#i know we all picked this quote but that's what it deserves

[strangersteddierthings]

Beg You to Love Me

"I'm surprised you even remembered, Harrington," Eddie shrugs, hoping he comes off as aloof as he wants to, instead of shaky and unsure like he feels. He was sitting atop the picnic table, arms behind him trying to look as unaffected by Steve's presence as he can, but he's been thrown for a loop ever since Steve emerged from the woods instead of Robin Buckley, like he was expecting.

"Of course, I remember. I- I've never forgotten," Steve whispers, head down and fists clenched at his sides. He looks more like a child being wrongfully scolded than a man defending himself.

The words pull a scoff from Eddie, though. Never forgotten? What the fuck ever. "Right. Something to hold over me, then, if I'd stepped too far out of line? Mutually assured destruction?"

Steve's head snaps up and he looks horrified, which Eddie will admit to almost believing. Steve doesn't seem like the type to join the drama club but his acting's pretty fucking good. "What? No! I would have never- I would never have said anything about us to anyone."

"Right. Sure. Of course. Your own reputation to think about there."

Something like hurt flashes across Steve's face before it frosts over. This is the face he's used to see on Steve. Cold and distant. "I- whatever, man. I don't even know why I thought..." but Steve doesn't finish his sentence. He just shakes his head and turns his back on Eddie, heading back the way he came.

He doesn't know why that sparks a rage from deep within him. "Yeah, that's right. Tuck tail and runaway again!"

"I ran away?" Steve shouts back, turning sharply on his heel to glare at Eddie. "You think that I ran away?"

Eddie just spreads his hands to the empty clearing as if to say 'look at all this room around me you've never occupied'. "You weren't here, were you?"

"Because you told me to not be!" Steve stomps back to Eddie but stops a couple yards away.

"Like fuck I did," Eddie argues back, because he didn't tell Steve to go away. He'd told him-

"'If this isn't good enough for you, there's the fucking door.' That's what you told me," Steve quotes, "I thought it was pretty fucking clear what you wanted."

"Yeah, I fucking thought it was clear what I wanted," Eddie snarls, lunging from the picnic table, closing those last few feet to get into Steve's face. "Yet here we are!"

"Don't act like this is my fucking fault. Like you weren't the one who forced it to be my fault. My decision-"

"Yeah, it had to be your damn decision! You were dragging it out-"

"-because you were too much of a coward to do it your-fucking-self-"

"-acting like you were. Acting too good to actually slum it with the trailer trash-"

"-so of course I made the choice that was best for me. Because I deserved more-"

"-like what I had to offer you would never be good enough for the goddman King-"

"-than just being your hookup when I wanted to be-"

"-like I wasn't good enough to be your friend, much less-"

"-your fucking boyfriend!"

"-your fucking boyfriend!"

The contrast of this sudden silence that falls following their screaming match that ends with identical sentiments is jarring. Eddie feels wrong-footed and lost. Confusion and hurt mixing in him that he can see reflected on Steve's face.

"What?" Steve is the first to break the silence, drawing into himself. Arms crossing to hold himself at the elbows as he takes several steps back, as if to be able to see all of Eddie will clear the confusion he's feeling.

Eddie just stares back, slack jawed for a moment. That's. What. No, wait. Really, what? "What what?"

"You- you said 'if this isn't good enough for you, there's the fucking door'. How was I- I thought you- you were breaking up with me!" Steve cries, "you. You said that to make me pick, because you knew I wanted more and you didn't. That's- you were breaking up with me!"

Eddie's in just as much disbelief. "No, you broke up with me! I said if this isn't good enough but, like, I meant if I wasn't good enough. And you left! You walked out because I wasn't good enough to be with you!"

Steve looks stricken and he claws harder at himself, sort of folds into himself like he's going to be sick. "No. No no no, that's- then that means I- it's all been my fault. No no no no."

Eddie stares wide-eyed and frozen as Steve talks to himself. Eddie kind of feels nauseous. There's no way that this is possible. That these last two and a half years of heartbreak have been because of miscommunication. That they both thought the other was breaking up with them and neither actually wanted to.

"Why didn't you- Why didn't you say something?" Eddie asks.

Steve laughs at that, sounding a bit hysteric. "Me!? Why didn't you! I wasn't- I wasn't going to beg you to love me like I had with my parents. You were the one who told me I shouldn't have to do that!"

Yeah. He had. When Steve had broken down and cried on his bed, in his arms, wondering what it was he had done to lose his parents' love. Eddie told him it wasn't his fault, never would be, and that he would never need to beg for love from someone who does love him. It was the same advice Wayne had given him when he'd taken Eddie in.

"I already thought you were wanting to break up. You were being so distant, I thought..."

Steve sucks in a deep breath and nods, "Yeah. Yeah I was. I was scared of scaring you away. Of being too much. Because I- what I felt for you was a lot. I was afraid I'd chase you away if I continued to be so clingy. I pulled back, to reign it in but. Fuck. Fuck!"

Eddie drops to a squat. His legs feel like jelly and he can't keep standing. He squats and looks down so his hair becomes a curtain separating him from the reality of the situation, if only for a moment. Fuck is right.

He's spent his junior and first senior year being pissed at Steve. Hurt by him and what he thought happened. And it's- if Steve's being honest, it's all been for nothing. If they both wanted a deeper relationship, they could have had it. They might still be boyfriends if Eddie hadn't been so wrapped up in his Munson Doctrine. He'd been convincing himself Steve was embarrassed of him, and was working on breaking off their- whatever they were. But he hadn't been.

He's thought such terrible things about Steve over the years. God, what has Steve thought of him over the years? No. He doesn't want to know, actually. That's not what he cares about right now.

He lifts his head to see that Steve's plopped himself onto the ground, sitting cross legged, elbows on his knees and head in his hands.

"Steve. Steve!" He calls Steve's name out until he looks up, looks at him, "why'd you come out here?"

He laughs again, slightly less hysterically, and he's shaking his head like he can't believe what he's about to say. "I. Fuck, I was coming out here to beg you to love me."

"No you fucking weren't!" his tone is filled with disbelief.

"I was," Steve repeats, sounding amused and heartbroken at the same time. "I really, really was. Graduation's coming and I know you want to get out of Hawkins the second that happens and I'm. I was running out of time trying to get you to notice me again, so I was going to beg."

Notice him again? As if Steve doesn't haunt his every waking thought. As if he doesn't dream of Steve every night while his eyes seek him across the halls and in their few shared classes like he's the goddamn night sky and Eddie is a sailor lost at sea needing the north star to guide him home. Eddie's never not noticed him, and he thinks he has to come out here and beg? "When someone loves you, you don't have to beg."

"Yeah, I know," Steve sighs, defeated, which lets Eddie know that Steve does not, in fact, know. He looks away from Eddie, down to his lap.

Fuck, it's like every fantasy Eddie's had of them making up and then making out has been handed to him on a silver platter and he's blowing it. His words are too vague, too easily misinterpreted. Again. He falls forward on to his knees, hands catching him so he's on all fours like an animal. "Steve. I mean it. You don't have to beg."

"I get it, Eddie," Steve huffs, not looking at him. Not actually understanding.

Eddie starts to crawl the distance between them. Steve looks up then, probably to see what the fuck Eddie was doing with the shuffling sounds and the chain on his belt clacking. Eddie watches Steve's eyes go wide, mouth dropping open to a small 'o'. "See, the thing is, Steve," Eddie says, pulling himself up to be just on his knees to shuffle the last few inches closer. Steve leans back to keep his eyes on Eddie's face, which opens his lap up. "You said you know, but I don't think you do." Eddie brings his hands to rest on Steve's shoulders and Steve lets him. "You don't have to beg." He uses his hold on Steve's shoulders to balance himself as he swings a leg wide, to straddle Steve, then shifts his weight to repeat the process with his other leg before settling himself into Steve's lap. Steve's hands land on his hips and Eddie isn't sure if it's intentional or a reaction to Eddie plopping himself in his laps but he's going to believe it's the first one. "You've never had to beg with me."

Steve sucks in a sharp breath and then he collapses into Eddie. Steve's hands on his hips slide up and pull him into a hug, as close to Steve's body as he can get, while Steve shoves his head under Eddie's chin, into the junction of his neck and shoulder and breaths him in like it's the last breath Steve will ever take. "We're so stupid."

"Yeah," Eddie agrees, as he lifts one hand to hold the back of Steve's head while the other drops to rub soothingly at his back. "Yeah, we are."

They sit in the dirt, the closest they've been since that summer between '81 and '82. They should probably talk about. They're going to have to, if they want this to work. Full sentences with no hidden meanings, even though the thought of that kind of vulnerability makes Eddie skittish. It's going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it. Steve has always been worth it.

Eddie wants to say 'I love you', just to get it out, in the open, and not just implied, but there's a different first step to take. One that's actually a little easier. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Me too," Steve whispers, "I'm sorry. I should have-"

"Shut up," Eddie cuts him off, voice quiet and soft as he can be. "This is, and I cannot stress it enough, a we situation."

The huff of laughter on his skin from Steve feels like the start of something. A new beginning, a start over. A re-do.

A goddamn miracle.

Later, they'll drag themselves apart and up. Make it to the back of Eddie's van in the school parking lot to talk. Going to either's house feel too much, too soon. Their big fight happened at Eddie's home, and Steve's house isn't warm enough for the kind of comfort they want to share.

They'll have a talk. Filled with long pauses, stumbling over words and fears and insecurities because this is the hard part of a relationship. Getting it all out in the open so they can learn if they'll even work. The fear that they aren't going to be compatible anymore looms but doesn't deter. They both want a second chance, to give it a real shot, by the end of that first talk. But taking it slow.

They'll discuss what went wrong the first time (diving in without talking about anything certainly played a big part) and how to avoid that.

But that's later. Right now, Eddie just holds Steve, and Steve holds him back, and it certainly feels like the beginning of something good.

-

@i-less-than-three-you @nburkhardt @afewproblems

[planetsstarsandmoons]

Synastry observations based on (personal) experience, part 5:

I’m back!!!! After months lmao

Moon opposite mars: a big ‘want’. Moon opposite mars is a story. It’s every romance movie/ romcom aspect, and i’ll tell you why. These people see in each other the potential of moon conjunct mars fullfillment that’s actually (way, but opinions differ ofc) better than the conjunction. That’s because in the opposition, each has something the other lacks. This can create for both people the ultimate romantic fullfilment when brought together by effort and acceptance of each other, and this promise is very hard to let go of. Typically, these are couples that fight a lot but find it very hard to let each other go once they know what they can have with each other, because it really is the best. Just think about it, even the thought of people putting conscious effort to be sweeter to one another is precious. That only creates a bond that’s very raw and very real (quoting jewelastrology here). Then combine that with the power of the mars and the moon and the friction of the opposition, keeping things interesting and keeping both parties learning more. You shouldn’t romanticise struggle in a relationship. Too much ‘work’ can just mean you aren’t compatible. THIS aspect is an exception. Just watch out for possible aggression. That’s never okay. One day I’ll make a seperate post about the amount of moon opposite mars couples in literature. The best I can think of now is Pride and Prejudice, with Mr Darcy being mars and Elizabeth Bennet being moon.

Venus twelfth house overlay: sorry y’all, in my personal experience, it’s true what they say. The twelfth house person has a hard time feeling this overlay on their side, or on a very subconscious level. I was the 12th house person. On one hand, I really ‘got it’ so to say but on the other hand, I don’t have a shitty clue of how he picked up on this ‘thing between us’ he thought or picked up on we had. That’s actually the big thing about this overlay. Don’t lose all hope, but you’ll have one person going “you knoww like there’s this thing between us...” and the 12th house person will be going: “what thing?” 😂 this can actually be nice because the 12th house person will get in touch with that subconscious twelfth housey part of themselves IF there are other nicely supporting aspects. Like the venus person’s venus to other stuff. They say a true connection is always mutual. I want to say to you all that don’t be surprised when a 12th house person in such an overlay is not ‘feeling’ this mutually. I literally wrote in my diary: “i might actually like him when it’s too late. Or just never lol i do not know.”

Update: I wrote this observation months ago in like april. It is now october and I’m starting to gain interest in him, albeit slowly and subconsciously, but, yeah 🤦‍♀️😂 i came back to this draft being like “WHATT?? Astrology had predicted this TOO for me???”

Moon trine pluto: you know when the fighting super intense troubled couple FINALLY gets together in this really intense and satisfying time when things are finally going the way they’re planned? Like an end all all good? That is this overlay, but constantly. On the outside, it’s the annoyingly passionate/emotional couple in a series that you don’t get because you haven’t seen them do any work to deserve this kind of intense fan-service scene. It’s because it lacked that kind of character development? It was me watching avengers infinity war with vision and wanda. I didn’t like the couple because i didn’t get it. I didn’t know their history i thought it was just some random very bland peaceful couple being very dramatic about each other all the time. Another example (i’m not shitting on this aspect i swear 😂) when a cartoon shows an example of a ‘romantic movie scene’ where the couple says “i loove you!!” And the other goes “oh bill!!” You don’t swoon because you’re like… okay. You get the oogies/ick because it’s like ‘ew that’s a couple’ anyways what I’m trying to say is that moon and pluto are not typical besties they’re supposed to be two problems kind of, they’re two very intense and bare planets, so harmonious flowing energy between them will feel kind of unsettling? Even. So these people will be kind of ‘gross’ with each other but in a soothing way. It’s how you imagine such a trine to be, but it plays out exactly like this irl too lmao! It feels bland on the outside because it’s always going well. And on the inside it plays in the background, because issues bring moon and pluto stuff to the foreground as a ‘theme’ in the relationship. So this aspect is also is the simple idea-of-a-passionate relationship. It’s the groaning “I’ll never let you go!!” Which doesn’t hit the same way for some people because there isn’t any drama or shit that happened before to deserve this pay off. However, some people loooove this aspect and by that I mean people in real life who like to have a secure and deep relationship where two hidden parts of people correspond and love each other well. This aspect is reaallly hard to let go of lol.

