#and now its likely the first time you've been allowed into a theater at all

[firelise]

Ronke Adekoluejo as Nanon aka Mama Joseph Bologne CHEVALIER (2023)

[ceilingfan5]

taz musical theater au, please :O??? -ise (currently listening to broadway Anastasia and going buckwild again /lh)

"So," Kravitz says, the door closing behind him dramatically. He doesn't put his bag down like he usually does. Instead he looks stiff and frustrated and confused. And cute. Still painfully fucking cute, as always. "I was surprised to see you at the casting call today."

"Why? You've been talking about it since I moved in last month." Taako kicks his feet off the edge of the couch and keeps pretending to read the magazine he stole from the dentist yesterday, as revenge for having to be there. It's months old, but some of the recipes are still interesting.

Kravitz makes a face like he is trying, with all his might, not to telegraph how confused and frustrated he is. Too bad. Consider that code morsed, buckaroo. Tappity tap tap, you've betrayed how you feel. Better luck when the telephone gets invented. 

"It's just," he says. "I did not think you were interested in musicals. Or this musical, specifically. Or being in the musical that I am running, and taking very seriously, by the way."

"Did I do a bad job in my audition?" Taako audibly turns a sleek page, and pretends to be interested in Cheez-it encrusted lamb nuggets. "You don't have to give me a call back if I'm not right for the part."

"No," Kravitz sighs, shaking his head. He clutches his bag close, like it will be a weapon against the great unknown of Taako's mysterious motives. "You were–amazing. I was afraid we weren't going to have a villain this round. You- Taako- " Kravitz walks over and grips the back of the couch. Taako looks So Very Incredibly Casually up at him, smirking. "You absolutely bodied your audition." 

"Cool," Taako says, like it doesn't matter at all. Like, oh, chips were on sale? That's nice, maybe we'll make some dip. Maybe not. "I thought there was uh, a process for letting people know they're in." 

"There is!" Kravitz stresses. "But we live together. Taako, we live together, I've known you for almost two months now, I've been talking about this musical all summer, and I've never heard you sing! What- I didn't know you even knew where the playhouse was!" 

"Google maps," Taako provides helpfully. He closes his magazine thoughtfully. Maybe tomorrow he will get some Cheez-its. Lamb nuggets can't be that bad, can they? 

"That's not my question!" Kravitz looks, get this, confused and frustrated. It's hard not to laugh right at him.

"What is your question?" Picture of innocence. Stock photo of a sky-blue day. Motives? What motives? 

"Why did you try out for my musical??" 

"Bored. Sounded fun," Taako says with a shrug. 

"Are you interested in musicals??" Kravitz looks like the unhingedness of this line of interrogation is dawning on him a little late. 

"Who isn't?" 

"Taako!" That grip on the couch is so tight. Fuck, he's gorgeous. Maybe a little dim, though. 

"Kravitz!" Taako grins. "Did you not want me there? Is there a problem? I thought this roommate thing was going okay." 

"It-" Kravitz throws his hands in the air and huffs. "You're allowed to be there!" 

"Oh good," Taako says, playing as stupid as he can manage with a straight face. "Not gonna get arrested today. Probably." 

"Taako-" 

"I mean you never know," Taako adds conversationally. "Always good to be prepared." 

"Are you going to take this seriously??" 

"Course," Taako says, and shrugs. 

"You're not just doing it to fuck with me??" Kravitz. Darling. Really? Your first guess is that he's being mean, and not trying to follow you to a second location because he doesn't want to miss out on his Kravitz time? Sabotage, and not ooey-gooey crush the likes of which an adult ought not have to suffer?? Has Taako been Too Subtle? 

"Why would I do that?" Taako tosses the magazine onto the side table. The two of them watch the whole pile of shit slide slowly onto the floor. Sheet music and snacks and playbooks and photos and maybe the lost remote go all over in slow motion. Taako looks back at Kravitz. Kravitz looks pinched. Calzone of a dude here. Dumpling, even. What's in your pocket, guy? What savory morsels are you withholding? 

"I don't know," he says, after a long, painful moment. "But I'm going to find out." And he turns and marches toward his room. 

Wuh oh. Maybe they got two very different messages on what this story is about. Should he say something? 

Then again…Taako doesn't mind an enemies to lovers plot. Not one bit. 

[httpjeonlicious]

✨ 💖 my favorite jungkook ffs 💖 ✨

—> the ones i’m recommending are definitely worth reading!! I’ve read these more than TWICE and i’m still obsessed 😌 --> ALL OF THESE FICS ARE 18+ MINORS DO NOT INTERACT --> show love and appreciation to the authors

—> if y’all have any recs lmk 😭

-_- i have to much free time -_- ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────── [key] ✿ - fluff ✮ - smut ⚡︎ - angst

1999 | jjk (m) by tattookoo ✿ ✮ ⚡︎ (childhood neighbors to friends to lovers)

summary: the year was 1999. boybands were wearing all-white outfits, everybody wanted an ibook or a tamagotchi, tlc didn’t want no scrubs, fight club was playing in movie theaters and you became jeon jungkook’s fake girlfriend in order to fix his reputation.

2002 | jjk (m) by tattookoo ✿ ✮ ⚡︎ (est relationship au)

summary: the year was 2002. kelly clarkson won the first season of american idol, mtv had everybody glued to their tvs, von dutch was the brand, people were total losers if they didn’t quote shrek or harry potter and you broke the distance with your pro athlete boyfriend, jungkook.

related drabbles -> may 18 | tiny

my note:

i highly recommend reading 1999 (and the related drabbles) this story is in my top 10. i've probably read the story like 4 times now... (im not even joking). both jk and y/n have a special place in my heart. i absolutely adore all the characters in the story. its so well written *chefs kiss* i truly hope you enjoy it like i did ♡ YALL I CANNOT FIND THIS FIC ANYMORE. IF U KNOW WHAT HAPPENED PLEASE LMK 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★

next couple of recommendations are mostly gonna be from @thvhoe because i love all her stories so much. all these stories are amazing, creative, stunning, all of the above.... they literally are the definition of chefs kiss 🤌🏻 bon appetit b1tch3s ♡♡♡ :) send her love and kisses <;/3

Fight Or Flight|jjk (m) ✿ ✮ by thvhoe (best friends brother)

summary: You want to disappear and sink into the ground—we're talking code red. As a result of the horrible events of accidentally sending your nudes to your best friend's brother, your life appears to change drastically. Beautiful, arrogant, and quickly developing into a star fighter—many factors should prevent you from falling for Jeon Jungkook. For years, you've kept your feelings for him a secret. Yet, ever since he has seen you in your underwear, it can become difficult to conceal your emotions when you see him practically daily.

Our Not So Secret Secret|jjk (m) ✿ ✮ by thvhoe (college AU)

summary: When someone learns that Jungkook has been secretly keeping a puppy in his room despite not being allowed to, he turns to ask the only other person who knows about his secret for help. And suddenly you two—who had long been bitter enemies—get very close. (i re-read this story at least twice a month this is literally amazing. highly recommend this one!!!!!)

IN THE SEOM MASTERPOST|jjk (m) ✿ ✮ ⚡︎ by thvhoe (college AU)

summary: Always the friend, never the girlfriend. Jeon Jungkook doesn't date. At least that's what he thought until he met you, a chemistry student who seemed to have it all—except for love. Meeting at a mutual friends frat party, you hit it off right away. However, due to both of your stubbornness, it has never progressed beyond being friends with benefits. The annual camping trip with your friend group was supposed to be the turning point in your relationship with Jungkook. But what happens when your best friend of 18 years unexpectedly comes back from Busan and confesses to you, further complicating matters?

MUSCLE PIG|jjk (m) ✮ by thvhoe

summary: Your winter blues lead you to join a gym, where you encounter a person you'd prefer to avoid. However, because the odds are never in your favor, you wind up running into him. Eventually, one thing leads to another, and...

THE LAW OF ATTRACTION MINI SERIES| jjk (m) ✿ ✮ ⚡︎ by thvhoe (Lawyer Millionaire Jungkook x Student apprentice Reader)

summary: Being the most prominent attorney in South Korea, Jeon Jungkook enjoys the fame, wealth, and marriage that go along with it. Although Jungkook realizes that he may have taken life too quickly and needs to slow down a bit, he finds solace in the daughter of his Boss.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

Don't Blame Me|jjk (m) ✿ ✮ ⚡︎ by thvhoe (Neighbours to lovers AU)

summary: Jungkook is known for his good looks and is often described by your friends as "daddy material." Funny enough, he actually was a daddy. The daddy of the baby girl you babysit every Saturday. Working as a nanny for the world's grumpiest single dad should have been easy, but you can't keep your eyes off him. He's handsome, a little arrogant, with broad shoulders and strong tattooed arms. And when he decides he can't keep his hands off of you. Who are you to resist?

SPICY 'N SWEET MASTERPOST|jjk (m) ✿ ✮ ⚡︎ by thvhoe (Boxer Jungkook x shy ballerina Reader)

my note: im currently reading this mini series and let me tell u, this is so good. idk if its bc its boxer jk x ballerina y/n BUT ITS SOO GOOD. this is currently an ongoing series but its definitely worth the wait

summary: Jeon Jungkook is the perfect guy… to piss off your parents. He’s buff, inked up and the definition of their worst nightmare but hey, when love comes knocking on your door there’s not much you can do. It’s not like you planned on falling for him… it just kind of happened, and honestly, you're not even mad about it. Not at all.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆ ☆ ★ ✮ ★

—>

[the-fanfic-archer]

I Like Your Laugh

Pokémon

N - Black/White

The first time you’ve ever heard him laugh like that

—

Whenever you ran into him it was always some serious sort of moment, or at least his tone always made it feel serious. It wasn’t that he was a genuinely emotionless person, rather he just didn’t tend to express his emotions the same way as other people. What he didn’t show in his voice or expressions though came out in a variety of other ways, like how he spoke a bit faster to you than others (even if he always spoke quickly anyhow), or the even smaller things like holding doors or spoiling your Pokémon with gifts. In short it would take only the truly oblivious to miss how much he cared.

The ducklett in the stream before you were happily playing amongst the reeds, orange fading to soft purples and grays as the twilight set in. You and N had simply been walking along the water, enjoying mild conversation and each other’s company.

“Tell me friend, why is it you chose that one as your partner anyway? I always mean to ask but, my mind tends to wander and lose its place.” He was referring to the galvantula at your side, whenever you hung out with him you liked to keep at least one of your Pokémon out alongside you. It just felt right to do.

“It’s a dumb reason-! You don’t wanna hear it man.” Laughter was bubbling just beneath the surface of what you said as he gave one of his usual sorts of little half smiles.

“Oh is it now?” Uh oh, you know him well enough to know that mischievous glint in his eyes. He turned to the big yellow bug type and simply continued with whatever point he intended to make.

“Should I just ask you then? I mean surely you must know their reasoning.” His actions earned him a falsely dramatic reaction.

