#SO IT WAS SO STRANGE I THINK I SPENT AN HOUR ROAMING AROUND AND AROUND TRYING TO FIND THE BOOKS I WANTED

[applepidotcom]

already planning my next bookstore trip even though I went the other night and now have 6 more books to read….. hehehe

[euseokz]

@ eunseok — the forbidden fruit is always better, right ? the only rule is that you have to keep it a secret when you do get a taste of it ;) . cws : use of nicknames (good girl, slut, whore) . degradation/praising . unprotected sex . wc : 1.5k+ . genre : smut - [pt.1]

OLDER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND! EUNSEOK who, as you expected from how much he mentioned it, was not only able to keep secrets better than anyone should, but also had no problem keeping his promises.

you spent the rest of the afternoon, as soon as you truly became level headed and not drunk with lust at least, somewhat nervous, completely avoiding sungchan, worried something you did would give away what you had been up to. it was irrational, and if anything your behavior should have actually been what told him something was up, but strangely enough he didn’t apparently care enough to notice, assuming you were probably just pissed at something he did and avoiding him out of annoyance. you were thankful for your brother’s obliviousness, that he was distracted enough to not notice your odd behavior throughout the rest of the day and even dinner.

when you finally went to bed — which for once seemed like something that couldn’t come soon enough — you laid there excited, impatiently waiting for the moment eunseok would sneak out of sungchan’s room when everyone was finally asleep and leave two soft knocks on your door, opening it slowly and closing it carefully behind him, a sly grin adorning his lips.

“you’re a good girl, you know that right?” he started as he made his way to you, his pajama pants so loose they only made the obvious tent between his legs harder to avoid. “you behaved so well, i almost wanna praise you” eunseok continued, climbing on top of your bed, watching as you moved to lay back and taking the chance to slot himself over you, strands of his hair falling over his face while his palms stopped on either side of your head, holding himself up mere centimeters away from you. “you’re not all that into that though, are you? you’d rather i’d just call you a good little slut who can follow orders well, that’ll probably get you wetter”

he wasted no time after that, leaning in to kiss you just as passionately as he had hours before, if not even more eagerly, now able to be a bit more relaxed. his hands roamed freely under your shirt, moving up your belly until they rested on top of your breasts, palming them gently, pressing against the soft tissue before going lower, making sure to pass through your butt and then finally gripping your bare thighs, your shorts rising up when he propped them to lace around his waist, fingers digging into their flesh and making you whine.

“you have to be quiet, can’t be as loud as before. can you do that?” he asked, and you nodded determinedly, eyes fixed on his, the look on yours fierce almost. eunseok liked that, how easily it was for you to submit to him, to obey, basically no work having to be done on his part since you were already so inclined to it. “good… take off your clothes, all of them” he commanded, starting to take off his own as well, wanting to see you completely bare this time.

when you were finally undressed, a pile of both your pajamas sitting on your floor, eunseok started kissing down your neck, your legs lacing around his waist again to keep him close, a small smile forming on his face because of it. you were desperate, having been thinking about what he’d do to you for hours and driving yourself crazy over it, and you weren’t ashamed of it in any way.

eunseok’s pecks traced over into your collarbones, going down your cleavage and then your stomach, stopping at your pussy, leaving a small kiss over your folds before spreading them with both his thumbs, wanting to finally get a good look of your cunt, humming at how pretty it was, how good it looked all soaked for him. “you’re such a good little slut, truly couldn’t wait for me to come here, uh?” he asked, eyes drifting to yours, watching as you nodded again, biting your lower lip. “what? cat got your tongue? why don’t you answer me properly” he added, his expression teasing as he moved up swiftly, going back to having his face close to yours, one thumb pulling at your bottom lip while the other moved to your middle, circling slowly over your clit.

“i just want you to fuck me, ‘seok… please?” you begged, and eunseok couldn’t help but chuckle, your neediness amusing to him. “when you ask so nicely, how can i say no?” he replied, giving your pussy another look before moving one hand to the back of your right knee, pulling it up to your chest and wrapping the other around the base of his cock, spitting on it and giving it a few strokes before starting to rub his tip up and down your slit, watching as you bit your lip until it turned red, wanting to moan but behaving and staying quiet instead. “such a good little slut, so fucking soaked for me… i wanna fuck you until all you can think about is me, until you’re only a dumb whore for my cock” he muttered, eyes fixed on your pussy as he finally started to push his length into you.

it was almost as if it felt better this time, maybe because you could actually relax and not rush things. the way eunseok filled you up so perfectly left you in a daze, his first thrust enough to make you almost let out a loud whine, the way he pushed all the way in and then pulled back until only half of his tip was inside you more pleasurable than it should be. the angle he had you in was just perfect, making him able to hit all the right spots inside you without even having to try, his thrusts getting faster with each one until he was ramming into you, finally fucking you the way he had been wanting to for lord knows how long.

“you’re so good at taking my cock, you wanna be my whore? uhm? want me to make you my own personal slut?” he asked through gritted teeth, voice as low as possible.

“please ‘seok… please!” you moaned, just as lowly as him, only you two able to hear what the other said.

eunseok pressed your thigh harder against your chest, your other leg left to stay by his side while he moved his palm to lay over your pussy, his thumb circling over your clit vigorously, making your eyes roll back in pure pleasure. he was desperate, you both were, your desire for each other having been building up for far too long at that point. almost nothing else mattered but the way eunseok’s cock felt dragging in and out of you, his thrusts going at the right pace, and his movements over your swollen clit only made it harder for you to not scream his name. you were biting your lower lip until it almost drew blood, fixing your eyes on where you two met just like eunseok did, the view too pretty to avoid. his entire length was coated in your slick, low squelching sounds the only thing filling the room as you both kept your moans in, only small whines or groans slipping out every so often, none loud enough to be hearable past your door or walls. it felt amazing, the way he fucked you better than anyone ever had before, you only wish being that you could scream all the profanities bubbling in your mind, assuming eunseok couldn’t be in a much different position.

not much time passed by before you started feeling your orgasm build up between your legs, eunseok’s thrusts faltering because his own was close too. he was determined to feel you cum around him before his release tho, so he still managed to keep a steady pace, and with that, a low, almost silent, moan slipped past your lips, your high hitting you hard while your body trembled ever so slightly as you tensed up, your walls clenching harshly around eunseok’s length, making him let out a louder than expected groan, continuing to thrust into you at a slower rate for a few seconds before finally pulling out, stroking his cock with his hand a couple of times before spilling his cum all over your stomach, painting your skin pearly white with his seed.

both of you were left in a shock-like state, so overtaken by your own pleasure and arousal you almost couldn’t comprehend what had just happened, how hard your orgasms had hit you both. you were breathless, much like eunseok, trying to collect your thoughts before saying anything.

“such a good slut…” he muttered first, his thumb that once played with your clit moving up, smearing his cum over your skin with slow motions.

“wanted you to cum in me” you whined, a pout forming on your lips. “maybe next time” eunseok replied, making you look up from where his hand laid on you towards his face. “there’ll be a next time?” you asked enthusiastically. “you think i can just have the two best fucks of my life with someone and never touch that person again?”

you thought about it for a second, smiling a bit before continuing to talk. “what about sungchan? he’ll eventually find out”

“if sungchan cares that much about who you and i fuck than he needs to get a better life. just because you’re his sister doesn’t mean you’re some forbidden fruit i can never have”

[royalsunshinehotel]

Hello again! Sorry I didnt see that you answered my message tumblr didnt notify me for some reason 🤦‍♀️. And boy do i have ideas for ya boy, our heart and soul, David. (If u still write for him that is).

Picture this: you and david are newlyweds and on a honeymoon. Im picturing something like the channel islands like Jersey, where theres still a nice city aspect but you can get pretty solitary if u want. You run around, do some shopping maybe, goof off together. You both have a cottage that overlooks the water. You both walk by the edge of the water for a bit, completely lovesick and he just chats about how lucky he is that you said yes to him. He keeps telling you how lovely look and you keep teasing him too. Eventually the banter gets very heated and he drags you back to your room in the cottage and ✨️christens✨️ it with you.

This is just an idea btw, not a request or anything so think on this , and have a lovely day!

A Lucky Cloud (David Copperfield x wife!reader, 18+)

Giddy was the perfect word for it.

It had been exactly two days since you had met David at the church and become his wife. You find it's quite convenient because early that morning, you were able to kiss the top of David's nose to wake him, and instead of leaving, the two of you would take breakfast together. Your husband is quite a handsome man, it simply has to be said.

You watched him, as you always do, take a sip of his tea, large hands, long elegant fingers holding the cup. Those were the same hands you'd felt everywhere the evening before. He had the nerve to bat his long lashes at you, "What are you thinking, dearest?"

"You're all mine." You stated simple facts, David smiled and put his cup down.

"I am, we signed the papers." Til death do us part, though David said longer.

"And I'm yours." You grinned for no real reason, and David moved his chair back, leaving his lap open. It would have been a shame to leave that seat empty, so you pounced.

"You are. Gone soft on me, have you?" He sighed as you sat down in his lap, as if he had been holding his breath. 

"I have. How sad." David takes your chin with his thumb, and brings your mouth to his, kissing your pout. He tasted sweet, from the sugar cubes piled in his tea. He enjoyed your mouth for a moment, hands roaming over clothes, but he pulled away…

"As much as I would like to take you back to bed, I think we should take a walk today, just to say we did." You blinked at him.

"Outside?" You cocked your head. Why would he want to do a thing like that?

"Outside. Maybe just along the water." Oh, David did enjoy large bodies of water, you wouldn't deny him that.

"But not too far." You stated, looking him in his big eyes. 

I’d like to be back in bed within the hour, you thought. 

"Not too far." He confirmed, kissing your cheek. Your husband helps you up off his lap, coughing lightly, ignoring the state of his trousers. 

It's just another moment, that the two of you finished your breakfast, and got changed. You wouldn’t bother to tell David why you’re not putting on your various layers. You’ll just be wearing your overcoat and hoping for the best. 

You squeaked as David kissed the back of your neck, while helping you put on your coat. It was something simple, but you still felt weak in the knees. How strange it was! You weren't a woman who squeaked before you met David, and it still managed to surprise you.

He opened the door for you, and you tried not to wince as the cool air hit your skin. This would be a lovely interlude to what had been an alarming amount of time spent on marital relations. You would enjoy the break, or you wouldn’t let David see that you would much rather be inside, underneath him. 

Overall, you’d say your honeymoon was going quite well. You never saw yourself as someone who could get married, but then David barreled into your life and showed you how wrong you were. 

The autumn sun hit your skin and you sighed lighty, letting the cool fresh air take hold. He was right, as much as you’d hate to admit it. It was a lovely idea. 

You snuggled into your husband's arm, fingers toying with the cuff of his wool overcoat. Jersey was a fantastic choice for the two of you, plenty of good food in town, but plenty of nature too. You knew David grew up with natural life close by, maybe you could give your children the same luxury!

The two of you leisurely made your way down to the stony beach, you released his arm, and let him go to the edge of the water like you know he loves to do. 

“You were right husband, just this one time.” He scoffed at you, giving you a big toothy grin, sticking his hand into the lake. 

You sat on a large log and watched your husband enjoy himself. You breathe deeply, letting the air refresh you, cleanse. David came to sit by you. 

“Do you think our children will come here one day?” You asked, leaning your head on his shoulder.

“Our children?” He asked, voice tinged with incredulousness. 

“Tell me you’ve thought of them.” Before the wedding, it was practically all he could talk about!! 

“I have!” Since the wedding, he hasn't. He’d been a little lost in you. But he was thinking of them now.

David put your hand in his own, linking your fingers. 

“David.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to meet our children sooner?” 

“...Yes.”

Getting home was both a sprint and a blur. 

As a former chorus girl, you had to be athletic. David, your beloved, was typically not. However, today the power of desire would make him keep pace, behind you like a loyal dog.

A chilly fall breeze blew the two of you through the front door, David slammed it immediately after, as you pinned him against it, about to tear through his coat and shirt to get to him. 

He beamed as you put your mouth everywhere you could reach, frantically, like the two of you were reuniting after a war. He moaned into your mouth, your grip on his coat lapels unforgiving. 

“You’d debase me in the hallway, dearest?” he asked, coming up for air, only for a moment. You scowled at him, pretending to pout. 

Slowly, you backed away from him, and he batted his big eyes at you, “You should run then,” he cocked his head, “Or I’ll start without you.” 

His eyes flash as you strip off your coat, and sprint to the main bedroom, you whirl around and try to slam the door, only for your dearest husband to dramatically throw himself into the door frame. Oh bless him…

He gaped at you, and you laughed at him, “Minx!” he declared, “You’d lock out your husband?” 

“When he’s misbehaved, yes!” How dare he be unwilling to take you in the hallway! It never stopped the two of you before!

“I’d argue it was you who misbehaved!” He tried, as if you hadn’t been suffering on your day out. 

“Then come over here and punish me for it.” 

David stared at you a moment, as if he was trying to make a memory. You huff at this, kicking off your shoes, and flopping back in bed. He wouldn’t punish you, he puts the idea down immediately, as well as falling to his knees. 

“May I serve you?” 

“Since you asked so nicely…” He crawled to you, and you pulled him up next to you on the bed. How ridiculous it was, to have missed someone you had spent the whole day with. 

“I’d like your mouth, husband.” You purred, brushing your nose against his. 

“So take it, wife.” He replied softly, waiting for your next cue. 

You think a moment, about the first time you mounted your David’s face, and how relentless he’d been for you. Only stopping when you said. What a good man you had. All yours, just like he said. 

Your heart skipped as David gave you the goofiest of smiles, before pulling your shared pillows into place. He’s much too tall to fuck around without pillows.

“You’re a very good husband, dearest,” you beamed at him. You had read it was important to share such thoughts. 

“I can be better!” You scoffed, undoing the buttons of David’s shirt to reveal a lovely amount of his chest. The bedroom in the house where you were staying was tightly insulated, the autumn sun streaming through the windows, making the two of you perfectly warm. 

David’s face should have felt more familiar with how much time you spent enjoying it. It was almost unfair how he was designed, looking up at you from two comfortable pillows, expectantly, mouth open. 

You thanked yourself for having the foresight to strip off your heavier clothes, as you migrate in bed, to do what David had so nicely prepared for. 

Your firm grip on his hair, his long eyelashes fluttering, a pleasant, sharp nose. How every lady he set eyes on didn’t fall, was beyond you. 

Properly seated, and your husband’s neck supported, you slowly grinded against his beautiful face. Your husband didn’t stand for this, taking a harsh grip on your ass, and pushing you down further. 

Rolling forward, you took hold of the bed frame, and took one of David’s wandering hands in your own, placing it on your belly, the other supporting your lower back. 

You adored his tongue. You practically married him for it. 

You continued to rock slowly against his face, harder and harder as your skin gets hotter and hotter. David made it so hard for you to contain yourself! You had been so calm and concealed when you met him, and now you were practically about to break his nose! 

A hand wandered up to feel your breast, and he groaned against you when he found it. 

You came loudly, boldly, onto David’s tongue, and you swore you could feel him smile against your pussy. He used his tongue to fuck you the whole way through, wobbling, clinging to the bedframe as tight as you could. 

He was the only one who could do this to you, the only one who stripped you down to your most vulnerable, and lavish you with care and sensitivity regardless of what mess he might see. 

His face was still wet with your release as you leaned back, your knees angry with you for staying still for so long. A lovely floaty feeling settled on the top of your head, like a very lucky, wispy cloud. 

David caught his breath, observing you closely. You crashed, pressing your face into his neck, his grip steady, unrelenting.. 

“Need you,” You mumbled into his hair, and you heard the vibrations of a chuckle in his chest. You really were a minx, and you knew it too.  

He helps you pull your underskirts up to your waist, his forehead pressed to your own as you feel a blunt pressure against your wetness. He’s warm, familiar by now, and it’s absolutely perfect. 

The two of you weren’t rushed by any means. David firmly rolls you back on top of him, your mouth sucking and biting at his neck at your leisure, as if he was some kind  of rare treat.

He thought, for a moment, about the first time he had you, like this, completely calm and unguarded. He vaguely registered you changing your pace as the relief the two of you were chasing got closer and closer. You’d said something so ridiculous he could almost laugh now, “You’re so good to me David, I’m afraid I don’t deserve you.” 

“What utter nonsense.” He said in the bedroom. You didn’t notice his words, completely preoccupied chasing release, faster and faster as you kept his pulse under your teeth. Your breathy little gasps and familiar squelching sounded like music, and your husband thinks to write this down. For personal use, obviously. 

