#I think I’ve figured out what to give up for Lent?

[herbofgraceandpeace]

. 🤭🫠

[iamnotoriginalphil]

Friends with Benefits (Melissa Schemmenti x f!Reader)

Synopsis: Barbra finds out that you and Melissa have been getting up to some after hours activities

Words: 1.3k

Warnings: mentions of smut

AN: Just a little thing for @maybe-a-humanbean after 3x08. A nice 'what if' if you will.

You lent over to Melissa, standing in the dimly lit room full of cpr dummies. Pitching your voice low so it would not carry to the other people around you, you whispered in her ear.

“How about you practice on me, give me some mouth to mouth attention.”

She turned her eyes on you, lips pressed together to keep in a grin, eyes sparkling at you with unspoken mirth.

“Stop it,” she whispered back.

“I can certainly think of something that would block my airways,” you said.

“You’re pushing it,” she warned you.

“You’re worth the choking hazard,” you murmured.

She hit your shoulder but you could see the flush on her cheeks in the dim light, practically glowing at your words. You grinned at her, loving when you could fluster her. She turned away from you, doing her best to listen to the fire chief. Ignoring him, you brushed your fingertips along the back of her hand, before moving over to Jacob’s workstation.

“You’re not working with Melissa?” he asked.

“I figure Barbra needs some Mel time,” you replied with a small shrug, “I’ve taken up more than my fair share.”

“You have been spending a lot of time together,” the woman in question said, leaning around Melissa to speak to you.

“Too much, some might say,” Jacob muttered under his breath.

You shot him a look, trying to tell him to shut up. His eyes were averted and you were sure he hadn’t gotten the message.

“You went out for drinks on Friday night, you went to that cute little farmers market on Sunday, and didn’t you say you were going to try out that new restaurant down town together?” Barbra asked Melissa.

“Why bother when you can just finish my box of cereal in the morning?” Jacob said.

“I told you I was going to replace that,” you snapped at him, not needing to start that argument again.

“You ate breakfast with Melissa and Jacob this morning?” she asked you before Melissa could answer any of her previous questions.

“She was certainly eating something this morning,” Jacob muttered. Clearly he was still sulking.

“No need to be crass,” you admonished.

“Are you seeing each other?” Barb asked, still not having had any of her questions answered.

“No,” you said at the same time as she said, “of course not.”

“What do you mean of course not?” you asked her, “it’s not a crazy question to ask given the context.”

She scoffed.

“You don’t want to be tied down to an old woman like me,” she said.

“What?” Your voice was sharp.

“So you’re not seeing one another?” Barb asked.

“They’re hooking up,” Jacob said.

The gasp from Janine was not appreciated, both of you shooting her a look. She looked hurt, as if the two of you had betrayed her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Barb asked, also sounding hurt.

“Because there’s nothing to tell,” Mel said, exasperated with the whole thing.

You sighed, staring down at the dummy on the table. The thought that Mel found the possibility of the two of you dating so unbelievable was surprisingly hurtful. And not in the way you were expecting. She thought she was the part of the equation letting the side down, not that she didn’t want you. It was her own insecurities, not about what she wanted.

The conversation stalled as Captain Robinson tried to continue with the course but you could feel the heat from your right. Janine had come and gone and you were doing your best to compress the chest beneath your hands. Jacob was purposefully avoiding making eye contact with Robinson’s helper and Mel was avoiding making eye contact with you.

“Are you seriously mad?” Mel asked Barbra the moment there was a break in proceedings to do so.

“Why would I be mad? It’s not as if my friends have been keep their courtship a secret from me,” Barb snapped.

“Courtship?” you asked.

“This ain’t Bridgerton. It’s casual,” Mel protested.

“Casual what? It’s not casual friends because she and I are casual friends and we don’t share breakfast,” she said.

“It’s not casual anything. It’s just sex. Friends with benefits,” Mel said.

You wanted to argue with that but you couldn’t. That was the arrangement. Nothing serious, just sex between two friends who found the other hot. Because she wasn’t interested in more.

Maybe.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?” Barb asked, finally turning on you.

“We didn’t think you’d understand,” you said, “I mean, come on, Barb, you’re quite… traditional. And this is… not.”

“I can understand new fangled dating. You talked to me about Gary,” she said, rounding back on Mel.

“Yes, because that was a real relationship you would approve of,” she replied.

“And we’re not dating,” you supplied.

You were beyond caring about the other people in the course. Janine was popping in and out with the kind of frantic energy you hadn’t missed around Abbott. Jacob was dealing with his own hookup drama. You just wanted to take Mel off somewhere and drown in her to forget the argument.

“Sorry for assuming you wouldn’t understand,” Mel said, but you could hear an undercurrent of sarcasm in her voice.

“Thank you.” You weren’t sure Barb had completely grasped the sarcasm.

The going on between Janine, Jacob, and the handsome EM came to the forefront of the moment. You ignored that, your fingertips gently tapping against the pulse point in Mel’s wrist. Familiar green eyes turned to you, eyebrow quirking in question. You nodded to a point in the room, slightly further away from the others.

“What?” she asked with an undertone of exasperation. You couldn’t tell if it was aimed at you or one of the others.

“Do you really think I think you’re too old for me?” you asked. It had really been playing on your mind since she’d said it.

“Hon, it’s okay. I know where we stand. You’re so much younger than me,” she said, giving you one of those looks that said you were being an idiot.

“So? Mel, you’re gorgeous, you’re fucking sexy, and you’re a wonderful person. I would be lucky to be in a relationship with you, younger or not,” you replied, “you’re not too old for someone like me. You’re wonderful just the way you are.”

“Hon,” she breathed but you could see the flush on her cheek and the smoulder in her eye.

You weren’t often given over to saying sentimental things to her. Nothing beyond what would be considered platonic, if verging into grossly flirtatious. You tucked some of her hair behind her ear, lingering on her jaw for a moment.

“Just thought you should know,” you said, keeping your voice quiet so it would remain between the two of you.

You left her to her thoughts, rejoining your friends. Barb looked over at you, and you sighed.

“I really am sorry we didn’t tell you. Your opinion matters to me so much I just didn’t want you to think badly about me,” you said.

“You’re an adult, you can make your own life choices. If you’re happy, then girl, I’m not going to tell you off like you’re one of my students. As long as you are happy,” she said.

“I am for now,” you replied, not willing to go into a lot of the minutiae of the situation.

“Then I’m happy for you,” she said.

Her arm curled around your shoulders in the comforting way you’d grown accustomed to. In your peripheral vision, you saw Mel sidle back up to the group on Barb’s other side. Her fiery hair shone in the warm light and you felt your breath catch.

“Are you coming to get a drink with us?” Barb asked you.

“Really?” you asked.

“Sure, hon. Wouldn’t be the same without you,” Mel said, glancing over at you.

You grinned at her, leaning into Barb’s embrace more. Yeah, you were happy enough with what you had, because what you had was pretty damn great.

[seriesxwriting]

You’re my priority

Pairing- sammy Winchester x reader

Series- supernatural

Summary- you and Sam just took the next step and moved into a house together, but your neighbours are not all they say they are.

Warnings- typical supernatural warnings, kissing and swearing.

For more likes this visit my Masterlist

We brought out house two weeks ago. The neighbourhood was stunning and it was such a tight community which is exactly what I wanted. The bunker had a lot of great memories but we needed our own space at this point. So we brought a house. The house of our dreams.

Knock knock

“Sammy there’s someone at the door!” I yelled out from the study. I couldn’t hear any answer from him meaning he was more than likely in the basement. I rolled my eyes pushing back on my chair and getting up to go to the door just as another knock came thundering through. “Just a sec!” I yelled quickening my pace.

“Hey neighbour!” There was a couple standing on my doorstep with a cake in their hands and grins on their faces. Sams footsteps appeared behind me as he appeared from the basement. He looked at me and then at our visitors. “Hi, what brings you round?” He smile walking over and wrapping his arm round my waist as I lent on the door.

“Oh just to say welcome, I’m Darren and this is Sharon” the man introduced, they were slightly older than us and a lot more forward than we were used to especially growing up how we did always on the road. “Would you like to come in for a tea or something” I offered but the couples shoot their heads. “Extremely kind of you but we’re just here to drop this off while the adverts are on- we’re watching tipping point” Sharon giggled pushing the cake into my hands.

“Much appreciated, how long have you lived there?” Sammy interrogated like he was on a hunt. Old habits I guess. “Few years” he shrugged, I noticed that his eyes looked to the upper right. He was lying. Me and Sammy looked at each other suggesting we needed to wrap this up. “Are you a married couple?” “Nope just partners” I shook my head “well the cake is extremely thoughtful thank you, but we both have a lot of work to get on with hopefully we will see you around” I smiled reaching for the door.

“Oh, you will” she nodded before grabbing Darren’s hand beginning to step away. “Bye now” I waved as I closed the door. “I don’t trust them” I waddled into the kitchen putting the cake down. He put his head on the side following me and laughed gently “forward neighbours? Isn’t that what we wanted” he questioned bringing me forward by my hips. “There’s something about them sam they’re forward in a different way- didn’t you see how he was lying about how long he’d lived here for?”

“That could be for a number of reasons” he told me trying to comfort me. “Don’t ruin this by over thinking, it’s what you’ve always wanted hun we’re here, we’re living it, we’ve done it” sam told me before laying a kiss on my head. “I don’t want to ruin this Sam, but I’ve learnt to trust my gut” “then trust me, your safe”. I sighed looking up at the love of my life. “Fine, I’ll give them a chance” “you don’t have to give them a chance just give this place a chance- normality a chance”

“Haven’t we got a werewolf locked up In our basement?” I chew on my lip biting back a laugh while Sam thought of something to say back. “Let’s face it this is about as normal as it gets” he shrugged sniggering, giving up on trying to win the debate. “Well I think I figured out who the accomplice was on the case and I have the location of the house” I walked into my study and Sam followed me again becoming intrigued. “Lana Sandstone” I called out passing him the file.

“This is amazing stuff y/n” sam widened his eyes and his smile flicking through the pages. “Ugh I love you so much your super” he leant down to quickly kiss my plump, pink lips as I giggled at the compliments. “Do you want me to come with you?” “I’m gonna call Dean, I’m a bit anxious about leaving the werewolf at home alone” “want me to try get more answers?” “No that’s alright hun, we will see if this accomplice has loser lips” Sam smiled at me. “Be careful Sam, you know there’s no cure” “I’m always carful love”.

He leant down and kissed my cheek “stay safe too, if he escapes call me immediately” “Sammy I can deal with one werewolf penned in” “I know you can, but you don’t need to”. Sams phone began ringing and I saw deans name flash up “I love you, see you later love” he squeezed my hand before walking off answering his phone to his brother. Seems I’d finished the work I was doing I was now free. The life of a hunter. Wasn’t for everyone but it was for me. It was for Sam, it was for Dean.

I missed Sam already I hated letting him go on hunts without me but he was right in this situation. The last thing we needed was the werewolf downstairs breaking free and trashing our house or potentially killing somebody else. I entered our living room in the back of the house and sat myself on the sofa pressing on the tv. It was a little into the afternoon at this point so I was beginning to get tired.

Thud

My head snapped up to accumulate some thoughts on what that sound was. It wasn’t the werewolf because he was in the basement, this sound came from above. Swinging my legs off the sofa I began to leave the living room and ascend my stairs. “Hello?” I called out, when I got no answer I started to fear I was just being paranoid. I opened the door to mine and sam’s bedroom. Sure enough a photo had been knocked off the side table and the window was now wide open.

“What the fuck” I whispered to myself taking a knife out of my thigh strap. “Whoever’s in my house you’ve made a terrible mistake” I shouted edging towards the window. I slammed it shut before taking precautions checking the room. It was clear. I went out into the hallway to check the other bedrooms when something maliciously attempted to attack me from behind. I whipped around to block it and ended up struggling against a drooling, chomping vampire. When I realised who it was my anger stirred up. The fucking neighbour.

“Sharron?” I frowned unsurprised, pushing back against her, the fangs were still out trying to bite me. She was feral. “You think you hunters can just move into my neighbourhood?” She growled trying to pull my neck toward her disgusting teeth. “You don’t deserve to own a house” I kneed her skilfully in the stomach pushing back on her as she fell to the carpet. I put a knee on her wrist and aimed my knife to her neck to slash but something grabbed my wrist from behind so hard bruises were going to form. “No” Darren snarled, I caught sight of his fangs before he smashed my head into my wall. Knocking me out.

I screamed myself awake a little later from the excruciating pain of a blow torch being used on my arm. “Ahh there she is, finally”. The weapon was abruptly moved away from me and i could finally breathe again. Through my tear stained eyes I saw the couple standing in front of me. “Where’s the Winchester?” Sharron quizzed me before I’d even come to. “He’s on his way to cut your heads off” I spat, squinting my eyes at them. “Where’s the Winchester” she asked again, two seconds before pressing down on the burn I now had. “UGHH- fuck YOU” I shouted struggling against the ropes they used to tie me down.

“You really not going to talk?” Darren raised his eyebrow coming closer to me with his disgusting breath ticking my nose. “I knew something was off with you two”, Darren seemed to find that funny. He chuckled drawing away from me “do you know the level of disrespect? Huh? That hunters are living opposite me! Not any hunters either, a Winchester!!” He screamed out of pure anger, his face grew red as if he was a tomato. “Imagine how pissed off I am- considering I was right about you both” I frowned leaning up to him.

A slap landed across my face but that was nothing I could hack having grown up a hunter. “She’s not going to talk” Darren scoffed looking over at Sharon, she frustratedly bit her lip shaking her head. “Let’s just go ahead with plan B then” she heartlessly shrugged her shoulders. “Why are you doing this? Why are you in a house with just two of you” “Because the rest of our group were killed by shallow hunters like you” she snapped at me. “We merely got away with our lives” “you call this living? Feeding on innocent victims”

“You have to do what you have to do to survive, do you think we wanted this to begin with?” “No probably not” I shook my head against the plastic mattress under me. “But I bet you love it now, you wouldn’t go back and change it even if you could” I tensed tensing trying to get past the ropes. “Listen up bitch, your right when Sharon transformed me my life became instantly better” Darren grabbed my chin putting my face to the side. “I love being a vampire and your going to love it too” he snarled as his fangs came out and he leant down. “NO! No!” I grabbed at his shirt best I could to desperately pull him away from me.

His fangs magnetically attached to my neck and I let out a blood curdling scream. His hand came over to my mouth force feeding me his blood from a cut made by Sharon. I bit down hard on his finger choking on his blood as I began to feel really faint. Sharron began to stride over but from the corner of my eye I caught sight of the door being burst open. I saw him. My saviour my partner. Sam Winchester. He held a machete in his right hand and a gun in the left. As Darren was distracted i elbowed him away from me and Sharon darted towards sammy.

He dodge her hand and I saw his face as he realised she was a vampire. He pushed her towards the wall by her neck disregarding the gun that dropped to the floor. He looked over at me with blood dripping down my neck and mouth, tears running down my face. In that instant Darren raced towards Sam. He swept his right leg back and kicked him backwards. The vampire fell back into a shelf dropping all the items on his head. Sharron pushed Sam and then punched him in the stomach. She went to punch again but his machete came down chopping her hand off.

She was in so much shock no sound came from her mouth, with another swift move Sam cut off her head just as Darren was stirring. He let out an involuntary wail of pain from his partners death and the anger tripped inside of him. Charging at Sam letting out a shout. I pulled against the ropes still wiggling to get them down my body and set me free. Sammy barged Darren into the wall with his shoulder but he dug sharp nails into his arm before elbowing Sam in the face. My heart raced watching the man I love in a fight this close to me while I could do nothing but try and escape.

