#adding extra tags for visibility

[anxietyfrappuccino]

Audience Analysis

i know no one is going to see this, but could anyone with time to spare/burn fill out our group project survey?

it's 6 questions asking about google slides.

unbelievably simple, i promise.

[justkillingthyme]

[autistic-harley-quinn]

Y'know given this commentary about "secretly being a Jedi" is very clearly about the whole her repeatedly flagging her own queerness for years on end it would be like if Tay 'lor Spiff kept referencing Jedi works in her music, using the same social cues that the rebellion use to signal to each other that they're part of the rebellion, uses the force onstage while hanging out with obi wan and Mace windu, publicly declared her allegiance to the rebellion, and wore Jedi/rebellion color scheme repeatedly, write several songs about the rebellion will win in the end and she's on their side, had a song making fun of the sith and empire on the setlist of her intergalactic tour, had Jedi friends who publicly hint that she's also a Jedi, and STILL all the people who know being out as a Jedi/Rebellion soldier isn't the safest thing in the world are going

"No clearly she's on the side of the empire and has never once been even a little force sensitive or even a little rebellious. All of those things are coincidences and you're all crazy conspiracy theorists for thinking it's even possible she's a Jedi."

"She's Jedi-baiting you!" Okay then you have to admit that her Jedi friends in the entertainment industry are complicity silent and at times actively participating in the Jedi-baiting, meaning the "real Jedi" you keep telling me to support are helping a sith hint at being a Jedi and hanging out with her like it's fine? That makes more sense to you than maybe she's just not as loud of a Jedi as you've grown used to? I remember when publicly calling yourself a Jedi could get you killed, it still can, we've made great progress in the rebellions acceptance in society but we have not overthrown the empire yet. Do you not remember how in Star wars some rebels were actively fighting out in the daylight as rebels and some were doing other things like gathering supplies, sending aid, political negotiations, corporate dealings? Some may have been force sensitive but never trained in the ways? Some may have become a Jedi but don't say that to everyone they meet?

in my head the star wars equivalent of tswift is some human woman named tay’lor spiff or something and her stans are losing their minds over theories that she’s secretly a jedi singing about the horrors of war, even though she’s from a neutral system that hasn’t seen so much as a moral panic in 50 years

[ateezscupid]

─── FEB FILTH FEST: Church - BONDAGE ♡

SUMMARY / You've always wanted to try bondage, but didn't know how to go about it. So, you went online and found a professional to help you.

warnings ✩ SMUT, DOM/SUB dynamics, soft dom!seonghwa, service top!hwa, sub!reader, seonghwa is literally just some stranger you hired so basically an escort or whatever, just more professional!, unprotected sex, bondage, oral (f), fingering (f)

word count ✩ 4,26k

tags ✩ @desirehorizon @felixs-voice-makes-me-wanna @starillusion13 @mingitheskzstan @bbdeongi @dawn-iscozy @xh01bri @mallielovssyou @clxssy1997 @soreberry @nopension @kitten4sannie @faeriehwas @lustfxq @ashistrashhhhhh @hwallazia @aurorasjoongie

ATEEZ MASTERLIST / REQUEST / FEB FILTH FEST

"Nope," you mutter to yourself as you scroll through the forum, "definitely not that one." You've been on this site for hours, trying to find someone who could help you with your curiosity without making you feel like a complete novice. The images and descriptions you've seen so far have been overwhelming, and you can't shake the feeling that you're about to stumble into a pit of weirdos and creeps.

"Absolutely not." You click away from the page, feeling a mix of frustration and relief. It's hard to believe that such a simple search for a bondage instructor has led you down a rabbit hole of questionable ads and eerie profiles. But you're not giving up just yet. There has to be someone out there who can introduce you to this world without making it feel like you're signing your soul away to a dark cult.

You hesitantly click on a link titled "Experienced Bondage Educator." The profile seems professional, with no explicit content in sight. You read through the details, which outline safety measures and a no-nonsense approach to BDSM education.

"Hm." You lean closer to the screen, studying the profile. "He seems okay." The profile is simple, yet alluring—no naked photos or lewd comments, just a promise of guidance from someone who knows their knots. You click the button to send a private message, your heart racing.

But instead, you got a pop-up. It was just a list of prices. Weekly, Monthly…you only wanted lessons whenever you could get them, honestly. But this was just a practice round.

"SINGLE LESSONS: $50 (+$40 for Sexual Favors.)"

Very pricey, you think, your cursor hovering over the "Send Message" button. But what's a little extra cash for peace of mind, right? You click, and a new chat window pops up. "Hello," you type, trying to sound casual. "I'm interested in learning about bondage. Would you be willing to give me some private lessons?"

You sat in front of your screen nervously waiting for a response, your heart pounding in your chest like a drum at a military parade. The cursor blinked at you, seemingly mocking your indecision. Finally, the chat box lit up with a new message. "Hello," he wrote, his screen name a simple "MasterK." His tone was surprisingly friendly, a stark contrast to the seriousness of the topic at hand.

MasterK asked for your name and a brief explanation of your experience. You told him you were a complete novice, eager to learn but cautious about the scene's reputation. He assured you that safety was his number one priority and that he enjoyed teaching those who were curious but had no desire to dive into the deep end. His words put you slightly at ease, though the price tag still nagged at the back of your mind.

Did you even want any sexual favors? You were clean yourself, but what about him? You tap your nails on your laptop's keyboard, contemplating your next move. Maybe you could just ignore that part of the price list? After all, you weren't looking for that. Just education.

But, from the pictures he posted with his body, face just barely visible, he looked attractive. It was mostly his hands that you were attracted to. Strong, yet gentle, the way they held the ropes in the pictures. The way they looped and curved around the model's wrists, not tightly, but with a firmness that suggested experience and confidence.

"Are you clean? Like, sex wise?" you finally ask, biting your bottom lip as you await his response. The chat bubble flickers with activity for a few moments before MasterK's response appears.

"Yes, I practice safe and hygienic protocols. I understand your concerns, and I assure you that my services are strictly professional. However, if you are not comfortable with the additional fee for the full experience, I can tailor the lessons to focus solely on bondage technique without any sexual elements. It's all about what you're looking for and what makes you feel safe," he writes back, his words measured and reassuring.

You let out a sigh of relief. Maybe this isn't so bad after all. "I'm clean myself. I'll take the sex or whatever. I mean, I have the opportunity. Might as well," you reply, trying to sound casual. The chat bubble pulses with his response.

"Great," MasterK types. "Let's get you booked in. I usually hold my sessions in a private studio downtown. It's equipped with everything we'll need, and your safety is guaranteed."

"Cool. I mean, from the location on your site, you're right by me. How far is your studio? I might need to grab a cab," you reply, trying to keep the excitement out of your voice. The anticipation was building, and you couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and excitement.

MasterK's response is swift and friendly. "It's about a 10-minute drive from your area. You can take a cab or use a ride-sharing service. The exact address will be shared with you once the appointment is confirmed. Also, remember to bring comfortable clothing, but I'll have some items available if you don't have anything suitable," he writes.

You nod to yourself, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. The thought of being tied up by a stranger is both exhilarating and terrifying. But you've read enough articles about consent and safety in BDSM to know that this is a chance to explore your kink with a professional. You decide to take the leap and agree to the terms, confirming your appointment for the following weekend.

And finally, it was Saturday. You didn't know what he meant by comfortable clothing and you wanted to wear something that showed your curves, and you went with a black, two-piece outfit: a simple tee and biker shorts along with your oversized jacket on top.

You took a cab to the address MasterK provided, feeling the butterflies in your stomach multiply with every passing block. The studio was tucked away in a nondescript alley, the only hint of its existence a small, discreet sign that read "The Knotty Den." You pay the driver and step out, the cool evening air doing little to calm your racing thoughts.

Walking through the door, you're immediately struck by the clean, minimalist decor. The scent of freshly sanded wood and leather fills your nostrils, and you can't help but feel a little intimidated by the array of bondage equipment lining the walls. You're greeted by a softly-lit room with a large, padded table in the center, surrounded by an assortment of chairs, benches, and what you assume are various types of restraints.

MasterK emerges from a back room, dressed in black from head to toe. His eyes are piercing, yet gentle, as he approaches you with a firm handshake. "Welcome to my studio," he says, his voice a soothing tone. "I'm your instructor for the evening, MasterK. Or Seonghwa if that makes you more comfortable." He gestures to a chair, indicating you should sit.

You take a deep breath and settle into the chair, trying to calm your racing heart. He's not what you expected—his demeanor is more calming than intimidating, which helps ease some of your anxiety. You notice his hands again, now unadorned by the ropes from his profile pictures, but they still exude the same confidence.

"H-Hi," you stutter, taking in the sight of Seonghwa—MasterK—up close. He's taller than you anticipated, with a presence that fills the room despite the spaciousness of the studio. His smile is welcoming, his eyes a comforting shade of brown that seems to read your soul. You feel a strange sense of safety in his gaze.

"Let's get started," he says, his voice a smooth blend of authority and kindness. He guides you to the center of the room where the padded table awaits. The leather is cold against your skin as you sit on the edge, your knees tightly pressed together.

Seonghwa opens a chest at the side of the room, revealing an organized selection of ropes, cuffs, and other gear. He selects a set of soft, red ropes and begins explaining the basics of bondage, his hands moving with a mesmerizing fluidity. You listen intently, nodding along, trying to absorb every word like a sponge in a pool of water.

"You have a favorite color you want me to use?" Seonghwa asks, holding up the red ropes.

You blush slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. "No, I don't have a preference. Red is fine," you reply, trying to keep your voice steady.

"Okay. You should take your jacket off, too. It's better to learn without any unnecessary layers," Seonghwa says, his eyes never leaving yours as he holds out a hand to help you remove your oversized jacket. You hesitate for a moment, feeling a little more exposed than you're used to, but his gentle touch and the warmth of the room soon have you discarding it.

You were right for paying the extra fee for sexual favors because good lord, the thought of him without clothes on immediately plagued your mind.

He starts by showing you the ropes, explaining their different types and purposes. You can't help but feel a tingle of excitement as he runs the soft, red ropes through his fingers, demonstrating how to hold and manipulate them. His hands are strong yet gentle, and you find yourself imagining what it would be like to have them on your body.

"What position do you want to be in?" Seonghwa asks, his eyes searching yours for any hint of hesitation or discomfort. You swallow hard, trying to gather your thoughts.

"I-I'm not sure. What do you recommend for beginners?"

"Mmm." he narrows his eyes. "Either doggystyle or missionary. Whichever you prefer."

You gulp, feeling a sudden rush of nerves. "Missionary," you murmur, your voice barely a whisper. Seonghwa nods understandingly, laying out the ropes on the table. He explains that this position allows for the most control and safety for your first time, which you appreciate.

"And what sexual favors did you want? You asked if I'm clean, so clearly you want penetration. But, was there anything else?" His voice is calm and measured, but you can feel the heat rising in your cheeks.

You shake your head, trying to focus on the task at hand. "I-I don't know. Just… whatever's normal, I guess." You feel a mix of excitement and fear, but you're also curious.

"Alright. Do you mind…removing your clothes? It'll make the process easier and quicker." Seonghwa's voice is steady, as if asking you to take your shoes off at the door, not disrobe in front of him.

Now you were kind of embarrassed. You were already soaked down there. But you nodded, taking off your tee and shorts, leaving your bra and panties on. He nodded in approval, and you laid down on the table. The coolness of the leather made your skin break out in goosebumps, but the warmth of your own excitement quickly overtook the sensation.

"If you want to move to a different surface at any time, let me know. I have more comfortable areas." Seonghwa says, as you lay there feeling the coldness of the table. You nod, trying to hide your nervousness as he approaches you. He's professional, but you can't help but feel a thrill of anticipation at what's to come.

He starts by placing a soft, padded cushion under your hips, ensuring that your comfort is a priority. Then he takes one of the red ropes and shows you how to hold it in a way that won't cause you any pain, but will still be effective in securing you in place. He explains that communication is key in bondage, and that you should always have a safe word ready. You nod, choosing the word "pumpkin"—random, but it feels right.

He took his time with you, showing you how to tie a basic wrist restraint. His hands were firm yet tender as he demonstrated the right amount of tension. You watched in amazement as the rope began to take shape around your wrist, creating a delicate but unmistakable bond. The feeling of being restrained, even in such a simple way, was already starting to stir something within you—a mix of vulnerability and excitement.

Within the blink of an eye, you were tied up, your wrists bound to your ankles and your legs spread wide flawlessly. The anticipation was unbearable. Seonghwa's eyes never left yours, searching for any sign of fear or discomfort. You nodded slightly, giving him the green light to proceed.

"So I'm…only bound in like, one area? It seems so…simple," you say, your voice betraying a hint of disappointment.

"Well, this is for beginners, love." Oh god, the pet name. There was definitely a visible pool of wetness in your underwear. "But if you want to be more…involved, I can add more complexity to your restraints," Seonghwa says with a smirk. He runs his hand lightly down your bare leg, sending shivers up your spine.

"T-This is fine," you stutter, feeling the ropes bite into your skin just enough to remind you of your vulnerability. Seonghwa nods, seemingly satisfied with your response. He walks beside the table now and leans down in front of a small side table, pulling the drawer open and grabbing a condom and bottle of lube.

Words couldn't even describe how badly you wanted him.

He sat them down and ran his hand up and down your leg again. "Are you ready?"

You nodded, your breath coming in shallow pants. You were more than ready.

"I'll perform regular oral on you, fingering, and then penetration. You can use your safeword whenever you feel it's too much and need a break." Seonghwa's voice is low and steady, his gaze intense as he looks down at you, sprawled out on the table. You nod, feeling the warmth spread through your body at the thought of his mouth on you.

He pulls you closer to the edge of the table and knelt down in front of you, pushing your underwear to the side to reveal your wetness. Your legs trembled as he leaned in, his breath hot against your skin. His tongue was soft and explorative, tracing your slit with gentle strokes that made your hips buck involuntarily. You moaned softly, the feeling of his mouth on you sending waves of pleasure crashing through your body.

"Just relax," he murmured against your skin, his breath sending shivers down your spine. "Let me take care of everything."

And so you did. As Seonghwa's mouth worked its magic, you felt your body melt into the table. He knew exactly how to coax the most pleasure from you, his tongue swirling around your clit in a rhythm that had you panting for more. You've had oral before, but this was different—it was like he was reading your mind, knowing exactly what you needed before you even knew it yourself.

Your eyes fluttered shut and you moaned louder as Seonghwa's tongue grew more insistent. He paused for a moment, looking up at you with a mischievous glint in his eye before plunging two fingers inside you without warning. You gasped, the sudden fullness surprising and overwhelming in the best way possible. He curled them in a come-hither motion, hitting that spot deep within that had you seeing stars.

"Oh my god-!" you leaned your head back, eyes rolling up as Seonghwa's skilled fingers worked in tandem with his mouth. The feeling was indescribable, and your body responded with eager jerks and twitches. Each stroke was deliberate, each suckle precise—it was as if he had a map of your pleasure points and was navigating them with expert ease.

You were glad that you could still close your legs, so you did. You squeezed your thighs around his head, trapping him in your wetness as he devoured you. His fingers continued to move in and out of you, hitting that spot that made your toes curl with every stroke. You could feel your orgasm building, a tight coil in your belly that grew tighter and tighter with every touch of his tongue.

"S-Seonghwa!" you whimper, your voice strained and breathy. You didn't know if you could take much more of this exquisite torture.

He pulls back slightly, smiling up at you. "Good girl," he murmurs before returning his attention to your sensitive clit. He increases his pace, and the pressure of his tongue and fingers builds until you're teetering on the edge of orgasm.

Not being able to move your arms felt like torture, but god, it so exciting at the same time. You've never been so vulnerable. His tongue danced around your clit, flicking and circling until you couldn't take it anymore. The orgasm that had been building explodes through you, your body arching off the table as your legs tighten around his head.

"I-I'm gonna cum," you manage to gasp out, your voice thick with desire.

Seonghwa's only response is a low, approving grumble, his fingers working faster and his mouth sucking harder. The pressure is unbearable, yet you crave more. Your eyes roll back in your head as the orgasm crashes over you, making your body convulse and your muscles tighten around his invading digits. The feeling is so intense, so all-consuming, that you scream out his name, the sound echoing through the quiet studio.

"F-Fuck! Fuck, Seonghwa!" you scream, your body trembling uncontrollably as you ride out the intense wave of pleasure. His fingers don't stop their relentless pace, even as your orgasm subsides, pushing you towards another peak with every stroke.

Seonghwa pulls away from your pussy with a wet pop, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he watches you pant and squirm against the ropes. "You taste delicious," he murmurs, his thumb idly circling your clit.

"Ah," you were so sensitive, so overwhelmed with the aftershocks of your orgasm that you could barely speak. But you felt a strange sense of empowerment, like you'd just unlocked a secret chamber in your mind that had been waiting for you all along. "W-what's next?"

He didn't answer as he stood, undoing his belt with a smooth, almost ceremonial air. He was still fully dressed except for his unbuckled belt, and you found yourself eager to see the rest of him. He pulled out his cock, thick and hard, and you felt a thrill run through you. This was really happening.