The two of you held each other tightly through the come down, your head firmly resting on David’s chest, and he drew thin lines all over your skin with his fingertips. 

“I think I want to keep my hands on you forever,” He hummed into your hair. You laughed a little, leaning to press a kiss to his throat. His eyes fluttered shut at that, as they always did. 

“You can, you know,” you replied warmly, smiling as he did what he said, running large hands over you. 

“Hmmm…legs,” he traced his hands down feeling you there, as you casually brought your fingers through his dark, curly mane. 

“Hair.” You announced. He brushed his nose against your own.

“What are we doing?” 

“Saying what we love.” You hummed as if it was the most simple thing in the world. 

“Everything.” David sighed into your mouth, “Everything. Us.”

consulting credits to my dearest @youlooklike-clarabow

[rosepinksky]

Pay For My Time (pt. 5)

Simon "Ghost" Riley x Female reader

In which Ghost's neighbour drags him in for dinner, and then ruins his life.

Warnings: alcohol & nicotine use

word count: 1.9k

ao3 link

part 1 (smutty!)

masterlist

-------------------

I was antsy that night at the club, constantly checking over my shoulder for a figure that never showed. I did my best to plaster a bright smile on my face as another girl clinked her glass against mine, waving off her questioning face with a half-hearted reassurance that no, I’m good, just tired.

The hot pink lace felt too tight against my chest, the cheap fabric scratching against my glitter-dusted skin. I adjusted the straps over my collarbone, gulping down the cheap vodka in one breath as I turned my attention towards an older man in a charcoal suit at the bar. I sidled up to him, running a hand down his arm as I introduced myself with a practiced, sultry tone. He smirked as his gaze roamed greedily across my body, and I set my drink down next to his on the bartop.

I had never been one for feeling self-conscious. Since my first underwired bra at 14, since my first time fooling around with a boy in someone else’s bedroom at a house party at 16, since I’d spent my first year of university giggling sweetly at some trust fund Eton kid at a sports society mixer- I was a self-assured, confident, attractive young girl. Bright, too. Never one to say the wrong thing, to embarrass myself. Always pretty, always smart, always charming.

I remembered the day I sat down in my professor’s office to tell her I was dropping out. The confused frown tinged with concern as I babbled happily about my alternative plans, about him, about moving to London and summer weddings in Cornwall. A flashy diamond ring that didn’t quite suit my tastes but blinded me anyway glittering on my left hand.

God, it was strange how the thing I resented most was how damn good my dissertation would’ve been if I had stayed.

Leading the businessman- Michael, I think he said?- up to the private booths by then hand, I was struck by another wave of bitterness by the way Ghost had denied me that morning. Didn’t he know? Didn’t he know how good I was, how many men tonight were willing to empty their pockets just to have me in their lap?

Ungrateful prick, to deny me his cock when I offered myself up so freely for him. I made a silent vow as I bent at the waist to put on a slow song to cut him off, to ignore the needy little voice in my core that ached for him to fuck me like a goddamn ragdoll once more. I swore that vow again as I began to sway in front of this other man, dragging my nails up the sides of my thighs, feeling his eyes burning holes into the soft flesh of my ass.

I hated men, I decided in that moment. I hated how they made me feel, how they used me, how desperate I somehow still was for their fucking approval.

I left the man in that booth the second he tossed me a few notes, not bothering to send a parting smile his way. I shouldered my way back down the stairs, not stopping until I collapsed back into my chair in the dressing rooms.

“Fuck!” I whispered to myself as I gulped down a mouthful of water, closing my eyes as I exhaled sharply, cheeks burning with emotions that had no place coming to the surface right now.

I was grateful for the emptiness of the room in that moment, away from prying eyes and well-intentioned questions from the other dancers. I stared at my own reflection in the vanity mirror as I puffed away at my vape until my throat burned. I took in the slight imperfections of my face under the heavy makeup, the way the mascara clumped my bottom lashes together, the way my lipstick had smeared just at the corner of my lips. I frowned, swiping away the trace of red that escaped its confines, glancing up at the clock on the wall and resigning myself to the fact that I couldn’t really leave for a good few more hours.

There were a few things that struck Ghost as interesting about Lucy’s flat. On the surface, it was entirely what one would’ve expected from a girl like her. Doused in far too much pink, and enough candles to be considered a fire hazard to the entire building. But he’d spent too much of his life on high alert, eyes trained to take in and analyse every single detail presented to him, to be able to ignore those little ins she’d inadvertently given him.

Way too many open bottles on that bar cart, of course, though he wouldn’t have needed his SAS training to pick up on that particular vice of hers. He’d meant it in more ways than one when he’d told her he didn’t fuck drunk girls; his younger self tensing up on instinct when he saw the slight gloss in her eyes, reminiscent of his father’s blank gaze after yet another 12-pack of cheap corner store lager.

But he’d looked closer, in those fleeting hours spent in her home. Noticed the lack of pictures adorning the walls, the lingering feeling that this was a place only ever inhabited by one. No visitors. No family coming to stay for the weekend, no friends crashing after a late night dancing, no Friday afternoon coffees with that one cousin you always promised to keep in touch with but only ever saw thrice in a decade.

That struck him as odd, especially after she’d been so comfortable, so practiced as she invited him in and cooked for him. That meal was not the cooking of a lonely stripper in her early twenties, he knew that much. But still, he couldn’t picture Lucy coming from a childhood of a stay-at-home mother who patiently taught her to cook over some overpriced Aga, all warmth and softness. No, this was a woman who’d seen reality, had fought tooth and nail to perfect that seemingly effortless exterior- Lucy, Violet, whoever she may be.

He found himself inexplicably drawn to this woman. She was beautiful, no doubt about it. But there was more than that; her easy confidence drew him in, made him both want her and want to be her. He wondered, in the dim light of his lonely living room, what it would be like to exude that kind of quick social intellect. There had to be more, he mused, some reason why she got to possess that effortless, uncomplicated manner instead of him. Was it just a symptom of her beauty? Had she swanned through life unbridled with the worry of other’s judgement, simply gliding by on her looks?

The thought left a sour taste in his mouth, and he chased it away with a swig of his now lukewarm tea.

He was a fucking Lieutenant. A decorated, elite operative, a goddamn prized credit to his government. She was a stripper! No bachelors certificate framed on her walls, nothing to show for her career except some fancy coffeemaker on her countertop. She was nothing, as far as he should be concerned. And still-

And still, his throat got tighter every time he went to text her. He stumbled over his words when she ran her dainty, those stupidly dainty little hands over him.

He’d told her to call him that morning. Left her there in her bedroom feeling all smug, like he’d gotten the upper hand, and he had. Like he always did. Every girl he picked up, every pretty little barracks bunny that fell for the mystery of the mask, he always had the upper hand in the morning- if he waited that long to leave. Never cruel, never neglectful, but never sweet, either.

 And yet, despite his brain pushing forward the vivid memories of her on her knees in front of him, or of her wrapped around that pole looking like an entire fucking meal- the thing he couldn’t get out of his head was the vision of her nibbling on that corner of toast as they sat on the fire escape together in the late morning sun.

His fingers were pulling up her contact page before his brain could catch up and think better of it.

“…Hello?”

Noisy. The club, obviously.

“Hey.”

He could hear the way her breath was coming a little heavier than it should be, so in tune with her mannerisms after less than a fortnight of knowing her.

“Ghost! God, the one man I didn’t want to fucking hear from tonight.”

He pulled the phone away from his ear at that, frowning at the screen. A laugh crackled through from the other end.

“Sorry, I’m not supposed to say stuff like that. Hi, handsome, how are you?”

“I’m…fine. You’re working late for a Monday.”

A light sigh from her, and the flicker of a lighter.

“You’d be surprised. These 9-5 workers, they get fussy on a Monday. It’s one of our best days.”

He huffed out a dry laugh, using his free hand to open a window and grabbing his own cigarette.

“Why didn’t you want to hear from me?”

Silence. He stayed quiet, listening to the way her breath hitched, praying that her lowered inhibitions would give way to some sliver of the truth. He really had believed her when she’d told him she wasn’t a liar, after all.

“…Because I’m mad, at the way you left me this morning.”

He smirked. “That was the point of it. Still, I don’t think that’s the entire reason, princess.”

She scoffed, taking in a long drag of her cigarette before replying.

“God, what do you want me to say? That my ego was bruised?”

His smiled widened. Bingo.

“Now why would you say that, Lucy? Was your pretty little ego bruised, when I refused to fuck you, not once but twice?”

He could hear her grumbling under her breath, and it only served to build up his cracked self-esteem further. So she wasn’t infallible, after all.

“You know you only had to ask me, right, sweet girl? Properly. Without any of that cheap wine clouding your judgement.” He dropped his voice down to a rich, weighty tone, the cigarette dangling idly from his fingers.

“Whatever.” She snapped. “Luckily for you, sir, there’s plenty of men who’ve managed to drag the stick out of their ass for long enough to see what’s in front of them.”

His smile dropped into a frown, sitting up a little straighter. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

There was another pause, and he could practically hear her smug smile. “I’m sorry if the noise disturbs your sleep tonight, Ghosty. I really would try to keep it down, but you know what I’m like when I get properly fucked.”

He wanted nothing more than to wipe that little smirk off of her face, his fists clenching until the cherry of his cigarette burned his knuckles. “Don’t you dare, Lucy.”

She giggled. She fucking giggled.

“Sorry, sir. Should’ve tried to mess with an easier girl.”

The line clicked dead, and he was left staring at the black screen of his phone.

It was less than a minute before he was on his feet, pulling on his jacket and shoving his feet into his boots, grabbing his keys before slamming his front door shut.

[sgt-scottymoreau]

Lay low and learn

Summary: Trying to pick up the pieces left behind after what happened 3 months ago, Scotty and Task Forces 141 found themselves in a dire situation that requires them to stay low and hidden for a while. But where to go in a country where you don't know who to trust anymore? Well Scotty might have a solution, but... can she reveals her secret to them? Can she trust them?

Warning: None.

Words: 5.9k // AO3 // Masterlist

A/N: Back to the main timeline with a fic that I have been work on ever since I created Scotty. An idea that I had back then, but I struggled so bad to feel in the gap between some scene, then wrote more fic that I could connect to it and eventually spend so long on the ending. Technically this is like a 2.0 version of it, I rewrote the whole thing after like a year(?) and honestly I'm just glad it's done! Italized text mean that they are speaking French here. For the sake of being used a lot and not wanting to have a character translate everything or such, I just did so.

It started like any other operation. The intel was good, their luck was running high and honestly nothing that made it feel like it would turn sour in a matter of hours. A cover mission to help the BSF after what happened 3 months prior with their ex commander. He apparently had more connection then they thought and even if he had by now been court martial, his allies were still roaming around. So, when the intel came in, they trusted it. They followed it till they realized that a very important detail was missing and now they were on the verge of a diplomatic incident with the French authority. For now the 141 had to cut themselves from everything, lay low till they could figure out a way to fix all of this. This is how they found themselves in the middle of nowhere in the countryside, in the darkest time of the night. 

"That ain't the worst that could happen to us." Soap tried to light up the mood.

"Sure, it's not like Laswell isn't coming for our asses after that." Gaz replied with a hint of sarcasm. "But being alive has its advantages."

"Very funny you two." Price groaned. "Well for now we should probably camp for the night. There’s nowhere to go until we figure out some plan." They all agreed. Despite the risk, they still lit a small fire so they could see what they were doing. After a quick meal from their rations, they made bed with whatever could be comfortable; their bag and some leaves. Wouldn't be the first time the night would be spent like this. Of course no sleeping under stars would be complete without taking shifts. The night started with Ghost on first watch, Gaz second, Price third. 

Price looked at the time on his watch. Three in the morning. It was time to wake Scotty up. He stretched his sore muscles and got up. He softly shook her shoulder. "Rise and shine, lass." He whispered. Scotty mumbled something but eventually woke up. "Everything is calm so far, hopefully it stays that way. At 6 you wake up Soap, understand?"

"Yes sir." She said, rubbing her eyes. Scotty took the spot next to the fire where everyone had been keeping an eye on the surroundings. It was eerily silent. She didn't mind it, but it also made her feel uneasy. Even the bugs weren't making a noise. Which was a little strange. She remembered all those summer nights where some cicadas would be annoying almost till early morning. Maybe the forest was different. At least the captain was right when he said all was calm.

She threw some small branches in the fire to keep some warmth, for a night in June, it was chilling. Her mind drifted for a moment, eyes lost in the dancing flames thinking about everything that happened. There was no real point in trying to understand why, but maybe it could give a foundation to their next step. She wondered if they could even attempt to contact the French authority and make them understand the reason. They were usually reasonable from what she remembered from her days in the BSF. However this time it was different. The team was not supposed to operate in the country without their knowledge and… it is precisely what they did. It would be hard to explain themselves. A rustle startled her. Her eyes scanned the surrounding, hand already on her gun. It was only Soap moving in his sleep. She let out a sigh of relief. However her body tensed up again when this time, it was a shadow she saw in the distance. It moved fast. The sergeant jumped on her feet, grabbing her pistol. As if her worriedness vibrated through the ground, the rest of the task force emerged from their sleep. She advanced toward the last position of the hostile. "Come out!" She ordered. "I know you are there and I won't hesitate to shoot!" 

A man came out, hand raised, and stood there. "I mean no harm." He explained in French. A civilian? No, not by his clothes. He looked different. "I'm with the AGIGN!" What in the world would they do here at night? Her gut feelings made her reach for her upper arm and rip the flag off her uniform before shoving it in her pocket. 

"What is going on here?" Price asked her once he was by her side. 

"GIGN, captain. Technically a sub branch of it." She replied, her eyes and gun never let go of the man. 

"Hey Thierry what is going on?" Another French voice came out. Five other men joined the one named Thierry, also surprised to see the 141. 

"Oh, on peut vous aider?" The probable captain of the group asked. 

"We don't speak French." Scotty said. Price looked at her from the corner of his eyes, his expression remaining calm despite her statement. He could see the frown and her concern. He understood that he should just play along. 

"My captain asked if we could help you." Thierry translated. He lowered his arms. 

"You are special forces? We could use some help to get in contact with our base. We need extraction." Price explained before the Frenchman translated. 

Scotty put back her pistol where it belonged, keeping an ear to what was being said. Thierry and his captain said that it wouldn't be a problem. They had their headquarters not far away, they were welcome there. The 141 grabbed their belongings and followed the men to their cars. Without much more, they climbed in, Soap and Ghost in one, Gaz, Scotty and Price in another. For this one time, Price wanted to keep her nearby. Especially that she was acting odd. 

"I thought you spoke French?" Gaz whispered to her once the engine was on and the vehicle drove off. 

"Let's just say it's better that way." She replied. Price gestured to Gaz that if Scotty thought so, it was better to follow. 

They drove them for an hour before stopping again. This looked like an old village, almost abandoned. The kind of village only locals would know of. "We have arrived at the HQ." Thierry said, getting out. The 141 did the same. 

"What base?" Soap inquired, not seeing anything as usual. Even if it was a makeshift one, he couldn't figure out anything that resembled it. 

"C'est un peu plus au nord, dans la montagne." The driver of their car said, not even caring about them understanding. Him pointing up the mountain gave them the idea that the base was maybe there. Some more walking to do. 

Soap, who was also wondering the same as Gaz approached Scotty as they walked back into the forest. "Why don't you talk with them?" 

"Because something is not right." She whispered. "I could be wrong, but I know the GIGN and I know that none of their branches are in this area." This small information was enough for them to be on high alert. They followed in silence. One thing Price couldn’t shake off since they were found by the AGIGN was how no one questioned what four British SAS officers and one unknown military personnel were doing in France, lost in the forest. He trusted and believed Scotty when she said something wasn't right. Because anyone with the slightest common sense would have been concerned.

While the Frenchmen chatted like they had nothing to worry about. Scotty tried her best to not reveal her secret, but Soap and Gaz wanting to know what was going on made it hard. She shortened the whole conversation to they were making fun of them because they are Brits, making comments on Ghost being scary and other small talk. 

"How long we still have to go?" Price asked. He was getting irritated that they had been walking for a long time without even a sign of being close to any building. 

"I'll ask." Thierry said. He looked nervous himself. "Captain, we should hurry, they are getting impatient." 

"Thierry, tell them we are almost there and everything is alright. Once we are in the clearing, a bullet for each one of them. They won’t even know what’s happening." 

Scotty, who was watching her footing, snapped her head back up and she stopped in her tracks hearing this. Every part of her body tensed up. Her arm flung in front of her captain to stop him, surprising everyone. "Fils de pute!" She yelled. Son of a bitch. All the Frenchmen moved a step back finally realizing what was going on. She took her gun and pointed at the French captain. "Captain, they plan to kill us! There never was a base!" 

