#THE AMOUNT OF WORK LOVE AND CARE THAT WAS POURED INTO THIS PROJECT!!!

[beif0ngs]

Stop-motion is an animation technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments. By capturing 24 frames per second, the object comes to life

The movement of each character, the speed at which they move, and lighting are all taken into account. Everything is crafted and captured manually, frame by frame. By doing everything manually, the handmade nature of this series exudes warmth filled with the unique charm only stop-motion can provide.

As the process requires extreme precision, each animator can only create up to 4 to 5 seconds of footage a day. Approximately 86,000 individual images were required to create this series.

[adventuringblind]

Picking at my Sins

Oscar piastri x reader

Genre: Angst, smut?

Summary: Reader comes from a religious background and struggles with self worth. Oscar is there to pick up the pieces.

Warnings: religious trauma, alluded to SH, panic attacks, talks of sex

Notes: mmmmmm definitely not self projecting or anything

Masterlist

The one thing nobody teaches in church is that innocence is simply a construct in the human mind. No one is ever truly innocent. Especially those who you expect to always love and respect you. The ones who preach to always follow the rules.

They turned their back on her. A mistake that wasn't even hers led to her entire church turning their backs on her. She was left to fend with nothing. Her parents were facing the same issue, only they were the ones who started it.

It was for that reason she left.

She wouldn't call herself innocent. Simply inexperienced. She knows what she would like to try but hasn't been able to do so.

She was alone for so long. A new place makes it hard to make friends. Especially since she has a religious background, people tend to immediately think the worst.

She met Oscar in October of 2022. It was cold and rainy that evening. She needed something from the store, and she didn't have a car, so she'd settled for walking in the torrential down pour.

Alcohol. She needed alcohol after a lengthy conversation with her mom that didn't end well and a ten hour shift at a job she gets minimum wage for. Then, to feed her depressed mood, she went to the nearest park with a pretty view, sat on the bench, and drank straight from the bottle.

She's not sure how long she'd been here, but it was long enough that she was shivering and drenched. The liquor barely touched. How had religion touched that, too? Why does she feel sick at the idea of putting her mouth to the bottle?

The park is deserted, and she assumes that it'll remain that way. It doesn't. And at some point, a male comes running towards her. He's probably just out for some kind of workout he can't pause even for the weather.

She assumes he'll run right by her. He doesn't. Imstead he stops to make conversation. Then he sits with her. Then they walk together to somewhere out of the rain.

That is how she found herself talking to the Australian any moment she got. It's how she made a friend who didn't care that she couldn't stomach eating food at times because it could cause imperfections. A friend who let her rant about her ridiculous situation.

Then, a friend became a lover. He asked her out in January. He asked her to that same park which they had met months earlier. He told her they didn't have to do anything quickly. That he was willing to help her figure it out. He truly saw her for who she was and wanted to continue having stupid conversations and finding weird locations to explore.

She worked through things slowly. Many panic attacks were had. The first time she dyed her hair, she cried. Her first time wearing clothes that revealed more than they should have, she also cried. She couldn't even wear them out due to the sheer amount of overwhelming feelings.

Then she left to travel with Oscar. He dragged her around the world with him. Asking nothing in return aside from loving him unconditionally and being his pillar through the stress of a rookie season.

He was so gentle through everything. Honest with her about every misconception she had about life. Reminded her daily that being herself wasn't a sin.

The one thing she hadn't been able to get past was intimacy. It is the most taboo subject to speak about in a church. Aside from hearing that it's bad unless you're married. If it happens any other way, then you'd be punished. Shunned by all. Labeled as wicked and disgusting.

Hand holding was the first step. That came pretty easy while they were friends even. Then he kissed her and she kissed back and even though she was clumsy it was amazing.

The kiss was followed by the first of many panic attacks. A nasty thing that had her wailing and clawing at her skin.

Eventually, she got past that. Though she picked up new habits that probably weren't the best. Oscar made it a point to keep her hands occupied in more productive ways. Even if it felt childish like coloring in a colorbook. They went through three of them in a month. It became a way that they both relax.

She felt herself getting more comfortable with touch after that. Even getting far enough to get clothes off.

And then she wanted to have him completely. He was so gentle through the entire thing. Always asking how she felt. The girl felt utterly clueless and fumbled with everything, but she didn't panic. Maybe it was the overwhelming feeling of love that kept those dark thoughts out of her brain.

It was a month later that it all came crashing down. Her parents had found her. They showed up at her flat while Oscar was there.

She'd never seen the Aussie so defensive. He'd always been so laid back. Until she watched him tell her parents to get out in a horrifyingly stern voice.

It didn't matter, though. The damage had already been done. They'd already yelled about how awful she'd become. The female had just hung her head and listened. It came like muscle memory.

Oscar did get them out eventually. They left in a flurry of shouts as Oscar closed the door and locked it. Then he started from square one again.

That's when the panic attacks during sex started. She couldn't stop the thoughts. They snuck up on her. One second, she was in bliss, and the next, she was trying to claw her skin off her body. The overwhelming disgust with herself seemed to set in after that.

But Oscar was there, every time. He would hold her. Get her cleaned up. Place bandages where her nails had managed to rip skin. Then he’d occupy her mind with anything far away from the topics of intimacy and sex. He’d let her initiate contact so he didn’t scare her.

Sometime, he gets asked by friends (Lando) about his personal life. Why the two aren’t often see going out together. Why she prefers to do a shot then drink mocktails for the rest of the night.

And Oscar always gives the same over used response. “Cause I’d rather see her smiling then picking herself apart over make believe sins.”

[pearl-blue-musings]

Violet Chemistry

Hi hi!!

I have been working on this for FOUR MONTHS and I can finally share this

Pairing: Kaeya Alberich x fem!reader x Alhaitham

Warnings: 18+, alcohol mention, panic attack, oral male receiving, threesome, penetration, fingering, slight choking, spanking, slight cheating but very little, after care is important yall!

Word count: 11.8K

Alhaitham sighs for the upteenth time as he reads at his desk. Despite the fact that he turned down to be the grand sage, he still gets his pay for being the grand scribe. However, with all the work he has on his plate, things to research, and new things to discover, he finds his mind still wandering off to you. What are you doing? What are you up to? Were you able to move out to a better place?

He doesn’t truly have the right to be concerned with you. It’s been years since he’s seen you, and one of the last times he saw you he had turned down your research project. He always remembered your affinity for the arts, specifically music and dance, and that was something that wasn’t completely allowed in the Akademiya. But somehow you were accepted under the Darshan Vahumana, being affiliated with social sciences. And you knew that. So why the hell did you even suggest it? You’re obviously a genius but why this? Why would you propose such a thing? He hated seeing the pain in your eyes as the sages refused you, concurred by his agreement as the scribe.

For as long as you can remember, the two of you had been in and out of each other's lives. You even knew Kaveh when the three of you were younger. Spending time with his grandmother was always a joy for you. For some reason you’re closer to Kaveh but always have been drawn more to Alhaitham. Kaveh always loved watching you sing and dance, sometimes helping him find inspiration for his architecture. Alhaitham’s allure and genius had you feeling inferior yet always wanting to challenge you. He brought out the best and worst in you but you could never see yourself with him in a romantic way.

Especially after he claimed to never believe in your dreams.

The gray haired male wanted you to understand. He wanted, well wants, you to understand that he cares about you. He knows you’re smart and capable so why keep pursuing something that isn’t beneficial to the Akademiya? He was clearly looking out for your best interests but all you heard was that he didn’t believe in you and thought that the arts were a waste of time. When your research was rejected, you met up with Kaveh at the local tavern where he had to keep you in line as you sobbed into your drinks.

“I don’t,” you wail, “I don’t understand why there isn’t room for art in academic research! It’s just as viable and important!” You sniffle again and take another sip. “I mean, he was so heartless toward me. Me!”

Kaveh sighs and wipes a tear away. “I hate seeing you like this over someone like him. He doesn’t deserve it! And you think you’ve got it bad? I live with him.”

You look up at him with puffy cheeks and reddened eyes, swollen from your crying. “Be like what?”

Kaveh holds your gaze before shaking his head. “So head over heels in love with him.”

His words had hit you hard. You? Love him? Alhaitham? The man that has made your life insufferable yet all the more better all at once? You love him? You quickly chug the rest of your drink and order another. “Not after today I’m not.”

That night was nearly two years ago, and so much has happened in that amount of time. After your research got rejected and you poured your heart out to Kaveh, neither man had seen you. The blond had an inkling you had dropped out or taken a break to travel the world and explore the arts in different cultures. He knew you were leaving after that night. Mostly because when he went to check on you, your neighbors told him you had packed all of your things and left. He pondered telling Alhaitham but he was aware that bastard was the last person you wanted to see. So he kept it to himself.

Even when he went home that night and was questioned by Alhaitham. “Did you manage to take her home? She usually frequents the tavern after good or bad news and I haven’t seen her around. Have you heard from her?” Kaveh’s eyes widened. His roommate and old friend had never shown this much care for someone other than himself. He hears the taps on the floor of the scribe’s impatience. There’s no way he can reveal where you are, even if he doesn’t know.

“I’m not her keeper! And you should’ve been nicer to her. You know music means everything to her and you,” he points accusatively at him, “you know that better than anyone! She gave everything into this proposal, spent weeks mulling over how to combine them together! And you squashed it! How heartless!”

Kaveh huffs and walks away to his room and slams the door. Alhaitham stares after his roommate and shakes his head. “I merely asked if she was okay. She’ll bounce back.” Alhaitham stood uneasily before he entered his study. He sits down and grabs a random book. For some reason his attention faltered and the words he and the sages all but railed you with ran rampant in his mind. Maybe Kaveh was right, his words may have been too harsh. But he can’t take them back. He knows he’s told you worse so he’s sure he’ll see you tomorrow mulling over new ideas.

He didn’t see you the next morning or the morning after that, struggling to swallow the severity of his tone.

….

After all your years of traveling, you never thought you’d end up back in Sumeru. You had heard of the changes that had happened with the Akaedmiya and the Lesser Lord Kusanali, and thought maybe you can visit again. You wonder how Kaveh is doing, having heard nothing of him from the grapevine. Which in itself was shocking, considering he was close to finishing his magnum opus.

But you had heard a lot about Alhaitham.

He was suggested for the new Grand Sage? But turned it down? That smug bastard! And to add insult to injury, they’re still prejudiced toward the arts and desert dwellers? He’s still the same as the rest of them! That wasn’t going to change your mind about checking out the Grand Bazaar and check in on your old friend Nilou. You knew she was always a good dancer and part of the theater there. You figured you would see her, checking everything on you before carrying on with your disguise.

Your first stop was the harbor in Sumeru City, that being your drop off and return point of your stay and previous departure. You take a deep breath as you take in the sights and smells you had abandoned once upon a time. You feel a slight squeeze to your shoulder as you turn around, feeling the tension ebb away as you place your hand over his.

“It’s gonna be okay, snowflake. We don’t have to be here longer than necessary.”

You smile up at your travel partner and boyfriend, Kaeya Alberich as you two step off the boat. “However, I do want to truly explore the alcohol culture here so…” You playfully punch his arm and laugh with him. In your travels around Teyvat, you didn’t count on opening your heart to someone new. You had been content with Alhaitham holding your heart forever, although you despised that fact. However, on your trip through Mondstadt, the knight had come to your rescue. You had been writing in your journal about sound vibrations and musical cultures from the various lands when a band of hilichurls ambushed you. You struggled to get all of your belongings and douse the fire; you assumed the creatures wouldn’t have been active at night but you were mistaken.

Kaeya had swept in just in time and took care of them. You stared at him in awe as he lent his rough hand out to you. When you took it, you were surprised to feel how warm it was despite seeing his icy cold vision in action. And dared you say, felt a spark? His sweet words and quick wit had you handing your stuff to some of his crew as you all headed back into Mondstadt for safety. After returning to the knights headquarters, Kaeya got you settled with Goth at the hotel and that’s where you stayed. You didn’t think you’d ever see him again, but one night talking to several bards at Angel’s Share and you were enraptured by him. He thought your brain was absolutely fascinating, never knowing that music and vibrations can be studied in this way.

Over the next few days he had introduced you to Lisa, whom you’d heard of but never met, and became fast friends. During your stay in Mondstadt, it became almost tradition for Kaeya to pick you up from the library and head to the tavern together. On one of your last nights in Mondstadt before traveling back to Fontaine, Kaeya walked with you around the lake after he picked you up from the library. You were shocked you weren’t at the pub, but he insisted it was coming up. You had giggled at that and the knight stopped in his footsteps. “Your laugh is the most beautiful thing I’ve heard. What can I do to make you laugh like that, dear?”

Your mind was reeling. Specifically, thinking back to all the times a certain scholar called your laugh callous and disruptive. This was a breath of fresh air for you. With the moon dancing on Cider Lake, you weren’t sure what was pulling you into him, may it be the Anemo archon himself but suddenly the world around you ceased to exist and all that was discernible was the captain in front of you. His eye seemed to sparkle more than usual before his lips met yours in a soft kiss. You relaxed into it and wrapped your arms around his shoulders as his hands rested on your hips. When you break for air, your heart was beating out of time erratically, something you had never felt before. And you think the man in front of you feels the same way. He leaned forward to slyly kiss the corner of your mouth and pulled back with a soft chuckle, and proposal.

“Stay in Mondstadt. I know you’ve got your research to do but, what better place to do it than in the city of freedom. And I’ll be here too, if you fancy.”

As you walk through the Grand Bazaar, you reminisce on your relationship with Kaeya. It brings a warm smile to your face as you scan the stalls. The idea of him going to Port Ormos as well, a few hours trip, left you feeling uneasy but brush it off. The Mora in your bag is begging to be spent on some of the fashions and trinkets your eyes come across. You try to avoid buying everything when a growing crowd draws your attention. It seems the patrons of the bazaar are gathering around the front of the theater. With your instrument in your bag, you politely elbow your way to the front to see what the commotion is all about. Once at the front of the circle, you see a rug occupied by a crew of performers. There are some actors, the owner of the theater, and someone you hadn’t seen in years.

With eyes slight and a growing smile, all senses of dread leave your aura. “Nilou!” The redhead perks up from talking with the other performers and quickly pulls you into a tight and warm hug. The two of you giggle as you rock back and forth and you’re certain you feel a warm wetness on your shoulder.