Sun conjunct mars: I call this the ‘spicy friends’ aspect. This is the aspect of two people who get into shenanigans together. I also see this aspect a lot with romantic couples who got together young, because it makes for boy-girl relations where the boy actually gets motivated by the person the girl is and the girl feels understood on the same level by the boy. They don’t get bored and so these people will forever get on or be aggravated by each other. It’s because these are two extremely conscious ‘in the moment’ planets so they easily fire off each other and it doesn’t take a lot of energy to have that interaction. Not in the plutonically karmic way, but in a personal way I currently cannot describe. No in between. It creates a bond that people can’t really get in between. You just have to let them stay friends/buds until they get sick of each other, and they may even repeat the process after that. Either way, this is an aspect that makes people get together fast ! Their conscious behaviour is accelerated by each other.

Sun conjunct venus: unlike mars, venus is a cold planet, which is totally okay in a synastry, only the interaction plays out a little different. Sun and venus don’t fire off each other. Their influence on each other is more passive and more ‘mental’. The sun, how basic it may sound, warms venus or even makes them burn. Venus gives the sun person chills. The venus person is responsible for the harmony and awesome functionality that this aspect brings. They will take a step back to fully adore and admire sun from afar sometimes. The sun will run to venus basically when it needs love and beauty and also a kind of sensibility that the sun person misses, like a puzzle piece. Sun brings heat and passion that the venus craves. These people will often crave for how the other person makes them feel. Venus typically loves every little thing the sun person does and the sun person is just taken by the venus person every single day. Think Oliver (venus) and Loretta (sun) from Only Murders In The Building. This aspect makes for real contentment in a relationship.

Mars in twelfth house synastry or composite: with this placement, you’re not even sure if the person is actually even attracted to you and if you’re making it all up in your head. This is also typically seen as a ‘synastry/composite of secrets’ which I wasn’t so sure about at the time I experienced this one myself, but now I realise, hey, that man actually had a girlfriend while he was giving me ‘special attention’ while holding back, with me being like ‘what could he mean what could he MEAN’ typical mars in twelfth scenario. One guy I had this with in composite was basically lying to me about his sex life and not having cheated on his previous girlfriend… and guess what… I had lied about my sexual history too 😭 I even thought to myself ‘why the f*ck did I lie that elaborately??? I didn’t even have to??’ But whatever, it’s the way of the worlds apparently 😂 but you see how this immediately creates distrust when it is not actually what we mean to do or coming from a place of disrespect. Oh and this aspect in composite also created months of us being like ‘🧍🏻‍♀️….🧍🏻‍♂️’ not normal sexual tension, but sexual tension we weren’t sure should be concreticised out loud or in action. We’d only kissed once Monthsss before which is basically nothing in western european student culture. It was like: “does this person know I’m still, in this moment, attracted to/like him/her? Am I making this all up in my head?”

Moon in the 8th house: a lot has been said about this aspect. Just a few things: intensity, yes. Either one will always be a significant person for the rest the person’s lives. It’s not nothing. It’s the basis of real all consuming love that’s a very rare and unique mix between total safety and total rush-like danger, which makes people think it’s a soulmate aspect. It’s actually not, imo, it’s a deeply (deeeeply) karmic aspect. It’s funny to see all the friends with benefits who have this aspect start out as “lol we don’t want a relationship” to “……. Lol nevermind” and end up together. They go back to each other because they’re simply too significant to each other. Fear of being vulnurable is also big on both so they either take that step or they’re just standing there forever. Mutual aspect, but it’s mutual in different ways. Truthfully, I don’t see this aspect so often in relationship charts. I see it with people who are in love with each other and aren’t together, or people who started out casual but still for some reason can’t let each other go after more than a year, or people who have had the roughest most obsessive breakup in history and ask me for advice. Often, people in relationships who have this aspect don’t come to astrologers for advice. They’re too ‘into’ one another to do that, I feel like.

Venus trine moon: cute cute cUTE because the venus loves reassuring the moon person with affection, which makes the moon person feel so safe and endorphined and warm. The moon person simply inspires that in venus! Great for a chart with more difficult aspects !

Moon conjunct jupiter: so if a guy is jupiter and the moon is a woman and they’re married, the woman doesn’t need to worry about jupiter feeling turned off from the relationship by her pregnancy. Moon is the feminine, the nurturer, the mother, jupiter adores and respects her. Jupiter inspires respect, optimism, friendships and all things serotonin. Jupiter will make the moon feel good. The kind of union where the guy will constantly declare how much he lovees her pregnancy glow ✨ the same goes ofc for lesbian relationships but since this is a cultural phenomenon i thought i might touch on it.

Moon opposite jupiter: i feel like this might be the opposite story :/ the girls motherhood and need for support and needs in general will just be the opposite to what the jupiter person finds ‘fun’ and joyful, BUT if they’ve made it this far in the relationship as to have a child together it should be okay. At least the cause of the behaviour would moreso be astrology, not misogyny.

Moon square jupiter: wife jokes, but the ones that are cute and funny.

Moon in third:

Being someone with a moon in third house be like: wow imagine going through something hard and not type 10k words in your notes app about it.

Having your moon overlay in someone’s third house be like: wow imagine going through something and not telling that person 10k words about it

Also: jupiter has such an underrated influence on us in astrology!! Jupiter radiates the most energy out of all the planets in our solar system and may be way more personal and influential than we think in astrology… And in synastry also it’s the MOON

[lolahasmoxie]

Best Friend (E.M.)

WARNING: angst with a happy ending, friends to lovers, sexy times, disgusting fluff, Eddie being too sweet and precious for this world.

NOTES: I'm in a mood. I blame this time of year. Also, the end quote is inspired by the Simpsons. Points if you know the episode it's from.

DIVIDER BY @firefly-graphics

You're at a house party, and Eddie watches you like a hawk across the kitchen.

You're here alone; your boyfriend of two years is nowhere to be seen. You're talking with Robin and a group of girls, and even though you're smiling, Eddie can tell you're faking it. You've been faking it for a week now.

Your friends don't know, but Eddie knows. Your smile hasn't reached your eyes in a week. A trivial thing that most people would miss. But Eddie has been in love with you since you were 15; when you love someone that long, you pick up on things like that.

When you excuse yourself from the group, Eddie follows as you head out into Harrington's backyard. He sees how your shoulders sag once you think no one is around. The way you sit like the world's weight is on your shoulders as you sit in a lounger by the pool.

"What do you want, Eddie?"

Eddie smiles to himself as he takes a seat next to you.

"Should ask you that; you've been off all week."

"What do you know?"

Eddie isn't phased by your snippy remark; it's more bark than bite. He gives you a "Are you serious" look as he scoots a bit closer to you, close enough that the denim of his jeans touches your bare leg.

"You don't have to tell me. But it might make you feel better if you didn't keep it in."

Eddie watches you from his periphery as your body tenses before you let out a defeated sigh.

"He cheated on me."

The words make Eddie want to hunt your man down and pummel him until he can't feel his hands. The last time he wanted to inflict that kind of violence was the last time he saw his old man.

"He's been seeing her for almost six months, and then he said he didn't love me anymore."

"He's a fucking idiot."

"You have to say that you're my best friend."

"When have I EVER said anything that I didn't want to?"

He can see the hint of a smile on your lips as you discreetly try to wipe at your waterline.

"He's an idiot. He didn't deserve you; he never did."

"Keep talking like that, and I might think you were jealous."

Eddie's body stills, his heart dropping into his ass at your words. He had spent years lying. First, to himself over his real feelings and then to you as he tried to hide those feelings as he watched you repeatedly date the wrong guy over and over.

"Eddie."

He doesn't turn to face you when you call his name. Turning will begin a conversation he doesn't know if he's ready to have. The delicate dance he's held you in will disappear, and the possibility that he will end up alone is more than he can bear.

"How long?"

Eddie turns then, brows furrowed in question.

"How long?"

"About 10 minutes after our first conversation in freshman English."

He lets out a heavy sigh, face looking straight ahead as he still refuses to look at you.

"Why didn't you say something? You had so much time?"

"You seemed happy. That's all I ever wanted. It's all I'll ever want."

He turns his head when your hand touches his chin, letting you pull him to meet your eyes. He watches as you study him like you're seeing him for the first time.

"Tell me what you're thinking, Y/N."

"Make me forget."

Eddie gasps softly at your request.

"You don't mean that."

"You think you're the only one hiding their real feelings?"

You're both staring at each other now. Your waterline is still teary, but Eddie is pretty sure this has nothing to do with your now ex. He reaches for your hand, entwining your fingers and feeling elated when you squeeze.

"If we do this, it's going to change everything. There'll be no going back."

"I hope not."

Eddie can't help but chuckle when he sees your smile finally reach your eyes.

"I'm serious; this could ruin everything."

"Oh, Eddie,"

Eddie's breath catches when you lean in closer, your lips right against the shell of his ear.

"It could also be amazing."

Eddie lets out a shaky breath before standing. He stretches out a hand and helps you out of the lounger before he leads you out of the party through the front door. He opens the door of his van for you, leaning over you to buckle you in with a cheeky grin. Then he's behind the wheel, revving the engine as he drives to your apartment without another word.

The sun is barely coming in through your curtains when you wake. Stretching your limbs like a cat, you smile at the soreness in your thighs and between your legs. You reach an arm out and sit up when you feel empty sheets next to you.

The night comes crashing back in stages. The fumbled kisses as he crowded you into your apartment. The look in his eyes as his plush lips worshipped your pussy until you had to drag him up by his hair. The way he whimpered when he was finally buried balls deep inside you. How you had both finally collapsed after what felt like hours. Eddie sending you off to sleep with a flurry of soft declarations of his love.

And now, he wasn't here.

You feel the panic bubble when you hear footsteps coming down the hall. The smell hits you next: freshly brewed coffee. Then Eddie is softly pushing into the room, naked and holding two hot cups of coffee.

"Morning, Sweetheart. Hope I didn't wake you."

You're incapable of speaking, and Eddie stops when he sees you. He puts the mugs down and quickly climbs into bed next to you.

"What's wrong? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

You shake your head as you let him pull you close.

"You weren't here, I thought. Never mind, it's stupid."

"Don't say that. Just wanted to make my girl some coffee. I know how grumpy she gets without her caffeine fix."

"Asshole."

Eddie smiles at the remark, all bark and no bite. He hands you your mug, watching you take a small sip as he rests beside you.

"So,"

Eddie freezes at your tone. He knows that tone. It's usually the harbinger of bad news. He steels himself, waiting for you to tell him that last night was a mistake and that he needs to be on his way.

"I'm your girl now, huh?"

Eddie can't hide his smile. It stretches ear to ear as he snuggles in closer to you. His head rests on your shoulder, lips pressing to your skin as he breathes you in.

"I think you've always been my girl."

"Well, I'm glad we're on the same page now."

"Yeah, but now I have this new problem."

Eddie's smile doesn't falter as he sits up. He takes your mug and places it on your nightstand. Before you can speak, he's laying you back down on the mattress, his body moving over yours like a panther.

"I meant what I said in the van last night. What did I say was gonna happen once I stopped the van?"

You sigh as he rests his weight on you. Eddie takes your hands, bringing them above your head. He entwines your fingers, both of you giving reassuring squeezes that this is what you both want.

"You said that you were gonna hug me."

A kiss to your neck.

"You were gonna kiss me."

A brush of his lips against yours.

"And?"

You feel his cock warm and heavy against your pussy.

"You were never gonna let me go."

He kisses you as he enters you, and he has you moaning as the sun rises in the East.

[vase-of-lilies]

❀  Pairing: Medusa!Wanda Maximoff x Blind!Reader (F)

❀ Warnings: Reader is “sacrificed” and “saved by Wanda”, so much fluff, really quick acceptance, sexual content, Wandas snakes have their own personalities and love to mess with the reader when she is just snuggling with Wanda or when she is just chilling (lol), fingering, oral (r receiving), Wanda just flicking our bean while out on the beach, the snakes calm reader down IDK OK, 

❀Disclaimer The pictures only represent aesthetic and themes. There is no certain skin color, body type, ethnicity, or description other than Y/n and “you”. Credit to who made the pictures in the banner as well.

❀ Authors Note: I have started reading the story called “Stone Blind” and it is a re-telling of the story of Medusa and telling the “true” story of how she became the “monster” she turned into. I feel like that even though Medusa was assaulted, she deserves love and I think that having a blind reader would help her feel like she was loved based off of her personality, not of fear. This story is a little lighter than the others, but it still is dark with hints of kidnapping and captivity. I will also be keeping Stheno and Euryale, Medusa’s original sisters, just for the organization of plot purposes! There are quotes in here that are loosely based on “Stone Blind”! All credit to Natalie Haynes for the style of Medusa I use!!

