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reasonsforhope · 1 year ago

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No paywall version here.

"Two and a half years ago, when I was asked to help write the most authoritative report on climate change in the United States, I hesitated...

In the end, I said yes, but reluctantly. Frankly, I was sick of admonishing people about how bad things could get. Scientists have raised the alarm over and over again, and still the temperature rises. Extreme events like heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more severe and frequent, exactly as we predicted they would. We were proved right. It didn’t seem to matter.

Our report, which was released on Tuesday, contains more dire warnings. There are plenty of new reasons for despair. Thanks to recent scientific advances, we can now link climate change to specific extreme weather disasters, and we have a better understanding of how the feedback loops in the climate system can make warming even worse. We can also now more confidently forecast catastrophic outcomes if global emissions continue on their current trajectory.

But to me, the most surprising new finding in the Fifth National Climate Assessment is this: There has been genuine progress, too.

I’m used to mind-boggling numbers, and there are many of them in this report. Human beings have put about 1.6 trillion tons of carbon in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution — more than the weight of every living thing on Earth combined. But as we wrote the report, I learned other, even more mind-boggling numbers. In the last decade, the cost of wind energy has declined by 70 percent and solar has declined 90 percent. Renewables now make up 80 percent of new electricity generation capacity. Our country’s greenhouse gas emissions are falling, even as our G.D.P. and population grow.

In the report, we were tasked with projecting future climate change. We showed what the United States would look like if the world warms by 2 degrees Celsius. It wasn’t a pretty picture: more heat waves, more uncomfortably hot nights, more downpours, more droughts. If greenhouse emissions continue to rise, we could reach that point in the next couple of decades. If they fall a little, maybe we can stave it off until the middle of the century. But our findings also offered a glimmer of hope: If emissions fall dramatically, as the report suggested they could, we may never reach 2 degrees Celsius at all.

For the first time in my career, I felt something strange: optimism.

And that simple realization was enough to convince me that releasing yet another climate report was worthwhile.

Something has changed in the United States, and not just the climate. State, local and tribal governments all around the country have begun to take action. Some politicians now actually campaign on climate change, instead of ignoring or lying about it. Congress passed federal climate legislation — something I’d long regarded as impossible — in 2022 as we turned in the first draft.

[Note: She's talking about the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Act, which despite the names were the two biggest climate packages passed in US history. And their passage in mid 2022 was a big turning point: that's when, for the first time in decades, a lot of scientists started looking at the numbers - esp the ones that would come from the IRA's funding - and said "Wait, holy shit, we have an actual chance."]

And while the report stresses the urgency of limiting warming to prevent terrible risks, it has a new message, too: We can do this. We now know how to make the dramatic emissions cuts we’d need to limit warming, and it’s very possible to do this in a way that’s sustainable, healthy and fair.

The conversation has moved on, and the role of scientists has changed. We’re not just warning of danger anymore. We’re showing the way to safety.

I was wrong about those previous reports: They did matter, after all. While climate scientists were warning the world of disaster, a small army of scientists, engineers, policymakers and others were getting to work. These first responders have helped move us toward our climate goals. Our warnings did their job.

To limit global warming, we need many more people to get on board... We need to reach those who haven’t yet been moved by our warnings. I’m not talking about the fossil fuel industry here; nor do I particularly care about winning over the small but noisy group of committed climate deniers. But I believe we can reach the many people whose eyes glaze over when they hear yet another dire warning or see another report like the one we just published.

The reason is that now, we have a better story to tell. The evidence is clear: Responding to climate change will not only create a better world for our children and grandchildren, but it will also make the world better for us right now.

Eliminating the sources of greenhouse gas emissions will make our air and water cleaner, our economy stronger and our quality of life better. It could save hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives across the country through air quality benefits alone. Using land more wisely can both limit climate change and protect biodiversity. Climate change most strongly affects communities that get a raw deal in our society: people with low incomes, people of color, children and the elderly. And climate action can be an opportunity to redress legacies of racism, neglect and injustice.

I could still tell you scary stories about a future ravaged by climate change, and they’d be true, at least on the trajectory we’re currently on. But it’s also true that we have a once-in-human-history chance not only to prevent the worst effects but also to make the world better right now. It would be a shame to squander this opportunity. So I don’t just want to talk about the problems anymore. I want to talk about the solutions. Consider this your last warning from me."

-via New York Times. Opinion essay by leading climate scientist Kate Marvel. November 18, 2023.

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satellite-evans · 29 days ago

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crawling back to you

Pairing: Lando Norris x reader

Summary: Lando is overwhelmed by his deep love for you, something he never expected, it's both terrifying and comforting.

Word count: 3.8k+

Warnings: fluff, lando being scared

A/N:

English is not my first language, so I apologize if I made any (grammar) mistakes. Feedback, requests, talks, vents, recommendations or just simple questions are always welcome.

Happy reading xxx

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site.

Lando didn’t believe in soulmates.

Not until you.

Not until the very idea of you crept into his bones like sunlight on cold skin—subtle at first, then all-consuming. Not until your presence settled into the corners of his life like a favorite song he hadn’t realized he’d been humming. Not until your name started showing up in the blank spaces of his thoughts, in the quiet pauses between breaths, in the ache behind every moment of silence when you weren’t there.

Not until you became a constant—quiet, unrelenting—threading yourself through his days without effort. The hum beneath the static. The gravity pulling him inward, toward something warmer, something dangerous in its softness. Terrifying in its intimacy.

Not until he found himself rearranging his entire day just to hear your voice for a few stolen minutes. Just to hear you laugh. Just to know you were okay, that you were still choosing him—even if neither of you ever said it out loud.

He never used to be like this.

Before you, love was simpler. Still beautiful, yes, but contained. Controlled. It had rules. Expectations. Exit signs. He’d learned how to love with boundaries—how to let people close but never quite deep enough to leave a bruise. Love was something he could cradle in the palm of his hand, admire, then set down gently when it became too heavy.

He knew how to fall with caution. How to measure the descent. How to build connection without risking collapse. There was comfort in that version of love. Predictability. It was passion in careful doses. Security without vulnerability. Closeness without chaos.

He could go days without checking in, and it wouldn’t feel like punishment. He could love someone and still crave solitude. Still feel whole in his own space. He could let go, walk away, and not feel like he was tearing something vital out of himself.

But now?

Now he stared at his phone like it held his next breath. Now he panicked at the little gaps in time between your messages, spiraling through every worst-case scenario with a heart that wouldn’t stop pounding. Now he paused mid-sim session just to hear your laugh through his AirPods—sharp and bright and grounding, like it pulled him back into his own body.

Now, even the span of a time zone felt unbearable. A cruel kind of distance. A foreign ache. It disoriented him. Like being spun out mid-corner, tires screaming, instincts failing, hands reaching for control that just wasn’t there.

Now he missed you before you'd even left the room.

Now he replayed conversations in his head just to hear your voice again. Wondered if you were thinking of him when the sky turned gold in the evening. Wondered if you felt it too—that trembling thread tying your heartbeat to his.

Now he was… obsessed.

And it scared the hell out of him.

Because this wasn’t just infatuation. It wasn’t adrenaline. It wasn’t a phase that would burn bright and fade. It was steady and quiet and terrifying in its permanence. A kind of devotion that made him feel exposed, raw, undone in places he didn’t know were still breakable.

It was need, pure and unfiltered. It was vulnerability dressed as longing. It was the slow, irrevocable unraveling of everything he thought love was supposed to be.

He hadn’t meant to fall like this. Hadn’t planned for it. Hadn’t known it was even possible to crave someone so wholly, so relentlessly, so deeply it felt like a kind of hunger beneath his skin.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

He wasn’t supposed to need someone like he needed air.

But here he was.

And he didn’t know how to breathe without you anymore.

"You're calling me again?" you laughed softly into the phone, your voice thick with sleep, edges still blurred by dreams. "It's 3AM, Lando."

He hesitated, just for a moment. His breath caught in his throat, like even the simplest reply required effort. "I know. I’m sorry. I just..." His voice cracked—barely a whisper, frayed and vulnerable, the kind of rawness he usually buried under charm and lightness. He let out a shaky breath, fingers threading through his already-messy hair as if the motion could anchor him.

"I needed to hear you."

There was a pause.

Not long. Barely a heartbeat. But to him, it stretched wide and slow—enough time to imagine you sitting up in bed, eyes half-lidded, rubbing the sleep from your face. Maybe the sheets had slipped from your shoulder. Maybe the glow from your phone painted shadows across your features. He imagined the faint crease on your cheek from your pillow. The way your brow would furrow when you heard his voice like that—tight and distant and not quite okay.

"You okay?" you asked finally, quieter now. No more teasing. Just concern. That small, tender shift in your voice—it undid him.

It filled the hollow places in his chest with something warm, something unbearably human.

He swallowed hard. "I am now."

Silence stretched again, but this time, it didn’t feel like a gap. It felt like a presence. Like you were right there beside him, breathing into the stillness, not trying to fill it—just being in it with him.

He could hear you shift, the soft rustle of sheets and the subtle movement of your body settling back into comfort. There was something achingly intimate in it. Something domestic. Ordinary. Beautiful.

He imagined your fingers curled loosely around the phone, the corner of your mouth twitching into a sleepy smile. You were probably already drifting again, hovering somewhere between wakefulness and dreams. But you stayed.

"You wanna talk about it?" you offered, your words slurred slightly with exhaustion, but still gentle. Still open.

He closed his eyes. "No," he murmured, barely above a whisper. "Just… stay on the line."

"Okay."

That was it. No questions. No pressure. Just trust. Just you, staying.

And you did.

You didn’t demand clarity. You didn’t ask him to articulate what he couldn’t yet name. You didn’t try to fix anything. You just breathed. Just existed on the other end of the line. And somehow, that was enough.

He lay back on his bed, phone pressed to his ear like it was the only thing tethering him to the world. The quiet buzz of the line filled the space around him, the sound of your breathing syncing with his.

In that moment, he didn’t need a solution. He didn’t need to explain the knot in his chest or the weight pressing down on him, unshakable and unnamed. He just needed this—your presence, even from miles away.

It was fragile, fleeting. A borrowed kind of peace. But it wrapped around him like a blanket.

And for the first time that night, he felt like he could exhale.

Like maybe he’d make it to morning.

It wasn’t a dramatic sort of love.

Not fireworks and violins. Not grand gestures broadcast to crowds or declarations screamed over airport gates. Not the kind of love that demanded to be seen. It wasn’t cinematic. There were no slow-motion chases, no rain-drenched kisses framed by lightning and fate.

No orchestras swelled behind them. No perfect lighting.

It was quieter than that. Smaller, maybe. But not lesser.

It was the kind of love that slipped in unnoticed, tucked into the edges of the day like a bookmark left between pages. A love that never needed an audience—only a heartbeat. Only presence. Only two people who chose each other, again and again, in the most ordinary ways.

It lived in the quiet things.

In the stillness of a morning walk before the world had quite woken up—when the city was caught in that strange, sacred hush between dreaming and becoming. The sky barely blue. The air soft and damp with sleep. Dew clinging to blades of grass like the day itself was holding its breath.

It was there—in those muted, in-between moments—where he loved you the most.

In the way your hand found his without thinking. In how your thumb brushed across his knuckles as if to say I’m here, even when words weren’t needed. In the familiar rhythm of your footsteps beside his, sometimes in sync, sometimes not, but always together.

He loved you in the way the birds sang—early and imperfect and unapologetic. In the way their calls filled the silence like your humming did when you cooked, loud and off-key, always choosing the wrong song but singing it like it was yours. Like it had always been yours.

He used to find it annoying, that humming. Now he missed it when the kitchen was too quiet.

He loved you in the smell of his coffee. Rich, slightly burnt, exactly the way you always made it, no matter how many times he told you he preferred it less strong. It was a stubborn kind of affection. Just like your kisses when you were angry—sharp, almost defiant, but still full of something tender. Something that stayed, even when everything else in the moment wanted to pull away.

He found you everywhere.

In the wildflowers that spilled over the road to the track—bright bursts of color pushing through gravel and concrete, blooming like they didn’t care if anyone saw. Resilient. Reckless. Beautiful in spite of everything. You were like that. Fierce and soft in equal measure. Laughing even when life gave you no reason to.

He saw you in the sunlight that bled across the horizon every time the sky cracked open into morning. Slow, golden, patient. The kind of light that doesn’t ask for attention but transforms everything it touches. You were that light. The kind that found its way in, no matter how tightly the curtains were drawn.

He saw you in the sound of a child’s laughter echoing across the paddock—bright and weightless and safe. You were safety. Not the kind wrapped in walls or locks, but the kind that made him believe, just for a moment, that nothing bad could reach him. That with you, maybe he didn’t always have to be strong.

You were in everything that made the world feel bearable.

Sometimes, it overwhelmed him—how present you were in every corner of his life. How your love had seeped into the very air around him, into the rhythm of his days. Into the parts of himself he used to guard like secrets.

It was a bit ridiculous, honestly.

How you were everywhere. How just the thought of you could make his chest ache with something too big to hold, too sacred to name. How love for you had become less of a feeling and more of a truth. A fact. Something as constant and necessary as gravity. As breath.

And when he finally let himself fall—really fall—he didn’t fight it. Didn’t try to claw his way back to the surface, didn’t reach for solid ground.

Because what was the point?

You were already inside every part of him. Every thought. Every breath. Every quiet morning. Every laugh. Every silence.

You were home.

And he wasn’t lost anymore.

When he won his first Grand Prix in Miami, the world erupted around him.

It was a blur—heat shimmering off the asphalt, neon banners whipping in the wind, the deafening roar of engines and voices and music crashing into one another like waves. Everything was fast, loud, alive. The kind of chaos that demanded to be felt in the bones.

But through it all, somehow, impossibly, he saw you.

Before the finish line. Before the final turn. Before the reality of victory had even registered. His tires were still screaming against the track, his hands clenched around the wheel, his breath coming in frantic bursts—but there you were.

Just beyond the barriers. Just behind the madness.

Maybe it was a trick of the light. The way the Florida sun bent everything into mirages. Maybe it was exhaustion playing tricks, his brain conjuring the one thing it knew could steady him. Or maybe—just maybe—it was something more.

Because it didn’t feel imagined.

It felt real. You felt real. More real than anything else in that moment.

Your figure was blurred in the heat, barely distinguishable from the sea of fans pressed against the fencing. But he knew it was you. The curve of your shoulders. The way your arms hugged your torso, fists clenched with nerves. The expression on your face—a cross between uncontainable pride and something soft, unspoken, ancient. Your eyes shimmering. Your smile trembling. Tears already spilling, even before the race was done.

And for a split second, he forgot what he was doing.

Forgot the apex. Forgot the roar in his ears. Forgot the championship points and the cameras and the history books waiting to be rewritten.

All he could think was I need to get to you.

The moment his tires crossed the line and that checkered flag dropped, time fractured. The crowd erupted—horns, chants, chants of his name echoing off the grandstands—but it all felt distant. Muted. Like he was underwater.

His radio buzzed in his ear. Voices cheering, shouting, screaming congratulations. He barely heard them. Couldn’t process the words. His hands were shaking. His throat tight.

Helmet off. Breath short. Heart pounding in a rhythm that had nothing to do with the car.

He didn’t wait for instructions. Didn’t wait for protocol.

He climbed out of the cockpit like he was trying to claw his way back to earth. And then—there you were. Not a mirage. Not a dream. Real.

Bursting through the crowd like the entire world had bent around the two of you. Like gravity itself had decided it was tired of pulling him toward the ground and would now only pull him to you.

You reached him first.

Your arms wrapped around his neck with a force that knocked the breath out of him, and he didn’t care. Didn’t care that the cameras were on. That the moment would be replayed from every angle. That the world was watching.

He buried his face in your shoulder, hands gripping your back like he was anchoring himself. Like if he let go, he’d drift too far from the only thing that mattered.

Tears soaked into his fireproofs—yours, his, maybe both. It didn’t matter.

"You were the reason I finished today," he whispered against your skin, voice hoarse, shaking. Not from the race. From this. From you.

You pulled back, your face flushed and wet, lips parted like you were trying to breathe and cry and laugh all at once. Your fingers cupped his cheeks, and the way you looked at him—wide-eyed, stunned, like maybe you were the one dreaming—nearly brought him to his knees.

“Lando…”

His name on your lips wasn’t just a sound. It was everything. A promise. A homecoming. A lifetime packed into two syllables.

“I mean it,” he said, forehead resting against yours, his eyes closed like the world was too much and you were the only thing that made sense. “I saw you before anything. Before the line. Before the win. You’re in me. You’re… you’re everything now. You don’t even know.”

You didn’t answer with words.

You kissed him.

Desperate and slow, trembling and sure. A kiss that didn’t ask for permission because it already knew it belonged there. A kiss that said I know. A kiss that said me too. A kiss that said you’re not alone in this.

And the world?

The world could have ended right then.

Confetti rained from the sky. The crowd howled. The broadcasters shouted into microphones. Fireworks cracked open the sky. A thousand cameras flashed.

But none of it mattered.

Not to him.

Because all he saw was you.

All he ever wanted was you.

And in that moment—tangled in your arms, breathless with love and disbelief—he realized this win wasn’t the finish line.

It was the beginning.

After his first win, after the cheers had faded into distant echoes, after the cameras had stopped flashing and the champagne had dried sticky on his skin, the world exhaled.

The silence inside the hotel room was different from what he was used to. It was the kind of quiet that only comes after a storm. After the adrenaline, after the chaos, after the world had taken its breath in a collective gasp and finally let it go.

And in the midst of that hush, he found you.

The only noise came from the television, post-race interviews and commentary that meant nothing now. A bottle of water sat forgotten on the nightstand, untouched since the last sip hours ago. His race suit lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, discarded, a symbol of everything he’d left behind. Your dress, too, was abandoned on the back of a chair, as if it, too, had surrendered to the gravity of the moment.

The bed smelled like shampoo and sweat and celebration. And underneath it all, it smelled like love. So much love it seemed to vibrate in the air. Love that filled the space between the quiet moments. Love that seemed to seep into every corner of the room, settling in the wrinkles of the sheets and in the stillness of the night.

