#Observer's Dilemma

[kaberriveraltar]

The Harmony of Realms: Understanding Consciousness through Language, Imagination, and Behavior

The discussion with Tor Nørretranders, a Danish author known for his work on consciousness, delves into the nature of consciousness, sensory perception, and how humans process information. Nørretranders' book The User Illusion is a foundational text in this field, exploring consciousness as a reduction function, a concept that resonates with Aldous Huxley's idea of the "reducing valve" of consciousness.

The conversation begins by addressing modern civilization's obsession with predictability and control, which, Nørretranders argues, leads to a dulled and overly simplistic way of interacting with the world. He advocates for a "refresh" of sensory inputs to awaken a more nuanced and engaged state of mind, suggesting that our minds naturally crave a balance between order and novelty.

Jordan Peterson, the host, shares his understanding of consciousness as a multi-tiered phenomenon, structured from material reality up through behavioral, imaginative, and linguistic realms. Nørretranders aligns with this, adding that human sensory systems absorb around 11 million bits of information per second, yet our conscious awareness processes only about 16 bits per second. This enormous gap suggests that much of what we experience is filtered out, and consciousness serves as a simplified interface with reality.

Peterson's framework suggests that each layer builds upon the last: the material realm of patterns supports behavioral expressions, which are then represented in the imaginative realm (such as dreams or literature), and finally mapped in the linguistic realm. Nørretranders appreciates this layered approach but emphasizes starting with the basic observation of sensory input and our brain's selective filtering process.

Throughout the conversation, they explore how language unpacks compressed ideas and how understanding is built through a harmony of these different realms. The dialogue provides a rich philosophical and scientific look at consciousness, encouraging reflection on how much of reality is accessible to us and how much remains beyond the scope of conscious perception.

Understanding Consciousness: Patterns, Perception, and the Limits of Awareness

In our modern age, we tend to view consciousness as an advanced and distinctively human phenomenon. We value our awareness, our capacity for language, and our imaginative abilities, all of which seem to separate us from other species. Yet, Danish author and philosopher Tor Nørretranders, in his work, particularly his influential book The User Illusion, challenges us to rethink our understanding of consciousness by emphasizing its limitations and functions as a “reducing” mechanism. Nørretranders argues that the human brain does not perceive reality in its fullness but compresses and simplifies vast amounts of sensory information to create a coherent and manageable experience. This essay explores the themes presented by Nørretranders and others on consciousness as a layered phenomenon, touching upon the material, behavioral, imaginative, and linguistic realms, and investigates how consciousness serves as a simplifying force rather than an all-encompassing awareness.

The Material and Behavioral Realms

Consciousness begins in what Nørretranders describes as a world of patterns—a "material realm" where objects and processes persist in intricate, interconnected forms. Here, patterns of varying scales and durations create a stable environment that humans and animals navigate daily. From the rhythms of nature to the structure of objects around us, the material world holds a vast amount of information that is essential for survival but beyond the full grasp of any one creature.

In addition to this material realm, living beings also exist within a "behavioral realm," where they interact with each other and respond to their environment. This realm is not just about physical interactions but also about the implicit codes and patterns that living beings, especially humans, use to navigate the physical world. For example, animals and humans both leave tracks in their environments—birds in flight patterns, wolves in social hierarchies, and humans in roads and pathways. These behaviors serve as a form of mapping that reflects the underlying patterns in the material world, creating an alignment between creatures and their environment.

The behavioral realm is also where social structures, instincts, and survival mechanisms operate. In the context of consciousness, however, this realm represents a level of perception that is instinctual and subconscious, with humans perhaps exhibiting the most complex forms of behavior that can impact their physical surroundings and each other.

The Imaginative Realm: Capturing Behavioral Patterns

While animals operate effectively within the material and behavioral realms, humans add another layer to their consciousness: the imaginative realm. This realm allows us to form representations of our behavioral experiences in symbolic ways—dreams, stories, myths, and art, all of which mirror the world around us but also interpret and transform it. According to Nørretranders, the imaginative realm lets us hold onto patterns from the behavioral realm and apply them to new, abstract contexts. In dreams, for instance, we replay and explore these patterns through characters and dramas, albeit in surreal and often fragmented ways.

The imaginative realm allows us to capture and conceptualize experiences beyond the immediate physical moment, embedding them in symbols, stories, and characters. Literature, for instance, helps transform real experiences into a coherent narrative that conveys universal emotions and situations. In this sense, the imaginative realm is where meaning-making begins, shaping our collective understanding of existence and providing a space for individuals to explore and interpret the complex, often contradictory, aspects of their own experiences.

The Linguistic Realm: Mapping and Unpacking the Imagination

Nørretranders further asserts that language—our ability to communicate through symbols and structure thoughts—is a realm where we take complex ideas and compress them into words and sentences. Language, in his view, is a form of "unpacking" the imagination. Just as we might condense a multifaceted experience into a brief description, language allows us to simplify complex ideas for easier communication, though at the cost of nuance and depth.

Language both connects and restricts us. It enables us to share our thoughts and experiences, but it also places limits on our capacity to express the full richness of our inner worlds. For example, an artist may find that words cannot capture the essence of a painting, or a philosopher may struggle to convey abstract ideas. This challenge underlines Nørretranders' idea that language is a reducing function—while it opens new ways to connect with others, it also distills the vast landscape of consciousness into manageable, often oversimplified fragments.

Consciousness as a Reducing Function: From 11 Million Bits to 16

One of the most striking insights in Nørretranders’ work is his assertion that consciousness operates as a filtering mechanism. He highlights that the human sensory system receives approximately 11 million bits of information per second from the environment. However, only around 16 bits of this information reach our conscious awareness. This discrepancy underscores how our minds function more like high-powered reduction machines than broad-spectrum receivers.

This vast filtering process suggests that consciousness does not necessarily give us a "truer" or "fuller" view of reality. Instead, it distills a limited snapshot that we can handle and use. For example, when walking through a forest, we don’t perceive every leaf or branch; our minds focus on relevant patterns—a potential path, the sounds of nearby animals, or obstacles to avoid. By filtering out excess information, consciousness allows us to navigate the world efficiently without being overwhelmed by sensory overload.

The Problem with Modern Civilization's Predictive Mindset

One critique Nørretranders offers is that modern civilization's fixation on control and predictability has led to a kind of sensory and imaginative stagnation. In our efforts to manage and predict all aspects of life, we lose a measure of spontaneity and creativity. This is a mindset that resists the ambiguity and uncertainty that are fundamental to a fuller experience of life. When we insist on linear predictability, our minds become dull, as we no longer allow ourselves to be “irritated” by the unexpected stimuli that keep consciousness awake and active.

Nørretranders suggests that to counter this, we should find ways to refresh our sensory inputs and step outside the routine constraints of the predictable world. Engaging in creative, unstructured activities such as exploring nature, creating art, or even engaging with stories and psychedelics are some ways to reconnect with the richness of experience. These activities bring us closer to the realms of imagination and sensation, reminding us of the vibrancy that often gets lost in our pursuit of efficiency and control.

Toward a Holistic Understanding of Consciousness

Ultimately, Nørretranders’ approach suggests that consciousness cannot be fully understood without acknowledging its layers and limitations. Each realm—material, behavioral, imaginative, and linguistic—contributes to our experience of reality but also filters and shapes it in distinct ways. The material and behavioral realms anchor us to our environment; the imaginative realm offers symbols and narratives that enrich our experiences, and the linguistic realm allows us to share and connect but also constrains and simplifies.

By conceptualizing consciousness as a reducing function, Nørretranders brings forth a humbling perspective. Humans are not passive observers of a full reality; we actively construct our reality by selecting, interpreting, and often simplifying information. This conception of consciousness invites us to embrace both the power and the limitations of our awareness. Instead of seeking to control and predict every aspect of our lives, we might benefit from an openness to the unknown, allowing our senses to be “irritated” and refreshed by the world’s complexity.

In conclusion, the layered, limited, and often reductive nature of consciousness reveals that understanding does not equate to perceiving everything fully. Instead, true understanding may involve an appreciation of consciousness as a dynamic, filtering process that enables us to engage with the world without becoming overwhelmed by its vastness. By balancing predictability with spontaneity, structure with imagination, we can deepen our experience of consciousness in a way that honors both its expansive possibilities and its inherent constraints.

Consciousness and the Emergence of Self: Beyond Perception to the Foundations of Identity

In exploring the concept of consciousness, much attention is given to sensory processing, the filtering of information, and our experience of reality as a simplified construct. Yet, there remains a deeper, perhaps more complex, question about the emergence of the self within this realm of consciousness. If our perception is limited, filtered, and partial, what does that mean for the self we believe to inhabit? Where does identity arise within this conscious framework, and what are the mechanisms by which a stable sense of self comes to exist? This essay ventures into the subtler aspects of consciousness, particularly the emergence of self-awareness, memory, and the cognitive constructs that ground identity, exploring how these elements shape our lives in ways beyond sensory experience.

The Self as a Construct in Consciousness

In the study of consciousness, the self can be seen as an emergent property—a product of various cognitive processes that interact to create a consistent, albeit dynamic, sense of identity. Unlike raw perception, which involves interpreting immediate sensory input, the construction of self involves the integration of past experiences, memories, desires, and future intentions. This integration gives rise to what we call the “self,” a narrative that we continuously update to make sense of who we are, where we have been, and where we are going.

Neuroscientists and psychologists argue that the brain constructs this sense of self by assembling fragments of sensory experiences, memories, and abstract concepts into a coherent whole. This self-narrative serves a vital function, helping us navigate the world with a consistent sense of agency and continuity. However, this narrative can also be a source of rigidity, as the self, once constructed, seeks stability and resists change—even when change is necessary for growth. Our beliefs, values, and personality traits become ingrained, creating a sense of permanence that can become a psychological cage if not balanced with openness to new experiences.

The Role of Memory in Shaping Identity

Memory plays a critical role in this process of self-construction. Our memories act as a repository of past experiences that feed into our present understanding of who we are. Each memory is not a perfect reflection of the past but a reconstruction shaped by current emotions, beliefs, and cognitive biases. Research has shown that each time we recall a memory, it changes slightly, influenced by our present context and state of mind. Thus, memory is not only a tool for storing information but also an active participant in shaping our identity, with each recollection subtly rewriting our self-narrative.

In this light, memory functions less like a recording device and more like an editor, continuously refining the story of who we are. This malleable quality of memory means that identity is not a fixed entity but an ongoing process. As our memories shift over time, so does our sense of self. People who have experienced trauma, for example, often find that their identity becomes heavily shaped by those experiences, as memories of the trauma reshape how they view themselves and the world. Therapy can often involve reframing these memories, allowing individuals to reconstruct their narratives and, in doing so, change their self-conception.

Intention and Future-Self Projection

While memory anchors us to our past, the mind also projects itself forward, envisioning future possibilities and constructing goals and desires. This ability to envision a “future self” is another crucial aspect of consciousness that distinguishes humans from other species. It allows us to not only plan for the future but also to envision who we might become, setting goals that align with this envisioned self. In this way, intention acts as a bridge between the present self and the future self, motivating actions that serve to realize this projected identity.

