#and a super polished aesthetic

[ministarfruit]

TOOT TOOT!! By the way! Preorders are currently open for the DGS Travel Zine for anyone interested in a little old-timey world tour - you’re in for a treat!! Shenanigans and wonder abound!

Store Link HERE! 

transcript under cut

The image reads that the preview is by Mini on the top.

Ringo Skulkin says, “I tell you wot, people reading this... if you don’t acknowledge the guy in the back there, we won’t either.”

He is referring to William Shamspeare passed out in the background.

Nash Skulkin affirms this, exclaiming, “Righto, bruv! No guy back there, I see none.”

A comment is made by Esmeralda Tusspells about the dialogue being altered to fit the preview. Peppino jovially suggests they talk about lunch instead. 

It concludes with Fabien yelling, “Are we not even the slight bit concerned that there’s something amiss here?!” 

[fairytopianails]

3d princess peach nails!

[hazeltailofficial]

Holo Taco Super Glossy Taco

hazeltailofficial on ig / hazeltail on youtube / hazeltailofficial on tiktok

[bybdolan]

what do you mean “cutting songs”? also i absolutely agree with what you said man how come you’re always right? lol

What I mean by that is that an album should work as a cohesive unit and ideally every song should bring something new or exciting to the table, add to the narrative, expand the universe, etc. When we look at the vault tracks for Fearless TV and Red TV for example (though to be fair, less with Red), there are a bunch of tracks on there that wouldn't have added anything to the album except weight and runtime. And a long runtime makes a record less memorable imo – rarely am I going to take time out of my day to listen to an album that is 2+ hours long. And Taylor is a GREAT album artist, no doubt. I just dislike the narrative that has sprung up that Taylor releasing vault tracks etc. is a sign that she is freeee from the shakles of Big Machine where evil man Scott B told her to cut all of those good songs >:( like. Scott B fucking sucks but having an editor on you who really brings out your strengths and teaches you to sharpen your skill and vision is not bad per se. (I don't think their particular relationship was healthy in that regard, but that's not shocking information.) Obviously this is in part due to the streaming era, but we still have artists who create albums™ and I hope Taylor remains one of them.

[art-mybeloved]

Im sitting on a chair

While I could be laying in bed

Im writing something that shouldnt be considered a poem

I just cant get comfortable yet

From the drafts--work in progress, mars

[ujuro]

So far in my deep dive into the discography of alt-idol label lonesome record I’ve gotten

-well-crafted pop punk in Malcolm mask McLaren

-one of the best active shoegaze acts in general with ray

-off-kilter pop rock explorations that are only really found in idoldom with nilkly

-the brand of pop rock and math rock rhythms that have become common in jpop with the rise of vocaloid producers working with older jrock ideas reworked for idol pop with ringwanderung and yumegiwa last girl

-classic lo-fi and low budget idol goodness in pomero

-a perfect example of the typical sound of chika idols in anthurium

-my favorite group musically maybe ever in daidaidai (rip)

-my current favorite active group musically in situasion

-ultra-orthodox idols who take advantage of that creatively in later releases in nuance and tiptoe

-an example of a common idol brief flash in the pan in anchirochii

-and eisei to karatea which is good but also kinda normal idol pop rock alsjdjdhdhd

Anyway idols are amazing

[dohmalore]

Why am i such a sucker for pokemon. This game is blatantly unfinished

[kryptid-kat]

I been watching studio vlogs and sketch with me's and honestly it feels like people literally go out of their way to make their sketchbook super nice and aesthetic.

There is nothing wrong with that as is, but also it sets up new artists and even seasoned ones to feel like they have to have nice sketchbook spreads and it can paralize people from actually doing shitty sketches in their sketchbooks.

Do whatever you can, don't feel like you must do this amazing, art gallery worthy piece in your sketchbook, it's there for you to goof around and explore your art! It's for you and only you, so go wild! A sketchbook is basically just there so you don't have a mess with loose paper.

And tbh if you really want something aesthetic, keep maybe a smaller/thinner one for planned out sketches that you would want to share with others and that's it.