"Son of bitches!" Soap cursed, raising his own weapon. It was only a matter of seconds now. The first to pull the trigger would save their team. The 141 reacted fast taking advantage of the Frenchs being shocked that someone had been listening all along. Their bodies dropped dead quickly. A better look at their uniforms confirmed Scotty's suspicions. They had a logo resembling AGIGN, but it was botched. Good enough to trick anyone from afar. After more look around, they connected these men to the terrorist they had tried to take down. If these men could find them in the middle of nowhere, the 141 definitely had to lay low for sure. Disappear. They walked back to the village, finding the cars still there. At least they could now travel easier.  

"Let's get out of here." Price ordered. "Gaz, you drive."

"Captain, with all your respect, I should be the one driving." Scotty interjected. "I probably know the region more than him." He agreed and took the passenger seat while the other three men squeezed in the back.

*****

She had been driving for an hour now. The dark sky was slowly lighting up on the horizon, a sign that the sun was making its breakthrough. Her eyes looked in the rear mirror, to see the three men still sleeping, even Price was softly snoring. The road signs began to look slightly blurry, reading the town and exit’s names was difficult. Tiredness was on the edge of her brain and she knew she had to stop soon. Scotty had two options. Stop and let Soap drive or keep driving till they are safe. There was a reason she decided to take the wheel. Well at first it was mostly a wild guess and hoping she was right. Once they hit the big road, Scotty did figure out they were in an area she knew well indeed. They weren’t too far now, if her brain could let her stay awake just a little longer. She finally took an exit, went through the center of town which was completely deserted at this time of the day, maybe the local bakers were already working, and took an old dirt road. 

His head hit the window after a small bump that made him emerge from his slumber. Price fully woke up when the engine came to a complete stop. Before he could comprehend what was going on, he saw Scotty walk out of the car to the house in the distance. He watched as she knocked at the door, waiting restlessly and when the door opened it looked like she was talking with the owner. Glancing at the radio’s clock, it was already five in the morning. A shifting from the back caught Price by surprise. Gaz moved up between the front seats. “What's going on?”

“We will see.” He pointed at Scotty who was jogging back to the car. 

“I asked these kind folks if we could stay for the rest of the ‘night’ and they said yes.” She explained.

“How did you convince them?” The captain wondered.

“Hmm… You know a simple little lie!” There was a hint of nervousness in her tone that he dismissed. If this place was safe enough, they might as well take the chance for now. The captain ordered everyone out, grabbed their bags and walked to the door.

A woman and her husband welcomed them in. They looked like they just had been awakened from their sleep and weren't exactly sure what was going on. "Bonsoir, we have some bedrooms for you, messieurs. Et madame." The woman said shyly. 

"Thank you ma'am. We won't be staying too long." Price reassured. The husband brought everyone upstairs and showed them the room. With a heavy accent he explained that the kids weren't home at the moment and they could use their room. Apologized for the mess the little ones might have left behind. Once everyone was tucked back in, Scotty made her way back to the kitchen on her tiptoes. Awakened by a second wind, she didn’t feel like sleeping at the moment. The woman was there making tea, and her husband grabbed three mugs. Scotty leaned on the counter as the woman put down the kettle. Her eyes glared at the sergeant.

"I haven't seen you in months, not even a phone call and you just show up at my door in the middle of the night!" The woman berated her.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle!" Scotty apologized. "We were in the area and we need somewhere to lay low for a while and then we will be out."

"Cam, I have no problem with having you here, but I don't have enough to feed all of them. Have you seen their size! Even Nathan looks small next to them!" The husband raised an eyebrow unsure whether to take this as an insult or not. Camille assured her that it wouldn’t be a problem, she could also help with any extra groceries. Gabrielle sipped on her drink with a snort. “So much for wanting to keep your family out of your job. Who are these guys anyway?” 

Camille realized she had a lot to catch up with her sister. She was sure she had mentioned something about her new career path, but then again so much had happened she might have only mentioned being transferred to another country and didn’t mention the task force. A quick recap of all that happened since the beginning of this year was enough to bring Gabrielle up to speed. Sometimes, she wondered how sister could handle such a life. After their cup was done, Camille finally felt tiredness coming back and decided to give in. 

Later in the same morning, Scotty woke up feeling like last night was a terrible nightmare and wished that it was the case. But reality hit back when she woke up on the floor of a room decorated with stickers, posters of a football team and toys all over the carpet. Her body was stiff from the hard floor, the only spot she found to sleep on when she sneaked in the room. She pushed herself up holding down a groan of pain. Soap was still snoring in the very small bed. Ghost was sleeping on a mattress that was on the floor facing away from her. She caught herself staring at his shoulders that were slowly rising up and down. She approached to check if… Yes he still had the mask on. She smiled, that was crazy to her. Silently, she made her way out, at the same time Gaz came out of the other room. "Mornin'." He greeted her. 

"Morning, slept well?" 

"Oh, not so bad. Better than in the woods. Are Soa-" He was interrupted by her grabbing something from behind him. Gaz was quite surprised by this strange reaction, even more by the forced smile she put up. Was she hiding something? He was curious, however with the lack of really want to know what was going on, he simply let it go. "Are they still snoring?"

"Oh yes, sleeping like babies." The smell of eggs and fresh pastries reached their nose. Their stomachs growled. With a laugh they headed to the kitchen for some grub. Price was already there trying to help to set up the table. If he had to be a guest here, he would at least be a good one. The two others helped around till the last two finally woke up. After a good late breakfast, it was time to take it easy for a lack of knowing what to do. Eventually they discussed how long they should remain low. The consensus was at least a good week or two. Give time to whomever to clear them out of trouble. Hopefully Laswell or the BSF could help. The captain admitted that squatting here was an option, but also felt abusing the kindness of these people.

But Scotty told him it was fine, she talked with the owners and they were happy to have them around. He raised an eyebrow. She already did so? Without him knowing a single word of it until now? It sounded a little odd that some random French civilians would be so inclined to accept English military personnel in their house, but if they didn’t mind then so be it. Ghost didn’t touch much of his breakfast till Gabrielle and Nathan left the table to clean the dishes. Something Gabrielle commented in a whisper to Camille. The sergeant excused her lieutenant saying he usually never shows his face to anyone. If it could make Grabielle feel better she herself hadn’t seen his face yet either.

Later in the day, the couple said they would head to town for some extra groceries. Left alone in the house, it feels like a relief for Scotty. No more reason to play translator. Gabrielle and Nathan’s house was far from the town, maybe forty five minutes drive, surrounded by large terrain and trees. Not a destination anyone would go to by accident… You had to know exactly where they lived. A question Soap was too eager to ask, which she deflected by saying that she was simply looking for some place to stop for the night quickly and it was not unusual to have a house like this when she saw the off road path. The perfect spot to disappear.  

With not much to do, the boys helped around; chopping woods, cleaning the terrain, sparring with each other. Taking advantage that the owners were away to clean their guns and do an inventory check on their remaining gears. Scotty and Soap finished their last lap around the premises a little before the sun had completely set. Ghost was watching them arms crossed. “Takin’ vacation, sergeants?” He smiled behind his mask.

“If running half a marathon is considered vacation, sure.” Soap joked.

“You wish we ran one third of one.” Scotty rolled her eyes. Ghost leaned on the fence and looked at them. For a split second she swore her eyes met his and her gaze darted away quickly. Recently, Scotty didn’t know how to interact with him outside of mission. She tried hard to convince herself that it had nothing to do with the crush she was developing on him. It wasn’t high school anymore, who had crushes in their late 20s! But it was very obvious this was the reason. Scotty swore it all happened since that ops a few weeks ago, but it only became worse in the recent days. She knew the implication and problem that dating would cause, if he even returned the feeling and so she did all she could to keep it secret. Hoping it would one day fade away and it was indeed a small crush, nothing more. At least when the others were around, she was capable of keeping it together and not making a fool of herself.

On the fourth day, Scotty was on the porch watching the surroundings with Gabrielle next to her, enjoying a lemonade. It was rather warm today but that didn’t stop Ghost from still wearing his mask while chopping wood. “At this rate, Nathan won’t have to do anything until winter next year.” Gabrielle snorted. 

“I’m sure he will appreciate the time off. More time with the kids, unless he enjoys all the hard work.” She teased. Taking a sip of her drink, Camille gaze lingering on Ghost from afar. Only with a t-shirt on, his muscles tensing and being defined at each movement, his tattoo out in the open, the fabric tight on his chest as sweat made it stick to his skin. It was a sight for sore eyes. She couldn’t take her eyes off him even if the more she watched the hotter the weather was. Or it was her. A little detail Gabrielle noticed and was too happy to point out.

“Someone is in love.” She teased, nudging her. Camille turned fast to her with a glare and red cheeks.

“I’m not!” 

“Oh please, you have this look you always had when you were looking at your crushes. You can’t fool me. What are you finally settling down after all these years? It’s about time.”

Camille took another sip of her drink to cool off a little.“I’m not like I used to be in the army. I calmed down a while ago, you should know. But even then Gab. It’s not like I could do anything about it for a various number of reasons. There’s rules! Anyway, it might pass.”

Gabrielle nodded, not believing her entirely on the idea that it would pass.. “But seriously from all these men, you go for the one with that creepy mask, who barely talks and feels he could kill you in your sleep. You are weirdo.” Camille laughed at her insult and nudged her. She missed their casual teasing.

After a week, everyone was rather itching to go back into action. Vacations were always welcome, but most of the days were the same because no one could go out to town for a change of scenery. It was getting boring. Till the woman of the house took Scotty aside. Nathan had left earlier this morning without saying why. While the men were talking about something, Gabrielle spoke up about a little detail that was worrying her. “Camille, listen, we might have a problem.” 

“If it’s money, I can help. Just tell me and I can pay for it.” Camille did agree that all five of them did eat their fair share of food with not so small portions. She did feel bad for her sister, however also teased her that this was only a trial to show her how it will be when the kids will be teens. 

“No not that, although I wouldn’t refuse that. But that’s not it! If you wanted to keep us a secret, it might be complicated. Nathan’s parents called. The twins were at their place for two weeks and there was a problem in their house. The boys have to come back home.” The information hit Camille like a rock to the face. Gabrielle and her husband understood the importance of playing along but her nephews? Not a chance they keep it down. She let out a swear loud enough that even without understanding the language, the 141 turned their heads. She gestured that it was nothing. Her sister confessed that Nathan should be back in an hour or less by now. Scotty’s heart sank down her feet. She had barely time to make a choice. Either tell her teammates about her family and trust them or say nothing and hope to catch the kids before they come in. However Gabrielle wasn’t too keen on allowing her children to lie when she always told them it was bad. But was it so bad if it meant to protect them? Gabrielle apologized for putting her in such a situation on short notice, but they themselves learned about it only last night, hence why Nathan left so early in the morning. 

Scotty took a deep breath and joined in the conversation of the boys. However it was easy to see her uneasiness. Price’s mind raced to try to figure out what could cause this. Would they need to leave this place? Wouldn’t be surprising. Did things turn sour and they will have to remain hidden longer? No, he would be the first one to know. “Everything is alright Scotty?” 

“Well, I don’t know how to explain this.” She started. “You know we all have our secrets right… Things we don’t want others to know, like Ghost and his face.” It made them laugh, except for Ghost who crossed his arms.

“Just spit it out, sergeant.” He said, rolling his eyes. Scotty opened her mouth to explain. The door flung open with a man shouting in the back and two small humans bursted in. 

“Auntie Camcam!” They both shouted jumping on her, completely ignoring the four men sitting on the couches. All of them looked at her surprised and she timidly smiled. The kids started to ask her plenty of questions till one of them noticed the 141 and they went silent quickly. The twins watched each man carefully. They looked like giants! One of the boys grabbed at Camille's jeans half hiding behind her, while his brother looked much more enthusiastic. 

"La tête de mort il est trop cool!" He said pointing at the masked man. Ghost tilted his head to look at the boy. It was his usual look, nothing out of the ordinary. But the twin hiding being Scotty started to sob. She quickly kneeled to his level to reassure him.

"Je veux pas que la mort t'emmène!" He started to cry. She hushed him, promising that this was not Death but just a man with a mask.

"Tout va bien Mathéo. Il ne te fera rien." Camille said, kissing him on the forehead. Mathéo stuck his tongue out at him, still upset and ran to his mom. The 141 looked at her eager to know what just happened. Even if they had a little idea. 

"Nicolas found Ghost cool while Mathéo thought you were Death coming to take me. I had to reassure him that that was not the case." Soap didn't hold his chuckles as she translated. Neither did Gaz and even Price had an amused smile on his face. 

"Maybe Lt should take off his mask or the lad won't come out ever again." Soap teased. Ghost shook his head and firmly reiterated that the mask stayed on. Gabrielle hushed the boys to their room, leaving the task force alone. Scotty felt very uneasy at the moment. The silence was heavy.

‘’I took a risk by bring you here, but this was the only safe place I could think of back then.’’ She let out after a while. “I really wanted to keep it a secret.”

‘’Everyone wants to keep their family safe, especially with our job.’’ Price reassured her. ‘’That would explain why they have been so kind to keep us for so long.’’  

Scotty chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. It indeed explained a lot. Even if she knew that they had no issue with that, Scotty was torn between everything. She never planned on revealing the location of her family. It was a calculated risk that she thought of with a very tired mind when it all happened and yes when her sister admitted that the twins weren’t home, it did sound like it would all work out for the best. The sergeant just wanted everyone to be safe on all sides. She barely knew the 141, only for a few months and she knew she could trust them in a way, but Scotty still had this feeling that she did something wrong. Even her old colleagues only knew she had family somewhere and that was it. They never saw a picture, even less met them in person. But what was done was done, she can’t change anything she might as well live with it and hope for the best.

Later that night, they were all around the table for dinner. Scotty didn’t have a second for herself. Flanked, surrounded, ambushed with the twins who kept asking questions about her work and babbling about what they learned at school recently and what they were doing at their grandparents. Gabrielle had to intervene so they would let her eat in peace. The sergeant said that nothing could surpass the children's interrogation which made everyone laugh.

Scotty went to grab a plate that was slightly further from her. Ghost, noticing that she was obviously struggling to get it, kindly helped by handing it. For a second, their fingers touched each other. Scotty thanked him, her cheeks already coloring with a soft pink. A reaction that didn’t go unnoticed by her sister, nor nephews. Mathéo tugged on her sleeve so she could lean and he whispered in her ear. Whatever the little one asked, it was enough to make her face turn red and straighten up quickly. 

“What did he say?” Soap asked amused. 

“N-nothing! Nothing important. No Matt I-I don’t.”

“But you are all red just like when mom gets a compliment from dad!” That remark made his parents chuckle as well. Camille suddenly really wished this dinner could be over already and was oh so glad none of her teammates knew French. At least the rest went without an itch. After dessert, Nicolas tried his best to interrogate the rest of the task force. Mathéo on his side simply stayed in his aunt’s arm in silence, listening. Soap and Gaz answered to the best they could, having some fun along the way. Making their stories more unbelievable sometimes as well as much more kid friendly. Price shook his head with a smile. To Scotty this moment reminded her when her dad would be telling her stories of his deployments. These were the days, the innocence of a child. Eventually, the twins crashed from their busy day. Their energy completely drained and they passed out quickly. The parents picked up their children and brought them upstairs. 

After an eventful day, Scotty needed a break. She headed outside, walked a few meters away from the house and lay down on the grassy ground. It wasn’t comfortable but the view made it all worth it. Being far from any town, Gabrielle’s house offered a clear view of the stars. Left alone with her thoughts a lot of turmoil resurfaced. On one hand she felt like a hypocrite to be demanding to protect her family when she was the one who took the decision, on the other she knew it would all be fine. Did she regret bringing the task force here? A little perhaps. But at the time, it was the only safe place she knew of and they needed it. Would she do it again if a situation demanded it? Most likely. The safety of her teammate was as important as her family. Deep down, Scotty was aware that this need to keep her family secret came from make up scenarios, horror stories she heard again and again in the past years. There was no need to be so mysterious about her loved ones. Most of her work was done in the shadows rarely engaging with any enemies who would make retribution 

But. 

What if? The lingering question that made her so worried. She let out a deep sigh as the turmoil cleared out of her mind leaving her alone with the stars. The sound of the crunching peebles and gentle rustle of the grass caught her attention, but she remained in her position. Whoever it was, it was friendly. The smell of cigar gave away who stopped next to her. Scotty started to push herself to sit, but Price gestured to stay still. With a groan, he saw on the grass, arms resting on his knees. “It’s a nice view.” He simply said. 