“Noooo!!! You don’t wanna know I mean it!! It’s so dumb!” You can’t help but try to jokingly shove him away from your Pokémon, which he doesn’t seem to mind. One of the ducklett from nearby gave a little quack as its own way of laughing at the hi-jinks before it. A soft breeze in the air carried with it the soft smell of redwoods and the coolness of the evening.

“Well you continuing to dodge the question only makes me more curious you know.” Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how playful he really is beneath all that calm and collect personality. Tilting his head to the side as if he is perfectly innocent in his jests and pestering he gives you the trademark smile you've come to expect. It's always like this, him poking just the right buttons to make you open up, usually for his own entertainment, but it's always meant well. Or at the very least, for as long as you've known him it has been.

"Uuuggghhhghghh F I N E. But if I tell you you're not allowed to tell anybody- and I mean it!!" You pouted a bit in more false dramatics, honestly you really should be in the theater business with such talent. Watching him for a reaction you see him nod, for all intents and purposes he genuinely looked like he meant it too.

"I got a joltik shortly after I saw one of the Subway Bosses lead a little line of them safely across the tracks okay? He mentioned that they were infesting the tunnels in record numbers that year soooo I offered to take in one of them. It's dumb an-" Before you could make your attempt to deflect how much you loved the unorthodox way of meeting your partner you were interrupted by a small snicker. Honestly at first you thought you were being pranked by some ghost type, it wasn't until you glanced back over at your friend that you saw him trying to stifle a laugh. At last your dramatic denial of happiness falters and you find yourself laughing as you point to him.

"You jerk you're totally laughing at me-!" That only made him slip further into his little onslaught of sudden giggling and it wasn't much longer before he let out a full on laugh that left tears in the corners of his eyes. It was the first time you've ever really seen him laugh, let alone to such an extent. Quite unfortunately his laugh proved to be as contagious as the common cold. Soon enough the two of you were fighting for breath as the sun finished setting. With a big sigh as he finally calmed down he looked up at the stars now beginning to twinkle in the sky above.

"Apologies- I just never took you to be the type to fall for that." His comment made your face scrunch up in confusion, which he clearly noticed based on his mischievous little grin making an all too pleased return.

"Oh don't tell me you didn't know-! Whenever Emmet starts getting in trouble with his twin for hoarding too many of the little bugs around he says that silly line to anyone that'll listen in an effort to sneak them out of the subway." The look on your face must have been utterly hilarious because that laugh you were determined to hear more of going forward came right back to haunt you.

"You're so mean!!! Man- you're lucky I like your laugh otherwise I'd have half a mind to let my big buggy buddy here shut you up real fast." You own laugh once again joined his as the two of you just walked off with no particular destination in mind. His laugh was nice, and all too contagious, but then again what else are friends for?

[mamelukeraza]

My relations with the Duke of Reichstadt (1/?)

Hey, guys! First of all, happy Murat day! I know it's a bit contradictory that I'm posting King of Rome content on Murat's birthday, but I can't let go that the King of Rome's bday was the 20th! I wanted to draw something to celebrate it, but instead, I'll leave you with these memories of his best friend; Count Anton Prokesch-Osten about him. Please, forgive some misspelling you could find, since nor german, french or english are my native language! This text was translated from the german to the french, and so, I translate this to the english for you! Hope you enjoy it! For some context, the King of Rome/Napoleon II is living in Vienna (he started living there at the age of three) at the time this takes place. They refer to him by his title (Duke of Reichstadt) or by "Franz".

The Duke of Reichstadt was then for me, as well as for all circles of Viennese society, one of those appearances that were as attractive as they were endearing. However, I hadn't had a chance to get close to him until then. Now, precisely around this time, my destiny took me to Trieste, then in the midst of the battles where Greece shed its blood in floods on the mainland and on the islands, finally to Constantinople, in Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and Nubia. After six years of absence, I returned to my native land, where I found a welcome full of kindness and consideration. At that time, when no steamboat had yet sailed the seas of the Levant, voyages to such distant lands, participation in events which, like the struggles of the Greeks against the Turks, had the privilege of exciting minds to the point of higher, they were considered almost as a merit, and reflected a certain brilliance in whoever had achieved them. My native city, Gratz, gave me a particularly flattering reception, when in June 1830, I went there for a few weeks to see relatives and friends, as well as to find these places still filled with the sweetest memories and that had been the theater of my early youth.

At the same time the court also came to reside at Gratz, and on the 22nd of the same month, I had the honor of being invited to the imperial table; placed in front of the Empress, I had the Duke of Reichstadt next to me, seated in front of the Emperor. This handsome and noble young man with deep blue eyes, a masculine forehead, abundant blond hair, silence on his lips, calm and self-possessed in all respects of him, made a truly extraordinary impression on me. I had a feeling similar to the one that comes over a teenager who first meets the young woman to whom he will give his heart. I only exchanged a few shy words with him the whole time we sat at the table; because the Empress and my former protector, Archduke John, were never tired of me telling them what I had seen and learned in foreign countries that we then considered so distant. Much better, after dinner they held me back for several more hours, and when I was finally allowed to retire, the Duke of Reichstadt barely had time to throw these few words at me:

"You've known me for a long time," and he squeezed my hand as if we were old friends.

This handshake was, in fact, a promise for the future. It could only have been given in this sense, and I did not attribute any other idea to it.

The next morning Count Maurice Dietrichstein, to whom the Duke's education was entrusted, came to my house. The count had shown me kindness from the moment that the favor of the princely house of Schwarzenberg had supported me. He reiterated the reproach already formulated the day before, namely, that, although he had been in the same city for a week, he had neglected the duke. The count offered to take me to the young prince at the same moment. I followed him with pleasure. At my entrance, the duke, whose attitude was not at all like that of the day before, rushed towards me with all the petulance of youth, his look animated and full of confidence. Repeating the words of the previous day, he exclaimed:

"You have known me and I have loved you for a long time. You defended my father's honor at a time when everyone was slandering him at will. I have read his memoirs on the Battle of Waterloo and, to better understand each line, I have translated them twice, first in French and then in Italian.”

I responded in terms inspired by the desire to bond closely with this handsome young man so neglected in this world.

Count Dietrichstein took the conversation to Greece. Expressing the most ardent wishes for prosperity for this people, who are now called to live their own lives again, already the day before, after having dinner with the imperial family, I supported the opinion that, despite the unfavorable conditions resulting from war, anarchy, factions, mismanagement, Greece, if given a prince of a European dynasty as king, and if its organization were not the work of diplomatic insufficiency, would move very rapidly towards a flourishing future. In the presence of Archduke Jean, Count Maurice, Colonel de Werklein, intendant of the Archduchess Maria Luisa, I, taking advantage of a moment when the Duke of Reichstadt was busy elsewhere, slipped into the course of the conversation the idea that the throne of Greece, devoid of claimants since the refusal of the Prince of Coburg, could not be handed over to a more worthy than the son of Napoleon: This proposal had received, to my surprise, general approval, The Empress herself, who, during this conversation had approached us, did not seem to oppose it. She had expressed this idea without yet knowing that they were the views of the Prince of Metternich; however, as early as 1825, I became aware of the statement made by this diplomat in St. Petersburg:

"One of two things: either the Greeks will again be subjected to Bonaparte, and given administrative autonomy; or an independent Greece will be constituted in such a way that it will not necessarily be Bonaparte's enemy."

However, Count Maurice had given me the chance to talk about Greece once more that morning, the duke soon guessed my thoughts and caught fire with my words. We were interrupted at that moment by the General Prince of (...). He wanted to say goodbye; however the duke insisted:

"The general," he told me, "he'll only stop for a moment, and I'd be very upset if I lost you soon."

I stayed. The Prince of (...) soon left, rebuffed by the duke's laconicism. So Count Dietrichstein brought up the conversation about Napoleon. The duke spoke with high spirits. We could feel in each of his words the warmest admiration, the deepest attachment for his father; however, he preferred to rely on his military talents. To take him as a model and thus become a great captain, at this point he was all fire, all flame. We discussed several of the Emperor's maneuvers, including Austerlitz. I was surprised by the prince's strategic judgment and the precision of his expressions. Of all the officers and generals then at Gratz, there was, of course, not one who had the keenest military eye and was endowed with the most pronounced aptitude for command-in-chief. He returned not only to my published account of the Battle of Waterloo, but also to "the memorable events in the life of Field Marshal Prince Charles of Schwarzenberg. The duke appreciated them with a sagacity that astonished me. Then he complained of his isolation, and poured out his soul in these words:

"Stay with me; sacrifice your future for me, stay with me! We are made to understand each other!"

He expressed himself with such warmth that he touched me to the bottom of my heart. Then he continued:

"If I am called to be another Prince Eugene for Austria, the question I ask myself is this: how will it be possible for me to prepare myself for this role? I feel indecisive in choosing a man capable of introducing me to the high demands and noble duties of the military career. I do not have and do not see any man of this merit in my entourage."

Count Dietrichstein witnessed this departure, and seemed to find it natural and fair. I reproached the duke, cordially shaking his hand, for judging too hastily. He accepted my guilt without taking offense and listened deferentially when I expressed the doubt he felt about my ability. Our interview was interrupted by the General Count of Leiningen, whom I could not refuse to receive. But, once again, he did not let me go, and as soon as the count left, he resumed the conversation about his father's feats of arms. As it was necessary to pay my respects to his mother, the Archduchess Maria Luisa, I could hardly delay any longer; I warned him about it and said goodbye to him. I had been at the archduchess's for barely half an hour when the duke went there in the same manner. His mother received him tenderly; he kissed her with a rather serious air. The conversation focused on his childhood. He wanted her to give him more precise information about Colonel Sèves, who had accompanied him from Paris to Blois in March 1814, and whom he had met in April 1828 in Modon, at Ibrahim-Pasha's house. I had to tell him what the colonel had taught me about this fatal escape.

We perceived each other as two men who were convinced that nothing could separate them.

Source: Mes relations avec le duc de Reichstadt : mémoire posthume / par le comte de Prokesch-Osten,. . . ; traduit de l’allemand [par A. de Prokesch-Osten fils]. Gallica. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6536278r/f38.item.zoom

[ipsen]

On the Easel (Blank Canvas Side Story): Tatara and Houji

Context: The Chì Shé Theater Company is showing its Japanese production of its new play Iron Tongues, which is, in part, written by Tatara, the lighting director of the Japan branch. Takes place during Chapter 9 of Blank Canvas. Under the cut.

The curtains fell on the final act, and people applauded. Tatara, in the darkness of the theater, sighed with relief. It was over, and it was well received. That's all he could ask for.

He tried to look for Sen as people cleared her out. He wanted to ask her what she thought, try to understand the fog around her mind that he still had yet to pierce, but the crowd, much like that fog, kept him away. That head of fern hair he was so fond of was nowhere to be seen, and he gave up. He'd see her afterward anyway, along with that artist she liked to drag around for whatever reason.

He still didn't understand what she saw in him. Sure, his art fit the aesthetic of her work, but it wasn't the best he'd seen. Plenty of the artists she'd brought for him to talk to had done better, more informed work, so what made Haise Sasaki different?

He feared he'd never know, but before he could dwell on that idea, a familiar voice spoke behind him.