The process of projecting oneself into the future is not merely about practical planning but also deeply influences our current identity. Studies in psychology suggest that individuals who have a strong sense of their “future self” tend to make decisions that are more in line with their long-term goals, even if it means sacrificing immediate gratification. Conversely, people who struggle to connect with their future self may be more prone to impulsive behaviors or decisions that undermine their future well-being. This future-self connection highlights the importance of temporality in consciousness—our sense of self is as much about who we were and who we will be as it is about who we are now.

The Dynamic Interplay of Self-Perception and Social Identity

Our sense of self is also deeply influenced by our interactions with others. From a young age, our identity is shaped by the feedback and perceptions of those around us—parents, teachers, friends, and society at large. This concept of the “social self” was notably explored by sociologist Charles Cooley in his theory of the “looking-glass self.” Cooley proposed that our self-concept is, to a large extent, a reflection of how we believe others perceive us. In essence, we form our self-identity in part by internalizing others' views and judgments.

This social dimension of identity has profound implications for how we experience consciousness. On one hand, social identity provides a sense of belonging and shared values, reinforcing our sense of who we are within a community. On the other hand, it can limit self-perception, as individuals often conform to societal expectations, suppressing parts of themselves that do not align with these external perceptions. This duality—being both liberated and constrained by social identity—illustrates the complexity of consciousness. We are not isolated minds but deeply interconnected beings, shaped by the social worlds we inhabit.

Cognitive Dissonance and the Evolution of the Self

An interesting phenomenon that arises in the context of self-awareness and social identity is cognitive dissonance, a psychological state where one experiences discomfort due to conflicting beliefs, values, or behaviors. Cognitive dissonance often serves as a catalyst for growth and change, prompting individuals to reassess their beliefs and realign their actions with their evolving sense of self.

For example, someone may hold a belief about their moral integrity but act in a way that contradicts that belief, leading to an internal conflict. To resolve this discomfort, the person may either change their behavior or adjust their self-conception to accommodate the inconsistency. This process underscores the fluidity of the self, as we are continuously adjusting our identity to maintain internal coherence. Cognitive dissonance, therefore, becomes a mechanism through which consciousness and identity evolve, allowing individuals to navigate and adapt to changing environments and new insights.

Self-Transcendence: Beyond the Individual Self

One of the most profound questions in the study of consciousness is whether the self, as a construct, can dissolve or transcend. Many spiritual traditions and philosophies propose that true self-awareness involves moving beyond the ego—the individual sense of self—and embracing a broader, more interconnected consciousness. In practices such as meditation, individuals often report experiences of “self-transcendence,” where the boundaries between the self and the world blur, leading to a sense of unity and interconnectedness.

This concept challenges the Western notion of the self as an isolated, autonomous entity. Instead, self-transcendence suggests that consciousness may not be bound to the individual mind but part of a larger, collective consciousness. Such experiences raise intriguing questions about the nature of identity and the ultimate purpose of consciousness. If self-transcendence is possible, it suggests that the self may be a temporary construct—useful for navigating the material world but not necessarily the ultimate expression of our conscious potential.

Consciousness as an Ever-Evolving Landscape

The journey of consciousness and self-awareness is one of constant evolution. From the formation of identity in childhood to the complexities of social self-perception, from the development of future projections to the potential for self-transcendence, consciousness is an intricate web of cognitive processes that interweave to create our lived experience. Our understanding of consciousness continues to evolve as science delves deeper into the mechanisms behind self-awareness, memory, and identity.

In closing, the study of consciousness is not just about the mind’s ability to perceive the world; it is about the continual unfolding of identity, the interaction between past, present, and future selves, and the quest for meaning in an ever-changing world. The consciousness that defines our sense of self is both a stabilizing force and a doorway to transformation, inviting us to explore the depths of awareness, the limits of perception, and the boundless potential for self-discovery. This evolving journey of consciousness encourages us to approach our identity with curiosity and openness, ready to redefine the self as we embrace new understandings of who we are and who we can become.

The Illusion of Perception: How the Brain Filters Reality and Constructs Consciousness

In the intricate realm of human experience, the interplay between perception and consciousness has long been a subject of fascination and inquiry. At the heart of this discussion lies an intriguing phenomenon: the brain’s capacity to filter, interpret, and construct reality, often obscuring the objective world in favor of a customized, subjective experience. This section explores the selective and interpretative nature of perception, examining how the brain’s processes shape our understanding of the world, our interactions with others, and our sense of self. Beyond mere sensory input, consciousness emerges as a dynamic, evolving construct, one that is deeply tied to memory, intention, social identity, and even cognitive dissonance, revealing how reality as we know it may be more of an illusion than an objective truth.

The Brain as a Filter: Selective Perception and Cognitive Shortcuts

Human consciousness is often thought of as an accurate mirror of reality, faithfully capturing the external world. However, neuroscientific research has shown that our brain is, in fact, highly selective in what it perceives. Given the sheer volume of sensory information bombarding us at any moment, the brain must prioritize certain stimuli while ignoring others. This process of selective perception relies on filters shaped by past experiences, emotional states, and cognitive biases, which guide our attention and influence what we perceive as important.

For instance, studies have shown that attention can be directed by emotional relevance. A person who feels anxious, for example, may become hyper-aware of potential threats in their environment, even if those threats are minimal or imagined. This selective perception extends to everyday interactions and social situations, where we may overemphasize certain aspects of behavior or conversation based on our mood or expectations. This illustrates how our brains filter reality in ways that can reinforce pre-existing beliefs and emotional states, often blurring the line between objective perception and subjective interpretation.

Pattern Recognition and Cognitive Biases

The brain’s tendency to filter sensory information is also influenced by its reliance on pattern recognition and cognitive shortcuts, known as heuristics. These mental shortcuts allow us to process information quickly and efficiently but often at the expense of accuracy. The brain’s pattern-recognition ability enables it to draw connections between disparate pieces of information, allowing us to predict and navigate our environment with ease. However, this same mechanism can lead to cognitive biases, where we see patterns or relationships that may not exist.

Confirmation bias, for example, causes us to seek out information that aligns with our pre-existing beliefs, while ignoring evidence to the contrary. Similarly, the “availability heuristic” means we are more likely to recall recent or emotionally charged experiences, which then influence our perception and decision-making. These cognitive biases shape our understanding of reality, reinforcing beliefs that may be flawed or incomplete. Thus, while the brain’s filters and shortcuts are essential for processing information, they often lead to a distorted version of reality that reflects more of our inner psychology than the objective world.

Constructing Reality Through Memory and Anticipation

Beyond the brain’s role in filtering perception, memory and anticipation further contribute to the construction of reality. Memory is not a static record of past events but a dynamic and often malleable process that reshapes itself each time it is recalled. This means that our memories are colored by our current emotions, beliefs, and even social influences, creating a version of the past that serves our present understanding of ourselves and the world.

Anticipation, on the other hand, is the brain’s mechanism for projecting future possibilities based on past experiences and current desires. This forward-looking aspect of consciousness shapes how we interpret the present moment. For example, an individual anticipating a rewarding experience may interpret neutral events more positively, while someone expecting disappointment may view even positive situations with suspicion. Through the combined influence of memory and anticipation, the brain weaves a continuous narrative that guides our understanding of the present, often merging past, present, and future into a cohesive, though sometimes illusory, sense of reality.

The Role of Self-Concept in Perception and Interaction

An often-overlooked aspect of perception is the influence of self-concept, the mental image we hold of ourselves, which can significantly alter how we interpret and interact with the world. Our self-concept is a combination of traits, beliefs, and experiences that form the foundation of our identity. This internal construct not only shapes how we see ourselves but also colors our perceptions of others and our environment.

For instance, an individual with a strong sense of self-confidence may perceive challenges as opportunities, while someone with self-doubt might interpret the same situations as threats. This self-concept acts as a lens through which we interpret social cues, body language, and even verbal communication. Psychologists suggest that this self-focused filtering helps maintain a stable sense of identity by confirming beliefs and narratives about ourselves, even if those beliefs are limiting or inaccurate. The process by which the self reinforces its own perception of reality can create a feedback loop, where our interactions with others are shaped by—and, in turn, reinforce—our self-concept, perpetuating our subjective experience of the world.

Social Reality and the Power of Collective Belief

While individual perception shapes personal experience, humans are also influenced by a “social reality,” a shared construct created by collective beliefs and social norms. This phenomenon is evident in cultural and societal standards, where certain behaviors, values, and even perceptions are deemed acceptable or true based on shared beliefs. Language itself acts as a medium for this social reality, encoding cultural concepts and norms that influence how we interpret and interact with the world.

For example, certain cultures have words for emotions that others lack, such as the Japanese term “amae,” which describes the sense of pleasurable dependence on another person. Such culturally specific terms illustrate how language and shared belief systems shape not only how we communicate but also how we experience emotions and perceive relationships. The social construction of reality emphasizes that our consciousness is not an isolated phenomenon but a deeply interconnected experience, influenced by the values, norms, and beliefs of the communities we belong to.

Dissolving the Illusion: Self-Reflection and Mindfulness

Given the subjective nature of perception and the illusion of a single, objective reality, the practice of self-reflection and mindfulness offers a way to transcend these mental filters. Mindfulness encourages us to observe our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions without judgment, creating a space for awareness beyond automatic reactions and biases. Through mindfulness, we can begin to see our own cognitive processes at work—the filters we apply, the patterns we seek, and the narratives we construct.

Self-reflection, similarly, invites us to examine our beliefs and biases, questioning the assumptions that shape our perception of reality. By becoming aware of these mental constructs, individuals can begin to deconstruct them, gaining insight into how their perceptions have been shaped by past experiences, social conditioning, and cognitive biases. This process of self-inquiry can lead to a greater sense of autonomy, as individuals learn to distinguish between the subjective lenses of their perception and the objective events that inspire them.

Consciousness Beyond Perception: The Quest for Objectivity

Ultimately, the study of consciousness and perception reveals that much of our reality is a subjective construct shaped by both individual psychology and collective belief systems. However, there is also an underlying human desire to move beyond these subjective interpretations toward a deeper, more objective understanding of reality. This quest for objectivity has driven philosophical inquiry and scientific exploration for centuries, as humans seek to understand the world as it truly is, beyond the limitations of personal perception.

One approach to this quest is the scientific method, which emphasizes observation, experimentation, and evidence as a way to uncover truths that transcend individual biases. By developing tools and methods that extend beyond human perception, such as telescopes, microscopes, and statistical analyses, science allows us to access aspects of reality that would otherwise remain hidden. These tools offer glimpses of a reality that exists beyond our subjective filters, reminding us that while consciousness is a powerful tool for interpreting the world, it is also limited by the very structures that enable it.

Conclusion: The Art of Embracing Subjectivity and Seeking Truth

In conclusion, consciousness and perception are complex, interwoven constructs that shape our understanding of reality in profound ways. While our brain’s filters, biases, and social conditioning often distort objective truth, they also provide us with a unique lens through which to experience and interpret the world. The journey of self-awareness and understanding involves balancing the recognition of these subjective influences with a pursuit of truth that transcends them. Embracing our subjectivity while seeking to understand and transcend its limitations may be the essence of human consciousness—a delicate dance between illusion and insight, where each step brings us closer to a more expansive understanding of reality and ourselves.

Unseen Architects of Perception: The Role of Memory, Emotions, and Cultural Context in Shaping Reality

Human perception is a profound, ongoing process that goes beyond simple sensory input to include complex influences such as memory, emotions, and cultural context. This section delves into the often-hidden forces that shape our subjective experiences, backed by real-world examples and research evidence. By understanding these unseen architects of perception, we gain insight into how our memories, emotions, and cultural backgrounds intricately sculpt what we perceive as "reality."