“The first time my sister invited me to her house after they bought it, I spent all night outside.” She smiled. They remained silent for a little while. 

“I understand it might have been a hard call to make, but I’m glad you did so. Scotty, you know we won’t betray your family.” Price said casually blowing off the smoke. “No matter what.”

She pushed herself in a sitting position. “Thanks Cap. … Can I speak freely sir?” The captain nodded. “If anything happens to them, you are the first ones I’ll go after, no friendship will change that.”

“A little dark side of yours?” He had a playful grin on his face. She returned the playfulness, but Price knew she meant what she said. “I promise it will never come up to this, lass. No worries.”

As they watched the sky they saw it. A shooting star flew in the dark blue. Jokingly Scotty told the captain they should make a wish. Price scoffed. They stargazed a little longer, till maybe five minutes later, his phone buzzed. The brightness of the device illuminated his face, he had to squint a little the time his eyes adjusted to the light. A heavy frown lowered on his eyebrows. An unknown number had sent him something. You and your team are cleared and can return home. Laswell sends her regards. Tell Kabouter hello, she will understand.

Price read the message out loud to the sergeant who couldn't help herself but chuckle at his pronunciation of kabouter. “Who is that?”

“Someone we can trust, captain. An old friend of mine at the BSF.” Scotty stood up and dusted herself off. “I suppose it’s time to go home.”

“I know some lads who will be happy to.” Price stood up a few of his joints cracking. Years of hard work.

****

When the news was brought to the others about their probable departure, the rest of the task force was rather glad that their unprompted vacation came to an end after only a week! Laswell eventually contacted the captain with more information and where safe areas they could reach to return to England. They would need to find a way to reach any of them which was a little logistic problem but they can figure something out. Gabrielle, although sad to say goodbye to her sister, was also happy to see them leave. There were a lot of people in the house for far too long. The only two who were devastated by the news were the twins. They barely had the chance to see their aunt long enough and they just met these four awesome men! It took a little time to make them understand why they had to leave. 

They finally embarked on a plane in a military base nearby who could provide them transportation back home. In a little more than an hour, everything will be done. The five of them allowed themselves to completely let the pressure down, relaxing at the thought of home. 

“So who wants to join in for a drink?” Gaz proposed as they barely stepped a foot on the tarmac.

“Didn’t we spend enough time together?” Scotty chuckled and threw her bag over her shoulder.

“Aye! Count me in.” Soap replied. “Come on Scotty, one drink and then you can go home.”

She lifted her finger to emphasis on the only one drink. The captain excused himself, rather liking to get on with some paperworks. They shouldn’t forget about it. Ghost was on the same page as Price. Ghost passed behind her and stopped for a second. “You have a nice family.” was all he said in a monotone tone. 

Scotty was a little taken aback by this comment. What did he mean? Why? Nonetheless. “Uh thanks sir.”

Her eyes lingered a little longer on him as he walked away, discreetly biting her lower lip till Soap pulled her out of whatever thoughts that were forming in her mind. Right, drinking with friends now, thinking about her crush, later.

[holdinbacksecrets]

hiii!! i have a request and idk if you’d feel comfortable writing but i figured the worst you can do is say no. i just think you’re the only person that can write it the way you do💕

what would svt’s reaction be to you distancing yourself because you’re disassociating? like, you start texting them less etc

writing this was cathartic, so thank you so much for requesting. however, it's more of a general reaction to you dissociating. hopefully, you still enjoy it.

seungcheol: you ride the bus for hours. you don’t get off at any stops. you sit in the back row with your legs folded, arms around your calves, cheek against the glass. whatever temperature penetrates the window is the only thing that feels real until the vibration of your phone. it’s him, asking what stop you’re at because you sent bus that morning, and that’s all he needed to know. you see his figure standing beneath an umbrella. his face is covered by its blue, but you recognize his shoes, the distress in his jeans, and the way he shifts his weight between his feet. something must be wrong. he only does that when his pain has flared again, but he still came. you imagine he always will

jeonghan: all you can do is hold his hand and watch the way his veins roam beneath skin while his fingers flex. you used to smile through it. you used to turn the music louder. now, you stay in silence. you told him he doesn’t have to be with you when you’re like this. it’s ok if he leaves. it’s ok if he prefers your fun, your outgoing, your giggles through kisses. but he doesn’t think about you like that. he doesn’t have categories— there’s no division. he doesn’t love you more when it’s easy, when you call him silly nicknames and make breakfast. he told you one morning you’re like a garden, and he can tell what you need after a few moments in your company. sometimes the sun is already shinning after a dawn rainstorm. other days, you’re wilted, needing a little extra love and care, but it’s still you. it’s still the garden he plans to have around for the rest of his life

joshua: you’ve been in bed for hours. you’ve gotten up a few times to use the bathroom and refill your water glass, but that’s all you’ve done. your fingertip trails across the sheet your body rests upon. you focus on your senses and everything around you that can be felt, seen, smelt. you focus on the clock as the time ticks by, approaching the hour he’ll be out of rehearsals and on his way. you manage to get dinner started just before he arrives, but you settle onto the floor, resting against the dishwasher while he finishes the stew and steams rice. your eyes are closed. you relish the aroma, and his soft hums. you feel the floor beneath your palms, and let yourself be grounded

jun: you’ve escaped to the patio again. you’re craving the cool, morning air, and the sunrise that’s sure to come any moment now. he’s so used to you beside him that it doesn’t take long for him to be woken by your absence. he brews tea and grabs a pair of fuzzy socks. you hold his hand in between reaches for the white mug in front of you. you wiggle your toes and poke them through the railing. you discuss everything that crosses your mind. you share childhood stories that invite your smile and make you forget about the distance you’re feeling right now

soonyoung: you started crying at the dinner table because he spent hours doing research, and you had no idea. you haven’t even researched this yourself, nothing beyond discovering a name that aligned with your experience. he took the name and came back with five pages worth of information. “we don’t have to go over any of this right now, but i think some of what i found will be helpful, for you and for me” because he loves you, and he wants to love you better. “are you sure?” “what?” “i’m a lot, and this is so strange, and i never know when it’ll come. i don’t want… you don’t have to… are you sure?” “i’m not trying to be funny, but i figured out the internet for you, so yes, i’m absolutely sure.”

wonwoo: you feel guilty for the way your presence ebbs and flows. your smile lacks longevity, and sometimes you need someone to shake you back into reality, but it never works the way you want it to. you wish, more than anything, that his voice could be enough to pull you out of this, but at least you can tell him when it happens. you didn’t know how to describe it at first, but he was surprisingly quick to fill in the unknowns for you, painting a picture with his understanding

jihoon: it’s the nightmares that trigger your dissociation. trauma grows and tumbles from the dark images— melting pots of horror you want to escape. your mind has become quite excellent at giving you exactly what you want. sometimes you trace his face and admire softened features while he sleeps. other nights the bed feels like a grave— feels like the ground splitting in half to swallow you entirely, so you head to the bathroom. you shower until the hot water becomes freezing, and the cold is relieving. you’re so numb you can’t think straight, and that’s so much better than floating. it takes time before he admits to knowing about the showers. it takes time to explain their reason why

seokmin: he told you it’s ok to be scared. he carried you to the bathroom when you felt like you were choking, but you threw up instead. you feel so trapped. all your body can do is make you sick in an attempt to set yourself free

mingyu: you have subtle signs like all the lights being off, but your night light is plugged into the kitchen outlet. there’s a cup sitting upside-down on the floor outside your bedroom. your hair’s braided. you don’t want to hear your name. you wear the same button down and forgo pants. you want him close to you, as close as he can be, preferably shirtless with his heartbeat louder than the sound of your breathing, and its rhythm lulls you to sleep. his heartbeat sets you free

minghao: he asks you to talk to someone because he wants to know he’s assisting you positively, but you’re nervous; you’re terrified. you’re scared of a possible diagnosis, an orange bottle that comes with a prescription, and another reminder on your phone. so he goes to the first session with you, and it’s easier to talk than you expected. his hand in yours helps, along with the kindness radiating from the woman sitting in the armchair. it takes up the entire west corner, and it’s purple: your favorite color. her name is astrid. it reminds you of stars, and she wants to help you just like the man beside you. you believe them. it’s easier to believe them. doubt is so tiring

seungkwan: you’re sitting in the dark again, but the blinds are open, and you wait for rays of light to coat your wall in warmth, in color. it’s unfair how beautiful the sky is. it’s unfair that you can’t collect its picture perfect on a canvas for you wall. imagining your bedroom covered in your favorite skies settles your agitation, and you smile at the man beside you. you kiss his cheek, and ask him what is favorite sky is, if he has a picture. of course he does. he wouldn’t miss the chance to capture something so extraordinary 

hansol: he made you a playlist, and he wasn’t sure his selections would bring any comfort, but they did— they do, so you walk. you walk for hours. the playlist starts over. you end up in the park, craving the ground’s support. the ground’s foundation feels stronger than your body does. you used to feel so alone before you had him. you used to spend these days in bed. you’d take off work or miss class and forget what it means to exist in your version of normalcy until the clouds parted. now, it’s not that the feelings have changed, but you can move through them, instead of feeling arrested by them

chan: you wrote a list months ago that covers everything related to your dissociation spells. it lives in the first drawer to the left of your kitchen sink. a drawer filled with pens and sticky notes and thumb tacks and this list that no one else knows about besides the two of you. now, he doesn’t bother looking at it, but the words were lifesaving at the beginning. he had never heard of dissociation until you brought it up to him one evening, having been stuck in its clutches for the past few days. that night was emotional. you felt relieved after confiding in him, and there was something hopeful about knowing your honesty didn’t scare him. instead, he leaned in more. he came closer, with comfort accompanying his proximity

[lackc]

Imagine:

You walk into the hotel Cortez for the first time and there to greet you is a man named James. He wore a pale blue suit and slicked backed hair. The way he spoke and dress you could almost think he was straight out of the 1920’s. But nonetheless of how strange your first impression was, he offered to show you around the whole building as your personal tour guide. He provided details of interesting facts about the history of the place and said he was related to the owner. The man you originally thought was a nut job turned out to be one of the most generous and interesting people you’ve ever met. You guys spend the whole week that you are there together, and you think you made a new good friend. While roaming the halls together you can’t help but notice the stare and scoffs from other guests. You shrug it off though and chalk it up to being the affects of living in the city too long. But you had no idea that he felt so much more for you and he was making sure that, everybody knew that.

The week went by, and even though you had spent your whole vacation inside of a hotel, you still had a great time. Your bags were packed and it was time for you to leave. As you approached the golden doors to go back home. A sharp horrible pain goes through your back. You let out a blood hurdling scream. And everything goes black. Hours later you woke up back in a hotel bed. Similar to the one you had been sleeping in but different. You stood up and felt very strange. Dizziness takes over as you stumble a bit backwards and you remember.

“What happened to me…I though I was on my way home when…” you say out loud as you try to recall but you can’t. You sit back down on the bed to figure out why everything seems so off when suddenly two cold arms wrap around you from behind causing you to freeze in fear. You hear a man lightly chuckle and get closer and whisper.

“From the moment you stepped into my little palace, you were mine. I never planned to let you leave my little bird. And now that I’ve clipped your wings…I’ll never let you go again.”

/note/ This it my first time doing something like this so please let me know if I fucked it up! Im not even sure if anybody will even read this lol

[toournextadventure]

THE OC LORE THE OC LORE LETS HEAR IT??

JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT KIND OF OC LORE YOU WANT BESTIE

But I'll give you some very basic life stories about birb!Reader's older family for fun 😌 if you wanna know about the siblings, let me know, I've got lots more 👀

Reader's ENTIRE adopted family is full of Outcasts, unwanted people, and those that ended up alone whether on purpose or not. It's constantly growing so it's always an absolute madhouse and everyone is either an aunt, an uncle, or a sibling. Chaos always ensues

Her Grandpa, for example, is a true European vampire. He was a blacksmith centuries ago and is the one who teaches Reader all of her "old school" skills. All of her swordfighting skills came from him and he's the one who made the sword for Gomez. One of his favourite pastimes is throwing pop quizzes at all the grandkids to see if they're keeping up with their Romanian. He'll be damned if his grandkids don't learn his language (at least they think it's his language, he has never confirmed a single thing ever in his life). When Wednesday comes around, he's pleasantly surprised at her intellect; they talk for hours in languages Reader doesn't understand

Then there's her Abuelita. She and her parents had come up from Mexico when she was only 4 or 5 and grew up in Southern Texas. They got scattered when she was about 24 and ended up on the East Coast where she met Grandpa and the rest is history (Reader is convinced she only speaks Spanish. Jokes on her, Abuelita speaks perfect English, but the joke has been going on for so long that she can't give up on it now). She bullies Reader even more when Wednesday is around, just to see the amusement on Wednesday's face when Reader gets frustrated

Auntie C is a bad bitch, we stan. She grew up in foster care in Seattle and was miraculously adopted by Abuelita and Grandpa. Easily got her PhD and is a neurosurgeon who does NOT take any shit from the kids, especially the older ones because they damn well know better. No spouse, no kids (except for the Family Kids), ALWAYS in her hoe phase, she is living her absolute best life. She also takes no shit from Wednesday, throwing her own threats right back; it's a wonderful bonding experience

Tio's parents sent him to America at 11 so he couldn't get drawn into the Colombian Cartel. Spent almost three years roaming before being found by Aunti C, who befriended him and eventually brought him home. He's a musician at heart and taught Nicky how to play guitar (he tried teaching Reader, and she's not too shabby, but not near as good as Nicky). Tio, more often than not, is the one who teases Reader most and ABSOLUTELY gives her all kinds of shit when he finds out about Wednesday

Pop probably has the most traumatic past. Growing up on the East Coast, his father (and uncle and cousin) died in a coal mine collapse. Not long after, his mom took her own life, leaving him alone. He was adopted out of an orphanage and became the youngest of Abuelita and Grandpa's group. He and momma were high school sweethearts that got married out of college (he knows more than most about Reader's struggle with her anger, and he's her biggest supporter). He thinks Wednesday is a good anchor for Reader to finally start trying to heal

Momma, strangely enough, had a perfectly normal life. She still talks with her parents, has one sister and a few nieces and nephews. Everyone teases her for not having trauma, to which she says "watch it before I GIVE YOU something traumatic to worry about." She mother's Wednesday in her own way and even though Wednesday will never admit it, she enjoys the genuine care from someone other than her own family

[ghostofaboy]

The Worthwhile Delay

Pairing: Din Djarin/Cobb Vanth Rating: Explicit. Serious over 18s only Word count: 1467

Warnings: Face sitting, Rimming, Anal Fingering, Dirty Talk, Blow Jobs, Come Eating, 69

Summary: Din and Cobb are delayed in getting back to Freetown after an excursion into the desert. Luckily Cobb thinks of something for them to do to pass the time Shameless smut.

Note: This has not been beta read so I apologize for any mistakes. This is my first time writing DinCobb.

They had been traveling for a few days when Din’s speeder abruptly gave out. Din had traveled out, agreeing to accompany his lover, Cobb, to investigate a strange signal. What had appeared only to be a short distance from Freetown had ended up being a two-day trip to a downed ship. Din’s mind drifted back to think of his young son Grogu, back in the settlement. He’d been left with Cobb’s new deputy, but Din was concerned the little green rascal would run rings around the young man.

After thoroughly investigating the crash site Din and Cobb had found nothing but a destroyed astromech. If there had been a pilot, there was no body. With no tracks to follow or clues, the two men had reluctantly decided to head back.

About halfway through the first day heading back, Din’s speeder sputtered to a halt.

“Dank farrik.”

“What’s the trouble?” Cobb glided to a stop next to him.

“The speeder.” Din gestured to the smoking machine. “I think it’s overheated.”

“Doubtful.” Cobb climbed down from his own and started to peer into the complex working of Din’s loaned speeder. “Speeders on Tatooine have to pass checks for the heat. Nah, looks like the coupler is shot. Just general wear and tear, partner. Nothin’ to be done about it.”

Din climbed off the dead speeder with a sigh. Cobb’s speeder wasn’t built for two to ride, but with some work, they might be able to hook up something to tow his busted ride.

“If we find a way to connect them, you might be able to tow me back.” Din cocked his head, hands on hips.

“You read my mind.” Cobb chuckled. “I have some cord, but we’ll have to go slower. Else it’ll tear and then, well, you’ll be in for a long walk.”

After slowly being towed for the rest of the day, Din eventually spotted a small cave opening and directed Cobb so they could make camp. A few hours later, long after the suns had set, Din spotted Cobb watching. He’d caught Cobb watching him several times over the few weeks he’d spent in Freetown. Din had taken to removing his helmet in private with Cobb, and Cobb had not lost his curiosity about Din’s face yet.