"Xin."

Tatara turned around and glared. The face it belonged to had gotten older, with more wrinkles, but he still recognized it since Yan's funeral.

"Houji," he said, not caring to suppress his disgust. "Why are you here?"

"Work has me here in Tokyo for the time being, and I heard your play was tonight." Houji smiled slightly. "I wanted to see how far you've come."

Tatara scowled at that. "Is that so? Well, now you know."

Houji sighed. "Xin, we don't have to do this. I'm tired, and I'm sure you're tired, too. I'm sorry-- I truly am-- but this is getting us nowhere."

But Tatara dug in his heels. "It's easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to live with the fact that his brother is dead every day for the rest of his life. You're not the one who has to look at your sorry mug and remember that his brother chose a stranger over his own life."

"Xin--" Houji began.

“My brother cared about you enough to save your sorry ass, and clearly, you’re grateful, as you should be. But don’t pretend I feel the same way. Yan was irreplaceable to me— to everyone at Chì Shé— and he’s gone forever because he picked you over us.” Tatara leaned forward, making sure to memorize the building anguish and regret, burning like fire, in Houji’s eyes. “Thank you for coming to tonight’s performance. Don’t speak to me again.”

Houji’s mouth was a thin line. “Of course. But, first... might I be allowed a congratulations?”

Tatara squinted. “Fine. Accepted.”

Houji bowed before turning to leave. His continued nonchalance about the whole thing ticked Tatara off. At least pretend to feel more than just a little bad. Houji was the entire reason Tatara was the lighting director and not Yan. But Houji's posture betrayed nothing as he disappeared back into the crowd.

Tatara tried to scoff, but it turned into a sigh. It was good Fei wasn’t here to slap him upside the head; he wouldn’t hear the end of it if she learned Houji had shown up.

She was always asking Tatara to forgive him, as if there was anything to forgive. Houji hadn’t been the one to choose, hadn't been the one to survive of his own will. Yet, every time Tatara saw his face, he just saw Yan being consigned to the flames for a man he barely knew.

He clicked his tongue. It was pointless to think about it; Houji would never show up again if he knew what was good for him. Tatara had more important things to focus on, like the resort and finding Ayato.

He stalked off in the opposite direction.

----

Thanks for reading!

[dauntingday]

top 15 tv shows (in no particular order except i did number them bc otherwise i would forget to do 15)( love u @soleadita and fuck with the icon change immensely)

crashing (2016) call me marissa cooper the way i am ruthlessly stealing this pick but yeah it's. it's insane and fantastic and terrible and beautiful and so much happens so fast but its so so important to me

inside job (it's gross and weird and funny and sad and it's one of the only times i was genuinely upset when i heard about a show being cancelled)

young justice (pointing at an on fire garbage can - this is my son and i love him)

gilmore girls (comfort media of all time what else do you need)

bob's burgers (similar to the above it's very i am falling asleep to the weird bisexual man who is a mess at all times except for how much he loves his family)

fleabag (why yes i have a perfectly normal relationship with the catholic church and the concept of being truly known. why would you ask. and yeah i real life cried)

yuri on ice (idk if anime counts but fuck around and find out this is My List (tm)) ((it's beautiful and soft and lovely and sad and stressful and i listened to the instrumental track so many times it was on my spotify top songs. it's literally just a piano and a boy with a dream and i have wept about it))

given (it's the first anime i ever watched all the way through which in retrospect, fucking insane way to come out of the gate. as a Band Kid (tm) who wanted to be a theater kid but was bad at speaking in front of groups of people, this show did a lot to my psyche in the best way possible)

will (enough with the tears its time for something almost embarrassingly niche. in 2017 TNT had a drama series about william shakespeare and to this day it remains one of the greatest things ive ever seen. jamie campell bower plays the sluttiest version of christopher marlowe you've ever seen in your life. it's chaotic and ridiculous and i absolutely adore it. i have no idea where to find it im pretty sure they want us to forget it exists but i cant)

numb3rs (silly little show about a nervous man who solves murder with the power of math and being a pathetic little wife guy to the hottest woman ive ever seen. theres an episode about trains that i think rewired something in my brain)

white collar (look at me. obviously im a white collar guy. come on now)

invincible (i think ive seen the pilot episode like 4 times. i genuinely think it redefined to me what superhero media could be. oh i adore it more than anything. it's only 9 because i haven't seen season 2 yet but holy shit. holy shit. media of all time. if you want to know me fundamentally and wholly please watch the pilot. i'll watch it again anytime im not kidding)

teen titans (cherished childhood media of all time. only group of people who have ever understood dick grayson)

bridgerton season 2 (i'm bias on account of just finishing it yesterday but holy shit two people have never been in love like they are in love)

the flash (cw) (im sorry to both my mother and god for this one but unfortunately i don't have taste and also it's the reason i started caring about dc in the first place which is the reason i got back on tumblr and met all the cherished gay people in my telephone so yeah. barry allen's allowed to be cringe as fuck i owe him everything)

leo already tagged everyone i know on here but if u see this pls do it and @ me im nosy

[denimbex1986]

'It's July, which means it is also the month of Barbieheimer!

Light off some fireworks and don some pink because, in a little over a week, both Barbie and Oppenheimer will hit theaters. On July 21, these highly anticipated films will debut on the same day — and the world may never be the same. It's the movies, as God, Mattel, and Robert Oppenheimer intended.

But here's a little rundown in case this portmanteau has you scratching your head.

What is Barbieheimer?

If you are not, as the kids say, very online, you may be asking yourself, "What the hell is Barbieheimer?" Well, my friend, let me tell you — it is the cinematic event of the century. Not since Darth Vader told Luke that he was his father have we had a movie moment quite like this.

Barbieheimer is the mash-up of two films, Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. Some might say that a neon-pink Mattel toy and "death, destroyer of worlds" are counter-programming at its finest, but au contraire, cinephiles are here to tell you that the only thing that makes sense in this meaningless life is to see them both (preferably on the same day). While there are those that would paint this as a fierce rivalry, perhaps even a battle for cinema's soul, we prefer to think of it as an opposites attract rom-com.

As soon as people realized that these two highly anticipated movies (that are seemingly divergently opposed) were premiering on the same day, a new word was born — Barbieheimer. We believe it's listed in the dictionary as a synonym for perfection because Barbieheimer is the realization of the peak of human potential. It is, to borrow from another classic movie, the stuff that dreams are made of.

Is it "Barbieheimer" or "Barbenheimer"?

It's both, it's neither. Just like Barbie and Robert Oppenheimer, you can be whatever you want — a doctor, a prom queen, an astronaut, or even the inventor of the atomic bomb.

The thing about the internet is that no one agrees on anything and everyone wants to take credit for everything. Thus, the meme of this portmanteau has trended two ways — as both Barbieheimer and Barbenheimer. We suppose your preference is for whether you want to give more of the title to Barbie or Oppenheimer, but why choose when you can have both? (Though we draw the line at Oppenbarbie).

In the spirit of equity, Barbieheimer affords both films the same syllable count in the word.

What have the stars of Barbie and Oppenheimer said about Barbieheimer?

Just a reminder for when you're posting those thirst tweets that movie stars and directors read the internet too. Many members of the teams involved with Barbie and Oppenheimer have weighed in on the discourse about Barbieheimer. Imagine Christopher Nolan commenting on the Barbieheimer phenom — which he did! The filmmaker told IGN that he finds the obsession "terrific."

In a very "preserve the theatrical experience" type of way, he said, "Summer, in a healthy marketplace, is always crowded, and we've been doing this a long time. I think for those of us who care about movies, we've been really waiting to have a crowded marketplace again, and now it's here and that's terrific."

For her part, Barbie director Greta Gerwig is tickled pink by it all. "It's all love — double up, double up twice," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "I think you've got to see what the experience is, Barbie then Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer then Barbie. I think you've got to take all of the journeys."

Back in May, Matt Damon, who plays director of the Manhattan project, Leslie Groves, in Oppenheimer, was one of the first cast members to wade into the discourse. After Vanity Fair introduced him to the concept of Barbieheimer, Damon only had good will for both projects. "People are allowed to go see two movies in a weekend," he proclaimed. "Oppenheimer is one of them!"

Cillian Murphy, who plays the titular physicist in Oppenheimer, is similarly pro the double feature idea. "I can't wait to see Barbie," he told Spanish publication La Vanguardia. "I love Margot Robbie, I love Ryan Gosling, I want to see them now! I don't know what the debate is about, although it's not that I have an overwhelming opinion about it either. My advice would be for people to go see both, on the same day. If they are good films, that is what the cinema wins."

Even stars who aren't in either movie are getting in on the trend. Tom Cruise and his Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie encouraged fans to return to movie theaters this summer by posting photos of themselves with tickets for a Barbieheimer double feature.

However, Issa Rae, who features in Barbie, has some very specific thoughts about the order audiences should see the films. "[It's] hilarious," she told THR of the meme. "I love that there's solidarity though where people tried to pit us against one another, but now it's turned into like a double-feature situation. Obviously you should see Oppenheimer first and then cleanse your palate with Barbie. Oppenheimer is about an atomic bomb, people are gonna die. I want to end my weekend, I want to have mimosas and drinks and cocktails after Barbie, I don't want to like sulk."

What's the right way to watch Barbieheimer?

This brings us to the greatest question of our age — what order should you watch Barbieheimer? Is it better to start or end the day with Barbie? The internet is full of arguments for both preferences, but we're going to officially advocate for Oppenheimer first, Barbie second.

Look, we're journalists. We basically invented the concept of an all-nighter. We are not morning people. If we have to face our own mortality when we get up in the morning, we might as well do it while confronting the specter of nuclear holocaust too. Someone on Twitter suggested pouring yourself a cup of steaming black coffee and smoking a cigarette before you see Oppenheimer — and we endorse at least half of that (which half depends on whether our Health and Wellness officer is reading this). But let's be real, Oppenheimer is the hair of the dog — sobering and bracing in the utmost. It's a literal wake-up call.

Then, once you've plumbed the depths of man's capacity for evil, you can work through your existential crisis and your Oppenheimer-induced brush with nihilism with the aid of happy hour and some cosmopolitans ('cause they're pink, duh). Prepare your body to bathe in the magenta haze of Barbie. Ryan Gosling is just Ken, and you know what Ken? You're doing great, sweetie. Being just Ken is more than enough. Er, what's that? Barbie thinks about death too? Okay, maybe also book a reservation for post-Barbie drinks too.

Where can you find the best off-brand Barbieheimer merch?

Inside you there are two wolves and you need to let both of them out to play…

Just because Warner Bros. and Universal haven't teamed up on any movie swag doesn't mean there's not plenty of wardrobe options for Barbieheimer day. Designers on sites like RedBubble, TeePublic, and Etsy have created more designs than there are Barbie accessories.

We're big fans of this one, which features Barbie watching the pink mushroom cloud of the atomic bomb. It almost has Asteroid City vibes if you want to throw in another summer movie. Here's a similar take on the mash-up, this one with tons of t-shirt colors.

