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cevansbrat0007 · 2 years

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The Key

Summary: A broken furnace and a slip of the tongue lead to a special gift from your very stubborn boyfriend. Andy Barber x Black Reader

Warnings: Fluff, Angst, Protective Andy Barber, Insecure Reader, Pet Names, Light Smut, Implied Oral (fem receiving), Cursing, Minors DNI.

A/N: I don't know where this came from, but it's almost 3AM and I need to sleep. Anyway, I'm halfway done with like eight different fics, most of them requests. But then my writer's block kicked in. Please enjoy this installment while I try to get my life together. Part of my Growing Pains Series. All mistakes are my own.

___

"Ack, Andy Bear! What are you doing here?" You squeal as your man strides through your front door with you in his arms, your short legs wrapped around his trim waist. "Sh-shouldn't you be packing? Ope - don't forget the door!"

His booted heel kicks it closed. "Had to come check on you." Andy responds before brushing his warm lips over your own. "I'm your man, baby. It's what I do."

"But I'm fine..." You tell him, burying your face in the crook of his neck and inhaling his clean, masculine scent. "I don't need anything."

"No, you said you were cold. That makes you not fine." He tells you as his hand skims its way under your sweatshirt to lightly stroke your lower back. "I can't have you over here freezing while I'm out of town - I wouldn't be able to concentrate. I'd be too busy thinkin' about my baby girl home all alone just shivering."

"Oh, my goodness, Big Man. My landlord will be by to fix my furnace in a couple of days. Until then...I guess I'll just have to keep doubling up on sweatshirts." Wanting him to relax, you begin whispering sweet kisses along his bearded jaw, nuzzling at the soft scruff with your nose.

"A couple days is completely unacceptable." He growls, his tone letting you know that he was in no mood to argue. "It's November. And we live in fucking Massachusetts."

"Andy, sweetheart..." He shifts your smaller frame so that you're resting comfortably on his hip. Your boyfriend then carries you to your room and gently deposits you on your pink and periwinkle-colored duvet, all the while ignoring your feeble protests.

"You're staying at my place until that Ralph fucker decides to get off his ass and do his fucking job." Your man informs you as he begins rifling through your drawers, pulling out items and then haphazardly tossing them into your overnight bag.

God, how you adored every inch of your big, overbearingly ridiculous man.

"Honey, his name is Rodney. And I'll be fine. If it gets too bad, I can go stay with Melissa or something."

"Nope." Andy grunts, holding a pair of lacy pink panties up to the light. "The matter's already been settled. I want you in my home, snuggled in my bed, all tangled up in my of the sheets."

Shaking his head, he tosses the underwear back inside before muttering something about you "only needing the essentials".

Wait. Since when did those no longer fall under the category of essential?

"How many bras do you think you'll need? Eh, fuck it. You can bring 'em all if you want. It's the panties I have a problem with. Damned things always get in the way."

You scrub an exhausted hand over your face as your six-foot-something boyfriend remains hunkered in front of your dresser, quietly debating the usefulness, or lack-there-of, of your underthings.

"They get in the way of what?" Of course you just had to know.

"My fun." He grumbles, flashing you a petulant look. "So they stay here. Shit - I left my garment bag by the door. Go on and snag a few blouses and some pants, baby girl, and I'll help you get them all packed up before we freeze to death in here."

"Oh. My. God." You roll your eyes. It wasn't even that cold.

At least not yet.

"Andrew, darling, I never actually agreed to go with you. Plus, I don't even have a key to - oh." Your stubborn bull of a man silences you with a heated look before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a small white box tied with a black ribbon.

"I was planning to give this to you on your birthday, but this seems like a much better time. As of now, I want you to consider my home your home too."

Removing the key from the box, you stare down at the shiny piece of metal your man had made especially for you.

Why did the weight of it feel so good resting in your hand?

"Thank you." You whisper, tears burning the back of your throat.

"You're welcome, Y/N. I want you to use it whenever. Come stay for a night, or for a week..."

Or, for forever. He thinks, letting the unspoken words hang in the air between you.

"But as for your not agreeing to go with me, well, I'm afraid that just won't work." Andy tsks as he zips up your duffle before unceremoniously tossing it into the hall. "One way or another, we're getting you out of this ice box, little one."

"Okay," you try again. "But what about my car? I really don't think -"

"Why are you fighting me on this?" He asks, his sensual lips set in a thin, firm line. "I need you some place safe and warm while I'm busy shaking hands and negotiating deals in D.C."

Your eyes stray back to the key that is now nestled safely in its little box filled with pink tissue paper.

"Answer me, please." Oh, Andy was using his attorney voice, the one that commanded both respect and attention in the courtroom.

"I - I just don't want to be any trouble. I feel bad for even saying anything about my stupid heat in the first place." You admit with a resigned shrug. "You need to be getting ready for your trip, but instead you're - you're here."

"I'm here because you need me."

"But I - I don't." You wince as those two words come tumbling out of your mouth.

Because it was a lie. You did need him.

"That scares you a little bit, doesn't it? The idea of needing someone, of needing me."

"No." You feel your lower lip begin to tremble ever so slightly.

God, yes.

"Y/N, how many times do I have to remind you that we're in this together? I'm your man. And I'm old-school when it comes to that shit. I believe in taking care of my woman, in providing for her however I can."

"I get it, Andy." You do your best to look at everything and everywhere but him. This man had a knack for making you feel vulnerable, and you weren't always comfortable with that.

"No, you don't." Using two long fingers, he tips your chin so that his soulful blue eyes clash with your own. "Whether you realized you were doing it or not, you called because you needed me today. And it's my job to take care of you - all of you."

"But I don't want to be a job for you. A job runs the risk of becoming a burden real fuckin' quick. And then when it becomes too much, bam! You run the other way." You jerk away from him, preferring to stare at your fuzzy sock-clad feet, wishing you could simply melt into the floor.

And there it was. You were afraid that this man would drop you like a bad habit the moment you became a burden. And as dramatic as it might sound, there was a part of you that knew that your heart might never fully recover something like that. Not with him.

Things are quiet for a while. And then Andy settles on the bed next to you before pulling you flush against him. The two of you are so close that you're practically half sprawled on his big lap, your bottom resting atop his thickly muscled thighs.

"Then please allow me to rephrase. It's not just my job to take care of you, it's my privilege, baby girl."

A sniffle escapes you before you can catch it.

"You're a strong woman. Strong enough to reach out when you need me. The same way it takes a strong man to lean on his woman. Understand?"

You nod, closing your eyes as you do.

"Look at me and say the words, Y/N." Your Big Man implores you before kissing the top of your head and burying his face in your curls. "I need to hear 'em, please."

It takes you a couple of seconds, but eventually you muster up enough courage to do as he asks.

"Yes, I - I understand. It takes a strong woman to, um, to lean on her man."

"Good girl."

"And please believe me when I say that your trusting me with your problems doesn't make you a burden. Not now, not ever. We're partners, baby."

For now and forever. Andy thinks to himself. It's clear as day to me, I just need her to see it too.

"Yes, we are, my sweet Andy Bear. I'm sorry for being such a neurotic mess sometimes. I know you must think you're dating a lunatic but -"

"Yep, I am." He sweetly interrupts. "But you've also claimed a crazy, possessive bastard as your man. So, I'd say we're pretty even." You feel another brush of his lips against your skin, this time on your temple.

The two of you sit there for a while in silence, simply enjoying each other's warmth. Truthfully, it wasn't that cold in your apartment, but according to the forecast, that would change over night. You needed to be some place with working heat and a comfortable bed.

And your Andy Bear came with all of that, complete with sheets and pillows that smelled just like him. Of course you'd find a way to pay him back. Maybe you'd cook him a big dinner, or buy him season tickets to the Patriots, or --

Your thought stream is interrupted by the sound of Andy's gruff voice.

"I think we need to do something to quiet that beautiful mind of yours, don't we?" He purrs, before lavishing the column of your throat with a hot, open-mouthed kiss.

And then you feel one large, slightly calloused hand go to rest on your chest. Using just a fraction of his strength, he gently forces you onto your back. A shiver courses through you as he runs his palms down the length of your body in an act of raw, unbridled possession.

Lifting your ass, you allow him to remove your black leggings. He makes sure to take his time, dragging the thin material across your heated skin with agonizing slowness.

A breathy moan escapes your lips when he parts your thighs, baring your panty-covered pussy to his predatory gaze.

"I'd like to rephrase my earlier statement one more time if I could."

Without warning, Andy leans in and buries his face between your legs. He takes a moment to inhale your scent before nuzzling your swollen clit through the damp fabric.

"Oh-oh-kaaay." You whimper as he briefly sucks the sensitive bud into his warm, waiting mouth. "

"It's my job, my pleasure, and my privilege to keep my lady's sweet body warm and her greedy cunt stuffed full. And I'm a man who believes in honoring his fucking commitments."

You cry out when he rips the lace from your body, leaving you naked and vulnerable from the waist down.

"This is mine, baby. All mine. Now, lie back like a good girl and let me show you just how much I enjoy caring for my woman, starting with eating the fuck out of her pretty little pussy."

END

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stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage · 6 months

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Are there any companions you can't stand?

I wouldn't say I have any that I can't stand. Something that's so engaging to me about DA is that the companions have good, bad, and a lot in between. Honestly, I don't hate any of them. There are companions that I have more issues with than others, but I like them all; even, and sometimes especially, the ones that tend to be heavily hated on by the fandom.

The only companion that might fall into this category for me is Sebastian, but I totally acknowledge that I've yet to make an effort to use him when I play DA2. I legit just forget about him. How am I supposed to have a good grasp of his character when I don't engage with him outside of his companion quests? Plus I usually romance Anders so Sebastian always leaves my party in the end with threats of bringing an army down on Kirkwall for not killing Anders, soooo... yeah. Not the greatest impression he's left me with.

I would like to have a more well-rounded opinion of Sebastian because the concept of him is interesting; he's this chantry brother who is also a prince, but his family was murdered so he puts up a bounty on the chantry board [which admittedly is SO funny] and his companion quests are about avenging his family and helping him decide if he should take back his lands or remain a chantry brother. But then I talk to him, I listen to him talk to the other companions, and it's like... oh, the chantry has become his entire personality because the dude was brainwashed and now he's saying shit like the maker was actually the one who freed Fenris from slavery, and when Fenris tells him a story about how Denarius killed a child in a ritual for more power, Sebastian just doubles down that the maker has his reasons, like....babe, c'mon now.

I feel like I've read pieces about him written by fans who love him that are more compellingly written than he is, if that makes sense. Really, I would love to be educated by those who love him, especially Sebastian romancers because of all the love interests in all of DA, he's the one I look at and go, "....okay but why?" I have a lot of fun with character discussions and other perspectives so I mean that sincerely.

Also I think it's worth noting that when I play, I tend to get super into the roleplay of my warden/hawke/inquisitor, but while they have party members they can't stand, I have opinions that are separate from them, y'know?

For example, since I've talked about it a lot recently, my mage Hawke and Aveline butt heads constantly. By the end of Act 3, they're rivalry is heated and Ed's surprised Aveline even sided with him in the end because THAT is how much their relationship deteriorated over the course of the game... but then there's my warrior Hawke who adored Aveline. The two of them were best friends and Aris always gave her the benefit of the doubt, like she had Aveline's back through and through.

I've complained about Aveline a lot in my posts so it probably does sound like I can't stand her, but that's not true. Aveline's actually a companion that fascinates me, like she makes me go, "God, you're such an asshole, tell me more right now." and it drives me crazy how she and Carver are foils, like I love it so much, I could go on and on about how foiled they are, it makes me want to bite something.