Cobb was leaning back against the cave wall, his eyes roaming over Din, a smile playing on his lips.

Turning his head slowly, Din watched as Cobb licked his lips before locking eyes with Din.

“Sit on my face.”

Din blinked at Cobb, unable to process the request for a moment. It had been a statement rather than a question as Din watched Cobb’s smile grow.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Sit. On. My. Face.” Cobb folded his arms. “I wanna eat your ass. And your balls. Oh, and your cock.”

“I’m not in the mood for your jokes.” Din growled.

“Who says I’m jokin’?”

“It’s not very private.” Din gestured to the cave. “Someone could see.”

“There’s only us here.” Cobb laughed loudly .”Come on, why not?”

Din didn’t have a good answer. Truthfully his cock was already stirring. It had been almost a week since he and Cobb had last had sex. Being the Marshall of a town kept Cobb busy, and once the signal had been picked up, they’d had no time for intimacy. Glancing outside the mouth of the cave, Din could see nothing but desert. Why not, indeed?

“Well?” Cobb smirked, loosening his pants, showing Din his hardening cock.

To answer Cobb, Din began to rapidly remove his armor and flight suit. Cobb watched every movement, stroking his thick cock with a smile. Eventually, Dib stood naked in the cave, shivering slightly as Cobb's eyes roamed over him.

“Are you going to take anything off?” Dib gestured to Cobb’s mostly clothed form.

Cobb just grinned, yanking off his shirt and roughly shoving his pants to his knees before kicking them off.

“Better?”

“Fairer.”

“Well,” Cobb lay down flat, motioning for Din to come over, “climb on.”

Still conscious of the very public place they were in, Din positioned himself over Cobb’s face, with his knees on either side of the other man’s chest. Carefully he lowered himself until he could feel Cobb’s hot breath on his ass. In front of him, Cobb’s cock twitched, a pearl of precum rolling down its length, and Din couldn’t help licking his lips.

Behind him, Din could feel Cobb pulling his ass cheeks apart to get a better look at his hole, letting out an approving hum at the sight before him. Din couldn't stop himself letting out a contented sigh as Cobb began to pepper his cheeks with kisses before teasing and tracing around Din's rim with his tongue. Watching Cobb's cock bob with each lick, Din could feel his own cock leaking, trapped between Cobb's chest and Din's stomach.

"Wish we had some lube with us." Cobb muttered into Din's ass. "I need to fuck you."

"Have to wait till we get back." Din moaned. "Then we can… ah… we can…"

Cobb just chuckled as he continued to gently lick around Din's rim. Din could feel himself clenching and releasing as Cobb began to bury his face between Din's cheeks. Slowly, steadily, Cobb worked Din open with his tongue. All Din could do was try to hold himself still, occasionally writhing and groaning as he fucked himself on Cobb's tongue.

Keeping his eyes fixed on Cobb's leaking cock Din busied himself pinching his own nipples. His heart raced as the fire built inside him, his swollen cock hot and red, twitching at Cobb's attention. Then a sudden feeling of warm wet hit Din’s hole and began to drip down. Din couldn’t stop himself from gasping as Cobb spit into his open asshole again.

“Relax for me, darlin’.” Cobb purred, gently pushing a finger into Din. Arching his back, Din let out an uncontrolled and obscenely loud moan as Cobb’s digit found his prostate. Din instinctively leaned forward more, widening his legs while Cobb eased a second spit-covered finger into him. Cobb's cock was now tantalizingly close to Din's mouth, red and throbbing, making Din wonder if Cobb would cum untouched.

"So pretty like this." Cobb breathed, trailing his mouth down to suck on Din's balls. Taking each one in his mouth in turn, Cobb hummed in pleasure, curling his tongue around their shape. "Shift up Din, use my mouth, darlin'."

Din did as he was told, shifting his hips slightly for Cobb to take his cock and put it into his hot wet mouth. He wouldn't last much longer with Cobb's fingers buried in his hole and his mouth engulfing his cock.

Leaning forward, even more to put his weight into his knees and elbows, Din parted his lips and swirled his tongue around the head of Cobb's cock. A muffled gasp was his reward before the lewd wet, gagging noises returned as Din fucked down into Cobb's mouth.

Din closed his eyes, savoring the moment as he closed his mouth over the head of Cobb's cock and sucked hard. The air felt electrified as both men chased the building pleasure. Din bobbed his head over the length of Cobb, letting him hit the back of Din's throat before pulling back, hollowing his cheeks as he did. Beneath him, Cobb choked on Din's cock, all the while gently tugging on his balls and pumping his fingers into Din's needy hole.

It was Cobb who came first, the coiling tension snapping as he bucked up into Din's mouth. Salty release flooded Din's senses as he pulled back to stroked Cobb through his climax. The fingers in his ass halted briefly before Din felt Cobb let out a shaky moan before resuming his frantic pace.

Din's muscles ached as he felt his composure slip. Hungrily chasing his own finish, Din drove down into Cobb's waiting throat. It only took a matter of seconds before Din, with one last thrust Din came. As his vision blurred, Din pinched his eyes shut, as he could feel Cobb milking every last drop from him. Finally, just as he thought his legs would give way, Din felt Cobb slide his fingers slowly and carefully out of Din's twitching hole.

With his legs still shaking, Din sluggishly climbed off of Cobb before collapsing onto the ground next to him. The cave filled with their breathless panting before Cobb let out a low chuckle.

"Not bad." He rolled onto his side to look at Din. "But we can do better."

Gazing up at the cave ceiling Din smiled. They had managed pretty well in a cave with little preparation. With toys, lube, and more time, there was no doubt Cobb would be able to leave Din a boneless mess.

“We can do better.” Din agreed.

[helenawrites23]

The Way of The Sword (Chapter 3)

18+. 3.2k, half-sibling incest, age difference, explicit content, strenght kink, breathplay, submission, blowjobs, anal sex, anal fingering, gentle dom sesshoumaru. part 3/?. AO3 link part 1, part 2. Let me know if you want to be tagged!

The search for Naraku might be over, but Inuyasha hasn't escaped his past. He drags it around like a ball and chain. Then he crosses paths with his half-brother again, and learns how to let go.

In which Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru go training together, and reach an arrangement of sorts.

Winter had come. The sky was a deep, velvety black, dotted with stars like a swarm of fireflies. A gentle breeze rustled through the sleeping forest, carrying with it the scent of pine and cedar. Inuyasha didn’t mind the cold. He found the crisp and cool air a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the day. It had its disadvantages, though. He had never gotten used to the feeling of icy snow between his toes, for instance. 

Inuyasha stirred the fire, then tied his haori tighter around himself. His fire rat robe made for good insulation, at least. He had set camp in a secluded clearing by the mountains, difficult to reach by foot for most. The shadows of the trees stretched out around him, creating strange figures in the dark. The air was filled with the scent of fire and burnt wood.

Although there were violent spirits roaming the vicinities, Inuyasha paid them little mind. They rarely dared to approach him these days. It only took a sniff for them to realize that messing with him could cost them dearly.

Never got to catch a break before now, ever, he thought, somewhat bitterly, and it's just cause' I reek of Daiyoukai all the time, go figure.

Inuyasha was nervous. His cuticles hurt from all the time he had spent picking at his claws in the last few hours. He had agreed to meet his brother by this clearing. They had talked about what would happen tonight, although not extensively. When letting his desires be known, Sesshoumaru had been subtle and unnecessarily sophisticated in his wording. It had been easy enough for Inuyasha to understand what he meant, though.

He knew, of course, that there was nothing strange about the request. They had taken things slow from the start though, and Inuyasha was finding it increasingly difficult to break the habit. 

His relationship with Sesshoumaru was confusing. The way they talked and behaved around each other was contradictory in many ways, which made matters worse. While they’d been nothing but strangers a few years prior, his brother now held multiple roles in his life and they seemed to be constantly morphing and overlapping. At times, Inuyasha was not sure where he was standing. He found it difficult to tell what they were to each other. 

In the most practical terms, Sesshoumaru was his mentor. Their arrangement was unconventional for multiple reasons, though. His brother didn’t treat him as though he were a lackey. He’d asked for neither loyalty oaths nor acts of subservience - even defiance seemed to be a matter of little relevance to him, as long as Inuyasha was charming enough about it. The nature of their arrangement was clear, though.

Inuyasha often wondered whether Sesshoumaru thought of him as an equal or not. 

There was also the matter of their relation. Inuyasha knew that what they were doing was not abnormal among Daiyoukai. Many noble families saw consanguine marriage as a standard practice to maintain their bloodline pure. Once Sesshoumaru mentioned in passing that his parents had been cousins, so Inuyasha figured their clan was no exception. Humans were not as accepting in that regard, though. It was one of the reasons why he’d made a point not to tell any of his friends about their arrangement.

Inuyasha himself wasn’t sure what to think of it. Sesshoumaru had not been around while he was growing up, and for the longest time, they hadn’t even thought of each other as family. Back then, it had been fairly easy to ignore the fact that they were related. That was no longer the case. Whenever he got his ears pulled for talking back or was scolded for not trying hard enough during training, Inuyasha felt very aware of the fact that Sesshoumaru was his older brother. 

Mother would be horrified, he thought once, then proceeded to smack himself on the forearm with Tessaiga’s sheath. 

Whenever they met late at night, all talk of training and sword practice forgotten, Sesshoumaru donned yet another face. It was then that his eyes would grow soft and his pupils wide. His hands, which were firm and callous during the day, would turn warm and curious. He was not what Inuyasha had been expecting. At the same time, he could not picture him being any other way. Gentleness was not a word he would have ever associated with his half-brother, in the past. 

Was Sesshoumaru his mentor or his sibling? Where they lovers? Was this feeling slowly festering inside him attraction, camaraderie, or something else? It was too much for Inuyasha to handle sometimes. 

At last, the time arrived. The air hung heavy and still, like a thick blanket that clung to the skin and prickled the senses. A promise of rain to come. Inuyasha took in the scent of ozone and damp earth. In the distance, the silhouette of a two-headed dragon appeared, enveloped by blue, simmering flames. Sesshoumaru was punctual, as usual. His silvery hair billowed in the breeze, its glow only matched by the scales of his reptile servant, glimmering in the fading light. Behind him, the moon was a pale silver crescent. 

Inuyasha observed him from the ground. Sometimes, as he gazed upon his brother, he was reminded of the fairytales his mother used to read to him when he was a child. Sesshoumaru was a higher spirit, after all. As unusually fond as he was of his earthly vessel, he belonged to a different plane. One that neither Inuyasha nor other lesser youkai would ever be able to walk. It stung a little. He didn’t like to be reminded of how different he was from his brother. 

As Sesshoumaru dismounted, Inuyasha kept his distance. He did not much care for his riding beast. While one of Ah-Un’s heads seemed to be awfully fond of him, the other one never missed a chance to growl and nip at him. Sesshoumaru had explained once that they were, physiologically, the same creature. Its vessel was inhabited by two souls, though. The mere concept of it was too abstract and strange for Inuyasha to grasp, though. 

Sesshoumaru fed Ah-Un a treat, then send him flying back with a whistle. It was only then that Inuyasha approached. What followed was a dance they’d both mastered over time. The one where they engaged in banter and talked of trivial matters, pretending not to know where the night was heading. Then Inuyasha would bat his eyelashes and take his brother by the hand, leading him to lay on a bed, a futon, or on the grass behind some bushes. He didn’t mind making the first move, these days. Sesshoumaru was always easily persuaded. 

“You’re very pensive tonight,” Sesshoumaru would say later, as he held Inuyasha by the fire. “How unlike you.” 

“Yeah, it’s a theme with me,” Inuyasha replied. “I’m always nervous when some dude’s about to stick his dick in me.”

Sesshoumaru bit him hard on the neck. Inuyasha hissed in pain but made no move to retaliate. He’d been warned many times against speaking in such a manner when they were being intimate. 

“You’re mean,” Inuyasha grumbled.

Sesshoumaru’s only reply was a non-committal hum. 

His hands were warm, despite the weather. They made their way under Inuyasha’s haori and spread wide against his chest. Then they crawled up to explore the skin between his shoulder blades. For quite some time, Inuyasha had been self-conscious about his slender frame. No matter how much he worked out, it seemed impossible for him to fill out all the sharp angles that formed his body. He wondered sometimes if he could attribute that to being a hanyou, or if he was simply built that way. Sesshoumaru didn’t seem to mind, though. 

Inuyasha leaned forward to kiss him. Sesshoumaru licked his lower lip slowly, then bit into it. Inuyasha made a pleased sound at the back of his throat. His hands were itching to uncover fair, creamy skin. He tugged at Sesshoumaru’s haori, then ran his hands over his wide shoulders; his toned chest; his narrow waist lined by mysterious, violet stripes. Sesshoumaru took him by the back of the head, deepening the kiss. 

Inuyasha shifted on his brother’s lap. He could feel heat steadily building up inside him. Sesshoumaru pulled him lightly by the hair, then left a trail of love bites across his throat and jaw. Inuyasha groaned, tilting his head back. He liked this part. The quiet intimacy of it all. He let himself be moved, wrapping his legs around Sesshoumaru’s waist as he laid him down on the travel futon. Despite the cold, he felt warm all over. 

“Yaknow, I’m still not sure about this,” he said, sending his brother a suspicious look. “What if you knock me up?”

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. 

“You’re not amusing, Inuyasha.”

“I’m hilarious.”

Inuyasha pressed his lips to Sesshoumaru’s throat. He sucked gently at his pulse point, then felt heat spread in his belly as his brother let out a shaky breath. He never knew he could have this effect on others. In the past, the satisfaction of his lovers had been circumstantial rather than intentional. The feeling had been mutual, for the most part. He wanted Sesshoumaru to enjoy himself, though. Inuyasha liked hearing him panting his name in a ragged voice. He liked seeing his eyes get glazed over with lust, and the pink glow that washed over his face right before orgasm.  

Sesshoumaru took him by the neck, pinning him down. He wasn’t faced by the action. Inuyasha was slowly becoming familiar with his little eccentricities in bed. There was a hand pressing on his throat, just hard enough to render him immobile. The other one was trailing down his torso. Inuyasha inhaled deeply as Sesshoumaru took a hold of his cock, rubbing it through the fabric of his hakama.

“I always knew you were kinda kinky, yaknow?” 

“Oh?” 

“Yeah, it was the outfit,” Inuyasha said. Sesshoumaru dug his palm harder into his groin, making him tilt his head back. “It- ah, it leaves an impression.”

“How embarrassing,” Sesshoumaru replied. “I thought I was good at concealing it.” 

“No way, man.” Inuyasha took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. Sesshoumaru made it very hard to keep up with the conversation, sometimes. “Your domination kink can be seen from miles away.”

Sesshoumaru squeezed his neck just a little bit harder, then started untying the straps of his hakama. 

“You ought not to complain, then,” he said, pulling out Inuyasha’s hard member. He circled the head with his thumb, pulling the foreskin down. “You knew what you were getting into.”

“No, no,” Inuyasha said, biting into his lip. “I ain’t complaining.”

Sesshoumaru pulled down his hakama the rest of the way, then knelt between Inuyasha’s legs. He pushed them further apart, then sucked on the tender skin of his inner thigh. Inuyasha closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair. Sesshoumaru took his time, leaving a map of hickeys in his wake. Inuyasha giggled as he felt hands grabbing onto his buttocks. Dimly, he became aware of Sesshoumaru’s warm breath lingering on his member. 

“Y-you don’t gotta do that, yaknow,” he gasped. 

Sesshoumaru looked at him strangely.

“I certainly don’t have to.”

The tip of a tongue flicked against the underside of Inuyasha’s cock. Sesshoumaru closed his lips around him, sinking down. Inuyasha tilted his head back, struggling not to move. Sesshoumaru bubbled his head up and down his shaft, moving his fist in sync. Then he paused at the tip and sucked on it delicately. Inuyasha felt in a daze. He pushed a few errant strands of hair out of Sesshoumaru’s eyes. It was remarkable. Even while going down on him, he still managed to look graceful. 

“Your ears go down when I do this,” Sesshoumaru said, and his eyes were wide and unusually dark. “How… interesting.”

“Khe, good save. I know what you were gonna say,” Inuyasha replied. Sesshoumaru squeezed his balls lightly, then licked a long line from the base of his cock to the head. Inuyasha moaned, opening his legs wider. “I know, the ears are cute as fuck. You’re not- ah, you’re not the first one to notice.”