He lay there beside you, his body instinctively finding the shape of yours. Your limbs tangled together, the soft weight of the duvet over you both, the heat of your skin pressing into his. His hand rested just above your hip, fingers tracing lazy circles, as if memorizing the feel of you, making sure he never forgot. His touch was gentle, deliberate, like he didn’t want to let go of the moment. Like, in the stillness, he was trying to hold on to the only thing that ever made him feel anchored.

Your head was nestled in the crook of his shoulder, breaths slow and steady, and the silence between you wasn’t empty—it was full. It was sacred. It was the kind of silence only shared between two people who had allowed their souls to exist side by side without reservation.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hesitant, as though the words were fragile and not entirely ready to exist in the quiet. "I hated it at first," he said, his thumb grazing over your spine, his voice hoarse, the words unsure even though they came from a place he knew well.

You stirred slightly, your fingers tracing slow patterns across his chest, making circles, and he could feel the shift in your breathing—the way you tuned into his every word without effort.

"Hated what?" you murmured, your voice still soft with the remnants of sleep, a warmth and softness that wrapped around him.

He swallowed, his chest tightening as if the words he was about to speak were both freeing and terrifying. "How much you messed with my head. My schedule. My focus." He laughed softly, a sound that held no humor, only the weight of realization. "Everything used to be so clean. Controlled. I had routines. Blocks. Boundaries. And then you just—" He paused, his voice trailing off for a second as if trying to find the right words. "—crashed into my life like some beautiful, chaotic storm and turned everything upside down."

You lifted your face slightly, just enough to catch his eyes, your gaze soft with curiosity. Your expression was tender, understanding in a way that melted him.

"And now?" you asked, your breath barely more than a whisper, but the question hung in the air, filled with more meaning than just the words.

He turned his head toward you, eyes searching your face as if trying to understand what it was he’d found in you. What he’d built with you. He looked at your face—the way the light caught the curve of your cheek, the slight curve of your lips, the sleepy tenderness that made him ache with a love he hadn’t known how to name until now.

"Now," he whispered, his voice thick with something deeper than emotion. It was raw. Real. "I’d kneel for your love. I’d worship it." His eyes closed for a moment, as though the weight of his words was enough to make him falter. "Because nothing feels real unless you’re in it."

There was a quiet—the kind that filled the space between hearts—that lingered between you. Something in the way he said it, with such reverence and honesty, made the air feel thick with the weight of his devotion.

You looked at him like he was the only thing that mattered. Like the entire world could fade into nothingness, and it still wouldn’t be enough to pull you away from him. You looked at him like he held all the answers, like he was the universe itself, and in that gaze, he felt seen in a way he never had before. Not just as a man who won races. Not as a driver. Not as a public figure.

But as someone who could love so completely. So absolutely.

Maybe he couldn’t believe it either. Maybe it was too big for him to wrap his mind around. He’d spent years running from too much. The intensity of love. The depth of connection. The idea that someone could see him—not just the version of himself that the world adored—but every part of him. The messy, unsure, vulnerable parts.

But with you? It was different.

You didn’t pull away when the walls around him cracked. You didn’t flinch when his quiet moments became louder than anything else. You stayed. Even when he didn’t know how to stay for himself.

So, without thinking, he pressed a soft, reverent kiss to your forehead. His hand cradled the back of your head, gently, as if the gesture itself was a thank-you—a quiet gratitude for your presence, for the love you gave him, for the way you never once made him feel like he had to hide.

And then, he just held you.

Held you like you were his lifeline. Like he had found everything he had ever needed, in this soft, sacred space between the two of you. Like you were his truth, his purpose, his place.

Because in the end, you weren’t a distraction. You weren’t something that pulled him away from his purpose.

You were his purpose.

You were the reason he kept pushing. The place where everything he fought for finally made sense. The one who caught him when everything else tried to break him.

Lando realized that he didn’t need anything else.

He already had everything he had ever been racing toward. Everything he ever wanted.

And it was all in the space between you both.

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cheapshrimpysheep · 6 months ago

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My Heaven's Light

SUMMARY: Rollo managed to kidnap you before sending the NRC students to Fleur City's Waterways, believing he was saving you. Malleus and the others reach the tower, ring the Bell of Solace and rescue you. Malleus expresses his protective side and Rollo apologizes for kidnapping you.

CHARACTERS: Rollo Flamme VS Malleus Draconia (x Reader)

TAGS: GN Reader; Angst to Comfort; Jealousy

WARNING: Spoilers from Glorious Masquerade; Kidnapping

WORD COUNT: 4.220 Words

COMMENTS: Thinking about the fact that Rollo is the twisted version of Frollo and thinking of MC as Esmeralda, it is inevitable to imagine Rollo kidnapping MC. But not for the same reasons!

Rollo is a really complex character, but one I've wanted to write about for some time now. I plan to try writing more with him in the future.

Until then, I hope you enjoy this one. 🐲🦐🔔

By the way, do you have ANY idea how many times I've looked up synonyms for common words just to get as close as possible to Rollo's way of speaking? One thing is for sure: I am greatly expanding my English vocabulary with this.

Amidst the panic that the firelotuses were causing, both your colleagues and Professor Trein end up paying more attention to the flowers than to you.

As you move away from the flowers, you end up approaching one of the pillars. That's when you feel a hand covering your mouth and another holding your arm behind your back.

You are carried away through the shadows as you try to free yourself, but these attempts only make the hands hold you even tighter and run the risk of injuring your arm.

The person who is taking you leans over and whispers in your ear. “I beg you not do make this more complicated that it needs to be.” It's Rollo!

He takes you to a room adjacent to the hall and pushes you inside, making you fall into an armchair. Just before he closes the door to lock you inside you hear Grim's voice.

“[Y/N]? [Y/N]?! MY HENCH-HUMAN DISAPPEARED!”

No matter how loud you scream, or how much you bang on the door, the chaos outside is too loud for anyone to hear you. Eventually you realize something is going on, so you stop to listen to the conversation. Rollo had revealed himself and was talking to your NRC colleagues.

“My, my.” You hear Azul say. “That was quite a predictable villain line, you know.”

“Silence!” Rollo's voice echoed. “YOU'RE the villains here! And what's more, you flaunted your magic and mesmerized our good citizens with it... Just like you did with your prefect. You imprisoned them with you and poisoned their mind. The poor thing became numb to the absurdity after spending every day swimming in it. Mages use their magic to lead people astray and cloud the eyes of the virtuous public. It's sad state of affairs, but it's devastating when the victim is someone like [Y/N].”

“What have you done with [Y/N]?!” Malleus's powerful voice demands to know.

“For now, I am keeping them safe. But once I engulf the world in the fiery crimson of these flowers and strip every mage in Twisted Wonderland of their magic, then I will have saved them, and all those like them who suffer at your hands!”

“You have no idea of the atrocity you are insinuating, Flamme!” Not only does Malleus’s voice thunder, but the sky outside does too.

“And there he is, folks! The secret mastermind who was controlling the ‘final boss’ all along!” Idia says. “But what kind of mastermind jumps the gun and shows up this early? Dude has like, zero patience.”

“Could you not right now? You're ruining the moment.” Azul complains.

The discussion continues with Rollo revealing that his plan is already well underway. When the Bell of Solace rang for an unprecedented fourth time that night, it suffused the city with magic. The firelotuses aren't only in the school. They've spread throughout the city, and are sapping the energy from every mage living there. And after that, he opens the floor for everyone to fall into a pit.

“And those accursed mages, with Malleus Draconia foremost among them... They'll all be finished! Enjoy your time down below. Though I think you'll find it quite...draining. At long last... I shall finally mete out my justice.”

Some time later, the door opens and Rollo enters, extending his hand to you.

“Come. We must go to the Bell Tower. It is safer-”

What he didn't expect was for you to attack him with a tall candlestick. And you discover that in addition to being a promising mage, he also has excellent reflexes. He manages to dodge your attack and grab your wrists so you let go of the candlestick.

“I do not aim to harm you!” He says very seriously. “Please don't turn it into something I have to do.”

“Then what are you doing locking me here?”

“Preventing you from falling for the tricks of those magic-addled fools once again.” He comes closer, still grabbing you by the wrists. “You poor thing. Blinded by villains who wear an elusive mask of companions. But worry not, that tragic state of affairs shan't last much longer.” He brings his face even closer to yours. “Now, I will provide you with a choice. You will accompany me peacefully to the Bell Tower, where you will be safe by my side. Or you will make me forcefully assure your safety. Which one will be?”

If you choose to resist, Rollo will pin your arm behind your back again and place a handkerchief over your mouth and nose. Whatever is in that handkerchief, will render you unconscious. And you will wake up on the top floor of the Bell Tower, lying on a blanket.

You see Rollo with his back to you, looking down at the bright scarlet below. You stand up.

“For the Righteous Judge's sake, don't try to go against me again.” Rollo says, without turning to you. “Even without the use of my magic you will not be able to overpower me.” Still without taking his eyes off the outside he calms down to invite you. “Would you be so kind as to join me in gazing out over the city?”

If you choose to accompany him peacefully to the Bell Tower, Rollo will release your wrists with a smile and give you his arm for you to intertwine with yours.

“I'm glad my judgment of you is aligning with the truth.” He says calmly as he guides. “To remain so virtuous amidst the chaos of magic, you must surely be one of heaven's lights.” You see now a new smile, a peaceful one.

The climb up the tower was silent, as you needed to breathe to climb all those stairs. When you finally reach the top, Rollo extends his hand to you. If you give him yours, he will guide you like a gentleman to a point where you can both see the ominously lit city below.

After your choice:

“Ahh, the city's turned a marvelous shade of crimson... How cleansing it is. I've never felt so at peace before.”

“Why are you doing this, Rollo?”

“Once magic vanish from the world forever, no one will have to suffer with its consequences. Magic is not something to be lionized. It is an evil temptation that, behind its illusory wonders, only causes pain and suffering. If it wasn't dangerous, it wouldn't be like a toxin in your body... However... I wonder how much you actually know about it.”

You look at him as if to ask what he means by that.

“Are you even from this world [Y/N]?” He finally looks at you. “I don't know what it is, but there's something about you that's different from every non-magic user I've ever met. And the circumstances surrounding you are quite... abnormal.”

You choose not to respond.

“I see you have your secrets. I have mine owns as well." He takes his handkerchief to his face. "If you don't feel comfortable talking about your past, then allow me the right not to talk about mine either.”

He puts the handkerchief back in his pocket, and you observe the city in silence for a moment, until he speaks again.

“They will come here. I don't know which students will be strong enough to reach the tower, but Malleus Draconia will certainly be one of those who will be able to reach me. And when that happens, I will guarantee that he will be the first to fall.”

“Why all this obsession with Tsunotarou?”

“Obsession is a very strong word, I simply...” He stops to process what you just said. “I beg your pardon, but am I correct in assuming you were referring to Malleus Draconia just now?”

“Of course, he was who you were talking about just... Oh, I called him Tsunotarou didn't I? Sorry. But yes, I was talking about Malleus.”

“T-Tsunotarou?” He takes the handkerchief back to his face. “Is it some kind of mocking nickname?”

“No! I mean yes, it's a nickname, but no, it's not to mock him. It's a long story but that's what Grim and I call him.”

“Does he know about this... name?”

“Oh, yes. He even likes me calling him by that, he thinks it's funny. Or at least that's what it seams. He smiles every time he hears me say that name.” Just like you were smiling talking about him. “He calls me Child of Man.”

“You have a playful nickname for each other.” Rollo whispers with the handkerchief covering his angry (jealous) expression. “Soon enough you'll feel disgusted by it.”

“Sorry, I didn't understand.”

“No, nothing. Pay me no mind.” He takes the handkerchief away from his mouth. “Ah... I hear the firelotuses rustling... Those wretched Night Raven College mages are making their way up the tower, aren't they? Villains are always so stubborn.” Before you could complain about his words, he puts his hand on your arm and continues. “I must get you in a safer place. Those monsters won't give up without a fight.”

“Who do you think we’re calling-”

He ignores your reprimand and takes you by the arm to a small room that they will not have access to without first going through Rollo.

“I am deeply sorry for what I'm about to do, but I need to make sure you do not alert them to your location.” With his magic, he makes ropes appear to tie you up and a piece of cloth to silence you. “See how despicable magic is? An atrocity like trapping you is completed in seconds. But I will release you as soon as the danger has passed.” And he closes the door.

“Here we are.” You hear Malleus’s voice. “The very top floor of the bell tower.”

“The Bell of Solace stands out even at night.” Azul comments. “Look how it glints in the moonlight.”

“Now to ring it, wipe out the flowers, rescue [Y/N] and finish this stupid pop-up quest for good.” Idia points out.

“But to do that...” Malleus returns. “We must first pay our respects to the host of the party.”

This was Rollo's cue to reveal himself. Which he does.

“At long last, you've arrived. The greater the villains, the more they insist on stopping around. Deplorable.”

“Where are they Flamme?” Malleus demands to know.

“Safe, of course, away from you and your wicked lies.”

“Okay, I really need to ask.” Idia says. “What does our magic-less Prefect have to do with this flower plan and ending magic thing? Why kidnap them? They have no power to stop you. Unless you kidnapped them to keep them for yourself. Good taste tho. But you only met them literally today! That’s like the ultimate desperate creep move.”

“My actions involving your Prefect have nothing to do with personal motives. Innocent victims must be rescued from your evil hands! And that is exactly what I did.”

“I don't know if you would use the word ‘Innocent’ like that if you actually knew them.” Azul comments with a smirk.

“If this is true, it will be proof of your corruption!”

The flowers reach the bell and the exchange of words follows a course that ends with the three fighting Rollo after Malleus said:

“Regardless of your reasons, you will not have your way. I shall stop you for all the fallen in this city... For the wonderful person you kidnapped... For the people awaiting us at school... For Briar Valley... And for myself. You see, I harbor a particularly potent animus toward you. A feeling aggravated by the disrespectful actions you had towards who is dearest to me. I shall eradicate the firelotuses and put all to rights. With the Bell of Solace itself!”

They lose the first fight against Rollo. And it's after that that Idia reveals what they read in Rollo's diary that they found in the fireplace. About his brother. About him not being able to do anything to save him... And you hear Idia going down a not so empathetic path, to which you would react with a facepalm if your hands weren't tied.

You hear Rollo getting angry and starting to lose his composure, Azul attacking him with Deuce's signature spell, with whom he had made a deal, the astonished reaction when seeing that Rollo is still standing, and finally, you hear Rollo use his signature spell and the sound of flames bursting forth.

A new fight, even more violent, until the sound of the flames died away and...

“Rollo collapsed, and his flames went out...” Azul says. “That means Malleus won, right?”

“Dude, Malleus is out of breath.” Idia says “I can see why he wanted us clear. We could've easily been collateral damage.”

Rollo says he accepted his defeat, but only to try to attack Malleus one last time when he turned his back on him. He failed, and Malleus rang the Bell of Solace, making all the flowers wither.

“The firelotuses...” Rollo was sobbing. “My flowers, my salvation, they're all withering away... You VILLAINS. What have you done?!”

“More important than that.” Malleus approached, his figure towering over Rollo's on the ground. “What have YOU done to [Y/N]?”

“Why do you show yourself so worried? A being like you would never truly care for someone like them. Admit your true intentions! You want to see them suffer on the long term.”

You finally manage to get your feet close to the door. You hear the worried voices of Azul and Idia telling Malleus not to succumb to Rollo's provocations. And you knock on the door with your feet so they can hear you.

You hear hurried footsteps coming your way, see Malleus opening the door, and look down in horror.

“[Y/N]!” He quickly reaches down to free you, breaking the ropes with his own hands and untying the piece of cloth around your mouth. He would have preferred to use magic to ensure he didn't hurt you, but he was relatively weak in that regard. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

You say you're fine, but that doesn't stop Malleus from picking you up in his arms.

“Is [Y/N] hurt?!” Azul asked, worried.

“They say they're fine. But just in case.”

“Something tells me that Malleus just really wanted to live the scene of the hero who picks up the princess in their arms after saving her from the clutches of the villain who kidnapped her.” Idia comments, just between him and Azul. “Hey, no judgments. This is what I call sense of opportunity.”

Rollo was furious, but he would never admit how jealous he was. Not even to himself.

You watched the shows that your NRC colleagues prepared. The music was beautiful and they sang so well! Especially Malleus. After that, you all talked for a bit in a group before Malleus disappeared. Only for you to see him dance with Rollo. Seriously? All that and he's still going to dance with Rollo before he dances with you?!

You dance with the others, until Malleus appears to bow to you and invite you to dance with him. However, to his surprise, you look sullen.

“Is there something wrong?” He asks you. “Did I do something that displeased you?”

You answer yes, that after everything, the first person he danced with was Rollo. He chuckles, and you get even more sulky.

“Forgive me, but I could not resist provoking Flamme one last time. That, and warn him never to even come near you again.” He says with a smile, which makes it a little scary. “I jest. Well, partially. I did threaten him if he did anything to you again.” He pauses to see if you would cheer up a bit, but you still didn't seem completely satisfied. He smirks. “I must admit, a little jealousy can actually be charming and cute.”

Other people wanted to dance with Malleus, but he asked them all to, please, wait a little longer.

“You are creating a quite long waiting line you know? I will not dance with anyone else until I have my desired dance with my beloved.” He smiles smugly when he sees your reaction.

You give him your hand, he kisses the back of it and brings your body closer to his, placing his other hand on your waist. And you dance together.

“Please be careful.” He says as you dance. You look down at your feet, confused. “Fufu. No my dear, I wasn't referring to your dancing.” The sweet smile becomes more serious. “I was referring to Rollo Flamme. I have reason to believe that, after just one day, he has already recognized your charm. He does not convince me that he did that to you just because he believed he was saving you. But worse than that...”

His expression turns sad and you feel his hand pull you closer.

“He still have hatred towards me and wants to get read of all the mages. Under different circumstances, I would not fear his attacks. I would even invite him to try. But with you... If he realizes how much you mean to me... Despite what happened, I don't believe he has that kind of character, but if he reaches a state of despair where his hatred for me is stronger than the attachment he might feel for you...”

There’s a pause. His expression becomes more peaceful.

