#and yet both are equally amazing

[randomnow]

if i had a nickle for every time I read a manga with a depth of feeling and caring so strong and emotional moments that hit so hard it positively effects my world view with an equally amazing anime adaption in 2024 I'd have 2 nickles, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice

[leixinyus]

Instead of you apologizing, I have a favor (I’d like you to grant me).

What? What is it?

Please just look at my text. And give me feedback meticulously. Very, very attentively.

... Okay, got it. But aren’t there a lot of people instead of me who could also give you feedback? Why, out of everyone...?

When I was watching your presentation the other day, seonbae, I got this feeling; that as a writer, one should be somewhat provocative and tenacious.

Oh, well, it’s enough if I skim through it and give the feedback all at once, right?

[multifandomimagin3s]

Pregnancy Reactions - 141, Los Vaqueros + König

Requested by Anon

Simon "Ghost" Riley

Honestly, he's stunned.

Doesn't matter how close you two are, his reaction will be the same; internally, he's panicking but on the outside? He's cold.

Probably would disappear for a while to think.

I don't think he necessarily didn't want kids - more so that he didn't want his child to end up growing up how he did, and so decided that he actively wouldn't pursue having any.

But naturally, life doesn't always work out like that.

He'd absolutely want to be a part of the child's life, he wouldn't up and leave, but it would take him a lot of time and effort to figure out how he was going to voice his concerns to you.

Doesn't like being vulnerable in any way shape or form, and talking about his past is something he avoids at all costs.

Simon wants to be able to be open with you and tell you everything but Ghost wants to shut himself off and keep it to himself.

He'd probably reappear out of the blue after a few days - wouldn't be surprised or annoyed if you were angry at him for disappearing, he expects it.

It would probably be further along in your pregnancy before he would start talking about his past - mainly snippets about how his father raised him, and why he'd been so distant with you.

He'd be the type to just watch you as you sleep - not in a creepy way, you just look so peaceful - and his eyes would trail over your growing bump, knowing that you were carrying his child and he would do anything to keep you safe.

Wouldn't want you going anywhere by yourself, especially when you're closer to your due date; doesn't trust people in general, especially strangers, so if he can't go with you he'd probably ask Johnny or one of the Team to go with you.

Feels the baby kick for the first time and he can't speak. Literally can't get a word out. There's this cocktail of emotions churning in his stomach, and all he can do is keep his hand on your bump, thumbing over the skin where he could feel his child moving.

This guy would probably scare the shit out of the Doctors when you go for your ultrasound appointments - he doesn't even say a word, he's just this hulking figure dressed in black sitting in the chair next to you, gaze burning through everyone else in the room.

He'd probably be deployed when you gave birth - would be as angry as a bear in a cage when he found out, chomping at the bit to get back to you.

The first time he held the baby, all wrapped up in their little blankets, he felt his heart swell.

They were so small in his arms, big eyes peering up at him in wonder at their Dad's face.

So innocent and pure, not yet hurt by the world.

He felt a tug in his stomach as he remembered how he felt when he held his nephew for the first time…

And he made a promise to both you and his little one that he would never let anyone hurt you or take you away from him.

Johnny "Soap" MacTavish

His first reaction? "Ah shite."

Now don't take that as him being angry or annoyed - he's not, he's just surprised. It's a knee jerk reaction.

Regardless if it was a one-night stand or you've been together for a while, he's going to be equal parts shocked and amazed at the prospect of being a Dad.

He'd thought about the prospect of having a family before but with his job, he just didn't think it was a possibility.

Goes with you to every appointment - if he's deployed, he phones and texts you when he can, asking how you and the "wee one" are doing.

Carries an ultrasound picture in his wallet and is definitely the type of guy who shows the Team every time it comes up in conversation - Ghost acts annoyed but was secretly honoured when Johnny said that he could be "Uncle Ghost."

The Team - well, mainly Soap, Gaz and sometimes Price - would try and decide on a nickname for the little one for when they were born; they decided on 'Suds,' since Soap and Suds sounded cool.

He's not really bothered about what gender the baby will be - a mini version of either of you would be amazing in his eyes, and as long as they're a happy and healthy baby that's all he could ever want.

Absolutely panics when you go into labour - and probably would faint at least once in the delivery room.

If you ended up having a caesarean section, his face would be absolutely priceless - he's no stranger to blood and gore, but the fact that you're awake and talking to him while your insides are being moved around makes him queasy.

Definitely cried when he held the baby for the first time - and wouldn't let them go for a while.

Captain John Price

Now this was something he wasn't expecting at all.

He's an older guy, and considering his role in the military and his lifestyle in general he didn't think he would ever have kids of his own.

Would be protective of you from the get-go, wouldn't let you do any heavy lifting or anything strenuous.

Probably wouldn't tell the Team outright - it would end up randomly coming up in conversation and they all would be so amazed and confused since they had no idea.

Absolutely dotes on you throughout your pregnancy - rubs your feet, gets you any foods or drinks that you're craving, even does that thing where he lifts your bump from behind to give you a reprieve from the weight.

Would love to have a son but would be equally as overjoyed if you had a daughter.

Definitely packs your maternity bag well in advance of your due date - everything is crisply folded and organised, showing his military training.

He's easily the most calm out of everyone when you go into labour - he may have cringed a bit when he saw the epidural needle but you didn't see anything.

I can see him as the Dad who doesn't do babytalk, but he doesn't speak to the baby like an adult either - he just chats away to them while they're bundled up against his chest, little hand wrapped around his thumb.

Yep, they'd absolutely have him wrapped around their finger from day one.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

Similarly to Soap, his initial reaction is basically “oh shit.”

He’s still quite young, and he’d never thought that far ahead in his future about settling down and having a family, so he’s gobsmacked.

Gradually warms up to the idea of being a Dad - he’d probably end up going to Price for advice, and his Captain was secretly flattered.

His face lights up and a smile spreads across his face when you guys went for your first scan appointment; seeing the baby, like a little jelly bean on the screen, made things feel so much more real.

Eventually tells the Team - Soap pats him on the back, and may or may have not asked if he can be “Uncle Soap.”

Inwardly melts when he sees the baby shoes - they’re so tiny.

I can see him as the type of guy who buys little shoes that match ones he has - him and the baby would he fashion icons.

Absolutely shits himself when you go into labour - no amount of preparation was helping him in the moment, he almost forgot to lift the maternity bag on the way out the door.

Holds the baby with the upmost care - at first he was a bit awkward because it had been a while since he’d even been around a child, but once you showed him how to hold them properly, he was golden.

Like Price, the baby has him wrapped around their tiny fingers from the jump, and he promises to protect them from anything the world could throw their way.

Alejandro Vargas

He's a passionate man so regardless of whether it was a fling or if you had been together for a long time, he's ecstatic.

Rudy is probably the first person he tells, his friend patting him on the back in congratulations.

Definitely would already start looking at baby names - he'd have a list.

Very protective, doesn’t like you going anywhere on your own and only trusts certain people to be around you, especially when you’re in your third trimester.

Rudy is number one in his list of trusted people, alongside 141; it’s so strange seeing these hulking, intimidating men become so soft and caring around you.

I reckon he’d hope for a baby girl - he’s love his child endlessly regardless of their gender but something about being a girl Dad just fits him so well.

If the baby did end up being a girl though, he’s going to be her personal bodyguard - doesn’t matter if she’s 13 or 30, nobody will be messing with his daughter.

If the baby ended up being a boy, he’d be equally as happy - having a mini version of himself around the house would be adorable.

You’d have to try and tell him to stop buying baby clothes - every time he’d go to the store to get you whatever foods you were craving, he’d come back with a million different outfits and little shoes, and honestly you guys were running out of space to put it all.

Carries the ultrasound pictures with him but only shows those who he can trust - so, mainly Rudy and some of the other members of Los Vaqueros.

Can’t stop smiling when he sees the baby for the first time, it’s surprising that his cheeks aren’t sore.

Tries not to be the overbearing Dad but watches others like a hawk when they’re holding the baby.

He’s honestly just so delighted to be a Dad.

Rudy Parra

He’s a quiet guy, so his reaction is a lot more contained in comparison to his comrade, Alejandro.

Asks if you’re sure, a small smile on his lips.

He’s excited at the prospect of being a Dad but is also worried that you or the baby would be in danger considering his line of work.

Tells Alejandro - his comrade is bursting with excitement, congratulating his friend.

You’d have the whole of Los Vaqueros and 141 ready to protect you, quelling Rudy’s fears a bit.

Doesn’t like you doing any heavy lifting and always either offers to do it for you or, as if he read your mind, goes ahead and does it for you.

Would probably try some of your pregnancy craving foods - some of them he liked, others, well he tried not to judge you too hard for your choices.

His arm is always wrapped around your waist, hand wresting on your bump, especially when you’re out somewhere; it makes him feel less anxious knowing your beside him, so he knows you’re safe.

Doesn’t really mind what gender the baby would be, hasn’t really given it much thought.

If he was deployed when you gave birth, he’d be fighting tooth and nail to get back to you.

Doesn’t let the baby go when he does - would lay next to you in bed on his back with the baby on his chest.

Does that a lot actually - you’d walk into the living room and he’d be out cold, baby sleeping away on his chest, bundled in their little blankets.

Honestly would be the best Dad

König

Similarly to Ghost, he's petrified.

He's thought about settling down one day, living the white picket fence life, having a few kids - but he rationally knew that it probably wouldn't happen like that.

As soon as you tell him that you're pregnant, he has to sit down otherwise he'd probably faint.

He's terrified of hurting you or the baby with his strength, so he'd probably close himself off for a bit to think.

Cries when he sees the scan pictures of the baby for the first time - his child.

I reckon he's still very close to his family, namely his Mother, back home and so he'd be trying to figure out the best way to tell her that she's going to be a Grandmother.

His heart melts when he sees the little baby outfits you'd picked out - the little soft-soled shoes look even smaller in the palm of his hand.

He was already protective of you before but the bigger your bump gets, the more he's practically glued to your hip.

Always worries about you when he gets deployed - he's even more vicious and calculative on the field now that he knows that he has to make it home to you and the baby.

When you go into labour, he almost has a panic attack.

He's practically running around the house trying to find the maternity bag -- it was under the bed.

Holds your hand the entire time, doesn't complain at all when you practically crush his hand during contractions.

He's almost scared to hold the baby once they're born; the Nurse hands them over to him, swaddled in their little blankets, and he handles them like they're made of glass.

Starts sobbing when he notices that they have his eyes.

His heart is so full.

[kxsalt]

An evening of laughter over dinner. The young lady sits at the table with a couple, sharing wine and stories. Ever since the pair had moved back into the city, she had quickly grown very close to her friend and her new husband. From the first time she saw them together, the single girl thought they were a perfect couple. She watches them share a kiss with a pang of jealousy and another emotion her inexperienced soul can’t quite describe yet.

A week later the girl rides the train home after a terrible date. The woman had no romantic intentions and was only interested in selling health supplements. Already exhausted, she opens her dating app to see a hundred shirtless men holding fish. She closes it again with a frustrated grunt. The girl arrives at her station and starts to make her way through the crowd.

Up ahead, in the throng of people, she spots her newlywed friend. Her heart jumps, and she pushes through the mob to try and get close to her. I can’t wait to tell her about my horrible date. Maybe she’ll want to hear about it over dinner again. That unfamiliar feeling returns. Getting closer, her friend steps out of the human traffic, standing with a man she doesn’t recognize. The girl is only a few metres away, but invisible among the other passengers.

She watches her friend pull the strange man in for a kiss.

Disbelieving her own eyes, the girl freezes. Even as annoyed people bump into her, she watches, mouth agape as the married woman makes out with the stranger.

What am I seeing. I must be crazy. She wouldn’t cheat on him, they’re both perfect… for each other. I must have this person mistaken for my friend.

The kiss breaks and the woman laughs. A laugh as unique as a fingerprint. The girl sees every detail of her smile.

Oh god, it is her. Why me? What am I going to do?

She returns to her empty apartment, feeling strangely heartbroken. Her husband is an amazing man, doesn’t he deserve to know? Is it none of my business? How could she do this? The next few days are torment. Wracked with guilt from her involuntary secret, she decides to take the unenviable step of telling him about his wife’s infidelity. I have to. It would hurt him more if I didn’t tell him. And it would help her in the end. That unfamiliar feeling cracks through her fear.

Arriving at the couple’s home, the girl feels like she’s going to have a heart attack. Welcoming her in, the married man makes her a cup of tea. The girl is obviously distraught, and he tries his best to calm her down so she can talk. A word salad spills from her mouth, and she starts to cry as she explains what she saw. The man’s face falls as the girl becomes more overwrought. She finishes her story, looking at his soft, compassionate expression.

“I am so sorry that you saw that. I can see how upsetting this is to you. We were always worried that something like this would happen. I’m sorry it was you.”

The girl stops crying, disoriented by his response. She expected him to be angry, or sad, or devastated. But his only concern is for her. He doesn’t seem hurt in the slightest. The man brings her some tissues and encourages her to drink her tea. Sitting down beside her on the couch, he gently starts to explain.

“When we first started dating, we were seeing other people, too. It kind of just… never stopped. We felt comfortable with it, and we knew we wanted to be with each other… It’s changed a lot over the years. When we became official, we would give each other passes, for a date or a night of fun. Always equal. We agree on a pass, we each hook up with someone, and then we come back together. I know it’s unusual, but it works for us.”

The girl is bewildered by his explanation. He continues:

“When we got married, we knew it would change again. We both want to settle down, find a different way for us to do stuff like this without chasing random people. Actually, this pass is supposed to be the last time... Like that at least. I’m so sorry that you got so upset by what we’re doing. You’re a good friend, I know you care about both of us so much. I can see how that would terrify you.”

Her head swims, she stares at the wall. The adrenaline of her mission has worn off, replaced by confusion and embarrassment. He calls his wife and asks her to come home early, so they can explain everything together. A half hour later, she rushes through the door and envelops the young girl in a big hug. The couple holds hands while they answer her questions. The girl relaxes. Her heart warms when she sees them kiss, confirmation of their love.

Feeling as if she has intruded enough, she gets ready to leave. Excusing herself to the bathroom before she goes, the girl sits on the toilet pondering the night’s conversation.

Out of all the possible outcomes, this is the best I could have hoped for. She washes her hands. The best I could realistically hope for. The girl is confused by her own line of thinking. Anything better would be impossible. She dries her hands. What else could I wish for? The girl stares at herself in the mirror, that strange new feeling wells up inside of her, stronger than ever before.

Leaving the bathroom, she finds her friend waiting for her.

“Thank you for being so understanding… I know it’s a lot. I know you came here because you wanted what was best for us, even though it was scary. I admire that. He admires that. You’re a good friend.”

“Thanks, I’m sorry I got so far up in your business… Good luck now that you’re through the ‘giving out passes’ phase. I hope whatever you two do together brings you closer together.”

“Oh, well, we’re not quite done with the pass thing yet.” She subtly points into the living room. “He hasn’t used his pass yet.”

“Ah, well, if I see him with a girl I won’t come crying to you. Haha.”

“Haha, yeah. I mean he could use it with whoever he wanted to. That’s how it works.”

“Right, you explained that earlier.”

An awkward pause drags through the conversation.

“Do you want to stay for dinner tonight?”

“I feel like I already overstayed my welcome.”

“You haven’t. I feel like we should make it up to you.”

“Uh, maybe? I don’t know.”

“I want you to fuck my husband.”

The conversation screeches to a halt. The girl stares at her friend, dumbfounded. They start to talk over one another. You don’t think I’ve been trying to sleep with him, do you? No, I just thought you might like to try it. I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble. It’s no trouble. Wouldn’t it be weird? I don’t think so. Does he even want to? He’s brought it up before. Isn’t that weird? I brought it up first. I’m wearing ugly underwear. I could let you borrow something.

“I’m afraid it would feel like cheating.”

“I could watch, to support you. So you know it’s okay.”

The young lady’s heart almost leaps from her chest. Why did that convince me? At a loss for words, she nods her head.

Standing naked in the couple’s bedroom, she paws through her friend’s clothing. A mixture of fear and excitement whirs though her mind. Taking out a tiny pink thong, she slips it on and steps in front of the mirror. Her familiar emotions mix with the unfamiliar ones. Why does it feel so hot, wearing her lingerie?

A knock at the door, her friend enters. “You look beautiful.” The young girl blushes unexpectedly at the compliment. “My husband will love you. Are you ready?” Another emotion, another nod, more confident this time. She summons her husband.

He gives her a kind smile as he walks into the room. A loving peck on his partner’s cheek, and the man steps towards the new girl. His arms wrap around her waist and their lips touch. They surprise each other with a deep, passionate kiss. Their tongues flirt, their noses rub, their hands roam. His kisses work down her cheek, and into her neck. The girl gasps and looks over to his wife. Relief and joy as she sees her gorgeous smile. His wife’s lips move, whispering. Keep going.

Eager to please them, she reaches down to feel his cock bulge in his pants. The man groans and returns the favour, grasping her wet pussy through the skimpy thong. They touch each other, faster and faster, kissing open and free. She unzips his pants and starts to stroke his cock. He lifts up his shirt so she can see him. His body looks better than I ever imagined.

Dropping to her knees, she takes him in her mouth. The faint taste of his precum overpowers her senses. Fingering herself wildly through her friend’s tiny underwear, the girl does everything she can to make him feel good. Glancing over at his wife, she sees her rubbing her bare pussy. She’s lifted up her dress to touch her breasts, too. Her body looks better than I ever imagined.

