#OH YOU GOT HER SO ACCURATE YOU LITTLE BASTARD

[qilinkisser]

Uhh, hey.

Damn it. You’d think corny people in romcoms would make this look easy. Now where do I start…

PJ won’t stop taking the piss out of me. She keeps saying I keep getting distracted whenever we talk. And she thinks you’re to blame! But, uh, can I tell you a secret? Yeah. It’s… mostly because of you.

N-now, don’t get me wrong! There's nothing bad or anything, it's just that... I've been thinking about you a lot lately. The best way I can put it is that you feel like home to me. You make me feel like I have something — actually, someone — to hold on to. You've been there for me through some of the worst days of my life. And I want to make sure I can return the favor. You need anything? Just let me know, and I'll be there.

The point is, I love you. No matter what you’re going through, I’ll be there. I know I’m not much to look at, but I want to be your rock if I can. Someone who can be there when you need them, to stand by you on crappier days... that sort of thing. You mean a lot more to me than you’d think, angel... um, dust.

Wait. Shit. That’s the name of a drug. I take that back.

Well, I guess I better wrap this up. I’m running out of steam. Isabel says she loves you, and, well… I do, too.

Yours,

Josie M.

JOEY I'M GOING TO GET YOU. WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUCK

[freelancearsonist]

Whole

Steve Harrington x fem!Reader

Rated MA for the most long-winded poetic smut i've ever written jfc 🤦‍♀️ slow burn fluff with a couple sprinkles of angst for flavor, reader uses fem pronouns and is described as having female parts, it's dirty y'all but at least they use protection

7,470 Words

A/N: you all know my mo by now i disappear for a year and then come back and lay down some god damned PORN. this fic is no exception to the rule. @shakespeareanwannabe requested this back in july and she literally just asked for a cute moment between steve and dustin, sorry you got 6k words more than you bargained for 😂 but also thank you for betaing and the constant validation you're the best ily 🖤

Steve’s not sure how it even worked.

He can still remember the look on Robin’s face when you agreed, how she was speechless for almost ten minutes because she couldn’t process what had just happened.

Steve’s reaction was about the same as hers, in all honesty. He’s gotten so used to striking out that asking people out has become something of a game to him. He knows he’ll get a no, and he knows Robin will laugh her ass off at him. But what can he say? He likes putting a smile on his best friend’s face.

Needless to say, you’ve shaken him. In the best possible way. Because your answer was three letters instead of two.

And now, he's a little bit in over his head.

Or, to be more accurate, a lot in over his head.

It seems like it’s been ages since he’s gone on a date, even though it’s only been a few months at most. He feels lost, like he’s completely unlearned everything he ever knew about girls.

He hates it, despises it with every fiber of his own being, but he also knows it’s true; he needs advice. And although he’ll never admit it to the little shithead’s face, there’s no one better he can think of going to than his very own protege. Who better to remind him of his own prowess than the person who learned everything they know from him?

One look at Dustin’s smug little face and Steve almost regrets it. Almost.

“Just can’t stay away, can you?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Steve rolls his eyes and gives the younger boy a little shove, camouflaging it with an affectionate pat on the back. “This is strictly business, Henderson.”

“Oh, is it now?” The younger boy’s voice takes on a smug tone as he folds his fingers together and leans back in his chair. “Well then, why don’t you have a seat? Step into my office.”

Steve rolls his eyes and slides into the booth, shooting a smile and a “thank you” to the kind waitress who delivers two milkshakes to their table.

Dustin takes his time and makes a meal of unwrapping his straw, feeding off of Steve’s clear impatience Steve’s fingers tap against the table, reminding himself that patience is necessary when you come to someone for a favor. It’s just that it’s Dustin, and Dustin knows exactly how to get under the older boy’s skin in the most annoying-yet-oddly-endearing fashion.

“So…” Dustin finally says after a lengthy sip of strawberry milkshake. “What brings you so humbly to me?”

“I’ve got a date.”

And Dustin, the little bastard–he laughs. A deep, rumbling belly laugh, so pure and unfiltered that the three other occupied tables in the diner pause their conversations to get a look at the boy clutching his sides.

Steve’s a little embarrassed by the attention, but even more embarrassed that Dustin’s reaction is so genuine. The fact that the idea of him having a date is so laughable is a bit of a punch to the gut. It hasn’t really been that long, has it?

When Dustin’s laughter finally dies down he realizes Steve’s face is completely serious, and it makes him giggle even more.

“Wait, you’re actually serious? Who on earth did you manage to pull?”

Steve’s nearly bashful as he says your name, and even more bashful when Dustin’s jaw visibly drops.

“No fucking way. I’d believe anyone else, but her? She’s like… hotter than Phoebe Cates. There’s no way you wouldn’t strike out with her.”

Steve’s immediately on the defensive. Is it really so hard to believe that he, former king of Hawkins High, could pull the most gorgeous girl in town?

But that’s just it. There’s really no one like you, not in his eyes. He’s admired you since freshman year and never once even tried with you because he knew he wasn’t worthy. You were always in the background–a beautiful, kind, smart, funny girl just out of his reach. Part of the reason he even asked you out was because he was so sure he would strike out. In the end, losing his confidence was exactly what he needed to pull the girl of his dreams.

And that’s why there’s so much riding on this. You’ve always been his biggest “what if”, the girl he wonders about when thinking that maybe not trying has been holding him back. And apparently, it has.

“Look, I don’t even know how it happened, okay? But she said yes, and… and I really don’t want to blow it.”

“Well duh. You’ll have to leave town if you blow it with her, you know that, right? If she doesn’t think you’re worth it, no one else in this town ever will again.”

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of!” Steve groans, slouching down so far in the booth that Dustin can just barely see his poor, overwhelmed face.

“Steve, listen…” Dustin’s voice takes on an almost fatherly quality, an omniscient tone that gives off the illusion of great hidden knowledge. He gets like this sometimes, and Steve’s not always sure that it is just an illusion. “Don’t let this go to your head, but you’re, like, one of the coolest guys I know. If she doesn’t like you… that’s her problem, not yours. Okay?”

Steve straightens in his seat, a little shocked to hear such kind words from a friend that he’s used to being mercilessly teased by.

“No, no, no, it’s going to your head. I take it all back. Forget I said anything.” Dustin’s hearty giggle makes Steve smile as he sets a wad of bills on the table and slides out of the booth.

“You’re not so bad Henderson, you know that?” He gives the younger boy’s full head of curls an affectionate ruffle. “Thanks, kid. I’ll radio later.”

Not that Steve didn’t have total faith in his young protege, but it’s still a relief that the pep talk turned out to be exactly what he needed to hear. Dustin’s right, after all. Steve’s worked hard to become the man he’s always wanted to be. He may not be dripping charisma or sex appeal the way he used to, but he’s much more comfortable in his own skin. That’s what counts, right?

And you really are his dream girl. The opportunity to take you out tonight, even if it ends up being your first and only date together, is an honor. He’s much less focused now on all the ways he could screw up, hyper-fixated on putting the effort in to make this the best night of your life.

That effort comes out in the carefully selected suit jacket he dons over his white button-up, the extra spritz of cologne, the careful touch-up shave to vanquish his five o’clock shadow, the extra ten minutes using the perfect amount of product in his hair so that it stays in place yet is still soft to the touch.

By the time he gets to Enzo’s (half an hour early, mind), he’s practically vibrating with nerves and anticipation. He’s never been much of an overthinker, but he sure is tonight. Is this place too much for the first date? Would you rather do something lowkey, like catch a movie or go for a walk in the park? He has to remind himself a couple of times that you agreed to this, that you wouldn’t have said yes if you weren’t interested in the arrangement.

To say he’s prepared for this is putting it lightly. He’s run through every possible scenario in his mind, gone over conversation starters and questions he wants to ask you over and over again until he knows exactly how he wants to phrase each thing.

And still, nothing could prepare him for when you walk through the door.

He has to physically restrain his jaw from dropping because in the moment he sees you, every well-planned thought and all etiquette is flushed down the proverbial pipes. You’re nothing short of breathtaking in a dress that hugs all the right curves and shows just enough cleavage to have him imagining what else there might be to see. Your hair is pinned back out of your face, eyes framed by just the slightest bit of makeup to make the color of your irises pop. He swears he’s never seen a shade quite like them. It’s like you move in slow motion as you approach him–he sees the entrance of the smoking hot love interest in every romantic comedy, complete with smoke and fireworks, as you move towards the table.

And then some sense of decorum returns to his addled brain, and he quickly shoots up so he can pull out your chair for you like a proper gentleman. He catches just the slightest whiff of your perfume, and he’s a goner. He’s ready to sign his life away to you, to yank his own heart out of his chest to offer to your careful hands.

He has to give his head a shake to compose himself before he goes any further off the deep end. No one’s ever thoroughly shaken him the way you have, and it’s been a matter of thirty seconds. It’s almost intimidating, the effect you have on him.

“You look… incredible,” he fumbles as he takes his seat across from you. “I mean, you always do, but… wow.”

The shy giggle you emit tugs at a heartstring he didn’t even know he had.

“Thank you,” you tell him with a genuine smile. “You clean up very well yourself.”

“I do like to put in some effort every once in a while.” He flashes the most charming smile he can muster, and just like that he’s back. His resolve to impress you is reinforced tenfold. You’ve shaken him, and it’s such an unfamiliar feeling that he’s practically bumbling. He wants to shake you just as badly.

The food’s delicious, and the conversation’s even better. He has a track record for taking out a more–for lack of a better term–bimbo-y type, and that’s definitely not you. You’re smart, you’re witty, but you don’t make him feel like an idiot. He’s so taken with you that he doesn’t even notice that three hours have passed until he looks around the room and notices that every table is now empty and bussed.

The waiter delivers the check, and Steve notices you gnawing on your lip.

“What’s on your mind?” He asks, trying not to be too prying.

“I don’t want this to be over yet.”

Steve smiles. He’s got you; hook, line, and sinker. He’s never been so sure of anything, and that surprises him. He’s used to dates who are easy to read and even easier to take home, and those aren’t the impressions you’ve been giving him. To know that you’re feeling exactly what he’s feeling is a huge confidence boost.

“I don’t either.”

Your hand is so small compared to his. That’s all he can think about as he strolls next to you, his fingers intertwined with yours. He’s always considered hand-holding to be child’s play, it’s never excited him before the way it does in this moment with you.

It’s pitch black in the park and he can hear the overlapping chirping of summer cicadas and grasshoppers, the perfect background noise now that the conversation has died down. It’s less about getting to know each other at this point and more just basking in each other’s presence, prolonging the inevitable because neither one of you can bear to call it a night when it’s been such a good few hours.

You’re shocked, to say the very least. Steve certainly has a reputation, and it’s not for being a romantic. Yet everything tonight has flown in the face of all the rumors you’ve been hearing since junior high. You figured he’d be a fun fling, and probably only one night at that–you’d made your peace with the idea. To find that he’s kind, considerate, funny, and can match your intellect and quick wit… it’s a very pleasant surprise. And that’s what has you out well past a decent hour, giddy over simply holding his hand like you’re a damned school girl all over again.

“I should probably let you go home,” Steve sighs wistfully. He hates to be the one to bring it up, but you’re on your fifth lap around the park and about to circle back to where your car is parked so now seems the best time.

You’re chewing your lip again, a thoughtful habit that makes his heart pound just a little bit harder.

Here’s the thing: you’re really not the bold type. You act confident, sure, but in practice it’s a lot more difficult for you. So no one’s more surprised than you are when you say, “You could come home with me. If you want.”

Steve’s definitely shocked, too. Less shocked at your proposition and more at the fact that he’s tempted to decline. Because no matter how much he’s been running through the back of his mind what you might look like under that gorgeous dress, he doesn’t want this to end there. For the first time in his life, he wants to find more meaning than sex out of a relationship. He doesn’t want to take you home and never see you again. He wants to take you out again, and again, and again, and again after that. He sees a future, for once, that doesn’t look dim and hopeless. That fact alone scares the shit out of him.

He realizes he’s waited way too long to reply and fumbles for an answer. “Of course I want to. I’d be an idiot not to. But…”

You chew that cursed bottom lip of yours again, and Steve has to focus on the obvious cue you’re giving him rather than the fact that he wants to be the next set of teeth around that lip.

He stops in his tracks, gently pulling on your hand to face him so he can take your other hand in his free one. “It’s not a bad but. I mean, I’m going to go home kicking myself for saying no because I really honestly do want to… well, y’know. But… I want to do this right with you. I want to take you out again. I want to get to know you and see where this goes. I can’t… I don’t want this to end tonight.”

He’s eternally grateful for how dark it is as he feels a flush consume his face. He can’t remember a time he’s been so honest and open, especially on a first date; but the look on your face tells him he’s done something right.

“Okay,” you tell him, squeezing his hands in yours. “You… honestly have no clue how nice it is to hear that.”

“Of course,” he continues, “if you just want me for my body, no hard feelings.”

You laugh at that, genuinely laugh, and Steve thinks it’s the best sound he’s ever heard.

“No,” you reassure him. “No, I… I wanna see where this goes, too.”

You’re stopped only a few paces from your car, and Steve knows with a twist of his gut that this is the end of the night. It makes his gut turn with disappointment, but also with anticipation of when he’ll see you next. Already, his mind is flooding with ideas of where he can take you and what you’ll do together.

You drop one of his hands so you can walk but keep a tight grip on the other until you get to your driver’s side door, hesitating outside because you’re still not ready for this to be over. It takes every ounce of restraint he has not to kiss you, unsure of if that would be moving too fast.

Thankfully, you make the call yourself. Leaning up on your toes, hands against his chest for balance, you press your lips against his and he has to summon every mite of strength not to moan. No one’s ever tasted so sweet, molded against him so perfectly. His hands drift from your shoulders down your arms, coming to rest on your waist as he pulls you just a little bit closer. It’s a fight of will not to overstep, to break off the kiss before it can become too heated. His mind is spinning by the time you break away. He’s aching for more, and he hopes you are too. 

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Goodnight, Steve.”

Your sweet voice replays in his mind all night, long after you’ve gotten into your car and driven away, long after he’s returned to his own vehicle and pulled the radio out from under the driver’s seat to check in with Dustin, long after he arrives home and soaks in a cold shower for longer than he probably should. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get your voice out of his head, and he couldn’t be any less upset about it.

He practically counts down the minutes until he sees you again. This time, he has a little less restraint. He greets you with a kiss–a sweet peck and a hand on your waist that leaves you aching for even more.

It’s a movie this time, a chance to enjoy each other’s company on a night you’re both too tired from working to engage in heavy conversation and getting to know each other further.

It starts with sharing popcorn, then holding hands, then somewhere along the way the film is completely forgotten in favor of your lips meeting his. His breath grows heavy as his hands hold your face, committing you to memory while resisting the urge to explore further. Your hands, meanwhile, are firmly on his thighs, gripping tightly to keep yourself steady as you do everything you can to keep yourself from crawling into his lap.

He whispers your name, and your grip on him tightens.

“W-we shouldn’t…” he murmurs, then gives up on the futile attempt at finishing his sentence so that he can pull you even deeper into the kiss as his tongue sweeps across your bottom lip.

It takes everything in him not to moan when your lips eagerly part to accept him.

Needless to say, once the credits start rolling you’re both more than a little hot under the collar.

“Let me buy you dinner,” Steve suggests as he woefully unwinds himself from you. Declining doesn’t even flicker through your mind as a possibility.

It’s not Enzo’s this time, but it doesn’t have to be. He could set a soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich in front of you at this point and you’d still thank him for it. This time around, you’re not really as interested in the cuisine as you are just simply getting through this meal to what’s next. Because what’s next is all you’ve been thinking about since you walked through the doors the night of that very first date and saw Steve Harrington wearing a blazer for you. It’s a level of effort he’s definitely not known for–in fact, he’s built a reputation for putting in so little effort that it nearly made your jaw drop to see him trying. And it certainly made your heart skip a beat.

But then again, the Steve before you carelessly wolfing down his bacon cheeseburger seems very different from the Steve you knew in high school, even if you didn’t know that iteration as intimately as this one. That one was cool, collected, snarky and pompous and maddeningly desirable.

This Steve, your Steve, is nearly an exact foil. Much less cocky, a little less confident but more self-assured in the ways that actually hold meaning, less worried about what the people around him are observing of him than what you’re observing of him. He seems happier, more carefree, more eager to please others than simply himself. He’s grown so much in such a short amount of time, and you feel proud just for having the honor to witness it. Significantly more proud to be on the receiving end of his affections now that they hold the kind of value you’ve always wished they would.

He looks up and notices you staring at him while lost in thought, a small smile spreading across his lips as your eyes quickly dart away.

“What’s on your mind?” He questions as he licks a stray bit of ketchup from his thumb.

“Just… happy I’m here. With you.” It brings heat to your cheeks to admit it, but you don’t want him to go unappreciated in this moment.

It’s the right thing to say, because his smile grows even wider. “I’m happy too,” he admits. “I… I’ve wanted to ask you out for a while. Could never work up the courage, I guess.”

“Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington was intimidated by me?” You say it with a mock gasp, but your shock is more genuine than you give off. Never in a million years would you have thought that he, the man who could have whoever he wanted, would be worried over you saying no to him. It’s almost comical, especially considering the way you practically threw yourself at him on your first date. Of course then, you had no clue how much he’d developed as a person. You’re almost ashamed of your behavior now, as if you might’ve inadvertently been taking advantage of the new and improved Steve who isn’t just into you for a hookup.

He shrugs, nearly bashful at your teasing. “Never figured I was good enough for you. So I didn’t bother to try.”

You’re genuinely curious now, leaning in a little closer and brushing your fingers against his hand resting atop the diner counter. “What made you change your mind?”

“Honestly? I was so sure you’d say no that I asked just to give Robin a chuckle. She loves watching me get shot down.”