“I learned an expression that the citizens here have. Heaven's Light. We don't know what this place called heaven is for sure, but according to some records from the past, it would have been such a wonderful place that it was not even located on land. It was somewhere above the clouds. I believe even the stories of the Lord of the Underworld spoke of a similar place. They say that the name ‘Heaven's Light’ was given by the Kindly Bell Ringer to the woman he fell in love with, for being such a caring and kind person to him.”

He caresses your cheek with one of his hands.

“I understand him perfectly. From the story I was told, I can only believe that I too was blessed with my own Heaven's Light. And just like the Kindly Bell Ringer, I will do whatever it takes to protect it.”

You didn't even realize that Malleus has led you to a more secluded place. Only when you saw that the two were hidden by the shadows and a pillar and he began to bring his face closer to yours. “My Heaven's Light.” He whispers before kissing you.

After your dance with Malleus, he went to dance with the other people who also wanted such an honor and you went to dance with some of your other colleagues.

You were finishing dancing with Sebek when Rollo approached you. Both you and he startled when Sebek quickly placed himself between the two of you.

“What are your intentions?” Sebek inquired with hostility.

“My intentions are not vile.” Rollo replies, hiding his displeasure at the way Sebek is talking to him with his composure. “I would only like to be able to invite [Y/N] to dance.”

“I cannot allow it! My orders are to keep this human safe and away from you.”

Rollo takes his handkerchief to his face, holding back the urge to respond to his audacity and insulting words. However, you tell Sebek that it's okay and that you would like to accept Rollo's invitation. Both he and Sebek are surprised.

“B-but...” He had those sad puppy eyes, eager to fulfil his duty. “My liege told me... he entrusted me to protect you.”

And you say he can still do it. He can watch you while you dance with Rollo. And if something really happens, he can intervene.

“But what if it's too late?”

You say that Rollo wouldn't do anything like that in front of all those people. And that Sebek could tell Malleus that it was your fault for telling him not to stop you.

“But... *sigh* Why are you humans so stubborn? Fine. But I won't take my eyes off you. Even if I have to stop myself from blinking!... Be careful.”

Rollo extends his hand to you and you place yours in his to accept his invitation to dance. He guides you very gently.

“I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you.” He tells you while dancing with you. “I never meant to be rude to you. And regardless of what the students of Night Raven College tell you, at no point did I intend to harm you.” Your expression shows your suspicion. “I don't intend to apologize for doing what I concluded was the best way to save you at the time. I only apologize for the... atrocious way in which I did it. I shouldn't have forced you to come with me. But I feared what those spiteful mages might do to you in a moment of desperation.”

“They wouldn't hurt me!” You say, with certainty in your voice.

“How could you be so sure of that?”

“Because, unlike you, I know them.”

He looks you intently in the eyes, and sighs. The music comes to an end, as does your dance. You bow to each other.

“I find it pitiful seeing someone magic-devoid like you stuck in that villains' lair.” He tells you when you both straighten up. “I am inclined to make my utmost efforts to have you reside in Nobel Bell College instead, however I've already come to the sorrowful realization that it is your heart that keeps you hostage in that island. But before we part, I insist that you know that if you ever find yourself overwhelmed by those circumstances that involve magic, do let me know.” He gives you that subtle smile of his. “I will be glad to provide you with my support and assistance at any moment.”

You give him a smile back, accepting his offer.

“But, just to guarantee that you don't forget my heartfelt offering...” He reaches into his pocket, takes out his handkerchief and extends it to you. “Here it is said that handkerchiefs are powerful guardians of the memories of a loved one. It is common to offer them when we don't want to be forgotten by someone. Despite my mistakes, I would still like you to have the most pleasant memory of me possible." You accept his gift. "I confess that my biggest wish at the moment was to have one of yours too.” Without his handkerchief, he covers his mouth with his hand. “But that is just a mere whim of mine.” He takes his hand away from his face and smiles again “Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would have so much pleasure in meeting someone from Night Raven College.” He gives you one last bow. “May the Bell of Solace allow our paths to cross again.”

He turned to walk away, but you wanted to do one last thing. You had also bought a handkerchief just like his when you were doing your tour of the city, and you wouldn't need two. You ask him to wait and he turns back to you.

“It doesn't have to be a mere whim.” You say, handing him the handkerchief you had kept with you. Perhaps the sign of a second chance.

He receives your handkerchief and looked at it with his natural smile, but his eyes were different, they had a small, almost imperceptible sparkle.

“I will keep it as one of my most cherished possessions. Thank you, [Y/N].”

“Should I assume this was some sort of revenge?” You hear Malleus's voice say suddenly as you step away from the dancing crowd.

You didn't know he was there, and so close. You look at him and he's smiling wryly.

“I didn't give him any gifts, though. Should I have bought a souvenir too? Perhaps make a bouquet of those crimson flowers he is so fond of.”

“It seems you were right, Tsunotarou.” You say with a sly smile. “A little jealousy can actually be charming and cute.”

Malleus makes that cute pout.

“I told you to be careful.” He says, not as a scolding, but as a concerned request.

You tell him that nothing bad happened, that Rollo wanted to apologize for what he did to you and for him not to blame Sebek because you were the one who accepted Rollo's invitation.

“Don't worry, I know Sebek is a loyal guard. And that you are the one with a kind heart. I told Sebek that I believed him when he told me that it was of your own free will that you were dancing with Flamme. It is in your character to give others the opportunity to explain and apologize. I know this well because it's one of the things I love most about you.” His pout comes back. “However...” He smiles smugly. “I would be more reassured if you spend the rest of the ball close to me. Just in case.”

“Just in case of what, exactly?” You ask.

“Just in case someone else becomes so captivated by you that they want to lock you up in a tower. Which reminds me that in some tales the kidnapper arrange a dragoon to guard the kidnapped.” His smile becomes even more smug and slightly threatening. “Fu fu fu. I would like to see them trying.”

If you would like to read more from me, you can find it in my pinned post: INDEX

#Twisted Wonderland #Twst #Twisted Wonderland x Reader #Twst x Reader #Twst Imagines #Malleus Draconia #Malleus Draconia x Reader #Rollo Flamme #Rollo Flamme x Reader #Glorious Masquerade #Twst Glorious Masquerade #Twisted Wonderland Glorious Masquerade #Twst Halloween

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rainydetectiveglitter · 3 months ago

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Where You’ll Bore People Based on Your Taurus Placements 🐂💤

In my opinion, Taurus is the most boring sign. I’ve got the stories to back it up. One time, a Taurus Sun coworker spent what felt like hours telling the office about how she came up with the name for her son. She went on and on, and after all that drama, the name she picked? Michael. Yep. Michael. Everyone in the office was so disappointed. You could feel the collective "meh" from the room. 😐 I dated a Taurus once, and I swear—he was freaky and boring. He’d try to bring in spontaneity, but it was so forced. I can’t even explain how he managed to make the freaky stuff feel dull. 🤷🏽‍♀️ I’m a Taurus Moon myself, and I definitely bore people with my emotions. I’ll start diving deep into my feelings and everyone’s just kinda like… can we not? I feel it, but I can’t help it. 😅 A Taurus 11th House friend stuck to their toxic friends, no matter how bad things get, because it's familiar to them. You still talk to these people? 10 years later? Boring. Your circles stay the same. People and friendships that drain you, but at least you know what you’re getting? 🥴 So, let’s talk about where you might bore people based on your Taurus placements:

Taurus in the 1st House: You’re all about your routines and comfort zones. You take things slow and steady, which sounds good on paper, but it can come off as predictable and a little uninspired. People might find your vibe calming, but it’s not exactly something that sparks excitement. Your ability to stay grounded is admirable, but when you’re too comfortable, it feels like you’re stuck in place. 🤐

Taurus in the 2nd House: You’re focused on your material world, whether it’s your money, your possessions, or your values. Conversations with you might revolve around what you own or how you’re securing your future. While stability is great, people might start zoning out when all you can talk about is your latest purchase or your routine financial goals. It’s comfortable, but not thrilling. 😴

Taurus in the 3rd House: Your communication is reliable, but it’s also a bit repetitive. You’ll stick to familiar topics and tend to circle back to the same ideas. It’s easy for you to fall into a pattern, but that doesn’t always keep things fresh for your audience. You’re not really into shocking people with new thoughts or taking conversations into unpredictable directions. Instead, you’re happy with what you know, even if it doesn’t get anyone excited. 🗣️

Taurus in the 4th House: Home is your sanctuary, and you thrive in stable, familiar environments. You love routine and sticking to what you know best. While this is comforting, it can also make you come off as someone who’s unwilling to step outside of their bubble. You prefer the predictable comforts of home over spontaneous adventures, and while that works for you, it might bore others who crave excitement and change. 🏡

Taurus in the 5th House: Romance and creativity are important to you, but your approach is a little too safe and steady for some. You don’t take many risks in love, and while you’re loyal, you’re not the most exciting partner. Your creative endeavors tend to stick to what you know, and there’s not much room for surprises or risk-taking. That comfort zone might keep you from exploring new ideas or experiencing the thrill that others look for in love or art. 🎨

Taurus in the 6th House: Routines, routines, routines. Work, work, work. You thrive when you’re able to stick to a structured plan, and your focus on productivity can be admirable. But people around you may get bored when all you talk about is how you’re getting things done or what’s next on your to-do list or work. There’s not much room for spontaneity or risk in your day-to-day life, and when you’re stuck in your groove, others might find it hard to break out of the monotony with you. 📝

Taurus in the 7th House: Relationships are important to you, but your need for stability and predictability can make you a little too comfortable in them. You value loyalty, but sometimes that leads you to stick around in relationships that no longer bring you joy or growth. You’re not one to rock the boat, and while that’s great for consistency, it can make things feel stale and stagnant. People may get bored with how little you change in your partnerships. ❤️

Taurus in the 8th House: You’ve got deep, intense emotions, but your need to control them can sometimes make those feelings feel a little... heavy. You’re not the type to share things easily, so when you do, it can come off as too much. Instead of letting go and allowing for emotional depth to flow freely, you try to keep it grounded, which can drain the energy from what should be transformative moments. People might find your emotional world hard to tap into. 🔒

Taurus in the 9th House: You’re someone who likes to stay in familiar territories, even when it comes to your belief system or philosophy. While others are exploring new ideas, you might cling to your tried-and-true mindset. You’re not one to shake up your worldview, and while that can be a source of comfort, it doesn’t exactly make for exciting conversations or experiences. You may bore others by resisting new ideas or avoiding risks when it comes to personal growth. 🌍

Taurus in the 10th House: You’re practical, reliable, and focused on achieving your long-term goals. But your need for stability and control can make your career or public image feel a little too predictable. While consistency is key to your success, it can make you come off as unexciting, especially to those who crave something more dynamic. People might get the feeling that you’re too focused on safety and not enough on taking risks or embracing new opportunities. 🏆

Taurus in the 11th House: You’re loyal to your circle, but your need for familiarity can keep you stuck in relationships that no longer serve you. You might find it hard to let go of old friends or groups, even when they’ve become toxic or stagnant. This tendency to cling to the past can bore others, as it’s hard to spark new energy when you're constantly returning to what's comfortable and familiar, even if it no longer brings growth or joy. 👯‍♀️

Taurus in the 12th House: You’re a little secretive and tend to retreat inward, keeping things to yourself. Your need for privacy makes it hard for others to really know you, and when they try, you may push them away. While you're introspective and deep, people might find it hard to keep up with your mysterious energy. Your tendency to withdraw when things get heavy can make you seem distant, and as much as you value your inner world, others might find it hard to stay engaged with you. 🕊️

So yeah, Taurus placements can make you steady, reliable, and comfortable but sometimes, that comes off as boring. Embrace the stability, but maybe try adding a little unpredictability for fun. 😉

#taurus placements #taurus moon #taurus rising #taurus #taurus houses #astrology #astro community #astro notes #astro observations

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strawberriesandhotmen · 2 months ago

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Leather, Whiskey, and Pine

a/n: Y’all. Y’all. The short amount of time in which I wrote this actually does boggle my mind, but I’m so obsessed with it and I can’t wait to hear what y’all think. I love, love, love this Pedro character and I’ve been wanting to write about him for a while. I really tried to give y’all a lot of content for this one because I was putting a lot of effort into every aspect of it, so I hope y’all enjoy. This one’s for you baby @burguesinha24

pairing: dbf!Joel Miller x fem!reader

CW +18 smut: swearing, girthy age gap (reader is legal at all times i repeat at all times and Joel is like late forties idk imagine what you will), LOTS OF TENSION AND BUILD UP, oral (f!recieving), unprotected piv, Joel is like a mild perv here but we’re not judging because we accept it from him (be a perv it’s ok bb), the reader is pretty down bad but basically yeah valid in all ways

word count: 4.3 k

Leather, whiskey, and pine.

Three things, the sense of which that were so distinctly his.

Who would’ve thought that the combination of such vastly separate things could become so addicting, so intoxicating?

Your fall from grace wasn’t quite planned; how could it have been? There was no way to predict that your family would move halfway across the country to Texas, or that your dad would become so uncharacteristically close with the first neighbor who introduced himself, or that the neighbor would be him.

Joel.

You were only seventeen when you first met him, when you first shook his hand, when you first looked into his eyes, when you first heard his voice. He had been so polite, so respectful, a quality you had come to resent whenever it came from him.

He had hosted a barbeque to welcome your family to the neighborhood; it was so cliche, but oh, how you had enjoyed it. And oh, how he had enjoyed that little sundress you wore. Joel was beyond professional the entire time, aggravatingly so, and you regrettably missed the subtle glances he would send your way every now and then. He knew it was wrong, so taboo, but he couldn’t help himself.

You were the equivalent of heaven on earth.

Rather conversely, he didn’t miss the way your pretty eyes grazed over his broad shoulders, never failing to linger a moment longer than they should on the zipper of his jeans. It was sinful, how deceptively innocent you looked. Your childlike enthusiasm never failed to amuse him, your doe eyes sparking some very interesting thoughts.

He almost hated himself for the way he silently objectified you, but he couldn’t. How could he? If someone like you was so entranced by him, there must be something worthwhile.

Pathetic.

Joel was a grown ass man. Generously old enough to be your father, with a year or two left over. All the better, in your mind, but it was torture for Joel. Knowing a pretty young thing like you wanted him like that and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it? No, that knowledge was hell on earth.

It was at one of the many parties your father hosted where you first touched Joel. And not in a simple way, or with a silly handshake. No, it was intimate. At least, the two of you thought so.

He had come into the kitchen while the others were occupied with the football game, catching you in the unfortunate act of sneaking a swig of Tito’s from the cabinet. Rookie mistake, to be sure, risking a drink when anyone could walk in. Rather than guilt, you felt as though the Fates had smiled down at you when Joel strolled in.

He had raised an eyebrow at you, his chocolate brown eyes flickering to the bottle in your hand, likely moments away from being refilled with water. You had bitten your lip, feigning worry and quickly shoving the bottle back into the cabinet. You had stepped closer, peering up at him through those damned eyes of yours.

“You won’t tell, Joel, will you?” Your voice had sounded so sweet, so blameless, but he steeled himself against your whispered words. What kind of friend would he be if he let his best friend’s daughter get away with this? Yes, he had momentarily chosen to ignore the rampant lustful thoughts he had about you on a daily basis.

“Ain’t right, sweetheart.” He had mumbled in his southern drawl, the last word flowing off his tongue so sweetly you could swear he was made of honey. “S’a bad habit.” You could’ve rolled your eyes at his poor attempt to discipline you, but you chose a different route. You raised your delicate, manicured hand to grasp his forearm, leaning in closer.

“Please, Joel?” And fuck, the sight of you pleading for him like that? The only thing missing was you on your knees. He couldn’t possibly deny you your secret now, not with how you were looking at him so desperately. It was feigned, of course; like you gave a shit if your parents found out. But him; you gave a shit for him.

With a defeated sigh and a soft smile, Joel took a swig from the bottle himself before handing it over to you. He leaned in close, his lips millimeters away from the shell of your ear as his hand rested gently on your exposed shoulder.

“Ain’t right, what you do to me.” You shivered at his wholly inappropriate words with wholly inappropriate connotations, blinking once or twice as he walked away to be sure you weren’t dreaming. While there was no real way to explain away what he had said, your mind damn well tried.

He was just kidding, he was being facetious, that jokester. If you could’ve thought of another synonym for ‘joking,’ you would’ve used it. As much as you wanted your deepest desires to come true, your greater desire happened to be not entirely embarrassing yourself by misinterpretation.

The following weeks turned into months, which soon turned into a year. You were finally off to college, which regrettably led you away from Joel. It’s for the best, you thought, deceiving yourself once again into believing you miraculously misinterpreted every glance, every linger of his touch, everything.

Despite every bit of judgement shoving you in the other direction, you had made the poor decision to invite Joel to your graduation party. Your dad would be there, so it couldn’t seem too weird, right?

Right?

You had convinced yourself of it either way, slipping into the shortest dress you owned under the ceremonious robes. The heels you had chosen elongated your legs just enough, the curls in your hair perfectly framing your face. God, you were so desperate for him.

This time, you hadn’t blindly missed the way his gaze lingered on your accentuated calves, or the way he had kept shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Maybe jeans weren’t the best choice, he had thought to himself. An unfortunate lack of forethought on his part.

He had felt as though the party would never end, forced to watch you laugh and dance with you friends, looking so pretty when you smiled. He had snuck out after a while onto the balcony, leaning against the railing with a glass of whiskey in his hand. He had needed air, and appropriate space from you.

Rather unluckily, you had somehow wandered to that very place of respite, finding your place beside him against the railing.

“Party too much for you, old man?” You had teased playfully, nudging his shoulder with your own. He let out a scoff at your would-be insult, unable to fight back the amused smile pulling on his lips.

“You underestimate me, sweetheart.” That sexy southern drawl of his mixed with those words had your stomach fluttering, and you even grasped the rail a little tighter.

“Do I?” You had stepped closer, your upper arm now pressed against his. Tease, he had thought. You knew exactly what you were doing. He grunted in acknowledgement, not trusting himself to speak when you looked like that.

Your plump, pink lips slightly parted, your eyes a little wide as you stared up at him, a strand of hair or two out of place across your forehead.