The trio are thoroughly excited. Nobody can wait for what comes next. He lifts the girl up and tosses her onto the bed. She spreads her legs and pulls the thong to the side. The husband pushes her legs up against her chest. “Oh god, it looks so good.” The wife chimes from her spot in the corner. He rubs his hard cock against her exposed pussy. “I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

The tip, the head, half way, all the way. There’s no going back now. The married man’s cock stretches out the single girl’s pussy, and they exhale. Enjoying the warmth of his wife’s friend’s body, he starts to stroke his cock in and out of her. The girl trembles, getting used to his size. The wife gasps, rubbing her clit as fast as she can. They fuck each other, making out while the tension releases. The girl is overwhelmed by pleasure and excitement. She starts to encourage her friend.

“Your husband’s cock is so big! Ah~! It’s so good! Ah~! So big… Ah~! Your husband is fucking me so… Ah~! Good!”

“You like that, you dirty little slut?”

“Yes, I love it.”

The couple on the bed roll over. The girl takes his hands and puts them on her ass. A firm grip, and he pulls on her bumcheeks. So he can get deeper. So she can see every inch enter her. She bounces on his dick, thrilled at the thought of how little her friend’s thong is hiding. She feels her orgasm build inside of her. Quickening her pace, the girl will finish soon.

The sounds of a woman cumming fill the room. The couple look over at the wife, helplessly masturbating as she fingers herself to completion. They look back to each other, grinning. “Now it’s my turn…” The girl giggles, playing with her clit while his strong hands pull her up and down on his cock. They kiss passionately again. The girl cums on his married dick, picking up where his wife left off. Pushed over the edge by their chorus, he fills her sweet pussy.

They lie there for what could be an hour, could be a few minutes. The girl slowly climbs off of him, and walks past his wife, also basking in the glow of her orgasm. She heads down the hall, back to the bathroom, to wash up after their encounter. Looking at herself in the mirror again, her unfamiliar feelings beat in her chest. An epiphany strikes her. Like a ray of light through the clouds, she understands herself.

Stepping back into the hallway, his wife is waiting for her again.

“I really, really, enjoyed that… I hope you did, too.”

“It was almost perfect.”

The girl walks up to her. She wraps her hands around her waist. Their lips meet, they kiss. They push back into each other, letting the taste of their first embrace waft through them.

Their fingers touch. Holding hands, tugging lightly, they walk each other back to the bedroom.

[smhalltheurlsaretaken]

~all creatures great and small~ (amazing illustration by the awesome @david-talks-sw)

“And just what exactly is it that you’ve been doing?”

Obi-Wan had to stop himself from giving his fellow Councillor—and friend—a rather pronounced eyeroll. 

“You tell me,” he said without taking his eyes off his clamoring little herd, feeling rather proud of himself. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

Mace came up to his side and crossed his arms, looking decidedly unimpressed. He looked at Obi-Wan, then at his rambunctious little friends and their merrymaking, then back at Obi-Wan again. 

“It looks like you have been avoiding meetings all morning.” 

Obi-Wan couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at his mouth. He carefully put his hands in his large sleeves.

“Have I?” He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop laughing if he saw Mace’s no doubt exasperated face, so he kept carefully looking onward. “You should have called me.”

“You know I did,” Mace griped, valiantly ignoring the racket and still boring holes in the side of Obi-Wan’s face.

If it came to a contest of wills, Obi-Wan knew he’d be hard pressed to match Mace’s stubbornness. He turned to face him, and inevitably let out a huffed chuckle. Mace looked annoyed alright, but he could do nothing about the twinkle in his deep eyes. 

“You,” Mace insisted, no doubt trying to maintain what he probably hoped to be a convincingly stern demeanor, “have spent all day corrupting our next generation instead of going over mission reports.”

“Really, Mace—”

A yellow blur careening between the two of them nearly knocked them off their feet. A beige, more bipedal one rushed right after it, bumping into them both with equal speed if not equal force. 

“Sorry Masters!” the youngling yelled over her shoulder without stopping. 

Obi-Wan had to cough into his fist to keep from cackling.

“Obi-Wan.” Mace said.

“She apologized,” Obi-Wan pointed out with a brilliant smile.

“You still haven’t.”

“What for?”

Mace’s control finally cracked, and he thrust an accusing finger at Obi-Wan’s innocent face, ready to give into a rare display of unrestrained aggravation. Obi-Wan quickly batted it away and beat him to the punch.

“It’s a perfectly good way of teaching the younglings patience and control!”

Mace blinked at him, his mouth left hanging open, his finger still up and now pointing somewhere over to the right. He turned slowly, and surveyed the bustling courtyard in bemusement. The half-dozen or so pufferpigs that Obi-Wan had let loose there were being corralled by three times as many eager younglings, clone cadets and Padawans, and the animals all felt entitled to express the full range of their feelings on the matter in a loud and enthusiastic fashion. Little Mari Amithest was still running after the particularly rowdy creature that had mistaken Obi-Wan and Mace for Rodian bowling pins. 

Mace’s eyebrows climbed to previously undiscovered heights. 

“What part of this,” he gestured incredulously, “is controlled?”

“None of the pigs have puffed yet,” Obi-Wan explained seriously. 

Mace’s eyebrows were now on their way into orbit. A moment passed. Then, his expression of astonishment seamlessly melted into curiosity.

“They haven’t?” he asked, considering the whole bunch with renewed interest. 

“I told you, it’s a proven method,” Obi-Wan insisted, vindicated. He pointed to the far corner of the courtyard, where Katooni was showing some of the younger children how to feed a happy looking unpuffed puffer. “My Padawan has taught that one to do tricks.”

The squealing puffer was hopping from one foot to the other before avidly sweeping treats from the children’s outstretched hands. 

Mace was now looking suitably impressed. More careful study of Mari’s chase was making it apparent that the animal she was after was not distressed in any way, but was—rather mischievously—trying to run off with her sash clutched in its stout trunk. 

“You shouldn’t let emotions cloud your perception,” Obi-Wan reminded him in a serious voice.

“Hm,” Mace conceded magnanimously, impervious to the teasing.

The twinkle of carefully contained amusement that had been present in his eyes from the start had won over all other sentiments. A wet snort had the two Masters look down at the adventurous pufferpig that had made its way over to them. The amicable beast was fixing them with soulful blue eyes, candidly inoffensive. Its stubby tail was wagging quite politely. Mace distractedly bent down to pet the expectant critter on its broad, squishy face.

“It wants to smell your lightsaber,” Obi-Wan warned. “They like crystals.”

Mace straightened and put a hand on his hilt.

“The Mining Guild didn’t pick them up yesterday?” he inquired. “That was on the agenda.”

Obi-Wan shrugged.

“They tried, but for some reason all the identity chips turned out to be unreadable. There’s no way to prove who these fellows belong to.”

Mace gave him a flat look. 

“Hondo stole them from a Republic transport.”

“There’s all sorts of things on Republic transports,” Obi-Wan reasonably pointed out.

“The transport was chartered by the Mining Guild.”

“Hondo wiped the manifest during his hijacking. There’s just no way to know.”

“Your Padawan was there to escort the Mining Guild representatives.”

“Some mysteries can never hope to be solved.”

The pufferpig had taken to bonking its head against their legs affectionately. Mace, bowing to the undeniable strength of Obi-Wan’s ironclad argumentation, very seriously gave the tenacious quadruped another pat.

“They’re not staying,” he reminded Obi-Wan firmly. 

“Obviously not,” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. “The Temple would be a terrible environment for them.”

His friend narrowed his eyes suspiciously. 

“And you’re not making me spend my time finding them a place.”

“Honestly, Mace.” Obi-Wan gave the affable puffer a gentle shove, and it obediently trotted away to a nearby group of younglings and clone cadets who were already entertaining one of its siblings. Obi-Wan wiped his hands on his pants. “Naboo has very responsible educational farms.”

“Does it,” Mace said mildly. 

“Including a recently opened one in the Lake District.” 

Unashamedly petty enjoyment rang in the Force.

“Don’t come to me when Skywalker tries to send them back.”

“Who says I’ll pick up when he does?”

Obi-Wan loved Anakin, dearly. Still, he hadn’t yet quite forgiven his old Padawan for retiring—running away—before they could make him shoulder his share of the sacred responsibility of wrangling the Temple’s significantly increased youngling population. It was Luke and Leia’s birthday soon anyway. 

“You’re stooping to deviousness,” Mace said, carefully neutral.

Obi-Wan gave him a wry look. 

“Never. Revenge is not the Jedi way,” he said just as calmly. 

“It’s them you’re supposed to be teaching,” Mace said with a short nod towards the unruly bunch. “He’s had his turn.”

Speaking of teaching…

“Oh my,” Obi-Wan said smugly, pointing to a boy who had taken to carefully levitating a surprisingly compliant—if a little alarmed—pufferpig, “that wouldn’t happen to be Caleb, would it?”

His fellow Council member was now pinching the bridge of his nose, his other hand planted on his hip. 

“I must say, that young man is certainly very skilled at forming connections with animals. Depa must be very proud.”

“Just don’t,” Mace groaned. He whipped out his communicator. “He’s supposed to be meditating with Yoda right now.”

“That explains it,” Obi-Wan said. 

Master Yoda was slowly ambling into the courtyard, looking quite pleased with what he was seeing. He poked misbehaving younglings with his cane as he walked, chuckling to himself when they yelped and hastily reached with the Force to make sure the pufferpigs stayed relaxed. The pufferpigs themselves were only curious, and in a sufficiently playful mood that the younglings’ offended squeaking was not enough to agitate them. Caleb had set down his floating puffer with all possible speed—and great care—at the sight of the venerable elder, and made ample and readily accepted apologies to the perplexed animal in the form of scritches. 

Mace slowly put away his communicator. He pursed his lips. 

“Obi-Wan,” he said slowly, “next time, just have them practice making friends with the stray tookas.”

That’s how his master had done it, and Mace had never had any problems with connecting with animals, large and small. 

“Pufferpigs are much more even-tempered.”

It was all Mace could do not to facepalm. Giving up, he shot Obi-Wan one last dry look.

“Just do your damn paperwork.”

Obi-Wan watched him stride away, dignified and imposing. Of course, since he wasn’t exactly paying attention to his surroundings, with how focused he was on pretending he was above this whole situation, he didn’t notice Mari’s wayward puffer on a direct collision course with his legs. The poor creature, who hadn’t noticed Mace either, let out a terrified screech and promptly puffed. 

The entire courtyard froze, watching with fascination as the inflated pufferpig bounced twice and slowly rolled to a halt. It made a sorry little squeak.

Resignedly, Mace closed his eyes and set to work on gently calming down the pufferpig with the Force.

The children loudly cheered. 

[stvolanis]

can u write a smut which farleigh start has a breeding kink? i was so shy to ask but here we are...

Of course! don’t be shy, I love getting requests like this!

HOT & HEAVY

(a one shot)

PAIRINGS:Farleigh Start x reader

WARNINGS: foul language, clingy!Farleigh, pet names, fluff!

NSFW WARNINGS: breeding kink!!, cream pie, overstimulation, praise, light dumbification, cock warming

˚ ꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ˚

Farleigh was more antsy than usual. More observing and jumpy.

He’d been this way ever since last nights party when his friend, Mark, had arrived with a 1 year old in his arms. Said he was babysitting, although a party full of drunken and strung out people didn’t sound like an ideal place.

So, that’s what made you take it upon yourself to care for the child that night while everyone else had fun. You didn’t mind at all, matter of fact, you were excited. You were amazing with kids, and you’d much rather be spending your time taking care of one than having a killer hangover the next morning.

Farleigh had watched silently as you bounced the 1 year old, who’s name he learned was Marceline, on your hip half the night. The way she would babble on and on while chewing on your fingers absentmindedly while you casually talked to other people. The little giggles the little girl let out when you’d tickle her stomach, the smiles on both of your faces adoring.

Then it got him thinking.

What if that was his baby that you were holding instead? The one he’d only ever dreamed of having with you? How great of a mother you would be; naturally so caring and loving, kindness a default in your tender nature.

So of course it was the only thing spiraling in Farleighs’ mind for nearly 2 weeks since it happened.

Then his mind drifted off to….other things.

How beautiful you’d look swollen, full of his seed. Breasts sore, tender to the touch and full of milk he’d selfishly want to keep to himself. Everyone would know you were his, how could they not? He would be within 4 feet of you at all times if you’d fallen pregnant. The ‘scary guard dog’ over your shoulder, yet staring at you with the upmost love.

but you, innocent little you, were completely unaware of this.

So you gasped in shock when Farleigh had taken it upon himself to bend you over the kitchen counter when you were trying to make chocolate chip muffins.

You wore a baby pink robe with nothing but lilac laced panties underneath. “Baby, what—“ you started, but you were hushed by the feeling of his cock pressed against your already dampening cunt. “You little fuckin’ minx. Don’t know what you do to me, love.” He whispered in your ear.

You heard his pants drop to the floor behind you, and he pushed your panties to the side, lining his tip that was laced with pre-cum to your throbbing entrance that was clenching around nothing.

You whimpered as he pushed his fat tip in before filling you to the brim full of his cock. He was freakishly long, the biggest you’d ever taken the only cock you’ve ever taken, he was at least 8 inches, maybe a little more.

You could feel his tip kiss your cervix and your mouth hung agape, breathless as he began to relentlessly pound into you. His balls slapped against your clit with every thrust he delivered, and his hands gripped at your waist harshly, yet the angel kisses he delivered to your shoulders were gentle.

“Gonna fill you, baby. Gonna stuff you so full, you’re gonna look so so pretty when I’m done with you, honey.” He nearly whimpered out. Your cunt was spasming around him, and he knew you liked the idea by the way you clamped down onto him. You were so tight around him, he felt like he was gonna lose his mind if he couldn’t rut himself into you.

Farleigh was like a bitch in heat; and he was no better than you in this position. He was equally as a mess as you were. Both of you moaning uncontrollably, gripping at anything just to hold yourselves stable. Your eyes rolling to the back of your head when his fingers met your clit.

He rolled your bundle of nerves between his fingers harshly, adding just the right amount of pressure to make you see stars. He was using you like a fleshlight, a cocksleve that was made specifically for him. And the worst best part about it? You had absolutely no complaints.

You’d gladly let your needy boy use you anytime he wanted to if it meant getting your brains fucked out.

He gently craned your neck back by your hair “Gonna make you a mommy. Yeah? You want that? You wanna make me a daddy, sweetheart?” He asked against your lips. You whimpered and whined, his cock still drilling into you at an alarming rate. “Y-yesss, oh fuck! Farleigh! Whatever you want!” You all but yelled out.

He somehow managed to let out a half-assed chuckle in amusement. “Nearly fucked my baby dumb, I think. Don’t even know what you’re agreeing to.” He said as he held your face back down against the marble countertop. The way he towered over you, and overpowered without even trying is what had you tumbling over the edge with a loud moan.

You released all over him, his happy trail becoming sticky with your cum. But he wasn’t finished, hell, he hasn’t even had his release yet, but the way your cunt ached around him trigged it.

He shot his hot, sticky seed deep into your fertile womb with a satisfied groan. “I’ve fucked a baby into you now, yeah?” He asked, condescendingly. You were on too much of a high to even process the words the taller man was saying to you.

You felt him pick you up, and somehow turn you around on his cock, now facing him as he carried you to the couch. He sat down with you still on him, and began rubbing slow circles onto your numb clit.

You whined as you dropped your head onto his shoulder. “S’too much, Farleigh!” You whimpered out, but your pleas fell to deaf ears. “Shh, I know, baby. Just gotta make sure you stay nice n’ full of my cum.” He whispered out as he rubbed his hand up and down your back with his free hand soothingly.

“My good girl, hm? Takin my cock so well, princess.” He said as he kissed the top of your head. You nodded, still clinging onto him like your life depended on it.

Your eyes felt heavy with sleep as your boyfriend trailed his kisses down to your neck, sucking and nipping at the sensitive skin. You were half awake, having your second orgasm as his fingers began to toy with your clit more feverishly.

Your swollen bud aching painfully, yet somehow still feeling so good just from his skilled fingers. “M’gonna cum again, Farleigh!” You moaned out as you humped yourself against his fingers at the same pace he was toying with you.

“Just let it happen, baby. So good f’me.” He cooed in your ear as you felt yourself squirt all over him for a second time. He groaned as he felt your juices slide down his cock. It was such a pretty sight.

You stuffed so full of his cock and cum, whimpering and helpless as you sat on him. The way your cunt squelched when you’d attempt to get off, yet Farleighs rough hands held you down.

You fell asleep in his arms, his cock still planted in you. Farleighs only hope was that you’d wake up with morning sickness, and if you didn’t, he’d have no problem fucking you everyday till you did.

Sure enough, after 2 weeks of the both of you fucking like rabbits every damn day, you’d finally fallen pregnant with your first child, and you and Farleigh couldn’t be any happier.

˚ ꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ˚

don’t be shy, ask to be a part of the tag list and request things!!