“Oh my dearest,” Nilou begins. “I’ve missed you so much! I thought I would never see you again! You left so abruptly!” By now the two of you are crying from the happy reunion, laughing as you see each other's expressions. She then flicks your elbow and you flinch in response. “Don’t ever leave like that again! You hear me? If you think I’m sad, imagine how Kaveh or even your old friend Alhaitham would feel! Granted, the scribe isn’t the best with feelings…”

“Still?”

Nilou shakes her head with a chuckle. “But no matter! You’re here and you must perform with me today! It’s an open mic of sorts and I’d love to hear or see you. Ah! We should do a dance together!”

You hold her hands securely and blink away some more tears. “So long as I can accompany you,” you breathe out. “I’ve learned so much and there’s a lot I have to tell you!”

Nilou nods excitedly and pulls you into the performing area. Word spreads quickly of the impromptu session and that it may end up extending into the night so anyone can come and go as they please. It’s the first time in a long time you truly felt at home in Sumeru and were so welcomed. You dance your heart out and played until your hands and body were sore. Various vendors provided the theater crew with food and different costumes to wear, something that made this experience all the more exciting. You couldn’t wait to tell Kaeya later at the tavern.

….

It’s rare that his work has him working from home, but today is an exception. With the newly installed sages, the need to be more in touch and connected with the people of Sumeru is more imperative than ever. All he has to do is “blend” with the populace and see what things the Akademiya can improve upon. Without the Akasha, it makes it hard to read the minds of everyone, hence his field trip. Alhaitham has half a mind to ask Kaveh to show him around but knows his roommate will only complain.

The first part of his duty is to explore the shopping and sightseeing around Sumeru City. He knows his way around the city; surely there can’t be anything he or the leaders of Sumeru have missed. The first thing that catches his eyes and ears is the hurried talks and bustling feet of the townspeople. Curious, he eavesdrops a little longer on the couple in front of him.

“Are you heading to the theater's jam session?”

“Jam session? What’s that? Does the Akademiya know about it?”

The first man wraps his arm around his friend and chuckles. “Times are changing around here and it’s about time! I heard it’s an anyone can join or play kind of deal. It was all Nilou’s idea!”

The friend lowers his voice and Alhaitham discreetly moves closer to hear more. “But we know nothing of music and the arts, can we still go?”

“That’s the beauty of it,” the first man comments, “ it’s for anyone! Think of it as a way to relax and express yourself.

“I also heard someone outside Sumeru showed up too so it’s going to be amazing!”

The two men leave and head toward the grand bazaar. Alhaitham pushes himself up from the corner he was hiding from. A jam session? And an outlander? Surely it’s not the traveler, he would have been made aware of their presence. He’ll have to go investigate. Since working with the dancer, the scribe has had more of an appreciation for the performing arts. It’s something he’s always had a slight interest in as it provides to the wholeness of a human being. Mostly, his interest came from you but he didn’t have the guts to actually admit it.

Alhaitham moves on and ventures around the stalls, buying some food and maybe some housewares. He figures it should be his turn to help out around the house while also doing his work. He knows he mostly helps around the library, but he’s glad to have the chance to go outside. Typically on a beautifully warm day, he’d find a tree to laze under and read, possibly daydream about what if’s, but today has him lacking time for himself to indulge himself. He sighs at the lost reading of new material, but knows he’ll have time to catch up on a later date.

Alhaitham shrugs and continues through the stalls. His feet take him to the doors that muffle new sounds and activity. Deep down, he has a feeling it’s you as you have been away for awhile and it would make sense you would return now. WIth all the changes in Sumeru and the Akademiya, he’s sure that was able to draw you out from wherever you were. And a secret part of him hopes you stay so he can correctly communicate why he agreed with the former sages. As he opens the door toward the Grand Bazaar, his mind races with all the changes he would like to implement with the help of others and you. His newer connections have led him to have a better understanding of those less well off than him. For example, meeting Layla who’s had a project rejected under her Darshan Rtawahist had him thinking even more openly. Although he can’t completely relate to her exhaustion levels…

The joy and freedom of the music welcomes him into the bazaar. The bumbling excitement grows the closer he gets to the middle where the crowd is most dense. Using the strength of his shoulders, he pushes his way through the crowd to come see what all the commotion is about. For the first time in what feels like years, he’s unable to formulate the right words at how he’s feeling.

There you are, looking livelier than ever, playing and dancing to the music. Generally having a good time. Alhaitham had missed your smile so much and there it is, on display for everyone around. He tries to blend into the crowd to avoid catching your gaze but what can he say to you? He’s part of the reason why you left, he’s certain there’s some animosity you’re harboring. The way your eyes glitter as your smile reaches the corner of them has him feeling small and surprisingly unworthy. No amount of studying languages, poetry, and even some romance at the urge of his roommate, could aid him in figuring out what to say.

The music fades and Alhaitham scurries toward the back to steer clear. However, he keeps a ear tuned into whatever conversation you might be having.

“That was amazing,” Nilou comments. “I’ve never heard music or a rhythm like that before. Where did you learn it?”

Your eyes beam at the question and suddenly the crowd around also seems to have the same level of interest. So you get comfortable and pull out your bag. “Well firstly, I traveled to Liyue Harbor as it was the closest place. I had always wondered if the land of contracts had anything with sound waves or music considering the Geo Archon’s power and was surpsiwd to see so little! But on my way back here after the Lantern Rite I heard such lovely music! Anyways, after Liyue I traveled to Fontaine where they live for music there and there are so many instruments! And..” The way you speak of your travels has captivated the audience as well as the scribe. Your great detail about every country in teyvat and all the traditions and cultures you learned makes his heart happy as he smiles in content. Alhaitham has seen enough, and despite wanting to reach out and touch you he resists his urges and walks away.

Before running into the Vahumana sage

The sage then calls out for you and the crowd disperses. There’s anxiety written all over your face as the head of your Darshan emerges from the crowd. The papers and books you’ve written are scattered around you and you gulp the closer he gets. The sage picks up your work and smiles fondly. “I’m so glad you came back. We have missed you dearly here!” The whole crowd visibly relaxes as he motions you over for some privacy. “I had heard that there was a gathering of sorts and wanted to come see it out. We’ve had a couple researchers wanting to study social concepts in theater and the arts and I felt this was appropriate.”

Hidden around the corner is Alhaitham, ready to spring into action and defend you and Nilou if it became necessary. You have been sensing someone's presence for a while, but it wasn’t enough to make you seek it out. Right now, you’re too focused on what your sage is saying and potential implications. “So,” you finally interject, “what are you saying?”

The older man smiles and hands you back your work. “I’m saying that with the recent changes in the Akademiya and your extensive research into this topic, we would like to fully fund your previous and future research. I’ll have to make an appointment but if you are willing, I would love to learn more about what you’ve discovered and how it can help the Akademiya.

“What do you say?”

*****

The sun is setting by the time Kaeya returns to the main city. The two of you have booked a hotel room and you’re eagerly awaiting his return. You hear the door open and you quickly get up to greet him with a hug. You can immediately tell something is off when he doesn’t call you his snowflake. “Hey,” you softly coo, “what happened?”

Kaeya sits on the bed with exhaustion and sighs deeply. “Oh nothing too terrible, sweetheart. I found what I was looking for and secured some deals for Mondstadt’s alcohol industry.” Your ears perk up at the off-putting sentence.

“I thought,” you start, “the alcohol and mixed drinks was the reason you came? Something you were doing for the Knights?”

You feel the way Kaeya shifts and shudders. A slow hand reaches out to his shoulder as you rub at them to relax him. “Kaeya? Why else were you here?” You sit down next to him and rest your head against his. The eagerness you have to tell him the good news overruns your need to comfort your boyfriend. The knight in question quirks his eyebrow and adjusts his head to be in your view.

With a smile, he softly says, “you seem to be excited. How was going in town?”

Without warning you push off of him and blurt excitedly. “They’re letting me do my research!”

Kaeya’s jaw drops in amazement as a knowing grin comes to his face. “Snowflake,” he kisses your nose, “that’s amazing.”

You nod happily and sit cross legged on the bed. “And they’re gonna fund my research, past and future! Plus they told me I can stay here and give lectures to help bridge together-“

“Whoa whoa,” Kaeya chides and moves away from you. “You’re planning on saying here?” You’re taken aback by his slightly harsh tone as you stand up from the bed. You face away from him, unable to stand any expression the cryo user might be emitting.

“I mean, that was the plan. You know that KK. This is what I’ve wanted from the beginning. A, a chance.” You turn around with dignity to face him and you’re met with a stone cold look. If looks could kill. “K-Kaeya?”

“So you’re going to leave me, too?” The break in his voice has you scrambling closer to him. You try to console him but he chuckles and smiles at you. “If you must know what I was doing, I was following a lead about my heritage and I met with the traveler.” He pauses to read your face before he keeps going. “I found out more than I wanted about Khanrieah, something I thought all,” he emphasizes, “Sumeru scholars would know.”

You drop your hands from his frame and place them on your hips. “What the hell do you mean by that? Is that why you helped me?”

Kaeya shrugs and you begin to get more angry. “Might as well come clean,” he sighs. “I did help you because I recognized you’re a scholar. I have ties to Khanreiah and the Abyss, and I thought you could help me. You didn’t immediately but you did help me by coming here so…” he leans forward to whisper in your ear, “thanks for that.”

Your eyes fill with disgust and dismay as you push him away from you. This was supposed to be a great thing, you get to continue studying while still being with him. Long distance would be tough but the two of you would make it work. Your musings are silent but Kaeya is more than aware of your thinking face. It’s cute, but right now he knows what he said hurts. He wasn’t planning on saying that but, he can’t let others hurt him. So he has to hurt them first. In his mind his father dropped him off in Mondstadt for a better life; still abandoned is all he can remember. And now, you want to do the same to him. It all worked out regardless, he got to go to Sumeru again to discover his roots and had an amazing relationship.

Your sniffles bring him out of his own head and his mouth opens slightly. The corner of your eyes are tight and filling with tears and your heart feels like it’s on fire. “You lied to me? For your own gain?” A hiccup erupts from your throat as all of your thoughts rush at once. “Did you even love me? Did you really not support me? Archons, you're just like him!” Your voice breaks at the mention of your previous love, and that causes an eye roll from your lover.

“Don’t even bring him up again. I’m not like him.” You can hear and sense the fuel to his response, the fire in his tone as he raises his voice slightly. You quickly scoff and wipe away some tears.

“Bullshit! You both lied to me, you both don’t love me!”

“That’s not true,” Kaeya argues. “I do love you.”

“Then why did you lie? I thought we promised to be open and honest with each other.”

Firm hands gently grab your shoulders. “It’s true you were my ticket to Sumeru, but I do love you snowflake.”

You pout your lips, your fiery emotions still on high. You breathe heavily through your nostrils as your pride can’t let you let him win. “Diluc was right, I shouldn’t trust you.” You knew that would do it. You knew that sealed your victory. The look of betrayal that came across his features was unexpected. His hands left you as if you were something to be left alone. Kaeya’s breathing falters as he struggles to come up with a response.

“At least I’m not hung up on some guy who will never love you back.” All the air escapes your lungs at his proclamation. You have no rebuttal, nothing to defend yourself as your words fail. Kaeya pushes past you as he grabs his keys. “I’m going for a walk. I think we both need to clear our heads. And you need to figure out who you really love.”

You do nothing to stop him as he leaves the hotel room. You do nothing as the weight of what was said finally hits you. The both of you were going for low blows and he hit the lowest. You remembered him talking about his weird family issues, but you never knew that they had ties to the fallen kingdom. You’ve heard about it but know very little of the ancient land. It hurt that Kaeya originally saved you from your Sumeren outfit, but the two of you did genuinely fall in love. That has to be true, right?

Your mind reels with what if’s and you take a number from Kaeya’s book and decide to get some air.

At the tavern.

****

Most evenings he wouldn’t even consider entertaining his roommates plans. But tonight has Alhaitham reconsidering. There was a party of sorts at the tavern, where the drinks are flowing, the music is vibrating, and everyone is having a good time. He’s enjoying having semi intelligent conversations as he can tell Kaveh is getting to his drunken state. Alhaitham is lost in the environment and starts to enjoy himself when the sound of the door opening catches his attention.

In strolls you, anger and frustration across your face as you march up to the bar.

His keen eyes follow your presence and he’s captivated once again. He never thought he would see you again and twice in one day it happened. The glass in your hand dances on your lips as you swallow the liquid in your cup quickly. You take a deep breath, your shoulders relaxing as you blend in with the crowd. Alhaitham bides his time as he sees you talk with old friends, waiting for the right moment to speak to you. For a little bit Nilou comes in to chat with you, but quickly leaves stating she has early practice in the morning. You hug her tightly before she leaves, his mind mulling over what it would be like to have you in his arms like that.

Alhaitham shakes the thought as Kaveh stumbles upon you. Two toned eyes squint toward your direction as Kaveh sits close to you. You welcome him and even hug him. How lucky, he quickly thinks.

“Oh it’s been so long,” Kaveh excitedly slurs. He rests his head in his hand and places a comforting hand on your thigh. “How long have you been back in Sumeru? Y’know I’ve really missed you.”

You giggle and rest your hand on his, taking a quick swig of your new drink. You smile and mirror his actions. “I’ve missed you too, a lot Kaveh.” You sigh in contentment but your smile starts to fade. The blond beside you perks up and removes his hand. With his voice low, he lifts your chin to meet his dilated pupils. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

You try to avoid his gaze, but his eyes take hold of you and you crumble under their intensity. “It’s my boyfriend. We had—“

“Wait!” Kaveh interrupts. “Boyfriend?! Did you finally, you know, move on from..?” You shake your head sadly before confirming his excited state. “Yes. He’s a knight. I met him in Mondstadt. He’s just amazing and I really do love him…

“But I got an offer to stay here and he didn’t like that.” You pause to take a drink and lower the empty glass. “We had a bad fight about it and he stormed out.”

Kaveh sighs and finishes your sentence. “And because of that you ended up here.” You nod meekly with a pout and the feeling of wanting to cry. Tears prick at the corner of your eyes and you harshly wipe them away. “Do you two fight often?” You barely hear the question as the music and loud conversations provide a background to your now very open conversation. You had always felt like you can tell the blond in front of you anything and tonight is no exception. You do feel the stare of someone nearby but can’t quite place it.

