether your father, or if any of your siblings, were around. You weren’t sure if they’d be as welcoming as your mother, but her warmth and acceptance of you returning gave you the confidence to continue forward. 

Your mother nods at you excitedly, wrapping an arm around yours and moving you towards the door. Jin follows behind amused as your mother explains how one of your aunts was visiting with her family, and how a couple of your siblings were in town. She went a mile a minute, spewing out even the latest family gossip—your father’s brother had cheated on his wife, your cousin had come out of the closet after being caught mid act (“What a scandalous event that was!”) and even how your mother’s eldest sister had beat breast cancer. 

You sighed happily as you let your mother lead the way, Jin flanking behind you. Man it felt good to be home.

“We got incredibly lucky,” you said loudly, as you placed a small pile of folded clothes in a drawer. Pacing back over to the suitcase on the bed, pulling out your underwear to place in the same drawer to one side. 

“What?” Jin called from the room over. 

“I said we got lucky!” you replied, voice louder than before.

“Lucky?”

“Yeah. We‘re lucky they didn’t charge a cancellation fee at the hotel.” 

Your mother, after making the rounds with the family, had insisted you stay in your old room. You were surprised that it had remained as you had left it. You were sure it would’ve been turned into a home gym by now, or a man cave for your brother that was still home. The fact that it was still intact, filled you with emotion. Your mother must have held out hope you’d come back, so when she insisted you agreed, unable to deny her request.

Of course there was the task of cancelling your hotel reservation, which everyone knows last minute cancellations come with some hefty cancellation fees. You felt bad as you had dialed the number on your cell, but Jin assured you it was fine and was worth it if you were happy. 

As Jin worked on unloading the luggage, you spoke with the concierge who upon looking up the reservation, gifted you with the surprise of not incurring a late fee. You had been surprised and tried to verify the cancellation policy to which the male on the other end confirmed there would be no charge and wished you a pleasant day. You returned the sentiment as you hung up and looked at your partner in mild stupor before relaying the information to which he raised his eyebrows and shrugged, bringing in the rest of your belongings. 

“You're still stuck on that?” he points out, humor ringing in his voice. 

“Well, isn’t it a bit surprising to you?” you huff, cheeks puffing a bit in a pout. 

“I guess…” he trails off momentarily. You could hear the gears turning before he returned with, “Maybe it’s because they saw who I was.”

“What? Why would that matter?” You had a feeling you knew where this was going, and could already feel your eyes preemptively rolling.

“Because, I’m the youngest, most handsome CEO in the nation.” A wheezing laugh following his words, almost sounding like windshield wipers.

Your eyes roll so hard, you see the back of your skull, and into an alternate universe. Why did you put up with him again? And as the sound of a door opening fills the space, you remember one of the reasons as he walks through the door. Towel wrapped loosely around his hips, muscles flexing as he rubbed his hair dry with another towel, he stood in all his glory. Your eyes chase drops of water running down his wet skin, swallowing hard where they disappear into the material knotted around his narrow hips. 

“Sweetheart, you’re making me blush with all the ogling,” he chuckles smugly. “I get it though.”

You snap out of your daze, eyes narrowing at his cocky face in annoyance. Shaking your head, you choose to ignore him—turning back to your bag, grabbing some of your toiletries to place on the dresser. Distracted by your task you don’t notice Jin walk up behind you, until you’re tugged back into his wet torso. 

“You know,” he mutters into your ear, “I haven’t forgotten that little quip from earlier.” One of his large hands slides up your body, finding its home wrapped around your jaw. He tilts your head back into his shoulder, his other arm wrapping around your waist to pull you further into his form. “You think that kid in the office is better looking than me.”

You take a few calming breaths, body becoming alert with excitement as Jin invades your space. Every word and touch begins to stir desire within you.

“I never said that. You assumed… you know what they say about when you assume,” you can’t help but gibe, lips tugging up in a smirk.

A growl rumbles through you as the grip on your jaw tightens slightly. “Don't be a smart ass… I’ve seen the way you look at him, when you think no one is aware. I’m not an idiot.” 

You chuckle, unable to help yourself. His jealous words turn you on more than they should. 

“I can’t help it if he’s pretty to look at,” you state complacently.

“Pretty?” he chuckles at your audacity, grip tightening slightly around your jaw. Swinging your jaw away from the direction of his face, the feel of his lips brushing the shell of your ear makes you shiver. “You do look at him. Tell me, do you fantasize about him?”

Your eyes shut, the warmth of his breath traveling through your trapped body; an aching starting to pulse between your thighs. Hands moving back to rest on his towel covered thighs to help maintain balance, but more importantly to assist in feeling grounded.

“You do, don't you…?” His nose nuzzles at your ear, lips pressing behind your ear. “Is that why you stare? Because you imagine what it would be like to have him inside you?” the arm wrapped around your waist loosens, hand traveling south to the apex of your thighs. 

You bite your lip, unable to answer his questions. His touch leaves trails of flames wherever they roam, burning any words from you. His words are simmering your blood. 

“Is your silence an admission?” he says with a slight edge to his voice. “You imagine him sliding into you? Taking you? As if you're his?” His grip on your jaw moves to your throat, fingers wrapping deliciously around the smooth muscle and flesh. 

“You’ll never be his,” he hisses. The hand between your thighs grips your core tightly, a whine escaping your lips at the slight pain and pleasure. “This,” grip tightening for emphasis, “is mine! Your cunt belongs to me. My cock will be the only one to ever claim it,” Jin growls into your ear, hips pressing his hard member into your ass. 

Fuck, that was enough to ruin your underwear. His words release the floodgates, slick escaping your lower lips to soak your panties. The growl rumbling against your back, and vibrating in your ear has your mind blanking for a moment, thighs clenching involuntarily around his wrist.

“Turned on by that?” he crows, self gratification filling every word. “Do you like hearing me claim you? The affirmation that no other man will ever ruin this pretty pussy like me?”

Your breath hitches, a strong pulse running through your body like seismic activity relaying that an eruption is imminent. With the way Jin is rutting into your back, hand gently petting your mound, it was only a matter of time before he had you bursting in ecstasy. 

His lips lightly trail up and down the shell of your ear, removing his hand from your throat to grip at your jaw and tilt your face up at him. Faces so close, your noses brush, breaths intermingling. He pulls back his head, looking down at you as the corner of his lip lifts in smirk just as he shoves his other hand under the band of your underwear. Long, warm fingers softly run over your lips, massaging gentle circles into them. 

Licking his luscious lips, he hisses when one his fingers swipes between your lips. “Fuck,” he groans, biting his thick lip. “You’re this wet from a few words... '' A finger swirling around your opening, spreading your juices. The digit slides up to your sensitive nub, giving it the same attention. Pressing down with a bit of pressure, rolling it around making you arch your back, eyes clenching. 

You feel Jin nudge your nose with his own, brushing his lips against yours. Eyes fluttering open, they meet his dark eyes, completely blow black from his arousal. Pink muscle slipping from his lips, sliding across yours teasingly while his hips slowly press against yours to get a bit of relief as your hands grip the towel resting over his flexing thighs. Your lips part, inviting his devilish tongue in, the prelude of you parting your legs for his length. 

Taking the invitation, Jin shoves his tongue into your awaiting mouth. The moist muscle wrestling with yours as you kiss each other desperately. Both of you beyond the point of slow and steady when he shoves two digits into your core, his mouth trapping the groan he rips out of you. With no patience, the digits set a steady pace as his palm presses into your clit. Your hips buck at the sudden onslaught of stimulation. Your lips crash against each other like waves, teeth clacking as you try to get closer. 

He pulls back from the kiss provoking a whine from you. His jaw clenches as his fingers fuck into your hole, scissoring your walls, preparing you for him. You press your ass into him, feeling how hard he is, your walls quiver around his fingers. 

“No more,” you moan quietly. 

“What’s wrong, baby? Too much?” he lazily grins down at you, grinding the palm of his palm down on your nub.

Your eyebrows pinch at the stimulation, lips parting without a sound escaping before you’re able to gather your senses again. “No… no more foreplay.” Your lusty gaze meets his, your chest heaving as you try to even it out. “I want you inside me now,” reaffirming how it was only him you wanted. 

He pulls you into a hard kiss, pulling his hand out of your pants. Releasing your jaw, he yanks your pants and underwear down your thighs. Lifting your legs to kick them off, he rotates your bodies to walk you back into the bed, nearly ripping your shirt off you. You almost fall as your legs hit the bed, ripping his lips from yours. You both gasp for air as you stare at each other for a moment. 

His hand slides into your hair, scratching soothingly at your scalp before gripping it in a firm hold. Turning your face to the side, he leans in, licking a stripe up your neck to your ear. He takes the lobe of your ear between his teeth teasingly tugging it. Pressing a kiss to the shell of your ear, he nuzzles the hair behind it, breath tickling your ear pleasurably.

“Turn around. I want you bent over this bed, with your ass in the air for me. I want to see how your cunt weeps for me.” 

His words strike a hard cord within you, goosebumps appearing all over your flesh. You bite your lip, turning your body away from him and move into position. Feeling it wasn’t enough, he uses the grip on your strands to push you down further into the comforter, back completely arched now. 

Strands slipping between his fingers as he removes his hand, the other palms your ass cheek, pulling it to the side to look at your core. The groan that leaves him makes you clench. 

“Look how pretty… so wet and inviting. Look how your hole clenches, begging for my dick.” His other hand grabs onto the opposite cheek, pulling it away to open you even more to him. Pressing his hips to yours, he slots his length against your soaked lips. Slowly rubbing his member up and down, lubricating himself with your slick.

Every word makes you clench, the desire raging inside you growing desperate for him to fill you. Every throb of the thick shaft almost makes you delirious. 

Eyes previously squeezed shut flutter open, as your hands grip the comforter. A childish print catches your attention, suddenly the realization hits you. You’re back at your childhood home, in a house full of relatives. You weren’t alone in this house, and they weren’t asleep. Now that you had awareness, you could hear them beyond the door chattering. You had let lust get away with you. 

“Jin wait…” you hiss.

He stops all movement, one of hands gently petting your lower back. “Did I hurt you? Are you okay?” worry slipping into his words.

“No no. You didn’t hurt me. I just… I realized we’re not alone. We can’t do this here. My family is right out there,” you explain in a loud whisper, trying to look at him over your shoulder.

Silence reigns for a moment.

“So?” Jin's single word pierces the quiet.

“What?” you question, baffled by his nonchalance.

“What does that matter?” He shifts before pressing against you, the head of his cock prodding at your bud. He leans over your back, hands resting on your hips. “It doesn’t bother me, and it never has to you either. You never complain when I fuck you in my office, surrounded by all of our coworkers... our employees.” 

You swallow hard.

“In fact, you love initiating it. Teasing me in front of them, riling me up.” His hips thrust, length slipping between your lower lips, cushioned comfortably between them.

“T-that’s different.” you try to argue, but his throbbing manhood against you makes it hard. “Thi-this is my family… who I haven't seen in a long time. I can’t h-have them thinking badly of me.”

He’s quiet but for a minute before wrapping a hand around your mouth. “Then you better keep quiet,” is the quick warning he hisses in your ear as he pushes his length into you.

His hand traps the sound of your yelp. Your walls stretch deliciously but sting at his abrupt intrusion as he buries himself completely. He doesn’t move, allowing you to adjust, placing gentle kisses over your shoulder. His hand massages circles into your hip. 

Unable to verbally notify him it was okay to move, you opt for using your hips as you push back against him. Getting the hint, his hips pull back slowly before pushing back in at the same agonizingly passive pace. Lips still pressing kisses to your soft skin, hips lazily snapping into you . 

You whine, wanting more. 

“Needy already,” he chuckles and places one last kiss to your flesh before standing to his full height. Both hands now resting on your hips, pulling you back so he can grind himself inside your spongy walls. “Remember, not a sound. Your family is out there.”

What a jackass, you can’t help but think as you glare back at him, that damn cocky smile on his lips. You open your mouth to retort but it quickly snaps shut as he pulls back and snaps back in. The action was so hard, you almost thought he’d speared straight into your stomach. 

He slides out slowly again before plunging roughly back in. Filling you so completely, each hard impale burning pleasurably. Hands sliding to push your cheeks apart, he watches himself disappear between your folds as he sets a steady pace. 

The sound of your sex gushing with each probe of his shaft makes you grow wetter. Slick running down the inside of your thighs, as he pushes it out of you, clit pulsing with each invasion. 

It isn’t long before he angles his hips, in search of that spot he enjoys so much. It’s with one particular push that he finds it, as you lifted onto your toes and arched your back signaling him. A whine trapped behind teeth that bite down hard on your lips as he hits it again is all the confirmation he needs.

He sets about burrowing into you, head meeting that patch of spongy tissue over and over;building an inferno in the pit of your stomach with each visit. Your legs begin to tremble as you part your lips. 

“H-harder, please,” you quietly moan, almost breathless, trying to keep your volume down. 

“Whatever my baby wants, she gets.” His thrusts turn piercing. Hips smacking into yours hard, hands gripping you bruisingly hard. Over the smacks of your hips that filled the room, you can hear him groan softly with each shove. It made you clench around him, causing his hips to stutter briefly before returning to their bruising pace.

“Your pussy is so hot and wet. You're soaking my thighs baby,” he groans out, smacking into you harder. “Squeezing me so tight, begging me to fuck you harder.” 

A smack to your behind pulls a yelp from you. Panicking, you bring a hand to cover your mouth, hoping no one heard that. Worry niggling at you again before it’s promptly fucked right out of you by Jin's hips speeding up their brutal pace. 

“I wish I could hear you baby,” he rasps, sounding just as breathless as you are. “I want to hear you moan for me… begging to cum… I want to hear you scream my name.”

You feel the bed dip beside you, as he places a foot down. Elevating his leg, he creates a new angle to spear your core. Hands finding purchase above your hips, he anchors his hold, hips pulled back. 

“Remember… we don't want to get found out.”

With those words he pushes into you quickly and roughly. Each thrust drags you to and fro on the bed, rubbing your nipples raw against the material. His hips unrelenting in their assault of you. Pistoning deep, making sure to brush your g-spot with each insertion. 

His actions have you crying into the comforter, as it catches and cushions your cries, groans and mantras of his name. Hands clenching the material so tight, your fingers were going numb. You wanted to fuck back into him, but his tight grip on you and his brutal pace allowed no room to. 

“Fuck your so good to me. Your pussy is so perfect. So tight and warm. And it's. Only. Mine.” Accentuating each word with a sharp thrust. Laying his full claim to your core.

Fingers wrapping in your tangled strands, he guides you to stand, back leaning against his chest as the other hand grips your throat, fingers pressing down on your pressure points. The pressure fueling the fire of your impending orgasm, as the new angle only adds fuel to the already roaring wildfire. 

“Who does your cunt belong to?” he growls into your ear.

You hardly breath, nevermind gracing him with an answer. But as he adds pressure to your throat, you gasp out, “You.”

“That’s right,” he moans, self-satisfied, slowing his pace to grind into you slow and deep. “Mine. Only mine to ruin. Only mine to paint with my cum.” 

His words hit you hard, as you clench hard around him, groaning in sync with him as waves pulse through you. You were so close, you knew he could tell as the fingers previously tangled in your hair, now pressed circles into the bundle of nerves buried in your folds. 

You throw your head back, gasps of air leaving your parted lips. Your nails dig into the sweaty flesh of his thighs, hips bucking back into his. You try your hardest to not be too loud, as your face twists into nothing but pure pleasure. 

You were so close, so close you were quietly pleading Jin to cum. His name becomes a prayer on your lips, that fuels his own need. The sound of his name desperately falling from your lips makes him almost feral in the way he fucks you. Plunging into you so hard and fast, that the unmistakable sounds of flesh slapping flesh could be heard through the room, the sound accompanied by the filthy sounds of your dripping arousal. 

A guttural moan leaves your lips, as he pinches your bud, which he promptly cuts off by slotting his mouth over yours. Kissing you greedly, wanting to swallow every wanton sound.

The next moment, a fire spreads through your veins, as your whole body seizes at the arrival of your orgasm. Loud moans of pleasure, swallowed as promised by Jin's mouth as he kisses you sloppily. Your hips buck into his digits as they continue to stimulate your nub. 

Jin’s hips continue to push through your ever tightening walls and begin to stutter in their assault, just before he pushes deep inside as you feel him paint your walls. Now it’s your turn to ingest all the sounds of his orgasm. The hand around your throat tightens, making you light headed with pleasure, as his other hand over stimulates your nub, thighs tightening to stop him. 

Milking himself dry, he soon slows down and comes to a complete stop. Pulling your lips apart, a string of saliva keeps your bruised lips connected. The grip around your hips sustains your standing position, as your legs feel weak post orgasm. 

Jin’s ever softening length, slips out of you making you both shiver. Gentle as he could be, he guides you to take a seat on the bed. 

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you at all?” He looks you over, checking for any bruises from his manhandling.

This is what made him such an amazing lover. How caring he is about his partner after making love to them. It was always so fascinating to see him turn from domineering to self-effacing. Always taking care to ask how you felt after, soothing any places he may have gone too far and holding you gently in his arms. 

It simply warms your heart, as you smile up at his broad shouldered form standing before you. Placing a hand over the one he’d placed on your cheek and giving it a reassuring squeeze, you say, “I’m fine, Jin. I always am when I'm with you,” 

He beams down at you just before he places a kiss lovingly on your forehead. Thumb caressing your cheek, resting his forehead against yours. A warmth radiating from his eyes as he traps you in his gaze. 

“I love you.”

Your heart skips a beat at the words said so simply, stomach a buzz with a storm of bees. You would never tire of hearing him say them to you, always feeling like the first time he’d confessed the depth of his feelings. 

“I love you more,” you return, biting your lip giddily. 

A smile reaches his eyes, as he grins widely. His cheeks puff up, giving him the look of an adorable squirrel storing acorns. His lips press to yours, no movement necessary. Just a simple press, feeling more intimate than what you had previously been engaged in. 