TAG LIST: @elvisalltheway101 @epthedream69 @claire-elvisgirl @elvisrealgf @littlehoneyposts @ireallydontcareanymorebrooo @luxuriouslokistan-3

[hariboz]

NEW YEARS KISS

“your best friend decides to volunteer when you complain about not having anyone to kiss on new year’s eve!”

pairing: bff!gyuvin x gn!reader

genre: fluff!!, friends to lovers!!

warnings: reader is somewhat of a romantic (?), reader is also said to be a little inexperienced in terms of dating!!, a little (implied?) jealousy from gyuvin, seunghan cameo (1. FREE HIM!! HE DID NOTHING!! 2. he was the first non-jebi guy i thought of <3), they’re cute <3, this is nawt my best work i literally wrote this on new year’s eve while with my family 😭

notes: HAPPY NEW YEAR MY POOKIES!! i hope all of you have an amazing, healthy and happy 2024 🥹🫶🏻 may all your goals come to fruition!! also, i’m very excited for a new year with my jebis, may they continue to thrive and be as happy as they can be <3 also, hope wakeone burns down xoxo MWAH LOVE U ALL <33 ALSO!! i picked gyuvin for this bc some knetz are pissing me off currently with their stupid hate for gyuvin, so i decided to write this bc i LOVE KIM GYUVIN!! IF YOU DONT MAY GOD STRIKE YOU DOWN

word count: 1.6k

you don’t mind being single, really. it’s not really the ‘being single’ part that makes you feel weird, but rather just…not getting to have the same experiences as your friends. always having to sit and nod along when they talk about a date they went on, or how they celebrated a holiday with their partner. it’s exhausting being surrounded by couples all the time. they’re all your friends and you’re happy for them, but when it comes to events like this, you really wish you’d have more single friends.

new year’s eve is supposed to be fun, filled with laughter and loud excitement for the coming year — it is all that, but it’s also you watching your friends huddle together once the countdown to midnight starts, sharing sweet nothings before celebrating the new year with a sickeningly sweet new years kiss.

all while you kind of just stand there, celebrating the arrival of yet another year on your own. for those few lips-locking seconds, at least. is it a little silly to feel left out? of course, but is it really that absurd to want to experience a new years kiss just like everyone else? well, you don’t think so. gyuvin, your best friend, sees things a little differently, though.

“it’s so stupid, i don’t get why you’re so hung up on it,” gyuvin huffs past his snacking on some chips, throwing you a sideways glance. “just think about it, most of them have a different new year’s kiss every year. does that seem like something you want?” you roll your eyes, snatching the bag of chips from his hands. “you don’t get it,” you stuff a handful of chips into your mouth, “it’s romantic. it’s like saying ‘i have no idea what the new year will bring, but at least i will always have you.’ you’re not romantic enough for this.”

gyuvin just gives you a skeptic look, turning his attention back to the drama playing on your tv. it’s silent for a while, both of you a little lost in your respective thoughts until gyuvin quietly speaks up, “does it really bother you? that you don’t have someone to….” he trails off, voice a little unsure. his voice is sincere and doesn’t have the teasing tone it had earlier so you’re a little caught off guard.

you clear your throat, answering in an equally small voice, “well…yeah, kinda? i don’t know. i just think it would be…nice, for a change, you know? i want to experience stuff like that too, instead of just always watching from the sidelines.” gyuvin nods, seemingly understanding where you’re coming from, and that was that. for now, at least.

you didn’t think much of that little one off conversation, neither of you bringing it up again in the weeks that followed. though, unbeknownst to you, that seemingly unimportant conversation kept knocking at the back of gyuvin’s mind every single day. he thought about it an embarrassing amount, really. he kept telling himself that it was because he thought you were being silly, and all those times he thought about being the one giving you your new year’s kiss were definitely nothing more than fleeting, stupid thoughts. nothing more.

which is why gyuvin is so conflicted when he walks through the door of your little friend group get together on new year’s eve, bags of snacks in hand, only to see you laughing with a guy he hasn’t seen before. there’s an unfamiliar feeling bubbling in his chest and he almost involuntarily thinks back to your conversation, to the fact that you really want to kiss someone once the clock strikes midnight — and it starts to mess with his head.

he’s quickly roped into a conversation with ricky and some of his other friends, though his eye seem to be glued to you instead of the people talking to him right in front of him; his eyes drifting back to you giggling along to whatever that strange guy was talking about every few minutes, the unsettled feeling in his chest spreading all over his body. “are you even listening?” gyuvin’s attention is ripped away from staring holes in that guys head when ricky addresses him directly, ricky’s hand on his shoulder bringing him back to reality.

“yeah, sorry.” the smile on gyuvin’s face is tight, ricky glancing to where you’re still speaking to the guy and it all makes sense to him. he sends gyuvin a sympathetic look and tries to keep up the conversation, though it’s clear gyuvin’s mind is entirely preoccupied.

when the calls for new snacks start, gyuvin immediately volunteers to filling the bowls back up in the kitchen, if only to avoid his eyes from drifting back to you and the guy — whose name is seunghan, he learned — and in turn dampening his mood even further. today is supposed to be fun, why is he moping around like this?

“what did the chips do to you? you’re practically glaring ar them,” gyuvin’s head whips around at your voice, the playful smile on your face lifting some of the heaviness in his chest when he sees you standing in the doorway.

“oh, hey.” gyuvin gives you a small smile and goes back to his snack duties while trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, “who’s the guy you’ve been talking to? you bring him along?”

shaking your head you reach over to steal a handful of cheese puffs gyuvin had just emptied into a bowl, “not me, but ahrin. his name is seunghan and she has her eye on him,” you mumble, “he’s funny and they both seem to like each other.” gyuvin nods, hand absentmindedly playing with his sleeves, “you think she’ll go for the new years kiss with him?” gyuvin asks, and you can tell he regrets the question as soon as he asked it.

you just shrug silently, the sudden mention of the kiss rendering you a little speechless. “ and you? you got anyone to kiss this year?” gyuvin says in an overly sarcastic tone, seemingly in an effort to loosen the tension a little. you snort at that, “ha ha, very funny. leave me and my romantic aspirations alone,” the lightheartedness in your voice makes gyuvin relax a little, and just when he’s about to speak, someone bangs against the kitchen door, demanding your attention.

“c’mon you two, we’re playing some games,” matthew calls before rushing back to the living room. you and gyuvin share a short glance before loading up on all the snacks and following suit, excited for the mess that is most definitely about to ensue.

two screaming matches, one round of (rigged, according to hao) just dance, three bowls of snacks and dozens of tears spilt through laughter later and the almost dreaded countdown to midnight is inching closer. the couples are slowly starting to separate from the group again, looking for an area that is less crowded and a little more romantic. your high mood is slowly starting to go down, the feeling of once again being the third wheel, in a way, accompanied by this off-putting feeling of loneliness in a room full of your friends bringing the self-doubt at the back of your mind to the forefront again.

gyuvin plops down next to you, stretching his long limbs with a groan, “god i hate sitting on the floor,” he looks around, the amount of couples in your friend group only now really hitting him, “damn, is that kiss really that important?” it was a rhetorical question, really, and he was speaking to himself more than anything, yet you turn to scowl at him.

you open your mouth to go on a rant about the lack of romance in gyuvin’s mindset when he suddenly turns to you, cheeks a little flushed but eyes filled with determination, “i’ll do it.”

you blink at him, “huh? do what?” gyuvin swallows, “kiss you. give you the new years kiss you want.” it takes a second for his words to register, before you splutter at him incredulously, “what— gyuvin why would we—“

“okay, time for the countdown! ten!” you hear from the other side of the room, and panic starts to fill gyuvin’s expression. “because i want to. i’ve been thinking about it ever since you mentioned it, and—“

“seven!”

“you said it was like saying that i have no idea what the new year will bring, but at least i will always have you, right?” his eyes search for yours, his pupils shaking and you nod, still a little stunned.

“four!”

“that’s exactly i want to tell you. so please—“

“three!”

“i want to be the one to give you your new years kiss. if you want—“

“two!”

and then, it happens. you grab his face and pull him close, hesitation for just a millisecond before your lips meet right as it reaches midnight. the fireworks outside colouring the sky feel almost pathetic in comparison to the burst of emotions exploding in your chest, it’s warm and fuzzy and just feels so right.

both of your faces are flushed bright red as your lips separate, but neither of you can keep from biting back the goofy smiles spreading on your faces. before you can even begin to think of something to say gyuvin leans back in, pressing another kiss to your lips.

and another. and another…and another.

you only separate for good when your giggles break through the kiss, gyuvin’s hands cupping your face, “i’d say that was a pretty good start into the new year, no?”

[gabrielsbubblegumbitch]

this may be hard to answer because we don’t actually know the characters too well yet, but what do you think vox and val actually *love* about eachother? it seems like it’s more than just sex between them, and i’m curious to know what you think their relationship is like outside the toxic or sexual parts

Anon, to me it is not hard to answer at all, I think about it constantly 🩵❤️ of course all I write is based mostly on my headcanons and interpretations.

So... What Vox loves about Valentino? First and foremost, he makes him feel free. Vox is very self-conscious; he has a lot of internalized shame that he tries to cover with his grandiosity and fake smile. Valentino is unapologetically himself, and no matter how annoying it can be, Vox admires it. He's like the least judgmental person, and except for his temper tantrums, he's quite chill. Vox can't handle something? Val doesn't care; he still thinks his boyfriend is smart and will figure shit out eventually. Vox discovers he's into some weird, socially unacceptable kink? Great, they can try it. Vox rambles for hours about sharks? Good, he has a passion; Valentino likes people with passion, he will listen, he likes his voice anyway. Vox, who has spent his whole life crafting this perfect narrative about himself, cherishes the opportunity to feel comfortable enough with other people (a lot of these things apply also to his friendship with Velvette) to act like an absolute idiot around them.

Also, I think Valentino can be a really amazing boyfriend - he can be funny, charming, and mindful of the other person. That's his whole thing; he deals with desires, and that's why people get addicted to him so quickly. In most cases, it inevitably ends with him taking absolute control over the other person and becoming abusive. But Vox is his partner, so he gets just those nice bits because Valentino knows he wouldn't be able to put him down like he did with Angel. Not that he'd want to; he likes having a partner who's equal to him, whom he can break only if he allows him to do so (yes, my reading of them is very BDSM-ish, don't @ me). Valentino wants to be loved, he loves the idea of love, surrounds himself with hearts but at the same refuses to adjust to societal norms in the way that makes him unlovable; every person he ever loved (in his mind, his obsessive desire equals love) rejected him eventually after he revealed his true nature to them. But not Vox. Vox accepts him as broken as he is, and despite all his toxicity, Vox is reliable, he's the most stable part of Valentino's life. He has the patience to deal with his mood swings, he can always find the solution when Val messes something up, he's willing to accept all the attention Valentino wants to give him, and he supports his passions (ruining lives, making weird porn and abusing people).

Essentially, their love is largely about finally finding the other person who is as bad as you are, who accepts you no matter what and helps you grow (become an even worse person).

And some additional things:

Valentino really likes how smart Vox is. He himself is impulsive and acts instantly on his urges because violence is always an answer so he's kinda impressed when Vox presents him with some elaborate plots.

Vox loves Valentino's creativity, aesthetic, and attention to detail. He really likes nice things, but he lacks the ability to understand the nuance that is necessary for creating art.

They both enjoy each other's sense of humor.

Vox really likes that Valentino is kinda dumb? He can take care of him, and he likes taking care of people because it allows him to prove himself as The Best Boyfriend. He doesn't necessarily gets the idea of unconditional love, so the fact that he has an opportunity to earn it makes him feel more secure in their relationship. That's also why he loves spoling Valentino with gifts which is perfect because Valentino loves being spoiled.

Valentino likes being a little silly when he's with Vox. At work he can't manage people with his competence, so he does it with fear. But yelling and throwing people around is exhausting; he sometimes wants to bedazzle his gun while watching some trashy reality TV and bitching about his hard day at work. It's okay because Vox is also a little silly.

Valentino generally helps Vox live life more. He helped him come out of the closet (in my headcanon Vox for his whole life struggled with internalized biphobia); shows him that emotions other than anger are acceptable and don't mean weakness; even small things like always insisting on getting nice meals (while Vox could live his whole life on black coffee and rice) or decorating their apartment with fancy yet useless stuff.

They're both power-crazy maniacs, so the idea of being with someone who is widely desired by others and could destroy them if they wished is just so incredibly hot.

Vox | Valentino | What they hate about each other

If you liked these you should definitely check out my fic

[knightyoomyoui]

[SMUT] TWICE Sana x Male Reader - "You Can Watch, But Do Not Touch... Unless I Consent You So"

WARNING: contains smut, R+18 content TAGS: honeymoon, rough sex, edging, titfuck, blowjob, doggystyle, full nelson, mirror sex, fluff, smut, newlywed, footjob WORD COUNT: 5200+

The hallway was full of laughter from you and Sana as both made their way into the hotel room you checked into, where you'll be staying for 2 days.

It was necessary so that you and her could get prepared easily for your wedding today, and it concluded smoothly as the priest eventually proclaimed the two of you to be husband and wife.

As newlyweds, you and she left the church instantly to head into your private place where you can rejoice together with your wife, just like usual couples do once they walk out with their wedding rings now attached to their fingers.

Carrying Sana in your arms, her hands were firmly locked around your neck as she looks at your side-profile with excitement equal to her own as you and her made your way inside the room as you opened the door.

You brought down Sana on her feet, engaging you again for another passionate kiss before she lets go and displays a bright smile that you always loved seeing from her.

"We did it, Sana." you said to her, wrapping your arms around her waist. "We fulfilled our promise to each other."

"It was all worth it, YN... and it even feels like I've won anything in my life now that I also got to achieve this one remaining thing I've been dreaming ever since I learned what is love all about... and that is to be married with a man that would treat me with care and looks at me like I am his whole world, and I'm really glad that it has to be you, YN." Sana gracefully said, pressing her palm on your cheeks as she giggled at your funny yet adorable appearance in her silly act.

"I love you, YN. I can't wait to see how the future holds upon us, now that it's up to us together to do whatever we want to have."

"I know, and I love you too, Sana. And we won't stop until the time considers it over."

You planted another quick peck at her lips before you walked your way into the bed and sat side by side with her. Staring at her beautiful dark orbs in the center of her pearly eyes, you had the notion of asking her, which piqued your curiosity.

"So... uhm, what shall we do now?"

"Isn't this the part where the two lovely couples get to full embrace their love now that their hearts are officially bound into one... without no limits?" Sana answered.

Her fingers slid upwards into your neckties and gently tugs it before she removes it on her own. Your smile shudders, encapsulating a hint of tense.

"Sana, a-are we really gonna do it?"

"Hmm... I guess so." She shrugs, tightlipped.

"Are you sure about this?" You asked her with concern. "I mean... are you ready to do this with me?"

Sana grabs your hand and softly looks at it as she caressed your skin with her slender fingers. "Ofcourse, I am. For you, I'm willing to try anything as long as it gives us joy and pleasure for good. How about you, will you join me in this?"

"There's no way I would say no that makes you happy and comfortable with me, Sana." You shook your head.

"Good. Then let's start. 

I've been waiting for this moment to come anyway."

For a second kiss, Sana took the initiative to pull your head towards her and move her tongue and lips. Your well-built body beneath your suit caught her hands' attention as they went wild in tandem with her sensuality.

With a mixture of astonishment and amazement that you are actually doing this with Sana, you made the decision to follow her lead and expressed your affection and fanciness to the fullest extent possible. But much to your surprise, just as you were about to touch her waist, she swatted it away. You discover Sana is looking at you with utmost seriousness at that point.

"Uhm... I-I'm sorry. D-Did I made y-"

"No, no. Don't take it that way." Sana calms you already, noticing already that you misintepreted her words. "I just... thought of something interesting to add."

"H-huh? What is it?"

"Do you remember how you've went through before you got to made me admit that you made fall in love for you too?"

"Oh... that? Yeah. You were hard to get. You were not an easy person. It took me a while to make you say it before I get to call you mine."

"Exactly. There, you got it." Sana acknowledged. "I'm not an easy person."

"I think... maybe I should consider trying it also on you whenever we're in our own space."

You were so invested in waiting for her slow words that's coming out of her lustful mouth that you didn't even realized she already pushed you to lay down in the bed.

"S-Sana... what are you doing?"

"Sshhh." She covered your lips with her index finger, her flirty way to signal you to stop talking. "You'll be fine. You'll be fine. I assure you, this will be fun~"

"Stay there, okay?" You just nodded. Sana went for her bag and opened it, taking out 2 handcuffs that made your eyes largened.

"W-where did you get that, babe?"

"Some helpful friends." She winked, wiggling the cuffs in her hand. "I suppose you what I'm going to do with this then."

You gulped. That's it, you had learned that between you two in bed, she prefers to be the one who gets to do what she wants to do. She has the power. The control.

In making out, she has to be the dominant one.

You have seen how intimidating and fierce Sana could be when she gets disappointed or mad, and you don't want to test her in your special day with her.

All you have to do... is follow and succumb.

"Now fix yourself for me, raise your both arms above your head."

You hesitantly complied, unaware of what Sana is planning tonight on you. You wouldn't be lying that despite of the strange and anticipation, you're liking also to witness her seductress side goes fully unleashed only for you to experience.

Because if you said that your wife Sana isn't attractive and seductive, who would you be kidding? You don't want to sound foolish when you say that." Cuffing your wrists on the headboard, she patted it before looking down on you. "I'll be right back, okay? I have something to show you."

She touched your cheek with a smirk before she left you and entered the bathroom, leaving you with your tremendous intriguing and the potential outcomes of how all of this would go with Sana in the next few minutes or hours.

She came back to you after a few minutes of doing some stuff you didn't know. It was not that long, but you can tell that she took time for it.

Because you couldn't comprehend what you were seeing in front of you.

Sana is dressed entirely in black lingerie, with the exception of the white bridal veil on her head, which she chose to keep on to give her appearance a touch more elegance, holiness, and seductive air. "You like?" She posed, tilting her waist while her both hands are placed on each side, combined with her breathtaking back arching almost perfectly to hypnotize you.