You shake your head. “Not really. We’ll have little disagreements about things but we always work them out. I’ve seen him lie to get his way but never with me…I mean,” you sniffle and rest your head on his shoulder. “He saved me cause he thought I would know more about Khanrei’ah cause I’m from Sumeru! What’s a Vahumana scholar gonna know about that?” Kaveh agrees with you before ordering another round of drinks to the table and lets you proceed. “I mean, it’s not like he would know that…but then I took a low blow cause he talked about my feelings for Alhaitham—“

Kaveh puts a finger to your mouth to prevent you from speaking any further. The bartender comes back with your drinks and you both thank him. The blond takes a sip and then a deep breath.

“Please, and I swear to god, please tell me you’re over that asshole!”

A shiver runs up your spine and you try to hide yourself behind your glass. The feeling of being small increases as Kaveh’s glare hardens. “You traveled the world, fell in love, did research, and had to work for said Mora to do the research, and you still have him in your heart?!”

“It’s not like I want to have these feelings! He just…” Your voice trails off as you turn around, finally getting annoyed with the feeling someone was watching you. And suddenly the butterflies you thought had flown from your stomach have returned. The moment your eyes meet his always calculated two toned ones it’s like the world around you disappears. So that’s the person who’s been watching you. Why do you feel relieved? Your heart beat increases, your breathing getting shallow as you see Alhaitham stand up and stride toward your booth. You’re not sure what’s come over you, but the way he’s walking with more confidence than you’ve ever seen is doing things to you. It’s making you relive all your fantasies and old memories of falling in love with the man coming your way. Heat rushes to your cheeks as you grab your emptying glass to cool off.

“I never thought I would see you here. And of course, you’re drinking with this idiot.”

His deep voice rumbles in his chest and you’re struck by the baritone in it. You peer into his eyes and you catch the hint of a crimson flush on his uncovered ears. Huh, where are his headphones? You’re brought out of your haze when Kaveh interrupts.

“Idiot?! You are so- you know what, I’m in too much of a good mood to argue.” He pushes up and walks away. “You two catch up, I'm gonna continue to walk away!” As the blond leaves, the two of you are left alone while the music and idle chatter fills the void. You’re unsure of what to say to him as the silence between you two increases. He had always known of your love of music but thought studying it wasn’t worth your time. And since he never truly explained what he meant by that, that was the message received and you decided to gloat about your news. With your hands on your hips and a growing smirk you blurt out, “guess who got her research project approved? Still think studying music is a waste of time now?”

On the inside he cringes over hearing the words he said to you that day. But on the outside his emotions barely change. The Vahumana sage approved your research? Interesting. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order.” Alhaitham crossed his arms to match your energy, something he won’t readily admit that he’s missed. He also doesn’t miss the way your words come out slurred or how the alcohol has given you extra confidence. Or maybe it’s the time apart.

For a brief moment it’s like the world around you has stopped. It’s as if you’re thrown back to your childish love of the man in front of you, his grandmother scolding him for saying something insensitive to you. There’s that twinkle in his eye that you thought was long gone but as he’s looking at you in this moment… You’re not sure what to think. Your heartbeat is too loud, the music is too loud, and he looks too handsome to be here by himself. But Kaveh hasn’t mentioned a partner for himself or the scribe. This tunnel vision needs to end, you’re not gonna get sucked in again. “So,” you slowly start, “is there anyone special in your life?”

Alhaitham is caught off guard by your question. He wants to take his time to respond, needing time to cover up that he’s never thought of anyone the way he thinks of you. He’s always considered you in high regard and respects you a great deal. But as the two of you have woven through each other's lives and aged, he’s been finding it difficult to see a future without you in it. The way the blood rushes up to his ears is something he is grateful for, since he always has on his earpieces. But now they’re off and he’s afraid his heart is now on display for you to bear witness. The proximity between you two lessens as the question echoes in his mind.

He sighs with a step toward you. “Being the grand scribe, saving Sumeru from itself, and being the announcer for the InterDarshan competition has had me fairly occupied. I don’t have time for such things.” You feel your heart sink at his words. It’s like the icy sting of his words sharp like Kaeya’s vision make the pain more intense. Were you rejected twice in one day? Your chest starts to heave as tears threaten to boil over. Your bottom lip starts to tremble on its own as you back away from him. The back of your knees hit the booth and you sit in it and with it the erasure of the tunnel vision. You’re brought back to reality. The two men that you have treasures greatly have both told you no, whether they are aware of it or not.

Alhaitham changes his posture and relaxes at your state. His eyes softening as you sit down with your thinking face on. “Breathe,” he gently commands, “what’s going through your mind?” You may be upset with him but this is Alhaitham. This man knows you as well as Kaveh does and as you know yourself. He knows when you’re about to panic and remembered what would help you in the past. That struck a chord with you. His voice is calm and soothing like Kaeya’s when he’s taking care of you, yet is all it’s own and equally helpful. You take some deep breaths, your foggy mind confusing which man is in front of you right now. Your hand grabs onto his shoulder to stabilize yourself as you come down and have your breathing calmed. Alhaitham slides next to you and, based on Kaveh’s help with emotional intelligence, asks you a question. “What happened? I saw you earlier and you weren’t like this.”

Your eyes dart up toward him before you sit back in the comfy booth. “It’s me and Kaeya. We had a fight and—“

“Who’s Kaeya?”

The tone in his voice shifts from calming to questioning in an instant. The hints of malice and something unknown to you emanate from the man next to you and you shiver. Did it get colder in here? And why is he looking at you like that? “He’s my boyfriend. I wouldn’t say a fight, just a disagreement.” You pause to study Alhaitham’s features as you notice his shoulders are a little more tense than a couple minutes ago. All of your knowledge about reading people and understanding body language is flying out the window as you study the man before you longed than normal. His expression is one you haven’t seen or can easily fathom. “I uh, met him when I was in Mondstadt. Or rather, he saved me from a pack of hillichurls. Then he introduced me to Lisa and it was a whirlwind and, gosh I love him and…” Your sighing voice trails off as catch the scribe’s gaze. Once again, you’re struck with an unfamiliar expression and you breathe hesitantly before you keep going. “I thought he’d be happy for me, but I think he’s worried about me leaving him. B-but we couldn’t even talk about it properly cause we were both angry and he mentioned my feelings for you and it was awful and we said such mean things to each other—“

You’re taken out of your ramblings with a firm hand on your shoulder. You’re now forced to face Alhaitham with a million and one thoughts running through your head. He licks his lips in anticipation of what he’s about to ask you, aware that you aren’t of your own words.

“You have feelings for me?”

You blink once, twice, thrice before your breathing resumes. Did you just admit what you’ve kept secret for so long? How? You’ve been so careful. You fumble over your words as the room seems to get stuffier. However, the man whose long held your affections seems to be getting closer. Suddenly, you take a deep breath before slapping your cheeks adamantly. “Fuck,” you grunt out, “alhaitham, I love you. A-and I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember!” Your chest heaves from finally releasing the weight of your emotions. For years you’ve wanted to admit your feelings and now you finally have. You gesture your hands openly to him before setting them on the table. “Well, there it is. Happy now?”

You push yourself up and out of the booth to grab a drink to cam your nerves. Your mind is reeling over the fact that you finally said it. You told him, and now he knows. You realize you left before he could properly respond. Maybe it’s better this way, you think. You don’t think he would reciprocate so at least he knows! At least he knows.

A tap on your back turns you around, your drink hanging loosely in your hand. Before you can comprehend who it is, a pair of hands cup your face and pull you in for a kiss. Your eyes go wide before shutting them, holding the glass tightly as you lose yourself to the kiss. Your body goes lax and you put the glass down on the bar as you wrap your arms around Alhaitham. You knew it was him, you had dreamt of being pressed against it and now it’s finally happening. You’re kissing Alhaitham, and he started it!

Shit, you’re kissing Alhaitham!

You open your eyes quickly and push him away. Your eyes are sparkling under what feels like violet lighting where everything is illuminated. And he looks ethereal. He shouldn’t look like this. You shouldn’t look like this. “What the hell, Haitham?!”

The man in front of you looks down at you from his height, a small smirk on his face as he crosses his arms. He starts with an eye roll, “I thought it was fairly obvious what the hell i'm doing.” Your dilated pupils search for an answer as you wait for his response. The condensation is making it harder to hold onto the glass and the reality of the situation. He lowers his head and you can feel his warm breath against your lips. “You told me you love me.

“I’m letting you know that I reciprocate your feelings. I have for a while.”

Your jaw drops along with the drink in your hand. The clattering glass brings you out of your slight daze as you yelp. You try to bend down to pick up the shattered glass before Alhaitham stops you. “Don’t be stupid,” he chides, “you’ll hurt yourself.” He gently holds your hand where a small cut starts to form on your palm. A light trail of blood leaves your hand and you hiss at the pain. Without breaking eye contact with you, Alhaitham takes your hand in his, brings it to his lips, and jots out his tongue to help ease the pain. You feel the butterflies fluttering in your stomach as you bite your lip, your breathing getting shallower. You want to speak but your throat is drying at every second. After what feels like forever, the two of you stand up as a waiter comes to clean up the mess.

Alhaitham tries to interlock your fingers together but you pull away and head to the door. Your feet are moving faster than your mind can think. You want to go back to your hotel, you want to find Kaeya. You want to kiss Alhaitham again. God, do you wanna kiss him again. But you also wanna cuddle up with Kaeya. This is a conflict you never thought you would be in in your wildest imaginations.

The scribe finds you outside the tavern and quickly approaches you. Your hunched shoulders and quick pacing alerts him to your distress. That’s right, he remembers your boyfriend.

He clears his throat and you gently acknowledge him. “Where is this Kaeya? He let you go alone tonight?” You roll your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose.

“Just shut up and kiss me before I start thinking.”

Alhaitham is never one to truly shy away from orders, so he places his hands on your hips and pulls you for another kiss. This one is slower and more thought out than the first surprise one. You find it easy to melt into his embrace, wanting the moment to last a lifetime as his arms wrap around you tighter. His hands hold you firmly against him until that wandering thought about your boyfriend stops him. He can’t help but feel like the two of you are being watched and it’s an eerie sensation. He’s the one to pull away and you’re left baffled. Slightly breathless you ask, “Why did you stop?” Your eyes scan his for an answer as your nerves prepare you for yet another rejection. Your stomach clenches and tears threaten to fall as your eyes start to sting with the possibility of what could have been and what almost happened. Again. You feel the weight of Alhaitham’s forehead against yours as he gently kisses your nose.

“You know,” he softly breathes out with his eyes shut, “I have no problem continuing this.”

“But I do.”

Whatever words you had planned to say to the scribe in front of you are caught in your throat at the new voice. A voice you know all too well and has whispered sweet nothings into your ear for many nights. You push Alhaitham to the side as the cold and hurt face of your lover appears before you. You had never thought about cheating on Kaeya ever in your life, and yet here you are. You let another man kiss you, twice! The man that has held your heart for years finally reciprocates your feelings and you completely forget how the knight has healed you? You hug your arms and feel your airways tighten. Is this another panic attack? Right now? Your vision starts to blur as tears fall freely from the corner of your eyes. Kaeya is the first to react and gently cups your face. “Breathe snowflake. I’m here. You’re safe, you’re safe.” He rubs calming circles with his thumb on your cheek, a gesture he’s come to know is calming for you. Kaeya slowly bridges the gap between you and pulls you in for a gentle hug. “Hey,” he says toward Alhaitham, but his request dies on his lips when he sees the man in question trotting over with a glass of water.

“Drink up,” Alhaitham softly states as he hands you the glass. You nod sharply and take a few sips of the water, all the while Kaeya rubs your back. Kaeya doesn’t miss that this man, he assumes is Alhaitham, also knew how to calm you down like this. The knight scoffs and lets his guard down with a sincere chuckle. “So you must be Alhaitham.”

“And you must be her boyfriend Kaeya,” the scribe responds.

With a large gulp, your eyes dart between the two of them. “And this is the most awkward situation ever.” Kaeya hides a snicker as he notices you’re still a little drunk; partly why he was outside the tavern in the first place. The knight removes his hands from your body and notices the way Alhaitham very gently traces the outline of your face with the back of his finger, matching his breathing with yours. He loves you. Somehow knowing that this scholar also loves you in the way he does calms him and he can lower his guard even more. He blinks twice before addressing Alhaitham again. “So you love her, too?”

The man in question continues his actions without meeting the azure gaze. “So it seems, although it took me far longer to realize it.” Alhaitham pulls away from you, lending out a hand as Kaeya does the same. They help you to stand steady on your feet, still a little wobbly from the sudden panic attack and drinks from earlier. It dawns on you. It’s weird, they both have an arm around your waist and it feels…

Natural.

A warm smile comes to your face before you rest it against Kaeya’s shoulder. Slender fingers tighten on your skin as you peek an eye to your old friend. You try to suppress the giggle that wants to come out but fail. “What’s so funny? You can’t possibly still be drunk.” You lazily shake your head as the three of you start walking. You assume you’re headed to your hotel room but Alhaitham brings you a different way. With the pout he thinks you didn’t catch, he nods upward. “My place is closer. I’m sure my roommate wouldn’t mind the company.” You and Kaeya exchange glances before agreeing with the feeble scholar. As you get closer to your unknown destination, you feel Kaeya’s hand wander farther down your back to finally cup your ass. He gives it a squeeze, making you lose your balance as his fingers try to curl toward your now aching cunt. A whimper escapes your lips and it’s the sweetest and sexiest thing Alhaitham has ever heard.

Kaeya snickers at the blush coming to the other man’s ears as he fishes out his keys. “She likes it when I touch her from behind. It catches her off guard.”

With Alhaitham’s back to you, he unlocks the door and misses how Kaeya has you pressed against his chest and kissing your neck. He’s able to hear your change in breathing and quickly opens the door. “By all means,” he semi strains out, “fuck her for everyone to see.”

You hear Kaeya chuckle before pushing you inside, never letting you go. He suddenly has this need to be surrounded and absorbed by you. Just holding and kissing you isn’t enough. He needs more. He craves it. He wants you to melt on his tongue. And part of him wants to show this Alhaitham just how to treat you. This whole time, the knight has been fathoming just how to make this all work. And he thinks he has an idea. With the door barely locked, Alhaitham leads the two of you to his room for some privacy. Kaeya lays you on the bed and motions for Alhaitham to do the same. His voice is calculating yet playful when he finally speaks. “I have a proposal of sorts,” he starts. Alhaitham crosses his arms after he’s taken his shoes off. With a quirked up eyebrow he nods for Kaeya to continue. “We both love her. And I can tell that we are men above fighting over her affections, considering we are both very special to her. I’m sure she told you the nature of our argument earlier?”