That makes you frown, and he’s quick to backtrack. “I wanted to! I just… I’ve had a bad track record lately. And you’re… you’re you. You’re the last person I should be worthy of.”

His eyes are quick to avert from your gaze, bottom lip tugged between his teeth as he contemplates whether he’s said too much.

“Steve…” you properly grab his hand now in the hopes that it’ll bring his eyes back to you, and it works. “You’re the only person I’ve deemed worthy in a long time, honestly.”

Steve Harrington is scaldingly warm. It’s one of many sensations forcing your mind into overdrive as he lays you delicately across the backseat of his beemer, one hand cushioning the back of your head while simultaneously deepening the already heated kiss and the other balancing his weight to lean over you in the cramped space without completely crushing you.

Your fingers tangle themselves into his soft brown locks, tugging ever-so-slightly as his tongue slips between your parted lips. He’s an eager explorer and you’re more than happy to let him take the lead, to show you all the skill you’ve heard so many whispers about.

You let out an involuntary moan as he wedges himself even closer to you, his body heat soaking through all the layers of clothing between the two of you and warming you all the way to your very bones.

You’re practically aching, ready to beg, and he knows it the second you wrap your legs around his waist in an attempt to get him even closer. If there’s one thing Steve Harrington’s good at, it’s assessing your needs. He pulls away just the slightest bit to adjust his position so he can get closer, wedging a knee between your legs to press right against your core, and it makes you jolt back against the car door at the same time his head hits the roof just a bit too hard.

You both pause for a moment, the reality of your situation hitting you simultaneously, and then you’re laughing. It’s light and edged with unresolved want, but it’s enough to fracture the tension of the moment.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “Shouldn’t have gotten so carried away. This isn’t how I want to do this.”

“No?”

“No. You deserve way better than this old beater,” he chuckles, then leans down to kiss you. This kiss is lighter, no longer edged with tension and lust. He kisses you just to kiss you–there’s no end goal to it this time.

“What could be better than a BMW?” You tease lightly, trying to reassure him that you’re less disappointed than you really feel.

“You know. Something romantic. A proper bed, rose petals, maybe a few candles…”

“I don’t need all that,” you try to tell him.

“I think I do,” he admits. And that’s enough to pull you back, to remind you that you need to be patient and grateful that he values you so much as to want to do this whole thing properly. That his affection is something to be cherished, not taken for granted.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper. “I didn’t mean to be pushy.”

“Please don’t apologize.” He hesitates to untangle himself from you, even though he knows he needs to. “I want this just as bad. I just… I need it to be right.”

“As long as I have you, it’ll be right,” you reassure. “I hope you know that.”

He presses his lips to yours again, a slow and passionate kiss that he hopes communicates every bit of adoration he feels for you in this moment.