He pulls back with a questioning look in his eyes, when he feels you shiver, almost spilling from his lips before you speak.

“Sorry, um just felt it slipping out of me,” you murmur, embarrassed, eyes not meeting his.

He chuckles, wide shoulders shaking in his mirth. Kissing you again he mutters, “You’re so cute sometimes.” 

Slipping an arm around your back and one beneath your knees, he lifts you effortlessly. You wrap your arms around his neck, looking at him in confusion. He ignores your inquisitive eyes, making his way to the door he’d left not long before that led to your en suite bathroom.

“I think we should take a shower.”

“You just had a shower.”

“Yes, but after working up a sweat I need another, and together we can help preserve water.”

You roll your eyes, skeptical of him. “Sure, but no funny business!”

“No promises.”

You disappear into the bathroom with you protesting and Jin laughing.

You had been back home for a couple of days, and it had been enjoyable to say the least. Getting settled in, introducing Jin to more of your family that stopped by when they heard about your return, catching up with the extended family, and even some of your friends who still lived in town. 

Jin seemed happy to be able to relax, your family welcoming him completely. He had admitted to you how much he appreciated being welcomed with open arms. He loved how large your family was, and the affection they shared so easily, compared to his small family of just his parents and himself. 

You knew he also loved that they ate up his terrible jokes like hotcakes. Not to mention how your mother seemed to love cooking him meals, always blushing when he praised the meals and asking for seconds. It was also obvious how much your family stroked his ego when they complimented his looks. You knew this would be bad once the time came for you to go back to your shared home, ego so inflated you weren’t sure you’d be able to fit in the car with him. But you’d be lying if you said you weren’t content at how things had turned out. 

You had only gone out once since arriving, taking a stroll through the new town center, hands held in his as he listened attentively to you recount tales of your childhood. Every so often you’d stop and point out a location, describing what once took up residence in the spot of a newly erected business or apartment complex. You had stayed out till the sun had begun to make its descent, ice creams in hand as you walked back to your home.

It was that same evening upon returning home to have dinner with your family—filling your family in on your adventures—that your mother informed you about the state of your favorite place growing up. Feeling your heart drop, as she described it in more detail. When you had made your way to your room afterwards, Jin had stopped you and asked you if you wanted to visit the location. After hearing your mother’s disheartening news you weren’t sure, but Jin simply encouraged you to go see it with your own eyes.

That’s how you now found yourself tripping over a root as you trekked through the small forest not far from your parent’s home. A large hand steadying you before you eat dirt, you murmur a thank you before continuing on your way. It’s not long before you reach a clearing, that only cements your mother’s words as true. Your sad eyes survey the once beautiful lake, now nothing but a public garbage disposal. The water was murky, filled with so much debris and garbage it looked like sludge. The land surrounding the water was no better. The once pristine swimming hole was now a small landfill. 

Placing a hand on your shoulder, you feel Jin give you a comforting squeeze. You rest your hand over his, intertwining your fingers, you sigh defeatedly, turning to bury your face in his chest. Wrapping his arms around you, he kisses the crown of your head and lays his cheek on it. The two of you bathe in the silence, all signs of forest life now muted in the wake of the destruction of their home. You doubted anyone even still lived here, the land so completely uninhabitable. 

“This place used to be so beautiful,” you muse dejectedly, laying your cheek over his heart. “So full of life…”

Jin glides his fingers through your hair, listening closely.

“As a kid, I used to think this was the secret home of a fairy kingdom. Where a kind prince ruled over his subjects with a gentle fist. Adding color, and brilliance to nature here. At least, that’s the story my mother would tell,” you regale him, hands clutching his thin shirt. 

“When she would bring my siblings and I here, and the water shimmered so beautifully, she’d say it was the fairy prince welcoming us to play in his kingdom. And when we’d visit in the evening once the sun had dipped down, balls of blinking lights dancing through the cool air, she’d say they were the fairies dancing in glee at our visit.”

You could feel tears form behind your lash line, tilting your head up as to not let them fall. You feel childish speaking of fairy tales to your fiancé, growing upset to the point you’re about to cry over it. Yet you couldn’t help yourself. This place was such a large part of your childhood, and if you were honest with yourself, it was the place you had been most anxious to visit. To see it destroyed to this degree broke your heart. 

Sensing the dive in your emotions, Jin pulls back, taking your face in his hands, eyes roaming over your face in sympathy. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Maybe we can do something.”

You tilt your head, wondering what he could mean. Blinking up at him, wet lashes sticking together. “What do you mean?” 

Placidly smiling down at you, his thumb wipes away the stray tears beneath your eyes. “I don’t know, maybe we could try to clean up. Try to restore it to its former glory,” he shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets, eyes sweeping the clearing. 

You stupidly blink at him, mouth slightly ajar. Your heart begins to swell with so much affection that it feels as if it could pop out of your chest. The waterworks come back full force, lips trembling with emotion. 

Noticing your silence he glances back to you, eyes widening with panic, hands hovering in front of him in uncertainty. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Was it something I said?” 

Shaking your head, you throw your arms around him. Burrowing your face into his neck, standing on your tiptoes. “I love you so much,” you tearfully declare. 

He returns your hold, lifting you up, an affectionate smile pulling at his plump lips. “What’s all this for, you big softie?” he teasingly murmurs.

“I just… I just feel so lucky to be with you.” You can’t help the emotions pouring out of you, unable to keep them inside when it comes to him. You weren’t sure what you had done in this life to deserve him, but you swore to whatever entity was out there that you would prove yourself worthy of him. For all the days you were gifted with being by his side, you would be the best partner possible. 

“Well you are pretty blessed to look upon this handsome face every day.” 

You smack his arm, body shaking with restrained laughter. “You’re incorrigible!” you exclaim, barely containing the joy glowing on your face. 

Windshield wiper screeches fill the air, as he backs away from you rubbing at the spot you’d hit. His laugh was something uniquely him that always called attention. No matter whether you found it odd, or not, it always made you join him. It was a trait you found completely endearing.

Your laughs begin to quiet, a few residual chuckles escaping you. You look at each other, affection and mirth mirroring one another. 

“Did you really mean it?”

He hums questioningly, raising his brows.

“About trying to clean up here?” 

“Of course, I do,” he nods. “We’ve still got a few more days left here. We can go buy industrial trash bags, maybe some equipment to help us pick up the garbage, and we’ll definitely need some protection,” he continues to list off.

A smile growing on your own lips, you hug his arm, squirming against him excitedly. “Okay! Let’s do it!”

“Yeah?” he questions, amused at your behavior. You nod enthusiastically and chuckle, beginning to walk off. “Well, what are we waiting for? No time like the present right?”

You agree, a pep to your step excitedly discussing the possibility of hopefully saving a part of your childhood.

“It’s so hot!” you whine, stretching your aching back as you wipe the sweat from your forehead. You roll your neck, trying to loosen your tense muscles from being hunched over with the trash pick-up stick. 

Since your first visit to the Fae Kingdom, which you had taken to calling it affectionately, you had spent the last few days clearing the area around the body of sludge. It was hard labor and the two of you always arrived home sorely exhausted, passing out as soon as your bodies hit the bed. On a couple of occasions, your siblings joined you carrying some of the workload. 

Thanks to their help and the determination to see things through, you were actually able to now see the floor of the hidden glade. There wasn’t much trash left, so you were currently taking care of what was left while Jin was using a pool skimmer to collect the junk in the lake. 

It was a particularly sunny, and humid day. The air felt incredibly thick with moisture, making it a bit harder to breathe. Not to mention how you were sweating buckets. You had both shed some layers, hating how uncomfortable it felt to have the fabric sticking to your skin. 

After complaining about the heat, you toss your stick on the ground, making your way over to a small blanket you laid out to take breaks. Lowering onto your knees, you grab a bottle of water and take a generous gulp. The cool liquid soothes your rising body temperature. Capping the bottle, you roll it on your forehead, trying to cool yourself down. 

Rolling back on your knees, you land with a soft thud on your behind, enjoying the shade the tall trees provided. Taking a deep breath, you release it slowly before choking on it. Coughing violently, as your eyes almost bug out of your head. 

Standing about ten feet in front of you, by the edge of the water was a broad shouldered god. Muscles flexing beneath lightly sun kissed skin, beads of sweat rolling down his back, burly arms bulging with each bend as he lifts the skimmer out of the water. 

How in the hell was this herculean man real? 

You sigh in awe, before looking up, hands clasped together as you whisper a thank you up above. 

“What are you doing?”

You jump as his voice breaks the quiet atmosphere. Your eyes hastily fall on him as you reply in a high pitch, “Nothing!” Your cheeks begin to warm, staining with embarrassment.

His brows pinch, not fully believing you. Shaking his head, he turns to shake the skimmer into a large black bag. Setting it to the side, he swipes sweat off his brow. He turns and makes his way to you, pulling the work gloves off his large hands, stuffing them in the back pocket of his dark jeans. Coming to a stop at the edge of the blanket, he crouches down reaching his hand out for a drink. 

Leaning back, you pull a cool bottle out of the cooler and hand it to him. You watch as he takes a large swig, before swiftly emptying the rest over his head. Brushing his hair back, his dark eyes rest on you. One corner of his plush lips pulls up at the unhidden admiration on your face. 

“Come here.” He crooks a finger, signalling you closer. 

You blink, lifting up and shuffling on your knees over to him. His hand locks behind your neck pulling you in to steal a kiss, lips brushing yours affectionately. One of your hands finds purchase on a burly shoulder to steady yourself. He pulls back, placing a succession of quick pecks over your pouting lips, pulling giggles out of you.

“I’m sorry. I suddenly realized I hadn't kissed the most beautiful woman today. It had to be quickly amended.”

A large grin breaks over your face at his cheesy words. 

“You’re such a charmer, Mr. Kim.”

His eyes flash, tongue swiping over his thick lower lip. “Am I? Does that mean I can charm you out of these?” he teases, fingers tugging at your shorts. 

You swallow hard, painfully aware of the  warm thrum between your thighs. Biting your lip, a protest on the tip of your tongue threatens to expose the unabashed yearning of your heat.

Before you can utter a word, his lips are yours again. The hand behind your neck pulls you closer as he leans over you. A hand on your waist guides you to lie on the blanketed ground, his knee nudging your legs apart to settle between them comfortably. He kisses you languishly, hand releasing your soft strands and sliding to your cheek as he rests his weight on the arm placed by your head. Hips grinding in lazy circles against your mound, drawing a quiet moan. 

Suffice to say all thoughts of the heat are replaced by a different kind of heat as your hands slide up the plane of muscles you had been admiring not long ago. You feel every flex of his back as his hips continue their languorous movements. You bend your knees, widening the space for him invitingly. 

It’s as his hand descends to take hold of your left breast that you hear something in the distance. You ignore it thinking maybe it was a rustling branch or bush. Giving your breast a squeeze, Jin spreads even more heat to your core, and just as you’re about to groan your breath hitches as the sounds are closer this time. 

“Jin! Sis! Are you guys here?”

Your eyes bug open, staring into Jin's equally stunned gaze before you both spring apart. A tangle of limbs, wrestling to separate from each other. It’s when you’re finally sitting in your own personal spaces that you notice a hitch in your situation. Jin’s erection was pitching a lovely tent in his semi loose jeans. His hands covered it, a pained look on his face as he cursed. Hearing the crunch of leaves close by springs you into action just as your siblings walk out of the tree line. 

“Oh there you guys are,” the oldest declares, pointing you out to the others.

You smile over at them innocently from your position between Jin's legs, back resting against his naked chest, his arms resting around your waist. You both wave at them, thanking powers at be for the humidity today helping to disguise your flushed skin. 

“Oh, hey! We didn’t know you guys were coming by today.” Jin greets nonchalantly, raising an arm to wave at them.

“Well,” the youngest speaks up this time, hand rubbing the back of their neck, ”we weren’t going to but when we realized what the weather was like out, we couldn’t let you guys deal with it all alone.”

You can’t help but smile at them in appreciation. “Thank you guys, you really didn’t have to.”

“This is our waterhole, we have to help too,” your middle sibling declares, pounding a fist into their chest dramatically. 

You roll your eyes as they grin at you.

“Well let’s get to it, fam!” cheers the youngest.

“We’ll join you in a moment, just taking a short break,” you inform them.

“No worries, take your time. This heat is no joke.” They wave you off as they set up their equipment and bags.

You realise a sigh, reiterating your thanks as they go about cleaning. You watch them a moment before twisting your head to the side. “You wanna get a hold on yourself now?” you hiss over your shoulder. Jin’s prominent erection poking at your back, showing no signs of deflating any time soon. 

He wraps his arms around you pulling closer. “I can’t help it, not when that perfect ass keeps pushing back on me.” he whispers into your ear. “And did you know your shoulders turn me on too? They’re so perfect for grabbing onto when I fuck into you from be-”

A yelp of pain gets your sibling’s attention, heads swiveling to look over you guys. Jin folded over, hand clutching at his right side where you’d elbowed him. 

“He’s got a stitch in his side from cleaning out the lake. Sorry to scare you guys,” you give as an explanation, waving off their concerned gazes. Feeling bad, your oldest sibling decides to take over lake duty, telling you guys to take your time resting. 

You nod gratefully, before turning your attention back to the frustratingly handsome man behind you. “Get a hold of yourself! Or you won’t be touching me for the next week!”

He looks at you in indignation, sputtering to find a response. ���You can’t do that! We leave in a few days! We can finally go back to loud unfiltered sex!” 

You twist around and smack a hand over his mouth. “I’m not kidding! Get it together, my siblings are here,” your eyes blazing with intent. 

He removes your hand as he clears his throat. A playful glint in his eyes before he opens his obnoxious mouth. “You know you’re hot when you’re angry?” he manages before breaking out into his signature high pitched laugh. 

Face flushing in annoyance, you smack his bare arm. “Fine! Good luck hiding it on your own!” you fume, leaning forward to push yourself up. 

You don’t get far, as he cages you quickly with his arms, pulling you back against him, a panicked no permeating the humid air. You huff, as you feel the wind almost knock out of you at the force he uses to pull you back into place. 

“Well are you gonna behave?” an unsaid ultimatum weaved into the question.

“Ah! It’s not my fault you’re so attractive! How can you blame me like this!” he continues to whine, like a petulant child not allowed to play with their favorite toy. 

The pair of you continue to bicker, as your siblings slave away in restoring the clearing. It’s not long before they grow hot, exhausted by the muggy air engulfing them. Their patience and kindness waning, complaints for you both to hurry and join them—which you promptly do, with bottles of water in hand to help them cool down. Your small group makes quick work of the left over trash, as Jin takes care of what’s left in the lake. 

The sun was just beginning it’s descent, stars just barely dotting across the darkening sky, when your small rag tag group finally finished; spent bodies leaning on each other, as weary eyes surveyed your hard work. It wasn’t what it once was, but it looked damn well on its way there and you couldn’t help the happy tears that brimmed your waterline. The arm around your shoulder gives you a quick squeeze, Jin's voice filling the air thanking everyone for their hard work.

The evening chill that cools your sweat soaked layers has the small group shivering. Giving the place one last sweep, you all agree to high tail it back for much needed showers and rest. 

Tomorrow would be your last full day there and you wanted to make sure of one last thing. You would be trying to find a way to purify the lake water. You had been doing research and had read about techniques aiming to bring a lake back to or closer to man-made undisturbed conditions. You had found a lake restoration company not far outside of the town. Jin had already agreed to accompany you, willing to help in any way possible as you brought it up before going to bed that night. You had happily accepted, beholden by the revival of the Fae Kingdom.

The night was comfortably warm, filled with happy chatter in the beautiful glade. Fairy lights lit the area in a soft glow as many visitors sat around the lake, eating meals they had just pulled off grills or brought with them from home. Small clusters of families or couples relaxed after a day of fun and thrills. 

Somewhere someone had brought a speaker, a soft pop melody permeating the air, as you quietly sing along to it, swaying in your fiance’s arms, his own angelic voice serenading you. Your family surrounded you, their loud boisterous laughs bringing you joy and comfort. 

It had been a year since your visit, a year of the lake restoration working its magic. A year of love and care for the watering hole, which was almost a mirror of its former glory. Beautiful shades of green once more filling in patches of the ground, all the colors of the rainbow blooming, giving the space vibrance and life. There were signs of life all around you as creatures began to inhabit the area once more. 

But the most amazing part is being able to witness the breathtaking globes of light that dance before your eyes. Soft, blinking lights that waltz around, unbothered by the visitors. The fairies had returned, they had come back home to their kingdom. 

“They’re happy.”

“Huh,” you ask dumbly, breaking out of your reverie.

“The fairies, they’re happy to see you,” he voices.

A tender smile rests on his lips when you turn to him. He remembered. The childish story you had told him. And it’s in that moment, with blinking lights reflecting around him that you come to a realization. 

“You’re the fairy prince. Well, you’re my real fairy prince,” you admit quietly.

He looks down at you, eyes searching yours before placing a kiss on the tip of your nose and pulling your back flush against him.

“I guess that makes you the future princess of the Fae Kingdom.”

You cling to his arms happily, taking in the gorgeous scenery before you. 

“Besides, it only makes sense that someone as good looking as me is royalty.”

“And there goes the moment,” you grumble as you leave the safe space of his arms to join your family in their merriment. 

“Hey! You know it’s true!” he exclaims, chasing after you, accompanied by a squeaking laugh.

[yinses]

college au! headcanons

gojo satoru, geto suguru & nanami kento

rqst: college au for nanami, geto and gojo?

a/n: so i divided it into three categories to help keep my head straight. honestly almost straight kicked gojo out of college bc i couldn’t decide on a major for him. the jjk discord server is heaven sent for my sanity. ty everyone again 🌺

last time i should have to post these. hoping everything is fine now. 

gojo satoru

MAJOR

—he starts off undecided for a long time. the fact that he’s on scholarship allows him to be more flexible with his classes given that he’s not responsible for costs. he grew up with expectations from his family but university is suppose to be his opportunity to spread his own wings and grow from his experiences.