Sesshoumaru stopped, then reached into his saddlebag. He produced a small vial that was translucent and had a dark golden tint. Inuyasha sniffed the air. It was clove oil. Sesshoumaru poured the substance over his fingers, then rubbed at the stretch of skin just below his balls. When he stroked just an inch lower, Inuyasha’s legs shook. He let out a high, pitiful sound. 

“I- sorry,” he said, panting heavily. “It’s just… it’s been a while.”

Instead of replying, Sesshoumaru slid one finger inside. Inuyasha’s toes curled. It occurred to him that he shouldn’t be sweating as much, considering the weather. He licked his dry lips, very aware of the digit slowly moving in and out of him. Sesshoumaru was staring. Inuyasha struggled to maintain his gaze. It was hard not to be self-conscious about the whole thing, under such scrutiny. 

“What?” Inuyasha snapped. 

Sesshoumaru tilted his head to the side, then hummed to himself. He arched his finger, making Inuyasha gasp. It took him a moment to realize that his brother was not looking at his face, but rather somewhere above his head.

“I’m doing the thing with the ears again, is that it?”

“Perhaps.”

Sesshoumaru didn’t look apologetic in the slightest. Inuyasha was almost offended. 

“You’re such a fetishist.”

“I am not,” Sesshoumaru replied primly. “I’m just fond of them.”

Inuyasha glared down at him. Sesshoumaru leaned forward to plant a kiss on his mouth, then added a second finger. It was hard to stay cross with him, after that. Sesshoumaru had large, elegant hands. He’d trimmed his claws for the occasion, which was thoughtful. In the past, Inuyasha had avoided penetrative sex whenever possible. He’d always found the set of necessary yet awkward preparations to be too much of a hassle. This was nice, though. 

When he was ready, he turned to lie on his stomach. Sesshoumaru straddled him and spread his buttocks apart, pouring a bit more lube on him. Inuyasha shivered, not at all used to feeling so exposed. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. He knew Sesshoumaru was not going to hurt him on purpose. Although he was certainly more dominant in bed than any of his previous partners, pain wasn’t really his thing. At least, not in Inuyasha’s experience. His uneasiness persisted, though. 

“I've thought of this for a while,” Sesshoumaru said. 

He was pressing the head of his cock against Inuyasha’s ass, not quite breaching him. Inuyasha could feel his face heating up. He never knew how to react, when Sesshoumaru started speaking like that. 

“Oh, yeah?” he said. “You think of my ass a lot?”

Inuyasha felt a sharp, stinging pain across one of his buttocks. It took him a moment to realize that Sesshoumaru had spanked him. He actually gasped.

“No way you did that, man!” he said, turning around to glare at his brother. “You’re mean and rude.”

“Not at all,” Sesshoumaru replied. “I’ve warned you, repeatedly.” 

His brother chose that moment to press forward. A betraying moan distorted Inuyasha's comeback beyond comprehension. For a moment, he was aware of nothing but Sesshoumaru’s heavy breathing and the warm, surprisingly large intrusion moving inside him. His body’s first reaction was to fight it. Inuyasha went through the slow, difficult process of loosening his muscles. It had been a long time. Once he was seated fully inside him, Sesshoumaru made a low, pleased sound. 

It was all very easy, after that. Sesshoumaru’s pace was hard yet measured. There was a sharp edge to it all. Pleasured seemed to cut through Inuyasha like a knife. Sesshoumaru took him by the hair and pulled at it, but he didn’t mind. The roughness of it was oddly appealing. Inuyasha arched his back, rising his hips in the air. Sesshoumaru put his arms around him, pressing him against his chest as he moved.

Inuyasha closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of Sesshoumaru’s hands raking through his body. There were cold lips tracing the freckles across his shoulders. Beside them, the fire was burning brightly. Inuyasha stared into the flames as their pace slowly increased. Sesshoumaru’s familiar scent was all around him, clouding his senses. Inuyasha knew that he would be smelling of him for weeks to come, and tried not to think too hard about how pleased that made him feel. 

Sesshoumaru cupped his balls in his palm then, squeezing them softly. Inuyasha made a strangled sound, unconsciously clenching around him. 

“Ah, Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru whispered in his ear. “You like that?”

He started moving his hand up and down Inuyasha’s cock, never stopping his thrusting. Inuyasha felt like he was melting.

“You ask me if I like that, damn,” he replied, shivering. “Say my name again?”

Sesshoumaru chuckled, then licked a stripe along Inuyasha’s cheek. He complied, though. In these private, quiet moments he could be surprisingly amenable. Inuyasha liked that. No one had ever doted on him before. He could tell, without looking down, that he was leaking profusely over his brother’s hand. Sesshoumaru was panting at his ear, whispering tender words. His pace was steadily increasing.

Suddenly, he stopped. Inuyasha could feel heat spreading inside him. Sesshoumaru took a moment, breathing heavily above him. Then he put his hand around Inuyasha’s member again and slowly led him to orgasm. Inuyasha’s legs were shaking. Sesshoumaru’s long hair had fallen all around him, mingling with his own. Even by the light of the fire, the strands were indistinguishable from one another. Warmth enveloped Inuyasha when he noticed.

Sesshoumaru pulled out of him. Inuyasha trembled as he felt something warm sliding down his thighs. He would have to go to the river to wash himself in the morning, and he was not looking forward to it. He turned to lay on his back. Sesshoumaru looked tired. His usually well-groomed hair was in a disarray and his eyes were drowsy. At times like this, he almost seemed mortal. 

Inuyasha retrieved his haori to wrap it around his brother's shoulders, then pulled him down. Sesshoumaru took a glimpse at the garment, frowning. He didn’t push Inuyasha away, though. Instead, he put his arms around him, getting comfortable on the futon. There was that softness around his eyes again. Inuyasha frowned as he felt something warm wrapping itself around his feet. He looked down. It was his brother’s mokomoko. 

“Barefoot, even in this cold,” Sesshoumaru chided. His voice was fond, though. “What am I to do with you?” 

[jekyll-doodles]

I'm a little curious about what 035's new containment procedures or containment chamber would be? I mean for the human one. You don't have to answer but basically just a rough idea of what it would be.

I'd imagine the new containment cell would be similar to other human scps: something like a dorm room or small apartment. Although not too small, as researchers noted he grows increasingly anxious and panicked in small enclosed spaces. All that time spent in a glass case gave him claustrophobia. Or maybe it was being stuck in a mask for centuries.

Its not much of a living arrangement but its better than said glass case in a concrete room. First thing he does is sleep on the bed. Passes out the moment he lays down. Probably slept a full 24 hours before waking up again. Which concerned everyone overseeing this strange new form he's taken.

New procedures would most likely include the following:

035 having admitted to still having his manipulative insight and ability (described as "being able to sense a person's deepest regret, or darkest memory, or repressed fear-- knowing exactly what nerve to hit, and how to strike it to break them.") , and though he has so sworn to not use it (unless necessary), foundation staff are to keep a distance when interviewing him, preferably not in the same room as him, as his abilities reach is limited.

When experiencing high distress or emotional upset (which produces the black secretions from his eyes and sometimes nose or and mouth), it seems an invisible radius around him manifests (varying in size depending on his distress level) causing all living organisms within it to experience the same distress. This would explain why, after discovering 035's new form in his old containment cell, anyone that attempted to get near him was suddenly incapacitated. It wasn't until he calmed down that they were then able to move again.

The black secretions also cause heavy distress when living organisms come into contact with it, staff is advised to avoid it. At least it's not corrosive anymore.

Casual interactions between 035 and staff and other SCPs must be kept "calm". Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to purposely upset/anger 035.

Crosstests between 035 and other hazardous or upsetting scps will be Automatically denied. Crosstests invovling his ability to "look into the minds of other scps "for research."" will be heavily scrutinized but Considered.

While 035 is allowed to roam foundation grounds (low level areas only) for his overall health (mental, emotional, physical), he must be accompanied by at least 2 guards.

035 has been granted use of a few journals. One seemingly used to transcribe his older memories, another for journal keeping of recent events, and another for artistic prose or poetry.

Despite his previous reputation for falsifying historically events, foundation staff are warned against doubting his "real" history in 035's presence.

A psychological evaluation at the end of every month (it used to be end of every week, then lengthen due to stability), and or after an emotional outburst.

Eventually, I imagine he's granted an interaction with 049 (albeit separated by a window of course.) Researchers want to see if he can find some past memory that would explain the pestilence in anyway. Or anything that would explain 049's origin. He agreed to do so, however, 035 only uses the opportunity to solemnly apologize for the years of trouble he's caused the doctor.

Its also improbable, but a small interaction that I think could be nice is 035 and 073 just making small talk about farming. Just a moment away from everything that's happened to them and what they've done and where they are. In a single moment, they're just two farmers, reminiscing about past work.

[elvenlia]

Tom Riddle x Oc

♤

Alice had known Tom from the very beginning, she had been with Dumbledore the day he had went to visit Tom at the orphanage. She was thoroughly intrigued by him, despite what Mrs. Cole had said about him being different.

She didn't believe being different was necessarily a bad thing as most did. It made one unique and stand out in most cases.

And stand out Tom did, to her. She vividly remembers their first conversation..

Flashback;

" I can speak to snakes, is that normal for people like me? "

Tom had said as Alice and Albus had started to leave his room. Which caused little Alice's head to pop back around the door frame, curiously asking;

" You can speak to snakes? What do they tell you? "

" They tell me ... things. "

" Nice things? "

" No, not really.. - "

" Oh, well then maybe tell them a story next time. That helps me when I'm cranky. "

Alice beamed at him with pure innocent as she fully stepped back in front of the boy.

" But don't think of it as strange. The flowers often sing to me afterall. "

" Flowers singing? "

" It's quite delightful really. "

" Come now Alice. We must be going now Tom, we look forward to seeing you again soon. "

Dumbledore intervened as he lightly directed Alice out of the room. But not before she could offer the boy a bright smile and enthusiastic wave goodbye.

End flashback;

Soon after that day, Tom and Alice became inseparable. Growing a bond not all could understand, though many grew grateful for as Alice had often saved others from Tom's wrath on many occasions.

To those on the outside looking in, it seemed Tom worshiped Alice. Often bending to her will with a bat of her lashes. If she wanted, needed anything he'd make it happen without her even needing to ask him.

Though as endearing as it may seem, it wasn't as innocent as it came off. Alice was Tom's first and only true friend. Someone who never judged him for his differences, just genuinely accepted and cared for him as he was. She never feared him, only learned over the years how to calm the raging pits of anger he could never quite tame himself.

Which lead to Tom becoming wholey obsessed with Alice.

But she never seemed to notice his unhealthy obsession, just seen it as Tom caring for her. Tom was her best friend afterall, weren't all best friends supposed to care for one another?

Year five soon came around, both Alice and Tom had been made perfects in their houses. Alice a Ravenclaw, Tom a Slytherin.

On this particular night of perfect duties they had been paired to roam the halls after curfew. Which in itself wasn't uncommon. But what was uncommon for the duo was Alice completely losing her temper on a Hufflepuff six year boy. Who'd they just caught slogging a fourth year Slytherin in a broom closet.

" 50 points from Hufflepuff!! And if you don't get out of my sight right now Robert so help me I'll break your nose! "

Alice rarely ever lost her temper, Tom had only witnessed it a handful of times over their years spent together. And the way she threatened the boy, wand drawn and seething, he took it onto himself to dismiss the Slytherin girl before Alice could turn on her. Knowing Alice would deduct points from her as well and well, that was Tom's house.

" And YOU! - where did she go??"

" I took care of her, now calm yourself, Ali. You look crazed. "

He gestured to her robes that slid off her shoulders and now hung loosely on her elbows.

" Because I am Tom! Robert has lead Isabella on for months knowing she fancies him, I've listened to hours of her speak so highly of him just to find him snogging someone else?! "

Isabella Nott was Alice's other best friend, right under Tom. She had met her back in first year on the train ride to Hogwarts.

" And now I'm going to have to tell her and break her heart! "

Alice huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, scowling at the boy who stood before her.

" You should have let me give her a piece of my mind. "

Tom held her gaze for a moment before his lips twitched into a small smirk, shaking his head lightly at the girl. She reminded him of a mama dragon, fiercely protective of those dear to her.

After a moment of silence Tom had offered her his hand, holding it out flat in front of her with a expecting look on his face.

Alice's face drew up in confusion for a second before realizing what he was doing. A soft sigh left her lips as she slipped her hand into his and he drew her in, placing his other palm onto her waist and hers on his chest, they began to sway. She couldn't help the soft smile that pulled onto her lips.

This was a method Alice always used on Tom when she would notice he was angry or upset. She used dancing as a way to distract his thoughts and direct them into a more positive place.

At first he detested the fact she would make him dance with her, told her it was pointless, stupid and embarrassing. As she would make him stop wherever they were or whatever they were doing to take a moment and just dance with her to

the beat of an invisible rhythm. But after time and time again, he came to complain less and less.

And now here they were, roles reversed, him initiating the dance to calm her thoughts.

Swaying comfortably in the dark hallway at half pass midnight to a song that only exists in their own heads.

" Feeling any better? "

" A little. "

She mumbled softly, resting her chin on his chest and her forehead under his chin.

" Good. "

And on that note he placed a soft kiss to her forehead as they slowed from their dance, yet didn't pull away. Finally she looked up to him fully, their gazes meeting.

" Why do you do that? "

Her voice was as soft as a whisper, only meant for the two of them to hear. The forehead kisses were a habit Tom had picked up in year four. It had started randomly and now everytime they danced, before the dance ended he'd press a soft butterfly kiss to the top of her forehead.

Not that she was complaining, of course. She quite enjoyed his little display of affection as he didn't display it often, even with her.

" Because I can never see your lips the way you bury yourself into my chest. "

" Oh - "

Her eyes slightly widened and a rosie blush now danced over the bridge of her nose.

" But I can see them now... "

He hesitated slightly, his hand now caressing her cheek as his thumb brushed over her bottom lip.

" I- Indeed. "

A soft chuckle left him as his eyes flickered between hers and her lips. Slowly he leaned in and finally he let his urges he'd been battling with for a year now, win.

His lips molded together with hers.

♤

[faghubby]

"SPOOKY"

"Paul I really think we can win this" Laura told me "we have a month to get ready"

"Alright if you think you can do it" I said. I was actually very excited by the idea. Laura had read about a costume ball for Halloween best costumes was $1500. There were sub areas scary and such. But She thought sexy. And thought to change it up I would go as a woman and she would go as a man. But we had to be convincing we both agreed.

"So you will do it? no whining and complaining" she asked.

"Yes, I will give 100%. I would worry more about your end of it" I told her.

"Sounds like a challenge." She smiled.

"Well yeah it is I guess" I shot back

"OK, Your on. We have 36 days from now. Who ever is more convincing in their role wins" she said sticking out her hand I shook her hand.

"Deal, what does the winner get?" I asked.

"No chores, the loser does all the chores for a month" she suggested. I agreed.

We started with her first. I tried to get her to walk like a man. It seemed hopeless after about an hour.

"Well I have no shoes that will fit you, so let's start with shaving" Laura smiled leading me to the bathroom.

"Couldn't this wait?" I asksd

"Trust me you will want to be use to it" she informed me. We used hair remover and a razor it was over an hour be fore I walked out of the shower. Completely hairless except the top of my head. She was right it felt strange. We spent the rest of the day with our normal routine. Laura took every opportunity to correct how I moved. Bending, walking, even how I, oved my arms. Things I had never thought about. I was focused on myself and didn't even think about correcting her. That night we made love her hands roaming over my smooth body. Seemed to stimulate her into taking control. She just pinned me down and got on top.

Over the next week she continued to focus on my movements. Even dancing she would take the lead. Laura had ordered high heels in my size and made me wear them around the house. At first I could barely walk in the 3 inch heels. But got better. I wore them everyday from the time I got home till I went to bed.

Even our friends became invested in our bet. Choosing sides of who would win. Laura was the favorite to win. So I tried harder.

"Are you ready for dress up?" She asked on Saturday morning. We were 15 days in.

"Sure" I told her. She produced a whole outfit. From stockings to a hat. First it was a sexy lace thong.

"No one is going to see what underwear I have on." I told her

"It's a state of mind. You will feel sexy" she told me. She helped me with the bra and silicone inserts.

"We will get you ones that glue on for the party" she told me. Then showed me how to put on stockings. And a garter. Then a low cut short f or fitting dress. I spent the day trying to remember to keep my legs closed. Laura had bought herself a cock. Seriously she wore it under her clothes so she could feel more mascaline she told me. She loved to smack my ass or come up and push her cock against me. Like I did to her so many times.

Over the next week or so I dressed everyday after work. Laura didn't seem to put that much effort into it at all. Other then she seemed to be in control. I tried to initiate sex one night.