Memory as a Builder and Shaper of Perception

Memory is a dynamic, reconstructive process that not only recalls past events but also actively influences how we perceive the present and anticipate the future. Far from a static record, memory shapes perception by adding layers of past experiences, knowledge, and expectations. This phenomenon is best illustrated through research on "false memories," where people recall events that never happened, showing how malleable our memories—and therefore our perceptions—can be.

One famous study by psychologist Elizabeth Loftus demonstrated this with the "lost in the mall" experiment. Participants were falsely informed that they had been lost in a shopping mall as a child. Remarkably, many participants "remembered" this event vividly, complete with details that had never occurred. This experiment highlights how memory can create entire perceptions that feel real, despite being fictional. Thus, memory acts not just as a storehouse of experiences but as a creative force that can alter our current perceptions based on what we believe happened in the past.

The Emotional Lens: How Feelings Shape What We See

Emotions add a potent and often subconscious filter to our perception of reality. Neuroscientists have shown that emotions can alter the brain's interpretation of sensory input, focusing attention on certain details while overlooking others. This is why someone experiencing fear might see neutral facial expressions as hostile, or why a person in love might view the world in a brighter, more positive light. Emotions, by changing what we focus on and remember, subtly yet powerfully shape our experience of reality.

Consider the case of "emotional blindness," a phenomenon where strong emotions momentarily impair one's ability to perceive the surrounding environment. For example, after receiving sudden, traumatic news, many people report a "blurred" or "unreal" sensation, where their surroundings seem hazy or dreamlike. In such moments, the emotional impact reshapes perception, underscoring how deeply our feelings influence how we interpret the world. Emotions, therefore, are not mere reactions but active participants in constructing our subjective reality.

Cultural Context as a Framework of Reality

Cultural background plays a major role in shaping perception, often dictating what we notice, value, and interpret in any given context. Culture acts as an invisible framework within which individuals interpret their experiences, often unconsciously shaping their assumptions and responses. This influence is particularly evident in visual perception, where culture impacts even the way we interpret simple images.

For example, a study comparing East Asian and Western participants found distinct differences in how people from these cultural backgrounds view scenes. While Western participants tended to focus on prominent objects in the foreground, East Asian participants paid more attention to the background and context. This difference in perception reflects the cultural value placed on individualism versus collectivism: Western cultures often emphasize the individual, while East Asian cultures emphasize harmony within a collective context. Such findings illustrate how cultural conditioning shapes even our most basic perceptual habits, subtly influencing what we "see" and prioritize in everyday life.

Social Influence and the "Reality" of Group Consensus

Social context can also drastically alter perception, often through a phenomenon known as "groupthink" or social conformity. This influence is well-documented in classic experiments like Solomon Asch’s conformity study, which showed how individuals might change their perceptions to align with a group consensus, even when the consensus is clearly incorrect.

In the Asch experiment, participants were shown a series of lines and asked to match a line to one of equal length. While the task seemed straightforward, when the majority of the group intentionally chose the wrong line, many participants conformed to the group’s answer, doubting their own senses. This experiment reveals how social pressure can override individual perception, causing people to align their experience of reality with the group’s, despite clear contradictions.

Such social influences are not limited to controlled experiments. Real-life scenarios, such as political rallies or social media trends, often demonstrate the power of group consensus to shape individual beliefs and perceptions. For instance, during times of intense political division, individuals might perceive facts differently based on the prevailing narratives within their social circles. In this way, group dynamics and social influences can fundamentally reshape one's understanding of reality, showing that our perception is never entirely our own.

The Power of Expectations: How Mindset Influences Perception

Expectations and beliefs are powerful forces that shape what we see and experience. Known as the "placebo effect" in medicine, this concept extends to everyday life, where what we expect often becomes what we perceive. A classic example comes from psychology experiments in which participants are given a placebo (a non-active substance) but told it is a powerful stimulant or sedative. Remarkably, participants report experiencing effects like increased energy or drowsiness, solely because they believed the pill would have these effects.

Outside of medicine, expectation-driven perception can be seen in self-fulfilling prophecies. If someone believes they will perform poorly on a task, this negative expectation may impair their performance, creating a self-fulfilling cycle where expectations influence outcomes. Similarly, positive expectations—such as "beginner's luck"—can sometimes lead individuals to excel temporarily, solely because they believe they are likely to succeed. These examples illustrate how expectation is not just a passive mindset but an active force that shapes our interactions with the world.

Cognitive Dissonance and the Adaptation of Belief

Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds contradictory beliefs or experiences, prompting discomfort that often leads them to alter one of the beliefs to restore mental harmony. This process subtly reshapes perceptions as individuals adapt their understanding of reality to align with their beliefs or actions. A classic example of cognitive dissonance can be seen in the context of smoking, where smokers may rationalize the habit despite health warnings by downplaying the risks or emphasizing perceived benefits.

Research has shown that when individuals engage in behaviors that contradict their self-image or values, they often unconsciously reshape their beliefs to justify the behavior. This mental adaptation shows how perception is not static but a flexible construct, bending to align with the individual's beliefs, actions, and desired self-concept.

Sensory Deprivation and the Brain’s Creation of Reality

In situations of sensory deprivation, the brain demonstrates its powerful capacity to construct reality, even in the absence of external input. Studies on sensory deprivation have revealed that, when deprived of sensory input, people often experience vivid hallucinations as the brain attempts to fill the void. In one study, participants placed in a dark, soundproof room for extended periods began to see patterns, lights, and even complex images that were not present, created purely by the mind.

Such experiments underscore the brain's role in generating perception. Far from passively receiving information, the brain actively constructs experiences, suggesting that reality is partly a mental creation that the brain sustains even without direct stimuli. This phenomenon also highlights how adaptable our perception is—where the brain will create its own "reality" to maintain continuity, demonstrating the extent to which reality is an internal, rather than external, phenomenon.

The Constructive Nature of Language and Thought

Language also shapes perception by defining the categories and concepts we use to interpret the world. Linguistic relativity, or the "Sapir-Whorf hypothesis," suggests that the language we speak influences how we think and perceive. In an illustrative study, researchers found that speakers of Russian, who have different words for light blue and dark blue, were faster at distinguishing between shades of blue than English speakers, who use a single word for both. This linguistic difference shows that language shapes our perceptions, sometimes enhancing or limiting what we notice.

Moreover, language guides not just perception but thought patterns. Phrases like "seeing the glass half-full" or "wearing rose-colored glasses" reflect how language encapsulates and reinforces ways of thinking, framing our experiences in terms of culturally embedded concepts. Thus, language both reflects and shapes reality, coloring our perceptions in ways we might not consciously realize.

Conclusion: The Multifaceted Nature of Reality

In summary, perception is far from a straightforward reflection of the external world. Instead, it is an intricate, adaptive process shaped by memory, emotions, cultural background, social influence, expectations, cognitive dissonance, sensory processing, and language. Each of these factors acts as an unseen architect, sculpting our reality in unique ways that reflect both our internal landscape and the cultural environment in which we live.

Recognizing these influences invites a deeper awareness of the subjective nature of perception, reminding us that reality as we know it is a dynamic construct—one that blends the physical world with layers of psychological, emotional, and cultural meaning. By understanding these forces, we can approach our perceptions with greater insight, humility, and openness, acknowledging that what we "see" is often a reflection of who we are, as much as it is a reflection of the world itself.

Consciousness of Suffering, Sin, and Redemption: A Spiritual Journey Towards Transformation

The journey of spiritual consciousness is profoundly explored in the scriptures, offering insight into suffering, the awareness of sin, and the path to redemption. Verses such as 1 Peter 2:19, Hebrews 10:2, and Romans 3:20 offer a layered view of consciousness—a consciousness shaped by enduring suffering, recognizing sin, and ultimately being transformed. Through these passages, we gain an understanding of how suffering and the awareness of sin play integral roles in our spiritual growth and relationship with God.

Consciousness of God in the Midst of Suffering: 1 Peter 2:19

“For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended” (1 Peter 2:19, BSB).

1 Peter 2:19 speaks to the spiritual honor that comes from enduring unjust suffering out of consciousness of God. This verse emphasizes that when we suffer without cause or face challenges we did not deserve, bearing this pain with an awareness of God’s presence brings spiritual value. This consciousness of God transforms suffering into an act of worship, as the individual’s focus is not on retaliation or self-pity, but rather on trust and patience in God.

Enduring suffering with a God-conscious mind reflects the life of Christ, who himself endured immense unjust suffering. It teaches believers to see their trials not as meaningless afflictions but as opportunities to express faith. By focusing on God during these times, they find purpose in their suffering, developing perseverance, humility, and resilience. This consciousness of God in suffering is, therefore, not merely a passive endurance but an active participation in divine transformation.

Awareness of Sin and the Need for Redemption: Romans 3:20

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin" (Romans 3:20, NIV).

Romans 3:20 shifts the focus from suffering to sin, revealing that the law functions not as a pathway to righteousness but as a mirror reflecting humanity’s sinfulness. The awareness of sin—becoming conscious of where we fall short—is critical for growth, as it fosters humility and the realization of our need for God’s grace. This consciousness of sin is not intended to lead us to despair, but to drive us toward repentance and reliance on God’s mercy.

In this light, the law serves as a teacher, revealing areas of weakness and the innate tendency to fall short of divine standards. This realization underscores that righteousness cannot be achieved through human effort alone; it requires divine intervention. Therefore, consciousness of sin becomes a foundational step toward salvation, a necessary awareness that guides us to seek forgiveness and transformation. Without this self-awareness, there would be no motivation to grow, repent, or change.

Purging the Consciousness of Sin: Hebrews 10:2

“For then would not sacrifices have ceased to be offered? For worshipers once purged should have had no more consciousness of sins” (Hebrews 10:2, KJ21).

In Hebrews 10:2, the writer refers to the limitations of Old Testament sacrifices, questioning why they continued if they truly cleansed worshipers of the consciousness of sin. This verse brings into focus the temporary nature of sacrifices under the old covenant, which could not provide lasting freedom from sin-consciousness. Instead, these sacrifices served as reminders of sin, a perpetual cycle that underscored humanity’s inability to achieve holiness through ritual alone.

Under the new covenant in Christ, however, believers are offered a deeper, more enduring purging of sin. Through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the aim is not just the forgiveness of sin but the cleansing of guilt and shame. This purging leads to a transformed conscience, where believers no longer live under the shadow of sin but in the light of grace. Thus, Hebrews 10:2 reflects the transition from temporary to permanent redemption, illustrating that true transformation occurs not through ritual but through a heart aligned with God.

Connecting Consciousness of Suffering, Sin, and Redemption

These verses, when connected, provide a holistic view of spiritual consciousness—a process in which awareness of suffering and sin leads to redemption and transformation. The consciousness of God amid suffering, as outlined in 1 Peter 2:19, teaches humility and patience, cultivating virtues that draw us closer to Christ. This experience of unjust suffering often sharpens our awareness of human frailty and the limitations of earthly justice, driving us to seek divine strength and comfort.

