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little-diable · 1 year

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The Devil is Among Us - Tom Riddle (smut)

I just love writing priest!Riddle, he's def my fave. Nevertheless, remember: Don't like it, don't read it. Please like and reblog if you enjoyed reading this, your comments keep us writers motivated! Enjoy my loves. xxx

Summary: The reader is in a desperate need, asking the Devil himself to help her with the daily struggles she keeps on facing. But what will she do when suddenly her local priest turns up?

Warnings: 18+, smut, unrpotected piv, blowjob, loss of virginity, praise kink, sex in a church, mentions blood, power play, religious connotations, biblical beings

Pairing: Priest/Devil!Tom Riddle x fem!reader (3k words)

header by @deathofpeaceofmind

The candles danced in the thick blanket of darkness surrounding (y/n), knees pressed to the ground, hands tightly gripping the leatherbound book she was reading. No sound could be heard, nothing but a bone-chilling silence that made goosebumps rise on her skin, unsure if she should keep on doing this.

For a moment (y/n)’s eyes flickered up from the page she was reading, studying the pentagram she had drawn on the ground, following every step of the ritual. Her heart was pounding, roaring in her chest in hopes of ripping her away from this scene before she could take the last step. But she was determined, set on following through with the ritual she had been studying for nights on end.

With a deep breath sucked into her lungs, (y/n) reached for the knife laying next to her, trembling hand pushing it closer to the candles. She watched the reflection of the flames dance in the shiny blade, heating up the material before she brought the blade back to her wrist. A hiss rolled off her tongue as she cut her skin, collecting drops of her blood in the old goblet she had thrifted weeks ago.

The first words began to roll off her tongue, latin words she knew by heart, forcing them into her brain. Her eyes fluttered close as (y/n) rose to her feet, positioning herself in the middle of the pentagram, letting the blood drip down onto the candles, while she kept speaking the words.

Her body couldn’t stop trembling, sensing the danger before her mind could pick up on it, but (y/n) couldn’t stop now, not after waiting for this very night to come upon her for weeks. She had prepared everything, carefully, not daring to tell anybody about what she was doing, trying to summon the Devil, the one that could help free her from the mess she found herself stuck in. All she needed was some of his help, ripping those from (y/n) that talked down on her, that pushed her away from gatherings, treating her like an outcast.

As soon as the last word was spoken, the goblet fell from her hands, clashing to the ground with a sound so shrill, (y/n) couldn’t help but jerk in surprise. She held still, kept her mouth shut, waiting for something to happen, anything, and yet nothing did. Seconds kept fading by, seconds turning into one minute, then two, then three – till the first wave of defeat began to flush through her.

With a sigh leaving her (y/n) found herself groaning, rubbing her eyes in exhaustion, wondering what she had done wrong. But before another sound of hers could echo through the dark basement, the sound of somebody slowly clapping their hands filled the room, making her eyes snap towards the dark corner across from her. The sound of chuckles rang in her ears, eyes desperately trying to focus on the person hiding away from her.

“I have to say, (y/n), I’m impressed.” A familiar voice filled the basement, and yet (y/n) couldn’t pinpoint where she knew the male voice from. Fear filled her body, thumping through her veins as she began to take a step back, almost knocking over the candles. “What? First you summon me, and now you’re afraid of me? C’mon, (y/n), I expected better from you.”

The sound of a chair being pushed back left her gasping, boots meeting the cold ground till the man’s frame was exposed to her. Her eyes met an all too familiar pair of pupils staring at her, making her gasp in surprise.

“Priest Riddle? What are you doing here? How did you –” the sound of laughter once again interrupted (y/n), forcing the young woman to keep quiet. The man kept walking closer, till he came to halt in front of her trembling frame, staring down on her with a smirk tugging on his lips. He picked the goblet up, thumb collecting a few last drops of her blood before he pressed his now red digit against her parted lips.

“So naive, so stupid, don’t disappoint me, (y/n). You know why I’m here.” Shaky breaths left her, shaking her head as if she was trying to wake from this nightmare. It couldn’t be, it couldn’t be.

“You’re a priest, how – how could you possibly be Him?” It was nothing but a whisper, a sound so quiet even her own two ears struggled to pick up on it. He tilted his head, didn’t break eye contact once as his hand began to move down her throat, finding its way to her chest. (Y/n) felt her heart skipping beats, a power so strong was pressing down on the strong muscle, she failed to keep on breathing.

“Haven’t you heard? I like to keep those close who fear me, I enjoy their whimpers, how they ache for guidance because they fear ending up in my claws. It's pathetic.” Only as he pulled his hand away did she manage to suck another breath into her lungs, glassy eyes searching his firey ones. “You asked me here, because you want something from me. Speak freely, (y/n).”

“I,” she stumbled over her words, no longer able to remember why she had tried to call the Devil himself, no longer remembering the pain she was forced to endure day in, night out. Her eyes couldn’t leave his features, the smirk that had an awfully unfamiliar touch to it, not fitting the face of the priest she had known for years. “Do you remember what I told you last month? In the confessionary?”

“I do, of course I do.” The softness of his voice left her heart roaring, torn between her fear and her curiosity, body moving closer before her mind could pick up on the movement. His eyes followed her around, like a moth drawn to a flame, like a sinner drawn to the Devil, a perfect match.

“I want it all to stop, the rumours, the pain, everything.” A hum left the tall man, he pondered over her words, eyes flickering down to her fingers, watching her fumble with the fabric of her blouse. His cold hand found her chin, forcing her eyes back to meet his, the pupils that have seen more pain than one could even begin to understand.

“You know it’ll come with a price, don’t you?” Her pupils grew wide once again, clearly (y/n) hadn’t thought about the price she’d have to pay, wondering what he may ask of her.

“Do I have to sell my soul to you?” The words leaving her lips in nothing but a whisper left the man chuckling, head thrown back to release the sound. He shook his head, clicking his tongue as if he was trying to keep her frozen to the spot, not daring to let go of her warm skin just yet.

“Whoever told you that clearly wanted to frighten you, sweet (y/n). No, I don’t want your soul, but your body. Give yourself to me, and I will follow your request.” She choked on her breath, unable to rip herself free as he tightened his grip even further. Her heart once again picked up its pounding pace, roaring in her chest, begging (y/n) to pull back. No man had ever touched her, not one man had been able to reach for her heart nor her soul, hidden from greedy eyes and greedy fingers.

“Can I think about it?” He shook his head, wordlessly circling her in even further, forcing (y/n) to make her decision right there, right then. “Okay. I will do it.”

“Good girl,” the praise left her shuddering, straightening her back as goosebumps rose on her skin. All he could do was laugh, watching her body tense at his words, very well aware that he’ll have his fun with (y/n), the one he had been watching from afar, expecting this very day to roll upon them. “I’ll expect to see you tomorrow for my morning service, (y/n).”

And with a nod thrown his way, (y/n) watched him disappear in front of her wide eyes, leaving her to wonder if this had been a dream, a trick of her brain.

……

With her eyes set on the tall man, (y/n) followed the others, walking closer and closer to receive the body of Christ. Her heart was pounding, wondering if he’d say something to her, if he’d tease her once again. Just the mere thought about what she had experienced yesterday evening left her feeling uneasy, thighs trembling.

“Open your mouth, (y/n).” The command forced a sigh from her, lips slowly parting to expose her tongue to him. Without breaking eye contact he pushed the host down on the strong muscle, making him smirk as he watched her pupils dilate. With a nod thrown her way, he allowed her to turn back to the waiting crowd, none of them seemed to pick up on the shudders his touch shot down her spine, none of them seemed to pick up on the way her skin grew hotter with every passing second.

The Devil had her trapped, caught in a dark web of lies, of pretending, a web she couldn’t break from.

No longer could (y/n) spare any attention to the end of the service, hanging onto his every word without picking up on what he was actually speaking, imagination running wild, forcing sinful pictures into her mind. She could only guess that he’d be ruthless with her, he will take what he is aching for – that much she was sure of.

Only as he ended the service with one last “Amen” leaving him did (y/n) snap out of her trance, eyes watching the others pour out of the church, while she stayed seated. He leaned back against the altar, arms crossed in front of his chest as he wordlessly forced her to walk towards him, almost stumbling over her feet as the pull inside her grew stronger and stronger.

“Kneel.” The word echoed through the empty church, making her eyes snap up to meet his as (y/n) fell to her knees in front of him. She watched him loosen his white collar, plastic placed down on the altar before he began to roll up the sleeves of his black dress shirt. “Will you stick to your promise, sweet (y/n)?”

“I will.” Her whisper left him smirking once again, eyebrows raised as he waited for her to keep on speaking. “I will give myself to you. But how will I know that I can trust you? You’re fooling those around you, all of it is blasphemy, is it not?”

The man’s deep laughter rumbled through him, shaking his head as he reached for her jaw just like he had done yesterday evening. His thumb was forced into her mouth, pressing down on her tongue to make (y/n) suck on the finger, drawing a raspy groan from him. “You’ve always been my favourite, (y/n). I knew you’d be good, such a good girl for me. A deal is a deal, I won’t back out, you have my word.”

Trusting the word of the Devil, how pathetic, how naive of her.

“What should I call you?” Her whispered question was left unanswered, drowned out by the sound of him undoing his trousers, exposing his throbbing cock to her curious eyes. She stared at him without moving, unable to speak another word, mouth growing dry, throat growing tight. She had never seen a man naked before, had never even dared to imagine what she was seeing now, and yet (y/n) couldn’t stop the anticipation from thumbing through her veins, making her tremble for more.

“Part those pretty lips for me, darling.” He pushed his cock past her lips, leaving her to instantly choke. Water filled her pupils, blurring her sight for a moment. The man didn’t hold back, his hand found the back of her head, forcing her to pick up a bobbing motion. Without seeking any further guidance her hands moved up his thighs, grasping his cock.

It took her a few tries to adjust, but (y/n) was determined, set on pleasing the man who’d help her out, the being with a soul so dark, her mind couldn’t even begin to understand what he was capable of. Her hands trembled, struggling to move in sync with the speed of her bobbing motion, taking him deeper and deeper. He was a groaning mess, producing sounds that left her cunt begging for his attention, needing to be touched like she had never been touched before.

“Mhm, I should keep you, make you mine for eternity. I know you’d do well serving me.” (Y/n) could only whimper around him, not expecting him to jerk his hips, fucking her mouth without a warning rolling off his tongue. Spit dripped from her mouth, strings of saliva connected her lips to the tip of his cock as he allowed her to pull away, catching her breath as her hands kept moving. “Fuck, look at you, so oblivious, so naive, and yet your hands know how to touch me.”

An unfamiliar sense of pride flushed through her, taking him into her mouth once again. (Y/n) was eager, set on proving her worth to the king of darkness, the one all sinners followed through the darkest night. She was his, had sold her soul without knowing so, and yet (y/n) felt protected, safe, and appreciated by him. A trick of his mind that forced her to do whatever he asked of her.

“Tell me, are you ready to take me?” The question left her swallowing, unable to reply, not knowing what was awaiting her. He didn’t give her any time to ponder on the question, pulled away from her to pick her up, setting her down on the cold altar. Her gasps rang in their ears, making him chuckle with a dark expression tugging on his features. There was no way out, she was stuck, forced to the being without any chance to snap the unbreakable bond.

He spread her legs, hands disappearing underneath her skirt, feeling the damp fabric of her panties. She didn’t dare speak, didn’t dare move, wondering what would happen, how he’d touch her, how he’d make her feel. Her heart was pounding, mind racing, paying attention to his every touch.

“You’re soaked, dripping for me, so inexperienced, but your body knows just what it wants, doesn’t it?” (Y/n) could only nod her head, allowing him to pull her panties down her legs, making the cold air hit her warm skin. A moan ripped through her as his fingers brushed through her slit, pumping into her without giving (y/n) the chance to adjust. He fucked her with his fingers, rubbed her pulsing bundle of nerves with his cold thumb, making her writhe.

“Oh god, feels good.” Her head rolled back, hands finding his forearms, desperate to hold onto the ancient being. She barely picked up on the teasing words he spoke, couldn’t care about the things he was speaking, fully focused on the new sensation, hoping that this moment would last forever.

“God isn’t around, He won’t help you, not as long as you’re mine.” Darkness engulfed her as (y/n)’s eyes fluttered close, drawing sobs, moans, and whimpers from her body, sounds growing louder as he pulled away, as he stopped touching her. Her hazy eyes watched him align himself with her cunt, slowly pushing into her, making her body tremble in pain.

It took her a while to adjust to the stretch, needing to breathe through the pain, while he slowly fucked into her. With their eyes connected, he placed one hand down on the altar, while the other found the back of her neck, forcing her lips to meet his, officially sealing their deal without (y/n) knowing so. He had claimed her, had made her the devil’s toy, nothing would ever free her from him. The being tasted of darkness, of a rich darkness that was so unfamiliar she’d never taste it again.

Curses left her, words he found himself chuckling about as he built up the pace of his thrusts, ruthlessly, merciless fucking (y/n) on the holy altar. There was nothing sweet about the first time she was touched, and yet (y/n) felt grateful that he was the one touching her, that she had given herself to him, to him only.

Her walls clenched around his cock whenever he nudged her sweet spot, murmuring a soft “Touch yourself” against her neck. With trembling fingers she began to rub her clit, eyes fluttering close once again, arching her chest against his. (Y/n) felt him suck marks into her skin, marks she’d carry around with herself till her last day on this very earth, forever marked by the Devil himself.