“You’ll pay for what you did to Sharon! She was my everything!” He shouted with obvious tears in his eyes. Sam swept Darren’s feet and he fell to the ground. “So it’s okay for you to kidnap and try to kill my everything? Your a fucking hypocrite and your scum” Sam spat towering over him, miraculously I managed to get out of the ropes. I let out a happy gasp finally being free. “Say hi to Sharon in purgatory for me” Sam spat, Darren tried to get up but the Winchester swung the blade cutting off his head watching it roll onto the ground.

I kinda just sat there for a moment taking in everything that had just happened. When I came back to it sam was right next to me, I didn’t even see him cross over. “I’m so so sorry I didn’t believe you y/n- I’m so sorry hun” he whispered pulling me instantly into a hug. He was covered in blood but that was just the norm, plus he looked hot. Tightly I wrapped my arms round him exhaling in his ear knowing I was safe. “You wanted a normal home life- I understand” “your an amazing hunter, I should have trusted your gut” Sam argued back.

“I am an amazing hunter” I shrugged laughing a little. “How’d you know I was here?” “Because I’m an amazing hunter too” Sam joined in chuckling under his breath still crouched in front of me. “I couldn’t find you, your phone was on the sofa but our photo was smashed in our bedroom and there was blood in the hallway where you knife was scattered, when I saw it I instantly remembered what you said about these two” Sam eyed the dead bodies on the floor. “Is- the werewolf still locked away- wait did you get your info?”

“The werewolf is fine and we can talk about the case later hun, I’m not worried about that right now” his thumb rubbed my thigh. “Thank you for being here sam” I smiled holding his face with my right hand, he gently nuzzled against me. “I love you y/n you’re my priority always, now i need to sort your bite out then I can take you home” “she’s the sire” I pointed to Sharon’s body. “Perfect” Sam nodded making his way over to the body to get some of her blood for the cure. “Sammy?” “Mm” he hummed stopping the task for me.

“I love you too”

[rimouskis]

omg now all i want to know is everything about your music taste. what do u like. how do u curate playlists or do u listen only straight thru albums? if you had to pick your five favorite genres and one song from each genre, what songs and genres would u pick? what genre do you feel like u listen to the least? the most ? what's the three most fascinating albums you've ever listened to. i need to know 🫧🎶

I sincerely believe the question is more “what DON’T I like”!

Alright this is a fun way to spend my Friday night in after walking 8 miles today and then doing dinner with friends ahahah so 1. Thank you for this and 2. Let’s go through this point by point:

1. What do I like? Man… I like a lot of music. I’ve gone through phases in my life: I was raised on my dad’s love of 80s/90s rock (think INXS, U2, Melissa Etheridge, Peter Gabriel), I discovered KISS FM in middle school and was a fiend for Top 50 pop then (the pussycat dolls were my everything back then lol isn’t it hilarious that I didn’t figure out I was gay until my 20s. also timbaland was consistently on my favorite songs.)

then in seventh grade I did a heel turn and got really into metal after my older cousin lent me his iPod at thanksgiving (I really liked Disturbed’s album Ten Thousand Fists)... then within the same year I did an even MORE hilarious, second heel turn and discovered K-pop, which I lived & breathed for like two years (my favorite band was SHINee; I still sometimes pop into the K-pop world to sample what’s coming out these days, though I don’t know the new generation of bands well).

THEN in high school the indie alt pop phenomenon hit and I was all in on the bands of the time… bastille, alt j, the 1975 (before they really blew up, #hipster), glass animals, lorde, walk the moon, chvrches, x ambassadors, the naked and the famous, halsey, grouplove, milky chance… like, if it was on tumblr, I was listening to it, hahaha.

Then in college I got really into alternative music, like chelsea wolfe and susanne sundfør and son lux and ms mr.

In adulthood I find that all this musical influence has meant that I like all kinds of music. I like trashy pop country. I like heavy rock. I like top 50 pop. I like rap. I like hyperpop. I like 80s synth pop. I like indie folk. I like it all, man. I have been in a pretty heavy rock era for the last, like… four, five years, though, so I think I probably primarily register as a rock listener, and if we were to get even more granular, I really love guitar-forward rock.

2. I’m a HUGE user of playlists. Spotify is the only streaming service I pay for, and I’ll pay for it for many many years, I imagine, haha.

I have over 100 playlists on there and really enjoy curating them as a little art form for myself. I rarely listen to albums, which I kind of think is too bad, because I DO think the album ~as a cohesive piece of art~ is kind of becoming a lost art in the age of streaming, and I’m not helping the cause at all.

But, on the flip side, playlist curation is a really enjoyable form of curatorial art, imo, and I deeply love and appreciate it. I love making playlists for anything and everything. One of my favorite playlist I’ve ever made is actually a reylo playlist, lol. I also made a killer Batman playlist after seeing rpattz’s batman, and I have some good old check please playlists as well. Fun fun stuff.

3. This is HARD but okay, I can do this…

Alt/indie rock: “Change For You” by Friday Pilots Club

Pop punk: “Why Do I?” By Set It Off

Electronic: “Fake” by Mystery Skulls (BUT A VERY VERY VERY CLOSE SECOND IS “DANCEFLOOR” by NOISY and Charlotte Plank)

Folk: “Leaf Off/The Cave” by José González

Rock: “Thrown Away” by VAST

Since three of those are rock/rockish offshoots (I am who I am, sorry), I’ll give you a few more divergent others:

rap would be “Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat OR “Von den fernen Bergen” by Ali As

house would be “Derezzed” by Daft Punk

disco would be “You Win Again” by The Bee Gees [my dad loves disco lol so… so do I]

country would be any and all Orville Peck [though normally my country tastes veer WAY WAY WAY trashy country pop lol sorry but it’s catchy]

and my pop pick is obviously Most Perfect Pop Song Of All Time, “Lonely Dancers” by Conan Gray

4. The genre I listen the least to is R&B, probably. I wasn’t raised listening to it and I’ve never really gained a taste for it, even though other genres I wasn’t raised listening to (country and rap, for example) DID grow on me. That being said, I really enjoy THEY., who is technically categorized as R&B.

Like I said earlier, I was really raised on rock music and I think that foundationally I am just a Rock Music Kinda Gal. I love guitars so much, man. But a close second is probably pop. Just as I was created to love guitars, so too was I created to love synths.

5. What makes an album “fascinating”? 🤔 I think this is hard, because first and foremost I am not an album listener, but also I don’t think I examine my music through a critical lens of fascination. I usually operate on a pure “how-much-straight-up-dopamine-is-being-poured-into-my-system?” scale when it comes to music, haha. Like, I’m not even primarily a listener of lyrics. I pay attention to the music first.

That being said…

Album 01 is going to be “Strange Trails” by Lord Huron. To be very, very annoying: I was into Lord Huron since their first album, and when they blew up due to a song from "Strange Trails" getting included in the TV show 13 Reasons Why, I was very annoyed because I think their sonic output shifted, and for the worse.

Anyways, I maintain that their first two albums are as close to perfect as albums get, and “Strange Trails” is what I find to be their strongest narrative album. There’s a whole storyline through the album that follows a fictional character Ben, the frontman, created. There was a comic book to accompany the album too, and I think the storyline is very lovely and I love some tragic love and magic wrapped into my music:) My favorite song off of “Strange Trails” is “Fool for Love.”

Album 02 is going to be “Bad Blood” by Bastille, which I also find to be Bastille’s finest work. Dan Smith wrote all these songs by himself in his den and—I really believe—perfectly embodied and channeled the sound of the 2010s indie moment. The entire album is so strong, and not only is it so strong that it doesn’t have any skips… even the EXTENDED version, “All This Bad Blood,” has no skips. Whatever Dan was fermenting in the lead up to “Bad Blood”’s release, it was pure gold. Nothing else quite captures the feeling of it being 2012 as much as this album. My favorite song off off “Bad Blood” is “Icarus” <3

Album 03 is going to be “Dream Machine” by Des Rocs. Des is on a one-man cocaine-fueled mission from God to bring back hard glam rock and I sincerely could not support his mission more. He constantly churns out bangers (his EPs “Martyr Parade” and “Let the Vultures In” are also worth checking out) but I found his songwriting to be simply ~exceptional~ on “Dream Machine.” I think he’s wonderful at writing evocative, classic-rock inspired lyrics that read as poetry to me:) From “Natural Born Thriller”:

Roll, thunder, roll / Riding like a freight train down on the tip of your tongue

Rattle in your bones / Shockwave ripping through the sky, in and out of your lungs

Love, lock and load / Fire in your eyes and you’re ready when the fever gonna come

Way down the road / Big wheels turning to the rhythm of the blood-red sun

Half a man and half apocalypse / The chase, the thrill, that you cannot resist

Day and night, every time / That one there is a natural-born thriller

Like MAN... that’s poetry in action to me. That’s just good writing. I also find the lyrics and storytelling of “In the Night” fantastic, and “Dream Machine” is such a perfect tone-setting, atmosphere-building track for that album to open on. It’s just one of the best constructed albums I’ve heard, full of bangers. My favorite song off it is probably “Natural Born Thriller.”

Damn that took me like two hours to get through, mostly because I got to experience the joy of scrolling through all my music and painfully selecting a few. This was delightful. Thank you, anon!

[jujumin-translates]

[18TRIP] Event Story | WE ARE M・T・T・B | TRACK. 6

Characters: 🫰 Chihiro Natsuyaki, ☁️ Ten Murakumo, 🎨 Kiroku Kinugawa, 🌕 Muneuji Kaguya, 🔮 Toi Shiramitsu

Location: HAMA House - Lesson Room

Chihiro: And turn!

Muneuji & Toi & Kiroku: Okay!

Ten: (Goddamn.)

Chihiro: Alright, next lemme see the dance all the way through starting with you, Munechi~.

Muneuji: Understood.

*Footsteps*

Chihiro: …

Muneuji: Backstep, …Next, go three steps up.

Chihiro: …

Muneuji: And then with attitude…

Chihiro: …Hm~m. Your flow is perfectly in sync with the rhythm, but I still feel like you’re moving kinda stiffly.

Chihiro: Why don’t you try being a little more… I know! How about you try keeping the movements of a kitty in mind? Like, keep it flexible and soft, y’know!

Muneuji: Hm, I see. I’ll give that a try.

Chihiro: M’kay, next up is you, Toonya~!

Toi: And.. there.

Toi: Like this, and… Cool cat pose…!

Chihiro: Yeah, that’s supes cute ♪ You’ve got even more energy than before~. But I’m getting the vibe that you’re trying your best to be like Chii.

Toi: I am…! I know your dance by heart, Chihiro-kun…!

Chihiro: Thanksies ♪ But I’d love to see some more Toonya-like elements!

Chihiro: Your cat pose is crazy cute, so how about you come up with some more cat-like movements to add to the dance, Toonya?

Toi: G-Got it! I’ll give it a shot…!

Chihiro: And finally, Kirokkuma~!

Kiroku: O… kay.

Kiroku: …

*Kiroku dances*

Kiroku: Kick, turn, and… Charleston.

Chihiro: Your dance has got a kinda emo-vibe, Kirokkuma! It’s got an edge and flair ♪ 

Chihiro: But just like I thought, you curled in on yourself as soon as you became too aware of things, so try to dance with your chest out more!

Kiroku: O… kay.

*Chihiro claps*

Chihiro: Alright, gang, let’s run through the dance one more time~.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Ten: …

Chihiro: You’re a cat, Munechi! A kitty-cat! Try hula-hooping a hundred times to make things a little softer.

Muneuji: Haah, haah, I never expected there would be this kind of burden on my lower back…! But it definitely feels like my movements are softening.

Chihiro: Toonya, try dancing while really staring yourself down in the mirror! Just be yourself and get lost in your movements ♪ 

Toi: O-Okay…!

Chihiro: This is for you, Kirokkuma ♪ It’s just a rod called a “hunchback correcting cast”! You put it on your back like this~!

Kiroku: It… straightened… my back…

Ten: (Uwhoa~, this is like something straight outta an old-fashioned sports anime. Well, it’s not like it’s not fitting…)

Chihiro: (Hm~... Overall, I think things are getting better, but it just doesn’t feel right and I don’t know why.)

Chihiro: (I can’t put it into words about what it exactly is or why… I’ve just got a feeling. Maybe I can try and look at the whole thing more objectively to figure out what it is…)

Chihiro: …I wish I had a video of all the dances up until this point.

Chihiro: Despite recording things back with Ev3ns, I totally forgot to this time~...

Kiroku: Ah… If that’s the case, then… here…

Ten: Hm? What’s that? 

Muneuji: That reminds me, Kinugawa, you had been taking videos of our dancing so far to see if it might be of any help, correct?

Kiroku: Isotake… lent me his… tripod…

Chihiro: For realsies!? Thanksies much, Kirokkuma ♪ Let’s watch it together right away.

Chihiro: …

Ten: …

Chihiro: (...I see. Things are kinda all over the place when the three of them are put together, but individually, they’re pretty well put together. They’re not super skillful, but there’s a sorta charming roughness about it…)

Chihiro: …I wonder if that’s what I felt was off earlier~.

Ten: You felt there was something off?

Chihiro: Yeah. I was hoping to make the dance be more consistent, partly because we’re all going to be wearing matching masks, but… Maybe that was the first mistake.

Chihiro: I’m starting to think trying to unify everyone would be a waste.

Ten: … Okay, then why don’t we just do what we’re doing now at the competition?

Chihiro: Huh?

Ten: The competition’s in less than a week, y’know? So let’s not force things to fit and just go to the competition like this—.

Chihiro: Tenchamu… That’s a great idea!!

Ten: …Oh, it is?

Chihiro: Team Chii and Co. have only just formed, so it’s not like we can compete with pro street dancers. But the power of everyone’s individuality is unbeatable.

Chihiro: That’s why I think it’d be so interesting to abandon the idea that “it’s beautiful and cool to dance in sync” and try to make it a dance that fully shows off everyone’s individuality, don’tcha think!?

Muneuji & Toi & Kiroku: …

Muneuji: My apologies, I’m not sure if I follow…

Chihiro: Ahh, sorries! Basically, how about we change the theme of our dance?

Kiroku: Huh, right… now…?

Chihiro: Of course, we’ll only change the organization and direction to a degree that we can handle, so don’t worry. So let’s all turn to the whiteboard~.

Chihiro: Our new theme is here!

*Chihiro writes on the whiteboard*

Toi: “Formality doesn’t matter”?

Muneuji: “Feel free to do what you want and be a free as you want to make the most of your individuality”?

Kiroku: “Cat… dance”...?

Chihiro: …So, what do y’all think?

Muneuji & Toi & Kiroku: We like it!

Chihiro: And you, Tenchamu!?

Ten: Ah, yeah, yeah. I think that’s good too~. Cats are pretty free-spirited and all~.

Chihiro: Perfect, those were the responses I was looking for~♪ M’kay, let’s rework the routine and get to practicing!

Muneuji & Toi & Kiroku: Oka~y!

Chihiro: (...I’m sure this’ll be a great dance. This way, the stage will be a place where each member’s individuality and charm can be made use of.)

Chihiro: (I just know it…!)

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[kepler-ki]

Reading Tag Meme

Tagged by the wonderful @the-grey-hunt - thanks for inviting me to do this!

Fair warning, a lot of the questions are things I see as synonymous, but I’ll try and come up with different answers for as many as possible.