It's very easy to look at Aveline and think she's just a bitch, she's a cop, she's a bad character, #Aveline-critical, bad companion, etc. I see it all the time, and not just with her, but with every companion in dragon age, y'know? I'm not saying that's wrong or anything; some characters just don't vibe with you or you have legit reasons for hating them and that's fine. I'm just saying some of it's very surface level unless you make the effort to elaborate.

If you don't like a character, you're less likely to make an effort to understand or see anything positive about them. You're more likely to have confirmation bias, so whenever they do or say anything, you go looking for the worst interpretation. I try not to do this just because for me, that's the "boring" approach to games like this but as we've seen, I'm not immune either... y'know, Sebastian.

But Carver gets this a lot, too, and I think I've made myself clear that Carver is my favorite, I love him, the Hawke twins are S-tier companions and I would throw everyone in Kirkwall into the ocean if it meant Bethany and Carver's happiness.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the characters a lot of fans can't stand are some of my favorites?

Like a lot of people shit on Sera, and I'm like "Nah, that's my girl! Listen, she's got a LOT of internalized issues, but we're working through them okay! She's getting better!"

And Vivienne? Oh, don't get me started on Vivienne, I have a whole deal about her. She's also an asshole and I love her.

My canon inquisitor is Surana who escaped the circle and joined the dalish, becoming Lavellan. Vivienne is a reflection of what Ash could've been if she hadn't run away with Jowan. She played the game of the circle, she stepped wherever she needed to step because Ash knew she was at a disadvantage by being an elf, for one, and for two, not coming from a family with wealth that would give her special privileges. Her downfall was buying into her own hype and believing she couldn't be wrong about Jowan, believing that she could either prevent them from making him tranquil or help him and Lily run away, and believing she was above punishment because she worked her way into being Irving's favorite. Yet it all bit her in the ass and she had to run… so then years later after living outside of the circle and realizing just what the chantry is, how it conditions and abuses mages and shit, she meets Vivienne who also played the game well and came out on top, who now spouts the same shit Ash used to spout and it's makes their dynamic sooo chewable.

Then there's Cullen who's not a companion but I lump him and Josephine in with the companions anyway. They're advisors, they're in the inner circle, they count.

He's such a spineless ass in DA2 like believe me, I get all the criticisms he gets... but he's also fairly polite to Hawke even if they're openly anti-templar, he's softer spoken, and he's unwell after what happened to him in DAO and Meredith's clearly taking advantage of his state... but then he becomes an advisor in DAI who is so done with people's bullshit and blatantly honest about it, like he looks at Chancellor Roderick like "this fucking guy again" and he's so ready to just go for it, y'know? Well... unless you're a pretty lady who bats her eyes at him, then suddenly he doesn't know how words work. Like sometimes I feel crazy because I find him to be so funny in DAI, and overall a compelling character that I enjoy interacting with even when he's being a total asshole. Yeah, there's issues in his writing but I appreciate the vision the writers were going for, even if they stumbled... except for Sheryl Chee, I don't appreciate her contribution of those few posts on the DA forums that everyone uses as a smoking gun to "prove" awful things about him. Nothing gets under my skin more in character discussions than bad faith arguments and there's so much of that when it comes to Cullen.

Actually, while we're on that, can I just add a note that when I first got into this fandom, I saw someone's post about Chee doing an interview where she said all those bad things about Cullen wanting to assault the mage warden and I was like, "What? An interview? What interview?? Where??" and I couldn't find shit until much later when I read another anti-Cullen post that cited a DA forum as the source for her saying those things... so not an interview. I went digging for the forum, went into the way back machine to find it.... only to discover that this smoking gun comes from a fanfiction forum where Mary Kirby was also talking about Sten and catgirls and y'all expect me to take that seriously?

We can have discussions about whether or not Cullen's a bad person or a bad character, but the moment you bring Sheryl Chee into it, I know you're here in bad faith and your argument is void.

Sorry for the tangent and the long answer but this is the stuff I enjoy. I could talk about the characters of DA for ages unprompted that when someone does throw me a bone, I will discuss and gush about them all.

#asks #dragon age #dao #da2 #dai #sebastian vael #aveline vallen #carver hawke #dai sera #cullen rutherford #vivienne de fer #i have to stop myself before i go on tangents about morrigan and wynne and anders and isabela and merrill and dorian and varric and-#literally everyone sksksks i can't help it #also on the flip side of this type of discussion i also love looking at characters that most people adore and discussing their flaws #like i love alistair he's my favorite companion in dao BUT it's easy to forgot that he can be just as petty and selfish too y'know?#if you don't execute loghain he can straight up just abandon you and leave and you'll find him in da2 as a drunk like... babe really left #and let you deal with the blight because he was so blinded by revenge and thirst for loghain's death and that's not great??#not really something that gets brought up because it's unflattering it's an ugly part of his character but it's there mingling with the goo #and if you have a good relationship with him but don't know how he'll react when you spare loghain that can be devastating too #but it's also super understandable WHY he reacts like that WHY he leaves even if it's a selfish move on his part and hurts you #i dunno i think sometimes we're scared to talk about the ugly parts of our favorite characters because we love them #and don't want them to be wrong especially in fandom with a lot of pissing matches and bad faith arguments y'know?#i dunno this is my spiel of the night: i love all my companions except sebastian who is just a character that exists to me #i wasn't joking when i said i'd like to be enlighted about sebby and his romance like....... explain elaborate educate

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tellthemeerkatsitsfine · 1 month

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A few very quick points now that I've caught up on the first episode of Taskmaster NZ, season 5:

- I'd never heard of any of these comedians before, and it's been a while since I've seen a Taskmaster season where I went in without knowing any of them at all, so I've spent a lot of it just trying to remember what names go with which faces. They kept saying one of the women was named Hayley, and it took me about 3/4 of the episode to get clear that this was not the blond woman sitting on the end. I realized my brain was automatically matching the name Hayley to her because she looks like Alice from The L Word, particularly when she's in the house and wearing her suit jacket costume, and Alice was played by Leisha Hailey. That Leisha Hailey-looking woman in a suit brings back strong memories of being a closeted teenager watching sketchy streams of The L Word and immediately deleting the history, because it was 2005 and 1) I didn't have a computer of my own yet, and 2) The L Word was the only thing I knew about that had lesbians on TV, until I discovered Buffy just after.

- Having said that, comparisons to L Word characters aside, after one episode I'm pretty sure Abby, the one who looks like Leisha Hailey but isn't named Hayley, is my favourite. I loved watching her nail the live task, especially contrasted with falling apart completely one task earlier. The woman who is actually named Hayley comes in at second favourite. The women are grabbing my attention far quicker than the men in this season.

- On the subject of women... and lesbians on TV... I was just saying to someone yesterday that my interest in comedy isn't usually based on being sexually attracted to the comedians. I mean... not never. But not usually. And then they put Madeleine Sami back on my screen, and good God. Not never, I was reminded. What an excellent choice of guest star. Not just because of that, she's very funny. The ball boy thing was great. The defending of the lackluster goal celebration by asking how the crew reacted was great. The telling the other contestants to just roll with it because the whole season's like this was great. She's great.

- Good choice in nicking the goal celebration thing from Taskmaster UK. They're right - the celebrating bonus point was more interesting than the actual goal scoring task, in that one. They picked the best part.

- I liked the prize task category. Big fan of prize task categories with an adjective besides "best", so they can argue about more than one aspect of the remit.

- Paul is so good in the assistant role. I passed up a chance to see him live last week because in what I've seen/heard of his live stuff, music and comedy, I quite like it, but not enough to rank among my favourites and make the cut of my Edinburgh schedule. In terms of stand-up, I believe - if I may quote a bit from this episode out of context - I metaphorically prefer the touch of his brother. But he's amazing at being a Taskmaster's assistant. He copies Alex Horne's shtick more clearly than someone like Tom Cashman, who carved his own path a bit more. But Paul Williams does Alex Horne's shtick so very well that I can't complain about the copying at all. He might, at times, do Alex Horne better than Alex Horne does.

- I enjoyed Tofiga's energy in the house and think that energy would be fun in the studio, too bad we don't get that. On the other hand, Madeleine Sami! Parade of guest stars! I'm not complaining about that.

- This doesn't quite live up to the incredibly high standards set by the opening season of the other most recent English-speaking Taskmaster season to air, which was AU season 2. But very few seasons from any version have lived up to that high standard. By regular standards, this was quite a good opener. I'm looking forward to the season.

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alinasteelcrest · 4 months

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🤥🍟🍁🎭 for all 3..? :)

For all THREE omg okay hold on let me try to remember anything about my own ocs

Thank you for the ask :D!

(OC Emoji Asks)

🤥 LYING - are they good liars? do they have tells to show they're lying?

Alina is... decent at it. She gets better after she starts hanging out with Ydris. King of making people manipulative just like he is ig 😭

Shoji's good at lying, but he doesn't do it often because he would rather be ""brutally honest"" (aka an asshole). He's capable of straight-facing his way through basically anything.

Wynn SUCKS AT LYING. He gets shifty and won't make eye contact and it's harder to find the right words. That kid will incriminate himself halfway through

He's just little, though, so honestly it's good that he's a bad liar LMAO

🍟 FRIES - do they order food often? or they prefer to cook their own food?

Well two of them are horses so they kind of eat whatever's offered to them DKNSBSAHJH

Alina really likes cooking, she mostly prefers to just make things for herself, but she's also definitely not against having something delivered if she's had a long day or really particularly wants something.

Wynn is a garbage disposal he is NOT picky, but he does get excited when offered like,,, part of whatever Alina gets for herself, because it doesn't happen suuuuper often so it's more fun.

🍁 MAPLE LEAF - what is their favourite season? why?

Alina is so winter-coded omg, silver everything, sweaters and scarves, hot drinks and comfy blankets, etc etc. Even her guardian horse is white and blue!! Summer is a CLOSE second though, she likes the beach and her freckles show and her birthday is in August...

Shoji's a bit more complicated to me because like,,, his birthday is in February and he does like getting to hang out in front of the fire when it's cold, but Alina's birthday is in summer + he really loves the sun. But then there's also? his wife and kid are both spring-enjoyers which means he's legally obligated to also like spring. If I Absolutely Had To Pick, I'd say summer. 🤔

Wynn likes fall! The colours change and there's all sorts of fun seasonal treats and he looooves Halloween. He managed to convince Alina to take him to Galloper's Keep last October and had the time of his life. (GIRL WHAT!! GET HIM OUT OF THERE)

🎭 MASKS - do they act differently around certain people? what's different between the way they act around friends, family, strangers, etc.?

Alina's polite with strangers and polite in that... sly "I'm-better-than-you" way with people she doesn't like. She's slightly distant with her parents (It's been... a while since they saw each other irl :( She just isn't willing to leave Jorvik for extended periods of time), so I would almost put them in the 'strangers' category with how she acts around her family? Not to mention she grew up in an environment that taught her not to reveal how she's feeling.

With her friends, it depends on how close they are. She's kind of. anxious. a lot. So unless they're really close, she might be a little reserved. If she's close friends, besties, ride-or-die with someone, then she'll come out of her shell. With her horses she's her truest self, willing to be silly and (god forbid) even willing to show when she's upset about something.

Shoji is a mean bitch to Everyone. He was even like that towards Alina when they first met. He will continue to be like that to everyone that isn't currently Living In His House(/Stable).

As for those he lives with... Well. It's like a completely different person. No harsh words or sarcasm or insults. He's someone for Alina to confide in and get advice from, he's the Best Dad Ever (or he's doing his best), he straight-up down bad for Thunder even after all this time being horsie-married. Dare I say it... he's a bit of a sweetheart.

Wynn's just cheerful and excited to meet basically everyone. He'll go up to strangers and try to be their best friend (even if they can't understand him). If there's more than one stranger at a time, though, then he gets shy.