Before he could stop himself, his calloused hand was already tucking that strand back into place behind your ear, the pad of his finger trailing down to the crook of your neck. You involuntarily shivered at his touch, earning a pleased smirk from him.

Damn my responsiveness, you had thought to yourself. In a shred of buzzed courage, you mimicked his actions, allowing your finger to rest in the same place on him. You smiled triumphantly as he reacted in the same way.

Parallels, parallels, parallels.

A thought had popped into your head; a bad one. You knew it would be wrong to actually ask something of him, especially given the very specific circumstances you found yourselves in, but it had seemed as though it couldn’t be helped. Looking back, it could have. You could have stopped yourself, using a rare opportunity to exercise better judgement, but instead you employed the progressive philosophy that had worked for you thus far.

Fuck it.

“Joel?” You had hummed sweetly, tearing your eyes away from where you were still touching him to meet his gaze. His breath hitched at the look in your eyes; so innocent, but so full of something he couldn’t quite place. He had mimicked your hum, words failing him as he urged you to continue.

“I…” You had hesitated, suddenly increasingly unsure of yourself. Swallowing thickly, you steeled yourself under his knee-weakening gaze and took your chance. “I want you to kiss me.”

If Joel had been taking a drink at that moment, he would’ve choked. Those words were the last things he expected to fly out of your mouth so immediately, almost casually. But you were feeling anything but casual. If anything, you felt as though your panties might vanish by the very look he was giving you.

Before he could snap himself out of his state of disbelief, you shifted your hand to grasp his forearm, your eyes now filled with something akin to urgency.

Desperation.

“I’ve never kissed anyone, Joel, and I…” You swallowed thickly. “I want you to be my first.” You could’ve cringed visibly at the ridiculous words you had just spoken, but upon seeing Joel’s reaction, you realized he might not have had the same impression.

He looked flustered.

“Sweetheart, I-” You cut him off, placing a finger to his lips to silence him. It was his turn to shiver at your touch.

“Please, Joel.” Jesus Christ, those words. Those same words you had whispered to him a year ago, and how he had longed to hear them again. You were breaking him, his resolve slowly crumbling. He fought with himself internally, and you could see the gears turning behind those deep brown eyes. He wanted to, God, he needed to, but he couldn’t.

It was wrong.

In this case, too wrong for him to come to terms with at that moment.

He had taken an uncertain step backward, your hand falling to your side as he put the distance between you.

“Have fun at college, darlin’.” He rasped, sounding as though he were talking through a lump in his throat. “We’ll miss ya’.” He whispered the last part, and you could swear you heard a sniffle as he walked away. And with only a few simple words, the man you had wanted for the past year of your life had broken your heart.

He had broken you.

In the months that followed, you soon found that college life bored you. At no parties, in no friendships, during no meaningless flings could you find what you had felt with Joel. What you had felt just by being in his mere presence was something no boy could give you, and you came to realize no other man could, either.

Tiny, insignificant memories of him had begun to fade into the background, new and equally insignificant experiences and people taking over the place in your mind he had once dominated. It was more a forced forgettance, to be sure, not really a natural occurrence. Nothing you did could ever truly get rid of Joel; no, he always lingered in your thoughts, in your heart that you had since glued back together.

No mindless, useless sex or nameless guy above you could make you forget him, the smell of him, the feel of him. Ironically, you nearly did forget he would be there when you returned home from the summer, partially due to him purposefully ‘missing’ visits during holidays.

He had avoided them at all costs. After all, how could he face you after that night? He had turned down the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, who had conveniently, metaphorically fallen at his very feet. He was an idiot, and he knew it. He assumed you did too.

And that is why it was such a shock when you finally did see him at the ‘welcome home’ party your parents had thrown for you. That is why your heart nearly beat out of your chest at the sight of his rolled up sleeves, those beautifully defined forearms, his greying beard and soft curls atop his head, his fucking eyes.

Whoever said that brown eyes are the worst color can park their foot up their ass because it’s a damn lie.

You suddenly felt self conscious about your outfit choice, all for nought as it fully grabbed Joel’s attention. The sight of your fucking ass in those jean shorts could’ve made him bust then and there, but he had a little more class than that.

A little.

You had reduced him to the likes of a pervy (perfectly welcome) teenage boy, holding a pillow over his lap on the couch to obstruct anyone’s view of his painful hard-on. And God, when you walked up to him as you adjusted the strap of that little tank top, he thought he could die. He almost wanted to when your eyes flickered to the frilly pillow he was squeezing the life out of.

“Hey, Joel. It’s been a long time.” Shit, your smile. You were effortlessly pretty, and he was convinced you would never know how much. You couldn’t, because it was practically blinding.

“Hey yourself, sweetheart.” Your knees nearly buckled at the tilted smile on his face, but you narrowly managed to keep your composure. Since you could tell he wouldn’t be standing any time soon, you plopped on the couch next to him, bouncing up slightly as the cushion springs gave way. Clearing his throat, Joel forced himself to speak.

“How’s college treatin’ ya’?” He drawled smoothly, fighting against all odds to keep his eyes from trailing down to your cleavage.

Fuck, I should be institutionalized, he thought.

“It’s…different, I suppose.” You shrugged casually, leaning into the plush cushion against your back.

“How so?” He rasped, clearing his throat awkwardly. You were too entranced by his sizable hands and thick fingers to notice.

“Well, I guess it’s quite like high school except…bigger?” Idiot. Dumb, stupid, moron. Why couldn’t you talk to him? Everything used to be so easy between the two of you, and you supposed you had ruined it that night.

Unfortunate.

He let out a little laugh, distracting himself from his own awkwardness by focusing on yours. It was cute when it was you. Before you had time to talk any longer, a friend called you away, forcing you to excuse yourself in the manner you least wanted to. You wanted to stay. You wanted to stay with him.

It wasn’t until an hour later when you both found yourselves on that same balcony, staring at the same stars you had been a year ago.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Your voice was airy, gentle, almost wistful as you gazed at the twinkles in the sky. He smiled, nodding in agreement, his eyes anywhere but the stars.

He was looking at you.

“Stunning.” He muttered the word so quietly that you almost didn’t hear it. Almost. You decided to refrain from teasing him about his obvious behavior, at least for the time being. He was making you feel too many things all at once.

Heartbreak, joy, melancholy, desire.

A comfortable silence fell over the two of you as you leaned over the railing, still admiring the view you found to be so peaceful. You had never been truly uncomfortable around Joel. Flustered, surely, but never uneasy. It wasn’t possible.

“Hope you don’t mind me sayin’ this, darlin’, but…” He hesitated, his eyes flickering between yours. His voice dropped a pitch as he continued, subconsciously leaning closer. “You look real pretty tonight.” A blush spread across your cheeks like wildfire, and you spared a look down at your lacking outfit. Before you could reject the complement, he shook his head, silencing your unspoken rebuttal with just one look.

“Real pretty.” Your lips parted as your breath hitched, and you could feel the sincerity in his eyes. He always meant what he said, even if he didn’t always say what he wanted.

Looking at you, Joel’s resolve was quickly fading into the background, the sight of you staring up at him so innocently stirring something dangerous inside him. He was preparing to abandon every boundary he had set that night, without a care in the world for what the consequences might be.

“Joel-” The very instant that his whispered name left your perfect lips, that was it. You had now broken him as he had broken you. Utterly and completely. It wasn’t a moment before he was on you, pinning you against the railing with his hands on your hips, his lips on yours.

Your first kiss.

Sure, you had been with some of the guys at college, but you had maintained one standard rule. No kissing. It was completely pathetic, to be sure, but in this moment you praised whatever higher power there was that you had the foresight to stick with it. This made it all worth it, every disgusted sneer, every joke made in poor taste, every insult.

He was worth it.

You hadn’t expected your first kiss to be so climactic, or so genuinely pivotal. But it truly felt like fireworks the moment he pressed his mouth to yours, your lips moving in tandem to create a perfect rhythm. Your fingers tangled in his curls, tugging lightly as he pressed his body so close to yours that you thought you might become one.

He pulled back for a split second, only for air, before cupping the back of your head and diving in with more passion than before. He let his tongue glide over your bottom lip, taking advantage of the gasp it earned him and sliding his tongue into your mouth. Yours tangled with his, trapped in a beautiful dance that you never wanted to end. You wanted to stay like this forever.

You pulled away this time, panting heavily and staring up at him with half-lidded eyes.

“You really like kissing.” You pointed out stupidly, metaphorically drunkenly, toying with the bit of hair at the nape of his neck. He huffed out an amused laugh, running a hand through his mussed curls.

“I really like kissin’ you, baby.” He cruelly didn’t allow you time to process those poetic words before he was on you again, hauling you to sit atop the railing as he moved in between your thighs. And you could see, or rather, feel, that he really did like kissing you, as if he couldn't survive one more moment apart from your lips.

In a blissful moment of peace, with just him against you, you could sense those three things again.

Leather, whiskey, and pine.

The leather of his jacket under your fingertips, the whiskey on his tongue as it swirled with yours, the pine that just was embedded in him.

It was just Joel.

When you both realized you couldn’t go any farther on the very exposed balcony, he whisked you inside of your bedroom, gingerly setting you atop the frilly sheets that had been there since you left last fall. He finally allowed his lips to grant you attention elsewhere, to press open mouthed pecks to the soft skin of your neck, moving down to your collarbone, and then your chest. He undressed you with so much care it was as if lust wasn’t even a factor, as if he was doing it for you.

He let out a muffled moan against your neck as he felt your hands on his chest, sneaking under his shirt before you removed it completely. You marveled at the way his muscled chest heaved with each pant, at the way his biceps flexed as he hovered above you. He was so perfect.

Within minutes you were both bare for each other, Joel’s eyes blown wide as they landed on the space between your thighs. He thought you were perfect.

“God, baby, you’re so pretty.” He breathed, settling himself between your thighs in a trance, hooking your legs over his shoulders. You clutched the sheets beneath you in anticipation, letting your head fall back onto the pillow. When his lips met your core, you let out a breathy moan, arching off the bed as he pleasured you like no one had before.

With just his mouth.

He hadn’t even used his fucking fingers yet.

The moans he let out against your dripping pussy wracked through your body, and you fought to keep from suffocating him with your thighs. He gripped onto the plush skin tightly, his tongue working you like a man starved.

And he did feel like he had been truly starved of you.

His tongue flicked over your swollen clit, the wiry hairs of his beard scratching against your sweat-sheened skin as his fingers finally made their way inside of you, stretching you open deliciously to get you ready for what was to come. He let his free hand toy with your sensitive bud as he pulled away, his eyes locked on how your pussy clenched around his thick, veiny fingers as they curled to hit the perfect spot. You writhed underneath him restlessly, a hand clamped over your mouth to muffle the moans that wouldn’t stay inside.

“Joel, m’gonna-” It was so cliche, but so, so intense. You were right on the edge, the very precipice, and he pulled away. You gasped at the feeling of being so suddenly empty, your brow knitting together as you shot up.

“Wha-” He cut you off, pinning your arms beside your head as he crawled on top of you.

“Need to be inside you when you come, pretty girl. Wanna feel you.” He mumbled, sucking on your neck as he blindly aligned himself with your entrance. You instinctively wrapped your legs around his hips, tugging him impossibly closer as your arms remained beside your head. He let out a low, guttural groan as he slowly inched inside of you, still so tight even though he had worked you over for what felt like a blissful eternity.

“Fuck, sweetheart, so fuckin’ tight.” He rasped, his voice hoarse with desire as he bottomed out, his leaking tip kissing your cervix. You were speechless, breathless as he began to pull back again, only to thrust in fully once more. And again, and again, and again.

He set a relentless pace, and you could swear he reached a deeper place with each snap of his hips, his pelvis smacking against your nearly overstimulated clit. You whined and moaned louder than you should have, unable to be silenced as his veiny cock stretched your slick walls around him.

“Don’t - shit - don’t stop, Joel, p-please…” You moaned, your back arching almost painfully off of the bed. He had no intention of stopping. In fact, spurred on by your plea, his pace only increased, your mouth falling open and your eyes clamping shut as it all became too much.

As that knot in your stomach grew unbearably, as he fucked into you harder, as he held onto you tighter…

It all came crashing down.

You didn’t even register that you came together, the stuttering of his hips failing to distract from the overwhelming sensation of your orgasm crashing through your body, thrumming through your veins, unrelenting.

His arms shook with the struggle to keep from collapsing on top of you, and he soon rolled onto his side, pulling you with him. With his scruffy, unshaven face buried in your neck, he breathed you in deeply. He always did love the scent of your shampoo.

“My sweet girl.” He hummed, the sound muffled under your hair. “Been wantin’ you for so long.” The admittance was soft, but so clearly heard. Exhaustion was quickly taking you over, though, preventing you from responding in the way that you truly wanted. He smiled softly at your little grunt of acknowledgment, leaving momentarily and returning with a warm cloth to clean the both of you with. He was gentle, ever the gentlemen as if he hadn’t just ravaged you entirely, returning to the bed not soon enough.

You entangled yourself with him, quite like a koala, and nuzzled your face into his chest. You could feel his very essence as you laid with him, experiencing him so deeply and fully. Those three words left your mouth before you could even stop yourself.

“I love you, Joel.” You had drifted off before he could even reply; but he did, and with those same three words you had been dying to hear fall from his lips for two years.

And in your sleep you dreamed of him and those same three things, the things you had longed for forever.

Leather, whiskey, and pine.

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evilincoperated · 2 months ago

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I will Fall In love with you, over and over again

Paring: Spencer Reid x gn!reader (No use of y/n)

Summary: Spencer is clingy after prison, and you just want him to open up

Fluff and Hurt/Comfort

cw: Mentions of prison

A/N: My first time ever writing a fic so please be nice, and bear with me. Not Proof Read lol

Spencer was different, well that goes without saying. He had been imprisoned falsely for three months, he didn’t even want to tell you what was happening with him. He was broken. But he knew one thing, he could never hurt you, not you, not the one light in his life. Before Spencer was fairly independent, he wasn’t huge on physical touch, but he didn’t mind it, he just never really initiated it. But now he’s attached to you. Emily made him take a few months off of work, and ever since he got home he’s been like a puppy, always with you. He wants you next to him at all times. He’s always asking to cuddle, always kissing you like it’d be the last time, and he learned how to text better just so he could text you every half hour at least while you’re working. You want to help him, you want him to be honest, tell you what happened, communicate, and let you help. But he never could, he couldn’t taint you, couldn’t risk dampening your light.

It all came to fruition one night. You had just gotten home, and like a moth to a flame Spencer ran to greet you, enveloping you in his arms immediately, like his life depended on it. “Mm, missed you” he mumbled, “felt like you were gone forever.” “It was just an eight hour work day, we’ve been apart longer” you said teasing him, trying to get him to dig into why he’s been so desperate for love lately. “I know.” He waited until you got your shoes and coat off before leading you to the couch, sitting down and gently pulling you down so you could be right up against his side. “How was work? I missed you, I think we need to take a vacation-” He started rambling as soon as you sat down, only stopping when he saw the distressed look on your face. “What's wrong love?” “You hate vacations, you say hotels are germ breeding grounds and that you spend enough time in them as it is.” You look at him and adjust so you’re face to face with him, grabbing his hand. “Can you talk to me, Spence? And I mean talk to me, I need to know if you’re okay, you’ve been acting so different-” “I was in prison love, of course I’m different.” “Well I know, but you haven’t been acting the way the therapists predicted you would.” “Have I ever acted in a way anyone could predict?” He said smiling, trying to lighten the mood. “Spence, I’m serious, I’m worried and you won't talk to me, you’re just always trying to make sure I’m okay, when it should be the other way around. You went through something, not me.” He sighed, “I know, I know I went through something, but I can’t let anything ruin this. You’re all I have left, the only thing I have in my life that I know will never hurt me- not that you’re a thing- sorry I’m not saying this right. All I know is that I can’t risk showing you that I’m broken, you might leave, I’m not the man you knew.” He looked as if he was about to cry. You couldn’t stand it, you kissed him gently, he responded quickly, tenderly kissing you back. “You’re not going to scare me away Spencer. I love you, I don’t love the man you think you should be, I love the man you are. No matter who that is right now. You can always talk to me, always.” You whisper against his lips, before leaving a trail of kisses from his lips to his ear to whisper, “you can trust me.” He swallowed firmly, starting to cry, your heart broke. “I know that logically, obviously I know that, I trust you, I love you. There’s just that part of my brain that says you’ll leave, you’ll see that I’m not worth it.” “You are worth it Spencer, you’ll always be worth it.”

He started crying harder, pressing his face into the crook of your neck, his tears staining your shirt. “I guess, I just don’t want to be apart from you anymore. I spent three months only being able to see you from behind a glass wall, never being able to touch you. I never thought I’d miss just holding your hand, how warm you are. And now that I’m back, I just need to be near you, I need to know you’re there, that you're here with me. And it feels like the only way to do that is to be your perfect man” He sobbed into your shoulder, hugging you tighter. “Hey, hey, I am here. And you are my perfect man, no matter what, or how long we’re apart, you’ll always be that guy.” You start running your fingers through his hair. “And how about this? I’ll take time off of work, but instead of going on a germy vacation, we stay here. We’ll have Doctor Who marathons, watch romcoms, make popcorn, and never leave this apartment unless we need to get something.” You suggested this with a grin, “I’d like that, I’d love that.” He pulled away and kissed you gently, putting his hands on your face. “I’ll call my boss in the morning.” And you laid there, just the two of you, for what felt like an eternity.

#spencer reid fluff #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid #doctor spencer reid #criminal minds x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid fanfiction #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds #criminal minds x you #spencer reid one shot #Spotify

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thinkinonsense · 6 months ago

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Bewitched: The Rake and The Risk

˖⋆࿐໋ james logan howlett ✦ bridgerton au series

bewitched masterlist

chapter two

cw: flirting (mix of 1800s and modern day), jealousy, old time thoughts of women and marriage, james is a slut

pairing: viscount!logan howlett x fem!reader

a/n: sorry this is later than intended! i try to aim for a new chapter every friday but college is kicking my ass right now. next chapter will be longer!! also!! if you want to be tagged for the bewitched series please comment on the original bewitched masterlist post linked above this<3 there are so many of you lovely readers who want to be tagged and i need a more organized way to find everyone to add. sorry for the minor inconvenience. i appreciate every one of you!!

main masterlist

in all the twenty-nine years of knowing james howlett, lady chamberlain never would have pictured him coming to her home to ask about the eligible bachelorettes of the ton.