He reached for the condom and ripped it open, rolling it down his length with a confidence that made your heart race. You couldn't help but stare as he lubed himself up, the sight of him preparing to enter you making your stomach flip. You've never been so exposed, so ready for someone.

He climbed onto the table and positioned himself between your legs, his cock pressing against your entrance. "Ready?" he asked, his voice gruff with desire. You nodded, your breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. He pushed in slowly, giving you time to adjust to the unfamiliar feeling of being filled so completely.

The stretch was incredible, the way he filled you up, so much so that you felt like you couldn't take it anymore. But as he inched further in, you felt yourself relax, your body welcoming him in. "You're so tight," he murmured, his eyes locked on yours as he began to move.

"Definitely…the tightest…client I've had," he says with a smirk, pushing in a bit more. You feel a slight pain, but it's overshadowed by the exhilaration of the moment. "Just breathe," Seonghwa instructs, his voice a gentle command. You do as told, feeling his cock stretching you open, filling you up until you're sure you're going to burst.

As he starts to move, the pain fades away, replaced by a deep, intense pleasure that makes you moan with every thrust. The ropes dig into your skin, reminding you of your restraint, adding a new layer to the sensations coursing through your body. You can't help but tug at them, testing the limits of your bondage.

"S-Seo-Seonghwa!" You gasped as he pushed in deeper, the sound of your voice muffled by the leather of the table. He leaned over you, placing a hand on your hip to keep you in place as he began to move with a slow, steady rhythm. Each thrust sent shockwaves of pleasure through your body, making you squirm against the ropes. You could feel yourself getting wetter with every movement, your body desperate for more.

"D-Does this feel good?" he managed to ask, his voice thick with lust. Seonghwa's eyes never leave yours, his expression a mix of concentration and pleasure as he watches your face contort with every thrust.

"Y-Yes," you moan, your voice a breathless whisper. The feeling of his cock inside you is like nothing you've ever experienced—intimate, yet overwhelmingly powerful. You can feel your walls clench around him, desperate to keep him there. He begins to pick up the pace, his movements growing more forceful, and you realize that you want it—you want him to take you, to claim you in this primal dance of dominance and submission.

You could see his expressions changing frequently, as if he was losing control of himself. He didn't know what it was. Maybe it was because he was good at his job or maybe it was because he actually enjoyed it. But you didn't care, you liked it, the way he looked at you as if he was the one who was the novice, learning every little noise that you make, every little twitch of your body, every gasp that escaped your lips.

"Tell me how it feels," he urges, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate through your entire being.

"S-So good," you pant, your voice barely audible. "It feels…amazing." The words come out in a rush as he starts to hit that perfect spot inside you, making you see stars with every deep, hard thrust.

Seonghwa's grip on your hip tightens, his pace increasing as he drives into you with a fervor that makes your breath catch in your throat. You can feel his muscles tensing, his movements growing more urgent as he chases his own climax.

His eyes fluttered shut and he leaned over you, lowering his head trying to focus on his climax. You could see him trying to hold it back, his body shaking with the effort. But the sight of him losing control was too much. You couldn't help but moan louder, your body responding to his need.

"C-Cum in me, please! P-Please, I need it," your thighs shut around his waist, squeezing him tightly as the ropes dug into your skin. The sensation was unbearable, a mix of pain and pleasure that had you on the edge of another orgasm.

Seonghwa's eyes snapped open, his gaze locking with yours. He nodded, his movements becoming more frantic as he pounded into you, his breaths coming in harsh pants. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the air, mingling with your desperate pleas for release.

"S-Shit-" he shudders. "Even with a condom on you feel-" He stops talking as he focuses on his task at hand, his strokes becoming more erratic as he tries to hold on. "You're gonna make me-"

You nod, a wicked smile playing on your lips as you tighten your legs around his waist, pulling him deeper into you. "Do it," you whisper, your voice husky with need. "Cum for me."

The words seem to be the final push he needs. With a roar, Seonghwa slams into you one last time, his cock pulsing as he reaches his peak. The sensation of him coming inside the condom sends you hurtling over the edge again, your own orgasm crashing over you in a wave of pleasure that leaves you trembling and breathless.

You both try catching your breaths, his body still connected with yours, your eyes locked in a silent conversation of satisfaction. He slowly pulls out, his cock still semi-hard, and carefully unbinds your limbs, massaging the areas where the ropes had dug into your skin. The cool air hits you, making you shiver, but the warmth of his hands is soothing.

"How was it?" he asks, his eyes searching yours for any sign of discomfort or dissatisfaction. You smile, feeling a bit shy.

"Very…wow." You manage to get out, your voice still shaky from the intense orgasm. Your body feels like a puddle of goo, and your mind is racing with the aftermath of what just happened.

"Good. That's good to hear," he gulps, looking down for a moment. "I normally don't, uh, come that quickly. I last much longer than that…" Seonghwa trails off, seeming a little embarrassed by his loss of control. You laugh, the sound a little shaky.

"You…don't?" you ask, a playful smile playing on your lips. Despite the situation, you felt a strange sense of pride knowing that you had brought him to climax so quickly. "So I'm special?"

Seonghwa chuckles, his eyes meeting yours as he nods. "Very special," he says, his voice gentle. He helps you sit up, his hands lingering on your shoulders. You feel a strange sense of camaraderie with him, a bond formed through shared experience and trust.

"Uh, what's your number? I'd…like to do this again. And would also get to know you better." The question slipped out before you could think, but Seonghwa's smile grew wider.

"I'd like that," he says, his thumb brushing against your cheek.

[angelltheninth]

The Prince Obeys

Pairing: Maomao x Jinshi

Tags: nsfw, smut, kissing, first time, loss of virginity, established relationship, sex work, flirting, stripping, banter, secret relationship, dirty talk, cock worship, size difference, handjobs, orders, first time blowjobs, praise kink, orgasm edging, cunnilingus

Word count: 4.5k

Ao3

Ko-Fi | Rules | Fandoms and Characters | Commissions

A/N: I opened a document and passed out. When I woke up this was written.

Maomao and Jinshi's relationship was still somewhat secretive. There were rumors that he was seeing someone but no one quite seemed to know who this mysterious lady was. That was until one day he was seen going into the Verdigris House. Ah, no one would judge him for that.

No one would dare, he was the Prince and the Verdigris House had Princesses of its own. The Three Flowers: Pairin, Joka and Meimei. But Jinshi was here for the secret fourth flower, his beloved Maomao who welcomed him at the door dressed very much like a courtesan. Poor Jinshi almost toppled over right there.

"Are you sure this is the best way for us to go on dates? This all seems needlessly complicated." He allowed her to take him by the hand around the establishment where he was greeted with smiles, giggles and offers and Maomao was greeted with polite words and the occasional chuckle.

"If we were seen in public they would wonder who I was. I would rather avoid any ties to that freak with a monocle."

"I understand that but this way... what if someone knows you? What if they get the wrong idea about you? I won't have my f- my lover treated with disrespect." Jinshi tightened his hold on her hand with an added firmness in his voice. Hearing him like that made her pause.

She turned to him who had a blush in his cheeks from all the scents, perfumes, voices and muffled sounds. He was out of his element, that much was clear.

"You seem uncomfortable with his. We could stop at any time you know." She enjoyed seeing him squirm, she never wanted him to be forced into something he didn't want. Those were two very different things. One of them made Maomao wet, the other made her stomach turn uncomfortably.

"Maomao... I... this sort of establishment..." Jinshi looked around in the hallway to make sure they were alone before he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I've only been here to get you. You know I'm a virgin." Maomao's face was unfazed until she realized he said a trigger word. But she was't fast enough.

They were already here.

"Virgin? My, my, not what one would expect of such a man." Pairin was first of course, already licking her lips and eyeing Jinshi. "Ah, but those kind are some of my favorite."

"Sisters, please." Maomao didn't realize it but she stepped in front of Jinshi.

"How precious, Maomao. Protecting your man. Or maybe it's possessiveness. Don't worry we won't steal him. Like we could with that lovestruck look on his face." Meimei winked at both of them, this time they both blushed equally.

Joka stepped forward and hugged Maomao tight. "Don't let him push you around. If he steps out of line even for a moment pull, bite, twist."

While Jinshi would never do such a thing almost all color drained from his face as Joka glared at him over Maomao's shoulder while saying those words. His hand instinctively went to cover and protect his manhood.

"And make sure he pays well." That got all three to huddle away from them likely were hatching some master plan. "What do you think? He's the Imperial Prince so he has the money. Perhaps we should charge him extra for this." Next they turned to the two lovers like they would rob them.

Oh boy. They really were spending too much time with Granny.

"You will not castrate or rob him. Jinshi already paid more than a fair price for me." Maomao glanced up at him and he visibly relaxed when she pulled his arm against herself. "Excuse us."

"Maomao remember the techniques we taught you!" They yelled words of encouragement after them but Maomao didn't stop walking until they were behind the safety of locked doors. This was one of the best, most luxurious rooms in the entire House. Only the highest ranking individuals could afford it.

"I hope they didn't scare you too much."

"They're lovely women. But I like you more." Oh, he was scared. That was even more reason to do his best to treat Maomao right and make her the happiest woman alive. Lest he suffer the wrath of her sisters. "What would you like to do?"

"We have the room for two nights so we could do a lot, of course depending on how far you intend to take it." They had been intimate before, although never past kissing or partially clothed. Perhaps they could cross that threshold tonight.

"I will do anything my future wife desires." Jinshi said humbly as he sat down on the large, soft bed.

Maomao approached him, her look pinning him on the spot. "Jinshi while we are in this room I am not your future wife." He tilted his head to the side, not understanding his words. "You paid for two nights with a courtesan, a whore, so the question is what do you want to do."

"Anything! Well... anything you would let me do to you." He knew that he sounded all too eager and maybe a little clueless. This was a world he was not very familiar with but he was very eager to learn. From Maomao of course. "How about we start by stripping. I would like to see all of you."

"I could do that but simply stripping is boring." She grabbed at his clothes and began undoing the knots keeping them in place. She could tell it startled him. "You first." Slowly she slid it off his shoulders, relishing in being able to touch him without having to look over her shoulder when she did. "Your beauty is unfair, Jinshi. You could put the staff here to shame."

Jinshi gulped when she got to his pants. "I can do that part!"

"No. I want to. I want to take it off, see the full effect I'm having on you." She would use every technique she learned. At least those her body would allow. For others she would need to get creative. Luckily Jinshi liked her creative side, although sometimes it worried him too.

Her fingers brushed against the healed branding on his hip as she untied his pants and took them and his undergarments down his legs.

"Wonderful specimen." She commented rather casually as his cock sprang free. "Above average girth, nice length, the perfect shape for hitting a sweet spot."

"Must you be so clinical while describing it?" Jinshi wasn't gonna lie, even this was doing it for him. Not the words but the fact that it was Maomao who was saying them.

"Ah, then I will get more into the role you payed for." She cleared her throat like she was getting ready for a performance before sinking to her knees and pressing her cheek against the warm lenghth, her fingers dancing along the other side. "I can hardly wait for you to get this hard cock inside me. At this size I'm sure you'll split me open on it. I'll be so full of you, Master Jinshi." To end it she looked at him while she kissed the side, feeling the hard cock twitch at the attention.

"Uh... um..." His brain was already struggling to keep up. "I wish to see you too! Naked!"

"All you need is to ask." Maomao couldn't help the small smile she got when she stood up and Jinshi's hips jerked upwards too. Unlike with her usual clothes she had no undergarments under this one. She was already showing a good bit of skin, her shoulders, back and belly exposed to him, with only a skirt and chest coverings to hide the most important parts. Time to take them off too.

Perhaps she could make him finish without touching him. Now that would be a feat her sisters would be really proud of.

Starting from her chest whose bindings she undid. There wasn't much there but Jinshi already made it clear that wasn't an issue, it was a bonus. His whole hand could grab one tit each.

Recently he did more than palm at them. Kissing, sucking, licking, biting, not always in that order, was often what accompanied their make out sessions. Jinshi listened when Maomao told him she didn't want marks where they could be seen. For him that made things better.

Maomao didn't have to palm at her boobs to get his attention but she did it anyway.

Jinshi leaned forward a little, his eyes focused and not, his lips parted and hand wrapped around his dick.

He didn't even get one stroke on it before Maomao narrowed her eyes. "Hands at your sides, Jinshi."

"What? Maomao... I need to-" Her eyes narrowed more and he felt compelled to listen. "I thought we were doing what I wanted."

"Isn't that what we're doing? You like being told you're good for me." Her thumbs pressed over her nipples just in time for his cock to twitch. Smirking, not wanting to be too cruel, she disgarted the last of her clothing. His cock reacted again as she got close and got on her knees. "Besides this part of you belongs to me. I should be the one who makes it feel good."

"All of me is yours. You already know that." Jinshi patted her on the head with an encouraging touch. She hid her smile by kissing the side of his cock but he felt it. "You like this too, don't lie. Making each other feel good, these teasing games we play. Show me what skills you learned. All the little hidden sides of you."

Maomao hummed against his cock as her lips dragged all the way up to the tip. Since she was sure she couldn't get all of him into her mouth all at once, not at this stage anyway she opted to focus on the part she knew would bring him the most pleasure. His tip was already leaking and she was curious how he would taste. That would be where most of her attention would be focused.

"Hands at your sides and don't take your eyes off me." She only warned him once before she closed her mouth around his cockhead and used her hands to stroke him, leaving no part unattended. Jinshi grunted at the feeling of warmth, a tongue making small circles lapping the white beads of cum, Maomao raising to her knees and bobbing her head up and down.

The sounds she heard were the exact same wet, slurpy, groaning noises that she heard so many times in passing and swore she would never make herself. Jinshi was equally as captivated, his eyes pools of black and face flushed in shades of pink up to his ears.

When she noticed he started leaking more cum she got an idea. She lacked the size for a boobjob but there was something else she could do that would please them both.

"Such a good boy, Jinshi, keep looking at me." Her thumb replaced her tongue and smeared cum around his tip before she arched her back. Jinshi's mouth feel open when she took his cock into her hand and pressed the wet tip against her hard nipple. One, until it was shiny and red, and then slowly the other.

He couldn't wait anymore his hands pressed against Maomao's shoulders and scooped her up into a sloppy kiss. He almost sank into it but she shoved him roughly, his body on the bed and her on top of him, looking mad. "Ups. Broke the rules didn't I?"

"Don't even pretend to be sorry, Jinshi. I see that smile." Curse him and it. "You did disobey though. And I've got the perfect punishment."

"Is that so? Punish away then." He wasn't scared or sorry in the least but he would be soon enough. Maomao knew all about how to drive a man to the edge of insanity.

She straddled him again and sat against his cock, her pussy lips wet and gliding against it. Jinshi braced himself against her thighs in anticipation of the warmth that never came, not in the way he thought it would. Instead of being enveloped in it he felt it drag against his dick, from the bottom of the shaft to his tip. His eyes widened in horror when she showed no intent of taking him in.

"What's the matter Jinshi? I thought you wanted to be punished. Is this not to your liking?" She grinned at him, mischievous as a cat toying with its prey. Fitting for their current predicament.

"Not... anymore..." With a huff he tried to grab at her hips only for her to push his hands away and hold them against his chest. "I can get out of your hold easily."

Head tilting to the side she was inviting him to try. It wouldn't take much, he was bigger and much stronger. Also more agreeable so Jinshi stubbornly stayed as he was.

"Good, I was beginning to think I'd need to tie you to the bed." She wasn't at least bit surprised that his cock reacted to that. In her head she was making a mental note of his kinks, likes and dislikes. "Pervert."

"How am I the pervert here? You suggested it. I'm only following along. And don't fool yourself or me, I felt that increase of slick. You're smearing it all over me." To be clear that was as far from a complaint as Jinshi could get.

"Not yet but..." Maomao got an idea from that. "Eyes closed, tongue out."

"Closed?! I thought you wanted me to look."

"This is a surprise. Eyes closed or blindfolds." Of course he reacted again, the masochist. But he compiled without much fuss. "Good, that's the obedience I like."

Jinshi frowned on the outside at being kept in the dark but smiled on the inside at being praised. That was until his tongue touched something hot, wet and of a taste that he knew was Maomao. His eyes didn't need to open. He knew what it was and he wanted, demanded more right this second. His arms wrapped around Maomao's thighs and pulled her onto his face.

"Idiot! You shouldn't pull someone on top like that! That could cause... serious da-ahn-madge to... your neck. Hmnn! I see you found the books... I've been lending to the Emperor..." Her hands braced against the wall so she could look at Jinshi's face, what of it she could see. Jinshi would love to think he could be skilled enough even without a book. Not that it could hurt for him to learn more, he could always learn more ways to please.

He also threw all caution to the wind the moment he got a taste of his beloved.

Weather this was good or bad was up their future to decide.

"Ji- Zuigetsu, more." Jinshi moaned against her clit the moment she used his real name. Only on rare occasions did she speak it and only when they were alone. He told her it was fine in front of other people since she was his future wife. Maomao liked keeping his real name to herself, it made it special.

"So this is how you taste." He grinned against Maomao's pussy lips and she could feel the mistake she made now that she let him have a taste. She would never be left alone now because she forgot that Jinshi loved to behave like a spoiled brat at times.