“K-Kaeya, I’m s-sorry for what I said-“ you try to interrupt.

A cool hand cups your cheek as Kaeya kisses your nose. “I know you are, snowflake. But since I still have duties in Mondstadt and you’re here…”

Alhaitham uncrosses his arms with a hmph. “Are you suggesting we share her? As in a polygamous relationship?” Kaeya merely nods and catches your gaze. You’re completely aghast. It’s true you love the both of them and couldn’t be without the other, but will the two of them get along? Is this something Alhaitham would even agree to? He’s not one to share so you’re sure he’s gonna say—

“I would like that.”

“What?!”

“Are you saying you don’t love the two of us?”

You struggle to respond to Alhaitham’s quip but find yourself stuttering over your words. You never thought he would agree. So, he really does love you that much huh? You then go over the pros and cons in your head and you can’t honestly think of anything. Except one thought comes up. “What about the two of you?” You ask, pointing between the two men.

Kaeya has an evil smirk as he approaches Alhaitham and brings him into a surprise kiss. Alhaitham’s yelp of surprise is cut off by the man in front of him grabbing at his chest. It’s quiet, with the exception of the two men kissing beside you. When they break apart, they’re breathless and the lust elevates between the three of you. Kaeya chuckles at the gray haired man’s expression as he licks his lips. “I can see why she’s so smitten with you.”

The scribe tries to recompose himself as he realizes what’s about to transpire. He catches your reaction out of the corner of his eye and doesn’t hesitate to kiss Kaeya again. His hands cup the knight's face as he stands to grind his hips into the other. Kaeya lightly groans into the kiss and starts to lose himself to the man he should be detesting. Alhaitham loosens his grip on Kaeya’s face and trails his hands down the other’s chest and down to his hips, lifting a leg to feel just how hard Kaeya is. The kiss is sloppy and messy, the opposite of Alhaitham in every way and it is turning you on so much. Seeing their kiss has you rubbing your thighs together as you try to inch closer to the two loves of your life. You bite your lip to hold back your whine at being ignored. Why do they get to have all the fun?

Alhaitham is the first to pull away and turn to you. His pupils are blown out not just from the kiss but the way your eyes glaze over with lust as his chest heaves up and down. “Don’t tell me you’re feeling left out.” His eyes wander to your thighs and he smirks. “I thought this is what you wanted? The two of us to get along?” Kaeya then rolls his hips into Alhaitham’s, causing him to give a low moan as the knight unwraps himself from the latter.

“Oh? Is our snowflake greedy?” You find yourself nodding dumbly as Kaeya traces the back of his finger across your face. The lust in his tone has you hissing from his fleeting touch. You move on the bed to sit on your knees, with your face looking up toward the two now very horny men. His hand slowly wraps around your neck with his thumb rubbing at your throat. Your gaze is pleading with him to tighten his grip. He gives a quick squeeze and your eyes roll back, almost losing your balance. His other hand caresses your face then falls down to your chest, lightly playing with your collar bone before rubbing his palm over your pert nipple. You want more, no you need more, so you arch your back into his touch. At your reaction Kaeya pulls away. “Not yet, darling. I have to show Alhaitham how to touch you correctly. So save it for him, okay?”

You can only nod as Alhaitham has already discarded some of his clothes on his own accord. With confidence, Alhaitahm now kisses you directly. The taste of the cocktail you had and his own breath mingle for a smell and taste that has both of you begging for more. His tongue licks at your lips before he sucks at your neck. With your eyes closed in pleasure, you miss Kaeya remove his shirt and place himself behind Alhaitham. You feel Alhaitham shudder slightly as his hands find your waist. “Cup her breasts,” Kaeya whispers in his ear. “Her nipples are sensitive. You might even like to lick them. Like this…” He leans over from behind Alhaitham who leaned over and suckles your breast while cupping and pinching the other. He pulls away with a pop and kiss Alhaitham’s cheek. “Just like that. And don’t worry, she likes it rough.”

That’s all Alhaitham needs to hear before he repeats the actions Kaeya had just done. You gasp in surprise and struggle to stay on your knees. Gray hairs tickle your chest, giving you a sense of comfort. You feel him bite at your nipple and you grab onto his hair for leverage.

Although his mouth is occupied you can still hear him command you. “Keep your eyes on me.” You slowly open your eyes and see his intense gaze boring into yours. He adds the pressure to the breast in his mouth, fondling your other breast harder. It’s weird being under his spell of passion. You never thought he would be trying to make you break in this way. As much as you wanna look away, you can’t. You pull at his hair when he sucks on your nipple as your breath hitches. You breathed heavily through his nose and snickers. With your attention on Alhaitham, you miss the way Kaeya had snuck behind you. His hands are on your hips as he kisses at your neck. You can feel his bare chest against your back, and his warm erect penis against your ass.

You feel him breathe against your ear and your head falls back against him. “Nuh uh, snowflake. I think he said to keep your eyes on him. But let’s get you more comfortable, hm?” With almost practiced form, Kaeya moves back and pulls you so you’re sitting in between his legs as Alhaitham doesn’t break contact with you and moves with you. Your walls clench feeling Kaeya’s erection on your back in anticipation. The man behind you spreads your legs, giving Alhaitham better access to your awaiting body. Lithe fingers all over your body have your head spinning. The scribe releases your breast with a pop and grabs at the back of your head with controlled force.

“I told you,” he growls out, “to keep your eyes on me.” Your hips shake from Kaeya running his fingers around your hips, teetering dangerously close to your lower lips. Alhaitham then slots his lips over yours, darting his tongue into your mouth. The more you kiss him, the more you love the taste of him. You could get drunk off of it. You feel his hands cup your breasts and play with your nipples and you keen into the kiss. The kiss is suddenly interrupted when you whimper out.

“Oh fuck!”

Alhaitham huffs and looks down between your legs. The temperature in the room elevates as he watches Kaeya’s fingers in a haze. The way they open and play with your lips, sliding up and down your pussy. Your breathing shallows as his fingertips keep coming close to your clit but never touches. You wanna buck your hips for more but being in between the two men makes it difficult.

While Kaeya may be playing with you, his eyes are focused on Alhaitham. The way his eyes never leave your pussy has the knight grinning. He spreads your lips wider cause a main to erupt from your throat. With a husky demeanor, Kaeya speaks up. “She gets messy when you’re slow with her.”

“I’m not incompetent in the bedroom,” Alhaitham quickly quips.

“But you don’t know her likes, what turns her on…” Kaeya trails off for a second. “What makes her do this.” He emphasizes by inserting a finger inside your wet pussy, causing you to whine loudly. Your back arches a bit off him and your abs contract. The two toned eyed man in front of you sighs with a gruff before he removes a hand from your chest and copies Kaeya’s movements. He’s also keenly aware of the electricity between him and the knight when their fingers touch. “She feels good doesn’t she?”

Alhaitham tries to ignore the question to enjoy the feeling of your walls clenching around their fingers. Both men have a finger in you, Kaeya closer to your clit with the other below. Their fingers going in and out together has your body needing to shake in pleasure. You’re sure this is a metaphor for something but you’re too blissed out to notice.

“Do you think you could move? You’ve had more time to do this than I have.”

“Heh,” Kaeya chuckles, “are you trying to take charge?”

Their pace inside you increases and your grip on the two men tightens. You’re not sure who, but someone just barely graded your clit and a high pitched moan escapes your lips.

“It would be better. I’ve known her longer.”

Behind you Kaeya rolls his his and starts to rub your aching bud. “Yeah? We’ll have you made her cum so hard she can’t walk? Or made her scream in ecstasy from being fucked over and over.” He inserts two fingers in your slit, making it now three fingers, with his thumb rubbing over your clit.

Alhaitham’s fingers spread your lips again as your juices coat his fingers. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for awhile,” his breathing got deeper. “And since I’ve already passed the tutorial, I’d like to have my turn.”

You groan in pleasure and frustration before finally speaking up.

“Would you both,” you pant, “shut up and fuck me?”

You hear some possessive chuckling as their fingers increase their speed. You shut your eyes in pleasure, your head falling back into Kaeya’s chest with your own heaving. “I-I’m so close! It feels so, so good!” Your arms weakly reach out for the man in front of you grabbing for him to kiss you. He easily falls into the temptation of your lips and silences any moans. His finger inside curls with the captain’s and you whimper into his lips. You feel your walks clench and that cook inside needing to be releaswd.

Kaeya breathes heavily behind you, his cock throbbing at the thought of being inside you. And from being challenged by the man to your front. He’s so used ri being in charge, but having someone who also is used to it is invigorating for the cryo user. It’s sexy and he likes it a little too much. “Aw, you’re close aren’t you? Come on baby girl, cum for us. Let him see what he’s been missing.” Almost as if on command, your hips shake as your orgasm overwhelms you. Before it hits, Alhaitham speeds his finger and releases your lips to hear the beautiful melody that is your release. You cum hard on their fingers, body rolling to help you through the sensation. Both men slow their fingers as two pairs of lips attach to your neck and collar bone. Kaeya leaves fleeting kisses in your sweaty skin before he bites your earlobe. “I think he wants to fuck you. But shouldn’t you prepare him?”

You bite your lip in anticipation and gently push Alhaitham off of you. You maneuver your body to be on all fours in front of the scribe. You start to crawl toward him and lower your body to rest on your stomach. Your hands make good work of his pants to free his cock from its confines. It stands tall, the tip wet with pre cum as it throbs against his chest. You’ve always imagined what his cock would look like and it’s better than your imagination. You unconsciously lick your lips. Above you, Alhaitham cups your face and stares down at you with love and lust. “Just like before, keep your eyes on me.”

You nod eagerly as you slowly wrap your lips around the head. Your tongue swirls around the head and dips into the cleft of it. Alhaitham grips your hair, forcing you to go down further. He’s bigger than you thought, and that makes it all the better. You hollow your cheeks and work your tongue up and down his shaft. The look of lust and desire in his eyes goes straight to your cunt as you raise your hips and shake them. A harsh slap comes to your ass that makes you wet and moan on Alhaitham’s dick. Behind you, Kaeya gives your ass another smack before you feel the tip of his cock mess with your lower lips. You keen backwards and shut your eyes in pleasure. Suddenly, you feel a light slap to your cheek. Possessive eyes meet your glassy ones. “I told you to keep your eyes on me. I don’t care what he’s doing to you.”

Kaeya chuckles. “I’m getting ready to fuck her. Is that alright, snowflake?”

You pull off of Alhaitham’s wet and leaking cock to nod and pant out. “Yes, I’m good master.”

“Good girl,” Kaeya congratulates. “Now make sure to suck him dry as I fuck you, okay?”

You agree and go back to sucking off Alhaitham. The scribe tosses his head back as your warm mouth takes him again. His breath escapes with a groan as his hand stays firm on your head. “Is this what he’s reduced you to? An eager slut who loves sucking my cock? You always wanted to be between two men,” Alhaitham hisses as you take him to the base. “So fucking dirty.”

“The scholar has a nasty mouth on him. I like it,” Kaeya comments before his erect penis slides inside you, your essence acting as lubricant. “Oh you always feel so good, princess. Take your master’s cock.” He slams his hips into you and you give a muffled yelp. Your grip on the scribes thighs tighten as Kaeya sets a brutally teasing pace. He starts at nice and slow, letting you get adjusted to him and then pistons into you. Saliva falls out the corner of your mouth as he pounds you, making it hard to focus on the dick in your mouth. Kaeya is unrelentless, incredibly turned on by the two people in front of him. He knows he loves you, and maybe in time he’ll love the man you're blowing. Kaeya is sure of it. With how tightly he’s gripping your skin, you’re sure his nails will leave indents. That thought has you moving your hips back into him. All the while, Alhaitham still hasn’t broken eye contact with you.

All he can think of is how good you’re making him feel. He wants this all the time and never wants to let you go. You’ve already cum once and he assumes you’ll cum again, so finally having intercourse with you will have to wait. He doesn’t want to tire you out, and from the night you’ve had he thinks two orgasms is enough. He feels the need to unload himself into you, a feeling he’s used to on some lonely nights but being able to do this with you is something else entirely. Kaeya is groaning and grunting behind you as your walls clench around him. He knows he’s getting close and can judge that his new partner is too. So to make things easier, he leans over to rub at your clit viciously. He feels you shake and you stop to yell in muffled pleasure. You suck on Alhaitham. Hard.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum if you do that.” Hearing this, you suck him harder as Kaeya’s fingers bring you closer to the edge of ecstasy. Alhaitham’s husky voice is enough to bring you to your knees but hearing it in this capacity has you seeing stars. You feel his hips buck up into your mouth as his hand speeds up. “Shit, I’m gonna cum. You better take it all. I don’t wanna see a drop on these sheets, you understand? Take all my cum.” You hear him grunt through his teeth, his hot cock throbbing in your mouth. Before you know it, his hips rise and his hand presses down as he releases into your mouth. Curses and mumbles of your name flow from his lips as his balms empty down your throat. You pause your ministrations to catch his face in utter ecstasy.

It’s beautiful. You want to remember this face for a long time.

His cum tastes a little salty, kind of like his attitude, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. After seeing Alhaitham succumb to euphoria, Kaeya holds onto you tighter as he quickens his pace. “Such a good girl, making him cum like that. Now take my seed, princess. I know you wanna be full of me. And since,” he thrusts hard, “you’re so obedient, don’t spill a drop.” With your mouth free, you’re able to moan and whimper as loud as you want. Your throat gets no reprieve as Kaeya pounds into you.

“F-fuck Kaeya, you feel so good.” That earned you a spank to your ass.

“That’s not,” he spanks you again. “That’s not what you call me.” He rubs your clit hard as tears come to your eyes.

“I-Im sorry! It felt so, so good! Can I, can I cum?” Your whines and pleads are a symphony to the two men as the knight finally reaches his climax with a loud whimper. He empties himself into you, holding you against him. You hear him mutter about how you’re a good girl and how good you feel. From the rush of intense and overwhelming emotions, and the physical stress you were under, it’s no surprise you passed out.