It's working, but you couldn't sure if you're accurate because you just can't describe exactly in words what's crossing all into your mind as your lovely wife does this to you, setting you up to not only own each other's hearts... but your bodies also.

"No answer for me? That's harsh. You're leaving me in the air. Maybe we won't start th-"

"N-no don't! I-like... I mean... I love it so much, Sana." You shook your head rapidly. You are astonishing to visualize."

"See? It wasn't that hard." She giggled, teasing you.

"Listen to me, pretty boy. You're gonna be under my orders for tonight, you hear me?"

You nodded with amazement at this side of Sana you've never seen before. Surely, you can thank all the Gods above for blessing you with such a perfect woman to serve and satisfy with all love.

"You're just gonna lay there, and you can only watch me but you can't touch me... unless I consent you so. Got it, baby?"

"Y-Yes Sana."

She slapped your thigh, eliciting a stingy ache in your skin. "I'll allow that... but there's one more thing you have to remember... call me mommy when I instruct you like this."

Not only you have to take a not mentally of that, but also the fact that you have discovered Sana's preferred kink when it comes on having sex. Totally you wouldn't attempt disobey her next time, considering that she's being a 'strict' woman that owns the entirety of you.

"I'm going to repeat myself again, but this will be the last. Are we clear, baby?"

"Y-yes, mommy."

"Very good. Now just lay there, relax... and enjoy the show." The volume of her voice is slowly decreasing towards the end, the more she bends as she crawls atop of you.

You watched her remove your suit, unbuttoning your polo and spreading it with your vest until your muscular chest and torso were exposed for her to be in awe.

She kissed each of your pecs and circled her fingertips on your nipples, sending shockwaves of tickles and arousal through your body.

Her crouching precisely on your now bulging pants isn't helping at all. She looks up at you and smirks devilishly; it seems like she felt your boner as you blushed heavily.

"Aww is my baby liking this already? Being played by her mommy so well?"

"U-uhmmm yes m-mommy."

"Then we're gonna have a lot of fun together. I'll make it entertaining so that my baby would be so much happy."

Sana slid her hands downwards, her touch waves at those six packed abs of yours that gives an impressive feature of your midriff. She licks each of the gaps, the softness and slimey texture of her drooling tongue makes you tickle and aroused more.

"A-ahh...."

Kissing the top of your belly button, her hands landed on the waistband of your pants and your boxers, based from hpw her fingers went deep as it clutched.

"I've been noticing that your friend down here is suffering too much, let mommy help you out~"

She tugged it downwards, leaving it half removed as she left it just on top of your knees

She viewed at your now exposed cock on its hard state, pointing towards at her before it twitched when you saw her lick her lips. "Do you know how many times mommy would imagine how big can you be?"

"Ahh shit..."

"Sometimes, I could notice the outline of it whenever we sat beside each other. I would then try my best to pretend I accidentally bump your crotch so that I get a feeling of it... and God, I almost felt dizzy thinking about the size of it wrecking my pussy."

She finally removed both your pants and boxers in your legs, making you fully naked compared to her.

"F-fuck, mommy y-your words..."

"It's all true, baby. Can you believe it? Mommy tried her best to be patient for you, so can you do it for me today too?"

"Yes mommy."

"Alright. Mommy's not gonna hold back anymore, okay? I've waited for so long."

She caressed your thighs and gently extended it for her to occupy more space to feast on the enormous meat served in front of her.

Her hands climbs up until you felt your testicles gets hanged and squeezed tenderly using both of her hand within the gaps of her thumb and index finger.

You blew more air, chest panting faster , fists clenching on the cuffs as you try to compose yourself. "Your balls looks so full. Can't wait for me to drain you until every last drop, baby."

Her right hand ascended, now grasping the base of your cock. She formed a fist around it as she gently began to stroke you dangerously slow.

"O-oh... oh my god."

"Stay still for me, baby. I need you not to let me down on this."

"I'll try my best f-for... mommy."

"It's so fucking big and thick~" Sana said as she bit her lips while staring at your cock being pumped. "I've finally got a hold of it... now it's time to find out how it tastes."

She directed your shaft to her opening mouth before she suckled your mushroom head and slowly slid down into your length, introducing you to a newfound pleasure that will leave you speechless at all.

"U-ughhh s-shittt..... grrrghh...." You moaned as you feel Sana's blowjob to slowly sped up as the pace of her head bobbing up and down increasing.

All of your toes and fingers are now curled, trying with might that you can still hold on much longer.

You accidentally flinched upwards as you felt Sana's tongue twirling around your tip, giving her a quick deepthroat. She looked up at you, shocked at what you did.

"I-I'm sorry..."

She didn't respond. She just stared at you, but to your surprise, you could feel her sucking go deeper as your head was now bumping the walls of her throat, accepting the challenge she thought you put up for her.

Your moans and groans even became louder. The familiar feeling of your abdomen tightening has made you alert; you squirmed a bit so you can fix yourself again while Sana continues to blow you.

"O-oh no... p-please, mommy I'm cumming."

Right in time, she felt your cock twitch in her mouth. She let it slip in her puckered lips, leaving your length all messed with saliva and pre-cum.

"No. You won't cum unless mommy told you so. Understood?"

You nodded, sighing a bit of relief that she stopped sucking you so that your end could be prevented.

Only for it to vanish instantly when you saw what she's doing after.

She removed her black laced bra, revealing her tasty looking breasts as it jiggled from the release. Suddenly, your thirst and craving has intensified.

She positioned back in your crotch, and you watch her present to you what she has in mind next.

Awakening back your cock into its full hardness, she gave it an introductory stroke before placing it on the valley of her supple mounds.

"We're just getting started, baby."

A sly smirk formed in her lips as she starts to lift and then drop her breasts as it suffocates your cock with its embrace. Sana is now giving you a wonderful titjob, her soft pillows is automatically sending you straight into euphoria.

"How does it feel?"

"It feels so freaking incredible, goodness gracious."

"Do you like how my tits graze all over your huge cock, baby?

"Fuck yes, mommy. It feels so comfortable, so good, oh God!"

"Would you love me to put these in your face and help you taste them?"

"Yes, I would really love it, please do it mommy."

"Then be patient and be a good boy for me if you want a reward."

You only nodded. Sana continues to glide her succulent breasts in your reddened aching cock, now being edged for 10 minutes.

More saliva and pre-cum scattered around her skin before she felt the familiar twitch again, leaving your cock on absent again. You whined as your cum almost escaped just when Sana lets go of your cock.

"M-mommy are we not done y-yet?"

"We're almost close, baby. Hang on for me, would you?"

"O-okay..."

She grabbed another chair from the dining area and placed it near the foot of the bed. Stacking your thighs with her legs all covered with black long stockings, she crossed it and posed sexily again on you.

"What about my legs, baby? Do you love my new stockings that I bought exclusively only for you?"

"They're simply look fitting in your legs, mommy."

"Good. And my feet?" She asked you as she rubbed your thighs with it.

"It feels relaxing. It's like I'm having a massage."

"Then you're gonna love this one. I'm going to try one more on you baby. Is that alright?"

"Just do me. I want my mommy to be happy."

She was touched at your thoughtful words. Her feet met at your cock, putting it in between before she pushed it to lay on your stomach and she ran the sole of her feet through the underside of your cock.

"Agh... f-fuck...." You muttered from Sana's excellent footjob.

Your wrists are now hurting a little bit for wiggling with desperation to escape as Sana continues to perform these pleasuring experiments on your throbbing poor cock.

The mushroom head of your penis has gotten slightly purple now from the several times it tried to contain your cum for releasing.

She picked up your cock and stroked it with both of her feet this time. The texture of the fabric of her stockings adds more satisfying sensation to her tantalizing actions.

The stockings got a puddle of wetness filled with a mix of saliva and pre-cum but Sana doesn't care. She puts down again your cock on your abdomen and massaged the underside with her left side while the other began playing on your now disturbed heavy balls.

You couldn't help it. You finally bended your knees from compressing it too much on the mattress to lessen the tightness that you feel. "O-oh my God... m-mommy I think I can't take much longer..." you whined.

"Does my baby want to cum so bad?"

"Please, let me mommy."

"Since you've been good and obedient...

Go on. Cum for me."

She took her legs off the bed and faced your cock again as she hurriedly sucked it. You joined her intensity and buckled your hips back and forth as you were fucking Sana's mouth ruthlessly, a bit of a payback for the torture she's been subjecting you to.

Abruptly, your vision turns to white, as does the entire mouth of Sana, as it was flooded by thick waves of your warm and salty cum, filling her up before she let go of your cock and swallowed your load.

"Mmmhhh... yummy, she said as she sipped on her cum-stained fingers and the slit of your cock to clean and ensure no drop would go to waste. "Good boy, so much cum dripping down on mommy's tummy."

You panted heavily as you were exhausted at the length of time you fought your urges. Sana reaches for the key but before that, she teased you once more again as she did a sultry short dance beside you while removing her black panties and wedding veil, her puffy pink pussy all visible to you.

The now naked Sana grabbed on your wrists. "Are you fine, baby? Was I too much?"

"N-not at all. It's my first time so it's all weird to me, but I'm not lying when I say that was one of the best things I've ever had."

"Great. And now for your reward..." She inserted the key on the hole and switched it. "You are now done watching me, I'll leave everything the rest up to you.

You can touch me now, baby."

As she unlocked the cuff on your other wrist, you quickly hooked your arm around her waist and pushed her towards you. Her breasts connected immediately in your face as you smothered them all over their softness before you started to devour her succulent caramel nipples and areolas while helping her sit down in your lap by elevating her legs on each side.

She grinds on your softening cock while you gnawed on her tits as she mashes her cleavage on your face. "Oohhh hehe aggressive aren't w-ooh mmh~" She moaned as she felt your strong hands kneading both of her soft asscheeks.

"Fuck, you've been testing me for quite long, mommy. You made me to be like this, and I'm not gonna be sorry for it."

"Then show me. Be harsh on your slutty mommy. Fuck her hard for edging her baby's cock and not letting him cum easily."

You might've released the most animalistic grunt ever as you lifted her body and stood your cock to point it through her pussy before you pushed her down, and you didn't go easy on her like she's been begging you to do so; you just quickly fucked her on a rampage.

She went crazy bouncing on your lap, screaming and moaning in shudder as her voice vibrated, echoing with the sounds of loud claps of her ass contacting your crotch.

You kissed her furiously, pushing her head at you by gripping her neck. Her breasts squished on your chest as you locked her figure with your other arm. Now that we are lying down together, the direction of your hammering in her abused pussy has gone upwards.

"FUCKKK ME!!! OH GOD DON'T STOP, DON'T YOU DARE STOP BABY, I'M GONNA CUM ON YOUR MONSTROUS COCK UGH!!!"

"SO AS I. TAKE IT ALL, MY SLUTTY MOMMY!!!"

You went for a strong three strokes before you buried your cock deep into her womb, splashing it with your second streak of baby batter.

Both of you exhaled together to rest for a little before you kissed again, and Sana pushed you away so that she could take most of the entire bedspace.

You realized that she did it so that she could position herself on all fours; she arched her heavenly back to purse her ass further to showcase it to her.

"Take me from behind next, baby~" Sana said. "Do you like my ass wanting for you?"

"Ofcourse I am. Look at how perfect it is." You slapped each of it as she giggled and purred. "Harder. Spank me harder!" You repeated, giving each juicy peaches a balance rough treatment.

"Do all you want, it's yours to devour baby. Mommy needs to be used." She wiggled her ass for you, her cheeks hypnotizingly rippled as you kneaded it before you buried your face on it giving a long lick on her pussy and her asshole.

As you gave it a lube atleast, you pressed the tip of your cock to her glory hole. "Are you ready, mommy?"

"Y-yes, just allow me to adjust okay? Nice and slow."

"As you wish."

You slowly thrust, eliciting a moan and a sigh from her. She stayed still for a while as you gritted your teeth at how extremely tight your wife is. You can go ahead now, baby."

You fucked her with ease, adding a delightful sensation for yourselves. Sana can feel how stuffed her rear was, thanks to your enormously thick meat that's been making her very amused and satisfied for more than an hour now.

Her body moves back and forth; her breasts are madly bouncing from beneath, and you can see a glimpse of them, effectively encouraging you to touch them.

So you did. You bent your body on top of hers as you grabbed her perfecbig big tits and joined them in their swaying movement while giving them a few squeezes.

You kissed her back and neck. Sana flinched, causing her to lose balance on her arms as she crashed safetly on the bed, her breasts are now compressed to the mattress.

Removing yourself on top of her, you altered your position to continue fucking her in the ass with a comfortable fashion. Sana's eyes enlargened, she didn't hold back any batch of loud screams and whimpers and you went fast on fucking her this time in a scissor angle.

Her one leg raised to the air, her side figure laying down, you kneeling and pounding her ass further with the remaining energy you got.

"FUCK! IT'S SO DEEP, IT'S POKING MY WOMB BABY! KEEP DOING IT, I'M ALMOST AT MY END!!!"

You couldn't wait much longer, you went all in as you penetrated her until both of you cum simultaneously, exclaiming a huge moan and grunts especially Sana who is both releasing and getting filled up at the same time with your thick cum.

"Let's go for one more, then... we can rest."

Sana offered her hand to you, and you voluntarily took it, escorting her to get up from the bed. She walked to the front of the body mirror, where she could admiringly see both of your naked bodies standing against each other, looking like a matching pair.

She went flushed at your touch when you rubbed her torso before you went for her breasts, groping them with care and juggled them on your palm.

It turned into another shivering huff and moan when she kissed you, twirling her head upwards to meet your face.

While on a heated session with her, you started to rub your crotch on her ass to tease her. Sana can feel how it's beginning to wake up and become huge again from the crack in her rear.

She raised her arms, initiating you for the last position she has in idea. "Lock me up and fuck me."

No other questions for clarifications or concerns needed, that's all you need to have for you to follow her clear instruction as you simply inserted back your cock on her squelching pussy still creamy from the mixture of your cum altogether.

Sana watches lustfully on the mirror the perverted act that you two are committing. Her handsome husband unforgivingly ramming his hardened wood on his gorgeous wife's tight and warm pussy.

She can obviously see how you give you entire effort to fuck her mindless and achieve the pleasure she's wanting to feel, and she wants to tell you exactly if you might not know yet how grateful and glad she was for you.

"Y-you're doing so great, babe. Let's c-cut the act now here. I just want to let you know that I-I love you and thank you for this. Really, I'm so happy that it's got to be you who I can share these kind of moments with."

You smiled as Sana patted you in the cheek after giving you that appreciative words despite of the stutters from the impact of your pounding.

"I love you too, Sana. I'm just as pleased as you are." You kissed her on the cheek before you quickened your pace, as your impending release has made it presence for you to felt.

Sana knew what it means so she gripped on the back of your head as her body being lifted up and down from the ground. With few more strokes to go, you exploded another and final load of cum inside her pussy.

"As much as I would love for us to continue, I know it's enough for now and we're both tired." Sana patted your head and kissed you in the lips. "We can do more of these next time, but for now... let's have some rest. You did a good job for tonight, baby."

"Thanks, mommy Sana." You chuckled. "That's a hell of a performance you had there for me by the way, you can't blame me why I started to get turned on."

Sana laughed and slapped your arm. "If you loved it so much then you'll going to have it anytime you want whenever it's just the two of us."

"You're simply the best." You nodded and kissed her again before both of you took a shower together and changed into a comfortable sleeping garments as the newlyweds laid on the bed, embracing each other onto slumber.

Few hours later, you suddenly woke up earlier than what you expected, but you wouldn't dare to complain more as you can see the city of Seoul about to welcome the early morning of a brand new day.

You stood in the balcony with your glass of water and stared at the peaceful view as you regained your senses.

Sana who just woke up also after finding that you were no longer on her side in the bed, approaches you and cuddled you from behind.

"Good morning, babe."

"Good morning, my wife." You kissed her crown.

"Can't sleep?"

"No, just woke up early. Still feeling a little tired though."

Sana chuckled and pouted embarrassingly. "Sorry, I guess?" "Cmon, we both had fun so its fine." You hilariously took her response.

You moved her on your side and faced her lovingly. Placing your hand with Sana's, your wedding ring were in contact as you entangled your finger to hers.

"This is just all surreal for me. Being in here, knowing that I almost done most of what I've been dreaming and wishing for my life when I was younger back then. Finish my studies, be a professional engineer, my family now living in a better house, have my ideal girl as my girlfriend to marry her someday... and destiny brought you upon to me, Sana.

I'm so blessed to have you, really. You've been an incredible and perfect girlfriend for me. You stayed even in our highs and lows, hardships and mellow,  some of it almost tried to spread us apart and let go, but you never gave up as much as I did. And now that you're standing here as my beloved wife after us getting married yesterday, that sums up everything I need to know and believe that you love me no matter what happens. And I'm telling you that I will never stop loving you back and now all we can do is to hope we can build a wonderful family soon and I'll be the happiest father alive with you, Sana, as the wife of our kids. I love you more than anyone."

Your lips twitched, eyes blinked rapidly as its watery from the tears gathered up by your emotions. Sana hugged you instantly to calm you down, not minding herself who's also getting teary because of your heartfelt message.