“It’ll be perfect. I swear,” he vows. You’ve never believed anything more whole-heartedly than you do this promise. 

~~~

“Wait, you’re telling me that you literally had her under you and you stopped?” Robin’s halfway through chewing a mouthful of popcorn and the absolute carnage inside her agape mouth makes Steve give her a light shove.

“It’s not polite to talk with your mouth full, y’know.”

“It’s not polite to blue-ball either!” She shoots back in utter disbelief.

“How do you think I felt? I was this close,” he holds his thumb and index finger barely millimeters apart, “to sealing the deal.”

She just shakes her head. “You, Steve Harrington, are a genuine, bonafide idiot.”

She’s not telling him anything he doesn’t know. It’s been three days since the aborted fling in the backseat of his car, and he’s barely thought of anything else. Especially since you’ve been away from home both of the past nights when he’s called. He’s starting to worry you’ve gotten the wrong impression, that he’s not interested or that he’s toying with you. It’s the exact opposite. He wants nothing more than to know you in the most intimate way he can know you. But he needs it to be flawless. He needs it to be well thought-out and precisely planned, the most romantic event in the history of copulation. He won’t settle for anything less, not with you. You deserve perfection, and he won’t give you anything less.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” he tries to explain. “I want to more than anything. But if you’re gonna go to town on a goddess, you need to do some worshiping, y’know? I don’t feel like I’ve done enough.”

Your heart pounds in your chest as you hear this admission. You weren’t sure what to expect–worried that maybe visiting him at work was an overstep–but hearing him call you a goddess certainly wasn’t on your radar.

“You’ve done more than enough, Steve.”

The sound of your voice makes Steve jump and whirl around, oblivious to Robin’s sly smirk and mumbled excuse of needing to attend to something in the back room.

“H-hey!” He squeaks, then clears his throat in an attempt to get his tone back to its normal octave. “What… what’re you doing here?”

“Oh, just came to pick up a tape,” you tease. “But mostly I came to see you.”

“Me?” He takes a moment to ground himself, loosening his too-tight grip on the counter. “I mean… I tried to call you last night. And the night before?”

Your brow furrows. “Really? I didn’t get your message.”

Because he didn’t leave one. He clears his throat and says, “I just figured you were busy.”

“Oh, well, I volunteer at the animal shelter on Wednesdays, and last night was my friend’s 21st birthday. I’m sorry I missed you, though.”

He can tell that you’re really remorseful, and it makes his heart squeeze in his chest a little bit. He plays it off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “No, it’s fine, it’s… are you free tonight?”

You giggle at the abrupt redirect, but he’s played directly into your hand.

“Yeah, actually. I was hoping maybe you could help me pick out something for us to watch tonight? If you’re free too, that is.”

His dark eyes blink slowly, wondering if you’re aware of the implication behind your completely innocent words. You. Him. A movie. Alone. It’s enough to make his head spin. 

“I’ve never been freer.”

Conveniently, you’ve come in close enough to the end of his shift that by the time you’re done combing through Family Video’s vast selection for the perfect film to use as background noise, Steve’s ready to clock out. And since you walked over after finishing your own shift at the local dollar store up the street, it works out perfectly that he can give you a ride straight to his place.

You only glance in the backseat once, but it’s enough to get your mind churning. Remembering the feeling of him, of what could’ve been. Anticipating what will be.

“Parents home?” You ask as he pulls into his driveway and parks, trying to sound casual and utterly failing.

“Nope,” he answers easily. “Took a detour to Cabo on their way home from Hawaii.”

“Sounds glamorous. You opted out?”

“I’d rather be here in Hawkins with you than on a beach alone anyday.”

He must know the effect his words have on you. Surely he can hear the way your heart picks up pace as he looks at you with those dark, affectionate eyes.

“So… this is home.” He waves a hand around the entrance hall like it’s a shabby nightmare, not the grandest house you’ve ever been in.

“I’m starting to understand why they used to call you King Steve.”

He’s almost embarrassed at the mention of that old high school nickname. “Trust me, this isn’t why.”

“Well, a palace does befit you,” you tell him with a smirk.

“Stop, you’re gonna make me blush.” The wink he shoots you makes your gut erupt with butterflies, a sensation that would normally make you a little uncomfortable. With Steve, you’d take the butterflies all day long.

He gives you a cursory and oversimplified tour of the ground floor before leading you upstairs, and suddenly he’s sheepish. It’s been a few moons since he shared his room with a girl, so the nerves are justified. But that’s too simple an explanation. You’re not a girl. You’re his dream, his muse, his–to re-quote himself–goddess. No one he’s ever cared about more has stood where you’re standing, and it terrifies him.

He hides it well, though, busying himself with making a comfortable nest for you in his bed before setting up the television set on the dresser against the far wall. If ever there was a time to regain his confidence, it’s now. He curses whatever god there is that he feels like a fumbling virgin in this moment when nothing is even happening, when just the anticipation is enough to make his hands tremble.

There’s no more stalling once you’re comfortable and the tape is set to play. His heart pounds to the steady and frantic rhythm of one of those heavy rock songs Dustin listens to now as he sits next to you, hands itching to take a hold of you but also eager not to move too fast.

Almost as if you can sense his hesitation, you reach over and take his hand. “Steve?”

“Yeah?”

“Kiss me.”

And so he does, and the second his lips slot to yours all the worry and anxiety is gone. He’s Steve Harrington, and he knows what he’s doing. You’re you, and he’s wanted this for so long. After years of being lost, he deserves to finally find the love he’s been looking for. He’s never been so sure of anything as he is, in this moment of initial clarity, that he’s in love with you.

He can’t say it, not yet. He’s sure it’s too soon, and the last thing he wants is to scare you off. But he’s determined to prove it to you, and the only way besides words is action.

He can handle action.

There’s no more restraint or hesitation behind his touch. This is it, this is what you’ve both been waiting for. There’s no way in hell he’s not going to deliver now. He’s desperate for you, and it shows in the heavy way his hands drag along your curves whilst committing you to memory; the way his tongue languidly swipes across your bottom lip; the way he shifts effortlessly to hover over you even while deepening the kiss.

He’s overwhelming every single sense of yours in such a sudden fashion, and you wouldn’t want it any other way. Especially not when his hips meet yours in a deliciously slow grind and you finally get your first little taste of what’s to come.

He keens at the little breathless whimpers that leave your mouth, reading every single signal you provide him with and accommodating each. Moaning? He continues what he’s doing, intensifying if deemed necessary. Whining? He adds something, because he knows it’s hard to use your words when you’re wanting so badly. Squirming? He pays attention to the direction of your movement and pulls away or presses closer depending on necessity. It’s down to science for him; he only really cared about extracurriculars in school anyway, and this was certainly his favorite.

But then he comes to his senses–while he doesn’t pull away completely, he needs to clear his mind and he does so by letting up a bit, allowing the kiss to become languid and the heat to extinguish a bit. It only makes you whine more, and Steve curses his damned formula. You shouldn’t be part of an equation. You’re everything he’s ever wanted, and every aspect of your relationship so far has been a new experience for him. He needs this particular activity to be different too. No formulas or calculations. Just you and him and whatever happens naturally.

Clearly you can hear the cogs in his mind turning. You pull away with a concerned look on your face and ask, “what’s on your mind?”

Now’s not the time to hide anything from you, he reasons with himself. He wants to be authentic with you, and part of that means telling the truth, even if it’s not something particularly comfortable.

“I’m… falling into a routine. And I don’t want to,” he admits. He sighs and leans back, one hand dragging through his shaggy and disheveled hair, sure that he’s going to ruin the mood if he carries on like this. But he refuses to back away from the truth now. “This… it’s always been like…. Like a series of checkpoints. Boxes to check, y’know? Kiss you, take your clothes off, make you come, fuck you, say goodnight. And I don’t want… I can’t let it be like that with you. I need this to be… real. Not just some list to cross shit off of. I don’t–”

Steve takes a long, shaky breath before he can ramble on anymore. Never has someone so thoroughly gotten under his skin. He’s never felt so insecure, so unsure. It’s terrifying. The most terrifying part of it all, though, is that he likes it. He loves the feeling of the unfamiliarity, of doing this right. In a way, it’s almost like he’s doing all of this for the first time all over again. You’re his first date, first kiss, first time. All because he’s changed so drastically, because he’s not even remotely the same person he was just a year or two ago.

Your hands are so gentle as you cup his face, tenderly forcing his eyes to meet yours.

“Steve… we don’t have to do this, not if you’re not ready. I want to be with you, not just for this, but for everything. Everything that comes with you… that’s what I want. There’s no pressure. I would wait a hundred years for you to be ready so long as I could still have you.”

Steve’s breath shakes a little as he comprehends the gravity of your words. There’s nothing he can say that can properly convey the gratitude he holds for your words, so he says nothing at all.

In his silence, you continue. “You’re more than a body, you know that, right? You’re funny, and kind, and smart. Yes, smart, don’t look at me like that. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted to be close to. I just… I want to spend time with you. I want to watch stupid movies and eat diner food until we get sick and laugh at your stupid jokes… and maybe make love with you, sure, but that’s pretty low on the list as long as I just get to be with you.”

He doesn’t notice the tears until it’s too late–by the time you’re wiping them from the apples of his cheeks it’s far too late to take them back or hide them. With anyone else, he would be angry; at himself, for allowing himself to be so vulnerable. For allowing himself to be so emotional. With you, though… with you, his emotions make him feel strong. 

For the first time since you walked into his life, he’s not scared of losing you.

“I love you,” he tells you. His voice is firm, as fierce as the kiss he presses to your mouth, as powerful as the waves of emotion vibrating through his very soul. “I love you so much.”

He barely gives you a chance to reply, as keen as he is on physically proving his love to you through myriad passionate kisses that leave you breathless. But when you finally get the chance to use your voice after a barrage of kisses that start to trail down your neck, you whisper, “I love you too.”

Four words, and they’re all he needs to quell every worry or fear he’s had over doing this relationship properly with you. Why should he have to worry, after all, when he’s already succeeded? 

“I love you,” he whispers as he trails down your neck and to your chest, leaving tender love bites on the tops of your breasts once he’s properly liberated you from your shirt.

“I love you,” he mumbles through sucking a mark a few inches north of your navel.

“I love you,” he murmurs when his lips meet your waistband. His fingers make quick work of your pants as he scatters kisses over your stomach, unable to part his mouth from your skin for even a moment.

“I love you,” he affirms as his mouth meets your hot and waiting core.

There’s no more checklist. Because this isn’t simply sex, as it always has been for him in the past. This is love-making: the kind of sappy shit they talk about in all those Hallmark movies that he rolls his eyes at the sight of. It’s like losing his virginity all over again.

He understands the old adage of “the other half” now. You’ve ripped him to shreds and sewed him back together with strands of yourself. The end result is better than the original ever could’ve even dreamed to be. He’s sure he couldn’t possibly live without you now, that losing you would be like ripping out fresh and unhealed stitches.

You’re not sure how long he camps out between your trembling thighs, but it’s long enough for you to lose count of the number of times he pulls you apart–first with his languid tongue; then his long, curved fingers; then a combination of the two. It’s like he loses himself completely in your pleasure, not a single thought in his head except what he can do to bring you to the edge again, and again, and again.

You’re trembling with oversensitivity by the time his own needs overtakes his desperation to unravel you. So out of it that you feel drunk, like Steve’s laced you with absolute bliss so pure you can barely stand it.

You’re hardly present enough to appreciate the adonis before you when he finally undoes his own jeans, and that’s a damned shame because he’s so damned pretty. Long and thick, flushed at the girthy tip from his hitherto unacknowledged arousal. His lean thighs are pure muscle, and the dark thatch of hair that trails south from his navel makes your mouth water. He’s everything you dreamed he’d be and so much more.

“Steve…” You don’t know what else you can possibly say. All you can do is vainly hope that one whine of his name can convey all of the heat, frustration, tension, and above all longing, swirling through your head in the moment.

He breaks from his lustful reverie for a moment to smile as he leans in for another heated kiss; you think it’s safe to say you’ve gotten your point across.

He slows from his mania for a few moments, lips tender as they explore against yours once more. These kisses are languid, slow, yet no less heated. Even now, he’s trying to prove his love to you. As if you could somehow not believe him after everything that’s happened, every small moment you’ve spent with him witnessing how hard he’s trying for you.

Somewhere in between kisses he manages to wrestle a condom out of his nightstand, miraculously without ever breaking from your lips.

Now is where you cut in, finally fading out of your over-pleasured fugue and back to reality. You take the little foil packet from his hands and tear it open, eager for this small chance to finally get a hand or two on him.

He lets out the most gorgeous noise you’ve ever heard as you roll the rubber down his length; a deep, earthy, diaphragmatic moan just from the simple touch of your hand. You want to touch him even more, to wrest out more of those sounds from him; to see what other undiscovered responses you can pull from him as you pleasure him. But you know that now, he needs to set the pace. He believes he has something to prove, and you’re more than happy to let him prove it. There will be plenty of other opportunities to have him completely at your mercy, anyway.

There’s no way to describe the feeling as he slides into you. It’s more than bliss, more than euphoria, more than earth-shattering toe-curling mind-altering pleasure. It’s nothing more than feeling whole. Of never knowing you were missing a part of yourself until it’s suddenly returned to you. Of never knowing what home felt like until this exact moment.

Maybe it’s overdramatic. Maybe it’s outlandish and outrageous and a million other adjectives to feel something so overpowering and overwhelming from such a seemingly simple physical act. But in this moment, you know you’ve never felt anything as right as being connected to Steve in this way.

His lips hardly leave yours while he rolls his hips against you, easily finding the perfect angle to make your breath hitch and your hands scrabble for purpose.

It admittedly doesn’t last long, but it doesn’t have to. Once you start to tighten and pulse around him, he’s a goner–deep purposeful thrusts turning to hard, arrhythmic plunges in desperate search of release.

You’re still shaking from your high when he slowly pulls out of you. He keeps you close, arms linked around your waist and dragging you to lay on his chest as he flops back against the pillows. 

You’re not sure how long you lay like that, with Steve whispering sweet nothings into your hair and pressing absentminded kisses to your face. All you can really focus on is one all-consuming, life-changing fact.

“I love you, Steve Harrington.”

“I love you too,” he whispers back. He kisses you again, just a simple peck on your lips, and you know that he’s telling the truth. It’s an eternal truth: one that can’t be changed or altered in any way. Steve Harrington loves you with every fibre of his being, and he will for the rest of his life–even if you’re both blissfully unaware of it for now.

THE END

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[judesmoonbeauty]

2024 Villain's Festival - Team Villain's Story ♛

Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do NOT post my translations elsewhere. Also, feel free to ignore my random commentary.

Translation notes are marked with *** Alternate translation is marked with///

The condition for receiving the entire bonus from Her Majesty, is to steal Kate’s heart.

When the battle begins, three shadows with villainous expressions appear in Crown Castle.

Alfons: Such rowdy party. Let’s enjoy it to the fullest!

Roger: If I collect the full bonus, I can use it toward research and alcohol expenses. I’ll have to go all in.

Alfons & Roger: Ah! 

Alfons: Oh, Roger. What a coincidence to run into you here, please move aside.

Roger: I've got business up ahead, too. You get out of my way.

Jude: Don’t block the way. Your both huge and your in the way.

Jude: Oh?

Jude: What do ya guys have there? 

Roger: A sack.

Alfons: Does it look like anything other than a rope?

Jude: So, you'll bag her, tie her up and kidnap her....

Alfons & Roger: Please don't ask if you already know.

Alfons: You're so evil, Jude, to immediately notice what we're trying to do, aren't you?

Jude: Thanks.

Alfons: This game is about capturing Kate’s heart.

Alfons: In short, the winner is the one who takes the necklace that Kate has!

Alfons: In that case, any means are fine.

Jude: These guys are bastards.

Roger: I think you were the one who was going to kidnap Kate, weren't you?

Jude: You'll know it when you see it.

Roger: That's surprising. I thought you'd just say it's rubbish and not get involved.

Jude: You know the rules, you just take the woman’s necklace and the money rolls in.

Jude: It's rags to riches business in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Roger: You're pretty much a bastard yourself. Well, I guess fighting the good fight doesn't suit us.

Alfons: Let's fight fair and square until there's only one left standing!

Alfons: That's what I was thinking until just now, but when I thought about it, aren’t we at a disadvantage?

Roger & Jude: Disadvantage?

Alfons: Each of us cursed ones has our own special abilities….

Alfons: Isn’t our self-righteous king William, a bit of a cheat?

Roger: The "do as I say" is definitely a cheat.

Roger: If he uses that, it's game over in an instant.

Jude: It's hard to tell what he’s thinking. It’s really creepy.

Alfons: Therefore. The clever Alphonse came up with an idea.

Alfons: Why don't the three of us join forces?

Alfons: It's what we call a joint front.

Roger: Certainly, the three of us working together would be more efficient than working alone.

Roger: Fine, I'm in.

Alfons: You are indeed an efficiency-oriented muscle man. How about you, Jude?

Jude: Yeah. I'm in. “While we're on the same side.”

Roger: Wow, I'm surprised you agreed so readily. I wonder what's going through your mind.

Jude: How dare the treacherous cursed man put himself on a pedestal.

Alfons: Yes, yes, now that we have formed a joint front, let's get along.

Alfons: So, the most wicked team is now complete.

Alfons: Let's go and kidnap Kate quickly!

Harrison: Kate, you are being targeted from all sides.

Harrison: But we'll protect you.

Liam: Yeah, all we want to see is your  smile, Kate.

Ellis: Kate, leave it to us.

Kate: Thank you, Harrison, Liam and Ellis. 

Kate: Behind you!

Harrison: When did you guys!

Alfons: “Kate, is invisible to you.”

Harrison: …….

Jude: Ellis, you're not getting enough sleep. Why don’t you sleep a little. 

Liam: Jude….ah.

Liam: Harry, Ellis! Damn it, disappear.

Roger: Liam. Your abilities are not the best match for mine. 

Roger: Even when you disappear, my ears are still picking up your heartbeat. …..Right here?

Liam: Oh! 

Jude: You should sleep too.

Roger: Ok, everyone’s sound asleep like good boys.

Alfons: Normally, we don't get along well with each other, but when it comes to deviousness, we are united, which is a strange thing.

Roger: Because bad people can understand how bad people think.

Jude: If we have time for idle chit-chat,  then let’s get out of here before the nobles launch a surprise attack.

Alfons: Yes, yes. Well, Kate, please let us kidnap you.

Kate: What? Oh, hey! 

Jude: You'd be smarter to stay quiet, princess.

Jude: I hope you locked the door properly.

Alfons: Yes, of course.

Alfons: This is the perfect guest room. Whatever happens here, only the four of us will know the truth.

Alfons: A secret only for us. Hehe, I'm so excited, Kate.

Roger: Sorry to tie you to the chair, missy. It would have been troublesome if you'd escaped again.

Kate: So the three of you formed a joint front.

Kate: But still, of all people, these three?

Alfons: What do you mean?

Kate: No, nothing. 

Roger: You're trying to say that three people without a shred of conscience got together.

Alfons: I'm honored that you appreciate my reputation for lack of conscience.

Alfons: Now, as planned, Kate belongs to one of the three of us.