The last book I read:

A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America’s Hurricanes by Eric Jay Dolin. It’s a nonfiction pretty well represented by the title. I’ve been interested in hurricanes for a couple years as natural disasters, but haven’t really gotten the chance to study atmospheric science in school and don’t think I will before graduating. But it does a really good job representing both the scientific and historical significance of hurricanes.

A book I recommend:

For just a quick fun read, I’d say probably Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I picked up a copy in the airport before a flight and couldn’t put it down until I finished it at around midnight. It’s hopeful somehow despite being about one man drifting (mostly) alone in space, trying to mitigate an apocalypse.

If I’m feeling more fantasy, which is often, Tress of the Emerald Sea is a great, quick way to introduce folks to Brandon Sanderson.

A book I couldn’t put down:

Project Hail Mary, as well as Oathbringer and Rhythm of War (books 3&4 of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson). The latter two are about 1200 pages and I got through them in a couple days, so I remember only a couple of the broad strokes and very little else lol. But they were very good! Fantastic characters, magic system, and worldbuilding - Kaladin’s mindset in particular is so interesting, and I think his depression was written really thoughtfully. Rereading the series before book 5 comes out later this year.

A book I’ve read twice (or more):

So many. I love rereading. I guess I’ll say the Murderbot series by Martha Wells or Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

A book on my TBR:

Uhh… I’ll figure it out sometime. I still haven’t made it to System Collapse (Murderbot #7) so maybe that? Or maybe Salt: A World History? Or Castle in the Air, book 2 of the World of Howl by Diana Wynne Jones? Or a book my friend lent me whose title I’m not sure I remember? …this is why I reread so much.

A book I’ve put down:

Most recently, The Binding by Bridget Collins and The Well of Ascension and Legion by Brandon Sanderson. I really didn’t like characters important to the stories.

A book on my wish list:

Anything on my TBR that I don’t own already.

A favorite book from childhood:

I really liked the Eragon series, and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I’m sure I wouldn’t enjoy Secrets of Droon and Magic Tree House now, but I loved them in elementary school.

A book I would give to a friend:

Depends on what that friend is interested in. I loaned The Graveyard Book to someone recently. I’ve also recommended Project Hail Mary, Howl’s Moving Castle, Stormlight Archive, Sanderson’s Secret Projects (aside from Frugal Wizard, fantastic),… a lot of others.

A book of poetry or lyrics that I own:

Not really any? My boyfriend owns a copy of Poe’s collections, but we haven’t gone through many together.

A nonfiction book that I own:

I think just Furious Sky right now, not including textbooks. I’ve recently started commuting and I think I prefer nonfiction audiobooks to fiction, but I generally prefer fantasy.

What I’m currently reading:

A few books lol. I’m listening to Men at Arms for the first time with my boyfriend, and rereading Oathbringer and Howl’s Moving Castle. A professor loaned me another book on hurricanes that I’ve been chipping my way through. I rarely stick to just one at a time.

What I’m planning on reading next:

There is no planning process - it’s just what I feel like at the time. I’ll probably pick something on my list? Maybe.

——

No pressure to reply, but I’ll go ahead and tag @awesomefroggy @grayintogreen @professor-rye

[un-local]

Howdy, friend, have you heard the cut dialogue (Rogier's part is at 2:48) for 'dreambrew'? We have Stratek to thank for this gem.

Rogier's dialogue offers insight into his personality, namely his facade. If the Tarnished offers the dreambrew to Rogier after he becomes afflicted by Deathblight, he tersely says, "No, thank you. I don't need your pity." Then he catches himself, saying, "...Sorry. You were only trying to be nice. It would be my pleasure to take it."

I honestly kind of hesitate to call Rogier's affability a facade, implying a manipulative motive, but I would not go so far as to say it isn't something of a pretense. Concealing his "anger, grief, regret, [and] fear" may be his way of grasping for control, to keep intact the man he was before.

Our Tarnished becomes dear to Rogier, and Fia glimpses that bond ("[D]ear Rogier began to weep as he spoke..."/"I heard that you lent a hand to dear Rogier. He seemed positively elated."/"You truly are a champion. To dear Rogier, and myself, too."). He becomes very attached to us, though he holds himself back and only shares his elation in private with Fia. He is ""abed"" with her, so maybe his inhibitions slacken during that time.

Rogier, *clenches fist* accept our friendship.

I had not seen this before. Holy shit. Sorry for the late reply, but I ended up writing an essay about this, whoops. I’ve tried to segment my thoughts here into semi-coherent segments. Read at your own peril, I suppose.

First, I’ll preface with this:

This game doesn’t have NPC models that emote facially, which is a major factor our brains use to interpret meaning. Without it, the interpretations available to us about these characters are innumerable—I’ll give you mine, but there’s a whole lot more out there. There’s a good chance what I get from this game isn’t gonna fit perfectly into what anyone else will get, and that’s half the fun. 

(In Rogier’s case, I think having facial expression would be wildly helpful in figuring him out—particularly in the discrepancies between what he says versus the look on his face as he says it. But alas. It’s not in the cards for us. Life goes on.)

Now. Back to your regularly scheduled programming of “Madwoman Screams Into the Void Over Pixels, Part 48478456”

[1: IS THE FACADE MANIPULATION? ]

I don’t think Rogier’s cordiality is manipulative either—at least, not intentionally so. I think he just doesn’t like to rock the boat. In terms of social interactions, he takes the path of least resistance: saying whatever the situation calls for to keep that pleasant, distant civility that he seems to work best in. (The most obvious example of this being his line about “telling a good lie when I need to” in reference to keeping D in the dark about his aims.)

Although Rogier conceals much of his true feelings and self, I wouldn’t characterize him as maliciously deceitful. But I would say there are times where—despite his good intentions—his facade crosses the line from “politeness” into the more dubious territory of “lying by omission,” or even just plain lying.

(I think to him, there are times when the ends justify the means. But that’s another post.)

[ 2: WHY THE FACADE? ]

Now, this facade does help ingratiate him to others, and presumably helps grease the wheels on this whole “exploration of death” business, but I don’t think that’s why he does it. 

If I had to hazard a guess: He’s got a strong aversion to emotional vulnerability, plain and simple. 

According to his set:  “Rogier spent his entire life behaving with utter detachment. No one noticed the anger, grief, regret, or fear that existed along with it.”

“His entire life.” So it’s an aversion that seems to have long predated his interactions with the Tarnished, or even his time in The Lands Between as a whole. (He does mention first coming to TLB in his initial interaction, implying he’s from elsewhere. Most Tarnished seem to be outsiders, coming to TLB only after rising from death, according to Miyazaki.)

(Image from this post by yournextflame)

I think what you said—that Rogier conceals his emotions and clings to decorum/indifference as a way of grasping for control—is right on the money. 

[ 3: CONTROL OVER WHAT?]

Rogier is plagued by “anger, grief, regret, and fear. Those are all very strong emotions that, when expressed, aren’t usually done so subtly. For him to have control over his demeanor is for him to have control over himself. 

I’m gonna go out on a limb and speak from personal experience here: keeping that tempest inside feels vital to keeping it from wreaking havoc—especially on the things closest to you. But eventually, it gets to a point where any (conspicuous, non-casual) expression of emotion can feel like losing control. A breach in the dam, if you will. A little lets a lot out.

(I’d wager there’s a strong connection between him “keeping the mask on” and “dignity” in his mind.)

But keeping your cool that much, for that long, is alienating. Which eventually changes the homeostasis that you want to maintain:

“I can’t let them see me break,” (A momentary slip, embarrassing, but can be recovered from)

Turns into:

“I can’t let them get close enough to see how broken I am.” (A permanent, shameful state of being.)

Under that mindset of the latter, the new imperative is to keep people from being close at all. It demands “utter detachment,” if you will. 

[ Quick Aside: ] Obviously, the two examples above are cognitive distortions. But the emotional impact of those thoughts real. Consider how saying “ha, that was foolish of me” is much easier to bounce back from than saying “I am stupid.” The wording, over time, can change the way you see yourself, which in turn can alter your behavior. It’s a tough loop to be stuck in.

It’s worth noting that, in the long run, this kind of detachment can actually weaken the barriers that you desperately feel like you need to maintain.

Eventually, any closeness with anyone is just begging for emotional catastrophe. (“If anyone comes close to me, I will break.”) 

I think his relations with Fia (whatever they are) only serves to emphasize this. But more on that later.

[ 4: HOW THE CUT DIALOGUE FITS INTO THIS ]

"...Sorry. You were only trying to be nice.”

The delivery of that line is what stands out to me—when I first heard it, it didn’t sound like that was a good thing in his eyes. Which I think given the above, makes sense. The Tarnished’s kindness has serious potential to upend the delicate balance that he’s worked so hard to maintain. 

(Perceived kindness, I should say. The Dreambrew was supposedly meant to allow the player to see the secrets of the one who drinks it.) 

“It would be my pleasure to take it."

This line sounds like he’s giving a lot of effort to be polite and gratuitous, but I’m inclined to think there’s more facade here than truth. Maybe to other people it sounds like genuine appreciation, but in all honesty, it sounds like someone switching into Customer Service voice to me. 

But it’s like I said: there’s many possible interpretations. Have a few:

“This is a pity-gift, and this well-intentioned Tarnished is getting on my nerves.” 

“This might not be a pity-gift, and that is unfathomable to me. This well-intentioned Tarnished is growing on me and THAT’S getting on my nerves.”

“I was wrong to dismiss this as a pity-gift, and the kind gesture of this well-intentioned Tarnished is genuinely moving to me.”

Or, it’s not that complicated, and the tone is just a result of his general worsening condition. Reader’s pick. 

I will say, depending on how much the player has done for him at the time of giving him the Dreambrew, I think there’s a decent argument for the middle. As in, the distance is getting harder to maintain on account of his growing affinity/respect/etc for the Tarnished.

(I suppose it would be nice for it to be the 3rd one—just a genuine, earnest appreciation, accepting of friendship—but I’m… cynical. That’s not to say the Tarnished doesn’t break the ice with him—I think they definitely do break a fair amount of it. I just think some habits are very hard to unlearn.)

[ 5: FIA’S LINES ABOUT ROGIER ]

Fia, after Rogier is injured: “My dear... Have you ever heard of black knifeprints? Dear Rogier likes to talk of it when abed… […] These grand affairs are hardly my forté… But dear Rogier began to weep as he spoke… In truth I've heard tell from someone else, about the black knifeprints that fascinate dear Rogier so.”

Fia, after the Knifeprint is given to Rogier: "I heard that you lent a hand to dear Rogier. He seemed positively elated. You truly are a champion. To dear Rogier, and myself, too."

Oh boy. There sure are a lot of implications there! 

I have a LOT of thoughts on these implications. I’ll post about those separately, once I get my thoughts on the matter wrangled into something coherent. In the meantime, let me try to break down my thoughts on the above lines specifically. 

“You truly are a champion. To dear Rogier, and myself, too."

Like I said, I’m cynical. I’ve always taken that line about being a “champion” to them both as like, Fia being flattering. Not lying—because even when she tricks the player into setting up the circumstances for D’s death, she never outright lies. (“[...] It must have a special place in the owner's heart.”) 

I always imagined she had ulterior motives there, even if she was speaking truthfully. 

I saw it like this: the player helped Rogier, which benefits Fia, if she can get the cursemark from him somehow. So her high praise seemed, to me, a way to keep the player doing what they’re doing. This isn’t anything I have evidence for though, just the impression I got.

I do think that Fia knows Rogier well enough to speak to how much the Knifeprint meant to him. He might not ever intend to get too sappy with the Tarnished about it, but Fia knows him well enough to feel like she can speak on his behalf.

(Is that something he would’ve wanted her to do? Eh. I’d imagine not, personally.) 

Now, did Rogier ever directly say to Fia that the Tarnished was a champion? Or was it just something Fia knew on account of knowing Rogier’s character/dedication to his goals? 

I always assumed it was the latter. But there’s plenty of possibility he’s closer to Fia than he ever is with the player, especially when he knows he’s nearing his end. (The fact that he mentions D, but never Fia, makes me question that though. But he is a very private guy, so it’s anyone’s guess.)

“Dear Rogier likes to talk of it when abed [...] But dear Rogier began to weep as he spoke…”

Remember what I said earlier about isolation weakening emotional barriers, setting the stage for complete Emotional Catastrophe? 

Fia got close, and he fucking broke. It probably didn’t take much on her part either. A little prodding and few well-placed questions, and the house of cards came down spectacularly.

I can’t imagine his emotional expression there was voluntary, given the premises of this insane thesis. 

Additionally, this does mesh well with the fact that he never mentions anything about Fia to the player, despite the cursemark that they both seek. (And the fact that Fia says plenty about him.) It’s probably a sore spot.

[ Quick Aside: ] What was Rogier doing with Fia, if he’s so detached to everyone? Well, I imagine he had ulterior motives of his own, what with him exploring Death and all that. He was expecting to smoothtalk his way into some lead on the cursemark’s location, probably. Free embrace? Sure, why not. But he wasn’t going in there expecting to have any kind of real connection with Fia. So when she found the chink in his armor, it was a break he REALLY wasn’t ready for.

[ FINAL THOUGHTS ]

TLDR: Rogier's internal state can be roughly summed up as:

He's allergic to emotional vulnerability, and the facade he wears is more a reflex now than an active choice. By the end, the balance is getting very hard for him to maintain. Oof. 

So yeah. Cut dialogue. It does shed a little light on the elusive inner workings of the Roundtable Hold’s second biggest nerd. (Certainly the more tolerable one. lol.)

Also. What was the secret he keeps, Fromsoft? Don’t tease me like this, I have an action/adventure canon-divergence longfic to write! You can’t do this to me Fromsoft!!!

Loreminers please please please k;sdjfkadsfjs

(Or maybe don’t. I’m too deep into drafting Still Waters. If my characterization gets majorly canonballed, I think I'd rather just quit lmao) Also, Also.  On first listening, that “I’ll try anything once!” line fucking sent me for some reason, I was not expecting that. 10/10 game of the year

Okay, okay. Now I’m done. To anyone who’s made it this far, have a dog gif? I don’t know how to end posts. 

[maybeigotwithsophie]

I almost burst out laughing

It’s such a fucking joke

Last night in bed I swore you were there

But I can’t see anything

I wake up bleary eyed and ask my roommate

Where did the devil go?

It’s a strange type of ghost

A trick of the light

Who knew fighting could make

A woman feel so alive?

Coming alive

When you were born dead

Aicha is here, and I heard what you said

I didn’t get your point

The first time your mouth quipped

We were taking our old loop in the cold

Because you were desperate to take me out of it

But I actually don’t regret it

Sorry, sir, offer rejected.

Sylvia Plath Would Beat the Shit Out of You

You were the football player I could never bring myself to talk to in class

I had another lover but I only liked him for his ass

You even lent my first copy of The Bell Jar

I thought “Nobody I’ll ever know could compete with that”

So I jumped when I was already drowning

The water was freezing, but I liked the thrill

You’ll maintain you don’t know why you avoided me

Since that night you were first came over to our side

Will we laugh over you yelling at my at the piano

When I was trying to using assertive beside you

You’re like the guy Lucy liked

In that show we watched

When you were upset and I reached out to you

And you didn’t say a world

I sat there for 10 minutes trying to force myself into ok

And then I ran to my bedroom and threw myself away.

Everything you wear is grey

And your necklace looked like jade

I know you stole it

It kills me to see you give your hot nights to another

While I’m hardly even cool with my mother

Linebacker, I guess I fumbled up the play

So am i on the bench today?

My therapist might ask me why I took this kind of abuse

I’ll shift in the chair and say I had a heart, why not put it to use?

I’ve read your annotations

And sometimes I still think its true

Like Jason would say,

Sylvia Plath would beat the shit out of you.