It’s a cooler summer day in Greece, rain feeding the dry crops with much-needed food. The drought that Zeus brought to the mainland was devastating, causing crops, veggies, and fruits to cripple before they were ripe enough to pick. This was a punishment for the greediness the people were showing, thriving a little too much to the god's liking.  

It wasn’t uncommon for the god to be selfish like this. He would often flood the fields with too much water, making them die equally fast. Your village was one of the many affected by this cruel situation. You later learn that Zeus had a bad day and wanted to take it out on someone other than his poor wife in the clouds. 

These games he played were difficult to navigate, as the world through your eyes was sightless. Just like tinnitus in the ear, your eyes seemed to feel the same way; clouded and blurred figures with every movement of your eyes. You were born this way, and no amount of begging could have changed what you encounter daily. 

However, with this blindness, your other senses are heightened. Your hearing was better than most, and you did everything possible to protect it as it was your most powerful sense. Every chirp of a cricket, creek of a door, a voice outside your home. You could hear it all. 

It was a blessing and a curse at the same time. “She won’t even know we are gone, she can’t see us. Out of sight, out of mind.” This was the last thing you heard from your parents before they abandoned you. Your heart broke when you heard those words, never feeling such betrayal from someone you loved before. It was that moment that caused you to shut off your emotions to other people. 

At the age you are now, it was difficult to find really anyone who would accept your blindness, and love who you were on the inside. What never occurred to you was the fact that you needed someone who felt the same. Someone who felt an insecurity that needed to be validated by someone similar. 

This was exactly how Wanda felt. She was the youngest of the Gorgon Sisters, born a mortal human but was punished by a goddess out of jealousy and spite. 

The goddess Athena was spoiled by her father, getting everything and anything she wanted with a snap of her fingers. When she was betrayed, she didn’t punish Poseidon, who in fact was the person who caused this problem in the first place. She punished the poor girl who was hurt by Poseidon, all because the situation unfolded in Athena's own temple. 

Why did she choose Wanda to punish? Because she was mortal and did not have to suffer through centuries of war and turmoil. The night she went to Wanda's cave, her sisters were out hunting; gathering for their mortal sister so she could eat. Athena took this opportunity of Wanda's solitude to torture her, ripping every piece of hair from her head, forcing red, writhing snakes to take their place. 

She was in pain for days, her scalp burning with every movement the snakes made. Her nights were spent screaming and sobbing into the darkness of her cave, her sisters trying everything they could to soothe her. They were only met with silence until the day she finally spoke up about who hurt her. Her sisters were angry with the sea god for even looking at their loved one. They had their own way of punishing Poseidon, but of course, the god couldn't care less. He was powerful and could do whatever he wanted, just like his niece Athena. 

Some could say that Athena took pity on Wanda for what her uncle did. And to keep the other gods away from her, the powerful goddess turned the girl's beautiful locks of hair into a head of writhing snakes. This was for protection from her uncle and any of the other greedy and overpowered gods that rule the world. 

No matter the tale that one has heard, what is true is that Wanda is now considered a monster just like her sisters. But who determined what a monster was? Was a monster someone merely different from you? Or was it men that made everything monsters? Men seem to be afraid of powerful women, or women with sharp teeth, wings, and tusks. 

Monsters are misunderstood. 

The two sisters are some of the most gentle creatures to adorn the earth's surface. Sure, they hunt animals and look a little scary, but they keep a flock of sheep, learn how to cook bread, and take care of their mortal baby sister. 

The first time they met Wanda, Stheno’s talon gently brushed along her cheek, wiping away a tear that had fallen when she arrived on the sand. Now that Wanda is a grown woman, her immortal sisters adapted to her needs. She spent most of her time on the beach, but now spends her time in the depths of her cave, too scared to come out of fear that Poseidon will hurt her again. 

Stheno and Euryale vowed to never let anyone hurt their beloved sister ever again. They hoped that one day she would find a lover who would be willing to love her for who she was. Someone she could grow old with, and love with every fiber (and snake) of her being. 

The snakes… they each have their own personality. There are thirteen (13) in all. Wanda or anyone for that matter has named them or really knows the difference. However, the two snakes at the very front of her head, close to her temples are easily told apart. On the left, there is Fang. She has a visible attitude and can hardly believe her fate was to be on top of someone's head. On the right, there is Lucky. Just like her name, Wanda could tell that she felt lucky to be a part of her host. Fang was sassy and defiant while Lucky was just happy to be there. 

Though the rest of the snakes are just as present as Fang and Lucky, they each have a mind of their own and tend to make Wanda laugh despite her fate. Their hisses of protest when Stheno says that it’s getting dark and to come back into the cave, or when Euryale asks Wanda for her help with something while the snakes are sunbathing. My god, do they love the sun!

You did too. It was for a much different reason than what a seeing person might believe. You loved the sun for its two main purposes; to light up and warm the earth. Now, that may be what everyone thinks of Helios, the god of the sun. But to you, it meant so much more. With no sight and just a blurry field of vision in front of you, the sun kept the colorful blobs of people and obstacles slightly more viewable. 

Selene, the moon goddess was not your favorite. Although she lights the night, most occasions it is only a sliver of light. Once a month do you really get to enjoy the darkness with some light guiding you from place to place. On the nights of the new moon, you stayed in the comfort of your home for the night. Although you could not see the phase of which Selene was in, you knew the darker the next night got, the closer it was to a new moon. 

On one particular evening, you were unaware that it was a black moon. Meaning it was the second new moon in a months time. It was getting dark, but you had the thought that it would be bright enough to make it home, only to make a wrong turn when a man pushed past you. 

Villagers helped you put your fallen fruit back into your basket, and a kind woman gives gently places your bamboo guiding stick back in your hand. You thank them, but you missed the opportunity to ask them the direction of your home. Physically you knew where you were, but again, it was getting dark and you were all turned around. 

Hoping for the best in a difficult situation, you chose to turn right. Usually at this cross road, you would be facing North and your home was East, so you would turn right. Unfortunately, this rocky path led you right to Poseidons’ sea itself. And the god was ever so pleased to have a clueless woman enter his domain. Coming up from the oceans depths, he approaches you in your wandering state.

“Can I help you find your way, miss?” The god asks. Your head follows the voice to the right, unaware of who asked the question. 

“I may be a bit lost,” You say with honesty. “I was on my way back from the market, but stumbled and lost the direction I was going.” Explaining yourself to the stranger felt like the logical explanation, but Poseidon used your confusion against you. 

“No, I think you’re in the right place…” He smirks, gently putting his hand on your shoulder. Your head snaps to the sudden touch, clutching your baskets handle a little tighter. Poseidon isn’t aware of your blindness, all you are to him is a means to an end. He is in debt to his father, Kronos. 

Poseidon knew the moment you stepped foot on to his cool sand, he knew you were perfect. As a god, you think he would know everything about you, but you were very wrong. 

“Here, let me help you find your way back to the road.” He says, removing one of your hands from the basket handle. You allow him, but you are confused as you continue to feel sand beneath the sole of your sandals. The moon was not there, and you were helpless. 

Kronos, the god of time, was betrayed by his son. Poseidon decided to ask his father for time. All the time in the world, when he got ahold of Wanda. He wanted to spend every waking minute with her, fucking her and holding her when she is begging to see her sisters again only to drag her under the oceans surface when he is bored of her. Poseidon gets bored very easily, but Wanda’s pussy was different. Although his father did not question what he was going to use this time for, automatically a debt was owed. 

Poseidon decided against using this time with Wanda, as her whining and begging becoming increasingly annoying. So he sent her back to her sisters to live in peace. That is, until Athena came along of course. He was adamant that he shouldn’t have to pay his father back since he did not use the time. Kronos lended him this time willingly without question. He was determined to get it back. And Poseidon had his sacrifice right in front of him. 

His hand pulled you in the direction of a large rock by the edge of the water, a place that Poseidon remembers greatly. Andromeda was supposed to be sacrificed there, but Perseus swept in and came to the rescue, stopping a large sea monster with the help of Athenas spear and Artemis’s winged sandals. It was a shame to see such a beautiful sea creature leave the world in such a damaging way. 

“Here we are, back on the road again, just a little further,” Poseidon says, his other hand taking the basket from your hands. 

“Hey w-wait, I need tha-” You are cut off by a calloused hand clasping over your mouth. 

“Just stay still and it will all be over soon.” The god whispered in your ear. Your breaths were staggered as you heard his words, confused by what he meant. Soon his hands were untying the soft rope from around your waist holding your silk toga to your body. The fabric fell to the ground, leaving you only in your under garments. You whimpered, trying to understand what is happening.

“Please, whoever you are, let me go. H-have my fruit, t-take the gold!” You fought hard against the gods rock hard torso, fearing for your life. 

“I told you to be still!” He shouted. His arms wrapped your body and he threw you over his shoulder. Damp hair rubbed against your skin as you struggled and a chiseled arm wraps their way around your legs to keep them still. A hard hit to your barely covered ass made you yelp, and you tried scratching at Poseidons back. The immortal couldn’t feel pain, so he took no thought of it. 

With little to no trouble at all, he put your squirming body on the sand and held his hand over your neck to keep your back against the rock. The power he had was nothing compared to your mortal strength. So he held you still by straddling your legs, while his hands expertly tie your wrists together with the very rope keeping your toga on. 

“Please sir, please I’ll do anything.” You whimper as tears fall from your grey eyes. The god ignores you and takes the chain set under the rock by Zeus himself and begins to connect your now-restrained wrists to it. You were trapped, and you could only pray to the gods, any of them, to show you any mercy. 

“There. No need to cry, little one. You are a divine sacrifice for a god that has a lot of power. Don’t struggle, it makes him angry.” Poseidon said, and he tightened his already perfected knot in the rope. 

He stepped back from your crying form and looked up to the sky. “I come to give the debt I owe! Isn’t she enough, father??” He shouts his arms opening. The sea is uneasy, his emotions controlling the tide. 

Thunder claps and you know Zeus is present. “No, brother. Not now.” Poseidon growls, the intention of this sacrifice going to his father, not his sibling. 

The rain soaks into your skin and clothes causing the thin band holding your breasts and underwear to become sheer and see-through. Poseidon took notice of your exposed body and paused his message to his father. Making his way to you, he smirks as he sees you trying to move your wrists from the sturdy, iron padlock connecting them to the chain. “It’s no use, ομορφιά μου (my beauty).” 

You don’t look at him, your futile attempts at escaping only end in failure. He growls when you ignore him, not acknowledging his clear compliment at calling you “his beauty.” Approaching you, he knelt down in front of you and roughly pulled you to face him by your chin. The moment his eyes met yours, an epiphany hit. 

“You’re blind?” He asks, pulling his hand away from you like you were a leper. He knew his father would never take such a broken sacrifice. “Disgusting.” He spat while he stood up. He begins to walk away, your ears barely picking up on his steps thumping in the sand. 

“W-wait! Wait please let me go! I wan-want to go home!” You shout his way, but the god only ignores you walking into the sea and leaving you exposed for anything. 

In a sense, you were grateful that you were no longer Poseidon's sacrifice. But you were still stuck in your current situation, so you went to your last resort. You started to call out, shout, scream, to anyone who you thought could save you. An hour had passed and your voice was nothing more than a croak. 

You were starting to believe that you were going to die on a God's beach with no one in sight to help you. However, someone was watching from afar. A woman who fears to look at you without the knowledge that you are blind. But she was in the same position as you, and she wanted to help you. Yet, she hasn’t had anyone to keep for herself. 

So she considered. Would she be just as evil and selfish as Poseidon for taking you? Could she make you believe that she rescued you and instead not let you leave her cave? Stheno and Euryale would most likely not approve, Wandas sisters love her and only want what is best for her. The snakes on Wanda’s head hissed in question, Lucky gently rubbing her scaly head against her cheek. 

“I know, I really shouldn’t. But she was a victim of that retched god too. Maybe I can finally feel in control… when I am in control of her? I- I don’t want to turn her to stone…” Fang hissed in response, her tongue tickling her opposite cheek. “I could blind fold her, and you’re right, she needs someone to take care of her. She looks like she’s about to die right there. That bastard…” Wanda says to Fang, starting her journey from the beach's small cliffs to the rock you were restrained to. 

Before she makes it to you, she gathers the fruit that fell when the god took you and sets them back into the basket. Then she reaches for your discarded dress and picks it up as well. Finally, she reaches you. Her heart breaks when she sees you. Your wrists are rubbed raw, blood soaking the brown rope surrounding them, tears are stained on your cheeks and your eyes are closed. 

Wanda rips a piece of cloth from your toga and kneels down next to you. Peacefully asleep, you are still as she ties the cloth around your eyes. With the blindfold on, Wanda leans her head down to the rope encasing your injured wrists, one of her snakes near the back of her head — the one with much sharper fangs — begins to chew on the rope. The rope broke free and your arms fell loosely to your lap. 

The smallest whimper left your mouth, exhaustion keeping you fast asleep. Wanda admired your stoic look, your exposed chest moving up and down slowly with each breath you took. She sighs softly, knowing how it felt to be left exposed, for anyone to come across. Her empathy grew as she looked at you, your nipples were seen through the sheer fabric of your strophic (greek bra) and the wind nipped at your skin causing goosebumps to pebble. 

Shaking her head and mentally cursing the sea god, she wraps the fabric of your dress around your body; Adding a length of seaweed to keep it secured to your waist. Oh so gently, she lifted your unconscious body into her arms smiling as your head rolled against her chest. Lucky and Fang were eager to meet you, both of their heads trying to get as close to you as possible. 