Alfons: Let's start the finals here.

Jude: Oh?

Jude: Why are you trying to touch the nape of someone's neck, you talking piece of shit?

Alfons: Jude, you're the one who tried to poke me in the forehead with your finger.

Roger: I thought it was funny how easily you agreed to a joint front.

Roger: Your plan is to make it look like a joint front so that you could outflank us at the end, right?

Jude: It's a matter of course. It is a basic business practice to decide whether to use or not to use a contract based on who you are signing it with.

Jude: That fighting pose is proof of that. You traitorous quack.

Alfons: The lowest! Are you planning on hitting us even though you are a former doctor?

Roger: Don't make false accusations. I just thought I'd let you guys have a good night's sleep, since you usually don't get enough.

Jude: I’ll put you to sleep. I’ll comeback and bury you accidentally in a graveyard. 

Kate: This is a picture-perfect clash of friends! 

Alfons: Oh dear, the joint front is destroyed. It's no wonder it's come to this.

Alfons: Let's play it out in a no-holds-barred match.

Roger: That’s great, I won't complain even if I lose.

Jude: If there’s any mouth left to complain about it, sure.

Kate: STOOOOP!

Roger: What's the matter, missy? You’re being loud. 

Kate: As you can imagine, we can't afford to a situation where any of the crown is missing!

Kate: Violence. No. Absolutely not. Anyone who touches me will be considered disqualified and will not be given the necklace!

Jude: Wow, you've become quite the big talker haven’t you?

Jude: Isn't it okay if I take it away by force, princess?

Kate: If you try to take it away from me, I will run away as fast as I can, even if I have to drag a chair with me!

Jude: Ha, she's still as stubborn and obnoxious as ever.

Alfons: Kate has a point. If we were to die accidentally, it would be a national disaster.

Roger: But then, how do you settle the matter?

Roger: Kate, any good ideas?

Kate: Oh, I've decided! Just now!

Kate: The "best and kindest" of the three will receive this necklace.

Alfons & Roger: - The best.

Jude: That's a lukewarm criterion, isn't it? It's the kind of thing you would think of as a child.

Kate: If I don't give it to someone nice, that's when I’ll get in trouble again, right?

Kate: I think it's a good idea and a peaceful solution.

Alfons: That's a very Kate-esque, typical suggestion...shall we try it?

Alfons: Kate, Kate, you must be cramped tied to that chair. 

Alfons: I'll let you go. Here you go.

Kate: Oh, thank you very much, Alfons!

Alfons: I'm a gentleman, kind, and handsome, a national treasure, right?

Roger: Hey, back off, you frivolous man. I guess I'm the one who's kind.

Roger: Kate, there's no one as sweet and loving on you as I am, right? Leave it to me.

Jude: There's no way this masochistic pervert would be satisfied with you just being nice.

Jude: I'll be nice to you after I torture you a lot. You like this kind of thing, don't you?

Alfons: I don't think Jude is being nice. He is a villain, this president.

Alfons: I actually saw it…. the other day.

Alfons: Jude threw the fatty part of his steak onto Ellis' plate!

Jude: What's wrong with sharing something you don't like with others? I'm just giving them a hand out. 

Roger: It's not nice to force something you don't like on people, is it, Jude?

Jude: How dare you put yourself in someone else's shoes?

Jude: The other day you guys worked together to put Elbert to sleep with a drug that you don't understand, right?

Alfons: There are various things that I would like to clear up without Elle knowing about it, so I have no choice.

Roger: I just want to be able to experiment with new drugs.

Alfons: It's just that my interests coincided with these muscular glasses.

Roger: That’s right.

Jude: All of them are a bunch of bastards.

Alfons: Oh…

Jude: Yeah?

Alfons: Where is Kate going?

Jude & Roger: ………

Roger: When did you do this, missy?

Jude: How fast are you running away?

Alfons: Aha! 

Alfons: Disappointing. Now the game is back to square one.

Roger: Haha, that's good. It's more fun when you don't know what the game is. Hey, Jude?

Jude: Stupid.

[Master List]

[hey-its-danny]

Your lbmr art is based asf please infodump any and all opinions about it if you'd like

(also are we okay to use some of your lbmr art as face claims cause we're a system w/potty and placid as a subsystem. Ofc no pressure but we thought we'd ask :] )

hey there, absolutely go use my alfendi!! it feels like an honor to know my art was able to accurately depict him for you 🙏🙏 and for thoughts on the game im just gonna write them because my artist hand isnt working today LOL

so the game was great, super cool, in retrospect i think the adage of the layton franchise actually kind of benefited this story in the long term (provided some cool parallels, hooked the player through subversion the entire way through, also i just like any mention of layton what can i say). Lucy is adorable and while a little underbaked her tailspin in case 9 and the latter half of the ending felt really freaking good to play. i’m usually a huge bastard about any storyline set in a foreign country but this game did a good job of staying sensitive enough about its portrayals of foreign characters while still maintaining the raw edges that kind of define this game for me.

alfendi’s ambiguous multiple personality disorder is best understood by reading jekyll and hyde, go do it, im making you. also read house of leaves and the picture of dorian gray NNNNEEEOOOWWWW they’re classics for a reason and parallel kind of cooly with the profs characterization. side note that kind of ties into the unpolished quality of the game, i love how weirdly crass it is. like yeah, blood and whatever, but also so many sexy women??? it feels like this game took the ‘all of these old ladies are flirting with layton’ quality of the og trilogy and turned it up 10 notches (this is a good thing i think). i loved dolly like i’ve said, dolly and lucy definitely talk after her case- i imagine theyre not friends, but they catch up sometimes over coffee or at her concerts ^_^ i imagine any stories lucy would tell get turned into songs later, which makes her kind of weary lol

and roscoe if only because of his similarities to raymond shields, but i’m also a huge sucker for the “pull a person aside and ask if they scored it with the love interest yet” trope such a normal amount…… im so glad they did it twice..!

TLDR; great game, not even trying to be layton but succeeding at being ghost trick lite. pacing is a little bogged down by the excess cases near the middle of the story, but the characters and mysteries are cool enough that i forgive it. everybody needs to play cases 6-9 now they are unironically peak. also cant believe i got harry dubois’d by the layton protagonist (im not clarifying what that means)

oh one more note, since im not expecting a sequel to explain it my opinion is that alfendi was either adopted as a teen or is layton’s actual biological son

[nightghoul381]

Ellis Twilight ~ Chapter 6 - His Side Story: “A Faint Wriggling, Deep Inside My Chest”

Disclaimer for route warnings | Masterlist

Additional Content Warnings: This is a side story from Ellis' perspective of the events of Chapter 6, as such it too contains depictions of murder and several mentions of blood.

This a fan translation so it is definitely not 100% accurate. I do not own anything related to Ikemen Villains. Support Cybird by buying their amazing stories!

(For me, Kate is the person I want most to be happy.)

(I’m happy that she’s been smiling more and more lately. And…)

Kate: “Please tell me about what you like, Ellis. Then I can make you happy tomorrow.”

Kate: “So, what’s your favorite food?”

--

Kate: “Oh,  I spread a lot of butter on the toast before it got cold.”

Kate: “Thank you, as always.”

Kate says she wants to make me happy too.

She listens to my preferences and feelings and remembers them carefully.

(Kate is a wonderful person.)

(…I don’t want to make you unhappy.)

The night I went with Jude and Kate to look for the ‘ring-leader” involved in the kidnapping incident.

I’d seen the woman who had come into contact with the ‘ring-leader’ being dragged into a back alley, and reflexively ran after her.

Reaching the back of the alley—I saw multiple men surrounding the woman and trying to restrain her by covering her mouth.

Scenes like this aren’t uncommon—What I do is the same as usual.

Ellis: “Are you the kidnappers?”

The kidnappers were startled by the sudden voice and immediately attacked me.

I just have to deal with them one by one.

A man who looks like a kidnapper: “—Women are worth money, ‘em alive. Kill the bastard.”

(Women…Ah)

Kate: “Gh…”

I heard a gasp behind me and realized that Kate had followed me.

(…it was her.)

(Kate is a hard worker who can muster courage even in times like these.)

I gently restrained Kate, who was holding a deck brush in her trembling hands.

Ellis: “Kate, stay here.”

(I’ll finish this quickly.)

I kick off the ground.

Taking a life is as easy as polishing a shoe if you know how to use the tools.

If you cut a vital point with a knife, the body will collapse to the ground as though a string has been cut.

(Just a few more.)

(I need to finish this quickly and give her peace of mind.)

Kate had been scared when she saw the men attacking the woman.

(I’ll end it right away.)

I silence the last one and let my feet settle on the ground.

Ellis: “…I guess that’s everyone.”

The timing must have been relatively good.

I looked around the alley that looks like I’ve spilled jam all over it, see there are no survivors, and look up.

“Kate…”

Kate: “Eh…Ah.”

Ellis: “Your face is pale… Are you okay?”

I put the knife in its sheath and reached out to Kate.

At that moment her body trembled.

Ellis: “…”

(--it was)

(From Kate’s point of view, these men and I are the same.)

I’m a ‘human being who kills people’ for his job.

(I had a feeling that Kate, was learning to trust me just a little bit… I forgot.)

I want to make her happy, though.

I’m the kind of person who scares her in the first place.

(I should’ve been more careful)

Ellis: “…I’m sorry. You’re scared.”

Ellis: “I should have asked you to keep your eyes closed so you wouldn’t have to see it.”

Kate: “Um, what… what about the woman?”

Ellis: “Hmm, she’s fine… I think she’s just passed out.”

Jude: “Tch… Ya killed everyone?”

Ellis: “Jude. What about the store?”

Jude: “When I came in, he’d already escaped in a horse-drawn carriage from the back door. He’s quick to run.”

Jude, who was supposed to have been chasing the ‘ring-leader’ walked over to a corpse and inspected it coldly.

(…Ah, I think I’m going to be scolded.)

Jude: “Jeez, let at least one of ‘em live. Otherwise I can’t interrogate ‘em.”

(On second thought)

Ellis: “Sorry. He said as long as we didn’t kill the commander I would be fine…Also.”

Ellis: “They were trying to harm Kate.”

Kate: “…”

Kate took a quiet breath again.

(Maybe I reminded you of what happened earlier.)

(…Sorry.)

Ellis: “… It’s okay now, Kate.”

Her frozen expression never relaxed… and I felt a little sad.

(Kate, you’re still silent)

Step by step we proceed down the hallway.

I walked behind her a little ways so as not to make her even more anxious.

(Is this okay…?)

(If you’re worried, if you’re scared, I want to be by your side.)

(But with me, it might have the opposite effect.)

While I was wondering what I should do to make Kate happy, we ended up in front of her room.

Ellis: “We’re here, Kate.”

Kate raised her head and looked straight at me.

(If you look at me, it might remind you of something scary, but… you’re so kind.)

Kate: “About earlier… Thank you for protecting me, Ellis.”

Ellis: “No. It’s my job to escort you, Kate.”

Ellis: “But, this time I failed…”

Ellis: “If you hadn’t seen that, you would be happier.”

Ellis: “I already knew you were a hard worker and that you would push yourself even if you were scared.”

Ellis: “I should have said, “You follow Jude” before going into the alley.”

Ellis: “Next time, I’ll be careful not to kill someone in front of you.”

(Even if I show you something like that…I wonder if I can make you smile again.)

(I need to think of a way.)

Thinking about this, I was about to turn on my heel, when—

Kate: “…Ellis…!”

My palm was grabbed by something warm.

(Kate…?)

Kate: “Ellis…Aren’t you having a hard time…?”

Ellis: “…”

Even though she must have been scared just a moment ago, Kate held my hand and looked straight at me.

(…I…?)

(Why would you say that?)

I was a little surprised when Kate asked me if it wasn’t hard being the object of her fear.

Then I was convinced.

Ellis: “Ah… I see.”

Ellis: “I thought you were just scared of me.”

(Kate is a wonderful person)

She’s the kind of person who listens intently to my feelings, my happiness, and remembers things like that.

Ellis: “You were worried that I was hurt, so you made that face…”

Ellis: “…You’re so kind, Kate.”

Ellis: “If I say it like this, I might scare you again.”

Ellis: “It’s not that painful, so don’t worry.”

Kate: “…Really?”

Ellis: “Yeah, really… See, my hands aren’t shaking like yours.”

As if to reassure her, I held up our joined palms.

--“Killing people and laughing is what the devil does.”

The words I’d once heard echoed in my head, making me feel a little sad.

(But the reason I’m smiling now is not because I’m happy.)

My heart is not moved by the idea of taking people’s lives as a part of my job.

(My desires have nothing to do with it, so I’m neither happy nor sad.)

I still hold the lid on my desires tighter and tighter.

(This time, I’ll take care of someone as wonderful as Kate.)

Kate seemed to have made up her mind and grabbed my hand tightly.

Kate: “…Hot milk.”

Ellis: “Eh…?”

Kate: “My body is cold… don’t you sleep better after drinking it?”

Ellis: “…”

I suddenly remembered drinking it on sleepless nights when I was little.

It has a sweet, relaxing, and calming taste.

(…I loved it.)

(Especially when drinking it in the middle of the night.)

Ellis: “I’d like that.”

Ellis: “In the middle of the night, I actually like hot milk with butter and sugar.”

Even though she wouldn’t know anything about my heart or the memories I had just remembered,

Kate looked happy, but somehow sad, and took my hand.

(Kate… is a bit of a troubled person.)

(…she’s too nice.)

I want to make her happy, and that’s all I feel, but something seems to be mixed in with it.

The desire I had pushed deep inside my heart began to stir in my chest.

Next Chapter

[queenvhagar]

if they decide to make daeron a bastard imma scream... aside from the fact that it makes alicent even more of a hypocrite daeron being valyrian looking is actually pretty fucking important. in the books jace and daeron are only a few months apart in age and everyone was like "omg look at the queen giving birth to another targaryen looking baby while the princess had a baby that looks nothing like her or her husband!" also how the heck did daeron get a dragon if he's a bastard!?

first they give us no nettles now possibly this shit... I'm so over them adapting grrm's work into a version of whatever they think is cool.

also who the heck was princess aeriana. ik some folk are saying that it's possibly a made up character before aegon's conquest ... but the targaryen's weren't royalty at that point so wtf are the show makers high on, and i'm still mad at the stupid northern plot where they have jace talking about how aegon the conqueror went up north, plus cregan talking about how alyssane and jaehaerys visited winterfell during his dad's time which again makes zero fucking sense ... it was during alaric stark's time and he's probably cregan's grandpa or smth.

don't get me started on how they switched up addam and alyn's ages, plus didn't give us anything on marilda of hull ... oh and rhaenys apparently is totally cool with corlys having bastards and even thinks the boys mom must have been so pretty ...

this season is so boring and overall without context. daemon spends his time being high on harrenhal. alicent is going through major depressio arc. helaena is her usual mumbling self without any agency of her own. aemond is terrible. rhaenyra is ... idk what they're doing with her but i don't like it. aegon ii seems to be the only remotely interesting character but now he's gone.

so glad there's only one episode left of this disaster to get through ... can't believe they made us wait so long for this shit ... personally won't be waiting for season 3 because at this point it's probably going to be just as boring.

so disappointed we never got to see... jace negotiation with manderly's, sara snow, nettles, rhaenyra going mad with grief over luke, b&c going according to the books with helaena offering herself instead of her children, daeron in oldtown, book! accurate alyn and addam and daemon doing something instead of imagining how it'd be to fuck his mom...

sorry for the rant lol everything's just piled up for me since i waited until now to watch the shows and avoided spoilers to the best of my abilities. please do feel free to delete if you wish.

When people tell people that Game of Thrones was slow paced and technically very little happened and this season is just like that and to cope... nope.

As you mentioned in the second to last paragraph there were so many interesting things they could've done with this season to fill the time and expand on the story and characters... Instead there are 3 locations where morning scenes happen that don't grow the characters at all, nobody has any realistic motivations or emotions and reactions to events (and if they do they're framed as incorrect, like Jace or Aegon). It's oversimplified and redundant. No thoughts to be provoked. No depth to explore. No arcs for characters except maybe Daemon but it's been stretched way too far out and made irrelevant. No intrigue or politics. No scheming. Characters seem displaced from the setting...

I hope season 3 is the last season, and I won't be tuning into any other ASOIAF adaptations based on the crap fanfic quality of this one that they're trying to present as profound, deep, groundbreaking television.

[mrsjavierp]

Where you belong?

Chapter 8 - Fill the Void

Javier Peña x latin!f!reader

Summary: Running away from life as you always knew to start a new position as Head Chief on a DEA Office, far away, on Colombia. There, you'll face violence, as you never thought you could. There, you'll meet Javier Peña, your stubborn agent...

Warnings (to the whole fic): +18!, angst, smut, cheating, last relationships, drug dealing - Narcos Universe (not so accurate), bad spanish, english is my second language, use of Y/N and Y/LN. No physical description of the reader, only your clothes (sometimes). The POVs are shifting between reader (first person and Narrator - 3rd person)

(If I forgot anything, tell me, pls!)

Word Count: 4k

A/N: Thanks for your feedback, hope you enjoy this chapter! Hope to hear from you all soon! I'm also working on two stories (one shots) to our beloved Joel Miller and our corny cowboy Agent Whiskey

Tag: @creedslove | @pedrostories | @mjoee13 | @immyowndefender | @iamsherlocked-1998 | @pedroswife69 |

***

Narrator’s POV:

Arriving at the CNP headquarters, Steve, Javier and you get there almost at the same time.

The tension between you and Javier was noticeable. Steve knew better than asking either of you: he wanted to live to see his girls again… And to catch Escobar.

When you locked the door in your office, the tears started appearing. 

You lied to Javier about not remembering breakfast: you hoped he lied about it too. You actually couldn't recall talking about Ben.

Fuck, was a name you didn't think in a very long time… 

Especially after meeting Javi.  

Is Javi that full of himself to say that to me? What did he mean by that? What did I tell him? And most important: what he really knew about Ben? - You thought.

On the other side of the door, Javier’s mind was racing, trying not to act by impulse. But he decided to call a friend in NYC, who could tell him all he wanted about your history with your ex. He needed to understand why you were so worked up, why that bothered so badly.

However, he didn’t want Steve to suspect anything. Luckly, they got a tip about La Quica again, that he was buying a toilet... The same one that was on La Catedral and heading to the hills on San Isidro road.

When Steve went to speak to Jacoby, to fly Centra Spike over that location, Peña took the shot and called Joe:

“Hey, Joe!” - he greeted him.

“Took you long enough, Javi, you bastard!”

“Well, I tried to avoid long distance calls, you know I hate them.”

“Oh, so the rumors are true, you left your wife in Texas?”

“I did... Better for her and little Lucas, you know…” - he was looking over his shoulder, but no one seemed to be paying attention to him.

“So, how is Y/LN on the colombian field?”

“So far so good, man. She's a good cop…”

“She was one of the best here… But I’m betting my chips that it is not about her resume you called, you want the dirty, am I right?”

Javier laughed. 

“You fucking bastard, I knew it!”

“So, what you’ve got about her and her ex?” - Peña asked.

“Peña, that was a huge mess… He was already working here for a while and, months later, she arrived from the NYPD through the front door and found by herself a lead to a prostitution scheme… It was so big that it was a closed door OP, top secret stuff, it was only her, me, our boss and another couple of guys. The operation involved high-class prostitutes, working for high profile narcos. Ben heard the rumors about the OP and tried to sweet talk her to join it… But you know how she is with her work… Things do not mix at all.”

“Oh, I know…” - Javi sighed.

“Yep, so you know the deal... At first, it was just an evil comment here and there. I don’t know if she heard it, she trusted him, she was going to marry him. We were working our asses off, long and crazy hours. He took advantage and lied to her. He got sloppy and the rumors continued to grow... But I still don't know what she knew. Anyway, his luck didn’t last long: we were about to bust a brothel on the night that the narcos were there. Guess who was in one of those filthy beds?”

“No way…” - Javier closed his eyes, incapable of believing it.

“Yep. She found out on the job. Didn't help when she also discovered that he was trying to trade inside info with criminals.”

“Fuck, he was a dirty cop?”

“Yep. Luckily, she was too up-tight with all of her work. Not only was she as clean as a whistle, she got promoted to Colombia.”

“I can't believe it. Fuck...”