"I want us to stay like this forever, and we accomplished that, right? I couldn't just let myself to break up with you thatt's why I want to settle those problems that we had. I don't want that to ruin our plans in the future, and look what led us today. I love you too, YN. Our faith and support for each other should always be there to keep this relationship to be strong and steady. And as your wife, I promise you that I'll continue to help you as I improve myself. It can be useful, well... from what we did last night; yeah hopefully... we can have our own child or more to raise." Sana replied, caressing your back as you cried in her shoulder. She also started to sniff her tears away, getting affected by your honest and sincere sentiment. "D-do you think I can be a perfect mother?" "I always believed in you, Sana. Ofcourse, yes you will be." You stroked her silky hair, smelling the enchanting scent of her shampoo. Sana blushed and shyly smiled, glad that you think of her positive as usual.

"Sorry if I'm being like this, I even made you cry." You chuckled. "I'm just lucky to have you, Sana."

"What are you saying? Don't apologize for saying something wholeheartedly. We've been through a lot anyway. It may be done, but I know it was exhausting, so it's best to just let it all out. I'm here for you, YN. I'll take it all away and be the one who catches all your tears."

Sana cradled your head as she hummed pleasantly to proceed on comforting you. Closing your eyes, you indulged her caring behavior.

Glancing at the golden daylight approaching, the sunrise emerges between the two lovers embracing their shared genuine and unbreakable fondness together.

[vagabond-umlaut]

gojo satoru x reader fic recs (I)

‣ now that i've got loads of free time, thought why shouldn't i use it well by showing (few of) my fave authors their much well-deserved love, respect and attention? ^_^

‣ this is merely a list of works i've enjoyed reading. kindly heed the tags and warnings in each of them and consume content responsibly, at your own discretion. that being said, i own neither these fics nor the characters nor the above gif. enjoy reading! 🥰

⌀ all that is solid [series] by GrilledTandooriSmoke on ao3

one of the best series there is. period. the fluff, the angst, the drama, the humor, the romance, the friendship, the plot, the dialogues - everything is top-notch in this series, i'm telling you. bonus points for being narrated in both reader's and gojo's pov.

⌀ The King is But a Man [series] by Petrichorium on ao3 (@petrichorium on tumblr)

royal!gojo who's terribly in love with the reader x reader who's equally (but way more discreetly) in love with gojo. add to that, the trope of childhood sweethearts reunited as adults, excellent communication between the couple and a wonderfully-crafted world and dialogues - what more could you ask from a series?

⌀ Ten to None (Soulmate AU) (oneshot) by Oreosmama on ao3

a fic which i adore with every fibre of my being. i will not say anything more about this, except to request you to go read this. you'll love it. (especially the fantabulous ending. btw, did i already say how much i'm in love with how well-written this fic is?)

⌀ Scarred [oneshot] by cainis on ao3

one of the best angst-with-a-happy-ending fic there is. i wish i could give thousands of kudos for the heart-wrenchingly amazing way the author has portrayed gojo's character here.

⌀ Mother of otherness, Eat me [oneshot] by itsbaby on ao3

one of the most beautiful works i've read so far. told from yuuji's pov, it explores gojo and reader's relationship and its nuances in a way seldom done before. however, what stole the show for me, was the soft and sweet mother-son duo the reader and yuuji grow to be in this fic. i really love this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

⌀ something sweet [oneshot] by heresan on ao3 (@pretty-toru on tumblr)

i love love love this fic. it's so fluffy, so funny, so cute, so heart-warming... just read this fic, people. you won't ever be disappointed by the dynamics reader and gojo have in this one. one of my all-time faves, tbh.

⌀ teen dad Gojo [series] by pantao on ao3 (@seravphs on tumblr)

a sweet and realistic depiction of reader and gojo being teenaged parents to young megumi, all the while they try to figure out their feelings for each other. a perfect mixture of fluff, angst, drama, slice-of-life and romance, imo. (also, the author's notes are pure gold. whatever you do, please don't miss reading them! :D)

⌀ To see those eyes I prize above mine own (twoshot) by koyama on ao3

if you wish to watch godlike!gojo willing to let go of his powers, out of guilt and immense, immense, protective love for the reader, this is the ideal fic for you. i'm in awe of the way the writer wrote gojo's complex persona and the way the sorcerer realized his feelings for the reader. (the second chapter's the cherry on the cake. it's so good!!!!)

⌀ keeping up with the fushigojos (series) by @augustinewrites on tumblr

fluff? A+; angst? A+; drama? A+; characterization & dialogues? A+; humour? A+++++. a sureshot way to end a long hectic tiring day on a happy note is to read this series. (my go-to comfort series, ngl. :])

⌀ CAT & DOG (oneshot) by @mimiriko on tumblr

an adorable fic of gojo being in love with the reader, who knows, yet doesn't really know, much about it. plus, the feline-like features of gojo are sooo cute... and this fic is sooo sweet... the story left me smiling when i finished reading it.

⌀ surely summer wasn't over yet [3 chapters] by 3rdgymbros on ao3

an amazing fic set against the backdrop of the hidden inventory arc. the portrayal of the characters and their dynamics is simply impeccable. despite my kind-of-dislike towards this particular arc of the manga, i really enjoyed reading this one.

[mitsies]

isagi yoichi can’t take his eyes off you.

you’re not even wearing anything special— an old shirt that’s been demoted to pajamas and some short shorts that ride up dangerously high. your hair is tousled and in your face in a less-than-elegant way, and sleep drags at your eyelids. you’re not quite put together, not quite what you would consider presentable. but he’s still unable to look at anything but you.

today marks the first day of living in your new shared apartment. all the big furniture has been moved in, including the couch which is what the both of you were sat on now. your laptop, propped up on a box rather than a stand, plays some cheaply made film which you insist was really good. but you look more asleep than awake, so isagi doubts that you agree with your own sentiment. you’re exhausted, that much is obvious. he would be too, if your company didn’t always give him energy.

you’re curled into his side like a cat, head resting on his shoulder staring blankly at the screen. your shirt rides up in some places revealing lengths of skin that glow beneath the moonlight that slips in through the apartment’s windows. late night air filters in but all he really wants to breath in is you, and how you smell, and how you taste.

you must’ve noticed his gaze fixed on you at some point, because you turn your head to meet his eyes. you’re so pretty, he thinks, like this. laying on him, so beautiful, like an oil painting. he thinks you look unreal. a hand skims down your side, planting itself on your hip as he tries to bring you closer still. you hum, “yoichi?”

“yeah, babe?”

you purse your lips. “is there something on my face, or what?”

isagi blinks at you. “no, you’re good. why?”

“so you’re just staring at me, then.”

heat rises to his ears as he tries to fight a grin. god, he’s so in love with you— your words, your face, your whole entire being. “can’t a guy just appreciate his amazing, lovely, cool, spectacular girlfriend?”

you’re not stupid. you know that look, that hunger, those eyes. and the night isn’t over yet, you decide, as you rise from your place on his side, dragging yourself to be seated on his lap. he’s so stupidly enamoured by you, how you fit him above him so perfectly, and how you would fit even better beneath him. his hand finds your thighs and yours move to his jaw. he’s sure he’s equally a mess, hair mussed and bags beneath his eyes, but he’s also sure that he’s looking at you like you’re a greek god, and you’ve personally hung all the stars in the sky. some kind of angel, meant only for him.

“add a few more adjectives and we have a deal,” you tease, breath ghosting his cheek. he shivers beneath you. you know what you’re getting into.

it’s maybe 2 in the morning. the movie is still running on the laptop. the only things unpacked are a set of dishes, the couch, the bed, and an armoire. you’re a mess, he is too, and you’re both dead tired, but when he kisses you it’s like none of that really matters anymore.

his palms and fingers are digging into the flesh of your thighs, hot and heavy and demanding, as he tries to close any semblance of distance left. greedy, he’s so greedy, with how he swallows the surprised noise you let out when his teeth bite your bottom lip. you’re suddenly not so tired anymore, as you all but melt into his touch. pliant like a sculptor and his art, you allow isagi you meld you into anything he wants you to be, anything and more. a hand remaining on his jaw, the other travels to his hair as you try to pull him closer.

when the both of you finally break away for air, he can’t help but think you look even better now. breathless, your mouth hangs open a little as you breathe in sharp mouthfuls of air. your lips are reddened and swollen, and your pupils are blown up and god, you’ve got to be some kind of divine figure sitting on top of him like that. and he wants to ruin you.

the night is only young. the movie is almost over on the laptop screen. the only furniture that’s been unpacked is this couch, and your new bed. he grins at you, and it’s all teeth. (you know what you’re getting into.)

isagi yoichi can’t take his eyes off you.

[tightjeansjavi]

Like Real People Do

Joel Miller x f!reader

A/N: @peterhollandkait came up with this tooth achingly cute idea and I just had to write it ♡ ♡ ♡

Summary: You, Joel, and Ellie arrive in Jackson for the first time. Joel sees your real smile for the first time in months, all thanks to Jackson’s horses.

~word count : 2.0k~

Warnings: some angst, protective! joel, soft! joel, established relationship, so much fluff, comforting themes, joel is so soft! you will literally feel your heart clench and tears will fall on the screen! some swearing, banter, teasing. No use of y/n, (+18) minors dni !!

Songs used:

“Like Real People Do” by Hozier

“Kiss Me” by Ed Sheeran

“You and Me” by Niall Horan

Joel Miller has not seen your true, real smile in months. He doesn’t even remember what your sweet, infectious laugh sounds like. He hasn’t heard it in so long. The journey you, Joel and Ellie endured together, was a rough one. It started with Tess dying, Bill and Frank, Sam and Henry and just minutes ago, you and Joel almost lost Ellie.

You both felt numb, weak, vulnerable when the possibility of losing her, became very real.

The ride into Jackson was a somber one. You listened to the familiar sound of horses hooves crunching beneath the snow as the three of you rode into town for the first time.

You couldn’t help but lean down from the saddle, giving the horse you were riding, a gentle pat on its neck.

Joel was riding alongside you and you could feel his gaze fall upon your face. You had yet to speak a word, and he was visibly concerned.

You had met his gaze and gave him a slight nod. There was a smile tugging on the corner of your lips, but it didn’t reach your eyes.

Ellie had noticed your demeanor had changed gradually over the course of the months that you traveled together. It was slow at first. A change that didn’t take place overnight.

The thing was, you all had gone through some form of change. It was inevitable to evade.

Ellie held the same look of concern as Joel had. She pulled her horse up alongside his leaning over as she spoke.

“Hey, is she…is she alright Joel?”

Joel let out a breath of air as he looked over the kid that he had grown so fond of as if she was his own. He used to view her as a burden, cargo to transport. Now? Ellie was practically his daughter. His daughter, that he nearly lost today.

“I’m not sure, kiddo. She’ll be okay though. Don’t go worryin’ yourself alright?”

The three of you were visibly amazed when the tall, wooden gates of Jackson were opened as you rode through. You never believed that a town like this would work. That you would ever see a community thrive like this. Kids running, laughing. Smiles, people hugging, more smiles. It felt as though you were in a simulation. The sweetest dream that you never wanted to wake up from.

Joel had halted his horse suddenly. His eyes were focused on a man, who was hauling wood to build a structure. It was Joel’s younger brother, Tommy. You could see the shock, confusion, and relief wash over Joel’s features when he realized it was his brother.

“Tommy!” He shouted. His tone laced with disbelief that his brother was actually here, in front of him, and very much alive.

You watched them embrace, hugging each other so tightly. Joel nearly had tears in his eyes as he felt an overwhelming rush of emotions course through his veins.

“What the fuck you doin’ here?” Tommy asked. He was in equal disbelief that his brother was here, in front of him, and very much alive. The last thing Tommy expected was for Joel to come all this way looking for him.

“I came here to save you.”

They embraced again, Joel laughing, with the biggest smile on his face.

Maria and Tommy had shown the three of you all that Jackson had to offer. Ellie was sticking close to your side, with your arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Joel walked behind you, always feeling like he needed to be there to protect you, and Ellie. Even in this town, this paradise, he was on guard.

As soon as you heard a familiar whinny, your ears perked up in the direction of the stables. Ellie had zoned in on the beautiful brown foal with her head curiously sticking out above the open stall door. Ellie had grabbed your hand as you two quickened your pace, stopping just outside the stall door.

Shimmer, as you came to learn her name, softly nickered as Ellie had gently started to pet her, pressing her soft velvet nose into the teen’s warm gloves.

“What’s her name?” Ellie had asked Maria.

“Shimmer.”

Ellie had given the filly a kiss on the nose. Speaking softly to her.

“Shimmer, you’re so beautiful.”

You were gently petting Shimmer’s mom, a soft Palomino mare. She immediately reminded you of your old mare, Honey. You were holding in your tears and Joel could sense it.

“How many horses are on the property?” You asked.

“Thirty. Counting our newest member.”

Ellie had given you a little nudge, a genuine smile on her face. “Did you hear that? 30 horses! We should totally go and pet them all. C’mon.” This was Ellie’s way of attempting to cheer you up. You had taught her everything you knew about horses and she wanted to share this moment with you.

You had looked back at Joel for a moment and he had given you a small nod in return.

“Would that be alright, Maria? If we went inside and checked out all the horses?” You asked.

“Of course.”

Ellie had grabbed your hand once more, finding the opened door to the stables as you walked in together.

“So, what are we thinking? Are all these guys Quarter Horses, or Mustangs?”

“I’m thinking of a mix of both. It’s hard to tell with their winter fur being so thick.” You gently touched each horse's nose, as you walked past their individual stalls. The familiar barn smells of hay, grain, and horses washed over you. It took you back to your days on your uncle's ranch, long ago.

“This one is a Paint though, right?” Ellie had stopped in front of the next stall. “Woah, this guy has a blue eye, and a brown eye. That’s so sick!”

“That’s right kiddo. This one is a Paint.” You spoke with a soft smile. “You remember the different coat colors I taught you, right?”

“Yeah! So this guy is a chestnut Paint?”

“Bingo. You’re right on the money with that one kid.”

Neither of you had heard Joel enter the stables. You both were too immersed in the horses to hear him. He had quietly leaned against one of the stall doors, his arms crossed over his chest, with a big grin on his face as he watched his girls fawn over the horses.

His heart warmed at the sight of you smiling again. He killed to see it and now here it was, written across your pretty face, that he adored, loved, fought for.

Ellie had looked up from the horse she was petting and when she spotted Joel, she had that little mischievous grin as she walked over to him. She gave him a light punch to his shoulder.

“Dude, I know you got it bad for her but like, do you really need to stare that much? She might start thinking that you’re a creep man. You’re always staring at her.” She teased him.

Joel grumbled in response as he uncrossed his shoulders from his chest and gave his kid a begrudgingly light punch back. “I ain’t starin’ that much. What’re you talkin’ about? Just admirin’ her smile is all. There somethin’ wrong with that?”

Ellie let out a soft giggle, shaking her head. “Damn, admiring her smile, really Joel? You big ole softy.”

Joel gave her a slight warning look when she called him a softy.

“I ain’t a softy.”

“Okay, old man. Whatever you say!”

“Ellie–don’t you start with that shit–” he let out a sigh, rubbing his gloved hand over his face. “You little shit.” He muttered under his breath as she was walking back over to Shimmer.

You were further down the stalls, stopped in front of the last horse that was a leopard spotted Appaloosa. Only then you could hear the heavy footsteps of Joel’s worn boots approaching you.

“Hey.” You softly spoke, gently stroking the horse's forehead, while twirling a piece of its long forelock between your gloved fingers.

“Hey, darlin’ You–you alright?”

You let out a soft sigh, your lashes fluttering as you looked up at him, giving him a small, reassuring nod.

“I’m okay, Joel.” Images of Ellie getting mauled by that dog outside of Jackson, flashed through your mind. Ellie was safe, she was alive and petting Shimmer, you silently reminded yourself.

“Are you sure? We can–we can talk about it if you want?” he spoke softly to you, fumbling over his words because he too was afraid of losing Ellie. His main concern in his mind, at that very moment, was you.

“Joel, Please. I don’t–I don’t want to talk about it.” You looked away from him feeling the tears begin to prick in the corner of your eyes as you blinked them away.

“Hey, darlin’–honey?” He gently grasped your chin between his gloved fingers, tilting your head towards him so you were looking at him once more.

You let out a shaky breath when your eyes met his concerned ones.

“Do you remember what breed of horse this is?”

“Leopard Spotted Appaloosa.” Your man didn’t miss a fucking beat.

“Between Ellie’s shitty puns, and your constant horse facts, you think for a second I wasn’t payin’ attention? I love hearin’ her shitty puns and your silly horse facts darlin’ Could listen to them all goddamn day.” Joel’s words sent the tears you were holding at bay, free falling down your cheeks.

“You really paid that close attention to my horse facts? I never thought you really cared for them.”

“Oh, Honey. C’mere.” His heart was breaking deep in his chest when he saw your tears fall. He was already pulling you into his arms, wrapping you up in his warmth as he hugged you tightly. “I love ‘em, and you taught me everythin’ I need to know about horses darlin.’”

Damn this man. Damn him for being so gentle with you. Damn him for listening to your silly horse facts and remembering them. Damn Joel Miller for loving you so tenderly.

“You’re terrible. You know that cowboy? Damn you.” You spoke with your cheek firmly pressed against his chest, listening to his heart beat, and his deep chuckle that vibrated through you.

“You don’t mean that, sweet girl. You love me for it.”

“I do.” You whispered.

He gently lifted your head from his chest, holding your face in his gloved hands as he stroked your cheekbones with his thumbs. His forehead was lightly resting against yours, lips nearly touching.

“We’re gonna be okay. All three of us. What happened back there? Ain’t ever gonna happen again. I swear to you darlin’ I'm gonna keep you and Ellie safe. Whatever it takes.”