“Hey, you’ll get to meet her when we go back home, ok? I promise,” Wanda chuckles, and the snakes pull their bodies back to their place closer to her scalp. 

The journey to her cave was not very far, just around the bend of the cliff. North of where you were destined to be sacrificed. She took care with each step taken, making sure that her prized possession was still asleep, and comfortable. Lucky and Fang looked over you as you slept, keeping their distance until Wanda let them say hi. As scary as they may look, they are all puppies at heart.

Chills crept up your spine as Wanda entered the cave with you in her arms, and goosebumps began to pebble on your skin. She takes notice, gently laying you down on her straw bed in the dim fire-lit cave. Your head lulled to the side, causing Wanda to jump slightly, forgetting that you had the blindfold on to protect you. 

Stheno and Euryale were surprised to see another woman besides their little sister inhabiting the cave, and they curiously looked over your unconscious body. 

“Wanda? Who is this sleeping woman?” Said Stheno, creeping quietly behind her sister. 

“I don’t know her name yet, but I saved her from an untimely death. Poseidon had gotten ahold of her, hoping for a sacrifice, but was unsatisfied by her,” Wanda explains, sighing as she drags her knuckle down your lightly textured cheek. “That bastard is nothing but trouble.” She sighs, trying her hardest to not look at her sisters, understanding that even immortals can turn to stone with one gaze at her eyes.

Euryale eyed Stheno, worried that Wanda may be turning into someone she swore to never become. 

“Did she come willingly?” Euryale asked, settling her wings against her feathered back. 

“She hasn’t woken up yet, but I am sure that she will understand, right?” Wanda was anxious about your awakening, your acceptance of your stay was appreciated and not feared. “Should we wait outside until she wakes up?” 

Wanda's older sisters nod their heads. “I don’t want to frighten her when she opens her eyes. I believe we would be some of the last monsters she would want to see.” Of course, they don’t know that you are unable to see…

“I will go tend to the sheep,” Euryale said.

“I will go set up a fire on the beach and start cooking your meal,” Stheno said, both creatures leaving to do their tasks. 

“And I will go help, and wait for my sleeping beauty to awaken.” Wanda says with a smile, softly swiping her thumb over your cheek. 

~~~~~~~

The same as every other day, your eyes open to a blur of shapes and colors. However, this time is different- you are met with complete darkness, the atmosphere is cold and almost damp, and the scent of salt water fills your nose. There is cloth over your eyes, something you don’t take mind to. Trying to find where you are, you feel around your surroundings to retrieve your guiding stick only to be met with sand, small rocks, and straw. These sensations were familiar but not something you would regularly wake up to. 

Standing up, you struggle to navigate through the cave you concluded you were in, reaching for a wall or something to stabilize yourself with. You let out a sigh of relief as your hand reached a rocky wall. Now you were stuck, you didn’t know what way led out of the cave. 

“Hello?” You call out, your voice echoing through the cave. Your head turns in the opposite direction as you hear padded footprints against the sand. Your worries heightened, unknowing of the person approaching you. 

“Hello dear, I’m so glad to see that you are awake, how do you feel?” The smooth voice of a woman is heard. Gentle, yet assertive. Confusion melts across your face and you take an unintentional step back, causing a slight hissing from the woman in front of you. 

“I- I feel fine, wh- where am I?” You ask, distressed and scared. Being unable to see every day was fine with you, as long as you knew where you were. That fear skyrocketed the moment you woke up in a new environment. 

“No need to worry about that, sweetheart. Come with me,” The woman said, and with a soft hand, she grabbed yours. The unexpected contact started you, but you followed nonetheless. 

“Who are you, a-and why am I here? I want to go back to my home, please.” Cracks in your voice made Wanda turn to face you, only to be met with tears rolling down your cheeks. 

She sighs and stops just at the entrance of the cave. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry, you are safe here now. That god won’t get you here.” 

“God?” You don’t remember what had happened the night before, your memory fogging up after falling at the crossroads. “What do you mean, “safe now?” I just want to get back home, the fruit was so expensive.” 

Pulling away from Wanda, you grab at the cloth around your eyes. The fabric falls from your head and hits the ground faster than Wanda can stop you. Panic fills her system, and she quickly turns her head away from you, her head of red snakes following. 

A soft red tendril of energy hits your temple, and you fall unconscious. Before your body hits the ground, Wanda turns and catches you just in time. Guilt takes over her as she looks at your sleeping form, Lucky and Fang are equally as concerned for you as their host. 

The scaled head of Fang nudges against Wanda's cheek, a small hiss emitting from her mouth. “Yes, she’s ok. She was nervous and wanted to see where she was, I know that. Im just going to put her by the fire until she wakes up.” She responds to Fang, her little eyes rolling as she gently taps his head from getting any closer to you. 

As gently as she can, Wanda lifts you into her arms and brings you out to the fire that Stheno lit. She sits down and lays your head in her lap, softly brushing a few grains of sand from your cheek. A groan emits from your closed lips and you subconsciously roll your body closer to the warm fire. It brings you a sense of safety a blanket could never do justice. 

But the feeling of being so close to Wanda felt just as safe, even though you did not know where you were or who you were even with. Her presence gave you a comfort that you hadn’t felt before. Her soft toga rubbed against your cheek, and you nuzzled into it subconsciously. Wanda’s lips turned up into a smile, petting your hair with a gentle hand. The sensation begins to wake you up, pulling you from your forced slumber. Slowly your eyes open, the dull shade of yellow filling your blurred and confined field of vision. 

The blindfold was still on, however, you didn’t mind this time. Whoever’s hold you are in made it clear that they do not want to be seen. Although you are unable to see, you keep your eyes glued to the fire in front of you, the light slightly dimmed by the blindfold. 

“Are you awake, dear?” Wanda’s voice sounds from above you, and you nod your head that lays in her lap. 

“Who are you?” You ask, your voice filled with curiosity but not fear. 

“My name is Wanda, and you are here with my sisters Stheno and Euryale. You are safe, sweetheart.” Wanda responds, her knuckle softly dragging down your cheek. She smiles as you begin to sit up, allowing you to fully sit next to her. 

Your next question was quick to exit, “Where are we? I was on my way home but was turned around,” You explained your situation, leaving out the part where the god almost sacrificed you to his father but left you for the dead when he decided you were not good enough. “I hear water,” You point out. 

“Yes, we are on the beach a ways North from Athens. You needed help, as when I found you, you were chained to a rock,” Wanda said bluntly. “But you’re safe now,” Her snakes hissed at the thought of the woman in front of them being used as a sacrifice, but Wanda was quick to hush them. “And what is your name, sweetheart?” 

The feelings of the rope around your wrists caused you to cringe in disgust, your arms wrapping around yourself.

“R-right…” You respond, trying to get the thought of death from your mind. Shaking your head, you sigh softly and lean back on one hand, answering Wanda's question, “My name is Y/n.”

“What a beautiful name, but I think I’ll stick to calling you sweetheart. Is that alright?” Wanda asks, her finger softly brushing over the exposed skin of your arm. A small smile grows on your lips and you nod. 

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be,” You say, a small giggle leaving your mouth. “I- um, I do have to ask. Why am I blindfolded?” The question was burning at the back of your skull for what seemed to be hours. From the first time you woke up to now, you had been aching for an answer. 

Wanda hesitates. When she was turned by Athena, she never looked at her sisters. Even though they were immortal, they could still turn to stone if they met her gaze with their own. You hear a soft sigh and her soft voice tainted with sadness answer, “There is a dangerous creature around here that has the ability to turn any entity into stone once you look into her eyes. I cover your eyes for the purpose of protection.” 

“But I can’t see,” You protest, reaching for the fabric. Wanda's hand wraps around your wrist as she stops you. “No, you don’t understand, I can’t see, even with the blindfold off. I was born blind," you explain, trying to help the woman in front of you understand that you were not in danger. 

“Blind?” Wanda asks, your hands falling into hers as you move to your knees. “Meaning, you are unable to see anything?” 

You nod, hoping she can see you. “Yes. There are only blobs of color here and there, but other than that, I can’t see a thing.” It was always difficult to explain what you could see. There was no reason it should be this hard as you could always say: ‘I can’t see anything,’ but you always go to the ‘blob of color’ explanation first. 

“I don’t want to risk it, sweetheart. Blind or not, we don’t know who is not affected by her power,” She pauses, “Ive only just begun to get to know you, I don’t want to talk to a statue of such a beautiful woman.” 

You feel heat rise from your neck, to your cheeks, all the way up to your ears. Her compliment makes you smile brightly. “O-oh, thank you…” You say, shyly looking away from her. “I understand, but, I really don’t think I will be affected, honestly!” You attempt to grab the blindfold again, this time successfully ripping it from your head. The fabric falls to the ground and you blink to allow your eyes to settle back to normal. “If I can’t see the creature, I don’t think it will be a bother,” You smile.

Wanda sighs and closes her eyes, pulling her gaze away from your beautiful figure. She hums as she feels your hand against her shoulder, your thumb softly rubbing over her skin. “May I feel your face? I would love to have an idea of what you look like to others,” You ask her, not wanting to seem too forward with your request. “Only if you allow it…” 

Wanda keeps her head down, her snakes moving down to your hand to move their little tongues over your skin to learn more about you. 

“Oh, oh? What are these?” She hears you say. She is taken aback by the giggling she hears next. “They’re tickling me,” You say, your sweet laughter filling the air. “Is this your hair?” Your finger hovers in the air just above her shoulder and the rest of the snakes lick it as well. 

Wanda’s silence is enough to answer your question. 

“I wish I could see them, they all seem so gent- ow! Except this little one,” Fang, still a little nervous to be around a new face, bites down on your finger. It was not as painful as you thought it would have been. Wanda jumped at your pain and immediately tapped Fang’s head to discipline her. 

“No biting! She is a friend, not an enemy!” Wanda whisper-shouts at her, and you giggle quietly to yourself. “I apologize for her behavior, she knows better.” The snake hisses in return and she sighs as she moves her gaze up just a little bit. Her eyes land on your beautiful breasts, your nipples showing through the thin fabric of your toga. Wanda knows she should not be lusting, but she can’t help it. 

You tilt your head at her scolding her head of red snakes, and your hand falls. “I don’t want to intrude on your home. Thank you for saving me, Wanda, but I best be on my way,” You say, standing up. Carefully, you try to reach around for a stick of some sort, nothing close to you. All you can do is stand awkwardly, trying to keep calm as you listen to the waves crashing against the sand. 

“No, you need to rest, sweetheart. You’ve had a long day, so why don’t you sit down and we can eat? Stheno has made some bread, and the chicken is just about done.” Wanda tries everything in her power to make you stay, not wanting to force you just yet. In her mind, she knows she will make you stay. 

Your stomach rumbles, and Wanda chuckles. “It seems like your hunger has spoken for itself, so lets sit you down again.” 

Before Wanda is able to help you sit down, or protest about anything for that matter, you reach up to feel her face, your eyes meeting hers. Although you were unable to see her beautiful green and red mixed eyes, she saw your grey ones. Your irises held no color, and a scar-like line of [your original eye color] strikes through your right eye. 

You didn’t turn to stone…

“Wanda… Wanda look!” Stheno exclaims. The woman you are looking up at tilts her head, her power not working on you. 

“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” You ask, retracting your hands from her cheeks. Instantly, she pulls them back. 

“No, no you didn’t hurt me, sweetheart. I- I am just surprised… my power, it didn’t work,” She says, churning confusion inside of your head. 

“Power?” You pause, putting two and two together. “The creature you mentioned… the one that can turn people to stone, you are her… aren’t you?” 

Wanda nods, your hands moving with her head. “Yes, and, I was trying to protect you, but-”

Your thumb gently brushes over her lips, the rest of your fingers ghosting over her facial structure, sculpting a picture in your mind. “I’ve only heard legends of a so called “monster” in these parts. But I have yet to meet a monster… Besides that god that tried to sacrifice me of course, but you? You are no monster.”

Your words made Wanda's heart melt. She has me wrapped around her finger already… there was no way I was letting her go. Her inner thoughts were loud, and she smiled softly as your fingers grazed her lips again. 

“I’m very. Much aware of my inability to see what most people can with their eyes. But…” You pause, your hand cupping her jaw. “I do see your heart, and I think you’re absolutely beautiful. You took me in when I was vulnerable and scared, and I can’t thank you enough… You are no monster, Wanda.” You whisper, smiling as you feel Wanda’s arms curl around your waist, pulling you against her body. 

“We’ve only just met, sweetheart…are you already falling for me?” Wanda teases, making you giggle as you lay your hand on her shoulder and drop your head to her chest. 

“I might be… or I might just be hungry,” You prod back, your stomach doing somersaults as her lips press to your forehead in a soft kiss. “I hope its the former…”

~~~~~~~

As the night went on, you, Wanda, and her sisters enjoyed the food. You were happy you got to know Wanda a bit more while you talked amongst yourselves. She told you about her troubles with Poseidon, and how she became the 'monster' everybody claims her to be. She mentioned how she is still mortal and will die a death as any other mortal would. 

It saddened you that she considered herself a ‘monster’, but you comforted her every time. She was not a monster in your mind. She was a victim who was punished for someone else’s doing, as were you. Although it was Poseidon who made his father angry, he punished you by trying to sacrifice you. You found common ground with Wanda. 