And she had to keep him at bay. "Focus." With a pull on his hair she moved his lips back to her clit, he lapped at it eagerly. "That's more like it." She threw her head back as she allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of Jinshi's tongue pressing and rolling up against her clit.

She felt his mouth open as she pushed her hips forward. His his arms wound around her thighs before he pushed his hands against her hips, pulling her towards him again, encouraging her to fully ride his face. Which she was going to do anyway but it's good that he's so enthusiastic.

Maomao moved her hips, but when she showed any restraint Jinshi lapped at her cunt faster, the motions driving her insane.

"Jinshi. So much, I'm-" Seems like he really had been reading the books cause the next thing she knew she was coming onto his face as he sucked her clit, her head thrown back with uncontrolled moans. "S-Shit, stop! Enough!" Her squirming and pushing freed her from his grip and she sat next to him, chest heaving and pussy too sensitive to close her legs.

"Looks like I found your weakness." Jinshi grinned as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"And I found yours some time ago. Now we're even." Not wanting to waste time Maomao settled onto Jinshi's lap and started pressing his tip against her entrance, prodding and testing.

"Wait! Are you fine to do that? You just finished."

"Women don't need the recovery period like men. Besides with me being more sensitive it might feel better for you." But Jinshi still frowned. "And me. I wouldn't bring myself discomfort just for this."

Let it never be said that either of them were selfish lovers to each other. Maomao had never taken anything other than fingers. She knew there were toys available but she never had much use for them... other than blowjob practice. Jinshi didn't need to know that.

Knowing him he'd get jealous.

"M-Maomao... too tight inside... Gods..." Jinshi's face contorted in a look of bliss, further enhanced by his blush.

"Only me. If you must call for someone tonight then call for me." And leave it to her to get jealous of the Gods she didn't even believe in. "Jinshi. Don't make me do all the work."

Spurred on by her words he pressed the pad of his thumb against Maomao's clit. "So pretty. Wanna kiss it." He cooed and pressed it again.

It made her pussy tighten. "Not in this position. But... we could try out a few things in the future." With her being easy to move for him there were so many things they could try. Maybe being on the shorter side wasn't such a bad idea. For having sex with her future husband that is.

Maomao used that to her advantage as well. She pressed her hands against his muscled chest and her legs against the bed, locking them at his sides, her hips rising and lowering onto his with vigor. Yes, she concluded, seeing Jinshi's red face and feeling his sturdy, big cock stretching her inner walls apart was much better than letting imagination go wild while fingering herself in the lonely darkness of her room.

"Good? Anything hurting?" Jinshi asked, his voice and touches soft.

"A little odd. There is a bit of pain but that's to be expected as this is the first time I've been penetrated with something other than fingers. It will go away as we keep going." Again, she was treating this a little too medically for anyone's liking other than her own. It was probably a good thing that Jinshi was used to it by now. Otherwise he would have been too weirded out.

Everyone knew the kind of talk they should expect to hear in a brothel. This certainly wasn't it. It might be better. Jinshi knew what Maomao said was the truth. As she said, her own comfort and pleasure was also important to her.

"Take your time, darling. I'm good where I am." He grinned up at her, throwing a goofy thumbs up.

No one would do that while having sex. No one but Jinshi.

He was so damn weird sometimes.

And too attractive to hate.

"You are good right where you are. You're being so good for me right now, Jinshi." Maomao whispered low, flexing her inner walls around Jinshi's cock. He whimpered even before she did it. As soon as she praised him. Insults and praise got him off equally it seemed.

He waited and waited and waited for her to start moving. Truthfully he didn't need her to. If she stayed where she was and kept making her cunt massage his cock he would still come. As soon as he felt her moving up he gulped. His cock was wet, covered in stickiness that was unlike his own.

On instinct his hands tightened around her hips, a bruising grip making Maomao moan. Her pussy reacted accordingly, dripping with more juices, fluttering around half of Jinshi's length.

"Seems like you did discover something about me, Master Jinshi." But Jinshi pressed his lips into a confused frown. He didn't understand what she was getting at. "You see, we all have our kinks, the things that turn us on. For you it's praise, affection, degradation and I suspect that you would love to let your seed out in here." She looked at him as she patted her lower belly. Right over her womb. "Thought so. It's a common kink in men." His cock pulsed at her taunting words. It would be dangerous... "But me?" Maomao grinned down at him, her face flushed. "I'm a little bit of a painslut."

"Pain...slut?" He stammered out.

"I like pain. Giving it, as well as getting it. I don't see why you are surprised by this. You know what I do, that I experiment on myself. And right now..." Her smile widened before she sank back down on Jinshi's dick. "Ah! Oh, it feels so good to have your cock stretching my pussy apart." The look on her face was that he had seen many times before.

Anticipation of more, of discovery and curiosity. "You certainly are an odd one. But no more odd that the man beneath you." Yes, Jinshi admitted to his own oddities when he deemed it necessary.

The only issue Maomao had with it was his wording. "You are a prince, you can't be beneath me, other than in the physical sense."

Jinshi grinned in spite of that. He tapped her thighs with his hands, making her hips jerk against his. She was on top, yes, but Jinshi still felt like teasing her as much as possible. He parted her legs even more. "Lovely view. You're finally at your rightful place."

"And where exactly is that, sir? On top of you? Or were you referring more to the fact that you have me on your cock?" She pressed her lips into a tight line when all Jinshi did was smile up at her. This man... really made her life harder than it needed to be. He made her think and feel so many things she thought impossible. "Say it clearly for me, Master Jinshi." With her hands pressed on his chest she moved, leaving only the tip in.

She stayed there, hovering, waiting for him to respond.

It was torture for him she knew, doubly so when she chose to make her pussy tighten around his cockhead only. He could force her back down if he really wanted to, but there was a pervy part of him that loved being teased and made to wait. Maomao tightened around him again and again, promptly cutting him off when he tried to speak. "I love having you on top of me. But... also... having you on my dick feels nice."

"Wasn't that hard was it?" Maomao pushed her hands against Jinshi's and intertwined their fingers together. "But you certainly are."

"Do something about it then, apothecary." He ended up pulling her along after all, not that she minded it. The grip on his hands tightened. She felt safe that he wouldn't let her go and would catch her if needed.

"I was most certainly planning on it. You see there is another correlation between my work as an apothecary and my work as a courtesan. Know what that is?" Her hips wiggled back and forth, her small ass making his balls pulse under it. Jinshi shook his head, he had no clue. "In both cases I can't stop until the customer is fully satisfied." Maomao braced herself before she quickened the movement of her hips, causing Jinshi to gasp at the sudden change of pace.

"M-Maomao...!" He tried to ground himself as much as possible but even though he was secured physically, his mind was a mess. Every sense overwhelmed by every bit of the woman above him. "Is it okay? Is it really okay?" He asked, barely, and hoped that she understood what he meant.

Because if not, he wasn't sure he could explain.

As soon as she nodded he lost any semblance of control. His hands smacked down on her ass hard while his cock pistoned in and out. "That's it. Let it out, I know you want to." Just one more push. "Jinshi. Come."

Jinshi could never disobey his future wife.

He wasn't even embaressed that he couldn't. It felt too good to unload his cum like this, to feel Maomao's tight pussy have him in a vice grip while she moaned against his chest. Shaking, one of his hands cupped the back of her neck and brought her in for a delicate kiss. "My darling, I love you, Maomao."

"And I you, Jinshi. Sir." The words were still difficult for her but he didn't need to hear them. He knew how she felt by now. With a grin he hugged her tighter. She grunted. "With all due respect, I understand physical intimacy is something couples enjoy after these things, however I don't enjoy the feeling of your seed dripping out of me."

"Ah! I apologize! I wasn't aware it was uncomfortable." Jinshi released her immediately. Looking bashful he let get up but couldn't help the pride that swelled up in his chest, and cock, when he saw her breathing heavily and saw his cum dripping from between her legs.

"I will go and wash up. I advise you clean up as well. And no you cannot go with me, your presence there would disturb the delicate peace of the baths." Maomao bowed to him as she finished getting dressed.

"Wait a minute! I thought you said we had more time!" Jinshi was ready to go after her.

"Do not pout after sex. It ruins the mood." And by that she meant that it made her want to jump his bones all over again. She liked delicate Jinshi. A little too much perhaps. "When I return we can go again. So, don't spend a drop while I'm not here. Got it?"

Jinshi once again felt like his manhood was on the line if he said no. "Yes, ma'am. My cock is all yours." Even as he said that he rubbed his hand up and down, "But you better hurry, with all the material you gave me I'll be ready to go again in no time. You don't want to keep a paying customer waiting."

How can he say that and then wink at her?! If she had less control she would have pushed him down and rode him until they both passed out or they had to get out of the room. With how stubborn they both were, it would be the second option.

[unlimitedlust]

Pretty When You Cry - Noah Sebastian x Reader (+18)

Author’s Note:

Heyy, this was requested by an Anon, I got really excited with their idea and I hope I made justice to it!

Warnings: smut smut smut smut (this one has a lot more smut than the previous ones), handjob, oral f! and m! receiving, p in v, creampie, squirting, dom! Noah.

It’s very late over here, forgive me for any mistakes, please.

W/C: 4.2K

Tag request: @iloveyoutodeathbutimdrowning

Please let me know if you enjoyed it, it makes my day when you comment on it ❤️❤️❤️ Likes and reblogs also make my day, so feel free to do so!!! Enjoy it!!!

End of Author’s Note

Noah had just got home after months on the road with the boys and the way you missed and craved for him at that point was maddening. But before you could have your alone time with him, you still had to attend the band’s barbecue to wrap up and celebrate the end of the tour.

You begged him for at least a quickie, but he was adamant you’d leave that for after the party because he knew that after such a long time away from you, it wouldn’t be just a quickie.

But you weren’t okay with that. You wanted him and now you were obstinate to have him crawling for you.

So you wore the floral sundress you’d just bought, it hugged your body in all the right places, marking your waist and highlighting your chest, and had a slit on the left side, exposing your leg and thigh at each step. You applied your favorite cologne and a light makeup, and you were ready to go.

Noah eyed you from head to toe as you came down the stairs and gave you a firm slap on your ass as you walked past him towards the door.

“I liked the dress, baby, looks perfect on you” He paid his compliments as you both got into his car.

“Wore it for you, love” You winked at him and landed your left hand on his thigh, like you always did.

But then an idea crept into your head as he hummed a random song distractedly. You moved your hand higher and inwards on his thigh, caressing it with gentle rubs getting closer to his crotch each time.

You felt him tense and his gaze shifted from the road to you for a fraction of second, until he relaxed and settled himself on his seat, allowing and giving you space for whatever you had in mind.

You moved your hand higher and your fingers finally grazed his cock, hard in his shorts with your teasing. You palmed his length over the shorts slowly, impatiency starting to slip off him with a heavy sigh as you circled lightly the pad of your thumb on his sensitive tip.

His knuckles got white on the steering wheel due to how hard he held it while you pulled his shorts down just enough to free his cock, heavy and slapping against his lower belly, the sight making your mouth water and your pussy throb in need.

You spit on your hand and wrapped it around his shaft, slowly dragging it up and down his length, intentionally avoiding his tip, which made him visibly clench his jaw and fight back a frustrated moan as you worked solely on his shaft.

You gathered some saliva and leaned closer to him, making him think you were about to blow him off, but instead, you stopped your mouth inches away from his cock, parted your lips and let your spit drip from your lips to his tip, extra sensitive from being neglected, the light feeling of your saliva dripping and running over it making him buck his hips slightly searching for more.

You giggled seductively as you added your other hand on rubbing him off. One pumping his length, twisting its wrist around it to add an extra layer of pleasure, while the other worked on his head, switching from squishy pumps to just cupping it with the palm of your hand, leisurely rolling and lightly squeezing him, the wave of pleasure from that very specific motion making him break the car abruptly as a nearly guttural moan came from his lungs with the sensitiveness.

Seeing Noah so needy and vulnerable in front of you got you aching between your legs as he begged for you not to stop and threw his head back in pleasure. Thank god you were stuck on some light traffic because at that point Noah had his hands on the headrest of his seat, blunt nails digging on its leather as he buckled his hips forward and came in a long moan, cock twitching, spilling all over your hands as you kept on working on his high.

“That was amazing” He exclaimed breathless as his chest heaved up and down, and he got back into his driving stance while trying to reach out for some cleaning tissues for you, until he, taken by surprise, almost got hard again by watching you lick your hands and fingers clean, a devilish smirk on your lips “Fuck, baby what’s got you like that today?”

“I needed you to fuck the shit out of me before we left, but you decided against it, remember?” You teased him by making a pout with your lips, pretending to be annoyed at him.

Before the traffic light turned green, he pulled your head roughly and kissed you aggressively, in a clear attempt to show you how much he wanted you too. But still, you couldn’t miss the barbecue with the boys.

You arrived there shortly after, Noah’s cheeks were still rosy when you got out of his car and went straight to the backyard’s gate to meet the guys, their laughter could be heard from the street.

It was a warm and sunny afternoon, everyone was enjoying themselves and laughing off the fun moments from the tour while eating good food and having nice cold drinks.

You could feel Noah’s gaze on you from the small group he was gathered in a corner, watching closely everything you did, even the smallest gestures. So you took advantage of that.

Matt had just served a batch of hot dogs in the table next to you and you took one of them, taking it to your mouth, your tongue sliding on the sausage as you drove it in, mayo smearing on the corner of your lips on purpose, so you could sensually lick it off, just as you did on your fingers back in the car, getting Noah ridiculously jealous over a hot dog.

And that’s when you decided you’d tease him at every chance you got.

You could see him trying to avert his gaze from you, but it was pointless, his eyes were always there. You walked to one of the coolers for another beer and turned your back to him as you bent down to grab another bottle, your dress riddening up as you did so, almost revealing what it hid underneath.

At that point he wasn’t just discreetly watching you, he was actively ignoring his conversations and had his eyes trained on you, torn between wanting to fuck you there and then at that very position, and feeling a pang of jealousy because if he was watching that, it meant others could watch it too. On both hypotheses he felt himself getting hard, which made him have to carefully arrange his cock in his shorts so no one saw the on growing boner.

He forced his attention back to whatever random subject Jolly was talking about, trying to think about anything but you so he could quiet down the “situation” inside his shorts.

That’s until you, after a couple of minutes out of his sight, waltzed past him, stealthily depositing your white lace panties on his hand, winking at him as you casually walked back to the group of friends you were in earlier.

Noah swallowed dry and his blood boiled as his cock got fully hard, forcing him to sit down on the couch behind him and immediately grab one of its pillows to cover himself while also saving your underwear in his pocket.

“You okay bro?” Ruffilo asked, aware of his friend’s uneasiness.

“Yeah. My back hurts. Just need to seat for a moment”

You knew by the look on his face he’d make you pay for that later. Not only for getting him all flustered in front of his friends, but especially for walking around in that dress having no panties underneath.

You thought about giving him a break, but when a tray of cupcakes came into your sight you just needed to push his buttons again.

You grabbed two of them and headed straight to Noah, sitting on one his thighs as you gave him one of the cupcakes.

His free hand made its way to slide over the curve of your ass, but you stopped him in his tracks.

“You can look, but you can’t touch” You whispered deviously, giggling in his ear.

“I’mma fuck that attitude out of you when we get out of here” His promise along with his husky tone got you clenching your legs together in anticipation.

As if nothing was happening, Noah took a bite out of his cupcake, frosting smearing the corner of his lips, and before he could himself clean it off, you leaned into him and licked off, your eyes meeting his dark ones as you did it.

“Guess you’ll have to work hard then” You spat back and got off his lap, swaying your hips on your way.

A couple of hours had gone by and you decided to give him some peace, but your previous acts through the event were still lingering on his head, earning you predatory looks you knew you’d “regret” later when he had his way with you, especially every time he felt the lace in his pocket.

It was night already and the barbecue came to an end. You said your goodbyes to everyone and headed home, the ride on your way there silent, but the tension thick in the air and you noticed how Noah drove a lot faster than usual, eager to get home.

He pushed you inside the house and closed the door behind him with a loud bang, his impatience evident in his demanding tone.

“Bedroom. Now.”

“I’m so tired, can’t we leave this for tomorrow?” You teased one last time, faking a yawn, and in the next second he had you pinned on the hallway wall, hands around your neck.

“Quit it. Upstairs. Now. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d fuck that sassiness out of you, so don’t expect any sleep for tonight”

You’d been wet all day in need of him, but having him bark those words at your face had you dripping in anticipation.

He let go of your neck and you quickly obeyed him, practically running up the stairs as he followed closely behind, closing the bedroom door as you got inside.

“On your knees” He commanded, voice husky in lust as he took his shirt off.

You dropped on your knees in front of him, both of you next to a floor to ceiling mirror, allowing you to watch yourselves.

Noah bent down and grabbed you by your jaw, his face inches from yours as he said:

“Got me hard in front of everyone the whole damn day and with that short dress with no panties underneath” You bit your bottom lip at his tone, terribly turned on by him and his imposing, bossy stance “Gonna fuck that pretty mouth of yours so you learn not to do that again”

You tried to kiss him but he stood back up straight and pulled down his shorts, freeing his rock hard manhood in all its glory.