#ahhh this got kinda long. that's okay- it was really fun. thanks again for asking !!!!#sso oc #ask game #alina #shoji #wynn

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jenn-the-butterfly · 5 months

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Azil Art & Shipping Permissions

This is partly for myself but also in the event of actually getting questions about this, I'm making a lil note about what I'm comfortable with being shown regarding my Azil boys specifically. (I can't tell you what to make in private, just know if it's against any of these preferences I can't guarantee I'll like it).

General:

YES you can draw my OCs with you/your OCs! I don't really care as long as you know it won't affect canon.

That includes ship art as well, go nuts, I think it's cute <3 I'm playing by "Schroedinger's bachelors" rules where everyone is both single AND in a relationship at the same time; canon material is established with the polycule but for funsies, it's "open"/they're considered pre-cule

YES you can draw angst, mild gore, horror, etc, though I enjoy thematic and symbolic varieties of these more than "just because"; my only concern is please don't show me gore of my OCs for the sake of being gross or rude

YES you can interpret their sexualities, genders, preferences and backstories however you want since it won't all be revealed at once, just be mindful that I have them already planned out and noted so if your idea doesn't become canon DON'T CRY TO ME ABOUT IT. Just have fun; it's not a big deal. I don't plan to be super specific with their identities because of the drama that usually brings, but I do have footnotes and lists of their preferences for myself.

YES you can draw smut, they're all classified as adults with the adult ability to consent (Harkness Test let's gooooo) but see below for individual canon-complicit preferences.

Don't worry about body types! Chubby and muscular OCs are equally valid to them as thin ones and yes, they can all lift you like princes/princex/princesses X3

Yes, I'm that bitch who let's the OCs have say (based on their personas) on what they're comfortable with:

Jenn:

Please treat her with respect, she's very dear to me. Unwarranted violence, "haha i killed her" and weirdly traumatic behaviors toward Jenn in particular may result in a block. Also, generally don't do that shit.

YES you can draw smut, etc; she far more fond of robots than of humans, especially ones that are taller than her and fall into either "protector" or "mentally stimulating" categories. (Also "assholes", dunno why.)

Don't make her unnecessarily weak or helpless because she's not; she's also not a teenager or young adult by default and not a damsel. If it's for a meme or has some plausible reason though, go for it.

Nova:

Nova is a lot more sensitive to sexual content than the others. He'd rather not know about explicit images of himself with anyone at this time. Same with gore/violence.

Cute, comfy, sweet art is completely welcome!

Tydal:

Ty doesn't care that much as long as his dignity is preserved.

(Do whatever, silly shit happens to him all the time, don't let his grouchy exterior fool you.)

NO ROMANTIC/SEXUAL SHIPPING BETWEEN TYDAL AND NOVA.

They're brothers. Please.

Event:

Absolutely doesn't care about whether the art is gore or smut or anything else as long as it's badass.

His main caveat is "I'm not gay" and doesn't really want to see art of himself with other male-identifying people. Platonic/filial art is fine though, as are masculine/muscular women (he actually loves muscle mommies a lot).

"Kinky shit is great!" He trends dom/top and is very fighty; god help you if you try to make him a sub. Bottom is negotiable (he likes girl-on-top).

Safewords are a must and he'd never violate consent terms.

Echo:

Food is more interesting than smut to him but he doesn't really care as long as it's noted his model doesn't have genitals so "get creative".

Also very big on boundaries and consent so communication is key; if it's happening, it's because it was explicitly asked for and discussed.

Absolutely more likely to commit homicide than anything else.

But! He still loves physical affection, so kissing, snuggling, etc. Also he bites.

NO ROMANTIC/SEXUAL SHIPPING BETWEEN EVENT AND ECHO.

They're brothers, too.

Xeros & Narii:

As a pair, their relationship is poorly defined (possible OTP but it's a massive slow burn). Right now they don't really like each other.

Xeros is extremely flirtatious in his mannerisms and while he prefers female-presenting/feminine others, he occasionally aims at the male demographic on a whim (he primarily presents top energy). Humans are met with a more business-like approach with emotional detachment ("it's only physical") and robots/synthetics with a bit more investment on a personal level.

Narii is all business and seriousness, keeping work for work time and personal for personal time; she is very private, making it hard to tell if she's interested or not and in what way.

At this time, neither of them have permanent genitals. Xeros has a modular feature that isn't public knowledge, but has limit sensory feedback thus his pleasure is limited with it. Narii has no genital option at all.

Ships of XerosxNarii are heavily "I can't stand you"/soft enemies-to-lovers.

#shipping rules #character limits #preferences #character permissions #master post #just be respectful please #everyone gets to have fun here

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stormyoceans · 2 years

Note

ahhh i see what you mean, that happened to me with love mechanics but yinwar's chemistry was actually enough to make me overlook some... things lol but yeah seems like there are some tropes there that i can't be bothered to watch, also i just really trust your taste and views. but hey! at least pond and phuwin showed their potential and now we have this gem!

what was your favorite part of the first episode? mine was probably the pool scene, i feel like so much happened there, the intense eye contact x2 and the hand over hand moment...................... he didn't have to do that but he did it for all of us! they really are seeing each other like genuinely seeing each other i bet that scares them a lot. oh the pining oh the yearning pond does it so well! like the scene when they first met HIS FACEEEE it's gonna be so great just seeing them fall in love. oH IMAGINE THE ANGST IT'S GONNA HURT SOOOO GOOD AND NOT JUST UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW THEY FEEL BUT ALSO AFTER THAT BECAUSE THEY WILL WANT TO PROTECT EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME AND IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO BALANCE IT ALL the hype was RIGHT

ugh i wish i could have the will to wait and binge watch because i think i'm able to enjoy shows more when i can do that, and space the episodes how i want or just watch them all in a day, like it's a much more intense experience for me that way and even though it leaves less time to theorize and the fandom experience and all that i personally prefer it. but i cannot see all the pretty gifs and not go to youtube and watch the episode when they are right thereee i wanna join the fun! i actually binge watched vice versa (🥰) and i feel like i liked it so much because i did! i also binge watched love mechanics and i swear to god i would have given up if i was watching that show weekly, and i had to binge watch to my star 2 too cause that was actually hurting me lol this is so long already okay i'll shut up now 💌

fish upon the sky and love mechanics actually fall in the same category of 'shows i can't bring myself to like even if the actors have an insane chemistry' for me, but between the two i did enjoy love mechanics more, even if i cannot stand cheating, so i guess this says a lot about my feelings for FUTS ;;;;;;;;

BUT!!!!!! like you said, the most important thing is that pond and phuwin are now playing in a show with a more mature storyline that makes their chemistry shine and that i can thoroughly enjoy!!!!! and that makes me ridiculously happy!!!!! JUST LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU TRUST MY TASTES?????? THAT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE COMPLIMENT THANK YOU!!!!!! 🥺🤧

we must have pretty similar tastes, though, because THE POOL SCENE WAS MY FAVORITE ONE TOO!!!!!! like.. both the hallway and the sneaking out scenes are A LOT, but the pool one is on a whole other level!!!!! not only the tension is already off the charts, but i love how it also says a lot about palm and nueng as characters and perfectly sets up the journey for their relationship!!!! it's the way nueng asks "if i don't tell your dad, what will i get from you?" because that's what he has been taught his entire life, that no one does anything for free, and he got further confirmation of it earlier that day when his classmate made the others stop teasing him only to ask him a favor right after!!!! it's the way palm answers "i have nothing to give you. i have no money" because he sees no value in himself but eventually he is going to (willingly) give nueng exactly what he needs - friendship, care, trust, love - and in doing that he will learn his self worth and start to build his own future!!!!

AND GOD YEAH THE MOMENT THEIR HANDS TOUCHED!!!!! i will never have the words to properly explain the importance of hands in queer culture, but they're often used as objects of desire, as conduits for future intimacy, and once the hands touch that's it: there's no turning back, you can't ignore your want anymore, and the fact that it already happens the second time palm and nueng see each other casts such a sense of inevitability on their relationship!!!! since their first meeting all their interactions have just been so full of pining and yearning and tension and this magnetic pull that makes them so aware of each other and leaves the viewers breathless even if we already know they will end up together!!!! BUT LIKE YOU SAID IT ALSO WON'T END WHEN THEY GET TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE DUTY AND DESIRE AND ABOVE ALL THE WISH TO PROTECT THE OTHER AND GIVE THEM A BETTER CHANCE AT LIFE. ALSO WHEN PALM WILL CALL NUENG BY HIS NAME FOR THE FIRST TIME THEN WHAT!!!!!!!!

anyway..... please never apologize for sending me a long message because 1) I ABSOLUTELY LOVED READING IT, and 2) as you can see brevity is not one of my virtues ;;;;;;;; so please feel free to write as much as you want!!!! 💜

gonna end this by saying that idk if i personally prefer binge watching, but i definitely understand what you mean!!! i do tend to be more forgiving when i watch a series all in one go and it also helps me keep my emotions under control sfjkshdj i think it actually depends a lot on the show itself: some series i like to see week by week because i enjoy freaking out with everyone else, but other ones i NEED to binge watch to preserve my mental health (to my star 2 is a great example, because after seeing the first episode i also went NOPE and waited for all the episodes to be out before going back to it I DON'T DO WELL WITH THAT KIND OF ANGST)

#not only idk what brevity is but i also do not feel normal about nlmg so i apologize for how long this is ;;;;;;#ON ANOTHER NOTE IF YOU EVER FEEL LIKE SHARING YOUR VICE VERSA THOUGHTS I WOULD LOVE TO READ THEM #never let me go #never let me go the series #nlmg #m: ask

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ladynestaarcheron · 3 years

Text

Eat or Bed - Part Five

ao3 master post

ask and ye shall receive! ye being an anon a week or so ago, and also someone i forgot who suggested i try my hand at writing from cassian's perspective.

reader be warned: this is smut. there's a little bit of plot, but that plot is really just a plot device to get to the smut.

thank so much to dadrie (@skychild29) for helping me with this!

some things here might remind of you of a/cosf, some will not. all is what i believe is accurate to their characters. i will elaborate further at the end of this fic. enjoy!

---

Even though he had had his fair share of suffering for fifty years, Cassian thought winning the war and being left with everything wasn't fair when Nesta had nothing.

She had been horrifically violated, lost her father, home, and self, even after doing everything right. Why should the Mother do that? Take someone so young and put her through these trials over and over, after she'd already proved she would always do the right thing despite her fear?

He still feels guilty. The centuries he'd waited, wondering if there was any point, if the gods would grant a bastard a proper mate, and then meeting her and wanting. More than should. Watching her snarl at him and stand up to those queens and cry for her people, that flame in her soul burning straight into him and never going out and thinking I want her forever, please please please can I have her forever.

If he had known his prayers would be answered, would he still pray now? Knowing the pain it has caused her?

So he does what he needs to do. He makes her happy.

Or at least, he tries. Nesta doesn't make it easy.

Some of it is not her fault. She is battered. Scarred. Terrified of feeling love and losing it, not knowing how to reciprocate it. That's fine. He's patient enough. He can show her, they can learn together. He doesn't mind their pace in sex or romance or friendship. They have time.

Then there is the matter of being Fae. Or whatever Nesta is. She hates it. He understands. Doesn't like it, but he understands. It seems, at any rate, a just punishment. He gets his perfect, vicious, intelligent, brave, beautiful mate, and she will never admit to the bond.

That'll always chafe. But no matter. It's just a title. He doesn't need it. They don't need it.

Then there is the third obstacle: Nesta's own personality. That's entirely her fault.

Cassian normally grins when he reaches their door because it's their door. It's their home together. A home with his mate in Velaris--well, just outside Velaris, but who cares? Not he. As long as they're there together. Even if she doesn't want to admit to being mates. Even if she doesn't want them to tell their families that he's officially moved in and just pretend like he stays over--that's fine. Truly.