No words helped her express the intense feeling building itself up inside of her, thumping through her veins, making her quiver. She came with a gasp, clinging onto her orgasm in hopes of prolonging the feeling. He kept on fucking her, even as her body trembled from the overstimulation, begging him to give in.

With his hand finding her jaw, holding onto her, he came inside of her, painting her walls white with a deep groan clawing through him. She felt his heat filling her, stretching itself through her body, a sensation she’d forever remember, stuck in the holy halls, closer to God than she had ever been before.

“I expect you to return, you’re mine now, you belong to me. I will take care of my end of the deal. But know that there’s no way back.”

#Tom Riddle smut #Tom Riddle imagine #priest fics #Tom Riddle x reader #harry potter

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thenameswinterfics · 2 months

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BOUND TO YOU

Fandom: The Last Kingdom Pairing: Sihtric Kjartansson x Succubus!Reader Settings: Seven Kings Must Die Summary: Since becoming the new lord of Dunholm, Sihtric has ruled alone, with no woman at his side to call "wife". Things begin to change when you begin to appear in his dreams, a human so perfect that he believes he has finally found the one, a blessing from the gods. Little does he know that behind your appearance lies a devil in disguise. Word Count: 4,6 K Warnings: SMUT, mention of death, monsterfucking, oral (m receiving), fingering, p in v sex. A/N: This is for my beautiful woman @sihtricfedaraaahvicius: happy birthday again my beloved, I really really hope you have a wonderful day and you enjoyed yourself. I hope you enjoy this as well, in case you can cancel me from your existence ahahaha. This story is not outlined, so if you find some confusing and rushing parts, I deeply apologise. Double apologise because this is my first time writing this kind of creature, I hope I have done them justice. A special thanks to @foxyanon for the title and to her and @zaldritzosrose for the brainstorm, the beta reading and for having a lot of patience with me.

ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE. I APOLOGISE IN ADVANCE FOR MY GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY MISTAKES.

Header & dividers by @zaldritzosrose

Sihtric crossed the courtyard, one hand rubbing the bridge of his nose as he continued to fight fatigue. His eyes darted around, greeting with an absent nod of his head a few of his men who crossed his path, sighing nervously at the cold air that hit his face, making him feel more tired than relieved.

Destiny had worked with him in a singular way, and if many years ago it made him leave his birthplace as Sihtric Kjartansson, the bastard son of Kjartan the Cruel, it allowed him to return as Sihtric of Dunholm, a man forged in blood and battle, and who stepped up to rule a fortress that he had always seen through the eyes of a slave, never a leader.

Years had passed since Uhtred claimed his birthright over Bebbanburg, and with what little interest he had in ruling Dunholm, Sihtric became its new Jarl, without ever breaking the oath he had made to his friend and lord. And so he worked hard to make his own legacy, trying to obscure the trail of cruelty and violence his father left behind.

All this time he had ruled Dunholm alone, without a woman at his side to support and guide him, or even to share a warm meal and a bed in his private moments. Long gone were the days when he spent all his silver seeking the company of women, longing for the love he had never received in his life: his naivety even led him to fall in love with a whore he paid all his silver for, leaving him with empty pockets and a broken heart. With the battles he had to face over the years, Sihtric never found the opportunity to bind himself to another woman.

Until you started to appear in his dreams at night.

At first you were just a glimpse, a soft and soothing whisper that made his heart flutter in his chest, your laughter a melody carried on the wind. Each night his dreams became more vivid, and the mysterious silhouette transformed into a woman of disarming beauty, a being so perfect that she was forged by the gods. Sihtric was fascinated by you: he saw the way you carried yourself with your elegance, the way your long hair danced softly in the wind. He saw your eyes, two bright pools that sparkled with an irresistible glimpse of mischief. And he saw your smile. Oh, your beautiful smile. So warm and inviting that it relieved him of all fatigue, spreading a pleasant warmth in his chest and making his head spin with your unmistakable scent.

Every night Sihtric would reach for your hand and lean for your touch, wanting to feel the warmth of your body as close to his. But the morning would always come, and the Dane would wake up to the reality that you were not at his side, and with an unbearable void in his heart.

But the gods seemed to smile at him, and when Sihtric raised his eyes to see a familiar silhouette, he could hardly believe his eyes. It was as if one of Thor's lightning bolts had struck him, rendering him speechless for a moment. Sihtric's mismatched eyes blinked rapidly, trying to reconcile the image before him with the memories of the dreams that haunted him every night.

For the first time, here you were, made of nothing but flesh and bone. He recognised the outline of your face, the way your eyes held that sparkle of mischief even as your lips curved in that warm smile that clouded his thoughts, that same intoxicating scent that made the warmth in his chest rise again and spread to his stomach. The Lord of Dunholm shook his head at first, thinking that either fatigue or Loki himself was playing with his mind. But the more he rubbed his eyes, the clearer his vision became, and you were still there, wandering about the courtyard of the fortress.

As Sihtric gathered his courage and began to walk towards you, he was interrupted by one of his soldiers, who called him to attend to urgent matters within the fortress. Though he longed for your presence, he was still a man bound to his duties as leader, and he accepted the soldier's help by swallowing the bitter pill and disappearing behind the massive doors of the great hall. His mind was still on you, thinking that the gods had finally blessed him by sending you on his path.

Little did he know that beneath this divine appearance, there was a devil in disguise.

You arrived in Dunholm a few weeks ago, drawn by a life force so strong you could hardly ignore it. As soon as you stepped through the gates, your eyes scanned every hidden corner, licking your lips eagerly as you searched for your next prey, your body quivering with anticipation.

It was not the first time you had hunted humans: the young warriors were your favourite prey because of their high energy and strength. Draining the life force from their souls was nothing more than a sweet banquet for your evil essence, an elixir that fuelled your dark power and increased your demonic impulses.

You began by playing with their dreams, first appearing as a dark figure with a melodious voice, before revealing yourself as the most ethereal creature in the mortal world. And when you felt they were ready to receive you, you would appear before them, showing your graceful appearance and wearing the most attractive clothes.

You learned over the years that men were easier to bend to your will; your sweet smile and the fluttering of your eyelashes attracted them like a mirror to the larks. And only when they had let down their defences would you strike, your lips capturing them in a kiss that drained the essence from their souls, their life force flowing into you like an exhilarating rush of adrenaline. As their body fell to their eternal rest, your succubus nature revealed itself in all its dark power, seeking the next prey to hunt.

While at first the souls of young warriors were enough to satisfy your needs, your hunts became less and less satisfying, and you soon began to demand a strong life force to claim. You began to travel across England, intensifying your activities from Wessex to Mercia, from Danelaw to East Anglia, but nothing seemed to tame the beast growing inside you. And it was when you crossed the borders of Northumbria that you felt a strong and vibrant aura calling to you, and soon you found yourself living in disguise among the men of Dunholm.

There you met Sihtric, the fascinating Jarl of Dunholm, who carried himself with dignity. He was a man far too old compared to the young ones you were used to hunting, but it was his long experience on the battlefield that attracted you most, the power of his vitality telling you how much blood flowed from his hands and the wounds he had suffered. It was an irresistible force that drew you to him like an invisible string. You had to dominate him.

And so you worked like your former prey, appearing in his dreams, feeding his insatiable desire to have someone to call his wife and love to the end of his days. When your trap bore its fruit, you began to show yourself more, wandering about like a common and innocent woman. And you knew that every time you crossed the courtyards, his eyes yearned for you from afar, and a small grin formed on your face.

Sihtric would be yours, no matter what the cost.

The night was filled with a vibrant atmosphere, the dim lights of the houses illuminating the streets in warm colours that mingled with the pallor of the moonlight. Several warriors gathered outside to share mugs of ale and stories of their days, their chatter and loud laughter the only sounds of the night, along with the song of some night bird. Other soldiers were stationed on the palisades of the fortress, making sure no surprise attacks could be launched at night.

You slipped outside, out of a small door on the east wall usually used by the servants. You quietly followed the small stream until you reached a small pond not far from Dunholm, but isolated enough to give you some peace.

Normally, you would join the chaos outside, as it is one of the easiest places to find a prey, take it away from the group, work it and seduce it as you please. But tonight you didn't find yourself enjoying the noisy company of the soldiers, or company in general. You had not absorbed any life force for days, the weak auras of the young men's souls could hardly satisfy the great hunger that was growing within you, forcing you to get away from crowded places: you did not want to hunt multiple prey in the night and cause a terrible mess, preferring to work methodically and continue to keep your identity hidden. In the end, it was just you and your inner beast, desperately asking you to be fed with some powerful human elixir.

“A gracious lady like you should not be walking around alone at this time of night,” was a deep, male voice that brought you back to reality, sensing a life force so strong as to make your head spin and your core trembling in anticipation.

And as you turned, you recognised the voice as that of Sihtric, the Lord approaching you cautiously so as not to frighten you. You could see the moonlight illuminating his features, its pale rays gently caressing his sharp features and highlighting the scars on his forehead and cheekbones. It was indeed a charming man, his hair half shaved, half combed into plaits that revealed a tattoo that started at the side of his head and reached down to his neck. But it was his eyes that struck you most: two beautiful bicoloured irises, barely covered by his dilated pupils, looking at you with a gaze full of love and anticipation.

“This gracious lady can defend herself against the pitfalls of the night,” you retorted back, feigning offence at his words, which were welcomed with Sihtric’s loud chuckle. "I have no desire for protection,” you continued, noticing his fingers gripping the hilt of his swords, his body tensing in alarm.

Your words make Sihtric calm down, his body relaxed and the grip on his sword became weak. “If it is not protection what you seek, then allow me to keep you company,” the Dane politely asked you, and you took this as an opportunity to finally feed your unsatisfied hunger: never had a prey voluntarily approached you.

“It would be an honour to spend this peaceful night with you, Lord,” you replied in a soft and soothing voice, the same tone you used in his dreams. Your voice was music to his ears and Sihtric swallowed a lump in his throat, feeling his body heat up and his cheeks turn red at your words, the lust growing inside him.

And the two of you sat by the pond, watching the moon cast a beautiful play of light on the surface of the water. There was silence at first, the air filled with a thin layer of intimacy, then a brief pause in conversation as you became accustomed to each other's presence. You told Sihtric a half-truth, concealing your true identity and introducing yourself as a traveller who had travelled far and found her next resting place in Dunholm before continuing her journey. Sihtric told you his story, of how he had escaped his father's cruelty to serve a true lord, of the endless battles, from the simplest to the most violent, that he had fought to help Uhtred reclaim Bebbanburg, of how he had become the new lord of Dunholm, ruling over a land that knew nothing but cruelty and fear. He also told you how he struggled every day with his loneliness, and how not even the company of his friends could fill that void.

“But then I saw you in my dreams,” Sihtric continued, closing the remaining distance between you. There was a fire in his eyes, a burning desire that could tame the fiercest of the beasts and the darkest of the creatures. A chill ran down your spine, and for the very first time you felt like the prey you hunted all your life. “And I could not believe that such a perfect creature could have been created by the gods,”

You held your breath, your head spinning, for many reasons: his strong, vital strength so close to you, an inviting, tantalising temptation; his gaze, dark with desire, looking at you as if he were peering into your soul; his deep, warm voice echoing in the night, a velvet murmur that hid such a powerful force to alter your senses and awaken your hidden desires. Sihtric was nothing like the ordinary men you had seduced and drained in the past: he was an experienced warrior and a handsome man, and a great challenge that stimulated you.

Without your spirit faltering at his declaration, you raised your hand, one of your fingers tracing the contour of his throat and Adam's apple until you forced his chin up.

“I did not think you had such a strong devotion to your gods,” you replied with a smirk, your eyes dark as well. “But I am afraid I must warn you: I am anything but what you think I am, Lord,” your voice toned down, wrapping your arms around his neck and drawing him close.

Your foreheads almost touched, your scent inviting enough to cloud Sihtric's mind, the Lord of Dunholm confused but not frightened: part of him would not believe your words, but the other part wanted nothing more than to make you his, craving your touch and the way your bodies would melt together.

"No witch is a product of the gods, for you have bewitched me," he whispered, tensing slightly as the word witch escaped his lips. He leaned closer again, the temptation to taste your lips strong, but you pushed him away slightly, shaking your head with a grin.

"I am more than a mere witch, my lord," you replied boldly, your hands intertwining in an intricate embrace, his tattooed, calloused fingers meeting the smoothness of your skin. "I am a superior being, the darkness itself. Nothing a human can control," you continued, squeezing his hand in a tight vice. The conviction in your voice soon faltered when you felt his lips brushing against your wrist, kissing your veins with a tenderness that made you feel weak.

"Then tell me who you are," Sihtric murmured against your flesh, his lips trailing down to your forearm. "Tell me your name."

You sneered, shaking your head as you looked at him with your piercing gaze. "My name has power, and you are not yet worthy to bear it. But I am generous today and will allow you to call me whatever you wish."

With slow, fluid movements, Sihtric's lips shook your entire arm, reached for your shoulder and nibbled gently. Then he lifted his head, your lips almost touching.

"Then allow me to call you mine," he whispered huskily, closing the distance between you with a deep, passionate kiss.

The night air warmed with a burning heat and unspoken desire, the sound of your muffled moans and gasping breaths echoing with the songs of the owls. Your lips met again and again in fierce kisses, your tongues dancing together as you swallowed each other's moans, your hands exploring your clothed bodies. Sihtric’s hands firmly held your back, pulling you close as his mouth claimed you again, a glimpse of his life force flowing in your veins.