"what do you want to know, my dear?" lady chamberlain asked, sipping a cup of tea as the two of them sat in the living room.

"i am coming to you because as you know, my mother is expecting me to wed sooner rather than later and i was wondering whom might be the best women to seek out this season." james said, lying through his teeth.

if james really wanted to know who the best women this season were, he would've just opened the latest issue of lady cavanaugh. both of them knew this but it was more fun for lady chamberlain to tease the viscount.

"hm.." she smiles. "anyone in particular?"

"no."

the lie falls with ease. too much ease but lady chamberlain sees right through him.

"well, i did take note last night that the only lady you danced with was lady worthington's niece." she remarks slyly.

"the french girl?" he asks, playing coy. "i think i remember her."

lady chamberlain wasn't going to play games with the boy in front of her.

"i would hope so, you seemed quite fawned of her."

"i don't know if i would say that much."

"hm, so you don't want to know who she's planning to attended the mask ball with?" lady chamberlain smirks, knowing she's got him hooked.

everyone in the ton looked forward to the queens mask ball each season. it was the perfect way to help break the usual ice of finding 'the one'. that's where most couples tend to meet for the first time.

"let me guess..." james rolls his eyes. "prince harrison?"

lady chamberlain shrugs, placing her tea cup back on the dish. "the two of them talked quite a bit after you stormed off. she seems quite smitten with him."

"it's the first ball of the season. she has plenty of time to look for a better husband." he scoffs.

"well, dear... there are people who search their whole lives for something that's been right in front of them the entire time."

the elderly woman's words rang true in the room but james was far too in denial to notice them. instead, his ego was eating him alive. why would you not jump at the opportunity to be with the viscount?

˖⋆࿐໋

this afternoon was the queen's annual tea party. all the ton's debutantes gather to make friends and share their predictions for this season. anxiously, you paced the cobblestones outside, waiting for the carriage to pick you up.

"dear, it's not lady-like to pace back and forth." your aunt calls out from the doorway.

"my apologies," you reply, not stopping your feet.

"you're snagging the hem of your gown!"

thank heavens that the carriage was approaching. she waves you off, wishing you luck on your first adventure alone in the ton, wishing desperately she could join you.

your goal today is to make at least one friend. you'll even settle for an allied.

once you arrive at the queen's castle, you step inside. covered in soft pastels, flowers, and butterflies; you immediately feel calm. everyone is chatting and sipping tea at the tables. you sit down in the first available seat.

"you're the diamond, correct?" someone whispered next to you asks.

you turn your head to see a blonde girl to the right. she's wearing a soft yellow dress that doesn't quite fit her right.

"correct." you nod, offering the girl a smile to which she returns.

"shouldn't you be sat with the queen?" she asks, nodding to one of the beautiful girls surrounding the queen.

"probably but this was the first seat i saw." you joke, sipping on your tea.

the girl laughs with a small nod and introduces herself. her name is bridget and her father is a jewelry maker for the queen.

"i saw you dancing with the viscount last night at the ball." she smiles. "do you fancy him?"

almost choking on your tea, you shake your head.

"no, no, no. i don't fancy the viscount." you state.

bridget hesitates, watching your body language closely. the pressure gets you to speak up again.

"why do you ask?"

"because the viscount is a major rake."

the word rake rolls off her tongue with pure disgust. you'd never heard someone with such respect as a viscount be called something so dishonorable. rakes were known for their ability to seduce and lead on women with no promise of marriage.

"but he talks of his desire for a wife?" you question, more to yourself than to bridget but alas, she answers anyway.

"only because his mama is practically begging for a viscountess." bridget whispers.

you suppose this made sense due to the fact that most rakes never even intend to wed and after your conversation with james last night, he made it clear that marriage was not something he craved.

"trust me, you aren't the first lady to attempt to tie down the viscount. well, at least you have a shot since you're the diamond this season and all." the blonde girl rambles.

"oh, heavens no!" you repeat.

"hm, that's sad..." she sighs. "he is quite handsome."

"most definitely but i intend to wed for pure reasons."

"if that's truly the case, stay as far away from the viscount as possible."

˖⋆࿐໋

for the rest of the afternoon, bridget's words stuck to the front of your brain. if james wasn't so intolerable, perhaps he would make a good husband to someone.

once everyone finished with their tea, you decided to go sketch in wisteria park. the weather was beautiful outside and gave you the perfect inspiration needed to work on a new piece. normally, you would only draw on the sides of the letters written to your father back home. no one was more supportive of you than your parents. in a world where women mean nothing more than their wombs to society, it was rare to have parents who let their daughters have dreams.

sat on a patch of grass near the small pond, you set up your quill, small tray of paints, and paper. in the area where you decided to sit, across from you stood a beautiful cherry tree. as you work on the outline, you can hear footsteps approaching.

"i should've known i would find you here." a familiar voice says.

you don't even glacé up at the person near you, paying no mind to the man who seeks your attention most.

"do you want something, my lord?" you ask, fighting the urge to roll your eyes.

james' head spun every time those last two words fell from your lips, sounding to pretty the way that they roll of your tongue.

"you may call me, logan." he says. "if you so wish."

"logan?" you cock a brow, finally looking up at him.

"it's my middle name." he replies awkwardly.

"hm..." you pretend to ponder for a moment. "that's far too personal for me."

" 'too personal'? how might that be?"

james stands arms crossed against the cherry tree, glaring in your direction. you don't rush to answer his question instead you continue adding details to the branches and trees. he huffs under his breath, clearly irritated your lack of interest in him.

"well, we have no intentions to be together this season and we aren't friends so, there's no need for nicknames and such." you reply nonchalantly.

"you don't know my intentions"

a sweet giggle escapes you. james brushes off the warmth flooding his chest, rather focusing on topic at hand.

"oh, i bet i do."

suddenly, you drop your quill and give him your undivided attention.

"why are you even here, james?" you sigh.

"i was visiting an old friend this morning and wanted a stroll through the park."

"an old friend?"

the words left your lips before you could stop yourself. james was quick to notice the tone shift. he smirks, walking over to you and sitting on the grass to your right.

"mhm..." he hums.

"is she viscountess material?" you scoff, returning to your scribbles.

"and why would you care?"

why did you care? it's not like the two of you really know each other; yet, something about james made your blood boil. perhaps it was how he has a near perfect life and somehow still complains. he has no issues in finding a partner because everyone wants him. if he didn't have his head up his own ass, he would realize that.

"i don't."

"sounds like you do."

james liked watching your face scrunch up at little with dislike for him. how your pressure on the quill increases. how you avoid his gaze. how you pretend he doesn't exist next to you.

"i don't." you repeat. "i just cannot believe that someone like you is complaining about having to take a wife when all the women of the ton are smitten with you."

"someone like me?" james pretends to be offended but he was too busy enjoying this riled up version of you.

"someone who never gone with unmet needs, never struggled financially, never been under minded or overlooked." your words come out sharp but james doesn't let them cut deep.

"look, sweetheart..." he squints those hazel eyes, glaring deep into your soul and leaning in closer than he should've. "you know nothing of my families struggles."

"and you know nothing of mine."

james was so close to you. your noses almost touching before you pull away. being within his close proximity made you feel a foreign warm tingle deep in your stomach.

thank heavens that the park was empty, minus the two of you. the last thing you needed was for someone to see the two of you this close and label you as one of the viscounts mistresses.

"i-i must get going." you stutter, collecting your belongings.

"where are you off to?" he asks.

"i'm supposed to be accompanying lady chamberlain and prince harrison to dinner this evening."

his face scrunches with distaste at the mention of the prince. also, why would lady chamberlain hide this piece of information from him?

"isn't it quite early to prepare for dinner?"

"i must look perfect for the prince." you smile.

but not at james. you're smiling for that no good excuse of a prince who couldn't see that you already were perfect.

"you look fine to me." he huffs.

"it's vocabulary like that, that keeps you from finding a wife."

"and to think it was my insufferable personality that kept the ladies of the ton away."

it's difficult to hide the laugh you want to let out. instead you bite down on your cheek, not giving him the satisfaction of your laughter.

"ha ha ha." you mock dryly.

"do you always have a stick up your ass?"

james question makes your jaw drop. never in your life have you heard a man speak so vulgarly.

"that's no way for a viscount to speak to a lady." you scold. he can't help but roll his eyes at your comment.

"i'm sure that a man has spoken even more colorfully to you."

"what are you insinuating, my lord?"

"that i highly doubt a lady such as yourself still has her virtue." he shrugs.

never has your head spun so fast at a single sentence. you couldn't fathom that a rake like him has the nerve to question anyone's virtue.

"excuse me, viscount howlett but my virtue is none of your business." you rage. "and you have quite the nerve to question it."

"and why's that?"

james was playing with fire but he didn't mind getting scorched by your flames.

"i've heard the stories about you."

"like what?"

"like what you do with the promiscuous women of the night." your words leave a smirk plastered on his face as he watches you intensely.

"don't act so innocent either." james hums. "i'm sure you've had your fair share of promiscuous adventures in france."

a flush of red hits at your cheeks. the last person you wanted to talk about promiscuous acts with is james. mostly because your lack there of. only your own hands have touched you so intimately.

james studies your facial expression before it clicks for him. he shouldn't ask. he really shouldn't. but come on, he has to.

"have you never—" his words come to a halt when there's a ruffled noise inching closer.

"i'm under no obligation to answer you, viscount howlett." you scold, collecting your belongings.

"hm... seems like you've already answered my question." his cocky tone sends you over the edge of annoyance.

"shouldn't you be more concerned with finding a wife rather than my virtue? this season will be over before you know it and you will need to find one sooner rather than later."

james admired the way you spoke with such sharpness. you were shy and reserved but the weight of your words were heavy. there was grace in the way you spoke and he loathed it.

he loathed how perfect you were. how absolutely perfect you would fit into his life. how perfect you would be at being his little wife. only needing to plan parties and open your womb to his child. he would never stop you from your dream of painting either. all he wants is someone who can handle the duties that come with being his other half.

by the time james snaps out of his thoughts, you are long gone. off to get ready for your date with a man who's twice as rich as him and much more likable. the only thing he could do is hope that nothing good comes from this dinner.

──★

i'll tag everyone else who commented in the morning when i wake up <3

tag list: @v3rdee @squishyfruitloop @caswithdasas2021 @espressopatronum454 @brittdead @fake-bleach @blossoming-hotch @hotbisexualmess @imaginecrushes @wh0re4steelblue-eyes @b0nes-n-all @tvdelrey @prettyoatmeal @speedyvoidlove @lunavelha @merrul @bubblegumholland @divinesols @seasonofthenerd @adoredire @gl0wingsl0wtown @imithicwolf @charityjoy22 @sun7lowxr @melsunshine @internetitgirl17 @tsumukei @dolliestprncess @st4rrlighttt @crypticcowboys @mirrorballpalo @princessanglophile @planetxella @battieshroomz @tonyhawkstits @shinyshayminflower @babey-fruit-bat @oraclic @glnnnhaps @criminaly-supernatural @pxrwinkle @im-nowhere-but-also-somewhere @tighrenicotine @midnightvitality @loonalockley @notbaldy420 @squishyfruitloop @summer-343 @reidshearts @marii-ren @fictionalmen-dilflover @brisingamenwearer @pedrohoe04 @taextannie @jrihensjd @tumharisakhi @readerofallthingss @etmoisara @paladinshenanigan-blog @hauntedwombateggmug @i-am-not-a-morning-person-83 @zaggprincess2 @atjlovverr @fallingfromjupiter @cards-and-daggers @reidsworld @imsuperbored @golden-ebony @joyfulpeanutsalad @mysticalmarvelousmagpie @thighridinglogan @pieuui @fanficcrow @alsoprettyinpink @rooroen @barbecuetiddy @potato-painter @milfhunter69sstuff @bel20blog @hypermarvellove @modicum-ofnothing @gemofthenight @laureniswolverine @d3ad2you @goldphish @mxtokko @ovohanna24 @i-voluntears @cherrypieyourface @petrichor-incorporation @csigirl3137 @justannie18 @yxtkiwiyxt @maddielovesurmom321 @madscape @mesopotamism @multifandom-boss-bitch @tecolote2755 @ririkacchi @crownofdecit @snow30285 @lenoradarkstriderr @willybillyletsgetsilly @sleepilysworld @mynatureworld @biiolumii @phantombaby @natlovesu @tumharisakhi @lokiswify @saph-cyare @burntsaltsblog @shedobeclownin @itsjuwulia @hazelwebster @cake-and-umbrellas @aureliusbrutus @loving-barnes @valorant-v @annagraceevanss @opheliaas-stuff @louisymomo @midnightvitality @ricespy123 @livingonsillylovesongs

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lotuswish · 3 months ago

Text

˗ˏˋ what loving you feels like to them (pt. 6 - octavinelle) 𓆝 .ᐟ

synopsis: have you ever wondered what falling in love feels like for each twisted wonderland boy? this series explores love from their perspective—how their personalities, experiences, and desires shape what loving you means to them.

featured character(s): azul ashengrotto, jade leech, floyd leech.

content warning(s): none.

a/n: what loving you feels like to them might occasionally use the same words, but those words mean something a little different for each of them. it might sound familiar, but it's still their own!

link(s): (masterlist) (pt. 1 - scarabia) (pt. 2 - savanaclaw) (pt. 3 - heartslabyul) (pt. 4 - ignihyde) (pt. 5 - pomefiore) (pt. 6 - you are here) (pt. 7 - diasomnia)

azul ashengrotto

loving you feels like being swept away by an unstoppable current for azul ashengrotto—inevitable, overwhelming, and carrying him to places he never dared to dream of. for someone who has spent most of his life meticulously planning, calculating, and staying two steps ahead, love is a variable he cannot fully predict or control. it’s both exhilarating and unnerving, a kind of risk he would never have dared to take before you came into his life.

azul has always carried a deep-seated insecurity beneath his polished exterior. years of being ridiculed as a child for his appearance have made him fiercely determined to prove his worth through power, success, and control. yet loving you doesn’t feel like a negotiation or a transaction—it feels like surrendering to something he can’t quantify. it’s raw and messy and completely unlike the smooth, calculated persona he presents to the world. you don’t look at him for what he can offer, for his intellect or his business acumen; you see him, the parts of himself he tries to hide, and you love him for them. that terrifies him. but it also makes him feel something he’s never felt before: truly enough.

loving you feels like the gentle pull of the moon on the tides, constant and inescapable, drawing him toward something he never thought he could have. it’s the way you make him feel safe enough to lower his walls, to let go of the mask he’s worn for so long. around you, he can be vulnerable without fear of being judged. you’re the one who notices when his smiles don’t quite reach his eyes, the one who knows when he’s tired of putting on a show. with you, he doesn’t have to be the untouchable azul ashengrotto; he can just be azul.

at the same time, loving you stirs a fierce protectiveness within him. he’s spent years honing his ability to turn the tables on anyone who dares challenge him, but with you, it’s different. he doesn’t want to shield you out of strategy or obligation; he wants to protect you because you matter to him in ways he’s still learning to put into words. you’re more than a part of his world—you’ve become his most cherished treasure, something he would protect with everything he has.

for azul, loving you feels like finding a pearl in the depths of the sea—a treasure so rare and precious that he can hardly believe it’s his. it’s a reminder that even in a world driven by deals and ambition, there are things that can’t be earned or bargained for, things that simply exist in their beauty. loving you is terrifying and freeing all at once, and though it challenges everything he thought he knew about himself, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. you are the one thing he never saw coming, the one thing he never wants to lose.

jade leech

loving you feels like curiosity turned obsession for jade leech.

to jade, love is something foreign and utterly fascinating. it’s a deep ocean he’s never fully explored, and you are the mystery hidden beneath its surface. his love for you isn’t loud or obvious; it’s quiet, calculated, and deliberate, like the way he nurtures rare plants in his terrariums. loving you is a process, one he savors as much as he analyzes, peeling back the layers of who you are, uncovering your quirks, your fears, and your dreams. for jade, this discovery is intoxicating, a puzzle he never tires of solving.

and yet, it’s not just fascination. loving you feels like control slipping from his grasp in a way he never anticipated. jade is meticulous, always composed, always in control of himself and his surroundings. but with you, there are moments when he feels unbalanced, when the depth of his emotions surprises even him. it’s as if the current is pulling him somewhere unknown, somewhere dangerous, yet he can’t resist being swept along. loving you is a contradiction: it makes him feel both completely exposed and utterly alive.

for someone who rarely shows his true intentions, loving you feels like a quiet surrender. you see sides of him no one else does, the softness beneath the sharp edges, the warmth behind the cold, polite exterior. it’s disarming and thrilling all at once. you make him feel seen, not just as azul’s clever right-hand man or as the more composed leech twin, but as jade. you notice the details no one else bothers to see, and in return, jade finds himself wanting to give you everything, to open up the world to you as if you were the only person in it.

yet, there's also a possessiveness to his love, a quiet but unyielding need to keep you close. jade is not one to display his emotions openly, but beneath the calm exterior lies an intensity he keeps carefully hidden. loving you is like uncovering a sunken ship filled with untold treasures—a rare discovery he'll guard fiercely, no matter what. his protectiveness is subtle, woven into the fabric of his interactions with you, but it's unshakable all the same.

loving you feels like tending to a rare and delicate flower—something beautiful that requires both care and patience. you are the one thing in his life that cannot be manipulated or controlled, and instead of frustrating him, it fascinates him. he finds joy in watching you bloom, in learning how to nurture the connection between you. loving you is more than fascination; it’s a game he never wants to win, a puzzle he never wants to solve—because the joy isn’t in the answer, but in the endless discovery of you.

floyd leech

loving you feels like chaos and calm all at once for floyd leech.

floyd’s life has always been shaped by his whims, his moods, and his insatiable need to avoid monotony. to him, the world is a game, and people are pieces he moves and discards when they stop being interesting. but you? you’re different. you’re the one thing he can’t figure out, the one person he doesn’t want to toss aside. loving you feels like the kind of chaos he craves, but it also unsettles him in ways he’s never experienced before.

floyd thrives on extremes. he’s not used to balance or moderation, and his feelings for you are no exception. loving you is all-consuming—intense, raw, and sometimes overwhelming. it’s like the ocean at its most turbulent, waves crashing against his heart with a force that leaves him breathless. you challenge him, intrigue him, and keep him guessing, and that’s what he loves most. with you, there’s no risk of boredom, no stale routine. every moment feels alive, charged with a kind of energy he thought only existed in fleeting thrills.

loving you is something he never thought he’d allow, something that sneaks past his defenses and takes root before he even realizes it. floyd has never been one to settle down or feel tethered to anyone, yet with you, he doesn’t feel trapped. he feels seen. you don’t flinch at his unpredictability or try to smooth out his rough edges. you accept him as he is—moods, sharp teeth, and all—and that makes him want to keep you close, tighter than he’s ever held (squeezed) anything before.

it’s not easy for floyd to process emotions like this. he’s used to acting on impulse, but loving you makes him hesitate. it makes him think about what it means to want someone so deeply, to be afraid of losing them. it brings out a possessive side of him, but it’s more than just wanting to keep you close. it’s the fear of you walking away, of you deciding that the chaos he brings isn’t worth it. the idea of losing you is one of the few things that can genuinely make him feel vulnerable.

for floyd, loving you feels like a temptest—untamed, intense, and utterly consuming. it’s a force of chaos that turns his world upside down, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything. you’re the only one who can keep up with him, the only one who doesn’t try to dull his edges, and for that, he loves you with every ounce of his chaotic, unpredictable heart. you’re his favorite thing in the world, the one person he never gets tired of, and he’ll make sure you know it every single day.

congrats on making it to the end! if you enjoyed this, likes, comments, follows, and reblogs are always appreciated—they help motivate me to keep creating and sharing!