Well, it's not. But normally, life with Nesta is sweet enough that he can ignore it.

Yesterday, however, she had picked another one of her stupid, meaningless fights, and now he scowls when he arrives home. They'll have to hash out the rest of it. It won't be fun or easy. It's not riling her up till she's so frustrated she pulls him atop her--that is fun and easy. This is going to be an argument. Nesta's feelings will be hurt because she's decided she wants to feel hurt. It all falls into the categories of punishing herself or testing him, and either way, she loses, which never fails to break his heart in two.

He grimaces as he pushes open the door before schooling his features into something Nesta will find more irritating. Best to get this over with.

She's waiting for him in the kitchen. Chopping vegetables. It never fails to hit him, how beautiful she is. Like some princess from a book, with her hair tied in a crown on her head, curves perfectly for his hands to fill the spaces between them. But Nesta wouldn't be a good princess in any of the stories he used to act out with his brothers; she's the damsel and the dragon all rolled into one.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, voice icy.

Cassian can't resist. "I live here, sweetheart."

Her eyes flare. That's three strikes: what he said, devil-may-care tone, and sweetheart. Secretly, Nesta finds these irresistibly charming, but he's not allowed to use them when she's actually mad.

And he respects that. It's just, she has no reason to actually be mad, so he's ignoring it.

Besides, the sooner she yells at him or storms out, the sooner he can go back to her and they can put this stupid fight behind them and everything can be okay.

"What are you making?" he continues. "I thought we'd go out to dinner, but if you want to cook, that's fine." He winks at her. "I like watching you cook."

Nesta sets down her knife. Good. Better than throwing it at him. Flirting is not allowed when Nesta is angry. She'll crack soon, and then this can be over. Plus, it's too hard not to when her hands curl like that, and he knows she's imagining strangling him.

Only one thing left to say. He grimaces inwardly, but pushes on.

"Any household task, really. Makes me feel like I've got a good wife." He adds a smirk to the end of the sentence, to ensure it meets its mark.

The secret marriage is something Cassian is never allowed to mention, ever, under any circumstances. Not when she's angry, playful, reading, or anything else. He's not allowed to mention the day she blurted her proposition out, or her rambling explanation. He's not allowed to talk about the ceremony, or the private vows they had recited to each other afterwards.

He does bring up the consummation that night. Frequently. But Nesta likes that, so it's fine.

Breaking all of her rules immediately after coming into the house while she is still angry should do it. She's going to yell at him, now, until he yells back, then she's going to go to their room and by the time he goes after her, she'll be pacing the floor, or bouncing on her feet, or clutching her head, staring at the wall, and then she'll raise her head and sees him, and look at him with a face so broken and scared he'll move before he knows it, to hold her and tell her everything will be all right, they're all right, he loves her, he loves her, he loves her, and she'll say it back when she thinks she can manage it without crying.

But Nesta does not open her mouth. She snaps it shut, swallowing tightly.

That...is not what's supposed to happen.

She turns her head--not a pose he knows.

She looks back at him before turning around quickly, to hide her face, so he doesn't see her eyes filling up with tears.

Doesn't work.

"Nesta."

"Forget it," she says, busying herself with the pantry, opening and shutting doors. "Just--I'm--it doesn't matter--"

"Of course it matters--come here, sweetheart, I'm sorry--I didn't mean...I wasn't trying--"

"It's fine--"

"It's not." He holds her arms, brings her close to him. "Please, Nesta, look at me. I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't," she says, thickly.

"You're crying." It's horrible to see it, worse to say it. It makes it more real. He made Nesta cry.

"I'm not," she says, wiping at her eyes. "It's--you didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry. I just don't like...being reminded...but it's not your fault. I'm sorry."

Being reminded...Cassian feels that like a punch to the gut.

"Being reminded that we're married?" he says, voice hollow.

It had been one of the best nights of his life, six months ago, second only to the one that had come after it. She was nervous, darting glances and wringing hands. Wildly unlike herself. He had prodded and teased until pulling it out of her--"Would you marry me?"

She had never been redder. Not even when he had taken her to one of the Night Court's beaches for the day and stupidly forgot to bring her any protective cream. He had grinned so wide it hurt; at her words and her blush.

"I mean," she had said, panicking, "that I--you're always here. And we're always together. And w-we love each other so it's not senseless. And there's, there's, there are things--I feel it would be easier for me if I--if we--because I grew up a certain way, and I'd feel better--not a wedding, just a marriage--just--to see if it works--because I think--it could help me--I mean, I don't think it will hurt you--that's not what I meant--I don't like the thought of living with a man like this--that's not what I meant, I mean I would feel more comfortable--sometimes, for me, I can be such a coward, and it would be better if we just did it--we won't tell anyone, it'll be just for us--"

"Yes," he interrupted her, before she hurt herself. "Yes, I will marry you."

She let out a sigh of relief, and he had swept her in her arms, kissing her deeply. "What are your weird conditions?" he asked when they broke apart.

She looked at him irritably. "Just...a private ceremony."

"Secret. Hot."

"And we keep it...secret...until we feel comfortable enough to share." We meant I, Cassian knew, but he didn't care. This was so much better than anything he felt he could realistically bargain for with Nesta.

"Can I make a few requests?" he asked, still holding her.

"You may."

"When we're ready to go public...can we have a ceremony?"

Nesta shifted. "We can."

Yes. They'd have a big one. Absurdly extravagant. He'd invite everyone in the world. A real mating ceremony, when Nesta was ready. A bit unorthodox, for it to be several months or even years after a private elopement, but who cared?

"And can I, secretly, take your name?" He held his breath.

But Nesta only blushed and said, "Yes."

He made the arrangements. They were married the next day. And that night, when she pulled him into bed, he knew why she wanted to be married.

Maybe she only felt safe doing this with a husband, or maybe she felt it was wrong to do it otherwise, but whatever her reasoning, Cassian didn't care. Not as she determinedly undressed him and touched him with such confidence as never before. It had been a shame to strip the pretty white dress off her, but she was even more beautiful with it off. It wasn't the first time he had seen her naked, not the first time they used their mouths and hands on each other, but her inhibitions were gone. Signing the marriage document had been the push she felt she needed, and he thanked the Mother she had, because now, Nesta's hands were on his face, making him look at her as she said, softly but surely, "I want you inside me."

He went slowly. He wasn't scared of hurting her; he knew he wouldn't. It was what felt right. He had never felt more bare in his entire life as he did then, sliding into Nesta for the first time. She must have seen his soul as her beautiful grey eyes bore into his, and she grabbed on with that gaze and tugged out his oaths to her: "I'll love you forever, Nesta."

"I love you," she whispered back.

He was mindless, then, as they moved together. A stream of I love you and You're perfect and Oh gods Nesta. He came after she did, feeling her tighten and clench upon him, hearing her beautiful moan, her nails digging into his back.

There was another round, after that, and then more promises, when he regained power of speech. He told her how he would always keep her safe and never let anything hurt her again. She told him the same.

And now he's broken that promise, not a year into their marriage. In the worst way possible. He's the one who has hurt her.

"No, not that we're m-married," Nesta says, pulling him back to the present as she stammers on the word. "That you--that you don't feel--that you don't like...it."

He waits for her to elaborate, but she doesn't. "Don't like what?"

She swallows. "Being married."

He gives her another moment, but the punchline doesn't come. His eyes flutter closed. "Nesta," he says, weary. "Please don't tell me you think I don't love you."

"I know that you love me," she says. Good. "I just know that things have changed. For you."

"What are you talking about?" He doesn't want to sound impatient, but he has to know. He's doing everything for her.

She blinks a few times--trying to stop herself from crying, and he hates this, hates himself, hates everything in the world that has ever upset Nesta. "I know it wasn't what you imagined. This. Us. Me. I'm not feeling sorry for myself; I know you're happy. We're both happy. But it's just--it's selfish, I know. But you used to want...more...with me. And now you don't. I said I know it's selfish--" she rushes to add her last sentence, but he stops her.

"What are you talking about?" he demands.

She bites her lip. "I just don't like being reminded. That you don't care about being...mates...any longer."

At times like these, there's really nothing more a male can do than close his eyes, take a deep breath, and count ten. He only makes it to four.

"Nesta. Look at me. Hey. I'm angry at you. Look at me."

She blinks, affronted. It's adorable. He doesn't care. Well, maybe a little bit. "Why are you angry at me?"

"Because you're breaking our deal and you're acting like a lunatic."

She scowls. Glares. He doesn't love it right now. "I am not. What deal?"

"The deal where you tell me what you're feeling so I can make you feel better." He struggles, trying to find the right words, but gives up. "Nesta, I've been trying to give you a break. You don't like being Fae. You don't want to be mates. You hate when it's implied. So I didn't mention it. And you don't want to talk about being married. So I don't. I do want all of this, Nes. Aggressively. I'm being patient for you. But if that's going to make you crazy, then I'll say it: I love you obsessively."

"Cassian--" she starts, but he cuts her off.

"I want to be your husband and your mate and have everyone in the world know it."

"All right, Cassian--"

"And if you desperately want to keep things private that's fine, but we're not pretending between ourselves anymore, Nesta. I'm putting my foot down." He bites his tongue before he can say Is that all right?

But Nesta only nods slowly. "All right."

"All right?" he repeats, faltering.

"Yes. I-I don't want...it's not that I don't want that, it's that I...want it slower. Or I did."

He hardly dares to believe it. "You did? You want it...faster, now?"

She shrugs in his arms. "Maybe a little," she says, with a small smile. Then frowns a little. "You...you push me."

He flinches. "I know. I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize. I mean you push me. That's our dynamic. If you didn't push me, I wouldn't...I need to be pushed sometimes. I don't want you to stop because..." she trails off. Swallows. But he waits for her to finish. "You feel too distant when you stop. It feels like you're...gone." She moves her arms around his shoulders and rests her head upon his chest.

He understands what she means. She's wrong, though. He doesn't push her. He...nudges her. Nesta pushes herself. She just needs to know Cassian will be there to catch her if she falls.

Which is fine, because he never plans on leaving.

They stay there for a few minutes, basking in each other's closeness. Until Nesta leans up to kiss him softly, then break apart as she turns to the dinner she was preparing.

Nesta is still Nesta, of course. There are still rules. So they cook together, then eat, then he ogles her as she prepares for bed and she pretends not to do the same to him. She sits up against the headboard, reading. Not a romance, this time. She's on a mystery kick.

Cassian lies down next to her. "Good night, sweetheart," he says, rolling over, facing away from her.

Cassian hears her shut her book. He grins into the pillow.

"You're going to sleep?"

"Mm-hm. Long day."

"You're going to sleep."

"That's what I said. Enjoy your book."

He can almost hear Nesta scowl. The rule is when Nesta is lying in bed reading a book, Cassian is not allowed to rush at her like some kind of animal. Nesta wrote that rule to be broken. They both know it, they both know they know it. The real rule--the only real rule--is that they both need to play the game.

Nesta pretends to hate it. But she wouldn't keep doing it if she hated it, would she? No one can make Nesta Archeron do anything she doesn't want to.

"What kind of husband doesn't even attempt to entertain his wife before bed?"

That is unexpected. But maybe she missed him, maybe she wants to prove to him they won't stay static.

He rolls over, giving her a lazy grin. "The kind that fucks her in the morning."

Nesta's eyes widen in outrage. She puts her book down on the nightstand.

Nesta and Cassian are a mixed couple. He's depraved, as she has told him, and she is civilized. It presents its challenges--like absolutely no sex during daylight hours--but they make it work--by him finding loopholes, like sex in the morning before they get out of bed.

But he's broken another rule. Vulgarity. Nesta loves pretending to hate vulgarity. Not as much as she loves when he talks dirty in her ear--obscenities, she calls it. Even with sex, she's so prim with her vocabulary. Obscenities. Who says obscenities?