All rational logic gave way to the most animal thoughts, an aura of lust enveloping you as a battle of possession took place between you: the two of you teasing each other, Sihtric rubbing your pulsing and sensitive spot as the palm of your hand brushed against his arousal, your touch so seductive it made him growl in your mouth.

Sihtric arched his head back as you took him in your mouth, your head resting between his legs as you playfully teased the tip of his length, swallowing the salty taste of the pre-cum before wrapping your lips completely around his thickness, your head bobbing up so you could take all of him. He rolled his eyes and nibbled at his lower lips as you began your slow pace, ignoring the firm grip he had on your head, a few strands of hair held in place by his fist. Enjoying your sweet torture at first, his impatience grew and forced him to act, his loud moans turning to ragged breaths and heavy grunts as he began to move his hips in a desperate motion, lust destroying any resistance and ignoring the trembling of his legs.

He soon came, allowing you to take all he had to give. As you released him, Sihtric felt his head spin, a sudden dizziness hit him as he tried to sit down on the grass, his body suddenly heavy and drained of energy. His eyes closed quickly as he rested his head on your shoulder, falling into a deep sleep as you tended to him.

You absently scratched his head, licking your lips as you savoured the taste of his life energy feeding your primal hunger. However, the way he made you feel, how he boldly challenged your dark nature and how well he satisfied your lustful desires made you spare him. For how long you craved for his life to amplify your powers, you could not ignore the way he made your heart feel, the thump so ferocious you thought it could escape from your rib cage.

With the thump of your heart you could not ignore, you leaned your head and gently kissed his forehead, watching him sleeping peacefully in your arms while the spark of the attraction had ignited, destined to burn brightly.

It was supposed to be an easy hunt, to have him at your mercy. You were supposed to weaken him with your charm and your aura, kiss him and drain him of his life force, and then resume your hunt, your hunger sated, eager to feast on your next victim.

But in truth it was Sihtric who tamed you: from the first moment you allowed him to call you his, to the way your head turned with each of his kisses, the touch of his calloused hands so diabolically seductive, the ghost of his lips still trailing across your body. No man had ever accepted you with such devotion, nor had you ever allowed him to go beyond the boundaries of a simple brush of your lips.

But the truth was that you liked his attentions: you loved how Sihtric was a caring and attentive partner, the way he treated you made you forget you were born as a demonic creature. He ignored the trail of victims you left behind in the past, as well as your urge to quench your hunger and have a taste of his strong life force: he would be willing to sacrifice his own life to show you how strong his love was for you.

You allowed Sihtric to be tempted by the devil, but in return you burned yourself in the flames of his heart. Sparing his life was your greatest act of love, not a mere act of mercy, as you always told yourself.

The days passed and your secret meetings continued after that night at the pond, each time finding a secluded spot when you both craved privacy. The flames of pleasure engulfed you each night, bruising kisses and grabs mixed with strangled moans and high-pitched whimpers as you fucked each other into oblivion, both of you leaving marks on your bodies and pulling at each other's hair. And each time the two of you came in unison, Sihtric's head would collapse in your lap as he allowed you to feed on his life force every time you needed to, as you accepted his physical act of loyalty to you, to finally be loved for who you really were and not hated for being a creature from hell.

The more time you spent together, the stronger your bond became, an invisible thread that drew you closer together: a bond forged by the forces of the underworld, a dark twist of fate that led a human and a succubus to love each other, a sinister tapestry that defied the logic of fate.

And the strength of your bond reached its peak when Sihtric, on a cold winter's night in his room, enjoyed your company before he was forced to leave you behind. A message had come from Bebbanburg and he was to rejoin Uhtred and Finan, summoned to resolve urgent matters. He had heard that King Edward’s rule was soon to be faltered, but never could tell that things would escalate so quickly.

You both lay down in his bed, your hands exploring each other’s curves while your lips met again in a head-spinning kiss, none of you seemed to want to say goodbye to the other. For how long you refused to admit yourself, your heart ached at the feeling of spending your days without Sihtric at your side, and the thought you could lose him on the battlefield was a death sentence even worse than spending your eternal afterlife wrapped in the flames of Hell.

"Let me come with you," you protested weakly as his lips pressed against yours, his bare arms holding you close as he feared you might escape his embrace. You had become extremely needy of his touch, your defences so low you could hardly recognise yourself.

“No,” was his firm reply, as he kissed the contour of your lips, trailing down to your jaw and your neck. “This is not a war I will ask you to fight on my behalf,”

He then gently pushed you down, your back resting on the furs. “I will always find a way to come back to you,”

His lips trailed down again on your neck, his touch as light as a feather as his lips kept brushing on your skin, an attempt to cool your anger and to fill your disappointment. But this time you were not fooled by his actions, and you pushed him back with firmness.

“Are you really casting me aside, Sihtric?” you hissed, pushing him back again as you felt him approaching, a regretful expression painted on his face. “You cannot me leave me behind, not after the bond we built-“

“A bond I do not intend to break because I have answered the call of the lord I’m still serving,” Sihtric interrupted you with an authoritative tone, pushing you back on bed and caging you with his body. He could see the tears forming in your eyes, a sight that breaks his heart. Never had he seen you so vulnerable, nor had you ever allowed yourself to lower your defences.

“I swear to you, on my Thor’s hammer, that I will do everything I am called to do to survive and to return to your arms,” the Dane spoke with a low and soft voice, lowering his head so he could kiss your forehead. “For now, let me take care of you for tonight, my devil lady,”

With a faint nod of your head, you let him close the distance, sealing with a bittersweet kiss, a soft touch that soon became a desperate embrace of two souls forced to separate for a time you both could not quantify. And for the very first time you allowed yourself to raise down your barriers, crying in his arms as he squeezed you, his mouth swallowing all your faint sobs escaping from your throat.

It was no longer a stay at his side for his life force, despite the fact that your demonic nature would yearn with all his being. You fell in love with everything about him: for the way he looked in his eyes, for the way he touched and loved you, mostly risking his own life to tame your demonic impulses: a respect and delicacy you would never find in another man, should you ever start another hunt.

And with the same delicacy he took you that night, your lips exploring every nook and cranny of your body, whispering sweet words and praising you softly, his tongue crossing your throat as he found his way to your breast, teasing you with his hands and mouth, pinching and sucking your hardening nipples. Soon, your sobs turned into sharp breaths and moans, trembling at how good he made you feel.

His hand slipped down to your stomach, his thick fingers rubbing down on your pulsing core, already wet with anticipation. A loud gasp escaped your lips as you felt one of his fingers inside you, your eyes rolling back at the slow thrust of his hand, fucking you with a steady pace. Sihtric lips trailed over your neck, kissing and nibbling as he quickened the pace, his self control abandoning him completely once he felt how good your walls were clenching on his finger.

“Look at you, my sweet devil is already so tight for me,” Sihtric murmured against your lips, swallowing another loud moan with an eager kiss. “I cannot wait to see how tight you will be around my cock,”

You muttered nonsense words, pleasure engulfing your mind as you felt your head light as well as your body, your eyes shut from the pleasure you were receiving. You felt as if your own life force was abandoning you, letting you weaken and trembling.

You whined as you felt Sihtric’s finger slowly pulling out you, frustration rising as you well ready to reach the peak of your climax. When you opened your eyes you saw Sihtric holding your hip with one hand, the other hand giving himself a few strokes on his cock, throbbing with anticipation. He entered inside you with a swift motion, an inhuman grunt escaped his throat at how deliciously tight you were around his length. He set up a rough pace, fucking you restlessly as he could not control himself anymore. Whimpers and groans were the only audible things in the room, both of you teasing each other with kisses and nibbles, you often pulling on Sihtric’s wild curls, forcing him to expose his throat and biting it eagerly, leaving visible marks on his fair skin.

The climax between you quickly raised as you both simultaneously were reaching your peaks, and his grip on your hips became rougher.

“Yes, come for me, my devil queen,” the Dane praised you with a low groan, loving how good was ravaging, how vulnerable you were under his control. “I want you to hear you shout my name while I fill you up,”

“Sihtric,” you whispered between loud moans, and while chanting his name over and over you both reach your peak, him spilling inside you while you coming over his thick length, a blissful feeling hit both of you as you both collapsed on your bed, his strong arms wrapping you as he left soft kisses on your temple.

And it was when he fell asleep several minutes after that your demonic form showed up, your slender fingers rubbing over his curls as you watched your lover one last time before leaving you for war.

You both know, deep in your heart, that neither death cannot break your bond.

Because he was bound to you, and you were bound to him.

If you've come this far, thank you so much for reading my fic! Hope you enjoyed it!

Taglist: @whitedarkmoonflower @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @foxyanon @legitalicat @zaldritzosrose

@alexagirlie @sylasthegrim @lord-aldhelm @sihtricsafin @arcielee

#sihtric x reader #sihtric kjartansson x reader #sihtric x you #sihtric kjartansson x you #sihtric fic #sihtric kjartansson fic #the last kingdom fanfic #the last kingdom fic #tlk fanfic #tlk fic

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kakushino · 9 months

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Would you love me if I were a worm?

Rengoku Kyojuro x GN! Reader

He survived but at what cost?

Tags: fluff, slight angst, Kyojuro survives Mugen train AU

Word count: 0,6k

Masterlist | Rebuilding the ruins of castle Me masterlist

AN: Written as a Christmas gift for dear @glitchtricks94 - Merry Christmas!

I contemplated renaming it Kintsugi (hence the header) but I like this title more.

“Uma- ouch-” Kyojuro forgot, for the nth time, that he was still recovering from having a hole in his abdomen; shouting was a long way away from happening for him yet. Instead of ‘admitting defeat’, he whispered a strained “Umai…” before taking another dango into his mouth, chewing and enjoying the taste as he tried to focus on the sweetness of the treat rather than the bitterness of his wound.

It was a peaceful afternoon, the sun shone brightly, and the boys were training in his backyard while he enjoyed tea and a snack you had made for him.

You, his love…

All throughout your relationship, you had asked him, half joking, if he would love you were you to become a worm. The question greatly confused him every time, even stunned him speechless the first, but he had always answered a resolute yes.

What he failed to do was ask you the same.

Even so, each day he woke up now, feeling like a worm, a useless bug, and each day you took care of him - you built your home to suit his needs, helped him bathe, cooked for him, entertained him - when he had nothing to give you back. He had become someone you didn’t ask for, someone you didn’t ‘sign up’ to love.

Kyojuro had never asked the question, but your response was an infallible yes - all the more, you showed it, your actions proved it.

He had never fallen so deep for someone in his life, being near you made him happy, though there was always a lingering inner torment fraying him at the edges…

Underneath his carefully crafted facade, you knew he wasn’t fine. Kyojuro survived, at a great cost - an eye, and his career, his youth, his strength.

He used to smile even in his sleep; the usually peaceful expression had been replaced by a frown or a frighteningly borderline angry expression. He also couldn’t spoon you, not yet, which agonized him more than he could admit. He missed cuddling you, you could see that every time you went to bed.

You were aware he was always in pain, though he said nothing, so you quietly placed painkillers alongside his tea and dango today. Kyojuro couldn’t be more grateful you were in his life.

“The dango is delicious, my love,” he whispered to you as you finally sat down beside him. Tanjiro’s soft laughter echoed in the yard, Zenitsu’s crying and Inosuke’s howling a complementary melody adding to the usual chaos of your home. Something like peace settled in his chest.

“I’m glad. Don’t forget to drink the tea, it’s already cold.” You smiled at him as he reached for his cup. Kyojuro seemed to do so absent-mindedly, it was kind of endearing to see him trust you so much he gave no thought to your instructions.

Wooden clack clack became a distant rhythm while you both soaked in the warmth of the sun - the very same one which signaled the end of his last dance with the devil.

Become a demon, Kyojuro.

His scars throbbed in dull pain, his teeth clenched, an irrational panic set in, and he could not help but seek out everyone around him with his eye to make sure-

The boys were at it again, a goofy ball of energy rolling all over the training space, sweat making dirt stick to their skin. Tanjiro, alive. Zenitsu, alive. Inosuke, alive.

And you-

You were looking at him calmly; his feelings wild, all over the place but then Kyojuro looked in your eyes. He saw everything he thought he had lost, he felt as if you two were the only ones in your home.

Would you love him if he were a worm?

Yes. Yes, you do.

dividers made by the amazing @benkeibear

network: @enchantedforest-network

Probably will become a 3-parter, 2nd part coming on 24th December

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saiyanprincessswanie · 1 year

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SaiyanPrincessSwanie - Reading List Weeks 143 & 144

Welcome to Week 143 & 144

As always these will be listed in no particular order. None of these stories are mine. I’m just signal boosting them. Author is listed next to title. My goal is to signal boost writers and spread positivity in the community. 💜💜

Click HERE to see what I will or won’t read. This is very important.

Click HERE for past reading lists.

My Masterlist click HERE

Please make sure you’re reading the warnings on every story. They range from dark to fluff. Do Not Read if you are under 18 years old. These stories are meant for adults only. You’re responsible for your own media consumption.

Page-break by @whimsicalrogers & header by me

If you can, please reblog these lists so they can reach more people on Tumblr.