—so he tries a bit of everything- sciences, music and social studies- anything to prompt a spark. (took a business class once and made a point to sit next to nanami everyday just to annoy him) by his second year he’s getting as frustrated as his counselor because if he doesn’t decide soon he’ll be a potential 5th year senior.

—he’s overthinking it but gojo wants to invest in what he believes will make the most significant impact to his ability. his counselor takes those crumbs and runs with it.

—he gets steered towards political science and actually excels at it (that advisor gets a raise). surprises most of the class with his analytical skills because they thought he was just a pretty boy- surprise he’s beautiful and smart.

—develops a vested interest in governmental policies. might run for president one day idk. brings donuts to his early am class. doesn’t share.

SOCIAL

—he’s not the jock per say, but as the star athlete of the basketball team, the school likes to take advantage of his image to draw in sponsors.

—his face is plastered all over the auditorium whether they’re in season or not. sometimes it’s not even to promote basketball, gojo is pretty and they’re not afraid to use it. which also makes him one of the most recognizable faces on campus.

—due to his student athlete contract, he’s not allowed to sign autographs freely in the event they’re attempted to be sold as quick cash. but yikes, he can barely walk to class without someone stopping him for a picture. to the best of his ability he tries to laugh it off, poster boy image and all, but it gets pretty fucking old and annoying quickly. especially when it makes him late for his next lesson and the instructor shows no sympathy.

—his height didn’t only help him get into basketball, but its also convenient when it comes to shouldering politely through the student masses. his golden rule is don’t make eye contact. the busier the crowds the easier it is for him to pretend like he could’t possibly have heard them.

—gojo doesnt scout fraternities, fraternities scout him. but he’s not interested in the slightest. as an athlete he already gets into any social circle he wants without the additional effort. that and he doesnt think he could tolerate an alpha male trying to exert his dominance without barking back.

—loves to show up to parties but always arrives late enough to the point where they don’t think he’s coming. it helps him slip in when he wants too. he’s a connoisseur of all alcohol varieties and a master of beer bong. he’s not necessarily the life of the party but his presence is kind of hard to miss.

RELATIONSHIPS

—he gets too much attention to date casually. most potential suitors are in it more for the benefits they receive than him anyway. he’s got enough on his plate with career indecisiveness and games to try to pursue anything serious before third year.

—he’s not completely celibate though. he tries to keep the same partners as long as he can. not only to keep himself clean and safe but because he often goes into an agreement to keep it casual. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. either way he gets coined as a ‘heartbreaker’ before the end of his freshman year. frankly the rumors obscure most of the truth and give him more freedom. people always expect that he’s with someone even when he’s not, which helps keep his invasive teammates off his back.

—gojo can easily graduate without securing something tangible but there is still a window for potential.

—you’re both his consistent classmate and occasional friends with benefits. its the former title that keeps bringing him back around. he cant exactly avoid you without subjecting himself to 8am classes. it helps that the sex is good too.

—he can text you an offer to study together for the next test and roll over after an hour and wreck you for the rest of the week. its hard to tell who gets addicted first but he does appreciate the way your skin looks when youre wearing his marks.

geto suguru

MAJOR

—he’s a STEM kid, particularly interested in bio-genetics to improve overall health. he believes that simply becoming a physician just keeps the issue at bay and his goal is to eradicate the problem at its source.

—since high school he’s been cataloging different programs across the country before deciding what he wanted and putting all his efforts into it. so it’s no surprise when he gets in.

—geto doesn’t need counselors but they’re required so he listens to them prattle on about using university as an opportunity to explore. this man came in with more college credits than most sophomores, he knows what he wants.

—always on-time to class and never misses an assignment. also that kid who goes above and beyond, even on the simple stuff. he rarely gets teased about it, not even behind his back. geto straight up scares some people even when he’s smiling.

—not afraid to correct teachers when they’re wrong. in fact he lives for it.

—he’s the one who graduated early and starts his master’s program before most of his age group declare their own majors.

SOCIAL

—he tends to frequent the same circles- handpicking his acquaintances out of class rosters, clubs and honor lists. he’s less in it for the friendship and more so to scout for potential research partners.

—met gojo in one of his science electives and literally carried him through the class. they somehow end up friends but only really hang out at each other’s places- bunch of chill movie nights and pizza.

—there is no interest in fraternities, but he does join university funded clubs that allow him to further his research. they give him unique access to labs, take him on trips to different conventions and have an alumni list a kilometer long for future collaborations.

—the man does not party but he will occasionally slip into quieter bars to ease some of his frustrations. he actually enjoys karaoke thursdays , not to sing for himself but the drunken antics of others bring him some amusement.

—smokes weed occasionally, but only his own product. it helps him relaxand fan out the stress. he never sells it but sometimes gojo nicks some of his stash. given that he gets drug tested often, geto doesn’t know how the athlete never gets caught.

RELATIONSHIPS

—not interested in seeking out relationships in the slightest. the man has a plan and he’s already married to it.

—he’s not completely immune to sexual advances though and occasionally splurges but none of the friends with benefits crap. he’ll hit it once and stay celibate for the rest of the year easily.

—you might be able to squeeze in as his fellow lab partner. remain invested in the work and not him and he’ll start noticing the little details of your company- the way you subtle perfume lingers on his lab coat hours after you’ve adorned for the day, how he knows you have to keep your hair up for safety precautions but he thinks about running his fingers through it daily and your mind, damn, he wonders what else you can come up with when he has you laid out on his sheets.

—if he’s interested, geto won’t hesitate to broach the topic. he’ll ask you out for coffee and when you try to bring up research he’ll be upfront about his attraction. ultimately if you start dating the two of you are an absolute unit- not that you weren’t before.

—you’re the one variable he didn’t plan for but he’s glad to have added you to the equation.

nanami kento

MAJOR

—he was made for the business world, brought by a CEO who raised him to inherit the company. administration major marketing minor.

—takes initiative in all his classes and is often coined as group leader for projects. mostly keeps to himself  and only speaks up when prompted or disagrees with something.

—he takes the earliest sessions possible because it means less people more often than not. doesn’t really care if its in the front, middle or back but always sits near the edge.

—doesn’t really want to but it looks good on his resume so he joins the marketing team where they present mock business plans for competitions. they win a lot. nanami honestly doesn’t care. but again it looks good.

—it only took him a brief summer internship to learn that he found nothing satisfying about board meetings and macro management.

—he decides to invest in law school to handle the company from a legal standpoint instead.

SOCIAL

— sort of like geto, only wants to make friends on a need be basis.

—he would rather keep to himself but knows the benefits of socializing so he interacts with his frequent classmates when he can- through study groups or car pooling to seminars.

—he does join a fraternity, its the same one his father did (and uncles, cousins, whatnot. its a generational thing). its geared towards bettering future leaders. they focus building resumes, charity events and run the organization like a proper business. nanami gets elected president by his third year and runs two terms.

—the only parties he attends are networking events- full of wine and fancy horderves. wine is plentiful but he’s always nursing a scotch on top of his headache. if one more person squeezes their stocks into a conversation he’s going to personally take down the whole market

—zero interest in college party life. spends some of his downtime at the campus theater watching old time movies and classic plays.

—he’s the coffee shop hoe. he wakes up early sometimes just to sit by the window and read some casual literature. has his own thermo that gives him free refills to cart to class. do not talk to this man before he’s had his caffeine.

RELATIONSHIP

—he probably has a high school sweetheart that he’s still clinging too, whether on the same campus or long distance. it helps him because he can’t really see himself pursuing a relationship while focusing on school.

—he’s been with you long enough that you understand his ambitions and won’t feel bested by them. the two of you have a system- starting the day off with sweet ‘good morning’ texts before class and ending the day with long conversations as you digest the last 12 hours.

—nanami is independent but he is thankful to have you to rely on when classes start to overwhelm him. the two of try to escape briefly for the weekend when you can. often going to near by reservations just to get off campus

—other times the two of you will cuddle close on your dorm bed, his long fingers combing through your hair while he reads over some notes for class.

—sometimes you have to be the one to tell him to take a break and to enjoy life while he can. even if that means dragging him the events and concerts hosted on campus. he resists at first but you can see the tension ebbing away as the night comes to a close.

—the two of you start living together in your senior year just because you can. he insists on buying a house. not only because he can afford it because it can be rented out after graduation. always the business man.

[prettyiwa]

The below list is not exhaustive by any means.

Feel free to use this. If taken from something that is linked, please give credit where due.

Soulmate ⥤ impossible to lie to your soulmate ⥤ can't harm them ⥤ dreaming of what their soulmates did during the day ⥤ can interact via dreams dreams

Time Travel

Modern

Grad School

CEO

Roommate

Mirror Universe

Gods/Mythology

Band

Coffee/Book Shop

Royal

Reincarnation

"I thought the whole world was in this room."

"We found ourselves where we do not exist."

"The sounds of bones moving."

"I was there for the wrong reason."

"Tender ache of touching bruises."

"The walls held memories that begged to be let out."

"Things I said that made her feel loved."

"Alternative ways to tell them you love them." ⥤ 50 Wordless Ways to Say "I Love You"

"A message to the other, folded and exchanged. Only read upon separation."

"Grief has made me eternal."

"I did not like to be touched, but it was a strange dislike. I did not like to be touched because I craved it too much."

"I'm not pissed. I'm hurt."

"Why me?"

"I don't need you."

"Haven't seen you in a while."

"Don't lie to me."

"You look like you need attention."

"Are you always this stupid, or is today a special occasion?"

"Please don't say you love me."

"I've never heard you laugh before."

"I knew you'd be here."

"Are you flirting with me?" "You're only noticing now?"

"I'll take you."

"Why do you hate me?"

"Calm down. I'm right here."

"Are you flirting with me, or tryna start a fight?"

"So... Are we gonna kiss now?"

"Is this seat taken?"

"Don't you dare die on me! I'm going to be the one that kills you."

"Either live up to those empty promises or stop making them."

"Like I said. They're allies, not friends. You, on the other hand, might qualify as one."

"I can't live the rest of my life with you if this is the way it's going to be."

"You're wrong about everything, but if you're dead set on believing the lie, then I won't stop you."

"If you're going to kill me, then fucking do it already!"

"It's like you never see me. I'm standing right here in front of you and you still don't see me!"

"You never believe me. If I told you that I love you, would you believe me?"

"My favorite lie was when you told me you loved me."

"Fuck it."

"Say my name."

"I need to hear you."

"You look good with my hand around your throat."

"Do you want to get caught?"

"I love the way you look with my fingers inside you."

"What would they say if they could see you right now?"

"I want them to hear who makes you feel this good."

"It doesn't matter if we haven't talked in years. I'll always have time for you."

"You're somebody to me."

"You don't get to call me that anymore."

"I could show you what it's like. If you'd let me."

"Is that all I am to you? Either a victim or a monster?"

"I would spend the rest of my life waiting for you."

"I've seen the worst of you and it doesn't change how I feel."

"You can't love passively. It's a choice that you make again and again. I choose you each morning. So tell me: what do you choose?"

"Those are pretty sounds that you make for me."

"I want to trace your smile with my lips so often that I can remember its shape even when we are cities apart."

"I could learn how to say 'I love you' in every language and it still won't be enough."

"I won't let them take you."

"Let me show you how loved you are."

"Do you think about me like I think about you?"

"I want to be home for you."

"Show me how you touch yourself when I'm gone.""

I can't sleep if you're not here. I'll even take the floor."

"I spent years searching for a paradise only you could offer."

"You're not a bad person."

"I'm here."

"I don't blame you."

"There is power in words, so please. Speak with care."

"Please, just let me go."

"Once we start, I might not be able to stop."

"We're not just friends and you fucking know it."

"I'm gonna fuck you so hard that you forget you ever even met that asshole."

"Don't fucking touch what's not yours."

"I've never wanted anything this badly in my life."

"Do you need someone, or do you need me?"

"What the hell gave you the idea that we could ever work out?"

"You should have just said you don't love me. It would've hurt a lot fuckin' less."

"I can wait for you."

"I can't just delete my feelings because yours aren't the same."

"We're not kids anymore. I've moved on, and so should you."

"Why do I only fall in love with people who want nothing to do with me?"

"Would you have still chosen me if you knew this is how it ends?" "Absolutely."

"I warn you: I'll break your heart." "It's already broken."

"You're my hero." "I told you not to call me that." "You also told me not to lie."

"She doesn't forget." "Huh?" "Her. She doesn't forget anything. Be careful what you say around her."

"I think I could fall in love with you." "Don't."

"Why her?" "Why anyone else when she exists?"

"I could ruin you." "I know."

"This sounds a lot like a marriage proposal." "Maybe it is."

Letters

Texts

e-mails

Sticky-notes

Twilight in the middle of a thunderstorm

2 A.M. in a hotel room

4 P.M. on the side of the road

The story finishes mid-morning in a heatwave

A quiet bookshop just before close.

5 A.M. jog through the sleeping city.

On public transit after a long day at work.

The middle of the night by the crackling fire.

Walking through the city together as the sun rises.

In the middle of the forest when the fog clears.

An empty sports stadium the day before the game.

A rock in the middle of the raging river.

The silence of an office near the top, watching the lively city below.

Watching as the cherry blossoms fall from the trees.

In the forgotten shelves at the back of the library.

A mostly empty aquarium as soon as they open.

Midday in the botanical gardens as it starts to rain.

Laying in bed, talking about everything and nothing.

Skinny-dipping in the river at dusk.

Driving on an empty highway as the sun sets.

Standing in the middle of the road during a hail storm.

Waiting in the rain close to midnight.

Sitting at the bottom of the pool.

Longboarding down the mountain road.

Skateboarding through the empty streets as the storm rages on.

A mutual friend has been talking you up to one another. When you finally meet, you reveal to your friend that you're actually in a five-year-long feud with this person.

Biting & Substance addiction

Scars & Survivor's guilt.

Branding & the unintentional consequences of soul-bonding.

A confession in a desperate situation, touch starved, stalkers, and forced marriage

A lingering look that reveals the secret relationship.

Your rival coming to save you after your disappearance when no one else would.

The kidnapper treats you better than your "friends."

Being unafraid after being kidnapped because you know exactly who is coming to save you. If anything, you feel a little bad for your abductor.

Acting like a couple in public to avoid unwanted advances. Legitimately uninterested in each other.

The night before going separate ways, talking about everything that could have been.

Having nowhere else to go except your rival's house and they don't turn you away.

Desperate for a sliver of affection that they willingly allow for you to use them in a moment of weakness.

Helping your best friend through a break-up, knowing exactly what they want and what will help get them through the night.

Saving the love of your life and watching as they run to their partner's arms when all is said and done.

Forgetting momentarily that they died two days ago.

Fake dating for so long that they aren't sure whether they should give the other an anniversary gift.

Can't go to your frenemy's wedding without a date but you're not actually dating anyone.

FWB pretending to be more to avoid your ex from coming back.

Desperate touches following a nightmare.

Remote-control vibrator. In public.

Witnessing the moment their walls go up.

Searching the room for their person following danger.

Slipping your fingers through the brass knuckles he had left you, not wanting to fight.

Communicating through shared books or a shared playlist.

5 + 1

Meeting at a party while drunk

One night stand before you start a new job and your fuck is your new boss

Found Family

Chosen Soulmates

Platonic Soulmates

Best Friends Regardless of Time or Distance

Twin Flames

Mutual Pining

Enemies to Lovers ⥤ Rivals to Lovers ⥤ Enemies to Friends to Lovers ⥤ Lovers to Enemies ⥤ Enemies to Reluctant Allies to Lovers ⥤ Enemies/Rivals with Benefits to Lovers

Friends to Lovers ⥤ Separated Childhood Friends to Lovers ⥤ Best Friends to Lovers ⥤ Sibling's Best Friend to Lovers ⥤ Lovers to Friends ⥤ Colleagues to Lovers ⥤ FWB to Strangers to [Friends? to] Lovers

Emotional Constipation

Slow burn

First Meeting

Missing Moments

The Almost Kiss

Anti-Hero

Doomed Love

Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil

Hero Survives

Hero Dies

Hollow Victory

Different Worlds

Second-Chance

Forced Proximity

Disingenuous Relationship

Divorce That Never Went Through

Forbidden Love

Hidden Identity

Sacrifice

[Honest] Love Triangle

Believed Dead

Shared Past

Last Updated: 06 May 2022

[jypbae7]

Me me meeee <3 I'll request a full analysis about NCT's Johnny! 😚😚 Include errrrthing baby hahaha 18+ stuff, him as a romantic partner aka bf <3 whatever you want! I'm so excited to read this akndfkgkfn 😎😎😎❤️❤️

Johnny Suh - Natal chart

Finally finished it!! Johnny was actually the most requested member I received in my inbox! Sorry that it’s nearly the length of a novel lmao but I sectioned it to make it easier to read and navigate 💕

(Not claiming to be an expert this is just for fun please don’t take anything too seriously!) Hope this is helpful and that you enjoy it 🥰❤️

Personality: Aquarius Sun, Gemini Moon, Aqua Mercury, Virgo rising, Leo Mars

While Aqua is a fixed sign it is definitely the most adaptable of the 3 fixed signs due to the Air element of Aquarius plus the ever spontaneous Gemini moon. Most things that make the rest of us feel anxious tend not to seem that scary to fearless Gemini or cool as a cucumber Aquarius.