Don't feel pressured to be perfect, because nobody else is, and they just "stage" everything they post to look nice and polished.

[braxlrose]

request: my first request is😼 bill kaulitz x reader who is a hopeless romantic i mean he finds such messy and simple things romantic and he doesn't like extra things like some bed with rose petals and candles... i mean he finds romance in a bouquet of randomly picked flowers (although roses of course can be 😝) finds romance in smoking cigarettes in one of the abandoned buildings (obligatory of course lighting cigarettes looks like Bill first lights his cigarette and then lights her cigarette with his cigarette ykykyk) I find romance in dating at McDonald's or such a date at or a date sitting on the sidewalk sipping a slushie or an energy drink.. RUSHES RUSHES..(such aesthetics that I can't describe... such a lil peep 😒)

teenage dirtbag bill x f!reader

• teenage dirtbag bill who sneaks into your room at night to spoon you. bonus points if he's a small spoon

• teenage dirtbag bill who kisses your forehead before going to class

• teenage dirtbag bill who buys you those cute candy cigarettes for you to make you laugh

• teenage dirtbag bill who loves hanging out with you and your little siblings because he thinks they're so adorable

• teenage dirtbag bill who got scolded by you after you found him trying to teach your little sibling how to roll a joint

• teenage dirtbag bill who ended up wrapping you in his arms afterwards and getting high with you

• teenage dirtbag bill who loves it when you bail him out of detention because he was caught smoking.

• teenage dirtbag bill who kisses your entire face when you make him food when he's high 🥺 pookie gets the munchies

• teenage dirtbag bill who loves it when you leave lipstick marks all over his face and would proudly go out in public with them on

• teenage dirtbag bill who uses crackle nail polish because he thinks it looks edgy

• teenage dirtbag bill who brings you to a carnival so you guys can indulge on heinous amounts of cotton candy

• teenage dirtbag bill who writes songs about you and sings them whenever hes drunk

• teenage dirtbag bill who brings you to McDonald's and orders 30 things off of the 1 dollar menu because you can get more food that way

• teenage dirtbag bill who tries to pierce himself with a safety pin and ends up crying because it hurt 💀 he swears he didn't cry whenever you bring up the story though

• teenage dirtbag bill who picks you the dandelions when they're all fluffy and white because he thinks they're cooler than the regular boring yellow ones.

• teenage dirtbag bill who sneaks candy into movies for you.

• teenage dirtbag bill who buys you new cds to listen to when you finish the ones he already got you

• teenage dirtbag bill who gets you ice cream from an ice cream truck when you're feeling sad

• teenage dirtbag bill who carves pumpkins with you for Halloween and always brags about his being super cool. "Yours is really good too Honey, but mine! Look at it! It's so coooool!"

• teenage dirtbag bill who confesses his love to you when he gets high even though you guys have already been dating for forever

• teenage dirtbag bill who slaps you away and says he has a girlfriend when you try and kiss him when he's super drunk because he doesn't realize it's you.

• "NO! NO! No! Noooooo!" Hes all pouty and his eyebrows are furrowed, "I have... a girlfriend. Goooot it?"

• and you're all like "really?! Well, can I tell you a secret?"

• and he just nods along waiting for you to speak when you're like "I'm your girlfriend."

• you just watch his eyes widen and his jaw drop and he's like "reallllyyyy?! oooohhh mmmyyy goddd you're sooo pretty though."

• teenage dirtbag bill is a cutie pie

• teenage dirtbag bill who gets super happy when you buy him the fruit roll ups with the tattoos on them so he can some on himself

• teenage dirtbag bill who lights your cigarette with his or shares a cigarette with you while you're sitting in his lap.

• teenage dirtbag bill who asks you to marry him whenever he feels like it's the "right moment" just waiting for the day you say yes.

• by "the right moment" I mean after you two had sex for the first time or when you guys went skinny dipping together or when you guys are on a late night "picnic" watching the stars.

• picnic aka 2 turkey sandwiches and some slim jims

• teenage dirtbag bill who holds you in his arms and smokes a cigarette after you guys had sex for the first time. he doesn't plan on letting go of you any time soon.

