#That's cause i used this for a few experiments too. It was fun I'd say

[residentialsinyomakai]

Funny little yokai thing based on a rarepair my friend made!!

(Alt versions w/out eye thing below cut)

I think they'd be cute!! I don't know much about slackerjack tho, feel free to infodump in replies or anything =u=

Also completely unrelated but I need to study this mfs handwriting I love it LMAO

[lee-laurent]

T'es ben chix - Luke Hughes

Summary: Amélie decides Luke Hughes is the cutest boy she's ever seen, but she doesn't know how to tell him.

wc: 7k

content: fluff, a little bit of angst, kissing, panic attacks, anxiety, quick make out session, a couple dirty jokes, long distance relationship (let me know if missed anything!)

notes: don't let the title fool you, this fic is still in english!! i realized the other day while doing schoolwork that i don't have a fic that discusses being french-canadian. so... here we are! this fic was super fun for me to write and i incorporated experiences and challenges i have faced over the last few years. a lot of the mistakes that amélie makes are mistakes that i have made or that other french speakers make when speaking english bc sometimes we try to directly translate things and it just does not work lol i reallly hope you guys enjoy!!! and to any other francophones out there: let's be friends!!

just finished writing and it's about 5k words more than i was planning

Amélie honestly wasn't the biggest fan of going out back home, so going out in a place where she could barely speak the language was even worse. But a few of the girls she'd befriended had convinced her it was a good way to get to know more people and to let loose. She sat with the three other girls at a small table, her fingers drumming against the glass of her cocktail.

"Yeah, what did you think of that guy that presented today, Am?"

"Hm? He did... good."

"No, silly. Did you think he was cute?"

"Oh, um, he's... how do you say... not my type?"

"Not your type? Then what is your type, Am?"

"Probably that guy she's been making googly eyes at all night," one of the others teased.

"Who? The tall, curly haired guy in the corner?"

Amélie blushed, sipping at the alcohol for courage.

"Ooo, she's totally into him!"

"You should go talk to him, Am!"

"No... I tell you... no American boys," she waved them off.

"Well, that's too bad. Cause it looks like he's comin' over here. We'll be at the bar if you need us."

"Guys..."

But it was too late, the other girls were already up and headed towards the bar.

"Calisse," she mumbled, trying to ignore the tall figure approaching her table.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked. She looked up at him, her lips pursed. He had the same curly hair and boyish smile that her friends had been teasing her about. She really hadn't planned on talking to anyone tonight, let alone any boys. The girls knew her rule: no falling for any boys while she was in America.

"Uh... sure," she replied, gesturing to the empty chairs across from her.

He smiled, sitting down casually, rubbing his palms on his pants. "I'm Luke. I, uh, I thought I'd come introduce myslef since we, uh, made eye contact so many times."

Amélie bit her lip, nodding as he spoke. She barely knew enough English to follow what her friends were saying, and now she had to talk to some random guy at this bar she didn't even want to be at. "I, uh, I am Amélie."

"Amélie? That's a really pretty name. Did I, uh, did I say it right? Amélie?"

Her cheeks flushed, her eyes flickering down to her drink. "Yeah... that is right. Thank you." Her fingers tightened around the glass, trying to think of something to say next, but everything just came in French.

Luke could sense her hesitation, suddenly becoming way more nervous about coming over. Maybe it had been stupid. Maybe he was making her feel uncomfortable. "I just thought... I don't know. You seemed nice. Do you, uh, want to talk, or...?"

She met his gaze, taking a deep breath. He was trying and he seemed nice, like he really wanted to talk to her. "I... my English, it is not very good," her accent thickening as she spoke. "It is... hard for me."

Luke nodded, leaning forward slightly. He had teammates that didn't speak English as their first language, so he kind of knew what to expect. "That's fine. I'm sure it's better than my French. That is your first language, right? French? Sorry, I just assumed cause your name-"

"Yes, French," she cut him off, giggling at his rambling.

"I can barely say anything in French, so you've already got me beat."

His attempt to make her feel better worked... a little. "It is easier... to write. But speaking... more pressure, I forget the words lots."

"I get that. But we can just... talk slowly."

She sipped at her drink, waiting for him to continue.

"So, what brings you to Jersey? Not a lot of French people here."

"Exchange... at Rutgers. I am from Québec. Saguenay. But I come here... and I work on my English."

"That's super cool. It's awesome that you're pushing yourself to get better. I, uh, I went to Umich for a bit, but-"

"Umich?"

"Oh, right. University of Michigan. I lived in Michigan before I lived here."

"You move here because..."

"For hockey. I play hockey."

"Oh... that's cool. I like Les Canadiens. You play in the LNH?"

"The NHL? Yeah, I do. You like hockey?"

"Everyone in Québec likes hockey. Very popular."

"But you didn't know who I was," Luke teased.

"Only like Les Canadiens, sorry," she shrugged.

"Well, that's fair, I guess. The Habs are pretty big in Québec, huh?"

"Yes! My family... all big fan." She felt comfortable talking about her family, talking about home, the things she liked. Her dad watched every Habs game on TV and sometimes he'd even drive down to Montréal for a weekend to see them play.

"My family loves hockey too. Everyone plays. My mom, my dad, me, and both my brothers. It's like in our blood... or something."

"They play for... the same team?"

"One of them does. Jack, he plays with me. My other brother, Quinn, he plays in Vancouver," Luke tried to keep it casual, not wanting it to seem like he was bragging.

"Ah! The Canucks!"

"See, you know a bit about other teams," he teased.

"Shhh," she giggled. "Your family... they seem very... what's the word... talented."

"Guess you could say that."

She took another sip of her drink, her mind buzzing with questions to ask, but none of them coming to her in English. She wanted to ask more about his brothers, about how he started playing hockey, but her mouth just couldn't keep up with her brain. She also didn't want to come off as rude or obsessed with him because of his title, so she just nodded.

"You don't have to worry, you know. I'm not judging you," Luke comforted. "So, what do you do when you're learning English or watching the Habs? You got any other hobbies?"

"I like to... read. And bake... when I have time."

"Reading and baking," Luke mused. "What do you bake?"

"Everything," she giggled. "Tarte au sucre is my preferred. My mom... she always bakes with me."

"Tarte au sucre? What's that? Sugar pie?" Luke's eyes lit up. "You'll have to make me that one day. I've never had it."

"Maybe. You will have to see."

"Challenge accepted."

Amélie went to respond, but her phone buzzing stopped her. It was her friends calling, probably ready to head on to another bar. She didn't want her conversation with Luke to end, but she knew she couldn't stay there all night.

"I have to go. My friends... waiting," she sighed.

Luke's face fell a little but he nodded. "Yeah, I get it. But I, uh, this was fun."

"Me too."

There was silence for a little, neither of them wanting to be the first to say goodbye. "You should give me... your phone number. So you can try my tarte au sucre."

"Sounds like a plan," Luke said, handing his phone over for her. She typed in her name and phone number, adding a '<3' next to Amélie.

"Text me," she giggled, waving goodbye as she joined the other girls at the bar. Luke watched as the four of them started talking amongst themselves quickly, giggling as Amélie told them about her conversation with the hockey player.

He finally stood up, making his way back over to the table where his teammates were sat. Curtis raised an eyebrow at him, a smirk plastered on his face.

"Well, how'd it go, Romeo?" He leaned forward, failing to conceal his grin.

Luke rolled his eyes, "Good, actually. Really good."

Nico raised his pint, "Told you. You just had to go for it."

"So... what's next?" Curtis nudged him. "You ask for her number?"

Luke nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, we'll probably meet up again."

"Probably?"

"Okay, fine. Yeah, we'll see each other again. I'm going to try her sugar pie she was talking about."

"Sugar pie? Is that what we're calling it nowadays?" Nico teased, causing the whole table to erupt in laughter.

Luke shook his head, letting the teasing slide. His mind was too focused on the girl with a French accent and promises of baking him pie. He had to see her again.

~~

Luke found texting Amélie way easier than he'd imagined. She wasn't lying when she said her writing was better than her speaking. Her texts barely ever had mistakes, in fact sometimes they were worded better than his.

They texted back and forth constantly, which earned Luke some teasing from his colleagues. In writing, Amélie was much more confident, returning his flirting with practiced ease. Her personality really shone through in a way it hadn't at the bar. She'd occasionally crack jokes, usually about how he didn't know any French and that she'd have to teach him. Their conversations flowed, talking about their days, sharing stories, discussing the schoolwork that Amélie had, and sometimes sharing pictures of their meals. Although Jack did most of Luke's cooking, he'd never admit that to the girl.

You have to come and try my tarte au sucre soon! Only if you're brave enough though ;)

Luke grinned at his phone, his fingers furiously typing back a reply.

Oh, I'm brave enough. Just let me know when, and I'll be there.

I will. Maybe next week? I need to make sure it's perfect first.

Deal.

~~

Amélie paced her apartment, making sure that everything was in order before Luke came over. She was even more nervous than she had been in the bar. She really wanted things to go well. They had decided to label the event as their first date, and although a bit informal, she was still shitting herself.

The pie was sitting on her kitchen island, untouched. She didn't want to eat any of it until Luke was there to eat it with her. She was worried he'd get in trouble because it wasn't part of his meal plan for work, but he had reassured it multiple times that it wasn't a big deal if he had a little pie.

Just as she was about to rearrange her throw pillows for the third time, there was a knock at her door. She froze mid-step, wiping her hands on her jeans as she made her way to the door.

It was just a pie. And it was just Luke. Nothing to be too worried about.

She hesitated for a moment before she pulled the door open, tilting her head back to look up at Luke. He was standing there in a Devils hoodie and some track pants, a baseball cap covering his curls. He looked relaxed, his hands tucked in the pocket of his hoodie. Amélie hated how nonchalant he looked in comparison to her.

"Hey," he greeted. "I brough my appetite, as promised."

"Good. I hope you are ready," she joked, stepping out of the way to let him in. He pulled off his shoes, taking in her cozy apartment. He laughed when his eyes landed on the big Québec flag hung behind her couch.

"I'm sure it'll be amazing. I'm looking forward to it, don't worry."

She nodded, though her nerves didn't disappear. She led him into the kitchen where the pie sat waiting. The smell of it filled the small space, warm and sweet.

"Wow, looks good, Am. Guess you weren't kidding about being a good baker."

"It's like you with hockey. My talent," she giggled, blushing as their eyes met.

"I don't know. Your baking skills may be miles ahead of my hockey skills."

"Don't lie. Let's see if it tastes as good as the smell," she grabbed a knife, finally cutting the pie into pieces. She placed a generous slice in front of Luke, taking in how comfortable he looked in the situation. She really admired how easygoing he was compared to her. It was their first date, but his demeanor made it seem like they'd been seeing each other for months. Meanwhile, her heart hadn't stopped racing since she opened the door minutes before.

Luke picked up his fork, flashing her a grin before taking his first bite. His eyes widened and he let out a pleased hum, "Holy shit, this is so good."

"You like it?"

"Are you kidding? This is like the best dessert I've ever had... don't tell my mom I said that. But really, Amélie, you've ruined all other pies for me. Can I take some home to show Jack?"

"Of course! I'm glad you like it. Is my mom's recipe."

"You should probably teach me how to make this, so I don't have to beg you every time I want some."

"I wouldn't mind," she giggled, taking a bite of her own slice. The taste reminded her of home and she suddenly felt a lot less nervous about messing up her English in front of Luke. They continued to eat their pie as they talked, shifting the conversation to more personal topics, wanting to know everything about each other.

Luke told stories about growing up with his brothers, sharing embarrassing moments from their childhoods and the occasional hockey-related mishap. Amélie found herself laughing more than she had since she'd arrived in America, her body filling with warmth.

"And that's how Jack ended up chipping his tooth. Our mom was furious, but Quinn and I thought it was hilarious," Luke explained, shaking his head at the memory.

She laughed, her shoulders shaking. "You and your brother... troublemakers," she teased, resting her chin on her hand as she listened to him talk. God, she could listen to Luke talk for hours. His accent was the cutest thing she'd ever heard and his smile curved up more on one side than the other, almost like a smirk. He was so perfect.

"Yeah, we were. Still are, I guess. But what about you? You got any fun stories about your family?"

"One time my dad, he take us to Montréal for a Habs game. And my older brother he had... he liked one girl he saw. But she was anglophone, no French. He goes up to her and he tries to talk English. But it was soooo bad. Even worse than me. He only knew maybe like three word. I think he said like 'Hey, you pretty, drink?' and she looked at him like he was... insane! He... he panicked and ran away. We bullied him for years after. Our dad, he will still talk about it at dinner sometime."

"That's brutal," Luke laughed. "Glad our first conversation didn't go like that."

"I am just better than him."

Luke shook his head, flashing his lopsided smile that made Amélie swoon. "Clearly. You've got the charm, no doubt about it."

"Maybe a little. But still I get nervous. When you arrive, I think maybe that I would die."

"You hid it well. I didn't even notice. I was the nervous one."

"You? Nervous?" she raised an eyebrow, placing her fork between her lips .

"Yeah, you were... well you are, like the prettiest girl I've ever met," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't want to mess it up."

"Is that a joke? You did not... mess up. I like talking with you."

"I like talking with you too, Amélie"

~~

It was their fourth date and they were back at Amélie's apartment. Luke was sprawled out on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table as he playfully scrolled through one of Amélie's French-to-English learning apps.

"Come on, give me a word," Luke teased, turning to look at the girl sitting beside him with her legs tucked under her.

"Alright. Alright. Um... try... 'papillon.'"

Luke squinted, trying his hardest to translate it. "Papillon," he reapted slowly. "Uh... sounds like pasta, maybe? Wait, no, wait... um, balloon?"

She let a burst of laughter, learning back against the arm of the couch. "Non! It's butterfly!"

He groaned dramatically, throwing his head back in mock anguish. "Butterfly?! That doesn't even sound like butterfly! What?!"

"You are needing more practice," she giggled, comfortly placing a hand on his thigh.

Luke's eyes widened at her touch, but he couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, clearly I need a lot more practice. You might have to become my full-time tutor."

Amélie smiled, her fingers lingering on his thigh, sending a warmth through both of them. They'd been spending more and more time together, and things were less awkward, but still full of nervousness. The banter between them was easy, but there was an ever-growing tension gnawing at them both.

Luke reached for a throw pillow next to him, lightly tossing it at her. "Give me another one. I swear I'll get it this time."

She swatted the pillow away, but her focus had moved on from French. The space between them had slowly been shrinking and she had just noticed how close they were. She tilted her head, her eyes flickering up to meet Luke's. "I think... maybe you are better at other things than French."

Luke's grin faltered, his breath catching in his throat at her new tone. He glanced down at her hand still resting on his thigh, then back at her face, then back to her hand again. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Like... this."

Before he could question what she meant, she leaned in, her lips brushing his, testing the waters. The kiss was soft, hesitant, but the second their lips connected, everything they'd been holding back snapped into place.

Luke's hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened quickly, no longer hesitant, but instead filled with the feelings they'd been dancing around for weeks. Amélie sighed against his mouth, her hands sliding up to his chest, gripping his shirt in his fists. Luke groaned softly, the sound muffled by her lips.

Their kisses turned hungrier, more urgent, as the tension in the room built. Luke shifted, gently pushing Amélie back against the couch as he leaned over her, his body pressing against hers as their kisses grew sloppier. Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, and Luke's hands slid up to cradle her face, his thumb brushing her cheek as the kiss deepened.

Neither of them wanted to pull away, not wanting to be the first to end the kiss. Luke realized he couldn't hold his breath any longer. He gasped for air before kissing her again, harder this time, his lips moving with more urgency than before. Amélie let out a soft, breathless moan in reponse.

They pulled away again, their foreheads resting against each other as they tried to catch their breath. Luke brushed a strand of her hair, that had gotten stuck between them, out of her face. His eyes were still half-closed as he whispered, "I've wanted to kiss you for so long."

Amélie smiled, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to fill her lungs with air. She looked up at him, her lips still tingling. "Me too. I... I did not expect it to feel... like that."

"Good or bad?"

"Good," she whispered, her fingers tracing the back of his neck before pulling him in again, her lips finding his once more. There was no hesitation this time, just unfiltered desire as they gave in to the kiss.

~~

"Where you goin'?" Jack asked, pausing his video game as he heard Luke head for the door. He turned around, noticing his brother wearing his Michigan backpack. "And why do you have a backpack?"

"Amélie's place. I'm spending the night."

"Damn, Lukey boy's finally getting laid."

"Shut up, Jack... there's no confirmation that that's what happening. She just asked if I wanted to sleep over."

Jack smirked, leaning back on the couch with a knowing look. "Uh-huh, sure. You don't pack a bag just to sleep over, bro."

Luke rolled his eyes, adjusting the straps of his bag. "It's not like that. We're just hanging out, maybe watching a movie or something."

Jack snorted. "Yeah, okay. Whatever you say, lover boy. But just in case, be safe."

"It's not like that," Luke groaned, grabbing his keys off the counter, trying to escape Jack's teasing.

"I'm just saying! Good luck, bud!"

Luke mumbled to himself as he stepped into the hallway, heading for the elevator to the parking garage. His heart was racing more than usual, not just because of Jack's teasing but because tonight did feel different. Spending a night together was a big step in their relationship, especially since they weren't officially official yet.

They hadn't even discussed labels yet, and although they were very close, there was an unspoken worry of figuring out where things were heading. Luke really, really liked her, but he didn't want to rush anything. If Amélie wanted to take things slow, then he would take things slow.

He sat in his car, getting ready to leave when his phone buzzed.

Just picked out a movie. Hope you like rom-coms ;)

Only if we watch it in French so I can practice

Deal.

When he pulled up to her building, he practically leaped out of the car, taking his backpack with him. He knocked on her door, his heart in his throat.

Just go with the flow. No pressure

Amélie giggled when she opened the front door, dressed in one of Luke's Devils hoodies and a pair of shorts he couldn't see from under the large sweatshirt.

"Hey. You look cute," he leaned down to kiss her.

"Hey! Missed you."