"Shut up," she tells him.

Cassian laughs. Her favorite thing to say to him. "Shut me up yourself."

This elicits a glare. She feels like he's making her do all the work. She won't feel that way soon.

She kicks the blanket away from her so she can move her legs. Not dropping her glare, she climbs over him, settles on his waist, and yanks his head up to kiss him.

Cassian laughs against her lips. "You're so violent tonight."

"Shut up."

"You're not being a very good girl."

Nesta shudders. "Shut up."

Sometimes shut up means don't shut up. Sometimes he likes to make her say what she means, sometimes he lets it slide. This time he lets it slide--there needs to be a balance of things, after all.

Cassian reaches a hand up to tangle it in her hair, caressing his thumb against her cheek. "I missed you," he whispers. "I regretted ever learning how to read in the first place."

Nesta breaks apart. "What?"

"Well," he says innocently, "if I didn't know how to read, I wouldn't have touched your book, and you--"

"Shut up," she snarls at him, and pulls him back towards her. She swallows his laugh. Referencing Nesta's stupid fights is never ever allowed, and she's not pretending to hate it. But he needs to keep her humble sometimes.

"I did miss you, though," he says, kissing down her neck. "Did you miss me?"

Nesta makes a little sound as he pushes the top of her nightgown aside, kissing her clavicle.

"Did you miss me, Nesta?"

"Yes," she says, squirming atop him. As though to prove it, she moves her hand from his face, heading to his wing.

He catches her wrist. "Not yet," he says. She shivers, taking it as a promise.

Rolling them over, he helps Nesta slip her nightgown over her head before laying her down. Some nights he likes to tease her with it on for a while, but not tonight. He wasn't lying about missing her.

It was Nesta's inner fire that first attracted him to her, but her physical perfection certainly doesn't deter him. He sits with his legs on either side of her gloriously thick thighs, squeezes his hands on her tiny waist, and bows his head, like in supplication before his goddess, to put his mouth on her right tit.

"I could believe my breasts are half the reason you're with me," Nesta says around little sighs as he sucks.

He raises his head. "Only a quarter," he assures her with a wink, before switching to the left.

He starts rocking as he lavishes attention on her breasts, not so much grinding into her, more teasing. She lets out a half-growl, thrusting upwards.

"Be patient."

"I thought you said you missed me."

"This isn't your world, you know. There are consequences to your actions."

Nesta knees his shin. He laughs. "Play nice. This isn't so bad, is it?" He moves his hands to her ribcage, keeping her down as he uses the flat of his tongue to make a path from the underside of her breast up to her nipple, closing his mouth and nipping it as he does.

Nesta lets out a sharp breath. She moves her arms from where they are, splayed around her head, to the spot in between their bodies, cupping his cock from around his shorts.

"Stop that," he hisses.

"You want this," she says, frustrated.

"Take your hands away."

Huffing, she does. He levels her glare with one of his own as he lowers himself to her breasts again.

She takes it only for a few seconds before squirming and saying, "Just let me touch you."

"No."

Nesta huffs again, but it changes from irritated to pleasured in the middle. Cassian smiles. That's what he's after. Nesta's breasts might be stupid fun to play with, but it's not as though it's just because of their size. She likes it too.

He brings up a hand to rub at the underside of each. His mouth, he has learned, with licks and light nips, are better for her nipples this early on. She's too sensitive for him to use his fingers before she's come.

Nesta shifts under him, and her arousal, a sweet scent, wafts through the air. She might've been embarrassed about it the first time she'd invited him into her tent on the battlefield, but since then it's been her signal: move faster.

Cassian stretches his legs out, moving downwards on her body. "Don't move," he whispers, kissing her stomach as he goes.

"Cassian," she says, voice hitching, and brings her hands to his hair.

She's asking. He smiles in answer--yes, you can grab my hair for something to hold onto while I lick you till you climax. Of course she can. Sweet of her to ask, though.

Cassian brings his hand to her thighs, squeezing the ample flesh there and kissing along the inside of her legs. It's easy to look at Nesta and know she's beautiful and has great tits, but sometimes he thinks it's disturbing, how many people in the world will never know about her legs, because of her long dresses. Like keeping a masterpiece locked in a dark room. Poor bastards, Cassian thinks smugly, sucking on her thigh.

Nesta tugs on his hair, making an impatient sound. Right. He’s not here for himself, he’s for her. He lifts his head, before he remembers that actually, she’s not in charge tonight, and he says, “You’re not the boss of me,” before biting her lightly.

“Since when do you have any sort of fixation with my thighs?” she asks, slightly breathless.

“My fixations are not limited to any one part of you. Quiet."

"Quiet me yourself," she snaps.

Cassian laughs. "I haven't yet figured out how to do that." He lifts his head to watch her blush--that's another rule. Mentioning how easily Nesta sounds aloud.

The thing about breaking these rules...he can do it as much as he wants; he just has to make it worth her while. He tries to remember how many times he's teased her today...too many to count. At least, too many to count when Nesta's lying naked in their bed, waiting impatiently for him to fuck her. So he figures it's time to appease her a bit.

He moves his head upward on her legs, not taking his mouth off her skin. Slowly enough to enjoy it himself, but fast enough that Nesta knows she won't have to wait much longer for him to give her what she wants.

He spreads her legs wider with his palms, inching closer. The tugs on his hair tells him she's ready, but he picks up his head to see her face and make certain. And, well, see her face.

Her cheeks are flushed, pupils blown wide. Gorgeous. She's biting her lip and glaring at him. Definitely ready.

He holds her gaze for a few seconds. Her glare dims, and her eyes widen. She's debating whether or not he'll make her beg, and by the way she's sucking in her lower lip, she's debating whether or not she'll do it. This early in the night, he means--for she'll do it. They both know.

But no, she doesn't need to do anything yet. Cassian meant it when he decided it was her turn to enjoy herself. His lips rise in a half smirk before he lowers his head to her sex and, savoring the moment when he knows what he'll do and Nesta can only wait, licks clean up her.

She's still biting her lip, which somewhat muffles her moan, but she cannot stop herself from arching upwards. Cassian holds onto her thighs. "That's it, sweetheart."

"Cassian," she blurts out. He laughs with his mouth open atop her, and she moans again at the vibration. "Cassian."

This is it, then. Nesta tries her hardest to keep herself quiet, but Cassian always gets her unwound eventually. It seems as though her breaking point is earlier tonight.

I guess she really did miss me, he muses to himself, teasing her around her clit with just the tip of his tongue. Nesta bucks her hips, trying to thrust into his face, but he holds firm at her thighs.

"Consequences, remember?"

He continues teasing her in that way, giving her just shy of what she wants. Nesta's panting grows more frantic, her pulls at his hair more punishing, but he doesn't relent. He moves his head downwards enough to press his tongue into her, and lets out a moan at the sound of hers.

"Please," she gasps.

"You asked so nicely...but no."

"Yes."

"No, no. Not yet."

She groans something incoherent, and he relishes in knowing she can't stop herself. She needs him, loves him, wants him. All of it.

"I could do this all night," he tells her.

Nesta lets out something that sounds like a sob. "I'm c-close, Cassian."

"I know, sweetheart." But she'll stay close for a while longer.

"Please," she says, when he slides his tongue inside her again.

"Please," she gasps, when he moves his tongue in between her folds.

"Please," she begs, when he gives her a closed-mouth kiss on her clit.

He's shameless. Doesn't bother to hide the smile in his voice when he gives her her out. "You taste so good, Nes."

He chuckles to himself, lifting his head to watch her glare at the ceiling. "I'll--I'll taste better when I come," she bites out.

He laughs aloud. "Yes, you will." And he moves his fingers up into her--she cries out when he does--bows his head to her, fucking her clit with his tongue and then its twin spot inside her with his fingers, teasing, once, twice--then together, together, together--

"Cassian," Nesta sobs, her normally wordless moan of climax forming his name and making him groan as he tastes her wetness.

He generally likes to keep his mouth at her sex and make her finish a second time, but now he pulls himself upwards and lies down next to her.

"Hello," he says, hands going to pinch her breasts.

"Hello," she says, smoothing her hair down. She breathes deeply, shifting her legs as she tries to regain composure.

"Entertained, then, are you?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Am I supposed to believe we're done?"

Cassian drops a kiss in the valley of her breasts. "No. Just checking."

She huffs a laugh. "I'm entertained." She cups her right tit and pushes it into his mouth. His hands go automatically to the left. "Shall I...entertain you now?" she asks softly, fingers playing their way down his shoulder.

He pushes forward, knocking her hand away. "Not yet."

Trying a different tactic, Nesta brings her hand down to his cock again, massaging it over his shorts. He allows himself a moment to enjoy it, moaning around her breast, allows her a moment to think this is where their night will go--then swats her hand away.

"Not yet," he says again.

Nesta has the audacity to roll her eyes. Roll her eyes, after he's fucked her the way she likes with his tongue, while he's sucking both her tits in turn.

"You know," he says, picking his head up and propping himself on his elbows. "That's not very polite."

"And you're going to be the one to tell me what polite is, are you?"

He lowers himself, till their bodies are flush and his face is right on top of hers. "I think I will be."

Not one to be outdone, Nesta moves beneath him, rubbing against his cock. He catches his hiss between his teeth.

"Will you?" she asks, voice low.

His eyes flash at the dare in her grey gaze, turning from smoke to forbidden fire right in front of him. He drags his hands up her body slowly, until he is holding her face. They look at each other fiercely, wholly, deeply, until Cassian breaks their silence.

"How am I going to fuck you?"

She glowers at him. Anyone else would run, but Cassian only grows more aroused. He can practically see the gears turning in Nesta's head--does she pretend to want to follow her rule, or does she give in to what they both want?

Give in, give in, give in, Cassian chants in his head. What they both want is simple.

"How am I going to fuck you, Nesta?"

Cassian is as brutish as everyone has ever called him. Nesta has lacked love and affection her whole life.

He draws a sharp breath as Nesta opens her mouth to answer him. "Like an Illyrian."

But it's perfectly all right, Cassian knows, because they've found each other.

"And how are you going to take it?"

It's a matter of pride for her, breaking these rules. But it's only perfect pleasure that awaits them both when she finally does...because Nesta happens to like brutes, and Cassian has half a millennium's worth of love to give her.

"Like a good girl," she breathes.

Cassian's known what he likes for centuries now, but they had stumbled upon that particular pleasure of Nesta's by accident only months ago. She had been reading some smutty thing, curled up on the couch. He had maneuvered his way around her, and read aloud from the book, to annoy her more than anything else. "'You're going to be a good girl for me, aren't you?'"

She hadn't snapped at him. She had frozen. Cassian had made good use of that knowledge right then, and the next day marched into a bookshop to buy everything else that author had written.

The not yets of before disappear now. He crashes their lips together with such force he might be worried he hurt her, were it not for her cry of pleasure as she thrusts herself into him and kisses him back.

He could stay like this for hours. That's one of the good things about her no-sex-during-daylight-hours rule; it's more time to kiss her. Her lips soft against his, every one of her sounds swallowed up, her fingers inevitably finding their way to his hair.

But this isn't daylight. And Nesta's hands aren't in his hair, they're at his waist, slipping down his shorts.

He nips her lips. "Be a good girl."

She groans. "I am."

"Do what you're told."

"It's called initiative. It's important in a soldier."

"I should be the only thing in you."

"Shut up."

"Ah, that's not very nice." He catches both her wrists in his hand.

She groans. "What do you want?"

He kisses her lightly, raising her hands above her head. He keeps them there, kissing her again, deeper this time, until they are both breathless, and then says, "Turn around."

She shudders. "Yes."

He lets go of her hands, holding onto her waist as she rolls over beneath him. He moves her hair aside as he kisses her neck, her shoulder, pressing himself into her ass. Hands clutching her thighs, he rocks against her.