• teenage dirtbag bill who is ironically amazing at driving, especially when he's high, so you're always a passenger princess.

• teenage dirtbag bill who has his hand on your thigh whenever he's driving

• teenage dirtbag bill who brings you to a drive in movie theater to make out with you

• teenage dirtbag bill who is super intimate. even though he isn't into all that extra crap, he's very mushy.

• teenage dirtbag bill who lays on your thighs whenever he can because he loves how soft your skin is.

• teenage dirtbag bill who tattoos your name onto him

• teenage dirtbag bill who has promised since he was a little kid that he was going to marry you one day.

• teenage dirtbag bill who finds it super cute when you get all excited when he let's you put face masks on him

• teenage dirtbag bill who let's your little siblings put braids and pig tails in his hair with bows because he loves how you smile whenever he plays with them.

• teenage dirtbag bill who writes his name on your clit with his tongue whenever he goes down on you.

• teenage dirtbag bill who buys you your favorite chips whenever he comes over. yk, just because he wanted too

• teenage dirtbag bill who goes on long walks at night with you

• teenage dirtbag bill who asks you for the answers on tests because you're just so smart and he can never remember

• teenage dirtbag bill who thinks your the prettiest person in the entire world on the inside and out.

• teenage dirtbag bill who has a camcorder and records videos of you guys all the time for your "future selves"

• teenage dirtbag bill who also has a Polaroid cameras and candid pictures of you whenever he thinks you look super duper pretty.

• teenage dirtbag bill who picks up sea glass whenever he finds it on the beach and gives it to you.

• teenage dirtbag bill who buys you those candy necklaces and bracelets and puts them in expensive jewelry boxes as gifts for you.

scenario one.

"show me your tongue." Bill said as you too were walking hand in hand. You turned your head towards him and staring laughing.

"What?!" You giggled out, taking another sip of your drink.

"I wanna see if your tongue is blue, come on! Show meeee!" He begged and whined, pouting and fluttering his eyes at you. You gave him a quick kiss on the lips before sticking out your tongue.

"So?" You asked, biting your lip and moving your hand to wrap it around his arm.

"Super fucking blue." He laughed, sipping his drink and continuing to walk down the street.

"Blue blue or Berry Blue?"

"Whats the difference?"

"Ones blue and the other is Berry Blue," You rested your cheek on his shoulder and looked up into his eyes, "Duh."

scenario two.

You nuzzled your face into bills chest as you two sat on a cement block, hanging out with the rest of tokio hotel. Your eyes gazed up at Bills face as he brought his cigarette to his mouth. He was so beautiful, you couldn't help but stare him at forever.

"Okay, would you guys rather be able to do anybody you want with no chance of STD's or pregnancy but have to drink a cup of pee everyday, or have a pregnancy scare once a week but be able to do whatever you want and not get in trouble?" Tom asked, taking a sip of his beer.

Bill took his cigarette out of his mouth and brought it down to mine, still looking up at the rest of the guys, "Is the pee yellow or clear?" Bill asked, smiling a bit as he questioned Tom. I breathed out some smoke and I could feel Bills fingers threading through my hair. It was always so calming, I could practically fall asleep.

"Yellow. Obviously." Tom scoffed, taking a drag of his cigarette and looked around at the rest of us.

"What do you think, hmm?" Bill asked, looking down at me as he tapped the cigarette on the cement. I laughed a bit and sat up more, still in his lap and leaned into him again.

"The second one, obviously. No way am I drinking someone's piss everyday." I answered, wrapping my arms around Bill who had begun laughing and kissing my forehead.

taglist: @hearts4kaulitz @burntb4bydoll @spelaelamela @bored0writer @fishinaband @billsleftnutt @tokiiohot @bluepoptartwithsprinkles @saumspam @5hyslv7 @killed-kiss @memog1rl @80s-tingz @billybabeskaulitz @victryzvv9 @banshailey

[queen-breha-organa]

This is legitimately so strange and ridiculous at this point.