I love you 3000 💜 Missy

Beg for Forgiveness - (Steve x Reader) - @saiyanprincessswanie

Nat’s Diary (2) - @animnerd

Lloyd Drabble - @thornsnvultures

Hold my Heart - (Andy x Reader) - @flordeamatista

Midnight Dance - @animnerd

Secrets chp 8 - (Steve x Reader, Brock x Reader) - @nekoannie-chan

New Rules - Chp 12 - (Steve x Reader) - @syntheticavenger

Heart of Glass - Part 1 - (Curtis x Reader) - @syntheticavenger

Oh La La - (Bucky x Reader) - @jobean12-blog

Drops of Rain - (Bucky x Reader) - @jobean12-blog

Left for Revenge - Chp 6 - @hollybee8917

Left for Revenge - Chp 7 - @hollybee8917

Left for Revenge - Chp 8 - @hollybee8917

Partners in Crime - (Nick x Reader) - @navybrat817

Prelude to a Kiss - (Stucky x Reader) - @navybrat817

New Tricks - (Stucky x Reader) - @sidepartskinnyjeans

Dirty Sweet - (Bucky x Reader) - @nocturne-pisces

TRIAD - @labella420

Thigh Slayer - (Bucky x Reader) - @targaryenvampireslayer

Things are looking up - (Brock x Reader) - @nekoannie-chan

So High - (Bucky x Reader) - @metalbuckaroo

A Piece of Cake - (Stucky x Reader) - @sidepartskinnyjeans

This City - (Steve x Reader, Steve x OFC) - @cockslutpadalecki

The shower incident - (Steve x Reader) - @nekoannie-chan

Kiss the Girl - (Steve, Nat) - @animnerd

Out there - (Winter Soldier) - @animnerd

Biker Jake Drabble - @angrythingstarlight

Chasing Love - (Bucky x Reader) - @jobean12-blog

Collared part 9 - (Dean x Reader) - @spnexploration

Collared part 10 - (Dean x Reader) - @spnexploration

Aurora - Part 6 - (Andy x OFC, Lloyd) - @andydrysdalerogers

Aurora - Part 7 - (Andy x OFC, Lloyd) - @andydrysdalerogers

God and His Angel - (God the Bounty Hunter × Reader) - @navybrat817

Pity Party - (Lloyd x Reader) - @deceitfuldevout

Secrets Chp 9 - (Steve x OFC, Brock x OFC) - @nekoannie-chan

Heart of Glass - Part 2 - (Curtis x Reader) - @syntheticavenger

His Inheritance - Part 15 - (Steve x Reader) - @jtargaryen18

Lightning in a Bottle - Part 4 - (Thor x Reader) - @wizardofrozz

Real Life Tasks With Ransom - Day 5 - @wiypt-writes @sweater-daddiesdumbdork

Secret Sierra - Chp 6 - (Six x Reader) - @lloydsbitch

Little Bird - Part 1 - (Bucky x Reader) - @gogolucky13

Gentle Sin - (God the Bounty Hunter x Reader) - @navybrat817

Traitor? - (Steve x Reader) - @nekoannie-chan

Two Kings (6) - (Steve x Reader) - @holylulusworld

Recognition - Part 3 - (Steve x Reader) - @labella420

Crossroads part I - (Steve x Reader) - @nekoannie-chan

Play by the Rules - (Steve x Reader, Bucky x Reader) - @navybrat817

Monkey See, Monkey Do - (Chp 12) - @spectre-posts @what-is-your-plan-today

Work it Out - (Bucky x Reader) - @jobean12-blog

God vs the Devil - (1) - (Lloyd x Reader x God the Bounty Hunter) - @holylulusworld

Headstrong - (Bucky x Reader) - @flordeamatista

#saiyanprincessswanie #recommended reading #missy reads #missy reblogs #bucky barnes x reader #steve rogers x reader #andy barber x reader #curtis everett x reader #nick fowler x reader #stucky x reader #brock rumlow x reader #dean winchester x reader #andy barber x ofc #god the bounty hunter x female reader #lloyd hansen x reader #thor x reader #ransom drysdale x reader

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soapver4 · 23 days

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Sentient Jams

Metadrama idea: Fairies and demons ranting against fates repeated across lifetimes, generations and realms — plunging down abysses, unsealing of devils, naive and cutesy females transformed from mighty goddesses, coughing up blood, amnesia, tribulation cycles in the human world — realize through extreme heatwaves inducing near-death out-of-body experiences that they are goos processed and pumped through a circuitous pipe network. At the ends of the network, mixtures of them are packaged off as jars of jam that boost the hit points (HP) of consumers slogging away in a frenetic economy. On gulping down the jams, workers experience the entire fantasy dramas in a matter of seconds, but as though they have watched them for all 40 hours or so of running time, maximizing purchases at minimal cost to labor availability. The tropes are flavoring and texturing techniques replicated from monumental product successes, because the jam factory managers cannot risk their own jobs.

To escape the network and seize destiny for themselves, the goos must melt holes through the metal pipes using their mental strength. What better way to generate the brain heat than to crack riddles from some discipline with a (not always justly) fearsome reputation? In line with the themes of path restrictions and substance malleability, the discipline chosen is mathematical topology. The fairies and demons roam through cloud mountains and smoky seas for spiritual force experts and other helpers to attain the requisite mental power to work out solutions, while real-life viewers solve the topology riddles on the streaming/television network's website on behalf of characters they select.

Riddles of varying levels are available to cater to viewers with differing logic abilities and mathematical proficiency. The higher the level, the more points awarded for solving a riddle. To minimize mindless plagiarism, there must be a vast database of riddles which have not been previously published somewhere else, so mathematicians cannot ignore this promised pop culture sensation! Viewers cannot submit any solution for a riddle already solved by anyone, but they are free to rope in the assistance of people strong in topology since it is difficult to verify personal effort and that assistance may foster peer sharing of mathematical perspectives, otherwise deemed too uncool a topic in everyday life, anyway.

Characters escape the pipe network across multiple episodes in the order of their respective fans' points so far. Escaped characters' spirits (representing their voices and heat) hoover around, unseen by remaining characters, in free-flowing hair and groovy solid-color costumes with flamboyant ruffles to rally behind their friends or channel mysterious supportive forces that either break down physical obstacles in the realms or guide the friends towards more helpers. Each episode closes with energetic dance collabs by all escaped characters, in their spiritual forms and then in their bouncy goo forms on the factory floor.

youtube

↑Pachinko's demos of characters breaching spatiotemporal barriers for dance meetups. Which is the better cheerleading BGM for viewers working on picture-hanging puzzles, if you don't let the second title daunt you: "Let's Live for Today" or "Wait a Million Years"?

The dancing cannot last forever, however, as factory staff will be back anytime soon. In the final shot, the goos finish their biggest dance collab and gather in front of the factory's colossal metal door.

Check out the alt text of the header image, which features another anti-trope metadrama.

#fantasy #mathblr #cdrama #tropes #lee minho #pachinko #imagination #xianxia #an actor's rhapsody 2 #cao xiyue #chen tengyue #Youtube #Soap 4.0

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le-trash-prince · 4 months

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thoughts while catching up on DW season 14 or 1 or whatever

Space Babies:

I'm not like, a baby person, so my enjoyment of this one was just okay because there was quite a lot of babies.

But overall it was fun, it was silly, which I think Doctor Who deserves to be fun and silly. Who doesn't love a monster made out of boogers

I think they mentioned aeolian tones in this one? In regards to the bogeyman radiating fear at the right frequency?

The Doctor leading with his backstory reveal on the first companion trip? That's growth, right?

The Devill Chord:

loved this episode a whole bunch. non-binary villain that consumes music? the world destroying itself because it loses music? I'm into it

for some reason when I started seeing promo headers for Maestro, I assumed they were a gender-neutral version of The Master dgfgf

aeolian tones again

Maestro feels like a Kingdom Hearts design and I respect that

I love seeing the Doctor lean on his life experience and all of his loss and his love as his strength, rather than just being like "Yeah I'm the smartest person in the room."

also I think there were just some really lovely visuals this ep

also Susan??? my heart?? I hope we get to see her I want to see her

yes I do love the sonic screwdriver having control over sound.

the music battle... it vibes with me okay

I do think they overhyped the Doctor's fear of Maestro a bit, when it didn't feel like it was all that difficult to defeat them, but I'm guessing these faceoffs may get more difficult as the season progresses.

Boom:

unfortunately I think I will be biased against Moffat for the rest of my life, and this was far from his best DW episode.

I used to think he was good at writing kids?? But the girl in this just basically kept saying "Where's daddy?" which felt like a rehash of "Are you my mummy?", but without the creep factor. Maybe it speaks to my ignorance about kids living in war zones (extremely possible), but she felt like a prop the entire time.

I did think the background setting was interesting, but the ambulance causing all these problems also felt like a rehash of the nanobot ambulance from The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances

Ncuti gave a phenomal performance though, hats off to my guy.

It's funny, I felt like I recognized the ambulance lady, so I googled Susan Task, and the first thing to come up was articles on theories about her role in Doctor Who, and I was like, "I don't care about theories I just want to know what I've seen her in before," and then it turned out what I'd seen her in was three other episodes of Doctor Who. Hence the theories.

I don't have any particular theories about where Ruby is from, but I would enjoy it if she were a Time Lord (surprise Time Lord never gets old for me sorry)/came from the same universe as the Doctor.

Love how the Doctor is like "I can never take you to that night on Ruby Road because of the paradox you could create" (we know it's gonna happen) as if he couldn't simply go there by himself and just. Ask her mom who she is, but DRAMA, BUILDUP OF SUSPENSE, I GET IT.

Also goddamn Ncuti is so fit........

#em post #doctor who spoilers #dw #not putting this in the primary tag coz tbh i don't care to be all that active in the fandom #currently watching

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alieinthemorning · 8 months

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Figure Skating [Ashido Mina]

Content: Fluff, Figure Skating, Injury, Love Confessions

Pronouns: None

Header: @/nimuello

Reblogs: Let me know that you enjoy my work and want to see more, so don’t forget to like and reblog (and comment in the tags. I love seeing people’s rambles in the tags)!

This work’s concepts, plot and original characters are my own which means I do not allow any sort of creative theft nor do I allow my work to be entered into any sort of A.I. bots. Thank you for respecting my space and boundaries.

Today was the day.

The day you were going to confess your feelings!

Sure, there’d be other people there, friends too, but that wasn’t going to deter you.

You gave yourself a determined look in the mirror. “I’m going to confess to Ashido Mina today no matter what.”

“Hey! You ready?”

You jumped with a high-pitched squeal.

Speak of the devil.

Mina surged forward, steadying the tittering mirror. “Woah, you good?” She gave you a once over. “You looked flushed… are you sure you can come with us?”

“I’m fine! I’m totally fine! Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Now,” You stepped around her, grabbing your bag. “Let’s go!”

The way to the skating rink should have been filled with nonsensical chatter about your holiday plans, but instead your thoughts were filled to the brim on the confession.

When would you do it? Closer to when it's time to go, or in the middle?

How would you do it? Pull off a few cool moves, or simply hold her hand?

What would you say? A simple confession, or something more drawn out?

Would you do it alone or with people around? Near the boys or around strangers?

Where would you do it? On the rink or on a bench?

Why are you doing it?

Why were you doing it?

Sure, you liked her, what wasn’t there to like, but you?

You frowned.

You were… average. You’d never been as great as Mina, and she deserved better than you.

Enjirou nudged you. “Everything good?”

You pulled the frown into what you’d hoped was a believable smile and said. “Yep! Just a little nervous is all!” He believed it, giving you a reassuring pat on the back, and left it at that.

The skating rink wasn’t as packed as you’d thought it would be yet was still lively enough.

Just before your group headed over to the desk, Mina called for your attention. “Okay guys, one more time before we go in. Absolutely no quirks.” She gave Katsuki a hard look, “Am I clear?” He rolled his eyes with a grunt, and pushed past her, with Enjirou chasing after him.

In Katsuki-speak, that meant “Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

Mina rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I have a few moves I want to show you guys.”

“Oh?” Hanta raised a brow. “Is it gonna be like what you showed us in class?”

“The break dancing stuff? Nah, that’d be too dangerous.”

“So, like, actually figure skating stuff?” Denki tried.

“I’m not telling!” She stuck her tongue out. “So you’re just gonna have to watch me!”

You’d watch her till your dying breath.

It had been awhile since you’d last done any ice skating, so you were a little shaky on the ice, but after about 20 minutes, you’d found your center. Since then, you’d been following Mina around the rink, simply watching as she pulled off actual figure skating moves ever so gracefully.

You wondered, if Quirks never existed, could the two of you live normal lives? Mina as a dancer, and you as her biggest fan? You would have met her at one of her performances, hitting it off from there? Living happily ever—

“Ah!” You weren’t watching where you were going and ended up slamming right into the wall. “Ow, ow, ow…” You rubbed your thigh, which you had landed on pretty hard.

“Oh my gosh!” Mina slid up beside you. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“I, uh, wasn’t watching where I was going, and I ran into the wall.”

“Can you stand?” She helped you up. “Come on, let’s take a break.”

“No! Don’t let me stop you. I can go sit by myself.” You tried to pull away from her, but she pulled you back in.

She puffed her cheeks. “I know you’re hurting. You need to sit down.”

Ever so slowly, she pulled you off the ice and over to a bench, then went off to get something cold for the swelling and snacks.

Leaving you alone, just you and your thoughts.

If you had just been paying attention, this wouldn’t have happened.

If you hadn’t drawn attention to yourself, she wouldn’t have noticed.

If you had only lied better, she wouldn’t have stopped.

And you could have kept watching her.

You only felt the tears after a cold breeze stung your cheeks.

You tried to wipe them away but—

“Oh no! Does it hurt that bad?”

Mina. Always so caring.