TeePublic also has plenty of Barbieheimer swag, including this t-shirt that conjoins Barbie and Oppenheimer's faces. If you want to get into the Frankenstein-assembled-parts nature of this odd mash-up, how about a Barbie t-shirt and an Oppenheimer t-shirt literally sewn together?

If you want something a bit more subtle, how about a baseball cap featuring Oppenheimer's famous cribbed quote, "Now I am Death, the Destroyer of Worlds" in the jaunty pink Barbie font? Might as well look cute while expressing your existential dread.

How are people embracing Barbieheimer?

Lest you think this is some internet trend with no application in the real world, think again.

Besides the aforementioned merch and buy-in from the stars of the movies, Barbieheimer is reaching the box office too. Variety reported that AMC Theaters has already sold over 20,000 same-day tickets for Barbie and Oppenheimer, suggesting that a not insignificant number of people are preparing to do the ultimate double feature. All that could add up to an awful lot of Barbie dream houses in ticket sales.

Whether you're the kind of person to think pink or one who walks around with a (mushroom) cloud hanging over their head, you can't deny the power and influence of Barbieheimer.'

[grandhotelabyss]

You know what, though, about that last post on Sontag and Paglia: since writing it, I've had what they call a download.

There's an expression: "be careful what you get good at." When I was a kid, back in the monoculture, we all went to see the now-forgotten Oscar-bait Richard Dreyfuss vehicle, Mr. Holland's Opus, about an ambitious composer who takes a high-school teaching job, never writes his masterpiece, and discovers in age that his life-long pedagogy and its inspiring effect on his students has been his real chef-d'œuvre. In middle school, my friend Dan and I, who had begun to collaborate on our own comic books, were horrified by this movie. We were ambitious artists! Is this what adulthood would do to us?

The movie's tagline, borrowed from John Lennon, evocative of its resigned melancholy to the missed opportunities and failed utopias of the 1960s, is, "Life is what happens to you / While you're busy making other plans." But my life's not that different now. Sam Worthington and I were plotting outside the local riverfront arthouse theater last night—there was a Lynch revival; I was there to see Mulholland Dr. for the first time in a theater since, well, the first time, just a month after 9/11, though the film's elegy for America wasn't as evident then as it is now—to start a new art movement and save the culture, wildfire smoke from Canada smothering the city (unreal city) on the other side of the Mississippi.

(All of the above is why I placed a little allusion to the film—Mr. Holland's Opus, alas, not Mulholland Dr.—in my novel-in-progress Major Arcana, by the way. Please don't run out and see this weepy old movie on my account—I myself haven't seen it in over 25 years—but if you've already watched it, you might revisit MA, Part One, Chapter 8.)

Now teaching has been fine for me, actually. I can see why other artists and writers find that it misleads them, takes them away from their real work, but it doesn't affect me that way, first, because it keeps me close to the arts of reading and interpretation as practical and performed arts, and second, because it introduces me to some 50 to 100 new people a year. Both of these, I believe, can only improve me as a writer, and my fictional characters' bitter remarks about their own students, especially when these characters are frustrated artists like Simon Magnus or Alice Nicchio-Strand, should never be mistaken for my views.

Criticism, though, is my "be careful what you get good at." A comparative book-length belletristic essay on Sontag and Paglia—it's a good idea, let's face it, one of those good ideas whose obviousness makes it better than something more flashily counterintuitive would be. Why on earth hasn't this been written yet? And look, I'll write it if somebody pays me; I'm not proud. But Anna K needs to write a book before she dies, as I believe Dasha was just telling her, so let her write it. Because I don't really want to do it. I was on a podcast recently—it hasn't come out yet; I'll let you know; not Red Scare—and the host asked me if I wanted to write a nonfiction book, and I said, truthfully, no, not really.

Sontag herself offers a cautionary tale here: the supreme critic as frustrated artist, berating everyone at the end of her days that they shouldn't bother with her essays, that her novels are all that really matter. I myself have never read even one of her novels. (Mea culpa, maestra—I will read at least The Volcano Lover this very summer.) And I understand this because I myself on bad days want to make people sign an affidavit that they've read each of my novels twice before they're allowed to read my criticism! And my criticism, such as it is, I want to say, is just a series of poems, not judgments as such, not pronouncements but moods, occasions for certain styles of thought. "You took my sadness out of context," I want to say when people treat my negative verdicts too seriously, as if I wanted to outlaw this or that way of writing. This is insane on my part, I know, and don't worry, I'm much nicer in real life than Sontag was.

Paglia, on the other hand, holds an ideal of scholarship qua scholarship that neither Sontag or I quite did or do. Paglia's father was a professor, remember, while Sontag and I hail from the true suburban lower middle class, "Lower Slobbovia" as she called it, quoting a comic strip: the kingdom of bêtise. We, Susan and I, are more lowbrow by origin than Camille, which is why we're so much more uneasy than she is with popular culture, but also equally uneasy in academe. Sontag wasn't, as Sigrid Nunez once clarified, a snob—how could she have been?—only an elitist, which, in art, is fair.

(I dedicate that observation to anyone who wants to say I shouldn't write about two lesbians; there are infinite microscopic ridges and hollows to every smooth-seeming facet of "identity," whatever that even is, and as much as I might miss something about their gender or sexuality—and then again, you know, I might not; I was raised in a lesbian-run beauty shop—a lesbian writer to the manner born is equally liable to miss something about their class, ethnicity, or religion. Nobody can say everything, but everybody has some part of everything to say.)

Anyway, my download was this. I've been saying to myself that 2023 is the year I relax my critical clench, unlearn my Arnoldianism, so to speak, as Sontag never quite unlearned hers; and I've been saying to myself, too, that when Major Arcana is finished—which it almost is for me if not for you; it's 50 chapters long, so you'll be reading it until next March—I would write a play. I've wanted to write a play in the abstract, on principle, as it were: I had no ideas for a play. Now I do.

(I should stop looking, ever, at Twitter, but today they're talking about what a bad play Hamlet is—not even a pseudo-political moral objection this time, though the prince is toxic, I'm sure, just about what a "mess" it is. My goal, then, is to write a play as bad as Hamlet.)

Anna K can write the prose treatise on Sontag and Paglia, but I'm writing their tragicomedy, under new names, of course: in the guise, in fact, of wholly new characters, characters in a dream, a dream of siege and sickness and spectacle, a Platonic dialogue on love in which these intellectuals' daemons—Walter Benjamin and Walter Pater, Simone Weil and Emily Dickinson—dance and duel. I call it Saturn Dreaming of Mars. I destine its completion for the end of the year. I plant my flag; I stake my claim; you heard it here first.

[bi-wan]

Tag Game to Better Know You

Send this to people you’d like to know better!

Thanks for the tag @ragnarlothcat, @artemisthehuntress and @tennessoui ♥♥♥ I love you all!

What book are you currently reading? I’m reading "Making Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side" by Dr Julia Shaw. My little raccoon brain is hoarding information that actually answers a lot of questions I have about people and myself.

What’s your favorite movie you saw in theaters this year? I don't usually go to the cinema, but I did go to see "Jurassic World: Dominion" to pamper my dinosaur-obsessed inner child. The movie is not perfect, but I enjoyed it ♥.

What do you usually wear? Jeans, sneakers, and some t-shirt. If it's for work, boots, jeans and a shirt.

How tall are you? 161cm, or 5'3.

What’s your Star Sign? Do you share a birthday with a celebrity or a historical event? I'm a Taurus! And the UK tested its first hydrogen bomb in 1957.

Do you go by your name or a nick-name? My nick-name has always been a shortened or modified version of my name, and it has gotten to the point that if I hear my full name, I think people are mad at me 😂. Also, one of my favourite nicknames to date is "Camantha" by @temple-mistress ♥

Did you grow up to become what you wanted to be when you were a child? I wanted to be so many things when I was a child that I'm sure at least one or two of them.

Are you in a relationship? If not, who is your crush if you have one? I've been in a loving, wonderful, and energizing relationship for 6 years ♥.

What’s something you’re good at vs. something you’re bad at? I'm good at giving hugs ♥ and I'm bad at math.

Dogs or cats? Dogs! I love cats too, but all my pets have been dogs ♥.

If you draw/write, or create in any way, what’s your favorite picture/favorite line/favorite etc. from something you created this year? One of my favourite pieces I've done this year was the gif of smiling Anakin ♥

What’s something you would like to create content for? I'd love to dip my fingers into Dragon Age fanart ♥ but I'm too deep into the obikin brainrot to do anything else.

What’s something you’re currently obsessed with? Star Wars and Obikin, obviously ♥ I've also been obsessed with the Dragon Age universe for a while.

What’s something you were excited about that turned out to be disappointing this year? My holidays in the Dominican Republic; I had fun! but I struggled the whole time because it was very, very hard to find vegetarian options. Every meal was a situation™️.

What’s a hidden talent of yours? I can wiggle my ears, and can remember song lyrics and music with very little prompting.

Are you religious? I'm agnostic now. My family is very, very, very catholic though.

What’s something you wish to have at this moment? to be free from the brain fog that doesn't allow me to read or draw anything fandom-related.

No pressure tags ♥ : @renlyslittlerose, @obi-wkenobi, @sopherfly, @binaryeclipse, @unspuncreature, @pathetic-lifeform, @temple-mistress, @nixie-deangel ♥ I don't know if you've already done this, please ignore it if you have ♥

[dollwritesarchive]

BABE HIII I MISSED YOU!! I've been super busy with work/college recently AND it was my birthday (which I celebrate for like a week lol) so I've been caught up in that but now things are finally starting to calm down! Unfortunately I haven't had alot of down time recently, and any tv time I did have was taken up by watching house of the dragon and desperately trying to finish game of thrones lol so I havent been able to watch any of the animes on my list BUT I finally did finish game of thrones literally a couple days ago so I'll finally be able to start one 😁 which one I'm not sure right now its between aot, jojo's, and hxh (which I saw you started recently 👀 tbh I'm scared of the person I might become once I get introduced to chrollo) so if you have a suggestion on which one I would love to hear it!