In the new show Tales of the Jedi, the Clone Wars animation style got a major overhaul. Lines are a lot softer, they’ve increased the texture of the designs, overall it’s been very aesthetically pleasing, and it’s nice to see an art style grow with technology.

However.

Despite revamping everyone else’s designs to fit this new style, it seems Disney didn’t even touch the Clone Trooper models. Not even to slightly polish them up/round them out to match everyone else.

There’s a scene where Anakin and Rex stand side by side, and the difference in art style is legitimately jarring.

Anakin’s face has a natural curve, while still being stylized. Rex’s face is so unnaturally sharp and thin, with super strong cheekbone lines. It’s two different art styles. Even without the racism, this is poor animation and poor management.

Disney does seem to listen to criticism, they made Ahsoka’s lekku longer in live action, they changed the Bad Batch’s armor, and they softened this art style, and yet they still completely ignored any criticism surrounding the racist and whitewashed designs of Clone Troopers.

The overhauled the entire animation style and STILL refused to touch the Clone models, leaving them whitewashed and out of place.

Perhaps they thought that any change to the Clone models would be admitting their mistakes, but legitimately at this point I don’t even want an apology, I just want a change.

People of color and their features deserve to lead stories. People of color deserve to have accurate representation in animation and in live action.

This is just ridiculous.

[softsan]

ateez hogwarts houses (aesthetic)

| Masterlist |

Hongjoong

ravenclaw

half-blood

head boy

potion wiz, top of the class

ridiculously talented at conjuring spells 

wears the finest robes and paints his nails with muggle nail polish

smuggles food to feed the thestrals

fave subject: potions

Seonghwa

hufflepuff

pure-blood

head boy

the definition of sweet and kind

always willing to show new students around 

goes on dates to madam puddifoot's tea shop

is an animagus and can transform into a cat

fave subject: transfiguration

Yunho

gryffindor

half-blood

quidditch captain

super easygoing and always late to class

likes to playfully tease the first years

endless supply of honeydukes’ candies

likes visiting the grounds to see hagrid’s salamanders

fave subject: care for magical creatures

San

gryffindor

pure-blood

quidditch chaser

warm and good intentioned 

bashful when students chant his name during quidditch practice 

falls asleep during classes, especially in history of magic 

has friendly rivalry with slytherin’s quidditch chaser wooyoung

fave subject: defence against the dark arts

Yeosang

hufflepuff

muggle-born

prefect

notoriously bad at quidditch

studies and volunteers at the library

students come to him for tutoring and swoon over his good looks

undisclosed to him but he has his own secret fanclub

fave subject: charms

Wooyoung

slytherin

pure-blood

quidditch beater

master at jinxes and naturally skilled dueller 

daring prankster, gets along well with the poltergeist peeves

sneaks into the library’s restricted section for kicks

has a friendly rivalry with gryffindor’s quidditch chaser san

fave subject: divination

Mingi

slytherin

half-blood

prefect

charming and and known for his light-hearted humor

has a bag of tricks from zonko's joke shop

effortlessly memorizes the encyclopedia of toadstools

almost died in the forbidden forest while looking for herbs

fave subject: herbology

Jongho

ravenclaw

muggle-born

lead singer in the frog choir

comes off as cold and disinterested 

sweet and sentimental on the inside

loves wandering the castle to find the perfect place to stargaze

declines the efforts of others trying to recruit him on the quidditch team

fave subject: astronomy

[honey-milk-depresso]

OMGG HI I saw your bohemian fashion and I LOVED IT SO SO SO SO MUUUUUUCH ANIANIJAOJSOJ it was so sweet 🥺🥺

Could you do one with Trey (hehe), Jamil and Vil, but with a mc that dresses in Preppy style? Yk, the pleated skirts, bows and headbands, Channel vibes. I love fashion and the way you described the Bohemian one was so sweet. THANK YOU SO MUCH YOURE AMAZING MWAH ❤️❤️

T*EY???? /hj

Fine, fine, very well, I will write for that DEFINITELY no good man I’m TOTALLY not in love with myself 😒.