MY BOY PARODY

My boy wears a green sweatshirt

To hold all his spilling hurt

He purses his lip and his hair falls over his eyes

Adn you look over the fire and wonder if he’s laughing or trying not to cry

Did you go to your room to

Masturbate or think of her and cry?

It’s like that one time.

He stole it from his father.

It’s rude how he lies

And worse that he’s never gonna die

Guys like him just keep on coming

And the drugs he takes

Aren’t his favorite mistakes

But I’m not even on that list.

HIS FAVORITE MISTAKES

His favorite

Secret

Mistake

Was when he punched me in the face

And went to chat with his girlfriend

I swear It’s almost fun in the pool room

Crying to everyone

And hearing “he’s going through a lot”

I guess I wouldn’t know, glancing at you from the perch.

And I guess that’s why I still don’t trust him

He’s just another pretty face

But this time I’ll never crack the case

Down bad, i guess, for real.

Of why he doesn’t like me.

Everything was fucked

Because he wouldn’t suck it up

And treat me like his girlfriend

My actions could be seen as bad

But its him who should be sad

I like misandry when it benefits me

\

I hate his tan hair and white face

Annd his grey eyes

All over the place

I want to fucking kill him

But I’d rather kiss him instead

As soon as I remember

He’s an addict so I couldn’t bear to see him dead

An addict dead

And Evelyn, when they said “love yourself”

They didn’t fuck over everyone else

Your drugs aren’t the only things you abuse

You picked flowers like you picked drugs

In the garden, hoping to hook up

You make shocking comments

Say its funny cause

Monkey see what monkey does

I’ll hallucinate about you (distort reality)

Till you hate me

And then two years later, I’m come and beg you to date me

SHAMPOO

I got shampoo in my eye

And a part of me felt like it died

When I saw my eye go red

I ventured out and figured out

That wasn’t what you said

It feels off

To stand right here

In the suffocating silence

Knowing whatever flannel shirt

I wear won’t make you care

The disorder doesn’t care either.

OLD FRIENDS

Kylie’s smart

But she forgets that part

When she wishes she was dead.

Evelyn tried guitar but he didn’t get that far

Then he turned to drugs instead.

THE DISORDER

It’s always wrong if it wants to be right

It’s always day if it wants to be night.

If you’re feeling loose

Then you’ll shut your eyes right

If you’re already blind

It’ll take away your sight

Who am I

What I wear

What I steal

What I share

I can tell you

It’s hard to bear

Sorry, honey,

But the disorder doesn’t care

[jdgo51]

Embracing Loss to Discover Life

Today's inspiration comes from:

Treasures in the Dark

by Katherine Wolf

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. — John 16:33 NLT

Have you ever given up anything for Lent? I’ve always really liked the idea of sharing in a season of repentance and reflection with the global Christian community. I mean, in theory. Despite my good intentions, I almost never remember Lent is happening until we’re already three or four days in. 

At that point, I’m deep into the leftover king cake, and I’ve already spent several hours watching TV and scrolling mindlessly on my phone. So sugar, television, and social media fasts have to be struck from the list, right? Then I scramble to find some treat or habit I haven’t indulged in since Lent began. I usually squeak by with something slightly less concrete, like gossiping or complaining. (It still counts! You know you’ve done it too.)

During a recent Lenten season, a friend posted online about her fascinating decision to give up her “illusion of immortality.” Intense, I know. She explained that if Lent prepares us to observe the role of death in Christ’s story, it should also prepare us to confront the role of death in our own stories. So for forty days she set aside time to actively acknowledge and reflect on her eventual death and the deaths of all the people she loves. (Needless to say, she’s a riot at parties!)

As I followed her online revelations, I had a revelation of my own. By very different means and without consent, I had given up my illusion of immortality too. At twenty-six years old, I’d seen and touched and tasted death when I suffered a catastrophic stroke without warning. 

To me, death was no longer an abstraction. It was an actual experience, and now I had to decide what to do with that. 

I’m most tempted to dig my heels into denial. To deflect with empty optimism. To numb out to the pain (hence the king cake and the TV and the scrolling). I want to do whatever the opposite of a Lenten death reflection is.

At the end of my friend’s forty-day practice, she shared how she’d come to understand that death is not something to be denied, avoided, or even begrudgingly accepted. Death makes the expanse of a lifetime finite and therefore precious. Death is like the gilded frame that gives definition to our living days. It’s the built-in counterbalance that throws all beauty and goodness and aliveness into greater relief. 

Death is not to be ignored.

I think all this is true of literal, end-of-life death. But it’s also true of all our losses. What is loss if not a type of death, after all? The death of a dream or a relationship or an ability. Before my online friend could see death for what it really was, she had to be brave enough to get on eye level with it, spend time with it, and call it by its name. The same, I think, can be said for our losses.

To take its full form, resurrection requires both life and loss

If you’ve spent more than twenty-four hours on earth, you’ve probably figured out that this place can be just a little dark. And sometimes, pitch-black. If you are of the Christian tradition like I am, then you know our shared faith doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the dark stuff. In fact, the first few sentences of the Bible tell us that God carved the world out of a formless, empty void. Ages and ages later, Jesus reiterated the same idea without mincing any words: 

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. — John 16:33

Hey, you can’t say He didn’t warn us!

The very raw material of reality is darkness. So why are we taken by total surprise when suffering and sorrow find us, and why are we so prone to want to wish it away? 

Ignoring loss, denying grief, numbing out to pain, or strong-arming our souls into premature closure are all such tempting tactics. But these routes are less than useful. And maybe even harmful in the long run. 

Before we can heal, we have to grieve what’s been lost. 

We have to look at our empty hands and feel the heavy absence of the thing we loved. Naming our hurts is the beginning of seeing the goodness of our lives with clearer eyes. What is grief, after all, if not leftover love? To mourn a loss is to recognize a good gift you had.

To take its full form, resurrection requires both life and loss. 

I learned that from Jesus Himself, who died a very real death to prove that a second-chance life is available to us, be it symbolic or literal. When I don’t name the deaths and the losses and the hurts, I rob myself of the full experience of the new life that follows. If death is inevitable, it might as well be useful.

Jesus’ second-chance life set into motion a staggered but certain rhythm of resurrection, echoing through reality: disappointment then delight, hard then good, wounding then healing, loss then gain, death then new life.

But before I can begin to experience resurrection, I have to grieve what’s been lost. If it’s true for me, could it be true for you too?

God, when the night is darkest, when the pain feels overwhelming, when loss and grief crouch at our doorstep — the light of Your presence orients us. You hold us close, lift our heads, comfort us, and speak into our hungry souls the promise of life with You and the hope of our heavenly home. Thank you, God. Amen.

Adapted with permission from Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf, copyright Katherine Wolf.

[alexie-writes]

Extra Ordinary Chapter 4

A/N: Honestly, I’m really glad to be writing again. I’ve been planning this fic for years, and my ADHD is finally manageable enough that I can write it (knock on wood). I don’t expect this to reach much of an audience, but I’m glad for each and every one of you who takes the time to read this. Thank you for giving my writing, and my OC a chance!

Series Masterlist   Prev   Next

Chapter Four: Simple Mistakes

At their family’s apartment, Ostin and Essie began their homework immediately. Ostin finished within less than half an hour, even after double checking, revising, and correcting the spelling mistakes in the packet, which Essie didn’t think the teacher would take too kindly to. Essie was finishing up hers when there was a knock on the door.

Ostin opened the door, frowning at Michael, “So how’s the cheerleader?” He asked, clearly upset he was left out.

“I know you’re mad you got left out.” Michael sighed.

“What did you do, make out?”

Essie and Michael both hissed at Ostin to hush, then Michael asked, “Do you want to come over or not?”

Ostin got over it almost immediately, remembering what today was. “Yeah, wait.” He said, walking back to his room to get the multimeter that their uncle had lent them. Essie picked up one of her notebooks and a pencil and followed Ostin to the door.

As it was shutting, Ostin’s mother yelled, “Where are you two going, Ostin, Essie?”

“We’re going to Michael’s.” Ostin shouted back.

“Be careful!” She yelled back.

Ostin and Essie both looked at each other, then Michael, and they all shook their heads. Dorothy was very protective of the two of them, it was a shock that she let them walk to and from school by themselves. She meant well, but it didn’t help that the reason Essie lived with them was due to a few kidnappings in her hometown.

“We’re having dinner soon. Ask Michael if he wants to eat with us.”

Ostin looked at him, “Want to eat with us? We’re having fish sticks.”

“No thanks.” Michael said, slightly cringing, he wasn’t the biggest fan of fish sticks.

“He isn’t gonna eat with us.” Essie yelled back to her aunt.

“Dinner will be ready by seven, don’t be late!” she replied, Ostin and Essie both said they would be, as they exited the apartment, and walked down the hall into Michael’s.

As soon as they closed the door, Ostin got to work. “Alright. First thing’s first. Today is Thursday, the fourteenth of April. How are you feeling?”

“Why are you asking me that?” Michael asked, clearly confused by the questioning.

“I want our experiment to be accurate, so try to be as specific as possible. Are you feeling more or less electric than usual?” Ostin clarified.

“I don’t ever feel electric.” Michael said, still a bit confused.

Essie smiled, laughing a little at the proceedings as she wrote everything down. “So, normal?” She asked, smiling at the two of them, as Michael nodded.

“Weather is fair. I checked the barometric pressure earlier, and it’s one thousand seventeen millibars, and humidity is negligible.” He listed off, walking towards Michael with the multimeter. “Okay, clamp these on your fingers.”

Michael looked at the clamps, skeptical. “I’m not going to put those on my fingers. They’re sharp.” He said, pointing towards them.

“Do you want this to be accurate or not?”

“Okay, fine.” Michael said, rolling his eyes as he clamped them onto his fingers, wincing as they bit into his skin.

“Now, don’t do anything until I tell you.”

“Just hurry, these things hurt!”

“When I say ‘go,’ I want you to pulse with all your power. Five, four, three, two… wait.”

“Huh?” Essie asked at the same time as Michael, pausing her note taking.

“I dunno, the screen on this thing just went blank,” Ostin said, pressing the buttons, trying to figure out what was wrong. It was evident when he fixed it, relaxing. “Okay. Four, three, two, one, go!”

Michael surged as hard as he could, electricity snapping through the air, the clamps lighting for a split second. Essie walked closer, looking over Ostin’s shoulder at the multimeter.

“Holy shit!” Essie grinned, “That was eight hundred and sixty four volts!”

“That… seems like a lot?” Michael said.

“Dude, that’s more than a fully grown electric eel, you could paralyze a crocodile with that.” Ostin said, his eyes narrowing, “You could kill someone.”

Michael was, understandably, a little disturbed by that statement. They both knew that he meant it as a statement of fact, but sometimes he said things that sounded a little bad without context. “I’m done,” Michael said.

As he was removing the clips from his fingers, the front door began to open. Essie began to flip to another page in her notebook, hoping to be able to explain this situation away if needed. Ostin hid the multimeter behind his back, not as subtly as the three would’ve hoped.

“Mom! What are you doing here?” Michael asked as Mrs. Vey looked around at the three, who were all standing in the most stereotypical ‘act natural’ poses.

“I live here,” She said, looking at the teens suspiciously.

“But you said you were working late.” Michael stuttered out, trying to cover for what he’d said.

“You sound disappointed.”

“No I… I’m just surprised.”

“I had a migraine, so they let me come home early. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,”

“You were doing something. What do you have behind your back, Ostin?”

Ostin froze like a deer in the headlights. He squeaked out a small, questioning, “Nothing..?”

Mrs. Vey walked up to him and put out her hand. “Let’s see it.”

Essie would be impressed if she wasn’t so worried about being in trouble. Moms always knew when something was wrong, or when something was being hidden from them. Ostin gave Mrs. Vey the multimeter, and she looked over it, then up at him.

“What does it do?”

Ostin swallowed, and Essie hoped he’d come up with something, a decent lie, that it was anything else.

“It measures voltage.”

“Voltage? You mean electricity? Why would you…” She stopped and looked at Michael, anger forming. “How long have they known?”

Michael gulped. “I don’t know, a while?”

“Thirty four months a nine-” Ostin said, as Essie covered his mouth in an attempt to quiet him. She cringed, and shot Michael an apologetic look. She remembered how much she hated her mother scolding her when she was a kid.

Mrs. Vey handed the multimeter back to Ostin. “You two need to go home now. I need to speak with Michael.”

“Okay, Mrs. Vey,” Ostin said, pulling Essie out the door and towards their apartment. “Have a good night!”

They ran back into their apartment, and Ostin dragged Essie toward his room, closing the door. “Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!” He said, pacing the floor as Essie sat on the old bean bag chair in the corner of the room.

“Ostin, please just swear, it would hurt less.” Essie sighed, hoping to ease any of the tension in the room. They really hoped everything was going well over at the Vey’s apartment. They really didn’t think Mrs. Vey would be back so soon, as they didn’t want Michael to get in trouble for telling them. “Maybe she won’t be too mad?” Essie said, hoping to keep Ostin from the meltdown he was so obviously hurtling towards.

“But she is! And what if Michael gets grounded? Or what if he’s not allowed to see us anymore? Or what if they move now? Or what if?” Ostin trailed off, on the verge of a panic attack.

“Hey! Ostin! Remember how to breathe, count with me. One, two, three, four…” Essie counted, trying to calm Ostin down. She honestly wasn’t doing too much better, so nauseous that the room felt like it was spinning. She couldn’t imagine losing her only friend.

For the last almost four years, it had been the three of them against the rest of Meridian. The little crew had stuck together through all the trials of middle school, and their freshman year of high school.

After about fifteen minutes Ostin began to calm down, and there was a knock on the door. Dorothy opened it, “Hey you two, Michael is here to talk to y’all.”

Essie and Ostin looked at each other, a little shocked. Then Ostin ran towards the door, and Essie followed a way behind. But what if? What if they wouldn’t be allowed to be friends anymore? As her thoughts began to spiral, she looked up towards the door. Michael was there, smiling at them, but there was redness around his eyes like he’d cried.

“My mom wants to know if you two can come to Baskin-Robbins with us?” Michael asked.

Mrs. Liss gave them the okay and sent them off with enough money to pay for their ice cream.

As soon as they were out in the hallway, Essie stopped the two boys and pulled them into a hug. She wouldn’t give up their friendship for anything, and she was so glad they didn’t have to.

At Baskin-Robbins, Ostin got triple-decker ice cream, and Michael and Essie got double-decker ice cream. Mrs. Vey didn’t get anything to eat, but just kept smiling at Michael, as the three teens talked animatedly about how strange the latest show they’d all watched had been.

It looked like their trio could last a while longer.

[joekeeryswife]

hii can I get some kurt x reader fluff where she tells kurt that she's rlly into him and Kurt's in denial bc he thinks it has to be a joke but it's rlly fluffy and the readers promising she really likes him and he's all cute and shy 👀

“i like you” “no you don’t” - K.K

i’m sorry this is so short, i’ve had a lot going on today and it’s just messed me up a bit. hope this was okay <3

you were laying in bed with Kurt, his head on your chest as you played with the hair on the back of his neck. "that feels nice" he whispered as he closed his eyes. you laughed slightly and carried on playing with his hair. you sat there for at least another hour before Kurt decided it was time to do a vape review which he insisted you left the room for. you got up off the bed and decided to go talk to his mum who was sat on the sofa. "hey y/n, you okay?" she said, wondering what you were doing out of Kurt's room. usually when you were there, Kurt did not want to leave you alone. "oh yeah i'm fine, Kurt wanted to do a vape review so i left him to it" you said, sitting down next to her.