She lifts herself on her elbows, turning her head to look at him. She's almost trembling in anticipation, and her voice shakes as she says his name.

"Here, sweetheart," he whispers, kissing her. She stretches around to better meet him, but he holds her down.

"Now, Cassian," she says, trying to pull him down.

He makes quick work of his shorts, finally finally finally touching his cock to Nesta's skin. They both groan at the contact. He moves his hand to her front, teasing her folds.

"Ready?" he asks in her ear.

"Yes."

His nerves scream at him to go fast, to sheathe himself deep inside her and give them both what they want, but he ignores them. He pulls at her waist, and she moves her legs apart, and he slides into her slowly--slowly--slowly--

"Fuck, Nesta," he gasps, keeping his pace torturously slow. She's still wet from her climax and, presumably, his own mouth upon her--and she's perfect for him, so perfectly sized--"You're perfect, sweetheart--"

She whimpers. He could die.

But he won't go any faster than this, not till she's ready--and she'll let him know when she is--she's lifting herself, she'll touch her hand to his wing, find that spot that she knows drives him crazy, and she'll give him permission, and he can finally finally finally--

"Cassian," she says, turning her head.

He shudders at the sound of his name on her lips, the look of intent in her eyes as she catches his gaze.

"Make me yours."

Cassian sucks in a breath. He's already inside her; he could come just from that partnered with her words--she doesn't make it easier when she leans forward, using her right arm on the headboard to support herself, and, almost casually, lifts her other hand up to her mouth, sucking on it, and then behind her, as though to touch her shoulder...and goes to his...and then his wing.

Permission.

They both cry out as finally finally finally they move at the pace they both want--Cassian pushing in and out and Nesta, meeting him perfectly, never once faltering with her fingers at his wing, not even when he brushes along her clit with his thumb. He keeps his other arm firmly around Nesta's waist, holding hard enough that his fingers may bruise her like he knows she likes.

Nesta loves to be marked by Cassian. She doesn't even pretend to be mad about it, she's too far gone to do so when he makes them, and afterwards, when she spots the nips and spots on her skin, she gives him a small smile, blushing.

Cassian thinks of her blush now as he fucks her, of each gasping moan, of her request--make me yours, Cassian--and the little doubt of what it means.

He leans forward on top of her, and she feels even tighter--and then she clenches and it must feel as good for her as it does for him, because they call each other's name at the same time.

"You're perfect," he says, the words half a snarl but never more true than in this moment. Meeting each of his thrusts with one of her own, her obscenely beautiful moans chorusing with the sound of their skin hit each other. He angles himself better to hit the sweetest spot inside her--"I'm going to make you come now, Nesta."

Her answer is wordless, and grows louder when he presses down on her clit with the side of his thumb and she shatters. Her fingers slip from his wing, her arm goes slack at the headboard.

"Beautiful," he says, not stopping, letting her ride out her orgasm and beyond. "I've got you, sweetheart."

She moans again. Her legs shake beneath him. She feels tighter now, and he almost doesn't hear her when she says, "Make me yours."

He licks her neck. "Sweetheart," he says, against her skin, "be a good girl for me."

Whimpering, she brings her hand up to his mouth--yes--to let him suck before she brings them to his wing. "Good girl," he says hoarsely--and gods, they don't stop, she doesn't stop the whole while--but before she touches the right spot, she lets her hand rest there.

"Cassian, make me yours."

It's not a request. He kisses her neck, then bites it lightly. "I will, sweetheart," he promises.

She accepts this, and begins the small, circular motions at the place along his left wing. The same pattern, he realizes with a groan, that he uses at her clit.

It is this, perhaps, paired with Nesta's demand, that tells him he won't last much longer.

He keeps his pace steady, knowing any faster than this and Nesta will only feel pain. He allows himself a few moments to feel everything--Nesta squeezing herself on his cock at each thrust inward, her ass pushing into him at each movement--before he tries to distance himself and make her come a final time.

"I'm going to make you mine, now, sweetheart," he says to her, leaning over her. "Are you close?"

"I am--I am--yes, Cassian--"

Cassian bites down at the spot he had been licking at her neck, but the cry Nesta emits is one of pleasure as she climaxes again. He doesn't stop fucking her, keeping as even a pattern as he can inside her, but brings his hand up from her sex and to her breasts, squeezing tighter than he would were he not inside her, but remembering to be more gentle at her nipples, only running his fingers over them--but she rubs at his wing more urgently, as he mirrors her movement at her tit, and he can feel it at all--Nesta, beneath him, around him, in front of him, her sex, her hand, her body--she's his, he loves her, she wants to be his, she wants him to make her his--"Oh, fuck, Nesta--Nesta--fuck--"

Cassian knows he doesn't have more than another three thrusts in him as Nesta doubles her pace with her fingers--he can hear her laugh--she moves on his cock as she does--she finishes him. It's her name he calls, growls, as he comes, inside her, and she keeps moving, letting him feel the whole of his orgasm the way he did her.

She drops her arm from the headboard and he falls on top of her. He pulls his cock out of her, groaning at the loss of contact and rolling over to his side of the bed. In the same movement, he reaches his arm over to the night stand and pulls a warm washcloth out of the drawer.

Nesta doesn't pick herself up right away. She lies there for a few seconds, face down in her pillow, hair strewn all over the place. He always makes a mess of her hair, doesn't he?

Eventually, she picks herself up with her arms, reaching out to take the washcloth with a smile. Cassian would clean her up himself, but she says she doesn't like him doing it. He looks away as she takes it, lowering it to her legs. He doesn't see the point in her hiding this from him after he's already fucked her, but this is Nesta. Rules are rules.

She moves closer to him when she's ready, and he looks back down at her, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hello," he says, kissing the spot he had bit.

"Hello," she answers. "I thought you would bite me when you came."

Cassian starts. "I...figured you wouldn't feel the pain if I did it when you did."

She frowns, making an adorable crease between her eyebrows. "I told you to make me yours."

He exhales sharply. It's somehow more erotic to hear her say it like this, calmly, then when he is inside her. "I..."

"Next time." She smirks when she sees she's surprised him. It only makes him grin.

"Hey," he says, squeezing her waist. "Don't you want to make me yours, too?"

"You already are mine," she says, lifting a finger to tap him on his nose. "Cassian Archeron, remember?"

Cassian freezes. She doesn't notice or doesn't care, slipping out of his arms to pick up her discarded nightgown and redress herself. Why she insists on putting one on to bed even though she knows he's going to take it off--but there are entirely more pressing matters at hand.

"And I don't need any bond or scrap of paper to know you're mine, anyway," she continues, straightening the covers before she gets under them. Again, why, he'll never understand.

She puts her hands around his neck as she kisses him. "Nice to have," she says. "But I know it anyway."

Cassian lets out a shaky breath as she wraps his arms around her. "Goodnight, my beloved," she says, the only term of affection she uses with him, and only in their most private moments.

"Good night, sweetheart," he rasps automatically.

Nesta falls asleep quickly, but he lies awake for some time.

If she knew how long he spent completely thoughtless, only looking down at her sleeping form, she would scoff or roll her eyes. But it's just...it's insane, the way they are perfect for each other. The sting of cold from when he was a boy, searching for a dry spot to pitch his tent, never leaves him no matter how many happy fires he has lit with his family since then. There remains a cold, lonely part of his past that he did not believe anyone could thaw.

He figured it was a fixture of himself, something he could and would live with till he died, despite there being something else he truly wanted. Someone who needed his patience to feel loved, his courage to lean on when she lost faith in herself, his strength when the rest of the world pushed her down and made her believe she was weak. And that would be enough. To be wanted would be enough.

But the person was Nesta. And she was exactly what he wanted.

Whip-smart, to push him to be better. More daring than anyone he had ever met, presenting never-ending challenges. And a fiercely strong, pure, battered heart, to give him exactly what a soldier needed: something to safeguard to the death.

He kisses her neck again. Nesta may not need the bond as proof, but that doesn't mean Cassian should appear ungrateful for it.

"Thank you," he whispers to the Mother. For this beautiful, perfect gift.

"Thank you," he whispers to Nesta, for accepting it. "Goodnight, sweetheart."

He falls asleep holding her, eager to wake and live another day by her side.

---

copying what i wrote on ao3 here and not the notes so as to not spoil anyone:

OKAY. So. I believe Nesta has a praise kink and a breeding kink. There it is. And I was disappointed that SJM did not portray that. I feel like that was really irresponsible of her. She does write Cassian as being dominating, but in a weird way that I didn't like. Not that the things in this fic aren't weird, they just are weird in a way I do like for his character. I believe Nesta and Cassian's banter is a fundamental part of their relationship, and their dirty talk does need to reflect that. "Your pretty little cunt is the only thing I think about" was just...not it for me.

Anyway. Really hope you see where I'm coming from and hope you enjoyed! Please let me know!

#nessian #nesta archeron #cassian #nessian smut #acotar fanfic #normally i try to make the notes fit the medium (tumblr/ao3)#but whatever deal with the ao3 notes #also AHHHHHH i can't believe i wrote this #please please please tell me what you think!!#if you know me irl and you read this do not address me #unless you're chana and you have nice things to say

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wheeler-beretta-harwood · 2 years

Note

Hey S.T changing it up tonight. How about some questions instead (while I think of a new prompt)

1) Top 6 Favorite Wrestlers

2) Top 6 Hated/Dislike Wrestlers

3) When did you start watching wrestling?

4) What promotions do you watch?

5) First wrestling match you remember watching

6) Ever been to any wrestling shows/events?

7) Favorite Wrestling Story Line

8) Least Favorite Wrestling Story Line

9) 1st fanfiction you ever wrote

10) What do you love most about wrestling?

I can’t wait to read your answers 💜💚

Sorry in advance, I got a little carried away. So you don't have to read through all my rambling if you don't want to. These were fun questions, though, thanks for asking!

1) Top 6 Favorite Wrestlers

I feel like I need to give some background information, so prepare for a long answer to this.

1. Cash Wheeler/ FTR: Who would've guessed, huh? Cash's my favorite, across all categories. Honestly, he is criminally underrated. Have you seen him in the ring? He is ridiculously fast! And very precise! I love that when Dax is in the ring, he moves around like a hunter circling his prey. Everything seems very calculated, very planned. I like that. What I enjoy even more though, is when he tags in Cash and the whole pace changes. He's like a pitbull off the fucking leash. I genuinely feel like ya'll are sleeping on the man.

And FTR made me fall in love with wrestling again, with a style of wrestling I hadn't appreciated before. They always say they have no fancy moves, and it might be true, but their storytelling in the ring is unmatched for me.

On a very personal note, I have to thank these two little shitheads because they have helped me conquer my depression to some degree. For years, I have been struggling, losing all interest in things I've usually enjoyed, like drawing, writing/reading, and generally being creative. I just went to work, then went home and stayed in bed for the rest of the day/night.

It's funny to me that two guys who don't even know that I exist have helped me through some of the darkest times of my life and brought some joy back. I owe them more than I could ever tell. (And yes, I shed a tear while I wrote this). So if any of you ever says something negative about these two, go kindly fuck yourself.

[From here on, answers will get shorter]

2. Kenny Omega: God, I just love this man. I can't really describe what it is, but there is something poetic in the way he moves. There's just a certain grace about him that demands my attention when he's in the ring. Plus I love his geeky side. We actually have the same taste when it comes to Anime, so I like him even more.

3. Christian Cage: In my early teens, 20 years ago, I had a major crush on Christian. Over the years, the crush turned into general admiration, and he still brings a smile to my face everytime I see him. I've always enjoyed his work as a heel, and can't wait for him to turn again.

4. MJF: Maxwell is a star in the making. I mean, he already is one, but imagine him in 10 years. It's gonna be magical. His dedication to his in-ring persona is unmatched and he can turn shit to gold. Personally, I thought the whole campaign against Mox was a stupid storyline, but I enjoyed it because it was MJF. That's how good he is.