And for her to care about someone like you—

“Should I call someone—?”

“I’m so sorry!” You shouted. “This is all my fault! If I hadn’t fallen, none of this would have happened.”

She sat beside you, placing the cold water bottle on the afflicted part of your thigh. “Accidents happen. It’s okay.”

You shook your head. “But it's not! If I hadn’t been so stupid, I wouldn’t have made you stop. If I wasn’t such a baby, you wouldn’t have to worry about me.” You sighed. “You really do deserve someone better than me…”

“…what?”

You sighed again, looking away. Might as well get this over with now. “Today was the day that I was going to confess my feelings for you, Mina.”

“H—huh? You like me?”

You gave a dry laugh. “Yeah, but don’t worry. You don’t have to answer me. I already know your—”

“I like you too!” She grabbed your hands. “The whole reason why I learned those moves was to impress you! I wanted to confess to you today too!”

“You…” She, “like me too?” liked you too?

“Yep! Which means,” She took a look around the area, “I can finally do this.” then leaned in, giving you a peck on the lips.

You passed out from overheating.

It was definitely worth it, though.

In this updated version, I mainly just fixed grammar, and also adressed the boys by their first name instead of their family name.

Ko-Fi | Commission | Masterlist

#alie ficlets #alie ficlets: version 2 #bnha x reader #mha x reader #ashido mina x reader

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yibo-wang · 2 years

Text

Guide:

Tracking: #tuseryibo

Gifs:

All

Artists: Yibo / Others

BL: the untamed / semantic error / light on me / tinted with you / not me / bad buddy /kieta hatsukoi / blueming / 2gether

GL: She makes my heart flutter

Other: Being a hero / 2521 / Luoyang / Legend of Fei / love between fairy and devil / Street Dance of China [3] [4] [5] / Gank Your Heart / Oath of Love / Howl's moving castle

Photoshoots:

Yibo

Others [Jackson Wang / Wang Zhuocheng / Xuan Lu, Liu Yuxin]

Manhua:

mdzs manhua

semantic error

Shows/Movies:

Currently Watching: Island, Glory

Last finished: Hidden Blade / Rookie Historian

Waiting for: Born To Fly, One and Only

Books:

Currently Reading: nothing 😔 (someone gimme recs)

Others:

icons / headers

tutorials

series:

things that totally happened

the untamed x fandom url

10 min 10 characters

endless lan wangji

mdzs x pokémon

requests: milestone celebrations

Blogs:

@wangzhuocheng

@yuchangerine - kpop

@midnightsvoid - other stuff/from where I reply/like

#for convenience #do not rb #guide link

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starredforlife · 2 years

Note

Hii I asked the question about the Allupa header. when I see the piece I am most reminded of alexandre cabanel’s Fallen Angel (mostly because of lupa’s expression) so that really informs my reading of it. I see Fallen Angel as a humanization of the devil who looks kind of petulant, vulnerable and guarded in the painting. For me, it challenges the understanding of Lucifer as a symbol of evil. I connect this to the werewolf who is traditionally a threat/abomination. Though I did not think about this before you pointed it out in your response, I can see Al as the Angel protecting or healing Lupa as the damned/maybe traumatized creature, and though Lupa’s pose is protective/possessive there is a sense of vulnerability/defensiveness just as in fallen Angel. I would literally love for you to dig into the symbolism in their relationship in the story/how their monster-types relate in-text. I find these characters and their story very intriguing! Sorry for how long this is lol

i'm gonna cry djkfkdl thank you for an artistic analysis my life goal is complete now i love u <3 <3 and no thank you so much for keeping it long

I do love your interpretation of it a lot because, like I said, it could go either way. I didn't even have Fallen Angel in mind but I can totally see that comparison!

I don't even know where to begin with them tbh there's just so much and it's all like, a jumbled board with the strings and pictures. but not all of the dots are quite connected yet, so i will try my best to surmise here. so much under the read-more, I'm so sorry

OH AND ALSO B4 YOU READ IT ALL here is their playlist it kind of answers a couple questions as well

I think for this piece it's mostly important to know that both Lupa and Al share a fatal flaw of sorts: they are both very self-sacrificing, in their own ways. There is a periods in their stories where the other feels safer literally dying for the other person than confronting their feelings for them. They have to hold to each other, metaphorically and physically, so that they don't let themselves go. It's not necessarily healthy, these kinds of stakes, and it does sort itself out eventually. But around this time, it boils down to: If I told you how much I care, it would only hurt us both.

So they cling to each other because they can't say anything. The circumstances of plot prevent them from getting together like a normal couple, and their own complicated past prevents them from simply kissing and telling, ykwim? Al liked Lupa first, and had to overcome a million hurdles to even admit it to herself, then Lupa got a boyfriend, then she breaks up with him and Al moves on, and then Lupa falls for Al, and at the same time they're finding out that the other person sees them, fully, as they are, and it's completely overwhelming and frustrating. But through it they hold each other. They would go through hell to make sure the other person makes it out the other side. Lupa would tear into God himself to make sure Al is safe. Al would go against her own divinity to make sure Lupa remains intact. so not to be That Person but they are Running Up That Hill (Deal with God) in essence bc I'm lame and I love that song so much

Their entire relationship is a duality in my head. A wolf and a sheep or a dog and a ram, beauty and the beast, devil and angel, the divine and the sinful, lion and lamb, healing and sickness, promises and lies. Sun and Moon! ETC ETC They are not confined to one definition, and their growth comes from being loved for what the other sees in them. Lupa and Al always dance on the line between duality. So that's why this piece is ambiguous--it's really just that they are one being, almost, in their monsterhood.

What's an angel to a werewolf? It's almost the same as an alien to us--bright, and unfathomable. It's sunlight on the night of the full moon. Their touch can burn as much as it can heal, and that's the choice of the holy to make. And Al always chooses to heal.

A werewolf to an angel is what the Earth is to anyone fond of her. A representation of the indomitable human spirit--uncontrollable to any god. Lupa's stubborn pursuit of freedom and indulgence at any means terrifies Al at first, but she grows to understand and admire why Lupa chases these things. There's a wilderness to Lupa that's just as incomprehensibly addicting as Al's proximity to godhood.

SO in terms of the art piece. The point was to make it seem like Lupa is holding back--we don't know from what. She's defensive, but restrained. Without Al there, we don't know what the image would actually be. But the even more important point is that Al doesn't appear afraid at all. You could look at this and see, at a glance, damsel in distress, and the terrible wolf that took her away. But you look at the expressions and you notice that she's calm--almost in control. And under that subversion, the wolf is the one that's tamed. Maybe Al's the wolf in sheep's clothing. Maybe Lupa protects the viewer. Maybe Al's the beating heart of a beast and Lupa's the cage around it. In the end, they are entwined, body and soul and spirit.

The colors contrast, and were chosen on purpose. Green for the ties to forest and monsters, and orange for a too-bright warmth, closer to fire than the sun. Somewhat dangerous, and a little unstable. Typically Lupa has more blues and Al has more yellows, mellowing out their appearances a bit. But in this moment they're unpredictable. So they hold each other. It all comes back to that, always. Holding and clinging tight and not letting the other go. I'm going to go fuckin nuts

There's so muchharghdvjsfk like. Al was a ghost as well. A literal spirit, detached from herself, and when she met Lupa, Lupa was extremely Herself, individualized and "confident" (traumatized to the point of projecting a tough personality). And then she loses her lycanthropy and becomes, in a sense, a ghost herself. And Al returns and she's everything she ever wanted to be--a hero, a healer. It's all !! SOO MUCH that's too much to talk abt though. you'll just have to watch the show or comic or w/ever eventually <3

BUT again thank you so much for the analysis and thoughts it truly means so so much <3 I'm so happy people like digging into my art like this it really makes me happy

#star's asks #nocturnal city #long post #oc tag #im so sorry i feel like this doesnt even begin to scrape the top and also incomprehensibly answers your question #i just have to write a lot more abt them first lol

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moonlightmile12 · 2 years

Text

"Mick Taylor was very pretty - ash brown long hair, shy and pale. The Stones had another double-header handled for the next five years in sound and image. Tall and thin, he fitted right into the triple-threat front line...Still fresh from the club circuits, Mick Taylor's face showed him unused or using, wide-eyed, unabused and eager, with no particular devils in his dance of life so far... He and I would work together only once, in the early 90s...We toasted ourselves on being the only two to leave the Stones of our-more-or-less free will and live to tell the tale."

Andrew Loog Oldham

#andrew loog oldham #mick taylor

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redwineconversation · 7 months

Text

Damaris OL Night Systems Interview (January 23, 2023)

Straight up: I originally didn't want to do this translation because I don't like certain individuals giving attention to a notoriously private individual. They have absolutely no concept of (moral) boundaries, right or wrong, acceptable vs unacceptable social behavior. Highlighting stuff about a player they have starting paying attention to risks only encouraging their invasive behavior.

I think this is why Lyon gatekeeps, honestly. Because the adverse is certain individuals start demanding too much. Take what a player gives you and respect the line in the sand rather than using it as an excuse to demand more.

OL Night Systems continue to be an absolute cause of sleep paralysis because of how long they are to translate. However, this is also how you get to understand how a Lyon player thinks. To know Lyon players is to understand them. These types of interview segments is how you get to that. I really wish other teams would follow these OL Night Systems interview format because there is none of that wretched background noise, it is just about what makes the player, well, a football player. Tell me why your eyes change the way they do. We can get to the rest another time.

Blah blah standard disclaimers apply; @OL Comms pls pay for my Starbucks I'm so cheaply bribed you have no idea; is this an IP grab or am I simply losing my patience; I hate stans almost as much as Damaris hates Montpellier; y'all know the speech by now.

DAMARIS OL NIGHT SYSTEMS INTERVIEW

[Opening credits]

Journalist: Good evening everybody, and welcome to OL Night Systems on OLPlay. It's one of our producers birthday's today so everyone is good mood. Another thing to celebrate is our guest tonight. Okay, I do have Jules Cross with me, but I'm going to start with introducing our guest. Damaris Egurrola is going to spend an hour with us. Good evening, Dama.

Damaris: Good evening.

Journalist: Jules, I saw you do a shoulder shimmer during that introduction.

Jules: I was doing an interpreting dance to express my feeling.

Journalist: It looked like an exorcism.

Jules: There is the devil inside me. I can take this way off topic. Good evening, everybody. Delighted to be with a guest, as we do every Tuesday.

Journalist: Exactly. We'll be spending an hour with Damaris, do a news recap for Olympique Lyonnais Feminin, what happened last weekend, what happened last month. We're going to turn back the clock and rediscover her career path, the clubs she's played with, her story as well. And a few surprises, Damaris, as the show happens. Here at the club they call you "Dama". Can we call you Dama tonight as well?

Damaris: Yeah, call me how you want. Damaris, Dama.

Journalist: Very good. Let's look at what happened just this weekend. It was against Montpellier. A game against Montpellier, which has happened twice. It's gone well for Olympique Lyonnais, two wins, one in the Coupe de France and one in the league. A month of December which went pretty well for you personally when it comes to scoring goals. Is it a good period for Olympique Lyonnais and for yourself?

Damaris: Yes, it's true. It's sometimes a bit strange because I don't usually score a lot of goals. But yeah, December went well, the season so far has gone well for us. Montpellier is always hard, we played them twice in the same week. That's hard as well. And this weekend was complicated as well, playing at Montpellier is hard. It's very physical, there's a lot of intensity. But we won, that's the most important thing. We continue like that.

Journalist: We compiled Damaris' goals. There aren't a lot, but there are already two in the month of December.

Jules: Two goals scored in December and two on corners via headers. We'll talk about it. The first was against LOSC while wearing the third kit, it's a nice jersey [it's not, it looks like a clown outfit]. It's a gorgeous header. Flash forward to a few weeks later and it's against Fleury, your second goal in December and once again it's a header. Are headers your primary offensive weapon, Damaris?

Damaris: Yes, I think so. As I've said, sometimes I don't score but I've worked a lot on it because I think I can score more goals than before. I always work on that in practice. And yeah, in December I scored two goals, with the National Team as well. I'm happy but I know I can do better as well.

Journalist: Do you think that December has been your best month at Olympique Lyonnais?

Damaris: You could say that, but I've happy with every season [I've done] so far. I try every day to do as much as possible for my team as well. I work hard every day. I have a lot of ambition. I think we started the season really well, and I hope it continues like that.

Journalist: You thought December was a good month. Jules and I agree, it was. good month for you.

Jules: It was a good month.

Journalist: We're not the only ones who thought that. It's the first surprise for you, a little surprise. We have someone who is going to come and present you with the Player of the Month trophy in D1 Arkema. The league representative is here with us.

League representative: Congratulations on your great month of December. Hopefully there will be more. Congratulations again.

Journalist: Thank you for presenting the trophy to Damaris. Can you remind us what is the procedure?

League representative: Well every month we present the trophy of Player of the Month in D1 Arkema in collaboration with UNFP. Each each coach gives us their top three players at the end of each league match day. And then the shortlist, based on what the coaches submitted, is submitted to the players locker room and they vote as well. Then it's presented to the public for voting as well. So yeah. Lots of voting, a long process, but it also brings a sense of credibility and legitimacy to this trophy. And I think it adds some weight to it because all branches of French football are voting on it.

Journalist: You're welcome to come back any time and present the trophy.

League representative: Thank you. Congratulations again and have a great rest of the season. Goodbye.

Jules: We should have her back soon.