Natural social butterflies who love their tribe deeply and fiercely once they find them. Busy bodies who are easily bored if left unstimulated too long which will turn into crankiness if not rectified quickly. Thankfully Aqua & Gem have a zest for life that makes them quite easy to please. They are open minded and will gladly stay up till 3am talking about aliens and conspiracy theories, just like they are thrilled to go on last minute random trips just because why not (Gemini impulsivity at it’s finest lmao)

Gemini is a mutable sign unlike fixed Aquarius. This is a pretty big difference and something that goes under the radar with Aquas due to that cool as a cucumber attitude. Because they are adaptable and typically very easy going they don’t often show their stubborn aggressive sides and honestly prefer not to have to unless they are feeling extremely disrespected or pushed beyond their boundary which is a BIG let me say that again, BIG no no with Aquarius (almost as big as it is for for the water signs)

Adding to these deep inner thoughts and vast inner world that Aquarians have, his Virgo rising adds more depth and self awareness. As perfectionists and highly intellectual minds they are a lot more self critical than they let on, just like they are a lot more caring and soft than they let on. They deeply care about others and the world in general seeing the big picture in a very earthy and traditional way - good people should strive to put good out and try their very best at whatever they do. They deeply dislike mean, malicious, manipulative, or spiteful behavior or people and generally keep guarded around people they don’t know well until they feel certain of the person’s true intention. There’s nothing Virgo is more cautious of than to be swindled or hurt by someone they take it reallyy hard and they know it.

Now we alllll know his swag and confidence is legendary and we can all thank the Leo Mars placement for that and the beautiful lush shiny hair and big toothy smile (Looking at Mark, Jaemin and Xiaojun like 👁👄👁) But beyond the aesthetics and dripping confidence and charisma, Leo is another creative sign that tends to be a lot more intellectual and intuitive than people give them credit for.

When the other members call Johnny one of the scariest members you can bet it’s his aggressive fiery fixed Leo Mars which is loud and even violent when provoked enough not to mention the fixed Aquarius tornado energy...Oooof that is a lot of Fixed sign rage right there honey so let’s tread lightly with Johnny boy and appeal to his open minded and friendly nature with a gentle tone and non-pointed words during discussions and all shall be good even if there’s some disagreeing!

Honestly if the argument starts getting bad you can always distract the Gemini moon by just bringing up other interesting topics! Geminis minds move FAST and while they can process a lot of information quickly and precisely they tend to get distracted easily (but here’s the good side of that😉)

Aquarius have a deep love of family and the desire to create their own (Geminis often share this trait) they can feel a bit like outsiders or “other” from people and thus crave to build a tribe of their own - this can be friends that are lifelong deep relationship carried on no different than family or starting their own family with a partner and kids

Relationships:

Non-Romantic Relationships & overall communication style: Aquarius Sun, Gemini Moon, Aqua Mercury, Leo Mars, Virgo Rising

Built off laughter, time spent together whether its at home hanging out casually or going out for meals and fun new things to try together

Wants to bounce lots of ideas off of his closest friends and secretly loves doing creative stuff together the most - this is pretty evident if you watch JCC he’s happiest when he’s doing stuff with his bros whether it’s sporty, musical, or crafts

Does not like to be vulnerable even with those he’s close to, tends to stick to neutral and more light hearted topics of interest and conversation because he prefers to spread a good mood instead of a heavy one

If he really trusts you or has worked through it enough already to want to talk about something serious you’d better listen cause the boy drops gems of wisdom and has a really soft mushy heart

Immediately adopts his close friends as family and no matter the time apart or distance will always treat them the same

Likes friends he can learn from and take on new adventures with they satisfy the intellectual Virgo rising and Aqua & leo sign thrill needs - Gemini is all about BOTH of these

Deeply appreciates loyalty, acts of service, and quality time with his friends and family - makes his heart soooo happy BUT

He would rather fucking DIE than let you or anyone see him cry so he cries like 4 times a year at 3am in the bathroom while everyone’s asleep (HIGHKEY feel like Ten & Jaehyun are exactly like this too)

Romantic relationships and preferences: Capricorn Venus, Leo Mars, Capricorn Juno, Capricorn Eros

Mr. Johnny Suh has THREE Capricorn placements tied to love and intimacy so that’s saying something lmao

Going against Aquarius’ open mindedness and anti-traditional persona Capricorn prefers all things traditional and stable.

Very much does acts of service for his partner as a sign of affection also lots of touching and quality time.

A veryyyyyy spontaneous boyfriend/partner thanks to that Gemini moon - he either wants to stay at home in pjs and order food and have movie marathons or whisk you away on zero notice to a trip lol

Earth sign men are drawn to women who embody very flowery feminine energy and aesthetics. They prefer a “natural beauty” who can spice it up sometimes rather than a super flashy 24/7 partner. (He’s said in the past that his ideal type is Yoona which says it all lol)

Will be highly drawn and intrigued by someone with a high work ethic and high intellect. BIG bonus points if you can keep up with his sarcasm and jokes.

Earth signs are pretty physical and handsy so expect to have little personal space around him, make no mistake they enjoy this very much. He will definitely be grabbing you and picking you up often! He’ll be smirking down at you devilishly watching you get flustered backed into a corner trapped by the sheer size of his muscular body. A Capricorn male’s ego really enjoys this dynamic, trust me lol.

Also another quirky male Capricorn trait that actually applies to Aqua & Gem as well… They like to initiate all the touchy feely stuff - What I mean by that is they can get easily spooked by clinginess too early on. These three signs want romance and definitely want to feel that you’re into them but they also are innately independent and enjoy relationships where their partner can also go off into the world and thrive in their own way and meet back together in the middle. So long as you can find a happy balance, when you are together you won’t have to initiate anyways honestly because he’ll be the one pulling you.

Okay let's talk about Juno & Eros - Juno in Capricorn is about serious, loyal, long term commitment though they tend to marry later in life once they’ve already achieved the things they want to for themselves which I can see being the case for Johnny as well especially with his current career.

18+ Preferences:

Eros in Cap where to begin - high libido, stimulated by visuals and touch. Wear interesting colors, patterns, textures to catch his eyes & his hands - lacy lingerie is a plus the texture will really excite him and the feminine look will please his earthy traditional cap side. If you really wanna have him drooling throw in some spicy contrasts like a leather choker with the lace set and you’ll also set off his Aqua, Gem, and Leo placements as well ;)

Tends to bounce back and forth between fucking you like you’re a cheap groupie whore and taking his time staring you in the eyes and kissing you passionately as he’s stomach deep - no inbetween but really who’s complaining??

DOM KINK - NOT UP FOR DEBATE he has THREE Capricorn placements for fucksake meaning 3 cardinal signs which are literally called “the INITIATORS” plus all his other fixed personality placements

More of the classy rich ceo vibes kind of dom (suits, expensive cologne and jewelry, leather, black and red binds) - takes you to bougie hotels when he really wants to ramp it up and not have to care who hears. You can expect not to sleep those nights but he’ll damn sure pamper you afterwards with cuddles, food, and a spa date.

Now...with all his Air sign placements...I have to say it...he’s a kinky ass dude. Few things are off the table, but he’s also super content with “normal” stuff too. It’s more about the person and experience for him than doing the wildest things possible. So if it feels natural and right then he’s down.

Don’t be surprised if he wants to tie you up like a pretzel or role play because he’s definitelyyy going to ask. Well actually he’d probably just buy whatever outfit or binds he wanted to use and casually be like “look what I got for us baby” as if it’s matching charm bracelets or something. The good news is he’ll dress up and get into it with you and he’s super receptive to your boundaries, fantasies and making it enjoyable as possible for you too.

If you flip the script on him and suddenly break the norm either by taking the initiate/lead first or trying something new he will absolutely combust 🤯 and be in the palm of your hand staring in absolute awe and fascination till he can’t take it anymore and reclaims his spot as the one in control

Nudes, videos, and phone sex when apart are a definite and they really keep the passion burning for him which is honestly VERY important and don’t worry he’s NOT shy and you will be grateful for the beautiful collection of photos and videos 🤤

Boredom for Aquas, Gems, and Caps can quickly lead into self-sabotaging behaviors and/or wandering eyes not because they don’t value loyalty but that they really need and benefit from mental stimulation and feeling wanted so when that’s gone they can pull away

Honestly pretty much any type of lingerie or outfit will turn him on because the most arousing part for him is knowing that you spent time doing such a naughty thing for his sake

Breeding kink - 3 earth placements and has said himself in interviews he would’ve started having kids at 25 if he wasn’t an idol soooooo that’s a definite. He imagines you pregnant with his baby and it makes him super soft and warm which quickly turns to super turned on. He loves the primal marking aspect of claiming you in such a way and also watching you unravel to the point of begging him to do it. Even if it’s just “play” he loves it and will probably think about it a lot more than you know. If you ever do it for real he will be utterly and completely obsessed with you forever and be practically more excited about all the stages of your pregnancy than you are

[extremelyblackandwhite]

the unseen one - 19

Pairing: Hades!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: none

A/N: i keep playing this game called “if i add this song to the playlist will it spoil the ending” and it has become my new favourite game. sorry that it took me this long to post, it’s been very hot in cambridge which always gets me in a right mood (i hate summer and heat) so i’ve been putting my frustration into finishing my exams. had to take a break because if i have to talk about serotonin once more, my only serotonin left will leave my system 😂

hope you enjoy this chapter xx

Next Chapter >>

(not my gif, credit to creator)

James maintained a tight grip on her as the Charon took them back to his chambers in the Asphodel Meadows. She was silent and still almost like a statue, her eyes taking in as they went away from the Tartarus to the Elysium and finally to the Meadows. Y/N wondered why the King of the Underworld had decided to make his home in such a bleak place. The sounds were always of torture and mumbled cries, the souls were people who, in Y/N’s mind at least, deserved to be somewhere else, and were always begging to be taken out of their misery. It wasn’t a pretty place but his home wasn’t also she’d call a home of a King much less a god. The ceilings were high and the walls were painted in light and dark tones of grey with minimalistic furniture. It was a far cry from what her mother would describe when speaking about deities’ residences. However, James seemed to be a simple man, at least that’s how he showed himself before she got dragged way under. 

     - Do you want me to ask the servants to draw you a warm bath? Maybe some flower petals? - James questioned, his hand coming up to her face to push some hair away from her sight. - Do you wanna eat anything? Just tell me what you wanna eat and I’ll make sur ...

     - Did you hurt Anne? - Y/N was probably the only person in the Underworld who could interrupt James without having the furies being released on them immediately. He daren’t look at her, knowing exactly the look she was probably giving him, the type of look that would make him want to carry the world on his shoulders until she was happy. 

    - I did not hurt Anne. 

    - Did you turn her into any of the following. - she raised her fingers as if she were mentally counting. - A plant, an animal, some sort of plant-animal, cursed her, made her grow serpent hair ...

    - I didn’t do anything, Y/N. - he held onto her hands before she could list other ways gods had punished mortals. He did wanted to punish Anne, there hadn’t been anyone who deserved more to have the furies released upon them but he knew that if he did such thing, she would probably try and release the furies on him too. - However, next time something like that occurs I will punish them. I’m the God of the Underworld and I won’t undermine that. 

    - That’s fair. - Y/N scratched the back of her neck. She understood there was a side to him that she was yet to discover, the side of him that was a god, a ruler, but she still wanted to believe that he was her Bucky. - Shouldn’t I get back to Hecate and the other maidens?

    - If you want. - he tried to maintain a calm facade but inside he was puzzling himself over if his words had maybe scared her and she would rather be with Hecate than to be with him. - You’re free to do as you may. I just thought you’d want to stay with me.

There was a tinge of disappointment and uneasiness in his features, tightened expression as he managed not to show her how upset he felt that she did not want to be near him. Maybe it was too much for her to handle, after all up until a few hours ago she was sure she was dating a CEO and now she was dating the God of the Dead. 

Noticing his, Y/N slowly raised her hands to rest against his cheek, her mere touch raising feelings of warmth in him.

   - Sounds like you want me to stay. - there it was, her little playful smirk. James wanted to roll his eyes at her, but he couldn’t help but feel some sort of way whenever she outsmarted him.

   - I always want you to stay, Y/N. - of course he wanted her to stay. He had to endure the first moments of their relationship constantly counting the hours and looking at the sky so he wouldn’t be caught and now she was here. Sure, she was here due to uncertain circumstances, but she was still here. - But if you wanna go back to the Elysium, I would understand. 

   - I just don’t want to cause you any trouble. - Y/N slightly turned her head to the side, embarrassment creeping into her soft features.

   - Why would you cause me any trouble, sweetness? - he took the hand that was craddling his face into his own hands, sensing something wrong. - Homesick? 

   - It’s just ... considering that I’m supposed to be one of Hecate’s maidens, wouldn’t people look down on you if they saw you with me?

   - Y/N. - he sighed. - Your parents were Greek historians, right? 

   - Yeah.

   - So tell me, what’s the worse thing a god has ever done? - that as a funny question for Y/N. There were lots of myths that made her sick to her stomach just hearing about it and other myths that would make her want to climb to Mount Olympus herself and punch some gods. The short answer was, there is no short answer. 

    - Do you want it in alphabetical order? - she joked. 

    - What do you think it’s the worse offence? 

    - Well, if you asked me what I think was the worse thing ever done by a god I’d say it was what Poseidon and Athena did to Medusa.

    - Were their reputations ruined even after what they did?

    - No.

    - Then I won’t get in trouble for associating with one of Hecate’s maidens. 

    - Yeah but gods also turn into a wide variety of animals to go and do less than savoury things with mortals.

    - Less than savoury things? - he smirked. - Last time I checked you were one of Hecate’s maidens not Artemis’. 

    - Cut it off. - she playfully pushed his chest away. Bucky just rolled his eyes at her behaviour, wrapping his arms around her waist, carefully moving her closer to him afraid she might’ve gotten hurt at the Tartarus. 

   - Come, let’s get some food in you. - he guided her through his place. She wondered why it was so minimalistic and why is it in the Asphodel Meadows of all places. Maybe he disliked to be surrounded by all the fauna and flora of the Elysium or maybe Hecate didn’t allow him near it. Nevertheless, it was an odd place and an oddly unremarkable home, at least for that of a King. 

He left her waiting in his dinning hall, allowing her time to inspect it. There was nothing much but a dinning table surrounded by various book shelves. The books were in Greek for what she could muster but what caught her attention were a few picture frames by a half empty unit of the shelf. Y/N’s hands reached for the first one, a sepia coloured photo of Bucky and a blonde man she swore she’d seen before. His hair was much shorter and shabbier with a child like grin, arms around the blonde guy who looked much more polished. Her mind was telling her she had seen this picture before, she just couldn’t point it.

The other frame contained the photo of a couple dressed in hellenic clothing adorned by golden accessories. The man was standing tall, hand on the woman’s shoulder whose hair rivalled the gold colour of the pins in her head and stood sat on a porcelain chair. The look in the woman’s eyes was serene yet controlling, almost like a storm brewing over calm seas. On both their heads sat adorned jewelled crowns and the man held the same staff James had been holding back in the Tartarus.

   - Y/N? - his voice suddenly echoing through the silent made her drop the face on the carpeted floors, a flush creeping through the apples of her cheeks as she herself dropped to the floor to grab it and put it back in its due place. - What are you doing? 

   - I was just looking at your photos. - she put her hands behind her back, eyes lowered to the ground like a child who had just been scolded. Bucky walked over to where she was standing, looking at the frame she had put back. - Are they your parents? 

   - No, sweetness. - he chuckled. - That’s Hades and Persephone, well, the original ones. I find you must have memory of those who came before you. 

   - She’s beautiful. I mean, I always thought Persephone had to be beautiful, after all it was said her undying beauty was what made Hades kidnap her. 

   - Hades didn’t kidnap her. - Bucky always forgot that mortals still fully believed the myth brought back to light by the Greek. Honestly, it was a disgrace that no Underworld God had yet to chance the misconception. 

   - Yes, he did. That’s why Demeter stopped doing her job.

   - Sweetness, do you seriously think someone whose name means Bringer of Death could stay in the Underworld against her will?

   - What do you suggest then? - she crossed her arms against her ripped tunic, all knowing smirk on her face. 

   - I don’t know if I should tell you now. - Y/N huffed, lips coming into a pout which made his heart melt at the look. - If you were to tell the story of Persephone and Hades, how would you tell it?

   - I wouldn’t because I seemingly don’t know. - she had a playful nature to her gaze, a stark contrast to those with whom he spent most of his days with in the Underworld. James took her hand in his like a scene in a Jane Austen movie, slowly pulling her to him. - So what’s it gonna be?

    - Persephone found the entry to the Underworld and decided to stay because she enjoyed it here. Once Demeter realised her daughter was gone Hades faked the kidnapping story for her because he was hopelessly in love with Persephone. 

    - What about the nymphs that saw the abduction? How do you explain that?

    - There are some perks to being the God of the Underworld, sweetness. 

    - I’m guessing you won’t tell me what those perks are. 

    - Maybe later, sweetness. You must join me for dinner now.