Alhaitham is concerned when you’re very clearly sleeping and Kaeya is still inside you. He coughs, “shouldn’t you remove yourself? I guess we fucked her so hard she couldn’t handle it.”

Kaeya gently removes himself from you and trails kisses down your cheek to your neck. He signs softly before asking, “where’s your bathroom? I’ll clean her up so she won’t wake up with all this filth.” Alhaitham points him where to go and he has a moment alone with you. Goodness, you’re even more beautiful asleep. He can’t help but leave a small kiss on your lips. Kaeya returns with water and a towel, immediately cleaning you up without waking you. The temperature in the room starts to drop as the lust fades. Alhaitham returns to the bed and sees Kaeya do the same opposite you. “We can talk in the morning,” Alhaitham concludes, “I think rest is most important for us right now.”

*****

The sunlight peaks into the bedroom, causing you to awake from your slumber. You get up and stretch, feeling some soreness across your body. You turn to the left and see Kaeya, a warm smile coming to your face. You turn to the right and notice the sleeping form of Alhaitham. The butterflies return to your stomach as you brush some of his hair out of his eyes. The sunlight makes him look ethereal in the morning and you want to see this all the time. You lightly kiss his nose before snuggling back into bed, realizing that the unthinkable is possible with your research and in your love life, the future looking bright.

[cerealforkart]

Announcements and Updates

I already mentioned this with my anniversary comic this morning (I'm glad people seemed to like "it's back on air"), but Dungeons and Daddies the Manga is a whole year old today and I wanted to talk about a couple things!

For starters, thank you to everyone who's been on this journey with me, from those of you who have been here since lesson 1 to those of you who only just discovered lesson 42 yesterday (you probably don't exist because the tags hated lesson 42). Whether you like or reblog every single lesson, you silently read the updates without ever interacting with them, and even if you fell out of the fandom but you read the manga at some point, I appreciate you all so deeply.

I might be making this a bigger deal than it actually is, but Dungeons and Daddies the Manga is a really special project to me. I'm so proud of my growth and I've put a genuinely crazy amount of time and effort into this. There was a time when I was trying to catch up when this was basically a second job. I would come home from work and draw manga pages until I went to sleep, it was all I did, it probably wasn't healthy tbh. People in the discord know, I've gotten crazy efficient at making these, if I don't have anything else going on, I can pump out 2-3 of these a day when new episodes drop. I've never undertaken a project this big before, I'm more the kind of person with a million abandoned first chapters, so to actually still be keeping up with this is huge for me, so I'm hyping this up a little bit.

If anyone has ever thought, "wow, I would love to support cereal financially! They seem to work very hard and would probably really like some money! I would also love some of cereal's cute art to plaster on my belongings," please keep your eyes open, I'll be dropping stickers in near future (Taylor in the trash can will be one of them)! I meant to have them ready for today, but I've never sold anything online before, and I'm kind of stumbling through the process. I'll try to have them up soon! So keep an eye out in the upcoming weeks.

For those of you who only care about Dungeons and Daddies the Manga, you can stop reading here, thank you so much for enjoying my manga this past year! For anyone interested in some personal updates and projects, please keep reading, I've been working on something I'm finally ready to announce.

I've learned a lot from my work on Dungeons and Daddies the Manga. My art has improved a lot, and it's still improving all the time, and I've really come to love making comics. Which is why maybe it won't be so surprising to learn I've decided to start an original webcomic. This webcomic won't interfere with my work on the manga, no need to worry, but as much as I love the manga, and the DnDads community, there's only so much I feel like I get back from it. I've been pouring so much time, energy, and love into Dungeons and Daddies the Manga over the past year, and I'm so proud of my product, but I want to start putting some of all that into something that's actually mine. I've been through a weird past couple of months where I went through some really bad burnout, looked around my life and realized "oh wow, this ALL sucks! I don't like a single thing I have going on here!" So, I quit my job, moved, and while I've been restructuring my life, I started dusting off some of those old abandoned first chapters I mentioned earlier and getting back into original work.

The webcomic is called The Rotting Things, I've teased it a very little bit here and there. It's about a boy with a power that is slowly but surely killing him and a man said to be unable to die trying to maneuver through a world of magic that hates anyone unlucky enough to be able to wield it.

I'm kind of nervous about starting a webcomic, but I've been waiting to be "good enough" to put something out there for a very long time, and I'm trying to come to terms with the fact I'll never be fully happy with my own work and just diving in. It would mean a lot to me if anyone wanted to give it a chance.

An eight page prologue will be dropping next Friday, September 29th, after which pages will start to drop one at a time every Friday. We'll see how I handle the one update a week schedule, it might go up to two pages a week depending on how confident I feel. Just like the manga was, this will be a learning curve for me, but I'm eager to try it out! Please give it a shot!

[e-clv]

do you have any advice for balancing work/ art/ travel/ hobbies/ loved ones and not burning out

My biggest piece of advice is to know yourself and to cut distractions & negativity out. I am doing more this year than I ever have but am not as burnt out as I normally would be—though it has happened a few times—and I think it’s partly because I have drastically reduced the amount of “dead time” I spend doing stuff. Like I think because I was unfulfilled creatively I sunk a lot more time into timewasting activities (social media, watching tv, etc) to distract myself from that feeling of unfulfillment. I was also using a social media platform (Peach) that caused me a lot of stress because I was managing interpersonal relationships on it with people who in retrospect didn’t like me very much. And it drained my tank a lot. One of the first things I did this year was delete that app & all the people who I knew on it who are actual friends are STILL my friends! And because the stress of wasting time and managing the feelings of people who don’t like me is gone, I have more time to pour into projects & relationships I care about. It might surprise you how much of that time you have. Not everyone has it—some people work jobs that really drain them emotionally and which they have to keep; I’m lucky enough for that not to be the case.

And my other advice is that when burnout is on the horizon, take your rest! Veg out! Your projects will be there when you’re done.

[thesweetnessofspring]

Roses and Pearls by HalfHope (thesweetnessofspring)

Rating: E

Description: Peeta Mellark is the sole victor of the Quarter Quell. With District 12 nothing but ash, he rebuilds his life by moving to the Capitol and falling in love with Rosalia Snow, granddaughter to Coriolanus Snow.

Then people Peeta thought long dead kidnap him and Rosalia, including the one person he hates more than anyone: Katniss Everdeen. They say he's been hijacked. They say that he used to love her. Locked away in District 13, Peeta is determined to protect his mind and his fiancée from the rebels. But while imprisoned, videos disprove his memories and his feelings toward Katniss grow confusing. Who can he trust, and what really happened in his past?

Thank you @louezem for being my beta through this multichapter project. Ten weeks we've been doing this!

Read Chapter One | Read Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Footage in therapy slows as it skips ahead to me waking up in the evening of the feast, cheeks no longer flushed with fever and eyes clear. I startle at the blood pouring out of Katniss’s forehead and check her breath. I collect some rain water and rinse the wound, bandage it up, then take the tarp and construct a shelter from the leaks in the cave, taking Katniss’s wet socks off and placing her under the somewhat drier spot. I rub her feet to keep them warm. I change her bandage again, lines of worry on my face at the first soaked-through bandage. I collect rain water in our bottles and use the iodine drops to purify it. There is an occasional glimpse into Cato hunting Thresh through the field of grain, of Foxface burrowing herself under a thatch of pine branches and shivering through the ordeal. But mostly, it’s just me, for over two hours, hobbling on my bad leg as I care for Katniss. 

Finally, I see what all of this was for. Through our alliance, we were both able to get something. Katniss by getting more sponsors, myself having someone who knows survival on my side, and both of us someone to watch our backs. Each movement, each act of tenderness, is building toward the end goal of getting us out of the arena alive. I try to imagine what it was like for this younger me. If Katniss hadn’t been what my memory said she was, if we’d worked together…I don’t know what that made us to each other back then. Allies or even friends? 

I see some of that possible friendship at the bakery in the morning, when Katniss offers to help me and Delly with weighing and shaping the loaves. We stand side-by-side, and I laugh at her attempts to get the right amount of dough on her scale, her globs either the size of a cat or a candy bar and take at least three different measurements before getting it within the approximate weight.

“I see why they put you on the hunt,” I say. 

“No, I clearly don’t have those soft merchant hands like you two,” Katniss says. And hearing myself described as a merchant, someone from Twelve and not the Capitol, brings a sense of stability I haven’t felt in years. Even if Katniss meant to tease me, it wasn’t the same as the Capitol’s pity or the rebellion’s resentment. It felt like being home.

Continue reading on ao3

[hampop]

Could we know more about your red riding hood? I like how death acts as her big bad wolf 👀

Yesssss 🪓🩸🐺♥️

Red’s not the same “red riding hood” character from the fairy tale. When she got back home from her grandmother’s house, she told everyone she saw a wolf. However, upon finding a mountain lion instead, they decided the wolf was a figment of her imagination and that she was confusing what happened with a fairy tale she read. She was dubbed “red riding hood” by the village children since her story was so similar.

Since it was her time to die but Death showed her mercy, her existence threw off the natural balance around her. Her mother and father died in separate accidents, her childhood friend passed in an unnatural fashion, and her first love died similarly. Death was always there, in her peripheral vision. Every time she looked his way, he’d vanish. Since she didn’t belong in the living world and Death refused to take her life again—considering his mercy a gift— she began a sort of hermit lifestyle in the woods.

Years passed and, by her mid twenties, she was an adept hunter and tracker. Death, though busy, always kept a tab on her. She was like a pet or a project of his. He was fond of her and the fascinating effect his mercy had on her life. He so rarely spared anyone and none of the living things he’d shown mercy to remembered him, unlike Red. With every deer she killed, every fish she caught, she would look up from her work and glance around, looking for Death in the shadows. He was careful never to show himself to her.

It was only after he realized her value as an assassin that he revealed himself. Killing came so easily to her; her existence was unnatural and the universe was trying to make room for her by getting rid of living things around her. But she also didn’t delight in killing, she considered it a necessary evil. It made her the perfect companion for Death, as he could rarely intervene in fate. Sometimes, though, people who needed to die had evaded him one too many times. That’s when he’d send Red their way, to cut that last thread that kept them tethered to the living world.

Red’s feelings for Death are complicated. She resented him for a long time for what he did and what it caused. But she’s come to terms with her life and respects Death’s role in it. She looks up to him and sees that his plan for her—as his right hand— is the best possible use of her life that hurts the least amount of people she cares about. And, besides, after a while he’s the only person she really cares for and he’s unkillable.

Death does mostly see her as a pet. But she’s a little more than that. She’s his link to the mortal world and she feeds his empathic consciousness. She’s a physical vessel that he can pour whatever is left of his morality into, knowing she’ll always be there. And as such, she’s a comfort to be around. He finds himself taking a physical form much more often just to be around her. Though he’d never admit as much.

[bluecatwriter]

Writer asks

O ho HO heck yeah I love surveys! (Thanks for the tag, @mrpinniped!)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

109 and counting! 

2. What's your total ao3 word count?

356,656

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mostly Dracula, but I have racked up a fair number of Dorian Gray and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea fics, plus some Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein, and Moby Dick.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Doors Everywhere

I Too Can Love

In Every Sense

Angels Unawares

For Safety Reasons

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I always try to respond— comments always make my day, so I want to let people know that I appreciate them (plus it's fun to chat about plot points or characterization details with readers!).

6. What's the fic you wrote that has the angstiest ending?

Probably The Breaking Point, where Jonathan dies before he even reaches Dracula's castle.

7. What's the fic you wrote that has the happiest ending?

A lot of my fics have very happy/sappy endings, but probably the most unabashedly happy one is Love Multiplying. 

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Fortunately I have gotten only a few snarky comments here and there; the comments are overwhelmingly positive.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Ugh, so much smut. One moment I'm minding my own business, the next moment I'm tearing my hair out trying to write yet another threesome without making it turn out confusing and/or incredibly goofy. My favorite smut is the kind that's the site for dealing with a lot of Big Feelings (even though those are the hardest to write), but I also write fluffy, not-very-serious scenes too.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I've written a few Dracula/Dorian Gray crossovers, which have been a lot of fun!

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not yet.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not for fanfiction, though I've done a fair amount of cowriting in the past on other kinds of writing projects.

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

I have a lot of favorites, but Jonathan/Mina has got to be the top! I absolutely adore them as a couple, and more than that, their relationship is a non-negotiable backdrop of every Dracula fic I write. I just can't imagine splitting them up!

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but don't think you ever will?

I haven't officially given up hope on any of the many (many) fics sitting in my drafts folder, but time will tell. ;)

16. What are your writing strengths?

I feel like I'm pretty good at characterization, especially expanding on what we can glean from a character in canon.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Plot! Plot is so hard for me— every time I write an even remotely plotty fic, I drive myself batty doing it.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I'll occasionally put in a word or phrase in a different language, but since I only speak one language, if there's an extended sequence in a different language I'll just italicize the words.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

On Ao3, Dracula, but my very first fic I ever wrote down was a Steven Universe fanfiction (that will never see the light of day). (If you count stories I made up but never wrote down, my first fandom was Disney's 1940 film Pinocchio— when I was a tiny child I remember making up a story about a girl who helped rescue all the boys-turned-donkeys from Pleasure Island. My first fix-it fic!)

20. Favorite fic you've written?

I think my favorite overall is Love Multiplying, just because writing it was such a journey and I poured so much love and care into it.

Tagging @yallemagne, @see-arcane and @0nelittlebirdtoldme in the lowest-possible-pressure sort of way.  (You can also post it as an askbox meme if you don't want to answer all 20 questions.)

[aliceindaisychains999]

A Night In With Primis

Nikolai Belinski

*He loves to read next to you in bed or the living room. Nikolai finds your presence very comforting. If you ask him about the chapter, he is more than happy to tell you. Sometimes, you choose a book to read together. If you don’t read, you may put in a movie to watch together. As a heads up, he is not a fan of horror. But he does enjoy action, dramas and comedies.

*Tea! When you’re both at home, the kettle is boiling around the clock. He usually likes strong teas like straight black or ginger turmeric. However, he makes an exception for two: chamomile with honey or black tea with a lemon wedge and cherry preserves (weekends only). When you hand him his tea, he always thanks you with a forehead kiss and some comforting words. “Да, is very refreshing. But no amount of honey could ever be as sweet as you, Пчёлка.”