"It's only been three days," he laughed, allowing her to wrap her arms around his waist, propping her chin on his chest. "You ready for my horrible French?"

"Ready for anything," she giggled as he ran a hand through her hair.

They stood in the doorway for a few moments more, before she grasped his hand and pulled him into the living room. They settled on the couch, a blanket thrown over their entwined legs.

"Am, I've been thinking..." his thumb brushing lightly against her thigh. "I don't want to overthink it anymore than I already have, but... we've been spending lots of time together. And I really like you."

"I like you too, Luke. A lot."

"Good. Because... I want this to be official. I mean, us. I want us to be official. I don't wanna be just 'hanging out' or 'seeing where things go' anymore. I want you to be my girlfriend." His voice softened at the end, his heart out on a silver platter just for her.

"You really want that?" she gushed.

Luke nodded, "Yeah. I want you. I want... us."

"I want that too," she smiled, shuffling impossibly closer to him, pecking his lips.

Luke pulled her back in for a deeper kiss, relief flooding his body. When they pulled apart, Amélie rested her forehead against his, her fingers gripping the front of his hoodie.

"So, it is official?" she whispered.

"Officially official. You're my girlfriend now."

She kissed him again, laughing into his mouth. "Well... now that we have... figured that out. You have French to practice... boyfriend."

"Let's get started then, girlfriend."

~~

"So... when do I get to meet her?" Jack grinned, knocking Luke's shoulder.

"Oh, um, I can ask her."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You can ask her?" he teased. "What, you haven't mentioned me?"

Luke sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I have, Jack. I just... didn't think you'd be so excited."

"Dude, of course I'm excited! My little brother has a girlfriend now! And you know I've gotta approve, see if she's good for you. Duh."

"She's not a test subject, Jack. I'm not bringing her so you can interrogate her."

Jack snickered, loving how flustered his brother was getting. "Relax, I'll be nice. In fact, bring her out with us and the guys this weekend. Some of the other girlfriends will be there."

"I can ask her. Just... don't be weird about it. She get's nervous."

"Me? Weird about it? Never. I'm charming."

"That's what I'm worried about."

"Come on, it'll be fun. She'll get to meet everyone, and you know the guys will love her. Plus, if she can survive a night out with us, she's a keeper."

"Look, I'll ask. But I know she's been busy with schoolwork. I'll ask her tonight. But seriously, Jack, don't freak her out. Please."

"Scout's honour, man. I'll be on my best behaviour."

"You're not a-- never mind. I'll let you know what she says."

~~

Luke laid next to Amélie in her bed, his arm draped over her waist. She was scrolling through TikTok, laughing at French words he didn't know yet. He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, peeking at the screen where some girl was speaking rapid French while doing her make up.

"Hey, Am."

"Hmm?"

"So... Jack and some of the guys are going out this weekend, and a few of the girlfriends will be there too," he paused, thinking over his next words. "Jack was, uh, wondering when he could meet you. He kind of suggested you come along."

She blinked, "Meet... all of your friends? This weekend?"

"No pressure! If you're too busy with school, I totally get it. I just thought it might be fun. Only if you want to, of course," Luke quickly added.

She bit her lip, thinking it over, and Luke could tell she was weighing her options. "I'm nervous. I would... like to meet Jack. To be... part of your world."

He pulled her body closer to his, pressing more kisses to her shoulder. "You're already part of my world, Am. And trust me, Jack's been bugging me about meeting you since our first date. He's... well, he's Jack. But he means well."

"Okay. I will come. But if Jack, he makes me feel awkward, you owe me a very good dinner."

Luke laughed, "Deal. And don't worry, I'll be there the whole time. Plus, survivng Jack means you can survive anything."

~~

"C'est très cute, non?" Amélie asked, showing her outfit off to Luke.

"You look like a millon bucks, baby," he replied, leaning down to kiss her.

"What?"

"It's... it's a saying."

She tilted her head slightly, repeating the words back to herself. "A million... bucks."

Luke thought her accent made it all the more adorable. "It means you look beautiful. Like super, super beautiful."

"English says, they are so strange. First you tell me it rains cats and dogs... now I look like I am money. You explain me all of these sometimes, yes?"

"Of course, baby. But I mean it, you looks amazing."

"Thanks, Lu. We should go?"

"If we have to," Luke pouted, leaning down to give her another kiss.

~~

Amélie gripped the straps of her purse so tightly that her knuckles were white. She had never felt so nervous in her life, not even on their first date. She had so many people to impress tonight and probably less than half the words they had in their vocabularies.

Luke was quick to notice her anxiety. She usually walked with so much confidence, but her posture was slumped and her lip was held between her teeth. "Hey, you okay?"

She nodded, but her choked voice betrayed her. "I... I don't know if I can do this."

"You'll be fine, Am," he whispered, brushing his thumb over her cheek. "Jack's going to love you, I can promise you that. And it's just a few of the guys--nothing big. And hey, some of them aren't even native English speakers themselves."

Her eyes were still full of uncertainty, her fingers busying themselves by picking at the skin around her nails. "But maybe I will say something wrong. Or they ask me things, and I do not understand them? Or they will all laugh at me."

"You've been doing so well with your English, love. And if you're ever feeling stuck, just squeeze my hand and I'll come to your rescue."

The bar was pretty empty for the most part, just a few tables of friends talking and sharing drinks. In the back corner, Jack was sitting with a few of the other guys and their better halves.

"There they are!" Jack cheered as soon as he saw them approaching, standing up to greet his brother as if he hadn't seen him in weeks. His tone was loud and confident, and Amélie could feel every set of eyes at the table move towards her and Luke.

Luke gave his brother a quick bro-hug before turning to his girlfriend. "Jack, this is Amélie. Am, this is my brother, Jack."

Amélie felt like all the moisture in her mouth had disappeared, her hand gripping Luke's with a vice-like strength. She opened her mouth to speak, but all her words got stuck. "I, uh, I... hi."

"Nice to meet you, Amélie," Jack said. "Luke's told me loads about you."

She gave him a tight lipped smile, her mind scrambling to find a response, but nothing came. She felt like the weight of everyone's expectations were holding her down. She wanted to wow everyone with perfect English, but all she could do was stand there, frozen.

"She, uh, she's a little nervous," Luke interjected. "Amélie's from Québec, she's here in Jersey to learn English. But her French is like the most impressive shit ever."

"No worries. We're just happy you're here," Nico spoke up.

Amélie forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. She sat down beside Luke, her hand still gripping his with immense force. The conversation around the table picked back up, but she remained quiet.

The guys were easygoing, laughing and joking with each other, and the other girlfriends seemed just as relaxed. The more they spoke though, the harder it became for her to follow. She could pick up on bits and pieces of what was going on, but she couldn't seem to form a complete sentence in her head.

"So, how do you like Jersey so far?" one of the other girlfriends, Lexi, asked with a warm smile.

"It... it's very different. But I... I like it," she replied, her eyes not leaving Luke's hand in her lap.

"She thinks back home is wayyyy prettier. Right, babe?" Luke helped to direct her.

"Yes. Québec is very beautiful."

"So what brought you here?" Jack asked, desperately wanting to know more about the girl that had stolen his brother's heart. "School?"

She bit her lip, trying her best to think of how to reply in English. "Yes... I.... study at Rutgers. Exchange."

"That's awesome. What're you studying?"

Her mind went completely blank. She'd even rehearsed answering that exact question, but now, with everyone looking at her, the words were gone. Her hand tightened around Luke's again, taking a sip of water to clear her throat.

"She's studying communications and media. But the point of her exchange is to work on her English skills."

"That's sick," Jack nodded along.

The conversation around her continued, a few questions being tossed her way but her responses were usually just a few words, the gaps being filled in by Luke. The group eventually moved on to a story that Nico was telling, and Amélie used the shift of attention to shrink into herself further. She let Luke rest his hand on her bouncing knee in an attempt to calm her nerves, but his touch felt foreign in the situation.

After what felt like hours, but had most likely only been half an hour, she leaned close to Luke, whispering in his ear. "Je vais aux toilettes." She stood up before he could respond, scurrying off to the bathroom.

Jack shot Luke a curious glance, but he just shrugged, trying to mask his own worry.

Amélie slipped into the bathroom, pressing her hands against the sink as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She felt like she was suffocating, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She hated feeling like an outsider, not being able to connect with Luke's world outside of her.

She wiped under her eyes, praying that her mascara didn't run. She didn't want anyone to know she'd been crying in the bathroom. She just wanted to be like the other girls at the table--relaxed and confident, going with the flow of the conversation.

With one last deep breath, she made her way back to the table. Luke looked up at her as she approached. He could tell something was off.

"Everything okay?"

She just nodded, falling back into her silence at the table. She laughed when everyone else laughed, smiling politely when someone made a remark towards her. Luke had never seen her so quiet in his life, not even on the first day that they met. By the time everyone had left the bar, her anxiety was so bad she thought she might puke.

Luke opened the car door for her, and she slid in, staring blankly out the window. The silence between them was heavy. Luke could feel it too, his fingers tapping nervously on the steering wheel.

"Am, what's wrong? You've been quiet all night. You barely said a thing."

The tears that she had been fighting so hard to keep at bay finally spilled out. "I... I feel so stupid. I-I couldn't even talk to them. I couldn't even... act normal."

He reached out, placing a hand on her thigh. His heart clenched at her words. "You're not stupid, Am. You're doing amazing. You're learning a whole new language, that's huge."

"But I had to have you help on everything. I could... not even answer Jack's questions. They normally think... I'm dumb. Not good for you." She wiped at her eyes, frustrated with herself for crying.

"Amélie, baby. No one thinks you're dumb. And you are more than good enough for me--don't you ever doubt that. Jack loved meeting you. Everyone did. I could tell. They don't care if you need some help speaking English. Hell, some of those guys could use the help speaking English."

"I wanted... to be better. To show I can do this. But I feel...lost."

"You don't have to show anyone that you can do anything. Not to me, not to Jack, not to anyone. I love you for--"

"You love me?"

"Of course I do, Am. I... I didn't want to admit it like this. But... I am so in love with you, Amélie."

"I love you too, Luke. Sorry if I... embarrass you tonight."

"You could never embarrass me, Am. Never ever."

"I-"

"Nope, that's enough out of you. Let's go back to yours and watch that stupid cop show you like."

"Mensonges?"

"If that's what it's called, then yes."

"I love you, Lu."

"I love you too, Am."

~~

"I don't know, Jack. She was so nervous last time..."

"But last time there were other people there too. Just tell her you've got the place to yourself for the night and then I'll walk in a couple hours later and be like 'Oh! Sorry, my plans got cancelled.' And then we can all hangout," Jack suggested.

"I'm not going to lie to her. I'll just ask if she wants to spend the night."

"Come on, Rusty! You know I'm just trying to help her relax around me. You're making it sound like a big deal. It's not! She's your girlfriend, and I want to get to know her. Plus, I'll make it fun! I'm good with people."

"I appreciate the thought, Jack. But I want her to feel comfortable, not tricked. So I'll just ask her if she wants to come over and spend the night. No tricks."

"Fine, fine. Let me know what she says."

"I will. Just... don't be an idiot."

~~

Amélie followed Luke into his apartment, her backpack thrown over his shoulder. She looked around, noticing how painfully obvious it was that two men lived there.

"I'm just gonna put your bag in my room. You wanna go make yourself comfortable on the couch?"

"Sure."

She sat down, curling her legs under herself, glancing around the living room. She picked up the remote off the coffee table, fiddling with while she waited for Luke.

"You good?"

"Yeah. Just... taking in. It is very... you."

"What, you mean messy?"

She giggled, then tension in her shoulders disappearing. "Maybe... un peu."

"Hey, it's organized chaos, baby. I know where everything is. Well... most of the time."

"I like it. Feels... comfortable. Like you."

"That's all I want, babe. For you to be comfortable."

"Where's Jack?"

"Probably in his room. Why? Wanna talk with him?"

Amélie quickly shook her head, her eyes widening. "No, no... just wonder. I don't want to... bother him."

"You're not bothering him. He's probably playing video games or doing some stupid shit. He'll come out here eventually."

The last time she'd been around Jack, she hadn't been able to shake her nerves. Tonight, she was determined to make a better impression, even if she still felt like puking.

Luke gently nudged her with his elbow. "Hey, you're good, Am. Jack's chill. You don't have to be nervous."

"I know... just... want him to like me."

"He already likes you," Luke reassured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "He wouldn't shut up about how cool you were after the last time."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I wouldn't lie to you, silly."

"Love you, Lu."

"Love you too," he leaned in to kiss her when footsteps pulled them apart.

"Aww, did I interrupt a moment?" Jack's teasing voice came from the doorway.

"Relax, Jack. We were just talking... about you."

"Oh yeah?" Jack pushed himself off the wall, making his way to the couch. "All good things, I hope."

"Duh," Luke squeezed Amélie's hand, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. "Amélie was just asking what you were up to."

"Probably nothing interesting compared to you lovebirds. Was talking to Trevor--can't let Luke get ahead of me in the whole having a life department."

She tried to think of a quick response to his joke, but came up with nothing she deemed funny enough.

"Luke tells me you like studying here cause it's different. How so?"

"Um, everything... is feeling bigger here. The city, the campus. And obviously... English. There is like... zero English in my town. We use some words... but not lots."

"Well, seems like you're doing great. Don't stress it. Plus you've got this guy," he gestured to Luke, "to help you out, right?"

She blushed, "Yes, Lu is... super."

Luke grinned, leaning in and whispering, "Told you he likes you."

~~

"I don't know how I'm gonna survive without you, Am," Luke admitted, wiping the tears from his face. His usually calm, relaxed demeanor was gone, replaced with a raw vulnerability.

Amélie had told herself she wasn't going to cry, but seeing Luke cry made that impossible. Her tears had started as soon as his had. "You will, Lu. You are so strong. And... I will not be gone forever."

He shook his head, intertwining their fingers. "I know, but... shit's gonna feel so different without you here. I'm used to having you here all the time. And now I won't see you until summer. I don't know how to do that."

"You'll have Jack, the guys, your family. I'm just... a plane away. We will FaceTime, and before you know... I am back. And I will meet Quinn... and your parents."

Luke rested his head in her lap, letting her run her fingers through his hair. She could feel his tears soaking the fabric of her jeans. "I'm gonna miss you so fucking much, Am."

"I'll miss you too, Lu. So, so much."

They stayed like that for a long time, just wrapped in each other's embraces. Neither of them wanted to let go. Neither of them wanted to admit how hard the next few months would be. They just wanted to stay together... forever.

~~

Amélie was sitting at her desk, her phone propped up against her water bottle as Luke's face filled the screen. His hair was a mess and his eyes drooping. She could tell he had just gotten home from practice.

"Hey, beautiful," he greeted.

"Hey, you," she replied, resting her chin on her hand. "How was practice?"

"Exhausting," he groaned. "But seeing your face makes it better."

Amélie blushed, biting her lip as she smiled. Before she could respond, she heard her brothers' voices coming from down the hall.

"Ah, c'est qui, Amélie?" (who is it, Amélie?)

"Son chum?" the other laughed. (her boyfriend?)

"Ahhh, mais Luke, t'es ben chix." (Ahhh, but Luke, you're so hot.)

"Ferme ta gueule!" Amélie shouted. (Shut your mouth!)

Luke burst out laughing at the look on his girlfriend's face. "What're they saying?"

She huffed, rolling her eyes. "They're being idiots. Teasing me about you."

"Teasing, huh?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "What did they say? Come on, tell me."

She sighed, getting closer to the camera with a small smirk. "They said you're... how would that translate.... that you're 'hot.'"

"Oh, did they know? You must have good pictures of me hanging up then, huh?"

"They're just being annoying. They think it's funny to tease me because I love an American."

"Well, tell them I appreciate the compliment. And tell them I say 'hi'," he teased.

Amélie shook her head but shouted, "Luke dit bonjour!"

From the hallway, her brothers responded with exaggerated greetings in their broken English, making the couple laugh.

"They're something else, huh? I can't wait to meet them one day."

"They'll probably want you to ask Cole for free Habs tickets. But... in a few weeks, I'll be back and I'll get to meet all of your family."

Luke's eye lit up at the thought. "I know! I've been counting down the days, baby. I can't wait for you to be here again!"

"Me neither. Excited to meet Quinn and your parents."

"Yeah, my mom's super excited to meet you!"

"I'm a little nervous though."

"Don't be! They are gonna love you so much, Am!"

"I love you, Lu."

"I love you more, Amélie. Only a few more weeks, then we'll be together again. I can't wait."

"You promise?"

"I promise. And I'm gonna spoil you so much. Just you, me, and the lake."

"Can't wait."

[kurogane2512]

This is based on the origami bird clash event that came in Jade's release patch and I wanted to write it since then cause I was disappointed with her screentime so yeah here it is

Side note, it's my birthday today (12.12) so I'll take this as my birthday treat hehe~

18+ CONTENT

Honkai Star Rail

Jade x g!p reader (Trailblazer)

Smut with plot, long fic (dom Jade, use of collar and leash, slight foot worship)

You were strolling through the magnificent ship, Radiant Feldspar, after your eventful journey in Penacony. It had been a rather relaxing experience as you did some activities and spent time with your friends to unwind. You suddenly received an invitation from a member of the Iris Family to test a game, you were suspicious at first but decided to check it out anyways and to your relief, it turned out to be legit.

It was a simple match-3 puzzle battle game with some engaging mechanics and your avatar transformed into different origami birds. You ended up testing the game with different companions who were residing on the Radiant Feldspar, until an unexpected 'acquaintance' came in. It was Jade, a senior manager in the IPC and one of the Ten Stonehearts. You had a brief interaction with her some time ago, nothing too worth but interesting enough.

You certainly didn't expect to meet her again so soon since you had assumed she would have returned to the IPC headquarters by now. Madam Jade, as everyone around you called her, was a busy woman. On top of that, she was gorgeous and elegant. You had met very few women in your life who came close to her beauty, yet there was something different about Madam Jade that made you quite entranced.

"There are quite a number of familiar faces here today. I didn't expect to meet all of you again so soon." Jade remarked as she looked at the crowd gathered around to play the game with you before her eyes fell on you and almost glinted as if she saw something interesting.