“Like a motherfucking movie, am I right?”

“Thanks for telling me. I can understand her behavior now…”

“She's one of the best cops I've ever got to work, Peña. She didn't deserve that.”

“I believe you. Well, thanks, man. Call if you need anything.”

Peña hung up the phone, if he was a mess before, now he was a wreck. The same questions were going through his mind again: How is he going to keep Lorraine away? How will he manage his boy's custody? How is he divorcing her and keep you in the dark, until the process is over?

A couple hours later, the tip to Centra Spike  worked: a conversation between another sicario, Velasco, and his lover is recorded.

You, Steve, Javier, Centra Spike, Mili Group and CIA reunited to see area’s maps:

"Well, we can discard the smaller ones... Not Escobar's style." - Steve pointed out.

"Which one of these has at least 2 roads of access?" - you ask.

"This one, Y/LN." - Jones, from the CIA, responded.

"This is your winner, niños." - you draw a circle, indicating it.

"Y/LN, what about Pinzón? We're gonna need men, equipment, cars..." - Javier commented.

"Leave Pinzón to me, Peña." - you responded.

You went back to his office, but he refused.

"¡Cabrón!" - you thought.

You went back to yours, but in the way, Steve talked to you:

"Jefe, any luck?"

"Not yet... But let me handle it. He doesn't know who he's dealing with." - the boys looked at each other, curious.

You called Crosby, Crosby called Gaviria and… Let's wrap it up: about 15 minutes later, you all were preparing to bust Escobar.

All the efforts for nothing, unfortunately: Escobar escaped through your fingers, again.

Escobar, however, made a career fooling and killing police officers, what he thought was going to a truce about to happen turned into a fuse to another battle, which made him even more dangerous.

Days later, you all were right as the skies were blue: another attack came. 

Escobar's sicarios killed a bunch of Pinzón's men all around Medellín… 

Pinzón chose to resign - it was the last drop to his sanity. He wanted personal peace more than to defend his country… How would someone judge him? 

Escobar killed more than four hundred cops a year - although it was a risk, it had no garanties on being alive and no one could fulfill any expectations to actually get it done.

*

Days passed by and President Gaviria decided to bring Coronel Carrillo back from Spain, as soon as he could.

The first thing Carrillo did was talk to you, since Peña and Steve weren't alone anymore:

“So, Y/LN… You're the boss now. I hope that we can work together at the same pace.” - Carrillo smiled at you.

“Well, I can't say anything about style, but we sure make a hell of a team. I'm saying the same thing as I said to Peña and Murphy: I'm also a field agent… Don't let the high hills fool you.”

He smirked.

“Vamos, Y/LN. I've got to say hi to an old friend…”

****

Carrillo decided to put up a show: tell in grand style about who's back in town. The actual goal was putting Escobar's partners on the map, by transmission. So Carrillo would stick his nose out and so would Escobar.

He lets you, Javier and Steve mapping Escobar's spies.

About a couple hours later, he came back and you and your inside team did the best you all could to track them all.

“We captured six radio transmissions.” - Jacoby informed. - “But we haven't pinpointed the exact location.” 

“So our best bet is to corner each of these buildings. This time, we hit the ground.” - you said.

Carrillo ordered his soldier, Trujillo, to send 6 unmarked cars with 4 men each, to observe the buildings, with 20 minute-intervals to avoid attention.

After that, he called Peña to join him.

“Be careful out there.” - you warn them.

Minutes later, when you and Steve are alone, you ask:

“Steve, is he always like that? Taking Peña up and down?”

“Sometimes, Jefe… He probably just wants an update to what happened from someone he trusts… He doesn't know you yet, it's his way.“ - Steve told me.

You'd show Carrillo who you really were: a woman younger than all three (Steve, Peña and himself) whose balls were bigger. 

***

Peña, Trujillo, Carrillo and other officers captured 6 of the boys who were working for Escobar. 

They took them to a hidden alley, on Bairro Escobar.

They are on their knees, scared. Well, 5 of them, at least.

“Do you know who I am?” - Carrillo started. - “My name is Coronel Horacio Carrillo. Last week, 30 police officers were murdered.”

“Those pigs probably deserved it.” - one of them said.

“Shut up, kid.” - Javier murmured.

“Many of them were my friends. A person perched on rooftops guiding murders with radios are assassins themselves… I hope after this encounter you'll reconsider working with someone who thinks he's above the law.”

Although Javier knew Carrillo was right, something felt off. Wrong.

At the same time, Carrillo cocked his pistol.

“What?” - another boy provoked. He was no more than fifteen, brown skin. - “Am I supposed to shit my pants in fear?”

Javier's stomach ached badly. It's been a while since he was afraid of something.

“No.” - Carrillo responded, shaking his head. He pointed the gun and shot, with no hesitation.

His body just fell on the floor, like it was nothing.

“Am I making myself clear? I want you to tell your friends that this is what happens when you work for Pablo Escobar!” - he shouted.

Carrillo analyzed the boys and chose one: the youngest, probably no more than 7 years old. The boy was crying, in silence.

He bent down, looked deeply in his eyes and handed him a bullet.

“Take it.” - the little boy obeyed. - “Tell them this is for Pablo.”

Carrillo stood up again, as if nothing happened.

“Remember what you saw… And know what will happen to you if I see you on a rooftop. You can leave. Now!” 

The five boys ran as if their lives depended on it.

Javier couldn't move. He felt like throwing up. He looked at Carrillo, as if he asked something. 

Carrillo’s expression was cold and distant.

They all drove back to CNP in silence.

When they arrived back, Steve met Javi on his way out.

“Javi, where are the fucking spotters?” - Steve asked, anxious.

“Carrillo went a different way… He, uh… He cut them loose.” - Javier responded, screeching his head, tense. How the hell is he going to tell what happened?

“Oh, we're letting people go, now? I bet Y/LN will be pissed AF…”

Javi rolled his eyes and, lighting up a cigarette, said:

“Yeah, Murphy, we're letting people go.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Don’t worry about it, man.” - Javier opened the door of his truck. He needed to leave as fast as he could. He needed a hug. He needed to feel human again.

“Hey, fucking talk to me!” - Steve demanded, interrupting the friend.

“Let go my fucking arm.” 

“What the fuck happened?!” - Steve continued to bother Javier.

Javier sighted and responded:

“Carrillo put a gun to the kid's head and pulled the trigger… To make a fucking point.”

Steve swallowed hard. 

“We good now?” - Javier mocked, entered his car and headed to the apartment complex where you all lived.

***

About late at night, you hear fervorous knocks at your door.

You were awake, since you just got home.

You pick up your gun and open the door, without noticing that you were only wearing a thin long gray dress, showing your curves.

It was Javier, looking like shit with a bottle of whiskey and a cigar in hand.

“Let me in, please, cariño.” - his brown eyes were almost black. Sad and big.

You put down the gun and let him in.

“Peña, you look like shit… What happened?” - you asked, as you both sat down on your couch and he served whiskey to both of you and put the cigar in the astray.

“Salut, cariño.” - he raised his glass.

You raised as well, drank it up and put away the glass.

“Damn, Peña. That's good stuff… You didn't answer me. What happened?” - you uttered. You knew something bad had happened. The cigar, the good whiskey, his painful expression…

“Cariño, I… I don't know how to say it.” 

“Start from the beginning, Javi… I'm right here.” - you suggested, softly.

You were genuinely concerned for him.

He kissed your lips, softly, by surprise. 

You stop after a few minutes, reaching out for air. Your apartment felt like a thousand degrees. Your body was sweating, the adrenaline was running through your veins. But, again, you’d deny even from yourself.

“Javi…” - he already knew what you're going to say and he doesn't want to hear it again. 

“Cariño, please don't. Not now. I need to forget about today's route.”

“Okay, baby boy.” - you sat on his lap and kissed him deeply. He melted under your lips, his hands touching your body, hungry.

You only needed an excuse to be with him again. 

Just one more night… - you thought.

If you were wearing pants, they'd be on fire.

“Cariño, just a heads up…” - he started.

You looked at him, confused, waiting for the rest.

“I won’t be gentle. Right now, I can't. I'm really not capable… Are you okay with it?”

You continued on his lap, but now, you put your knees on each side of his body and he involved his arms around you. Even wearing clothes, the electricity was passing through both of you.

“Show me your worst, Peña… I dare you.” - you whisper.

He smiled, but his eyes darkened with lust.

Javier literally ripped your dress, revealing your skin.

“Hey! Are you fucking crazy, Javi?” - you yell at him. - “I’m gonna fucking…” - you didn't finish, as he slapped your cheek, not enough to hurt you, he never would, but enough to surprise you and make you shut up.

“You don't speak until you're spoken to, babygirl. You don't come until I say so. You won’t do anything without me saying. If you behave like a good girl, I may let you cum. If not, I'm gonna punish you. Understood?”

You shook your head positively, incapable of believing in what was happening.

He slapped your ass, bringing you back.

“Words, cariño.”

“Yes, I understood it.” - you responded, in a low voice.

Who was that man on Javier's body and where he was the first night we were fucked? - you thought. 

“Good girl, cariño…” - he touched your body, started at your neck and went down to your waist. - “Now, how do I begin? I've got so many options, so many possibilities… I know we only had sex one time, one night, but I feel like I know your body really well, cariño.”

You looked at him, anxious, waiting.

He picked you up in his arms and took you to your bed.

“Now, we're ruining your bed, cariño.”

He ripped your panties and, with no warning, kissed your mound. You relaxed as he kissed slowly for a bit. 

He got up, leaving you clenching over nothing.

He began to take off his suit and tie, your eyes hungry for him, mouth watering.

“What do you want, cariño?” - he asked, eyes locked up with yours.

“Can I help you undress, Javi?”

“Such a polite girl… Yeah, you can.”

You took off his tie, letting it rest on the bed. Helped him with the buttons on his shirt, holding back the urge to rip them as he did with your dress.

He took off his shoes and socks and you unbuckled his belt, letting it side with the tie… You had a dirty idea, but it would have to wait a bit.

At last, his pants went down with his boxers.

He was deciding on what to do, but you couldn't wait. Your hand touched his lower belly, aiming for his dick. 

“Oh, cariño, you want to use your mouth, now? Wanna please me?”

“Yes, Javi.”

“Beg for it.” - he said in that condescending tone you hated.

“Javi, please, let me suck your dick.” - you coo.

He caressed your cheek with one hand and the other held his shaft.

“I don't think you want it enough, cariño.” - and he slowly started going up and down his length. He had a stupid cocky smile on his face.

“You know I can be better than your hand, Javi… Please, let me touch you, I'm begging you…” - your voice barely was a whisper into your room.

“Go ahead, cariño… But don't be greedy. I don't wanna come right now.”

Your lips wrapped around his tip, while he held your head. Your tongue and lips worked up and down, while one of your hands cupped his balls.

“Fuck, cariño… I knew you were missing me, but didn't know you were so hungry for my cock.”

He grabbed your hair, setting the rhythm, until you couldn't stand only worth your knees on the bed, needing to claw at his tights, and your nose almost touching his pelvis. 

He was fucking your throat and you were so wet.

His mouth was making obscene sounds, saying how good you're doing, how badly he missed you and your beautiful lips.

He slowed down the rhythm, until he stopped, taking it off your mouth. His dick was aching for more, but he wanted to come inside of you.

“You did good, cariño. Can you continue to be a good girl for me?”

“Yeah, Javi.” - you responded. Your legs were trembling, your pussy throbbing for attention.

“Lay down and open your legs for me… Yes, just like that. Tell me, where did you leave your vibrator?”

“In the bathroom, the second drawer.”

“Don't move.”

He picked it up and examined it, curious about the pink wand in his hand.

“So, you've been touching yourself in the bathroom? Door closed? Biting your lips or a towel to not make any noise?”

You don't respond to it, you’re just running away from his glaze. 

He slapped your ass again.

“Look at me while I talk to you.” - he demanded. - “Answer me!”

“Y-y-yeah, Javi. I was doing it in the bathroom, biting a towel.” - you murmured.

“Now, you're gonna show me what you've been denying from me to hear, such as in person as through these walls… But don't come. Not until I say so.” - and handed you the vibrator.

“But Javi, I can't control myself when I use it…”

He smiled, the same sly smile you knew and hated.

“That's not my problem. You come when I say it.” - he was being ruthless towards you.

With your right hand shaking, you started to use your wand on the softest mode, as you were so aroused since it all started.

Your room was filled with vibration sounds and your moans. Your eyes looking at his figure, wishing he’d do something to you instead. 

You were also a hundred percent sure Javier was punishing you somehow. He wanted to prove himself again.

Javier, on the other hand, was admiring you. The way your pupils were dilated, your body was shaking, your smooth skin chilling, your beautiful pussy soaking wet… If he could, he'd take a picture just to eternalize that moment.

“O-o-oh fuck, Javi… I can't take it anymore… I'm so close, please, let me come!” - you beg.

He smirked at you.

“Oh, cariño, you're close?” - he leaned towards you, as if he was going to enter at your pussy. It only made it worse and closer, as you could almost feel his scent and his warm skin.

“Holyfuck, Javi, please! Please let me!” - you beg, desperately.

He grabbed his belt, tied your wrists together, holding your vibrator in your clitoris. After, he shoved his dick inside of you.

“Go ahead, cariño. Come for me and on me.” - he ordered.

You thank God he said that. You squealed his name high, releasing all of your juices onto him.

You were positively sure you woke up your neighbors.

“Oh, fuck! So good for me, cariño.” - Javier praised you.

He continued without any pity towards you, pounding hard inside you. 

Not only you’re embarrassingly wet, you were so overstimulated that the orgasm was knocking at your pussy again, so fast

“I love when you yell my name, cariño!” - he said, full of bliss.

“Javier, for god's sake!” - you yell again.

“¡Mierda! Cariño, are you close again?” - he asked with a devilish tone. - “What a delicious greedy pussy, missing me so much… Oh, fuck!”

Tears began to go down your face. It was impossible to hold anything more and, without his permission, you came again, your body shaking vigorously.

“Holy fuck, Y/N!” - It was his time to yell your name as loud as he could. - “I can... I can feel... You're so fucking tight, you're gonna rip my dick off!"

He untied you and turned off your wand. It relieved you for a bit, but he laid on top of you and chased his own orgasm. 

After he came, you both lay next to each other, gasping for air, eyes locked up to each other.

“I missed you so much, Javi…” - you reveal.

He smiled, happy. His hand went to your cheek, fondling.

“Yo también te extrañe, cariño. You have no idea…” (I missed you too.)

“I think I do, Javi… Te extrañe todos los malditos días desde la primera noche.” (I missed you all those damn days, since the first night.)

“Gracias a Díos, cariño. I thought I was alone in this mess.” (Thanks God.)

You laughed together.

“You can't pretend that you don't want to be with me anymore, cariño. I'm serious.” - he declared.

You sighed.

“I know, Javi… But we also know it's not that simple… We work together, I'm your boss, Escobar is on the run…”

“We can take it slow, we don't have to do anything you don't feel like it. But don't push me away again.” - Javier begged you.

“I really don't know how to, Javi. I don't know how to. I haven't dated since…” - you didn't finish.

His eyes were soft and warm, like cocoa on a winter night. Your heart felt like an ice cube on the sun, again. 

“Since your ex, Ben?” - he asked.

“Yep.” - you responded, popping the “p”. - “‘It’s not gonna be easy for you, so I’d like to warn you: if you have anything to tell me, tell me as soon as possible. I’m not gonna demand you to do it now, but think if you have anything to tell me, and if you do, you can.”

“First, we need to get to know each other. Build trust and I’m not talking about the field. Let’s get to know each other, talk, laugh, have sex, grab a bite. We’re neighbors, we don’t even need to leave our apartments if you don’t want to.”

“No one can know about us, Javier Jesus Peña. Not even Murphy.”

“Don’t worry about it, cariño.” - he pecked your lips softly.

“And please, don’t sleep with anyone else and it includes your informants.” - you rolled your eyes. - “I know, it’s stupid since we’re not in a relationship, but if you want to do it, please, just end this… this thing we’re about to begin. I’m not saying that again.”

“Cariño, for God’s sake!” - Javier laughed, his hand left your face to your waist. - “No one ever made me feel this way.” - you laughed. - “I’m serious, hermosa. Don’t worry about it.”

You breathe out heavily.

“Well, let’s see how it goes.” - you say, still not allowing your heart to sink further. - “We need a shower, Javi. Care to join me?”

He smiled and you both entered your bathroom... But Javier's mind didn't care for sleeping. He still needed to punish you for coming without his permission, while you were filling the bathtub, distracted.

"Of course, cariño... Besides, you haven't exactly been a good girl for me for a few days. Don't think I'll let you escape that easily."

Your eyes went to his naked figure, surprised.

"Oh, I thought I was off the hook..."

Next

[friendly-books]

Dresden files Micro fics, Little People, and The Law Live Blog 

Micro fics, Little People, and The law 

Only seventeen pages this time. And only 4916 words long. 

Mike

“And the driver-side door fell off.” Ha 

“You’re weak. And you’re line is weak” Ha 

“My God,” he said, eyeing the Beetle’s corpse. “What happened this time?” Surely Mike’s seen the Beetle in worst shape

“Would you believe me if I said I was attracted by a giant owl? I asked.

“No, man,” Mike said, half of his mouth curling up lazily. “Cause you’re a lunatic.” Ha 

“I’d been being level the whole time. You would not believe how level I’d been.” Ha 

“I was doing a stakeout on a case, I said. 

“Some mob guys came after me with a backhoe, of all the cockamamie things.” Ha that the cover story you come up with? 

“Hah,” he said. “Knew it. You’re living an exiting life, kid. Like a bad TV show.” Ha and you have no idea Mike 

“Cheap and good” 

“Yeah,” Mike said. “That’s you, all right.” Ha 

Journal 

Oh Morgan is narrating this one 

“I only started it because I thought it would make a good impression on Anastasia, who I presume will be reading this entry.” Morgan MORGAN why? 

“Despite my promise to Margret, I failed to protect her son.” Oh interesting 

“That bastard Justin DuMorne got to him before I could.” Interesting to see people’s opinion of Justin 

“So I tracked him. I hounded him. I pushed him, constantly, in an attempt to draw out any controls that may have been emplaced-or any corruption of black magic that he might have been concealing. Even now, I cannot be sure that he is the monster we all fear, in the process of being born.” Morgan, Harry isn’t a monster. 

“Given who he is, he will have little choice but to give it. If nothing else, the pressure might show me his true colors.” Yes because Harry is a good person. 

“Perhaps I have been too hard on him.”

“Perhaps I have wronged a good man.” Yes you have 

“But I wish I’d done better by that child.” Yep 

Goodbye 

Oh Kincaid 

“But I had to respect him a little. He believed goofball things about the world, but he meant it.” I’m glad that Kincaid seems to like him. 

“He was too annoying for words, and too powerful to ignore.” Yep 

“And she was furious.” Oh no 

“Dresden had named her Ivy. And she had clung to it like a teddy bear.” Aw I love that Harry gave Ivy her name 

“She stared at me. A child who I’d been attending since shortly after she could walk. Who I’d watched grow up. Who sometimes has nightmares. Who sometimes got sick.” Aw 

“I’d taken care of her” Aw yes you did Kincaid you’re her dad as far as I’m concerned 

“She knew” Oh no 

“He’s my only other friend,” Aw :( Why must you do this? Poor Ivy 

“Your services are no longer required.” Oh no 

“Never did say goodbye” Sobbing :( 

Job placement 

“an over seven foot guy spouting Hero’s lines in an awkward falsetto is historically accurate”  Oh 100% accurate 

“I lowered the finger I’d been holding across my mouth to simulate the Prince’s mustache” Ha 

Oh Irwin 

“St. Mark’s Academy for the gifted and talented! In Chicago!” That’s the school Irwin went to 

“Our jobs” I noted, calmly “Plural. That’s interesting.” Aw Connie looked for a place that they could both work 

“That I don’t…you know. Get burned? When you touch me?” I did wonder about that 

“Maybe we work different,” I said. “Maybe the part of me that you feed on isn’t human part.” Interesting 

“Will you please become my wife?” Aww 

“I wonder if Dr. Fabio remembers me.” I’m sure he does 

“And if the change came to pay back a certain wizard to whom both of us owed our lives, well. 

That would be all right, too.” Yep 

Everything the light touches 

Oh Mister 

I love misters names for Harry and Maggie 

“I extend my claws slightly” ouch 

“Ow” says Big Monkey tiredly “Ow. Ow. Ow.” Ha 

“Go to dog.

Swat dog on nose” Ha 

“Knock the rest of dog’s food on floor as a flavor.

Dog can thank me later.” Ha 

“Snuggle Little Monkey. Little Monkey is warm. Nice.

Useful Little Monkey” Aw 

“I must do everything around here. Cat work is exhausting.