"oh i see, that boy and his bloody reviews." she laughed, you laughed too and nodded your head, agreeing with her. "i want to thank you y/n." she said, pausing the show she was watching. "what why?" you replied, you'd never really spoken to his mum but when you did, she was always kind to you. "you've made him so happy and i've never seen him like that." she said, patting your knee slightly. "oh no don't thank me, i really like him" you said, giving her a small smile. "y/n? you can come back now" he shouted. "i guess that's my cue to leave" you said, standing up from the sofa and walking back into Kurt's room.

"can i lay on you again?" he said as you walked to his bed, you nodded and laid down, he instantly got on top of you which made you laugh. "i really like you" you whispered as you kissed his forehead. he looked up from your chest and you saw the bright crimson blush which had covered his whole face. "what?" he said, now looking anywhere but at you. "i like you" you replied, you wanted him to know. he'd never had many friends growing up, let alone a girlfriend, so when a stunning girl like you had just told him that, he was in denial. "no you don't" he said, getting up off you, sitting next to you instead. "what? Kurt yes i do. do you really think i'd stay around if i didn't like you?" you said, he couldn't meet your eyes. no one had ever told them they like him and he was shocked that such a pretty girl like you liked him back.

he put his head in his hands and fell back onto your chest, shyness taking over him. "you're so pretty Kurt" you whispered, putting your arms around him. "stop it. you're making me blush" he said which made you laugh. he looked up from you, the bright red blush still covering his face. "why does someone like you, like someone like me?" he said, it sounded like a genuine question which broke your heart. "what do you mean a girl like me and someone like you?" you said, stroking his cheek softly. "what i mean is, hoe can a girl as smart, pretty, caring as you like someone like me? a greasy weirdo who isn't famous." he said. you didn't like it when he spoke down on himself. "do you really think i care about you not being famous? Kurt i like you for you. please don't talk bad about yourself love, i don't like it" you said, your eyes never leaving his figure. "does that mean you really like me?" he whispered.

"of course i do Kurt." you said, giving him a genuine smile. once he saw that he lent down into your chest again. "you're really pretty" you carried on. "again, stop it you're making me blush. i'm the one who should be making you blush" he replied, pushing his head further into your chest. you laughed out loud and pulled his face to look at you. you lent in for a kiss which he gladly reciprocated and once you pulled away you put your hand on his cheek. "i want to be your boyfriend" he said, scanning your face. you smiled brightly and nodded your head. "i want to be your girlfriend" you replied. he smiled and fell back into your neck. he was shy but you loved him.

[moemoemammon]

Following that "least favorite" request could we get their reactions to being to told that they're their favorite, but to not tell the other brothers so their feelings don't get hurt? Maybe because they relate to them the most or just get along really well. Thanks!

You're My Favorite! But Don't Tell the Others-

(Feat. GN!MC and the Demon Bros)

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Lucifer

There are no words to explain the overwhelming satisfaction ion Lucifer’s face after you tell him that. Of course, it’s only natural that he would be your favorite, all things considered.

The Avatar of Pride won’t ever forget this moment. He carefully considers your words and agrees not to tell anyone, as much as he’d love to bring it up, because he knows more than anyone what kind of chaos would ensue should the others (especially Mammon) find out.

But they can tell something’s up when the eldest has been heard humming all day. He moves about the house with even more grace than usual, and hasn’t scowled even once.

But the REAL shocker was when Mammon tried hiding a bill right as Lucifer walked in... and the eldest let him off with a warning. A WARNING! The brothers thought the Devildom must’ve frozen over, but you and he knew different.

“MC, I would like you to accompany me to Le Pluvier this afternoon, once you've finished your studies. I've already made reservations, so be sure to get ready on time. I've made sure to consider the things you might like to eat, so I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Don't be late." "...I'm grinning? I don't know what you're talking about."

Mammon

The gigantic grin on Mammon’s face is so bright, it could rival the sun. You’ve seriously made his day. No, his year. Actually, he’s pretty sure he could ride this high for the next millennia! There’s nothing in this world that could dampen his spirits right now! 

He feels like he just won big at the casino! Of course he’s your favorite! He WAS your first demon, and now he’s gone and claimed his rightful spot as your number one! Good luck trying to keep him from saying anything. Mammon’s gonna throw it around in everyone’s faces for as long as he can milk it.

And you thought he was clingy before, just wait till you see how he treats you after hearing that. Despite always calling you his ‘servant’ or his ‘human’, you’d  think your roles were reversed. Mammon spoils you every chance he gets, buying you clothes and trinkets, filling the spaces in your room with the things he knows you like, monopolizing you completely until nearly everything you own is a gift from him.

Your words also help soothe that jealousy of his a little. Only a little, though. It’s easier to watch you talk to other demons when he knows he’ll always be your first man.

“Didja really have to stay after class that long? I know you were talkin' to that demon that lent you a book, but you outta ask ME for stuff! Tch... you're lucky I'm in a good mood today! But I guess I don't have to worry about some low level demon like that, seein' as I'm your favorite!"

Levi

Wait wait wait....Come again? Did you seriously just say what he think you said..? That had to be a mistake! Some kind of...uh..verbal typo! Because there’s absolutely, positively, NO WAY in all of the nine layers that he could be your favorite demon. And yet you still insist that you’re telling the truth, and Levi feels like he’s died and gone to heaven. 

Red faced and stammering up a storm, Levi looks like he might die. Is it really okay for a shut-in otaku to feel this giddy? Seriously, he hasn’t felt like this since he got his hands on a signed copy of a Ruri Hana audio drama! No no, this definitely beats that!

You’ve managed to inflate his nearly nonexistent ego, and now he feels like there’s nothing he can’t do! Maybe he could even go to Majolish right now?? THAT’S how good he’s feeling!

Almost as bad as Mammon in keeping it a secret. He doesn’t tell anyone right away, but they’re suspicious when they notice how much time he’s spending out of his room. And then when he and Mammon get in another petty argument, he drops the bomb that he’s your favorite demon in the entire Devildom, and you can guess how things go from there.

“Uuuoooo...!!!!! I've decided..! Since I've got a serious stat buff, I'm going to open a booth at the next convention coming up..! I'll sell my Ruri-chan fan art and spread her influence all over the Devildom! I'd never have the guts to do it normally, but I feel like I could do anything right now! Y-you'll go too, won't you MC?"

Satan

You nearly made this man spit tea all over his book, and now he’s coughing and spluttering and trying to figure out what could’ve prompted what he’s taking as a confession. You.. do realize what you’re saying, don’t you? And you know the kind of effect your words have on him?

Satan isn’t the type that wears his heart on his sleeve, so you have to look for his subtle expressions to tell how he’s feeling. But there’s nothing subtle about the redness of his ears and how he’s begging you not to look at him right now. For the sake of his sanity, give him a minute to recoup.

When he does recover, he agrees to keep it a secret for obvious reasons. And it’s hard to tell that he’s in a good mood, other than the fact that he hasn’t tried to pull any pranks on Lucifer lately. But Asmo sees all, and literally hounds him into spilling the tea.

He tells him a lie of course, but now the other brothers are noticing just how happy he is. Satan's smiling way too much today, isn't he? And he didn't even get mad when Beel got whipped cream on his jacket! Well, not THAT mad, anyway.

"Haaah... everyone's been harassing me all day, claiming I'm smiling a lot. I'm sure I look the same as I always do, but I'll admit that I've been happy ever since you told me that this morning. Wait.. you did think I've been grinning too, do you? I have??"

Asmo

Asmo always jokes about being your favorite and announces it as if the two of you are married, but when you actually confirm that his longing for you isn’t one sided, he ends up smearing lip balm across his cheek in shock. Did you... really say that just now? He knew it all along, but hearing it like that is just...!

Ooooh, he’s so happy he can hardly contain himself! Asmo throws his arms around you, peppering your face in kisses until you feel sticky from lip balm, wipes your face clean, then marks it up all over again. Good luck getting rid of him, because he might never let go.

Immediately posts it to Devilgram. Did you really think he’d let such a momentous occasion go unannounced? You must not have been paying attention to the kind of person he is! Asmo would put you on a pedestal in front of the world like a precious jewel if he were able, but this’ll have to do. He won’t hide his love at all!

Of course, the others don’t take too kindly to it, not that he cares. He never leaves your side, pampers you like crazy, and has even attempted to get you to move into his room. Lucifer put an immediate stop to that, though. Boo...

“I just can't get enough of you, MC! Just being near you gets me so excited that I can hardly stand it! You'll take responsibility for what you're doing to me, won't you? And in exchange, I'll take my time showing you just how much I love you. After all, you're my favorite, too!"

Beel

Beel never has a problem with choking while he eats, and it comes as naturally as breathing. Unfortunately neither of that applies right now, since you just made him choke on a meatball sub.

He usually takes your words with quiet acceptance, but this might be the most emotion you've ever witness from the stoic demon. His eyes are wider than that time that laid on an entire gingerbread mansion, sparkling up with such deep emotion you wouldn't be surprised if he cried. Instead he softens up and immediately embraces you.

...And doesn't let go. Sandwich long forgotten, he's been carrying you around all day, and ignoring any questions or protests from his brothers. Also insists on feeding you throughout the day. The food tastes better when he can enjoy it with you, so why not just bring you everywhere?

When he isn't carrying you, he's following you around subconsciously, either close up against you like a protective wall, or just far enough that you're within his line of sight. As far as not telling anyone, he... tells Belphie immediately. It was an accident though, since there's not much he keeps from his twin.

"MC, I won a meal ticket for Godevil Chocolatier. Let's get something for dessert today. Ah, you can get as much as you want, too. I really want to see what things you choose. They might become my favorites."

Belphie

There's nothing in this world that can wake Belphegor from his sleep, unless he allows it. No loud noises, no amount of shaking or smacking, and not even dragging him around the house. But the moment you whisper that he's your favorite demon, the Avatar of Sloth is wide awake.

Hey, you're not just saying weird things to get a reaction, are you? Because if so, this is a new level of cruel. Yet you confirm that you mean it and swear him into secrecy, and Belphie tries his best not to show how happy he is. A smile keeps creeping up on his face that he struggles to force down. It's annoying...

As funny as it’d be to tell everyone the news, he's good at keeping secrets. Instead, you've noticed that he's been sleeping a little less that before. When he does take one of his hundreds of naps, he finds some way to be closer to you. He's even been seen sleepwalking to your exact location somehow-

It's hard for him to believe that you're not teasing, though. How could HE be your favorite demon here? Belphie doesn't do anything special to win you over, yet after everything he put you through, you like him enough to deep him your favorite?

"You're weird, MC. I mean... me? I won't deny that I'm really happy though, but I guess I'm in disbelief. You should spoil me even more until I believe you. Lend me your lap for a few hours, okay?" "...I wonder what Lucifer would think if I told him, heheh."

[animeomegas]

Kinktober - Day 25

[Solomom (Obey me) + Jealously]

Summary: You and Solomon had been together for too many years to count, and as such had little patience in your relationship for petty jealously when one of you went out with friends or danced with someone else at a party. You just didn’t get jealous... well, that’s what you thought until you managed to decipher the final chapter of a rare and old magic book before Solomon did. Now he’s pouting and jealous and demanding that you teach him the final chapter. Unfortunately, for all his wisdom, Solomon seemed to have forgotten the phrase, ‘be careful what you wish for’. Dom!Alpha!GN!Reader

Warnings: There is no established consent but believe me, Solomon is an enthusiastic participant. Solomon being jealous, but it’s lowkey, not anywhere near yandere, don’t worry. Also, this one is a bit rushed, but I’ve been super busy visiting my family home, so sorry about that!

“My love, do you have the book I lent you? I wish to take it for some studying in the library,” Solomon walked into your bedroom, cape billowing behind him.

“Hmm?” you asked distractedly from where you were scrolling on your phone in bed. “Yeah, sure, I already finished translating and studying it anyway.”

Solomon froze.

“Ha,” he gave a forced laugh. “What do you mean you finished it?”

“What do you think that means, Sol, come on now, darling.”

Solomon’s eye twitched and you had to fight to keep your smile down. You knew just how to push every one of his buttons.

“Apart from the last chapter, you mean?”

“Nope, why would I say I’ve finished it if I hadn’t finished the final chapter.”

His eye twitched again, and he let out another forced laugh.

“And you understood it?”

“Of course,” you blinked at him like you couldn’t understand why he was struggling to grasp this concept.

Just then, little bit of uncontrolled magic knocked one of your little plants onto the floor.

“Oh dear, I do hope you’ll be cleaning that up,” you said with a monotone voice, still scrolling through your phone. Asmo was messaging you about setting up a threesome, you should probably reply to him before he threw a fit.

“Tell me how you did it!” Solomon demanded, taking the phone out of your hand and putting it in his pocket. Oh well, sorry Asmo, guess he won’t be getting a prompt reply.

“Why? You spent all of last night’s dinner date talking about how you couldn’t wait to sit down and decipher it yourself, why the sudden change of heart?” you fake pondered for a moment. “Unless it’s because you’re jealous I figured it out first.”

Solomon’s lips pursed and you could see him go a little red around the ears.

“Of course not,” he refuted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then I see no reason to help you with it.”

Solomon’s scent was tinged with disdain.

“Fine, just- Can you show me some of the magic then? It might help me to reverse engineer if I know what I’m working with,” he was still using the tone of voice that he always used when he felt like he was losing his control on a situation and didn’t know what to do. You had really rubbed him the wrong way.

Good job you thought his jealousy was cute.

“Sure! I don’t mind doing that, now?” Solomon nodded. “Cool, just give me my phone back, I’m not having you use it in one of your experiments, I need it.”

Solomon handed back your phone easily, eager to see the new magic spells he’d yet to figure out, and presumably twice as eager to crack the code and then try and surpass you by mastering them.

But Solomon had no idea what was in that last chapter. You hid a rather evil smirk. Sex spells. The last chapter was full of sex spells.

This was going to be fun.

…

“This isn’t funny anymore,” Solomon grumbled, floating several feet in the air with his arms crossed. You’d used the first spell in the chapter to start with, just as a little taster really. It was by far the most innocent one in the entire chapter. A simple levitation spell that could be held easily in conjunction with other spells, nothing inherently sexual.

“Well, if you’re not amused, I can always try the next one?” you smirked, stalking up to him and poking him on the forehead. “Here, statim summa voluptas.”

Solomon seized the seconds the words left your mouth, hips jerking against nothing as a stain appeared on his crotch and a blush on his face.

The book had simply called this one the ‘immediate orgasm’ spell.

“Wha- What spell is- How are you-!“

You casted it again.

“Hnng,” Solomon groaned, stretching and flailing in the air. His face was pink and the stain only continued to grow. “Fuck, fuck, this is too much!”

You casted it one final time.

The noise that slipped through Solomon’s closed lips was sinful. Because he was suspended in the air, he had nothing to hold onto while he was riding out his third orgasm, so his hands were clenching and unclenching rapidly to make up for it. He was panting now from the exertion of three rapid fire orgasms. It was tough to tell under the levitation spell, but he look completely limp and exhausted.

“How did you-“ Solomon coughed and wiped some drool off of his chin. “How did you do that?”

“I thought you wanted me to demonstrate the spells in the last chapter, Sol?” you questioned, tilting your head mockingly. “Don’t tell me you can’t handle it? You’ll never figure out how the spells work if I don’t show you.”

Solomon narrowed his eyes at you. His thirst for knowledge was untameable, and he was still jealous that you’d figured out the chapter before he did.

“What other spells are there?” he asked, staring you dead in the eye like he was trying to will you into showing him the information. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t make for a particularly threatening picture, floating helplessly, cumming at your mercy.