Your arms were loosely wrapped around Joel’s middle, feeling his warmth through his thick coat. “No. We’re gonna do everything we can to keep her safe. You and me. Whatever it takes, we’re keeping her safe. We’re a team Joel, remember? I got you, you got me.”

“I got you, you got me. Always.”

Your lips lightly brushed against each other, before the gap was closed. It was the softest, sweetest, heartfelt kiss you had shared together. Joel Miller kissed you, like real people do.

Ellie had seen the whole thing go down from where she was petting Shimmer and she let out a playful gagging sound.

“Oh my god, gross! Really you guys? In front of the horses? Shimmer, close your eyes! You don’t wanna see that! Yuck!”

You pulled away from Joel’s sweet embrace with a soft, heart melting giggle as you looked over his shoulder at Ellie.

“He started it, he kissed me first!”

“Oh yeahh, I'm sure he did! Y’know there’s young eyes watching! Gonna scar these poor horses man!” Ellie said with a laugh.

Joel kissed you once more, just for good measure, and you could feel his grin slowly appearing when Ellie let out another sound of disgust at her adoptive parents making out in the middle of the fucking stables.

How fucking adorable.

[mishffy]

so i recently came into ownership of an early 2000s version of la luice's iconic 2 way rabbit rucksack, and i happen to also have a brand new one i recently bought and haven't taken out yet, so im in a position where i have both bags new with tags and around 20 years apart in age! i was inspired by josine maaike's blog post where she did a comparison of her two rabbit bags, and since my models are slightly different from hers i wanted to do the same so that there are more resources out there on these adorable guys

lets start off with the tags

the older one came with only one attached tag, while the 2024 version came with 3. the older tag is a light yellow whilst the new one is pink, but the art is the same

here are the backs. as you can see, they both have some info like item number and some contact info, but the new one is more detailed and you can see how their email and website url have changed. this is how i was able to date the older one as being from the early 2000's, since the website on the tag was out of use by la luice by late 2005. the older one also has a warning that its a hand dyed product and you need to take care when washing. which leads us onto the tags inside the bag!

the old one has no brand tag, but had a small wash tag, whereas the new one has a brand tag but no wash tag! we know la luice bags were often credited as being from the brands that stocked them (meta, putumayo, spica), and them having no actual tag sewed in from la luice would explain why this might have happened so often.

now lets look at physical differences...

you can see a colour difference from the old one (left) and new one (right). im not sure whether this is from the dyeing process being different or just age

their faces are also a notable difference. the newer one has a very shapely face (he is a chiselled chad) whereas the old one has a round baby face and a more bulbous nose thats sits on top of his snout.

the ears on the new one have some wire in them to give them the straight appearance, whilst the ears on the old one flop straight down.

and look at the collars! the old one has a droopy ribbon tie while the new one has a layered lace bow tie

the lace they used in the ruffles at the bottom was also different. the old one has little flower wreath patterns while the new one has a rose pattern, but the most notable difference is the layer of lace added to the bottom of the new one (right)

lastly, and a very minute detail, but the hardware on the old one was more of a screw shape whereas on the new one its a beaded design.

overall, in my opinion these two bags are both perfect and for being so far apart in age they look suprisingly identical. the quality and attention to detail is equally amazing in both so you really can't go wrong with la luice. thanks if you read this far!! id be interested to hear about any similarities and differences from your la luice bags.

[naomihatake]

Solitude

you can find other zoro fics here: Naomi's archive

pairing: zoro x fem reader

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff, consumption of alcohol

summary: One would expect the swordsman to unwind after a battle, but there are times when he can't help but think. Alcohol doesn't always come in handy when a specific crewmate he grew fond of cuddled a tad bit too close to his heart.

word count: 3.3k

theme song: 'Daylight' by David Kushner

A/N: It can be imagined with both anime and opla Zoro. I don't know if he's slightly ooc or not, but I genuinely wanted to dig into this side of a relationship with the swordsman. The awkward times when he's getting used to it and simply accepting everything as a new part of his life.

I didn't forget about my multi chapter fiction, I just didn't find the inspiration for the 8th chapter. I couldn't help but write this for my own comfort and I want to mention that this original art of @tea917339 inspired me (check it out, it's absolutely amazing!!!)

I'm always open for your opinions and comments, so don't be shy about sharing your thoughts with me! <3

Usually, nights with the Straw Hats were lively, even after battles that left the crew members injured and bleeding. They would pick each other up and cheer up by simply bickering — that's what Zoro thought. 

The same way Luffy's hand extended to help him back on his feet after he plopped down on the ground to rest. The same way Zoro reassured Chopper after the kid tried his best not to get emotional afterwards. The same way Sanji threw some remarks and the swordsman spat back in annoyance. And, for fuck’s sake, Nami reminded him for the tenth time that day he owes her berry for something he completely forgot about. Usopp was sighing in relief every time he remembered they escaped with life again while Robin agreed with a soft smile on her face. Truly, it was almost insane — Zoro wouldn't exactly call that a miracle because he's doubtful of its existence. 

However, he couldn't bring himself to cheer up once the celebration of their victory was over and everyone went into their rooms. He was on the night watch and all he found himself capable of doing was burying in memories of all kinds, be it happy or not. With not enough alcohol in his system yet, it was rather hard to push those thoughts into the back of his head. 

The swordsman sat on the deck, his back resting against the wooden cabin. Hidden from prying eyes, he found peace in the temporary silence. Rare were the times when the crew was so peaceful and it was usually during the night, when they were asleep, because otherwise they would've caused a mayhem. 

The side of his mouth curled upwards at that thought. It was equally annoying and endearing, since in the months spent with them he found a lot of things about himself. Like the fact that he found his crew to be a family, like the way he sometimes found peace even in the chaos caused by them. 

Or like the presence he grew way too fond of along the way. That witch — she truly was one, judging by the effect she had on him. Only a spell could've made his mind get so clouded, only some unknown force could've managed to soften his edges so well. She joined the crew from the first day and he believed that a spell had been casted upon him since the first time they gazed at each other. 

Right. Zoro gulped down. The effect she had on him was equally annoying and pleasant. 

Annoying because he should've focused on his promise to Kuina, not get lost in between fairytales. He wasn't by any means the charming prince riding a white horse and he didn't intend on becoming one anytime soon. It filled him up with feelings unknown to him. Zoro might be a fan of adventures and he had rather insane ideas — as one might say —, but such sentiments were an entirely new path to walk on. 

First and foremost, it bothered him the fact that he wasn't sure he could fulfill both his promises and whatever the fuck was going on between him and the witch. He couldn't pinpoint what was happening, it was all in a blur, even if everything was clearing up whenever he saw her. 

That's when he's reminded why he likes their relationship — what kind of, he didn't know. When he saw her, there were always sparkles in her eyes and the smile on her face would grow wider, lines of happiness appearing on her cheeks. The curl of her lips would make his heart skip a few beats and he would relax his shoulders unconsciously. Eyes filled with joy looked at him as if he was the very reason behind her purest sensations. 

Also, not to mention how warm the depths of his chest felt when she was near. The heat would rise to his cheeks, which he sometimes found uncomfortable, but Zoro never ran away. A side of him wished so badly to go the other way and never look back, ignore her and those stupid damned feelings, but he never gathered enough courage to do so. Every single time, he would remain stuck, with his eyes stuck on her frame and fingers aching to touch and lips tingling to kiss. 

God fucking dammit. 

With a curse rolling off his tongue casually as he closed his eyes, the back of his head collided with the wooden wall he rested his back against. Zoro sat with his knees bent and feet planted onto the floor, only his Wado Ichimoji in his proximity. With its hilt glued to his shoulder, the sheathed sword was in between his fingers. By that time, he held it for comfort.

If that's what he could call it. The swordsman wasn't sure what else to associate it with. Or was it familiarity? The white sword was the only memory he had of a long lost friend and his first home at the dojo, by the side of his sensei. It was the only object tying him to his past, to his beginning, to times when he was much weaker, but determined nonetheless. 

To care about his promise was familiar. Zoro wouldn't give it up — proof was the simple fact that he still achieved to become the strongest swordsman in the world. One day, he will meet Mihawk again and when he does, he will be stronger than the first time he encountered him at Baratie. 

Looking back, it's been so long since. So long since a new life appeared before his eyes and he accepted it with no hesitation. He was a pirate, a Straw Hat, Luffy's first mate. The swordsman swore to help his captain achieve his own dream. 

Those promises were familiar. The erratic heartbeats caused by the witch weren't. The sensation settling in the pits of his stomach when her gentle fingers would brush over his arm weren't. It was foreign and it didn't sit well with him. 

Kuina. 

He still saw her face in his dreams sometimes and it was usually her ghost haunting him. Other times, in her place would be one of his friends and each time it was harder to fall asleep. 

When awake, memories of her replayed so vividly in his mind. Swords clashing together and whistling as they cut the air in half. A grin brightening up Kuina's face when he would fall on his butt and cuss her out again. They promised that one of them would become the greatest, but he was the only one capable of that, because her bones lay in a grave somewhere far away. 

Zoro opened his eyes and stared at the night sky with scars scattered all over it. A calming view, even if there was tumult inside of him, hidden in between ribs that broke with each new pump of his heart. His brown eyes fell to the floor and he crossed his arms on top of his knees, gripping the sword tighter. His chest puffed up with air when he inhaled and he let out a heavy sigh. 

“Zoro?” a soft whisper made him jump out of his thoughts. 

The swordsman snapped his head and he was greeted by the sight of someone he didn't even know he was searching for. A side of him wished to say something along the lines of “fuck off” while the other side desperately wanted to soak into her presence. 

A witch, indeed. 

His eyes ran up and down her figure. She didn't seem surprised to find him there, in a rather hidden spot, which meant she didn't search for too long. Did she even search for him or did she also wish to be alone for a while? The first place to search for someone during night shifts was the crows nest. 

She held two bottles of what he guessed to be alcohol and she swung them carefully before stepping closer. His chest tightened and he found it harder to breathe, even if it was inevitably easier than before at the same time. For some reason, she had that effect on him. 

Maybe he knew that reason all too well, but he just avoided thinking of it. 

“You told me we'd drink something together,” she reminded him in that warm voice of hers. 

The sweet melody that calmed his nerves. 

He didn't know what kind of energy radiated off him, but her behavior was far more gentle than usual. She wasn't hesitant, the witch never hesitated around him, she was just mindful of her actions and words. 

He didn't know why for a second he saw understanding in the curl of her lips when she crouched down. Unconsciously, Zoro knitted his eyebrows together in confusion at her gestures. 

The bottles hit the floor and she let go of them. Her eyes sparkled like they always did, but there was something different that time — a warmth they held only when she comforted Chopper or encouraged Usopp. Warmth similar to the shy rays of the sun of the morning, when the cold is still lingering and there's a specific scent in the air. Gentleness he only ever saw in her, because Luffy's kindness was different. 

A warmth so humane that was visible for the crew alone or those in need of it. 

The witch recognized something in his demeanor and Zoro had no clue what that was about. He could only see it in her gaze. 

“I suppose it isn't really the perfect time for me to butt in, hm?” she whispered. 

Like a promise only for him to hear. A secret. 

“How'd you find me here?” he found himself speaking before he thought it through. 

The question made her shrug. 

“I pick up easily on your energy. It's quite unmistakable, y'know?” 

There it was — one of the main reasons why she had the nickname of Witch both on the ship and outside of it. She's spoken about that for a few times and he had to admit he understood what she meant. However, the swordsman only felt those “energies” (as she liked to call them) in specific moments. He remembers that time in Lougetown when everything felt like energy instead of palpable objects, the reason why he won that fight. 

Sometimes he seriously wondered if she hadn't met his sensei at some point in her life. 

“What is it like?” once again, he asked before thinking. 

The witch pulled her lips in a tight line and hummed, gathering the right words to describe it. Her gaze bounced around and she grimaced once, when she probably found her choice of words to be unpleasant or inappropriate — she always scrunched her nose when it was difficult to find the proper terms. 

“It's sharp, but warm. Kind of steady, constantly flickering. For example, Luffy's energy is always all around the place and Chopper's gets out of control easily. Robin has the steadiest energy of all of us, even if it was kind of… strange lately.” 

Zoro arched his eyebrow at the last piece of information and only received a hand waving through the air. 

“Ignore the last part, I'm still figuring it out myself. No need to worry.” 

The swordsman knew the energy she was talking about was different than what he felt when she was in presence, but he wondered if whatever laid in her heart interfered with her ability to distinguish his being from the others. 

He watched as the witch looked at the bottles next to him and then clicked her tongue, deep in thought. 

“I don't know if they'd help you tonight, but I'll let you be.” 

None of those words were accusatory. They were all coming from a place of kindness and patience. 

Suddenly, her fingers curled around his bicep, below the bandana wrapped around his arm. Skin on skin, her touch was hot and pleasant, even if very confusing. 

What was she thinking? 

His puzzled feelings were written on his face. Uncertainty laid in his dark brown eyes and his fingers held onto the sword tighter. He didn't even notice when the grip on his Wado Ichimoji loosened up. 

Her gaze was reassuring as ever and she gently rubbed her thumb into his tensed muscles. 

Zoro had to at least admit to himself that vulnerability was uncomfortable. Without spoken words, she picked up on it. 

“I don't know for sure if I'll get to sleep tonight, so you could cut your night shift in half.” She's having issues with nightmares again? he silently wondered. “I'll be in my room, reading. Do what you see fit.” 

Instantly, she was back on her feet with her back straight and walked away. The swordsman didn't know what happened or what he should understand. 

He was utterly and completely confused. What just happened? 

Oh. The witch gave him space and time to think. She also told him where she was in case he decided to grip at the promise of comfort and hold tightly onto it. The opportunity laid right in front of him and he was the only one to decide whether he used it to his advantage or not. 

Zoro didn't notice when his shoulders relaxed. His body wasn't as tense as a few minutes ago, his back didn't feel as stiff. The exhale he left wasn't heavy anymore. 

The swordsman knew what this was about. Maybe it was the time to just accept his feelings and get on with it. He had to suck it up and deal with it, even if dealing with her wasn't the right way to word it out. It always felt more like she was dealing with him. 

With closed eyes, he remembered the last time her lips brushed by his. Gosh, it was so hot and his blood was bubbling like lava in his veins. It wasn't an accident, he intended on kissing her back with fever, but he had a hard time accepting everything. It was… weird. Facing that reality was troublesome. 

She has yet to lose her patience. The witch remained firm and each one of her questions were answered by gestures instead of words — something familiar for him. She was far more skilled with expressing herself even when sensitive topics came up. 

That was a miracle. Her presence alone could be compared to a miracle because it was completely unexpected and somehow always caressing him the right way. It was scary how accurately she could read him and the same applied to him. 

The sky before his eyes continued to sparkle with stars and he remained still in his place. His fingers caressed the scabbard of his sword as he blinked in the darkness, the chill air of the night invading his lungs. 

It was complicated and so simple at the same time. Zoro knew the answer — he just had to come to terms with it. 

Just as age promised, the witch sat on the bed in her room with a blanket warming her up. The lamp on the nightstand by her side casted a golden light over the pages of a book sitting in her lap. It was hard to focus on the story — a captivating part of pirate's history, sometime before the appearance of Gold D. Roger.

Her thoughts were followed by the swordsman. Zoro's mood was… sad at best. She didn't expect to find him in that state, but she quickly came to the conclusion that leaving him alone might do him good. 

She tapped her finger over the pages of the old book and clicked her tongue. Was it right to leave him? The witch never saw him in a similar mood and she also realized she didn't know how to help him. There could be a lot of ways to bring him back to earth or at least keep him afloat. Those ways were only known by him. All she could do was guess and hope for the best outcome. 

Heavy footsteps echoed on the other side of the door. When it opened wide, there was Zoro's tall silhouette, his white sword in his hand and one bottle of alcohol in his other. He came closer, his face hard as a stone. The pink hue painting his cheeks was the only detail giving away the fact that he drank one of the bottles she brought hours ago. 

“Why aren't you sleeping yet?” he said with a gruff voice as he plopped down on the mattress. 

There were only a few hours left before the sun would rise up from the sea. 

“You've probably guessed already,” she averted her eyes from his figure. 

“Nightmares again?” 

The witch only nodded, eyes focused on the book. Zoro let the sword against the couch. 

“I won't fall asleep, so you could as well take a night off,” only then she looked at him again. 

His darkened eyes have been locked on her since he entered the valley. The witch wanted to move, to eventually get away from his knowing gaze, but she knew there was no possible way to do it. 

“Are you alright?” she blurted out. 

She had to fill that silence with some kind of conversation. Maybe that wasn't exactly the wisest decision, considering his shoulders visibly tensed and he straightened his back. A frown appeared on her face. She regretted talking. 

The witch figured out he needed more time to sort his thoughts. 

“Why don't you go to sleep?” she tilted her head to the side. “The fight has worn us all out. You could rest for a while.” 

“And you?” 

“We'll be sailing for a few days. I can sleep ‘till afternoon.” 

“Nothing will happen for as long as you're on this ship with us,” the reassurance slipped so easily. “Do you trust us?” 

“More than anything,” the witch responded with a faint smile. 

Several weeks ago, her answer and reaction would've been so different. She made so much progress since she first met them, her trust now fully laying in their palms. Long ago, she would've backed away at such a question and, if they were lucky enough, the witch would admit she “needs time to adjust”. 