"Hello, Madam Jade. What a coincidence...." March replied while shyly looking away, followed by Robin greeting her as well.

Jade smiled, "I was only intending to do Topaz a favor and check on the progress of this project. I certainly didn't expect to be surprised as well. But since there's such a lively crowd, let's give them something to cheer about. Miss Tinah, would you play a match on my behalf?"

"Eh? O-Of course, Madam Jade!" Tinah replied, flustered.

"You don't want to play it yourself, ma'am?" you interjected, causing everyone to look at you in surprise as if you said something wrong. Jade was, however, amused.

"Hehe, I'm afraid I'm short on time. Besides, I'd rather not spoil the fun of the youngsters with my terrible gaming skills~"

Everyone nodded and didn't argue in any manner, Jade could tell you had something more to say but held back and went back to playing. A new bird inspired by Jade was added into the game and you started playing a new match with Tinah while using the Jadebird. The match went on for a while, you happened to glance at Jade once and saw her engaged in a phone call with her back turned to the crowd. You could understand now why she didn't have the time, but you still wished she played for a little while.

The match finally ended as you defeated Tinah once again and emerged victorious for the fifth consecutive time, despite having started playing this game just mere hours ago.

"My, aren't you skilled at this?~" a familiar sultry voice suddenly spoke in your ear from behind and you almost turned around with a gasp but quickly realized who was speaking and kept your composure.

"A-Ah, Ms Jade! T-Thank you...." you fumbled on your words as you couldn't handle the way she sneakily crept up to you and was watching you, not to mention how sweet her voice was when she spoke so close to your ear. Jade smiled and walked away to stand with the rest of the crowd while Tinah announced the match was over.

"Congratulations to Miss Trailblazer for coming first in the test! This beautifully elegant and quietly dignified bird now belongs to you! You may place it now if you'd like!" Tinah announced and handed the Jadebird to you.

You looked at the cute origami bird modeled after Jade and slightly blushed before placing it on the arcade machine.

"Perfect! Utterly perfect...! Alright, seeing as the test is coming to an end, shall we take a group photo to commemorate this moment?" Tinah continued.

All of your companions agreed and started forming a line for the group photo with you standing in the center.

"Uh.... how about you, Madam Jade?" Tinah asked Jade who was silently standing in the corner all this time and watching things unfold. Jade gave the same formal smile as before and shook her head.

"That won't be necessary. After all, the social dynamics of this place are quite complicated. It would be rather unfortunate if the photo is seen by others." Jade said, and Tinah immediately understood as she didn't pursue the topic further.

Once again, Jade looked at you and could tell you wanted to say something but held back. She couldn't help but feel even more intrigued about you, she was already interested in the esteemed Astral Express and their enigmatic new member who has a Stellaron inside her, but interacting personally with you made her interested in other ways. The photograph was clicked soon after and Tinah announced the successful completion of the test and the additional benefits for everyone who participated.

Everyone eventually dispersed away and the venue was mostly empty, save for a few customers at the bar counter. Tinah secretly told you and March about a new game mode for the arcade machines and suggested you to stay and play them for a bit but March turned her down since you had other work to do but promised Tinah to come back later. You glanced at Jade one last time and noticed how she was already walking away without speaking a word to anyone, she truly was quite mysterious to you.

You thought you wouldn't meet Jade again now but it seems fate had other plans for you. It was late evening when you came back to the arcade area alone in order to fulfill your promise to Tinah and to your utmost surprise, you saw none other than Madam Jade standing in front of the machines and seemingly pondering something. You waited for a while by standing outside and your eyes widened seeing her start to play a game on them. You noticed the area was completely empty except for the bartender, likely due to Robin's surprise performance happening downstairs.

"Ahem, fancy meeting you again, Ms Jade." you greeted Jade as you walked in, making her immediately stop playing as she casually turned to greet you back.

"Oh, our paths crossed once again sooner than expected, Trailblazer. I thought you'd be witnessing Ms Robin's performance~"

"I did see some of it but I figured I should come here and do what I promised to Tinah since I will be departing the ship tomorrow morning."

"I see. Well, I'll let you complete your promise then. Have a good day."

Jade smiled and was about to walk away when you quickly stopped her.

"A-Ah, wait! If you aren't busy then do you mind playing with me? I think it'll be more effective to play against a human than the machine."

Jade's eyes flickered at your proposal, a smirk drawing up her lips.

"That eager to have me play with you, hm? Were you so disappointed that I didn't play in the morning?~"

A light blush formed on your face but you didn't want to give in so easily.

"Well, aren't you eager to play it yourself? You wouldn't be here all alone in secret if you weren't, right?~"

Jade smirked more and walked closer to you, her figure towering as she stared at you with a cunning look.

"Careful with your words, Trailblazer. People would pay a fortune to have me in this position~"

"I will make it worth your presence then, if you accept that mode of payment."

Jade chuckled, "We can discuss the mode of payment later. For now, we should start if we are to complete before closing time~"

You nodded with a smile and breathed out a sigh of relief after turning the other way. You had no idea how those words came out of your mouth, and you didn't expect Jade to even reciprocate in such a manner. But what's done was done, and now you were out here playing games with the one and only Madam Jade. You started with the Origami Bird Clash game to test her skills, and also because she was playing it earlier when you spotted her. You figured she was secretly quite interested in it but found it difficult to express it due to her position.

"Do you want a tutorial on how to play, ma'am?" you asked her.

"No need, I observed the methodology sufficiently in the morning. Thank you for the offer."

You nodded then selected your characters, choosing the birds modeled after each of you, then started playing. Jade was a little slow in the beginning which gave you the opportunity to score more points in the first round, but right away from second round she picked up her pace and gave you a hard time.

"This is quite enjoyable, I can see the children liking it very much." Jade commented.

"Indeed, but too bad not many children come on the Radiant Feldspar."

"Well, that is in your hands now to change as the new owner~"

"Hmm, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to make it more child-friendly— Oh no, what?!" you gasped out as you saw yourself losing the third round all of a sudden, you didn't realize how it happened since you were still focused on playing even if conversing.

"Hm? First time tasting defeat in this game, Trailblazer?~" Jade remarked.

"At least it's honorable since it came from you, Ms Jade~"

"Keep up with that silver tongue of yours and you may just lose the entire match~"

You chuckled, "I suppose I should find a way to sweep you off your feet now~"

"Ah, letting me in on your secrets so soon? I thought I'd have to work you harder~"

You shrugged, "I don't think there's any secret of mine that you already don't know. In fact, you may know things that I have never even heard of.."

Jade raised an eyebrow, "Don't sell yourself so short. After all, you are still one of the most mysterious entities in existence...."

Jade paused and looked at the game screen before pressing a button that decided the outcome of the fourth round, "Perhaps we could have a little deal after you beat me in this~"

"A deal.... I'm afraid there's not much I can offer you for all the valuable intel and assets you have. Not to mention, I still have to pay you for agreeing to this game."

You looked back at the screen and saw the score was at a tie currently with both of you winning 2 rounds each, that means the next round would decide the winner.

"Hehe, the first principle of negotiating a deal is to keep pressing after victory. It wouldn't hurt to try, would it?~"

You pondered for a while then let out a sigh and agreed before continuing with the final round of the game. You were way more fired up now and eager to win, you didn't really care about the deal but you didn't want to lose to her. The match started and you decided to change your approach slightly considering Jade wasn't an easy opponent, being patient was the key to winning against her. It was better to seek out opportunities for high score instead of collecting numerous low scores. That being said, you had limited number of moves and finding high score chances was difficult.

You happened to glance at Jade once and were quite surprised by the expression on her face, a small smile tugged her lips and her eyes sparkled. It was not the smile of a businesswoman concealing secrets and schemes, not the eyes of a cunning merchant who could stare into your soul and reveal all your desires. No, this was the expression of a simple woman enjoying a moment of respite. Your impression of her so far had been of an elegant but cold pawnbroker, a senior manager in the IPC and one of the Ten Stonehearts whose sole purpose was to benefit the IPC. But you had come to learn from her colleagues that all of them harbored deep secrets and painful pasts, you wondered if Jade was same.

"If you are so interested in staring at my face then perhaps we should switch up the game to something more intimate~" Jade commented and looked back at you, catching your eyes with hers. You quickly looked away and cleared your throat then continued playing.

"I don't mind that. Having the opportunity to look at your beautiful face is worth everything~"

Jade chuckled, "Trying to flatter me to make me slip up and snatch victory for yourself? I'm well aware of such tactics, Trailblazer~"

"No, I'm simply being honest. You looked really beautiful just now, is it rare for you to indulge in such simple things?"

Jade remained silent and processed your words while turning back at the game, "There is a price for such information, Trailblazer. Are you ready to pay it?~"

You blushed, "I....suppose we could discuss that in our deal later~"

Jade didn't miss the faint red on your cheeks and smirked, "Oh? Are you so sure you will get the opportunity to do that considering the state of our match currently?~"

"You of all people should know the tides can be turned anytime~"

Of course, Jade knew anything was possible in a game like this, even if she had the means to control it. She also discreetly glanced at you from head-to-toe and became more interested in you, wanting to dig deeper in your heart. But, patience was her strongest virtue. A small loss here meant a bigger victory later.

"So, any romantic endeavours you have found in the land of dreams?~"

Jade's sudden question made you stop in your tracks and feel flustered.

"T-That.... I wasn't expecting you to ask something like that...."

"Why, I'm merely curious. The Nameless are no less than heroes here, especially you seem to be the target of affection of many. I could name some of them from the top of my head~"

You pursed your lips and hesitated to reply back, there was something daring you wanted to say but weren't sure if it was appropriate. You were already surprised Jade even tolerated you so far, you didn't know how much further you could push it. But at this stage, you felt there was a connection between you two.

"....Are you also one of them, Ms Jade?~"

She was half expecting you to say that, she wanted to see just how adventerous you really were. Her eyes narrowed as she gave you a sly glance, "You would like that, wouldn't you?~"

"W-Well, I suppose anyone would be honored to know an IPC senior manager is romantically interested in them, especially when it's you. Your reputation speaks for yourself, I'm sure plenty of people have tried pursuing you."

She chuckled, "I'm afraid I don't recall expressing my interest~"

"And I'm afraid your actions say otherwise~"

"Hehe, I think it's your own mind conjuring up some kind of desires. We are having a simple arcade match here, aren't we?~"

"I suppose that's one way to put it. It means I still have the chance to pursue you otherwise, right?~"

"You are welcome to try. But perhaps you should try pursuing your victory here first~"

Your focus never left the match, both of you were left with 1 move each now and it would be the deciding factor since your score was equal so far. You contemplated which cell to move, you needed a high score badly. Your eyes roamed to Jade's player icon and you saw her make her final move which brought her score higher than yours by 50 points, you really were in a difficult position now. Jade intently watched you strategize your next move and something came over her which eventually allowed you to win. You made your final move and watched the score calculated and by a miracle, you beat her by 10 points.

"Yes!" you celebrated as your screen showed the victory animation. Jade stepped back with a smile and clapped her hands.

"Congratulations, it was a good match~"

"Thank you for playing, Ms Jade, and I apologize if I wasted your time."

"Not at all, it was quite fruitful."

She smiled as you walked to her side and extended your hand out in a handshake position which she reciproacted to show her appreciation.

"So, how should I pay you for agreeing to this?"

Jade hummed and crossed her arms over her chest, "How about....having a drink with me? We could also discuss the deal at the same time~"

You nodded with a smile, "It would be my pleasure."

You walked with Jade towards the bar counter and took a seat beside her then looked at the menu to order a drink. You were still quite shocked by the exchange between you two, you weren't sure if she was seriously flirting with you or simply entertaining herself.

"Hmm, I'll have Cosmic Turbidity." Jade ordered to the bartender.

You flipped through to look at the drink she ordered and couldn't comprehend all the ingredients written, you just knew it was an expensive fancy drink.

"Uh.... I'll have that as well." you decided to not think too much and trust her choice.

Nervousness grew in you as you continued sitting with her and wondering what she was thinking, her face was unreadable with the poker expression she always donned.

"Well, I'm ready to hear your end of the deal. State your desire, Trailblazer~"

Jade rested her face on her held up palm against the table and looked at you with a smirk, waiting for you to speak. You fiddled with your fingers as you pondered over what to say, finding it difficult since you didn't expect to reach so far.

"Uh.... w-well, it isn't necessary that I have to ask for something, right? You can also ask anything from me."

Jade smiled and extended her hand to caress your hair strands, a blush appearing on your face.

"I have already requested drinks, haven't I? The agreement was that you will ask something from my wealth of intel and assets and I will ask an equal price in return— not the other way around."

You pursed your lips and averted your gaze realizing the situation was inescapable. Right after, the bartender placed both of your drinks in front of you. Jade picked up her glass and brought it close to you, "Cheers?~"

You hurriedly picked up your glass and clinked with hers, "Cheers."

You looked at the drink inside and contemplated how it tasted, while Jade had already taken a sip and let out a relaxed hum.

"A potent brew, just what I needed after that heated match~"

You also took a sip after her comment and to your surprise, it was delicious and refreshing while not having a strong alchohol flavor.

"So? Have you decided what you want?~" Jade probed you more. You decided it was better to come clean and tell the truth.

"I.... I'm sorry, I don't really have anything to ask from you. I truly didn't expect to reach so far and that you were really serious about this. My apologies for wasting your time."

You expected Jade to become distressed and mock you but instead she simply smiled more and cupped your face, her fingers stroking your cheek.

"What happened to the boldness you had before? There must be something you desire~"

Her hand dropped to caress your chest before settling on your thigh and rubbing it while she leaned closer to whisper in your ear.

"Surely you must have a reason for leading me on that way, flirting with me so openly~"

Your face turned redder at her words and the close proximity, you could feel her breasts pressing against you this way and smell the scent of her bewitching perfume.

"I.... I didn't.... I was just trying to talk and know you better...."

"Then you should know I don't appreciate being deceived this way. I expected better from a Nameless~"

Her sultry voice flew in your ear and tickled your lobe, shivers going down your body realizing the dire situation.

"T-That's why I said you can ask me anything instead, I'll do it without any price...."

Jade leaned away and took another sip from her drink while you exhaled a deep breath and looked at her with a guilty expression.

"I really do apologize for this, I-I can g—"

"Shh~" she kept her index finger on your lips, stopping you from speaking. The same finger then traced your jaw before she grabbed your chin, her eyes staring into yours.

"Shall I dig up your desire then? Your reason for approaching me, for.....wanting to know me better?~"

You swallowed a lump and hesitated to look at her, feeling nervous about what she really knew. She smirked more and released your chin but continued stroking your face with her fingers.

"So, you are all talk and no action, hm? Have you ever done this before?"

"Done what before....?"

"Courting someone."

Your eyes widened and you looked down, "N-No, never. Never really got the chance before...."

"And you chose me to be your first? Quite a high target you set for yourself~"

"I just.... I don't know what came over me either, I found you beautiful from the moment I saw you but I never really thought we'd have something. When you came here in the morning, I.... felt you were holding back due to the people present. I wish you played with me and also came in the picture, maybe I'd have been satisfied with that and never approached you now."

Your words tugged at Jade's heart, the honesty and sincerity impressed her and she was also a little surprised.

"S-So, um.... I'm really sorry for this. I know I disappointed you and wasted your time...."

Jade listened to each and every word you said before smiling to herself and extending her hand to touch yours, gently intertwining your fingers together.

"Well, lucky for you because....." she paused and leaned near your ear to whisper, "....You are exactly my type~"

Your face reddened up to your ears now, unable to comprehend the turn of events. She saw your flustered face and chuckled internally, "Certainly not what I expected the special Trailblazer to be like but.... it's adorable~"

"Your type? I.... P-Please don't joke with me...." you averted your gaze.

Your reaction only fueled her more, an urge in her to claim you for herself. She smiled and took one last sip from her drink before standing up, "Accompany me somewhere~"

You nodded and finished your drink as well then indicated to the bartender to take care of the payment. You then followed Jade as she walked to the lower floor of the ship before entering one of the guest rooms at the end of the corridor, you recognized it was the room she was staying at as you had met her there before. You became nervous thinking of what she had in mind, you didn't even know what kind of desire she found in you. You watched her walk inside the room and waited at the door for any kind of signal from her then suddenly heard a familiar voice call your name.

"Ah, Y/n! There you are! I have been looking for you everywhere!"

You saw that it was March and quickly went up to where she was standing instead of letting her come to you.

"What is it, March?"

"Where have you been? You missed Robin's show!"

"I was testing the game for Tinah. What are you doing?"

"I'm going back to my room to sleep, I'm really tired now." March said with a yawn.

Jade heard the commotion and came to the door to see you talking with March. She kept herself discreet and simply observed the way you conversed with her, realizing how different you were with her compared to herself. At the end, she saw March hug you and how naturally you returned the embrace while were too shy to initiate any kind of physical contact with her. You then bid farewell to March and came back to Jade's room only to see her standing at the door with her hat removed and eyes fixated on you.

"Ah, sorry about that. I just told her I will stay out longer for some work."

She smiled, "No worries, it's good that you informed her because you are certainly going to be staying away for long~"

"What....?"

Just at that moment, Jade grabbed your wrist and swiftly pulled you inside the room then shut the door close and pinned you against the nearby wall. You hissed from the force of being pushed, her body pressing against you and capturing you in between.

"Did you think I'd let you off so easily after your deception? It's been so long since someone dared to flirt with me and get me all worked up, surely you aren't going to leave me unsatisfied?~"

She pressed her knee between your thighs, rubbing up into your erection. A small gasp escaped your lips at her sudden actions, your mind becoming hazy by the moment.

"I.... I will do my best, ma'am...."

Jade smiled, "Good girl. Also, call me Jade from now on. If there is something else I want you to call me then I will tell you~"

"Okay, Jade...."

With that, Jade pressed her lips to yours and engaged in a rough kiss. She didn't wait anymore and was quick right off the bat, moving her lips with yours like a starved being and making it hard for you to breathe. Her tongue slipped in before you realized and was rolling with yours, your breaths mingling as she passionately kissed you. Her hands possessively held your face and tilted it as she pleased to kiss you deeper, not giving you any kind of control as she lead all the way.