“Hmm, well, I thought this next one was fun,” you smiled, flicking your fingers at you and casting the next spell. “Think of the potential!”

All of Solomon’s clothes vanished, leaving his naked body free for your appraisal. The sticky cum from the previous orgasms was now obvious, covering his crotch and inner thighs completely. Solomon’s nipples were rock hard, and his backside was slippery with slick. In other words, he was absolutely breath-taking.

You couldn’t help but reach out and play with him for a bit, focusing on his extremely sensitive cock, watching the way Solomon flinched everything you made contact. And he was still complaining.

“That spell is ridiculous, what practical use does it have anyway?”

You rolled your eyes and decided to get him to shut up. You took swiped a finger through the cum on his crotch and held it up for Solomon to take into his mouth, something he refused with a harsh glare. He looked like he wanted to curse you out, but he wasn’t foolish enough to open his mouth while you were standing poised. Whatever. You just shrugged and smeared the cum all over his lips. That worked just as well.

Solomon levelled another glare at you.

“What’s that look for?” you asked with exaggerated interest. “Oh! I know! You must be bored of that spell now, how about we try the next one, then?”

“magicae delectationis manus,” you casted, eyes flashing. The last one was fun, but this one had to be your favourite.

There was a tense moment of silence, before Solomon smirked.

“You said you’d mastered all the spells, but it seems that-“

Solomon cut himself off suddenly and tensed.

“What’s that?” he asked, trying to turn around while airborne. He sounded a little nervous.

“What was that you were saying about my spell not working?” you laughed, circling him. “I think you’ll find this one… enlightening.”

“I can feel- Hnng, fuck,” Solomon cried out, writhing back and forth. “How does it feel like this? What are you doing?”

Solomon’s hands were jumping to different parts of his body sporadically. One second, he was clutching at his chest, the next, his neck, then his cock.

“Feel like what?” you laughed. “Oh! You mean, why does it feel like there are a bunch of invisible hands all over you right now? Well, my spell of course! That should be obvious! Are you enjoying it?”

Solomon didn’t answer. Although maybe that had something to do with the invisible hand that was clearly messing around with his tongue. It was so hot to see Solomon’s body react without seeing any of the hands. You wondered…

Oh yes, that was a nice view. Solomon’s hole was stretching as though he was being fingered, but you couldn’t see the hand. It was like a glass dildo, but better. The way it opened and closed, seemingly by itself, was so sexy.

Walking back around, you absently flipped through the chapter of spells, Solomon’s muffled moans filling the once quiet room. You still had twenty-five pages to go. Excellent.  

…

Later, when Solomon tried to make you explain how you knew how to translate the chapter, he was rather upset to find that their had been a key to the code tucked in the book sleeve. It was simply a form of child lock, to help stop children reading the last chapter, nothing complicated or spectacular. Solomon had been grumpy since you told him, but oh well, he’d definitely learnt his lesson.  

[krappykawa]

fake dating headcanons with atsumu, oikawa, and kuroo

ANON ASKED: “hi i really like your writing 🥺🥺 could i request fake dating with atsumu, oikawa, and kuroo? like they told their teams that they have a girlfriend but they dont lmao so they ask one of their classmates to pretend to be their gf so the team can meet her? and they end up falling for her along the way :)) i look forward to reading more of ur works!! 💖”

atsumu x f!reader, oikawa x f!reader, kuroo x f!reader

genre. fluff

warnings. language

word count. 6.3k

note. DAMN this one got away from me ... 6.3k words for a headcanon post ...... sorry anon i’m not sure if you wanted a long post but i mean, here we are lol 

note 2. had to repost because something was up with the tags lol i hope it works fine this time

ATSUMU.

- the team has a favorite twin and it’s osamu, we all know it

- one day after practice, the team finds out that one of the first-years managed to get a girlfriend

- most of the inarizaki vb team is single at that point in time so it starts a conversation about relationships

- somewhere in the conversation, aran says, “osamu, man. I can’t believe ya haven’t gotten a girlfriend yet. yer easily one of the best-looking people in the school.”

- osamu just shrugs, but atsumu’s like “huh??”

- “hey ‘samu and i have the same face. don’t cha mean that we’re some of the best-looking people in the school??”

- the guys in the locker room exchange glances

- aran‘s like “look, atsumu. don’t blow up on me or anything, but most girls don’t really want to date you.” (keep in mind that aran’s strictly speaking about the girls that aren’t a part of the miya twins fan club)

- “and why the hell not?”

- at this point, aran’s looking at literally everyone in the room and pleading with his eyes for help because he doesn’t want to start a fight with atsumu

- suna takes pity on aran and says, “hate to break it you, miya, but girls don’t want to date a guy who’s a massive asshole”

- now, atsumu could care less if the entire goddamn world thinks he’s an asshole, but it rubs him the wrong way that his teammates think that osamu’s a better catch than he is

- sibling rivalry pride or whatever

- so atsumu goes “i think my girlfriend would disagree because oh will ya look at that, she’s dating me!”

- he was most definitely not dating anyone

- osamu raises an eyebrow at him because to his knowledge, atsumu didn’t have a girlfriend

- “since when did you have a girlfriend?”

- osamu looks at atsumu with knowing eyes and smirks. “yeah sumu, who’s this girlfriend of yours? I don’t think i’ve met her yet.”

- atsumu knows he’s gotten himself in some deep shit

- but still he’s still full of pride, so he says, “i’ll bring her by to practice tomorrow.”

- now miya atsumu has a dilemma because there are some things he just shouldn’t lie about (because now he’ll never live it down if he can’t figure out a way to get himself out of this one)

- atsumu knows that he’s got that fanclub that would probably be more than willing to date him, but the thought of being in their presence for longer than two seconds makes his skin crawl because he doesn’t think he could handle the excessive screaming

- so that night he decides to go to the bakery down the street that he frequents because they have some of the best macarons in town

- you’re one of the bakers at that bakery that works the shift when he usually comes in for his weekly macarons so you two are acquainted

- you also go to inarizaki, so you hear the rumors that circulate around atsumu, but you don’t really pay much attention to them because he’s not that bad whenever he comes into the bakery

- like sometimes if he tries to only order 2 macarons but notices that there are only 5 macarons left, he’ll buy them all just to make your life easier

- when he comes in that day, he has this troubled look on his face. “hey y/n. can i just have my usual? oh and an iced matcha.”

- you like to keep tabs on your regulars and what they order, so when he orders an iced matcha, you know that something’s probably up (he never orders drinks from there because he said that his brother would kill him if he didn’t bring him home a drink too and having to carry the two drinks up to their apartment is hassle enough)

- you’re in the middle of making his drink when you decide to ask him what’s up “everything alright?”

- it’s almost time to close up and you two are the only two left so you figured you had time for small talk

- “i may have outright lied to my team about havin’ a girlfriend.”

- “you don’t?” that surprises you because so many girls at your school have a crush on the miya twins (you would know because your best friend is practically in love with osamu)

- when atsumu shakes his head dejectedly, you don’t quite understand what he’s so down for

- “you do know that there are like 50 girls that are practically lining up to date you right?”

- “yeah, but they’d expect a real relationship and i’m no good at those.”

- “why not?”

- “i’m too argumentative, let's just say, plus i’ve been told that i kinda come off as an asshole.”

- “and volleyball right?” you would know since he always comes into the bakery after a practice and he looks like he’s both dead and alive

- when you hand him his matcha and packet of macarons, he pauses

- “listen, don’t take this the wrong way but yer single right?”

- you almost smile to yourself because wow for a guy so attractive, his way with words isn’t great

- “i am.”

- he stands there for a good 20 seconds just looking at you with that look in his eyes that tells you that he’s trying to ask you something but he doesn’t know how to do it

- “you want me to act as your fake girlfriend don’t you?”

- cue atsumu chuckle @%EUTYDJBCJWER)*&# hhhhfs

- “ya know, i’m kinda seein’ why i get called an asshole all the time. it doesn’t sound as great when ya’ say it like that.”

- you agree to pretend to be his girlfriend, but on the condition that your best friend will be able to tag along if osamu’s gonna be there

- and that’s the start of it

- you visit his practice the next day before work and his team looks at you in surprise because they were 100% sure that having a girlfriend was just another one of atsumu’s lies

- they all kinda stare at you a little extra too because you’re really pretty

- “aye, get yer asses back to volleyball and stop starin’ at my girl like that.”

- you know it’s all fake, but him saying that kinda makes you blush anyways

- when you first agreed to fake dating him, you weren’t expecting that you’d have to spend too much time with him (he did tell you that he wasn’t looking for a real relationship) but that changes because osamu’s insistent that atsumu should at least try to be a good boyfriend and eat lunch with you and stuff

- you’re both aware that osamu doesn’t buy your little arrangement one bit

- atsumu’s got this raging pride when it comes to his twin brother, so he actually listens because now he’s made it his personal mission to convince osamu that you and him are actually dating

- it takes a while for you two to get into the hang of it, but once you do, it’s like a regular routine

- you and your best friend eat lunch with the twins (you and atsumu both watch as your best friend fumbles her way into talking with osamu), you drop by before work to give atsumu a kiss on the cheek before practice, he drops by the bakery after practice nearly everyday, and you come to his games while wearing a jersey that he lent you

- his teammates like you a lot and tease atsumu all the time because they claim that you’re way too good for him

- surprisingly, he always gets a little protective when they say things like that and always slips an arm around your waist

- one day when you’re over at his apartment, you help atsumu learn how to make macarons (with some help from osamu)

- it takes a while because he would get mad at the macarons when they would come out in weird shapes

- “stupid macarons! they got it out for me i’m tellin’ ya! they’re being like that on purpose!”

- LITERALLY A CHILD

- you learn to like that about him though

- dates with him are usually on the weekends (you both drag osamu and your best friend out with you) and it’s always something fun that osamu suggests because atsumu wasn’t joking when he said he sucks at real relationships

- most of these dates consist of holding hands as you walk around the streets until osamu sees a restaurant he wants to try out

- he always insists on feeding you at least once in your meal

- he also loves doing the walrus-chopsticks face?? (he only started doing it because he liked hearing you laugh)

- as time passes, you two start going on dates without osamu and your best friend (atsumu always claims that it’s because he wants to show osamu up, but you start to notice that osamu doesn’t even find out about these dates most of the time)

- you secretly like these dates better than those with osamu and your best friend because atsumu feels more at ease and will develop a softer tone around you during these dates

- eventually, he starts to always greet you with a forehead kiss whenever you’re in public (you’re not sure if he does it just because his brother is watching, or if maybe he might be starting to like you)

- you try to make your brain forget that most of the time, he kisses your forehead before osamu even walks in

- one day after practice, you’re waiting for him because you didn’t have a shift at the bakery that day

- he walks out of the club room looking mildly pissed and you’re a little wary

- but then he gets to where you’re standing and just pulls your waist towards him and full on kisses you

- mind you, this is your first kiss on the lips with him

- it’s not a quick peck either, like you can hear the wolf whistles from his teammates in the back and you’re left breathing hard and flushed pink afterwards

- damn if that’s what his kisses are like, you suddenly wish he’d do it more often

- “what was that for?”

- “nothin’”

- sometime in the future you find out that he did that because his teammates were once again talking about your relationship and one of them joked that atsumu paid you to pretend to be his girlfriend

- he knew that what you had wasn’t necessarily real, but he just had the urge to kiss you then (he swears to you that he doesn’t know why)

- he does know why. it was because it was starting to slip his mind that your relationship was fake and the reminder made him a little mad at himself

- he realizes that maybe he’s fallen in love with you when osamu brings it up

- atsumu had asked for osamu’s help because he wanted to surprise you by making you mochis for your upcoming four month anniversary of being his fake girlfriend (typing this out was so funny, this man is so whipped he doesn’t know it)

- “ya know, when i first met y/n, i was sure that it was all fake and that you’d slip up about it one day. i guess i was wrong.”

- atsumu doesn’t say anything to that because in his head he’s trying to convince himself that “no. this is all still fake.” but it’s hard to convince himself of that when his hands are covered in the rice flower that he’s using to make your favorite dessert for your four months of faking being together

- he tries not to think about what osamu said when he gives you the gifts later that night

- he tries not to think about it when he gets that funny feeling that he’s been feeling for a while now when he sees the way you light up upon opening the box of mochis

- he most definitely tries not to think about it when you accidentally give him your second kiss of the relationship because you were caught up in the spur of the moment

- it’s on the way home back to his apartment that night that he realizes he’s fucked

- because good god he’s fallen for you

- he tries to break it off after that

- you’re confused at how sudden it is, but you let him break it off because at that point you’re already in love with him and are still too scared to say it because you keep remembering how he always said that he didn’t want a real relationship

- IDIOTS IN LOVE YOU'RE BOTH SO .

- he tries to go back to normal after that

- but for the love of everything he just . can’t

- his eyes always linger a little too long on the door right before practice because you would always come see him before going to work

- his feet would instinctively move in the direction of the bakery after practices until he realizes what he’s doing and forces himself to go home

- his eyes would scan for your figure wearing his jersey during games until he remembers that you probably weren’t there and that you most definitely wouldn’t be wearing his jersey

- he wants to kick himself because the reason he asked you to be his fake girlfriend in the first place was because he didn’t want a real relationship

- yet here he was. wallowing because if there’s anything more he wants, it’s a real relationship with you

- osamu gets fed up with him eventually

- “take yer ass to the bakery right after practice. i’m not letting you into the apartment until you see her.”

- and surprisingly, he actually listens to his twin brother

- he walks into the bakery for the first time in a while and says “hey y/n. can i just have my usual? oh and an iced matcha.”

- you look up at him then because you vividly remember that night. how could you not?

- you’re in the middle of making his drink when you decide to ask him what’s up “everything alright?”

- “i may have outright lied to myself about loving you.”

- you nearly drop the drink in your hands

- “‘tsumu? what are you on about?”

- “i know i said that i’m no good at real relationships. but i’ve found that i want to learn to be good.”

- a pause

- “i want to learn with ya.”

OIKAWA.

- this poor boy is always the butt of the jokes that come from his team

- seriously though. it’s always “tease oikawa day” (he teases them back so it’s all good)

- but one day, they’re all in the locker room when hanamaki brings up this girl that he’s planning on asking out because he’s not sure how to do it

- oikawa, being the little shit that he is, goes “step one, makki. have my face. step two, have my amazing personality. step three, ask her out.”

- he barely ducks in time to miss the shoe that comes flying towards his head

- “makki! such unbecoming behavior! my advice is perfect!”

- matsukawa snorts and says “perfect advice my ass. you can’t even get anyone to like you. let alone go out with you, crappykawa.”

- “don’t spread lies, mattsun.” oikawa clicks his tongue like a mother scolding his child. “or do you seem to forget the dozens of confessions i get on the daily along with the girls that you three complain about all the time because ugh shittykawa’s gonna make us late if he keeps talking to them” (he’s so dramatic lol he says that last part in this weird, whiny voice)

- iwaizumi scoffs. “doesn’t count when you reject every single one.”

- “i do not!”

- “right. right. as if you don’t make them cry because you’re so nice about rejecting them too.” (oikawa frowns at that one because he doesn’t mean to make them cry)

- “yeah, shittykawa, you’re pretty bad at love in general. i’d die before listening to your advice.” (this one is from matsukawa)

- “there’s also the fact that the girlfriend’s you did have all broke up with you because you would rather cuddle with a volleyball than cuddle with them.” (this one is from hanamaki)

- oikawa scowls at them “i don’t cuddle my volleyball.”

- “sure you don’t. just like you most definitely don’t have a name for it either.”