*What would be a night in without cuddles? He’s almost always the big spoon, as he insists it’s to protect you. Nikolai is your big Russian teddy bear. You both get very giggly with each other when the mushy is poured on. His facial hair often tickles, most notably from neck kisses. (I will subtly hint that half of the time this leads to something more sensual ssSH-) Out of all of Primis, Nikolai is the most attentive to your needs. If you ever have worries before bed, know that he will gingerly take care of you.

Edward Richtofen

*(Ahem) It’s called a night in. THAT MEANS TAKE A BREAK, DOCTOR! You thought building a lab extension to the house would help him get work done faster, but it only encourages his ambition into overdrive. He is always busy to the point you have to check in before you go to bed. You may also drop off decaf-coffee or a dessert. Edward doesn’t mind you hanging around the lab and will show you his work/ask for assistance with a project. Sometimes, you are able to coax him to come with you to bed. Other times, he will come to bed very late and pepper you with apology kisses for keeping you waiting for so long.

*Edward doesn’t work to the bone every night, of course! He is also an avid reader like Nikolai. But his taste is mostly non-fiction and he always enjoys a long, in-depth conversation about the subject matter. He loves listening to music with you. You have a record player/cds on you? He will hum, sing with you or even get up and dance a bit ONLY if it’s a Sinatra-style slow dance. Do not expect him to get up and bump it like it’s ‘99, he dances like Oma. You also suggested to ease his nerves to do an at home spa thing for him! He laughed it off at first but then learned it felt nice to practice self-care together. The massage helps his back pain and he allows the cucumbers on his eyes and one face mask at the very least.

*Edward is very needy and longs for reassurance. If you’re together, he’s already opened up to you. You agree to take turns being the little spoon, but his favorite position is facing each other and holding on to each other. Lots of nuzzling and getting entwined to each other. He gets nervous often and fumbles with his hands a lot. It’s routine to talk in the dark a bit before falling asleep. It can be about tomorrows plans, any random thoughts and each other’s worries. But he knows you’re both a team and get through anything together. “Danke, mein engel. I would be lost without you by my side.”

Tank Dempsey

*As you know, nothing makes Dempsey happier than a gun in his hand, something to shoot and a sweetheart to call his own. Dempsey values any chance he gets to spend with you. Being a DI tends to be a lot of hard work, so most of the time when he’s with you, you guys are not home. He aims to do all sorts of day trips or nights out on the town. But some nights he wants to take the time to appreciate some peace and quiet with his bombshell beauty/handsome rogue.

*It’s usually low key stuff like lounging on the couch, playing cards or board games, simple things that truly help you guys connect more without stir-crazy adventures. Your favorite games would be war, blackjack and trouble. He might get cocky, but he promises to be a good sport about it by the end. Tank also enjoys having you sit on his lap while watching the sunset in your backyard with a nice cigar. “Y’know baby… As much as I love getting into trouble with you, nothing’s better than this. You’re the much needed serenity I’ve longed for my whole life.”

*I am trying to keep it clean for everyone but it’s a no brainer he gets very amorous with you. He wants to make sure you feel adored in every way possible, especially in an intimate way.

Takeo Masaki

*At home, you and Takeo like to start a bonfire and stargaze together. A man of little words and yet you can sense the love he has in his heart for you the way he lovingly holds you as you both lay down on the grass. You also have a dog that occasionally interrupts you two with kisses before curling up next to you two.

*Surprisingly, Takeo has been curious about crafting. One of the activities would be needle felting. You both work together to create a few scenes. One of your favorites was creating a needle felt forest scene with woodland creatures. You claim that your hands are shaky sometimes as an excuse to have him hold your hands still.

*Takeo does enjoy sharing stories with you. He tells you about legends, a memory that surfaces. Being an excellent listener, he patiently listens to you ramble stories as well. Although he is reserved and bashful, he does not hesitate to share soft kisses with you. You may lightly tease about how he smiles and averts his eyes when you are affectionate sometimes. “I can’t help it. Even after being together for so long, I can still feel butterflies when I’m with you.”

[smilestrawbunny]

Hello. I apologize if this message is unwanted and I want to warn that it contains mentions of suicide. So if you’re not in the headspace, maybe stop here. Also please don’t feel pressured to post this if you don’t want to!

I just wanted to thank you for all of your hard work and art. Especially when it comes to the creation and execution of Strawberry.

I’m a Crisis Counselor and have been for five years now. I wear a lot of hats in the mental healthcare and social work world, but my primary job is to help people who are suicidal or who have just attempted suicide.

However, one of the drawbacks of this is that there are times when we can tell that suicide is inevitable in a person we work with and there is nothing we can do. After a point, a choice has been made due the the insurmountable amount of trauma held in that person’s life, and if someone knows the garbage system enough, they can skirt around it. Sure, in some places you can force hospitalization to keep someone safe temporarily, but this doesn’t always work and isn’t always ethical. Also unlike most US states, in my state the laws heavily value client autonomy in most cases, which I think is overall a very good thing. Pushing anyone to do anything that they aren’t comfortable with is rarely, if ever, going to help them in the long run. However, this can lead to feelings of helplessness when you feel like you can’t protect clients from themselves or the terrible situations they’re going through. And we do lose people. Good people, who we grow attached to.

Caring deeply about someone that you’ve just met and barely know so much and then watching them die is traumatizing. And it happens more often than we like to admit. Sometimes you pour as much into yourself as you can into another person, and it doesn’t matter. You couldn’t be what they needed and now they’re gone. You think about them forever. You remember every single person. And though it’s not about you, it never was, it still hurts very much.

I don’t think I have ever encountered a character in any media that captures that feeling the way that Strawberry does. Her journal entries and the way she reacts to player choices in Berrywitched just hit so close to home in ways that I find it difficult to describe. She also shows in the one endings, however, that it’s worth while to care, even if you don’t help everyone. Even if you only help one person.

I know this message is bleak. We actually do have more success that failures. If my work didn’t help anyone I wouldn’t be doing it because the system is terrible. But I really wanted to thank you for creating a character that means so much to me. I’m very much anticipating your new projects and I hope you have love, light, and success in your future!

Aw gee reading this made me so emotional…! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with me. Strawberry is a character who really means a lot to me so knowing that there’s people out there who understand and empathize with her really touches my heart. Thank you for doing all that you do <33

[feastofchildermass]

Aaaaand it's finally here (somewhat late but shh). My contribution to the @fivanevents Secret Santa fic exchange. I was so excited to get @malewife-darkling as my giftee. Given how much we've talked about our love for a quality amount of hurt/comfort. Also as the person who's turned me on to the joy of the trans!Fedyor headcanon. Which has been charming to talk about. I know this is in my grand tradition of Christmas fic gifts that are decidedly un-festive. But I don't care.

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Ivan/Fedyor Kaminsky

Characters: Ivan (The Grisha Trilogy), Fedyor Kaminsky,

Additional Tags: Canon typical violence, mild transphobia, trans Fedyor Kaminsky, torture, hypothermia

Summary: A patrol along the northern border goes horribly wrong and Fedyor is captured by the Fjerdans. While he suffers their tortures, it is up to Ivan to mount a rescue and bring him back to safety.

This is my Secret Santa Gift to ill_ratte who requested: Fedyor gets kidnapped/captured and Ivan carves a bloody path to find him. Bad things happen to Fedyor while kidnapped and Ivan has to take care of him in the aftermath.

[thebawdybaldurian]

BG3FicFeb Day 23

SFW: A peek into Tav’s younger days, as she prepares to become the chaotic, horny bard of legend.

NSFW: When Tav returns to Halsin, covered in fang marks, he decides to one-up his vampiric lover by unleashing his inner beast

SFW: A day in the life of Tav’s childhood

Background: Before she was known as Tav or Chardonnay Brandywine, she was Clataedre Calthrenis (aka Addy), a young high elf born to sorcerer parents.

Addy walked home from school beaming, holding a loosely bound stack of paper. ‘Best in the class, you have a real talent for writing’ was written across the top. She’d spent hours refining the class assignment, more engaged in this project than any other before. She did well in all her other studies, if she could manage to pay attention, but this was something she had actually enjoyed finishing. She couldn’t wait to show her parents the story she had written.

They were both in their study, as they usually were, pouring over arcane literature or experimenting with spells. They were two of the best Evokers in Neverwinter, meeting and marrying quite quickly while attending the arcane academy. It was more of a mutual arrangement than a romantic partnership, but they did manage to have one child, despite the lower rate of Elven births. Their daughter would be the culmination of their combined magical legacy. As such, she was expected to practice spell casting as often as she could, sometimes to the detriment of her other studies.

Her parents barely noticed when she entered the room, her smile still wide. “How was school, Addy?” Her father asked, carefully stirring a potion with a Mage Hand.

“My teacher liked my story the best out of the entire class,” Addy proudly held her work up.

“What story?” Her mother replied, forming a small ice crystal in her hand. She began manipulating it with her other hand, barely paying any attention to her daughter.

“The one I have been working on for a month.”

“Time better spent mastering your Thunderwave spell, in my opinion,” her mother continued her manipulation. “Honestly, what is that school teaching you? The sooner you are enrolled in the arcane academy, the better. You are grown now, you shouldn’t be wasting your time writing fancies.”

“I like this school,” Addy frowned, wishing they would show interest in anything other than magic. “They teach me a lot of different things.”

“No harm being well rounded,” her father added, finishing with the potion and giving it a sniff.

“Addy, Jorgan should have lunch prepared for you. Tell him to come in here so I can test this potion when you find him. You can start on your studies after.”

Addy’s shoulder’s slumped, expecting perhaps the slightest bit of pride from her parents. She’d worked so hard on this story and they didn’t even care. She went to find their sorcerer’s apprentice, who was little more than a glorified servant and test subject, receiving only the benefit of room and board with some magical instruction. She hated the young elf, only a few years older than her, who frequently gave her creepy looks and put in the least amount of effort in the meals he was forced to prepare for her. She found him leaned over the kitchen counter, talking to someone through a well hidden sending stone.

“I could probably finger you with my Mage Hand from here,” he whispered, clearly talking to some new love interest. Addy cleared her throat, letting him know she was there. “What do you want?” He sighed, hiding the stone in his pocket.

“Just grabbing my lunch,” she pulled the cloche off the plate that sat on the counter. It was some amalgamation of vegetables and charred meat. “It’s burnt,” she scrunched her nose.

“Fix it with a Prestidigitation Spell then,” he sassed her, slipping into the pantry to continue his lurid conversation.

“My father has a new potion for you,” she made a rude gesture at him, hoping the potion made his cock fall off, and took the plate up to her bedroom, her only sanctuary from both him and her parents.

She sat on the floor, fixing the meat with the simple cantrip, and ate while she re-read the story she’d written. It was an adventure about a halfling who find a magical artifact and travels all across Faerun. She’d stared at map for hours, picking out interesting sounding places for her heroine to visit. There was nothing she wanted more than to escape her house, escape Neverwinter, and escape the pressures of magic. She wanted to have fun, be known, be loved.

She eventually let out a long sigh, tossing the story into the pile of accomplishments her parents couldn’t care less about. She reached under her bed to grab her private journal, something no one would ever read. It was full of her dreams and desires and short little stories about the life she wanted to have. She began to write something new, something she desired more than anything.

‘I want to meet a handsome man who sweeps me off my feet, takes me on an adventure, and then marries me, giving me lots of children.’

She scribbled out the last bit. No, that was the fantasy of little girls and she was pretty much a woman now. She didn’t want any other child to have to live like she had, even her own. She couldn’t wait to get out of this house and never look back. She was supposed to begin at the arcane academy next year, but she knew in her heart she would hate in more than anything. She wanted to write, to travel, to be free, to finally be loved.

She’d met a young bard a few months ago, hanging up flyers for the local college around her school. They’d talked and flirted shyly, the bard giving her her first kiss, that had left her in a daze for a tenday. She could never have anything like that at the arcane college. Their fraternization policy was incredibly strict. She needed to explore everything, including herself, wondering how angry her parents would be if she enrolled in the bard’s college instead.

NSFW: Marking

Background: When Tav returns to Halsin, covered in fang marks, he decides to one-up his vampiric lover by unleashing his inner beast. (That story is already written for one of the last prompts 😄)

Content and Warnings: Female elf x male elf. Semi-public sex, marking, biting, oral sex, PIV sex, cum play, masturbation.

Tav and Astarion returned to the Elfsong Tavern, rejoining their companions after spending the night at Tav’s cottage. It was an unusually hot spring day, but Tav was wearing a long-sleeved dress and a silk scarf tied around her neck. Astarion had ravaged her the night before, leaving her covered neck to ankle in bite marks. She was a little sore and tired from their vigorous lovemaking/blood drinking session, but she’d loved every second of it. She was already sweating from their brief walk through the Lower City by the time they arrived.

She found Halsin out on the balcony, enjoying the warmer weather lounged on a wooden chaise, in just a pair of shorts. He would have prefered to be fully nude, sparing his companions the awkwardness. “Hello, my heart,” he grinned up at her, shielding his eyes from the sun.

“Hi, love,” Tav felt a hot flush spread across her body, the shorts leaving little to the imagination.

She could see the outline of his flaccid, but still thick cock, his balls resting on his thick, muscular thighs. His golden skin glistened slightly from the mix of sweat and body oil he applied to his skin to keep his body hair soft and supple.

“Join me,” he added, patting the chaise beside him, looking her up and down. “Though perhaps you’d like to change first? You must be sweltering.”

“A little,” she blushed, pulling at the scarf around her neck. She untied it, revealing the two bites marks on either side of her throat.

“You and Astarion enjoyed yourselves, I take it?” He grinned as she climbed onto the chaise next to him. He leaned over to kiss her neck, nuzzling against the tiny red wounds.

“A little too much, I think,” she blushed even deeper, unlacing the top of her dress so she could get some air on her chest. The top of her breasts had bite marks on them as well.

“I see,” he gently caressed his hand down her neck, giving one of her breasts a squeeze. He reached down for the hem of her dress, pulling it up to her knees as he kissed her. “How many times did he bite you?” He looked down at the marks that trailed up her legs as well.

“I lost count,” she blushed even deeper. “You’re not mad, are you? That he marked me so much?”

“Definitely not mad,” he glanced down at his growing arousal, already bulging out of his loose shorts. “Perhaps jealous he got to taste so much of your skin,” he pulled her dress higher, revealing the many bites on her thighs.