“I think we will head into the cave for the night,” Said Stheno, nudging Euryale. “Just be sure to put the fire out when you both are done.” 

Wanda nodded at her older sisters, shooing them away as she turned back to you. “It is such a beautiful night… I wish you could experience it the way I am,” She said to you, her fingernails tickling your arm as you lay in her lap. Her heart flutters at the feeling of your body weight in her lap, it grounded her. 

“I can see how beautiful it is by feeling it,” You turn your body so you are looking up at Wanda, her snakes curiously looking back down at you. “I feel a small breeze against my skin, and I can hear the waves crashing against the sand. I can smell the salt coming from the sea, and I can hear your breaths. All of these things are such a beautiful image to me.” 

Wanda’s lips pull up into a smile, a real, genuine smile. It had been so long since she felt as happy as this. It had been so long since she felt so carefree. As you spoke about your experience with your other senses, Wanda softly caressed your cheek. She hums quietly as she notices goosebumps form on your arms. “I have taken my sight for granted,” She says suddenly, taking in everything you said about feeling everything surrounding you. 

“To a deaf person, I have taken my hearing for granted as well, but I am grateful that I can hear your voice,” You counter her thoughts, wanting to make her not feel so guilty about her advantage of sight. 

“Your thoughts are just as beautiful as you are, sweetheart,” Wanda pauses, her fingers moving from your cheek to your neck. Slowly she moves closer to the dip in your dress, your breasts now free from their undergarments, and lying loosely behind the fabric of your toga. “You have the body of a goddess, the mind of a sage, and such a sweet personality.” 

Her hand gently cups your breast, nimble fingers rubbing over your hardened nipple, peaking through the white dress. Your hand goes to hers, holding it still. She freezes, “Can I see you, sweetheart? All of you?” She asks, knowing exactly how it felt being forced to submit to someone much more powerful than her.

As you sit upright, you untie the piece of seaweed holding your dress around your body, the sleeves sliding down past your shoulders finally revealing your round, perfectly shaped breasts. Wanda sucks in a soft breath, an aching in her belly starting to form. She needed you, badly. 

From her crossed-legged position on the ground, Wanda moves to her knees. You can sense her shifting, and you look around to follow the noises. Wanda's smooth hands softly guide you to your back, laying you gently against the sand below you. She then slowly pulls the rest of your dress off, exposing the rest of your beautiful body. “You are even more than I imagined…” She whispers, leaning down close to your chest. 

She presses a kiss to the valley of your bosom, moving her lips up your sternum and to your neck, hovering just over your jugular. You can feel her smile against your neck and you turn your head to expose more skin to her. 

The goddess above you couldn’t hold herself back any longer. Looking at your perfect body from her perspective was riveting, and it drove her mad. Her breath fanned against your lips, your body frozen and waiting for her to kiss you. That dull aching in Wanda's core grew, and she leaned down to kiss you deeply. Your arms wrapped around her neck, and you giggled as some of her snakes licked your hands. But Wanda wanted something else. 

Her eyes began to glow a bright red, her head of snakes wrapping around your wrists. You gasped but allowed it to happen. As she leaned down lower, her snakes held your arms to the ground, holding you open and exposed to Wanda. As she continued to kiss you, her hand crept down your belly and to the soft hairs of your mound. She rubbed your petals, smirking against your lips as she could feel how wet you already were. 

“Mmm, are you all wet just for me, sweet girl?” She whispers against your lips, chuckling softly as you nod desperately. “Such a good girl,” Her fingers finally dip between your wet folds, perfectly rubbing your button of nerves. A moan leaves your mouth, your legs spreading to give her more access. 

“Feels s-so good, W-wanda,” You whimper, never feeling such great pleasure before. Your back arched against the cool sand, your arms still pinned to the sides of your head. Squeezing your eyes shut, you saw starts as the tight coil in your core began to form. 

“I can feel that you’re close, sweet heart,” Wanda mumbles darkly against your cheek. Your mind clouded with a lustful mist, your legs shaking as your orgasm came crashing down upon you just as the waves did the sand. A loud moan leaves your mouth, Wanda's name being cried out by the woman underneath her. 

Your breaths come out in soft pants, gulping in as much air as you can as your orgasm calms down. But Wanda is far from done. Her snakes uncoil from your wrists and she moves her lips down your body, her mouth meeting your dripping folds. You let out a whimper, your clit sensitive from her previous ministrations. “Relax, sweet girl…” She whispers, “I need to taste you,”

Her lips close on your engorged clit, swirling her tongue in just the right way to make you moan her name. She spreads open your pussy with one hand, her fingers prodding at your tight hole with the other, and you jolt in surprise at the sudden intrusion. Wanda's snakes are quick to calm you down, their heads rubbing against your thighs in gentle circles. 

“Such a good girl, taking my fingers so well,” Wanda says, two of her long fingers sliding into your soaking hole, a whimper leaving your mouth at the same time. “Keep making those cute little sounds, love,” She eggs you on and you give in to every command. 

Your moans are music to her ears, the frequent movement of her fingers pulling each mewl from your throat. A ‘pop’ is sounded as her lips suctioned off of your clit, but returning soon after.

Her fingers move faster, and her tongue moving around your clit pushes you over the edge, causing your second orgasm to flow through you. Your juices squirt out of your quivering hole, soaking Wanda’s face along with some of her snakes. 

“Oh… how beautiful, and delicious you taste, sweetheart.” Wanda smiles against your pussy, pressing her lips to the top of your mound softly and kissing up your body. Her lips wrap around one of your nipples, and your hand reaches to find her pussy. 

“Wanna feel you…” You say, rubbing your hand over her belly and lower, finally reaching her pussy as you push your hand under her dress. 

“By all means. You are mine and I am yours,” Wanda says, resuming the pleasure of your nipple. 

You feel her clit, rubbing her in slow circles at first. Slowly, your fingers move to her hole as well, gently easing into her and smiling as you hear a moan from her mouth. The vibrations from her throat send more pleasure through your nipples, pulling more moans from your own mouth. 

As you move your fingers in and out of her wet cunt, the palm of your hand rubs against her clit. You can feel her body shake, her breath quiver, and her breasts against your own body. All sensations you never thought you would love so dearly. 

Wanda is close, and she leans up from your nipples to capture your lips in a passionate kiss, her hole clenching around your fingers as she cums. You swallow her moans, your free hand coming up to cup her cheek as you return the kiss. 

“Wands,” You whisper, not moving away just yet. Gently, you slide your fingers from her pussy, bringing them to your mouth and seductively sucking her juices off of your digits. “Such a ravishing taste, my love,” 

Hearing those last two words made Wanda's stomach do backflips. Belonging to someone was all she wanted, and she wanted you to belong only to her. “Your love?” She asks, pulling away just to see your lips move. 