At first, all he did was lean close enough for his shoulder to touch hers. The swordsman only intended to enjoy some peace while he shared his booze with the witch. From time to time, she'd gulp from the bottle and then give it back to him before continuing her lecture. After each two minutes, the room would be filled by the rustling of pages. 

It didn't last long until he fell into her trap and tiredness dragged him glued to her. With his head in her lap, Zoro bumped his nose in her thigh. The witch's fingers ran through his hair and he let out an audible exhale, eyes closing instantly. Greeted by darkness, he felt warm not only on the inside. The blanket she curled around herself earlier was now covering his upper body as he sunk into the soft mattress and her. 

One of his hands curled around her knee and he dug his fingers into her flesh. Her leg jerked slightly at the unexpected touch, but when he tried to move away, she muttered a sweet “It's okay”, stopping his movements. 

The oxygen in his lungs was exchanged with her perfume and he bit back a groan. Her voice was like a lullaby, even if there weren't many words rolling off her tongue. Zoro wasn't bothered by the light of the lamp, completely forgetting about the world around him once her fingers continued running through his hair. 

His hand traveled up, until it fully rested on her thigh, the warmth of her body seeping through the thin material of her pants. Truth be told, he's never felt better. 

She was a remedy. His remedy. 

“Good night.”

Zoro heard her whisper solely because he was near her; otherwise he would've confounded it with the night breeze. 

Maybe giving in to her affection isn't that bad. 

[freuleinanna]

I'm still confused about Verna.. I thought she was a demon?? Because why would Death be going around making a bunch of deals with people? After Verna told Pym she decided to go "topside" I thought she was some kind of crossroads demon since it implies she came from below (hell)

Oh! I feel you, and I struggled with that a lot too. She does seem a lot like a demon. I'm not saying I'm 100% correct in my thinking either, but here's why I personally think she's Death. Kind of a long post, sorry. I hope I make myself clear, but feel free to follow up!

So, Verna. An anagram for Raven, that much is established. Ravens are wonderful - symmetrical even - creatures. Bringers of death in a wide understanding. Bringers of good luck in many cultures. The duality is amazing. To me, that also leans majorly into the theme of death being a concept of duality: an enemy for some, a friend for others. Each greets her differently. I'm not talking about the characters here, but people in general.

There's a proverb I came across a while ago that reads 'Death is a great leveller'. Meaning, everyone's equal before her. You have no leverage or buffer against death, and it doesn't matter if you're poor or blindly, feverishly, grotesquely rich (like our folks here). Everyone pays the last bill. For everyone, there's a day of reckoning. It's a major theme with the show, at least. Verna also says 'Buy now, pay the bill later' - although it can still read very demonic, I agree.

She's obviously ancient, and I was leaning toward the demon theory based on all of her talking. Yet - she also keeps ranting about Egypt and pyramids and Cleopatras and such. What's the one thing with Egyptians everyone knows of? They honored death. Death may have been a bigger part of their lives than life itself. The Usher Twins' obssession with all things Egyptian, antiquities, jewelry, swords and such, plays a nice parallel here too, because they're just collectors. They have no grain of honor for the real thing, for what these things are tied to. Kind of a nice thought, I guess.

Anyway, back to Verna. She says on multiple occasions how intrigued she is with us, 'adorable little things'. She saw the pyramids, the expeditions, and she wanted to see what else we do, she wanted to see what Roderick and Madeline will do (in her own words). It's all an experiment to her. She makes an offer just to see what we, people, do.

Here's where my beef with a demon theory comes in. No demonic creature I could think of, be it an actual demon, a trickster, or something else, is that sincerely intrigued. Something something death loving life something something.

Demons, in my understanding, are most interested in winning the deal. They come up with incredible challenges, they enjoy torture, emotional or physical, they never let anyone win. Verna has never once expressed this. Quite the opposite. She gives everyone a chance to step back. Even when the ink has dried and everything's decided, each Usher sibling is conditioned to make a choice: push forward, or step back. Neither of them steps back. Neither of them takes a long hard look at themselves (except Tamerlane, both literally haha and figuratively, as she's the only one to have realized how lost she was in her way - just at the end, when it didn't really matter anymore, but still). Verna is kind to those she takes (sincere pet names, regrets of having to do it this way, making sure they know it's not personal, etc). She grieves with them, just before. Grieving - 'The Raven' being about an expression of grief and trauma - ravens as synonyms for death... you get the gist. Oh! Except Freddie - cause Freddie struck a cord. Infuriated her. So he doesn't get an expressed choice. And he would've blown it like coke anyway, so meh.

And then Arthur Pym. Oh, Arthur Pym. I honestly couldn't imagine a demon kneeling and thanking someone who's refused them.

About Arthur Pym, by the way. It's the one story I hadn't reread, and I should have, it turns out! haha Anyway, a few notes about his travels:

In the story, Arthur Pym is expressedly afraid of white color (North Pole, yada yada, white being the absense of colors/life, and the absense of life is death).

Verna enumerates the moments she witnessed of his travels. Someone getting left in Sahara. Someone getting shot in the Arctic. Something bad that was done to an Inuit woman. Why would she follow Arthur so closely? She didn't know him, he wasn't her favorite. I think it's because she came to collect those deaths. If she is death, she would've been exactly there, where people died. She would have also seen Arthur not partaking.

Aaaaaaaand it makes her 'You saw me' line sound better, because he had sure seen death along his travels.

I think the part about a place of out-of-time, out-of-space creatures and hollow Earth was a bit unnecessary, BUT I can try and tie it in this way:

It showed us how Arthur might have coped with what he saw, and he 'saw a lot', even in his 70s it's difficult for him to recall, and it made him think of humanity as a virus, literally;

He might have thought up that ethereal realm simply because he was in an expedition? Exhaustive conditions for both body and spirit? Traumatic experiences? If he saw Death, he might have cloaked it in his mind to cope with it, thus came his stories;

Verna going 'topside' may just mean that she had to go take a look herself, actually be willingly present for the events - to see the brave little humans conquer the earth. 'Topside', as in, 'visible, present, participating'. If Death exists, I doubt it bothers with our boring human realm but lives downunder, among all threads that weave the world.

So that's that on Arthur Pym.

A few other references my mind is too exhausted to tie in nicely:

Death takes Lenore. THE Lenore from 'The Raven' (mostly) and 'Lenore' (secondary). That happened. Also, death talking to a child of life? Regretting having to take her? Not very demonic of dear ol' Verna, in my opinion.

Her mourning veil, her last toasts to the Ushers at the cemetery? Demons don't tend to grieve their players. Demons don't respect and love them enough, and 'what is grief, if not love persevering'?

Death is the last threshold. Before death, we look upon our legacy (major theme with the show), we remember our losses and loves (Annabel Lee!!!!! love the poem, brilliantly done), we get heavy with regrets. We face death as an enemy & fight, like Madeline did. As a friend, like Arthur did. We confess, like Roderick did. All that is too significant to me overall.

And the last thing. It's Edgar Allan Poe. The whole Death tribute is a giant, incredible, thought-through-to-the-bits hommage to his literature where Death, figuratively and literally, takes the throne.

I hope I managed to express myself alright there. Thanks if you read it through, and as I said before, feel free to follow up or elaborate on some ideas. There are oceans to discuss. <3

[yournameloveskpop]

Oblivious. . .

Paring: Yeonjun x Oblivious Reader

Warning: none

Style: fluff, comedy, oblivious and innocent reader, romance, friendship

Word count: 5.515

"Yeonjun, look at this!" Y/N exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement over a simple street performer they'd stumbled upon. Her enthusiasm for life's simple pleasures never ceased to amaze him.

He smiled, watching her with a warmth that only she could evoke. "You find joy in everything, don't you?" he remarked, not just referring to the performer but to the essence of Y/N herself.

She turned to him, her smile unwavering. "Why not? Life's too short to not enjoy the little things. Besides, I get to enjoy them with you."

Yeonjun's heart fluttered at her words, yet a part of him ached, wondering if she'd ever see him in a different light. Despite the frustration her obliviousness sometimes caused, he found it endearing, choosing to let her be her wonderfully carefree self. Their unique dynamics often led to confused and questioning looks from friends and bandmates.

To outsiders, their interactions seemed to blur the lines between friendship and something more. They cuddled, shared kisses on the lips, and held hands—gestures typically reserved for couples.

One afternoon, while hanging out with their closest friends, Wooyoung and Chanbin, a moment unfolded that left everyone but Y/N contemplating the nature of their relationship.

As Y/N leaned in to give Yeonjun a peck on the lips—a gesture that had become a casual expression of her affection—Wooyoung's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Chanbin, equally shocked, turned to Wooyoung, his eyes wide.

"Are you guys sure you're just friends?" Wooyoung couldn't help but ask, the disbelief evident in his voice.

Y/N laughed, a sound as light and carefree as her personality. "Of course! Yeonjun is my best friend. Aren't friends supposed to show love and care for each other?"

Chanbin exchanged a look with Wooyoung, both of them dumbfounded. "Yeah, but not usually with a kiss on the lips," Chanbin muttered, still trying to wrap his head around their relationship.

Yeonjun, caught between embarrassment and the rapid pounding of his heart, could only offer a shy smile. Despite the confusion, the warmth and happiness he felt whenever Y/N was around kept his spirits high.

Later, as they walked along the riverbank, Wooyoung nudged Yeonjun gently.

"You know, it's okay to want more," he said, his tone soft, understanding the unspoken feelings his friend harbored.

Yeonjun let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on the water's surface. "I know, but I can't force her to see something she doesn't. Besides, I cherish what we have. I'm afraid of ruining it."

Chanbin, joining the conversation, added, "But don't you think she might actually feel the same and just doesn't know how to express it? I mean, the way she looks at you, it's not just any friend's look."

Yeonjun considered his words, the possibility stirring a flicker of hope within him. Yet, the fear of misinterpreting their friendship and the potential fallout kept him hesitant.

As the day turned to evening, the group found themselves at a cozy café, the warmth of the ambiance contrasting the cool air outside. Y/N sat next to Yeonjun, her head resting on his shoulder as they all shared stories and laughed over past memories.

It was moments like these that Yeonjun cherished the most—the simplicity, the laughter, and the undeniable connection he felt with Y/N. Yet, a part of him longed for her to understand the depth of his feelings, to see beyond the bounds of friendship.

"Hey, Yeonjun," Y/N whispered, drawing his attention away from the conversation. "You know, I really appreciate you being in my life. You make everything brighter."

Her words, sincere and heartfelt, caused his heart to skip a beat. "Y/N, you have no idea how much that means to me," he replied, his voice laden with emotion.

The evening wore on, filled with more laughter and shared glances between Yeonjun and Y/N. Their friends couldn't help but marvel at the bond between them, a bond that seemed to transcend the usual definitions of friendship. A few days later, the usual buzz of the HYBE cafeteria was complemented by a gathering that seemed to blur the lines between several groups under the HYBE labels and beyond. There, amidst the laughter and chatter, sat TXT, along with Y/N, who had managed to forge close bonds with not only TXT but also members from Le Sserafim, NewJeans, ENHYPEN, and even Seventeen.

Y/N's easygoing and bubbly nature had endeared her to many, including Le Sserafim's YunJin and Sakura, NewJeans' Daniel, ENHYPEN's Jay and Jake, and Seventeen's Vernon and Mingyu. Today, they were all congregated around a large table, the air filled with the warmth of friendship and the occasional tease.

Sakura, always observant, caught the subtle yet intimate gesture of Y/N's hand finding its way into Yeonjun's.

She couldn't help but nudge YunJin beside her, motioning towards the pair with a curious glance. "Look," she whispered, "do you think...?"

YunJin, who had been watching the duo for a while now, understood immediately. "Oh, that? Y/N does that all the time with Yeonjun. It's their thing, I guess," she explained, though her eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement.

Before Sakura could probe further, Jay and Jake arrived, greeting everyone with their characteristic enthusiasm. "Hey, everyone!" Jay called out, sliding into a seat next to Yeonjun, while Jake found a spot beside Y/N.

The conversation picked up seamlessly, a blend of updates, jokes, and the kind of light-hearted teasing that only close friends could get away with. Jay, with a mischievous grin, couldn't resist a jab at Yeonjun. "So, Yeonjun, still Y/N's favorite friend, huh?"

Y/N, bubbling with her usual vivacity, chimed in without a beat. "Of course! Yeonjun's my favorite 'boyfriend'!" she declared, her words innocent but loaded with unintended meaning.

The statement caught Yeonjun completely off-guard, causing him to choke on his drink. The sudden commotion sent ripples of confusion and laughter around the table.

Sakura, seizing the moment, leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "So, have you two finally made it official?" she asked, her eyes darting between Yeonjun and Y/N.

YunJin, barely containing her laughter, watched the scene unfold with glee. "Official? What do you mean?" Y/N asked, genuinely perplexed by the question.

Sakura, momentarily at a loss for words, clarified, "Officially girlfriend and boyfriend."

Y/N paused, her brows knitting in thought before responding with a logic only she could muster. "I guess so... Yeonjun is a boy, and he's my friend, so..." Her response, sincere yet hilariously missing the mark, prompted a collective mental facepalm from everyone at the table—everyone, that is, except Yeonjun.

YunJin, unable to hold back any longer, giggled. "Please, Y/N, never lose your innocence," she said, her laughter infectious.

The conversation drew the attention of TXT's Hueningkai and Beomgyu, who had been engaged in their own discussion. Hueningkai, amused by the exchange, turned to Beomgyu, remarking, "How dense can you get?"

His comment, though whispered, didn't escape Yeonjun's ears. Yeonjun shot Hueningkai a glare, protective of Y/N even in the face of jest. Hueningkai, catching the look, offered an apologetic smile, raising his hands in a gesture of peace.

The table erupted into laughter, the mix of misunderstandings and affections painting a vivid picture of their friendship. As the laughter subsided, conversations resumed, flowing from topic to topic, with occasional teasing jabs directed at Yeonjun and Y/N's unique relationship.

Y/N, blissfully unaware of the implications of her words, continued to engage with everyone, her cheerfulness and warmth drawing people in. Yeonjun, despite the occasional frustration, couldn't help but smile at her side, his affection for her deepening with every passing moment.

As the afternoon waned and the group began to disperse, promises of future gatherings were exchanged, each member heading back to their respective schedules. Yeonjun and Y/N lingered for a moment, their hands still intertwined, a silent testament to the inexplicable bond they shared.

"Yeonjun, today was fun, wasn't it?" Y/N asked, her gaze softening as she looked up at him.

Yeonjun's heart was a mix of hope and apprehension as he agreed with Y/N's sentiment, "Yes, it was. And you should know, Y/N, you're my favorite person in the world."

Her smile was like dawn breaking, warm and inviting. "Yeonjun, that's so sweet. You're my favorite person too!" Her laughter, light and carefree, filled the air between them.

He leaned in, a soft kiss on her forehead sealing his unspoken words, watching as she turned to leave, her steps light, her spirit untethered. Yet, as she disappeared from view, Yeonjun felt the weight of his unvoiced feelings heavier than ever.

Later, in the echo of the dance room, surrounded by the TXT members, it was Soobin who broke the silence. "Yeonjun, man, you've got to tell Y/N how you feel. It's now or never."

Yeonjun exhaled a tired laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "You think I haven't tried? But every gesture, every kiss, she sees it as... just friendship. Or at least, I think so. It's like deciphering a complex code."

Beomgyu leaned in with a knowing look. "But have you tried being straightforward? Like, really laying your heart out there?"

Yeonjun shook his head, a mix of frustration and fondness in his eyes. "It feels like I've tried everything short of hiring a skywriter."

Hueningkai, ever the optimist, piped up, "Why not just say 'I love you'? Sometimes, simplicity is key."

Sighing, Yeonjun mulled over the suggestion. "Being blunt... I suppose it could work. But with Y/N, I worry it'll just bounce off her like everything else. Does she even see me as more than a friend?"

It was Taehyun who offered a new perspective, his voice calm and thoughtful. "But think about it, Yeonjun. The way you two are together—the kisses, the cuddling, holding hands. Doesn't that already say more than words could?"

The mention brought a flush to Yeonjun's cheeks, his mind replaying the recent incident where Y/N had kissed him on the lips in front of Wooyoung and Chanbin. "You're right... We do act like more than just friends. It's just... hard to admit it out loud."

Time had woven a complex tapestry of emotions and unspoken truths between Yeonjun and Y/N. Their friendship, deep and unyielding, was a source of joy and, at times, quiet longing—for Yeonjun, at least. Y/N, in her ever-buoyant and cheerful manner, seemed blissfully unaware of the romantic undercurrents that had begun to stir in Yeonjun's heart. She cherished the moments they shared, the laughter, the conversations, and the comfort of his presence, seemingly oblivious to the depth of Yeonjun's feelings for her.

On a seemingly ordinary day, Yeonjun found himself in the company of Y/N, Wooyoung, and Chanbin, navigating the aisles of a local store. Y/N had insisted they accompany her on a quest for new makeup, a task they all approached with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

As they perused the makeup aisle, Yeonjun couldn't help but admire Y/N's excitement over the colorful arrays of products, her eyes shining with each new discovery. It was in these simple moments that his feelings for her seemed to grow even more profound.

Their peaceful exploration was soon interrupted by a group of girls who recognized them as idols. The girls wasted no time, approaching with bold smiles and flirtatious greetings, clearly interested in catching the boys' attention.

"Hey, aren't you Yeonjun from TXT?" one of the girls exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement.

Wooyoung nudged Yeonjun, whispering with a smirk, "Looks like you've got some fans."

Yeonjun offered a polite, albeit strained, smile. "Yes, that's me. It's nice to meet you."