- “leave iwa-chan the second out of this!” (he drew an angry face on his volleyball too because he claims it looks like iwaizumi)

- iwaizumi groans. “i hate you. so so much.”

- at this point, oikawa knows they’re right, but he’s also really prideful. “and besides. i would suggest taking my advice because i got a girlfriend just today!”

- he most definitely did not

- “sure you did. hey mattsun, i bet a week tops until she breaks up with him.”

- “nah i’ll bet five days.”

- after practice, oikawa came up with a plan for the next day to get himself out of the hole he dug for himself

- he usually got confessions before school, so he told iwaizumi that he was going to school early to practice and instead waited for a girl to confess to him

- but the moment he saw this second-year walk up to him with a little box, he knew he wouldn’t be able to do it

- he couldn’t do that to this innocent girl

- and he tries to say yes to her. he really does.

- but he can practically hear his older sister’s voice yelling at him about how “even when you get popular and get confessions from people left and right, i don’t want you leading anyone on. you only accept a confession if you actually like them.”

- he’s probably more scared of his sister than he is of his own mother, so he says no to that second-year, even when she starts to frown and walk away

- he’s leaning against the gym and rubbing the bridge of his nose when he hears you

- “everything alright?”

- you two were pretty close because he found out that you had a crush on iwaizumi in your second year and tried to set you two up (it didn’t work because he’s pretty bad at being a wingman)

- even when iwaizumi rejected you, oikawa had already grown to like your presence, so you two stayed friends despite how his best friend broke your heart

- “y/n-chan! what are you doing here so early?”

- “just returning a book to the library before the librarian knocks down my door and kicks my ass for having an overdue library book. what are you doing here so early?”

- “would you believe me if i said that i was practicing volleyball?”

- you look him up and down, and the smell of fresh cologne reaches your nostrils. his uniform is neatly put together.

- “looking like that? no, no i would not.”

- “well, what would you believe?”

- “i don’t know .. the truth maybe?”

- “the truth is embarrassing and is defamation to my good name.” that makes you raise your brow at him.

- “okay now i only want to hear the truth. i will not accept anything but the truth. now tell me, what kind of embarrassment have you proved yourself to be this morning?”

- “so mean, y/n-chan! now i see why you so very adored our precious iwa-chan.”

- you groan because you don’t want to remember that rejection. “oh just hurry up and embarrass yourself instead of embarrassing me.”

- “but it’s quite embarrassing.”

- “come on, spit it out.”

- “i may or may not have told iwa-chan, makki, and mattsun that i have a girlfriend when i don’t have one.”

- you look at him like he’s the dumbest person you’ve ever met, because at that moment, you really believed that he was. “couldn’t you just … i don’t know … accept one of your many, many confessions?”

- oikawa tells you about his fear of his sister and the second-year that just confessed to him

- you find yourself admiring his sister because she’s probably the one person on this planet that can humble oikawa tooru (the next person to be able to do so will be you, but you don’t know that yet)

- after hearing his explanation you get an idea. “can’t you ask someone to fake being in a relationship with you? you know, so you don’t get the angry sister devil/angel thing on your shoulder?” (LOL if you don’t get what the angel/devil thing that i’m talking about is, it’s like when you have an imaginary angel and a devil that sits on your shoulders and criticizes every choice you make)

- “are you offering, y/n?” he has that shit-eating grin on his face again, so you know he’s mostly joking

- “hmm, i don’t know. i think you’ll have to formally ask me to be your fake girlfriend. it’s only polite after all.”

- oikawa blinks for a second because he didn’t actually think you were serious. “what?”

- “are you going to ask me to be your fake girlfriend or not? maybe throw in a flower and i’ll say yes.”

- oh. oh.

- well, he wasn’t going to let what might be his only opportunity to get someone to fake date him pass by

- he looks around and sees a small flower on the ground and picks it

- he takes both your hands and puts the flower in one of them before saying, “y/n-chan will you, take me, oikawa tooru, as your loving pretend boyfriend, and save me from irrevocable embarrassment?”

- you laugh in his face because he’s trying so hard not to laugh through his “proposal.”

- “minus points for not getting on one knee but i guess i do.”

- you mainly did it because you may have already gotten rejected by iwaizumi, but you did like the possibility of being friends with him, and fake dating oikawa would probably let you do that

- you also kind of felt bad for oikawa, knowing that he wasn’t exaggerating how embarrassing it would be if his teammates found out he was lying

- when you and oikawa walk up to the seijoh third-years while holding hands, makki and mattsun are jostling each other while iwaizumi looks mildly surprised

- “see matsun! pay up!”

- oikawa and you both look in surprise as mattsun reluctantly shoves a few bills into makki’s awaiting hand

- oikawa’s looking between them both. “what bet did you use me for this time?”

- “i bet mattsun that you and y/n secretly liked each other.”

- blink blink

- iwaizumi sees the mildly awkward situation brewing so he says, “anyways, y/n if you ever get tired of this dumbass, you’re more than welcome into our group. we’ll just kick oikawa out.”

- after that, you and oikawa fall into a dating routine easily (you have a pretty busy schedule too so both you and oikawa understand each other schedules well)

- usually this is where oikawa’s relationships fail. he spends so much time with volleyball and the team that he doesn’t really spend time with his significant others

- it’s different with you though. maybe it’s the fact that the stakes aren’t so high because it’s only a fake relationship after all, or maybe it’s because unlike his past significant others, you don’t mind spending most of your time and “dates” with the other seijoh third-years, or maybe it’s because he remembers that locker room conversation and he wants to prove to makki, mattsun, and iwaizumi that he can be a good boyfriend (even if it’s a good fake boyfriend)

- dates with oikawa are usually laid-back because he’s tired from practice (so like walks in the park, getting ice cream, or study dates where you don’t get much done because you spend most of it just laughing and cooking in his kitchen)

- you find that he’s secretly a decent cook (the only thing keeping from saying that he’s a good cook is because he can’t cut vegetables for his life, and he also managed to accidently burn the onions you were trying to caramelize).

- neither of you acknowledge the fact that since nobody’s there to see those dates, you two technically don’t have to go on them since it’s only a fake relationship

- oh and takeru LOVES you

- seriously. he thinks you’re probably the coolest person ever (he tells you one day that he thinks you’re even cooler than oikawa and oikawa is a pouting mess the rest of your day. you can only pull him out of his slump when you jump on his back and force him to run to the bakery and buy milk bread)

- sometimes you’ll come with oikawa when he needs to watch takeru

- as takeru teaches you how to receive a volleyball, oikawa will watch you two with a little smile on his face (this loser is so whipped like man people passing by reminisce on how they were young and in love once because oikawa looks at you like that. oikawa doesn’t notice that he’s doing it though.)

- you sometimes spend time at his house with iwaizumi or on select days just by yourself (mostly for study dates or for watching weird sci-fi movies that oikawa seems to love)

- since you’re at his house so often, oikawa’s mother takes a liking to you because “you finally got her boy to care about something that isn’t volleyball.”

- it’s when oikawa groans a “moooom” in response that you start to feel those pesky butterflies

- oikawa will run up to you after games and just hold you tightly (he tells himself that it’s because his fan club and the team are watching, but really it’s because he can’t thank you enough for being there because he just plays better when you’re watching)

- my god, dUDE . he has no idea that he loves you like . MAN .

- mattsun, makki, and iwaizumi always tease oikawa about how you’re so much cooler than him

- oikawa whines to you and says, “y/n-channn they’re being mean again!”

- “what do you want me to do about it?”

- oikawa pouts like the baby he is and says, “kiss,” while pointing to his cheek. you give in and a round of groans comes from mattsun and makki. oikawa looks so smug and those pesky stomach feelings come back. iwaizumi is smiling to himself.

- speaking of iwaizumi

- you two become best friends after he finds you looking dejected as you wait for oikawa to get out of practice. you confided with him about how your relationship was all pretend. you might have also told him that you may be teensy bit in love with his captain

- iwaizumi tells you that, “there are some things you just ... can’t fake. the way that shithead looks at you is one of them. trust me.”

- he also tells you that his suspicion that you and oikawa had this weird spark was what kept him from ever reciprocating your feelings and why he rejected you (oikawa literally tried being your wingman before by texting iwaizumi things like “did you see how pretty y/n was today? don’t you think she was pretty?” and “iwa-chan! y/n is so funny and that’s coming from me, so she really is funny! i think maybe you should talk to her to see what i’m talking about (≧◡≦)”)

- at this point everyone knows that you’re in love with oikawa for real (except for oikawa himself)

- everyone also knows that oikawa’s fallen for you (except for oikawa himself, and you because you refuse to believe it)

- the moment he realizes he’s in love with you is on another one of those dates that you both know you don’t have to have but still choose to have anyway

- you’re making milk bread and he’s helping to measure the ingredients when he turns around to see you covered in flour and he just kinda stops

- and he realizes

- like yeah he’s been getting that small tugging feeling with you a lot over these past few months

- but now he finally realizes it’s because he’s in love with you

- he’s staring for a long time and for a second you think he’s going to make fun of your flour-coated self, but he’s staring at you with that look and you’re confused

- “everything okay? is there something wrong? did you mess up the measurements?”

- then an idea hits him

- “something’s wrong. it’s kind of embarassing though.”

- “what is it?”

- “no but it’s really embarrassing.”

- “what .. what is it?”

- cue cheeky little grin. “i think i might’ve fallen in love with my fake girlfriend. i don’t have another flower to ask her out though. i hope she doesn’t say no.”

- you kiss him for the first time then and take pride in the fact that you get him covered in flour in the process

KUROO.

- it happened the second day that you were at the tokyo training camp

- kuroo was with bokuto and a few of the karasuno first-years when bokuto started telling the first-years that kuroo had a girlfriend because he saw kuroo helping you carry your bags the day before (listen . this man is like . clueless when it comes to emotions sometimes i’msosorry)

- kuroo got this confused look on his face because he thought he would remember getting a girlfriend. “i do?”

- “don’t you? remember the girl you were holding hands with yesterday?”

- this was all some big misunderstanding

- so basically what happened was this: you’re shinzen’s team manager and you were tasked with carrying bags of equipment to the training center. kuroo was waiting for kenma to finish talking with lev (more like trying to avoid though lmao) and noticed that you were struggling so he came over to help

- kuroo figured that bokuto must’ve seen him holding the bags for you and assumed that something must’ve been going on (or maybe he looked over for the split second when kuroo held your hand in order to transfer the bags to his hand)

- he was about to clear things up when lo and behold, you walked into the gym

- “kuroo look! it’s your girlfriend! hey, come join us!”

- bless bokuto’s soul. bless that poor, oblivious soul.

- you walked up to them and looked at kuroo like “what??”

- you remembered him from the day before, but you didn’t remember ever agreeing to being his girlfriend of any sort

- he smiled apologetically at you and asked to talk to you on the side

- “what’s going on? why did he call me your .. girlfriend?”

- “look i’m sorry, bo’s a little … i don’t know. he saw me carrying your bags yesterday and assumed. i’ll clear things up, don’t worry.”

- when you two headed back to where bokuto is standing, it was obvious that kuroo’s smooth-sailing explanation wasn’t happening anytime soon

- because lev was there, and so was yaku

- “KUROO-SENPAI? THIS IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND? SHE’S VERY PRETTY SENPAI!” (bless lev’s soul too. another part of the extremely oblivious club.)

- yaku took no hesitation in teasing kuroo. “since when does kuroo ever get any girl to like him? this is new. no offense, of course.”

- kuroo tried clearing up the air by saying, “guys- listen this has all been som-“

- hinata doesn’t let him finish either lmao “YOU’RE THE TEAM MANAGER FOR SHINZEN!” (extremely oblivious club member number 3 here)

- “a team manager, kuroo? what’d you do to get her to say yes? is she a chemistry nerd too?”

- “bo-“

- they kinda just went like that back and forth, and kuroo kept getting interrupted

- you were just laughing to the side because it was kind of funny

- you also kinda felt bad for kuroo because damn his friends had like no faith in his romantic skills at all??

- maybe that was what made you say it, but after his friends were done teasing him you said, “he’s kind of a catch though, don’t you think? nerdy and funny is a girl’s dream isn’t that what they say?”

- kuroo blinked at you because what??

- once kuroo got you alone by asking you to take a walk outside of the gym, he asked, “so … what does this make us?” (surprise, surprise, he never got the chance to tell them about the misunderstanding)

- you just shrugged because really how bad could this be? “i felt bad at how much they were teasing you, so we could keep up the fake boyfriend/girlfriend thing for the week. it shouldn’t be too bad. plus it’ll save you the embarrassment of having to tell your friends that you didn’t actually get a girlfriend.”

- you guys did pretty good for the week of the training camp

- you’d cheer him on in secret if he got a spike or a block during a practice game while simultaneously still watching shinzen’s game

- you two walked around the halls when bokuto was watching just to keep up pretenses

- you learned that he’s a major nerd during these walks, which you found really endearing

- on the last day of camp, he tried to throw pieces of broccoli in your mouth (he didn’t stop until he finally got it in after his 9th try)

- you guys initially planned to “break up” after the camp was over

- but here comes bokuto again

- “hey y/n! kuroo, akaashi, and i were gonna go out for karaoke tomorrow if you wanna join.”

- you grew to like bokuto too so you said you’d come

- it was actually a really fun night

- you and kuroo sang a duet together

- he also stole some of your ramen

- you took a video of bokuto as he serenaded akaashi

- when you guys are leaving to go home, bokuto goes “you two are so cute. y/n do me a favor and don’t break up with kuroo until after the qualifiers would you? i wanna play him at his full game.” (again. seriously, he basically is the greatest accidental wingman ever)

- “we can’t break his heart, can we?”

- “no, we can’t.”

- and so your fake relationship starts

- you don’t get to visit each other often because you don’t live in the same vicinity, but you guys text often (it’s a friend thing, you both swear to yourselves)

- on weekends when kuroo’s not spending time with kenma, he’ll ask you to meet him at a park or a cafe (you two always send selfies to bokuto during every date)

- dates with him are always really fun because he’s spontaneous and also very active so sometimes he’ll take you by the hand and just drag you places

- he is not afraid to smear different colors of ice cream on your nose and call you some obscure name from some really old movie that he may have watched that week

- he also makes you push him on the swings

- the little kids get mad because what is this rooster man doing taking up a swing when he’s so old

- you laugh at him when the kids eventually come up to him and ask if they can use the swing

- dates will usually last the whole day because you’re both fine with just walking around and randomly finding stuff to do

- with all that time spent talking, you two also get to know each other really well

- like basically your life stories

- it took him a while to open up and at first he insists that you tell your story first, but after a while you notice how he starts letting little things about his life slip here and there until he starts telling you bigger portions

- you also get really close with kenma

- not close close the way him and kuroo are, but kenma would probably see you as his second closest friend

- that’s why sometimes kenma tags along with you guys (it doesn’t feel like third wheeling or anything because both you and kuroo enjoy kenma’s presence as much as each other’s)

- eventually, once you two got the hang of it, you’re like the couple that everyone likes

- because you’re both pretty funny and overall just have nice vibes

- his team starts to call you mom and dad as a joke because sometimes when shinzen doesn’t have practice, you’ll stop by at nekoma at the end of practice just to say hi

- they’re not wrong about the mom and dad thing though (it’s a really cute dynamic though i swear)

- your team used to not like him at first because they were protective of you, but eventually they reluctantly warmed up to him

- they threatened to demolish him if he hurt you though

- LMAO ANYWAYS .. MOVING ON

- you guys have lots of study dates too!!