Also BACHIRA!!? You have such taste LOL hes my favorite too 🖤 Your blurb was literally so spot on to how I imagined bachira too it's crazy, I definitely see him as a biter lol and omg the "it gets you wet when I tell you no" STOOOPP 🤤. You know that position where the girl is on top and the guy is like fucking up into her really fast? That's what I always think of with bachira lol like sure he says you can try being on top for once but the second you sink down on him hes wrapping his arms around you anchoring you in place and fucking you up 💖

I literally stopped dead in my tracks and gasped when I saw you're considering writing for dabi like OH!!? My FAVORITE writer on here writing for my FAVORITE character might actually kill me I don't know if my heart can take it 😭 I know you havent seen mha yet but dabi just had like HIS MOMENT and yes I will be adding a bunch of tiktoks below for it lol

Also are you excited for the new season of demon slayer 👀 God himself will not be able to stop me from seeing it in theaters idc if I cant get tickets I WILL be witnessing akaza and doma on the big screen

I actually have so many tiktoks to send you it's crazy lol

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG9LWW2/ HELLO?? If he looks like this I'm so excited to see kokushibo

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHnTgo/ the fact I'll also be able to see gyutaro in theaters 👀

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHoLg6/ my fav feminist 💖

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG96dkW/ who tf allowed him to be this pretty 👀

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG9j1QN/ him falling to his knees actually makes me wanna cry

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG9LTS1/ HIS VOICE 👀

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHt3GN/

Now for dabi 👀

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHwmb3/ I volunteer

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG9jw7c/ my unhinged boy 💖

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG9REHL/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHv4Ss/ HIS LAUGH https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHWfE9/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGHWPwt/ PLEASEEE MY GOD

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRGH3Hut/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRG96K12/ the fact they did it on purpose too lol

I'm so sorry I sent like an absurd amount of tiktoks LMAO but I've been saving them up for you 😘 I hope you've been doing well and I'm so excited to catch up on more of your fics 🖤 jjk anon

HI BABY OMG HOW ARE YOU IM SO GLAD YOURE BACK

This is a little bit late BUT I SAW ALL THOSE LINKS AND I WAS LIKE OH LORDT IM GOING TO NEED SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH THESE

PLEASE SEND HELP THESE HXH VILLAINS ARE RUJNING MY LIFE

I haven’t even gotten to chrollo yet I’m in some DEEP SHIT

PERSONALLY I would really like to see you watch AOT first!! it’s only because it’s my number 1 and I really really really love to talk about it 🥺🥺🥺

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD WATCH IF YOU HAVENT YET ?? GANGSTA! ITS ONLY GOT ONE SEASON AND I JUST WATCHED IT RECENTLY AND I AM HEAD OVER HEELS FOR WORICK AND NIC ( IT DOESNT HELP THAT THEIR VAS ARE SUKUNA AND NANAMI )

BACHIRA YES

So gagamaru is actually my fave of the boys

LOVE JUST A LITTLE ( big ) FREAK BUT BACHIRA IS SECOND

And then… there’s barou I think I just simp for anyone sukuna’s va voices honestly

DABI YES THAT IS 1000000% YOUR INFLUENCE because I’ve still only seen the clips that you sent me, but I WILL ADMIT I am more receptive to some of the characters in mha

LIKE I FIND THE ONE MAGICIAN GUY REALLY HOT AND I CAN NEVER REMEMBER HIS NAME BUT HE HAS THE BALLS YA KNOW

LIKE THE BLUE ONES

Black hair, wears a mask I think? IDK IVE SEEN THE PIC OF HIM ALL BLOODY FACED MISSING PART OF HIS TORSO AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS SEXY OF HIM

But I have been itching to write for dabi AND IM THINK THONKING HARD ABOUT IT

There will for sure be some dabi food on this blog very very soon

BABE DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW EXCITED I AM FOR DEMON SLAYER MY ULTIMATE FAVE IN THE SHOW ( KOKUSHIBO ) IS ANIMATEEEDDD FINALLYYYYY IVE BEEN WAITING ON HIM

I’ve also got an au coming out once this season does, because it’s all about the demons ❤️❤️❤️

YES TIKTOK TIME OMG IVE MISSED BEING FED

I’m also gonna send you a bunch that I’ve been saving, some are hxh some are jjk IVE JUST BEEN SAVING LIKE CRAZY

GYUTARROOOOO I LOVE THAT FREAKY LITTLE WEIRDO lil mantis man 😭😭😭

THE DIO ONE ???? KICKING MY FEET SCREAMING AND CRYING THATS MY DADDDDYYYY

THE SLUTTY LITTLE WAIST ON DABI I WANNA GRAB HIS HIPS IM NOT PLAYING AROUND 🔪🔪🔪

Bro his laugh… I adore it please

OH GOSH YOU FED ME SO WELL AND I HAVE BROUGHT DESSERT:

demon slayer ( plus dabi )

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNACsJ/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNGm9w/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNXa5v/ THE KOKU GIRLIES ( me ) STAY WINNING

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNHhXC/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNUWmK/

HXH ( mostly feitan and hisoka )

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNHwm7/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNfyeV/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNDqjj/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNHY9w/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNq2T9/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNU4dy/

JJK ( BACK TO THE ROOOOTTTSSS )

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNph6o/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNUHEr/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNVDQt/

SOME GANGSTA TOO

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNC2A8/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtN494w/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNgsoN/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNXp3b/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtNX4Ko/

IM SO SORRY THAT WAS WAY MORE THAN I INTENDED SOSKSKKS

[carriesthewind]

I regularly read Slate's Dear Prudence & Care and Feeding columns (for observational purpose, not for advice), and hands down the worst columnist has to be Doyin Richards. Some of his advice is fine, but he also regularly asserts that parents should have total control and authority over their children, children have no right to privacy, and recommends tracking and monitoring all of your kid's private communications and activities.

Anyway, this answer by him this week is a real doozy. If you don't want to bother to get past the pop-up: The writer is a stepmother convinced that her husband and stepson's boardgame hobby is "unhealthy behavior." They both play an "immensely complicated and long-running World War II strategy board game called World in Flames."

Her complaints are:

Sometimes she thinks her husband's attitude toward his hobby is "a little much"

The game "absorbs so much of [her husbands]’s time and energy" (no details or examples given)

Her stepson has also been interested in the game since he was young b/c his dad is invested in it, but she doesn't think it's age appropriate

This year, her husband took his 11 year old son with him to a game tournament/convention that lasts over a week and has a pretty grueling schedule (up to 16 hour days). He "booked two weeks of vacation" from the son's "summer camp" and they both spent a couple days together resting after the long schedule afterwards. By her own account, her stepson was "ecstatic" about the whole experience afterwards.

She had a huge fight with her husband over her stepson going to this tournament.

She doesn't like that they have a "weird relationship around the game" where "their father-son relationship is entirely subsumed by their gaming colleague relationship." Her examples are: "he’ll call his father’s plans stupid if he disagrees with them," and "if he is more “senior” in a theater, he will order his father around like a lackey." She notes that her stepson is otherwise a "soft-spoken, sweet little boy."

So what do we think about this? There are some potentially concerning things here: specifically, the stepson shouldn't be calling anything stupid, and they probably need to have a conversation with about appropriate language for addressing disagreements and conflict resolution. But since this appears to be the only example of questionable behavior (he's otherwise "soft-spoken" and "sweet"), it seems like a mild correction and conversation should be enough. It's also worth checking to make sure his dad shows him plenty of affection and attention outside of the game - there's nothing here to suggest that he doesn't, but it's always worth doing check-ins about when a parent & child share an intense hobby. The son clearly enjoys the hobby now, but its worth making sure he won't feel implicit pressure to continue it in the future if he changes his mind. Overall, while there are minor things worth addressing/checking in with, it seems like dad&son have a cool relationship with a hobby they love, even if it's a little unusual.

What does Doyin Richards have to say, on the other hand?

Fails to correctly age the kid (thinks he's 10 years old) - you probably should have careful reading comprehension if you are offering someone life advice?

Says allowing his kid to call his ideas stupid is "bizarre" and not ok "under any circumstances." And if Richards kids did that, "I promise you that the first time they called me stupid would be the last." The issue is clearly (especially if you've read his other columns) not a problem with using that word or attitude (b/c the issue is calling anyone's ideas stupid, not just the parents), but the idea of "disrespect" from child to parent.

Questions whether the stepson has any other friends or participates in age appropriate activities, having completely failed to read the bit about the stepson attending summer camp, because again, who needs reading comprehension when offering life advice?

Declaring they have a "fractured marriage" and his hobby is clearly to "the detriment of loved ones" and they should probably go see a marriage counselor so the counselor can tell the husband to spend less time playing his games.

In other words: Richards doesn't need to read or understand the question in order to deliver his advice, children must not dare to disrespect their parents, and married couples having independent hobbies means their marriages are fractured and a sham. A+ paid and published advice, no notes.

[everydayisblackfriday]

Decoding Black Friday

As the end of the year date approaches, the excitement for the biggest shopping day of the year starts to build up. Black Friday has been an annual tradition known for its deep discounts and incredible deals. Whether you're a seasoned Black Friday veteran or a first-timer getting ready to snag some bargains, understanding the types of products typically on sale can help you prepare for this mega shopping event. Read more at

Introduction

Black Friday marks the official start of the holiday shopping season with a frenzy of sales, both online and in-store. This day-after-Thanksgiving event is known for drawing massive crowds as eager shoppers seek the best deals. Traditionally, retailers offer significant discounts on a wide range of products, from electronics and home appliances to toys and clothing. However, not all discounts are created equal, and being strategic about what you buy can maximize your savings. Let's navigate through the types of products you can expect to find on sale during this consumer extravaganza to help you make the most of your Black Friday shopping experience.

Product Categories on Black Friday

Black Friday sales encompass virtually every category you can think of, but there are certain types of products that are perennially popular during this retail bonanza. Here's a breakdown of some of the most common:

1. Electronics

This category reigns supreme on Black Friday, with deep discounts on high-ticket items like:

TVs

Leading the charge are smart TVs with state-of-the-art features. Shoppers can find incredible markdowns on models ranging from small screens to massive home theater set-ups. It's a great time to upgrade your viewing experience.

Laptops and Smartphones

Technology enthusiasts wait for this day to score slick deals on the latest laptops and smartphones. Whether you're in the market for a new Macbook, a laptop for gaming, or a smartphone with an unbeatable plan, Black Friday has got you covered.

2. Home Appliances

Black Friday is the perfect occasion to spruce up your home with new gadgets and essentials:

Kitchen Gadgets

From Instant Pots to air fryers and beyond, kitchen appliances often see their prices chopped significantly. This is your chance to modernize your cooking space and make preparing meals more efficient and enjoyable.

Vacuum Cleaners

Keep your home spick and span with discounted models from popular brands. Robotic vacuums are particularly sought after, promising to make cleaning a breeze.

3. Fashion and Apparel

Looking to revamp your wardrobe? Black Friday delivers deals on:

Clothing

Stock up on basics or splurge on that statement piece you've been eyeing. Popular brands offer discounts on everything from t-shirts to winter coats, allowing you to dress to impress.

Shoes and Accessories

Complete your look with discounted footwear and accessories. Whether it's a pair of trendy boots or a durable everyday backpack, you can find substantial savings on these items.

4. Beauty and Personal Care

Take advantage of the Black Friday sales for self-care and gift-giving:

Skincare

Invest in your skin with markdowns on high-quality skincare products. Whether you're battling dry winter air or looking to upgrade your routine, Black Friday is a prime time for savings.

Makeup Sets

Treat yourself or a loved one to a new makeup collection. Many retailers curate special sets for the holiday season, and these are often part of the Black Friday offerings.

5. Toys and Games

Families and gamers alike anticipate Black Friday for deals on:

Popular Toys

Get the jump on holiday shopping for the little ones with discounts on the year's hottest toys. From action figures to plushies, now’s the time to cross off those wish list items.

Board Games

Pick up new board games for cozy nights in. Classic and contemporary games alike can see significant price reductions, making them a practical and fun purchase.