"Sorry not into the lesbian thing" she laughed. But the next night she took control and iniated sex. She started to suck my dick. She pulled my panties aside and pushed her finger into my ass.

"Woooo" I yelled

"Relax all girls need to lose it eventually" she laughed and continued. It felt amazing after the first shock. And she soon worked in a second finger. She swallowed my load but then kissed me I could taste my cum on her lips. The next day she plucked my eyebrows and experimented with my make up.

"I am so going to win this" I teased her.

"Think so? Want to up the bet?" She challanged

"OK double it" I said confident I had it locked. She pushed against me. She was wearing her cock.

"Want to show me how much of a woman you are?" She smiled an evil grin. "You liked me playing with your ass, maybe your mouth likes it too" she asked. I looked in the mirror I looked like a woman. I thought then looked up at her. I noticed her eyebrows where thicker. Maybe she had been preparing for this party more then I thought.

"Go ahead baby suck my cock" she teased. And she pulled out her 6 inch pink cock. I don't know why but I leaned over and took thr tip in my mouth. She loved it

"OH yeah, suck my big cock" she moaned. "Your going to swallow it all" she continued. The more she said the harder I tried. I never took more then 2 inches. The whole thing turned me on so much my cock strained against my panties.

"Get on the bed" she told me. I took off the dress and laid in bed. She was naked a moment later.

"Role over sweetheart, I want that ass" she told me luring her cock

"I don't think" I started and she insisted I rolled over and she lubed my ass. She went slow but soon she was fucking me with her cock. After that I felt more femine, and submissive to her in averting we did. She fucked me several more times before the party as well. We had a dress rehearsal the day before the party. Laura took me out to dinner. Fully dressed. The waiter thought we where a lesbian couple. Calling us both miss.

On the way home we stopped at John and Cathy's. friends of ours to get their opinions. They both thought I was absolutely convincing. But Laura was just to femine looking. Laura was a bit disappointed by it.

"Well maybe I should have fucked your ass more" she said. John spit out his drink in surprise.

"You didnt?" Cathy laughed

"OH she loves it, don't you?" Laura asked me. I had turned beet red and just stared at the floor. Laura rubbed her cock thru her jeans.

"Want to see?" Laura said pulling out her toy.

"You know your going to suck it so don't play shy" she told me. "Or would you rather I fuck you in front of them?" I kneeled and took her toy in my mouth. John was obviously turned on by the scene as his bulge grew in his pants. Laura caught me looking

"Do you want to try his? Do you want a real one? She teased.

"Go ahead" Cathy assured me. Laura led me to him. I didn't want this did I. But I knelt and pulled out his cock. I held it in my hand. The heat that came off it he wanted me. I thought as I started to suck his cock. It was longer the Laura's toy but thinner.

Cathy stood nearby.

"Better make him cum, I don't want to have to finish it" she told me.

"His balls Paul, rub and suck his balls" Laura encouraged

"This is so hot" I heard Cathy say just as John stiffened someone held my head so I couldn't pull away and John came in my mouth. Cum dripped out of my mouth all over my dress. I swallowed some.

"Now your a woman" Laura told me. We left. At home Laura had me ride her cock cowgirl style till my legs cramped.

My ass was sore in the morning but she still shoved a plug into it and had me shave and get dressed. In a pair of her yoga pants.

"You liked last night." She stated. I could not deny that.

"Sucking John's big dick" she added

"I am willing to declare you the winner." She told me. "But then after tonight it all goes away" she explained

"Or you could forfit. And continue exploring this side of you" she said she gave me till midnight to answer.

As we went to get ready for the party. Laura pulled out a new outfit. It was completely pink from a frilly lace thong to the bows for my hair. She helped me get ready. I looked like some kind of little girl fetish. With pig tails. Laura dressed as a old school marm. Complete with a big ruler.

"I changed it up two weeks ago when I knew you where going to win" she told me. Smacking me with the ruler. I felt nervous in this costume I was obviously dressed for kinky sex. But Laura insisted.

When we got there, there was alot of really good costumes and doubted our chance to win. Laura led me to a small table in the corner. An older gentleman was sitting there. He was not in costume.

"Isn't that" I started. Laura walked right over and kissed him.

"Paula you remember Mr Bellows" she said. It was her boss. She pushed me onto his lap. And sat across from us, his hand was immediately up my skirt. Laura put her finger to her lip.

"Shhh" is all she said. I felt him get hard against my ass.

"Are you a good girl, or a bad girl" he whispered in my ear and kissed my neck. I was rock hard and it pushed my skirt up anyone walking by would notice.

I didn't know what to do or say.

"A good girl?" I answered. He kissed my neck again. And stood up making me stand as well. He handed Laura a room key and turned to leave. Laura stood close to me.

"A good girl follows him to his room" she said pushing the key into my hand. I took it and Laura took my hand and led me to the elevator. Mer Bellows entered first. As soon as I entered Laura pushed me against him. And remained downstairs.

Mr Bellows led me to a suite on one of the upper floors. There was a tray of sex toys. And bandage gear. He just started to undress me. He picked up a small velvet bag.

"I would like you to wear this" he told me. I looked inside. The look on my face must have given him a clue.

"It's a chastity cage" he informed me ans showed me how it went on. I hesitated.

"I will double the prize money" he told me. And rubbed my ass. I went to the bathroom and figured it out. I used a towel soaked in cold water to rid me of my erection.

When I came out he was naked sitting on the bed. I knelt and took his huge cock in my mouth. After a few minutes he had me stop. He handcuffed me and bent me over he pushed something very big into my ass. I screamed as he did.

"By the time I am done you will take much more then that" he told me and added a gag. After a few minutes he pulled the device from my ass and inserted his cock. He held me down as he used me. I was in tears when he finished. He immediately shoved a toy back in.

He then tied me face down on the bed. When the first smack came I almost had a heart attack. But then one after the other with a strap or paddle I thought. But soon I was crying I tried to beg him to stop but the gag I couldn't say a word. He tore the plug out and mounted me. Coming a second time deep in my ass. Then again plugged. He told me over and over that I was his now. And would do whatever he wished. He then let me get up and wash up.

"Go lay across the desk" he told me. I did without question hoping he would let me go if I did. He bound my ankles and wrist to the desk.

"You want more" he told me. I had not said a word. Still gagged. This time it was a leather strap that landed on my thighs ass and lower back. He showed me a plug the size of a tennis ball. Then I felt as he tried to make it fit. It wouldn't fit so he used toys and his fingers to lossen me even more till it did.

As it pushed in finally I passed out.

When I came too. My throat was sore and I tasted cum. The ball gag was gone so was the restraints. And plug. It was morning and I was naked in the bed. I got up to pee. And realized I still had the cage but now it had s small lock on it. I made a mess and finally just sat to pee. I took the longest hottest shower of my life. Found my phone and called Laura. She would be down to pick me up. I had no choice but to put back on the pink dress. I found a brightly wrapped present that said Paula on it. I opened it inside was a gold necklace. With a charm that said Nicholas's girl.

Laura came up to the room. She had not bought me any clothes so I had to walk through the hotel dressed like a school girl. As soon as we where in the car.

"I forfit" I told Laura who just smiled. And helped me put on the necklace.

[thenightlymirror]

The last year of living by myself has really made me feel like maybe I could live anywhere. I really wasn’t sure. My life is entirely my job now. When I go to see friends, it’s just the people who hired me.

I am a little surprised how few people I know despite the fact that I basically live in the same city I’ve lived in all my life. I go out on the weekend to get a slice of pizza, and other than the kids working behind the counter, it’s just me. Sitting in my car in the parking lot, it’s just me. Napping in my easy chair in my apartment for two days waiting for Monday, just me.

When I was feeling woozy and nearly passed out alone in my apartment two months ago, I drove myself to the ER in the hopes that I wouldn’t have a stroke and crash on the way there. Nothing happened. I just got fed up after waiting in the lobby for an hour and a half and drove back home, and felt woozy for another week or so after.

I just finally had some tests done and I’m fine. I’m very anemic. But, I think I probably just had inner ear vertigo from being out in the cold for several hours the day before.

A digression on anxiety. I know I spent about a year of my life being gaslit that I wasn’t dying when I was, but I feel like maybe I can account for some of my ailments as just anxiety if I can expand the term to include more than I intuit.

I know what anxiety feels like, I assume. An anxious person is easy to spot. Flittering about. Second guessing. Hesitating. Picky. Makes things difficult and needs things to be their specific way which sometimes makes them an asshole with or without any self-awareness of this fact.

I have a certain thing that happens to me, where I feel some ineffable problem coming on, like I’m going to lose control of my leg, or my arm. I imagine a blood clot roaming around, in my gut, in my neck, my eye. Losing focus briefly and thinking, “It’s in my brain now.” I woke up twice before my pulmonary embolism with my leg paralyzed. I think what I imagine is that I’m about to lose some part of my body from the map of my mind. Nothing ever happens. I guess that one time I felt like I was going to fall down, but I didn’t. For several days, I felt almost stoned. Like my consciousness was just “off”.

Is that anxiety? Maybe.

It could just be that my anxiety manifests itself in this very specific worry. It isn’t necessarily Multiple Sclerosis.

I’m when I felt that strange vertigo, I just told myself, keep walking, nothing will happen. And nothing did. After another two weeks (two weeks!) it went away.

I know there’s other things. I supposedly have social anxiety, though no one has ever seen it. When I had a therapist, she said my alienation from other people was trauma from being bullied as a kid. Otherwise groundless. Could you imagine? Anthony Cox has no grounds for feeling alienated from other people. He just has trauma from being bullied as a child. What if that was true? Could you imagine?

That makes me think of the last time I saw my brother’s wife. She was with us in Wisconsin when I went canoeing with my parents and some of their friends down the Namekagon River. She’s my parents’ age, scientist. (Church of Christ, Scientist.) Smarter than most people. She had no problem talking to my parents’ friends from the bar. Sports or TV or whatever. I hardly remember. But I tend to be sort of quiet and miserable in those situations. I really don’t want to be, or come off that way. This is almost ten years ago now. I don’t feel any differently now.

But my brother’s wife’s impression was that I’m insecure because I’m fat. Haha. You know, that her grandma was fat, and everyone loved her. So I shouldn’t feel so bad about it. Hahaha I DON’T. Hahahah I have never known anything else. I know my perception of human nature is probably a bit different from most people’s because I have never been treated nicely just because I was good looking to anyone. Amazing to me that anyone on Earth exists that can take this for granted, but it’s actually most people. Most people walk into situations with strangers and the strangers do not secretly find them horrifying. They walk into situations and 20% of the time, someone could imagine having sex with them. Or something like that. Some people might walk into situations and most people treat them nicely because they would like the opportunity to fuck them, or respect the fact that other people would want to fuck them. Absolutely wild to me.

But most people aren’t totally fascist or so victimized that they are ever even conscious of this. Every once in a while they just see an unpleasant looking person, cross themselves, and put it out of their minds.

Anyways. All I know is that most people bore me to death, and this boredom is, worst case scenario, probably something that precedes people and their interests. My boredom comes first, and it finds reasons later. I become interested in things that are obscure and I like them because no one notices them. And then I feel isolated when no one can relate.

But I’m not sure I’m even interested in things anymore. Culturally, Harper is interested in pretty basic stuff. Star Wars and anime and stuff. But she can have a conversation about anthropology or linguistics or music theory or Palestine. That means a lot to me. It feels like I live in the same universe.

Or, the other thing. I’ve been listening to Otherworld and just constantly in this paranoid twilight zone where I feel the schizophrenic color of life turned way up all the time lately. Is that just anxiety? A very specific kind of anxiety. But I’m just some kind of snowflake and I think my anxiety is special? I’ve got 12-dimensional anxiety.

I guess I feel a deep loneliness around people who don’t feel any anxiety. What the fuck is wrong with them? And I don’t even like to feel vain anxiety. I’m pretty chill honestly. The world’s just fucked and I’m pretty calm about it, considering. Sometimes people channel this anxiety into very specific vices and scapegoats and that can be boring too.

I try to be very tolerant and forgiving with all of it. I think there’s other people alive in this world, somewhere, a lot less tolerant and much more happy than myself. Never the twain shall meet. Some other universe, these people. A little self-respect and a lot of petty snobbery and they’re living off pure sweet fat of the hog, posting liberal memes on facebook somewhere. Drinking at the bar watching the Lion’s game. Doing the same shit as everyone else anyway.

[herenya-writes]

Day 30: Rush

Dorian stared up at the vaulted ceiling of Arlaros’s room and sighed contentedly. There was a fire crackling merrily in the hearth, snow was quietly falling outside, and Arlaros was curled around him. In that moment, he couldn’t think of a single time he had been happier.

Being with Arlaros was a strange and wonderful feeling. For the past two weeks (had it really only been two weeks since that night?) they had spent nearly every night together, even when they had traveled. Part of him worried that this was just a honeymoon phase, that Arlaros would tire of him soon enough, but those thoughts had no place here tonight. Tonight, he was focused on the warm arms wrapped around his middle and the way Arlaros’s long hair tickled his cheek.

His gaze shifted from the ceiling to roam over Arlaros. The flickering firelight threw shadows across his lean body, and Dorian made no effort to hide his admiration. Arlaros felt his stare and shifted so that he could smile up at him, his expression lazy and content.

“Like what you see?” he asked. There was warm satisfaction in his voice; Dorian had spent the past hour thoroughly proving he did, in fact, like what he saw.

“I can’t believe you aren’t cold,” he said in lieu of an answer. Arlaros was naked, whereas Dorian had been forced by the lingering chill to pull on sleeping clothes. Arlaros snuggled closer to him.

“Why would I be? You’re warm, and there’s a fire going.”

“I’m beginning to think you have simply never experienced true warmth. Tevinter in the summer can be positively scorching.”

Arlaros hummed, and Dorian felt the vibrations in his own chest. It was a pleasant feeling, and he tightened his arms around Arlaros. “I’d like to visit one day.”

Dorian grew cold, and not from the room’s temperature. “My homeland isn’t the safest place for elves,” he said, keeping his voice carefully even.

“I know. I’d still like to visit, learn more about your home and the place that shaped you.”

He didn’t have a response for that. The thought of Arlaros walking into Tevinter in its current state terrified him. He didn’t want him anywhere near his homeland. His pointed ears and tattooed face would put him in very real danger, and Dorian would die before he let that happen.

“Would you take me to visit your clan?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Yes.” Arlaros’s immediate response took Dorian by surprise. He sounded so certain, as if he had already imagined introducing him to his family. “I think you’d like Keeper Istimaethoriel. You’d hate the ruggedness of it all, though,” he said with a laugh.

“You’d truly introduce me to your clan?” The words were out of Dorian’s mouth before he could stop them, and he hated the vulnerability he heard in them. This was supposed to be a night of bliss, not insecurity.

Arlaros pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked down at Dorian. His face was open, eyebrows pinched together slightly in an expression of mixed confusion and concern. “Of course I would. I love you, and I’m proud of it. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Dorian’s mind blanked. Love? Him?

A look of embarrassed realization came over Arlaros, and he blushed. But determination quickly replaced embarrassment. “I know we haven’t been together long, but I mean it. I love you, and I’m proud to have your affection in whatever form you want to offer. I’m not trying to rush you.”

A sad smile slipped onto Dorian’s face, and he raised a hand to trace one of the lines of Arlaros’s vallaslin with his thumb. “You are a wonder,” he breathed, and Arlaros echoed his smile, leaning into his touch. He wasn’t ready to say the words back. He had never, in all of his entanglements, said them. That would make things painfully real, and he wasn’t ready to shatter this beautiful illusion they were living in. But he held onto Arlaros’s words like a lifeline, committing them and the gentle expression on Arlaros’s face as he said them to memory. Whatever else may come, he would always have them.

He felt like he should apologize for...well, it was a rather long list. The instant he opened his mouth to do so, though, Arlaros covered it with a kiss, swallowing his words. It was a slow, lingering kiss and Arlaros was smiling when he finally pulled away.

“My love isn’t contingent on anything you say or do,” he whispered, as if he had peeked into Dorian’s brain and plucked out his darkest insecurities. “Neither of us knows what tomorrow will bring, and I’m just happy you’ve chosen to share this time with me.”

Unable to do anything else, Dorian pulled Arlaros down on top of him, cherishing the weight and presence of him. “There is nowhere I would rather be.”

[tu-sugar-mami]

The things that could have been (2.1/3)

You can read part 1 here

You can read part 2.2 here

Roughly 4k words, the whole thing is 8k but Tumblr crashes when I try to post it, so half and half it is.