Romans 3:20, by highlighting the law’s role in making us conscious of sin, adds depth to this understanding. It shows that suffering is not merely external but internal; sin creates a form of suffering as well, a struggle within our own souls. The law’s revelation of sin exposes our need for redemption and our inability to attain righteousness on our own. This realization fosters dependence on God’s grace, setting the stage for genuine transformation.

Hebrews 10:2 then completes this journey by presenting the solution to this cycle of suffering and sin-consciousness—the final cleansing available through Christ. Through his sacrifice, believers are not only forgiven but are also freed from the lingering guilt and shame of past transgressions. This purging of the conscience enables a new life, one lived not under the weight of sin but in the freedom of grace and spiritual renewal.

Real-World Examples of Spiritual Consciousness in Action

In everyday life, these principles play out in remarkable ways. Consider individuals who face unjust suffering, such as those who endure discrimination, wrongful accusations, or social injustices. Some of these individuals, driven by a consciousness of God, choose not to retaliate but instead respond with patience, forgiveness, and hope. Their actions often inspire others and stand as testimonies to the power of faith under trial. This response transforms their suffering into a witness of God’s love, reflecting the essence of 1 Peter 2:19.

Similarly, the awareness of sin as described in Romans 3:20 is visible in people who, upon recognizing their flaws, actively seek to change. For example, those overcoming addiction often report a powerful awakening to the consequences of their actions—a consciousness of sin that propels them toward recovery. This awareness creates the humility needed to ask for help and make amends, underscoring the transformative power of acknowledging one’s weaknesses.

Finally, Hebrews 10:2’s notion of purging the consciousness of sin can be seen in people who have found redemption through faith, emerging from cycles of guilt and shame. For instance, individuals who were once burdened by past mistakes often describe feeling a profound sense of freedom after embracing forgiveness. This release allows them to rebuild their lives, shifting from a state of constant self-reproach to one of gratitude and purpose. In this way, their transformation mirrors the promise of a purged conscience, embodying the freedom that comes with redemption.

Conclusion: The Journey from Consciousness to Transformation

The journey of spiritual consciousness, as illustrated in 1 Peter 2:19, Romans 3:20, and Hebrews 10:2, reveals a path of growth through suffering, awareness of sin, and the redemptive power of Christ. Suffering endured with a consciousness of God leads to deeper faith and resilience, while the law’s exposure of sin reveals our need for divine mercy. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are offered freedom from the shame and guilt of sin, allowing them to live in the fullness of God’s grace.

In embracing this journey, we come to understand that spiritual consciousness is more than mere awareness; it is a transformative process that reshapes us from within. Through trials and self-awareness, we are drawn closer to God, shedding layers of pride, guilt, and self-reliance. Ultimately, this process moves us toward a life that reflects the compassion, humility, and freedom found in Christ, as we are continually transformed by the renewal of our minds and hearts.

[harmcityherald]

me: "you're in the desert. you come upon a turtle upside down on its back. arms and legs flailing about, it can't turn itself upright. what do you do?"

artemesia: (deadpan) "I eat him. then I use the shell to collect rainwater. We are going to live."

[lightphieric]

Mira/Diana isn't like. My favorite ship ever. But I always love love love ship art for them. Their colors are so pretty together :)

[yelenapines]

if there were secret shanghai shows I'd make a rosalind/Juliette edit to girls by Marina

[ghostjelliess]

Over-accountability of ma-self:

I've been struggling lately with this. I want to follow more accounts, so I can interact even though I'm anxious about it. But to follow an account, I have to make sure I relate—that I vet everyone by my morals OR by the necessary challenge to them (I don't like the echo-chamber approach).

I'm running into a few problems:

1. I don't know how to find people anymore.

Hashtags don't work like they used to, it's hard to find the right communities because Tumblr is pushing the follow tags, and mass-following seems weird. I have too many niches/interests, maybe?

2. I did this all once.

I used to run a popular-ish account (24k+), we archived it in 2019. I'm hesitant to say traumatized, lest my actual traumas get jealous and raise their ugly heads to compete, but back then it became... not fun.

3. I don't know if this is fun or not.

Is this what is fun on the Internet now? It just feels lonely. Is that the silence of the void between stars talking or just me...?

Anyway, I'm just going to follow a bunch of blogs and see what happens now. I'm supposed to be practicing participation instead of just lurking, but so far I've just been practicing the practicing part (as in, I open the apps to practice participation and connection and interaction, and then I get overwhelmed and anxious and bored and just lurk, and then leave having practiced exactly 0 things).

Here goes, I guess.....

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Earlier, we introduced the dilemma of past versus future by comparing our everyday observations with properties of Newton's laws of classical physics.

"The Fabric of the Cosmos" - Brian Greene

[samw3000]

Unsuspecting Prey

These girlsIn their shortShortShort skirtsGoing up - stairs and escalatorsVery revealing. Taunting. TeasingPulse escalatingI've no time for victim-blamingI am the one Trailing. Lying in - WaitingReady to pounce When they're ripe for the taking Photo by Stormseeker on Unsplash© 2024 Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.

[hoshifighting]

idk if someone asked you this but i’m a new reader and I REALLY REALLY LOVE YOUR WORKS!!!

can you please make wonwoo, the nerdy president who u thought was innocent and sweet but he’s the one behind ur fave nsfw audio creator???? AND HE’S A HARDFUCKER.. not what u expected tho..

i don’t know if i make sense but please pretty please 😭☝️

Synopsis: where you discover that the nerdy class president is the one man who creates the most nasty NSFW audios that you spend long nights listening to. WC: 2.8k WARNINGS: smut, audio porn, masturbation, hard fuck, dirty talk (obviously), bad sleeping habits (because of wonwoo), fingering, spanking, dirty talk, pussy eating, penetrative sex, protected sex, wonwoo whining, a lil invasion of privacy.

you’ve been running on fumes all day, the hazy buzz of sleep deprivation clinging to your brain like static. it’s no surprise, really. your night had gone the way it always does: you got home, flopped into your chair, threw on your headphones, and let onyx_lens—your favorite nsfw asmr creator—drag you under with that stupidly deep voice of his.

it was kind of pathetic, actually. you barely remember what the script was about—something about obedience or whatever—but you do remember the sound of his voice sinking into your brain like warm honey, making you cum so hard that you blacked the fuck out right after. now here you were, bleary-eyed and trying to stay upright in literature class, the regret of last night’s poor choices catching up with you.

wonwoo, the class president who was somehow both effortlessly chill and annoyingly observant, had been glancing at you every few minutes. you could feel his eyes on you as your head dipped forward for the third time, only to snap back up like a busted bobblehead.

but, in true wonwoo fashion, he didn’t say anything. no scolding, no judgmental sighs—just quiet observation.

when class finally ended, you were ready to yeet yourself into a nap for a solid 72 hours. you were shoving your stuff into your bag when wonwoo’s voice cut through the noise.

“you good?”

you froze. his voice wasn’t the same as onyx_lens’s, obviously, but it had that same deep, smooth timbre that made your brain short-circuit for a second. it didn’t help that his question sounded so much like something out of an nsfw script. you turned to face him, hoping your face wasn’t giving away how flustered you suddenly were. “uh—yeah,” you said, shaking your head a little too quickly. “just tired.”

wonwoo raised an eyebrow. “not sleeping well?”

your brain screamed. your tired, half-horny brain screamed louder. the overlap of his voice and onyx_lens in your head was un-fucking-bearable. you managed to nod, muttering something about late nights and deadlines, hoping he wouldn’t pry.

he didn’t, but his next question wasn’t much better.

“think you could help me with the sci-fi project? your last lit analysis was good, and i could use the extra pair of hands.”

you blinked at him. “me?”

he nodded, adjusting his glasses. “you. unless you’re too busy with...whatever’s keeping you up.”

oh, you mean my nightly sessions with onyx_lens and my vibrator?

you swallowed hard and tried to play it cool. “nah, i can help.”

and that’s how you found yourself standing outside wonwoo’s apartment later that evening, clutching your bag. his place was exactly what you’d expect from him—minimalist, neat, and smelling faintly of coffee.

“come in,” he said, holding the door open for you. “make yourself comfortable.”

easier said than done. you perched awkwardly on his couch as he set up his laptop on the coffee table, your eyes darting around the room in an attempt to ignore how nice his voice sounded in person.

“so,” he began, sitting across from you, “any ideas for the project?”

you cleared your throat, trying to focus. “uh, maybe something about robots and humanity? like, exploring ethical dilemmas or something.”

wonwoo nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on you in a way that made your skin heat. “good idea. we could tie that into the main themes from class.”

he leaned forward slightly, scrolling through a document on his laptop, and you couldn’t help but notice how his glasses slipped down his nose. you were so not prepared for this level of proximity or his stupidly deep voice.

“you okay?” he asked again, glancing at you.

you blinked, realizing you’d been staring. “yeah, just...thinking.”

his lips twitched into a small, knowing smile. “good. let me know if you need a break or...anything.”

the way he said anything sent a shiver down your spine. you weren’t sure if it was exhaustion, residual arousal from last night, or the sheer presence of wonwoo in his element, but your brain was a mess.

you were supposed to be helping him with this project, but all you could think about was the way his voice would sound whispering in your ear, saying things that would make onyx_lens blush.

you were so close to winning the “most pathetic college student of the year” award it wasn’t even funny. after much back-and-forth with wonwoo, class president of your downfall, you somehow convinced him to let you walk home alone. except the man still went all soft and paid for a taxi anyway, which, like… thanks? but also stop being so nice, what the hell.

it was nearing 11 p.m. when you got home, and as if on cue, your phone pinged with a notification: onyx_lens’s weekly live is starting.

you stared at it for a second, blinking in disbelief. today’s theme? "neon circuits and orgasm denial (a cyberpunk experience) 8d audio"

sci-fi-themed. of fucking course.

you almost laughed at the audacity of the universe for this one. was this some sort of cosmic joke? was wonwoo onyx_lens?! no way. no goddamn way. you shook off the thought as delulu nonsense and dragged yourself to the bathroom for a quick sponge bath.

by the time you flopped into your chair, headphones on, the live was already in full swing. that voice—that stupidly deep, velvety voice—flooded your ears as the chat buzzed with unhinged comments. onyx purred, and you were done for.

you couldn’t even focus on the sci-fi plot he was spinning, something about rogue androids, monster cock, neon vibrators and human experimentation. his voice wrapped around you like a silk chokehold, and you were gone—just a vibrating mess in your chair, coming undone embarrassingly fast.

fast forward to the next morning: you woke up feeling like a used dishrag. again. headphones still on, your phone dead, and the memory of last night’s live replaying in your brain like a broken record.

by the time you dragged yourself to class, you were running on fumes and vibes. your hoodie was scrunched up around your face, making you look like a cross between a gremlin and an overgrown baby.

wonwoo noticed. you could feel his eyes boring into you as you tried—and failed—to stay upright. you were so close to just giving in and laying flat on the floor. honestly, it might’ve been comfier than your chair at that point.

wonwoo, sitting two rows away, looked like he was internally debating whether to intervene or let you rot in peace. when the bell rang, you startled awake like you’d been electrocuted, nearly knocking your stuff off your desk in the process.

“you okay?” he asked, falling into step beside you as you shuffled out of the classroom like a zombie.

“i’m fine,” you mumbled, voice muffled by your hoodie. “just need food. like, now.”

you detoured to the convenience store on the way to his apartment, snagging an entire kimbap roll and tearing into it like a starving animal. wonwoo followed behind, holding your water bottle with a look that was equal parts judgment and amusement.