6. Home Decor and Furniture

Black Friday extends its generosity to help you beautify your living spaces with:

Bedding and Linens

Upgrade your bedroom with fresh linens or a comfy new duvet. Quality bedding can be quite the investment, so taking advantage of Black Friday sales can lead to substantial savings.

Furniture Pieces

Whether you're looking for a new couch for the living room or a statement piece for the hallway, expect Black Friday sales to feature significant discounts on furniture. This is an excellent opportunity to upgrade your home's comfort and style.

Shopping Tips for Online Shoppers

With online shopping becoming increasingly popular, here are some tips to make your Black Friday experience a breeze:

Research Beforehand

Start scouting for the items you want ahead of time. Make lists and check them against the deals you come across. Many retailers release previews of their Black Friday sales, giving you a head start.

Compare Prices

Before making a purchase, compare prices from multiple sources. Just because something is marked as a Black Friday deal doesn't mean it's the lowest price you can get.

Set a Budget

It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of discounts, but it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Prioritize your purchases and ensure you're getting the items you need at the best price.

Conclusion

Black Friday is a day where consumers can take advantage of significant discounts on a variety of products. By understanding the types of items that are typically on sale, you can strategically plan your shopping, save money, and perhaps even finish your holiday shopping early. Remember to shop smart, stay within your budget, and enjoy the thrill of finding great deals. Happy shopping!

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[solitairesins]

spoiled little brat ; ~2k words

content: vesper necklace, modern!sukuna in a suit, teasing, praise, office desk sex, begging, piv, sukuna is once again a bastard and is a warning tag all on his own

It's no secret to everyone that Sukuna spoils you. He likes giving you gifts — anything you ask for is given, most times even going beyond what you've expected. Tickets for a movie date? Done deal, darling. Whole theater's empty for the two of you. You want new dresses for your wardrobe? Sure thing, sweetheart, which designer do you want making them? A trip overseas for a little vacation sounds nice, you say? Okay, he'll take a few days off work just for you since you've been such a good girl.

Every whim Sukuna provides; why wouldn't he? He has plenty of money. What else would he do if not give you what you want? As long as you know your place, know that he chooses to provide for you, Sukuna is all too happy to spend money on your little trips, on your dresses and shoes, on your glittery jewelry. Provided that he's with you every time you go out of town, or you put on a little show for every piece of clothing and jewelry.

He delights in seeing you wear the things he's bought, but the little necklace you've asked him for days ago is quickly starting to become his favorite. He's raised an eyebrow at it at first, wondering why you've been so giddy when he made the purchase; don't you have enough necklaces engraved with his name already? But you kept a tight lip about it, saying something noncommittal before distracting him with kisses. You looked adorable then, trying so hard to distract him, so he let himself be swept up in the taste of your lips, allowing you to play your little game with the necklace.

But oh, he soon learned that it was anything but a necklace.

The two of you are still learning the full capacities of the toy, and the first few sessions you've tried it out he was very happy about it. God, the way you squirmed in his arms was delightful. So when you surprise him at his office wearing the necklace just as he was about to leave, what was he to do? Not fuck you on his desk? He's not a fool to not accept an invitation when presented with one.

So now here you are: trapped between him and his desk.

You already look properly and utterly ravished: your hair mussed and your lips kiss-swollen, the bottom of your dress hiked up and the deep neckline of it tugged aside to expose your breasts. No bra or panties; just the dress, your heels, and the necklace. A splendid meal, all spread out for him to enjoy on his desk.

He leans down to nip at your throat. "Maybe I should punish you for walking around dressed like this," he murmurs. He squeezes your asscheek for emphasis.

You squirm under him, hooking a leg around his waist to grind against his hardness. He responds by pressing into you and doing a roll of his hips that makes you whimper. He's straining against his slacks, and god — even now you're still amazed at how he's so big. "You not fucking me right now is punishment enough."

He bursts out laughing, straightening to let you see his amusement. There's still a twinkle in his eyes when he sighs, "Maybe I've spoiled you too much." Then he traces the necklace's chain with a finger, slowly making a path from your neck . . . to your collarbone . . . then down to the toy itself where it rests between the valley of your breasts. He gently tugs on it. "Take it off."

You quickly comply and give him the necklace, then lay back down on the desk. He gives you a soft "good girl" before leaning down to kiss you. It starts slow, his tongue parting your mouth to tangle with yours, but quickly becomes the kind of kiss befitting him: possessive, bruising, punishing.

Sukuna has made you dizzy enough with just his kiss that you break away from it with a surprised cry when he presses the vibrator on your clit. "Ah—" you gasp as his kisses turn to your breasts, his mouth nipping at the swell of them before closing around your nipple. He stays there for a while, sinking his teeth on the flesh hard enough for you to whimper, but the swipes of his tongue licking the pain away soothe you into moaning.

The vibrator buzzes at its lowest setting on your clit, and Sukuna's fingers run along your wet folds teasingly, dipping them into you so slowly and so shallowly you want to cry at every infuriating drag. Your body feels hot, and you're already starting to shake, but it's not enough, not enough. The buzz on your clit is good and so are Sukuna's fingers, but you want more. More.

It's not long before you're finally begging, hands tugging at his hair and hips chasing his fingers, chanting his name with "please, please, please," peppered all over.

All Sukuna gives you is a low hum before he's giving you what you want. The vibrator falls from his fingers, left dangling on its chain around his wrist as he replaces it with his thumb. He fluidly rubs your clit, while his other hand works on finally and properly sinking two fingers into you, curling and pumping them into you in a way that has you bucking and arching into him.

Your begging becomes louder, your moaning echoing obscenely around his office. You come undone with a cry, thighs shaking around him and pussy clenching around his fingers still fucking into you.

Sukuna lets you calm down — waits until your breathing isn't ragged and your limbs melt onto the desk — before straightening up and saying, "Open your mouth." You obey without hesitation, closing your mouth around Sukuna's fingers and sucking your slick off of him.

You look up at him as you do, your head bobbing up and down on his fingers suggestively. He grins wickedly at that and simply says no at you, before going to unbuckle his belt and slide the zipper of his slacks down.

Oh. Okay. Your legs fall open obediently as you watch him take his cock out. Yeah, getting fucked right now is preferable than giving a blowjob.

He lets you watch him pump himself a few times, framed by the moonlight shining through the window behind him. How the fuck does he look so fucking good? His hair had been disheveled and his tie loosened, his dark blue button up creased. Have this look on anyone else and it's just plain messy; this look on Sukuna? Sinfully delicious. God, why won't he just—

"Fuck me already," you whine.

He chuckles and places the tip of his cock on your clit, running his length along your folds, gathering your slick to lube himself up. He delights in the needy whimper you make as he takes his sweet time, rolling his hips just right for the head of his cock to catch on your clit.

He's got you panting by the time he decides to push into you, feeling you tense and clench around him as the head of his cock pops into you. You're whimpering and arching off the desk, mouth opening to cry out a series of "yes, yes, yes!"

You look so pretty and so desperate for his cock that he thinks maybe you forget he's supposed to give you a little punishment.

So he pulls out, chuckling at your cry of frustration. "You're supposed to be punished, you spoiled little brat," he reminds you. You take in a sharp intake of breath at that, and Sukuna's hand goes to rest on your thigh. He squeezes. "Hands on the edge of the desk, sweet thing. Don't let go."

You obey, hands going up to grip the edge of his desk, and he rewards you with a murmured "good girl". Then he takes his dick in his hand, and slowly pushes into you again. Your eyes roll back and shut tight, teeth digging into your bottom lip. "What was it you said earlier?" he starts. He pulls out again and dips into you, just enough to feel you clench around him but not enough to leave you satisfied. "Me not fucking you is punishment enough?"

A whimper is all he gets in reply. His thumb comes to rest on your clit, and your legs twitch as he rubs gentle circles on it. He continues that way for a while, delights in your whimpers as the head of his cock pops into you and slides along your folds before pulling back, over . . . and over . . . and over.

Sukuna watches you fall apart again, legs shaking and body twisting to try and pull him in deeper. There are tears in the corners of your eyes and you breathe in just to exhale breathy moans and pleas. He leans into you then to cover your body with his — never losing pace at thrusting into you shallowly — and goes to bite and nip at your neck. He coos into your ear, praises about how you've been doing so good, so pretty taking him, so won't you just cum another time for him?

You do exactly that, coming undone from his words, orgasm bursting from you with a shudder. It's then that Sukuna finally fully slides into you, pussy still clenching and twitching. The two of you groan; Sukuna from how your heat feels so fucking good around him, and you from finally being so full. He always stretches you out so right, always fucks you so good. It's no different now, and god do you want more.

It doesn't take much for Sukuna to move, only pauses to take one of your hands in his as an unsaid permission for you to move again. Then he grinds and fucks into you, deep and steady drags that have your eyes rolling back from pleasure. The hand not holding onto his twists into his hair, and your legs wrap around his waist to meet his thrusts. The pressure in you builds again, and the whimpers falling endlessly from your mouth is on the verge of embarrassing. But fuck, your head is spinning and your body feels so hot, so fucking hot, and it feels so damn good, and you want more, more, more.

"Faster, Sukuna—" you sob and beg, your words punctuated and interrupted by the slick sounds of him thrusting into you. You try again, even though you know the words are slurred and clumsy — desperate to let him know you want more of him. "Please, Sukuna—"

And who is Sukuna to deny what his little princess wants? So he leans back with a grin, digs his hands into your hips, picks up the pace. Every time he snaps his hips into you he's rewarded with your cry, and it's not long before he feels your pussy twitching around him, your legs shaking and shuddering. You're close again, drunk on how he makes you feel, twisting to get closer just to try and get your finish.

But aren't you forgetting something?

The pulsing vibration on your clit as Sukuna presses the necklace on it is what finishes you, and you cum so hard you think you black out for a second. Sukuna follows, thrusting once, twice, and then a final time, groaning at how your pussy spasms around his dick to milk him.

He stays there inside you, feel you clenching and shaking with the aftershocks as the two of you calm down. You sigh when he finally pulls out, and then he orders you to stay still as he rummages in his desk drawer. You couldn't disobey even if you wanted to; your body feels boneless, your limbs weak and shaking. He cleans you up, his touch light and gentle — a stark contrast to his teasing minutes ago. Then he tugs your dress back into place and offers you a hand to pull you up.

He meets you with a bruising kiss as you sit up, teeth nipping and tugging at your bottom lip before pulling away. Then he unwraps the necklace from his wrist and places it back around your neck, watches it glint in the light.

"Any other jewelry you want to trick me into buying, hm, little spoiled brat?" He lightly tugs on the toy before flashing you a wicked, wicked smirk. "I wouldn't be opposed."

[youbloodymadgenius]

Stuck with you (Modern!Ivar x reader)

wA/N: This is for @lisinfleur‘s Quarantine Challenge. Thanks love 💖

I’ve been very inactive lately, my mind filled with worries... Stuck with you is not my best work, but at least I’ve been able to write again. Writing sex is not my strong suit. Sorry.

the gif belongs to @honestsycrets​ 🌻

@inforapound 🌺💐🌺 Thanks my friend ❤️

Summary: Your roommate swearing and screaming at the top of his lungs, you end up coming out of your room and going to see him. What happens next is... out of control.