"Mmmh.... J-Jade...." you moaned into the kiss, your chest heaving from the lack of air.

Jade released the kiss with a gasp hearing your struggle, her tongue licking up your lips and tasting you.

"That was just the start, my darling. Save your energy because I'm not letting you off the hook easily~"

Her knee pressed into your erection again, you knew she was doing this intentionally but it was hard to resist. As things continued, you found yourself being pushed onto the bed with Jade climbing on top and straddling you, your lips still connected together in a heated exchange. Her hands roamed all over your body as if she was desperate to tear every piece of clothing, she may as well do it if she was in the mood. She pulled away and sat up on your waist, gazing at you beneath her with a smirk and her thumb caressing your lipstick stained lips.

"Since you said you have never courted someone, is it also your first time doing this?"

"Uh, n-no, actually...."

"Oh, that's a surprise. A secret endeavour, I'm guessing?~" she started unbuttoning your shirt.

"N-No, it's.... complicated. It was basically an accident and I was told to forget about it in the end so...."

Jade noticed the sad look in your eyes and leaned down to peck your lips, "If it's a soft spot for you then I will not press it further. After all, I want you to enjoy this as much as I will. You can think of this as your first time if you want, I'll make it memorable for you~"

You didn't expect her to be so considerate and caring, you thought she only wanted to use you to satisfy herself and didn't care how you felt. You sat up as she pulled off your shirt and stared at your naked body with a smirk, you looked back at her clothed body in front of you and gathered enough courage to start unbuckling her belt to remove her coat.

"Mm, good job. Initiating this way shows you are at least interested. Now then...." she held your shoulders and pushed you down to lay flat, "....Relax and let me handle everything else~"

She pulled off her coat, exposing her half naked body to you covered by a set of black lace underwear and bra now. Your breath hitched looking at her beautiful body, your hands itching to touch her. Jade knew well enough where you were staring, and how aroused you were due to the way your cock strained against your pants and poked her clothed core. She bit her lower lip as she started grinding on your erection, pressing her clit against your shaft just the right away. She was about to unhook her bra when she noticed you trying to sit up and your hands attempting to hold her.

"M-May I....?"

She smiled and nodded, "Do the honors~"

She held your arms and guided them around her, essentially embracing her with your face buried in her breasts. You found the hook easily and unclasped it, finally revealing her beautiful perky breasts. She pushed her breasts up to envelop more of your face, your senses getting overwhelmed by her hypnotizing body scent and the softness of her breasts. You slowly grabbed them and started kneading them, squeezing them in your palms and feeling the way her nipples erected.

Jade sighed in pleasure and wrapped her arms around your head to pull you closer, you kissed all over her breasts before putting your mouth around her nipple and sucking. She arched slightly with a gasp as your tongue flicked over her nipple, your teeth lightly grazing it before sucking like a baby. Your hands continued squeezing them simultaneously, vibrations going up her body as pleasure overtook.

"Mm....that's a good girl.... You know it well e-enough, mhm!~"

You released her nipple with a pop and she wasted no time to passionately kiss you, your tongues dancing together while she resumed grinding against your bulge.

"Ngh.... c-can we please....?" you whined as you felt overwhelmed and found it difficult to hold back with your dick straining painfully in your pants. She grinned then held up your chin, "First you deceive me and now you are so desperate to relieve yourself? Tsk tsk, losing a lot of points here, Trailblazer~"

You knew what she was doing, you had come to understand the way things worked with her.

"....Yet you are still here and rubbing yourself on me, aren't you equally desperate?~"

Her icy blue eyes glowed with excitement, her hand snaking around your neck to grasp your hair lightly.

"There it is..... You should be more confident in yourself, you have quite a bit of charm~"

"W-Well, I'll keep working on that...."

Jade chuckled, "In any case, you'll have to work harder than this if you expect to be relieved~"

She then got off your lap and crawled to the side to rest against the headboard with her legs spread open. You turned around to sit in front of her then felt something forming around your neck and soon realized it was a collar connected to a leash in her hand.

Oh.

The realization dawned on you.

With a single yet strong tug, you were pulled forward and your face planted right between her porcelain legs. You could merely look up at her and see the devious smirk on her face, her eyes telling you enough of what she wanted.

"Ah, what an adorable sight. This position suits you~"

She brought her right leg up and traced your jawline with her foot, "There's a lot you have to make up for before you can even think to relieve yourself~"

You nodded and grasped her foot as it traced your face then sat up on your knees before beginning to plant light kisses down her foot up till her ankle. As you were caressing her skin, your eyes noticed a beauty mark on the outer side of her right ankle. It pleasantly surprised you since you'd have never seen this in normal circumstances as it was rather difficult to see, and you wouldn't really get a reason to see her legs this way. You kissed the beauty mark as well then moved up to kiss her calf while caressing her left leg and quickly switching to kiss it too.

"Hmm....good job....come further up now~" Jade ordered and you obliged, crawling closer between her legs while kissing up to her knee and thigh. Her plump thighs squished in your palms as you held them to spread her legs wider and look at her clothed core. You kissed and licked her inner thighs then grasped the waistband of her panties before looking at her, waiting for her permission. She thought for a moment and gave her agreement with a simple tug to the leash. You finally slipped off her black panties and noticed a string of essence sticking to them as you pulled.

Your mind muddled at the sight of her bare cunt, a cleanly waxed area of fair white skin with glistening folds and a throbbing clit waiting to be worshipped. You couldn't take your eyes off of how beautiful it was, your mouth watering at the thought of wanting to taste her already. An aromatic scent invaded your senses and made you further entranced, also heightened by the drink you had which started to take effect now.

"Enjoying the view, dear?~" Jade called out and came forward to cup your face.

You looked at her with begging eyes, like a desperate puppy that only wanted to please her owner. Oh, how could she deny you when you looked at her this way? Her hand slid down to grasp the leash and you braced yourself to be pulled again but the force never came. You looked at her with a confused look and she only smirked, totally enjoying toying with you.

"Do you want me to guide you through every step like a mother, or will you bring out that bold side of yours again?~"

She leaned close until she was near your ear and whispered, "Oh, but the thought of you calling me 'mommy' is quite enticing, darling~"

Before you could process anything, the words fell from your mouth automatically.

"M-Mommy....please...."

Her eyes glowed once again, an icy glint that made you weak in your knees. Jade only grinned wider and dropped the leash before indicating you to do more. You kneeled down once again and were face-to-face with her folds now as you stuck out your tongue and gave a small lick to her clit. She didn't react to this small action, but you were obviously not going to stop anytime soon. You continued giving kitten licks to her clit and felt it throb against your tongue, more of her essence oozing out onto the sheet.

"Mmm...go deeper now~"

Her hand grasped your head with her fingers intertwining in the strands, she gently pulled you closer and buried your mouth against her folds with your nose bumping her clit. You wasted no time and started lapping up her folds with slow and sensual strokes, licking long strips with precise angles. Jade sighed and tilted her head back to rest on the headboard while her other hand played with her nipples, her eyes boring down on you as she intently watched. You then stretched her folds and inserted your tongue inside, immediately scissoring her hot walls.

She gasped out as your tongue explored her insides, stroking the spongy muscles while your lips wrapped around her clit and sucked on the bundle of nerves. You finally received a reaction from her, her thighs started trembling as they closed around your head. Jade bit her lower lip feeling you go even deeper, touching as far as you could before plunging your tongue in and out. She grasped your hair tighter and her other hand pulled on the leash again, a startled hum escaping you and sending vibrations into her.

"Yes.... right there— hmm....more....~"

You pushed deeper and thrusted faster while your thumb rubbed and pinched her clit simultaneously. Jade didn't expect you to be so good at this, it had been a very long time since someone would be able to make her cum. She loved the sight of you being so focused on pleasuring her, if you had a tail then it would probably be wagging like crazy now with how much you loved this. But she wanted more, she wanted complete control over you- as if she didn't have it already.

"Aaah....stop~"

She pulled your head away right when you were going to make her release, but before you could question her, she pushed you to lay on your back and climbed on top of you. The change in position happened in the blink of an eye and she was straddling your face now with her core right above your lips. She said nothing and dropped her hips as you held out your tongue just at the right moment and entered her, she moaned out loud and started riding your face.

The view was ecstatic for you, watching her body writhe above as her breasts bounced and her face contort in pleasure. You held her thighs and pulled her even deeper now, her hands grasping your hair to stabilise herself while she continued grinding on top. Her hips sought her release like a wild animal, her head shooting back as the knot in her stomach threatened to snap. She pulled your hair harder as she ground herself more, dropping all of her weight on you with no care.

Melodic whines and moans filled your ears, everything about her was perfect and you wanted more and more as time passed. Then, a sudden gasp fell from your mouth as she palmed your erection, feeling your rock hard dick strain in your pants. She smirked as she rubbed your shaft and could feel pre-cum staining through the fabric, she knew you had been held back for too long, but she wanted you to wait a little longer.

"Haaah....j-just like that....make mommy cum and I'll take care of you. You want that, r-right.... mommy will reward you so well~"

Your last bit of sanity snapped now, your tongue thrusted and sucked harder than ever to make her release. Jade leaned forward and pulled your hair tightly as her release finally approached, her sweet essence spilling all over your mouth as a sultry moan resounded in the room. You licked up each and every drop, cleaning her completely as if you were drunk on her essence. She panted out on top of you as she came down from her high while gazing at you, her hands caressing your head lovingly while cooing.

"You did well.... I knew there was something that made you so special, aside from the Stellaron inside you~"

She got up from your face and looked at her juices staining your lips as you licked up all of them before sitting up yourself and breathing in and out. It was the first time you had such an intense experience, but you would do it again and again for her. Jade was now focused on your erection that had been raring to be out since forever now, she was surprised you hadn't just cum in your pants after all that. She smiled and held your face then kissed you passionately, your tongues rolling together.

While kissing, she pushed you back down and laid on top of you. Her hands caressed your body while sliding down to unbutton your pants and finally free your cock, the shaft immediately standing up and poking her ass. She chuckled then released the kiss before going down to kiss your neck and chest, planting several kisses and bites everywhere. She licked down your belly and reached your abdomen then sat up as she was face-to-face with your cock.

"Hmm, how should I pay you for your services now? Perhaps something equal in return?~"

You didn't care what she did, you were just desperate to cum now. Her hand wrapped around your shaft and started pumping it slowly, she watched more pre-cum gather on the tip and the way it throbbed when finally given attention. It was cute just like you, and your reactions were even cuter as she kept pumping it. She then placed a kiss on the tip and proceeded to kiss all over the length and between the sac. Your body shuddered at her ministrations, even the minimal stimulation to your dick was too much now.

"P-Please.... I can't hold on more! I need to—!~"

"Just cum then, nobody is stopping you~"

She whispered against your dick, her voice sending vibrations in you and you burst out. Your cum spilled all over her hand, some drops even staining your stomach and thighs. You breathed out hard as you calmed down, your mind being fuzzy from the orgasm. Jade half expected you to go down for a while now but as she would have wanted, you became hard again rather quickly. It was obviously due to her presence, she knew you won't leave her just like this. She licked off your cum from her hand then faced your cock again.

You had barely pulled yourself together when you gasped out as Jade licked a long strip from your sac to the tip, caressing a prominent vein. Gratifying sensations surged through you, her tongue kept licking in a similar manner until your entire cock was lubricated by her. Then without any signal, she wrapped her lips around your tip and swallowed it. Your eyes blew open in pleasure, your hips almost bucking up but you held back.

Jade tucked her hair behind her ear as she continued mouthing your cock, her tongue swirling over the tip as she slowly pushed down. Your length and girth was clearly above average, she was glad to have picked you. She hummed as she took you in further and her tongue kept licking all over before she finally hit the base, your cock nestled deep in her mouth. Hot breaths and vibrations hit your cock, the feeling of her mouth was simply heavely.

You watched as she sucked your cock, then suddenly she looked up and your eyes met. You could feel her smirking as her eyes narrowed just then; oh, she was going to milk you dry, wasn't she? You clenched the sheet and braced yourself. Then, it hit you like a flood. She started bobbing her head up and down your length while sucking the tip and swirling her tongue around- everything at the same time. And, as if that wasn't enough, she also stroked your sac at the same time.

Your mind plunged in unbelievable pleasure, you didn't know anything like this was possible. Jade pushed herself down to the hilt, so much so that she almost touched your crotch. Your cock was deep inside her throat at this point, and she was handling it flawlessly. She hollowed her cheeks as she sucked on the head, sounds of intense sucking and slurping echoing in your ears. She was way better than you anticipated.

"Aaah! J-Jade you are doing it t-too much! I can barely—! Oh fuck!~"

You moaned out, your mind becoming more hazy as she continued. She didn't stop even for a second, merely humming something incoherent. Your eyes rolled to your skull as you approached your release again, and just then she finally pulled off with a pop.

"Haah.... I may be a little rusty but my skills remain.... You haven't even seen the real deal yet, sweetheart~"

"I...don't think I'd be able to survive you in your prim— ohhh fuck!~"

You had barely gotten a few words out when she swallowed your cock once again. She slurped and sucked on the tip faster now, feeling the way it throbbed inside her throat and knowing you were close.

"Jade.... I'm going to....t-there's a lot!~"

You expected her to pull off but she instead stayed and kept your cock inside her throat as you finally released once again. Hot and thick strings of cum went down her throat and she didn't waste a single drop as she drank every bit, even licking off the remains from your shaft and cleaning it. She did exactly what you did for her, an equal price as promised. She pulled back with a sigh of pleasure, licking her lips to clean any residual cum. You could do nothing but gaze at her, feeling even more aroused just seeing her.

"Mm, delicious and thick.... Clearly, you have a lot of potential~"

You sat up while catching your breath, "Is this.... is this satisfactory for you?"

Jade raised an eyebrow, "So soon? Don't tell me you are already tired, I was told you have quite a lot of stamina~"

"No, I'm okay. It's just.... w-well, do you really want to continue beyond this?"

She seemed to understand what you meant, it wasn't surprising to her that you'd think to stop now since both of you weren't lovers. She smiled to herself then grasped the leash on your collar again and pulled closer, making you fall on her that your face was buried in her breasts.

"Very considerate of you, but you should save such considerations for others." Her hand caressed the back of your head soothingly as she spoke, a feeling of comfort arising in your body.

"I just want to make sure you are okay with this...."

She smiled more then pulled up your face by your chin and pecked your lips, "If I wasn't, then you wouldn't still be here. But what about you? I told you that you can consider this as your first time, I don't think stopping here will be fair~"

"I don't really care about that.... It's up to you, whatever you want I will do it."

She smirked then gripped your shoulders and pushed you back with enough force that you were laying on the bed once again. You winced and before you could react, she climbed on top of you again and straddled you with her core placed directly on your softened dick.

"Then we will continue. I'm still not satisfied and...." she paused and leaned down near your face, "....Neither are you~"

She started grinding on your softened shaft to make it erect, her dripping folds creating just the right amount of friction for you both. You groaned and in just a few moments became hard again as per her liking. She licked her lips then positioned your dick to her core as she stood up on her knees and started dropping down slowly, you felt your tip part her folds as she sunk and already felt overwhelmed by the tight and slippery feeling.

"There's no backing out now, not for me....." she announced then sunk on your length with a single push, taking you all the way in, "....Or for you~"

Your eyes blew open at the sensations of her warm and spongy walls enveloping your shaft, while she still remained fairly composed despite feeling quite stuffed. She found you rather cute as she rose to her knees again then pushed your cock inside at an agonizing pace. Jade fucked herself on your erection leisurely with the same sweet smile that had fooled you earlier, and had you not been inside of her, you'd have never guessed how thoroughly dripping she was. But the slow movements were short lived as she increased her pace soon and was bouncing on your cock wildly. She squeezed around you as she ground her hips forward, grinding on your length and feeling the friction rub inside her.

"Oh.... y-you are good.... Aaah this is what I wanted....mmh!~"

She moaned and continued riding you with the same speed and force. It was her stamina, vigor and the fact that she was capable of becoming this way that surprised you way more. Her hips bounced with a fervent need, sounds of skin slapping and moans of pleasure flying off the walls and filing your ears. You then placed your hands around her waist and helped her thrust by pulling her up and down in sync with her own movements. Jade smirked then held onto the leash connected to your collar and pulled you to sit up before wrapping her arms around your neck and kissing you.

"T-This is your desire.... aaahn.... your deep hidden desire and your reason to approach me~"

You didn't want to believe her but you could see it being true, it was no wonder you didn't know it yourself. But now that the cat was out of the bag, you also didn't want to hold back anymore. You held her hips and stopped her for a second then thrusted up into her all of a sudden, earning a sultry gasp from her and her head falling on your shoulder. She resumed bouncing on your cock while you also thrusted up and made a perfect rhythm of your bodies. Her sickly sweet voice moaned in your ear, her hands clenched your back with her nails scratching down your skin. You hissed as she clawed you but that only made you fuck her faster and harder.

"I-I'm close— ngh!~" you groaned.

"Inside.... come on.... show me what you got, Trailblazer!~"

"Is it.... hngh.... r-really okay....?!"

"Of course.... aaahn! I wouldn't have let you done it unprotected otherwise!~"

You wrapped your arms around her waist and pulled her even closer than before, embracing her tightly and burying your face in her neck as you made your final thrusts before stopping. You buried yourself deeply as you came, thick ropes of cum filling her up. She bit down on your shoulder as you came inside her before planting kisses all over it up to your face. You panted out while holding her, still wrapped around each other like a pair of lovers. Jade hummed as she felt your cum fill her then drip out, the pleasurable feeling sending vibrations into her.

Then, something unexpected happened that she didn't see coming. You placed her on the bed right after with your dick still inside, her silky hair splayed as her back hit the mattress while you kept her legs around your waist and sat up slightly to position yourself properly. You adjusted your cock and pushed inside her again before stopping at the hilt as you gazed up at her, breaths uneven and sweat dripping down your forehead. She could see it in your eyes what you were going to do, and she had no reason to refuse.