“I’m the one who’ll decide when you can kiss me or not, baby” He had a devilish grin on his lips “But have in mind, you’re the one who started it”

You couldn’t think straight to come up with any sassy remark or any other kind of answer, so you just drove your hands to his cock, only to be stopped midway by a pull on your hair.

“No hands. You’ll have to deal with all of it with your mouth only”

You put your hands on your back as he brings your head closer to his cock, eyes connected, your mouth split open and tongue sticking out to lap him languidly from its base to its tip, swirling your tongue around it before taking it in your mouth, hollowing your cheeks around it as your tongue played with the small bundle of nerves on the slit right below his tip on the underside of his cock, making a strangled moan escape from his lips.

You kept on sucking him, driving him deeper into your mouth, making sure to make a “pop” sound every time you pulled out of him completely, only to dive into him again, jaw hurting with his thickness and length, but focused on getting him all the way into your throat, to the point your nose pressed against his pubic area, without the help of your hands.

The vision he had from above was unholy as he kept you still, cock deep in your throat as watched you struggle on keeping him all the way in, a few tears running down your cheeks and spit down your chin in the process, an absolute heaven for him.

Noah tightened the grip on the makeshift ponytail on your hair and started to thrust in and out of your mouth, ruining it as he sped up his pace and intensity, making you take support on his legs as he fucked your face, moaning shamelessly above you.

You knew he was close when his thrusts became erratic and his cock started to twitch on your tongue.

Noah entangled his fingers on the hair on the back side of your head and pulled you backwards, away from him, letting only his tip rest on your tongue as he stroked himself and came on it, some of his spurts missing your tongue and painting your face as you keep your tongue out and mouth wide open for him.

In his eyes you looked like a work of art, all disheveled, makeup running down your face and eyes glazed with lust as you licked and swallowed the cum that stained your lips and your cheeks.

“Good girl” He praised as he hoisted you up and crashed his lips against yours hungrily, tasting himself as he captured your tongue.

He guided you backwards to the bed, stepping out of his shorts on the way, and laid you on it without ever breaking the kiss.

His lips finally left yours and trailed their way down your chin towards your neck, spreading kisses and love bites all over it, making sure to leave his marks, claiming his girl.

While he kept working on your neck sending shivers down your spine, his hands came up to your boobs cupping and fonddling them still covered by the dress, until he finally pulled its front part down and off of you, exposing your hardened nipples and allowing him to explore your breasts further.

He pinched your nipples with his thumbs and index fingers, rolling it between them but not too hard, just enough to make you arch your back, offering more of you as you writhed under him.

You spread your legs wide and thrusted up your hips to meet his own, desperately trying to have the slightest friction on your pussy, but it was no use, Noah immediately brought one of his hands and pinned your hips down on the bed.

“Please” You whined is frustration, clit aching and desperately needing some attention.

“Thought you liked teasing” He sank his teeth on the crook of your neck in response.

Noah soothed his bite with his tongue and kissed his way across your collarbone to your chest, licking its valley before he attached his lips around one of your nipples, gliding his tongue over it to then nibble at it, the stimulation so good you could feel the knot on your pelvis forming only by it.

He shifted his attention between your boobs, repeating the same movements, and you were so concentrated you didn’t see him moving his right hand down to the center of your body.

You gasped audibly when he finally ran his fingers over your slit, collecting your slick to rub it on your clit with feather-like touches at first.

You raked your hands over his tattooed arms and back trying to feel more of him, one of them settling through his silk dark hair, keeping him at your chest level as he still feasted on your boobs, marking their flash with small bites.

Noah pressed harder on your clit with the pads of his fingers and you felt that knot on your lower belly tightening, eager for the long awaited release as Noah, even after all those months away, knew your body more than yourself and pushed all of your right buttons to have you falling apart under his touch.

Your whole body tensed as you got close to your climax, but when you were about to snap it, he stopped and drew his fingers away from you.

“No!” You complained in raw frustration.

Noah giggled evilly at your reaction, the tables had turned and by the mischievous look in his eyes, you knew he’d make you pay for all the teasing you’d put him through.

“You’ll cum only when I allow you to. Understand?”

You nodded flustered as he collected more of your slick with his fingers and drove them to your lips so you could taste yourself. He pushed his inked fingers in your mouth, making you open it wider.

“I want your words”

“Yes”

“Good. Now eyes on me”

His face was on the same level as yours. He braced himself on his arm by the side of your head as he drove his hand back between your legs.

He sank two of his long fingers inside you, stretching your walls and going straight to that spongy spot inside you. He smirked when he saw your breath hitching and your pupils dilating when he started to curl his fingers inside you, rubbing it in a ‘come here’ motion.

Noah knew you loved this and knew how easily you gave in when he reached that very spot, and you only confirmed that when you unwittingly spread your legs even wider, allowing him full and unrestricted access to you.

“Noah please…” You begged, helplessly trying to pull on his short hair as he sped up his pace, taking you up that cliff you’d been craving to jump from.

Your body tensed again and you bit your bottom lip as we kept on fingering you, and when you thought he’d finally make you cum, he stopped again, retrieving his fingers and licking them clean as he laughed at your frustration.

“No” He deadpanned.

Restrained electricity ran through your veins and you felt even more sensitive with all the edging, your body feeling like jelly, even though you hadn’t cum yet.

As he waited for you to come back from your - almost - high, Noah crawled down the bed, pushed the skirt of your dress up and peppered wet kisses on your inner thighs, his lips getting dangerously close to your pussy, to then skip it, just to watch you wriggle above him.

He snaked both of his arms around each of your thighs and brought your pussy inches away from his face. He blew his hot breath over it and lightly ran his nose over your swollen clit as he did so, making you shudder under his hold.

You groaned loudly when you finally felt his tongue run along your slit, lapping up your arousal. He kissed and licked and suckled on your most sensitive spots, making you buck your hips up for even more of that, desperate for the release that’s been denied to you twice already.

Noah sucked on your clit and licked circles on it as he kept it between his lips, and that was it for you, you felt it coming hot and strong inside you, ready to ripple through you, toes curling at it, when he again, pulled away, postponing your release.

And at that point you were desperate, your chest heaved and a couple of tears of both pleasure and frustration streamed down your face because you needed it, you needed it hard, and he was taking it away to punish you.

“Please please please” You begged again while he helped you out of the dress you were still wearing.

“I told you I’d fuck that attitude out of you, didn’t I?” He whispered against your lips as he hovered over you, the tip of his cock lining to your opening as he did so.

“Then please do it”

“Do what?”

“Fuck my pussy” One of his hands went straight to your neck at your words.

“It’s not your pussy baby” He choked you “It’s mine” And pushed himself all the way in in one hard and deep thrust, making you moan loudly at the sudden stretch.

Your nails clawed down his back and you felt completely full as he started to fuck you properly, the hand around your neck adding to the experience as it pressed on the sides of your neck, cutting off part of the flow of oxygen to your brain.

After all those months away from him it felt like heaven having him inside you again, hips slapping harshly against yours as he now fucked you in short thrusts, but hard and deep at each of them, making sure to roll his hips enough so your clit would also be stimulated in the process.

“Fucking missed this” He groaned on your ear, peppering kisses on your neck “Fucking missed you”

“Me too baby.. feel so good inside me” You mumbled back as your walls clenched around him, announcing your orgasm building again in your core.

“Fuck don’t do this, I need to last” He moaned out, visibly holding himself back at your walls squeezing on him.

Changing positions, Noah manhandled you roughly, making you land on your fours, and pulled you by your hips, pushing his cock all the way back in one hard thrust. Stilled inside you, his hands once holding your hips slid down to your waist and then your ribcage, his hard grip pressing your body down on the bed while your ass was still up in the air and bottomed out by him.

He leaned down to your ear and said:

“I want you to cum hard on my cock, can you do that for me?”

“Yes baby” You sighed, breathless and head in overdrive with the new angle he was hitting.

“I want you to clench hard around me, milk me up so I can fill that pretty little pussy, you understand?” His words alone were enough to make you throb around him.

“Y-yes”

“Good”

He got back to his previous position behind you and pinned both your wrists together behind your back as started to fuck you again, in and out in harder and deeper than before, shoving your body forwards at each thrust, making you fight for your own balance as you drooled on the bed sheets, completely cock drunk.

You became a full moaning mess as he railed you like never before. Your denied climax coming back stronger than ever before and heightened by the sounds of his own moans as he drilled you.

You felt your body in flames as the pressure on your pelvis got unbearable and Noah, reading your body, leaned forward and took his hand to your clit. Only this time he wasn’t stopping it.

So it came. You screamed against the sheets as an earth shattering orgasm took over your senses, making you gush over Noah, your whole body shudder and your walls clench hard around his cock as he rode you through it, the feel of him twitching and cumming inside you at the same time only adding to your high as your whole body went numb with the strongest orgasm you’ve ever had on your life.

You were so blind by your high you didn’t realize you’d squirted on Noah, who smiled proudly at you as he pulled out of you, your fluids running down his lower belly and his cum dripping out of your hole.

He buried his face on your sensitive cunt and lapped it up for the last time, collecting his own cum to bring it to your mouth, which you gladly accepted by sticking your tongue out so he could spit it in, kissing you lovingly after.

You shifted your position on the bed, laying facing up the ceiling while Noah went to the bathroom.

He came back moments later with a wet towel and started to take care of you. First he cleaned the smeared makeup on your face and the remnants of spit and cum, kissing tenderly the places he’s just taken care of, then he cleaned the cum oozing from between your legs, kissing your knees once he was done.

After disposing of the towel, he climbed back on the bed with him, pulling you to his embrace as you nuzzled against his chest.

“You have no idea how I missed you, baby, I love you so much” He whispered as he kissed your forehead and held you tightly in his arms.

“I couldn’t stay another second away from you, Noah, you’re a part of me already” You tilted your head up to meet his lips “I’m unable to describe how much I love you too”

You felt dizzy as his heartbeat lulled you into your sleep, until he poked you.

“Uh uh” You looked at him confused as you waited for him to continue “I’m just giving you a break. I meant it when I said we’re not sleeping tonight”

[five-rivers]

providence 1

[You might have noticed my absence from the phic phight up until now, but I've been working on this all month! This is the first chapter of a completed fic that is 9 chapters long. The prompts used are from @alexapiper @ash-rabbit @kinglazrus, with special thanks to @jackdaw-sprite @datawyrms and Lexie for beta and encouragement. Also tagging @kawaiijohn because although I didn't quite hit your prompt it's in very close proximity and it helped inspire me.]

[CW: Later chapters have some dissec.]

“Clockwork?” called Danny, softly, standing on the ground just outside the wide open doors. It felt more polite, somehow, to walk in, rather than flying. Normally, he might not care so much about being polite, but… He looked around the entrance of the tower, spotting lingering evidence of the fight with, well. With the other Danny. Phantom. Evil future Danny.

Danny hoped he picked a name soon. Figuring out what to call him when he hadn’t was annoying at best and terminally confusing at worst. He at least needed a distinct nickname or something. Because Formerly Evil Danny just wasn’t cutting it.

(Tucker was calling him Shadow the Hedgehog, and Danny hadn’t played enough Sonic the Hedgehog to know if that was a valid reference or not.)

He shifted the weight of the bag in his hands, debating just… dropping it off. That felt rude, but after everything, barging into Clockwork’s home would be extra rude. Especially since it would be him doing the barging. Him, Danny, aka an alternate version of the person that had wrecked Clockwork’s home, merged with him, and broke the timeline to the point of weakening his powers indefinitely.

Then again, the doors were open, he had a strong sense of being watched, and despite visiting before, Danny was always curious about the inside of the tower. Time and space were, after all, sort of the same thing, and it seemed like he noticed something new and interesting every time he was there.

And he was worried about Clockwork.

Being forcibly merged with another ghost couldn’t be healthy, not to mention the damage to the timeline.

Maybe he’d just–

“Hello, Daniel,” said Clockwork from the depths of a shadow.

Danny jumped into the air, startled, then, sheepishly, set himself back down on the floor. Clockwork could time jumpscares perfectly, and the way only his outline and the glow of his eyes were visible only added to the effect.

“Hi,” he said. Then he held up the bag. “I brought–”

“Apology fudge, several types of tea, and a thumb drive with an almost certainly unnecessary security update for my time medallions.”

“Tucker wanted to contribute, and he didn’t have enough time to finish the scarf,” explained Danny, lingering on the threshold.

“Naturally,” said Clockwork. “Do come in, Daniel.” Clockwork faded back into the shadows and Danny followed.

“So,” said Danny, trailing after Clockwork, “how is cleaning up going? The, um, repairs?”

From what Danny could see, they weren’t going anywhere. Or, at least, they hadn’t progressed past the point of pushing rubble to the sides and making the walls whole. This was only the entryway.

(The view of the tower from the distance hadn’t been great, either, though. Cracks big and small ran through the whole structure, giving it a ruined and abandoned appearance. Glimpses of things inside the tower through cracked walls and shattered glass didn’t help. At one point, Danny had mistaken a shiny silver gear for the white of an enormous eye. At least, he hoped that it was actually a gear.)

Clockwork cast a glance back over his shoulder, the dim lighting leaving the left side of his face in shadow. “Well enough. It is the damage to time that I am focused on, rather than the damage to my dwelling.”

“Is there anything I could help with?” offered Danny, uncertainly. “Or– You probably don’t want me here.” Which was painful enough on its own. “I could just drop these off–”

He tripped over a loose stone in the floor.

“Flying wouldn’t be rude,” continued Clockwork, apparently choosing to ignore Danny’s rambling. “We are both ghosts.”

“Right,” said Danny, lifting off and flying after Clockwork. “Where are we going?”

“My workshop,” said Clockwork. “There is something I want to show you.”

Despite his general (and possibly misplaced) guilt, Danny perked up. Despite scattered visits to Clockwork (mostly for apologies regarding various temporal misadventures or attempts at paying Clockwork back), he’d never seen Clockwork’s workshop.

They traveled through a short passageway, full of all sorts of wall clocks, from old-fashioned pendulum and weight clocks to cuckoo clocks to cat-shaped clocks with swinging tails to clocks that could have come from a Casper High classroom to utilitarian digital clocks. Some of the clocks were whole and functional. Many more were broken and still. The edges of the hall, the corners where the walls met the floor, were covered with broken glass.

At the end of the passageway was a set of cracked-glass doors. In the cracked glass, Danny saw reflections. But not reflections of the hallway as it was. There were flashes of purple, of white fire, of impossibly huge, bloodshot eyes. Danny spun, reflexively trying to see what was behind them.

“The doors–”

“An unfortunate side-effect,” said Clockwork.

“Of what?” asked Danny, turning back to the door. The eyes were gone, at least, but, as a matter of personal preference, the Nasty Burger mid-explosion wasn’t much better.

Clockwork just held open the door, head still tilted slightly away from Danny. Keeping one eye on Clockwork (he was acting weird, even for him), Danny slid into the room.

Oddly, the first impression Danny had was of the basement lab back home in Fentonworks. The colors were different - stone and brass with highlights of blue and purple, as opposed to plastic and chrome with highlights of green and red - but the workbenches had the same feeling of cluttered organization, of chaos with bubbles of order around ongoing projects.

But those projects weren't like anything Danny had seen in the lab.

There was one of the time viewers, the image in it glitching and blurring around the edges, a set of candles full of nails in strange patterns, something like a pair of glasses with over a dozen lenses held onto it with spidery arms, a small wall clock casing full of what appeared to be an ocean, a detailed map of a galaxy, stuck with pins, an exquisitely detailed orrery with dozens of planets–

Danny pulled himself away from the orrery (the model of Jupiter had over a dozen moons!), then a grandfather clock that included the phases of the moon, then the pieces of a tiny and absolutely precious pocket watch, laid out on a piece of black velvet, and, then, finally, he was able to return his attention to Clockwork, who, thankfully, didn’t seem upset. Much.

He still wasn’t looking directly at Danny, instead studying something on a nearby table. Danny couldn’t tell what, exactly, with Clockwork’s solid-color eyes.

“What did you want to show me?” Danny asked.

Clockwork picked one clock - a small, old-fashioned alarm clock - up from a teetering stack of books on the table and handed it to Danny, taking the bag of fudge, tea, and tech from him and putting it on an empty stool. “Wait a minute.”

There was a ratcheting sound, and, all at once, the bells of the tower began to toll, from the enormous, booming bell at the very top of the tower, to the shrill alarm clock in his hands. Danny startled at the sudden noise, inadvertently throwing the alarm clock into the air. He lunged for it, trying to catch it before it could knock into something important or delicate. He did, but then he knocked into something important: the time viewer.

Or, he thought he’d knock into it. Instead, he slipped into its surface, like it was a portal, before Clockwork caught him by the elbow.

“Careful,” he said, almost teasingly. He tapped the top of the still-ringing alarm clock with his staff, silencing it.

Danny blinked, frowned, then wriggled, pulling himself out of the viewer. Clockwork let go of his arm and drifted backward, holding his staff with both hands and morphing into his oldest, most wizened form. Only his mouth and red eyes were visible beneath the shadow of his hood.

“What was that?” asked Danny. “I thought that you needed one of your medallions to go through one of those.”