Journalist: We can invite her back on the last Tuesday [Note: guest segments are done on Tuesdays] of every month, it'll work out great.

Journalist: You thought you had a good month of December. The trophy also means that others agree with you and you're continuously improving.

Damaris: Yeah, it always makes you happy when you get a trophy like this. It's something complicated when you play in defense, you're not a forward so you're not the one scoring a lot goals. It's a bit difficult. We're always saying that defense is a lot of work, but sometimes it's not worthy of a trophy.

Journalist: You should rotate it [the trophy] so it's facing the camera. [Damaris dutifully does] It's a little off-center but that's okay.

Damaris: No, yeah, I'm happy with it.

Jules: You must be used to trophies. I would have put it front and center, everyone would have been aware of who won a trophy.

Journalist: Jules would have done a lap of honor while brandishing his jersey. But a trophy would have been a first for you,.

Jules: Indeed. But going back to you, as you said, it's usually forwards who score goals who win the trophy. I have the list of winners since the start of the season: there's Eugenie Le Sommer, Melchie Dumornay, Ines Benyahia who might be at Le Havre but for me it's four trophies won by Lyon players. So congratulations. It's even better when you're a midfielder, a defensive midfielder, it's a real accomplishment. Especially this trophy - we know you practice receiving trophies. We have footage. We have footage from pretty recently where we see Damaris who is practicing receiving a trophy. Now you weren't alone, your teammates were there too. It happened during the preseason camp in Girona, right Jules?

Jules: Yes, there was a ceremony, a choreography. Let's roll the footage.

[preseason camp cohesion activity]

Journalist: You were even practicing lifting the Champions League trophy with your teammates. Can you remind us what that was about?

Damaris: It was a game we played when we were in Girona. It was really good for team cohesion. One of the things we had to do was act like we had just won the Champions League. So I said, "let's play the music, we can do it like this." Everyone did their thing and it was good.

[Jules throws confetti at Damaris]

Jules: It came from our own production budget, we don't have the same budget at the Champions League. This will have to do.

Journalist: Jules has been tearing up paper for the past 30 seconds. How to produce your own show. It's in the news, the return to competition, this preseason camp in Girona. We saw that moment of team building where each small group [of players] had to create a short movie, that was done in good spirits. But there was also work, and a return after a difficult month of December, as you said. It's off to a good start with the two wins against Montpellier, so it's good on a personal level and a team level.

Damaris: Yeah, I think it was important to stay in Girona to do a lot of work on the field but outside of it as well. We worked a lot on tactics with the group. After having had 10 days of vacation, it's good to start again with the group. It's also good when we play games as well with the team, because this year I think we have a really good - [Damaris laughs at the picture on screen] - the photo says it all. I think we have a really special team. There's a lot of ... special people.

Journalist: Special individuals, can you name which ones of your teammates were a part of the game?

Damaris: It was Vicki [Becho], Amel [Majri], Julie [Swierot]. Marceau and Anto[nie]. They're part of the staff.

Journalist: I couldn't help but notice a pause there. Where did you finish in the game?

Damaris: Last.

Jules: Ouch. We're going to have to take the trophy [D1 Arkema Player of the Month] back.

Journalist: If the league representative is still around ...

Damaris: I wasn't meant for it. I tried though.

Journalist: We heard there was a constitutional crisis though, there was a key theft. There was cheating. There was definite cheating, maybe that's why.

Damaris: Oh yeah. But that's always the case here. When we play games before practice starts, when we're warming up, there are always cheaters.

Journalist: We know Olympique Lyonnais has a lot of objectives this year. In December, the month for which you got the trophy for, there's a bit of a dark moment. It was the draw in Norway. We're at the point where we can say a draw, which is not a defeat, is a misstep in your season. Did it really affect you and make you say "it's not normal that we drew", or do you just continue say "we move on, it's just something that happens"?

Damaris: Yes, it was hard when we finished the match, because we were playing with a player down, that's always complicated, but it's - it's complicated because we arrived, there was a lot of snow, the day before we only had practice for 20 minutes because we had to stop due to so much snow. It was dangerous for us. And then we had the match, we started well in difficult conditions. But yeah, it hurts when you concede a goal in the last minute like that. And then the refereeing, it was a bit complicated for us as well. But I think it's something that can help us for the rest of the season when you play a game like that, the whole team works hard, put in a lot of effort. After, it was still a draw, but I think we took a lot of positives from it.

Jules: We were talking about the great start of the season, only wins with the except of the draw against Hacken - sorry, Brann. Do you feel that the locker room feels there is something special going on? I get the impression we have not seen the team this strong in the last few years. You arrived three years ago. Do you feel there is something special this year?

Damaris: Yeah, I think so. It's already my third year here. I feel that we have a special group. There's a lot of different personalities, there are foreigners, there are French [individuals], but the connection is different this year. On the field as well. No matter whom plays, we know that when you play the ball, you know what's going to happen. We have an understanding of the game as well, that we're all in it together and it works out well.

Jules: it works no matter the player. It'll always work out.

Damaris: Yeah, it works naturally I think.

Journalist: Yeah, in the games against Montpellier, in the postgame, I think it was Selma Bacha and Vanessa Gilles who had both assists and goals. But the word which kept coming up in their interviews was solidarity. It's probably the strongest moral value at Olympique Lyonnais, to always play for each other. Of course there is a lot of individual talent, but do you work a lot on team cohesion so that players can come on and off in the same manner without a drop in level?

Damaris: Yes, we always do everything for our teammates. That's important when you have difficulties. You're thinking of your teammates, if they're having a hard time then you're going to help. That's how we're able to win games. We all have difficult moments because there are complicated games, like Montpellier who is very aggressive. There was a moment where they scored a goal but we stuck together and - that's how it works here. We work a lot when we have the ball but off the ball as well. When there's solidarity it works well.

Journalist: Solidarity comes from knowing your teammates well. We have one of your teammates who has a question to ask you. There are a lot throughout the show, you're going to have some like that. And it's Christiane Endler with the first question.

Christiane Endler: Hi, Dama[ris]. How are things? I have a question to ask you. Can you explain why you are called El Cactus?

Journalist So, why are you called El Cactus? Is it related - Jules has a theory. Since you play as a six, and it can be a prickly position -

Damaris: No, no. It has nothing to do with that.

Jules: No?

Damaris: It's always the same joke. I don't know why. But it's Daan [Danielle van de Donk] who started it. But it's because I don't like to dance. I don't know why. I don't know, I think I lost the Spanish side of me. But yeah, when I'm with my team, I don't really like dancing. That's why. I stay quiet as usual. That's why.

Journalist: It's okay. I don't like dancing either. El Cactus would suit me as well. Jules, you're not really a cactus.

Jules: I'm half cactus and half Dancing with the Stars. It depends.

[Damaris looks unimpressed]

Journalist: We were talking about Montpellier. You said that the game was hard, there was some - well, there were hits exchanged. Your position can be pretty exposed. With regard to your talents, do you like those types of contacts? Or is it something you'd rather avoid and be more technical?

Damaris: I think my first job on the field is to defend. That's the most important and most difficult I think, because everyone wanted to attack but my job is to defend. In games like that, I like the intensity, the physicality. But when it's like that it's hard because the tackles are coming in late. You've already played the ball and they come in with a tackle in a way that you can't protect your body. I don't think that's good. We need that to stop because that's not football. I like aggression, I like intensity, you can see it in the way I go in for a tackle. But it's always within the rules and when the ball is in play.

Journalist: Regarding your qualities, we're going to follow all of Damaris' statistics.

Jules: Yeah, we built a profile based on your statistics. There are tackles, interceptions, also aggression, technical ability. You are the player who tackles the most at Lyon, 41 tackles with 23 completed, I don't know if that surprises you. You've had 22 interceptions, second most on the team behind Selma Bacha. 971 touches of the ball, second on the team. You've provoked 13 fouls. We were talking about the defensive aspects, now it's the offensive. 32 shots taken, that's fourth overall. So you shoot a lot, you take a lot of shots. You say you don't score a lot and yet you still try and more than that, you're the player who has played the most. 1,166 minutes, 17 games played. So when we take into account what you were saying about having intensity, manage the ball, we can see it in the statistics. You're really a true midfielder who likes to control the tempo of the game.

Damaris: Yeah, I like that. But I think I have other qualities as well. I like having the ball, I like to keep the ball and create the tempo for the team. But I always say that my priority is to defend. Sometimes you forget, because when you play with Lyon it's easy, we always have the ball, you're attacking a lot. But in my head I always know what the priorities are. Protect the central defense with my two defenders. Sometimes that's the most complicated part, we have a really high block. But sometimes I need to attack as well. That's how I score. Otherwise I won't score.

Jules: If you stay in the defense it'll be complicated to score.

Journalist: Out of the statistics that Jules was talking about, which one do you prefer? In the categories. Is it the tackles? You talked about defending better. But there's also duels won. We can look at the statistics again, see the numbers of touches of the ball, the amount of playing time, the consistency of playing time.

Damaris: Yeah, I like the combination of touches of the ball and balls recuperated, the interceptions. I think that's my job, set up plays for the team but also recover as many balls as possible.

Journalist: So the goals are a bonus.

Damaris: Yeah. I think we can say that.

Journalist: It requires a huge amount of concentration. You need to play very high up, because as you said Olympique Lyonnais dominates ball possession, and it's not often where there are interceptions or when you have to get the ball away from your opponent. So you have to really be aware of positioning. Do you push forward while keeping an eye on things behind you?

Damaris: Yeah, that's true. I need to be able to control when I can attack and when I can't. I have a lot of confidence in my defenders, all of them, Griedge [MBock], Vanessa [Gilles], Wendie [Renard]. Chris[tiane Endler] behind them. There's always a lot of communication on the field, because it's just easier like that. But my job is also to maintain the balance. For that I have to think a lot. I think I am deep thinker. I know when I can and when I can't. Sometimes that's the most important thing.

Journalist: What are the areas of improvement for you? What things would you like to improve in your game?

Damaris: As I said, I think I can score more goals, but maybe with my feet and not always headers [Vanessa Gilles Dilemma]. I think I can shoot from distance as well. I think I've worked a lot without the ball, but I think I can do a bit more. That's it, really.

Journalist: This is a dumb question. But are you right-footed or left-footed? Because when we watch you play, we really can't tell.

Damaris: No, I'm a leftie. I prefer passing with my right foot but I'm left-footed.

Jules: To shoot is it the right foot?

Damaris: Always the left.

Journalist: You use your right foot a lot. You're at ease using both feet. Would you like to shoot with your right foot, not just to score goals but also to switch the side of play, to play long?

Damaris: Yes, I've done a lot of exercises regarding that, to work on my right foot because when I first arrived, I used my left foot a lot to turn, and that takes more time. Like this I can play faster. It's more efficient as well when I play with my right foot.

Jules: You were talking about your role and having to defend a lot, recover a lot of balls. We get the impression that you're the only one on the team who has that role, because the other midfielders on the team are a bit more offensive, Danielle [van de Donk], Lindsey [Horan], Sara [Dabritz]. Does that put more pressure on you, because you're kind of the first defender in the team and there's just you, and I'm putting that in quotation marks, who can play that role?

Damaris: No, I like that pressure because that's my role. I know the players in front of me are more attackers than defenders. My job is to defend. Sometimes I'm a bit tired because I have to get from one side to another and that's not always easy to do. But I have a lot of work behind me, no matter whom, there's also the No. 8 who plays in front of me, they try to help a lot as well. And that's the solidarity we were talking about before, the whole team has to work and help recover the balls, that makes things easier.

Journalist: There's a sacrificial side to it as well with your position. When the opponent has the ball, there are fouls. Some come a little late, as you said. And in the game against Montpellier, Jules, we saw it with the away game and then the Coupe de France. It's not always within the rules.

Jules: Yes, we talked about Montpellier because those are the most recent games. You talked about it at the beginning of the show. Montpellier plays with a lot of intensity and aggression. Here we're talking about the return game. 1 minute 30 played.

Journalist: Damaris keeps flinching.

Jules: Yes, we're looking at the footage, and you got completely wiped out.

Damaris: Completely. [Damaris winces while the footage plays]

Jules: You were talking about the intensity and aggression as long as it's within the rules. Here it was completely illegal. And then to add to that the foul was called against you.

Damaris: Yeah, I think that's serious. That's not football. I like contact, I said it previously. But this is serious. If you don't call that the game is over. For that tackle as well, there were like three more which were the same. No cards, no fouls given. It's dangerous for us.

Jules: Do you feel the referees don't protect the play enough and let too much slide?

Damaris: Yeah, I think the players need more protection. You can't protect your body because you've already played the ball. Usually you can position yourself to protect yourself. But like that, when you've already played the ball and the player comes in 30 seconds later, there's nothing you can do. [@ players with a notable lack of impulse control]

Journalist: You play as a No. 6. We talked about scoring goals, you said you wanted to improve on that. You're also a good defender, which means you're involved in a lot of duels. Would you prefer scoring a nice goal in an important game, it can be with your left foot, doesn't have to be a header, or would you prefer just be involved in duels, recovering a ball from under your opponent? Which part do you prefer in a game, if you had to choose?

Damaris: Recover the ball. Get into it. That's more important for me, because sometimes I need to be higher to get the ball back, and then it sometimes leads to a goal or at least it creates a chance. That's my job.

Journalist: It's your job. There is something who is very satisfied of your work, who was talking about you not long ago. It wasn't me. It was Sonia Bompastor who was talking about you. And she had a lot of compliments to give you.