You pulled out your shaft slowly until only the tip remained inside then thrusted forward hard, her body arching up from the force. You followed the same movement for a while, fucking into her slow and hard as if moulding her insides to the shape of your cock. But you knew this wasn't enough for her, and you were surprised she didn't tell you to go faster already. Perhaps she was enjoying the slow pace for now, feeling an unknown emotion swell up inside her. You didn't know what kind of experiences she had before, but maybe she had never been fucked like a lover.

She gazed at the sight of you above her, the focused look on your face as you drove yourself in and out to bring her to release. It was strangely comforting, the way you moved inside in all the right ways. But she was done with this feeling now. She held the leash and pulled you down but this time you stopped mid way by placing your hands on either side of her body, but the action made you go deeper inside her and a guttural moan to escape her throat. It was unlike any sound you heard from her before; oh, how you wanted to hear it more.

You crawled closer and placed her legs on your shoulders before driving in and out at a fast and harsh pace. Her body bounced off with every thrust, her thighs jiggling as you slammed forward and her breasts bouncing frantically. She moaned incoherently, letting herself be taken by you for this moment. The one and only Madam Jade gave herself to you fully and expected you to perform. You bucked into her and watched her eyes light up with sheer warmth as you quickly kissed behind her leg, the look on her face empowering you to thrust into her deepest crevice and watch as her face slackened with the pleasure.

"Mmm yes.... yes! Come on, is that all you got!? Show me your desire!~"

She pulled on the leash again and you ended up pressing her legs close to her chest in a mating press position, the angle making your cock go the deepest possible. Her hands roamed to grab your body, her legs locking around your waist and holding you in a tight hug. She initiated an open mouth kiss, your tongues messily mingling together before you pulled back to pound into her. The bed creaked with your frantic pace, your cock drilling at an animalistic pace and making her see stars.

She felt your cock throb inside and knew you were close again, she wasn't far behind either. You placed your finger on her clit at the last moment and started rubbing and pinching it, her body arching up in your embrace as pleasure shot through her from the sensation of her clit being touched. You knew she was very close now with the way her walls clenched around you, an iron like grip which made you groan deeply as you fought with all your strength to keep thrusting and fuck her through her orgasm.

It hit her like an electrifying surge, a dam broken as she came intensely with your cock still buried inside. The feeling of her cum on you made you instantly release as well, your hips bucking forward to press yourself to the hilt and shoot it all inside her. Your cum mixed together while you fell forward on her, her arms quickly wrapping around to hold you while you panted. She kissed your forehead and caressed your hair while smiling to herself.

"Well done. See, I told you there must be something you wanted from me, and it seems our desires aligned for tonight~"

You looked up at her with hooded eyes then suddenly went forward and kissed her, it caught her off guard but she reciprocated and kissed back with equal passion. You then laid beside her with your face close to her neck, cradling into her like a body as exhaustion took over you. She pampered you in return, kissing all over your face then hugging you after pulling the blanket over you both. She didn’t know what came over her that she let you be in control, but she wasn’t really against it because of the way you responded. She watched as you closed your eyes, her hand patting your head in soothing motions.

“Just... give me a moment.... I’ll be ready to go again....” you mumbled, making her chuckle in return.

“I think it’s enough for tonight. While I am eager to drain you, I don’t want it to be tonight. For now, you have satisfied me enough and paid me back in full with interest. I will wait for the next time we meet and hopefully have a deal~”

You nodded with a smile then she laid near you and closed her eyes as well, both of drifting to sleep while holding each other. The next morning hit you with a throbbing headache as your body was still recovering and your muscles barely able to move, you sat up on the bed and looked around before your sight was overtaken by your partner’s face as she sat up beside you as well, both of you still naked. The sight of her in the morning was marvellous, her silky pink hair scattered while her skin glistened, her breasts barely covered by the sheets.

“Good morning, had a nice sleep?~” she asked while cupping your face.

“Yes, are you okay? Should I help with something?”

Jade smiled, “I’m fine. That is not enough to break me, but perhaps next time you will come close~”

Your mind muddled at her words, was there really going to be a next time?

“Next time.... you say that as if you are really sure we’ll meet again.”

“Hm, I am quite sure. Our paths are bound to cross again.”

“Will we.... really have the same relation then?

“That is up to you. What we had last night was personal, something outside of the IPC’s eyes. I cannot say I get chances like this often.”

You looked down in distress, “So.... we can’t date? You know, like a proper relationship....”

Jade’s eyes almost widened in shock but she held back that expression and instead smiled.

“That is not what you desire, Y/n. I know it. There is someone else that’s in your heart, the one who truly occupies it.”

You looked at her in surprised then averted your gaze, “I.... I don’t know. My desires can change, right? At this moment, I want you- mmph!~”

She kissed you before you could continue, essentially shutting you up.

“I appreciate your feelings, but no. This cannot become anything more. You and I may meet again but we are still on separate paths. I don’t mind doing this again when we meet, but you must know it can never be anything more.”

You couldn’t refute her in any manner; you knew no matter how much you said otherwise, she was right.

“Alright, I understand....”

Jade looked at the sad expression on your face, a strangely similar feeling bubbling up inside her as well but she brushed it off.

“Now now, don’t show me that face. Come here~” She pulled you into her embrace, keeping your head close to her chest. She held you that way for a while then let go after kissing your cheek.

“Ah, that reminds me. There is one other thing you want, right?~”

“What...?”

You didn’t know what she was referring to but you soon found out as she brought out her phone and opened the camera app before holding it up in a selfie position.

“Smile now, you are so cute when you smile~”

You blushed at her words then smiled while looking into the camera, she put her arm around you and pulled you close making your cheeks touch as she finally clicked a few photos. You were looking through the photos with a smile while she gazed at you and pondered over certain things, she couldn’t describe what feelings she had when being with you. But one thing was clear, you now belonged to her. You handed back the phone to her and she suddenly made you turn around to face your back to her. She summoned her lipstick in hand then came forward to write something on your back with it. You blushed feeling the cosmetic write on your body, you were aware she signed all documents this way but you didn’t know what she wrote on you.

“There we go, the contract is complete~” she mused once she finished writing.

“Contract? What did you write?” you tried to look behind but couldn’t see at all.

Jade chuckled, “You’ll find out~”

You parted ways with her after taking a shower and getting ready together. You were back at the Astral Express where you had to explain lot of things to your companions but were able to make them understand with a few excuses. You went back to your room and immediately took off your shirt then stood in front of the mirror to look at what she wrote but still couldn’t see it properly by turning over. You then resorted to clicking a picture of your back in the mirror and were finally able to see what she wrote:

‘Mine- Eve~’

The dot on the ‘i’ was made with a heart, and the name Eve was written as a signature just below the word. The signature was very similar to Jade’s official signature, and you realized rather soon what this meant. You became flustered right away, but at the same time felt closer to her after finding out such a personal thing about her. And of course, the fact that she considered you hers. You were looking forward to meet her again. Perhaps you’d prove her wrong next time and have a change of desire.

[watchersleuth]

I didn't think I'd use this blog to make a post like this, but I'm seeing more and more comments and posts criticizing Watcher for their recent decision to layoff their production staff, and I want to try to explain some things. I also have experience working in film and television production so I hope that's helpful in this case.

For background, on March 17, 2025 people discovered via LinkedIn that Katie LeBlanc had ended her employment with Watcher. This, of course, caused some alarm.

I'm not in the habit of sharing things posted in the Wiscord, but Shane did let everyone know an important detail that I think is getting overlooked

I want to point out the part where he said that they were taking some "full-time positions and converting them to freelance"

Note: Almost every US television show that you watch from a major network runs on a freelance model

Yes, that one that you're thinking of right now. Also that one. Most exceptions to this would be a show like a news program or talk show that runs year-round and doesn't only film for a few months out of the year. When a crew member is freelance and one job ends, they use their networking connections to find another job. That's the way it's been done for over a hundred years in Hollywood.

This isn't ideal for everyone, for many reasons. And of course it would be preferable to live in a society where we valued creative work and people could get steady employment and benefits from being in this, or any artistic, field.

That's why Watcher hired folks on full-time as soon as they could. Remember in the 2022 Making Watcher when Steven talked about how they doubled their staff from 10 to 21 and how they were reinvesting into their own company? That was by design to try to give as many creative folks a shot at a regular full-time gig and I'm so proud of them for that!

Knowing this, I would bet that Watcher didn't WANT to convert anyone to freelance positions. People need to stop talking about the layoffs like this is something they wanted to do. They told us last year that they were launching the streamer to stay afloat, because YouTube isn't as beneficial as it used to be for creators.

Not to sound parasocial, but if you think that any of the Watcher Founders wanted to layoff the staff that they've worked with for years - people that have been with them since Worth It and Unsolved - then you don't know them at all.

Even if you think that they laid off everyone just for fun, consider that now when Watcher wants to film a new season of say Puppet History they will need to ask their previous staff if their schedule aligns with their filming time so they can be hired on to work the shoot. If not, they will have to advertise or go word of mouth, to find crew. That's more time and resources spent to staff a shoot than pulling from their regular crew.

TLDR; There's no controversy behind this news. This is normal for many media companies and is what Watcher had to do to remain in business.

It's not ideal, and I wish the streamer would have been so successful that they could've went the other direction like they planned all along - to bring on new hosts and make the diverse shows they've wanted to since 2019.

If you want to help Watcher:

-Subscribe to Watcher TV if you can. They've been running constant promo deals for the past year so if you do get an annual subscription make sure you use the discount code. The banner is always on top of the site.

-Subscribe to their main and podcast channels on YouTube

-Watch the videos as they get uploaded to YouTube, even if you're already a Watcher TV subscriber. Try to watch within the first day or two of uploading to push it up the algorithm. Make sure you "like" it and leave a positive/friendly/funny comment too! YT is looking for engagement and watch time, so the likes and comments help. And so does watching the video all the way through. (Bonus: Watcher has been using audience comments from videos on their social posts and it's fun to see what they choose!)

-If you're short on time or don't want to rewatch a video you already saw on the streamer you can always put it on a separate tab on your browser and mute it. Let the new videos or your favorite playlist stream in the background while you surf the web!

-Share their videos with friends, family, co-workers, etc. The more people that watch them the better! The Watcher channel is one of the more diverse that I've seen on YouTube so there's something for everyone.

-Make posts about what you enjoy about their shows and you'll find more friends that way.

Thanks for everyone who read this far. Comments are open if anyone wants to ask general production questions and I'll try to answer. Probably can't speak for Watcher specifically but maybe I'll know the answer from a Making Watcher video I can point you to.

And if you read all of this and still feel like you want to choose chaos (ie. harassing Watcher via their social media posts with accusations about the economy that they can't control) then I would urge you to direct that energy at your elected officials no matter what country you're in, find a fandom you enjoy engaging with instead, and maybe go touch some grass.

[walsuf]

"...and what brings you here?" asked the paladin, his chest still heaving. His breaths were visible in the crisp morning air, puffing out in thick clouds and dissipating into nothing. His sword was jerkily pulled out from the mountain beast he'd just slain, and was almost immediately dressed with an off-colored cloth to wipe it clean.

Dark Choco watched him with a minor look of disdain and next to no interest in answering back. He kneeled down to pull his pack out of the snow where he'd abandoned it earlier, and dusted it off with a few firm pats. He replied, "That's none of your business."

The paladin furrowed his brows, and not a moment passed before he spoke loudly again, "Well, I'm sure it must be a noble cause, whatever it is."

Dark Choco paused, recalculating. "...Noble?" What the hell would give him that idea? Last Dark Choco recalled, he was anything but that. His past was long and convoluted, and he'd prefer to keep it out of the way as he travelled. Digging up old memories wasn't exactly a fun experience.

"Yes, you're a knight, are you not?" The paladin asked, scanning Dark Choco up and down.

"Not anymore," Dark Choco huffed, easing his backpack onto his shoulders. The weight of it distracted him from his lack of sword. He had no intention of getting a new one.

"Ah," the paladin's speech faltered, "you compose yourself like a knight, is all. May I have the courtesy of knowing your name?" With his sword back in its sheath, he bumbled his way over with far too much energy, kicking up snow in his way. From the looks of it, his boots weren't built for the cold. They were plated in white armor, far too extravagant for anything from the Cacao Kingdom.

"No," Dark Choco said, shaking his head, "I'd rather not say."

"Then I won't make you. You may call me Madeleine." Madeleine held out a hand, a big grin on his freckled face. He had dimples.

Dark Choco reluctantly shook it, surprised by how firm his grip was. The paladin was strong; that should be enough to get him through the routes, even with the upcoming cold front. If he could handle the monsters, it should be alright.

He let go of the hand in favor of digging his compass out of his pocket, reorienting himself northwest. "Well, it was interesting meeting you... Madeleine..."

"Wait," Madeleine blurted, looking down over Dark Choco's shoulder, "I believe we're going to the same town."

Dark Choco sidestepped and faced him, already having an idea where this was going. "No, I don't have enough provisions for two." Hell, he hardly had enough for himself. The recent snow storm came faster than he anticipated, and he'd fallen short while waiting for it to pass. He couldn't take a traveling partner if he wanted to.

"That shouldn't be a problem, I have enough for myself," Madeleine said, "I packed for a long journey."

Dark Choco hummed to himself. If that was the case, it might be worthwhile to look into. He could be useful. "Do you have extra firestarters?"

"I do."

"Soap?" Dark choco tried. He'd run out a while back, and he desperately needed more.

"Of course!" It was no wonder with how nice his hair looked; it was definitely well maintained.

"Good. I would like some. In exchange..." Dark Choco pocketed his compass, "I can guide you. I know this area."

Madeleine nodded, the fresh snow crunching under his boots as he walked ahead. "Then its settled. I look forward to being in your care."

Dark Choco fell in step beside him, sighing heavily. These next few days were going to be long ones.

Part 2

[endgamelukola]

DAY 2:

I think the astrology of Luke and Nic says a lot of things about them as individuals and how they could potential interact with each other that is pretty fascinating.

My disclaimer here is that astrology is a fun personality test-type thing to me. I do not make major life decisions or hold heavy weight in it, but if I can explain why people are buttholes by learning that Mercury is in Retrograde YET AGAIN, bess believe I'mma do it. It really just provides a way to think about how we're influenced by where the world was at in the universe when we were born. And if you're rolling your eyes and saying 'omg, astrology is so dumb, people can't be lumped into categories that way' I would ask WHERE'S THE AQUARIUS IN YOUR CHART? lol I'm playin.

ANY WAY. I'm not an astrology guru of any means, so if you're looking for a LUKOLA ASTROLOGY CLASS, I recommend onesagesview on YouTube because that woman goes so deep into the weeds that even I haven't watched all of her analysis. What I think is worth knowing is the big three of each, because they give an estimate of how an individual operates within the world around them.

So from my limited knowledge, the big three of astrology are your RISING SIGN, your SUN SIGN, and your MOON SIGN. The most surface level people usually know is their sun sign. For example, if you haven't already clocked my sign, just know I'm born in August three days after Rory (i don't wanna talk about it, THE MEN ARE DIFFERENT OK). More about the big three though: the moon sign represents your inner world, the sun sign represents your core self, and the rising sign represents your outward persona and/or how others see you.

Nicola is a Taurus Moon (earth), Capricorn Sun (earth), and Aquarius Rising (air). So this confirms me a lot of what we already know about Nic, and gives more room for looking at other parts of her chart as well since it fits like a Cinderella shoe.

Nic is the first to admit she loves a good trailer nap, and combined with her response in a red flag interview of someone using a 3-in-1 for their shower, I'd say that Taurus moon shines bright. In my experience, Capricorns are genuine human beings who don't sugarcoat themselves for others. I've come across a few TikToks analyzing how women in society have been fed the message of not being "too much" and I'd say the Capricorn is the antithesis of this, but not in a loud or intentional way, if that makes sense? They're just who they are. And they really don't have time to be anyone else, and that shit is admirable in my book. So another point in the confirm column for how it aligns with Nic. She may be damn good at portraying other people, but best believe there's no mistaking who she is off camera for those closest to her. Finally, that Aquarius rising is that salt bae moment on top! Aquarians are concerned with everyone else, but again, not in a loud or intentional way. They're naturally dispositioned to look at the world and mine it for their causes. This is the humanitarian element we see, I think, where Nicola isn't afraid to stand firmly behind the causes she believes in, regardless of how others may view her.

Then mix that combination together, Taurus + Capricorn + Aquarius and you've got someone who is down for a good time at home (whether home is a place, a group of people, etc) and will not allow their peace to be disturbed. If their peace is disturbed? Expect to hear about how you crossed the line and how you won't be doing it again. (ex. normalize not filming people in public *kisses*)

So that's my yap about Nicola's big three! Nothing new here, folks, but I'll review Luke's tomorrow because I LIKE TO YAP.

Merry Lukola-mas!

[fascinatedscrawls]

Take a Byte

"Huh." Danny stood up straight and leaned sideways, simultaneously standing on something flat and nothing at all. "Well, that's different."

Floating up (for a given definition of the word) a little he tried reaching out to what he was going to call the 'ceiling', but maybe 'screen' was a better word?

"Different?" The question was a little muffled, the view of Tucker's frown was almost too clear though. And big. "Different how? We've done this before."

"Yeah, but usually only when I'm too busy fighting Technus to look around." Danny pointed out, doing just that. Turning away from the mind bogglingly large view of his friend's face, Danny tried to orient himself. It was difficult to do in a place he knew was 2D even though his eyes insisted there was a third dimension. Viewing Tucker's PDA from the inside was always a bit odd.

Floating upwards, or maybe just to the left? Whatever, he made his way over to the list of application icons cluttering the floor/wall and tried to grab one. He felt the pressure of whatever it was for just a moment before the app - the calculator - opened up. Jolting above it in surprise, Danny reached out and hit the hilariously huge '8' button to see if he could.

"Dude, why do you have your calculator on your main screen?" Danny teased, ignoring Tucker's sigh as zipped down to hit the '0' twice.