Warnings: explicit sex; swear words; no plot AT ALL.

Words: 2745

"FUUUUUCK!!!"

Exasperated,you roll your eyes before immersing yourself again in the captivating historical novel you're reading. 

Less than five seconds later, your attention is drawn away by a heavy thud – no doubt some kind of object crashing into the wall – shortly followed afterwards by another loud "FUUUUUUCK!"

Sighing deeply, you place a bookmark between the pages of your book, put it on the night table and eventually get out of bed, checking the time on your clock.

7:45am. Certainly too early for you to silently tolerate your rommate's screams.

Crossing hastily the room dressed in nothing but your panties and a long t-shirt, you take in a big gasp of air before opening the door.  

"FUCKING BULLSHIT!!!"

Your hand still on the doorknob, the door ajar, his scream this time causes you to jerk. 

Reaching the living room, the first thing you notice is the remote control, or maybe it's a phone you're not sure, on the floor, shattered into a thousand pieces. The next one is that Ivar is screaming again. "FUUUUUCK!! I JUST CAN'T FUCKING STAND IT! FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!"

You then spot him, sitting on the couch in gray sweatpants and a withe t-shirt. Furrowed brows, clenched jaw, tensed features… If you still had any doubts, you don't have any now. He's angry. Very angry. 

Taking two cautious steps forward, you know better than to get too close to him, so that you can avoid any unexpected flying objects. Hands on your hips, the strong breath you release gets his attention. "FUCK Y/N!"

Knowing his outburst isn't actually directed at you, you keep calm, speaking softly. "What's wrong, Ivar?"

"WHAT'S WRONG?? YOU'RE FUCKING ASKING ME WHAT'S WRONG, Y/N?? I'M SURE YOU FUCKING KNOW WHAT'S WRONG! FUCK!!!" He spits at you, his hands waving all over the place, and you can physically feel his wrath. You’ve never seen him like that. Of course, Ivar is often quick-tempered, but that… that is something else, and it's quite unsettling.

Still, you force yourself to stay calm, inhaling deeply before answering, your voice gentle. 

"No Ivar, I don't." 

You're not exactly lying. Of course, you have some idea, but you can't be sure. The truth is, you two barely know each other. If you've been living under the same roof for almost six months, it's not really by choice. You were desesperate to find a room and Ivar was looking for a roommate. Or more specifically, Ivar had to find a roommate. He lived alone for two years, but after a nasty fall that put him back in a wheelchair for weeks, his overprotective mother decided it was her job to interfere. The deal was this: find a roommate or come back home. When you met them – yes, his mother was there, after all, she owned the apartment – your conversation sounded weirdly like a job interview. After two hours and a lot of nosy questions from Aslaug, you got the job, huh sorry, the room, the fact that you're a nursing student surely helpful. 

And frankly, living here turned out not so bad.

The huge apartment is perfectly equipped, its furnitures luxurious, the fridge always full, thanks to  Ivar's mother, and your room probably bigger than your parents' house. Ivar is certainly not the most congenial person but he's mostly never around. Between his doctoral thesis and his unofficial involvement in the family corporation, he leaves most of the time at dawn and doesn't return until late at night, except on days when his legs hurt too much. On those days, he usually locks himself in his room. The few times you run into him in the apartment, he barely acknowledges your presence, doesn't really talk to you – you're well aware that he'd prefer to live alone – yet he's never directly hostile. 

Plus, you would be lying saying he's unattractive. Truth be told, Ivar is a sight to behold. Gorgeous blue eyes, strong features, sharp cheekbones and high forehead, sign of his obvious intelligence. Ivar is, plain and simple, stunningly handsome. 

So yeah, all in all, living with him isn't hard. Ordinarily. But now, the ordinary is not part of your lives. Because of this virus, schools, theaters and shops have been closed for two weeks and you and Ivar are mostly stuck at home. He's been grumpy ever since, but you've managed to keep him pretty calm, at least enough for your new shared meals to go well.

Right now, you're not sure there's anything you can do to avoid the upcoming storm. 

As Ivar glares at you, eyes wide open, obviously bewildered, you simply repeat, "I don't." Grabbing his crutch, you think for a moment he's going to stand up, and maybe that's what he was going to do, but finally he just throws it angrily accross the room, still being careful no to aim it at you, shouting again,

"FUCK YOU DON'T!!! HAVEN'T YOU HEARD THE FUCKING NEWS, Y/N???" 

You give him a confused look. "What news, Ivar? It's not even eight in the morning, I woke up not long ago and I was reading." Explaining yourself is useless but you feel compelled to do it, for whatever reason.

"YOU ARE FUCKING STUPID, AREN'T YOU? YOU SLEEPING WON'T STOP EARTH FROM FUCKING SPINNING, YOU KNOW THAT?" His tone scornful, pointing to his temple with his index finger in a universally obvious gesture, he's slowly getting on your nerves. 

Getting closer, you take advantage of the fact that he's sitting and you're standing, hovering over him, one eyebrow raised. He's clearly not impressed, but it feels good anyway. Small victories are victories nonetheless. "Don't give me shit, Ivar. I'm not dumb and you know that. Just spill the f–", biting your tongue, you stop before saying what seems to be his favorite word today, "spill the news Ivar!"

"TOTAL LOCKDOWN!!!" 

Shocked, you fight the urge to take a few steps back while his screams don't stop. He doesn't notice your discomfort, caught up in his own anger. "THAT'S WHAT THE FUCKING STATSMINISTER ANNOUNCED LATE LAST NIGHT!! A FUCKING TOTAL LOCKDOWN! FOR AT LEAST THREE FUCKING WEEKS!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO OUT AT ALL, EXCEPT FOR GROCERY SHOPPING. WHICH DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING SINCE I DO IT ONLINE, I KNOW! STILL, I WAS SUPPOSED TO FLY BACK AND FORTH TO LONDON THIS WEEK BUT THE PLANES ARE GROUNDED. ALL THE FUCKING PLANES! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? WE'RE FUCKING STUCK HERE, Y/N, 24/7!! ALL BECAUSE OF THIS FUCKING CORONABULLSHIT!!"

Waiting to make sure he's done with his rant, you give him a disapproving look. "Ivar, this is not fucking bullshit. This is a life-threatening virus. People are dying all over the world and the quarantine is the only way. You know that. We knew it was coming. You can't be selfish, not in such circumstances."

You know he knows you're right. Ivar may be mad right now, but he's still smart enough to undersand the urgency of the situation. Yet, he's not quite ready to admit it, at least not entirely. 

Even so, his voice is soft at first. "Yeah, yeah, of course you're right." Running his fingers through his dishelved hair, he sighs before getting carried away once again. "But fuck Y/N!!!" Ivar takes an heavy breath and releases it loudly, shaking his head frustratedly.

And here we are again. Three-two-one-zero… Go!  "BUT FUCK Y/N! FUCK!! IT FUCKING SUCKS, CAN'T YOU AGREE? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, HUH? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE ARE STUCK HERE, LIKE WE ARE IN A FUCKING PRISON!! WE ARE FUCKING STUCK HERE TOGETHER AND THE FUCK IT SUCKS!!"

Hearing his words, you're not sure if you should be amused or rather offended, finally opting for irony. "Sure, it's true that's I'm so lucky to be living with you, while you're stuck with the most boring rommate. I guess this is the part where I'm supposed to apologize for existing, right?"

Ivar freezes, speechless. Wow. It's not something that happens a lot. Small victories blah, blah, blah… Nervously wiggling his fingers, he gives you a constrained, almost apologetic look while biting his lower lip. "Fuck Y/N," his voice speaks softly, "I didn't mean it like that." He lowers his gaze, his hands now rubbing his thighs. You can tell he tries very hard to stay calm and you can't help but think it's adorable. "You know that… Fuck! Y/N, I'm not good at that, and we both know that we didn't choose each other, but I'm fucking grateful it's you who's living with me, and not some dumbass. And even though I'm a spoiled brat and probably a fucking pain in the ass, I know being stuck here with you won't be hell on Earth. Still, just being stuck here sucks. IT FUCKING SUCKS!!!"

That's the exact moment when something switches in your mind. It all comes up out of the blue and you're suddenly aware of the warmth in your lower belly, of your increasing heart rate, of your clammy hands… You have to make a prodigious effort not to lick your lips. Ivar is… flustered, akward, still angry and cocky yet soft and almost sweet and seeing him like this makes you feel things. Unexpected things.  

You can't think straight anymore. Maybe lockdown is driving you crazy too, after all. Or maybe it's because it's been months since you've… Or it's all Ivar's fault. Yeah, that's it, it's got to be his fault. Because with is huge blue eyes, his reddened cheeks, his chiseled upper body and the anger still flowing out of him, he's… he's… he's…

… insanely hot. So FUCKING insanely hot.

Checking discretely with one hand that no drool is leaking from the corner of your mouth, you go on right after. "Maybe you should stop talking about it and just do it, Ivar. You know, to take the pressure off." Your words are rushed and you know you're blushing, but you can’t control your brain anymore. It's probably not really functional right now anyway. 

Baffled, Ivar looks at you without understanding. "Wh- What? What are you fucking talking about?" His scowl is back, and you realize it makes him even more attractive. 

“Oh Ivar, don't play dumb, you know what I'm saying, don't you?  Fuck and fucking… Those are the only words you seem to know. Stop saying them. Do it. Just do it. I bet you'll be more relaxed after." Okay, you're obviously out of your mind. You couldn't care less though, your only focus at the moment being the sparkle in your inner core. 

"What-?" His chocked voice gives away how stunned he is. "But… with… with whom, Y/N?"

The answer is an obvious one, right? At least to you, but probably to Ivar too, since he's stuck there with you and only you. You can see in his eyes that yes, he knows what you're implying. Still, the bewilderment written all over his face a clear indication that he can't bring himself to believe it. You don't blame him. The impression you give is always that of a (too) serious person. Ivar doesn't know who you really are. You're not even sure you know it yourself… And right now, it doesn't matter. 

Because yeah, disbelief is obvious on his face, but lust even more so … oh gods… Gods… Slightly confounded and blinking a few times, but looking at you like you're a prey, Ivar is, if at all possible, even hotter than before. And that's what matters.

 Winking at him, you quickly take off your t-shirt, swinging it accross the room. His mouth ajar, his gaze is that of a toddler, sitting under the tree, contemplating his gifts on Christmas morning.

"What do you think, Ivar?" His eyebrows furrowed, you don't allow him time to respond, straddling his lap. You're not sure he's breathing, clearly incredulous, almost skeptical. And gods, how beautiful he is. You can't resist. You won't resist. When you crash your lips together, you stop thinking. 

The akward moment disappears quickly, replaced by a shared eagerness. Ivar kisses you back, his need now as great as yours, his tongue invading and claiming your mouth. You can't help but moan while feeling him growning against your clit. "Fuck Y/N!", he mumbles as you rock your hips purposefully against his. Rewarded with a loud growl, you smile, never breaking the intense kiss. 