“You could as well,” she let out a quiet sigh as he bent down to kiss her thighs. He spread them apart, nuzzling and kissing the soft, unmarred flesh in between the bite marks. “Ohhh,” she let out a little yelp as he bit roughly into her inner thigh. He didn’t break the skin, but it would bruise her delicate flesh quickly. He reached up to tug on the top of her underpants, the scent of her own growing arousal too much for him. “Halsin,” she bit her lip, looking back to make sure she’d shut the door to that led inside. “What if someone comes out?”

“Let them,” he slid her underpants down, lifting her hips to get them off. “They can watch me reclaim you,” he pressed his mouth to her clit at once, sending a shock up her spine.

“Gods!” Her legs trembled as his tongue probed her, his hands spreading her thighs wider.

He licked and nibbled on her, letting his mouth drift down her other thigh for a moment to bit her there. He brought her to climax quickly, his hunger for her making her bite into her own flesh to keep her moans quiet. He left more rough bites on her outer thighs, nibbling past her knees and then left a few bites on each of her calves. She’d unlaced her dress by now, leaving it completely open in the front. He looked over her with a smile, watching as she rubbed her fingers against her clit. “I need to mount you,” she hissed, staring down at the cock protruding through his shorts.

The wet spot of pre-cum spread wide across them. He grinned and climbed beside her again, his cock spilling out of his shorts effortlessly. She straddled him quickly, rubbing her slit against him as she checked the door again. There would be no way to hide her riding his cock if someone should come out. “Fuck!” She arched her back as he guided himself inside her, eager to feel her around him. She’d already opened completely for his sizable member, not needing any slow warmup to begin riding his cock quickly and urgently.

His mouth went straight to her breasts, his wide mouth biting just above Astarion’s teeth marks. The chaise creaked underneath them, their sweat beading together and dripping between the wooden slats. She slowed her hips for only a moment, pulling her dress off completely, leaving her fully nude and completely exposed. Anyone looking up at a certain angle from the street below would be able to see them, but she didn’t care. She wanted him so much, his hunger for her making her want him even more. He moved up to her neck, sucking on her sensitive flesh, leaving hickeys up and down her throat.

“Gods…fuck…uhhhhnnn,” she pressed her face into his chest as she came again, muffling her moans against the musky dew of his skin. He bucked his hips with her, close to his own climax. “Wait,” she breathed heavily, slowly circling her hips around him as he grunted with need. “I skipped my tincture this month, so Astarion could drink my moon blood…you probably shouldn’t come in me.”

“Okay,” he nodded, moving her hips against him a little more. He knew her thoughts on children, and as unlikely as it would be to impregnate her given their Elven heritage and his perceived infertility, he would always comply with her wishes.

She climbed off of him, returning to her original position on the chaise, rubbing and circling her hands around her breasts, ready to take his seed all over her. “Yes, my big bear, come here,” she purred at him as he straddled her, keeping his hips high so he could fuck her tits. He took control of her breasts, pressing them together with the right amount of friction and allowing her to finger herself to a third climax. “Please…yeah…oh, cover me in it,” she begged, staring up a him looming over her.

He’d been so close before, it didn’t take long for him to spread across her neck and chest, his growl echoing across the neighborhood. Their companions inside, all occupied with other things, each raised a curious eyebrow, Astarion hiding a wide grin as well. “Mmmmm fuck,” Tav squealed, vibrating from her final climax as he huffed above her. She reached her slick fingers up to slid his copious seed across her skin, drawing them up her neck to her lips so she could taste a bit of him.

“You are so beautiful,” he grinned widely, resting on his heels, watching as she slicked his cum all over herself. “You make me feral,” he leaned down to kiss her. “Do you mind if I transform and lick you clean?”

“Maybe later,” she teased, sliding her hand up his chest again, getting more of his scent on her. “I want to smell like you for a bit.”

He let out a low growl, kissing her deeply before returning to her side. They lounged in the sun for a bit, their fingers softly caressing each other’s thighs. Astarion eventually ventured out, curious as a cat as to what exactly they’d gotten up to out on the balcony. He grinned widely when he found the pair both glistening in the sun, fully nude. He could smell them both, his loins beginning to tingle. He hadn’t done anything other than kiss Halsin up until now, but felt himself getting closer to taking things further. “I didn’t know we had a nude beach going on out here,” he teased as Tav opened her eyes to see who was blocking her light.

“You’re welcome to join us,” she grinned, watching as his eyes drifted down her body, seeing all the new bite marks and hickeys Halsin had left on her. He leaned down to kiss her, Halsin’s scents heavy on her skin. It made him stir even more, his eyes glancing to Halsin, who was already blushing deeply.

“I can cover up,” Halsin sat up, reaching for his discarded shorts.

“No need,” Astarion smiled, unbuttoning his pants and untucking his shirt. “We might as well all enjoy the sun as nature intended.”

There was barely enough room on the wooden lounger for the three of them, Astarion making his way to the opposite side of Halsin as he undressed. Tav propped herself up on her elbow, watching as he stripped, his cock still flaccid, but excitedly pink. He had more self control than she did apparently. He climbed beside Halsin, stretching the beautiful pale of his skin out in the early afternoon sun. He propped himself up on his elbow as well, looking them both over. “We’ve done quite a number on her, haven’t we, druid?” His eyes continued to scan her glistening, but marred flesh.

“Indeed we have,” Halsin’s blush deepened. “I am pleased we can share her so throughly.”

“I was thinking,” Astarion pulled Halsin’s face towards him to give him a gentle kiss, only releasing his lips when he knew any longer would make him aroused. “We might soon share her…together. Once we deal with this damn brain, of course.”

“I’d like that very much,” Tav blushed, feeling an anticipatory pulse between her thighs.

As much as she loved their playful competition to own and mark her body, having them both, and seeing them together as well, stirred something deep inside her very core. Her nectar oozed from her just thinking about it, her thighs shifting to quell the sensation for now. They remained lounged in the sun together for while, before thirst and hunger drove the living elves inside. Between Halsin’s scents all over her and the thought of soon having them both at the same time, Tav grabbed a quick bite and then headed to a bath.

She was practically trembling by the time she climbed in, her fingers going to her cunt immediately. She finally washed her lover from her skin as she slowly fingered herself, her toes gripped into the edge of the tub as she braced herself with her feet. She thought about having both of them at once and watching them together, eager to see the stark contrast of their sizes. She caressed the fingers of her free hand across the marks of their desires, her hunger for them just as needful. She would face down the Netherbrain herself if need be, to allow herself more time with them. Each tender wound was a reminder of how much so wanted to give herself over to them completely. She loved them both more than anything.

She swallowed her moans, letting her other hand drift between her thighs as well, driving her towards yet another climax. Her joy couldn’t be contained, her voice crying out loudly, trying to form it into a song so her companions didn’t have to hear her a second time today. She continued to sing, her legs trembling against the tub, creating her first composition dedicated to her lovers. She quickly collected herself and dried off, finding a sheet of paper to write the notes down immediately. Astarion sought her out again, his superior hearing catching all of her song. “Perhaps we should stay at your cottage from now on?” he brushed up behind her, her robed frame bent over a table to write. “To spare our friends the opera.”

“Hmm, that would probably be best,” she chuckled, scribbling down the last of her notations. “Do you remember how the last part went?” She grinned, knowing he had likely heard it all.

He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his face into her neck. He hummed the last part of her spontaneous melody, swaying his body with hers as he did. She scribbled down the final notes, setting her pen down and placing her hands on top of his. “I’m glad you have such a good ear,” she closed her eyes, still swaying with him in silence.

“Your voice still makes my skin tingle, every time,” he spun her around, holding her just as close and kissing her deeply. He led her in a simple dance, his body guiding hers as she picked up the steps almost instantly.

“You know, I was always the entertainment at those fancy balls, but I wanted nothing more than to dance with someone,” she looked up at him.

“I’ll happily take you someday,” he stopped his steps, dipping her into an even deeper kiss. Their impending fight with the Netherbrain so near, he couldn’t help but fantasize about a life with her afterwards, their chances of survival so slim. “Will you sing that song for me again…tonight?” He smiled at her when their lips finally parted.

“How about we write a new one?” She pulled him in for another kiss.

[triple-asstro]

chocolate cookies | joel miller x reader

word count: 1.075k

pairing: pre-outbreak!joel x gn reader

tw: mentions of suicide, major character death

tags: domestic fluff, angst, mentions of suicide, major character death

summary: joel doesn’t like to celebrate Valentine's day because it’s “materialistic nonsense and a clever ploy to bully people into buying things they don’t need". You, however, decide to celebrate your first Valentine's Day together, not knowing how much you'll miss those memories.

song: Iris - Goo-Goo Dolls

Valentine’s Day isn’t exactly a priority for certain people if the amount of people’s public disdain for the holiday didn’t tip you off. However, you didn’t care about that. To you, Valentine’s Day is a time for celebration and heavily discounted chocolates, but mainly to show love; a rare quality to have. As you slowly opened your eyelids, the soft sunlight stinging your eyes, that priority jumped into your mind and kick-started your body out of the bed. You draped a white graphic t-shirt over yourself, looking behind your shoulder to see a sleepy ruffly haired Joel. Relief washed over you along with adoration before quietly sneaking downstairs into the kitchen. 

For as long as you can remember, Joel always had a sweet tooth. He quickly depleted any unattended candy bar or energy bar. So naturally, for Valentine’s Day, you thought to make a little surprise for him. An early spring chill tingled down your back as you dragged your hand across the granite countertops and searched through the drawers. You found two medium bowls and all the ingredients you needed before you pulled out your phone from your pocket. 

Scrolling through your shared playlist with Joel, you settled on one song and, as the acoustic strings echoed through your phone’s speaker, you felt yourself getting lost in the song. Its serene melody seeped into your ears as you began to mix the ingredients together, vigorously whisking them together, which proved quite tiring on your arms. 

And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now

After a few minutes, you patiently waited for the delicious brownies to bake, resting on the kitchen island and swinging your feet back and forth. The sunlight streamed through the blinds of the window as you heard footsteps descending the stairs. Panic jolted you up but quickly died down as you saw a curly-haired girl appear from the doorway. She groggily walked towards the fridge, grabbing a glass from the countertop and pouring grape juice into it. 

“Good morning, Sarah.” 

“Good morning…” she answered, her eyes widening at the sudden scent of sweetness. “Whatcha got in the oven?” 

Your eyes darted towards the oven before you placed your hands on her shoulders. “I can tell you if you promise not to tell your dad.” 

“Brownies for breakfast? You’re now my favourite.” 

“No, and ouch. I’m making them for your dad for Valentines Day.” 

“Hasn’t he said that Valentine's Day was ‘materialistic bullshit and a ploy to bully people into buying things they don’t need?’, his words, not mine.”

“Yes, he has,” you muttered as a ding echoed from the oven and you dashed for the oven mitt. “But I didn’t buy this from some corner store. I made it myself. So, checkmate.” 

“What’s this about me?” 

Both you and Sarah turned your heads towards the door to see Joel, half-awake and severely underdressed for nine in the morning. Sweatpants and a tank top aren’t exactly the morning dress code for most. 

“Good morning Joel,” you chimed, sipping imaginary tea from your coffee cup. 

“G’morning,” he groaned, his nose twitching at the sweet smell. “What’s that smell?”

“If you just wait a few seconds, you can find out.” 

As if on cue, the oven dinged. You rushed over, nearly tripping over on a misplaced carpet, and opened the oven door. The warm smell of chocolate wafted into the entire house. Hums of satisfaction murmured from everybody, including you. You pulled the boiling tray out of the oven and onto the kitchen counter, waves of heat swaying into the air, before placing them onto the plate one by one. You carried the plate of cookies towards Joel, who was sitting at his dinner table, placing them in front of him with a big grin on your face. 

“Happy First Valentine's Day, honey.” 

Joel’s eyes softened at the sight of them, the beige colouring and the seeping dark chocolate chunks oozing out of each one. It was true what Sarah said; he’d thought that Valentine's Day was materialistic bullshit; a ploy to bully people into buying things they don’t need and a strategic plan to get people to believe in an experience that will never come. An experience only for those who deemed lucky and worthy enough. But strangely, at that significant moment, he felt those beliefs slowly dissipate in his mind, becoming nothing more than a distant memory. 

“Thank you so much, darlin’,” he said, lips pressing the words into your forehead in a sweet kiss. He pulled you into his lap as you snuggled your head into the crook of his neck, swaying back and forth in a comforting pattern. You yearned for these domestic moments of vulnerability with Joel, the soft tender moments throughout the day that, while short, meant more than any other. It didn’t matter if the entire world was crumbling apart or if the very walls of your home were burning down, this moment could whisk you away.

These moments you wish you could live in forever and as you watched Joel’s hanging, decaying corpse, the song that you played all those years ago echoed in your ears. You’d been staring at the corpse for what felt like centuries, waiting for the slightest twitch, the slightest sign of life, wishing that this was all a joke; a horrific, messed-up joke. But at least it would mean he was alive. Ellie hadn’t known, of course. She was on patrol with Dina. He only left a letter, a detailed one explaining how the guilt got to him; how he’d been trying to justify it, saying it was for Ellie and how he couldn’t lose anyone else, ultimately ending in him apologizing for being a coward, for being selfish and for hurting whichever unlucky sap found his body. Why did he do this? Was it that he couldn’t talk to you about it? Was it that you never caught onto the signs? All you wanted to know was why. But it didn’t seem like you were getting any answer soon.

“Happy twenty-fifth Valentine's Day…” you sniffled, sinking into the couch as you dug into your backpack, pulling out a dusty tupperware container filled with dry cookies. With Jackson being a new introduction of electricity, community and more importantly food, you tried remaking those desired sweets to commemorate your place; cement yourself as a part of Jackson. But now, those cookies felt stale as you bit into them, leaving one cookie on the coffee table just slightly below his body. 

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

And sooner or later, it's over

I just don't wanna miss you tonight

[knockyasocksoff2022]

May I Love You?

(A/N: I'm really on a roll with these Ranpo relationship reveals. This one contains some other couples too. No beta we die like that guy Mushitarou dropped off that building.)

(1,472 words)

Ranpo's Perspective

I deduced my boyfriend's– I mean rival's intentions days and days ago but he's been working on a new manuscript that I haven't had time to confront him about it. Ordinarily I would beat him to the punch but it's fun watching him be all shy.

A scratching sound from behind me brings my attention back to the office. I'd know that sound anywhere. Karl. My best friend. It's time.