Purr. Sleep” Aw 

Good People 

Molly! 

“He was like I was now: a wolf, a predator.” Harry keeps getting compared to wolves 

“Let the mortal die. She will not be of use to you.” Why would letting go of her humanity be good? 

“She bowed her head and withdrew half a step.” Oh interesting 

“This is Christmas, Auntie Mab” Auntie?

“I leaned over and kissed her, and said, “Merry Christmas!”

Mab stared, blankly astonished.” Molly is out here baffling Mab 

“John Marcone had done more for the people of the city than City Hall, the state of Illinois, or the federal government.” Marcone mention! And yes Marcone is helping the city.

“Every gift was wrapped. And on every single gift was a tag that read “Merry Christmas, from the Wizard of Chicago” Aw :) 

“The new crew gargoyles Dresden had guarding the castle actually attacked a crew of ogres and drove them away-then shamfacedly realized what their mission had been, and clumsily set about delivering the packages themselves, to the tune of considerable property damage.” Interesting 

“Dashing through the snow,” I charoled, “In a one-horse open sleigh.” Ha 

I’m glad Molly is having fun 

Little Things 

Oh Toot toot! 

“My lord did not look well. Death had come for his lady during the battle.” pg. 17 Poor Harry 

“It is not my place to judge why my lord likes his music crackly. He is a wizard. They’re weird.” pg. 18 Ha 

“I didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing and hurt my lords feelings by mistake.” pg. 19 Aw 

“There was a soft buzz of wings, and my love Lacuna landed beside me.” pg. 19 Aw

I love Toot toot and Bob’s interaction 

Oh Germlins 

“The tapestry” pg. 28 The blue tarp? Ha 

I love seeing Toot toot in action 

“Mab’s frozen boogers” pg. 33 Ha 

“Kringle’s merry balls, that pizza smelled good.” pg. 35 Ha 

Go Mister! 

“I am sorry. That your heart hurts. She was brave.” pg. 40 Aw 

“But she leaned against me while she ate.” pg. 41 Aw :)

The Law 

Sadly they didn’t have this audio book at my local library. But my brother has audible and let me use credit to get it. Now I can go back to shilling for my library. 

Oh Jim is narrating this book. I’m glad he had fun writing and narrating the book.  

“Life isn’t fair” It’s not unfortunately 

“I’d lost friends plural” Poor Harry :(

“One of them had been Murphy she bleed out while I held her she’d been shot in the neck accidentally.” Poor Harry poor Murphy 

“Whenever I closed my eyes I saw her face, lips going blue skin turning gray. I couldn’t get it out of my dreams or out of my head. I hated going to sleep because my dreams mostly of her dying over and over again on replay maybe my subconscious was looking for all the ways I could have changed the outcome of the situation like an angry couch with an after game video. Or maybe I just couldn’t let her go.” Poor Harry :( 

“A month after Murphy…went away” Poor Harry he can’t even bring himself to say that she died :( 

“And choose a cold shower because you can’t worry about anything else while you’re in one.” Sure Harry you chose a cold shower not the fact that you can’t have a hot shower 

Mister! 

Will! 

“Castle fridges” Harry has a fridge? The castle has one? And it works?

I love that Harry lets the refugees stay at the castle!

“Marcone cut some corners when he built this place. The city was careful about him.” Marcone mention! 

“Terms and limitations is one of those phrases that probably shouldn’t apply to dating.” Ha 

“Murphy’s lips turning blue” Poor Harry 

“I hadn’t realized the time had passed as I dissociated from the memory” Ouch I’m pretty sure Harry has PTSD this is dissociating 

“Like a old war horse who hears the sound of trumpets” Harry the horse girl I’m making this a thing 

“She looks something like Susan might have if she lived a normal life.” Ouch 

“I felt myself start going somewhere else and held it off” Please get therapy 

“Trip was your pimp and contact, paid you fees to the Outfit, some kind of sweetheart deal on rent” That doesn’t sound like something Marcone would allow 

“But when you need a miracle the only one to call is you” Yep 

I love that Harry has a P.I. case 

I don’t like Trip 

“Pass that ones too easy” Ha 

I say Harry can punch Trip just this once as a treat 

I miss the Blue Beetle 

Bob!!! He’s back with Harry I’m so happy

“Watch Star Wars” What does Bob mean watch Star Wars? Harry can’t be near a t.v. 

“I’d seen too much killing lately.” Yep 

Harry just casually wrecked he guy’s car

The mini sun from Proven Guilty

“The what” I asked somewhat blankly” Ha 

I love how in denial Trip is to magic and how Harry just can’t intimidate him 

“There wasn’t a conspiracy theory or conspiracy he didn’t believe in.” Please tell he at least doesn’t believe in the racism and antisemitism ones

“Bob the skull might be able to get cable and internet” He still can?

“Starting a year after Marcone became Baron Marcone.” Marcone mention

Aw Harry inviting Paranoid Gary to game night

“There’s no sense in wrecking the architecture” You poor sweet summer child you think Harry isn’t going to cause property damage. They should take a lesson from Marcone

Is the receptionist a white court vampire?

“A tall lean man sat behind a desk facing the door of the office he wore a black suit that matched his coal black hair swept straight back from his face and an emerald green tie that matched his emerald green eyes.” Bi Harry 64

“And those brilliant eyes studied me unblinking” Bi Harry 65

“I am currently in service of the Baron John Marcone.” Marcone mention

“He was damned intelligent, clever, foresighted, and between his loads of money and expert hirelings and canny preparation he had been a threat every bit as formidable as any supernatural powerful weirdos” So many compliments about Marcone Bi Harry 66

“Generally speaking I enjoyed confronting Marcone. He was a jerk. I had expressed my displeasure with him by knocking down his door on a number of occasions and I’d do it again if I had to but when it had been just me against the Titan Marcone alone had stood beside me. When I had raised a small army to defend Chicago in the desperate hours of the Titans attack Marcone had done the same thing only maybe more effectively than me. When my people needed arms it had been Marcone’s and Mab’s foresight that had provided them. And when I had been helpless in the moments after casting the binding that had taken the Titan down it had been Marcone who saved my life. That wasn’t the kind of thing I could simply ignore.” Harry didn’t mention the light weight doors. And yes Marcone helped out quite a bit with the Titan. And yes he did save Marcone’s life

“He was more than ever the devil I knew. I didn’t like Marcone. I wouldn't ever like him but in considering how to approach him I had discovered something unpleasant about myself I respected him. I respected how dangerous he was. I respected his capability, I respected his willingness to put himself in personal danger to defend what he saw as his own.” Oh Harry respects Marcone

“And in that realization I saw that I couldn’t have respect for him and simultaneously treat him with contempt.” Interesting

“So I did something I never would have done a few years ago. I called ahead.” He called!? I wonder what Marcone is thinking?

“Marcone had me come to one of his buildings to met him. This one was on the south eastern edge of the Gold Coast and it had been  annihilated by Ethnu and the Eye of Baylor” I wonder why Marcone wants the meeting there?

“Marcone was a jerk but he was putting a lot of food and families mouths. And I liked the defiance inherent in the rebuilding damn it.” Yep

“Lips turning blue” Sobbing why must you do this to me :(

“Behind the desk sat John Marcone.” HE’S HERE! :)

“He was wearing his usual expectable suit. Though his jacket was hung up on a hook and sweat marks on his under arms and slightly mussed hair showed that he’d been outside for a good part of the morning with a hard hat on.” Bi Harry 67

“Dresden,” he said without looking up. “I’m busy I hope this won’t take long.”

“Yeah,” I swallowed a bitter taste out of my mouth and said “Thanks for seeing me immediately.” Immediately!

“He set down pen abruptly and looked up at me. “Oh,” he said “please,”

“I sneered “It doesn’t sit right with me either.” Ha

“He showed his teeth for a second. “You’re familiar with the stoics?”

“Some”

“The obstacle is the way” he said “Especially when you in particular are the obstacle. I prefer to get you out of the way as soon as feasible. State your business.” I don’t think stoics is the word used but that’s what I hear?

“Marcone’s eyes went distance as if consulting a mental note card.” Could he be talking to Thorned Namshiel

“Trip Gregory is one of my soilders” As in a person who fought in Battle Ground? One of Marcone’s people in general?

“Gave an elegant shrug of his shoulders” First of all Bi Harry 68 I’ve never considered shoulders or shrugging to be elegant and second of all what do you mean Marcone? What are you thinking?

“Unfortunately for your tender sensibilities Trip Gregory is possessed of the one virtue I do demand of my personal. Loyalty, he was just released from 8 years of prison a term he served because he refused to turn states evidence against me.” Ha tender sensibilities

“In my business,” Marcone said “Loyalty is a coinage far more valuable than money. Such loyalty must be respected. Surely you can understand that.” Yeah but Trip sucks so

“One corner of mouth turned up slightly.” Oh why are you looking at Marcone’s mouth Harry? :) and I’m glad that Harry always seems to amuse Marcone

“Gregory did as he was mended” Marcone said “He proved himself to be one of mine. I will therefore aid and assist him in legal matters because to do otherwise would be to jeopardize the loyalty of other members of my organization.” Marcone

“He blinked slowly once and said mildly “Or?” Oh Marcone blinked that’s his tell

“I showed him my teeth” Ha

“Marcone set his pen down and steepled his fingers a gesture I realized that Talvi Verno had copied from him. It made him look balanced and thoughtful and resolute all of which was probably true.” Is Talvi a Marcone fan?

“Dresden,” he said “when you take issue with me and my actions that is one matter you and I have come into contention several times over exactly that.” And you’ll do it again!

“He suddenly flattened his palms down on his desk. I didn’t quite jump up about of my chair but I flinched. “But you are now interfering with one of my people. Be assured that they if you continue to do so I will begin similarly interfering with yours.” Oh no

“That little pub you like so much is in violation of a number of city health codes for example.” Not Mac’s pub :(

“Someone like Trip Gregory is hardly the per view of former Wizard of the White Council. Going after him yourself Titan slayer it simply isn’t balance. I will do you the curtsy of assuming you believe that I’m more than willing to balance the scales for one my people.” But now Harry’s the wizard of Chicago 

“I stared hard at him for a second thinking” They stare at each other so much. I could probably make that a counter as well :)

“I heard you have a rule for your soldiers: no kids. Something flickered in his eyes then not much but a spark maybe whatever was left of his humanity.” Marcone still has his humanity…I hope

“Marcone narrowed his eyes and his fingers returned to their steepled position

“That is an argument that perhaps carries more weight. I dislike inefficiency” he shook his head “but I can not refuse to support a loyal soldier. Any more than you could give one of yours to me. He mused for a moment then he said deliberately “you took my castle from me.”

“Yes I did” I said

He nodded his head to me “well played.” Ahhh! Marcone complimenting Harry! And they act like squabbling kids with each other  

“I blinked. It hadn't occurred to me that by doing so I earned respect from Marcone too. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.” I think it’s great!

“I can not give you one of my people,” Marcone continued “what I can give you is a word of advice with regards to mister Gregory one I feel I should not need to offer to a person of your all alleged profession.” Which one P.I. or wizard?

“He gave me a shark smile.” Ahhh! :)

“Follow the money” It’s been so long since Harry’s done anything P.I. related I miss it

“Marcone narrowed his eyes studying his checklist he lifted his eyes and gave me the same unreadable look I’d have gotten from a mildly interesting tiger.” Oh what are you thinking about Marcone?

“Very well he will be made available.” Marcone making sure that Gregory’s cell mate is available to talk to

“Dark bronze skin dark hair down to his shoulders and a silver beard” Bi Harry 69 Harry seems to have a type cough silver fox cough

“Mister Marcone don’t care if his people run a little side business, long as he gets his cut and he got his first.” I kinda love that Marcone’s employees call him ‘Mister Marcone’ and Harry just calls him ’Marcone’ or ‘John’ 

“Marcone allow that sort of thing?”

“Always more pimps boss, Mister Marcone likes discretion; as long as St. Louis did it discreetly; he wouldn't care just business.” Harry isn’t discreet at all why does Marcone like him? And why would he want Harry to work for him? 

“I sneezed totally a coincidence.” No there are no such things as coincidences in books Hmmm :| 

“To see if Marcone could handle it. I mean you gotta admit look at Chicago, boss. Strife and division are pretty much the order of the day.” Marcone can handle it 

I love the bassist hound doggy!  

Is Max supernatural? Or is he just aware of the supernatural?

“And I had considered education in a number of schools of courtesy. Don’t look at me like that. Just because I know it doesn’t mean I have to use it.” Ha 

I love Max and Elouise 

“But I lived on a farm before and nudged them out of the way while making gentle clicking sounds.” What I would give if there was a book about Harry’s time with Eb

“Says you fight the good fight when you can.”

“Everyone should” Yes Harry! 

I’m glad that Harry got some of his arsenal back I missed his rings and bracelet 

I’m glad that nobody likes Trip. You can’t just tell me that Harry wants to punch trip and then not follow through. I want to see the man get punched 

“Who says I have no restraint” Everyone Harry everyone 

“I didn’t know whether to punch Trip or feel sorry for him.” Punch him

Another car bomb?! Seriously 

Bear! 

“Come to think of it Marcone was making them look incompetent with what he was doing. Good to know it wasn’t just me he did that too.” Ha 

Harry don’t run through traffic! That’s bad 

“We shouldn’t be here. We’re trespassing there was a sign.” Really Trip you care about trespassing seriously :| 

Ouch poor Harry keeps getting hurt 

“To reveal a little homemade craft store pin with a bean glued to it. The award is given the survivors at the wake for the fallen. One of my knights of the bean.” I love this so much. I love the medal and that Harry refers to him as his knight and that he lets Harry go. 

“Marcone and Gard had shown up at precisely eleven o’clock that evening and within half a minute Talvi Inverno and Ms. Lapland at a warehouse on the waterfront where I knew both Marcone and the White Council had do business the kind that them with evidence to be disposed of.” It’s the warehouse! 

“Marcone took in the scene with a long silent look then he walked over to me ms Gard at his  right hand and stood facing me from about ten feet away.” Marcone is here! :) 

“Mr. Inverno,” Marcone said, “please join us” Has Marcone ever said please to Harry? 

“The handsome man grimaced” Bi Harry 70

“Point of order,” Marcone said “Mr. Gregory is no signatory.” 

“But he is your vassal,” I said irradiated “by every definition and tradition.”

Marcone’s eyes slid aside to Gard who gave him a careful nod. He opened his hand in a gesture as if dropping something on the ground and said “Very well I withdrew the point. As his ledge I bear a measure of responsibility for his actions.” His voice became very slightly edged” Oh interesting I love how Harry and Marcone still banter even if it’s polite 

Mab’s here 

“The Baron of Chicago betrayed no such apprehension he regarded Mab with a calm rather deep nod and said “Queen Mab” He’s so cool 

“Dresden was presuming a personal matter not the business of your court he is assisting a mortal who requested his aid. It may be that this is a matter best overlooked.” Oh why doesn’t Marcone what Mab here?

“Marcone studied me steadily then he glanced at Trip Gregory and asked “would you be willing to consider it?” 

Gregory flicked a hard ugly look at Marcone and said “I stayed quiet for you,” 

Marcone frowned, sighed and shook his head “yes you did I’m afraid I can not fail to support my vessel Dresden we have had this conversation.” Yes you have had this conversation but again Trip sucks 

“Then how about this,” I said “your guy fights fair in court no expenditure of Mob money on experts no bullshit legal power moves, no putting pressure on the judge or anyone else involved. It gets argued purely on the merits and we let the mortal courts sort this out quietly smoothly, none of use put our thumbs on the scale. That’s balance enough for me.” 

“Flipping a coin would make more sense,” Marcone mused 

“I like thinking that something like justice can still be found in the wild here and there.” I said “leave me the illusion.” Ha I love their banter 

“Mab turned to Marcone as if he’s the only other adult in the room.” Ha

“May the best argument win I suppose Mr. Dresden.” I traded a nod with him and Gard and Marcone left” Ahh!!! I just love Marcone 

“Because Trip might be a sociopathic dick but someone like her shouldn’t be his judge and executioner.” 

He sounded amused “A civil office holder should do that instead?” 

“Maybe I think that’s the people should be the ones to decide about the people.” I said “not all us knights and lords and high and mighty types.” Yep

“You really are a miracle worker”

“On a good day” Aw Harry 

Yelp Trip got kidnapped by the St. Louis Mob 

I love Max and I’m glad Harry invited him to pizza night 

Final thoughts 

I liked most of these stories (not you goodbye you made me sad). I thought they were funny. It was nice to see other people and their narratives. We got to meet Mike. Morgan’s journal was interesting. Yay Irwin and Connie are engaged! Kincaid is Ivy’s dad and I hope Kincaid and Ivy make up. We’re up to Bi Harry 70! I liked the fight scene with the guard and the gremlins. The Little Things and Good People were much needed after Battle Ground. I continue to hope that Harry gets some therapy. I’m glad that Jim had fun writing and narrating The Law. 

The Law

The Law was so good! I loved it so much! It had Marcone! I loved that Harry got back into P.I. The bits with Murphy was rough to get through. How does one cut corners when rebuilding a castle? While I like that Marcone values loyalty, Trip sucks. This book had 7 Bi Harry moments! I adored Max and I hope he shows up more. I’m upset that Trip didn’t get punched. I’m not sorry that he’s probably got killed. I love that Harry has a P.I. case and that he hasn’t really interacted with ‘normal’ people in a while and it shows. I like that Harry respects Marcone. I always love Harry and Marcone’s interaction. I love their banter. 

Thoughts about the series 

I enjoyed this book series. I thought it was funny. I thought the fights were cool. I can’t wait for 12 months. My favorite books were the ones with Marcone. Skin Game, White Knight, and Small Favor are my top three. My favorite moments are Marcone helping Harry in White Knight, Sue in Dead Beat, and any interaction with Maggie and Bonea. I don’t know what will become of Thomas and Justine. I do wonder what’s going on with Elaine. We’re up to Bi Harry 70 in the series as a whole. Marcone has the most with 21. I’m blaming you @jadedragoness, @drawsdenfiles, and @kaphkas for both getting me into Dresden files and Harry and Marcone. Now I’m left waiting for the next book and whenever I see Harry and Marcone interact I squeal in glee. I didn’t think I shipped old man yaoi but now I do. I want some compensation for the damage you’ve caused me (joking in case that wasn’t clear). I can't wait to see where Jim takes the series. 

Characters 

Harry Dresden 

I love him. His a Bi Disaster. I love him being a dad. I love his views on magic and he uses it in the series. I love his heroics. I hope things get better for him. He’s grown so much as the series has gone on. I don’t think he’ll be the winter knight forever. I think he’ll get out of it. He might use the Wizard of Chicago to mean something. I don’t think he’ll end up marrying Lara. 

Karrin Murphy 

I miss her. I love her. I think she’s great. She deserved better than to die by Ruduph. I hope she comes back. This can’t be her end. I’m not sure how she’ll come back but I’m sure she will be end game for Harry. Maybe she’ll pick up one of the swords. Maybe become an angel like in Harry’s true sight of her. 

John Marcone 

I love him. I can’t wait to see where his character goes. He’s so smart. I wonder if he’ll give up Thorned Namshiel and if so what that will entail. I wonder if he’ll become the leader of the denarians. Or if he’ll become the “king” of Chicago if he gets more power. 

Nathan Hendricks 

I miss him. I hope he comes back and we get to know about him. He needs to be Marcone’s conscience. I want to see more of him and Gard. 

Maggie and Bonea 

I love them. I hope we see more of them. I want to see more of dad Harry. I want to see them interact more. 

Future predictions

I think the Paranet will grow. I don’t think the White Council will survive the Black court. I think the masquerade will fall. I think Murphy and Hendricks will come back in some form. (I hope) I don’t think Harry will be the Winter Knight forever. 

12 months 

I think this is going to be a breather episode of a book (I hope) We need it after Battle ground. I hope he gets therapy to deal with all his trauma. With Bianca and Murphy dying among others. Harry might go on dates with Lara. He could go study with River Shoulders and talk to Listen-to-Winds. He will probably deal with everything that has happened in the series. 

Mirror Mirror 

From what I heard this book is going to be about Harry making a different choice in Grave Peril (That book, that party, and Bianca just keeps haunting the narrative and Harry) The major choice would be not starting the war and Susan gets fully turned, Justine either dying or getting turned, the war not happening, and Amoracchius being unmade. It could be a smaller choice and that causes a butterfly effect. Either way I’m excited to see where this book goes.