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storiesforallfandoms · 1 year ago

Text

moved on ~ thomas shelby;peaky blinders

word count: 2213

request?: no

description: in which his ex comes back after two years, and his fiancée is worried about what this means for their engagement

pairing: thomas shelby x female!reader

warnings: swearing, use of y/n

masterlist (one, two, three)

Tommy didn't expect to fall in love after Grace had ran off. He had loved her more than he loved anyone, and he thought he'd never find that love again.

Until he met (Y/N).

They met at an event Tommy had to attend. He only went to make an appearance, and was looking for a way to leave when he spotted her. Right away, he was taken by her. He spent the rest of the night talking to her, and even drove her home at the end of the night.

Within two months, Tommy had proposed. He couldn't risk losing this one. She made him feel even better than he had with Grace. (Y/N) was the one, he was sure of it. So, he asked her to marry him, and he was beyond ecstatic when she said yes.

Everything was perfect, until the day Tommy took (Y/N) to the races.

It was a scorching hot day in Birmingham. Tommy and his brothers were set to go to the races, and obviously he had asked (Y/N) to come with them. She was wearing a summer dress that Tommy had bought for her and, as he had predicted, she looked breathtaking in it. He couldn't keep his eyes - or his hands - off of her.

"You're going to cause a scandal," (Y/N) teased as Tommy's hand made its way under her dress again.

"No one's looking, love," Tommy assured her, moving her hair from her shoulder so he could start kissing her neck.

(Y/N) fought the pleasure his actions were giving her to push him away. As good as Tommy made her feel, she was no going to let him have his way with her in public.

"Can you get me something to drink?" she asked. "I'm parched, and quite hot."

"Of course, darling."

Tommy gave her a quick peck before going to find a concessions stand.

He was waiting for their drinks when a familiar voice said, "Tommy?"

He thought he imagined it, but he realized that couldn't be it. He hadn't even thought of her in years. There's no way he would suddenly be imagining her again. So, he allowed himself to turn, and there she was.

Grace.

Just as beautiful as the day she left him.

"I didn't expect to see you here," she said.

"I didn't expect to see you anywhere," Tommy responded. "I thought you fell off the face of the Earth. Since I never heard from you and all."

A flash of guilt showed on Grace's face. It made Tommy happy to know she felt guilty for what she did.

"I can't apologize enough - "

"No, you can't," Tommy said. He was finally given his drinks. He took them and began to walk away from her.

"Wait!" She took hold of his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Please, let me explain. I'll tell you everything."

Tommy looked down at her hand. It was hard to miss the diamond ring on her ring finger.

"Will your husband be okay with that?"

She seemed to bristle a little at the comment, but she managed to keep her composure. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind me catching up with an old friend."

Tommy held his tongue from correcting her. He wanted to know the truth about what happened with Grace. Even if that's all their meeting was - which it would be - then it could at least be some closure for him. He agreed to Grace's proposal, but only under the condition that she meet him at the Garrison. He needed to have some sort of control in this situation.

It was only as Tommy was walking back to his seat that he realized he hadn't told Grace he was engaged. In fact, he had completely forgotten about (Y/N) for those few moments.

She was still in her seat wen he got back, eagerly watching the current race. The moment he laid his eyes on her, Tommy felt his heart swell. He realized that he felt nothing but contempt for Grace. He wasn't eager for their meeting at the Garrison as he would've been nearly two years ago. It was nothing more than a business meeting to him now, because his heart belonged to one woman.

(Y/N) looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. "You've been gone for some time. Did you get lost?"

He smiled back. Instead of responding, he sat with her and kissed her cheek. (Y/N) giggled and leaned into him.

Tommy thought about telling (Y/N) about Grace, but he wasn't sure how to. He didn't want her to get upset over Grace's appearance, and their agreement of a private meeting, but he knew there was no way to bring it up without (Y/N) getting upset. He couldn't blame her either. If the roles were reversed and one of (Y/N)'s exes were trying to reconnect with her...well, that person wouldn't be around much longer.

(Y/N) looked up at Tommy and nudged him. "Are you alright? You look deep in thought."

"I saw Grace," he blurted.

"Grace? Like...the Grace?" Tommy nodded. "When? Just then?" He nodded again. "Oh, wow. What did she say?"

"She asked if we could meet up to talk about her leaving."

"What did you say?"

"I told her we could meet at the Garrison."

(Y/N) nodded, her face unreadable. "When?"

"Tomorrow night."

"And...did you tell her about me?"

Tommy was silent. He couldn't lie to her, and his silence was enough of an answer. She turned away from him to focus on the race again. She felt so many emotions that she couldn't even place them. She knew Tommy loved her, and she knew he was loyal, but she was also aware of Tommy and Grace's past. He told her everything about their relationship when they first got together. So she knew how intense Tommy and Grace's relationship had been, and how broken he was when she left.

Tommy reached over and put his hand on her leg. "Love, look at me."

(Y/N) reluctantly turned to face her fiance.

"I will call the meeting off if it makes you uncomfortable," he said. "Or you can come and be there when it happens."

She shook her head. "No, I think that will likely make it more awkward."

Tommy cupped her face. "Do you trust me?"

"My mind is screaming that I shouldn't, but my heart says I do." She chuckled and added, "That sounded so cheesy."

"It did," Tommy agreed. He pulled her towards him to place a kiss on her lips. "I promise this is nothing more than a meeting to get some closure. Any love I felt for Grace disappeared when she did. You are the only woman who has my heart, and that will never change."

(Y/N) smiled and leaned into Tommy. "I believe you. Just...tell her about me the moment she shows up, okay?"