The girls giggled amongst themselves, stepping closer, their intentions clear as they began to flirt more openly. "We're huge fans! It's so amazing to see you here. Are you shopping for anything special?" another girl chimed in, her gaze lingering on Yeonjun.

Chanbin, ever the observer, leaned in towards Yeonjun, muttering under his breath, "Seems like you've caught their eye, man. How are you going to handle this?"

Yeonjun, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, was about to respond when he noticed Y/N's frustration growing. She had been searching for a particular foundation, only to find it was not in stock.

"Oh, this is just perfect," Y/N sighed loudly, her disappointment cutting through the tension. "They don't have the one foundation I came here for."

In a moment that seemed to stretch, Y/N turned, her attention solely on Yeonjun, completely oblivious to the girls vying for his attention. With a pout that could only be described as endearing, she stepped directly between Yeonjun and the flirtatious group, wrapping her arms around him in a gesture of comfort-seeking.

Yeonjun, used to Y/N's displays of affection but still momentarily taken aback by her timing, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, instinctively protective.

"Let's try another store after this," he suggested, his tone calm but firm, a silent message to the girls that his attention was solely on Y/N.

Y/N, still clinging to Yeonjun, nodded, her earlier disappointment forgotten in the warmth of his gesture. "Yeah, let's do that. I really want to try that new line everyone's been talking about."

The girls, suddenly realizing their presence was hardly acknowledged, exchanged awkward glances. One of them attempted to salvage the situation. "Um, so, Yeonjun, maybe we could get a picture with you?"

Yeonjun, ever the gentleman, was about to agree when Y/N, still clinging to him, looked up with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "A picture? Oh, are you fans? That's sweet, but we're kind of in the middle of something here."

Wooyoung, unable to contain his amusement, burst out laughing. "Y/N, always straight to the point."

Chanbin joined in, adding, "Yeah, sorry, but we're on a mission for makeup here. Maybe another time?"

The girls, now clearly feeling out of place, mumbled their apologies and goodbyes, quickly retreating.

Once they were alone again, Y/N looked up at Yeonjun with those innocent eyes of hers. "Were they bothering you? I swear, some people just don't understand personal space."

Yeonjun chuckled, the irony of her statement not lost on him. "You're one to talk about personal space," he teased, his heart still racing from their close encounter.

Y/N pouted again, this time in mock offense. "Hey! That's different. I'm your friend. Plus, you know you love my hugs."

Wooyoung, ever the instigator, piped up, "Yeah, Yeonjun, you do seem to enjoy Y/N's... personal space invasions."

Chanbin laughed, nudging Yeonjun playfully. "I think we all know Yeonjun wouldn't have it any other way."

Yeonjun's heart fluttered under Y/N's innocent grip on his arm as they left the store, his cheeks still holding a hint of pink from the earlier encounter. They made their way out, Y/N chatting animatedly about the beauty products she had managed to find, even if the foundation she wanted wasn't among them. Yeonjun could only smile at her enthusiasm, captivated by her spirit.

"Even without the foundation, today was a success, don't you think?" Y/N beamed, her eyes sparkling with contentment.

"Absolutely," Yeonjun agreed, his voice warm. "Seeing you happy makes any day a success for me."

Y/N laughed, her head tilting slightly. "You're such a sweetheart, Yeonjun. What would I do without you?"

Their conversation was filled with laughter and gentle teasing, a perfect moment of friendship—or perhaps something more, at least in Yeonjun's hopeful heart.

The following weekend brought another adventure, this time with the rest of TXT at a bustling arcade. Amidst the sounds of games and the vibrant lights, Y/N caught the attention of a guy who clearly found her attractive.

Her beauty wasn't something Yeonjun or anyone could deny, but her response to the guy's advances was unexpectedly comical.

At first, Y/N's confusion was evident. She politely apologized to the guy, mistaking his flirtatious intentions for a misunderstanding about her being an arcade employee.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't work here. Can I help you find someone who does?" she asked, her innocence on full display.

The guy, momentarily taken aback, couldn't help but laugh, finding her response endearing. "No, no, I didn't think you worked here. I just thought you were really pretty and wanted to talk to you," he explained, attempting to clarify his intentions.

From a distance, Yeonjun and the rest of TXT watched, ready to intervene if necessary but also amused by the unfolding scene. Beomgyu, in particular, couldn't contain his laughter when Y/N continued to miss the guy's cues.

"Is there a game you recommend, then?" Y/N asked, genuinely trying to be helpful, misunderstanding his intentions once again.

Beomgyu snorted with laughter, covering his mouth too late to muffle the sound, drawing curious glances from nearby arcade-goers.

Finally, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the situation, Y/N glanced around for Yeonjun, her expression a mix of confusion and a hint of distress. Spotting him, she made her way over, gripping his sleeve tightly.

"Yeonjun, this guy was asking me something, but I don't understand what he means," she said, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Yeonjun, trying to mask his amusement with a soft chuckle, turned to the guy, who looked utterly baffled by now. "She's not quite catching what you're throwing," Yeonjun explained gently. "He was trying to flirt with you, Y/N."

Y/N's eyes widened in realization, turning back to the guy. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't understand. But I should tell you, I'm not available," she said, her statement sending a wave of shock through Yeonjun and the rest of TXT.

The guy, now understanding the situation, nodded respectfully. "No worries, it was nice talking to you anyway," he said before walking away, leaving a puzzled group behind.

"What did you mean by 'not available'?" Taehyun asked, echoing the question in everyone's minds.

Y/N glanced at Yeonjun, then back at the boys, her cheeks tinting with a soft blush. "Well, I mean, I spend all my time with Yeonjun and you guys. I don't really think about dating," she explained, her voice filled with a sincerity that only added to her charm.

The boys exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of amusement and disbelief. Yeonjun, in particular, felt a complex blend of emotions. Her words hinted at a special place he held in her life, but her obliviousness to his deeper feelings remained a gentle torment.

"We told you, Yeonjun, you're her default boyfriend," Hueningkai teased, earning an elbow nudge from Yeonjun.

"Default or not, I'm just happy to be by her side," Yeonjun replied, his gaze softening as he looked at Y/N. Her presence, her innocence, and her unknowing hold over his heart—it was all bewildering yet utterly irreplaceable.

Y/N smiled, oblivious to the deeper currents running through Yeonjun's words. "Let's just enjoy the day, okay? Who's up for a game challenge?"

As they moved on to the next game, Yeonjun's thoughts lingered on Y/N's declaration of being 'not available.' In her innocence and obliviousness, she had unknowingly affirmed the special bond. The scene was set for another casual hangout with Wooyoung and Chanbin at a cozy little café, the aroma of coffee blending with the chatter of patrons. Yeonjun, amidst the warmth of friendship and laughter, decided it was time to take another shot at confessing his feelings to Y/N. He had tried so many times before, each attempt somehow gliding over her head, lost in translation. But today, he felt a renewed sense of determination. Perhaps, just perhaps, his words would finally reach her.

As they sat down, Yeonjun stole glances at Y/N, her joy infectious, lighting up the room. Taking a deep breath, he leaned closer, catching her attention.

"Y/N, you know we've been friends for so long, right?" Yeonjun started, his voice slightly shaky.

Y/N looked at him, nodding with a bright smile, "Of course, Yeonjun! You're like, my favorite person in the world!"

Encouraged by her warmth, Yeonjun continued, "Well, I've been thinking... and I realize that what I feel for you... it's more than just friendship."

Y/N's smile wavered, confusion flickering in her eyes. "More than friends? Yeonjun, I feel something more too, you're my bested friend," she replied, her innocence beaming through.

Before he could clarify, she pecked his lips quickly, a gesture of affection she saw as entirely platonic. "Be right back, just going to the restroom," she announced, leaving a stunned Yeonjun behind.

Wooyoung and Chanbin, who had been watching the exchange with bated breath, erupted into laughter. "Man, you were so direct this time, and she still missed it!" Wooyoung managed between wheezes.

Yeonjun sighed, a bittersweet smile on his face. "I thought being blunt would do it. But it's like... it's like she's in her own world."

Chanbin leaned in, trying to offer some consolation. "It's just Y/N being Y/N, you know? But dude, that was a solid confession. How she twisted it to 'bested friend' is beyond me."

Yeonjun recounted the recent arcade incident to them, sharing how a guy had tried flirting with Y/N, and her utterly oblivious response was to declare herself 'not available' without realizing the context. "I mean, what does she think 'not available' means in that sense? It's like she's only seeing what she wants to," he mused, puzzled.

Wooyoung, wiping away tears of laughter, suggested, "Have you considered writing it down for her? Like, maybe if she sees the words, it'll sink in?"

Chanbin nodded in agreement, "Or maybe it's about showing her in a way she can't misunderstand. Like, not just saying 'I like you,' but really spelling it out for her."

Yeonjun pondered their advice, the gears turning in his head. "Maybe you're right. I need to find a way that breaks through her... unique perspective."

As Y/N slid back into her seat, her eyes sparkling with the residual joy of whatever had caught her interest in the restroom, the mood at the table subtly shifted. Yeonjun, gathering his courage, decided it was now or never.

He reached out, gently taking her hand, causing a ripple of silence to cascade over their little group. "Y/N, listen. I need to explain something to you," he began, his voice laced with an earnestness that drew her full attention.

"Okay, I'm all ears," she responded, her cheerful demeanor clouding over with a hint of curiosity at the serious tone in his voice.

Yeonjun inhaled deeply, searching for the right words. "You know when people 'like' each other, right? Not just as friends, but... more than that. Like couples do?"

Y/N tilted her head, her brows knitting together in thought. "Yeah, I've heard about that. It's like in the movies, right? When people fall in love?"

"That's exactly it," Yeonjun affirmed, a spark of hope flickering in his eyes. "And, well, couples do things together. Things like holding hands, kissing, and cuddling."

"But Yeonjun, we do all of that already," she pointed out, genuinely puzzled, glancing between him and the other guys for some sort of clarification.

Wooyoung and Chanbin exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of disbelief and suppressed laughter, both men mentally facepalming at the situation unfolding before them.

"Yeah, but those things are meant to express feelings... feelings beyond friendship," Yeonjun pressed on, trying to keep the frustration from seeping into his voice.

Y/N's face lit up with a dawning realization, only to be immediately followed by confusion. "But doesn't doing those things make us a couple, then?" she asked, her voice laced with innocence.

Yeonjun sighed, his patience waning. "In a way, yes. But only if both people understand and agree that's what they are to each other."

Chanbin, unable to resist, chimed in with a chuckle. "And usually, they both know they're in a relationship because they talk about it and agree on it, Y/N."

Wooyoung, ever the joker, added, "Yeah, it's not like you accidentally trip and fall into being someone's girlfriend."

Y/N laughed, missing the sarcasm. "That would be silly, wouldn't it? But... I guess I never thought about it like that. We do all these couple things, huh?"

Yeonjun nodded, feeling a mixture of hope and desperation. "Exactly. And, Y/N, the thing is... my feelings for you are exactly like that. More than friends."

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, there was a hint of understanding, a brief flicker that perhaps this time she got it. "So... you're saying you 'like' like me?"

"Yes! Exactly that!" Yeonjun exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over him.

But then, Y/N tilted her head, the confusion returning. "But we're already doing everything a couple does. So, what changes?"

Wooyoung facepalmed visibly this time. "Y/N, it's about acknowledging those feelings. Saying out loud, 'Hey, I like you more than a friend, and I want to be your boyfriend.'"

Y/N pondered for a moment, her gaze flitting between Yeonjun's hopeful eyes and the other two's amused expressions. "So... if I say I 'like' like you too, Yeonjun, we become official? Like, an actual couple?"

Yeonjun's heart leaped. "Yes, that's exactly it!"

She chewed on her lip, considering. "But I already feel happy and my heart beats really fast when I'm with you. I thought that was just what friendship feels like."

Chanbin laughed, shaking his head. "No, Y/N, that's what liking someone feels like. Your heart beating fast, feeling happy just being with them—that's more than friendship."

Wooyoung leaned forward, adding his own insight. "Think about it. Why do you think your heart beats faster with Yeonjun and not with us?"

Y/N looked at Yeonjun, her expression softening. "Is that why you've been trying to tell me all this time?"

Yeonjun nodded, his voice gentle. "Yes. Because I feel the same way. My heart races too, Y/N, every single time I'm with you."

The table fell into a comfortable silence, Y/N pondering the newfound revelation about her own feelings. Her cluelessness had masked a deeper, unexplored affection for Yeonjun, one that she was only now beginning to acknowledge.

"So," she began, hesitantly, "if we both feel this way, does that mean... we can try being...more than friends? More than best friends? Like, officially?" Y/N's voice was laced with a newfound curiosity, her eyes searching Yeonjun's for confirmation.

Yeonjun's heart felt like it was about to burst with joy. "Yes, Y/N, that's exactly what it means. We can try being a couple, see how it goes."

A smile slowly spread across Y/N's face, a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "I... I would like that. I mean, I already enjoy spending all my time with you. So, trying this... it feels right."

Wooyoung let out a whoop from across the table, "Finally! You two figuring it out is the best plot twist ever!"

Chanbin clapped Yeonjun on the back, "Man, I'm so happy for you guys. This has been a very long time coming."

The atmosphere at the table was electric with excitement and relief. The weight of years of unspoken feelings seemed to lift off Yeonjun's shoulders, leaving him feeling light and hopeful.

"So, what now?" Y/N asked, her voice a soft murmur, almost drowned out by the bustling cafe around them.

"Now, we go on our first official date," Yeonjun suggested, his eyes twinkling. "How about tomorrow? We could do something simple, just enjoy the day together."

"That sounds perfect," Y/N replied, her smile radiant. "It's a date then."

The afternoon at the café had been one for the memory books, with Wooyoung and Chanbin throwing out wild ideas for Yeonjun and Y/N's first official date. "How about bungee jumping? Nothing says 'I love you' like plummeting towards the earth at high speed," Wooyoung suggested with a straight face.

Chanbin nodded sagely, "Or an escape room! You can figure out if you're truly compatible by whether you get out or not."

Yeonjun chuckled, shaking his head, "I think we'll stick to the botanical gardens. It's more our speed."

Y/N agreed, her hand finding Yeonjun's under the table. "Yeah, and then we can have dinner at that café we both love. It sounds perfect."

As they left the café, Yeonjun couldn't help but feel a mix of elation and nerves. Taking Y/N's hand felt like the most natural thing in the world, yet it sent waves of excitement through him. "I can't believe we're doing this," he murmured, his thumb gently stroking her hand.

Y/N smiled up at him, "I'm really looking forward to it. It's like a new chapter for us."

Yeonjun's revelation to the rest of TXT that he'd finally shared his feelings with Y/N—and that they were reciprocated—was met with a collective sigh of relief and cheer. The journey had been long, marked by patience and a few misunderstandings, but it was worth every moment.

The weeks that followed was a whirlwind for TXT, with back-to-back dance practices in preparation for their comeback. Despite the exhaustion, Yeonjun couldn't help but look forward to seeing Y/N, who had promised to stop by after her own practice.

When she arrived, her presence was like a breath of fresh air, instantly lifting the mood in the room. She walked straight over to Yeonjun, wrapping him in a tight hug which he gladly returned. The kiss she planted on his lips was now filled with a new understanding and affection, sending his heart racing.

After practice, the fatigue from the day's efforts weighed heavily on the members of TXT, but Y/N's approach, wrapping her arms around Yeonjun once again, dispelled any remnants of tiredness.

In a moment that felt both surprising and entirely natural, Y/N whispered "I love you" to Yeonjun. It was a confession she'd never made before, yet it sounded as if it had always been meant to be said.

Yeonjun pulled back slightly, his eyes wide with surprise and joy. "You...what?"

"I said I love you. Is that wrong?" Y/N asked, her innocence shining through despite the profoundness of her admission.

"No... No, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that," Yeonjun managed to say, his voice filled with emotion. He glanced at his bandmates, who were staring in disbelief, not having expected such a confession so soon.

Y/N continued, her voice soft and earnest, "It's just...now that I finally realized what we were doing was more romantic than friendship, and back at the arcade, when I told that guy I wasn't available because of you. Then our first date turning into two dates and so on. I love you."

Yeonjun's heart felt like it could burst with happiness, the hearts in his eyes growing more than they ever had before. He lifted Y/N into his arms, pulling her into a deep, loving kiss. It was longer and more passionate than any kiss they'd shared before, a true expression of the love they now openly acknowledged for each other.

"I love you too, Y/N," Yeonjun whispered against her lips, his voice thick with emotion.

Around them, the practice room erupted into cheers and applause from TXT, who had been silently rooting for their relationship from the sidelines.

"So, when's the wedding?" Hueningkai teased, earning himself an elbow in the ribs from Soobin.

"Let them enjoy the moment," Soobin said, though he couldn't hide his smile.

Yeonjun set Y/N down, keeping her close. "I guess we're really doing this, huh?" he said, a broad smile on his face.

Y/N nodded, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yes, we are. And I wouldn't want it any other way."

As the group started to gather their things, the conversation turned to plans for the evening, with everyone excitedly throwing out suggestions for how to celebrate the new couple's declaration of love.

"How about we all go out for dinner? My treat," Beomgyu offered, eager to celebrate his friends' newfound happiness.

"That sounds great," Y/N agreed, her smile never fading.

As they left the practice room together, the weight of the day's rehearsals forgotten, Yeonjun and Y/N walked side by side, their hands intertwined. The future was uncertain, filled with both challenges and joys, but they were ready to face it together, their love a steady beacon guiding their way.