This is it. I'm done with the series. Not sure what to do with myself now.

[autisticbokutoenthusiast]

playboyy ep 12 stray thoughts

- “damn i hate myself” real

- first soong being cute 🥹🥹

- you know shits about to get emotional when the soundtrack switches to yoiyami

- “you called me a friend when you weren’t pretending to be nant” AND WHAT IF I LOSE MY MIND

- zouey and nont besties agenda

- OH GOD ZOUEY BACKSTORY wait noooooo

- i guess the evidence is staying hidden then like boy are they in their failvestigator era oh nvm they found something (that they already knew but still that’s more than they usually get

- promnont !!!

- hold on they finally showing zoueyteena. they can never just give a quick handy either always gotta be invoking the religious implications of a renaissance painting… good for them (yes i include the popcorn scene in this) also top zouey truthers this one was for you!!!

- what are you hiding under that tarp zouey 🤨🤨 i think it’s of nant

- hold on teena’s necklace lmao. is the t for troy no it’s for *too sleepy to finish the bit*

- NO GET A JOB!! STAY AWAY FROM HER!!!

- finna beat the shit out of jason lee give me 10 seconds i could take him out

- what does he mean by keep an eye on…

- oop that scarf zouey in his horse girl era

- THEY DOING WHAT TO WHO?!?!?

- she is not scared of them at all like two absolute kitty cats of toruturers MEKEKFKKRKRJFJFJF NOT THE DUSTERS I CANT

- the drop of sweat deserves an award for perfect timing and i’m being so serious about this

- AHH PROMNONT i can’t handle them being affectionate like it makes me lose my oh not the fuckass product placemntsjdjjdjdjrjrjjejdjr you know what i got me some promnont crumbs i’ll take it

- so i’m gonna see this scene expanded in fic later right 👀 i’ll give a million kisses to anyone who decides to do it

- they can never argue using simple sentences it’s always “i feel bad that you feel bad that i felt bad” and “im mad that you got mad that i got mad” and “if you have a problem that we have a problem than the problem is you’re invalidating my feelings” “i didn’t think you would think about me thinking” like besties….

- see but zouey was kinda right… why is he being made the bad guy, first and captain kinda pissin me off

- girl YOU got him expelled. captain needs to be fr

- NONT WITH THE BIG PANT CROPPED SHORT COMBO THATS MY MAN

- these college athletes are plain evil

- puen lowkey the only one in this show consistently talking sense. i hope he gets his licks back on these bum bitches cause i’ve had it with them

- the coloring the coloring the coloring the coloring the coloring the projection the projection the projection

- THE. HESS BOARD BEING PROJECTED PLAYBOYY SURREALISM FOR THE WON ONCE AGAIN

- captain talking big game for someone who took sneaky clips. hoping this shows growth on his part cause deep down im still rooting for him

- captain sweaty blow up the whole establishment i support you

- NO CAPTAIN THATS NOT WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO THATS VERY MUCH MOT WHAT I JUST SAID YOU LITTLE BASTARD

- ooo the outro track finally making sense!! kejrjejdnjdj

- i love the when soong carries first

- oh more food, user @jeffsatyr i’m so sorry

- firstsoong enthusiasts we are so back oh there goes firsts fuckass dad

- captain needs to stop picking fights AND CAPTAINS A YANKEES fan i can’t defend him anymore

- puen fight back!!! he was going easy on captain cause he’s a nice little boy oh shit now aobs gonna kill captain isn’t he…

- captainkeenpuen enthusiasts don’t lose hope!!! we can still win!!

- aobpuen enthusiasts were so back

- THE COLORING THE COLORING THE COLORING

- the characters and 'accurately assessing the media their in' saga continues

- porsche looks like such a baby here. jump listen to porsche pls do not see him again

- cry by johannes bornlof is playing they fr pulling out the nuthphop ballads for the other couples today

- puen is my boy and i will lay down my life for him actually

- NONT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT IM GONNA WALHAT WHAT WYHAHW ok sorry yall him with the gun did sumn to me

- nont once again will not be caught slacking holding someone at gun point be damned AND ITS CAPTAIN WITB THE STEAL POLL?!?!?!?

- nont… i need to know how he picks outfits like did he want the color to match the gun????

- nont chuckling in the corner... i fear he’s lost it

- playboyy once again with the themes of tech and privacy

- captain is lucky puen is lowkey a pacifist

- nont and captain: torturing aob and puen for info about the murder, zoueyteena: painting time !!

- oh my god yall im getting chills like fr speechless i am so…

NUTH MY BABY BOY

- nuth coming through with his amateur directorial visions let’s gooooo

- nont being like “please do a little bit of torture, just for me, please 🥺”

- he playing the funeral violin oh it’s not ending well oh god

- jason lee you will crumble i am so serious about this count your mother fucking days

- nuth scurrying away in the back… also nont where is your marksmanship now

- puen keeps suffering tremendously and he doesn’t deserve a single second of it. free my boy he fr has never done anything wrong

- i think i was right and nuths screenplay is autobiographical

- THEYRE PLAYING AMBIVRLANT THOGUHTS AGAIN NUTHPHOP PIANO BALLAD ENTHUSAISTS WE STAY WELL FED

- nuthphop my beloveds i love them so fucking much you don’t get it no wait why he deleting them oh shit ! phop play shitty games win shitty prizes dawg

- welp

yall this might be one of the strongest eps in a hot minute i loved this one had me at the edge of my seat the whole time

[racfoam]

yfsm chapter 2 snippet Harry with Teddy

“Harry, Harry, Harry!” a five-year-old boy with light blue hair came running up to Harry, holding a book. “Read! Read!”

“Hang on a bit, Teddy,” said Harry, smiling, endeared by the boy's enthusiasm. Harry took the book. “This book's a little long for you, don't you think?”

“But it’s got," said Teddy, hopping up and down excitedly, “you in it!”

“A lot of books do.” said Harry calmly. “Too many, actually.”

“But this one's got You-Know-Who, too!”

“A lot of books have him in them, too,” said Harry reasonably.

“You're in all the books about him and he’s in all the books about you, too! That’s what Aunt Hermione says!”

Dammit, Hermione.

“Yeah, well, of course we are. I did beat him twice...”

“Read it to me? Please?”

Teddy used the most devastating move in his arsenal. The puppy eyes. Harry's heart melted.

“Teddy, you don't want to know about him. You'd get nightmares. Your grandma would kill me.”

“Then... just the parts with you and You-Know-Who! Aunt Hermione bookmarked them! They're the red-green ones!”

Of course she did... Hermione must have forgotten to take this book with her on one of her visits...

The Second Wizarding War

Harry restrained a sigh. This was the book she avoided reading the most.

“Okay,” said Harry. “But only one bookmark.”

Teddy cheered, hopping onto Harry's lap, holding out the book. Harry tapped her holly wand against it, floating the book mid-air in front of them.

The pages of the book turned, opening to the first bookmark.

“Huh?” said Harry upon the sight of the black-and-white drawing. Under it was the title He Who Must Not Be Named. It was a very unflattering, unappealing drawing. Harry needed a moment to realize it was supposed to be a drawing of Voldemort. Voldemort looked more like a snake in the shape of his face in it. The outline of his face was too skeletal, his chin was completely off, and his eyes weren't very well drawn. Why did he have wrinkles? His skin was as smooth as a marble sculpture’s, without any wrinkles, with a little bit of scales on his cheeks.

Who drew this? Voldemort looked like some sort of monster from a children’s book.

Maybe that's the point.

Sure, Voldemort could pass off as such most times, but they could have at least given some effort into capturing him correctly...

“That's not how he looks like!” yelled Harry before she could stop herself, indignant. At least they could have come and asked her to describe him so a magical sketcher could sketch him...

Oh, right. I refused all interviews.

Teddy blinked up at her, confused.

“Teddy," said Harry, standing up. “Get your trainers and coat. We're going to the..." Harry checked the publishing house and groaned. “Daily Prophet Publishing. I'll read the book to you while we wait.”

Excited by the prospect of seeing the office of The Daily Prophet, Teddy hopped off of Harry's lap and raced out of the room and down the stairs of Grimmauld to grab his coat.

Harry checked the page didn't have any text behind it, looked left and right, fearing Hermione would pop out anytime.

Coast clear, Harry grabbed the page with the illustration and ripped out the terrible drawing that didn't capture Voldemort at all.

Addition

Harry: My man hasn’t been drawn accurately, this is an insult! (kicks down the doors of the Daily Prophet) YOU BASTARDS, GET ME A PENSIEVE AND A MAGICAL ARTIST! YOU'RE GOING TO DRAW VOLDEMORT PROPERLY OR I'M GOING TO BURN THIS ENTIRE BUILDING TO THE GROUND!

Teddy, hanging off Harry’s back, going with the flow: Yeaaah!

Voldemort, laid back on a sunbed on a beach, wearing pink heart-shaped sunglasses, sipping a cocktail through a straw, watching Harry's life through a screen in limbo: You tell them, darling.

[sugoi-writes]

♥️♣️♦️♠️♥️ thank you!

113. What was your childhood nickname?

123. Can you keep white shoes clean?

127. What makes you happy?

132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?

133. Favourite lyrics right now?

135. Dumbest lie you ever told?

137. How tall are you?

140. Summer or Winter?

145. Tea or Coffee?

146. Was today a good day?

148. What’s your favourite quote?

149. Do you believe in ghosts?

Awww, Anonie!!! Thank you! 💋 I've got you!

Childhood Nicknames-

Most notably, my mom would always call me 'Sweetpea' (very Southern thing, I know), meanwhile my Step Dad would always call me 'Kiddo' (which rubbed off on me now... FML)

Legitimate nicknames were hard to come by, as it were! My weeb friends would call me 'Keshi', which is a so-so pronunciation. (More accurately, Kei-shi, which my friend @hazelfoureyes pointed out, if I remember correctly)

Other noteworthy things that came from Bastardizing my Maiden Last name (which is Dice... Usually it's via Mispelling--)

-Diez

-Dice-y

-D*ke(A SLUR? IN EARLY 2010s? More likely than you think)

-Dick

Most people aren't very creative when it came to my name;;; these days, my wives call me Danny-Boy, which fills my heart with joy ❤️

Can I keep white shoes clean?

HARDLY... I can barely keep my multicolored Crocs clean. Feet are gross. I do what I can, but most days I'm too lazy with my shoes. A little dust adds ✨Character✨

What Makes Me Happy?

Oh, a good number of things!

-My legal Wife, Robin, for one... But mostly when she's not making her horrendous Dad-Jokes. 💀 Quality time with her is rare and loved.

-My HDC Coven, featuring Hazel, Minky, Syn, and someone secret (SHE'S MINE, YOU CANT HAVE HER). Quality time with them also brings me joy and peace.

-Stability (weird answer, I know). But being on the ✨Spectrum✨, I resist change heavily. So Stability in all aspects of life brings me the MOST happiness/relief. Especially Financial Stability (that can get dicey)

-Dabbling in my hobbies! Writing, Crochet, Doodling, and as of recently: Fashion/Makeup. I love exploring my gender through those mediums❤️

-Haunted Attractions/Haunt Acting- Being a Haunt Actor for the past 7 or so years gives me the most joy I can get while not being paid for it. I love dressing up, I love teaching people how to scare. And dare I say, I'm pretty good at it 🔥💀 I've been an actor manager at a Volunteer Haunt for 3 years, fun fact! 💀❤️

There's... A LOT of things that can bring me joy. I just have to remind myself sometimes!!!

Who is the last person you've had a deep convo with?

DEFINITELY my HDC Coven. We accidentally stumble into deep, insightful topics... Or, Trauma Stories (which I affectionately call ✨Lore✨). I'm sure you good folks will hear more about my lore one way or another!

Favorite Lyrics rn?

*Looks at Sleep Token's Discography* I-- ...THIS SONG SPECIFICALLY. ALL OF IT. IT DOES THINGS TO ME--

But, here is some of my favorites (it's like half of the song, don't judge. You get my favorite song now, to boot:)

"Won't you come and dance in the dark with me

Show me what you are, I am desperate to know

Nobody better than the perfect enemy

Digital demons make the night feel heavenly

Make it real

'Cause anything's better than the way I feel right now (THIS ONE FR FR)

Dumbest lie I ever told?

I am... WAS NOT... A smart child. I got my first hickey early on in middle school (SCANDALOUS, I KNOW)... And I told everyone a myriad of excuses. Fell and bruised my neck on a door knob, burned myself with a curling iron (I have naturally wavy hair), my sister threw hot food at me and burned me... Just... YEAH. But I hate to say I am a MUCH better liar now! 😂💀

How tall am I?

Begrudgingly, I am a mere 5"3, but in my mind's eye, I'm 6'2. Like my dear sweet wifey. ❤️ (#shortking)

Summer or Winter?

NEITHER, F A L L. But if I had to choose, Summer, because the town is so much more lively/has things to do during that time. ❤️

Tea or Coffee?

If you were to ask me a month ago, I would have said neither. But Coffee has grown a great deal on me... (Iced Coffee or Cold Brew preferred, hehe)

Was today a good day?

Could have been better, could have been worse! I DoorDashed most of my day and made some money! I got to wake up next to my Queen! And, hopefully, I get to talk to my Coven and write a little today. It wasn't perfect, but it was nice ❤️ Thank you for asking!

What's your favorite quote?

HONESTLYYYYY, the one I've been feeling most (as a Enby stuck in Florida with my Transitioning partner), I think of what Gerard Way screamed at a recent concert...

"In the face of extermination, say FUCK YOU!!!" (Or something similar)

I've been trying to live as my authentic self, while my wife gets the help and treatment she needs first. Together, we will be safe and we will love our best lives, unashamed. I also turned this quote into a sticker and sold it at art markets for a while (but sadly, living in Florida, it's hard to push Trans-Positive things...) SIGH...

But otherwise, a good back up is "History is doomed to repeat itself unless we learn from it". (Or something similar).And I Live. By. That.

Do you believe in ghosts?

As funny as this sounds (from a haunt actor), no! Not at all! I believe there's always an explanation or reason for the weird happenings people run into... But not ghosts themselves, no.

I am Superstitious in nature, but not supernaturally inclined... If that makes any sense? ANYWAY--

Hope this isn't too long of a ramble! I will try to post a sneak peak of something I'm working on (and tbh, the feedback is probably needed)

If you made it this far, thanks for reading and learning more about your boy, Sugoi! ✨❤️

[dragonmuse]

@greenapricot and@thehobbitbadgerasked for resolution on Alma’s favor in the last bit of 'wake myself in the shadows'. There are some CWS for this one which are also spoilers, so they're in the tags, scroll to view them first if you have any concerns. Not out to jump scare anyone!

Alma: I need that ride. 

Izzy: when? 

Alma: Tuesday at 2pm 

Izzy: where am I picking you up? 

Alma: I’ll come to you.

She arrived in sweatpants and a sweatshirt that had a Southern State logo crumbling off it. No makeup. Instead of her usual little purse, she carried a tote bag. It was deeply disconcerting.

Izzy, as promised, did not ask. 

“Want anything before we go?”

“No. I’ve got the address.” 

In the car, she plugged her phone in, put her GPS on the screen then started a throbbing playlist that drowned out all possible conversation. Izzy followed the directions and kept his eyes on the road. A half hour later, he made the final turn and she abruptly stopped the music.

“I might be there a while. You can drop me off. I’ll text when I’m ready.” 

“Fuck that,” he found a parking spot. “I’ll wait with you.”

“No, I…” Alma looked at the unassuming office building. “I can do it on my own.”

“So fucking what? You think they’re handing out medals for that?”

“But-“ she started then stopped. “Okay. Yeah. I’m…I’m maybe a little freaked out.” 

“Let’s go then.” 

Inside it was just a very practical doctor’s office. Everything in shades of brown and tan. Alma gave her information at the desk then came to sit next to him in the waiting area. 

“I won’t tell him,” Izzy told her, flipping through a magazine he wasn’t reading. 

“I might,” she rested her head in his shoulder, “but not today.” 

They had to wait a long time. Alma took his magazine and Izzy did Sudoku on his phone until her name was called. She got to her feet, squared her shoulders and disappeared through a door. 

Izzy was good at waiting. He took slow even breaths and let teh time wash over him.

Not even forty-five minutes later, she shuffled back out, looking even paler than usual. 

“Done?”

“Done,” she gave him a slight smile. “Get me out of here, it smells like a canister of cheap air freshener came all over a bottle of antiseptic.”

“Vivid and fucking accurate. Let’s go.” 

She didn’t punch the music this time, even let him use his own phone. 

“I thought I might be upset,” she said, settling into the seat. “But I am so goddamn relieved, I could cry.” 

“Not surprised. If you didn’t want it.”

“Not now,” she nodded. “And not with that useless bastard. Kyle is going to make a fantastic scapegoat in a finance scam someday.” 

“That why we never met him?” 

“Charlie would’ve eaten him alive and not even blinked,” she agreed. “He was always just for now.” 

“Maybe after you’ve settled. New crop of victims.” 

“Is that why you guys travel?” She smirked. “Fresh meat?” 

“Doesn’t hurt.”  Charlie also loved hotel rooms, enamored with new views and anonymity. Izzy liked how different places painted them in different lights. Gave the potential for other lives. Places they could depart to if they ever wanted to. Ever needed to run. 

“Do you guys ever talk about having them?” 

“You’re fucking kidding right?” Izzy shook his head. “Question was answered before it was asked.” 

“Why?” 

Izzy let the question hang, considering the shape of it. 

“We live the way we want already. Dropping a bomb like that into it would be...mm. No. Just no.” 

“Yeah,” Alma pulled her hands into the cuffs of her sweatshirt, propped one foot on the dashboard, bringing her knee almost to her chest. “I thought I’d say never to. But the longer I thought about it, the more I liked it. Not today. Not even in a year or more. Some day though.” 

“When? When you find somebody more permanent?” 

“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not waiting around for someone else. What a fucking waste that would be. But tenure would be good. Just some certainty.” 

Pieces fell into place. 

“I can’t promise that he won’t bolt. I don’t think he’s-” 

“Oh, I have a plan to glue him down,” Alma smiled ever so slightly. “You’re going to hate it. But you’ll say yes in the end.” 

“How do you know that?” 

She closed her eyes, that little smile lingering on her lips. “Because you never figured out how to say no to us when it might still count. Too late to get in the habit now.” 

When she came to him, three years later, tenured and certainty in every inch of her, what the fuck was he supposed to say? He did talk to Charlie about it first. At length. For days. But in the end, they both caved like they were always going to do. 

“I hope one of the nurses rats us out to a tabloid,” Charlie decreed as he sat in the far corner of the room. 

“We’re not that fucking interesting,” Alma said through gritted teeth. She had Izzy’s hand in her tenacious grip and while she wasn’t nearly strong enough to hurt him, but she was giving it her all. “Be useful and get me more water.” 

“Yes, sister mine,” Charlie got to his feet and practically ran out the door. 

“Don’t you have something shiny you can throw at him when this party really gets started?” She demanded of Izzy. 

“This was your choice, princess. And you know he’s not leaving until it’s done, even if it’s torture.” 

“Most people probably have their mothers with them for a reason,” Alma sighed. “Why am I like this?” 

“Give me a decade of training, three months of co-pays and I might be able to make a stab in the dark.” 

“This is hell, right? I died and my eternal suffering is living with my own shitty decisions.” 

“Fuck, I hope not,” Izzy frowned. “Fire and brimstone over that, any day.”

Things went haywire not long after that. Apparently some critical point had been reached and there were a lot of people in scrubs, blood, screaming, and then crying. Just from the baby, at least. Alma was dry-eyed through the whole thing. 

“Holy shit,” Charlie was across the room, half-strangled with it. 

“A boy,” someone said. “21 inches, 8 pounds, 3 ounce. Apgar....8. Doing well. Ready to hold him, mom?” 

“Ready,” Alma grabbed Izzy’s forearm to leverage herself up with a grunt. 

Then her grip was gone. For the first time in hours, Izzy was free, but he didn’t move. He watched her yank at the neck of the gown, eyes up to the ceiling for a minute, then back down when she sighed. 

The baby had black hair.  

“Okay,” Charlie curved over Izzy’s back, chin in his hair. “I like him better on the outside.” 

“Raven.” Alma stroked one finger slowly down a soft cheek. “His name is Raven.” 

“Yeah, that’ll keep him normal,” Izzy said under his breath. 

“Having a boring ass name doesn’t help with anything,” Charlie flatted his hand over Izzy’s chest. “Trust me on that.” 

With impeccable timing, as ever, the grandparents arrived twenty minutes later. Granted, Alma might’ve instructed Charlie to not tell them that things had gotten underway until there was no possible way they could be on time, but still. Izzy reserved the right to judge them. They weren’t all allowed in at once, so with the kind of justice only fate itself could arrange, Stede and Mary walked into the room just as Alma said, 

“Izzy, you take him.” 

“I can’t believe we missed it,” Mary rushed to Alma’s side. “How are you feeling? You look beautiful.” 

“I absolutely do not,” Alma wrinkled her nose. “But thanks. C’mon, you remember from the class. Take her.” 

Izzy hesitated, suddenly filled with a thousand thoughts of what could befall a very small delicate human in a world full of knives and teeth. 