“Perhaps,” said Clockwork. “But if that is the case, then how has this occurred?”

“Are you… asking me?”

“That is generally what is implied, with a question,” said Clockwork.

“Um,” said Danny. He looked down at the alarm clock. “Is this a time medallion, somehow? Like, not the shape, obviously, but…”

“And how would you test that hypothesis?” asked Clockwork.

Danny looked back up at Clockwork, then at the clock again. He put it back on the table, then, hesitantly, touched the time viewer. His hand went right through it, up to the wrist, before he snatched it away. He looked down at it with consternation.

“So, I guess that isn’t it,” he said.

Clockwork hummed noncommittally.

“You’re going to have to give me a hint, here,” said Danny.

“Consider: do you have what is, perhaps, an unusual relationship with time?” asked Clockwork.

Danny stared at him blankly, and Clockwork sighed.

“Have you had any uncommon interactions with the timeline in your past? Have you done things with time that wouldn’t be possible for a normal person?”

A blush rose in Danny’s cheeks. Yes, he knew he had an ‘unusual relationship’ with time. He’d time traveled more often than Marty McFly (probably, he hadn’t counted). Normal people didn’t do that. But the way that Clockwork asked had made it seem like there was some other meaning.

“Well, yeah. But when I asked you to send me back to Vlad’s accident I still had to use…” He trailed off. “That was before, um, Phantom, um.” Danny sucked his lips in, unsure of how to phrase what had happened delicately, much less clearly. “The weird time slips, those were all centered on me. Everyone else who noticed them was close to me.”

“In more ways than one,” agreed Clockwork.

Danny looked back at the glitching time viewer and made a face at it. The image was of a distant forest fire, smoke billowing up from the side of a hill. It hadn’t seemed particularly threatening before, but now that he knew he could fall in by mistake, he wondered if he shouldn’t edge away from it.

He looked back at Clockwork, meeting both red eyes for a split second. “Is that the only…” He trailed off, surprised.

Clockwork turned away again, swiftly. “Unfortunately, the nature of these effects makes it difficult for me to see with any clarity.”

Danny shook his head, forcibly reorienting himself on the conversation. He could process what he’d seen later. Hopefully. “You were still able to do the mind-reading trick pretty well.”

The corner of Clockwork’s lip that Danny could see twitched upward. “As I have told you before, I cannot read minds. I can only see timelines where you say what you are thinking.”

“Which is basically the same as reading minds,” replied Danny, thankful that they’d had this exchange so many times that his response was automatic. His thoughts were spinning, and stopping himself from blurting them out was close to impossible, so it probably was a good thing Clockwork couldn’t read minds.

“It is significantly more prone to error,” said Clockwork, with a shrug. “In any case, now you are aware of this phenomenon.”

“Right,” said Danny. He nodded to himself, as if the gesture would magically grant him the ability to know what he was doing. “Now I know. Your–” He cut himself off and chewed on his bottom lip. “Is there anything I can do to help you fix things? Or even just clean up?”

“I was under the impression that you were spending most of your time trying to learn how to be a bridge between humans and ghosts,” said Clockwork, rearranging tools on one of the workbenches.

“Well, yes,” said Danny, “but helping out is part of that, right? And this is, you know, sort of my fault, so…”

Clockwork paused, put down the tool he was holding, then looked directly at Danny. Which meant that Danny saw Clockwork’s scar again, and the way it had changed.

He swallowed.

“The events that led to this damage were not your fault, Daniel.”

“They kind of were, though,” said Danny, his shoulders rising. “I mean, it’s my fault that the other me exists, so, this is, too.”

Clockwork raised an eyebrow. “Would you prefer that the other Phantom not exist?”

“No,” said Danny, hurriedly. “At the beginning, but– But not now.” After separating from Clockwork and being stabilized by the clone, future Danny was much less murdery.

“He is his own person, separate from you, and has been so for some time. His actions are not yours, and your actions are not his.”

Danny licked his lips, wanting to protest, but nodded. Then, unable to stop himself, blurted, “Clockwork, your scar–”

“And that is certainly not your fault,” said Clockwork, covering the eye and turning away again.

Danny felt his heart drop. He wanted to believe that, but with how Clockwork was acting, he couldn’t. The last time he’d seen Clockwork’s scar–

When was the last time he’d seen Clockwork’s scar? Had it been right after the fight with the fused Phantom-and-Clockwork? Or had Clockwork been hiding it then? Had it been before? Danny couldn’t remember.

Either way, the last time he’d seen Clockwork’s scar, it had been a simple, healed-over gash, dark against ghostly flesh, rather than pale the way a human scar would be, thin and straight, almost the platonic ideal of a scar. Now, it was a twisting, branching thing, with burnt edges. Danny knew that shape. He knew it intimately.

He raised his hand to touch his chest, just below his heart.

“You will need to leave now, if you are to return before your parents miss you,” said Clockwork. “Remember that they no longer are aware of your secret.”

Danny nodded, and while he didn’t flee the tower, he left at a far greater speed than he’d entered. As he flew back to the portal, two, no, three thoughts ran through his mind over and over again.

Why did Clockwork’s scar now look like a Lichtenberg figure? What had done that to him?

What could Danny do to help?

[kedreeva]

Hello, I'm new-ish on this site and I was wondering whether you could help me understand how the reblog-tagging works? If I reblog something and add my own tags, will OP and/or the person I reblogged it from see those tags/get a notification about them? Or can I only "talk" to people by replying in the notes?

Thank you so much for your help!

Of course!

Simply put, adding to the body of the work is for when you want what you say to travel along with the post OR what you have to say is longer than 30 tags worth of talking. When you add to the body of the post, anyone that reblogs the post from you will also have to reblog what you've added in the body. Most people try to limit what they add to the body of posts because of this, especially people who have been on the site for a long time. This is for two reasons- the first is that back in the day, every reblog with an addition indented the text before it with a vertical line

like this

And it would do it over and over again, until the earliest reblog was just an endless string of 1 letter. This was not ideal, but we lived like that. The second reason is because usually people have the ability to "skip back up the line" so to speak, where people will see an addition they don't want to reblog, and click on the person before that reblog, and reblog from them instead. This may or may not matter to some people, but it's a common behavior to be aware of.

Tags, on the other hand, are for talking to yourself, your followers, the person you reblogged it from, and OP. Technically anyone else can see them, if they go into the notes, but you and your followers will see your tags on your reblog, and the person you reblogged from and OP will see the notes in their notifications if they have theirs set to see the tags, or if they go into the notes.

Tags do NOT follow the post, so if someone reblogs from you, the tags 'drop off' and they can add their own. Some people "preserve" tags by copying them over to their own reblog (preferred) and some people reference previous tags by saying "prev" or some variation of 'go look at previous tags,' which is largely considered annoying since it a) involves extra work and b) means that if the previous person deletes their reblog of a thing, the tags disappear with them and no one now knows what the previous tags were.

Additionally, users may put your tags through what we call "peer review" which is where we screenshot or copy the tags someone left, and move them up to the body of the post. This is for when tags are actually really great/useful and would have made a good addition to the post body, but maybe aren't something you thought to add, or perhaps the etiquette dictated you not add the tags yourself, or you were uncomfortable adding it yourself.

All tags and post additions are visible to ANYONE that clicks on the notes and doesn't have you blocked. The only way to privately post/tag things is if you make the reblog itself private.

the "reply" feature is supposed to be for talking directly to OP (or other people who have replied to OP) when you actually need them to see it; replying to a post sends a notification (and sometimes an email if they have that set up) directly to OP, AND to the person whose blog the post is currently on, AND to the person you've replied to if you're replying to another reply already made. So, if I reblog a post from Joe Schmoe, and you reply to him on my reblog of it, I would also receive a notification. If someone else has replied already and you are replying to them, all three people will receive notifications/emails. This is not ideal imo, it should only go to OP or to people specifically mentioned, but alas, Tumblr is a functioning website. But it's something to be aware of, if you're wondering who receives notifications when you interact with a post.

Same goes for using the @ feature, which only works if you add their name to the body of the post OR in the replies. The person tagged will see that in their notifications, and people that have emails turned on will also get an email.

Lastly, I just want to mention this; reblogs are the lifeblood of this site. They are the ONLY way posts get seen. Most people here actively hate algorithms and have all of those options turned off, such that "liking" a post does nothing for it. Liking a post is basically you bookmarking the post, and doesn't do anything to help keep the community thriving. I can't speak for others, but personally I have likes turned off in my notifications, so I don't even know when people like stuff, only if they reblog with tags. Adding tags to reblogs, especially to have a conversation and/or to say something nice if it's a creative work, is how you join the community here. Adding to the post body when you have stuff to say is also how you participate in the community. People constantly check the notes on posts to see what people are saying. Some people go into the notes specifically to look for good tags/additions, to reblog those instead or as well. OP is almost certainly reading tags in their notifications, and/or going into recent posts to read tags/additions.

[codywancomfort]

Codywan Comfortathon: January 20

Calling all codywan fans! January 20 will be a special comfortathon event.

While Codywan Comfort is an ongoing event and you can always tag @codywancomfort with your works or recs, this is an opportunity to really fill that particular day with extra comfort.

To participate:

Add @codywancomfort to your post (new or existing). This can be any creative work or rec list.

Include the #codywan comfort tag for added visibility.

If you post in advance and want me to queue it up for Jan. 20, include "queue" in the tags.

You can find all the info here.

One last thing! Our beloved codywan community member Lasagna (dontbelasagnax) was the one who suggested this event and deserves lots of codywan love her way that day. If you're planning on creating a new work for the comfortathon, consider creating something with the theme of kissing in Lasagna's honor.

[lillaydee]

Shhh!!! Part 8

Celebrity!Joel Miller / F Reader

A reluctant celebrity contractor who has closed his heart for love meets a celebrity-hating Cafe on Wheels owner...

She HATES him. Thing is, he couldn't get enough of the coffee she makes...

Tag List:

@kirsteng42 @peelieblue @harriedandharassed @joelalorian @vickie5446 @inept-the-magnificent @maried01 @brittmb115 @peedrow @lovefreylove @liciafonseca

Let me know if you would like to be added/removed from the tag list.

Dividers by the awesome @saradika

Header by Moi cause I learned how to use Canva! Yay me!

WARNINGS: Grumpy Joel (The Last of Us), Protective Joel (The Last of Us), Good Parent Joel (The Last of Us), Joel is Bad at Feelings (The Last of Us), Alternate Universe - No Cordyceps Outbreak (The Last of Us), Joel Needs a Hug (The Last of Us), Celebrity Joel Miller, Fluff and Angst, Eventual Smut, I'm Bad At Tagging, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags May Change, Hurt Joel (The Last of Us), Jealousy.

SERIES MASTER LIST

Part 7

Joel froze. He didn’t say anything back to Tommy. You were weirded out by the silence, so you turned around and gave Tommy a beaming smile yourself, asking him what you could get for him.

“Oh, I’m just here to get the coffee that changed my brother’s mind about fancy coffee. He seemed content with crappy coffee all his life until he had yours,” Tommy smirked at Joel, whose face had now turned bright red.

“Oh, you must be Sarah and Ellie’s Uncle Tommy! It’s nice to finally meet you! They talk about you all the time!” you held out your hand for him to shake, and he took it, kissing the tips of your fingers gently as he confirmed his identity. You didn’t see Joel’s jaw clench watching his brother easily flirt with you.

“Let me just get your order. You Millers must have an iron stomach! Six shots of espressos are no light feat!”

You turned around and immediately began preparing his order, completely unaware of the silent argument going on between the two siblings. Joel keyed in the price of an americano with the extra espresso shots, holding the reader out aggressively, stopping just before it hit the younger man squarely in the nose for him to pay.

“It’s okay, Joel, it’s on the house. Maybe he can wipe tables for a few hours,” you joked.

“Nah, he has places to be, he’s a busy guy, right Tommy?” Joel widened his eyes at his brother, though his stiff body posture visibly softened at your gentle tone.

“Actually, I could use a change of pace. Sure, I can wipe tables, you got a rag?” Tommy’s smirk widened as his brother’s face turned an oddly darker shade of beet. Joel tossed a rag to his face, signalling for him to move aside so he could serve the next customer.

“Best leave them to it,” Bill’s voice chimed in, “Not enough space in the truck for all of us,” he said, pulling a chair and sitting down himself, gesturing for Tommy to sit with him.

Tommy took a sip of the coffee you handed to him as soon as he sat down. He offered Bill a hand to shake, “Tommy, I’m Joel’s brother,” he said.

“I know who you are, I know who your brother is. Seen you on that show,” Bill grumbled. “You guys do a good job,” he said, “Been doing DIY all my life. You know what you’re talking about.”

“I hope so,” Tommy said, eyes watching Joel smile more than he ever had outside of his family time. “Learnt everything we know from our old man. Sure wish he was still around to see us, you know? We grew up lacking, he worked so hard for us, and I think our biggest regret, both mine and Joel’s, is that our parents didn’t live long enough to enjoy our success,” Tommy held his head down, fingers fiddling with the strap on his watch.

Bill nodded, eye softening a bit hearing Tommy talk about his late Papa.

The two chatted a bit, Bill learning how Tommy and Joel knew you, and Tommy learning a little bit about your family. The man was not as much of a grump as he seemed to be, Tommy found, actually reminded him of Joel a lot. It was clear how much Bill loved you, cared about you.

After a while, the two stopped chatting, eyes fixed on the truck, both you and Joel working seamlessly together. Tommy felt as if he was watching some sort of a TV show where the hero resembled his older brother, except this guy was smiling way too much.

“Is Lily seeing anyone?” he chanced a question at Bill.

Bill glared at him for a second, as if deciding if the question was intrusive, but ultimately deciding it wasn’t, seeing where the man was coming from. He had been wondering about this Joel guy since he appeared this morning, clocking his shy body language whenever you were near him. And as for you, there was something he saw in your smile when you saw him that morning. Being in the service industry, you had a smile at the ready, one you used for everyone, a generic smile you turned on effortlessly. But your real smile, you saved for a select few people in your life. The one you gave this Joel guy was definitely the second one. More so, in fact. Extremely genuine, but you didn’t hug the man or kiss him hello. You were usually very physical with people you deemed your friends. So the fact that you served this man your genuine smile, but refrained from touching him told him something.

“Who are you asking for?” Bill asked Tommy instead of answering.

Tommy laughed, “Just curious, is all,” he deflected, still watching his brother laugh with you in the truck, glancing at Bill, who was also watching the scene unfold. “Known that guy all my life, never seen him smile and laugh like that with anyone who is not his immediate family,” he told Bill, who raised an eyebrow at him.

The guy from the next truck came by, talked to you about something, and you beckoned to your uncle, who hurried over to see you. Joel came out, his own coffee cup in his hands, sitting down himself.

“You know, this is good coffee,” Tommy seemingly conceded, taking another sip from his cup. Joel nodded, couldn’t help himself from agreeing with his brother, eyes closing once more at the warm, bitter, sweet liquid warming his insides.

“But it’s strange,” Tommy continued, “It’s good, but I didn’t close my eyes as if my world was put right again after a sip. I’m wondering if it’s not the coffee… but the person who brewed it instead,” he finished, his eyes twinkling.

Joel’s head snapped around, checking if you heard Tommy’s accusation. But try as he might to retort, he couldn’t find it in himself to say anything. He could feel his cheeks turn red as his younger brother’s grin got wider and wider.

“Oh man, I’m right, aren’t I?” he smacked his brother in the shoulder. “What are you waiting for? Ask her out!”

Joel scoffed, shaking his head. “She’s a friend, Tommy. She’s the girls’ friend. I can’t risk ruining their friendships.”

“The way the girls kept talking about her at the cabin? I think they know. And what’s more, I know they approve.”

Joel hung his head, hands playing with his cup. He looked at the truck, seeing you and your uncle arrange the order that Tony’s brother put in. He had volunteered to help, but the order was urgent, so Bill would do a faster job, seeing as he was a lot more used to helping compared to him. The guy could actually use the machine and make fancy coffee with you.

“It’s not about that, Tommy. I’m not ready for that kind of thing. I don’t know if I even have it in me anymore. You want me to reel some unlucky lady into a relationship when I don’t know if I can do that? I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure that’s just cruel.”

Tommy wanted to say more but decided not to. He didn’t want to push Joel into anything like this, knowing his aversion to having a romantic relationship. He had tried. Oh Lord, how he tried. But Joel was a stubborn man. And perhaps, his love for Laura was too great, maybe he was afraid of losing again. Tommy had no idea what it was like to lose a wife, to become a single dad at 22, heck, he didn’t even know Laura that well. He was in the army when Joel met Laura. He met her maybe five times, but it was clear to him that Joel was besotted with her. And when she died, it was as if his ability to love another woman, aside from their Mama and Sarah, and later Ellie, died with her. Joel refused to even talk about her. It hurt too much, perhaps. Maybe Laura was the great love in his life and he would spend his life mourning her. And everyone around him just had to make peace with that.

But then, what he saw this past week, and especially this morning, made him think there was hope yet for his brother. His girls definitely were hoping he would find someone. Both of them seemed to make their life plans around him, not wanting him to be alone. And what Ellie kept insisting happened over the two weeks before Sarah came home was not her imagination after all. He had only seen Joel with you for a little over an hour, and already, his big brother was the happy man he knew before his wife passed. More so, in fact. He seemed light, relaxed, happy.