Warnings: lots of fluff and also angst. This story will not have a happy ending, read at own risk

_________________

After your inevitable arrival to the Beneviento estate the day next of receiving the letter, you were instructed by Angie to wait while she and Don–Don attended some, in Angie's words, 'Very important secret stuff'.

Patience was a virtue only reserved for your craft; time and carefulness were required for precise measurements and strokes carved on the wood in order to make a unique piece. You had to give credit to yourself though, as you waited in the living room for a good part of an hour before the restlessness got the best of you. Being a sweet little curious person by nature, you couldn't help but to wander through the place. Your gaze raked over the many trinkets that littered the shelves; from tiny glass figurines to objects you had never seen before. Lots of them you hadn't really noticed in your first stay, or more like you hadn't paid enough attention to them while your mind was constantly tugged between fearing for your life and having a great time with the host.

Walking around, you noticed pictures scattered around the walls of that first floor. Most of them with the glass looking old and unattended as the dust buried the images. From what you could see, the photographs portrayed a small happy family, but what caught your attention was the fact that the face of one of the two girls that made act of presence in almost every frame was covered by what appeared to be black paint. It was strange, unsettling, almost as if the Lady didn't want the girl's face to be noticed but at the same time couldn't completely bring herself to get rid of the photos altogether.

You hadn't stopped to think that the Lady probably grew up there, and it made you wonder, how was it for her? You knew she had lived for quite a long time by now, but it was hard to remember that she had also been human once. For a second, your mind wandered to images of a little Lady Beneviento running through the gardens with the happiest of smiles and the bubbliest of laughs and your heart skipped a beat at the happy thought.

The rumors back at the village always spoke about the family that used to live in that very same estate many, many –humanly impossible– years ago. At least half of the villagers believed Lady Beneviento to be the oldest daughter of them, but as it always happens, stories tend to change with time, and these days there wasn't a single person alive from that time to properly tell the story.

Your gaze halted its roaming at the sight of a larger frame hanging on the stairs wall. Had that always been there? The reflection of the light against the protective glass blocked part of it from where you stood and so your feet, on their own will, found their way up the stairs in hopes of getting a closer look.

Angie was the one that gave away the muse’s identity. The large portrait perched on the wall was picturing no one other than the Lady Beneviento herself. You had seen how she treated her doll, there was no way she’d let anyone else but herself hold Angie. Since you met the pair, there hadn’t been a single time where they’d been apart from each other, and though at first it did make you feel uncomfortable, you quickly learned to accept it.

The sight was mesmerizing. Whoever the artist was, they had an impeccable stroke. The way they played with the lights made the image appear to be bathed in a warm light, and the Lady’s eyes –so lifelike– reflected it in a way that made your heart skip a few beats. Was this really the person you spent the last month and a half with? 

You couldn't help but to stare at the portrait for the longest time, forgetting any concerns and intrusive thoughts, instead letting yourself being consumed by the image in front of you. Taking in every small detail and drowning yourself in the beauty of the woman that had been kind enough to let you into her home, you couldn’t help but to let out a shaky breath of reverence. Even the strange feeling of being observed by the dolls that littered the room seemed to dissipate as in your mind, at that moment, only existed the image of the gorgeous woman. 

Little did you know, your actions didn’t go unnoticed. A certain Lady had her many watching eyes on you….

After Lady Beneviento finally returned with Angie skipping in tow behind her, a light blush painted your cheeks. The portrait on the wall looked old, and it was possible that the Lady had different looks nowdays, but still you were sure that her beauty couldn’t wither, no matter how many years passed by. 

As days passed by it didn’t take long for you to go back to your previous routine, going every morning to take notes on the new design, spending the day with Lady Beneviento, and returning to your cabin in the afternoon to work on the piece. 

If anyone in the village noticed your sudden cheerfulness, certainly they didn’t dare to mention it. You weren’t blind, of course you noticed the puzzled and sometimes dirty looks they sent your way, not to mention the whispers behind your back, but honestly you couldn’t bring yourself to care when every morning you were welcomed at the Beneviento estate by the most heavenly smell of fresh home–cooked meals with the Lady herself expecting you already at the table. 

Of course you weren’t complaining. The villagers could keep talking for all you cared, Lady Beneviento was nicer than most of them.

The next week, somewhere around 5 in the afternoon the two of you decided to spend some time in the porch, with your head was resting on her lap and her hand gently combing your hair as you read out loud for her.

You felt relaxed under her soothing touch, but were engrossed in the book enough to not fall asleep. When you felt the Lady’s fingers on your scalp stop, you lightly turned your head towards her, only for her to trace your jaw with her finger in a featherlike touch, and with the softest voice she urged you to call her Donna. You loved how her name sounded, and she loved even more the way you so sweetly said it every time.

When you were sure the Lady wouldn’t be bothered by it, her name became a very constant word in your daily vocabulary. You loved it, and you always uttered with the softest tint you could conjure. It was important and you would treat it as such. 

Donna couldn’t think of the last time she enjoyed hearing her name from someone else. For years the only ones that ever called her that were either Karl, Moreau, her nieces and on rare occasions Alcina. Mother Miranda liked to call them by their last names, which Donna supposed it was a subtle way to hold –even more– control over her children, but as far as she knew, the bird woman never bothered with kindness. But with you… with you it felt different. You cared, and it showed. Donna couldn’t get enough of her name rolling on your tongue. You were hesitant at first, but with enough encouragement you became confident, and she felt proud of herself for taking the decision to allow you to use her name.

It was a thunderstorm that brought you to Donna's bedroom in the wee hours of the night.

Having the Lady just at the other side of the hall did very little to calm your hammering heart, and hesitant as you were, the fear you felt over the roaring sound from the skies overcame in its entirety the embarrassment, (not that you weren't used to the savage weather changes back at the village, but the vastness and emptiness of the manor plus the ferocious roar of the agitated waterfall made you skittish) and with a final push you dared to frantically knock on Donna's door. 

Of course Donna wouldn't deny you; the rapid beating of her own heart at the thought of you feeling safe enough with her to seek comfort in her company gave away her excitement. As you found shelter in her bed, she could smell the scent of her favorite shampoo radiating from you lying next to her. Since Donna didn't tend to share her bed often, she didn't see the need to acquire anything bigger than a one meant for a single person, and never in her life was she more thankful for that decision when your bodies were mushed together, shoulder to shoulder, and she could feel your warmth against her.

Donna's mind was troubled that moment though, as she couldn't decide if it was correct to hold or not your hand, but as a new round of thunder made you shudder, the need to comfort the whimpering carpenter was too much, too powerful to ignore, and before she knew it, her hand was holding your own protectively.

As for you, you couldn’t remember when was the last time you had such a good rest. That night your dreams had been filled with sweet perfume and softness. What you didn’t expect though, was to wake up to the feeling of warm skin on your cheek and strong arms holding you close. Your lips were barely caressing Donna’s neck, and you would be lying if you said the way your legs were tangled with hers in such compromising position didn’t make the butterflies in your stomach fly in a hurry. You had to fight the urge to burrow further into Donna’s neck out of fear of removing her veil, deciding instead to settle for listening to the steady rhythm of her heart that slowly but surely lulled you to a light slumber once again.

If there was a way to describe heaven, you’d both silently agree that this was it.

Perhaps that’s why, sharing a bed whenever you had to stay the night became something that happened more often than not, regardless of the weather. Both of you tried to convince yourselves that it was for the best, a win–win if you will. Soon enough, without words, the left side of Donna’s bed was claimed as yours. It was so easy to slide into the claws of sleep when you had Donna’s body next to you; You were always too warm, she was always too cold. It was perfectly balanced. 

If the Lady was bothered by your snoring, you certainly never noticed, although it was impossible for Donna to not like it. After so long of sleeping in deafening silence, the sound of your soft snoring –so peaceful and tranquil– became a sort of lullaby, never failing in reminding her that, thankfully, she would never be alone again…

A crazy morning it was, when you accidentally saw the Lady’s face for the first time.

 

It had been a clear day, although rare as it was still the last days of winter, but the sun was shining and the breeze was calm. No wonder it took you both by surprise when, on your way to the greenhouse, a particularly harsh wind blew Donna’s veil off, and you were unprepared for what laid under it. The portrait on the stairs was so wrong…

…it didn’t do her any justice at all. 

Just as you had suspected, by the time the painting had been done, Donna had been a tad younger, for you could see her face had some features proper of someone in her early–thirties rather than her mid–twenties as the painting showed. If anything, she was even more gorgeous…

It took you all of your willpower to refrain from kissing her right there and then, but if you couldn’t do that, at least you wouldn’t keep your thoughts about her beauty to yourself. The way her dark eye glistened with unshed tears as you told her with the most delicate voice that she was gorgeous, it had no price.

Donna couldn’t remember when was the last time someone cupped her face so tenderly, and the sweet way you laid a gentle kiss on her forehead didn’t fail in calming her insecurities. Donna had never felt so loved before, even if she knew your love was platonic. Probably.

That very moment you swore yourself to never let a day pass when you didn’t remind her of how truly precious and gorgeous she was.

If anyone saw the things that happened inside the Beneviento estate, they would confidently assume that the couple living there was irrevocably in love with each other. Angie saw it herself, in the way you looked at Donna with lovey–dovey eyes like she was the most beautiful fae even with her messy bed–hair, pillow creases marked on her cheek and half squinted eye as she drank her –quite strong– morning coffee. She noticed how Donna started to hold your hand on your shared afternoons walks, always giving herself the time to gently stroke her thumb over your knuckles as you animatedly talked about whatever thing came to your mind at the moment. She witnessed with her own glass orbs the way your arms always circled Donna's waist as she cooked and laughed at your poor vegetable puns. Even something as simple as Donna locking her pinky finger with yours was enough for you to turn to her and look at her with so much devotion in your eyes. 

Of course Angie knew.

As the months passed by, even Alcina knew; Alcina who, with a tint of teasing mirth in her eyes and a smirk on her lips, had made a comment or two about the sudden appearance of new furniture pieces in the manor (knowledge courtesy of the three bugs that regularly visited their aunt) that Donna most definitely didn't need. 

Unbeknownst to you, you were the reason Donna and Alcina became closer. Perhaps the older woman finally felt compelled to participate in the sibling dynamic by finding something –or rather, someone– to tease her little sister about, and slowly but surely began to embrace the dollmaker in a way not even the many, many years of forced convivence could. It was hard since Donna was always secluded, and the countess was not a patient woman, but thanks to you Alcina could finally, after so long, accept Donna as part of her family, grow to love her as much the other two baby–men she called brothers (even if she first would be caught dead before admitting it out loud), and respect her for her worth. 

Still, could Lady Dimitrescu really blame Donna for her strategy? Commissioning new shelves, coffee tables, doors, benches and such were the only way Donna knew to make sure you kept coming back. Sure, she was quickly running out of space to place all of your work pieces, but it was hard to find a reason for you to stay with her without the excuse of needing new furniture.

Was it selfish? Perhaps, but once Donna sat down in your usual spot on the couch, on one of the rare afternoons you were absent, she thought about it and decided that she didn’t like the solitude anymore, not when all she could think about was to have you there with her, even if just for a moment. Donna found herself sighing quite often, after she realized she was in too deep already.

Perhaps the excuses were necessary, but at least Donna could get away by having you stay longer. It was time to ask you to move in at least for whatever time you needed to finish the pieces, after all, the path to the village was dangerous and it was tiring to travel back and forth every day, but to gather the courage needed to propose you such thing was… nearly impossible for her.

Luckily for Donna, she had Angie to give her some advice.

Following her beloved’s doll instructions, the Lady put the plan in motion by insisting that you stayed the week as to not have the unnecessary trips tire you, even going as far as to have arranged your own workshop in the manor, and who were you to decline such kind offer? Especially when every morning you were woken up by such an angel, and the afternoons were spent with the Lady watching you work.

Oh how you both loved to be around each other. You thanked every god that was willing to listen for having met Donna. Your Donna… the hours of the day were not enough for every plan you had, whether the Lady wanted to show you a secret path to a cave hidden behind the waterfall, or you just wanted to help her polish the wood of her beloved dolls, the day seemed to fizzle away as quickly as the flame of a match.

You still remember fondly that day of the picnic in a nearby clearing.

It was the first day of summer, and the sun was shining, the breeze was soft and it felt like a wonderful day for a picnic. 

Laughing and eating was nice, but it was even nicer to enjoy the warm sunrays on your face while lying under the canopy of a big tree. Somehow you had convinced Donna to let her hair down, and she loved how your fingers raked softly through her dark locks.

 

You’ve always been shy about it, but you had this habit of humming unconsciously when you were content or focused, and being so comfortable with Donna laying on top of you enjoying the softness of her hair made you happy enough to start singing a soft tune.

 

It caught Donna by surprise, but it was lovely to hear your soft voice lowly singing a tranquil melody, and the soft rumble of your chest against her ear made her almost cry with how lovely it felt. It made her wish that the moment never ended…

You had a nice voice, untrained but beautiful indeed, and Donna thought it was a shame she didn’t get to hear it more often.

Her sight became blurry as she attentively listened to your words and the pretty melody.

“Who are we to say,

Blue skies are made in heaven.”

She sighed contently at feeling of the tranquil rhythm of your breathing and the muffled purr coming from your chest as your voice was accompanied by the sound of rustling leaves and chirping birds. 

It was perfect, and not for the first time since she was with you, Donna felt at peace.

“Here in the dark the world is changing, 

and a new day’s begun.

When we rule the world”

The feeling of your fingers in her hair plus the soothing tune and the fresh breeze caressing her face were enough to bring Donna to a light slumber, and for the rest of that afternoon you both were happy to just enjoy each other’s company…

Despite the new accommodations in behalf of your semi–permanent stay at the Beneviento estate, neither of you –specially Donna– saw it necessary to change your bed sharing arrangement, and it was not only one, but many nights that you laid in your side of the bed, denied of any ounce of sleep and instead focusing on your sleeping companion. Her long lashes and soft chin made her seem angelical, and your fingers ached, almost burned, to trace the sharp curve of her jaw. It was stupid, you thought, to love someone so desperately and have them so close but unreachable at the same time. It was scary, you realized, to have unwillingly handed your heart out yet again no matter how many times you chastised yourself over breaking your promise. You tried again and again to smother the flame that burned within you until the last spark of love was extinct, but again and again Donna was there to remind you of the chokehold she had on you whether she was aware of it or not.

Donna´s hands were, for some weird reason, always cold, and if she was honest she couldn’t be sure when it became a habit of her to place them flat under your shirt in search of warmth. She couldn’t have possibly known, but your brain always had a hard time concealing the slumber when Donna’s long fingers began to aimlessly trace lines on your bare warm skin. Not that you were complaining, but having her fingers dance like that on your body more often than not left your ears burning with your mind thinking of those same skilled fingers wandering on your body with a different intent.

Your heart ached for Donna, but what was left of your rational mind tugged you the other way. Donna was indeed perfect, and many insecurities managed to arise within you, not to mention the reminder of your promise very present in the back of your mind… although… would it really be that bad if you let yourself love again? Every time you looked at Lady Beneviento, you felt scared of the things you felt, but at the same time you couldn’t help the somersaults you heart made while yelling ‘I want her, I want her!’

You weren’t sure how many days had passed, but by the time you finished the last commission (four fancy bed corner posts that you mentioned wanting as a joke but that suspiciously became Donna’s next request), you finally came to terms with your feelings towards the Lady.

You realized that forcing yourself to deny everything was useless. Opting for passing your sudden cheerfulness whenever you were close to Donna as just being happy to be away from the village became your reliable –although very measly– excuse. Soon enough you learned that it was more than a simple infatuation. You realized, despite of your own fears and insecurities, that you craved more, but at the same time that realization scared you.

Much to your relief, Donna was clueless about the whole tug of war between your brain and heart, and at the moment that was more than enough. Or so you believed.

In reality Donna wasn’t fairing any better.

Her hand intertwined with yours as you both enjoyed the slow sunset exploding in pink and orange hues was an anchor she never knew she needed. The lovely carpenter became an important part of Donna’s daily life, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not imagine her days without the spark of life you brought to hers.

Good god… the level of presence you had in her home left her speechless. Soon enough, you left your personal print on the décor, adding trinkets of your own to Donna’s always growing collection. A warm fluffy blanket (that you insisted on calling Blinky the blankey and the name somehow got stuck with Donna too) found home at the couch in the Lady´s projection room just in case there was an impromptu movie night. Even your clothes were always mixed with Donna’s own in her closet, and she wouldn’t admit it out of embarrassment but she liked to wear one of your sweaters when you were away, your scent lingering on the garment bringing her comfort in her lonely hours. 

_______________

(end of part 2.1)