"I will, love."

~~~~~~

The next night, (Y/N) was pacing her and Tommy's shared living room. Tommy had left for his meeting with Grace moments ago. He had kissed her and told her he wouldn't be long, and she had smiled at him but didn't speak. Once he was gone, she had stood and immediately began to walk around the house. Her nerves were making it impossible to be still.

She told Tommy she had trusted him, and that wasn't a lie, but she couldn't help the gnawing feeling of unease and jealousy. It was a cliche to say, but it was Grace she didn't trust. She didn't know Grace besides what Tommy had told her about their previous relationship, and the fact that Grace was now married. But would that be enough to stop Grace from wanting to make a move on Tommy? Would Tommy's engagement be enough?

Her mind would not rest. She was starting to regret telling Tommy she wasn't going to accompany him to the meeting. Even if it would've been awkward, at least her mind would've been at ease.

Before she could register what she was doing, (Y/N) was pulling on a coat and heading out the door. She started walking towards the Garrison. She knew it was a bad idea to just drop in on Tommy and Grace's meeting, but the not knowing was killing her. She couldn't just stay home and wait for Tommy to come back.

It was a slow night at the pub. There were a few men sat along the bar, and three men sat around one table. Harry was wiping down some glassware at the bar when (Y/N) walked in. He regarded her and nodded towards the private room that the Shelby's frequented, signaling that Tommy was still in there. (Y/N) walked towards the room, intending to knock before entering, until she heard a woman's voice on the other side.

"I never meant to hurt you, Tommy. I know I betrayed you, and nothing can ever change that. But you have to know that I did love you - that I do love you. I left Birmingham because I knew it would be better for you if I did, but I never stopped thinking about you."

"What about your husband?" came Tommy's voice.

"I love him, but I'm not in love with him. He has been a marriage of convenience more than anything. He was there, and he had a good job and a good life, and I hadn't hurt him."

There was silence. (Y/N) could only imagine what was happening on the other side of the door. She hadn't missed Grace admitting to still being in love with Tommy, and even if it seemed Tommy had. Or maybe was just ignoring the fact that she said it.

Or maybe he was happy to hear it?

"I've missed you so much, Tommy," came Grace's voice, soft. "I've thought about you every day since I left. I've been hoping for a day where I could see you again, just one more time, and as for you to give me another chance."

(Y/N) could feel her heart breaking. Tears were welling up in her eyes as she backed away from the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Harry looking at her. She wouldn't look directly at him, but she could make out the look of pity on his face. He must've known what was happening in that room, or had some idea anyways.

She was about to leave when she heard Tommy say, "Any chances you had left when you did, Grace."

(Y/N)'s ears perked back up as she moved back towards the door.

"I loved you once, Grace. If you had come back, even after admitting to me your betrayal, I might've taken you back. But I've moved on now. I have found a woman that I love more than anything in this world, and who loves me just as much. There is nothing and no one in this world who could convince me to leave (Y/N), not even you."

There was a silence on the other side. It wasn't until the knob started to turn on the door that (Y/N) realized Grace was leaving. She quickly stumbled away from the door just before it swung open and hit her. She was stood frozen as she looked at Grace - beautiful, blonde, elegant Grace, stood in a crimson red dress and her hair curled. Grace seemed just as shocked to see someone standing on the other side, but swiftly moved around (Y/N) to exit the pub as quickly as possible.

Tommy was sat at the table with a lit cigarette to his mouth. He didn't look surprised to see (Y/N). He took a long drag and blew it out of the corner of his mouth, before motioning with his fingers for (Y/N) to join him.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to - "

"How much of it did you hear?" he asked.

"Well, I arrived sometime before her love confession."

"Which one?"

(Y/N) felt an angry heat rise in her face. "There were multiple?"

"There was two. Three, if you count her asking for another chance at the end there."

"Well, in that case I arrived before the second one."

Tommy reached out for his fiancée, gently touching her arm and pulling her to sit next to him.

"So you heard what I said to her, then?" he asked. (Y/N) nodded. "And you know I meant every word."

"Of course I do," she said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just shown up like this. I just couldn't settle down at home while I waited for you. I needed to be here."

"I did offer for you to sit in on the meeting." His tone was light and there was a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. That's how (Y/N) knew he wasn't being serious, or that he wasn't upset about her appearance.

"I know. I should've taken you up on that," she said. She leaned close to Tommy and kissed his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, too, darling. Don't ever think that I don't."

"I won't. I promise."

#thomas shelby #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby imagine #tommy shelby #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby imagine #cillian murphy #cillian murphy imagine #cillian murphy x reader #peaky blinders #peaky blinders imagine #fanfiction #fanfic #fandom #one shot #imagine

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thewritetofreespeech · 21 days ago

Note

Can I ask a NSFW with Hawks from mha and fem reader?

Reader giving Hawks a massage to his wings that got sore from being always straightened. He gets relaxed but also squirmy because they are so sensitive. With the massage, he gets hard and comes solely by being touched and petted on his wings?

Keigo let out a groan as he rubbed his shoulders in the kitchen.

With everything going on he had been on patrol a lot more, which meant more flying. He didn’t talk about it much but the strain of his wings was something that weighed on him. Literally. At their full capacity they were large, cumbersome, and just downright heavy. It was like having an extra 20 pounds strapped to his back; not to mention all the muscles they were attached to, or all the things in his back attached to his wings for.

Normally he would just go to a safe room in his apartment and shed his feathers for a break, but he couldn’t do that. None of them knew when the next attack would be, or when he would be needed to help people. He couldn’t risk not being ‘Hawk’ for two days while they grew back.

“Something wrong?” [Y/N] asked as he handed them their requested. Clearly noticing his wince, no matter how hard he tried to suppress it.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Keigo brushed off quickly, but they weren’t having it. “It’s just my back.”

[Y/N] sat up straighter with a concerned look. “Your back? What’s wrong with your back?”

Keigo explained what was going on, and how it was normal. He wouldn’t lie though, them being concerned for him was very touching. He didn’t need people to worry about him, but it was still nice. “Why don’t I rub your back for you?” They then offer. “It might help.”

He had to admit, that did sound tempting. He didn’t want to be a burden or have anyone worry but…[Y/N] was offering so it would be rude for him not to accept it. “Ok. That would be great.”

They headed to the bedroom and Keigo laid out on the bed. Since they were home, he didn’t have a shirt on. Getting it over his wings was annoying to begin with, and since it was just them what was the point. He kept his sweats on as he laid face first into the mattress and tried to relax his wings.

“Let me know if I hurt you, ok?” [Y/N] said as they settled beside him on the bed. Since his wings were so large right now they couldn’t straddle his waist like in the movies. That was disappointing.

“I will. Don’t worry.” Keigo assured. Then went back to trying to relax as [Y/N] placed their hands on his back with some lotion and tried to work out the kinks.

Their warm hands on his back helped Keigo relax further. Just the presence of them being there melting away some of the tension and letting him sink further into the mattress. Before too long he had closed his eyes. Feeling like he might fall asleep.

As they swept their hands up, however, Keigo groaned with a shutter as it came close to the base of his wings. “Ah…wait…” He said. Voice a little groggy with sleep and relaxation. “…sensitive..”

“Oh. Does it hurt?” [Y/N] asked.

“N-No…” It didn’t ‘hurt’. That wasn’t the sensitive he was talking about. There were a lot of nerves attached to his wings from his back. So the base of it could be very noticeable when touched. With [Y/N] touching him so intimately it was giving his body a very predictable response; one he just realized was poking into bed. “It just….it feels funny.”

“Oh!” [Y/N] clearly understood what he was implying as their face blushed. “Do you…want me to stop then?”

“I mean….” Keigo didn’t know how to answer that. It felt pervy to say, ‘yes keep touching me like that cause it makes my dick hard’. But, “I was liking the massage.”

[Y/N] gave him a shy smile and went back to rubbing his back. They stayed away from the base of his wings for a while, working on the tight knots near his shoulders, but they eventually came back to them. Keigo sighed as he felt their fingertips brush against his feather. Little electric shocks flickering up & down his spine.

Their hands then moved up from the base to his actual wings and Keigo moaned. “Ah..! Wh-?” Those little shocks suddenly got bigger. Raw pleasure racing down his spine towards his cock. No one had ever touched his wings before (except for doctors). So he wasn’t expecting it to feel so good.

Their fingers ran over his feathers as his fists twisted in the covers. Running across the curve of his wings. Holding them, even for a short moment, got the weight off his back, and suddenly Keigo was humping the mattress. “D-Don’t stop…!” He couldn’t stop himself

They continued and soon he was cumming just from their hands holding on to the arch of his wings. “Do you feel better?”

Keigo opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder. He didn’t really know what to say. Saying he felt ‘better’ after the greatest orgasm of his life seemed to not measure up. But as he took an inventory his back did feel a lot better too; but maybe that was just the orgasm lingering. “Yeah. That was good. I feel a lot better.”

[Y/N] smiled and curled up on the bed beside Keigo. The hero making space for them as he rolled on his side. “That was…certainly interesting.”

“Yeah.” He agreed. “I’ve never had that happen before.”

“Do you…think it would happen again, or was it just a one time thing?”

“I don’t know.” It might have been the stress, mixed with the relief of the strain on his wings, that caused them to be that sensitive. It made the most sense since it never happened before, but he couldn’t be sure. “Only one way to find out.”

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elysiansparadise · 8 months ago

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Hello, thank you so much for all the work you put into creating composite observations (and all your other observations honestly). They really are insightful and I love how you always insert an encouraging perspective even when you mention the potential challenges.

I noticed that you made a post on stelliums in the houses of a composite chart. May you also make a post on zodiac sign stelliums in the composite chart as well please? I have a scorpio stellium in my composite chart with my partner and I would love to read your perspective on this! <3

Hello love! I appreciate your words so much, they mean a lot. Thank you very much for your suggestion, I would love to talk about it!

Stelliums in the composite chart

🖤══ Stellium in Aries ══🖤

This relationship can be very active, dynamic and focused on action, there is much you want to do together and many things you want to achieve as a couple. They are not afraid to take risks together and can feel more confident and determined with each other. They are certain of the relationship and that it is the other person they want to be with. Loving, intense and passionate, they will be authentic and uninhibited. The relationship can be marked by independence and the need to maintain a strong individual identity within the relationship, they will never take away the other's time alone. This relationship could have happened very quickly and spontaneously.

🖤══ Stellium in Taurus ══🖤

Both parties want that the relationship abounds in stability, security and pleasure. They are focused on making the relationship comfortable and enjoyable for both and they are easy to be patient with each other and try to understand them. They have the ability to create a solid foundation for a lasting, supportive and loving relationship. They are naturally gentle with each other and seek to provide for each other in every way. Both are very determined in the relationship, they are constant in their affections and adore physical closeness to each other. A lot of loyalty and reliability between them. Tendency to pamper the other. They prefer that the relationship arise naturally and at their own pace.

🖤══ Stellium in Gemini ══🖤

In this relationship, both focus on fluid communication, they seek to learn and share a lot with the other, both about themselves and the things they experience. They both enjoy variety and exploring new ideas together. In addition, they will seek to keep things interesting and entertaining by being a couple that does not fall into monotony and predictability. They will have a huge and genuine interest in each other, wanting to get to know each other as much as possible. Dynamic, interesting, but also deep conversations, this couple will want to create a space where both can speak their minds without feeling judged. Both can feel very attracted to the other's way of thinking, as well as very mentally stimulated.

🖤══ Stellium in Cancer ══🖤

They are focused on making the relationship a safe place for each other where they can allow themselves to be vulnerable and feel loved. A very emotional relationship, full of care, adoration and mutual kindness. They both feel that it is very easy to be expressive with each other and they can connect very well emotionally and in terms of their personality. Both will want to understand the emotional needs of the other and do their best to meet them. A very intimate, private relationship in which they want to support each other emotionally and take care of each other. They awaken the sensitive and loving side of each other. They tend to prefer domestic plans or those in which there are only the two of them alone.

🖤══ Stellium in Leo ══🖤

They feel the freedom of being authentic and themselves, seeking to cherish others for it. They keep things fun and dynamic with each other, they are loving, very expressive and playful. They will focus on being very demonstrative with the love and appreciation they feel for each other, they will never leave room for doubt. They will make many romantic plans where they make the other the protagonist. There is a desire to shine together, to praise each other and make them feel the most special in their lives. Generous, loyal and emotionally intense with each other. This relationship may be one of the biggest priorities for the other. They will seek fun, abound in warmth, and fiercely love and protect each other.

🖤══ Stellium in Virgo ══🖤

In this relationship, support for the other will abound, they will want to be there with the other through thick and thin. A genuine desire to be each other's shoulder, they will constantly seek to improve individually to make way for an improvement in the relationship. Efforts, details and stability. They will want the relationship to be healthy, one in which the other feels calm, supported and loved. Both will be attentive to the other, they will listen to and reassure each other. Their displays of affection will be focused on actions, preferring that they speak louder than words. They will have small details with each other as reminders of the affection they have for each other. They enjoy planning things together, from dates to activities to do together.

🖤══ Stellium in Libra ══🖤

Both actively seek harmony, the mental and emotional well-being of the other and that things are fair for both. Both want to maintain peace and avoid conflict, working together to find solutions instead of making the dispute more serious. A lot of romance, adoration and a taste for both the physique and the emotions of the other. Both have the willingness to commit. They focus on clear communication where they speak and listen to each other equally. The affection and respect for each other is enormous and noticeable both for themselves and for others. Many displays of affection bring out the most loving side of the other. They seek to work together in the relationship.

🖤══ Stellium in Scorpio ══🖤

Both will want this relationship to be something deep, meaningful and intense. They will want to know everything about each other, from the lightest to the darkest sides of their personality. A strong devotion and loyalty towards the other, they will be very honest with the other. Their love will be intense, passionate and they will want to adore and worship every part of their partner. They not only look for lighthearted emotions, they long to dive very deep into the emotions of the other, to know them like no one has ever been able to. Strong magnetism and attraction towards each other, they feel attracted like magnets. Willing to face any obstacle together.

🖤══ Stellium in Sagittarius ══🖤

This couple will seek to explore a lot alongside each other, not only in the sense of travel or experiences, but also explore aspects of relationships that catch their attention. You will feel dynamic and very motivated with each other, things will seem to become more positive. They will learn a lot next to each other and teach each other a lot. They will want to enjoy life next to each other, they will let themselves go with each other and focus on having a good time together. Independent, fearless and with a desire to grow a lot alongside each other. They will live many adventures together, they will be motivated to dare to try new things and do everything they ever dreamed of.

🖤══ Stellium in Capricorn ══🖤

There is a strong sense of commitment and responsibility. This couple will take their union very seriously, focusing on building a solid and lasting foundation backed by trust, loyalty and constant dedication. Both have a clear focus on long-term goals, especially those that concern the relationship. Together they work toward common goals and support each other's ambitions of all kinds. Both desire stability and security, working towards the idea of creating a stable and secure life together, both emotionally and in other areas. The relationship and the comfort/well-being of the other is of utmost importance to both parties. What they care about takes time and dedication, and they do not hesitate to give their all in this connection.

🖤══ Stellium in Aquarius ══🖤

They both see themselves as equals and value each other's independence and freedom. They love the idea of spending time together, sharing their thoughts, ideas and occurrences with each other. Both are very accepting of the other and do not intend to change the other, on the contrary, they will love and appreciate them just for being who they are. They may have many interests in common and connect in a unique way with each other. This relationship came out of nowhere and unexpectedly. They will not put expectations on each other and will simply flow together. A fun, entertaining relationship like nothing they have ever had before. Empathic and supportive of the other.

🖤══ Stellium in Pisces ══🖤

It is possible that both feel that they have a deep spiritual bond, in addition, they can easily understand each other without the need for words. They awaken the tenderness, devotion and affection of others very easily. This relationship will not be superficial and can even be healing in the sense that you can feel better with each other's presence. They have a genuine desire to understand and support each other's emotional needs, creating an environment of unconditional love and acceptance. Romanticism, creativity and gentleness between both. This couple will dream of a future next to each other and will fantasize about moments together.

#stelliums #stellium in the composite chart #composite chart #composite charts #astrology #stelliums in the signs

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blueberrypancakesworld · 5 months ago

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Hiii! Could you write a one shot with both Caracalla and Geta? The idea is that the reader is their favorite concubine (or legit their wife idk if that's how it works lmfaooo) but she's a witch? Like she's an oracle or something, they keep her around because she brings them luck and what not (they also kinda love her but they're both insane so...)

No worries if you don't want to write this!

The oracle of the emperors

Geta/Caracalla x witch!reader

warning : hurt/comfort, power inequality, kissing, mention of smut (light smutish), family issues

Summary : In times of war, one had to resort to everything, be it rationing, ambushes, burning or fetching the walking omniscient shadow from the alleys of Rome. An oracle surrounded the two emperors and was so much more to them than just a surrogate for the gods.

info : I love the idea, almost an au in Gladiator (maybe more someday) thanks for the request and have fun reading :)

masterlist

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rome was a world city, an empire for decades no for centuries, it would outlast all time. Everything would fall to make way for the glorious holy roman empire and no one would stop it, no country, no army, you just had to keep conquering and conquering.

An idea, a thought, a dream that had burned itself into the minds of the two emperors - they wanted more, had to and needed more. The reign of Geta and Caracalla was to be glorious, but the body cannot bear what the mind dreams of, especially not when its own warlord threatens to withdraw.

You can't keep a man from dying for a lifetime without risking his downfall, a fact that the two also saw...but if the fighting force failed, what could be done to win more easily and quickly?

Gods, oracles and witches, the supernatural, that which could see more than only man could see.

Since the conquests, the oracles had only predicted victories, but why did more and more bases go under, why did the harvests come to an end and why did the emperor's gold seem to dwindle?

Wrong answers were punished with death and the temples remained mostly empty, the only thing that was known to help was the shadow of Rome, the woman who was found before she was even looked for.

Her figure emerged from the streets wrapped in the dark fabric, the rustling of the small bones in her pouch accompanying her as the people looked at her in awe, as much as she was feared she was revered, ,,The sound of water will bring you a poet, just as these bones of death brought me to you...my honorable emperors” she greeted them as she came up the stairs to the palace and saw the golden gods in human form.

Of one she had dreamed his gold would cover the Senate like blood that would not stop flowing and the other she had seen an agonizing spirit that would perish along with all of Rome.

,,You will be placed in our service, no harm shall come to you as long as your words are of use to us,” Geta assured her as he showed her a bedchamber larger than anything she had ever had and still needed some work, for as much as she saw and heard them all, she knew how to interpret the looks in their eyes.

And the looks of the brothers were full of desire.

After a very short time she was surrounded only by the two of them, hardly any other servants or concubines, the campaign was victorious as she had predicted, but her warning also came true.

It only took a full moon for the “poet” to arrive inside the palace and she saw the amused look on Caracalla's face as he grabbed her hand, ,,You predicted it!” he said, and his brother looked at her, a look she took as respect.

When they were with the brothers during the day, she was with Geta, his hand at her side, the human god who wanted to be closer to Olympus through her, ,,You belong to me, here, in the Senate and out there,” he reminded her whenever they took up political matters.

Dark eyes with make-up looked at her whenever she moved the figures on the map, whenever she whispered her proposal to him in the senate and when he drew her to his bedchamber.

Why should she say no? Even a fool would have slept with the most powerful man whose voice was almost as intoxicating as his body, his kiss intense he wanted this power she had, his gold soon adorning her too, gifts in the hope that she would stay with him, touches of lust, he desired her power and beauty until the day she asked the question.

The fire turned bluish and she heard the cry of a monkey asking him, ,,You speak of belonging but this mine, is it none of your brother the Emperor Caracalla's concern?" a question that drove him from her, his face became incredulous and she saw the disbelief in his eyes.

He felt betrayed.

A betrayal she thought he would spear away, but her last prediction that this mine would mean his end must have frightened him, frightened and almost more God-given.

The gifts of gem and gold he made sure she wore, as much as he tried to hold it back she belonged to one god and not two at the same time.

Geta would spend hours in the temples, making people feel at ease and being addressed as a god. it was during these days and weeks that the monkey Dundus would often run up to her and she would see the uncertain look on Caracalla's face.

As much as he was fascinated, he was also afraid of her, ,,Witches are a bad omen...but you helped us,” the younger one said as he ventured into her room and watched, curious about what she was doing there.

Instead of luring him with physical devotion like his brother, she put a motherly smile on her lips, ,,Look even I can make fruit dance” she lured him and he sat down on her chair while she instructed him to close his eyes, she mixed a few simple tinctures and dripped them on the grapes.

A simple reaction of plants, but for Caracalla, who clapped his hands in delight, it was worth almost as much as the whole of Rome, ,,You see, I can't be angry at all, my sweet king,” she murmured to him and hugged him carefully, an embrace he wanted more and more from then on. during the day she belonged to Geta, who soon ignored her warning.

Why listen to a witch when he was a god? The jewelry covered her body, his love visible on her body and at night she took care of the younger one, so much pain and suffering as she held him like a child who would soon take advantage of her when his madness took over, ,,His gold, his jewelry but you're mine, aren't you? I need you alone, not shared,” he ordered, fingers clutching hers helplessly.

A question she answered with a kiss and the game between the two emperors continued to grow daily. The bones in her bowl became more and more when she made new predictions and she went from a god to a delusional one whenever one of them needed her.

Gold and make-up adorned her body and whenever Geta and Caracalla met it seemed as if Rome was on the verge of collapse.

In the midst of this they stood, the most influential authority taking on the two emperors while Rome changed around them, brothers not seeing that the shadow had closed in around them when the first thought had fallen upon them.

She felt at home in the madness of the two and the threads that held everything together, because no one could separate such a love. Yet to everyone else outside the palace she was nothing more than the concubine of the brothers Emperor Geta and Caracalla.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#gladiator ii #gladiator 2 #emperor geta #emperor caracalla #emperor geta x reader #emperor caracalla x reader #male x female #reader is female

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inkdrinkerworld · 7 months ago

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Cw: brief mention of past childhood abuse/trauma, talk of not being good parents. This is representation for the girlies (gn) that are unsure about being parents/know they don’t want kids! You’re perfect and valid

Sirius Black x fem!reader (one use of girl at the end there)

“I don’t think I’d want to have kids.” You say to Sirius as you lay beside him, your head on his shoulder as he tickles your back.

It’s an abrupt confession seeing as neither of you had been talking about that, but Sirius just hums.

“Any reason why, poppet?” His voice is even. To be truthful, Sirius goes back and forth with the idea too.

You take a while to elaborate; “I think having to help raise my siblings, and then dealing with all of that stress and having to correct my brother’s actions and all of that,” you take a breath. “I think it took it out of me. I also really don’t want to screw up a kid.”