5. Scott Hall: I always say he was my first wrestling crush, but he wasn't really. I was 6 years old, he was like 30 years older, I certainly didn't crush on him. My brother owned an original Game Boy and had this WWF game called either RAW or Kind of the Ring. When he didn't play, I'd always snatch the Game Boy and played. And I always played as Razor Ramon. Later, when I saw him on TV, I immediately knew this was my guy. God, he was soooooo cool.

6. CM Punk: I loved him in WWE. The Pipe bomb will always be one of the best wrestling moments I have ever witnessed. And Punk is the reason, I started watching AEW. My brother tried to talk me into it for quite some time, but I always turned him down saying I was done with wrestling. Then, last year, he tried one last time and told me Punk would come back. I couldn't say no to that, and when he really walked out, I smiled like an idiot at the TV. Then, the start was a bit rough, because he didn't feel like 'My Punk' in the beginning, but I love his recent work.

2) Top 6 Hated/Disliked Wrestlers

1. Shawn Michaels: Hear me out, I don't hate the man because Dax hates him. I've hated Michaels way before I knew Dax existed. I just never liked him. Plus, the Sweet Chin Music is the worst finisher of all time. Yes, I know wrestling is fake, but don't make it that obvious. You really want to make me believe that your opponent is so beat down that he doesn't hear you stomp your goddamn foot 3293 times for 10 minutes straight?! Like he doesn't have a clue what might happen next?! It's a goddamn kick that happens many times in a match, but because you stomped like a little toddler whose mama didn't buy him candy, it'll end a match? Yeah, right.

2. Darby Allin: Hate is a strong word, but I just don't get him. When I started watching, I thought I'd love this guy because aesthetically, his style is my cup of tea. He was a let-down for me though. Plus, I hate the Coffin Drop as finisher.

3. Hulk Hogan: Just a douche in general.

4. Sammy Guevara: I don't dislike him, I am just very indifferent to him. Which I don't understand myself, his matches are good. I just can't warm up to him.

5. Charlotte Flair: same as Sammy.

6. Kelly Kelly: I am talking about young Kelly Kelly that got handed everything on a silver plate while not being all that good. I have no idea what she is doing now, and I honestly don't care.

3) When did you start watching wrestling?

As with a lot of things I have come to love, it was actually my older brother introducing me. I might have been 5 when I really started to get interested in the whole idea of wrestling, then it was part of my life until my mid-twenties when I stopped watching altogether. It was just recently that I started watching AEW (watched all the older Dynamite episode later) and fell in love with it again.

4) What promotions do you watch?

Right now, it's just AEW. I have fallen out of love with WWE years ago. When there was a way to watch here in Germany, I enjoyed Lucha Underground, TNA for some time, and I loved WCW back in the day.

5) First wrestling match you remember watching

Undertaker vs Undertaker, Summerslam 94. Because my brother loved The Undertaker, and he watched that match about 2374375 times.

6) Ever been to any wrestling shows/events?

I have been to two WWE shows here in Germany, maybe in 2004, 2005? And there also was a TNA Show close to where I live. But other than that, sadly no. I have made my peace with the fact that I will (most likely) NEVER see FTR live (just typing it actually breaks my heart)

7) Favorite Wrestling Story Line

Hmmm, honestly, about anything that includes CM Punk or MJF. I am a sucker for good promos, and these two ALWAYS deliver. So I am going with their feud against each other. MJF is just killing it, and I love how he blurrs the links between show and reality.

8) Least Favorite Wrestling Story Line

This was a tough one. And then I remembered it: There was this absolute shitty storyline with Kane and Lita...where he forced her into marriage? Then, at some point, she was okay with it...then 'pregnant' and then lost the kid? That was the most fucked up shit I have ever seen happening in a wrestling ring.

9) 1st fanfiction you ever wrote

In general, a one shot for the Anime 'Bleach'. In my high school years. I'm pretty sure it sucked.

Wrestling wise? The Cash Wheeler one shot 'Weirdo' that I wrote in March this year.

I actually didn't write a whole lot when I was younger, because I never got any feedback on it and thought no one liked it.

So I am more than happy to get some opinions here on tumblr. Although, in my adult mind, I probably would write some of it anyway. Like I would write Meant To Be, even if no one read it. I'd just do it for myself.

10) What do you love most about wrestling?

To me, wrestling is like dancing combined with drama class. There are (at least) two bodies moving together in order to tell you a story. In between, someone holds a monologue, explaining his intentions, thoughts, goals. More dancing. Dialogue. More violent dancing.

Honestly, I can't explain it. It's just, if it's good wrestling, it makes you feel. This year, I have seen the best match I'll probably ever witness. FTR vs Briscoes. Never ever have I felt a match like I felt this one. The four men had me wrapped around their fingers. I rewatched it every day for 4 weeks and was still amazed by it. It's a feeling I can't explain, and it's what I like most about wrestling.

#steph answers #steph rambles #answered asks #wrestling

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choicesfanaf · 4 years

Text

The Meeting of a Lifetime AU Part 4: One Year of Togetherness

Pairing: Ethan x f!MC (Arundhati Kulkarni)

Characters: Ethan Ramsey, Arundhati Kulkarni, Ruby Ramsey (OC), Uma Kulkarni (OC), Alan Ramsey

Word Count: 1581

Rating: General

Summary: Ethan and Arundhati meet after 15 years.

Category: Fluff

Tagging: @nooruleman, @sophxwithers, @schnitzelbutterfingers, @jooous, @red-rookie

A/N:

@nooruleman: Noorie, I am extremely thankful for your help, support and motivation. It was only because of you that I decided to write this series. You are a literal sweetheart. Thanks a lot for your help!

I sincerely apologise if this turns out to be messy or not up to your expectations.

On their first anniversary, Ethan and Arundhati decided to take Alan and the girls to the aquarium for a day of fun and relaxation.

'Who wants to go to the aquarium?', Arundhati burst into the living room, clearly excited, forming a plan in her head.

'Me! Me!', the girls shouted.

'Then let's start packing up! We're going to leave once grandpa is here.'

'Is grandpa coming with us?'

'Yeah, he is.'

'Then the trip is going to be even more fun, isn't it, Uma?'

'Yup!'

A few hours later, they were on their way to the aquarium, when Alan realised why they were going on a trip in the middle of the week.

'Happy Anniversary, my children. Forgive me, for I just remembered it right now.'

'That's fine, dad, all that matters is you wishing us', Ethan mentioned.

'Yeah, dad, don't worry much about it.'

'Are we there yet?', the girls asked, eager to reach the aquarium.

'No, kiddos, but we will reach there in half an hour.'

As soon as they reached, the girls started pulling their parents towards the entrance.

'Wait, girls, don't run, the aquarium isn't going anywhere!', Aru said, scared that they would slip and fall.

'Aru, don't worry, I'm right behind them.'

The girls were mesmerised by the vastness of the aquarium.

'This aquarium is huge!'

'I know. It has many floors. How cool is that!'

'Wow', Uma said, looking around, deciding where to go first.

'Where do you want to go first, girls?'

'To see the penguins and the octopus!'

'Okay, let's go.'

'Look, they are giving him toys.'

'He's coming out to get them!'

'Go buddy go, you can do it!', the girls cheered along.

'Good job, bud!'

'What are these spiky ball-shaped things here?'

'They are called sea anemones.'

'They are so small and cute! I love them!'

'I know, they are so colourful and pretty!'

'What are those cup-like things, dad?'

'Oh, they are the suction cups, sugar. Octopuses use them to feel and smell things.'

'That's so cool!'

'This was amazing! Let's go to the penguins next, mom!'

'Okay, chipmunk, let's go. Slow down, girls, there is no need to run. You might hurt yourself!'

'Look how cute they are, Uma!'

'I know, they look so cute flipping their arms around.'

'Look at that penguin hop!'

'It's so funny to look at.'

'There are so many of them... How many do you think they have, Uma?'

'I think around 90-100. What about you?'

'I think around 200..'

'But why are they shouting? They are hurting my ears..'

'Looks like they are talking to their friends!'

'Come on, let's go to that fish tank over there', Ruby pointed out.

'Wait, grandpa, why are the bottles present in that fish tank?', Uma observed.

'Oh......'

'Hello, I'm Stephen. How may I help you today?'

'Could you please answer some questions that the girls might have?'

'Sure! Ask away!'

Why are there bottles here?'

'They aren't your regular bottles, they are treasures!'

'Treasures, that's so fantastic! Are they pirates?'

'Who?'

'The people who run this aquarium..'

'Oh, sadly, that's not the case. But, the people who bring them, called divers, are similar to pirates.'

'How?'

'Sometimes, when searching for fishes, they find various beautiful objects, which they keep as a collection in this tank to make the fish comfortable and to let them feel as if they are still living in the sea.'

'That's amazing! They look so lovely.'

'Where do they come from?'

'They come from Eastport Maine. It is one of the old fishing ports of the USA.'

'Wow!!', marvelled Ruby.

'We only include natural materials and keep away materials like plastic as they can cause harm to the fishes.'

'Ohhhh'

'How do the fishes use these treasures?'

'Some of them use it for laying eggs, while some use it for hiding.'

'That's so awesome.'

'Do you have any more questions, girls?'

'Nope.'

'Okay, thanks Stephen, you helped us a lot.'

'No worries, it's my job.'

'Okay, who wants to have lunch?', Ethan asked as Stephen walked away from them.

'What are we going to have?'

'Let's go check the canteen!'

'Yes please, my stomach is rumbling', commented Aru.

After getting the kids what they wanted, Ethan and Aru were going to sit down, when Alan approached them.

'Don't you want to spend some time alone?'

'What do you mean, dad?'

'Isn't it your anniversary today?'

'Yeah'

'Then go, celebrate it privately.'

'How can we do it now?'

'I meant, after taking the kids home.'

'Don't worry, Dad, I already have something planned.'

'Care to tell me what it is?'

'Sure, but not in front of Aru.'

'So, are you ready to explore more?'

'Yeah!!'

'Do you want to see the seahorses next?'

'Yeah, let's go, grandpa.'

The girls were in awe of the seahorses.

'Look at the different colours of the seahorses! Some of them are pink, the others are purple. It looks so splendid!'

'Look at those baby seahorses, Ruby!'

'They look so cute!'

'Will they eat the small fish here?'

'No, sugar, they might eat the same food, but they won't harm each other.'

'Grandpa, what are they eating?'

'Wait a moment, chipmunk' he peered as close he could get, 'I can't say if it's exactly that, but it looks like shrimp to me.'

'Is this seahorse changing its colour, Ruby?'

'There might be a little bit of change. I wonder why...', the kids discussed amongst themselves.

'Wait, why are those big seahorses dancing?', Ruby asked, pointing to a pair of seahorses near the end of the tank.

'Chipmunk, you can look it up after we go home, okay? I'm sorry that there is no one here to answer your queries.'

'No problem, dad, I know it's not your fault.'

'Mom, I'm tired, can we go home now?'

'Are you sure, chipmunk? Don't you want to explore?'

'No, dad. I just want to go home and sleep.'

'What about you, Ruby?'

'I agree with Uma.'

'Okay, then, let's go home. But first, who wants to get some souvenirs?'

'Me! Me!', the kids shouted.

'Let's go then.'

Ethan waited outside while Alan and the girls went in to get what they wanted.

'So, what did you get, girls?'

'We did not want to get anything, dad.'

'Why may I ask?'

'It was too boring, and the same stuff, everything was printed with their logo. Nothing felt interesting.'

'Oh.. and what about you, dad?'

'I did not find anything that I liked.'

'I hope that's not a problem.'

'Not at all.'

'Good, let's get going, shall we?'