His Mama used to voice her worries for Joel before she passed. Joel was quiet after Laura. He had an inkling that his Mama knew more than she let on, but she never told him anything. She was so worried he would just end up alone forever, and the last thing she wanted was for her oldest boy to be lonely. And then there was Sarah, she worried for her, wanting her to grow up with a female presence in her life other than a grandmother. But any time either of them suggested a set up or him going out more to meet new women, they were either met with silence, straight out rejection, or in Tommy’s case, hostility.

Tommy knew he was not one to talk. He hadn’t exactly had a serious relationship in years. He realized that he and Maria were a new development, but now that he’d met her, he also knew that he didn’t want to even imagine a life without her in it. And he wanted his brother to have that too.

But how could he help Joel, when the man himself didn’t want to be helped?

A couple of weeks went by, and before they knew it, the meetings for the shoots over the next season had begun. The new episodes shot over the past year was edited and ready to go for airing, and Joel found himself dragging his feet to get to work. The prospect of another year of this, as determined as he may be that it was the final one, was too much to bear for him. Another year of long work hours, another year of being away from his girls. The idea that he would have to be away from home more than he would have liked hurt him.

Sarah was home, loving her internship so much she came home every single day with stories to tell. Ellie finished her summer course, enjoying the last couple of weeks of her summer holiday. He was positively sulking at the idea that he might need to leave the house before he could send Ellie to school and come back home after the girls were asleep, missing Sarah’s stories and Ellie’s homework time. Given how busy his schedule would be, he might even be away on weekends, so movie nights with the girls and Tommy might be a thing they had to forego for a while too. Even the thought of what was coming made his heart feel heavy.

But what weighed his heart down even further was the fact that Ellie would no longer be attending the classes at the rec centre. There would be no excuse for him to see you in the mornings. For the coffee, obviously. He had no idea how he was going to go back to bad coffee on set when he had been indulging in that luxurious cup he had been having for the past few weeks.

Of course, the idea that he wouldn’t be seeing you every day for the next year was something he wasn’t looking forward to either, but that was neither here nor there, surely?

He had learnt more about you from your time together, seamlessly chatting whenever the truck had a breather from customers. You even taught him to make his own espresso shots. He actually managed to make a simple latte and an americano for a couple of customers when you went to get something from Tony. But for his special cup of coffee, his payment for helping you out in the mornings, you had always indulged him. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He stayed once Ellie came out of class, wiping tables, joking around with you and Ellie, only going home when you close for the day. Heck, he had the free time, and spending time with Ellie as she earned her first cheques was something he wouldn’t miss. Ellie got quite good at making coffee, despite hating the stuff. She even managed a decent cup of cappuccino a few times, complete with the foamy art thing at the top. He couldn’t get the look of happiness that graced his little girl’s face every time she succeeded, and the proud smile and hug you gave her stayed in his head.

He couldn’t deny the influence you had on his girls. He knew Ellie spoke to you about things she didn’t dare tell him, private stuff, perhaps, and watching her interact with you brought warmth to his heart. He watched as you braided Ellie’s hair in one of those stick to the head braid things, the one he had attempted for years with Sarah but could never get neat enough, when she complained the bits that was not tied in her ponytail kept getting in her face. He was so tempted to take a picture, you sitting in the truck doorway, Ellie between your legs on the steps, smiling and laughing with each other as Ellie told you something that happened in class that day, but if someone knew what a big deal it was to have someone snap a picture of them without consent, it was him. So he didn’t. But the sight was so domestic, so intimate, he wished he had done so. Ellie’s own mother ditched her as if she was yesterday’s garbage and knowing that Ellie had you to turn to made him feel better. Even Sarah wouldn’t shut up about you, even though her time spent with you were now limited to weekends, texting and phone calls. Like Ellie, she had taken to telling you stuff she wouldn’t share with Joel as well, and the fact that you never told him anything showed him they were right to have chosen to tell you in the first place.

He liked you. He knew that. There were days when he was lying in bed looking at your phone number, daring himself to text you. But he didn’t know what to say. Laura was the only woman he had ever allowed himself to be that close to, and his relationship with Laura was… different.

But God, he wished he could find the courage to text you.  

Yesterday, on Ellie’s last day of work, Joel watched as you presented her with her final cheque, giving her a tight hug after, telling her to come over in the evenings if she decided to volunteer at the centre. Though the teenager had plans to do exactly that, Joel could still see she was sad that she wouldn’t be spending so much time with you. She took a selfie with you, silly faces for the photo, you pointing at the cheque in Ellie’s hand with a huge grin on your face.

Then, you turned to him and gave him a brief hug, thanking him for helping you out, telling him not to be a stranger.

Maybe he imagined it, but he could have sworn he saw a glint of sadness in your eyes.

How he wished he had the courage to get a selfie with you too, but given how the two of you met, he didn’t even dare ask.

And he’d be lying if he said he wouldn’t miss your company.  

“Okay, so there is a list of celebrities who had already expressed interest in the charity episodes, more than we need, actually, but those who we couldn’t fit in this season could always be on standby for next season,” Jimmy, one of the co-producers told the team, shuffling a bunch of papers on his desk, passing the list around.

“Next season?” Joel asked, “Didn’t Angela speak to you?”

Jimmy looked at Joel, confusion in his face. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not renewing. This is my final run.”

There were murmurs of confusion going around the room.

Jimmy looked flabbergasted. Tommy kept his head down, but didn’t say anything.

“Well,” Jimmy managed to blurt out, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it then. Moving on…”

“Angela, why hasn’t the team been informed about this being my final year?” Joel barked as he walked into Angela’s office, Tommy following behind.

Angela rolled her eyes, “Are we really back here?” she asked, her arms crossed on her chest as the brothers stood in front of her desk.

“I wasn’t kidding. I am not renewing. I was very clear about this.”

Angela opened her desk drawer, taking two envelopes out, depositing one in front of each brother. “Have a look, gentlemen, and tell me you want to decline that offer,” she said, a self-satisfied smirk on her face.

Tommy picked up the envelope and took out the new contract, shuffling the pages for a bit before settling on one page, letting a whistle escape his lips, his expression impressed. Joel didn’t even look at his envelope.

“They tripled our pay,” Tommy said. Joel still didn’t budge.

“Tell me I didn’t do you justice. Haven’t I always taken care of you two?” Angela cooed.

“I don’t care about the money. I am done. I’m not signing,” Joel reiterated, turning around to leave.

“Tommy, knock some sense into your brother here, please. Imagine what you can do with that kind of money!” Angela told Tommy, exasperated at Joel’s stubbornness.

Tommy didn’t speak. He closed up the contract and placed it back in the envelope. He raised an eyebrow, shaking his head a little before letting the envelope fall on her desk.

“I’m not renewing either.”

Joel stopped in his tracks, his head snapping around to face his brother.

“What?” Angela gasped, her face now devoid of any colour, despite the layers of make-up on it.

“I’m with Joel. I’m not renewing. I’m done. One more year and then I stop,” Tommy cooly replied, hands in his pockets.

“If the amount is not enough…”

“It’s not about the money, Angela. We’re just… done.”

Tommy turned around and joined his brother, asking him if he was interested in having a drink at his place, which Joel happily accepted.

They spent the evening drinking by Tommy’s pool, taking advantage of the final couple of weeks of vacation time they had, Joel letting loose for the first time in a long time. He felt free. Tommy wanted to retire too. One less person to fight over this decision he had made. Their phones were blaring with texts and missed calls from the agent, so much so, they had to set her tone to silent.

“So, you and Maria…?” he tried.

Tommy nodded, “Yeah…” he wiped his face with his hand, happiness written all over his features. “She’s great, Joel. She makes me happy.”

“Angela knows?”

“Fuck no. She’s gonna make it a thing. Publicity, all that. I’m not putting Maria through all that. And you know what she’s like, she’ll whip up an NDA before I finish telling her about it.”

Joel shook his head, annoyance clear across his features.

Tommy raised his eyebrows at that, pouring another shot of whiskey for the both of them.

“You two… uh… still…?” he tentatively asked, worried Joel might not be drunk enough to share.

“Nah, stopped that like… a couple months before i officially adopted Ellie?”

“Can I ask why?”

“She’s changed,” Joel said, sipping his whiskey, taking the fuzzy slippers Tommy gave him to wear in the backyard off, lying down fully on the pool chair. “You remember what she was like when we first met her?”

Tommy nodded. Of course he remembered. Angela, the sweet, fresh faced, innocent young girl who just landed a job at the agency. The two of them were among her first few clients. They were more friends than agent/clients back then, all of them starting out, still learning the business.

Somewhere along the way though, she changed. Obsessed with money, even going so far as marrying someone she didn’t love just because he was rich. The man was a known playboy, notorious for openly having a new young girl in his arms on a weekly basis. As she got older, she began to worry his interest was waning, so she took it upon herself to look younger, keep his interests alive, all in the name of living a luxurious life. It was no secret she didn’t love him, only his money. She had lovers on the side for herself, not that her husband ever cared. He stayed with her because of her Hollywood connections, good for business, you know?  

Unfortunately for her, the man matured, fell in love for real, retired, and divorced her for the love of his life. And because of the prenup she signed, she didn’t get much in the divorce. She herself had become successful by then, so she went back to her single life, with plenty of money and a list of men she could call should she ever get… lonely.

She and Joel were friends for a long time, with benefits, of course. But he was always the man he was now, someone who refused to commit. The arrangement lasted until she got married, and resumed for a bit after she got divorced, only to stop completely when Ellie came into the picture. Joel didn’t like the way she tried to influence his decisions on Ellie, realizing that his formerly kind friend had changed. Everything became a question of image, and of course, money.

Joel just couldn’t find it in himself to ever be involved with someone like her. If not for the contract he signed, he would have said goodbye to her the moment she suggested having Ellie in his life was going to ruin his image. But now, he had one year left of this contract. He was not renewing, and Tommy was by his side. He had to stick with this for one more year, and then he’ll be free of her.

“What are you gonna do when the year is up?” Tommy asked.

“Ellie still has to finish school, after that, we’ll see,” Joel shrugged, giving Tommy his glass for a top up.

“Don’t punch me, but… will Lily be part of that life?” he smirked at his brother.

To his shock, his brother smiled, so widely, and blushed.

Oh, the drinks had gotten to him, Tommy thought.

Joel closed his eyes, laid his head back on the chair, a silly grin on his face, looking just the way Tommy imagined he himself did when the revelation about Maria came forth.

“God I hope so,” Joel heard himself say.

Shit. Stop talking.

“I like her, Tommy, I really do.”

Fuck, what the fuck was wrong with him? Stop talking!

“She’s so sweet, and kind, and funny, and smart, and she’s so nice to the girls, they love her, and she makes the best coffee in the world!” he exclaimed, gesturing to show how big the world was with his arms, spilling whiskey on himself.

Fuck it felt good to finally say it out loud.

Fuck, did he say it out loud?

He sat up, Tommy grinning at him like that cat from that book. Was it a cat?

“Maybe I should stop drinking, huh?” he feebly said.

“Fuck, no! I want to hear this!” Tommy teased, taking the glass from his brother and giving him water instead. “So we were right, you do like her?”

Joel hid his face in his hands, nodding.

“So tell her! What are you waiting for?”

Joel took his hands off his face, frowning a little.

“I don’t think she likes me like that,” he pouted, lying back down, arms over his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Joel sat back up, looking a bit forlorn now.

“She hates celebrities. We’ve been mean to her all her life. One stole her boyfriend. And I yelled at her. I fucking yelled at her, Tommy!”

Tommy wanted to laugh. When was the last time Joel was this relaxed? But this was the most he had ever gotten out of his brother, and he wasn’t going to let such an opportunity pass by.

“Well, maybe when you retire, you could ask her out. Technically, you wouldn’t be a celebrity anymore then, right?”

Joel’s eyes went wide, “Yeah, you’re right! I could ask her out then! I need to text her and tell her,” he slurred, fishing his phone out of his pocket, squinting a little at the screen when the brightness hit his eyes, deciding then he shouldn’t text you right away.

“Okay, let’s call Sarah huh? Have her pick you up? You’re in no shape to drive.”

“It’s just down the street, Tommy. I’ll be fine. I’ll walk.”

“Yeah, I don’t think you can walk a straight line to the bathroom, brother, let alone to your place. It’s a very long street.”

Joel laughed, standing up, swaying slightly. He downed the bottle of water Tommy gave him, going to the bathroom. He splashed some water on his face, smiling to himself. He felt lighter. He may have been loopy, but he knew he was telling Tommy the truth. He liked you. and it felt good to finally say it out loud.

“Hey Joel,” Tommy called out as he struggled to put his boots back on, “I want you and the girls to meet Maria.”

Joel nodded, happy to see his brother happy.

“Friday night? That sushi place?”

“It’s a date,” Joel said, squinting his eyes a little as Sarah’s headlights shone in his eyes. Ellie came out and went into the back seat, waving at Tommy as she did so.

“Hey, since it’s a date,” Tommy said, walking to the car with his brother, “Why don’t you ask Lily to join us?” He bent down to Sarah’s open window, “What do you think, girls? Do you think we should invite Lily to join us for dinner with Maria?”

The squeals the girls let out made Joel’s efforts to bend himself into the mini much more difficult, but his heart was soaring at the idea that his girls were that excited at the prospect of having you join them for dinner.

As he laid in bed that night, hoping to God his first hangover in years wouldn’t be too harsh, he took a deep breath and held his phone in his hands, the texting app at the ready. Might as well do it now while liquid courage was still in his system.

You placed the recycling in the bin, running a little as you went back to your apartment. The summer heat was still very much evident, even at night time, and you couldn’t wait to get back in the comfort of your AC. You were fishing for your keys in your pocket when Lucy tapped you on your shoulder, a meek smile on her face, a sponge cake in her outstretched hands.

“I need to apologize,” she said, a cringe accompanying the apology.

You felt bad for her, so you beckoned her inside, even cutting her a slice of the cake.

“I want to say sorry,” she began, “That day, I was hungover, I had a terrible first date the night before, and seeing Joel here…” she sighed, shame across her features.

“Hey, it’s no big deal, really… if you’re worried I would say anything, I…”

Lucy held her hand up, “No, Lily, I was rude to you. And I’m pretty sure I said some really bad stuff about him too. I just… I feel like I need to set the story straight.”

You nodded, letting her go on.

“See, I think I made him sound like some jerk or something. He really isn’t, Lily, there’s a reason I’m so bitter, after all,” she said, head hung a little, ashamed of herself.

“He’s a great guy. I dare even say that he’s the most gentlemanly man I have ever met. So polite, so gentle, so considerate. Compared to his brother, who, by all means was a great guy himself, Joel was just… on a different level, you know? I crushed hard on him. Everything I just said about him is true, and he’s good looking, humble, and a great dad to his kid to boot? Oh, I was in love with him before he even knew my name!”

You smiled, knowing that she was right. Joel was a great dad. You’ve seen him with his kids, they clearly loved each other a lot. And aside from his tantrums at the beginning, you knew him to be a great guy too. Everything she said about him was true.

“And the thing I said about his… bedroom… skills…” she added, carefully choosing her words, “I think his… lacking… was more due to the fact that he didn’t want intimacy, rather than his lack of a gift or talent, if you know what I mean…” she narrowed her eyes at you, head going down a little, as if trying to get you to read her mind.

Your head lowered with hers, face scrunched up, confused by her words.

“He’s packing, honey. Very much so,” Lucy blurted out.

Oh. Oh…

“So, he didn’t really need to try that hard, if you get my meaning,” she added, rather conspiratorially.

Uh… sure, whatever you say dear.

“So, when he reconfirmed the fact that he didn’t want more, I was heartbroken. He was perfect, he was actually a great guy, back then, at least. And he didn’t want me and couldn’t have made it clearer. I think if he tried to make it any clearer, he would have seriously injured himself. I couldn’t stay there and see him every day. It’s like being a diabetic in a candy store, and the shop owner wouldn’t let you buy any,” she sulked a little at her own words, making you snort.

She saw the way you were refraining from laughing and laughed herself. You burst into laughter, Lucy laughing harder than you at herself.

“So, I came to ‘warn’ you because I was jealous. I didn’t mean any of it,” she said, looking genuinely sorry for putting you in that position. “There’s a reason all his ‘exes’ are still on good terms with him, you know. He’s a great guy. Just… emotionally stunted, is all. And they all handled the NDA thing much better than I ever did,” she continued, taking another bite of the sponge cake.

“What about the NDA?” you couldn’t help asking. For someone who didn’t really bother with the gossip columns growing up, you were really curious.

“Ah,” she said, taking another slice of cake. “See, as I understand it, at least, the way it was explained to me before we, you know… had that experience in his office, he only made sure the NDAs go to people who were not deemed his ‘serious romantic partners’. Only his ‘friends with benefits’ receive them. And so far, most of those he slept with were given one, so when his agent gave me one, I knew right away that I was never ever going to be ‘the one’ for him,” she explained, taking another bite of the cake. “Damn, this cake is good.”