Also I didn’t think anybody would be reading my REALLY old fics from when I first started this blog, when I was called the long forgotten “coffee leaf depression”, good to know, and this is kept to GN Reader 👍.

TWST S/o who loves Preppy Fashion

Trey Clover

He’s probably a sucker for this kind of fashion. As in, to see on his lover. You look so pretty in pleated V-neck sweaters and tie.

NRC has a pretty preppy kind of uniform given to the students, it’ll only change depending on how the students wear the uniform, seeing your well ironed tie straight and pleated skirt or pants crisp and neat makes him pretty smitten surprisingly, especially when it comes to you.

He doesn’t mind joining in, hell, he probably has a somewhat prep aesthetic stuff in his wardrobe without even realising it sometimes, it just comes to him naturally although he definitely doesn’t have any aesthetic preference and just wears whatever.

But prep is definitely in there.

You two can be a matching couple outside of school, wearing prep and somewhat prep (I’m sure you know who’s who) and you guys just look super cute together that Trey, for once, feels a bit of an ego boost in him as he smirks to himself. <3

Jamil Viper

Always saw him with the street dancer kind of aesthetic, which is probably a bit more rugged and casual which is why you two come as a complete contrast with one another.

But still, Jamil digs your prep aesthetic even if he doesn’t like wearing that aesthetic on himself, he thinks it makes you look cute.

Besides, the two of you somehow make it work when you’re out in the open, some guy in a baggy hoodie, baggy long pants and sneaker heads while he’s out linking hands with his significant other wearing a headband, sweater vest and polished loafers.

Still, you two are absolutely adorable as a couple inside out, your completely different taste in fashion makes you two stand out in a good way! Wouldn’t mind trying your kind of aesthetic, it looks pretty good on him when he checks himself in the mirror after dressing him up. He hopes you enjoy the baggy hoodies though because he personally wouldn’t mind lending you his. <3

Vil Schoenheit

The two of you together look like cute nerd and actual fashion king.

Honestly, Vil thinks your prep aesthetic is perfect even if he’s the kind to wear those V-necks and have “pretty boy” aesthetic, he also likes wearing prep clothing and wouldn’t mind joining you on the matching aesthetic thing when you two go out.

Sometimes he shops with you for clothing that fits your whole prep aesthetic and the best kinds. This man’s fashion taste is god-tier. Any kind of aesthetic he can pull off and has expertise in knowing what is best to wear for any kind.

Prep aesthetics are no exceptions.

He has a lot of fun dressing up with you: wearing checkered pants and/or skirts, nice ties and shiny loafers around town as everyone gawk at the most prettiest couple they have ever seen that they can’t even get jealous. <3

Reblogs help! ^^

[smolbimbo]

Smiling critters redesigns

Since bubbas character is that hes the brains i gave him a monocle and a pencil, i lightened his and all the critters colors to make them mkre softer and all of there accents are white as well because i wanted something more uniform visually besides of the necklaces.

I put bows on picky to make her more cute and i put fluffy gloves on as well to go with the clean freak attitude i headcanon for her, a polished look.

I gave bobby bear a more valentine's day palette, she has scrunchies around her wrist as well for a cuter and sweeter look, all animals with paws have their markings on there paws.

Even if crafty is super smug (in my headcanon) since shes a unicorn i gave her a more regal look, to lean into the shy softness her voice gives her. I gave her softer eyes as well. In a "dont judge a book by its cover feel."

Added teeth and some scars and bandaids to lean into the sports aesthetic, as well as sweat bands and knee pads

I gave kickin a more tougher look since hes the cool one. I lightend his necklace as well and gave a bandana and more scars since hes more careless than hoppy

Dog day has some bandages from being clumsy and is covered in stickers to show his fun personality but sweetness as well.

Catnap is in sleep wear for obviously reasons i thought a nightcap was a little over used so i gave him a sleepmask in stead, catnap also has scars because of the accident and doesnt have white accents to show his disconnect from the other smiling critters.

Funfacts abouth the critters:

Catnap sleeps so deep the others often think hes dead.

Dog day, somehow, only manages to injure his legs.