The girls were so tired that they crashed on their beds as soon as they reached.

Ethan and Aru used this golden opportunity to celebrate their anniversary.

'Happy Anniversary, darling.'

'Happy Anniversary, love. You are the best gift I have ever received in my life and every day I thank God that we met again after all.'

'Aru, my love, my life has changed for the best since I met you. You have made me a human capable of emotions simply by existing. I will truly never be able to thank you enough. You have made me the man I am today.'

'Ethan, you always know how to make me feel all warm and fuzzy.'

'I have a surprise for you.'

'What is it?'

'Let's go to the kitchen to find out.'

When they entered the kitchen, Ethan started playing a romantic track.

'Wow.. this looks magnificent, Ethan. The candles smell so lovely. When did you get the time to set all this up?'

'I have my ways.'

'Candlelight dinner with such beautiful roses and amazing tender music... who knew that the great Ethan Ramsey is such a romantic?'

'I think everyone started to know that after we started dating, Aru.'

'What do we have for dinner, sir?'

'Oh, we have chicken alfredo, vegetarian lasagna, chocolate cake and red wine.'

'That's a lot of food. How did you manage?'

'As I said, I have my ways.'

'Okay, Dr Terminator, keep your secrets, but I must say, it looks very tempting.'

'Thanks. You will never stop using that nickname, will you?', he asked.

'Never.'

'Good, I'm quite fond of it.'

'Mmmm... this is indeed heavenly. I've never had anything this good. You are an amazing chef, Ramsey.'

'Why, thank you.'

'The wine goes so well with both the chicken and the lasagna, great choices, Ethan.'

'I know, that's why I chose them.'

'I don't think I will be able to eat anymore, darling. I'm too full.'

'At least have a bit of the cake...'

'Okay, honey. But only a teeny weeny bit.'

'Sure.'

The girls walked in just as Ethan and Aru finished cleaning up.

'Hi girls, how was your sleep?'

'It was good. What's for dinner? I'm really hungry.'

'Chicken Alfredo, Veg Lasagna and Chocolate cake.'

'That sounds really delicious.'

'Thank dad for it, he is the one who made everything.'

'Wow, thanks, dad! When did you get the time to make all of this?'

'That's a secret, kids. But I can tell you tomorrow when mom is not around, okay?'

After cleaning up and tucking the kids into their beds, Aru and Ethan collapsed into their bed.

'Today was an amazing day, darling. Thanks a lot for everything. I love you.'

'Oh honey, thanks for everything, too. You are my everything. I wouldn't be here without you. I love you', he cuddled with her before dozing off to sleep due to exhaustion.

#playchoices #choices fanfiction #choices open heart #open heart #open heart fanfiction #dr ethan ramsey #ethan ramsey #ethan jonah ramsey #ethan ramsey x mc #ethan x mc #ethan ramsey fanfiction

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revchainsaw · 3 years

Text

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Prayers and Salutations Cult Members! I am your mysterious minister Reverend Chainsaw and this is another nights revival service at the Cult Film Tent Revival. I bring you a special word tonight. Tonight's word is about a person who roamed the earth, in a time where people were backward and warlike. A leader emerged into a kingdom full of eschatological expectation. This leader came preaching peace, and was killed for the sins of the world, but was resurrected. In that resurrection a new hope was brought to the planet, and true healing through the power of love in the face of violence is made possible. I am talking of course about Princess Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind.

The Message

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is the film that put studio Ghibli and Hayoa Miyazaki on the map. No animated feature this grandiose and epic had been achieved by 1984, as much as Disney may beg to differ. The tale may be simple, and it may feel super 80s to us today, but Nausicaa is a masterpiece, and the fact that Howl's Moving Castle is brought up alongside Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away more often than Nausicaa is a farce and a tragedy.

The film takes place on a fantastic planet that seems to have suffered the ravages of an apocalyptic war. A war that involved gigantic warriors with powers so devastating they about made the entire planet inhospitable if not uninhabitable; save for a few areas. The fall out of this ancient war has left the earth in a state of repair, where the natural processes of a planet healing has creating giant toxic jungles.

Beyond these jungles lie two imperialistic factions, they seem almost to be city-states but it's not terribly clear. The Kingdom of Tolmekia, a militaristic proto-fascist society of almost Spartan sensibilities. Tolmekia is governed by the ambitious and cynical Princess Kushana, But I like to call her Furiosa. Just like Furiosa, Kushana is physically missing parts of herself, a visual metaphor for her metaphysical lacking and the parts of her humanity she has cut away. Kushana's world view is one of fear, a fear that can only be quelled by waging a genocidal campaign against her enemies.

Speaking of enemies, the Athens to Tolmekias Sparta would be the Pejite Kingdom. The Pejites might like to view themselves as simply responding to Tolmekian aggression, but the narrative of the film, and the story told quite visibly on the body of Kushana, is quite different. The Pejites are just as bloodthirsty if not more palettable in their approach, but like the Tolmekians, they believe only their own lives have any value. And thus, in this theatre of war, a Giant Warrior from the ages before is unearthed by the Pejite Kingdom, Stolen by the Tolmekians, before the forces of nature themselves, seem to conspire to drop the Giant Warriors "egg" right into the Valley of the Wind.

The Valley of the Wind is populated like the world of Avatar the Last Airbender, that is mostly of children and the elderly. The people of the Valley have been able to remain untouched by the ravages of war and the toxic jungles of the damaged world primarily due to geographic luck that's explained in minor exposition in the film. They are ruled by a King, and they are all deeply enamored by their beloved Princess Nausicaa.

Nausicaa is a gentle soul. She is kind to animals, she is empathetic, unreasonably patient, and bears pain and grief inflicted on her out of cruelty with a saintly understanding. She really is a thinly veiled Christ figure, scratch that. There is no veil. But she's also my favorite Christ figure. She does not preach a message, as much as she tries to save everyone from their own short sighted goals. She is not perfect, she does lash out and do some fantasy sword fight murder, but she regrets her actions so deeply that it seems to have played a part in motivating her to become even more compassionate and patient with the evils of the world.

Nausicaa discovers yet another plot by the Pejites, who are afraid of the possibility of the Tolmekians awakening the Giant Warrior, to use animal cruelty to enrage a group of almost invincible giant insects known as the Ohm. By luring the Ohm into the Valley of the Wind where the Tolmekians have become an occupying force, they hope to completely wipe out everything that threatens them. The Tolmekians DO awaken the Giant Warrior and pure pandemonium ensues. Nausicaa manages to save the Baby Ohm and calm the rage of the bloodthirsty Ohm swarm, and to defeat the warlike tendencies of both the Pejites and the Tolmekians. All the while fulfilling a prophecy fortold about a messianic savior figure called the Man in Blue.

Now that you have heard the Gospel of Nausicaa, please stand to receive The Benediction.

Best Character: Half a Person

Now that I've spent the better part of this review gushing about our Lord and savior Nausicaa. I have to admit, she's at times a bit too perfect, a bit too saccharin. Even her flaw, or her one weakness and her failing to be perfect, just adds to the perfection. I can't even say she never makes mistakes cuz she made one, and that's infuriating. It's even more infuriating that I still think she's a great character. Normally this kind of thing really kills a hero. Most Chosen Ones are the most boring and least likeable characters in their narratives. I don't know how Nausicaa avoids this trap, but she does. I'll have to do some meditating on that.

However, just like in your typical Chosen One fantasy narrative, the hero is a lot less fun than the villain. I'm going to say the best character in Nausicaa is Kushana. I want to be like Nausicaa, but I don't understand her. She's almost alien, even though we learn all about her. Kushana is mysterious, secretive, and enigmatic, yet I understand her. She barely has an arc, she doesn't really change. She's cold and cynical to the bone, but I don't need to see much of her situation to completely understand why she is the way she is. I usually hate totalitarian bad guys, but Kushana I like. Sue Me.

Also fun fact, did you that Nausicaa means 'Sinker of Ships'. That's kinda fun.

Best Scene: Spoiled for Choice

I'm going to be lazy and say take your pick. There is really not a bad seen in this movie. If the action isn't going, then there's intriguing dialogue. If there's no dialogue then you may be about to get hit with a forceful burst of whimsy. There's horror, there's swordfights and aerial dogfights. The only thing in Nausicaa I don't like to see, is the bloody tortured Ohm Baby. It's like a god damned Sarah Mclachlan commercial.

Best Creature: Foxy Shazam!

The Ohm are so simplistic yet so detailed. The number of eyes is alien, but the way they are used is expertly expressive. Who'd think you could get me to love what basically amounts to a silverfish with the intensity that I love a kitten. How did Miyazaki pull an Okja with a creature that should be haunting our dreams? I don't know.

And what about the Giant Warrior! If you are an Evangelion fan then you probably already know that Hideaki Anno designed and animated the melting goopy biomechanical beast. Surely a sight that would make both H.R. Giger and Clive Barker giddy with excitement. Just the image of the silhouettes marching amidst the desolation of the old world is burned into my brain.

So which of these is the best creature from Ghibli's first outing? It's fucking Teto. It was always gonna be Teto you idiot. Just look at Teto, he's adorable. He's too cute to exist. I'm so alone. I need a pet.

Best Character Design: Tolmekian Regalia

I originally included this category to talk some about Kushana, however, at that time I also thought I was going to say Nausicaa was the best character. I thought hard about deleting it, but I think it's a different category and you can't accuse me of playing favorites because my favorite character is clearly Teto. Just to keep it simple. It's the two costume shift from full military regalia in white and gold, to the one metal arm, warrior princess get up. It's a great costume and a great look. Get on this shit cosplay nerds. It's great for Cons in Canada, you have to think about layers, and you can't keep going as Mr. Plow. It's lazy.

Best Excuse to Talk About Patrick Stewart's Character: Lord Yupa

I just realized that I was about to write this whole review without talking about Lord Yupa. Lord Yupa is a sword saint and all around badass I think a lot of entertainment, especially in the west is lacking bad ass old men. Lord Yupa particularly shines in the early half of the film as a warrior and as a wise council to Nausicaa. If she's Jesus then Yupa is John the Baptist. He is also voiced by the elegant and eloquent Patrick Stewart. He also comes with 2 chocobos!

Worst Character: For Whom Asbel Tolls

This might also be the worst actor category as well. Actual Cannibal (haha meme) and actual monster (haha real life) Shia Labeouf doesn't so much act in the role as he read the lines and it was recorded. The good news it doesn't effect the film too much because Asbel is completely forgettable. He is a catalyst to some of the action, but besides that I don't really care for him.

Worst Aspect: To Be Fair ...

It would be unfair to completely ignore anything negative about Nausicaa. I have already mentioned in many places that there are some pretty corny, or pretty predictable tropes to this movie. But what I can't capture in words is exactly why it feels fresh when it's done in this movie. I suppose that's what makes it good. It's just so good that it's weak points are lifted up by it's strengths. Some people may bored of Nausicaa's unyielding goodness, or that she very rarely chooses to take action as much as she chases and pleads with her surroundings, but I mean, she does pay for that eventually. It's a fantasy story and it hits a lot of timeless themes that have been hit in stories for as long as human beings have been telling stories. Some people may feel that it doesn't do enough to stand out.

Summary

I have defined the S tier for myself as "near perfect and personal favorite" films. I like to think that Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is near perfect. Some may say that it looks like it might just be a personal favorite. In the case of Nausicaa, I'm having a very hard time telling the difference. I think it would be overly simple to claim that Nausicaa is just an ancient archetypal heroes journey with an 80s anime coat of paint. I think it's doing quite a few new and interesting things with that formula, those things are just playing out all around that narrative as opposed to being at it's center. For a first full length outing by the studio, you can really see Miyazaki's heart and the values he holds close to. I'll repeat myself so that we are completely clear on the matter. I think Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is a near perfect movie.

Overall Grade: S

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