“Most? Did he ever not give anyone one?” you heard yourself ask, almost slapping yourself for even asking. Why did you need to know? You’re not interested, right?

Lucy nodded frantically, and you felt your heart drop further and further down every time her head dropped down. “One lady contractor, she was in that show on TLC a while back? Tess, I think? Yeah, Tess. They were seen together a lot, and there were rumours that they were an item. From what I heard, she didn’t have to sign one. They broke up when she moved to Texas.”

Okay, you shouldn’t listen to this anymore. So you changed the subject, asking her where she got the cake instead.

Before she left, she turned around and took you by the hand, making you promise her that you wouldn’t use her words back then against Joel. You gave her a disbelieving laugh, “Honey, I’m not with Joel. He’s a friend.”

“Okay, uhuh… sure… cause we all look at our friends the way you guys looked at each other that morning,” she smirked.

“Lucy, there was no look, I was just thanking him for helping me out,” you insisted, feeling your face and neck get hotter as you did.

“Lily, honey,” she said, “I may be a delusional, inconsiderate, untalented bitch who made you suffer through my horrendous singing at one point, and I was definitely hungover that morning, but I’m not blind. If Joel Miller had looked at you the way he would a friend that morning, I would not have come barging in here trying to make him seem like a limp-dicked, selfish man whore,” her eye brows were raised so high, her lips in a mocking pout at you, her hands rubbing your arms soothingly, as if she was sorry you were too thick to understand what was going on that morning.

With that, she took your face in her hands, pinched your cheeks and bid you goodnight.

You laid in bed unable to sleep, wondering what the hell to do with the information Lucy just gave you. You could not deny what she said back then did give you pause about Joel.

Sure, you liked him. He’s nice. Funny, even, when no one else was looking.

And okay, if you squint, he may even pass as okay looking.

Oh, who the fuck were you kidding? He’s totally hot. So hot you found yourself feeling hot all over every time he looked at you. Like all the heat in your veins just pooled under the outermost layer of your skin. Not to mention the way your heart skipped a beat every time he smiled at you. It’s a wonder you hadn’t toppled over from cardiac arrest at this point.

You looked for him in the morning crowd, and that week he was away…

Your fingers itched to text him. You willed Ellie to send you pictures with him in it. You stared at that photo she sent you of herself, Sarah and Joel with sushi in their mouths. Even at his silliest, he looked dashing. You found out rather early that googling his pictures was pointless, he didn’t smile in any of them, always with that frown on his face. You watched YouTube videos of him from that show, but he didn’t smile there either. You missed his smile when he was away. You kept rereading the text he sent you asking you to teach him how to brew coffee, the only texts between the two of you, aside from the ‘hi’ he sent when he first got your number.

When you said goodbye to Ellie yesterday, you meant it when you said she could still contact you. She’s been telling you things, whenever Joel was out of the truck. Texting you at night and even calling you with Sarah to talk to you about more private stuff. You didn’t mind, of course, but on one such call, he knocked on Ellie’s door and told her she should go to sleep, it’s late, and you heard him say goodnight to her and Sarah.

You couldn’t stop imagining what he was like at home that night, in a more domestic setting. What was he wearing? Did he look as good as he did outside?

After hugging Ellie goodbye, you took a chance and hugged him goodbye too, heart heavy at the thought of not seeing him around as much. You made the mistake of taking a whiff of his shirt as you did.

Fuck, he smelled great. And now you couldn’t stop thinking about him. Not that you ever managed to since he started hanging out at the truck.

If what Lucy said back then made you pause on being closer to him, that conversation you just had with her didn’t help either. You could not get him out of your mind. And that comment about his… physique…

Your phone chimed, making you jump.

Joel Miller: Hej

Your heart soared. He texted you. He actually texted you.

Okay, stay cool. Relax. He couldn’t see you.

You: Hei. What are you, Swedish now?

Joel Miller: I might be a bot drink.

You: You don’t say? How can I help you, Mr Miller?

Joel Miller: Yuo frre Frrday?

You: Uh… I’m gonna guess you’re asking if I’m free Friday? I’m working. Why?

Joel Miller: Sorry, fst fingers. Froday night. You free Friday night?

You: I should be.

Joel Miller: Call I kill you?

Joel Miller: Walt. Np.

Joel Miller: No.

Joel Miller calling.

“Hello?” you had to refrain from laughing.

“My fingers are too big to text.”

“I can see that.”

He chuckled. You could hear the slow, lazy drag in his laugh.

Oh yeah, he’s drunk alright.

“I was trying to ask if you would be free for dinner. Friday. With me. The girls, Tommy, and his new girlfriend.”

His voice was so calm, slow, relaxed, every word drawn out. God it made you feel things.

“You sure you want me there? Sounds like a family thing. I don’t want to intrude…”

“You’re not. Please? The girls would really love it if you joined us.”

I would too. Please say yes.  

You were quiet. He lifted his phone off his ear, checking to see of you were still online. You were.

“Hello? You still there?”

“Yeah, I am, I just… are you asking me this cause you’re drunk?”

“No,” he slurred, chuckling. “I’m really asking. I’ll ask you again tomorrow, if you don’t believe me,” he promised.

“Okay, ask me tomorrow.”

“But if I do, would you say yes?”

“We’ll see, Mr Miller.”

“Okay,” he said, unable to control the grin on his face. “I’ll text you tomorrow. Good night Lily, please say yes.”

“Night Joel.”

Part 9

[siconetribal]

Beyond the Bookshelves (1)

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Warnings: Some swearing, work stress, impossible tasks

Summary: You're a Resource Management Specialist at S.H.I.E.L.D. normally referred to as “The Librarian”. You've been assigned the nightmarish task of digitizing all the physical resources currently owned by the agency, with a few new computers and one extra helper.

A/N: I honestly do not know where this is going and why I even started this. It was an idea that sort of popped into my head while at work. I hope you enjoy it! Please comment/like/reblog. If you'd like to be tagged moving forward, please let me know!

The lovely banners used in this fic are from @cafekitsune.

Papers fluttered to the ground around Loki as stared down at the young woman who ran into him. He cocked an eyebrow as he heard a low hiss of pain come from her gritted teeth. The impact could not have been that painful, but how was he to know? He was minding his own business, walking down the fairly empty hallway reading a book when something had come crashing into him. It was not the first time he had been assaulted, but it was certainly the first time to be tackled in the middle of an empty hallway. Glancing around, he noticed there were a few people lingering about, watching to see what he would do or see what transpired.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Her voice drew his attention back down to the ground to see her on her knees trying to gather the scattered sheets of paper. He slid his right foot back as she reached for one near it.

“You are excused,” he responded in a level tone that held little emotion, if any at all. She looked up at him in wide-eyed shock which had him raise an eyebrow yet again at her. He hesitated for a moment to speak, feeling the eyes on them.

“Is there something else you wish to say?”

“Huh? Oh, no, just surprised to hear you say anything. I’ve never heard you speak before, so I thought that maybe you couldn’t.” She admitted, tapping the bottom edge of the sheets to make the pile more uniform. “You have a nice voice.” She added, carefully inspecting the surrounding area, oblivious to the bewildered look of the prince before her. “Ah-ha!” She grinned, crawling forward and reaching between his feet. Startled by her actions, Loki quickly took a few steps backward, leaving a noticeable shoe print on the paper she had been reaching for. “Thank you, this was the last one I needed.” She smiled at him, though when she saw the print, her lips quickly curled downwards into a noticeable frown. “That’s not good, Fury’s not gonna be happy.” She mumbled, carefully placing the dirtied sheet on the top as she stood up with her sizable stack of folders and binders in her arms. “Well, it was a pleasure speaking to you, Mr. Loki, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.”

He watched as she casually resumed her walk down the hallway, unperturbed by the fact that she had just walked straight into him, Loki, the monster that had wreaked havoc in the world and destroyed their precious city. The very city they were currently in now. What an odd Midgardian, but I suppose this would be the place to find plenty of odd ones. He turned to look at some spectators and watched them visibly flinch or stumble as they met his gaze, scrambling to leave the vicinity and get away from here, away from him. Opening his book once more, he continued on his way towards his destination.

Just as she had anticipated, Fury was not pleased with the surprise print on one of the report pages. He looked between it and her in silence, sliding the packet across his desk in her direction as he leaned back and turned his chair slightly.

“Mind telling me why you suddenly decided to decorate such a vital report with a shoe?”

“It was an accident, sir. While on my way here, I was reviewing the content and ended up crashing into someone on the way. They unintentionally stepped on the sheet while trying to avoid the others. I didn’t have time to reprint the documents prior to this meeting. I will be submitting a clean copy into the record and have this one shredded.”

“I’ll let it slide this time only. Next time, watch where you’re walking and leave reviewing for when you’re at a desk. Everything looks to be in order, reprint and file it.”

“Thank you sir, I’ll have it done right away.” She bowed her head and picked up the report.

“Don’t let this happen again.” He sternly remarked. “The next time it does, you’ll have to deal with the consequences. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal, sir.” Y/N nodded. “The next item for discussion is the transition of all physical resources into digital. I do understand that many have requested that all resources be scanned and made digital, but that task is a lot larger than many realize. Also, not all of our sources are safe to scan due to age or they need to be translated and checked prior to scanning. It is not impossible, but a sizable team would be needed in order to have it completed. I propose that the physical sources we have are properly cataloged and organized so they are easier to be found. We can have them scanned in the process, but again, we run into the issues of needing to translate and verify that the translations are correct.”

“Y/N, just get to the fucking point. Can it be done?” Fury cut her off, looking at her pointedly with his good eye.

“In an ideal situation, yes.” She let out a small sigh.

“And what is an ‘ideal situation’?” 

“A team of at least five agents per letter, several translators for the various languages we have to make sure we have them properly translated, and a warehouse filled with scanners and computers to scan, name, and upload. With such a team and ideal conditions always, it could take about five to ten years to complete.”

“Oh just that?” His voice was dripping with sarcasm, his frown more pronounced than usual. Y/N knew he was not pleased with her answer, but there was no use in trying to make it lighter than it really was. They had an extensive library in house and warehouses of delicate and confidential artifacts, which included tomes and scrolls. She was the head librarian and managed all of this with only a handful of others spread across the various locations.

“Ideally, yes.”

“And if it wasn’t ideal?”

“Depends on what factors are not present, but without those minimum requirements it could take decades.”

“But it can be done.” He flatly responded, sitting forward in his seat and resting his elbows on the desk. “We won’t destroy any of the physical resources, but you’ll have to make do with what you get. We don’t have the luxury of just handing over a slew of agents for this. We need boots on the ground globally to keep an eye out on things out there bigger than us.” A weight suddenly dropped in the pit of her stomach. Though she was not expecting anything close to what she listed as an ideal, there was something in his tone that screamed out that she was going to hear the worst case scenario.

“And what would I get to work with?” She managed to keep her voice steady.

“State-of-the-art technology per library staff member per location and a god.”

Silence fell over them as she stood there, slowly blinking at her superior. This had to be some sort of sick joke. She knew the organization could not give what was needed, but this? This was hardly anything at all.

“I’m sorry, did you just say new computers and a god?”

“That’s what I said.” He nodded his head.

“You must be joking, right? This task would take more than just decades to do, and what does ‘a god’ even mean? A ‘god’ per person or location, or just one god? And what sort of ‘god’ Do you just have deities on demand or something? Are they just going to snap their fingers and things will be done magically? What can they do for me and this lifelong assignment I have now been tasked with?” She paced in front of his desk, muttering to herself on how this could work and what sort of person this ‘god’ was. He cannot be serious, right? But Fury isn’t the type to just say shit or joke around. She turned and looked at her boss. No, not a joker. She frowned.

“Y/N, calm down. We’ve got two Asgardian gods that have a knack for understanding all languages. You don’t need a team of translators when they can do it on the spot just like that.” His sharp tone made her stop and turn to face him. “So that whole crap can be cut, and you can work with one of them to get all this done faster with fewer people and just get to organizing shit. You’re getting what you get, end of discussion. Anything else?”

“No sir,” she sighed and shook her head.

“Good, I’ll get Agent Hill to talk to them and reach out to you. You’re dismissed.”

“Yes sir.” She slightly bowed her head and left the office, her shoulders dropping the moment the door closed behind her. This was not going to be easy.

Tag list: @vbecker10

[almostempty]

Hey, been thinking about your doc alot since I read it in terms of how I want to continue with my own writing and reading habits.

I hope this isn't a stupid question or too taxing for you to answer considering you just essentially wrote a dissertation, but what are your processes for finding, reading and interacting with truly inclusive 'x Reader' fics these days?

i think i suggested to start with bipoc authors and i included some questions to consider when reading/reblogging that should be in the doc, but i'll add some of my more personal opinions here today and tag some author recs while i'm yapping:

i don't think there's really a 100%-inclusive-to-everyone reader-insert but for all the reasons in that doc this is where i'd start

i'd start with bipoc authors 100% there's a rec list @javierpena-inatacvest collected recently here and @salingers made a bipoc authored rec list and tbr here and the @inclusivepedro-oscarlibrary (i'm sure there's more i'm missing)

extra shoutouts to some of my bipoc friends specifically bc they're so talented i'll dickride for them all day idgaf go read @gothcsz @yxtkiwiyxt @clubsoft @thundermartini @cxrsed-angel @lotusbxtch @letsgobarbs alsoooo read works that bipoc authors rec and share (though i imagine they're used to reading things that aren't inclusive but still support their peers so it's not like they'll have only have inclusive/diverse recs)

i'd also prioritize reading works by 2slgbtqia+ authors or authors who write queer fics or poly fics bc i'd guess they're likely writing stories outside of the colonizer script that revolves around whiteness, monogamy, and reproduction already

shoutouts to @miss-oranje-disco-dancer @for-a-longlongtime @sin-djarin @nonbinairyboi @itwasntimethatdidit40 for writing some of my fav queer fics and/or being my fav humans, i'm sure there's more of you i should be adding but i have goldfish brain soz <3

@pedrostories has some tag filters for their collection that might help too (i'm soooo glad there are organized folks among us)

(i think someone was collecting recs for stories with trans characters on monday for trans day of visibility but i don't remember who it was or if i'm remembering that right at all (?) / likely there are more directories and collections i'm just not aware of) additionally i like to read authors that are intentional about writing complex readers like @slimybeth69's girl dinner (heheh), and world building with diverse OCs like @auteurdelabre's SMTL, and by authors who are outspoken in the community about diversity and are intentional about their writing and moodboards like my girls @syd-djarin and @probablyreadinsmut (hi <3 and i know there's more of y'all too) AND make friends with other readers in the comments and share recs ! i won't put my non-writer mutuals on blast but they're full of the best recs or down to talk about fics for days <3

finally,

personally! i’d love to see more OC fics and character x character (crossover or canon) fics getting love too anecdotally, i used to only read longfics on ao3 about din or javi and felt like i saw fics with more canon/au plot beyond just the romance or smut that at the very least, felt further away from the colonial values/heteropatriarchy fantasy

finally (for real),

if the tropes you’re most drawn to are ones rooted in those colonial/patriarchal ideals, i’d guess you’re inevitably going to be swimming in fics written by white people for white people—not because they’re trying to be exclusionary, but because those are the dominant societal narratives, and they’re gonna be popular for that reason so it'll take more intentional critical reading and filtering to find what you want to read or share...i hope that makes sense

as always, i'm not perfect! i'm sure i've shared and written things that i'd reconsider now and there might be obvious suggestions i'm missing but anyway hope this helps!

sorry if anyone didn't want to be tagged

and if anyone else read all of this feel free to add your recs or self rec

[sinnersmovie]

Hel!o, again! I meant ur Van Helsing poster 😊 Happy Holidays if you celebrate 😊

i'd be more than happy to! happy holidays to you as well! here's the kind of poster i'll walk you through how to make:

the most important thing you need to think about with this type of poster is which shots will blend best with each other. i recently made a blending tutorial for another anon and you can find it here. in it, i go a bit more in depth on what types of shots will blend best, and you can also check out the blending tutorial tag on my resource blog, @gifmakerresource.

overall, dark on dark blends the best. the lighter your scene(s), the harder it's going to be to see. when making this poster, i went in knowing i wanted to use this silhouetted shot of van helsing. silhouetted shots are one of the best kinds of shots you can blend with because the silhouette itself will be much darker than the surrounding area.

this is what i started with (after cropping and sharpening). the dimensions i used are 540px x 700px but the height can be whatever you want. next, i wanted to focus on lightening the background and further darkening his silhouette.

here are my coloring layers (which will, of course, vary with every shot and every movie):

and here are the specifics for each layer in order from bottom (first) to top (last)*:

*note: the blue selective color layer also makes the same adjustments to cyan

i created a new layer (ctrl+shift+n) and painted over the extra-bright parts around his head for later blending. this is a layer i added after the fact once i found all the shots i wanted to use and blend together.

this is the second shot i used:

once cropped, sharpened, and converted to a smart object, i bring it over to the existing canvas, making sure it's properly aligned with ctrl+t, and set the blending mode to screen.

here are my coloring layers:

and the details for each (and if you're wondering, to color code your layers, right click in the box where the eye is and select your color):

and this is what the gif looks like prior to using a layer mask:

it's not terrible, but i wasn't happy with how much of the second gif could be seen outside of the silhouette. this is also a good illustration of how dark blends with dark best, compared to dark and light or light and light. i grouped together the second gif and the coloring layers (select the appropriate layers and ctrl+g) and then added a layer mask to the group by clicking this at the bottom of the layers panel:

when using a layer mask, you're only working with 2 colors: black and white. using a soft circular brush (0% hardness), as you can see in the selected thumbnail titled Group 3, i used black to color all around van helsing's silhouette. if you make a mistake when coloring, simply press x to switch to white and brush over the desired area and your gif will reappear. it's a way to "erase" a layer without permanently deleting it and is something i use frequently!

i used another layer mask so the gif was only visible right around the top of his hat:

and the coloring layers (note the gradient map is applied to the gif using a clipping mask [right click on the gradient map layer and choose 'create clipping mask'] so it only is applied the the layer immediately below it [the third gif] and not everything below it):

details:

this is the final gif before all the typography:

for the typography, i don't really remember why i didn't just use a transparent png of the movie logo other than knowing i had the actual font they use on the poster already installed. you can find it here (dafont). at the top of this screenshot, you can see my font settings and at the bottom, you can see the blending modes i added:

and here are those details (click to enlarge):

using the same font, i added these two layers and positioned them where i wanted:

the names layer is 24pt and adventure is 36pt. to create/position the typography, i was referencing one of the movie posters btw!

for the final two layers, i used the font sf movie poster, which you can download here (dafont) and decreased the opacity of both to 30%:

ignore the warning symbols - i had to replace the font files and ps is mad at me

the "larger" letters are just capitals while the smaller ones are lowercase. i'm pretty sure this is the typical font used at the bottom of movie posters. i believe i either typed all this out referencing one of the posters or i went through the imdb page for the movie and went through the cast and crew sections.

and that's it! we have our finished gif! making a poster like this can result in a large file size, so keep in mind that tumblr's upload limit per gif is 10mb. i believe this gif is 45 frames, which is probably pushing it with these dimensions. if you finish your gif and find that it's over the limit, i HIGHLY recommend using ezgif's optimizer. you upload your file and then adjust the lossy slider and you'll be surprised just how much it drops the file size down without a noticeable difference. i also use this site to convert webp files to gifs/pngs when necessary.

if you have any further questions or didn't understand something, please let me know! i'm always happy to help :) and lmk if you ever want a tutorial on any of my other gifs! happy holidays!