    - Bucky ... - she picked onto her nails, eyes looking at her shoes. - Who’s the man next to you in the photo?

tag list: @philogrobizedvee​​​​​  @keithseabrook27​​​​ @inlovewith3​​​​19

[excitedlysuffering]

Deidara Headcanons Collection

Oh god I’m like minutes from being too late but HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEI🥺❤️😍

What He Looks For In A S/O~

• He would most likely want someone who was an artist, cuz he needs someone who understands and relates to his passion and will challenge him on perspectives (respectfully, ofc)

• Needs someone who is as active as he is, he could not deal with someone who wanted to stay home all the time

• Dei is a wild child so whether he knows it or not, he’s going to need someone to balance him out with a more calm/logical outlook on life

• But that’s not to say he wants to date a square cause that’s a big fat LIE

• He needs an S/O who’s able to keep with his spontaneous attitude and mood swings

• He’d probably be drawn to the innocence of his S/O, he’s seen and done a lot of hard things in his life so would love to be able to leave the darkness behind around you

• If his S/O was a shinobi he’d be relieved cause they can take care of themselves, but he would also want to accompany you on missions because this boy can WORRY

• If you’re not a shinobi, he wouldn’t mind all that much cause he doesn’t have to be concerned with you getting injured on missions, but he would want to teach you the basics defense combat

• This boy just needs some love with a capital L, tbh

Relationship With Dei Stuff~

• He’s surprisingly empathetic and can pick on your emotions/moods quite easily but that doesn’t mean he always acts on it

• He’s a naturally happy person so negative emotions are a bit hard to deal with

• If you’re just grumpy, he’ll just stay out of your way (a bit) but if you’re really struggling or on suffering through Satan’s Week he’ll try to do his best to comfort you

• (be patient with him)

• Even though he can’t take you out on dates to the city like he wants to, he’ll improvise

• Boi isn’t an artist for no reason

• Ofc he takes you out to see his art and to fly on his creations, but he’s a romantic at heart and loves cheesy cliches

• Watching the sunset on picnics

• If he’s free camping in the forest

• Or just art dates where you guys will find a common project and will work on it together

• Bonus points towards you if you and Sasori can at least tolerate each other

• They might never admit out loud, but they are best friends

• Even if no one could ever tell

• The three of you are around each other a lot so if you and Sasori are always arguing or getting on each other’s nerves your relationship could suffer a little because of it

• LOVES to spoil you. Like just because

• If you and Dei are dating, you two make a great team whether it’s art collabs, missions, or just life in general

• He can be a real sweetheart and is more sensitive than people give him credit for so if you just love on this boy you’ll have him forever

How To Lose/Annoy Him~

• Insulting or just plain not acknowledging his art goes without saying, I would think

• I haven’t seen this mentioned before, but hating on or trying to avoid his mouth hands. Although they’re a huge part of his life they’re also strange so he can be a bit insecure

• Being insensitive about his speech tic (un, yeah, hm) he’s already come to term with them, but he doesn’t need you, or anyone else rubbing it in

• As stated earlier, not being able to get along with Sasori, or him just generally disapproving of you more than he does the average person

• Being overly clingy. Example, when he’s working on his art and you’re all over him, infringing on his special time

• Playing hard to get or trying to make him jealous. Dei is naturally impatient so it makes no sense as to why you’re trying to get a rise out of him. He can pretty blunt and he expects you to just come out and say it if something is bothering you.

• Slightly nsfw, but pulling on his hair. He doesn’t like his hair being ripped out in the slightest

• Being friends with Tobi

Soft Deidara Things~

• Definitely one for matching shirts (i.e His= Art is a bang! Yours= I’m a bang!)

• He loves to just cuddle up with you after a long day, no words he’ll just collapse on you

• PLAY. WITH. HIS. HAIR.

• Brush it, braid it, comb it, whatever, but it’ll soothe the heck outta him

• He really loves to pick out your clothes. Dei is a fashion master and he loves seeing you in clothes he likes

• Will be that one person to sleep crazy to the point of kicking you off the bed. Now you sleep literally on top of him so he’s pretty still

• Loves to wake up before you to look at you like ‘wow she loves me??’

• Can actually cook really well (i mean he did live on his own for a while) and loves having you try new recipes he’s come up with

• Just loves being around you, you’re presence can calm him like no other

Random Dei Facts~

• His love language is a mix of words of affirmation and physical touch

• As much as he likes to go go go, he also appreciates a good nap here or there

• He’s bad at taking care of himself like he’s on the brink of artistic genius and he’ll genuinely forget to eat or sleep

• Has a big thing for music, whether it’s a song or just instrumental he loves the environment it brings

• He doesn’t quite have PTSD, but somethings do trigger him or make him anxious. You just can’t live like he does and not be effected

• That one scene where he’s recruited and is under Itachi’s Sharingan/genjutsu and calls Itachi art and then is repulsed by the thought really makes me think that one of Dei’s biggest fears is thinking/realizing someone’s art is better than his own

• He isn’t religious but is a strong believer in fate, karma, and such things

• Contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t use his hand mouths for anything other than art. Those are his art tools, his partners, and he’d be much too weirded out to use them for anything different

• He’s like a scarily healthy eater. Not necessarily vegetarian/vegan but is a calorie counter and has a very balanced diet

• He loves to do little not so harmless pranks on Itachi as mini revenge. He’s even more ruthless as Itachi begins to lose his eyesight

Little Things~

Favorite:

• Place to kiss- Behind your ear because he loves hugging you from behind and surprising you

• Way to hug- As previously stated, from behind cuz he feels like he’s protecting you and you fit in his arms like a puzzle

• Thing to do with you- Discuss or work on art projects together or in each other’s general vicinity

• Cuddle position- Lotus (you in his lap, facing him, your legs around his waist) cause he just loves to hold you and you can easily mess with his hair

• Type of date- Anything that’s just the two of you spending quality time away from his busy life

This or That-

• More of a summer person, he loves the outdoors, even more now that he has someone to share it with

• Definitely a night person. He gets more done at night but also loves being able to unwind with you

• Likes to cook more than being cooked for, cause he likes treating you

• Is not much of a reader, it can’t hold his attention for long, but occasionally will ask you to read to him if he likes the sound of your voice. He does

Conflict Happenings~

• Passionate and Stubborn Boi™

• If you’re also headstrong, there will be plenty of arguments, usually over small things

• Best case scenario, something says something that makes you both laugh and problem solved or you end up making out (cuz oh my jashin scowling Deidara can step on my NECK)

• Worst case scenario, someone storms out and you don’t talk for a bit

• When he wants he can give a verbal tongue lashing harsh enough to make anyone cower

• Eventually, one of you will cave. You miss each other too much and even art isn’t filling the void

• Apologies are mumbled but heartfelt as to not bruise either of your egos but also cuz you’re both genuinely sorry

• However, if you’re not confrontational, it might actually cause him to mellow out a bit (only around you though)

• He can’t bring himself to have a one-sided argument with you. It makes him feel guilty and does a lot of damage

• Instead, he might actually talk things out, courtesy of self-calming techniques you probably showed him at one point

Modern Dei~

• He’s that one college student that is at every party but still gets great grades??

•!He has a double major for sure, art and chemistry, cause how else is he going to make perfect explosions?

• If he wasn’t recruited to a sports team (I could see him doing gymnastics or wrestling honestly) then you had best believe he’s a serious martial artist

• He’s smart and sells (non-explosive) sculptures for money on the side

• He loves road trips, doesn’t care as much about the destination, he just loves driving places

• A serious ride or die friend, like loyal to a fault, but if you ruin that he won’t make any efforts to restore it

• Incredibly independent and struggles to ask for help even if he’s bad at a particular subject

•’CEO of completing assignments the night before its due and still acing it

• His living space is purely organized chaos like everything has it’s own system even if it looks like a mess

• Wouldn’t mind having a roommate, but he’s also used to living alone so he’s fine either way

• If he did, it’d probably be Sasori, cause he’s one of the only people who could TRULY handle Dei 24/7 (barely)

• Isn’t an overachiever, but just like with art, if someone’s going to see his work, it’s going to be his best work

• Even when his friends drink, he’s not that big on it. Feels like it hinders his inspiration and he gets AWFUL hangovers and can barely handle it

• Modern Dei is a great Dei, cause no matter what our blonde baby is best. Period.

[yegarts]

“I Am YEG Arts” Series: Jared Tabler, Curator of the Visual Arts Program at Theatre Network

Photo credit: Aaron Pedersen

Everyone defines resilience differently. But when you’re the Roxy Theatre, it means community strength that not even fire can destroy. Though 2015 left both the theatre and the arts community gutted, neither were ever without hope. Today, as the Roxy rises anew, its resilience is palpable at every milestone. From the golden marquee’s return to the skyline, to the anticipation of three on-site galleries, the Theatre Network promises more space than ever for artists to thrive. If you think you’re excited, you should meet Jared Tabler—the gallery’s curator and advocate of the Visual Arts Program.

Curating gallery space in an Edmonton landmark might be Tabler’s dream job, but it’s not his only one. He’s also the Director at MCQUEEN Agency where he scouts, represents, and develops the careers of artists—and—the CEO of MCQUEEN Creative, a marketing, design, and communications firm. Accomplished? Indeed. But he’s also grounded in his love for his hometown, the arts community that embraced him, and the city he knows Edmonton to be. This week’s “I Am YEG Arts” story belongs to Jared Tabler.

Disclaimer: The Edmonton Arts Council is currently a client of McQueen Creative. McQueen Creative is a marketing and communications firm based in Edmonton, AB and is owned by Jared Tabler.

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and what keeps you living and working here.

Edmonton is my hometown, so we have some history. I have lived and worked in other cities but have always come back to Edmonton. My family is here, I have a lot of friends here, and I truly believe in the arts community here. The culture, the people, and connectedness of the arts scene in Edmonton is really special.

Tell us about your role as Curator of the Visual Arts Program and how you became involved with Theatre Network?

I am incredibly excited about my new role as Curator. It is such a rare and unique opportunity to open a new building, while also getting to build a program from the ground up. I began collecting art in my early twenties, and that passion eventually spilled over into becoming a dealer. I was a partner in a commercial gallery, and at the opening for one of my favourite artists I met Bradley Moss, the Artistic Director for Theatre Network. It turns out he had a personal connection to the artist; anyway, we all ended up at dinner that night, and both Bradley and I felt that we wanted to work together. When the opportunity to expand the programming at Theatre Network became a possibility due to the additional space in the new Roxy, Bradley approached me about building the visual arts program, and you don’t turn down a dream job.

As artists and the community reach out to you, what are they saying the gallery space and rebuild mean to them?

The response to the new Roxy has been overwhelming, to say the least. The old Roxy meant so much to so many people in the community, and to be able to bring it back, particularly in a way that connects and supports even more artists, is so inspiring. The building has been designed to be a multidisciplinary space, so with that added capacity comes additional opportunities.

Did you always want a career that combined your passion for the arts with your keen business acumen? When did that path become clear?

No. I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to live in New York and perform on Broadway. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I embraced business and, as a result, found I was able to support and give back to arts organizations through board work, philanthropic giving, and volunteerism. It eventually struck me that I needed to have art play a larger part in my professional career, and I truly feel like I have the best job in the world.

Top: Forever I’ll wait for you by Kale Barr. Bottom: Railroad Confession by Kale Barr.

Tell us about the gallery’s first call for submissions and what the experience was like for you. What encouragement would you offer artists wanting to submit expressions of interest during the next intake?

Our Artist Open Call had two goals: the first was to let the community know that we have a new visual arts program, and the second was to begin to engage with artists and build relationships in the community. As an art dealer I have many existing relationships with artists across the country, so learning about who else is out there creating great work was really exciting for me personally. In terms of words of encouragement, I would encourage any professional artist who is looking to share their work to submit for any of our open calls. I would also remind them to not be discouraged if they aren’t selected—as their practice and work evolves, we would love to hear from them again.

What does community mean to you, and where do you find it?

Community for me is really about shared values, a sense of connectedness, and finding your people. I have found community in a few areas of my life. As a kid growing up in the theatre, the arts community was really a safe space for me to grow, learn, and explore. That exploration also really helped me come to terms with being a member of the LGBTQ community. Someone once told me to go where you are celebrated, and your community is a big part of that. We all deserve to be celebrated.

Tell us about someone whose support and advice has guided your career.

A friend of mine’s father was really one of my mentors; he is someone who appreciates discretion and values his privacy, and is genuinely a wonderful human. He has supported me during my highest highs, as well as my lowest lows. He worked incredibly hard to build his business and not be reliant on anyone to achieve his goals. He would often tell me, “Dreams are just goals without a plan. If you want to achieve it, write it down.” He has quietly helped numerous people with words of encouragement, financial aid, or tough love when they needed to hear it. He is someone I have the utmost respect for and am thankful every day that he played a role in helping guide my career.

What’s one of your favourite Roxy memories?

As part of its 2002/2003 season, Theatre Network mounted a production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As a theatre kid who loved musicals, this was monumental. The show is edgy and raw and not your typical family-friendly musical. I probably saw the production five times. I would go with different friends, really anyone who would let me drag (pun intended) them along. Other than Nextfest, it was really my first time spending any amount of time in the old Roxy, but Hedwig remains one of my favourite musicals and one of my favourite productions from Theatre Network.

Production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Photo credit: Theatre Network

What excites you most about the YEG arts scene right now?

I have always believed that Edmonton had some really talented people. The new visual arts program will create even more opportunities, and in working on this program it has revealed to me the absolute need for these types of opportunities. The ability to connect with and share the work of the artists here is humbling.

Describe your perfect day in Edmonton. How do you spend it?

Anyone who knows me knows I love breakfast, so that is how any perfect day starts (shout-outs to Urban Diner, OEB, Ricky’s, Blue Plate Diner, and Blue Chair). From there, gallery visits are essential, and coffee—always coffee. I love walking around the 124 Street area, there are so many great little shops and places to check out, you can easily spend a day there—and it will be even better when the new Roxy opens!

You visit Edmonton 20 years from now. What do you hope has changed? What do you hope has stayed the same?

In 20 years, I hope Edmonton becomes the city it desperately wants to be. There are a lot of really talented, motivated, driven people doing really great things here, but unless we continue to invest in things ((cough, ARTS, cough)) that will make Edmonton a thriving metropolis, we will be at risk of losing that great talent to other markets. I hope Edmonton stays true to its roots, to who it innately is: A community of people that really care, that do incredible things, and are humble about it.

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here all year and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along!

Click here to discover more about Jared Tabler and the MCQUEEN Agency. Visit Theatre Network’s website for info about the Visual Arts Program, submission guidelines, and how to support the ROXY rebuild.

About Jared Tabler

A passionate collector of art, Jared Tabler began his art edification at an early age. He is the Director at MCQUEEN Agency, an agency that scouts, represents, and develops the careers of artists. Having run out of space to hang art in his home, he is thrilled to have three new gallery spaces to play with in the new Roxy in his role as Curator of the Visual Arts Program.

[phoenixtakaramono]

Finders Keepers

Ch6 Preview: _cynosure

“Hey, hey!” Jack demanded. Coffee nearly splashed out of the mug when he slammed it down on the aluminum surface of the folding table which’d served as his workstation, the mug nearly avoiding his pocketwatch. “How come it’s front and center—next to me?”

The sigh that answered Jack through the comm sounded weary. And it hadn’t been the first, nor the last, time it’d been heard.

The days after the assassination attempt had passed by like a whirlwind. Each time Jack rose with the morning sun, he’d woken up to a hunger gnawing within him. It was a bloodthirst that demanded to be satiated and an all-consuming compulsion to piece together the new puzzle set in front of him. Security had been tightened. Rhys and the loaders had been seen following him doggedly. Even past acquaintances Jack had met intergalactically had actually commed or ECHOed him.

While he basked in the sudden attention, the cynical part of him understood that the demonstrations were ultimately superficial and self-serving. He’d find memos around the Hyperion offices of Opportunity advising him to take insurance against further security risks, and he’d crumble the paper into tight, little balls. Robots that were sent as human proxies ended up being riddled with bullet holes once Jack got tired of their constant nagging.

It was just unfortunate that there had been no survivors to interrogate. Everyone who’d been in that room had been either too skilled or lucky, shooting down the terrorists. Even so, it’d been interesting when he had the bloody corpses examined. They might have been disguised in Hyperion yellow, but he’d thought the make and model of their combat gear resembled the disgraced Crimson Lance soldiers and assassins. That theory only fell to the wayside when the coroner showed him the mess of organic tissues and inorganic parts soldered together in an amalgamation of bioware that made up their anatomies.

To Jack’s recollection, he didn’t remember any surviving Lance units being anything but human. Cybernetics was controversial across the galaxy, with few brave enough to undergo the augmentations. All sorts of laws and restrictions existed to restrict the installation and use of it. Few were willing to amputate their limbs or have cyberware technology implanted into their muscle and nervous system—even with sensory performance improvements and advantages. The only exception to that he could think of was his enforcer, Wilhelm, who wanted to be more cyborg than man.

All and all, the failed assassination attempt had been spun into publicity story—of how it was only due to the presence of the great and mighty hero who had saved his cohorts. Handsome Jack was the hero who overcame all odds to fight for his people. Terrorism was no match for their hero.

Maintaining such notoriety, however, wasn’t without its downsides. He’d been met with begrudging respect and disdain as he spun his web to ensnare the wealthy or the influential and to keep them from taking the next shuttle out. He’d even contributed his own credits—Hyperion’s finances—to the emergency relief funds generated to aid any victims and to rebuild the corporate offices. Of the brave cynics who’d questioned how truly safe their developing utopia could be if such an attack occurred on their soil, Jack made sure to silence and have examples be made out of them, whether it have been through arrests, blackmail, bribery, hefty fines, or even their deaths. The rallying cry of his supporters, with the underbelly of Hyperion propaganda blaring constantly and the societal pressure of its loyal citizens and classism, served to help drown out the majority of his dissenters. It was clear to most that the Hyperion CEO was running Opportunity as a modern totalitarian dictatorship, but Jack thrived in the knowledge of his absolute authority—a far cry from his past. This city would be his magnum opus—one of his three surviving legacies.

While Jack was happy to have things back to a semblance of normalcy since the incident, he was helpless to resist the lure of the stars. Being back on land was appreciated, but it never felt real to Jack. His trips seldomly lasted long; relearning to walk again in the force of the planet’s gravity, regaining his balance and getting his motion sickness under control—they were all great initial adjustments to his routine that he disliked undergoing regardless of whichever homeworld he was visiting. Catching up on current events, pop culture, and life in the time he’d been away made him feel like he was an alien—surreal as it was. Days could have him questioning his sanity: if he could’ve been the only one on this godforsaken, crummy planet with the self-awareness that they could be living in a simulation and everyone around him had been replaced by robots. Those startling moments of sobriety felt like being doused headfirst in cold water, popping up in the most inconvenient of times such as board meetings or over his favorite mealtime, instantly souring his mood.

Those were the times he got trigger-happy. It was a clear indication, when even the return of his taste buds couldn’t keep him satiated any longer, that a trip to the docking bay was long overdue.