“you couldn’t wait?” he asked, watching as you ate half the roll in one bite.

“bro,” you said around a mouthful of rice, “if i didn’t eat this, i was gonna pass out on the cold asphalt. your problem now, mr. class president.”

he rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, just handed you your water like the reluctant babysitter he was.

this was going to be a long afternoon.

you couldn’t help yourself. the suspicion had been eating away at you for weeks now, ever since you first heard his voice in class and that nagging sense of déjà vu set in. wonwoo had escaped to the bathroom, and you had the perfect opportunity to snoop.

your fingers hovered over his notebook, but then your gaze darted back to your own screen. back and forth, back and forth. his notebook. yours. the coincidences were piling up like a conspiracy wall in your head. the voice, the specific vocabulary choices, even the cadence—how did i not notice this earlier?!

“fuck it,” you whispered to yourself, grabbing his notebook and quickly pulling up the site where you normally streamed your favorite asmr creator. just to check. just to confirm your theory.

your heart pounded as the site loaded, every second dragging like molasses. the channel page opened, and at first, it seemed normal. too normal. you almost clicked away, feeling stupid for even suspecting anything.

but then you saw it: edit profile. analytics.

your breath caught, and a sharp scoff escaped you as you crossed your arms. oh, my god. the realization hit you like a freight train. it’s him. wonwoo. class president. sci-fi nerd. “how the fuck did i not notice?” you muttered, half impressed by his audacity.

you were so lost in your spiraling thoughts that you didn’t hear him return—until his voice, practically kissed your earlobe.

“what. do. you. think. you. are. doing?”

you jumped so hard your knee slammed into the underside of the desk. whipping around, you found wonwoo standing over you, his expression unreadable but his jaw tight.

“uh—nothing?” you stammered, trying to slam your laptop shut, but his hand darted out and stopped you.

“‘nothing’ doesn’t look like you snooping through my computer,” he said, his voice dangerously calm.

your cheeks burned. “okay, fine, maybe i was curious—”

“you were curious?” his tone sharpened. “curious enough to invade my privacy?”

“invade your—bro, you’re literally whispering dirty robot sex fantasies to the entire internet. how is that private?”

“that’s different!” his ears flushed a deep red, and you couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. “that’s content. this—this is personal.”

you rolled your eyes, leaning back in your chair. “oh, please. you’re mad i figured it out. admit it.”

he leaned closer, towering over you now, his hand pressing down on the desk beside you. “what do you want, huh? blackmail? are you gonna tell everyone?”

you laughed, loud and incredulous. “tell everyone?! dude, relax. i’m not gonna expose your little side hustle. besides…” you smirked, tilting your head to look up at him. “you should be thanking me. clearly, i’m a fan.”

wonwoo’s eyes darkened, and his lips parted as if to say something, but no words came out. 

“you’re a what?” he asks, your pulse skyrocketing as he stepped even closer, crowding you against the chair.

“did i stutter?” you whispered, the challenge clear in your tone.

his mouth crashed onto yours, teeth and tongue and frustration. you barely had time to process it before he was yanking you out of the chair, his hands rough as they gripped your hips and spun you around.

“you want to act like a brat,” he growled into your ear, his voice so reminiscent of his asmr persona that it made you roll your eyes back slighty, “then you’re gonna get treated like one.”

he bent you over the desk, the cold surface pressing against your chest as he yanked down your college skirt and underwear at once. his fingers slid through your folds, already slick just from being around him.

“so fucking wet,” he muttered, almost to himself. “you get off on this, don’t you? knowing it’s me.”

“shut your mouth,” you gasped, but it came out more like a moan as he pushed two fingers inside you, curling them and pressing them hard on your front wall.

“make me,” he challenged, his other hand coming down sharply on your ass. the sting made you gasp, your hips jerking against his hand as you tense on the desk.

the pace of his fingers was relentless, his thumb circling your clit in time with the thrusts. every part of your body was starting to be feveirsh, and you hated—hated—how easily he was unraveling you. you spent nights thinking about how it would be if onyx fucked you, and here you are. of course you would be a mess in a second.

“sorry” he mocked you. “am i too much for you?”

you clenched around his fingers, your nails digging into the desk as you tried to hold back a moan. “you talk too fucking much actually wonwoo,” you hissed.

“yeah, that's what's paying me at nights” wonwoo chuckled darkly, pulling his fingers out and flipping you onto your back with his big arms. before you could protest, he was kneeling between your legs, his mouth suddenly hot and insistent against your core, better than any other vibrator you insisted on using at night.

the sounds—the wet, obscene sounds of his tongue—mixed with your whimpers as he devoured you like a man starved. his hands gripped your thighs, holding you open as you tried to squirm away from the overwhelming sensation.

“stop—”

“stop?” he looked up, his chin glistening. “not until you admit i’m your favorite.”

you glared down at him, breathless and defiant. “you’re such an asshole.”

“and yet…” he smirked, diving back in and flicking his tongue against your clit until your head fell back, a broken moan spilling from your lips.

it didn’t take long before you were coming undone, your body shaking as his mouth pulled your clit. wonwoo didn’t stop, didn’t even slow down, dragging out your orgasm until you were a trembling, incoherent chaos beneath him.

wonwoo doesn’t waste a second after pulling back, his hands flipping you over again so you’re bent over the desk, your cheek pressed to the cool surface as he grinds against you. the thick outline of his cock rubs against your dripping folds, still covered by the soft fabric of his grey sweatpants. you gasp, your hips jerking back involuntarily, and his pearly-white smile flashes above you.

“look at that,” he murmurs, almost smug, as a dark spot begins to spread on his sweatpants from your slick. “you’re soaking me through.”

the way he emphasizes the word makes your back contort in shivers, but you’re too far gone to care. your fingers claw at the desk as he keeps humping against you, his pace quickening. when he finally pulls back, you hear the shuffle of fabric as he yanks down his sweatpants and briefs. the soft clink of a drawer opening catches your attention, and you crane your neck to see him sliding on a condom.

“you’re still melting all over my desk,” he rubs a hand over the curve of your ass. “can’t even wait for me, huh?”

before you can respond, his hand comes down sharply on your ass, the sting making you gasp. he doesn’t stop, spanking you again and again until your skin is flushed and burning.

“you look so pretty like this,” he says, his hand smoothing over the heated skin before gripping your waist and lining himself up. “all messy and desperate for me.”

when he pushes in, stretching you inch by inch until you’re full and breathless, pussy trying to clench at his big grith to adjust. wonwoo groans, his head falling forward as he sinks in to the hilt.

your walls flutter around him, and he moans at the feeling, the sound so real and raw that it sends a jolt straight to your core.

“talk to me,” you manage to gasp, your voice muffled against the desk.

he chuckles, his pace picking up as he leans down to whisper in your ear. “you want me to talk dirty? you want me to tell you how tight you are? how good you’re taking me?”

you moan in response, your hips bucking back against him as his words send you curling.

“yeah, you like that, don’t you?” he continues, his voice thick with lust. your moans grow louder, and he suddenly remembers the videos you must’ve listened to—the whining, the moaning. the thought makes his stomach flip, and he decides to give you exactly what you want.

he starts letting out soft whimpers, his voice breaking with each thrust, the sounds spilling out almost involuntarily. “fuck, babe, you’re gonna make me cum—”

the genuine desperation in his voice drives you wild, and your body clenches around him, pulling him deeper. he groans, his hands gripping your hips so tightly you’re sure they’ll leave marks, but you don’t care.

“please,” he moans, his voice high and strained. “let me cum for you. let me—fuck—”

you push back against him, meeting his thrusts as your own climax builds, your breaths coming in short, broken gasps. the room is filled with the wet, obscene sounds of your bodies moving together, and the tension snaps all at once.

you come hard, your body shaking as you cry out, and wonwoo isn’t far behind. his hips stutter, a guttural moan escaping him as he spills into the condom, his body trembling with the force of it.

he collapses over you, his chest heaving against your back as you both try to catch your breath. after a moment, he presses a soft kiss to the back of your neck, his voice still hoarse as he murmurs, “guess i’m a little better live, hm?”

you just let out a defeated moan, the coldness of the table soothing your hot cheeks.

“keep quiet about this, and i'll keep giving you more.” well, it's just an excuse that wonwoo said to fuck you over again.

[ozzgin]

Yes hello it's me again uhhh tentacle monster or any monster with a chubby reader and an asshole bf? :3 cause I kinda feel like tentacle monster would hold the stomach rolls like a hamburger during cuddling

content: chubby female reader, NSFW

The tentacle house monster can only gaze in confusion at the strange exchanges you seem to frequently submit yourself to. Indifferent glares, belittling comments, insulting observations. It appears to be quite clear that your boyfriend doesn't care much for your physical appearance, but rather that he puts up with it.

The pressing question for the blasphemous creature is why. Ever since you moved into the cursed building, it has become hopelessly enamored with your curves. So much, in fact, that one night it dared to press a tentacle into your soft, sleeping form. Fascinating. To think your mate - as this is how you refer to the other human - would be this careless and blind.

Thus, another dilemma: would it be such a devastating loss if the monster were to discard your partner and reveal itself as a proper replacement? Surely you'd be quick to recover once it soothed your sorrow with its many tendrils.

You wake up to an unexpected, yet pleasant warmth wrapped around you. You open your mouth to speak to your boyfriend, but your lips are quickly covered by a wet, sticky surface. It almost feels like some sort of sucker you'd find on octopus limbs. Before you can question the foreign object, your thighs are spread open, and a whine escapes your throat. Something begins thrusting in and out of you, stretching you wide.

Shh, shh. Focus on the important matters. By the time it's done with you, you won't even wonder why the space next to you is empty.

[Tentacle House Monster] | [More Monsters]

[dollishmehrayan]

# “MRS. WAYNE I THINK THIS IS FOR YOU!” ── .✦ ( bruce wayne wife headcannons )

a/n: this was request by a anon (here) so yeah but anyways I Lowkey used to be OBSESSED with like batmom stories but like I genuinely then lost all care for liking anything bruce wayne but this might just like help me (jason todd girly converts into a batmom Stan😭) tags: (bruce wayne x fem!reader)

CHAOTIC HEADCANNONS ── .✦

“No, Bruce. That’s Not a Normal Thing to Do.”

You frequently have to remind him that billionaire habits don’t translate to normal life.

Bruce: “I thought I’d buy out the café you like so you wouldn’t have to wait in line.”

You: “Bruce, we’re just getting lattes. Calm down.”

The expensive car Dilemma: He’s tried picking you up in one of his expensive cars once, and you’ve never let him live it down.

“Bruce, we’re not running a car dealership we’re going to Target.”

Tech Mishaps: Bruce likes to show off his gadgets, but they always malfunction around you. Once, the Batcomputer locked him out because you accidentally spilled coffee near it. You took a picture of his shocked face and made it your phone wallpaper for weeks.

The Disastrous Cooking Attempts: Bruce insists he can cook. The truth? Alfred banned him from the kitchen after he tried to “surprise” you with pancakes and set the stovetop on fire.

“I’m Batman, but I can’t handle pancake batter.”

OVERPROTECTIVE HUSBAND™ ── .✦

He’ll interrogate any new friends you bring around like they’re suspects in a heist.

Bruce, shaking someone’s hand firmly: “And what do you do for a living?”