“My love, Wanda,” You confirm, smiling as you lean up to kiss her again. 

~~~~~~~

It is long past midnight, and Wanda has you in her arms, both of your naked bodies pressed against each other. With your head on her chest, you can hear her heartbeat, the soft thumping calming and lulling you to sleep. 

“Thank you for saving me, Wanda. I- I don’t know what how I can express to you how grateful I am,” 

That sparks an idea in Wanda’s head. You were a kind and loving soul, most likely willing to do anything to repay someone for their own kindness. So, she makes her plan fall right into place. 

“Stay with me? Live here with me and my sisters? We all can tend to you, help you navigate, and we can even go to the village just East of here. But stay, please?” Wanda asks you, her lips gently pressing against your head as you think. 

“I have no one back where I am from. They all shunned me because I couldn’t see. I can’t say no to such an amazing and thoughtful proposal as this,” You sit up, maneuvering your body to straddle her lap as she leans against the rock that was settled closer to the water. You nuzzle your face into the crook of her neck, Lucky gently laying her head on yours as well, and you close your eyes. “I would love to stay with you, only you. Forever.” 

[martuzzio]

HERMITCRAFT CATCHPHRASES

Hi, here's a (hopefully comprehensive) reference list of hermit catchphrases! The main goal here is to help writers and artists who (like me) might struggle with getting the characterization of some hermits right. Check out more info at the end of the post!

Note: this list updates a lot whenever I get new suggestions, which means reblogs aren't always fully accurate. I've linked this post to the top of my blog so it's easy to access the most recent version :)

Bdubs Shreep / uh-oh, gotta shreep! Crastle I love ya to death It’s gorgee Beyootiful Uh oh! Hell’s blazes! Hawsies YOU'LL SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO! Shuddup! Judas priest! Bdubs' PERFECT REDSTONE!! What in the world! Holy cow! Nuh-uh! Hoimycraaaaaf Whimsy Trying my heart out

Beef EEskall That was my nickname in college! Nailed it! Dangit! Beefy Tunes Smelly Etho Opulent Etho? Oh, yeah, I own him Eyy, I go up and I go down. Ladders! / Eyy, ladders! Beef taught Etho about redstone Oh my goodness! Oh boy! What the heck Oh, baby! Quote unquote A ton of __

Cleo Class dismissed! I don’t need your stinky torches I will break your legs Trash is fish The answer to everything is leather pants Not because it’s the sand castle you deserve, but it’s the sand castle I need! What did you do, Joe…. It's FINE, everything's FINE Lovely Silly I mean... Not gonna lie... To be fair...

Cub DA CREAMADA CROP Alright guys Nice, nice Ladies and gentlemen / ladies and gentlemen, we got ‘em Eeeeasy money Beautiful, absolutely beautiful Mmmmmhmmmmmm Holy smokes Let's goooo! Sweet Oh, baby! Man, oh man Without further ado Peace out Cheers / cheers, man There's some heat coming off that thing

Doc Are you kidding me now? Alright guys Can’t touch this The G.O.A.T. Etho, get to the damn land man! It all started when Grian touched my redstone… Epic

Etho Uh-huh Like-a so Oh snap Get your snacks! Holy smokes! Take care, have a good day, bye bye Aww snappers! Aww yeah Von Sway I barely know ‘er! Speaking of llamas Bright blue bamboo E. to the T. to the your mum Beefaroni / Beefers Speaking of llamas… That’s what she said! Free glass Eyy, I go up and I go down. Ladders! / Eyy, ladders! Suckerrrr! Check it out

False Blimey Awh dude Frick False Supremacy Oh my goodness I don't know about you guys, but... Props to __ I'm not gonna lie...

Gem Gem is great Her [name] is [adjective]! Gem will __ ("Gem will watch Impulse") Perfect! Epic It's true, I swear! Not gonna lie... Oh gosh! Trust the process Nailed it!

Grian Hello! My name is Grian Good… byeeeee! Pesky bird My heart! My little heart! Mumbo Mumbo you are AFK Can we just agree that Mumbo loses? What in Queen Elizabeth’s shiny crown was that? It wasn't me, it was the man in the chicken costume! SaAaaaAaAnd Chobblesome SCAR NO— / NO SCAR— In theory… Electric boogalooo What does this button do? What on earth? This is in shambles Get outta here! Hear me out... We don't have __. What we DO have is __ Just straight up Without further ado Crack on Bingo bango Yes. 100%

Hypno Right, right Mmhmm You guys Dang guy

Impulse What’s goin on everyone? Shovel Shuffle BEHIND YOU GEM! Peeps Geez Let's goooo! Are you kidding me? Oh, man Now we're talkin'! Holy smokes Oh my gosh How cool is that? Jeez! Dang it! Buddy Presi (for present) You bet!

Iskall Hallo -skall ("richskall") That’s mega / that’s looking absolutely mega Omega “Excuse me? Sir?” __ of doom Okay, lol And I will see you dudes in the next episode I’ve had a realization Oh for goodness sake! It’s not fat, it’s big-boned Not gonna lie SaAaaaAaAnd Very fine Great success! Bird poop Bumbo Cactoni Do you even bust? / Do you even bust bro E Pag

Jevin Hypno smells! Oh my god Sucker What the heck Dude Man I swear

Joe Howdy y’all! That’s the Joe Hills difference! I will now say a poem of my own devising Core concept Keep adventurin’! Time skip! Who’s the guy who conquers death? That’s Joe Hills No not rage quitting I have to pick up my daughter from school or my wife will rage quit me! Grow Hills / Expand Joe Joepacity / Jhost

Keralis Look into my eyes and nothing but my eyes Wanna buy a book? Spank you very much Just sit back, relax, and enjoy Like this, like that I can see my house from here! Bubbles, Shashwammy, Sweetface, Princess Lookie lookie at my cookie / lookie lookie at my cookie… no, please don’t Like-a so I love your face I’m a real boy! I don’t k-nove (know) Not like this! Booshes Clever girl But first… lemme take a selfie I’m sinking… mayday mayday we’re sinking! Hallo yes dis is de German coast guard what are you sinking about? Scary harry larry I’m alayve! Breathtaking — no you’re breathtaking Mm-kay Oh behave I’m a simple man MeOOOow Welcome to my humble abod-ee Not too shabby My face! My palms are sweaty, mom’s spaghetti Tag 2 Booga Booga Stiffy nipples Batman! First I was afraid, I was petrified...

Mumbo I worry about myself sometimes I'm not really quite sure if I like that or not Yeah… yeah that's looking good… I guess… Dude! Chuffed to bits It’s a bit pants I’m such a spoon Oh my word It’s quite simple, really / it’s actually quite simple Bonkers I’ll catch you in the next one. See ya Off you pop Oh goodness me! Hermit challenges — initiation! All done and dusted To be frankly honest Seriously seriously cool Absolutely nuts I don’t even know what to say Iskall I feel sick Peace, love, and plants Moon’s big Mumbo for Mayor Quite simple

Pearl Lovely Bonkers At this point... Cheeky / you cheeky What's this? Mate

Ren Now we’re cooking with gas / we be cooking with gas today Ladies, get in line! / ladies, gentlemen, everybody get in line! You picking up what I’m putting down My dudes Y’know what I’m sayin’ Coming atcha frommmmmm Dude Coming from left, right, and center Greetings cyberdogs and citizens of the Interwebs, this is Ren-diggity-dog comin at ya in another episode from the Hermitcraft server (ey!) Automagically Jazztastic Janktastic Oh baby Like nobody’s business Looking absolutely magnificent Anyhoozle Twaddle Renstone The Octagon is a well-oiled machine! [word]-age [word]-ation [word]-i (to make things plural You love / hate to see it I'm just sayin' / if you know what I'm sayin' Professional __ Jazz Anyhoozle Exqueeze me? Freakin' Some serious __ What's happenin', baby? Chesticles

Scar Scarred for life Woah, what in the world! It’s gonna be am-ay-zing LOOK at the siiiiize of that Well, hello there my fellow miners and crafters, GoodTimesWithScar here. Welcome back to the wonderful world of Hermits and crafting Don’t forget to subscribe or you might just become scarrrred for life! Looking super fancy Let’s hit super fast build mode! Look at the size of that Appreciate ya Hotguy! Operation: Aquathunder! That’s what she said! Rapscallion You silly goose Oh, sweet baby Jellie! Bayum! / Bam! The bee's knees Easy peasy, orangey squeezy

Stress Are you havin’ a giggle? / are you takin the mic? Mate Oh my god / oh my gosh / oh my good gordons Gorgeous Plonker Geezer Ohhhhh nooooo! Yeeeesshhh I legged it Such a pro / I'm such a pro Proper __ Cheeky Bloke Thingamajig Ain't [word]-age [word]-ies

Tango Happy fun sauce -ificator, -inator, -ness, -tastic Skadoodle Fearsome bunny slippers Noob juice So here’s the deal Holding shift Shwoop Flim flam Poop came out Extra dumb with dumb sauce / __ of extra dumb Flee with extra flee! / fleeing with terror! Boom booms Gah! The dungeon is ready for its next victim Behold! Results may vary! I think my math is correct, but it’s been known to be wrong This is the worst timeline. I hate everything Big no! You— you freak of nature! Jerkface Jerkbutt Excellent How embarassing This is true Zombert Bits This I gotta see! Right in the face! [word] is happening Yeah baby! Stupid jerks Boop This is the best / worst thing ever! Niner niner niner [general unintelligible noises]

TFC What in tarnation! Crap-tacular Humongous Butt-ugly Ugly as sin Oh, goody Ender-twits Bugger Oh, fart For crying out loud

Wels Words are hard If you will Super __

xB Aww yeah Mmkay Son of a biscuit Pretty frickin' __ Man Get frickin' wrecked! Chestacle Dang it Staaph it Oy vey Crap on a cracker Dang it, Bobby! Dang guy

Xisuma Oh goodness me Oh dangit Geez Peeps I’m such a derp Oh my days Chooturial Issooma Allo Woa’ah Brought (instead of bought) My dude Achacha

Zed Hello hello hello A-good a-bye Muckin' about I lied TaaaAAnnGoOOooooOOOo Hu-jah! Pretty darn __ Certainly Rubbish I'm [word]-ing [word] me [word]-iness What happens is... Get kersplatted! Epic Oh my goodness!

More Info

So I'm currently writing a HC fic and realized how little I know about some of the hermits (I unfortunately don't have time to watch all of them), which made it really difficult to depict them properly in my writing. I'm assuming at least some of you might also struggle with this, so, here we are!

If you know of a catchphrase from any hermit from any season, comment, reblog, send me a an ask or dm, dm me on discord, whatever works the best :D

Note: when I say "catchphrase," I mean anything a hermit repeats over an extended period of time. It can be something said during a single season (like "You'll speak when spoken to!" or "Hermit Challenges!"), or something that spans their entire careers (like "Aww snappers!" or "Plonker"). I'm not looking for one-off quotes that are never bought up again — there's some great sources (like @hermitcraft-correct-quotes) for that already :)

Sources (which will hopefully expand with time): This reddit post from four years ago This other reddit post also from four years ago Reddit from three years ago This cute diagram A more up to date source Another Xisuma's dictionary on his website HC character tv tropes page This incredible google doc

[imdonewiththisblogsblog]

Hello! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Now get ready for some Valentine’s Day incorrect quotes!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Dogday: *kisses Catnap*

Catnap: !

Dogday: ...Did you steal my chapstick?

Catnap: Did- did I what?

Dogday: My chapstick, Catnap. Did you steal it?

Bobby BearHug : Dogday, for the love of God, not this again.

Catnap: I- No, I didn't steal your chapstick. We use the same chapstick.

Dogday: No, there is absolutely no way we use the same chapstick, because it was only sold on one Etsy shop two years ago and they discontinued it, and I loved it so much that I bought the last of their stock, and I keep it in my freezer so it doesn't go bad. It's been discontinued for three years. No one uses the same chapstick for three years. So unless you've been eating a whole f--- ton of something that's flavored like chocolate and popcorn, you absolutely stole my f---ing chapstick.

Catnap: Chocolate and popcorn?

Bobby BearHug : Why do you think it got discontinued?

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Kickinchicken : *sees Catnap and Dogday together*

Kickinchicken : They're cute. I would put them on a boat.

Bobby BearHug : You mean... you ship them?

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

*at 3am*

Kickinchicken : *runs into Dogday’s room and turns on the light* Wake up sleepyhead!

Dogday: *wakes up* Dude!

Kickinchicken : *cackles*

Catnap: *sits up from where they were sleeping behind Dogday* What the f---, Kickinchicken ?

Kickinchicken : *jaw drops* Wait WHAT-

(Don’t worry they had a sleepover, they did not “it”, ya nasty.)

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Catnap: Goodnight to the love of my life, Dogday, and f--- the rest of y'all.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

(Congratulations! You've stumbled upon a secret message from me (the programmer of this generator): <img src="https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/039/484/cover7.jpg" width="100%" height="auto">

I look at you with my autistic eyes.) this is amazing. How did this happen?

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hoppy hopscotch : Hi.

Bobby BearHug : Hey, did you do what I said? Did you tell them?

Hoppy hopscotch : I did.

Bobby BearHug : And what did they say?

Hoppy hopscotch : “Thank you.”

Bobby BearHug : You’re totally welcome. What’d they say?

Hoppy hopscotch : They said, “Thank you.” I said “I love you” and Kickinchicken said, “Thank you.”

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Catnap: Come on, Kickinchicken . Nobody actually believes that Dogday is in love with me.

Kickinchicken , to The Squad: Raise your hand if you think that Dogday is helplessly in love with Catnap.

*Everyone raises their hand*

Catnap: Dogday, put your hand down.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Dogday: *pretending to joke* So when are you going to go out with me?

Catnap: I don't know. When are you going to ask me to?

Bobby BearHug : And you just ran away?!

Dogday: I didn't expect them to flirt back!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Catnap, holding a rock: Dogday just gave this to me and said "I feel like you deserve the moon but all I can give you is a rock".

Hoppy hopscotch : If you don't marry them, I will.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Kickinchicken: Is there anyone here who’s actually straight?

Dogday: *raises hand*

Catnap: *puts their hand down*

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Dogday: Hey, babe, remember how I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up my ADHD meds?

Catnap: Yes?

Dogday: Well, it turns out they're all out for the next five days.

Catnap: F---.

Dogday: It's gonna be a fun week!

Catnap: I'm going to Bobby BearHug 's house.

Dogday: Nuh-uh. Through sickness and health, motherf---er.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

(Thank you for reading! Bye!<3)

[turtlecleric]

Me: We don't give rise!Raph enough attention

Me to me: Then write something for him

Me: ...

Me: ...

Me: You've convinced me

-

Female pronouns used, suggestive toward the end but nothing happens because Raph is a gentleman, I promise

---

"Told you she wouldn't last."

For a moment, Raph doesn't know what Leo's talking about. Then he follows his brother's amused gaze to where you're passed out on the couch and smirks right along with him. You'd been so adamant - so stubborn. All those claims that yes, you were gonna make it through all three movies they'd picked. Yes, really. All three. 100%, for sure, you would not fall asleep. And here you were. Halfway through the first one and already out cold.

You make a small sound in your sleep, your brow twitching slightly before smoothing out once more. Raph feels himself soften, feels his smirk shift into a genuine smile. He couldn't blame you, really. You'd taken a double shift today and still come by for movie night. Even now, as you slept, he could see the exhaustion weighing you down.

"Eh, leave her alone, Leo," Raph says, keeping his voice low despite how loud the others were being as they quoted the movie and tossed popcorn into each other's mouths. "She deserves some rest."

Leo is quiet for a moment. Then he speaks with a tone that hints at something that Raph doesn't quite catch. "She deserves to sleep somewhere better than our ratty couch. Don't you think?"

Raph pulls his eyes away from your face, trying to read Leo's expression and failing. He's not smirking anymore, but there's something there that Raph isn't seeing. "...Yeah. I guess so."

Leo hums. The corners of his mouth tick upward. "Maybe you should take her to your room. Quieter there, yeah? More comfy, too."

Raph narrows his eyes. Searches Leo's face. Looks back at you, noting that your neck is at an awkward angle against the arm of the couch. Looks back at Leo.

Hm. That tone usually means Leo is up to something, but he's not wrong. And Raph would hate for you to get woken up by their stupid shenanigans after you'd had such a long week.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll, uh," Raph grunts as he pushes himself up to stand. "I'll let her have my room tonight."

He gently scoops you up, and his stomach does a strange little flutter. Too much soda. Or too much pizza, maybe. Either way, he pushes it down, carrying you slowly so he doesn't jostle you too much. You're warm. Soft. Pliant in his arms.

He's walking slowly so he doesn't wake you. That's all.

When he makes it to his room, he's pleased to find that it is, in fact, much quieter in here. Slowly, gently, he lowers you into the bed and pulls the covers up to tuck you in. You don't wake, though you do make another soft sound in the back of your throat. There's another flutter in his stomach.