He’d even find himself taking comfort in the company of actual machines than with his fellow humans. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend he was back in that world of the transcendently magical and deeply prosaic, with its familiar smell of outer space—vaguely resembling rusted metal—cocooning him. Space was a symbol of liberation from earthly concerns, from petty squabbles and from flapping lips. Pandora was full of bandits and the impoverished, all of whom loathed him just as much as he despised them. The uneducated words that came out of their mouths made him want to bash his head against the wall. The closest sanctuary he could make on this planet that was similar to the floating moonbase Helios, where the wealthy gathered and ambition reigned strong, was Opportunity.

The narrow pale features of his Vice President, Jeffery Blake, was peering back at him through the floating projection. A healthy dose of caution had always tempered the businessman’s mannerisms—an epitome of professionalism—but even he seemed visibly aghast by Jack’s disapproval in this conference call. “Sir…,” Jeffery said slowly, “as I’ve said, we’ve run it by our focus groups. This one was especially well-received—”

So even you’re walking on eggshells? That was the thought that flitted across Jack’s mind.

Jack groaned, slapping his hands on the table. “Pal, you’re not listening to me!” He jabbed his finger at the projection, making it fizzle slightly before Blake’s face reformed over his index finger. He exclaimed, “Look. What do you see? Why am I being overshadowed by my own tinman?”

Like every other propaganda poster displayed at the Living Legend Plaza, on billboards, and even back at Helios, Jack had a team of artists who knew the emphasis of every design was to memorialize the Hyperion CEO in the moment of a heroic exploit. Whether the stories were true or not, no one dared to question the legitimacy—especially not after the examples Jack had made out of his doubters in the past.

Sensing the eyes on him, he finally deigned to glance over his shoulder. The plastic covering of the seat squeaked under him in his readjustment.

If looks could kill, then Jack would be buried twelve feet under with the glower Rhys had been directing at him for the last few hours. Plugged into the charging port, Rhys was currently sitting motionlessly in the back with its arms crossed, strapped into place as all of Jack’s other knickknacks to avoid having his belongings float around. The brown synthetic hair was in disarray, still windswept from the small pandemonium Jack’s arrival had caused at the private spaceport on Pandora. While Jack wouldn’t say what the android had exhibited at the spaceport had been signs of anxiety, it certainly hadn’t seemed pleased with the amount of camera flashes and the throng of bodies that had crowded around them since their arrival. It especially hadn’t liked being ordered out on an errand to retrieve a case of imported alien cigars for Jack and his new buddies to smoke in the first class space lounge.

To Jack, Rhys was becoming more and more capable day by day—even if it did exhibit a lingering attitude problem sometimes, coded into its systems. Despite the personality package of the android’s mysterious predecessor that he had Rhys install into its own noggin, Atlas’ resentment of him seemed to have endured despite the megacorporation having long since been disbanded.

“No, sir, it is merely sharing the spotlight—with you. Everyone knows that you are the hero. After all, how could they not? A mere machine standing next to the rakish, devilish Handsome Jack? You’re the protector; not that robot.”

Jack grunted, removing his gaze from his android.

One thing Jack did like about that stoic man, besides being a damn good salesman, was that the man somehow knew what to say—or what not to say—to get the best results. He somehow intuitively knew how to transverse the landmine that was Handsome Jack, offering fawning words and publicly putting on a show of respecting the Hyperion CEO. Even now Jack could sense the calculating air behind that crafty expression of his.

“It’s unfathomable that you’d be in any way overshadowed anyhow.” There was an evenness to that deep, calm cadence which soothed wounded pride. The man didn’t even give the impression that he knew he was walking on tightrope. With a slight smile, Blake continued, “We are selling an image to the people of Opportunity. What planets need is heroes of today. A fresh face doesn’t hurt your image; in fact, it strengthens it. Besides, the added benefit is that now everyone knows Rhys belongs to you, sir.”

The more Jack listened to his parasitic compliments, to the words drifting into his ears like silk, he could feel a taut smile beginning to split his mask from ear to ear. He’d wanted to reach through that projection and smash Blake’s face into the table. Even though he knew he was being manipulated with honeyed words, Blake’s logic and attempt to appeal to his ego did make Jack subside a bit.

The recliner creaked as Jack sank back into his seat, his arms folded over his chest. His scowl remained on the metallic gold constellations on the blue ceramic mug, with its Dads Need Space Too seemingly mocking him. He could see his own mask reflected upside-down in the black coffee, the rehydrated beverage still full to the brim. No matter how many years had passed, no matter the innovations and technological advancements, the cheap, universally standard freeze-dried coffee still sucked in comparison against the freshly brewed cups that could only be acquired planet-side or at select space stations. Grumbling under his breath, he flicked the plastic straw, sending it careening to the other side.

Safety was priority. Similar to the dehydrated meals of somewhat liquid consistency and the soluble drinks that the Hyperion dietitians had vacuum-sealed into the standard-issued pouches for his flight, the lighter items that Jack had brought had velcro in the back to adhere them to the walls. He didn’t have to look to see his storage locker was full of Pandoran snacks and souvenirs.

By the time that the call with Blake ended, he was pinching the bridge of his nose, exhaling through the mouth of his mask. His foot was tapping a jittery tune against the floor, clattering loudly in the hollow shuttle as the hologram displayed comms he’d made that had gone unanswered.

In the silence that followed the absence of voice, the whirr of machinery permeated the enclosed space, along with the crackle of the comm system as the shuttle cruised among the stars. It was times like these that punctuated how infinitesimal they were in the vast emptiness that consumed them.

The shuttle they were flying in was privately owned by Handsome Jack himself, estimated to be between the cost of the massive space station that was Helios and the cost of at least a quarter of the emergency escape pods that lined that station. Designers and engineers alike, in the dawn of Hyperion’s startup, had tried their best to include enough terrestrial comforts to inspire even the weariest of souls to want to stare into the void that was outer space. Given the weight restrictions and limited space on any interplanetary vehicles, designs had to be lightweight and flexible, serving multiple purposes in low-gravity. But unlike those compact spherical pods, an optional artificial gravitational field had been installed inside the computer modules and ventilation systems—which’d meant squishy human CEOs like Jack didn’t need to tether or strap themselves down to something in order to avoid floating under zero-gravity conditions. It hummed in the background, a constant companion and white noise.

Jack could hear the crack of bones shifting as he flexed stiff fingers. It was a painful sort of awareness; his joints ached and he could get tired so much faster. However much he liked to joke that he was born for the stars, reaching for once unreachable heights, traveling in space reminded him of how he wasn’t as young and sprightly anymore. He’d gotten used to it, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

It was also only in a private moment like this that he could admit to himself, that as much as he loved hogging the spotlight, isolation could sometimes be a blessing in disguise for him. Yet despite the serenity, Jack’s foot was still restless.

“Shit….” Jack knew himself very well. His eyes shot to the monitor, fixating on the photo hovering on the side. His eyes traced the face of a dusky-skinned woman with piercing eyes and the curve of that sable dark hair which curled up entrancingly against sharp cheekbones. It was one of the few photos he’d captured where she hadn’t been wearing her smirk like her prized cowboy hat, like an accessory. After several more minutes, he declared, “Fuck it.”

And he jabbed his thumb on her name.

The familiar beep, beep, beep of the outgoing call rang hollow in his ears. His thoughts were brewing into a black storm, cresting in the restless energy that threatened to spill over as he laced his fingers tightly under the metal clasp over his chin. “C’mon. Pick up. Pick up.”

Beep. Beep. Beeeeeep. Click. “Howdy there; Lawbringer and Sheriff of Lynchwood here.” A strong voice bled into his ears like smoke, making his nails dig grooves into his knuckles. “Nisha if I know you; Ms. Kadam if you’ve got nasty business with me. Only leave a message if you’ve got something important to say—”

Crack. The table clattered under the fist that slammed down onto it. “Shit,” he said, bowing his head. “Nisha.” His features contorted. Anguish coated his voice. “Why are you ignoring me now? I just...fuck, I just want to talk….”

His hand was throbbing in pain. His resentment flagging, he lifted his fist to inspect why he felt a little wetness. And another curse slipped out once he saw what it was that he’d hit. It was his pocketwatch.

He snatched it, bringing it up closer to eye level. The metal prongs which’d protected the dome couldn’t withstand the impact, the glass having splintered into pieces. The once phosphorus blue glow in the center, which contained his bio-data, granting him full security clearance, had dimmed into black. The DNA inside was contaminated; there was no way he could salvage this.

A voice drifted into his awareness. “...Jack?”

Jack could merely stare down at his broken watch in silence. He felt like a disembodied spectator that couldn’t speak; he could only listen. It was as if his brain was suffering a massive short circuit and struggled to compute. Plip plip plip plip. The liquid seeped between the cracks of his fingers.

Click. Jack heard a strap being unfastened. Footsteps soon clanged on the floor, advancing toward him. He felt a deft touch on his shoulder. “Oh, your watch….” It was phrased as a casual observation, non-judgemental and nonchalant. “Yikes. Give that here. Lemme see.” A pale hand reached down and Jack watched long fingers close over the broken watch.

It was only instinctual; as Rhys’ arm retreated, Jack’s head followed the movement like a gravitational pull, stopping only when he caught sight of the frown on the android’s features as it saw Nisha’s image on the screen. Heterochromatic optics darted from the projected image and refocused on his owner’s possession on his palm. As Handsome Jack’s android, it’d known the timepiece’s functions. Jack had let it analyze its properties before.

“...It may have been an accident, but I’m glad I don’t need to break out the emergency first aid kit.”

Jack nearly jerked back when Rhys reached for his hands, fearless and unafraid.

Rhys’ gaze had transferred over to him, and he watched the awkward tilt of his lips as he squeezed Jack’s fingers. In a charitable tone, he was entreated, “You don’t have to tell me what’s been on your mind, if you don’t want to. But I’d like to help you repair this. It’ll take some time, but may I?”

Staring wasn’t quite the word he’d use to describe what was going on in the moment. Jack’s eyes rested, not unblinking but slowed, locking onto the strange human gesture. Rhys held his gaze but instead of the expected icy hostility, the android almost radiated sincerity.

At a loss for words, Jack pulled his hands back, slipping free from the discomfort of the moment.

“Jack?”

He propped his right fist slowly up against his jaw, and soon the left fist joined. For a moment, he remained silent, ruminating on Rhys’ features. Up close, even he could freely admit to himself that the person Rhys had been modeled after had been somewhat photogenic. Jack wouldn’t say the man had cut a dashing figure—he certainly didn’t look like a model even in the renders, nor was he a pretty boy like the financial advisor Jack had stationed at the VIP Tower of the Handsome Jackpot casino—but Rhys was passable by most societal standards. Well defined, with a sharp jaw and angular cheekbones, tall and lean. (Although his looks were maybe somewhat average in comparison against the ruggedness of Handsome Jack himself, he couldn’t fault the man for being born inadequate.)

While Jack suspected the original Rhys might’ve been prone to bouts of fretting and insecurity from how he’d sounded in the audio logs, Jack saw none of that in the confident way he’d held himself and even now being simulated by this android. In a way, Jack had seen a little bit of his past self in the man that he was learning Rhys might have been, struggling to air respectability to his peers and to be recognized.

“...Y'know,” Jack remarked, “you’re really not that bad of a guy.”

“Uhh.”

He waved his hand cavalierly in the air. “Yeah. If you think you can do me a kindness, go for it. Send it to the best watchmaker I have in my contacts.”

“Got it.”

Putting the computer on sleep mode, Nisha’s picture fizzled out as he gestured for Rhys to take a step back. With a quizzical look, it did as it was told and merely watched as Jack straightened up, wiping the liquid off on his jeans. He ignored the pinched expression it formed upon seeing the small dark stain.

He snapped his fingers twice above his thigh. “Eyes up here, tinman.”

Brown and gold optics leapt up to meet blue and green.

In feigned arrogance, Jack advanced forward toward it. The little rise in the corner of his mouth was a familiar smirk that he’d heard others lament as appearing sinister. “Stand up straighter. I wanna check something.”

“What do you—?”

“Ah!” Jack slapped his hand over its mouth, stopping it from answering. “I didn’t ask you for your opinion now, did I? Now shut up and lemme do my thing.” Without asking for permission, he swept his hand from the top of his head to Rhys’. There was a couple millimeters of empty space between his palm and that coiffed synthetic hair, a negligible difference in reality but it was enough for Jack.

It didn’t matter that he was wearing his high-heeled boots instead of his go-to sneakers. He was taller.

SUMMARY: By some miraculous twist of fate, Jack stumbles across an Atlas android hidden smack dab in Hyperion headquarters. Obviously, what is he going to do with it? Keep it for himself, of course, because as the saying goes, "Finders keepers, losers weepers." What he didn't anticipate was the clusterfuck he'd find himself in, when he discovers the valuable model he'd been hoarding has a hidden backstory. There is more than meets the eye. (It's a sort-of tie-in to the Borderlands and Tales from the Borderlands universes. This is another attempt at an AU, although I hope to pay homage to elements from canon.)

Ship: Handsome Jack & (android) Rhys Strongfork

(A/N) - Ch 1-5 of Finders Keepers can be found on AO3, written by PhoenixTakaramono. For everyone that’s still following this story after my extended hiatus, thank you very much for your patience! If you feel like you’ve read this preview before, you’re not wrong. I’ve made a few revisions, but keep in mind that this preview may or may not reflect the final edits in the final draft of ch6 which’ll be uploaded to AO3 once it’s been complete. This has admittedly been one of my more troublesome chapters to write, but finally I can see the light on the horizon.

[zankivich]

The Arrangement: CEO’s Son/Dom!Shawn x Black Sub Reader Chapter 1

This entire series is thanks to this gif set by @fallininyou

a/n: She’s a mouth full but I think this is going to be my next series post Neighbors (I promise that epilogue is still coming though!) I’m honestly so excited to explore this. I think it’s gonna be a Dom/sub relationship in my eyes, like one I would feel comfortable with which isn’t necessarily what everyone else would consider it. I will admit this isn’t going to get MAJOR kinky? But I want to use the relationship as a means to reflect what a sexual relationship can offer outside of everyday life? It’ll make more sense as you read. this is wildly different for me and I’m so so so nervous to put it out. Let me know what you think. Idk I’m scared. Please don’t hate it. 

WARNINGS: Heavy smut. No condom (wrap it up kids)

It’s just a glance across the room. That’s usually all it takes. He’s standing next to his father and tugging his fingers through his curls in that way that is entirely unnecessarily but absolutely tantalizing. The pheromones this man could cause in the room. And that’s on a regular day. Add in the added bonus of a banquet where the son of the biggest music exec in the industry was officially joining his father’s company, and the result was a suit tailored to the very millimeter of his body. It was a bit ridiculous. But every woman, and frankly anyone with sight and a sex drive, couldn’t keep their eyes off of him. And he knew it, which is exactly why you weren’t interested. That didn’t mean you couldn’t look, right?

Mendes Industries was the end all be all of the music industry. It helped to have a rags to riches story of Mandy Mendes pulling himself up by the bootstraps and creating his company from scratch with a pristine ability to know a hit when he heard it. It was like the american dream personified, except they were Canadian. Looking at Manny now, no one would ever be able to guess the rags part. He practically glides across the floor with entitlement, smooshing investors and shaking hands with every old, rich white man in the building. And there are many.

Shawn Mendes was on track to follow directly in his father’s footsteps with everything from the asshole grin to the billion dollar inheritance waiting for him the second he turned twenty-five. In the meantime, he was just a rich daddy’s boy with an ego that surely had to be bigger than his dick. Word on the street was that was pretty big too.

“You know for someone who frowns so much on all these rich pampered white boys, you sure seem to have an eye for ‘em.” Tiana snickered over her champagne glass.

You let your eyes fall away from the Mendes boy as he fluffed his curls again and turned them to your obnoxious best friend turned assistant instead.

You rolled your eyes. “I’m not doin’ nothing but people watching. What else is there to do at these events? I haven’t got my white supremacist chuckle down yet, so I can’t go mingle unfortunuately.”

Tiana laughed at your quite accurate joke as you both took sips of your drinks.

At thirty years old you were the up and coming manager in the industry. At just twenty five you’d come in a number one on Forbe’s 30 under 30 list, and you had yet to slow down. In fact it seemed to be that most of the biggest artists in the industry fell under Mendes industries, except for the ones who fell under you. You had a feeling that was the only reason you were invited to this dumbass event to begin with. Mandy was the type to keep his enemies closer than his friends, and he was also the type to definitely view you as an enemy. Oh well.

Speak of the devil.

“Y/n! Darling.” Manny greeted hand coming naturally to your arm against your will.

His son was right behind him, and he was a lot more to deal with up close. Maroon printed button up with one too few buttons undone. The dark suit that he only drew attention to by sliding his hands purposely into his pockets. You noticed the way that his eyes ran over your body with heat. And the way that he seemed to pay attention to nothing in the world but the way your dress melded to your rounded thighs. You would have liked to think that you would be a lot less affected by that gaze, yet the way your inner thighs pulsed told a different story. When he licked his bottom lip, you leaned a little harder on the table.

“Manny,” You breathed smoothly. “You sure know how to plan a party.”

False. You had clocked fifteen changes you would’ve made the second you walked in the door.

“Well that certainly means a lot coming from you. I saw a couple of your artists next to mine on the TIME’s most influential. You’re coming up, aye?” He chuckled.

Your eyes widened. “Yes. You know the come up is hard Manny. I remember when we got Ariana on the cover of that issue that’s exactly what I was thinking too.”

It has its intended chilling effect on Manny. It seems to have the opposite effect on Shawn who’s now biting his lip at you like you’re something to eat. Men. So obvious.

“Oh no need to get yourself in a tizzy, y/n. We’re all friends here.” He grinned. “Have you met my son yet? It’s his celebration after all.”

You rolled your eyes but turned to him regardless. He still was refusing to mask those bedroom eyes of his, and stepped just close enough to be in your space as he reached his hand out for you to shake.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure, yet.” He smirked.