Kickins eye scar is from crafty.

Hoppy is into astrology.

Crafty cant do magic.

Bobbys hearts on her paws beat.

Pickys limbs will randomly stop working.

Bubba is allergic to peanuts.

[eepop-stuffs]

Btw here's some dope ass images and assets from the Fulla website

The polished and fancy heart swirl borders are from the reboot era version of the site. Anything with the wide heart and pastel pink/purple is from the reboot era. Before then the aesthetic was much more vibrant and more focused on a butterfly and flower motif. During the older era she used more hot pink and magenta, as well.

Still really want to know who the artist for Fulla is, maybe I could look for the rest of their possible work for the brand that way.

These are all that's left of the website since the website is mostly inaccessible through the internet archive, and almost every image asset is hard to find. The more modern website versions are extremely broken, and the most clear archive of it from the wiki is from 2006, and from the US version. The 2006 US version does have a lot of important things in it, however. It has a catalog from that time frame, one or two of the music videos, and an English translation of her theme song (which means we now have two confirmed translations, Indonesian and English)

(Above is an image of the Fulla mission statement from the website archive)

Fun fact about the mission statement: in Arabic it actually translates to "Every Arab Girl's Dream" which may be a little off bc I used Google translate but it seems simple enough that It shouldn't be too far off.

The website was advertised to have games from around 2010-11 and are labeled as "funs" on the website according to the site map URLs. None of these "funs" links lead to anything at all, as it says the website wasn't archived. I'm actually not sure whether there were actually flash games or some other type of interactive thing, but the controllers that pop up during the ad for the site leads me to believe they had at least something.

It is confirmed that they had coloring pages, though. Once again, according to the URLs that are not archived and do not function.

This all really frustrates me because the ad never showed what the website even looked like, and the only other place that possibly (like super possibly, I don't even know if it is of the website) could have a screenshot, the fulla house playset, changed the computer sticker graphic before release, along with a lot of the other stickers being turned into random product photos instead of cute detailed artwork (which is a decision I actually despise like omg)

The only things we have are what are saved in the internet archive's dumps of archived images. Any other file doesn't really work at all.

As of now, the fulla website, no matter what time frame you pick up until 2021, had a flash loading screen that you can't get past using normal means.

I am actually so mad that I can't find anything about this. Any other major doll website is completely able to be accessed, even the winx club one which has a similar issue with the loading screen. From past experiences before the winx site's arcive apparently just stopped doing it, the loading screen would lead to a pop-up window of something else which I forgot the contents of. So that may be the issue here, but I wouldn't know what's causing it or how to fix it.

All I want is a SINGLE SCREENSHOT OR RECORDING and i will die happy...😭

Because I'm a poor little high school child I sadly do not have the means to purchase a VPN. Maybe I could just do a free trial and cancel it after I've got what I needed, but there's not even a guarantee there will even be more if I look with a VPN.

[shittykinaesthetics]

Shitty Lake aesthetic: when i was a kid i used to really want to polish bald people’s heads with one of those machines where it’s like. a big fluffy circle and it spins super fast. and see if i could see myself in the reflection on their head. the way that i could not spend more than five minutes in lake’s presence without rightfully receiving the mother of all punches to the sternum...

[campingwiththecharmings]

tagged by @soft-girl-musings ❤️ ty, this was super fun! tagging whoever wants to do this (please tag me in your posts!!!!)

1. Type your name followed by core into pinterest and paste the first pic. 2. Refresh your pinterest homepage and paste the first person. 3. Refresh your pinterest homepage and paste a random aesthetic picture. 4. Write a little story :)

(Please be gentle, I have not actually seen Dune, tho I did read a little of the novel, and am basing this characterization on my very limited exposure to Leto lol)

Dune Modern AU (I guess??) - Leto Atreides x F!Reader | (1,840 words) | Not proofread

AN: i...might've gone a bit overboard with this lmaooo. i blame oscar. 🫣

Warnings: murder, allusions to SA, probably a tad stockholm syndrome-y (lol), vague smut, some angst.