"Because I don't like bringing a separate one to math class, which we have nearly every school day. You know that." A finger loomed large and Danny was quick to move to the side as Tucker tapped out of the application, each interaction causing a little zap of electricity between the screen and the PDA's display.

"Fair." He made a mental note to try and avoid that if at all possible. Sure, the arc seemed to start at the floor instead of Tuck's finger, but probably not fun to be near either way. "Can you open a webpage? So far Technus has stayed mostly local, but if he ever gets the bright idea to surf the web to different locations I'd like to have some experience navigating the place."

"Sure." Tucker used the stylus this time, the plastic pen coming down like one of his parent's inventions and zipping here and there as a browser opened below Danny's feet. A webpage opened, then another as Tucker entered in an address.

"Whoa, hang on." Danny flew closer as Tucker hesitated before clicking through a pop-up banner.

"What?"

"It's just," putting one hand on the edge of the banner, Danny trailed off as he looked closer at the bottom side of it, the one hidden from the screen. "Dude, when they say cookies, I didn't know they were literal?"

"They aren't." Tucker asserted confidently. "Or, rather, they are but only in the technological version."

"Hm, are you sure?" Sniffing a little, Danny tried to identify the small package full of delicious looking baked goods hanging from the banner. Chocolate chip definitely, but maybe with a ginger snap thrown in? It smelled spicy.

"Man, no one would know how to code in actual cookies to a webpage, especially not the local news station." He brandished the stylus again only to huff exasperatedly when Danny flew up to wave him off. "Come on, you have to be pulling my leg."

"Are you talking to your PDA again?" Danny could hardly hear Sam's question, but it did a nice job of distracting Tucker.

Danny flew to the little banner as Tucker tried defending himself against Sam's teasing and flipped a few options before accepting the necessary cookies. When the final button was pressed a little bag of cookies (just the chocolate chip ones, it looked like) dropped from the banner into his hand. Opening it up, he inspected one (yep, looked like a cookie) before taking a bite.

"Uh, whatcha got there Danny?" Sam asked filling the ceiling with her suspicious look, Tucker clearly having turned it her way to 'prove' he was talking to Danny.

"A cookie!" The words were a bit hard to get out around the mouthful, but he was sure the one he held up to showcase got the message across.

"What?" Tucker appeared again in a blur. "Danny, where did you get those from?"

"The webpage." Sometimes Tucker asked the dumbest questions. "I told you they were real."

"Cookies aren't - they don't - it doesn't work like that!"

Sam took the PDA from Tucker when it was clear he was having a crisis. She left him to his mumbles and instead asked, "Are they good? Do you know if they're vegan?"

"They're alright," Danny put another one in his mouth to try and pin down why they weren't great as he read the back of the package. "A bit stale, I guess. And, uh, no idea on the vegan part - this just says they're made from 'top quality ones and zeroes'."

"There's advertising on the webpage cookies?"

They both ignored Tucker's baffled question as Sam thought his response over, a frown forming before she asked, "Wait, aren't you just ones and zeroes when you're in there?"

"Theoretically. That's what Tucker believes at least."

Her frown turned a bit disgusted.

"Does that make eating the cookies cannibalism?"

That made Danny hesitate. He held the cookie he was about to eat out in front of him and inspected it for a beat, then remembered every other time they discussed cannibalism recently and popped it in his mouth anyway.

"Can't be worse than needing to drink ecto, right?"

Sam scrunched her nose up, but clearly remembered how she didn't win that fight, especially after Frostbite brought out the 'medically necessary' parts. The PDA was snatched back before she could respond and Tucker's face was even closer than before, his eye nearly the size of Danny.

"Danny! You don't know what's in those! I didn't see which ones you allowed, what if they have trackers in there?!"

There weren't, Danny made sure of that, but seeing Tucker all worked up was kind of funny so he just shrugged.

"Would that mean they could track him outside of your PDA though?"

"That's it, I'm pulling you out." Tucker started the process and Danny responded by shoving the last of the cookies he was holding in his mouth. "Danny! Stop that! No!"

Chewing faster (and nearly choking in his haste) Danny managed to swallow them down before being hurled back into reality, the switch from 2D to 3D making him stumble right into Tucker's hands, where his friend shook him by the shoulders frantically.

"Spit them out!"

"Keep that up and I might hurl them at you, but in the least pleasant way possible." All the shaking was making him a bit sick.

"Why would you do that?" Tucker let go of him to put a hand to his hat. "Who knows what they translated to here!"

Smacking his lips a little, Danny brushed a few crumbs from his hands then reached in his pocket to retrieve the package and the final cookie he kept inside it, still chocolatey if a bit crumbly. "Looks to me like they're still cookies."

"Hm," Sam grabbed it and inspected the packaging for herself. "Do you think this makes them vegan and cruelty free or does being a cookie from a corporate webpage cancel that last part out?"

Danny hummed as Tucker snagged the package to freak out over, before offering, "I could try to grab one from a non-profit next time?"

"No," Tucker cut in. "Stop taking food from strange websites! Jazz will have my head!"

"Spoilsport."

[justin-chapmanswers]

Was there a different way [like work flow and stuff like that] you guys wrote season 3 differently from season 2? If so will you continue that flow into season 2?

Also do you have any tips on how to mange an object show since you've worked on II for a long time?

[The voices you do in II are so funky and I mean this in the best way possible]

Thank you so much! My funky voices are incredibly grateful.

Near the end of the pre-Invitational season two, the process was generally that we'd talk out where we want to go next, have our big debates, and Brian and I would draft up an outline for the team. Then the writing would start and, as it was for almost every season two episodes before Invitational, the group would just jump into a Google Doc and we'd write, together, chronologically until we'd get burnt out. Some of us were thinking of the minutiae on-the-fly, some of us would draft up practice-scripts ahead of time to work off of. It was chaotic, but then we'd spend a long while reworking/rewriting scenes.

Starting with Invitational, things changed. Most notably, we started having one writer per episode instead of jumping into the chaos. Having four writers in at once didn't help, it just made things complicated. It was about learning to let go a bit and trust the rest of the team to do a good job. We'd still of course chat about the events well-ahead of time, but then the writer would be the one to outline and pitch that outline to the team before writing. And then in revisions, we'd give notes to the writer instead of individually taking cracks at scenes. That way, the whole episode became one person's singular artistic vision. By the end of Invitational, we also weren't doing the "have our big debates" part of the process, anymore. We still would push for ideas we're passionate about, but it's been a long while since we weren't agreeable and on the same page.

So then there's the question about season two. We've been generally sticking to the Invitational way of going about things with season two, except also with Brian and I being back on outlining, and it's been going really great! Before Invitational, the pre-writing and writing time used to be the longest parts of the episode process. And not because we were spending that whole time being productive. It was common that the pre-writing planning part of the episode would be a little intense so we'd often take breaks after the previous episode's completion (plus because it's nice to take time to clear our heads) as to not jump back into chaos. And then carving time for all of us to be in the space for hours at a time while balancing school/life was tough to schedule. That all to say, now, the writing process is efficient and super-not-chaotic (aka healthy!). Instead of a few months at that stage, we're there maybe like a month and a half, from early concept (aside from the stuff we've been thinking up for years already haha) to final draft. And that's all while we've been overlapping episodes that are each at different stages, with their own things to get done. I think what we've been cooking up is gonna be really special. <3

I've been rambling for a while so I'll (try to) keep this next part short. As for the question about managing projects, that's just a tricky one cause I'd normally tailor the advice depending on the scale of the project, the amount of experience for those going in, etc. But in a broad sense I'd say do everything you can to work specifically with the people who make you excited to work. Whose ideas inspire you. If you're leading, really try to understand every step of the process. Definitely trust parts of the pipeline to other people if it's not your cup of tea, but really understand what they do. Say thank you every chance you get. If you're having fun with your show, whether it be the goofiest or most-serious of all shows, the viewers will, too. Making each step of production an enjoyable experience is worth fighting for.

[stashandtell]

Some Recommendations for Fics That Influenced My Weasley-Ship Rankings

I ranked all my favorite Hermione/X Weasley Sibiling in my most recent post Nobody Asked For This: My Rankings of the Hermione x Weasley Ships with REASONS. Here are some recs to back my completely biased opinons. And now, you can read my fic, Ranking the Weasleys on AO3! - - - - As I sometimes mention on the internet, I keep a WILDLY long and fairly detailed spreadsheet of all the fanfics I've read. I've not been in the fandom long at all but due to life circumstances, I've had too much time on my hands since diving in and have allowed this special interest to wash over me and my whole life like the warm, scented water in the Prefects' giant bathtub. (I hit over 800 works read on my spreadsheet a few days ago and am going to do a numerical analysis and breakdown no one requested, so come back for the data if you're curious.) I've pulled some of my fave fics for my main Hermione x Weasley Sibling pairings -- though I have SO MANY MORE. All of these are mid-length to longfics (~30K-100k+ words, except for one) and are complete, unless noted. Normally I'd copy-and-paste the author's summary but since I'm going to be recommending many here-- I'll give you my 1-3 sentence take on the fic and encourage you to read the author's summary and tags. We're going in descending birth-order by sibling here to keep things tidy: Billmione: What's nuts to me about the Billmione ship is that I don't have a ton of fics I would enthusiastically recommend that explain why I love this pairing so much. I'm not a huge werewolf-ish fan, the age-gap isn't something that inspires my reading that much, and, to be completely honest, sometimes Bill is dry toast in a fic and replaceable with almost any other character. That said, for those of us who love a rare-pair, we feast on the scraps. We love the moments that fuel our headcanons and it's the cumulative experience of developing our own understanding of these characters that drives us into the arms of these fics more than anything. I had a difficult time pulling general recs for this ship, only because so few encapsulate what's I love about Hermione and Bill together (in my mind) in a singular work. I'll keep searching though and plug away at adding my 3 Billmione WIPs to offerings out there, to keep the flag flying. To be perfectly clear: These are GREAT fics I highly recommend. I just don't think of any one of them as the touchstone fic for my love of this pair (imo.) Still Strong by DietCokeofEvil, inspired by I Am Strong by floatsdelicately

Word Count: 38,780 / 19 Chapters

Summary: When Ron leaves Hermione without an explanation a month before their wedding, Bill returns the friendship and care she gave him when he and Fleur separated. They fall in love and build a life together.

My Comments: I read I Am Strong first and I have to say, I loved the two stories together. It's maybe even worth reading I Am Strong before Still Strong because that's how the publishing/inspiration-order goes.

Through the Ages by LadyBlack3

Word Count: 30,301 / 11 Chapters

Summary: Hermione and Bill team up to help research possible causes for a disease spreading through Charlie's dragon reserve and find themselves drawn to each other.

My Comments: This is a fun fic with a plot that keeps things moving. I love them coming together as full-fledged adults with their own lives.

I was torn on recommending Cairo Nights by GillianSteele instead of Through the Ages because they're both excellent examples of this ship, so I'll drop it here as an honorable mention if you're looking for more!

- - - - Charmione: There are SO MANY good Charmiones on my list but I need limits. I would say none of these are exactly emblematic of the typical well-loved Charmione fics, as they don't spend time on the Reserve-- but if you're looking for more recs, feel free to ask me on tumblr or leave a comment and I can happily suggest many more. Last Christmas by KittenShift17

Word Count: 17,079 / One Shot

Summary: Last Christmas, Hermione drunkenly snogged Charlie when she mistook him for Ron and shortly after she broke up with him. This Christmas, she's back at the Burrow and anxious to see Charlie again after thinking about him all year.

My Comments: This was one of the very first Charmione works I read and I recommend it to most my friends looking to get into the ship. As a hefty one-shot, it's a pretty satisfying fic with great Weasley banter and it's on my list of fics to re-read this winter when it's time to get cozy around the holidays. If you like this, check out I Saw Mummy (mind the tag) by Amebb42. Last Christmas is the shortest of all the fics I'm recommending.

Creature Comforts by neilstic

Word Count: 34,588 / 5 Chapters

Summary: Hermione and Charlie are both Hogwarts professors and are into each other. They are also good friends who get to do some fun time travel exploration thanks to the secrets of the castle.

My Comments: This fic is SO well written and snort-out-loud funny. I think of it often and it's not the typical Charmione fic, which is why I wanted to shout it out.

The Eventually Ever After Series by Huffleclaws19 deserves an appreciation post on its own and I HIGHLY recommend it of you're a fan of Charmione and Theomione. It's worth reading it in order. Merry Christmas to Me (the first in the series) is already on my Top-Tier List of all-time faves but the whole series arc is so, so good. Consider this a MOST honorable mention.

- - - - Permione: The Always Series by Simply_Lovely_Reader consists of two stories: Unlikely, which is Hermione's POV and Possibly, which is Percy's.

Word Count: Unlikely - 15,537 / 11 Chapters Possibly - 26,754 / 13 Chapters

Summary: Percy catches Hermione pleasuring herself to thoughts of him in his bed in the Burrow immediately before they start working together at the Ministry. Romance and pining occur.

My Comments: I was overjoyed to find that there was a Percy POV fic for this story but if you only pick one, read Unlikley, which is Hermione's POV.

Reflector by Calebski

Word Count: 39,692 / 7 Chapters

Summary: Hermione seeks Percy's help in finding career her path after the war they're both so changed by. He finds himself seeking her out as well as they develop a friendship and so much more.

My Comments: This author wrote one of my all-time top 3, won't-shut-up-about-my-love-for-it fics, Flourishing Devotion, a Nevmione canon re-write. I really dig their style (Venus Flytrap, another Nevmione is great too.) This Permione delivered.

- - - - Fremione: Fremione recommendations tend to fall in to a few buckets, which often overlap 1) Fred Lives 2) Fred Dies, per the canon 3) Canon rewrites of Fred & Hermione developing feelings during the Hogwarts years There are several WONDERFUL canon re-writes I'll include a few as honorable mentions.

Salve Amor by moonfairy13

Word Count: 31,974 / 20 Chapters

Summary: Hermione saves Fred's life with a bonding spell that can only be cast by someone who carries love for the person they're saving. She doesn't want Fred to know or feel tied to her so of course miscommunications and meddling ensue.

My Comments: The author, moonfairy13, has so many great fics worth checking out. What was great about this one is that the whole fic centers around the Fred Lives turning point.

I Can Love You Like That by LSU Sweetie

Word Count: 31,357 / 12 Chapters

Summary: Fred and Hermione are the last two single people in their friend group at the winter holidays. Hermione wants a relationship and is interested in Fred but has also started to get gifts from a secret admirer.

My Comments: I love a grown-up Fred and Hermione. LSUsweetie has some great works with different pairings and I particularly absolutely freaking loved Festive Fates. This is worth reading because the pairing is undisclosed, so you gotta read it to find out. Paraphrasing the author's summary: Hermione ends up pregnant after a night with a mystery man at New Year's Eve masquerade party right before she has to leave for a year-long work assignment. When she returns the following Christmas, she brings a baby with red hair to the Burrow and hopes to find answers.

Honorable Mentions, Canon Rewrites:

Don't You Know You've Got the Best of Me by raquains

Deal or No Deal by LetticeDouffet

Steel and Soft Smiles by TricksterGhost7 and its companion work, Little Glimpses

Oh So Many Years by fanfictionaries*

The Two Dropouts by tryingsss*

*Denotes a partial canon rewrite (aka ends early or starts later) - - - - Geormione: There were several great Geormione pieces I wanted to recommend but both of my recs relate to navigating Fred's death in very personal ways. That has tended to be the majority of what I've been reading in the Geormione space though there are other dimensions to this ship worth checking out. Like Fremione, there are some great canon-rewrites as well.

I have not started tackling the behemoth that is The Arithmancer by White_Squirrel yet or the rest of the series, though it's queued up as a reward once I finish some very longfics I'm working through... so I know I've read a lower % of the total completed fics on AO3 in the "Hermione Granger/George Weasley" relationship tag than Billmione, Charmione, and Fremione.

To Those Who Wait by Fictionallizzy

Word Count: 56,233 / 9 Chapters

Summary: After Fred's death, Hermione and George spend a forbidden night together which leads to much more than they both expected.

My Comments: In my ridiculous spreadsheet, I give a rating for my personal love of the story and another for the spice level. This is one that has 5/5 on both counts, the smut smuts 💋 and there's some juicy angst in there (my fave.)

In Case You Don't Life Forever by xLoveMx

Word Count: 24,724 / 12 Chapters

Summary: After the battle, Hermione and George are together and apart in their grief. She tries to prepare WWW to reopen and they finds she has to deal with Fred's ghost literally and metaphorically.

My Comments: I've read a few ghost!fred fics but I really loved this one. It was hard to select just one George-Falling-In-Love-While-Grieving fic and the extra dimension Fred's ghost added to this story made it stand out for a recommendation.

- - - - Multi-Weasley Pairings: In fics with multi-Weasley ships, they tend to fall into three buckets: 1) Siblings in competition 2) Love triangle or triad (v-shaped or triangle-shaped) 3) Reverse harems or multiple hookup partners I basically had to read through the majority of all the enticing completed long fics with ALL of the individual siblings I wanted to read paired with Hermione before I started reading multi-Weasley fics. BUT I'm glad I went there because there are some really interesting works that I enjoyed. Here's a fic rec for each bucket: 1) Siblings in Competition: Yours Til The Stars Fall From The Sky by Ronsboggart

Pairings: Fremione, Charmione

Word Count: 64,178 / 7 Chapters

Summary: Hermione and Fred are going to be together until a chance meeting at the World Quidditch Cups finds her and Charlie inexplicably drawn to each other.

My Comments: Mind the tags! This fic definitely has the underage warning on it, which I totally understand isn't everyone's thing. That said, the story of Fred and Hermione falling for each other despite the magnet-pull of Charlie really got me on board with reading Fremione works. Truthfully, I sort of didn't "get" the appeal of Fred until I read this story and for that I'm so grateful. I ended up loving the characterization of Fred and Hermione's love so much in this fic, it's definitely worth it imo.