Sirius nods, a kiss to your cheek. He feels you inhale against his hand and waits for you to speak again, “Would that make our relationship harder? Would it be a deal breaker?”

He pulls back to get a good look at you. “Because you don’t want babies?” When you nod, Sirius shakes his head. “No, doll. I don’t think I want kids either, but especially so if you don’t want them.”

“Don’t say that just to agree with me, Siri.” You sigh and Sirius copies you.

“I’m not. I go back and forth with it just as you do. Most days I’m leaning towards it just being me and you.” His voice is too raw and earnest for you to doubt him.

You breathe out long, “I just,” you pause, picking your words. “We’ve both had shitty childhoods, I don’t know if we’d be good parents. No one can be perfect and I don’t want to fuck up a kid that didn’t have the choice of being here; I know that much for certain.”

“I think that’s a good thing to know, babe. We aren’t what happened to us and while we’re better now, we can’t predict how we’ll be despite our best efforts with our own kids, you’re right. I wouldn’t want to fuck them up either.”

They fall when you say, “Does that make me a bad person? That I wouldn’t risk it because raising my siblings was like me having kids already and really don’t want to fuck them up like we were?”

He doesn’t like that this has been troubling you. Sirius knows you better than anyone else on planet earth and he knows for you to cry like this means you’ve thought about this a lot.

He hates that you’ve been tormenting yourself over not wanting kids for so long.

Sirius pulls you closer when your tears turn to sobs, his arms firm weight around your back as he kisses your eyes. Salty tears pass through the seam of his lips.

“That doesn’t make you a bad person, poppet. That makes you a good person actually. We can keep our family just like this. Me, you, the birds you feed in the yard and maybe a dog later down the road.”

“And a cat,” you say all sniffly and Sirius wrinkles his nose.

“If you really want a cat, I’ll get you a cat. Just no more thinking it’s wrong to not want kids.” You nod, content to let Sirius pet you as your cries slow.

“You’ll still love me the most right?” He laughs, tilting your chin up and kissing your lips.

“I love you best, silly girl. Always will, even if we had kids.” You slap his chest and Sirius shrugs. “Maybe that’s how I know I’m not cut out, I don’t think I could put someone over you.” He laughs suddenly. “Fuck that’s sounds horrid.”

You wiggle onto his chest, kissing the constellation he got for you. “Doesn’t sound horrid. Dunno if I could handle not being top of your love list.” You say teasingly and Sirius smiles, all pleased that even with your red nose and slightly puffy eyes you’re okay.

Pride blooms in his chest as it does every time he assuages your worries. “Well, you never have to worry, poppet. Now gimme a kiss and let’s finish this episode of Bake Off.”

#siriusblack #sirius black #sirius black oneshot #sirius black one shot #sirius black drabble #sirius black imagine #sirius black angst #sirius black fic #sirius black fanfiction #sirius black fanfic #sirius black fluff #sirius black blurb #sirius black x black reader #sirius black x reader #sirius black x you #sirius black x yn #sirius black x y/n

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a-simple-imagine · 1 year ago

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Perfectly Pathetic

synopsis: when you take an interest in the new girl, regina takes an interest in you

pairing: regina george x plastics!fem!reader

words: 4.6k+

A/N - in the nicest of ways, please DO NOT read this if you don't want to read about toxic relationships. you have been warned. I don't want a repeat of last time. also we need more fics where regina is actually mean so

WARNINGS - swearing, alcohol use, general toxicity, toxic relationships and bullying/vague reference to weight

Buy me a ko-fi

the clash of plastic trays and idle chatter brought alive the fragile student body of North Shore High School. on the outside this may seem like any other lunch room but inside it was a carefully crafted game of chess. every move was calculated. each person has their place and if you stray too far you're at risk. you're sat next to Gretchen Weiners. known for big hair and keeping secrets, she knows everything about everyone. opposite her is Karen Shetty. she... tries her best and looks adorable doing it. a ray of sunshine if you get to know her. and before you sits the most beautiful woman you have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Regina George. effortlessly perfect but needlessly cruel. she was the most popular person in school and one of your best friends.

perfectly manicured nails stab into the skin of your cheek as your head is yanked in her direction. razor-sharp eyes stare back. "are you even listening?" the answer was no but you didn't want to say that. "what are you staring at?"

a flash of blonde as she looks behind her. you push against her grip to look too. across the room sat Janis 'imi'ike and Damian Hubbard. you hardly ever spoke to them but you were lab partners with Damian. he was funny. today, however, there was a new addition with strawberry blonde hair, a blue checkered shirt and brown pants. you knew everyone at this school to some degree. a curse of popularity. but you had never seen her before. "seems they've got themselves a new friend"

"who cares," her nails dig a little deeper drawing a pained expression as she pulls your head back to face her. She holds your gaze for a moment. a silent challenge. before fingertips glide across your cheek and she goes back to leading the conversation across the table. you pick at the food on the tray with a fork but you can't help but be intrigued. North Shore was boring and predictable. a direct result of being under Regina's control. but this girl was new and you couldn't help but be drawn to that. to the unknown. to the possibility. three pairs of eyes as you push up from the table and march across the room.

"I haven't seen you around here before." was all you could think to say as you approached the end of the table. Janis and Damian share a look before settling on... confusion. You weren't ever particularly mean to others but you were guilty by association. people mess with you. they mess with Regina.

"oh," by the look on her face, she already knew who you were or at the very least your friends. "it's my first day."

"Where did you transfer from?"

"uh... Kenya," she seems unsure. you put it down to nerves.

"you sure about that?" a curious raise of your brow. "'cause you don't sound-"

"we're leaving" stated firmly as three girls breeze past. the blonde leads the way. the other two are just a step behind.

"so what made you move all the way here from Kenya?"

"my mom got a new job."

"couldn't find one-"

the sound of your name echoes through the room bringing the world to a stop. a weird silence settles over the room. "come. now." growled through gritted teeth and paired with snapping fingers. you were being summoned like a naughty dog ignoring their owner. a sigh as all eyes fall to you. waiting to see what you'd do but make no mistake, they already knew the answer.

"I'll see you around." a flash of a smile before you scamper after Regina.

"so your ears do work." is all the girl says as she shoves you through the door. you bite back any comment because that was how this worked. you may be top of the food chain to everyone else but Regina led the pack.

as the final bell for the day rings, you're shoving things in your locker when you spot the new girl. she seems to be struggling to even open it. you watch her for a moment. a smirk settling. this was another chance to talk and this time Regina couldn't demand your presence. "need some help?" it seemed to take her by surprise as a handful of papers drifted to the floor. a small chuckle, you reach down to collect her work and hand it back. "how's your first day going?"

she shrugs, taking the papers. "it's alright."

"anyone giving you any trouble?" you ask, falling to lean against the lockers. people around here were not nice and took every chance to show it. some more than others. She shakes her head. "you sure? if anyone does anything, I can sort them out." you give her a knowing look and she offers a sort of amused smile. "so you do know how to smile, it's cute. are you gonna tell me your name or am I gonna have to guess?"

"it's cady. Cady heron."

"well, cady heron. the trick to these," you tap her locker door with your knuckle. "is to push in and pull up before trying to open it. annoying, I know but they're old." you watch her try again and this time it swings open. "see."

"Thanks." you linger as they shove some of their stuff inside. you notice a few stray stickers on the locker opposite.

"no problem." you push up from the metal. "I can show you all types of tricks to get through this hellscape if you want?" she shuts her locker and you both start walking towards the exit. "number one tip, avoid Regina."

"Isn't she your friend?"

"yeah," you nod. "that's why I said it. She can be... a lot. surely Janis told you that."

Cady looks at you for a long moment. "something like that." you let out a chuckle. Janis probably told her what a massive bitch Regina was. they had a less than favourable history.

"I should go. I'll see you around Cady Heron." as you both go your separate ways, you can't help but glance at her as she walks away.

having a study period just before lunch was both an absolutely ridiculous idea and the best thing to happen to your schedule. it basically guaranteed you didn't do any work whatsoever and felt more like a two-hour lunch period. seems you shared it with the new girl because she was sitting at a table scribbling in a book alongside Janis who was doing her normal embroidery or whatever.

"if it isn't Cady Heron," you comment, taking a seat on the bench. her face brightens at the sight.

"where's the rest of the coven?" Janis asks, not even bothering to look up from her work. "wait- don't tell me, a house fell on them."

"you're so funny Janis," an exaggerated sarcastic laugh.

"I think I can hear children singing... ding... dong the witch-"

"So Cady, how are you enjoying north shore?" you interrupt loudly and the 'song' trails off.

"It's fine."

"you don't talk much huh?"

her mouth opens but falls silent as Gretchen approaches the end of the table. she shoots you a less than favourable look. your brow furrows a little.

"Can I talk to you," pitch a little too high to say no.

"Sure," a shrug. you look at her for a long moment waiting for her to continue.

"in private," Gretchen urges. with a roll of your eyes, you stand up. flashing a smile at Cady, Gretchen grabs your hand and drags you away before you can say anything.

"what are you doing?" whisper yelled at you.

"I was just talking." god this girl was dramatic. you take your usual spot. she sits opposite.

"to the art freaks?"

"dude, it's fine."

"no it's not." she urges quickly, shaking her head "You know how Regina gets."

"Regina isn't here?" and she wouldn't be until lunch. only you and Gretchen share this free period. usually, you spend it listening to her gossip about people. she could not keep a secret to save her life at least not when it came to anyone outside of you and your friends; even then it's dicey. fun for you though.

"All I'm saying is you need to be careful,"

"don't worry. I was only interested in the new girl."

"that's worse," you just roll your eyes. "Regina doesn't like her."

"Regina doesn't even know her," you argue. "none of us do. she's been here like a week."

Gretchen thinks the idea of even wanting to talk to Cady is blasphemy. that it's better to avoid her but you think she's overreacting. Cady hadn't established herself at this school yet. right now she is with Janis but tomorrow who knows? she could be cool. it's a matter of perspective.

a pretty perfect smile does little to distract from playful eyes as you approach her jeep. the blonde is in the driver's seat. one hand rested over the steering wheel. the other typing something on her phone. She had sent a message telling you to hurry up but on arrival, neither Karen nor Gretchen were even here yet. you toss your bag in the back, climbing into your usual spot behind the driver's seat. Karen is usually next to you. "sit in the front, weirdo," she comments. you don't bother with a comeback, just moving to the front passenger seat.

"Where are the others?" you ask, glancing at her. the soft glow of the afternoon sun kissed her skin beautifully. black shades hang on the end of her nose. She really was something to be admired. Regina shrugs and then tosses her phone down. the car roars to life and you're starting down the road before you can think any more about it. it's pretty silent at first. the sound of the radio filling the space. the lack of your two other friends acting as a buffer was sitting weirdly. this wasn't your first time alone with Regina but she's been so grumpy lately. whatever you say feels like an invitation.

"so you like the new girl?" asked casually as she came to an abrupt stop at a red light. you just forward, the seatbelt digging into your neck. it drags up a quick cough but that could also be from surprise. other than that first interaction where she'd summoned you from across the room, you had never spoken to Cady when she was around. Gretchen may be dramatic but she probably wasn't wrong and you really didn't feel like risking it.

"Sorry?" feign confusion was... a choice but it seemed like the better option here.

"you like the new girl," repeated calmly; her eyes drift to you as yours move towards the traffic light. was this the longest red light in history? "right?"

now it's your turn to shrug. you find Cady intriguing but you're not entirely sure if it's interested in the way Regina is implying or just because you were so bored of the every day. "she's cool." a scoff as she pulls away continuing down the road. "you've hardly spoken to her."

"don't need to," Regina didn't miss a beat. Cady definitely didn't fit into what she'd consider cool but then again, neither had you. not entirely anyway and now you're here. you hang out with the most popular people in school. went to the hottest parties. you were currently being driven around by the Regina George. you never understood why or maybe you did and just refused to accept it was that simple. you know what everyone else says. that it's because of the attention you show her. you wouldn't necessarily say they're wrong but everyone gave her attention. She did always say there was something special about you. "I thought you at least had standards."

the rest of the car ride is silent as you think over what she said and Regina keeps to herself. the music is the only thing, keeping you sane until you pull up at the George residence. you always forget just how big her house is until you're there. As you walk inside, her mum appears abruptly startling you a little.

"hey, ms. George."

"hey girls," she singsonged. "how was school?"

"fine," Regina shoots back.

"well if you need anything? a drink? some snacks? advice? I'm here,"

"I'd actually love an iced-"

"we're good," growled as she grabbed your wrist hauling you up the stairs. "don't bother us." a confused look but she didn't let go until you were firmly inside her bedroom. door slammed shut. the blonde tosses her bag down.

"you should really be nicer to your mom, she adores you," you say idly taking a seat on the end of her bed, placing your bag down.

"you should shut up because it's none of your fucking business."

jesus christ. you kinda regret the decision to come over. "I just wanted an iced tea. maybe a little snack."

"god knows you don't need it," Regina comments. wow. okay. she was in a mood.

"what's up with you?"

"I'm fine," she responds. "you're just being so fucking annoying recently."

"I haven't done anything?" you've not been acting any differently so you have no clue what she's talking about.

"just absolutely drooling over the new girl. it's embarrassing." she declares, taking a seat on the bed.

"I..." you stop yourself because you're more confused than anything else. "we've spoken like once."

"liar" she responds. "I know you've been talking all the time," fucking Gretchen. "do you think she's pretty?"

"Cady?" Regina nods. you shrug. "I guess."

"prettier than me?" her head tilts. you can't tell if she was jealous or fishing for compliments; neither was her style. so it was probably a trap.

"no." you wanna say she's being dramatic but that wouldn't end well. She doesn't say anything, hardly even reacts. just cold eyes. Is she expecting you to say more? "of course not." you're waiting for the ball to drop. for her to make a snide comment or something. anything was better than nothing. but it just never comes. she takes out her phone and starts typing. you fall back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. you both just sit in the quiet. you're worried about saying anything that'll lead to more insults. god knows what she is doing on her phone.

"you're so pathetic." Regina eventually says. you'd take offence if you weren't used to it; basically a term of endearment at this point. you can hear her moving but don't bother looking until she's towering over you. dark eyes and a small smile that would seem genuine coming from anyone else. a hand cups your cheek but no nails follow; it's gentle and slow as she runs her thumb over your skin. what was happening right now? "do you ever think about me?" you blink a few times trying to make sense of everything. why was she being so nice? why was she being so gentle? why did she ask that?

"what do you mean?"

a roll of her pretty eyes. "you know what I mean." you did but surely not.

"I... don't know what to say."

"Because I think about you," your breathing hitches as you sit up. looking at her properly. "those pretty eyes," she moves closer. "these lips," her thumb runs over your bottom lip. you swallow hard. "do you wanna kiss me?" you just stare back. a smirk as she ghosts your lips.

"say you wanna kiss me." this felt cruel. you lean in and she pulls back slightly. a finger pressed against your lips. her expression is colder now. sharp. "say it."

"I... wanna kiss you," you dare and that smirk quickly returns. removing her finger, Regina leans in and connects your lips. it's soft and slow. not at all like you imagined kissing Regina George would feel like... until the girl pushes into you and it's exactly like you imagined. fast. forceful. like she wanted to devour you. A hand pushes you back against her massive bed and she moves to straddle your hips. your heart is beating so loudly you wouldn't be surprised if she could hear it.

"still thinking about the new girl?"

"I never-" You feel her press a little harder against your chest so you change your answer. "no." Regina tosses her hair over one shoulder, and a finger under your chin pushes your head up.

"I don't think you should talk to her anymore," Regina states before leaning down to connect your lips once more. "understood?"

you're too caught up in the moment to really gauge how serious she was being so you nod. "good girl." whispered against your lips.

Regina George had always been a lot. She always demanded attention and you often gave her it. you weren't ashamed of that. She knew you'd do anything for her. As did most of the school.

"Hey," Cady suddenly appears beside you in the hallway. she seems a lot more relaxed around you which was nice to see. however, you have not spoken to them since that weird night with Regina. She wouldn't like it. plus Gretchen would probably snitch on you immediately. "so we should probably figure out a time to work on our project." you've been paired up for an assignment in American literature.

"We can do it today after school if you want?" she nods. "I'll meet you out front."

"hey Cady," Karen slides up beside you on the other side, instantly looping your arms. ever the pleasant company. you wonder if she just wanted to see you or get you away from Cady. probably the former.

"I'll see you later," you say to the new girl before turning to your friend. "what do you want?"

"you're coming to Connor's party Saturday?"

"Obviously,"

"I have the perfect-"

"no," you respond instantly. you loved Karen. she was genuinely the sweetest person you know. but at every party, she tries to give you a Karen Shetty special aka a makeover. and every single time you have to say no.

"but I have the perfect outfit for you."

"is it actually perfect for me or just slutty."

"Both," Karen states excitedly. "please," pleading eyes as she draws you closer, hugging your arm. "please please please."

a loud groan. "fine."

"Really?" her eyes light up and circulation quickly returns to your arm. you nod at her which leads to excited clapping. maybe it wouldn't be so bad. maybe it was the perfect outfit for you but also sexy enough to satisfy Karen.

"oh here," you reach into your bag and produce a homemade friendship bracelet. you'd been tutoring some younger students for extra credit but sometimes you just hung out with them. "made them with some of the kids so,"

"ah thank you," she takes it eagerly. you had one for Gretchen and Regina too. only one of them would appreciate it though.

"why were you chatting with Cady?" Karen asks, sliding on her bracelet as she takes your arm once more.

"we're doing a project together," you explain. "you were literally just in class with us Karen."

"oh yeah," she smiles brightly. "I'm starving." you chuckle a little and allow her to eagerly pull you towards the dining room.

you're sitting on the grass. Cady is talking in your ear as you stare into the distance. most students had gone home already. The rest were working on homework or projects or extracurricular activities. you arranged this meeting but god were you bored. no offence to Cady but you kinda wish you'd been paired with Karen so you could be fucking about right now and then rush the work the night before it's due.

"are you going to the party Saturday?" you ask idly.

"What party?"

"oh shit." you forgot she was hanging out with Janis and Damian who definitely wouldn't have been invited. "connor mckay is having a party. The dudes a mess, big house though. you should come,"

"don't think I was invited,"

"I'm inviting you."

"not sure that's how it works."

"Just come Cady," you insist. "you can bring Janis and Damian too if you want. everyone will be too fucked to notice."

"uh, thanks then" she smiles a little, glancing back at her textbook. "I'll think about it."

"you have to think about attending your first high school party?" you question. laying down on your back. "I'll be there," you turn your head to look at them. "it'll be fun." you watch her carefully and soon she smiles.

"Okay, yeah."

"well that was easy," should have just started by stating you'll be there. "Be careful, Cady." you tease, looking back to clouds passing by but you can't help but smirk a little. "I'll start thinking you like me."

sat in the back of Regina's jeep as she fixes her hair in the overhead mirror, Karen inspects your face while Gretchen is copying Regina by fixing her hair. "can we just go in," you insist, slapping Karen's hands away. "before I regret coming."

"Why would you regret coming?" Gretchen questions, looking around at you.

"I feel stupid,"

"you look amazing," Karen urges. "perfect."

"you would say that."

"stop whining," Regina insists. flipping up her mirror. "you look hot. now let's go."

finally. "I'm gonna get so fucked up," you state as you step out of the car. walking beside Regina with Gretchen and Karen a step behind. the party is already alive. started at six. It was eight.

you reach the point in every party where you just don't want to be there anymore pretty quickly tonight. you're suddenly so aware of how annoying everyone is. sat on the kitchen counter, you swing your legs back and forth as you sip whatever was in your cup. Gretchen gave it to you. the party passes around you like you're not even there until an all too familiar blonde appears. "you look sad," you'd mistake that for genuine concern if it wasn't Regina "Already at sad drunk, that's impressive."

"what do you want Regina?" she had basically ignored you since you arrived so why she suddenly thought you were worthy of her presence, you'll never know. Shane was the object of her disgustingly public displays of affection tonight. "thought you'd be too busy with Shane."

"god, you're so obsessed with Shane," a roll of her eyes as she takes the cup from your hand to help herself. you watch her as the red cup comes to painted lips. not a hair out of place. so perfect. Regina was perfect. it was annoying

"I invited Cady tonight," you state, snatching your cup back.

"ew. why? I thought we agreed you weren't going near Cady anymore," technically you did. practically it wasn't that deep. who cares.

"And Janis and Damian but mostly to get Cady here,"

"desperate to hang out with losers," Regina sighs. "is she here?"

you shrug. "too many people. too big a house. I haven't looked, to be honest."

"Well," a hand finds its way to your thigh, running up and then down softly. "if you're good tonight maybe I'll give you a little treat."

"don't," you push her hand away. "go back to your boyfriend."

"he's not my boyfriend,"

"well whatever he is," you jump down off the countertop. "you made it very clear that I'm not what you want."

"you're so dramatic," she pushes up too. "I hate when you get drunk."

"Whatever."

"fuck sake," Regina responds. "you act like I said we're together or something."

"you're such an asshole," you huff. "I'm gonna find Cady."

"good luck with that,"

there are so many people at this party. you're not sure who half of them even are but they all seem to know you as you stumble around after the new girl. a constant barrage of 'hellos' and 'you look hot' in various forms. it's tiring. annoying. and you're about to give up and go find Gretchen so she can rub your back to make you feel better when you spot her. She was looking as awkward as ever. "you came." shouted over the thump of the music

"yeah," her face lit up. "Damian too. Janis said she'd rather jump off a bridge than come so..."

"That sounds... exactly like her," you nod. "I like..." you glance at her outfit. Regina would hate it. you don't love it. "your outfit. very school teacher chic."

"Thanks," she replies. "I didn't have anything to wear so,"

"it's cool. I'm just happy someone here isn't gonna irritate me- do you want a drink?"

"Sure," she nods. "do they have juice?"

"uh... probably somewhere." who asks for juice at a party? "I'll check. stay here."

you wander off back to the kitchen in search of some juice. your first stop is the fridge which is very stocked. you briefly scan for anything open, sweet and edible before just grabbing a carton of fresh orange and deciding that will do. pouring her a glass before heading back. she's still in the same spot only a particular blonde in the tightest little black dress has decided to strike up a conversation. you immediately know something is wrong. Regina can't stand Cady. it's why you told her you admitted to inviting her so easily. You wanted to piss her off. you can't make out what is happening but as you make your approach the redhead leaves. Regina turns to you with a sugary sweet smile betrayed by her eyes. "hey baby girl, feeling any better?"

"What did you say to her?"

"why do you have a glass of" brow knitted as she tapped her nail against the glass. "orange juice?"

"What did you say to her?"

"who?" you let her have the glass and she takes a sip. a visible look of disgust. "is there anything in this?"

"It's just fresh orange,"

"what the fuck? are you trying to sober up or what?"

"it was for Cady," you explain. "what did you say?"

the blonde shrugs. "she just had to go. not my fault." you don't believe her. why would you? She has a track record of being a conniving person who'll make trouble just for the sake of it. it'd be naive to think she didn't do anything."

"Why do you have to be such a fucking bitch all of the time," you grumble loudly. a hand snaps around your wrist and suddenly you're yanked closer to her. hot breath sending a shiver down your spine.

"I let you off before because you were all sad and tragic but don't think you can ever talk to me like that," growled in your ear before she abruptly shoved you away. "Cady left. get over it."

"she only left because you said something,"

"she left because she realised you don't like her," the blonde snapped. such a pretty poison came in the form of Regina George as she turned her gaze on you. She was pissed but kept it quietly contained to just beneath the music so nobody else had a clue. "that you've just been stringing her along. pretending to be her friend. all because I wasn't showing you enough attention," she's close again. too close. she wasn't physically that tall but right she seemed massive as she loomed over you. her eyes flicker to your lips and back up. did she wanna kiss you or kill you? neither seemed smart. "she realised that you belong to me."

"I'm not a dog Regina."

"you sure about that," a mean glint in those pretty eyes. "you wanted my attention. you got it." she shoves the orange juice back in your hand. it's contents splashing your hand. "don't cry about it now." and with that she turns on her heel and disappears into the crowd

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#regina george #regina george x reader #mean girls #mean girls 2024 #renee rapp #mean girls fanfic #regina george fanfic

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