You, glaring: “Bruce, they’re not applying to join the Justice League.”

GOSSIP FINAL BOSS ── .✦

He pretends not to care about gossip, but he secretly listens to you rant about gala drama. Sometimes, he’ll even chime in with hilariously accurate observations.

You: “That woman was glaring at me all night.”

Bruce: “Because she kept seeing her husband looking at you’re instagram posts. Trust me, Alfred told me.”

ROMANTIC HCS ── .✦

Constant Gentleman Mode: Bruce is always opening doors for you, carrying your bags, or pulling out your chair. You tease him about being old-fashioned, but it’s clear he loves taking care of you.

Private Dance Lessons in the Manor: When you’re stressed, Bruce will put on some music in the empty ballroom and sweep you into an impromptu dance. He’s a surprisingly good dancer, but the way he looks at you mid-spin? That’s what makes your heart race.

Personal Love Notes: Bruce doesn’t text much, but he leaves little handwritten notes around the house.

“Don’t forget, you’re the best part of my day.”

“Coffee’s ready downstairs. So is your husband, who can’t stop thinking about you.”

The ‘I’m Watching You’ Look: At galas, Bruce can’t stop staring at you. When you catch him, he gives that little smirk that says, Yeah, you caught me, but I’m not sorry.

Soft Batman Moments: Even in the Batcave, he has moments where he’s just your Bruce. When he sees you waiting up for him late at night, he’ll silently take off his cowl, walk over, and hold you like he’s afraid you’ll disappear.

Protective, but Not Controlling: He worries, of course, but he respects your independence. If you’re ever in trouble, though, the Bat is out faster than you can blink. “No one touches my wife.”

Gift Giving Expert: He puts serious thought into gifts. One time, he recreated your childhood bedroom in the manor when you were feeling homesick. “I just wanted you to feel at home,” he said, completely nonchalant.

The Morning Ritual: He wakes up early to watch you sleep for a few minutes (in the least creepy way possible) because it’s his quiet reminder of how lucky he is. When you stir awake, he presses a kiss to your forehead and whispers, “Good morning, love.”

Subtle Public Affection: In public, his affection is subtle—hand on the small of your back, thumb grazing your hand, or an almost imperceptible wink across the room. But behind closed doors? He’s all cuddles and kisses.

Always Puts You First: Whether it’s cutting a patrol short to spend time with you or risking everything to keep you safe, Bruce’s priority will always be you. “The city can wait. You can’t.”

MIX OF CHAOS AND ROMANCE ── .✦

When Bruce tries to be romantic but Alfred bringing him back to reality: Bruce, holding your hand: “You’re the light in my dark world.”

Alfred, walking in: “Sir, you said that to the last woman, too. Shall I fetch your script?”

You once jokingly wore a bat-symbol T-shirt to tease him. Bruce didn’t say anything, but later that week, he wore a matching shirt that said, “I <3 My Wife.”

[wordsfromastranger]

I’m scrolling all day everyday

Insta – some one sends a reel~ should be reacting but I’m scrolling Fb – shows me notifications in video section ~ should be ignoring but I’m scrolling YouTube – searched something ~ should watch the thing i searched for but shots come in and I’m scrolling Snapchat – nothing from no where swipes left and…… I’m scrolling Twitter – ohh thats a past, better to avoid Xes _stranger

[kortac-sweetheart]

thinkin abt: classic “traitor” sergeant you and tf 141, except you have a different trauma response

cw: angst no comfort (yet), mentions of torture and physical harm, derealization, reader believes they deserve their torture (honestly selfship coded sorry) shout out to hedgehog’s dilemma one of my favorite dilemmas, very VERY canon divergent, no use of (y/n)

pt 2 with kortac maybe? as they slowly rehabilitate you and you learn to open up again

for as long as you can remember you’ve been an outsider. never quite fitting in with your classmates or even your “friends”. your two acquaintances (more like) in elementary school would drag you along, like a glorified pet, wherever they went. only to turn around and ignore you, chatting happily with each other as if you weren’t there.

and when you were older, you didn’t have any friends in class. always electing to sit by yourself and disturbing nothing and no one. fading into the background, like a shadow.

eventually you wind up joining the military, efficiently climbing the ranks until you land sergeant in task force 141. for the first few years of you joining, it’s much the same. that feeling of being other always lingering in the back of your mind, only amplified when observing the others in the team.

how soap easily makes gaz and price laugh, and even coaxing a chuckle out of ghost. how effortlessly they talk to each other, to the way tackling one another in a bear hug in the base halls was no big deal. almost envious at how openly they interacted with each other.

witnessing it makes you feel like you’re in school again. forcibly reverts you to the younger you that endured your so-called friends ignoring you.

but you don’t bring it up. ever. being here and fighting alongside them is already treading thin ice in your mind. already impeding upon their well established relationships. an intruder. an outsider. a stranger. a nuisance.

you linger behind them in hallways, erring from their side and sight around base. sitting far from the others during briefings, eating alone during mealtime. absent from post mission celebrations.

you keep them at arms length despite them being your teammates. it’s not their fault, it’s yours.

if i let them in, it’ll only hurt again.

but they break down your walls slowly, oh so painfully slowly. johnny now jokes besides you in the break room and during meal times, conversation is always pleasant with kyle, whilst simon looks out for you, very, very quietly. and john isn’t afraid to tell you of the good work you do on field, ruffling your hair like a proud dad.

things seem to be looking bright for you.

until they aren’t.

you fall asleep peacefully in your bed only to wake up strapped to an uncomfortable metal chair in the base’s interrogation room. a mole, unbeknownst to the rest of the team had planted evidence framing you and accusing you of betraying them. taking advantage of the thin fault line in your relationships, vulnerable and unsteady, compared to the stalwart trust they already had in each other. then, subsequently tearing that fault wide open, in order to break the team from the inside out.

your tenuous and fragile relationships finally blooming, only to be crushed under heel in a single night.

the light strains your eyes and the tight ropes dig painfully into your flesh, back aching and head throbbing as you await your fate.

three sets of eyes that only started to gaze warmly at you are now long gone. replaced with a plethora of emotions, betrayal, ire, resentment, bitterness, distrust.

you try to plead your case, that you have no idea what’s going on or what they’re talking about. you’ve never heard of any of these people in your life, nor have you ever heard of that operation at all.

but all of it is futile. you can see it clear as day in their eyes. they glare at you with such distain, it’s akin to what they gave their enemies on the field; except much much worse. this time it’s personal, someone they thought they knew.

they don’t believe you.

you realize that quickly. and after that you become borderline unresponsive. shutting down, physically, mentally, retreating into your mind, a desperate attempt to keep yourself safe from your allies-turned-tormentors.

you no longer scream your protests, all cries of agony quieted down until there wasn’t a single peep from you. although your tears never cease.

it angers them. they yell in your face, demanding answers to questions you haven’t the ability to answer. why were you being so difficult? if you’d just answer it’d be easier on you and them.

they subject you to a whole torrent of horrors. the restraints tightening and digging into your flesh, blood seeping into the rope. ghost slashes a knife up the side of your face, from your jaw to above your eyebrow bone. your eye just barely making it out unscathed because you shut it in time. then they start to rip your nails out, painfully, one by one. each time you don’t answer them, another one is torn out.

(they remember what you said offhandedly. that you didn’t like others being pushy, that you valued your autonomy highly. and what better way to break you than to rid you of it? stripping you of your nails, slashing at your muscles, tightening the ropes until you bled. anything, everything to ruin what little sovereignty you had left.)

despite being swathed deep in the recesses of your mind, you can still hear them. their voices muddied and muffled, as if underwater and you’re left unable to discern who’s words are who’s. not that it mattered anyway. the venom in their tone remained the same no matter who spoke.

“disgusting fucking traitor.”

“you’re such a pathetic piece of shit.”

“aww, cry some more.”

“should’ve never trusted you.”

“what an utterly worthless burden. only served to drag down the team.”

their words seep into your mind like poison through blood. it leaves you doubting, frantically questioning all moments you’ve shared with them. leaves you spiraling deeper and deeper into the dark abyss of your mind. your safe haven, and your cold prison.

did they always think this?

did they always hate me?

what did i do wrong?

i must’ve done something wrong to deserve this.

i deserve this.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

i’m sorry.

you still remain motionless, and they scoff, looking down at you as they ash their cigarettes on your bruised skin. you don’t react. soap, frenzied, aggravated and wound up, lands a hard punch straight in your jaw. your head flying back with a sickening crunch before hanging low over your lap, face obscured.

gaz violently yanks your hair back, revealing your battered face. the lighting of the room casting long, tired shadows across it as he forces you to look at them. and you do, but not quite at them.

you don’t stare at them. you stare through them. like they aren’t there, like YOU aren’t there. they see nothing behind your eyes. it was like you were already dead. and maybe, at this point, it would’ve been better if you were.

hours blend into days and days possibly into weeks. your life has been nothing but torment and agony for who knows how long. never allowed a moment of rest or respite, being violently slapped awake if you’ve ever got lucky enough to grasp at increasingly ephemeral shut eye. time slips away into nothingness when your whole life has turned to pain.

they’re starting to grow more desperate for answers; despite everything they’ve thrown at you, you still haven’t “cracked”. and so they turn to more.. permanent methods of harm.

by the time price barges through the door, alarming everyone that you were innocent and you were falsely framed by a mole, your pinky is already severed and falling to the floor.

as if it were only a cruel nightmare, everything ceases immediately. and you pass out as you’re rushed to the base medics.

you’re awake once again, but you’re not quite all there. still safely tucked away in the depths of your mind. everyday is still a blur as your battered and beaten body tries to heal, ignoring the pity in passersby eyes’ and forced to rely on the kindness of base medics for hygiene. as if it wasn’t humiliating enough to end up in such a state.

even in your semi lucid state you still recognize them, the weight of their gait and their footfalls against the floor. always bracing for further injury whenever they draw nearer, clenched eyes, hunched posture, and a deep grimace. turned away out of fear for an impact you can’t ever guarantee is truly gone.

you silently reject their help, withdraw in on yourself to a state they’ve never seen before. you stop talking to them entirely, stop talking to everyone for that matter. whenever they try to sit next to you, you always flinch before scooting away from them, or most times you hobble away from them entirely. they never stop you. and you never look back.

(they wish you would yell at them. slap them, lash out at them, anything would be better than your numb indifference towards them now. with your anger they know for sure that you’re still in there, but, now. now it’s like a wraith is haunting the halls, more of a ghost than the man fool himself could ever hope to be.)

you return to the field as soon as you can. and everyone is surprised that your performance hasn’t suffered as much as they thought it would, considering… everything.

you’re already burdening everyone enough. if your performance were to decline then they would surely toss you aside, and everything would be for naught.

but the higher ups can see the mental toll it takes on you. to be besides them, as if this never happened. everyone can see the way they inadvertently hurt you more, can see the writing on the wall if you continue to work with them.

and so, they set up a transfer. to kortac.

you certainly have no complaints, but your ex-tormentors undoubtedly do. up in arms about the whole thing until they’re told to stand down. to follow orders.

just like they did before.

things were the same in the days leading up to the transfer. you avoid them, taking different hallways around base. never interacting more than the bare minimum, efficiently finishing missions without small talk or celebration. and always rejecting their offers of help with a faraway look and shake of your head.

and on the day of the transfer, they still try to plead for you to stay. to apologize for what cannot, and can never be undone.

you’re fed up with all of it.

clearing your throat and murmuring just loud enough for them to hear,

“forgive me if i’m speaking out of line, but who was the one to call me quote, “an utterly worthless burden?” was it lieutenant riley or sergeant mactavish? perhaps it was sergeant garrick? well… it doesn’t matter anyway. you’ll be better off without a detriment dragging down your team.”

they look heartbroken, stammering out apologies after apologies, but it all sounds so empty to you. until johnny whimpers out “god, we’re so sorry. you didn’t deserve what we did to you, not at all. we’d— we’d do anything to take it back!” he’d go on and on until you cut him off.