Sonia Bompastor: She's a player that we counted on enormously. We still count on her enormously to this day. I think in our discussions there is a strong element of trust. She knows exactly what we expect from her. She has an enormous amount of qualities and potential, and as such I don't want her to rest on her laurels. So I always push her to give a little bit more. And I think the message is well received, she knows exactly what my expectations are, and as such she wants to meet them on the field. So yeah, she's had a great start to the season, a good part of the season so far, and there's continuity with her national team. What's interesting is that with our communications with the Dutch National Team coach, we have a common interest which is that the player performs well. So with several discussions between the coach, the player, and myself, we managed to do that. In any case I am really satisfied with how she did in her last international break. She played 45 minutes in the first game, 90 minutes yesterday with two goals. So yeah, we asked her to be efficient. We know she can be a really important player for Lyon and as such, also with the Dutch National Team. When we talk with the Dutch head coach, we tell him that Dama[ris] is pretty much an undisputed starter in our midfield, she should be able to bring a lot to the Dutch National Team. She was able to show that on the last international break, so that's good.

Journalist: Sonia Bompastor gave a lot of compliments about your role with Olympique Lyonnais, which transferred all the way to the Netherlands since you're becoming so important to the [Dutch] National Team. First of all, about Sonia's compliments - I suppose that must make you happy.

Damaris: Yeah. I thank her for that, because it's always nice. It's nice. When you have a coach speak about a player like that, it's good for the confidence as well because when you play without a coach's confidence, it's not the same thing. I think that now we have a lot of players on the field with a lot of confidence.

Journalist: And your national team, the Netherlands. You played in the League of Nations. About that, you're qualified for the semi-finals. Before we talk about the Netherlands, we're going to listen to another question from one of your teammates. It has a small link to the Netherlands, you'll see.

Danielle van de Donk: Hello Dama[ris]. What was your favorite header you scored with your national team against Belgium?

[Damaris laughs]

Journalist: Danielle van de Donk, who is your teammate on the Dutch National Team. We're going to remind everyone of the content. You played the qualifiers for the League of Nations with the Netherlands. It was the last game against Belgium to get to the semi-finals.

Damaris: Yeah.

Journalist: And eliminate England. There was a goal differential at play. If you managed to score four goals, you would advance and you would eliminate England. Did I get that right?

Damaris: Yeah, that's correct. It was really complicated. Yeah. We scored two goals, then we went into half time and they said "well England scored a lot of goals, we need more [goals]." We worked on that, we were missing efficiency in that game but then we were in the last minute and the coach said "Dama - gestures head"

Jules: Go score a header.

Damaris: I would say it was more "go be a forward". We needed to score.

Journalist: What I'm going to suggest, Damaris, is to watch those goals with original Dutch commentary.

[clips play]

Journalist: [imitating Danielle van de Donk] Her big head is amazing. That's a great quote from your teammate. It was an incredible game. with the - Jules, do you want to pronounce it?

Jules: Egurrola?

Journalist: You said it better the first time.

Jules: I'll do it later, when the cameras aren't rolling.

Journalist: Something to look forward to. Damaris, those were incredible moments. The qualification was extraordinary. If you were looking at the time, it's incredible, it was 90th minute plus one, so one minute into the extra time, and then the next goal came in the 95th minute. Which lead to such an explosion of joy.

Damaris: Yeah, it was incredible. Now when I look back at the footage, it's incredible. When I scored the first goal I was like "it's done, we're already qualified." So I went back to my position in the midfield. I look over to my teammates on the bench and they tell me "Dama[ris], we need one more." And I was like "are you crazy? I just scored a goal, this isn't my job." And they said "no, no, England just scored, we need one more." I look at the clock and there's a minute left. The sequence of play started really well, in my opinion at least. It started with the defense, I won the ball back, we pass it around and then I think I did the fastest sprint I could have done because I don't actually go very fast. And yeah, that's how we managed to score. Yes, it was an incredible day with my family over there.

Journalist: With that qualification, you're playing in the semi-finals on February 23. It will be against Spain. Not exactly easy. We know all the qualities Spain have. And why not, maybe a final against France.

Damaris: Yeah. For me that works out fine. I like that. But first we have to play Spain. It's always complicated. But for me it's special as well. Hard as well. But we'll see. It's just a game. We're going to do everything to try and qualify for the final.

Journalist: We're going to talk about your international career because you've lived in several countries since you were born. I believe you were born in the United States. You went to Spain. You play for the Netherlands. You speak three, four languages.

Damaris: Five.

Journalist: There you have it. Is it that international career path which allows you to integrate so easily and navigate the Olympique Lyonnais locker room?

Damaris: Yeah, it's a bit of a strange story. Everyone asks me "where are you from?" and I don't know what to say. I was born in the United States, my father is Spanish, my mother is Dutch. But yeah, I think it's always a positive when you have several cultures within the family. That's how I became integrated and I'm really happy and proud to be a bit of everything because that's quite special to me. My family lives in Basque Country, for me that's home.

Journalist: [jokingly] Netherlands, Basque, they're almost identical.

Damaris: Yeah, it's the same. They're obviously not identical. I like Basque Country, for me it's always going to be home. Beyond that, the Netherlands is special because it's my mother's country and I chose that national team because of her as well.

Journalist: Choosing between your mother and your father is always complicated. Was it a topic of conversation in your family or did they let you choose in peace?

Damaris: No, they left me alone. It's always peaceful with my parents.

Journalist: Are there jokes from time to time?

Damaris: No, no. My father is actually really happy I changed national teams, because he wanted me to be happy and that's what was most important for him.

Jules: When there's a Spain - Netherlands clash, you always win. Well, almost always.

Damaris: Exactly. Yeah, that's true.

Journalist: Your first game with the Netherlands, it was in your family's hometown. It must have been an even more special moment for you to have your first call-up then.

Damaris: Yeah, I think it was the most meaningful moment for me with the national team. It was in my mother's hometown, with I think 50 tickets bought for the whole family. I forget the score, I know we won.

Journalist: I looked it up and the final score was 12-0. I have to ask, how did you manage not to score?

Damaris: Oh yeah. I don't know.

Jules: She came in at the end.

Damaris: Yeah, at the end, but I think it's more there were so many emotions. I didn't have time to score. It's unusual for me to score, it doesn't happen all the time.

Journalist: Your international career, it started when you were living in Spain. You had played with the youth teams for Spain. Switching to the Netherlands happened when you were an adult. Were you thinking about it before? You were playing for Spain since you were living there so it was easy. Or was it in the back of your mind, "I'm going to switch to the Netherlands", or did it happen later?

Damaris: Yeah, it happened later. But it all started when I came here to Lyon because I started to play, I was playing well. But I wasn't being selected to play with the first team for Spain. And that's when I was like, if I am going to do everything I want to do, win international titles, play in the Euros, play in the World Cup, I need to switch. I wasn't going to be able to do that with Spain. I was fortunate to have two other nationalities. That's why I was able to be like, okay now is the time to change. I need to play competitions at the highest level to improve as well. The Dutch team came in with a very positive mindset and I said "I need that". I wanted to switch national teams. That's what made me switch. I also had the option of the United States, but I feel more European than American. And it was also really special for my mom when I chose the Netherlands.

Jules: Would you say your style of play is more Spanish or more Dutch?

Damaris: I don't think it's too different between Spain and the Netherlands. But I think I mean more towards the Spanish style of play, smaller spaces, because I started there with the U-16s up to the U-20s.

Jules: So you were formed as a Spanish player.

Damaris: Yeah, because I lived over there.

Journalist: We're going to do a recap of Damaris, the different countries she's lived in, the different clubs she's played for. Jules, why don't you get us started?

Jules: Yes, Basque Country features predominantly. You started with Athletic Bilbao in 2015, you were 16 at the time. You were Spanish champions in 2016. And then you headed to England with Everton for six months, and finally joining Olympique Lyonnais. We've talked about your career with the Dutch National Team, you've played in 22 games. You went from a family club with Athletic Bilbao, there are a lot of Basque players. And then you went to England and France. Did you experience a cultural shock and sporting shock when you left Bilbao? It's kind of a special case.

Damaris: Of course. I think Bilbao was unique because it's the only team who has players from Basque Country. That's always special. I grew up there. There's a lot of positive memories because the player that I am today, it's because of Bilbao as well. And yeah, I started really young, when I was 16. I had my first game. We won the league that year, it was so special because we had won at Barcelona, at Atletico Madrid, everyone. Then I finished up over there and I wanted a change because I think it was the time to change.

Journalist: Staying with Basque Country, we were talking about Bilbao. You were 16 when you started playing for them. But you had been in Basque Country for longer than that. You arrived when you were seven. Can you fact check me? Is my information correct?

Damaris: Yeah, that's it. I started [playing] at school with the boys. Before, when I was in the United States, I never touched a ball. I don't know why. Then I got to Spain and the first thing I did was kick a ball. Then I told my parents that I wanted to play on a team. That's how I got started.

Journalist: Were you doing other things before football?

Damaris: A bit of everything. Tennis, pelota Basque. My father played that, he wanted to get me into it but I was more interested in football.

Journalist: Being in Basque Country and not playing pelota Basque is strange. Did you try playing it?

Damaris: Yes. I played in the championship in Basque Country for pelota Basque.

Journalist: What about tennis? Were you a tennis champion as well?

Damaris: No.

Journalist: You're sure?

Damaris: For pelota Basque, I started young, I think I was 12 when I stopped because when you play against the boys it's more complicated. The pelota is harder, it's heavier. That's when I switched to the racket in pelota Basque.

Jules [to the journalist]: You're awfully well-informed about pelota Basque.

Journalist: I like it, I follow it.

Jules: He is Champion of France in pelota Basque.

Damaris: Oh really?

Journalist: No. I know it because I follow it.

Damaris: I'll get you a racket and we can play.

Journalist [to Jules]: You should get more interests.

Jules: Me? I have a ton of other interests. I like paddle tennis. Do you play?

Damaris: It's a thing in Spain.

Jules: Great, we can organize some matches.

Journalist: You're already organizing one with Camille Abily. We are also doing a ping pong tournament with Delphine Cascarino. When we interviewed her during the preseason camp, you could hear a ping pong game going on off-camera.

Damaris: That was me and Chris[tiane Endler]. I was like "we need to stop!"

Journalist: So to recap things a little. You were born in the United States, your father was a professional pelota Basque player, you went to Basque Country. You've picked up a lot of languages very quickly. Did you speak Spanish before going to Basque Country? Basque and Spanish are two different languages.

Damaris: Just a little. When we were in the US, it was English first. Then my father taught us a little bit of Spanish and Basque. But my mother doesn't speak a lot of Basque, that's why it was a little complicated to integrate Basque [into the family]. And then we got to Spain and that's how we kept the Spanish and the English at home. And then the Basque.

Journalist: So now you know Spanish, Basque, English, Dutch, and French. Is that right?

Damaris: Yes, that's right.

Journalist: So I have a few questions for you regarding those languages. So we know how you function. Which language do you think you speak the best?

Damaris: Now? Spanish.

Journalist: Which language do you speak on the field? There are a lot of different nationalities [on the team].

Damaris: Sometimes it's complicated. I remember than Daan[ielle van de Donk] spoke to me in Dutch. And then I spoke Spanish to Vanessa [Gilles]. Then I spoke French to Lindsey [Horan], when normally it's in English. Sometimes it gets mixed up. But usually I try to do everything in French.

Journalist: Because sometimes you mess up? Like you're speaking Dutch to Griedge [MBock] and she doesn't understand.

Damaris: Yeah, it's exactly that. And then we go off to the national team and I'm speaking Spanish to my teammates.

Journalist: Is there another language you'd like to learn?

Damaris: No, I'm good. I already have too many right now.

Journalist: The classic question for people who speak several languages. What language do you dream in?

Damaris: For that, I think in English.

Journalist: Not Spanish?

Damaris: No.

Journalist: What language do you use when you're angry? Which one slips out the easiest? When you lose it, which one comes out?

Damaris: Because I get angry a lot? No, I don't get angry. French, no. I think it's Spanish.

Journalist: Which language is the most romantic? That's a question from Jules, who absolutely wants you to say French.

Jules: Why are you dragging me into this?

[Damaris stays silent]

Journalist: It's easier to flirt in, to express yourself, for love. Everything that's romantic.

Damaris: Basque or Spanish. [Jules mimics storming off set] My French isn't there yet. Maybe later.

Journalist: And finally the one when you really lose it. Which language is the best for insulting someone? I suppose it's linked to which one you use when you're angry.

Damaris: I think it's Basque, because it's too complicated to understand. A lot of people don't understand it. So that's why I use Basque.

Journalist: Thank you for your honesty. We're going to turn back to football. You've played in a lot of different positions. You weren't originally formed as a midfielder. I saw that you've been a winger, center back. Was it already that desire to defend rather than attack when you were younger?

Damaris: When I was younger I started on the left in front, with the number 10. A lot has changed, because after I don't run very fast, so I became a 10 but more central. Then I dropped back as a 6, then sometimes a center back. So I've moved around.

Journalist: But you prefer to defend. You quickly understood you'd rather defend.

Damaris: Yeah, that's it.

Journalist: Now, if you had to play another position, like if you were playing a game and something happened, are you still able of going back to a center back or on the wing? Are those things you could do?

Damaris: Yeah, sometimes it happens for me to be center back. I don't really like it but sometimes it's necessary and I'll do it. If I had to choose it would be the No. 6, I like it.