And out of nowhere, Charlie, who had up to that point refused any knowledge of infants to Izzy’s awareness, reached down and scooped him up, supporting his head properly and everything.  

“Hello, nephew.” 

“Charlie-” Bonnet started. 

“Now now, Dad, don’t you think the person that gave half their DNA to the experiment should get to observe first?” Charlie tasked, entirely without expression as he turned in a slow half-circle to Izzy. 

That was one way for them to find out. Izzy felt a surge of love for Charlie in that moment that was indescribably warm and filling. What a fucking asshole. 

“What?” Mary asked faintly. 

“Excuse me?” Bonnet’s voice climbed. 

Izzy held out his arms with much more confidence under their indignation. Someone with some idea of what they were doing and hadn’t just given birth should probably be holding the kid while the room exploded. 

Raven had brown eyes. He thought all babies were meant to have blue ones, but no, they were already quite dark. What other interesting legacies would unfold with time? 

“Hello,” Izzy kept his voice low. There was plenty of screeching happening on the other side of the bed. 

Raven’s eyelids were heavy. Getting born had looked like a lot of work. Izzy hummed low, just notes sliding one into the other without form. 

“Alma, honey, why?” Mary asked despairingly. 

“Seems like half the time you get it from a sperm bank, it’s some ego-centric doctor’s spunk,” Alma said cheerfully. “The direct method seemed best.” 

“Not that direct,” Charlie added on. “Izzy’s allergic to a lot of things. We figured vag might be one of them.” 

“Don’t be crass, you two,” Mary scolded absently, staring at Izzy. 

“ I think I better...” Bonnet collapsed backwards into a chair. 

“We debated putting him on the birth certificate,” Alma plowed on, apparently reading off a script she’d written in her head. “But the legal complications were a trial and since he doesn’t really want to be a parent, we’re refraining.  No parental rights.” 

“We’ll be helping anyway,” Charlie said with deceptive lightness. “Naturally. One might want to see their biological child on occasion.” 

“Of course,” Bonnet said helplessly. 

“You told me it was a donor,” Mary said blankly. 

“It was,” Alma shrugged. 

Raven had gone a little heavier. Izzy went on humming.  Moved by something so deeply internal that it might’ve come from long buried memory, Izzy leaned forward and brushed a kiss over the tiny forehead. 

The baby smelled like blood and the detergent on the blanket. 

“Welcome to the world, kiddo,” Izzy rumbled. 

“How are you feeling?” Mary asked Alma, rallying. 

“Like shit,” Alma sagged against the blankets. 

“My poor baby,” Mary said softly and smoothed the hair back from her forehead.   

Bonnet hesitated then got to his feet, moved around the bed that had separated them like a great wall. He came to stand at Izzy’s other side. Charlie pressed close, hip indenting into Izzy’s ribs. 

“He’s lovely,” Bonnet said quietly. “And very lucky.” 

“Why?” Charlie asked for them both. Izzy was intent on not looking up. He had something worth intense study before him that was far more interesting. 

“No child will ever be so well protected. And loved, I think,”  Bonnet sounded almost fond. That was unnerving. 

Izzy watched a small chest rise and fall. 

Sometimes, very rarely, it paid to be gracious in victory. Eddy had taught them that. Wouldn’t she be thrilled to know what she had wrought as she stalked the hospital halls, still blissfully ignorant? 

Izzy got to his feet. 

“Remember how it goes, Bonnet?” He asked. 

“Yes,” the man didn’t meet his eyes, but he held out his arms the right way. “I’m not sure a body ever forgets.” 

Izzy settled Raven carefully and then took a step back. Charlie slid his arms around Izzy’s waist, set his chin on his shoulder. 

For once, a room full of Bonnets was calm and quiet. 

Very softly and atonally, Bonnet began to hum.

[thedawningofthehour]

vai pra puta que pariu

se fuder

enfia no cu e gira

corno desgraçado

arrombado

cacete

these are all cuss phrases u can use for Xavier :)

(you can ask for more tho)

Translations:

go to the fuck

fuck off

stick it up your ass and spin

bastard cuckold

broken into fuck

I'm fucking dying. These are all Google translations so they're almost certainly not contextually accurate, but if they're close

oh my god

'Stick it up your ass and spin' is definitely my favorite, but 'go to the fuck' is a close contender.

Generally when I write foreign languages in English text-for one, I normally don't because I only speak English fluently and I'm not going to feed long lines through Google Translate, but in general I feel like if you're going to have a 'foreign' language (by which I mean any language other than the one the story is written in) in your text, it should be pretty self-explanatory what they're saying even if you don't have a translation. Unless you're trying to do something with languages, obviously, like how Lord of the Rings pretty much exists to show off Tolkien's invented languages. But say like, in GoT-in Dany's chapters, they're speaking multiple different languages, with her speaking Common the majority of the time, learning Dothraki to communicate with her husband and speaking Valyrian in the slaver cities. Yet 99% of the time it's relayed to the audience in English-the grand reveal in Astapor where she switches from Common to perfect Valyrian is said in English and only stated to be said in Valyrian, because her speech would have lost a lot of impact on the page if every reader had to translate it, or get the translation at the bottom of the page. The only time I can think where her speech was relayed to the audience in a different language is her 'a prince rides within me' speech, and at that point enough Dothraki words had been sprinkled in that we could recognize the gist of what she was saying even before she translated.

That's kind of what I go for when I write characters speaking other languages. There's no direct translation for Xever's curses, but that doesn't matter because we can tell through context clues that he's swearing at Bradford. It's some extra funniness if you do put it through a translator, but it's not at all necessary.

Also Xever is pretty fluent in English by now (good for him, he almost certainly grew up only knowing Portuguese so that probably wasn't easy) so the little bits where he gets frustrated is probably the only place where his Portuguese slips out. So in short, I will definitely be using some of these, thank you.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Love and light to Bridget but idk how she puts up with Valentine in Duke of Sin lol - he’s like an angry little Pomeranian. I love how Val is short. He absolutely would be and I don’t think it bothers him a bit (I always picture Eve as taller than him/the taller sibling). And lmao to when Bridget is forced to go “well turns out he wasn’t lying about his *personal attributes*” in that nude painting of him. Like, Elizabeth Hoyt!!! Your brain!!!

Side note/question - if you had to FMK the Maiden Lane heros, how would you categorize them?

Honestly, I think Bridget has a lot of kinks that the text would probably deal with more if it was published today. There's some shit going on with her. In a lot of ways, I see Val/Bridget as a contrast to Maximus/Artemis, wherein you have a wacky duke paired with what appears to be an imminently sensible and calm woman, but there are key differences in that:

A) Maximus, while clearly being insane, is more of a general ass re: his relationship with Artemis, while Val is COMPLETELY off his rocker, and demonstrates this to Bridget.

B) I'll be super real... taste is taste and this is TOTALLY PERSONAL, but Maximus sounds a lot hotter on a purely physical level to meeeeeee. Jacked severe duke with some salt and pepper going on > super pretty duke. Val is hot because of who he is/his insanity/the fact that we see him do sex things, but on the street I feel like I wouldn't be into him? And people in the text are like "he's very pretty but also SUPER WEIRD-PRESENTING". But GOOD FOR HIM.

C) Bridget has experience, Maximus is Artemis's one and only. While I do nOT see Artemis as a meek heroine at all (quiet, yes, meek no) it's kinda not a surprise that she'd fall in love with the rich hot duke who pops her cherry AND gives her multiple orgasms. Bridget.... should know better lmao.

So basically, Bridget REALLY loves Val, which means she's a bit twisted.

Re: FMK, I'd fuck em all because they all sound good in the sack, but I'd MARRY: Winter, Mickey, Maximus, and Asa.

A more accurate ranking would tier like this:

Tier 1: God Tier/Would Suck Him Off In A Public Venue

Winter Makepeace, Thief of Shadows--Obviously, I love Winter with all my wasted heart. He's not even as much of my usual romance hero type because he's nOT a rat bastard, but he's so wound up and stridently self-confident while at the same time possessing the heart of an absolute freak who wings it. I love an undone man, and he's so. undone. Also, how can one man be so cool and yet so deeply uncool at once? Like, he's Zorro but he also is basically cosplaying because some random guy showed him how to once. Also, he spends time being like "my God, am I just a lustful wretch" because he got a boner oNE TIME.

Charming Mickey O'Connor, Scandalous Desires--Mickey is probably like. The sexiest Maiden Lane hero. He is a river pirate who somehow gets away with saying things like "you're me lady now" on the force of sheer sex appeal. I imagine him wearing leather pants and a flowy pirate shirt that's open to his navel all the time. Don't ruin that for me. He's also deeply weird, as any hero of my heart is. 10/10 would let him lick my tears off my face.

Maximus Batten, Duke of Midnight--Lots of people hate Maximus. They are wrong. Is Maximus a total asshole? Yes. Is the main obstacle to Maximus getting everything he wants, in fact, Maximus? For sure, no doubt. Is it truly bizarre that he's like, fucking the shit out of this woman, clearly in love with her, and then being like "sadly, we cannot be together, because I find you embarrassing". Oh yes. But that is... why.... I love him? I love Maximus because he's his own worst enemy. Because he has the whole "TAKE MY COME BECAUSE I CAN GIVE YOU NOTHING ELSE" (not true lmao) line. Because he honestly fucks like a champ and is then like "oh my god Alfred, (Craven), look away, Diana's (Artemis's) tits are out". Because of that scene where he just sat down before Artemis and dragged her forward and ate her out like she was breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. Because... he's such an idiot. 100+ "he called his heroine by not her actual name first" points.

Asa Makepeace, Sweetest Scoundrel--Asa is iconic to me because he mixes filth and sweetness so well? Like, he's not as decent as Winter. He's kind of a trashbag himbo who puts on this big rakish show. But he's..... incredibly sweet with Eve. Like. So tender. So understanding. I don't respond well to "we fall in love while he comforts me about my sexual trauma" romances often, because it can often feel... exploitative, somehow? But this one nailed it, and while Eve is an amazing heroine, I think it's in part too because of how Asa is like... not a perfect guy, but a guy with a deeply good heart deep down. Which makes sense, because he comes from a family that has some of the most deeply decent people (Winter and Silence) in the series. Also, on a shallow note, that scene where he jacks off in the carriage is A LOT.

Tier 2.1: Iconic, But I Have Questions

Valentine Napier, Duke of Sin--Yes, Val is hot, he is iconic, I see why everyone loves him, I don't take anything at all away from that. But does he sometimes veer in a direction where I'm like "oh he can plow, but in the cool light of day I'd wonder some things about his fashion choices"? Sure. I am not. A HUGE fan of all his frothy lace. Elizabeth Hoyt will sell me on basically every hero. The Serpent Prince is another one where I was like, "oh! He has jeweled buckles on his high heeled shoes and he is battling!" Sometimes, the heroes just feel extra Georgian, and this is one of those times for me. I also, as someone with two cats who are basically parasitic creatures attached to me, do struggle sometimes with the cat murders.

Tier 2.2: Time to Call My Shrink About the Daddy Issues

Godric St. John, Lord of Darkness--Initially, I don't think I ranked this book that high in the series. But upon re-reads of... certain passages, I am more into Godric than I once was. I mean, he's hot. He's deeply daddy. He's like, one of the more normal Maiden Lane heroes, for sure. I actually own this book in paperback and need to do a complete re-read. I find Godric to be unfortunately placed between two of my favorite heroes, so it's hard to like... hold him up against Winter and Maximus. But he's objectively so hot.

Captain James Trevillion, Dearest Rogue--OOOOOOOH HOT. It's only recently that I realized that he's Georgian Jim Gordon, which, weird. But man. When he dry humped that girl he was supposed to be taking care of, who's a lil YOUNG FOR HIM BUT NOT IN A WEIRD WAY, who's his CHARGE!!! And then felt DIRTY BAD WRONG ABOUT IT??? Oh, that's hot. Also, I love that he's like. Wounded and fucked up about it. Yes sir, tell me all about all your SELF LOATHING. I liked his farm family less though.

Hugh Fitzroy, Duke of Kyle, Duke of Pleasure--How fun is it that this guy is a king's bastard? So fun. Also fun: that iconic scene where he's like "Alf, pretend to suck my dick so everyone moves past us and ignores our espionage" and she just. Sucks his dick for real. And then he's like, "Alf legit they're gone" and she's like "I'm gonna do anyway" and he comes in her mouth? And then he's like "Jesus Christ bitch" and mAKES HER SPIT INTO HIS NICE HANDKERCHIEF??? Anyway, I don't love the CSI: Maiden Lane arc because it's so dark, but that scene, man. I also am a sucker for any time a hero has a Shang From Mulan moment where the heroine is dressed like a man and he's like "you know what.... for that twink... I would..."

Tier 2.3 Yeah My Man's A Slut

Griffing Remington, Notorious Pleasures--I really have nothing to complain about here. Griffin's book is kind of an outlier in that it's like... more Maiden Lane than the previous book, but still not quite there, but it's very good and fun. (To me, Scandalous Desires is when Elizabeth Hoyt REEEEEALLY hits her stride.) He's a hot fuck who isn't above boning his brother's fiancee, and I respect the hell out of that. A true slut. I believe he's amazing in bed.

Tier 2.4 Well Now I'm Sad (But We Love Him)

Raphael de Chartres, Duke of Desire--His story is so well done and I love him and he's a great hero, but his book is VERY, VERY sad. His backstory is crushing. I'd recommend this book (with the necessary TWs) and I'm sure I'll reread it, but it's not an easy read and though I found his love story romantic and cathartic, it was darker than Sweetest Scoundrel due to its proximity to ongoing issues, and... yeah. Hard. But I love him.

Tier 2.5 Further Evaluation Needed

Lazarus "Caire" Huntington, Wicked Intentions--Yeah so I don't recall much of this one and I need to do a full reread, but Caire is hot and all, despite his weird hair. I find him to be less in line with most Maiden Lane heroes, but that makes sense because he's the first one. Would bang, but need to brush up on everything.

Apollo Greaves, Darling Beast--I know this book is great, but I also read it at a bad mental health time so I need to re-read it. Apollo is a biiiig guy, which I love. He's also got a very difficult backstory, like Raphael, but not *quite* as intense. I remember him being REAL GOOD AT SEX, I just need to reread his entire story.

[pinkseas]

on my hands and knees begging u to say your words about xiaolumi… i want to hear them… i’ll pay you back in art i prommy—

WHY WOULD YOU ENABLE ME LIKE THIS no need for art i literally owe you my fucking Life just for that one piece like oh my god. ohhhh my god. the amount of times i have linked that to my friends and waxed poetic and maybe cried a little. ANYWAYS. i am about to be So Silly And So Disorganized

so here's the thing right?? it depends SO heavily on how you interpret lumine. the traveler definitely has their own personality and agenda ingame but there's still SO much wiggle room in terms of what you do with that. if i really wanted to i could probably make it a Lot More Accurate by focusing on the traveler in canon and going from there however i will in fact be completely ignoring that and focusing on my interpretation of lumi specifically light and love <3 <- thats my little disclaimer ANYWAYS

they are So Similar in a lot of ways. young adults who are also centuries old. stubborn bastards who would give their lives protecting those around them even if they got absolutely nothing in return. so quick to throw themselves into the line of fire for the sake of friends and strangers alike. such a strong instinct to protect. not mortal, not by a long shot, but not quite gods either, something uniquely inhuman and in between. a centuries worth of weight on their shoulders. reaching their breaking points and pushing further still, refusing to let themselves crumble. and, even with very close companions, i think they're very lonely. there's no one quite like xiao in teyvat, no one quite like lumine without aether there by her side- maybe no one quite like lumine at all, anymore.

i think its about sharing. i think they'd find it easy to talk with and be around one another, even though they're typically so slow and so careful with trust. i think fighting together comes as easily as breathing, that their urge to protect lines up perfectly with the others and leads to them doing so much for those around them as well as each other. they will not let the other fall. they share the weight on their shoulders, share the centuries of bloodshed and horrors seen and caused alike, share in the unique brand of loneliness that comes with knowing that where someone was once by your side there's no one like you left.

vulnerability does not come easily to any of them. they can always push themselves further, always be a little stronger, always run a little faster. but its exactly that, i think, the recognition of someone so like themselves that makes it easier for them to trust in one another. lumine can call xiao's name when she needs him, xiao can find lumine if he needs her. i think that for all they would shoulder the world on their own and know the other would do the same in a heartbeat, they trust one another to come to them when they need help. it would be so, so easy to ignore it, to press forward, to remain alone. but they made a promise, and they intend to keep it.

i like to imagine that lumine's presence has a purifying effect on xiao. something she could control and channel should she realize, but for now something small, just enough to ease that weight. just enough to make sure he won't succumb.

i think a big part of it is about learning how to live again. they both carry that weight, that stubborn mindset, but wanting to see the other happy helps. knowing the other understands helps. when it hurts they can breathe together, and the type of pain they feel may never truly go away but they dont have to experience it alone.

every snowflake, every sunrise, every flower is just a little bit different from the rest. xiao's favorite quiet places are nicer with her there. they live so very differently but lumine's teapot is always there and xiao is no longer bound by his contract, learning ever so slowly how to let himself go. they have spent so, so long surviving. now, though, they remember to taste the fresh air, learn to indulge in the smallest things. lumine experiments with recipes until her almond tofu is catered to xiao's tastes exactly, the perfect texture. at night in liyue xiao tells her stories of the constellations and she remembers every word, at night in the teapot lumine will lift a hand and the sky will match her memories, her turn to tell stories about stars he's never seen.

they are both so, so tired. and i think that they would trust the other enough to let themselves rest. you can put your strength down. im sitting here with you at the kitchen table. you dont need to say anything. <- that quote is so them for real its shared silences mutual understanding and comfort always having each other's backs its twin moons twin stars two beings caught in each other's orbit and choosing every day to stay. sitting side by side on the mountaintop, hands entwined, lumine's head on his shoulder. breathing. loving. living.

[wastrelwoods]

I?? N???

OH HEE HEE i GOT ASKS!!

I: Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (reading or writing)?

so hard to pin down something specific that actually feels worthy of the guilty addendum?? i wouldn't say i have one as a writer but as a reader i think what might qualify is that even if something i am reading is hugely and egregiously miles away from any kind of accurate portrayal of the characters i like in the source material and baffling, entirely inexplicable choices are being made about tone and genre? i will often still enjoy it as its own standalone thing. its not my shows or the blorbos from them but its a fun little romp. i would call this hypocrisy

N: Is there a fic you wish someone else would write (or finish) for you?

HM i mean there's a thing or two i have left unfinished bc my interests shifted or i started without having a game plan to make them actually a finished thing but the desire to see any of those completed is not actually very strong. CURRENTLY i have a hundred hannibal-adjacent ideas i have some intent to actually write and only one or two i wish someone else would just make for me bc all i really want to do is read it without putting in the work. the one that comes to mind is "rom com where will and hannibal have been in an established relationship, JUST had a messy unresolved breakup because will figured out hannibal kills and eats people BUT jack and bella are organizing a big vow-renewal bash in italy to celebrate her remission and invited hannibal to cater and walk bella down the aisle and will to be jack's best man and it's really gonna rain on their parade if they admit they broke up and ESPECIALLY if will outs his ex as a serial murderer and derails the whole thing. so will and hannibal decide to make nice and pretend to still be together and on good terms and both of them get a little sappy about the crawfords' beautiful enduring romance and drinking champagne and oops maybe they ARE getting back together? isn't love beautiful? hannibal did you put people in the hors d'oeuvres by chance? you bastard."