“didn’t deserve it? of course i deserved it, i must have done something worth punishing. otherwise… otherwise…” you were trembling, your hands painfully clutching your arms. your head bent over and face obscured from your hair, eerily similar to when you were being tortured. the sight of you so battered and broken burned into their mind.

foolishly, someone reaches out a hand towards you and you jerk back violently, as if burned. hyperventilating and quivering as you dig your painfully throbbing fingers into your arms, eyes wide like a frightened animal. the sight of them, looking at you so concerned, the sight of your missing pinky and your bloodied fingertips, it’s all too much. the room in spinning, the floor is collapsing underneath you and your head feels like it’s underwater, “don’t— don’t touch me!”

your voice feels like it doesn’t belong to you, and you can’t take it anymore. blindly rushing out the door as fast as your feet can carry you. running away from the room— away from them, they don’t move to stop you, rooted firmly in place.

they knew they fucked up immensely, but it was only then that they understood the magnitude in which they ruined you. unintentionally led you to believe that you deserved the hell they put you through, only confirming and fortifying your feelings of being an outsider.

unworthy, burdening, all of those hurtful notions you held about yourself that they had once tried to erase, back a thousand fold.

and they had no one but themselves to blame for it.

(they nearly buckled under the weight of their actions. realizing that they’d never get the chance to even attempt to atone for what they’ve done. that you’d leave forever believing that they had hated you the whole time. and that you hate them now, too.)

pt2

[rhymeswithchronic]

Okay listen so we’ve all heard about how ParkCiv is a really good analogy for late stage capitalism that has been simplified into an easy to understand in an easily digestible format for younger audiences to learn and understand, but CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE INTENSE MORAL QUESTION THAT PVPCIV PRESENTS?

What is the value of a human life? Is the suffering of one person acceptable if it means a life of peace for the rest of the world?

Evbo originally tried to get out of his first 1v1 by claiming that he has a wife and kids, which implies these family units DO exist in some way.

While the people we see that are eager for “The Chosen One” to appear so they can gain everlasting life are all fighters, not everyone who lives in this world is on their own. There are likely mothers, fathers, children, natural leaders, amazing people that are clinging onto life by only a few swings of the sword. It’s not just violent fighters, it’s likely normal people trying to simply get by day to day life.

Is it selfish of them to want to be there for their families, friends, etc.? To fear death? Is it selfish of Evbo to try to escape his fate of being essentially a pig for the slaughter forever?

Is world peace worth the suffering of a single person?

If one person has to suffer for an eternity to bring peace to his civilization, someone with no friends, no family, no ties to the world, is that okay?

Is it okay to torture someone in any circumstance?

I don’t have any clue whether this kind of thought was intentional, but this is SUCH a vivid and interesting moral dilemma. It’s the trolly problem made physical. Of course everyone wants to say that it’s never okay to facilitate the suffering of another individual, but in a world where your continued death spreads life and allows families and friends to remain together for the entire natural lives, would you even be able to continue saying that? Or would you be willing to accept that this is the price, and an innocent person has to pay it.

Would you partake? Observe? Fight back?

It’s SO FASCINATING and I am IN LOVE

And it’s once again presented in such a simple and easily understandable format that it is available for everyone to consider.

GOD my brain has melted into a gooey puddle on the floor please send help

[harmonysanreads]

Calling phainon "my man" possessively either make him blushing like a school girl or die on the spot idk it's pretty up there with "wife guy" and "breedable"

Both? Both!

This in juxtaposition with Phainon's ‘hero’ status, thus a protector belonging to the whole world, by connotation. It is no secret that you are his, it cannot kept such even if he wished or never outwardly expresses as. Being loved by a star means to be bathed in its light and if the star wishes to hide you away in its shadow, it'll still burn bright. Phainon has to allow himself to shine, because the people of Amphoreus wish so heartily for a new dawn.

Phainon has learned to not mind. For they inspire him to keep pushing forward against destiny. But at the same time, this fact does not trigger anything particularly special in his heart of hearts. If anything, he must be careful and constantly evaluate himself to not lose sight of why he fights in the first place.

A paragon should not be greedy, should not stray from the path of selflessness — yet, his heart always aches at the thought of parting from you, or worse, having to let you part from him. As the wretched prophecy foretells.

But he's done so much, he's lost so much and he's willed himself to continue sacrificing in service to that prophecy. Just one more moment, let him be in your presence for just another moment, allow him to dream the absence of that impending fate for a little longer and he swears, he swears he won't be selfish again. Just another moment will not hurt, right?

When you proclaim so firmly, my man — it makes something deep in Phainon tingle, it scratches his brain just right. You don't know, but he feels seen, he feels heard. It opens a new window of realization to him, that you've also been battling the same inner war as him. While he masked that internal push and pull with reason and desire with smiles and laughs, you observed it in silence. You contemplated the same dilemma of selfishness as him. For the first time in a long time, he did not feel lonely.

You remain none the wiser to this ureka moment, as he deals with a sudden overwhelming urge to engulf you in his embrace and run away, kiss you senseless. But he can't do that, lest he should risk making you angry. So, the Web of Okhema was filled with gossip later that day, of their Deliverer melting and malfunctioning in utter fluster in response to being, allegedly, ‘claimed’.

[kikidoul]

── BEACH WEATHER.

ヾ(´︶`♡)ﾉ 박종성 x fem! reader content strangers to lust trope ᥫ᭡ warning explicit sexual content usage of petnames open ending used jay being a green flag protected sex fingering pussy eating aftercare both reader and jay have experience lmk if i didn't tagged anything else. . .!? 2420— mlist. req

note. second time writing jay and i think i did a decent job writing for him! also would like to share that i kinda cringed when i was writing him and reader's interaction. i hope this meets your expectations hehe. can i count this as a happy belated birthday to jay though... taglist. @tfwbluu @hoonstqr @riqomi

This is a horrible idea. 

You sighed for the unknown time after rejecting a stranger’s offer of him buying you a drink. You knew the implication behind his seemingly innocent, friendly offer and you didn’t want to take the chance. You leaned back in your seat, crossing your arms with a scowl on your face as you scanned the sea of people before you. But it was futile. You couldn’t find your friends, the very same group of friends who promised they will stick with you and won’t leave you alone. 

You were at a beach party, having decided to go on a much-needed vacation to the beach with your friends to celebrate the start of your holidays. When you were told there will be a party happening at night, your friends begged for you to join them. At first, you declined because you weren’t a party person and you wanted to spend your night under the sheets to read your favorite book. But your friends were persistent, which brings you to your current dilemma.

Unlike a regular nightclub, the beach party is open-air with loud, edm music playing in the background. Thankfully, there was a bar that allows you to sit back, have a drink while you enjoy the fresh air. Well, that was the plan until three guys approached you, back to back with the intention of doing something more than just having a drink. 

“Hello, you look annoyed.” 

Ugh great. 

Rolling your eyes, you prepared yourself as you looked to your side, only to pause when a handsome man appeared before you. He has honey-toned skin, messy pitch-black hair from the wind blowing past and a sharp jawline that you might cut your finger with a simple graze and his features were something crafted from the hands of Gods and Goddesses. To put it simply; he was really attractive, enough to make you feel flustered when you realised you had piqued his interest. 

“Was that a question or an observation?” You asked, maintaining your politeness while keeping your guard up. 

The stranger chuckled, his eyes crinkling as he stood beside you while keeping some distance. The small, kind and thoughtful act made your heart skip a beat. “That was an observation. I’ve been looking at you for a while now and I have to say, you’re really beautiful. I don’t think words are enough to do you justice.”

You could only pray that he won’t notice your reddened ears and cheeks at his honesty and sincerity. “Why thank you. You sure have a way with words, don’t you? Do you talk like this to other women too? Or is it just me?” 

You weren’t sure where you got the confidence, but you were pleased with his reaction: eyes widening slightly at your response before he composed himself, eyes gleaming in mischief and amusement. 

He leaned in slightly, a movement so small but you caught it anyways, a sly and suggestive grin stretching across his face. “What if I were to say it’s just you? Would you accept my offer?”

You decide to play along and copy his expression. “And what would your offer be?” 

“How about you and I get a drink later? My treat.” 

You arched an eyebrow, impressed with his bold move. Both of you knew there won’t be any drinking done, considering how he was undressing you with his lust-filled eyes. 

“Sure, that sounds lovely.”

~

As expected, you found yourself in his room. Clothes were hurriedly removed and tossed to the carpeted floor without a care in the world. Unlike the previous hook-ups you have done, he was gentle. The way he treated you was as if you were a fragile piece of glass that could shatter at any moment, if he wasn’t careful enough. You could tell he has plenty of experience with how he ate you out. 

“F-Fuck, don’t stop, please,” you whined, eyelids fluttering shut as he plunged his tongue deeper and at the same time, pushing two fingers in until he was knuckles-deep. 

He groaned at how tight you felt, your velvety, gummy walls clinging onto his fingers without any intention of letting him go. He crooked his fingers, grinning at how you physically flinched and he knew he had hit bullseye. He audibly moaned against your pussy when you grabbed a fistful of his hair, your thighs locking him in place. He didn’t care if you were choking him to death. If this was how he goes out, he wouldn’t mind it at all. 

He alternated between giving sweet, quick kitten licks and harsh, long swipes of his tongue, giving you whiplash. To Jay, your sounds are the sweetest sounds he has heard, like music to his ears and he wants to hear more. He wants to see you falling apart under him. He wants you to remember him when you do this with someone else, someone else that isn’t him. 

He lets you grind yourself on his nose, causing you to gasp when you find the perfect angle. Your back arched off the bed when you felt your orgasm coming. You tried to say something, anything but your mind turned to mush when he gave a harsh suck to the sensitive bud peeking out. And that was enough to tip you over the edge. You tried to pull him away but it was futile. His strength easily overwhelmed yours and it’s like he wants to be buried deep in your pussy.

You let out a high-pitched cry as he greedily slurps away, like he was a famished kitten drinking from a plate of warm milk. Your limbs felt boneless the moment it was over, your thighs slumping on his shoulders and your grip loosened on his hair. Jay finally moved away and seeing how his face was drenched in your slick, his lips glistening under the lights and some had even landed on his forehead made your cheeks flushed red. 

Jay wiped them away with the back of his hand, tongue darting out—the very same tongue that made you feel like you were floating, to clean his damp lips. Your throat felt dry, nervously swallowing as your hands laid by your sides. He shifted backwards so he could get off the bed but you stopped by, grabbing his wrist and he gave you a questioning look.

“Wait, what about you?” You asked, eyes glancing down to the bulge in his pants.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s fine, don’t worry about me. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” 

You light-heartedly rolled your eyes. “I’m fine with you fucking me, but with a condom of course.” 