Journalist: What's certain is that you have become indispensable in your position. When we talk about it with Sonia Bompastor, as you heard, she keeps singing your praises. And in terms of statistics, those confirm it as well.

Jules: Yes, as Sonia [Bompastor] said, you're the only one who can play as a 6. And you can see it, we counted on your games by season. 7 games in your first season, 2020-2021. [Note: this stats are a little skewered because she arrived in January 2021]. 23 games in the 2021-2022 season, with the double in the Champions League and the league. Next season [2022-2023], 29 games. And now 18 games so far, so you will certainly beat your record of the previous season. You have come indispensable. How would you explain that? You came in as a young player, you've gained in maturity, and you are more aligned with what Sonia is expecting?

Damaris: Yeah, I think I was clear when I arrived that I had a lot of ambitions. My objectives were to play as much as possible because I think I can. Now it's like that. But in the previous seasons I had an injury and it took two, three months to get over. It broke the rhythm. But up to now I haven't had any injuries this season and that's nice, it means I can play. I'm happy because that's the most important. When you're good physically, you can play. I have a lot of confidence I can stay like that.

Journalist: When you arrive at Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Lyonnais already has titles. They already have players who have been there for a while. How did you come in? Were you discrete and just observing? Did you already have ambitions to make a name for yourself? What were your feelings?

Damaris: Very calm, I think. But it was my dream when I arrived because before I watched all the games on television with my family. It's special to come here and see players like - everyone. Wendie [Renard], Ada [Hegerberg], Maro[zsan], Eugenie [Le Sommer], Amel [Majri]. Everybody.

Journalist: Were you already following them before? Did you know them before coming to Olympique Lyonnais?

Damaris: Yeah, they're like my idols.

Jules: You grew up watching them. You're part of a generation that watched them.

Damaris: Yeah.

Journalist: Was there one whom you didn't dare go up to? Like you said to yourself "no, she's not my teammate, she's still ..."

Damaris: Yes, with everyone when I got here. The first day I got here, Ada [Hegerberg] was on the practice field and I was over there to watch everything and find my bearings and all that. I remember being surprised because I was like "that's Ada." And my father, I think he was like "I need to get a picture with Ada." It was something really special for my family because they always watched Lyon games and now I am there with my idols.

Jules: And you were 21 when you got here? Or 22? So it's complicated to make a place for yourself when you're young as well.

Damaris: Yeah, exactly. But I was clear, when I had the option to come here I said I wanted to come here, but I didn't want to watch from the bench. I had a lot of ambitions and that's why I came here.

Jules: You made the right choice.

[Damaris laughs]

Journalist: In terms of ambitions, there's the Champions League. Olympique Lyonnais had won it before you arrived, they've won it since then. Would you like to start a collection like certain teammates? I'm thinking of Wendie Renard, whose collection is XXL. Are those part of your personal objectives? Have you fixed yourself a specific number of titles?

Damaris: I haven't set a number because it's complicated. But I look around and there's Wendie, everyone, they have so many trophies. It's an ambition I have because it's always special to play the Champions League. This year even more so because the final is in Bilbao. Every morning when I wake up I tell myself this is what I need to work for, because it's so special. I hope we make it, because it's special. I have a lot of confidence in the group as well.

Journalist: We're talking about the Champions League. Another question from one of your teammates. We can take a look, it's Ellie Carpenter who has something to tell you.

Ellie Carpenter: [in English] Hello, Dama[ris]. [in French] What happened when we got home after the Champions League final [in 2022]?

Damaris: Oof.

Journalist: We're digging into the personnel files.

Damaris: Yeah.

Journalist: What happened when you got home after the Champions League final [in 2022]?

Damaris: It's a little secret, but -

Jules: Ah?

Damaris: No, no.

Journalist: You don't have to tell us. If you think it's secret, you don't have to tell us. [What? A club journalist who respects a player's personal life? Whatever has the world come to?]

Damaris: No, it's -

Jules: We still want to know.

Damaris: It's my first Champions League win, it's always special. My sister and my best friend were there to celebrate as well. It was a party, I guess. [laughs awkwardly] Yeah. It was good.

Journalist: It was a good party, one could say.

Damaris: It was a very good party. It's always special because it was my first Champions League. I have a lot of stories to tell but I will keep them to myself.

Jules: [jokingly] Sorry, I just had Sonia [Bompastor] on the phone. Sonia, it's okay, I will call you back later.

Journalist: The Champions League final this year in Bilbao, for you it's something special. But for everyone on the team, we know that Olympique Lyonnais wants to win everything this season. Is that additional pressure or does that seem normal to you?

Damaris: I think it's normal because we're Olympique Lyonnais. It's normal that we have a need to win everything. Last year it was complicated, to have lost against Chelsea on penalties. This year I think we started working even harder because last year was difficult, to end the Champions League like that. We had even more ambition to win it this year, I think. I think it's even more special when you lose in that manner the season before.

Journalist: Does the Chelsea game still linger in the back of your head? Or is it behind you?

Damaris: No, no, we've put behind us. [Have you thought...?] It was complicated. But after that game I think we played Le Havre, we won 7-0. It's also something I think is important, because we lost, it's a big thing to lost against Chelsea like that, but we were able to just change everything -

Jules: Move onto to other things.

Damaris: Three days later, we're winning 7-0. That's important as well.

Journalist: The league is back. You're undefeated so far. Have you talked about it? You brought up objectives, obviously titles are an objective. But that having remained undefeated in the league until the end of the season. We know there are the playoffs so everything goes into play for the final and the semifinal. But is it part of an objective, obviously excluding titles and trophies, to say "we're just going to have wins, or at least no defeats"?

Damaris: Yeah, of course. I think it's an objective we can accomplish. We're at the halfway point in the league. And that way we can have a greater advantage in the playoffs. It's important for the team as well to win the playoffs, but also continue like this and win all the games.

Journalist: What do you personally think of the playoffs? Is it something you like or are you indifferent?

Damaris: It's new for me. I've never had that before. We'll see. I think the league is special when you are consistent and winning games. That's hard to do. That's the price of winning a trophy, you were consistent. With the playoffs, that changes a little.

Journalist: You have to be in form during the final and the semifinal. If we're imagining an unfair scenario, it's that Olympique Lyonnais has nothing but wins, and doesn't win the title. It would be weird in relation to previous seasons. But you also have to tell yourself you will have to be good for the semifinal and the final once you've qualified for it. That's particular as well.

Damaris: Yeah, that's it. Continue like that and then when we get to the playoffs, we need to win each game. It's like that, otherwise if you don't stay like that throughout the season, you lose the first place and then you don't have [home] advantage

Jules: Don't say that too loudly, the woman with the federation might be lurking and she could take the trophy away from you.

Journalist: Keep it close just in case.

[Damaris laughs]

Journalist: We obviously wish that you win all the trophies. You've already won one trophy. You want all of them. But if you have to rank them by preference, which one would you put first and second?

Damaris: This year, the Champions League. That's for sure. But the league is important for me as well because it's a trophy which rewards continuity [until the fucking playoffs...] And then on top of that, you have the playoffs. It's like - you have to win it twice.

Journalist: It's a bit of a trick question. Obviously we want to win everything, it's easier said like that. You've been at Lyon since 2021, when you arrived in January. Do you like the city of Lyon? Because going from Bilbao to Lyon, there's a bit of a difference. It's a little bit harder to surf in Lyon, for example, even if I'm sure you could find a wave if you tried. But getting used to that, would you consider yourself a proper Lyon resident?

Damaris: Yeah, maybe so. I like Lyon. I can say it's a little similar to Bilbao. Old town Lyon is similar to old town Bilbao. I feel good here. It's a nice city, it's not too big, it's not really small. Bilbao is pretty close, I have a lot of friends and family members who come here often.

Journalist: That's good, we have another question for you about Lyon. It's from another one of your teammates. It's Sara Dabritz who got a hold of the microphone.

Sara Dabritz: Hola, Dama. Tell us, what is your favorite coffee shop in Lyon?

Journalist: So we'll take Sara [Dabritz's] question. I also want to know who was screaming in the background.

Damaris: Ellie [Carpenter], I think. Or Selma [Bacha].

Jules: I would have said Selma.

Journalist: Cast your votes. No, we don't do that here. What is your favorite coffee shop? From what we heard you have your little habits.

Damaris: Yes, there's a lot of good coffee shops here. I like coffee, that's for sure.

Journalist: So that's what you do in your free time? Go out one afternoon with your teammates and -

Damaris: Yeah. We do that a lot. Go to a coffee shop then go home. Maybe a walk around town. But I like mochas. I think we have good quality coffee here in Lyon.

Journalist: You've acclimatized well, you have your little routines. Before training, or after training, you all agree to meet up - with Sara [Dabritz] maybe?

Damaris: No, right after training. We eat here. Sometimes when it's nice out we go for a walk around town.

Jules: We see some nice pictures of Lyon on your Instagram. There's some nice pictures of you walking around Lyon.

Damaris: Yeah, I like it.

Journalist: Do you often take pictures? Like Melchie [Dumornay]? We see Melchie always lurking with her camera. When she's injured, I'm not sure if you've seen, she's on the sidelines with her camera. Is it a passion or -

Damaris: It's not as intense as with Melchie. No, I like it. I just started. I try to take pictures. I like the colors. It's just me liking to take pictures. Not of myself though.

Journalist: So outside of football. We were talking about it, you played a lot of sports, we talked about tennis, we talked about pelota Basque, we talked about surfing. I was told you go surfing on January 1. You're part of those crazy people who go surfing in cold water on January 1.

Damaris: I -

Journalist: Personally I think people are crazy to do that. I could never do it, it's way too cold. But you make a tradition out of it.

Damaris: Yeah, I don't do it as much. Nowadays it's a bit complicated to surf. I only have a little bit of vacation, not too much. I just go into the ocean, I don't surf. But before I would always surf on January 1.

Journalist: So a lot of different sports that you do from time to time. Photography. Do you have other passions on the side which take up some of your time? Are you thinking about post playing career or not yet?

Damaris: [laughs awkwardly] It's too early I think. But I like going to cafes, just talking to people. But I like watching basketball as well, going to the ASVEL games. That's fun. I like doing different things, not always having to think about football. I like separating on and off the field. When I am playing I am very focused. But when I'm done I need to think about other things. Sometimes it's going to coffee shops, photography, basketball.

Journalist: You're curious. You like knowing what's out there. We're going to turn to the rest of the season, there's the Champions League starting up on Thursday, there's the Coupe de France with the Round of 16 this Sunday. OLPlay will be broadcasting it live. That's quite the schedule. But first it's the Champions League, you've already qualified. But I imagine you want to finish first in the group and strengthen your position.

Damaris: Yeah, of course. Tomorrow we're flying to Austria to win the game, because last time we played [in the UWCL] it was a draw. We want to change that. Yeah, I think it's an important game in order to stay first in the group.

Jules: That has a big impact. Last season you finished second, you had to play Chelsea in the quarterfinals. So here by finishing first, the draw should be more favorable, in theory at least.

Damaris: Yeah, there are several advantages. You might play a weaker team, but you never know. There are a lot of strong teams.

Jules: You had a pretty easy group, unlike Paris Saint-Germain, Paris FC, their groups were a bit more complicated.

Damaris: Yes, that's true, but it's the first year that's happened to us, I think. Usually it's the opposite. We're happy but we also wanted to play some big games.

Jules: It'll have to wait until the quarterfinals.

Journalist: You said "we drew the last game" and I could tell that you had difficulty swallowing there. I'm not sure I would want to be in St Polten's place right now. When you run up the score, you can win 1-0 or 2-0, but when there is 7-0 or 8-0, you still keep going. You still have the desire to say "we need to score to win". You won 9-0 in the UWCL. Is running up the score important for you?

Damaris: Yes, for sure. Here at Lyon, it's like it's good to win games, but it's also important as to how we won the game. You could play well, you could play less well, but the most important thing is to win the game, play well, and score many goals. If we can score even more, then we put it in the work.

Journalist: And if there is a player who is slowing down, taking their foot off the gas, who reminds them to keep going?

Damaris: Everyone would say something.

Journalist: It's not like anyone does that. We know Lyon's mentality, winning is everything. So the first step is this Thursday, away game in Austria. The Coupe de France follows. Is the Coupe de France significant to the group? Here you're going to play against a team in the second division. Sometimes those games can be tricky. Does it change a little, when you're playing against lower division teams?

Damaris: It changes in that it's just one game. You're playing against one team and anything can happen in a game. It's not like in the league when there is game after game and you need continuity. The Coupe de France, it's just one game, it's 90 minutes and then it's over. That's why we're playing a team in the second division. But it doesn't change anything.

Journalist: It will be against Nantes, and it will be on OLPlay. Jules will be doing live interviews so it's worth watching just for that. Are you going to do anything special?

Jules: I'm a good luck charm, they're going to progress to the next round. I hope so anyway.

Damaris: I hope so too.

Jules: Otherwise I will be out of a job.

Journalist: Damaris, thank you for having spent time with us. We're really happy to have discussed your career so far. We're going to follow you in all the sports you play. We're going to follow your photography, your tennis results, when are you going surfing, when will you go to a basketball game. Actually, do you play basketball or do you just watch it?

Damaris: I try, but I'm really bad at it.

Jules: You're better at football.

Damaris: Yeah, yeah.

Journalist: We'd know about it otherwise. Thank you very much.

Damaris: Thank you to you, too.

#all good love stories start in the rain #damaris #damaris egurrola #is there a purer hatred than that of Damaris' of Montpellier?

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