Weird.

He pulls back, knowing he should return to the movie, but. He doesn't move. He doesn't really know why, but he wants to... stay. Watch you sleep.

Wait, that's creepy, isn't it? He should go. He should...

He wants to stay, though.

"Raphie?"

Your voice makes him jump despite how quiet and raspy it is from sleep. He feels his cheeks heat, feels his eyes widen as he takes in your bleary stare. He clears his throat, squeaking out, "Yeah?"

You look so tired. Barely even conscious. Even as you reach out a hand, making a grabby gesture at him, he can tell you're still halfway asleep. It's... really fucking cute. And then you speak again.

"Lay with me?"

Okay, now his chest is doing something weird. He's really starting to wonder if he's actually getting sick or something.

You're still reaching for him, your arm starting to shake in the air and your mouth pulling into an adorable pout despite your eyes having fallen closed once again. Then you make a sound of distress that has him huffing out an exasperated, fond sigh.

You're gonna be so embarrassed when you wake up tomorrow, Raph thinks.

He climbs into bed, settling in behind you. Careful, always careful, he places an arm across your waist and holds you closer. It's not close enough, apparently, as you scoot yourself backward so that your back is flush against his plastron, so that your legs tangle with his. You pull his arm from your waist to your chest, wrapping both of your arms around it and holding it close. He stiffens at that, while you let out a contented sigh.

Something is definitely wrong with him. His heart is beating way too fast, and his chest feels like it's... too full? Or something? He should leave so you don't catch whatever it is that has him feeling so-

You make another breathy sound in your sleep. It's completely innocent, it's just a sound, but at the same time... it does something to him. With him pressed so closely against you, with his arm trapped against your chest and the smell of your shampoo in his nose and the way the blanket falls over your curves, he suddenly has the mortifying thought that he wants to-

Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

He's going to kill Leo tomorrow.

[voidartisan]

playing around with an incorrect quote generator and came up with some gems

Ahsoka: Why are you late? Obi-Wan: A technical error occurred, causing an unexpectedly long bout of unconsciousness. Ahsoka: Overslept? Obi-Wan: Overslept.

Ahsoka: I am the most responsible person in the group. Obi-Wan: …You just set the kitchen on fire. Ahsoka: Yes, and I take full responsibility for that.

Obi-Wan: Ahsoka, why are you crying? Ahsoka: This book is so sad!! Obi-Wan, picking it up: But this is my diary-

Crosshair: What, in the name of sanity, have you got on your head? Tech: It's a fez, I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool. Wrecker: *snatches the fez, throws it in the air* Crosshair: *shoots it*

Tech: Do we have any orange juice left? Crosshair: *pours the remaining juice into his cup* Crosshair: Sorry, we’re all out.

Crosshair: There’s no “I” in team, but there is one in pizza. Tech: So, you’re not going to share? Crosshair: I’m not going to share.

Omega: We’re kind of missing something guys. Echo: Cohesion? Crosshair: Teamwork? Tech: A general sense of what we’re doing? Hunter: And Wrecker is not here. Echo: Oh, and that, yeah.

Hunter: This is a judgement free zone. *Pulls out a knife the size of his forearm* Hunter: And I mean it.

Echo: Are you mad? Hunter: No. Echo: So sharpening your knives at 3 in the morning is just a hobby?

Fox: You are the love of my life and I would do anything within reason to make you happy. Riyo: I would be happy if you ate, stayed hydrated and got a reasonable amount of sleep. Fox: I said within reason, Riyo. How about I murder that guy? Riyo: So murder is in reason but proper self care isn't? Fox: Well, duh. What kind of question is that?

Fox: Hey, random question, what are your favorite flowers? Riyo: Peonies, why? Fox: Riyo: Were you going to get me flowers? Fox: Riyo: Fox: ᶦᵗ’ˢ ᵃ ᵖᵒˢˢᶦᵇᶦˡᶦᵗʸ

Fox: Riyo and I are no longer dating. Riyo: Fox, that’s a horrible way of telling people we’re married.

Satine : I want to kiss you. Obi-Wan, not paying attention: What? Satine : I said if you die, I wont miss you.

Satine : I’ve been dropping them the most insanely obvious hints for like a year now. No response. Obi-Wan: Wow. They sound stupid. Satine : But they’re not. They’re really smart actually. Just dense. Obi-Wan: Maybe you need to be more obvious? Like, I don’t know… “Hey! I love you!” Satine : I guess you’re right. Hey Obi-Wan, I love you. Obi-Wan: See! Just say that! Satine : Obi-Wan: If that flies over their head then, sorry Satine , but they're too dumb for you. Satine : Obi-Wan.

Satine : I think I'm falling for you. Obi-Wan: Then get up.

Cody : You have an impressive pain tolerance. Obi-Wan: Thanks, it's the trauma.

Cody , holding an unconscious Obi-Wan: Oh no. Please don’t be dead.

Obi-Wan: You know what? Let’s give it a go. What’s the worst that could happen? Cody : Humiliation, embarrassment, fire, explosions, collisions, tears, nudity and death.

Obi-Wan: Turns on the kitchen light Cody : Sitting at the table, eating bread Obi-Wan: It’s four in the morning. Cody : Turn the light back off.

Rex: Are you alright? Ahsoka: Short answer or long answer? Rex: Short? Ahsoka: No. Rex: Long? Ahsoka: Nooooooo.

Rex: I found a note in one of my old word .docs that said Note to self: Get revenge on Ahsoka. Rex: Except I couldn't remember what I was supposed to get revenge for. Rex: But I trusted my own judgment, so I went with it. Ahsoka: Hmm… I don't know what you were supposed to get revenge for, either. Rex: I can only assume you got what was coming to you. Not 100 percent sure, though. Ahsoka: Well, whatever I did, I guess I deserved it. Rex: Let that possibly be a lesson to you.

Rex: My goal is not to be the best, but to inspire someone enough to one day surpass me. Ahsoka: YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT EVERY TIME YOU BEAT ME AT CONNECT FOUR!

Rex: I'm going to ask you to be respectful. Ahsoka: I will politely decline.

[accirax]

Chessgram Theory: Who is Kotoko Breaking?

While the object Kotoko is breaking in Deep Cover’s thumbnail is still certainly up for debate, many people (including myself) are of the belief that she’s snapped a white bishop from the game of chess. Given where Kotoko’s mental state is right now and what’s implied by the lyrics of Deep Cover, I think it’s likely that this MV’s theme will depict all of the prisoners as different chess pieces. Therefore, it’s worth asking: who is that? And, in a larger sense, which prisoners could be represented by which chess pieces?

Kotoko pretty clearly sees her situation as her and Es against the rest of the prison. So, I think that the characters would be divided as Kotoko and Es on one team, and everyone from 01-09 on the other. Kotoko is wearing black and appears to be breaking a white piece, so it’s pretty safe to assume that she and Es would be represented by the black pieces. It’s an interesting choice, given that, even to a non-Western audience, black can be considered a color of evil, and white a color of purity and truth. However, if the Es/Kotoko team is “mystery and anger” and the 01-09 team is “cold demeanors and death,” it fits well enough.

And that’s ignoring the most important part: in chess, the white team always moves first. This would fit with Kotoko’s vigilante worldview that everything she does is just a retaliation against others’ wrongdoing. The other characters attack first by sinning, and Kotoko is only picking them off before they can do any real damage to Team Warden.

Anyways, as for the pieces themselves, different websites seem to have slightly different opinions on what each piece can represent, with some obvious throughlines. I’ll be pulling quotes from these three articles, color coded according to which one is being used, which you can read more of if you wish. I’m also not a chess expert, so if I’m missing anything or got something wrong, I encourage you to add any of your own thoughts!

We’ll start with the Black Team, because there are fewer characters and I think it’s pretty obvious who’s who.

Kotoko Yuzuriha

Kotoko herself will probably be the black Queen. As anyone who’s played chess should know, your Queen is the most powerful piece in your arsenal because it can move on straights or diagonals for any distance.

The queen is our impulse to fight and possibly our id. It can argue based on beliefs. It can let loose and fight like a rook. It has no reason to hold back as a knight does and will often attack to the other side of the board just because it wants to.

This hyper-violent description of the Queen reminds me a lot of Kotoko. She attacks the other prisoners because, according to her beliefs, they’re criminals who deserve to be punished. Not to mention, the “id” is actually the same thing as the “es” in psychology. After we voted her innocent in the first trial, Kotoko became our teammate. She thinks that she’s the same as Es, so seeing herself as the “id” would fit perfectly with that self-assessment. Speaking of Es…

Es (and Jackalope?)

Es is most likely going to be the black King.

The king is not as powerful as the queen, but he is considered the most important piece that needs the most protection.

Even if Kotoko has more power than Es inside the prison, Es is still the one ultimately calling the shots. They’re the important piece who actually casts the votes that Kotoko can use to exact justice. The way that Es falls asleep between trials (or, at least, they did the first time) also reminds me of how the king can only move one space per turn, and often remains in the same square until closer to the end of the game.

The meaning of the Queen in the game of chess is she is plainly the closest support to the King and is often the second biggest (tallest) piece on the board, signifying her power and importance.

Es and Kotoko being the King and Queen together also opens them up to being assessed as a pair. They start the game next to each other, far across the board from the white pieces. If Es is the tallest, most notable piece in the prison, Kotoko isn’t far behind, acting as the King’s loyal fang.

I don’t know if any of the other pieces on the black team would have any sort of particular association. Maybe Jackalope could be the pawn that starts in front of the King (I think that’s the E pawn), so that he could hop out of the way on black’s first move to allow Kotoko to escape on a diagonal?

If I’m right about this theming, I also believe it’s possible that the black team would start only with the King and Queen. This would 1) make Kotoko and Es appear as rootable underdogs by having fewer pieces, 2) show how Kotoko is doing all of the work to defend justice, and 3) give Kotoko a lot of space to move around in from the start.

Now that we’re done with the black team, it’s time for the 01-09 White Team! Given that this side has many more main characters, there are several more possibilities to discuss here. I’ve settled on an answer for each of the prisoners, but there’s certainly room to be flexible with any of them.

Haruka Sakurai

Starting with Haruka… sorry, buddy, but I think you’re a Pawn.

Look, there are only eight pieces (not pawns) for each team on the board. If there are nine prisoners on the white team, at least one of them has to be a Pawn. And, especially through Kotoko’s account of the first Trial, Haruka wasn’t doing a whole lot. He didn’t get voted guilty, so she didn’t attack him, and he didn’t try to save any of the attacked prisoners, either. All he really did was get a new fit and align himself with Mu, someone who barely avoided being voted guilty in the first place.

There is a debate about whether the pawns are the peasants who live outside of the castle walls or are the soldiers protecting the royal court behind them.

Specifically, though, I think that Haruka would be the pawn that stands in front of Mu. Depending on which piece Mu is, it doesn’t have to work like this, but if you say that Pawn Haruka’s placement is basically a “if you want to attack her, you’ll have to get through me first,” that’s quite reminiscent of the threat he presented in his second audio drama.

Haruka also makes sense as a Pawn because he has a lot of potential. For anyone who doesn’t know, in chess, if a Pawn manages to make it to the other side of the board, they can transform into any other piece. Haruka’s quiet demeanor might let him slip under the radar, but if Kotoko takes her eye off of him for too long, he could wind up becoming a threat to the King (Es).

Haruka (VD2): “If you don’t forgive Mu-san, I’m going to kill you.”

In the audio drama, Es counters this plan by pointing out that, as a prisoner, Haruka cannot attack them. However, the sentiment is still there. Even if a Pawn doesn’t really stand a chance of attacking the King when Queen Kotoko is on the loose, there’s always the possibility that he could get too close and throw a wrench into Kotoko’s plans.

Yuno Kashiki

As for Yuno… well, we all know that she’s a Queen in general, but in chess, I don’t think that argument really holds up. Yuno really just isn’t… relevant? enough? to the conflicts of the prison as a whole (at least where Kotoko is involved) to be represented by such an important piece. But, if Yuno isn’t the Queen, what would she be…?

Personally, I think she would be a Rook.

The rook is brute force. It is a disregard to beliefs.

Simply put, Yuno is a Rook because she’s a pretty straightforward person. That’s not to say that she doesn’t lie, of course– her whole t1 attitude seems to have been a bit of an act, and that one section in the middle of Tear Drop makes it pretty obvious that Yuno conceals her true feelings on order to better please her customers sometimes– but that, in the end, Yuno always does what she wants. If she wants to barge forward or cut across the entire board sideways, she’ll do it. She often keeps to herself, just like how enemy pieces wouldn’t want to get directly in front of the Rook for fear of being curb stomped.

Back to her t1 attitude, though…

The rook is the castle, the walls, the protectorate of the city, and in being so, is the only piece not representative of a living thing.

While most sources attribute the Rook’s walls to protecting the other important pieces, Yuno’s walls protect herself. Yuno’s Castle keeps her true self locked behind cold and stony walls, giving her freedom from making any attachments.

Futa Kajiyama

Futa is a Knight because… he’s, uh, literally a knight.

The knight pieces are the protective knights in the castle. The pieces are shaped like a horse because it is symbolic of what knights rode during battle.

It doesn’t always have to be that deep. (/j)

Actually, though, there are other reasons to call Futa the Knight– possibly some of the same reasons why the Milgram creative team decided to make one of his MVs themed after fantasy RPGs in the first place.

The knight represents the pure inner-warrior. If a knight starts out passive, it will always end up aggressive and vice versa. It can't move very far, but it never moves in a straight line, always preferring to be tactical and thoughtful.

Futa definitely seems to cycle between aggressive and passive. He passively lived his life as a regular guy until he unleashed his aggression and became a cyberbully. That aggression fueled him until he learned of his victim’s death, at which point he shut down and seemed to become more passive and introspective again. Arriving in Milgram triggered his aggressive tendencies, but getting voted guilty and losing an eye for it triggered his passive terror. At the time of his second audio drama, it seems like he’s returned to aggressively questioning Es again, and it remains to be seen whether he keeps that attitude into t3 or if something happens that once again makes him lose his footing (or die).

Mu Kusunoki

Much like Yuno, Mu also has an argument for being called the Queen– more so than Yuno, considering her strong Queen Bee coding in It’s Not My Fault and the titles of both of her audio dramas– but also falls short in the “being opposed to Kotoko” department. Although Haruka certainly looks to her for leadership, I can’t imagine Kotoko actually considering Mu a serious enough threat to put Mu on the same level as herself.

So again, like Yuno, I think Mu might be the other Rook. Mu also displayed a very “whatever I say goes” attitude in INMF, so she can share the same rhetoric behind Yuno being represented by that piece. The logic behind the castle aspect is slightly different, though.

Every country or medieval estate would have its royalty who were protected within the walled city or castle.

Mu is a rich, half-European girl whose dad sells real estate. Of course she would be represented by the Castle! Mu’s tactics involve consolidating her power in order to lead from a place above it all, exactly like how a castle looks over the rest of the village. Additionally, I can’t find the source of whoever pointed it out first, but I’ve seen it mentioned that the dress Mu wears in her birthday art is a reference to the one that Belle wears in Disney’s interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. It’s a fairytale with a princess (and perhaps someday, a queen), yes, but it’s specifically one where the heroine is trapped within a castle. Making Mu into a Rook would be a great way to keep up her royal theming, while leaving the Queen for a character a bit more powerful and relevant to Kotoko.