- since you’re both busy because of volleyball related things, a lot of your schedule lines up with each other (this also means that kuroo knows when you haven’t had time to study)

- you’ll be sitting on his bed on your stomach with your legs draped across his thighs as you read your textbook and he’ll be sitting against his bed frame reading one of his assigned readings (i also like to think that kuroo has glasses for these readings that only you and kenma have seen)

- sometimes, when you finish studying before he finishes, you’ll come up behind him and just start to play with his hair

- his hair is actually really soft despite looking like a bird built its nest in it

- you also have two of his jackets that are just lying around your house

- he likes when you wear them because he thinks you look so cute (he doesn’t tell you that though)

- after a while, it’s like both of you have forgotten that this was all a ruse just so bokuto wouldn’t get heartbroken after you two break up

- at this point, kuroo has learned all your quirks, habits, and has also memorized your schedule

- like … he doesn’t realize that he’s fallen for you until someone points it out

- he realizes he’s fallen for you on the day that shinzen loses in the tournament (this would be your last match)

- now nekoma just played a game, but kuroo’s first instinct is to check whether or not shinzen won (he’s been doing this for every game in the tournament)

- when he sees that you lost, he knows that you’ll be sad and in need of a pick me up

- as kenma and him are packing up, he says, “shinzen lost today. i probably can’t make it to your house tonight. y/n will probably want to go out with her team for a bit, but she’ll probably crash at my place. do you think i should make her a strawberry cake? or maybe she’ll want onigiri? no, she’ll probably want the cake. she always gets the little smile with her one dimple whenever she eats my strawberry cake. makes me proud.”

- kenma’s just looking at kuroo with arched eyebrows because HIS BEST FRIEND IS WHIPPED

- kuroo doesn’t get why kenma’s looking at him like that because he thinks about things like that all the time. “what??”

- oh kenma knows your relationship is fake

- so he just looks at kuroo and says, “try to refrain getting down on one knee today. i doubt you have a ring, and i’ll bet that y/n will want a confession of you being hopelessly, madly in love with her before you propose by the way.”

- kuroo kind of freezes and blinks at him.

- “wh … what?”

- “kuro, do i really need to spell out for you that you’re totally smitten with her? you have been for a while now.”

- “have not.”

- “yes, you have.”

- “have not.”

- “yes, you have.”

- “have not.”

- “yes, you have.”

- at this point, kuroo knows that kenma’s onto something, but kuroo doesn’t wanna jump to conclusions until he sees you again

- when you knock on his door and run straight into his arms that night, he knows kenma’s right

- like you’re balling into his chest and he gets that feeling that he wants to hold you forever and never let go

- and he knows. he knows.

- after you start to calm down, he offers you the cake that he made just for you

- he swears that he feels ten times lighter after he sees that exact smile with the exact dimple on your face

- now kuroo may be loud, and rambunctious at times, but when he loves, it’s quiet, simple, but not any less there

- as you finish eating the cake, kuroo notices that there’s a few pink crumbs on your lips

- and he kisses you

- like a “slow, hand on the cheek, nose touching after he pulls away” kind of kiss

- “i made a realization today. kenma told me to hold back on proposing, so i’ll go with confessing instead.”

- you’re looking up at him with your heart beating hard in your chest

- “i think you might’ve made me fall in love with you.”

sorry if there are any mistakes lmao i tried catching all of them but ... 6k words ...... yanno. .....

[jujumin-translates]

Citron | [SR] Festival of Blooming | Citron as Sakuya

Citron: Yawn…

Sakuya: Good morning, Citron-san.

Citron: Oh, Sakuya. You’re up very early, aren’t you?

Sakuya: Yeah! There’s a seasonal event at the daycare, so I figured I’d head out early to help get ready for it.

Citron: So that is why… That’s very admirable, Sakuya!

Sakuya: I do it because I care about the kids, it’s really not that much!

Sakuya: …Wait, it’s already that late!? I’ve gotta go, bye!

Citron: Take care, have a great day~.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya: I’m home!

Azuma: Welcome back, Saku. You must’ve been working hard considering you’re coming back at this hour.

Citron: Welcome home. You’re very late today~.

Sakuya: Ah, I was helping an elderly woman who was having trouble with her heavy bags.

Sakuya: And before I realized it, it was already this late.

Citron: You are very kind, Sakuya.

Sakuya: No, no, it’s nothing really!

Azuma: Omi saved some dinner for you.

Sakuya: Let me go change first!

*Door closes*

Azuma: How about you warm it up for him?

Citron: Leave it to me!

Citron: …

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Citron: The shopping is complete~!

Kumon: Today’s sale was crazy.

Citron: Hm? That voice…

Sakuya: “Together with rice cakes, ginger, beans, rice, and burdock root…” (1)

Citron: Sakuya is doing speaking practice.

Kumon: I think Sakuya-san always practices here. I heard that he sometimes practices with Nii-chan too.

Sakuya: “Make tea, make tea, make tea quickly, make tea…!”

Citron: …

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Tsumugi: As always, thanks for the help.

Muku: It’s nothing! Taking care of the flowers is fun.

Sakuya: Same here! Where should I help out next?

Citron: …

Itaru: Hey, Citron.

Citron: Itaru. Hello.

Itaru: …What are you doing? Is something wrong?

Citron: …Sakuya always tries his hardest.

Itaru: Ah, I see…

Sakuya: And, hup…

*Thud*

Sakuya: Tsumugi-san, I put the soil down over here!

Sakuya: Should I bring the fertilizer over? Ah, I’ll drop it off over here!

Citron: Sometimes I get worried when I see Sakuya alw~ays putting in this much effort.

Citron: I feel like one day he is going to suddenly run out of beam…

Itaru: Guessing you meant “run out of steam”?

Citron: But Sakuya always has such a sparkle in his eyes when he does something with all his might.

Citron: Remember how Sakuya always looks to the bright side. Even when he is on the edge of despair, he still tries his hardest to do something about it.

Itaru: That’s true.

Citron: I think that is why Spring Troupe and the rest of the company are able to live peacefully now.

Citron: Sakuya is what saved me.

Itaru: …Same here.

Citron: Sakuya’s effort is what saved everyone!

Citron: That is why all of us want to be the place where Sakuya belongs. And why we want to protect this place so much.

Citron: When Sakuya gets tired, I want to be the person that he can snuggle close to and rest… Do you feel the same way, Itaru?

Itaru: Of course. I’m in complete agreement.

Sakuya: Ah! Citron-san, Itaru-san!

Citron: Oh, Sakuya! Thank you for always helping with the gardening~!

Itaru: Alright then, how about we give our favorite hard worker some sort of reward?

Citron: I say sushi!

Itaru: That’s just what you want, Citron.

· • — ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · · • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · · • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ — • ·

Sakuya: …Hmng.

Citron: I’m ready, Sakuya! You can open the door now.

Sakuya: O-Okay…!

*Door opens*

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Citron: Ta-daa!

Sakuya: Wah…!

Citron: How do I look?

Sakuya: It might just be because I’m not used to seeing you like this, but you look so different…! But it looks like the hem is a little short…

Citron: Cropped clothes are very in right now. All the girls in town are wearing them~!

Sakuya: Ahaha, I’m glad that you were at least able to fit in them.

Citron: …Actually, your jeans didn’t quite fit.

Sakuya: Eh, really?

Citron: My legs are too long…

Sakuya: Wait, so those are your jeans, Citron?

Citron: No, no! I stole these from Banri, his legs are just as lo~ng as mine!

Sakuya: S-Stole!?

Citron: Just kidding! When I told him I need them for the project, he lent them to me.

Sakuya: Oh, so that’s it. Okay, good…!

Citron: If I were Juza, I am sure that Banri would not have lent them to me so easily. So it was a good thing I am me!

Citron: Well then, no more messing around. Now for the part you’ve been waiting for!

Sakuya: Yes. Please go ahead…!

Citron: “I’ll practice hard again today!”

Citron: “I’ll start off with some speaking exercises! She sells seashells down by the seashore…!”

Sakuya: (From Citron-san’s point of view, I’ve been giving it my all since even the earliest practices…)

Citron: “The sale period is so short…! But if I run fast enough, I think I can make it…!”

Sakuya: (Eh, I even give it my all for things like this? But, I never thought I was putting that much effort in, but maybe I am…!)

Citron: “Well then, I’m off!”

Sakuya: (Dashing off as soon as I leave the dorm… I guess from Citron-san’s point of view, I really do give it my all.)

Citron: …How was that?

Sakuya: I never realized you paid this much attention to me. I’m a little embarrassed.

Citron: …I always think that your eyes sparkle when you do something with all your might.

Citron: I think it’s because you are trying your best to make hard times as enjoyable and positive as possible.

Sakuya: Citron-san…

Citron: Attracted by such hard work, everyone around you is willing to work a little harder because of you, Sakuya.

Citron: I was a little envious of that aspect of you, and it saved me a lot.

Sakuya: I saved you, but how did I…?

Citron: And I knew that since I was going to play you, I had to give it my all, just like you would, Sakuya!

Citron: And that’s why I even borrowed some clothes from Banri because I really wanted to recreate you perfectly.

Citron: Your all-out effort sparked a fire in my heart.

Sakuya: I just have to work so hard because of my clumsiness. That’s all it is, really…

Citron: Oh, you are unaware of it? Everyone is influenced by you!

Citron: But sometimes you go a little too all-out. And if you keep it up, you will run out of energy one day.

Citron: …So before that happens, I want to spoil you a lot as my roommate.

Sakuya: …Sure thing. Thank you so much.

Citron: Can I spoil you right now then? You can rest on my arm while I sing you a lullaby!

Sakuya: Eh? N-Now!?

Citron: Alright, I’ll make sure to become the master of spoiling for the future! I’ll become Azuma’s apprentice and work as hard as I can, please count on me!

Sakuya: Ahaha!

Citron: And finally, we must take the picture! Please take it for me, Sakuya!

Sakuya: Got it! Alright, 3, 2, 1… Say cheese!

Citron: What do you think? Of my full-force Sakuya Smile~!

Sakuya: Fufu, it’s perfect!

• • •

T/N:

(1) Sakuya is reciting a speech from the play “The Medicine Peddler” (外郎売), a kabuki performance from the 1700s. The speech is used for vocal and articulation exercises for actors and entertainers, similar to tongue twisters.

[etsuven]

♡♡Prompt List♡♡

here is the prompt list!! (ft. fischl and her unfairly photogenic self)

more prompts will probably be added!!

sfw prompts

from creative writing prompts

romantic one liners

oblivious and flirty

“I could listen to you all day.”

“Have I already told you how cute you look?”

“One kiss is just never enough.”

“Not to sound cheesy, but your smile really lights up the room.”

“I cannot find the words to describe how I feel about you.”

“Being happy, fortunately coincides with making you happy.”|

“Call me when you get home, so I know you’re safe.”

“Tonight was just perfect.”

“However many years we have left, I want to spend them all with you.”

“I have the feeling that you’re trying not to kiss me and I give you permission to just do it.”

“You remembered my favorite food.”

“Sometimes, being with you feels like a dream that I don’t ever want to wake up from.”

“Being half-asleep is a very good look on you.”

“You can always talk to me, I will always be here for you.”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

first kiss prompts

-“Thank you, and I’m going to wash the sweater you lent me and give it back to you as soon as possible.” “Oh, please keep it. I like you wearing it.” “Really? I thought it was your favorite one.”

-“Why are you blinking like that with your eyes? Is everything ok?” “That was supposed to be a wink!”

-“I like your costume, you look very cute.” “Are you making fun of me?”

-“It’s so cold, you should hold my hand, so it doesn’t freeze.” “I’m not that cold, I can give you my gloves if you want.”

-“I would very much like to kiss you right now.” “Please.”

-“I’m not sure how to…” “Just follow my lead.”

-“Is it ok if I kiss you?” “I would like that very much.”

-“I knew I would love kissing you, but it this was…” “Even better than the dream?” “Yes.”

-“This would probably the perfect moment for a kiss…” “And we probably shouldn’t waste it.”

-“I would like to show you how I good I feel when I’m with you.”

-“I’ve never done this before. I’m probably not going to be great at it.”

-“Neither have I. But we could figure it out together.”

from fayesfairylights

smutty prompts (techncially all of the ones under this text are smutty one liners but i don't feel like changing the numbers around-)

remember- DOM READER ONLY

1: “we’re in public, you know”

2: “you were always more than just a one night stand to me”

3: “stop teasing so much” ‘make me’

4: “bite me” ‘if you insist’

5: “mine” ‘say it again’

6: “we can’t do that here!”

7: “all you had to do was ask”

8: “either take it off, or I will happily do it for you.”

9: “I don’t care what you do just as long as you do me.”

10: “were you just touching yourself?” ‘yeah, what are you gonna do about it?’

11: “do you think they could hear us?” ‘yes we can.’

12: “this sofa costs fifteen thousand dollars, don't you dare ruin it” ‘guess ill just have to cum in you then’

13: “were just…friends.” ‘friends don't do this type of shit!’

14: “how quickly can you cum?”

15: “just let me finish this and I swear I will go down on your and make you cum three times.”

16: “the only way you are gonna get off is on my thigh.”

17: “tell me how you want it.”

18: “there’s no way I’m gonna let you wear that in public” ‘why not?’ “cause It would be a shame to rip it off in front of a hundred people, such nice material.”

19: “I’ve never wanted to fuck someone so badly.”

20: “take off your clothes, but leave the heels on.”

21: “shut up.” ‘well why don't you come over here and make me?’

22: “you aren’t taking me to bed….ever.” ‘who said it had to be a bed?’

23: “for the love of fuck.” ‘yeah that's me, I love to fuck.’

24: “would you re consider if you were sober?”

25: “they may be all lollipops and candy bars, but I bet behind closed doors they're hand cuffs and gags.”

smutty one-liners

from creative writing prompts

1: “I dreamed of your legs wrapped around my waist.”

2: “Don’t act innocent when we both know where your mouth was two minutes ago.”

3:“We should probably leave, before we start a scandal.”

4: “Stop looking at me like that or my knees will not hold me any longer.”

5: “Is there some space left in that bathtub?”

6: “The way your eyes get darker when you get aroused, is making me lose my mind.”

7: “I want to count every one of your freckles with my lips.”

8: “Jealousy seems to be a great motivator for you.”

9: “I could make you feel better.”

10: “You’re a lot more flexible than I thought.”

11: “I want to please you.”

12: “Your shirt got a little dirty, how about we take it off?”

13: “I want to give you a hickey, so everyone can see how I feel about you.”

14: “Do you want to take it off or should I do it for you?”

15: “I never imagined you to be so sensitive, but I love it.”

16: “Maybe you could use that mouth for more than just talking nonsense.”

17: “If we weren’t in public right now…”

18: “Your hand feels much better than my own.”

19: “As soon as we’re both sober, we can do every dirty little thing you ever dreamed of.”

20: “Come on, you have to work for it.”

21: “I’ll take it that you like what you see.”

22: “Your moans will wake everyone up and I’m oddly fine with that.”

23: “Your eyes are already saying yes, now I just need your mouth to tell me the same.”

24: “I can never seem to get enough of you.”

25: “How about we continue this somewhere more private?”

26: “Oh, can you feel this?”

27: “We won’t be missed for a couple hours, we should take advantage of that.”

28: “Reality is even better than my dreams.”

29: “I told you, you would eventually start begging.”

30: “You always know so well what I like.”

31: “Oh, you’re such a tease!”

32: “I’m not necessarily hungry for food right now.”

33: “You’re so tense, do you want me to make you more relaxed?”

34: “Hmm, is that a threat or a promise?”

35: “Who would have thought that this is something that you’re into?”