---

You struggle against the crewman's tight hold on your wrists, knowing that even if you were to break free, you'd have no where to escape to. Your ship had been attacked and boarded that morning by pirates, after which you, along with a handful of others, had been left to die on your pillaged ship.

When a ship flying the flag of Caladan had happened upon you, you'd been relieved, over the moon, even. That is, until they'd boarded and killed everyone left alive save for you. You should've known something was off as soon as they stepped onto the deck, their uniforms filthy and unkempt. But you'd been so desperate, had wanted to believe so badly that you were being rescued.

You don't know where he's taking you now, but given the lecherous look he'd given you just before grabbing you, you can take a guess.

Hopefully he'll at least have the decency to kill you once he's finished.

You growl as the man pushes open the door at the end of the hall, dragging you swiftly behind him. He throws you into a chair and looms over you, caging you in with a hand on either armrest.

"Feisty, aren't we?" he says, his dark eyes cold and cruel. "I like the feisty ones."

You stare him down with a glare, determined to not let this man take the only thing you have left: your dignity. He smirks at you and leans in, but it halted by the sound of the door opening.

"I'll take it from here, Yueh."

You watch as the man's lip curls slightly, annoyed at being interrupted. Nevertheless, he stands, schooling his face into an indifferent mask and turning toward the newcomer.

"Of course, Captain."

The crewman leaves, closing the door behind him with a loud "thwack," leaving you alone with this new man, apparently the captain.

You study him, noting that his uniform is in far better condition than that of his subordinates. Even his knee-high boots have been polished to a shine. You drag your eyes up his torso, then his chest, your eyes snagging on the insignia pinned over his left breast pocket. It looks familiar, but you can't seem to immediately place it. You allow your eyes to continue their journey, sliding up his neck, over his graying beard and stately nose, until you meet his eyes.

They're a warm, deep brown with a gentleness in them you are not accustomed to seeing in men (especially those in authority). He smiles at you apologetically, knowing he is at least partially responsible for the terror you've endured.

"Are you alright?" he asks, his voice soft and gentle, just like his eyes.

Inexplicably, the facade you've erected to make yourself seem unaffected by all of this crumbles at his question. No, you are absolutely not alright. In less than a week you've been attacked by pirates, had all of your possessions either taken or destroyed, and have watched almost every person you care for die. Tears well in your eyes and you're helpless to stop them from falling.

Embarrassed, you hide your face in your hands, silently sobbing into your palms. You flinch when you feel a hand on your shoulder. Was he...comforting you? You look up, his eyes radiating sadness and, dare you say, compassion?

He hugs you then, gently pulling you against his chest and wrapping an arm around your shoulders. He murmurs soothing words, promises to keep you safe, tells you you'll never have to live in fear again so long as he is with you. .

And you believe him, God help you.

He asks you to call him Leto despite clearly holding some kind of title. It feels odd to be so informal, but you do as he asks. He does not appear to have much trust in his crewmen, namely the group who'd boarded your ship. As a result of this, he is reluctant to let you out of his sight, so you spend most of your time with him. He does most of the talking, telling you of his beloved homeland Caladan, of his son Paul...of his late wife, Jessica. When you are ready, you do the same, telling him about where you grew up, of your parents, of your desire to see the world.

It's not until a few weeks later that you realize you're falling in love with him.

You do your best to hide it but he seems to sense the shift in you. The night before you are expected to return to Caladan, he finally asks what's troubling you. As when you'd met him that first day, his eyes are what get to you, the gentle kindness and patience in them like a balm to your soul.

"I...I think I'm in love with you," you admit, sure he doesn't feel the same.

But he surprises you yet again.

"I love you too, my darling," he rasps, leaning in to press his lips against yours.

He makes love to you until the sun rises, his movements gentle yet still passionate. His fingers tangle with yours when he pins you to the bed, making you come over and over, you body shaking with pleasure as he smothers your moans with his kiss.

He asks you to marry him in the afterglow, his head nestled between your breasts as you comb your fingers through his soft hair. You tell him you will and he looks up at you with a smile, sitting up so he can steal another kiss from your lips.