“Oh.” 

You laughed at how he stared at you, taken aback with your consent and words. You motioned for him to come over with two fingers, a coy grin on your face as you spread your legs, snickering at how his eyes trailed down, lingering in the spot between your legs. “What’re you waiting for, pretty boy? Get to it or I’ll leave.” 

He didn’t need to think twice, fumbling through the bedside drawer and pulling out a small box of condoms. The sight made you raise an eyebrow. 

“Do you always bring that with you?” You questioned, pushing yourself further up on the bed and repositioned the pillow as you laid your head on it, along with sliding another pillow underneath your hips for support. 

“Uh, my friends bought it as a birthday gift to me. It’s stupid—I mean, they’re stupid,” he stuttered, hands managing to tear the transparent packaging. He got to his knees and that was when you saw it. 

Your mouth moved before your mind could process the words. “I don’t think that’s going to fit.” 

He paused in the midst of sliding the condom over his hardened, standing upright cock that stood proudly as it rested against his stomach. “I’ll make sure it fits, princess. Just lay back and look pretty, can you do that for me?” 

You nodded, feeling shy at the sudden usage of the pet name. You watched as he moved with confidence, like he knows what he’s doing. He positioned himself in between your legs, gently gripping onto your upper left thigh and aligned himself with your entrance. Your breath hitched at the feeling of his tip gliding against your still puffy folds, gathering the remaining slick. His eyes softened at the sight of your hesitation, rubbing circles on your skin. 

“Hey, it’s fine. Just calm down and relax for me,” he assures you. “I won’t put it in until you allow me to. I’ll wait for you, princess.” 

Biting down onto your lip, you nodded, nails digging into the soft sheets beneath you. “...Go ahead.” 

Instead of slamming in in one go, he slowly pushes in inch by inch. It felt like decades when he finally bottomed out, eliciting pleased sounds from both of you. Your head spins at how full you feel just from his cock alone. He didn’t move, eyes focused on your face while searching for any signs of discomfort. He was patient and that was something rare in the hook-ups you have done. 

“You can move,” you gave him the greenlight and he hummed, adjusting himself. 

The slight movement caused his cock to rub against your walls, drawing a blissed-out sigh from you. He pulled out until his tip was still inside before pushing back in and repeated the movement, keeping a steady pace but it was enough to draw soft “ah-ah-ah” from you. You tilted your head back, raising your left leg and he got the hint—slinging it over his left shoulder. The small change of angle allows him to slide and hit deeper. He was practically kissing your cervix, with how deep he could go. 

Lewd sounds of skin against skin combined with your moans and his groans echoed amongst the four walls of the hotel room. You were sure whoever walked past would know what you’re doing. The thought of the chances of people hearing you made you clenched down on his cock, drawing a hiss from him. 

“Fuck, you sure you’ve done this before? You’re so tight like a virgin,” he gasped, voice hoarse. He already sounds ragged, his previous calm and collected composure slowly fading away. 

“Ngh, m-more,” you whined, eyes rolling to the back of your head when his cock hit the spot that made your legs spasm. 

“Yeah? You want more? Your greedy pussy is not satisfied with what I’m giving?” He sneers, the sudden change of his personality leaves you speechless. 

But you were too far gone to think straight, getting drunk on the intoxicating, addictive and heavenly feeling of him thrusting into you. You could only let out a whimper, the sound making him smirked. He readjusted his hands, moving from your thighs to your hips and with new found strength, he increased his pace, fucking into you without mercy. 

“Oh god, s-so good, hah,” you cried out, words borderline slurring as you succumbed to it. 

You knew you were reaching your climax when your muscles tightened, like a rubber band stretched to its limit and how your legs were already shaking. All it took was one final sharp thrust and you came with a cry. He, on the other hand, showed no signs of slowing down and continued snapping his hips against yours as he fucks you through your orgasm. All you could do was to lay there, allowing him to use you to reach his climax. 

You shuddered when he spilled into the condom, able to feel the warmth of his cum through the thin fabric of the condom. He slowly pulled out, making you wince at the sudden uncomfortable feeling of emptiness, quickly tying the condom and tossed it into the bin with terrifying accuracy. He ran a hand through his hair, pulling back some of the strands that were stuck onto his forehead. 

“Wait here, I’ll be back,” he said, not waiting for your response before going to the bathroom. His words made you snort, as you couldn’t move an inch, not after what he did. 

He returned a few seconds later, holding a damp towel and took his care in wiping you clean. When he was done, he passed you a plastic bottle of water, even going the extra mile by helping you in drinking it by supporting the back of your neck, like how a mother would do to her newborn baby. He then removed the stained sheets, tossing them to the floor, which will be a problem for the housekeeper tomorrow. Once you were properly hydrated, he moved to where his luggage was, dug through his clothes and handed you a set of his own. 

“Uh, I’m not sure if you’d prefer wearing your own clothes or if you don’t mind, you could wear mine for the night. No pressure or anything,” he said, looking everywhere else but you. 

“Sure, I don’t mind,” you shrugged your shoulders, accepting the clothes and putting them on after slipping back into your underwear, looking down to see his shirt reaching your thighs. Still, you wore the shorts, which acted more like pants for you. 

“You can stay here for the night if you want,” he said, eyes searching your face, afraid he might be taking it too far. 

Your eyes softened as you nodded in silence and his shoulders sagged with relief. He quickly wore his clothes and the two of you made yourselves comfortable on the bed, pulling the covers up until it reached your chins. It didn’t took you long to fall asleep, sharing the bed with someone who you had just fucked. 

The very next morning, you woke up to an empty room. His luggage was gone too. You looked to your side, surprised to see that your clothes were neatly folded and placed on the bed. But what caught your attention was a note placed on the bedside drawer. Reaching over, you opened it and read the handwritten message. 

Hey, 

I realised that I didn’t get your name and that’s very rude of me. Sorry that I didn’t wake you up as I had to leave for the airport. But if you’d like, perhaps we can get to know one another more? You can text me if you want. I’ve left my number below. Oh and, you can keep my clothes. They look better on you ;)

Regards,  Park Jongseong (Jay) xx-xxxx-xxxx

[fairlyabookie]

the things you do that got them head over heads (pt. 3)

Part 1 | Part 2

Jade - accompanying him on a hike

The evening skies, a perfect shade of violet and pink, heralded the time to hike. Classes, lengthy lectures completed with more homework, had finally concluded and so, with a simple trot over to the premises outside of campus, Jade’s club activities officially started. You wanted to tag along, wanting to get a change of pace outside of class - besides, you were getting burnt out from studying your butt off for exams. Being the gentleman that he was, Jade agreed to your wishes, allowing you to come along as you wished.

Matter of fact, he was quite excited when you approached him to go hiking with him. He had to withhold every urge he had to tell you the many routes he goes for his hiking activities. With a small smile, he offers his equipment and a journal of the flora he had encountered on his travels, another journal for the mushrooms - don’t ask.

Jade would gladly indulge your curiosities, already answering the questions you have in mind about the surrounding nature. He practically memorized each form of life from his hikes, saying a factoid or two and consulting his journal to point out his observations about it - he might’ve consumed one or two just to taste-test.. As he explained every detail of his travels, he caught a glimpse of your attentive gaze, a tender smile on your lips as you listened. His words faltered for a moment as he found himself lost in those beautiful eyes.

“Mm, were you saying something, Jade?” You perk an eyebrow. A quizzical look replaces Jade’s expression, his cheeks are colored a peony-pink. He turns around, clearing his throat to recover his demeanor. You totally didn’t see him staring. “I’m alright, [Reader]. Let’s continue on.” He offers an arm, fixing his gaze on the path ahead of you.

Silver - waking him up

Slumber lay upon Silver like a heavy blanket, a canopy of pleasant dreams flickering in his vision as a gentle wind tussles his locks. He opens his eyes, his vision alight with colors of spring, floral scents of blooming flowers drift along, as the heavy veil of sweet dreams lifts from Silver’s mind.

He sees the sky opening up to him, the beautiful blue sight for sore eyes. The lunch hour was the perfect time to nap, where he isn’t scolded by Sebek for showing poor decorum or Riddle for neglecting his club duties. A yawn escapes from his lips, the remnants of sleep lingering in his body. A chuckle startles him from his stupor. Of course, you were waiting for him to wake up.

As if on cue, the critters and birds surrounding the second year disperse, their departure an official conclusion to his daytime slumber. You stifle a chuckle, a childish thought passing your mind as you witness the exodus of animals taking their leave.

“Did you sleep well, Sleepyhead?” An affectionate smile cross your lips as you offer a hand for your classmate. It was hard not to ignore the thump on his chest as he pulls himself up. “It was very restful.” He replies simply, stretching out fatigued muscles and knots on his body.

Jamil - insisting him to rest up

Working was second nature to Jamil - the second he gets up from his bed, a million things come to mind. A break means nothing to him as soon as he proceeds with his routine, from waking Kalim up to preparing meals for the dorm - he had no time to commit to himself save for a meal or two. When you catch a busy Jamil in the middle of cleaning up, you have to force him to stop.

Jamil’s thoughts screech to a halt as you place yourself in front of Jamil, a firm grip on his hands. Your lips form a pout, one he saw too often from his little sister, but one that meant business to his apparent dilemma. Guess I’ll have to go through this before I do anything, the second year thinks to himself, bracing the inevitable as you take him to an empty seat by the common room.

From that point on, you placed a ban on Jamil not to enter the kitchen under any circumstance - that fed wonderfully to his paranoia. You were very adamant about this, even throwing glares his way to ensure that he didn’t move from his seat. A few moments later, you emerge from the kitchen, along with the residents, a meal palette befitting of a king and a couple of self-care supplies.

A stunned Jamil watches you tend to him, reclining his seat back where he sees you work your magic. The others, now in the absence of Jamil’s usual machinations, reigned in the kitchen - with Kalim in tow - as they set the dorm for a feast, even providing a portion for Jamil when you finish up with him. “You are to rest, Mr. Viper. An hour of rest shouldn’t bother you, no?” A teasing smile from you was enough to shut him up - did he have a weak spot for you already?* He says nothing, letting you work the treatment befitting of a king.

Kalim - inviting him to your very own party

Kalim had a penchant for parties, and boy, does he know how to throw one. His skills as a capable host would more or less impress those who came by; their expressions a blend of excitement, eagerness, and surprise when he shows them hospitality befitting of a king.

Of course, a party always meant a change of pace, somewhere one could unwind and relax, somewhere where they could detach themselves from reality. Alas, a party could last for so long and happen occasionally - too much would do terrible on the mind, and he certainly didn’t want to accidentally upset folks by doing more parties.

You, on the other hand, approached him with an invitation: an invitation to your humble home at Ramshackle Dorm for a small hang-out with friends. A simple hang-out, nothing bombastic, nothing too extravagant; a quaint get-together between friends, coupled with games, entertainment, and snacks for everyone.

To say he was touched was an understatement of his feelings when he came to your party. Here, he was bonding time with friends and just having a good time. Kalim reaches out to you with a hug, “Thank you, thank you, [Reader]!” You reciprocate the hug with a sweet smile. “It’s really no biggie, Kalim. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself here.”

author's note: I played with too many ideas with these concepts; spare sanity. joking aside, I hope you enjoyed these, and please feel free to share, like, and comment!