[sashimi020]

almost yours p5 *ੈ✩‧₊˚ [mitsuya x reader]

credits to @i-mmaculatus for the dividers! tags: @dollrndo

p1 | p2 | p3 | p4

last part!! thank you all for reading!! i'm so grateful for all your kind comments. i hope this last chapter will bring a satisfying closure! i must admit it was slightly rushed, i'm a bit sleepy so there may be errors (forgive me😭) i hope you all enjoy it regardless

reblogs likes comments and feedback appreciated!!<333

it was the big day: new years festival. you’d neatly packaged mitsuya's gifts and placed it in a cute gift bag and also added your heartfelt confession letter, struggling to pick a nice outfit you outsourced help from baji and kazutora who came over the afternoon of to help you pick. 

“this okay?” “err.. nah. too formal” “mm.. how about this?” “ooh maybe.. pair it with this?” the three of you discussed for a while. you thought they were being suspiciously helpful. after a certain point in the conversation, baji interjected “don’t wear two layers” “huh? why not? it might be cold..” “just trust me” you pouted. maybe you did look better if you lost the second layer of clothing.

for the next few hours, the three of you just chilled, playing some video games and lazing around at your house until it was time for the all of you to meet up with everyone else. for some reason the two of them were being extra giggly today. you perceived it to be slightly out of character for them. you picked up on them stealing glances as if they had some inside joke you didn’t know about.

you just brushed it off as them being excited for going out. the hours passed by quickly. reaching the entrance of the festival you all slow down and look for the rest of your friends. kazutora groans at his phone screen “they’re gonna be late again!” “seriously?” you sigh. “apparently it’s because mikey’s taking too long to get ready” “who’s coming with mikey again?” you ask, “draken, mitsuya, mikey and emma are all coming together i think” “oh alright” 

your face lights up ever so slightly at the mention of mitsuya. you were eager to give him your gift and confession letter, but you were equally apprehensive. though you were pretty hopeful for him liking you back due to kazutora and baji’s constant reassurance. you would actually kill them and then die out of embarrassment if he rejected you. you quickly push the possibility of rejection aside. 

wait.. what if he actually rejected you? your expression dulls at the thought. a pit forms in your stomach. it would ruin the entire mood of the festival. would things get awkward? .. oh.. oh now you’re really worrying. maybe it’s just nervousness and anxiety doing the rounds but you can’t deny that you felt suddenly apprehensive about the confession. while baji and kazutora were occupied by some food stall, you quickly stuff the confession letter away just leaving the gifts in the gift bag. you didn’t want to take this risk. 

you wandered a bit further away from kazutora and baji and felt someone tap on your shoulder. “hey pretty, say, you come here with anyone?” some random guy approached you? how were you supposed to react?? “uh.. uh- i’m-“ “no need to be so nervous” he chuckles. kazutora and baji, thankfully, almost immediately notice the interaction after they got their food. he puts his hand on your shoulder and you visibly become uncomfortable, “um. i appreciate it but…“ you feel someone grab your hand. kazutora?! baji? they glare at the guy and he immediately seems to back off. “jeez. sorry, didn’t know er..” the guys starts but kazutora tugs you away. 

you sigh heavily. “you didn’t have to be so rude” baji frowned “nah. no one’s stealing mitsu’s girl” your face flushes completely. “plus that guy put his hand on your shoulder, who does that to someone they’ve never met?!” “yeah i guess you’re right..” your voice cracks from you feeling so flustered. “mitsuya’s girl? really??” “yeah” they both responded in unison. 

“HII GUYS!” mikey yells loudly. everyone exchanges greetings and you meet mitsuya’s gaze. “hii..” “hey” he smiles gleefully. all of you browse the stalls and pass time until the fireworks. mikey, predictably, instantly gravitated towards the taiyaki stand. by some new years miracle he had brought his own money to pay for the sweets. maybe he decided to be a little merciful on ken-chin’s wallet for the occasion. draken on the other hand bashfully held emma’s hand and the adorable couple spent much needed time together. kazutora and baji disappeared somewhere to do god knows what. you were left alone with mitsuya. the both of you walk alongside each other, hands brushing against each other as you walk. 

after a certain point he just takes your hand in his and glances away, his composure completely gone. you smile to yourself but he catches it. his heart speeds up. your eyes scan the stalls in a desperate attempt to regain your own composure after the heart warming gesture. your eyes land on an extremely adorable cat plushie. “awh! that’s so cute” you couldn’t help but blurt out. “you want that?” “ah.. no i’m not good at winning these games.. my hand eye coordination is really bad.” “i could win it for you” he says softly. “or well, i could try..” he smiles widely and before you could argue he asks the vendor to set up the game.

it was fairly simple balloon game, pop 5 balloons in a row and you win the plushie! almost immediately you heard “pop!”“pop!”“pop!”“pop!”“pop!” no hesitation, full precision. and suddenly, you had a cat plush in your arms and an incredibly cute smile on your crush’s face. “thank you! oh- you really didn’t have to..” “you’re so cute when you’re happy” he cuts you off. you go dead silent as you feel like you need to reboot your brain. oh. my. god. 

a short time passes and you all regroup, mikey thoroughly enjoying his fifth taiyaki while draken was chiding him telling him that he was definitely going to fall sick after this. kazutora and baji also reunited with the rest of them, turns out they spent their time playing some dart game at a stall to try and win prizes but inevitably lost. “you won that cat?” baji asks curiously, “it’s super cute” “oh! ah. mitsuya won it for me” you giggle softly. they all share a knowing glance. both of your faces flush but no one brings it up. 

“i think the fireworks will start soon!” mikey points out, “we should find a nice spot quickly before all the good ones get taken” draken responds and you all quickly make it to a nice viewing point. the wind blows through your hair gently and the buzz of the people and stalls died down as you all found a rather secluded and slightly more peaceful spot. “can i borrow you for a bit?” mitsuya asks quickly, his tone soft. “o..of course, yeah” your grip on the gift bag tightens. you should give it to him now. 

his hand leads you only a little far away from everyone else and he takes the bag that he brought. “so.. um.. i made something for you” your brain stops almost immediately. wait. wait. wait. WHAT. He made something for you?! this was supposed to be you giving him a gift, should you interrupt him? should you give it right now? “w-wait!” you cut him off, “ah?” “i.. have something for you too” you hold up the bag. “o- oh.” the sparkly in his eyes gleams brighter and his grin widens. “w-we’ll exchange then?” “y-yeah, yeah-“ you both swap bags and inhale shakily as you peer into the gift mitsuya gave you. 

your jaw drops. you pull out the jacket with shaky, nervous hands. “this.. wait- how-?” questions flooded your mind. it looks exactly like the jacket you saw at the mall but it looks different, “look.. look uh. in the inside.” you open the jacket to see your initials sewed in at the bottom on the inside of the jacket. you stare back at him with the most dazed, loving expression. “you..” “yeah.. i .. made it..” “wait.. how did you- .. how did you find out i.. wanted a jacket like this though?” “draken told me you mentioned it?” “uh.. ah” oh kazutora you sly dog. you suddenly piece everything together, why baji told you not to wear two layers. so you could wear this now. you instantly shrug it on and feel absolutely elated. “o-open mine” “i.. didn’t know you were getting me one” you smile sheepishly. 

his face blossoms with pleasant surprise, “oh! a pincushion?! i’ve wanted this for a while but never got around to getting it.. how did you know? oh- wait.. are these?..” “matching.. yeah.. uh. you can pick which one you like, i’ll take the other” “i’m.. never gonna take this off” you start feeling lightheaded at his sweet sweet words. “a-ah.” he takes your wrist and slides on the bracelet gently and then puts on his. his lips tug into a serene smile and he adjusts the collar of the jacket. “there.. you look really good in it.” 

he glances away for a second, “there’s something.. i should tell you,” he takes his hands off from your jacket and stares at the ground, “i’ve uh. i realised a few months ago that i started.. to .. have feelings for you. i know this is really late and it might not be the best or most coordinated or put together confession ever but i .. really needed to get it out there. i.. really hope you feel the same way” your jaw is on the floor. heart is beating at a rate that would put you in a hospital. “y-you have no idea how long i’ve felt the same way” you manage to choke out without stumbling over your words. suddenly you glance at the sky. 

“the fireworks are almost starting..” “w..wait..” mitsuya slides his palm on your cheek and tilts your head towards his in a very gentle manner, almost offering you leeway to back out if you want to. but you don’t this is everything you could ever want and more. you think you could die happy right now. suddenly he leans closer, “can i?..” “please.” the second your lips meet, fireworks go off. colour paints the sky as mitsuya’s soft lips grace yours. he cups your face, fingers tucking your hair back. you pull away for air moments later, lips swollen and red from kissing, cheeks a similar shade and glossed over, dazed look his eyes. 

you pull out the stashed away confession letter. “i.. was going to confess to you but i guess you did it first.. you can still keep this and read it if you like-“ “i’ll cherish it forever” he cuts you off. “i’ll cherish you forever” you break out into a grin and wrap your arm around his. “i’ll cherish you forever as well”. 

the two of you return to the knowing glances of the rest of your friends, draken pats mitsuya on the back “great going loverboy” “shut up..” 

your fingers intertwine with mitsuya’s as more fireworks go off, you lean your head on his shoulder. 

that very same jacket you would continue to wear for years to come, and that very same bracelet, the both of you would have adorned on your wrists until time wore it out, that very same pincushion, mitsuya would have on every single sewing project. 

all of you would forever share this moment in your own ways. operation: mitsuya x y/n groupchat now served no purpose but no one had the heart to delete it.

you would all share more new years festivals and nights under the fireworks, and you couldn’t be happier with the people in your life. 

[oathkeeper-of-tarth]

Mod update, at long last! Dame Aylin Kintsugi - Origin version is now up on Nexus (update: should now be visible on mod.io as well). It was inevitable, really, that I would end up doing this.

The mod is now completely standalone and has no prerequisites. Aylin's visuals (head, hair, skin tone, "gold" tattoo colour) are still added to Body Type 3 humans, elves, and half-elves (and some custom race mod aasimar) if you just want to poach some cosmetics.

The kintsugi colour is once again plugged into Horn Colour, which I've added as an option to the above-mentioned races for this purpose.

But for the full custom appearance and fancy texture experience, I've made Aylin a new Origin Character selectable when you start a new game. Her race, class, and appearance are preset appropriately, but not fixed (which allows me to patch in custom/modded races), so you can tweak her a bunch, but for flavour she will have "Aasimar" and "Paladin of Selûne" tags in dialogues no matter what you pick. Her body type and background (Folk Hero) are locked. She has no other special properties, gameplay-wise.

Vestments of the Faithful is a mod that includes her iconic armour, if you want to complete the look.

Update: Along with changing the starting paladin warhammer to a greatsword, I went and added her armour statted as basic plate to her starting equipment, so no additional mods are needed. You should still use the mod above if you want a version of it with special stats and abilities.

It's nicely flexible, you can wear only parts of it. Or, you know, none at all. You do you.

Note that though I gave it a shot very briefly, wings are easy to get to appear, but veeery tricky to get in any way functional, so if you want those you should grab an extra mod that provides them. Let's call it future work for now.

Oh, how the turntables...

Blue is truly her colour.

Ah, the eternal struggle between putting Aylin in cool outfits and armours and wanting to show off my textures. But I did hand-draw every single one of these gold lines, so let me bask, shhhhhh. More under the cut for nudity.

I already spoke about this in a previous post, but everything is both much more high-res and super streamlined now. No more fudging around with body tattoo colour overlays or neck seams or anything. And all the colours are 100% Aylin-accurate, plucked right out of her presets.

To wrap this up, a spicy reward for whoever scrolled this far! Using the succubus outfit from the game as a little tribute to the harness art series by @redelicebeta, in particular this lovely entry.

I couldn't get the colours quite right, but I think it's close enough. And she rocks it.

In conclusion, yeah, Isobel Thorm is a very lucky woman.

But, more importantly, enjoy the mod, everyone!

[ruttingdoe]

MISCERVUS

my own take on a misceverse based off of ELK behaviors and such!! dynamics, extra terms, hormonal cycles, all under the cut! caps warning, all /not mad

DYNAMICS

(not exclusively males) > BULLS - [similiar to alphas] (typically) leaders, loud in volume usually, usually drawn to a handful of cows at a time (not for mating purposes, its like 'the token straight friend in a queer friend group')

> STAGS - [similiar to betas] sensitive, calm, romantic, unobtrusive, mediators

(not exclusively females) > COWS (also called DOES) - [similar to omegas] nurturing, sweet, keep to themselves a lot

EXTRA INFO

☆ only bulls and stags can sire calves, regardless of primary sex

☆ SPIKING (referring to spikes, yearling bull elk) (vaguely derogatory towards cows, as it implies that cows are young and immature): similar to bitching - process of a bull becoming a doe, through whatever manner and for whatever reason

☆ TROPHYING (comes from the term 'trophy' for a bull elk that is 6-10 years old): basically kinging, opposite of spiking, process of a cow becoming a bull, through whatever manner and for whatever reason

☆ VELVETING (from when elk antlers velvet and fall off, before growing back): common symptom before a rut happens - bulls and anyone else that experiences rut get an urge to cut their hair and possibly other physical features, such as fashion ("i feel like velveting)

☆ IVORIES: alternative, traditional name for fangs

☆ CAPE: nape of the neck and the top of the shoulders, where dynamics are drawn to for scent/scentmarking

☆ CALVES: pups

☆ BUGLE/BUGLING: similar to growling in miscecanis, but miscervus bugles arent similar to proper elk, its a high pitched whine commonly heard during rut from bulls and others that experience it, to draw cows nearby. cows can also bugle, they are generally quieter and deeper-sounding

HORMONAL CYCYLES:

estrus often happens during late summer/early fall and rut during fall from september to october but theyre both possible at any time, typically triggered by others cycles and ones own personal arousal/stress levels

☆ ESTRUS (most often cows): generally lasts from 3 days to a week, restlessness, high levels of arousal, increased bugling, increased urination, smelling different, being drawn to spend more time around bulls and stags, increased slick production, increased attempts to scent others or to be scented/scentmarked

☆ RUT (most often bulls): generally lasts from 5-10 days, typically get more physically active (to show off prowess), irritation with individuals of the same dynamic or others experiencing rut, spending a lot of time around other dynamics, pretty similar to estrus but much more active

also doe and cow are interchangeable, female elk are called cows but i like the word doe more for aesthetics

ill be adding onto this when i think of stuff/find things ive already written by forgot. then eventually id like to make a Carrd for this to look nice and put-together. any questions or asks about clearing something up are welcome, id looove to talk about this and maybe find others that can align themselves with this if theyd like! also if theres anything that might help for visibility text-wise and such, please let me know, i will edit this!

tagging for traction:

@sevs-coincollection-blog @omegai @goodbyekai @oneinamillion-x @angel-of-the-sins