There is a commotion on deck as soon as the ship docks and it takes Leto a moment to realize it's not the usual flurry of activity that usually comes with a return to land. Sensing something nefarious, he tells you to escape through the window in his quarters. You don't want to leave him, flat out refuse to, in fact, but he convinces you yet again with his gentle, earnest eyes.

"I need to know you're safe," he says, taking your hands in his. "I'll find you, I promise."

You wait for him at an inn a few blocks from the docks but he never shows. You don't sleep, you can't, too worried about Leto and what might've happened to him. At the first sign of dawn, you leave the inn, returning to the docks in search of your Leto.

His ship is gone, the slip where it had been empty, and your heart sinks. Had it all been a trick? A game? A way to pass the time while at sea? Had he even really loved you or had he just told you that so you'd warm his bed?

You consider asking the harbormaster if they know what happened but...what would be the point? You know all you need to know: Leto is gone, has left you here alone, despite his promises to protect you, to love you, to marry you.

You do your best not to break down, to not give in to the crushing weight of your broken heart. Using the last of your coin, you decide to stay another night at the inn Leto had told you about, and in the morning, you convince them to hire you as a housekeeper in exchange for a bed and a meager salary. You work there for months, saving every penny you can for passage back to your homeland.

The night before you're set to leave, he finds you.

Leto.

"What are you doing here?" you ask, crossing your arms defensively over your chest.

He's disheveled, almost haggard, and much skinnier than you recall. You wonder briefly if he's been ill but quickly decide it doesn't matter--he left you, fooled you into thinking he loved you.

"I'm so sorry it took me so long," he rasps, his voice strained, as if he'd been screaming for hours.

You scoff, doing your best to avoid looking him directly in the eyes. That's how he always got you, manipulated you.

"It's too late, Leto. I'm leaving in the morning," you tell him, turning away to fiddle with your already-packed bag.

"Will you at least let me explain?" he pleads, shuffling closer.

You sigh, shaking your head. You tell yourself no, that you don't owe him anything, that he doesn't deserve a chance to explain himself...but you can't help but be curious.

Without looking at him, you nod, bracing your palms on the dresser before you.

He thanks you, taking a moment to collect his thoughts before he dives right in. He's been in jail, he claims, was locked up as soon as he stepped foot on land. Evidently, there was a mutiny and some of his crewmen, led by Yueh, had framed him by planting an illegal drug called Spice on board the ship. As soon as it had docked, the mutineers had sent an anonymous tip to the authorities and, as the Captain, Leto was arrested and thrown in jail. Unable to prove his innocence, he'd had no choice but to serve his time.

The story sounds plausible, and you're almost inclined to believe him but....you just can't. Your heart wasn't just broken by him, it was shattered. Irreparably, you think. Even if what he claims happened is true, you can't see how you could ever trust him again. Not after everything you've been through. You tell him as much, back still turned to him. After a beat of silence, you hear him shift closer, feel his warmth against your back, your eyes falling shut as he presses a gentle kiss against the base of your neck. You swallow a whimper, inhaling shakily when he runs his knuckle down the back of your arm.

"Please look at me, my darling," he pleads, voice thick with emotion. "Just one more time."

Hesitantly, you turn and your heart breaks a little more at the pain and desperation in his eyes. He smiles, taking your hand in his and gently squeezing it. Your eyes well with tears, one escaping and sliding down your cheek, and your curse yourself for your weakness. Using his free hand, he swipes the tear away, his touch lingering on your face.

You're not sure who moves first, but suddenly his lips are on yours, and a fire ignites in your chest. More tears slide down your face as you kiss him back, your arms winding around his neck as he hoists you up to sit on the dresser. The action knocks your bag to the floor with a dull thud, but you can't bring yourself to care as Leto licks into your mouth, his tongue hot as it slides against yours.

When he finally thrusts inside you, it feels like coming home. Suddenly you feel safe again, you feel at peace.

In the end, he travels with you back to your homeland. Slowly, the trust that was broken is rebuilt and before you realize what's happening, you allow the love you have for one another to heal your shattered hearts.