It was a much different smirk than his father’s. Still arrogant, still totally full of himself. But, there’s something less sinister about it. He clearly hasn’t gotten around to being the bad guy yet, he’s just immulating his dad.

But, also what a cocky asshole to say “yet” as if it was inevitable that he would be getting any pleasure from you ever. Wild.

You took his hand and squeezed it gently. “You most certainly haven’t.”

Someone else comes to wisk Manny away leaving you there with Shawn who has neglected to let go of your hand yet.

“Let me buy you a drink.” He murmured, eyes just as dark at the suit on his back.

You hummed. “You old enough?”

He nodded. “I’m rich enough too.”

“Oooh child, I must be going. Bye now!” Tianna giggled disappearing into thin air.

You made a mental note to fire her tomorrow.

You peered over at where your assistant had practically flown into the crowd in her attempt to abandon you, before peering back at Shawn. He was still holding your hand, but he took it upon himself to lean against the table so that there was even less space between you.

“Now that we’re alone and you can stop pretending you weren’t eyeing me earlier, how about that drink?”

The fucking gall. Ooooo you wanted to hate him. And you did. A part of you definitely hated him and everything that he stood for. And when you thought about the years it took you selling t-shirts at the merch booths, being the assistant to every white guy who thought his shit didn’t stink, just inching for the opportunity to do the work you got to do now? When you thought about the fact that this man-child was just going to step directly above you without any hard work, without anything? You did hate him, at least everything that he stood for. The major error here was that your body had not quite gotten the memo that your head had settled on. And for whatever fucked up reason, he was getting to you. The worst part of it all was that he knew it.

“I’m still a little curious how this all is going to work. Do you have to go get Daddy’s credit card, or do they just have someone follow you around to make your purchases for you?” You grinned. “I’m a grown ass woman, not one of them girls you’re used to.”

He took a deep breath and nodded. He released your hand, and your fingers clenched uncontrollably at the loss. For a second you thought he might actually give up. Your stomach tightened.

Instead he leaned across the table and brushed the curtain of waist length braids you’d sported for the evening off your shoulder. His lips pressed just right against your ear, and his thumb sent absolute fire into your skin where he grazed your hip.

“Listen, whatever you think I’m capable of, or not capable of? I’d suggest you toss that all out the window. I’d be without a doubt the best you ever had. That’s not a dig towards the type of guys you’re pulling because I think you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s just a fact. A very fortunate fact I’d like to show you if you stop thinking about who my dad is for two seconds and just let me buy you the damn drink.”

It was without a doubt the wildest shit a man had ever said to you in your life. And you worked in the entertainment business. Your eyes fluttered shut, and your teeth sunk into your bottom lip. He had you. It was bad. Like breathy sigh, stumbled a little closer to him type bad. Shit. Where in the hell did this one come from?

“Fine. Buy me a damn drink.” You huffed.

“Good. Come with me.”

He led you with a hand on the small of your back, a very delicate and sensitive area on your body, to the bar. It did not go unnoticed that Shawn Mendes was talking to y/f/n/ y/l/n. But he seemed to feed off people staring at him, seemed to thrive under it even. He got you a vodka soda and a whiskey for himself. He’s still way too close to you, and you’ve yet to ask him to step back. The heat that radiates off his body is doing things you’d rather not think about. And you keep squeezing your thighs together in a desperate attempt to ignore whatever he’s got going on in your underwear.

“You don’t like me.” He smirked into his drink. “Or my dad, I presume.”

You rolled your eyes. “I don’t like what you stand for no. And with all due respect, your dad is an ass.”

He laughed and clapped that catcher’s mitt he called a hand against his thigh.

“No offense taken, we can definitely agree there. You don’t need to like me. I don’t need to like you. Not for what I’ve got planned.”

“And just what exactly is that?” You snorted.

“I wanna take you home with me tonight.”

“Bold!” You grinned. “You are so bold.”

He simply shrugged at you dark eyes raking in your every movement like you were his prey. Shit maybe you were.

“Maybe. I meant what I said earlier. It’d be good for you. Real good. But I have a feeling you already know that.”

It wasn’t exactly news, especially not in A&R. Shawn got around, but he never left a girl unsatisfied. His sex life was an underground running joke at this point. Didn’t matter if the woman was twenty, or apparently as old as fifty.  He was selective enough that it hadn’t gotten out to the press, but the industry knew. You knew.

You bit your lip and stirred your glass anxiously to avoid those dark eyes of his.

“So I’m just supposed to let you take me home tonight, just cause you want to?”

He shook his head. “No. I only want you to come home with me if you want it. But, I think you do. And I know I can make it worth your while. What do you say y/n? Do you want it?”

You could feel your heart beat a little faster in your chest. Your thighs were getting a hell of a work out as you felt yourself practically pooling. This was ridiculous. This was unsustainable. There’s no way in hell you should go home with him. No way. You couldn’t!

A voice on the mic system broke you out of your daze as someone made the announcement for people to head toward their seats as the program was about to begin. Shawn rolled his eyes and reached into his suit jacket to produce a thin piece of plastic.

“I have to go get another position handed down to me. I’m staying in the penthouse tonight. You can either get yourself another drink on my tab and go home, or you can meet me there. It’s up to you, sweetheart.”

He placed the key card on the bar top beside your drink and squeezed delicately at your hip as he passed. You weren’t able to breathe until he was no longer in front of you. Fuck.

The ridiculousness that was a thirty year old grown ass woman shaking in her thong over this….this man. Who was barely a man. What were the chances that he was actually going to show you something special? What were the chances that he had any idea what he was doing? It just felt unrealistic. And you still wanted to hate him.

Then Manny pulls him on stage and he leans against the podium. His hands are so large that the mic gets eaten up every time he reaches for it. He tugs at his curls again and you squirm against the bar before knocking back the rest of your vodka soda. It’s even worse because he’s charming. He’s got that dumbass smile and he gets the crowd laughing. It’s charisma and spunk and everything you wish you didn’t want.

You get another vodka soda and watch him accept all the love and adoration that the crowd is throwing at him. The final straw comes when he makes eye contact with you. All of the heat comes roaring back immediately. His gaze is tense and unwavering. He’s got you.

You reach for the key card and stomp off in the direction of the elevators before your liquid courage can diminish. When you peer back over your shoulder you catch him walking through the crowd ignoring hand shake after handshake to get to you. It’s not just you. Apparently you have him too.

***

The penthouse suite is bigger than your first apartment. There’s a full kitchen, mulitiple bedrooms, and a fucking jaccuzi that you’re a little curious about. None of that matters the second he steps in the room though. His suit jacket is already off and lands on one of the many expensive couches. His sleeves are rolled and he’s got those damn hands in his pockets again as he looks you over. You wish you didn’t practically keen under his gaze, but there’s no denying how hot this is.

“Hmmm” He hummed taking you in. “You wanna pick a bed? Or we can get creative if you’d like.”

It was so fucking cocky! Ugh.

“How is it that every time you speak I both want to punch you and sleep with you?” You groaned.

He smiled. “It’s my speciality. Here, come here?”

“What?”

“Just come here.”

He reached his hand out and you sighed and took it. You know? Like an idiot.

He spun you into his arms and ran his fingers over your hips, nose skimming along yours. You felt your eyes widen as he leaned in to kiss you. A new problem arose. Boy. Could. Kiss.

It’s gentle at first. His lips are soft but sure of themselves as they wrap sweetly around yours. It’s inquisitive though. He’s trying to figure out what you like, what you want. So, when he captures your bottom lip between both of his and you groan, he keeps doing it. And when he nips playfully at you and your fingers tighten against his shirt, he seems to know exactly what it is you need. And he’s certainly prepared to give it to you.

He licks inside of your mouth and his fingers grip at your neck as he ropes you in. It’s breathtaking. Like honestly so. It’s hard to breathe when he’s biting and licking and making you moan. It’s even harder to focus on breathing when you feel like he’s consuming you. His hands travel back down to your waist and then lower and lower until he’s lifting you clean off the floor.

“Shawn!” You gasp, hips tightening considerably as you hide your face in his neck.

“I’m gonna guess you’re good with me picking a room?”

He takes you to the master bedroom where your body nestles perfectly into the sheets. Your ass bounces a little bit and he gives you a look that practically has your clothes coming off alone. The verbal command is merely an added bonus.

“Take your clothes off.” He murmured voice authoritative and rough.

You do as he asks, not wanting to look away from him for even a moment. He’s got one hand on his groin and another on your calf and the second your dress is off he makes a sound that makes your nipples harden.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful.”

He reaches for your face with those big, warm hands as he stares down at you like you’re already his. You melt beneath that gaze. When your fingers reach for the expensive belt on his expensive slacks, his fingers turned to steel around your wrists.

“Not now. Lie back.”

He taps at your leg and watches as you shuffle back on the bed, crawling in after you. His chest nestles between your legs and you bite your lip as he kisses your inner thigh.

“You wet for me yet?”

God his voice was so husky and gravely, you could practically feel it. His lips map out whole stories along your thighs. You arch your back as his thumbs push just below your ass. It’s not enough to actually touch you, he has to destroy you first.

“These fucking thighs.” He sighed inching closer to skin his nose against your heat. “Bet this pussy tastes good too.”

He doesn’t even have the decency to move your thong out the way, has to lave and soak it through with his tongue instead. The piece of fabric nestles just perfectly against your clit and he licks it back and forth. You’re so wet already it’s obscene. You tug a little desperately at his palms on your hips as he suckles at your outer lips. It’s too much already. How the fuck is it that good?

“Shit. Oh shit.” You whine.

He leans up on his knees and pushes his face closer chasing you every inch you try to wiggle away. His eyes get darker and pulls back to sink his teeth into your thigh. You let out the most embarrassing sound, something between a sob and a groan. The pain gave way to pleasure and traced the skin with his tongue immediately after.

“Stop that. Let me make you cum, or you won’t get to cum the rest of the night.”

He gets more and more direct with every passing moment, and each time he makes a demand, your hips only pulse a little more. It’s so good. He wraps his lips around your clit and sucks and it drives you up the wall. Your moans pours out into the air and your fingers tighten into the sheets. He’s sucking sucking you hard and fast, his tongue flicking over and under and around that small bud like he’d already memorized every nerve ending. You find heaven against his mouth and ride the wave while he sucks you for every single drop you have.

“Oh my god. What the hell was that?”

You peer down between your legs and there his dumb fucking face is nestled against your thigh. He looks soft for just a moment, curls tickling your stomach.

“Yea. Feels good, aye?” He chuckled. “It gets better.”

He slides from between your legs and reaches for his belt. The whole time his eyes burn into you making your toes curls in the expensive ass sheets.

“Flip over. Ass up.”

You sighed softly letting your legs plop down on the bed.

“Give me a second.”

His toned arms flexed as he worked on the buttons to his pants, teeth sinking dangerously into his lip.

“Don’t make me have to do it for you, honey.”

You’d never done quite well with orders. Your job was always to mitigate people who thought they could overpower you, who thought they were smarter than you. It had always been about fighting for every inch that you had, and never letting go. In this moment with him, in this penthouse that cost more than your rent, you feel…oddly safe with him. Like, giving up a little bit of your power wasn’t going to be used against you. Anything that you let up, or let go of, was only going to result in your pleasure. He didn’t want to hurt you. He wanted to make you feel good. You just had to let him do it.

Your shoulders relax as you flip over onto your stomach and listen to the sound of his pants hitting the floor. His large palms ease over your shoulders and down your back as he settles behind you. It already feels good just to have him touching you. And then the second he picks up the pace and spreads your thighs, your heart rate picks up again. Just let go. Let him have this.

“Do I need to use a condom?” He hummed voice puffing against your neck.

You wiggled impatiently. “I’ve got an IUD. Are you clean?”

“Yea. Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

His hands come to your hips pushing down at the arch in your back to make it more prominent. You feel him against your heat and it’s a bit intimidating at first. . Mostly because the rumors of whether or not he’s packing is literally being confirmed against your vulva. And also because he’s rubbing his head against your clit like it’s your own personal sex toy, and you are…a mess. He hadn’t even put it in.

“You’re so fucking wet for me.” He sighed rubbing a little firmer against you. “Talked all that shit downstairs but this pussy was made for me, aye? Tell me you need it.”

All your inhibitions are gone. Sex is a hell of a thing. Makes the wildest shit okay in the right setting, and you’ve completely fallen into his spell for the night.

You whined against the sheets pressing yourself against him.

“Shawn, please.” You whimpered. “Need it.”

“Fuck. I’m gonna give it to you.”

He pushes in, filling you up inch by inch and your muscles spasm around him as he stretches you perfectly. Your eyes close and your lips open to let his name come out of your mouth in a voice that is just as filthy as the way his cock feels inside of you. It’s too much already. You don’t see how the hell you’re gonna make it out of this in one piece. You quickly learn that was never his intention in the first place.

His hips set a brutal rhythm against the back of your thighs, the noise in the air lewd and filthy. His fingers dig so deep into your hips you might have felt yourself bruise if you weren’t so concerned with how good he feels inside you. It’s instantly too much. And he’s not letting you up, not letting you breathe. He flips you over without even dislodging himself and the feel of it is incredible. He gets close enough that you’re pressed together chest to chest and it feels like your skin is on fire. God, it’s too much.

Eventually the sounds you’re making start to get embarrassing and you have no choice but to start sucking at the skin of his collarbones and chest just to have a chance at avoiding combustion. That’s where you discover the nipple thing. Your thighs bracket his hips and your tongue traces his right nipple and the results are exquisite.

“Shit” He whined. “Don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

You let your teeth graze the flesh as it pearled in the air and he pushed his hips harder against yours.

“Fuck! You trying to make me cum?”

His voice was more raw, less perfect chiseled sultriness and more fucked out bliss. It turned you on more than ever.

“What if I am?” You whispered peering up at him.

You bit your lip and clenched slightly around him endlessly enjoying the way the muscles in his jaw twitched in response.

“You’re so fucking bad.” He grunted and ran his thumb along your bottom lip. “Gonna have to gag this pretty mouth of yours sometime.”

You giggled softly letting your teeth nip at his thumb.

“Wanna see you try.”

“God, where the hell did you come from?” He whispered.

“I’m a Black woman. I come from the sun and the earth and everything God herself made. Duh. Now fuck me like you mean it, white boy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He leans up on his knees and takes that hold on your hips again. There’s sweat on his brow and he’s biting his lip and he genuinely gives you all that he’s got. He has the audacity to slow down, but you wouldn’t even know it the way he’s dragging his hips. In a dick crazed brain you’d say his cock was meant for you. His hips swirl against yours and he fills you over and over again making sure to stop just long enough on every lunge to get your moans to keep coming out into the stale air.

You reach for his thighs with your fingers and push back against him with your hips. He cries out for you again and it’s like an adrenaline kick. His grunts and moans are like food for your soul, and there’s no stopping either of you. His thrusts get more rugged, less precise, but more piercing, and your moans get higher. It feels so fucking good. You never want him to stop.

“Please! Please!”

“Fuck! Where do you want it, baby girl? Tell me where you want it.”

“In me.” You sigh breathlessly. “Want it in me.”

His fingers digs into your ass and he pulls you into him raggedly over and over and over until he’s pumping you full, warm and overflowing. You collapse there in one massive, tangled heap as you both try to regulate your breathing. He’s heavy as shit, but somehow it manages to feel good. You feel like you might float away if he weren’t there to hold you down. It’s as your looking up at the cieling, and all you can smell is sweat and sex and him, that you realize just how fucked for him you are already. And how bad this was going to be for you. Shit.

TBC

Please consider buying my broke ass a Kofi!

permanent tag list: @simpledomain @liliane106 @kamahriii @thecurlsofgod

Arrangement taglist: @shawnase @mani-lifes @littlefiercequeen 

[shattersstar]

Do you know where I can find that email template to send to Lush?

Hi lovely so i found the template bc gia ford resposted on her instagram story but i cannot find the original post as it is no longer on her story either so! I am gonna copy and paste the email here with all the instructions on who to send to, photos and more BUT i would like to make it very, very clear that this is NOT my email, photos, idea, etc. I simply cannot find the original creator (and if someone does I would greatly appreciate being told so i can give them credit where its due) and still want the lush to be held accountable. It’s also quite long so I will undercut it.

Subject is: Black Lives Matter

The recipients are: wecare@lush.co.uk, lushpr@lush.co.uk, charitypot@lush.co.uk

The photos to attach (some of which are from the post as well) I will add at the bottom.

“ Dear Lush,

You have stated in a recent Instagram post that ‘Black Lives Matter’. As an customer I feel that this is an empty performative statement unless you commit to distributing your enormous wealth to supporting the Black Lives Matter campaign, and other Black-led organisations and funds. An example of a cosmetic company doing this is Glossier, who have committed to donating $500,000 to ‘organisations focused on combating racial injustice’. You have stated that you are donating through your charity pot scheme, but this is not enough in a desperate time of need. You have and will continue to profit off Black labour, both from material suppliers and your Black staff, who are in the minority. What are you doing to repay this labour and ensure that Black lives are not treated as disposable? Your statement does not go far enough to even begin rectifying the amount of strain that Black people have faced in our climate. You need to prioritise Black lives and welfare. In your UK statement, you said that ‘racism is woven unseen into the fabric of our society’. The metaphorical language used to discuss the very real consequences that race has on Black lives is not only trivialising but disrespectful. Slapping the message onto an image of fraying denim for emphasis only elevates the ignorance and superficiality of what you are putting across.

Lush CEO Mark Constantine has been posting on his Facebook about making lush donations to the police whilst we are witnessing extreme police brutality against Black people. He posted in support of the police one day after George Floyd was brutally murdered by police. This is not only happening in the US but in the UK too. The CEO of lush is actively supporting an institution which is directly harming Black people across the world. He has since continued to post on Facebook about the wonders of bird sounds, proving that he does not recognise the critical nature of the Black Lives Matter movement. Rather, it proves he is indifferent to Black oppression.