All off a sudden, you don't know how he manages to do so, you're lying on your back on the wide couch, Ivar's body all over yours, warming you from the inside out. His shirt gone, his callouse hands are everywhere, roaming your body – your jaw, sides, belly, neck, navel, even squeezing your cheeks as you raise your hips – his mouth on your tits, nibbling and sucking. Digging your fingers into his back, you release a gasping breath before kissing each and every part of exposed skin he has to offer, his taste so overwhelming, you can't get enough, moaning and panting endlessly, your heart already pounding hard in your chest.

As he slips his fingers under your panties, your breath stutters, your whole body jerking and tensing when his fingertips brush over your clit. You can feel him smile against your skin, proud and smug, huffing a small snort just before parting your folds.

Slipping a finger inside you, a low moan rattles in his throat, his wonder at how wet you are obvious in his eyes. When his middle finger begins to glide in and out, you grab his wrist hard, a frustrated growl escaping your mouth.  

"Stop it, Ivar." Muttering against his neck, you put your free hand on his chest, pushing him back slightly, his gaze an universal what-the-fuck-gaze. Without loosening your grip on his wrist, you let your fingers run down his chest, your hand grabbing his waistband. 

"Don't waste our time with foreplay." Rushing your words, you give him a short yet rapturous kiss. "Save it for later, will you? We'll have a whole lockdown to do that." Yanking his pants and briefs down his hips, you then slip off your panties, Ivar leaning on his forearms, his biceps flexing. Looking at you with desire in his blackened eyes, he releases a husky whimper of yearning as you grab his hard length. "Fuck Y/N!" he hisses, panting and shivering. 

"That's it, Ivar! Do it. Fuck me. I need you inside me. Now!"  Your breath coming in shallow gasps, you squeeze his cock, brushing it against your core.

That's all it takes for his control to snap as he drives into you, stroking you from the inside. He thrusts straight away into you, hard and heavy. It's not gentle, it's rough and primal, exactly what you need. Grasping and squeezing handfuls of his ass, your hips snap upward and you groan against his skin and into his mouth as he hits you from all angles, going deeper inside you than you thought possible. Your body jerking back, your hands cling to his shoulders, allowing you to feel his quivering muscles under your fingertips. Your skin feels like fire as he keeps pumping relentlessly, his tongue thrusting into your mouth. 

Your breathing uneven, you know he's as close as you are as your walls clench around him. Pushing your hips upward and back, faster and faster, his thrusts become erratic. "Fuck!", he roars once more, your hands back on his ass again, your body starting to shake. 

Crying out, your body bows upward. The muscles of your inner walls constrincting tightly around him, you scream his name, exploding all around him, his thick and hot seed spilling inside you, your orgasm hitting you in strong waves as his mouth seeks yours for a final sloppy kiss.

Sated to the point of exhaustion, Ivar falls heavily onto you, shaking and sweating. Not letting himself slide out of you just yet, his hands lazily stroke your sides as your fingers run along his back. 

Out of breath, you both need a few minutes to come down from that high, Ivar being the first to talk, his voice still shaky. "There's no fucking way we're not fucking doing this again!"

Bursting out laughing, you give his cheek a peck before leaning on one elbow. Rolling your eyes playfully, you gently push a strand of hair away from his forehead. "You're fucking right. But for now, Ivar, you know what?  Give it a rest and just fucking shut up!"

🛡⚔️🛡

@honestsycrets @saldelys @waiting4inspiration @lisinfleur @hecohansen31 @a-mess-of-fandoms @gearhead66 @readsalot73 @lonewolf471

[spencers-dria]

Something From a Fairytale

Someone To Stay Ch. 15

Spencer x fem reader

Y/N POV:

It'a Friday and you are prepared for a normal evening in, curled up on the couch watching Harry Potter with Spencer. That is, until you received a text from him stating: "change of plans, I'm picking you up at 7. Formal attire highly encouraged ;)"

The blush on your face fades as quickly as it appears, as you brush it off as him being goofy rather than flirty. Why was he picking you up, though? And dressed for something formal? Was he taking time to dinner? Was this a date? The thoughts flood your brain so quickly you nearly go dizzy. You quickly shake your head, trying to clear it of the chaos like a etch-a-sketch. Okay. Deep breaths. You're certain you are overthinking things. If  you aren't careful, you will allow myself to be accidentally lead on. You and Spencer friends. Nothing had changed. Sure you have seen him a bit differently lately, but you didn't do anything about it. But admitting those things out loud to your friends, his friends, well that made it feel pretty real. Pretty one sided too. Ugh, you're such a mess. Get it together.

You finally pull yourself up off the couch realizing you want to have enough time to shower and fix your hair, and to properly do your makeup. Not to mention the time it would take to no doubt go through multiple outfits before finally settling on one. You had grown so comfortable around him, you usually didn't prepare much for your movie nights. But something about his request had a certain weight to it. You can't place your finger on it, but tonight felt important.

After showering, shaving, and drying your hair, you throw on a robe and walk into your closet, letting your fingers flip through the clothes. Too fancy, too casual, too edgy...none of it felt right until your eyes land on a dark purple, strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and long flowing skirt that reaches the floor. You start to second guess, shooting a quick text to Spencer: "Sooo how formal are we talking?"

He takes only a few seconds to respond: "That can be up to you. But probably nothing you'd wear to a sports event."

You roll my eyes. Ha ha. Very funny. You decide this will have to do. Besides, he loves purple, and you can't help but wanting to impress him once again. He'd already seen one side of you that night of a bar. You are ready to show him you can look classy, when you wanted to. You have more than just sweat pants and cocktail dresses.

After giving your hair some loose curls, you put on some light, shimmering eye shadow with bold black eyeliner and a darker pink matte liquid lip. You get so distracted by fixing little details in your makeup or hair that you're caught off guard by the knock at the door. You immediately feel a pit sink into the deepest part of my stomach, pure nerves.

You take a deep breathe before opening the door to see Spencer standing there looking far too nervous considering how fantastic he looks. A well fitting black suit jacket, black button down, and black slacks. He's standing with a hand behind his back, nervously staring at the ground. He's eyes shoot up to you as soon as you've opened the door.

This isn't what you were expecting at all, but you're not complaining. You're also still unsure what this is, as you try to push aside any thoughts that jump to premature conclusions. After staring at each other in silence for a few seconds, you finally speak up.

"You look incredible, Spencer. I mean, really handsome, truly."

He shakes his head slightly like he doesn't quite believe you. He looks down at the ground as you can tell he's contemplating his next words carefully. He finally looks up at you with the sweet brown eyes you love so much. He's so quiet that you almost miss it. "You're breathtaking."

You feel your breath hitch in my throat. He's always been sweet but this was different. Before you have a chance to get in your head again, he brings his hand out from behind his back, to reveal a single rose. Naturally, it's purple, which is apparently our theme for the night. You chuckle before taking the lavender flower in your hand and bringing it up to your nose. You close your eyes and inhale the overwhelming fragrance. You can't tell what's sweeter, the aroma of the rose or the moment itself.

You slowly drag your eyes back up to meet his when he finally speaks. "Would you do me the honor of being my date for this evening?" He steps forward and offers me his arm with a smile, slightly more confident. At a complete loss for words, all you can manage to do is nod your head. You're sure there is also a grin across your face so large, that you can't possibly hide how happy you are in this moment.

The girls were clearly very wrong about you needing to make the first move. Spencer had shown up at my door, like something from a fairy tale, ready to sweep you off my feet and whisk you away to an unknown adventure. As you took his arm and descend the stairs to the lobby, you know in that moment you'd follow him anywhere. He lead you to his car and opened the passenger side, allowing you to slip in. Spencer driving was such a rarity; You are impressed once again.

If you had any uncertainty of how you felt before, it was all but a memory now, replaced with an overwhelming gravitational pull to the man who is sitting next to you in the car. You try not to let your gaze linger too long. Part of you wants to take in how handsome he looks, but the other part just wants to take in every inch of the person who had all but just professed feelings for you. He'd asked you on a date. It felt like a whole new side of him and you are still in awe. You want to take in as much of it as possible, before it ever dares to slip away. Before he changes his mind, or you wake up...I mean there's always a twist right. But you bring your mind back to the present to focus in and enjoy every moment while it lasts.

You want to ask where you are going or why he asked you on a date but settle instead for the comforting silence of the ride. Somehow it isn't awkward. You just enjoy being for the moment, taking in one another's presence.

You can't help but admire his jaw line, the way his curls frame his face. He's definitely prettier than you, which isn't fair, but you don't mind seeing as you get  the pleasure of getting to look at him.

You've been staring a little too long when you notice he quickly glances your direction. Normally he would have turned red as a beet, but instead a small smile creeps on to his face. "You're staring." He says matter of factly, still smiling.

Impressed by his new confident demeanor, you decide to muster up the same confidence.

"If you didn't want me staring, you shouldn't have dressed up to look so darn good."

You catch a glimpse of redness on his face at your statement. You laugh to yourself, glad to still have the shy Spencer around when you want him.

"I didn't say I minded."  He states, smiling while keeping his eyes glued on the road.

Confident Spencer has caught you off guard once again, but you don't want to let that show.

"You're kind of a flirt, you know? Where did that come from?"

He just shrugs and laughs. Your eyes meet for a brief moment, bringing your attentions to the electricity filling the space between the two of you. It's a good thing he's driving, because his attention quickly shifts back to the road. After awhile he parks along a dimly lit street and exits the car, rushing over to open your door before you get the chance. He offers you his harm once again, helping you to stand as you try not to step on your dress.

"M'lady" he says with a cheesy smile.

You can't help but laugh. He's so corny, and you love every moment of it. He leads you to the entrance of what appears to be a theater or music hall of some sort.

"Did you get the times wrong maybe? There's no one else here. Pretty sure it's closed, Spence." You say, brow furrowed as you search for signs of other people.

He gives you a look that you can't quite read, confidence and amusement perhaps, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a set of keys. He unlocks the door and leads you inside. He leads the two of you  through a dark lobby, as if he knows exactly where he's headed. You're grateful, considering you can barely see but a few feet in front of you. You're still unable to determine exactly where he's brought you or why. You can see light crawling out from under a set of ornate wooden doors not too far in front of you.

He pushes to doors open to reveal a beautiful, aged theater. All the lights are on, curtains drawn, string lights draped from the ceiling. It reveals its age and history with every creak of the floor boards, each carving of the railings. The warm glow that fills the room leaves you feeling giddy. You have no idea why he brought you here, but my heart is already racing from excitement. You run your hand along the ornate design carved into the railings as you make your way into the room, taking in every detail.

Your attention is soon drawn to the stage at the front of the room. There, sitting under the spotlight, is a beautiful grand piano. Glossy black with pearly white keys. In front of it sits a piano bench, covered in a deep red velvet. You turn to look at Spencer for the first time since entering the room, curiosity and excitement showing on your features. He's got a mysterious smile that tells you he has a plan.