I turn, and he drops the leather bound volume in my lap. I start to reach in my pocket but he skitters away before I can give him a treat. How odd? He's just as much a sweet tooth as I am, is Edgar mad that I haven't mentioned his recent project? I'd assumed he'd wanted space to work on it.

I open the volume.

It's blank.

There isn't a trace of ink or indenting on any of the pages. This is getting more confusing by the second, which is distressing because confusion isn't something I feel often. Then I sport it.

As soon as I see the note taped to the back, the situation becomes obvious. Ah, Edgar, you managed to stump me for a second! You really are my soulmate.

I start to get up but the amount of effort Edgar must have poured into this, given how shy he is, must have been immense. If he's asking this of me I really should respect his work.

Already itching to see the book's author, I turn over the last page and read the carefully scrawled note. Edgar's handwriting can appear at times somewhat messy, almost fevered, when his mind is supplying him with ideas much faster than his hand can move. But this note has been written in delicate decadent script, the characters almost taking on the appearance of English cursive as they curve elegantly. He thought about this, most likely writing several drafts until it was perfect.

It reads:

"I'm sorry, I know I should be doing this in person, but I'd be far too embarrassed with all of your colleagues present. I suppose this is what I get for being too impatient to wait until your work hours ended. And I'm sure by this point you've already deduced my intentions, however I do wish to do this formally, so if you have any intention of accepting my offer, meet me outside."

I'd been expecting this, I know I had but I can't help the way my heartbeat accelerates, pounding in my chest, filling me with butterflies.

I almost knock over Kenji as I run out the door.

Yosano's Perspective

I've never seen Ranpo run before.

Well, I have, but that was when we were about to be murdered. Other than dashing around when he accompanies one of us shopping, his pace is light and even, without a care in the world.

Now he sprints through the office, heading straight for the door. Last I checked there's no new murders he's been asked to help with. Does he even know where he's going?

I saw that Racoon, Kyle, I think its name is, drop off a manuscript from the Guild author that comes by often. Did something in the book upset Ranpo that much? And why didn't Ranpo get sucked into the book after the first page?

I hope we don't have to go look for him, especially since we're down four people. Kunikida and Atsushi are out on a reconnaissance mission and it's the Tanizakis' day off.

I start down the stairs after him, he doesn't even turn at my footsteps, and when I get almost out the door I see the raccoon again, and a sleek black car, an American company.

The author is here! I see . . . that means I should give them some privacy then. I google and creep as quietly as I can back up the stairs, so as not to disturb the two men.

Dazai is already standing at the window, looking out over the street below. I go to meet him, still smiling as I think of the detective and the author together.

Dazai looks over at me nodding to the boys below us. Even though they're older than both Dazai and I, I can't shake the feeling of watching two teenagers have their first love. Maybe it's because they're both so different from others of their age. Maybe it's because both our pasts have aged Dazai and I so much beyond our physical years.

We're silent as we watch them share an embrace and then a kiss.

I reach over to the desk and pull the manuscript from the table, a note falls out. My smile only grows as I read it. A love confession, or nearly. Ranpo has a boyfriend now.

Dazai sighs, turning away from the window, back still resting against the sill, looking back to the office. His gaze is fixed on me now, something like a smile on his lips. A smile different from the wide grins he usually flashes, it doesn't look so painted on. A smile tainted by all he's been through. Real but fleeting, never wide or bright enough because of a dark and twisted past. I don't think he minds it, he should, but he doesn't.

"That makes four of us with partners from opposing organisations" The chuckles that leave his lips is a twisting hollow sound, not unlike his smile.

"Yeah" is all I can say, trying to ground myself in the calm moment. I force myself to think only of how happy Ranpo looks, the rosy blush dusting his cheeks. If I'm happy for him I can't be sad for me.

Gentle footsteps echo, Kenji is at the window beside us. He stares at Ranpo and his new boyfriend.

"Wow! Ranpo-san looks so happy, good for him!' Kenji cheers.

Dazai pats the farmer boy on the head and presses his pointer finger over his lips, shushing him. "How about we keep this between us. Afterall, this isn't our secret to tell." 

Kenji's eyes widen in realisation and he looks around just to make sure the office is empty as he nods, "Alright, of course I won't mention it, you have my word." 

"Thank you, Kenji-kun." Dazai's words are so quiet I almost can't hear them and from there silence creeps in, the comfortable kind, the happiness still like a blanket over me even after we turn away from the window.

The warmth of the feeling only dulls when something occurs to me.

"Wait, earlier you mentioned that there are five of us dating those from other organisations, who's the fourth? Did Atsushi and Akutagawa finally get together?" 

But that would still leave one couple?

"Nope!" The grin is back on Dazai's face again.

I try to puzzle it out. There's me and Kouyou, Dazai and Chuuya, and now Ranpo and the Guild Author. Who's the last couple?

Finally I give up. "Then who?" 

"Not my secret to tell either." 

I feel the cool steady pressure of someone's gaze on me. There's only one person who could make you feel that just by looking at you, the only person I've ever met who has such an unshakably calm aura. The President.

I turn to greet him, but he's already walking out.

"Oh, President, where are you going?" I ask, because I'm a little embarrassed to be caught just staring out the window doing nothing during working hours.

He offers a small smile, "Just out. You needn't bother yourself, return to what you were doing. I'll be gone for the remainder of the day, but should you need me for anything you know where to contact me."

I watch him go, he's taking his bag with him. It's rare for him to leave early, whatever he's doing must be important.

Yukichi's Perspective

I shake my head as I head out the office door.

Yosano-kun and Dazai-kun have resumed their banter. I listen for a moment.

"Dazai, pleeease!" Yosano-kun drags out the words in hopes of breaking Dazai-kun's steel resolve.

"Nope!" I can picture that clownish smile of his, so like the look someone I know gets when he's about to pull something mischievous, only Dazai-kun wears it all the time. As if it was plastered onto his face or he put it on so many times he forgot to take it off, or forgot how.

I continue down the stairs, the last thing I hear being Yosano-kun's scream of: "You little shit!"

I know Dazai-kun won't reveal the name of the fifth agency member dating someone from another organisation. He's withstood far more gruesome torture with a smile on his face. Most of the time I can only hope he'll relax into a life in the light. I wish he would accept that he is truly safe now, but now I'm grateful. If that name were to get out it wouldn't be good anyone involved

Speaking of couples, I owe a certain surgeon money. 

Oh, my Ranpo, my beloved son, why couldn't you have waited another month to start dating Poe-san?

(A/N: Even Dazai doesn't know about Tachizaki)

(A/N: I've leaned into a sodter style for this one, because I liked the last one I wrote so much, and as I mentioned in my previous post I love writing fukumori so I wanted to included them. Also I like to think that this title has a slight double meaning. Yukichi wonders if it truly is alright to be in such a deep realtionship with someone from an enemy organisation, but love is love and it can't be helped❤️.)

[somediyprojects]

DIY Potato Prints + Gift Wrap

Project by Christine: 

As each year winds down, I like to step away from the computer and spend a few hours in the studio crafting prints and gift wrap from scratch. There are no rules or rulers — sometimes just a bunch of imperfectly cut potatoes made into stamps, craft paint, all-purpose brushes and a few oversized sheets of paper. The result? A collection of perfectly imperfect packages wrapped with love.

The process is pocketbook friendly and easy for any age. I kept the color palette monochromatic to keep the look simple and chic. I even framed an outtake as a print to hang on our studio’s gallery wall, so if you don’t need any wrap for gifts this spring, you can just hang these as artwork in your home or office. —Christine Wisnieski

Supplies: – Potatoes (Trimmed to desired stamp shapes; square, rectangle, half circle, quarter circle, triangle) – All-purpose paint (I used Martha Stewart craft paint) – All-purpose brushes – Paint palette or old plate – Newsprint – 19˝ x 25˝ sheet of all-purpose paper

Steps: 1. FIND YOUR TECHNIQUE I found it easiest to test out a few patterns first. To begin, cover work area with newsprint and pour a few dollops of paint onto an old plate. Next, dip foam brush into paint, apply to desired potato shape and stamp. A few pattern play tips to keep in mind while you experiment:

+ Start simple. Begin by creating patterns using one shape, one size. As you get more comfortable, mix various shapes and sizes. + Experiment with applying various amounts of paint to achieve harmony. + Consider the shape of the potato and how you want it to repeat. + Decide whether you want to print shapes close together or far apart. + Combine different shapes for a more complex pattern.

Once you feel comfortable with the technique and have an idea of how to achieve your desired pattern, it’s time to paint your paper.

2. PAINT YOUR PATTERN

Lay down your oversized sheet of paper on your work surface. Begin stamping shapes one at a time, working from left to right, top to bottom. Be careful to not smudge your paint as you work. Don’t worry about inconsistencies — they’re all part of the charm. Once all shapes are stamped, set aside to dry for 10 minutes.

3. DELIVER Once dry, wrap up treasures and deliver to family and friends. Add a colorful ribbon or tape for extra pop! (Or just pop the paper into a frame to create a custom print!)

[madaboutmunson]

WIP Wednesday

A section of Chapter 7 of my RockstarSteve/PhotographerEddie fic

He'd thought about it. Digging his heels in again, demanding to fly commercial so that he wouldn't end up trapped on there with Harrington and whatever set of groupies he was going to use for in-flight entertainment, but Marney had said he was willing to give the entire flight time to Eddie's project.

Eddie had been collecting candids and quotes and diary entries for years now from bands that only played their local bar to multi-platinum artists. His hypothesis was this. Money can buy luxury, and it can make things easier. It can push people to succeed or keep pushing on, but nothing moves a musician more than the music itself. All he had to do was gather the evidence, lay it out nicely, and boom! Perfect coffee table book. Though he loathed Harrington, he wasn't stupid. His fans would buy Eddie's book simply for the exclusive shots and interviews. And Harrington had just given him a whole hour, no questions asked, apparently. Maybe it was another masked apology for their meeting?

Like his therapist has said to him repeatedly, he didn't have to forgive him, but if he could find a way to let go of all this anger towards a stranger, he could find a little more peace. The world was a tough enough place as it is.

After all, how much should Eddie be allowed to hate the guy if he doesn't even know what he did? And after the last two weeks, Eddie has been wondering how much control Harrington has over the asteroid bombardment that happens to things pulled into his orbit.

A day after their meeting, a grainy picture of himself leaving Harrington's house, hilariously labelled him as a mystery woman, had started making the rounds online. He only found that out because a few days later, he started getting notifications from his old Munson Photography account, thousands of them asking the same thing. Was he finally going to work with Harrington? As the messages started to pour in, the fear that curled around his spine had almost induced waking nightmare recollections of his life falling apart around him. He didn't respond to any of them, but that didn't stop the barrage. If anything, it amplified the situation. Groups of people, girls mainly, positioned around his usual daily haunts. The studio, the coffee shop, the local bar, the laundromat, occasionally surreptitiously, one would snap a photo of him with their phone. He'd just repeat the amount of money he was going to get paid over and over in his head. He'd even had his bins and mailbox rifled through. Soon, they had him tracked all over, and he was extremely glad all his socials were already set to private. Requests appearing on his other social media profiles were all declined. He decided that if this project went well, we'd start up a new public account and dump all the Harrington in dribs and drabs and, hopefully, future stuff there, too.

Eddie wasn't sure if it was because he'd gotten laid last week, if he was excited to get back to doing what he loved, or if it was because he had a golden opportunity, but whatever it was, he wasn't feeling so concerned.

The driver had picked him up from the hotel, which was only a ten-minute walk away, but he supposed someone might have had a few questions if he had just strolled out onto the tarmac here. He'd been ushered to the plane immediately, which was odd because he could still see the pool of photographers waiting in their strategically placed pens. A few snapped at him as he boarded, which was pretty unnerving as he definitely preferred being on the other side of the camera. Luckily, Marney had advised him as such, and he'd taken a little more care of his appearance this morning. He turned down the idea of sunglasses this early in the morning, though they had been recommended.

Once inside, he'd realise Harrington wasn't early because he wasn't on the plane. So Eddie takes the opportunity to unpack his camera and head back down the stairs to the runway. He hides behind the staircase to avoid invading the other photographers' shots. He had access they didn't, but he didn't want to be a complete asshole about it. He said he'd be here on the hour, so Eddie sits on the Tarmac anticipating at least an extra thirty-minute wait, but much to his surprise, Harrington is on time with his team but bereft of groupies.

He steps out of the blacked-out windowed vehicle, again in the typical rockstar clothing you'd expect. Tight leather look pants, a sheer shirt and a knee-length jacket with faux fur trim topped off with swathes of accessories and a black set of wayfarers. Obviously, the specific items are slightly different, but Eddie wonders if it's almost like a uniform.  A dark alter-ego of the all-American blue-collar guy who just happened to be good at playing guitar, he portrayed on stage, on album covers, and inside exclusive magazine articles. Despite the predictability of his outfit, his behaviour is surprising. He opens the door, and someone from another car rushes over to him, then to the photographers and then back to Harrington, who nods, and the rapid shutter sounds ride the breeze around them. 

Harrington shields himself at first, almost like he's trying to make a secret escape to the plane. Then, once at the foot of the stairs, he turns back, gets back into the car, re-emerges with a big smile, slow walk, and waves for the photographers, even stopping to pause and pose for a few shots as they shout his name repeatedly. The man is methodical. It makes Eddie wonder if any of the harassed-looking pictures he'd seen of Harrington were real at all.

Eddie takes a few shots from this angle. It might be cool for a reader to have the photographers in the frame for a change and then quickly rushes back up the stairs to capture him getting on the plane.

Once in position, Eddie feels a little strange, a twinge of guilt. Shouldn't he let the guy get settled on the plane before taking his picture? But on the other hand, he did have Harrington's permission to snap whatever he wanted. A flicker of humanising Harrington almost has him stand up out of his crouched position, but people are already boarding around him by that time. Buckley gives him a nod as she starts going over her extra checks. Harrington spots him in the aisle, and a half-smile pinches at his cheek.

"Hi," he says almost too quietly to be heard over the plane's noise and everyone else bustling around.

Eddie raises his eyes from behind the viewfinder, mirrors his smile, "Morning, Mr. Harrington".

"How do you want me?" He asks, gesturing around.

"Uh, just pretend I'm not here," Eddie replies, not tearing his eyes from the camera this time.

"Sure, I'll try my best." Harrington oddly responds and smiles a little wider.