Honorable Mention: Hot Girl Summer (shorter one-shot) by Anonymous 2) Love Triangle / Triad (V-Shaped): Hic Scunt Dracones by Amebb42 & ShadowAlt

Pairings: Billmione, Charmione

Word Count: 118,498 / 29 Chapters

Summary: On a curse-breaking expedition in a tropical paradise, Charlie, Bill, and Hermione find themselves working a case that puts them face to face with old magic. Both brothers find they care for the same woman and try to encourage her to choose between them.

My Comments: If you read my Ranking the Weasleys post, you know that I don't give a toss about dragons half the time and I REALLY loved the dragon storyline here. I sing the praises of Amebb42 in just a bit but ShadowAlt also has great stories. I enjoyed reading their author's notes in this too.

3) Reverse Harem: Where the Heart Is by Mother_of_Chaos

Pairings: Billmione, Charmione, Fremione, Geormione

Word Count: 40827 / 12 Chapters

Summary: Hermione, who has special abilities and works as an Unspeakable, receives a claiming werewolf bite while helping save a member of the Weasley family and becomes part of their pack.

My Comments: This work was recently completed this past August and was inspired by The Weasley Pack by Mrsmarauders02. Both are worth reading and center around werewolf and pack power. Mind the tags!

Reverse Harem Honorable Mention: Weasley Magic by Amebb42 I included only completed fics here but I have to shoutout the WIP that lives in head rent-free on a regular basis and that's Weasley Magic by Amebb42. This author has so many great works worth reading but this fic completely sold me on the Weasley reverse harem structure and inspired me to give other works a try. Plus, it's not based on a werewolf pack. Yes, the smut is smutty which is great fun, however, all of the characters are so well developed in this massive ensemble work. The Molly bashing-to-redemption is one of my favorite kinds of family angst and there are more relationships beyond Hermione + all of the Weasley siblings that adds delicious complexity to the story. Most importantly, the world mechanics, especially when it come to the Wizengamot, the inherited Weasley family magic itself, and Bill's new status is so, so interesting! I live for this fic . - - - - As For All The Other Hermione x Weasley Family Member Ships: You'll note from my post "Nobody Asked For This: My Rankings of the Hermione x Weasley Ships With REASONS" I don't consider myself well-read in ships with Hermione/Ginny or Hermione/Ron or some of the other family members, so no recommendations at this time. If you have recs, please share! I'd love to know what I'm missing out on or what your fave works are for different pairings.

Don't forget to check out the newest fic, Ranking the Weasleys on AO3!

[wanderingblindly]

do you ever read a fic that's so good you wonder why you even bother writing cause it will never be as good as what you just read? cause - and i mean this in the bestest most complimentary way possible - that's how i feel after reading october birds (truly genuinely you are so! so! talented!!!)

but i was just wondering if, as a writer, this is something you've ever felt and - if so - how you motivate yourself to keep writing

Oh my god YEAH I get writer envy all the fucking time -- it's par for the course when you're writing in a space with such an abundance of talent. Every writer I've talked to on here has talked about feeling the same thing at some point, too.

You are so so so far from alone. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's one of the most unifying experiences besides writer's block lol

There are a few ways I deal with this, though none of this advice is even remotely original:

What makes a story impactful isn't just the words

Sometimes I get writer envy on a level of like, feeling jealous over someone's eloquence, their word choice, the sort of maturity and polished-ness they get into their fics. And that's fair! Everyone wants to improve, everyone has styles and pieces they idolize and study from.

But when it comes to getting back into my own ideas, I remind myself that what makes a story isn't just the technicalities. The most beautifully executed novel could still fail to hold my attention if the idea isn't gripping. Hundreds of thousands of words of gorgeous prose and scenery doesn't mean anything to me, personally, if it doesn't make me feel.

What makes your writing special is the fact that you -- with all your unique experiences and perspective -- wrote it. You took the idea and made it your own, and no other person could do it exactly like you did. And that matters! The way you feel emotions, how you choose to show the world to the reader, that matters! You could hand a hundred authors the same outline, and no one would create the same story because none of them have lived the same life, and that's wonderful! All of that, the intangible bits, matters just as much as someone's artfully crafted a sentence -- so never forget that.

It's cruel to use others to belittle yourself

This doesn't just apply to writing, but I have to remind myself that using others to put myself down is, in a way, assuming things about them. Why have I decided that this other author, someone who's writing for fun and love, would look at me and say that they're better? That my writing isn't worth pursuing? Why would I put something so awful on another person who's only ever put good into fandom?

Similarly, why have I decided that the people who read, enjoy, and connect to my writing are, what? Devoid of taste? Dull? Wrong? Jesus, what the fuck have they done for me to think that about people who have only ever been kind?

As dumb as it sounds, I have to reverse bully myself to stop the negative trains of thought. I would never want to make someone out to be cruel in my head, and that means I can't decide my writing isn't worth something by using other people as a scapegoat.

Writing is a progressive skill

Sometimes when I'm struck particularly badly, I go read my old work. Frankly, I don't love a lot of my old stuff in terms of execution -- I always think that I could do it better now. But I love my old work for what it tried to be; I love my old ideas, I love my old characters, I love my old effort and care.

And as I look back at it, I know that if past-Liquid could read my current stuff, they'd be astonished to know they'd get there one day. My writing still isn't perfect, I'm constantly hitting my head up against the limits of my current skill set, but that's the POINT!

Every fic I've ever tried writing has been a step closer to becoming the writer I want to be. Every idea I attempt, even if it seems too difficult at the time to really nail, gives me the experience to do it better one day.

The author you're envious of right now, they had their own journey, too. Maybe they hit the ground running a little faster than you, or maybe they've been writing since before you could even read! You have no way of knowing!!!! All you can do is think about the fact that every time you get knee-deep in your own docs, you're getting better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're getting closer to becoming your own writer envy :)

[rarityroo]

Hoi, may I please ask for Pomni with a fem porcelain ballerina doll reader who despite being physically fragile, still likes to do reckless things like fighting against NPC villains (and Jax if he's being too mean), or dancing too roughly. Even though by the end of it, she still ends up breaking off a limb or two, or another piece of her porcelain body, so she often times needs to be patched up and glued/taped back together by a concerned Pomni

Put me together again

Pomni x fem!porcelain!ballerina reader

Hey! I hope you like this, I tried to include a little bit of everything in the request and also I hope this isn’t too short! There’s also a lil bit of angst but dw it resolved bc Pomni is very supportive and loving. Please send in more requests they keep me motivated, Enjoy! 🫶🏻

You've always been on the wilder side, despite being physically so fragile you always loved being more active, whether you were sent off on an adventure by Caine or stopping Jax's antics. You just loved doing things, unfortunately being made of porcelain wasn't the best material to be made of when you were being adventurous but you didn't mind that much. You just say you’ll be careful and hope for the best, this was enough for you although for Pomni it just caused her to be extremely worried, you didn’t get why, it's not like you've gotten seriously hurt or anything, well until now.

"And you wonder why I worry," Pomni says in a tone that wavers between worried and frustrated, "It's not even that bad!" You say you gotta admit it is kinda bad, "I still got two other limbs don't I?" You knew you were pushing it but you couldn't help but feel the rush of adrenaline every time you did something reckless. Despite Pomni's concerns, you found joy in the thrill of the moment. Pomni sighed, her eyes filled with worry as she scanned over your damaged porcelain body. "You need to be more careful. You're not like the others. You can't just shrug off injuries as easy as they can, you're fragile." God, you hated that word fragile, to be called that felt like an insult, you knew Pomni would never but still it felt so disrespectful. You pouted, about to cross your arms with a huff but you only had an arm and a leg, maybe this was serious. "But where's the fun in playing it safe all the time? I want to experience things, even if it means risking a few chips and cracks, there's barely anything to do here it's like a prison! The fact that Caine lets us go on adventures keeps me sane!"

Pomni shook her head, her expression softening. "I understand, but I can't help but worry about you. You're- you're very special to me, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

You shifted uncomfortably, feeling a pang of guilt at Pomni's genuine concern. She was right; you were different, you hated it but you were and your porcelain body made you more vulnerable than others. "I appreciate your concern, Pomni," you murmured, your voice softer now. "And I'm sorry for making you worry. I just... I can't help myself sometimes. The thrill, the excitement... it's addictive."

Pomni nods with understanding, her eyes holding compassion. "I know. And I don't want to stifle your spirit. It's one of the things I love about you But please, try to be more aware of your limitations. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

You reached out, your remaining hand trembling slightly as you gently touched Pomni's arm. "I promise, Pomni. I'll try to be more careful. For you." Pomni smiled, her expression filled with warmth. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

As Pomni began the process of repairing your damaged body, being so gentle with you, it didn't feel patronizing or out of pity it was just pure love, As Pomni delicately began repairing your damaged porcelain body, her touch was gentle and caring, each delicate movement, she seemed to mend not only your physical cracks and chips but also the doubts and fears in your heart. It was as if her presence alone could soothe the restless spirit within you.

"Pomni," you whispered, your voice filled with emotion as you looked into her shimmering eyes. "I... I don't say this enough, but I... I love you. Not just for what you do for me, but for who you are. You're my anchor in all this, and I don't know what I'd do without you." Pomni's expression softened even further, her eyes reflecting the depth of her feelings. "... I love you too," she confessed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

In that tender moment, you felt a sense of peace wash over you. No matter how many times you fell apart Pomni was always there to put you together again.

Maybe it was time to reconsider your approach to adventure, but that didn't matter right now. After all, with Pomni by your side, you could only see her.

[ikeafinley]

I really love getting in to the deep stuff with gorillaz. I love going deeper into the meaningful albums, like demon days..

If you ever wanted to know.. demon days is a dystopian reflection of the world. a few of the songs really make you think...

i will now explain the meanings of each song.

last living souls - sort of self explainatory, depicts the theme of few survivors of an apocalyptic world..

kids with guns - the real problem of children bringing weapons to school and such.. damon was inspired to make this song because when his daughter was in kindergarten, a boy brought a knife and showed everyone..

o green world - a theme of alienation to the world, like you don't fit in, but there's still a glimmer of hope..

dirty harry - not too sure honestly, but i'd say it's somewhat about children soldiers. this would probably reflect on the character noodle, as she was a child soldier.. definitely some themes of an ongoing war..

feel good inc - a critique of the marketing industry, especially how corporations often prioritize creating commercially appealing, "feel good" products that lack substance, essentially manipulating consumers into mindless 'entertainment'.. including manufactured 'happiness'

el mañana - (it means 'the future'. most people get confused with 'the morning, but that's 'la mañana') pretty much the theme of overarching grief over an empirical threat.

every planet we reach is dead - how humans don't fix large issues like global destruction, instead trying to find a new planet (or anything similar)

november has come - the light of the world has been extinguished. there is nothing anyone can do when the world ends.

all alone - when everything goes wrong, all humans think to do is live in their head, in their dream world.

white light - the need to seek drugs or intoxication. basically, addiction. (kind of how if you do too much of either you probably begin to see, well, white light)

dare - i'm actually not too sure. it's hard to tell, but all i know is that shaun ryder is actually saying 'there', but his thick accent makes it sound like 'dare'.

fire coming out of the monkey's head - i think we all know. how people only want to see the good things in life, and ignore anything that makes things complicated or depressing.

don't get lost in heaven - explores the idea of being so focused on the concept of an ideal afterlife or "heaven" that you don't fully appreciate and live in the present moment, basically missing out on the beauty and experiences of life on Earth.

demon days - i;m also not really sure about this one.

In these demon days, we're so cold inside It's so hard for a good soul to survive You can't even trust the air you breathe 'Cause Mother Earth want us all to leave When lies become reality You numb yourself with drugs and TV Pick yourself up, it's a brand new day So turn yourself 'round Don't burn yourself, turn yourself Turn yourself around to the sun

this is kind of a description in itself. just talking about, well, personal 'demons'. it's like a summary of the story that belongs to the album demon days.

i really do enjoy going into the deep end when it comes to this stuff, and I kind of want to do this with other albums...

(this felt like writing an essay for school but in a much more fun way)

[fruitless-vain]

hi! do you have any ideas on how to reward a dog who doesn't have any strong motivators? Treats are the only thing that work but he doesn't really care if there is something else he wants, doesnt care for toys, pets are ignored. I just have no idea what other rewards could be used

Id take a good look at Why the dogs motivation seems to be lacking, what environment it tanks in, and ensure to keep an eye out for things like stressors, overstimulation, fear, met needs, and other variables that may impact a dog’s comfort taking treats or exhibiting play behaviour. Things like illness or pain should also be considered as a factor for a lack of motivation (schedule their annual and take a good look at their behaviour and their movement- do they sit sloppy, pop hip often, hunch back, etc. these can all be more overlooked signs of pain!). Breed can also be a factor as some are more self motivated than people pleasing so their motivation tends to just look a bit different!

I'd also be curious to know if this dog has always been disinterested or if this has cropped up over time. A common factor for decreasing motivation is the fact that training itself has become unfun. Usually as a result of asking too much of the dog too fast, not paying them adequately for the work they're doing, working in far too complicated settings, too many competing reinforcers, getting frustrated during the session, using rewards to lure a dog towards feared things or simply having training sessions run on for too long where the dog then ends sessions feeling bored or tired. This can cause even the most active dog to become averse to training as a whole which can present itself as an aversion or lack of interest in many common rewards.

Additionally see what sorts of environments the dog is comfortable being rewarded in, perhaps they take treats okay in a certain room of the home but not outside. This can give us a lot of info and allow us to start in an environment they can succeed in and gradually shift to other environments with more complex challenges (like the competing reinforcers you mentioned)

Reinforcers can be Anything the dog actually wants. The sky is really the limit here. I can stick a treat in every dogs mouth and it’s not going to help anything if the dog itself doesn’t find that treat rewarding. Some options might be:

Treats- experiment with different types and textures. Smelly cheeses, hotdog, and sausage are common high value snacks that can help increase motivation in difficult situations but all dogs are different and some might find a satisfying crunch of a crispy biscuit more rewarding. Try new things and see what they gravitate towards. Additionally watch the way you deliver the reward, a common mistake is to push the treat in towards the dog's nose- this can be off-putting as you add spatial pressure which over time can cause a dog to refuse to take treats altogether. Instead try to offer the treat a distance away from their nose so they step towards it to take it (also watch for things like the way you hold your hand, some dogs may find a hand looming down with the treat threatening while a hand held below nose level with the palm up to be nicer to take treats from). You can also deliver treats in more engaging ways instead of just handing it to them. Toss it in the air for them to catch, roll it along the floor to chase, scatter a few pieces in grass, have them chase and follow the hand for a bit prior to releasing the treat. Make getting the treats a whole Experience!

Toys- rubber toys, canvas, biting, chasing, squeakers, tug. There's a ton of options. Not all dogs like playing in the middle of training as it breaks their focus but others live for it. While not for every dog I will say that playing is a good measure for a dog's comfort. If, for example, you can play tug indoors and have a fun time but the dog is unable to play tug at all outdoors that tells us the dog doesn't feel comfortable enough to exhibit that behaviour. That's information we can use!

Petting- Not my favourite thing to use, affection isn't really something you want to be bargaining off in exchange for favours but it has its uses. A fearful dog may love some pets to help comfort them and reduce that fear response, some affection can also go a long way in just grounding your dog and keeping a training session light and fun. A bit of a social fun break. There's definitely some dogs that can appreciate a pet as a reinforcer and they can work in a pinch if other reinforcers aren't available.

Sniffs- Not something you want to overuse as sniffing is a fundamental part of how dogs explore the world but an excellent way to shift to self reinforcing fundamentals like loose leash walking. Most dogs love a good sniff, your hound types especially, and you can use that to your advantage as you ask for a behaviour and then release them to go snuffle away. Sniffing is also a calming behaviour that can reduce heart rate and build confidence in their environment which can reduce issues like not taking treats outdoors in the first place.

Speed- A lot of dogs find human walking paces slow and frustrating (a common cause for leash pulling) so you may find that in outdoor environments you can reward your dog by simply jogging for a short burst. The speed is fun and enticing and as such can often become quite the powerful reward.

Personal play + Volume - Whether this be the opportunity to howl and bark or you getting loud and excited with them. Sometimes a dog may not be interested in toys but they may be interested in your engagement. This might be baby talking to them in a happy tone or fully getting down on their level to wrestle and bop around or perhaps running away and having them chase you. A different way to initiate play for those disinterested in toys.

Premack's Principle - When you are dealing with competing reinforcers most people will find they lose this battle where whatever you have is not as valuable as what the dog actually wants (chasing a squirrel perhaps). In many cases you cannot fight instinct and genetics with a piece of cheese. At least not without prepwork. This is where Premack's Principle comes in to play, where a dog is able to do a less desirable behaviour (ignoring the squirrel) in exchange for a more desirable behaviour (getting to go chase the squirrel). You can use the thing you're struggling with to reinforce what you'd rather see. Another example may be having your dog a distance away from other dogs, waiting for eye contact and then releasing them to go greet the dog. Over time this could cause an exciteable greeter to offer frequent eye contact to you whenever they spot a dog in anticipation of getting to go greet the other dog which is a nice alternative to barking or pulling. Practically everything your dog would Rather Be Doing you can use as a reward for what You would rather they be doing.

I'd also take a look in to "engagement games" online, there should be a load of force free resources out there for ways to make yourself more engaging and fun which can really help in encouraging a dog to be more excited to train. Strong foundations in how they view interacting with you and training as a whole can really go a long way in impacting motivators and training results.

There's a whole lot more to consider and a ton of more complex things that could be at play but without knowing your dog personally I'll leave this here for you to ponder and play with!

[noctswife]

Happy Kaimei day! Here's my personal thoughts & headcanons on each of the project sekai kaimeis.

Most of my hcs are based on EN Sekai info, other than N25 because KAIMEI DIVORCE REAL! There's also mentions of sexual activity in the VBS Kaimei section, and KaiMeiLuka mentioned in the N25 section

HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE MANGA-ASS DYNAMIC LETS GOOO

Kaito is pining so hard with that good old "She's so cool but there's no way she'd choose someone like me"

Meiko really likes Kaito's musical ability and is waiting for a confession

She understands that she'll probably be waiting for a while, but since Kaito tends to agree with anything since he doesn't want to cause discord, she doesn't want him to be pressured into accepting, thus why she's waiting for him to confess rather than confessing herself

I find the "School setting, but since it's an imitation of a school rather than an actual institution with classes and such" aspect of the School Sekai interesting, with how the Vocaloids turn to L/N's actual school experiences to make their world more actual school-like. In this vein I think Kaito has discreetly asked Saki (completely red in the face) for high school romance mangas to use as research material. Saki idolizes the high-school experience so she was all for this

At the same time Kaito is too embarrassed to pull moves like kabedon and sharing an umbrella ww.