You have stated that you are going to release a charity product to raise funds for Black Lives Matter organisations, but why are you relying on customer funding to support this? I would like to see you match all profits made from the product as the minimum.

I would also like to know how you are committed to fighting racism and prioritising Black welfare throughout your company in the long term. Lush is a white-owned company and should be confronting white issues. A campaign should address and educate the public on white fragility and privilege so that Lush’s majority white consumers can acknowledge their societal positions and start taking accountability. You have stated that you are committed to listening to what you have done wrong regarding race and to correcting these mistakes. We need Black voices to be heard and prioritised, and feedback Lush receives must be taken seriously and acted upon. How will you ensure that Black people can speak out about experiences with racism amongst management/colleagues and customers without facing additional repercussions within Lush?

We know that Black people and people of colour are four times more likely to die from Covid-19. What is Lush doing to prioritise the safety of Black employees during the return to work period starting on the 15th of June? Mark Constantine also recently posted on his Facebook page that he has ‘decided that Covid 19 will disappear by August’ and that we should not ‘start on about all them negative second waves’. He is disregarding the fact that reopening shops would contribute to the possibility of a second wave. This would especially put his Black employees in danger. Meanwhile, he has mentioned in another post that he and co-founder Mo Constantine ‘are self isolating until the end of June’ because they are ‘average sixty something, diabetic etc’. This is white privilege. The furlough scheme is still available to protect employees, and they deserve to be prioritised just as much. We are also aware that Lush has expressed concerns about becoming financially bankrupt during the pandemic. With your focus being so heavily on financial worries, you put yourself at risk of moral bankruptcy by prioritising profit over people. Without Black labour, which is responsible for many staple ingredients for your products, Lush would become financially bankrupt anyway. You owe much of your financial profit and gain to Black lives.

If you believe that you truly are an ethical campaigning company, it is time to step up. You cannot support animal and environmental rights whilst not actively doing anything for the Black community. It took you an entire week to make the statement that you did. Silence is complicity, and it is unacceptable.

Signed,

[insert name] “

The photos to attach:

[blackkudos]

Lisa Lopes

Lisa Nicole Lopes (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002), better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, music producer, and dancer. Lopes was a member of the R&B girl group TLC, alongside Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Besides rapping and singing background vocals on TLC recordings, Lopes was one of the creative forces behind the group. She received more co-writing credits than the other members. She also designed the outfits and staging for the group and contributed to the group's image, album titles, artworks, and music videos. Through her work with TLC, Lopes won four Grammy Awards.

During her brief solo career, Lopes scored two US top 10 singles with "Not Tonight" and "U Know What's Up", as well as one UK number-one single with "Never Be the Same Again", the latter a collaboration with Melanie C of the British girl group Spice Girls. She also produced another girl group, Blaque, who scored a platinum album and two US top 10 hits. Lopes remains the only member of TLC to have released a solo album.

On April 25, 2002, Lopes was killed in a car crash while organizing charity work in Honduras. She swerved off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle, and was thrown from her car. She was working on a documentary at the time of her death, which was released as The Last Days of Left Eye and aired on VH1 in May 2007.

Life and career

1971–1990: Childhood

Lopes was born in 1971 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Wanda Denise (née Andino), a seamstress, and Ronald Lopes Sr., a US Army staff sergeant, who was of African-American descent. Lisa had a younger brother, Ronald Jr., and a younger sister, Raina Anitra (her nickname goes by Reigndrop). Lopes said her father was "very strict, very domineering" and that he treated the family like they were in "boot camp". He was also a "talented musician" who played the harmonica, clarinet, piano, and saxophone.

Lopes' parents separated when she was still in school, and she was raised by her paternal grandmother during the later years of her childhood. She began playing with a toy keyboard at 5 years old, and later composed her own songs. By age 10, she formed the musical trio The Lopes Kids with her siblings, with whom she sang gospel songs at local events and churches. She attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

1990–1998: TLC

In late 1990, having heard of an open casting call for a new girl group through her then-boyfriend, Lopes moved to Atlanta to audition. Originally starting as a female trio called 2nd Nature, the group was renamed TLC, derived from the first initials of its members at the time: Tionne Watkins, Lisa Lopes and Crystal Jones. Things did not work out with Jones, and TLC's manager Perri "Pebbles" Reid brought in Damian Dame backup dancer Rozonda Thomas as a third member of the group. To preserve the band's original name, Thomas needed a name starting with C, which is how she became "Chilli," a name chosen by Lopes. Watkins became T-Boz, derived from the first letter of her first name and "Boz" (slang for "boss"). Lopes was renamed "Left Eye" after a compliment from New Edition member Michael Bivins who once told her he was attracted to her because of her left eye, which was more slanted than the right eye. Lopes emphasized her nickname by wearing a pair of glasses with the right lens covered by a condom, in keeping with the group's support of safe sex, wearing a black stripe under her left eye, and eventually getting her left eyebrow pierced.

The group arrived on the music scene in 1992 with the album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip. With four hit singles, it sold six million copies worldwide, leading to the group becoming a household name. Two years later CrazySexyCool was released, selling over 23 million copies worldwide. TLC's third album, FanMail, was released in 1999 and sold over 14 million copies worldwide. Its title was a tribute to TLC's loyal fans and the sleeve contained the names of hundreds of them as a "thank you".

During the recording of FanMail, a public conflict began amongst the members of the group. In the May 1999 issue of Vibemagazine, Lopes said, "I've graduated from this era. I cannot stand 100 percent behind this TLC project and the music that is supposed to represent me." In response to Lopes' comments, Watkins and Thomas stated to Entertainment Weekly that Lopes "doesn't respect the whole group" and "Left Eye is only concerned with Left Eye." In response, Lopes sent a reply through Entertainment Weekly issuing a "challenge" to Watkins and Thomas to release solo albums and let the public decide who was the "greatest" member of TLC:

I challenge Tionne Watkins (T-Boz) and Rozonda Thomas (Chilli) to an album entitled "The Challenge"... a 3-CD set that contains three solo albums. Each [album]... will be due to the record label by October 1, 2000... I also challenge Dallas 'The Manipulator' Austin to produce all of the material and do it at a fraction of his normal rate. As I think about it, I'm sure LaFace would not mind throwing in a $1.5 million prize for the winner.

T-Boz and Chilli declined to take up the challenge, though Lopes always maintained it was a great idea. Things were heated between the ladies for some time, with Thomas speaking out against Lopes, calling her antics "selfish", "evil", and "heartless". TLC then addressed these struggles by saying that they are very much like sisters who have their disagreements every now and then as Lopes explained, "It's deeper than a working relationship. We have feelings for each other, which is why we get so mad at each other. I usually say that you cannot hate someone unless you love them. So, we love each other. That's the problem."

1998–2002: Solo career

In 1998, Lopes hosted the short-lived MTV series, The Cut, in which a list of aspiring pop stars, rappers, and rock bands competed against each other in front of judges. The show's winner, which ended up being a male-female rap duo named Silky, was promised a record deal and funding to produce a music video, which would then enter MTV's heavy rotation. A then-unknown Anastacia finished in third place, but ended up securing a record deal after Lopes and the show's three judges were impressed by her performance.

After the release of FanMail, Lopes began to expand her solo career. She became a featured rapper on several singles, including Spice Girl Melanie C's "Never Be the Same Again", which topped the charts in 35 countries, including the United Kingdom. She was also featured on "U Know What's Up", the first single from Donell Jones' second album, Where I Wanna Be, and she rapped a verse in "Space Cowboy" with NSYNC on their 2000 album, No Strings Attached. On October 4, 2000, Lopes co-hosted the UK's MOBO Awards with Trevor Nelson, where she also performed "U Know What's Up" with Jones. She also collaborated on "Gimme Some" by Toni Braxton for her 2000 album The Heat. She had previously featured on Keith Sweat's song "How Do You Like It?". In 2001, she appeared in a commercial for the fashion brand Gap. In July 2001, Lopes appeared on the singers' edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire along with Joey McIntyre, Tyrese, Nick Lachey, and Lee Ann Womack. She dropped the $125,000 question and won $32,000 for her charity. After her death in 2002, the episode she appeared in was shown and was dedicated to her.

Lopes created Left Eye Productions to discover new talent. She mentored the R&B trio Blaque, and helped them secure a record deal with Columbia Records. Their self-titled debut album was executive-produced by Lopes, who also made a cameo appearance in their music video "808" and also rapped in their second music video "I Do". Lopes was also developing and promoting another new band called Egypt. They worked with Lopes on her second album under her new nickname, N.I.N.A., meaning New Identity Not Applicable.

In 1996, Lopes created the UNI Studios for the purpose of recording solo projects. Lopes' family opened the studio to the public. Her brother Ronald is the general manager of the studio. Lopes had a dream of making new artists able to record music at a low cost, in a high-end studio at her house. Her family continues to operate it and fill it with new equipment.

Supernova

Lopes spent much of her free time after the conclusion of TLC's first headlining tour, the FanMail Tour, recording her debut solo album, Supernova. It includes a song titled "A New Star is Born", which is dedicated to her late father. She told MTV News:

That track is dedicated to all those that have loved ones that have passed away. It's saying that there is no such thing as death. We can call it transforming for a lack of better words, but as scientists would say, 'Every atom that was once a star is now in you.' It's in your body. So, in the song I pretty much go along with that idea. ... I don't care what happens or what people think about death, it doesn't matter. We all share the same space.

Other tracks covered other personal issues, including her relationship with NFL football player Andre Rison. In 1994, before the start of Rison's fifth and final season with the Falcons, Lopes accidentally burned down Rison Atlanta mansion. Among the album's 13 tracks was also a posthumous duet with Tupac Shakur that was assembled from the large cache of unreleased recordings done prior to his murder in 1996. Initially scheduled for release on a date to coincide with the 11th anniversary of her grandfather's death, Arista Records decided to delay and then cancel the American release. The album was eventually released in August 2001 in different foreign countries. The Japan import includes a bonus track called "Friends", which would later be sampled for "Give It to Me While It's Hot" on TLC's fourth album 3D.

N.I.N.A.

After numerous talks with Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, Lopes severed her solo deal with Arista (despite remaining signed to the label as a member of TLC) and signed with Knight's Death Row Records in January 2002, intending to record a second solo album under the pseudonym "N.I.N.A." (New Identity Not Applicable). She was recording with David Bowie for the project, whom she was also trying to get involved with the fourth TLC album. The project was also to include several songs recorded with Ray J along with close friend Missy Elliott. After Lopes' death in April 2002, Death Row Records still had plans to complete and release the album (unfinished at the time of Lopes' death) in October 2002, but the album was cancelled for unknown reasons. In 2011, some tracks from the album were uploaded onto YouTube featuring artists from Tha Row Records. Lopes's unreleased songs were also sampled by TLC for their fourth album 3Dafter she died. Another track, "Too Street 4 T.V" (featuring Danny Boy), was released on the soundtrack to the 2003 film Dysfunktional Family.

2008: Posthumous honorary album

In 2008, Lopes' family decided to work with producers at Surefire Music Group to create a posthumous album in her honor, Eye Legacy. Originally set to be released October 28, 2008, the release date was pushed back to November 11, then to January 27, 2009. The song 'Neva Will Eye Eva' and "Crank It", both feature and were co-produced by Lopes' sister Raina "Reigndrop" Lopes. The first official single from the album, "Let's Just Do It", was released on January 13, 2009 and features Missy Elliott and TLC. The second official single, "Block Party", features Lil Mama. The album largely consists of reworked versions of tracks from the Supernova album. In November 2009, Forever... The EP was released which contained international bonus tracks not used on the Eye Legacy album. The EP was only available to download. An unreleased track featuring Lopes was uploaded to SoundCloud on the eve of the 10-year anniversary of her death by Block Starz Music.

Personal life

Lopes was often vocal about her personal life and difficult past. She readily admitted that she had come from an abusive, alcoholic background and struggled with alcoholism herself. These issues became headline news in 1994, when she was arrested for setting fire to Andre Rison's sneakers in a bathtub, which ultimately spread to the mansion they shared and destroyed it. She claimed that Rison had beaten her after a night out, and she set fire to his shoes to get back at him but that burning down the house was an accident. Lopes later revealed that she did not have a lot of freedom within the relationship and that Rison abused her emotionally and physically; she said that she released her frustrations about the relationship on the night of the fire.

Lopes was sentenced to five years' probation and therapy at a halfway house, and was unable to shake the incident from her reputation. Her relationship with Rison continued to make headlines, with rumors of an imminent wedding, later debunked by People magazine. Lopes revealed on The Last Days of Left Eye documentary that her meeting with a struggling mother in rehab left a big impression on her. She subsequently adopted the woman's 8-year-old daughter. She had adopted a 12-year-old boy ten years prior.

Lopes had several tattoos. Most prominent was a large eagle on her left arm, which she said represented freedom. Later, she added the number "80" around the eagle, which was Rison's NFL number while in Atlanta. She also had a tattoo of a moon with a face on her foot in reference to Rison's nickname, "Bad Moon", Lopes later added the words "Love U 2" in the musical notes on her foot for Tupac Shakur. On her upper right arm was a large tattoo of the name "Parron" for her late step brother who died in a boating accident, arching over a large tattoo of a pierced heart. Her smallest tattoo was on her left earlobe and consisted of an arrow pointing to her left over the symbol of an eye, a reference to her nickname. Lopes struggled with self-harm and even carved the words "hate" and "love" into her arm with a razor.

Roughly two weeks before her own death, Lopes was a passenger in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a 10-year-old Honduran boy. As reported in Philadelphia Weekly, "It is commonplace for people to walk the roads that wind through Honduras, and it's often difficult to see pedestrians." The boy, Bayron Isaul Fuentes Lopez, was following behind his brothers and sisters when he stepped off the median strip and was struck by a van driven by Stephanie, Lopes' personal assistant. Lopes' party stopped and loaded the boy into the car, and Lopes "cradled the dying boy's bleeding head in her arms" while "someone gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as they rushed him to a nearby hospital." He died the next day. Lopes paid approximately $3,700 for his medical expenses and funeral, and she gave the family around $925 for any extra costs, although it was apparently agreed upon by the authorities and the boy's family that his death was an "unforeseeable tragedy" and no blame was placed on the driver of the van or Lopes. In the documentary The Last Days of Left Eye, Lopes is shown choosing a casket for the child from a local funeral home. Earlier in the documentary, Lopes mentioned that she felt the presence of a "spirit" following her, and was struck by the fact that the child killed in the accident shared a similar last name, even thinking that the spirit may have made a mistake by taking his life instead of hers.

Death

On April 25, 2002, Lopes was driving a rented Mitsubishi Montero SUV in La Ceiba, Honduras, when she swerved slightly to avoid a truck (it is not clear if the truck was slow-moving or stationary) then immediately to the right as she tried to avoid an oncoming car. The vehicle rolled several times after hitting two trees, throwing Lopes and three others out of the windows, and finally coming to rest in a ditch at the side of the road. Lopes, at the age of 30, died instantly of "fracture of the base of the cranium" and "open cerebral trauma", and was the only person fatally injured in the accident. A cameraman in the front passenger seat was videotaping at the time, so the last seconds leading up to the swerve that resulted in the fatal accident were recorded on video. Victims of the accident were taken to Liverpool Royal Hospital. Her sister Reigndrop Lopes was in the vehicle and survived the collision.

Lopes' funeral was held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, on May 2, 2002. Thousands of people attended. Engraved upon her casket were the lyrics to her portion of "Waterfalls", stating "Dreams are hopeless aspirations, in hopes of coming true, believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you." Gospel duo Mary Mary sang their song "Shackles (Praise You)" at the funeral. Lopes was buried at Hillandale Memorial Gardens in Lithonia.

In a statement to MTV, producer Jermaine Dupri remembered Lopes: "She was determined to be something in life. She was a true rock star. She didn't care about no press. She was the rock star out of the group. She was the one that would curse on TV. She had the tattoos. You could expect the unexpected. When you see Lisa, you could expect something from her. That's the gift she carried."

Legacy

Lopes was in the process of setting up two educational centers for Honduran children. One was built on an 80-acre plot of land she called Camp YAC. The other center was called Creative Castle.

In 2003, shortly after Lopes' death, her family started the Lisa Lopes Foundation, a charitable group dedicated to providing neglected and abandoned youth with the resources necessary to increase their quality of life. Her spiritual motto was the one used for her foundation: "Energy never dies... it just transforms." Her foundation went into various underdeveloped villages and gave new clothes to poor children and their families. In August 2007, the foundation hosted a charity auction, selling items donated by celebrities. It raised approximately $5,000 for the Hogar de Amor ("Home of Love"), an orphanage in Honduras. In 2012, the foundation began hosting an annual music festival, known as "Left Eye Music Fest", in Decatur, Georgia.In the 2018 Boots Riley film Sorry to Bother You, members of a fictional activist group called "Left Eye" use as their symbol a stripe of eye black under the left eye, in an unmentioned reference to Lopes.

Posthumous documentary

A documentary showing the final 27 days of Lopes' life, titled The Last Days of Left Eye, premiered at the Atlanta Film Festival in April 2007, for an audience that included many of Lopes' contemporaries, including Monica, Ronnie DeVoe, 112, Big Boi, India.Arie, and Cee Lo Green. VH1 and VH1 Soul broadcast the documentary on May 19, 2007. Most of the footage was shot with a handheld camera, often in the form of diary entries filmed by Lopes while on a 30-day spiritual retreat in Honduras with sister Reigndrop, brother Ronald and members of the R&B group Egypt. In these entries, she reflected on her personal life and career. A calmer side of her personality was on display, showing interests in numerology and yoga. In January 2020, Lifetime aired an episode of Hopelessly In Love, a docuseries that captures the relationships of the rich and famous, about Lopes and Rison's tumultuous relationship. It showcased the complexity of their relationship and how she ended up with a felony arson charge for burning down Rison's Atlanta mansion.