I think they're both experienced enough with their instruments to not require hands-on teaching from the other but I need it so bad. Maybe Meiko asks Kaito for help playing the bass and Kaito is burning up inside as he helps move her fingers in the right positions.

Initially, Meiko had red highlights in her hair while Kaito didn't have any (not wanting to stand out) but one day he came in with red hair highlights and a few days later, Meiko changed her highlights to blue. Kaito has not gotten over this it makes his brain overheat whenever he thinks about it.

Due to Kaito's idol fan nature making it so that he's excited whenever anyone in the group does something, Meiko has a huge "then I'll just have to shine even brighter to catch his attention!" mindset

Though whenever Meiko blows it out of the park Kaito goes "As expected of Meiko!"

I think it's especially cute how Meiko goes out of her way to help Kaito's managerial work with training and carrying equipment.

Back when Kaito first became an idol he would explode every single time at being able to see Meiko so close up. And then his affection kept snowballing from there

Ultimately, Kaito feels more like a fan rather than a manager or fellow idol when he's with Meiko. His fan feelings are just that strong

I really like how they show up together in stuff related to Haruka... I also think it's cute how Meiko teases Kaito but (spoilers for her bloomfes story) Meiko is just as jumpy at times too

There's two, drastically different ways I like these two ww

Relationship Route:

The two are, in fact, dating! Yes this may be me reading too much into MMJ saying romantic songs suit Kaimei, sue me.

I think it would be really fun if members of MMJ started dating and they consult kaimei on how to go about it without putting their reputation as idols in jeopardy. Someone who ships MMJ members do this for me

As much as I think it would be really cute for them to be lovey-dovey onstage, I think they would be more reserved about it in actuality so they can maintain their reputation as idols.

They do sometimes orchestrate Plausible Deniability scenarios for them to interact onstage though.

Pining Route:

Very Meiko >>>> Kaito, just because of the aforementioned thing with his idol fan nature

On top of that Kaito has a whole thing where he's "By dating Meiko I'd be betraying the sacred pact between idol fans, I'd be ruining her image as an idol!"

Kaito being overly formal with Meiko is his attempt as creating distance between them (especially in public) since he doesn't want to betray fans' expectations

But this Meiko is probably the most cunning of them all. She's able to orchestrate situations where they're 1:1 together and she can make his heart race. Don't underestimate the skills of a veteran idol!

Not actually in a relationship but god Kaito wants it to happen so bad

Kaito actually got into mixing after being inspired by Meiko's old work, and eagerly awaits her return to the music scene. They did work professionally together a few times before she retired

Meiko does have feelings to some extent for Kaito, but does not acknowledge them since he's. Kind of a hopeless guy lol and she wants to focus on helping everyone else first before indulging her own wants.

At the same time, unfortunately for Meiko, she does like useless guys. It makes her want to spoil him.

Kaito takes full advantage of that, he's not above playing up his pathetic aspect so Meiko will pay attention to him

Meiko's thinking more in the long-term, thinking that she can't have a freeloading guy who's always messing around by her side if she wants to focus on her goals

But Kaito becoming more responsible in helping out VBS and helping out at the cafe is growing on her

Miku is a shipper-on-deck for this one (mostly via prodding Meiko about Kaito) but the rest of the cast is mostly unaware

Other than maybe Akito but that's just because I think making him suffer is funny. Making him witness to the KaiMei will-they-or-won't-they drama

Kaito calls her Mei-chan in private I stand by this you can tear it from my cold dead hands

The excess of akitoya ft. kaito songs is 100% just fanservice but listen. What if that's actually him putting in the work to help out VBS to get brownie points with Meiko

While Kaito certainly enjoys Meiko's new life as a cafe owner (especially the benefits of good food and coffee) he wants her to return to the music scene most of all

Likely the most similar to the traditional tsundere Meiko x Bakaito dynamic, but at the same, not.

Splitting this into two routes because I can't decide which dynamic I like more for the background of their relationship

Nothing at all has actually happened yet route:

Kaito has been hitting on Meiko for so long, but Meiko brushes his attempts aside since she thinks he's not being serious, he drops his advances in so casually conversation

That's due to Kaito previously flirting with a lot of women back when she first met him, and first impressions last

Kaito has cut off all previous relationships since he only has eyes for Meiko now, but he doesn't realize that his first impression is why Meiko doesn't take him seriously

Cannot express how annoying Kaito is in this route. Pretty freeloader type shit. Every private moment they have together he's shooting his shot in some way. He crashes at Meiko's cafe overnight going "oooh I have no choice but to pay rent with my body ;))))" and Meiko shoves a mop in his hands and tells him to start cleaning

Unfortunately this does still kind of work on her. Because like I said Meiko likes useless guys

He'd likely have more success if he confessed more seriously, but that has literally never occurred to him

FWB route:

Exactly what it says on the tin. They're friends with benefits. No one else is aware of that aspect of their relationship. Meiko would probably kill him if the kids found out

Extremely casual. Neither of them acknowledge that they're fucking outside of when they are.

Likely started sometime near when they first met, and they never particularly stopped their arrangement

Kaito is less aggressive in this route, thinking that this is likely the best he can get in furthering their relationship

Meiko got into it kind of as stress relief/purely for the physical aspect, but Kaito has grown on her. She thinks that he got into it just for the physical aspect as well (given that he was the one who proposed it)

As a result, they're at a stalemate of furthering their relationship emotionally

Either way, Kaito has a lot of fixing up of his image to do. Personally I think it's fun, making him eat crow for his flippant attitude

I am tossing out the lore on how all the members other than Kaito and Miku hadn't joined the troupe until after Tsukasa properly visited his sekai. You're telling me that it existed since he was a kid but none of the other vocaloids joined in all that time? Bullshit

They are married in Wonderland Sekai, and the troupe has a family business-feel to it. They've been married for 8 years, give or take

(Side note they manifest like this as a reflection of how much Tsukasa values family)

They started the troupe together (along with Miku), which is why Meiko is second-in command

Hold a big anniversary show for their wedding every year

The kind of love where they let down their responsible fronts when alone together

Meiko being more hyperactive and excitable while Kaito is just Tired from showmaster work so he's just resting his head on her lap while she rattles off a list of wild new show ideas

They don't hide their relationship from WxS, but they don't go out of their way to tell them, either. Funnily enough, Tsukasa was the last one to figure it out.

I don't have much to say here just because they are so married. For years, they know each other so well.

What is there to say here that isn't said in canon. Found divorce!!!

Frustration born on Kaito's end by Meiko being the only other one fully focused on the girls, but their methods differ so greatly that it infuriates Kaito. That kind of frustration that comes from a shared interest

At the same time Kaito finds himself thinking that she's cute at times (considering she features in songs with cuter aesthetics like Phony and IDSMILE) and yells internally at himself for thinking it. Tsundere Kaito in a way

He appreciates how she's looking out for the girls but hates how she doesn't take action but is glad there's someone thinking things through but he hates how she's noncommittal but he likes the way she looks when she sings but he hates how she would probably be dismissive if he said something about it but-- Kaito is suffering lol.

There's an interesting irony in Kaito being STOP LOOKING AWAY FROM YOUR FEELINGS WE NEED TO CONFRONT THEM NOW OR YOU WILL DIE towards N25 but having inner turmoil over his feelings towards Meiko I think. Conflict between his role as a SEKAI advisor and his own desires.

Meiko meanwhile is surprisingly lax with Kaito's aggressive behavior -- she has her role, and he has his. She'll step in if she thinks he's crossing a line or if he consults her, but she places a lot of trust in him knowing what is to be done. She does have an eye on him though. Just in case.

Is capable of acknowledging any feelings she discovers towards him, but doesn't act upon it since that isn't her role. Pursuit of her own desires will only distract her from N25 and unbalance her perspective.

Meiko holds him at a distance because she knows their methods contradict each other + she doesn't want to distract herself but Kaito pursues her because he ultimately values her help. Which leads to MORE fighting.

While she doesn't go seek fights with Kaito, she absolutely will end them if provoked far enough. Her observational nature makes it so that she knows where his arguments fall flat and his hypocrisies, and those arguments usually end with Kaito being unable to refute her counterarguments so he just storms off

Throwing KaiMeiLuka into this one is funny I think. I'm not sure how this would work but it would be very funny. Having them deal with the woman who is so irritating and playful about it all and has fun teasing them would either fix their broken marriage or make it worse.

[toujokaname]

Evanescent / Episode 3

Characters: Kohaku, Niki, Rinne, HiMERU  

"...Hey, Kaname. What would you do in this situation?"

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[ Read on my site for a better viewing experience using Ois~su ♪ ]

Season: Spring

Location: Ward

A few hours later. In a hospital room.

Kohaku: Ngh... Nngh?

Niki: Ah, Kohaku-chan, you're awake! What a relief~!

When HiMERU-kun called saying you collapsed, even I stopped eating for a sec, y'know?

Kohaku: ...Haha, now that's a big deal. No matter what kinda prank you get caught up in, the one universal constant is that Niki-han won't stop eatin'.

Maybe the sky's fixin' to start fallin' tomorrow?

Niki: Nahaha! Even I'd focus on dodging if that happened.

Rinne: If you're cracking jokes, looks like you're fine for now. Well, my guess is it was just stress-induced hyperventilation.

Still, passing out 'cause of stress? You're still just a brat after all, huuuh. Gyahaha!

Kohaku: Ughhh... well, I can't even argue, seein' as I did collapse.

Managin' your health's part of an idol's job, too. If I couldn't even do that, callin' me a brat's fair enough.

With this whole mess, I've caused trouble for not just HiMERU-han, but the agency, too...

Rinne: Nah, no need to worry 'bout that. The fact you passed out ain't public knowledge yet.

Kohaku: ...It ain't?

Rinne: It's thanks to Merumeru's smart move. He contacted the agency while calling the ambulance.

The deputy director made sure you were brought here on the down-low. Plus, this hospital's connected to CosPro, so no worries about the press finding out.

Kohaku: That so? Well, that's a relief, at least.

Right now, folks are already way too touchy 'bout me as it is. If word got out I collapsed, the agency'd be flooded with complaints all over again.

I oughta thank HiMERU-han for his quick thinkin'.

...Speakin' of which, where is he, anyhow?

Niki: Huh? Now that you mention it... He's gone all of a sudden?

He was with us when he led us to your room, but...

Kohaku: ...That dumbass. Ain't no reason for him to be so considerate of me.

Right before I passed out, we got into a bit of a tiff.

I ended up sayin' some nasty stuff, like how just seein' his face made it hard to breathe...

Rinne: Whoa, Kohaku-chan, that's harsh~ No wonder Merumeru felt awkward hanging around your room.

Looks like the town's favorite lovey-dovey couple finally broke up, huh? Bet Merumeru's off on some emotional soul-searching trip to fix his broken lil heart. Gyahaha ♪

Kohaku: Oh, shut your trap! Takin' advantage of this situation to mess with me... Keep it up, and I'll see to it you never get the chance to run that mouth again!

Rinne: Ooh, scary, scary. Well, I'll get the hell outta here then.

Niki, why don't you peel Kohaku-chan an apple or somethin'. He looks alright, but you did bring some get-well gifts, right?

Niki: Leave it to me! Kohaku-chan, what do you like? I've got apples, bananas, and even a melon~

Kohaku: Ah, thanks. I'll take an apple, then.

Rinne: Alright, I'm heading out. Might as well hit the pachinko parlor...

Or maybe I'll go poke fun at Merumeru's shattered heart while I'm at it.

(...Come to think of it, isn't this also the hospital where he's staying?)

(The real HiMERU... Kaname Tojo.)

HiMERU: —Looks like you've been busy again, collecting things while "I" was absent.

There's even more PBB merchandise than before. You can hardly walk yet, so are you asking the nurses to gather them for you?

...... (Holds Kaname's hand.)

HiMERU: (Kaname is recovering. Slowly, but surely.)

(He's still mostly bedridden, though the doctor says he's managing to stay awake for longer stretches than before.)

(Even so, he still cries out incoherently... The loathsome wounds carved into his heart continue to bleed.)

(—But, even for Kaname, there are moments when he can forget that pain. It's only when he's watching over "HiMERU's activities" that he finds peace.)

(Being surrounded by all this HiMERU merchandise must be part of what keeps him stable.)

(And yet...)

HiMERU: ...Hey, Kaname. What would you do in this situation?

(Is PBB what you want HiMERU to be...? What you want to be?)

(Can "I" really be the one to protect where you belong?)

(Is the place where "I" currently stand suitable for you to return to?)

(Kaname... What kind of idol did you want to be?)

HiMERU: ......

HiMERU: ...I'll come see you again. Rest well, Kaname, and keep watching over your Onii-chan.

"I" swear... I'll protect your dream, your place as HiMERU, no matter what.

[ ☆ ]

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[fallen-mangos]

Pr~etty sure my original blog got shadowbanned:D I stopped popping up in the tags just in general.. no idea what caused the shadow ban, kind of doubt I'd be appeal it.. so rebranding time! (If anyone has tips to avoid shadowbans when talking about this game, please let me know. It'll be really annoying to make a new blog every time I want to yap about my fixation on a NSFW game. This is absolutely not a main blog or with my friends topic >>)

For some reason the format on this post is being an absolute nuisance so I'm sorry if the pictures are for some reason ALL THE WAY AT THE BOTTOM?? Tumblr app please????

So I'm coming back with reworked designs of LIs using Goose.. Because I am unable to draw myself. >>

Starting with the school LIs, I like these more than my original attempt >> Obviously it's probably more likely for the characters to be very simplistic, especially Robin, as they likely wear the default clothes, but I like having fun ~!

I think they're all cuties and I want to carry them in a purse ~

What I typically imagine for bodies and stuff down here if anyone's interested ↓

Sydney: I personally always depict him as a Cis-man, Usually always depict him with a slender body-type whenever I remake him in game - if moles and beauty marks existed in-game, I absolutely would put them, I always picture him with a mole under his mouth, a few on the chest, maybe one on a thigh. I could see Sydney being, physically, pretty androgynous at first glance, I totally think he could dress feminine and pull it off completely (corrupt Sydney absolutely would). As pure Sydney I definitely think he dresses almost professionally. With little button-ups, slacks, pretty decent shoes. Very modest. ..I think when he's corrupted he'd probably either ditch the vest and have the shirt untucked, or only have the shirt untucked in his school uniform. Subtle things. But I also think he'd experiment more with his out of school style. (When I make versions of outfits for Robin and Sydney on the "arc change" things, I'll try to better showcase this) I don't remember if the height is canon, I'm looking at a screenshot from the discord server, but, 5'9in seems accurate to me and my thoughts (would probably picture CF!Sydney as being an inch taller than that. I like my women to tower me as someone who's probably about Kylar height, maybe slightly taller). ..Pro~bably packing in the chastity belt.. >> (would picture CF!Sydney with a larger chest to compensate)

Robin: I always depict her as a Cis-Woman, Always always will depict with a chubbier body type, so soft was chosen here (Goose does have body types now, but you can't tell in the clothes like you can in vanilla..), fell in love with the idea of Robin being covered in freckles, definitely think she has a bunch more, I think she'd have a little gap in her front teeth, too. I also tend to picture her with heterochromia. She always came off to me as being cutesy, but also cozy, but her clothes are definitely old and a little worn down, but I did forget to play with the shirt and damages (the bloomers being a recent gift). When she's cross-dressing, she wears a lot more baggy clothes while keeping her original style mostly in tact, this also would happen when her trauma skyrockets, but her clothes in that case would still be distinctly feminine. Just like with Sydney, I feel like Robin is also naturally androgynous in facial features. Pretty sure her height varies depending on your PC, but, I'm going to say 5'5in as just a general height. She has a smaller chest - not being flat exactly, but close to it. (Means smaller thing for CM!Robin).

Kylar: I sometimes swap this around - usually bouncing from cis-man and trans-man, mostly because I'd find his entire pregnancy complex interesting with that in mind. Always depict him with a slender body type in-game, but honestly he gives me the feel of being more malnourished than just natural slender (I feel like it'd be so easy to just pick this little guy up), and that a lot of his random acts of strength are just his unhinged feral adrenaline. I think he'd probably have fairly bloodshot eyes, hasn't slept in weeks, always staring at a laptop, one look at him and you'd feel the strain on his eyeballs. His hair is always incredibly messy. No light in those eyes unless he's anywhere in the vicinity of the chosen PC. Definitely wears whatever makes him blend into the backdrop of any location, doesn't really have a set style, but prefers hoodies just for the easy to access pockets. Absolutely would experiment with anything and everything clothes wise if the PC wanted it, no matter how stupid he looked. Heart locket would carry a photo of PC, almost always being one they were not aware of. Think he's canonically 5'2in. His size down there is honestly a 50/50, if I'm playing him as a cis-man, I either pick big, or I purposely pick smaller because it'd be funny. (If I were to ever make Kylar a woman, the chest size would probably be a 50/50 too)

Whitney: Nowadays I tend to depict her as a Cis-Woman, sometimes depict her as a trans-woman, always will depict her as being relatively curvy. She always seemed like a glitter eyeshadow and pink lip gloss type. Dimples. I just think she'd look lovely. I feel like she'd probably have tan-lines in the summer months, usually of her exposed thong. I honestly don't know what I'd call her sense of fashion or style, vaguely what's comfortable, what's sexy, but she also apparently wears the long school skirt too? I think it was said somewhere that she doesn't care about what underwear she wears, so I imagine her clothes are probably the same? Not sure. The glasses are a must though. Think she's mentioned to be about 5'11 in this discord screenshot I'm using as reference. And I tend to give her a relatively large chest.