(Going back to Haruka for a moment, this would make him specifically the A or H pawn.)

Shidou Kirisaki

I really thought that Shidou might have more competition for the role of King, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that nobody fit the role quite as well as he did.

Shidou is the perfect balance of a piece who’s very problematic for Kotoko’s win condition, while also not being much of an active threat himself. There are very low odds that Shidou would ever actually try to harm Kotoko directly or get in her way to divert an attack. However, as long as he’s alive, Kotoko can’t win, because Shidou can keep attempting to heal all of the pieces Kotoko tries to eliminate. That’s not something that the King piece can actually do in a chess game, but hopefully you get my point.

Additionally, Triage let us know that Shidou is a family man. While the white Queen will obviously not be representative of Shidou’s deceased wife, and not every other prisoner would enjoy living under his reign (cough cough Amane), the optics of him being the “head of the family” are obviously there. It’s a pretty bad look if the white King starts the game by pleading with the black King to give him the death penalty, but… Well, at least Shidou changed his mind.

Mahiru Shiina

Not to answer the theory’s main question so early into the post, but… I think Mahiru is a white Bishop. Specifically, the one that Kotoko could be snapping in half in the thumbnail.

As far as I can remember, barring Undercover, Milgram’s MVs have only shown us things that have happened in the past. There are some things that could kind of hint at the future (like Shidou’s “So hey, prolong my life / I’m indispensable” in Triage) or depict prisoner’s fears of the future (like Futa potentially being afraid that Es could declare him guilty again at the end of Backdraft). But, I think that every instance of something like that happening could be explained as something that the character did or thought about in the past as well. That might be wrong, as I don’t want to take the time to write out how everything that appears like it could be in the future is actually in the past, but it sounds right to my memory.

My point being, while the snapped bishop could be indicative of Kotoko’s plans to crush someone in the future, if the chess pieces do represent characters, it makes far more sense if her smashing the white bishop is something that already happened in the past. Thus, it would probably be one of the three characters that Kotoko attacked in the past: Futa, Mahiru, or Mikoto.

Of the three options, I think Mahiru fits the role of bishop best.

The bishop is your belief structure. This is why a bishop that starts on white, will always be on white and vice versa for the black bishop.

While not a particularly religious person, Mahiru is someone who lives and dies based on her beliefs about the value of love. No matter what happens to her, she always keeps her same perspective, believing that love is the entirety of who she is and the only thing that’s worth living for. It’s how firmly she clung to those beliefs that sent her to Milgram, and her lack of awareness regarding her actions that got her voted guilty. AKA, Mahiru’s Bishop-like beliefs are exactly what sent her to be crushed in Kotoko’s palm.

To the extent that the blood in the thumbnail is the Bishop’s and not Kotoko’s, Mahiru was also the most grievously injured of the prisoners in between trials. I saw people joking that the thing Kotoko was crushing was “Mahiru’s bones,” and, like… maybe you’re not entirely wrong? 

I hope that you continue reading the post to hear my thoughts on the last three prisoners. But, if you are tapping out here… uhhhh, 0610 enjoyers, go crazy with this one.

Kazui Mukuhara

When I started theorizing for this post, I really thought that I was going to make Kazui the Queen to Shidou’s King. The two of them are pretty close, so the idea of Kazui being Shidou’s guardian makes total sense. And, most importantly, Kazui was the one to actually intercept and divert Kotoko’s attack on Futa. He’s been established as the most muscular prisoner in Milgram, on par with someone like Kotoko, which is perfect for him being the Queen!

Wellllll… I changed my mind and decided to make Kazui a Knight anyway.

There are a lot of good arguments for Kazui being a knight too, okay? After Cat, it’s pretty clear that Kazui was once a police officer. Thus, being a member of the castle guard would be a good match for his choice of career. They’re also probably the most traditionally “manly” piece, representative of an armed man on a horse, and Kazui tries very hard to be manly.

Knights can also hop over other pieces, much like how Kazui jumped into the fight between Kotoko and Futa. In fact…

Never underestimate [the Knight] for its limited range. It’s known as the "Queen Killer" for a reason!

Knights are often a good piece to use to attack Queens because of their unique L-shaped movement pattern. Unlike every other piece, they can attack the Queen from a position that can’t be immediately reversed upon them. Thus, Kazui’s ability to beat Kotoko could be an indicator of this “Queen Killer” quality, instead of the innate power of being a Queen himself. (This logic applies to Futa as well: he can attack Kotoko from the unique angle of appealing to Es’ morals and own sense of justice. Kotoko can’t do the same because, unlike Futa, she has yet to outwardly acknowledge that her murder could have been anything less than righteous.)

Also… the Knight is the only piece that doesn’t move in a straight line. Get it? The Knight doesn’t move straight? And that represents Kazui? Because Kazui is–

Amane Momose

Amane is the other Bishop because… religion.

The bishop stands close to the king and queen because it represents the church which many royal courts held near and dear to their hearts.

The Bishop represents the church, an important and very powerful entity throughout history and even today if you think about it.

Again, not everything has to be a reach. (/j)

So… yeah, Amane’s beliefs– specifically religious beliefs, this time– are also a huge part of her life. Even if she’s changed what the cult’s doctrine means to her, she still confesses that she carried out her murders for the sake of what her religion considers right and wrong.

This is also considered the third most powerful piece on the chessboard because back in the day religion could influence many people, even without the help of the royal family.

Not so much for Mahiru, but this sentiment also fits Amane pretty well! Between the threats of potential conversions and potential assassinations, Amane was definitely one of the prisoners to watch heading into t2. From what I’ve heard, the main reason why her vote was so down to the wire was mostly because people were afraid of the power that Amane held.

Interestingly, this would put another prisoner who was voted guilty in contention for the piece that Kotoko is crushing. However, I still think it’s more likely that that piece would be Mahiru, because Kotoko didn’t physically attack Amane. If it were Amane, it would more likely be that her beliefs were crushed as opposed to her bones, but… I don’t really think that really happened, either. Amane would almost certainly be a bishop, though, so there’s certainly a possibility that that broken piece could be her.

Mikoto/John Kayano

With only one prisoner left to go, you may have already come to the conclusion that Mikoto is the white Queen. And… yeah, I can’t really deny that at this point. Like I said, I wanted to make Kazui the Queen, but I couldn’t otherwise figure out what Mikoto would be.

Because, there’s one main thing that makes me think that Mikoto has to be the Queen… John’s lack of restraints.

She is allowed to move in any direction and in as many squares as she wants.

Due to the whole situation with John not technically being a prisoner, when John is the alter in charge, John cannot be restrained, even when voted guilty. That makes him very powerful; no matter what he does, we can’t use a guilty vote to try to stop him, much like many people hoped to do with Haruka when voting him guilty in t2. The Queen can visit any square, no matter whether it’s black or white, upright or reversed, Mikoto or John. Choosing any other piece that was constrained to a much more limited set of movement rules just felt off for him.

Next, while Kazui was able to defeat Kotoko and save Futa, the fight between John and Kotoko was a draw. That means that they are also evenly matched– perfect for both being the same kind of piece. Mikoto isn’t as close to Shidou as Kazui is (anymore, I think?), but they were at least smoking club buddies, so calling Mikoto the Queen to Shidou’s King isn’t the most ridiculous proposition.

Finally, making Mikoto the Queen, a very feminine piece, is super interesting in the context of people discussing how Mikoto is often associated with stereotypically feminine roles and the girl prisoners (oboetemasuka | candckirby | purgemarchlockdown). I don’t have a whole lot else to say on this matter considering these weren’t points of Mikoto’s characterization I originally noticed myself, but I encourage you to read these posts to get a taste of what I’m talking about. I’m sure there were other posts discussing it too, but… it’s so hard to find things on Tumblr ;-;

Conclusion

Finally, we’ve been through every prisoner! Here’s a summary of what I decided on (left or right side doesn’t matter):

The funny thing about this theory is that it could be fully disproven wrong in, like, a week, if either 1) that wasn’t a chess piece at all, or 2) the chess pieces obviously represent something else. For instance, the chess board could fully relate to, you know, Kotoko’s actual murder and not what she got up to in between trials. We are supposed to get more actual evidence regarding that too, aren’t we…?

Still, if it turns out that the chess board does represent Milgram, I will get the full satisfaction of having called it ahead of time, even if my assignments aren’t 100% correct. No matter what, I had fun thinking about it, which is (in my opinion) the highlight of theorizing! If you have anything else to add, I encourage you to communicate your thoughts in comments, tags, or reblogs. If you don’t, then I simply thank you for reading this far!

Deep Cover… soon.

[itsclydebitches]

We've all rightly been gushing over Trent listening in on the parent-teacher conference and there are a lot of cool interpretations for why he'd eavesdrop: a crush on Ted, a tendency towards gossip (as seen in "International Break"), the fact that you just can't take the journalism out of the boy, Trent is clearly picking up personal tidbits for the book if the group's initial "Don't print that" worries are any indication, etc. So yeah, it's clear why he'd want/be okay with the door staying open.

Meanwhile, I'm slightly feral over Ted letting the door stay open and what that conveys to Trent.

Based on what we've picked up about his personal life and the direction of this season, we have good reason to believe that Trent was a deeply isolated man prior to Ted arriving. His job makes enemies simply by virtue of the profession itself, especially when you "bring the heat" as hard as he did. Roy flipping the press off at the gala in Season 1 and Nate sneaking out at dark this last episode shows us how journalists are treated on the regular: ignored, dismissed, told to "fuck off" as a matter of course. That's often well deserved, as Roy's two personal stories (Trent's article about him + the response to Isaac's attack) attest, but the end result is still a profession that alienates you from anyone other than your peers. When you're a "colossal prick" in your articles, people hate you all the more.

So Trent at least has other journalist buddies, yeah? Well, not that we've seen. I always think back to that chorus of "--The Independent" in the press room when everyone knew what Trent was going to say and how it... wasn't entirely fun ribbing. I think there's a fair bit of mockery there. Even if others disagree, I doubt that was received well by someone who wears their professionalism as an armor, who takes off his glasses as soon as they're complimented, who was, notably, closeted into his 40s. Trent is a man who is deeply aware of how others perceive him (pointing out his "vibe" feels quite calculated now: highlight what you want people to notice rather than waiting for them to find something on their own) and he is likely to read the worst of most interactions. Cue his shocked, "You really mean that, don't you?" when faced with someone like Ted who is not only genuinely nice, but blunt about it in a way that Trent can't misunderstand, or brush off via denial.

What's his home life like? Married to a woman when he's gay and that's putting a serious strain on them both. He tries to come out and isn't believed. The only other family members we know about are a toddler (who, while lovely I'm sure, can't provide Trent with the kind of emotional support an adult needs) and a father who, if we read the series through Lance's headcanons, may not have been very supportive of his son. Who else does Trent know? Uhhh... other subjects who hate him? Owners like Rebecca who want to use him? A random, potential date that he felt so little for he ditched to get a quote?

(EDIT: I can't believe I forgot to mention the strong implications that Ted was bullied in childhood/as a teenager, based on how he reacts to the whole of the club ignoring him -- resigned but unsurprised -- his reaction to Roy telling him to fuck off after he tries to mend that relationship -- disappointedly awkward "I can't believe I even tried that. What was I thinking?" -- and his body language during the locker room scene -- jumping, furtive glances towards Ted, backed up against the shower stall because shit, he's been in this situation before.

So uh, yeah. Trent may not have had a lot of friends growing up either! That was not the response of a social butterfly, but rather someone who is already very used to being ignored/dismissed/cursed out/threatened, not just within his profession, but within the school-like atmosphere of Richmond's family too.)

I'm by no means reinventing the meta wheel here, but Trent has truly undergone a STAGGERING transformation in Season 3 and the result of that is the reframing of his Season 1 and 2 scenes as, frankly, more depressing than they originally seemed. Seeing him now smiling, singing, gossiping, dressing just in t-shirts, casually snacking, making jokes, letting go enough to be a complete, hyperactive "dork" in front of others... it just hammers home how deeply unhappy Trent was before. How closed off. How closeted--in more ways than one.

So what must it mean to someone like Trent for Ted to leave the door open?

It's not just an open invitation towards community--sit near me, listen in, quietly participate, there's literally no barrier between us--but a staggeringly personal one too. I don't care if a 10-ish year old failing science is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, the fact remains that letting anyone hear a parent-teacher conference with your ex is a hell of a show of trust. That would mean a lot to Trent in general, this acknowledgement that someone trusts the ex-prick journalist with that amount of personal information, but Ted in particular? Oh boy. Ted is the one Trent betrayed with that article! And yeah, Ted forgave him the instant he learned of it, but Trent himself was obviously feeling a lot of guilt, hence him burning his source and orchestrating a firing. Toss in the fact that Ted, despite being a VERY open man on the regular (I still laugh at his "I don't mind" to Rebecca when over-sharing about Michelle) has in fact denied Trent information in the past. No, I won't tell you that was a panic attack. Yes, I will continue the lie that it was food poisoning. Perhaps for Ted it was less about Trent knowing and more about anyone getting at the truth, but at the end of the day it amounts to the same: there was a time when Ted did not fully trust him and Trent justified that fear by writing the very article Ted was looking to avoid, even if Trent approached that situation with as much grace as he could.

So this moment, beyond the humor, just makes my brain go !!!!!! for Trent. Ted Lasso, of all people, has left the door open for Trent Crimm, also of all people, to hear the messy details of his, Henry, and Michelle's life. He is not at all afraid that this information will be spun in a bad light--Local Gaffer's Son Suffers While Father Plays at Coach Across the Pond--despite the fact that Trent is actively writing a book about him. Trent himself is so unguarded in this moment, dressed only in a t-shirt, playing around with his orange, making little quips. The Trent of Season 1 would NEVER. I mean, I think we see small glimpses of the real Trent back then, especially when Ted amuses him enough to coax his guard down for half a second (Trent's reaction to “Make like Dunst and Union and bring it on, baby!" comes to mind. That's a gesture we're seeing a lot now that he's comfortable around the club), but on the whole he was still so, so, so isolated. No one knew the real him: gay, funny, dorky, inquisitive, longing for companionship and using the artificial 'closeness' of journalism to cover that ache up.

Now? Trent is fully a part of the Richmond community and he knows he's a part of it because everyone--Ted, Beard, Roy, Colin, Rebecca--are going out of their way to tell him that, notably in very overt ways. Trent strikes me as someone who wouldn't fully believe it when he's told someone enjoys his company; the kind of wounded, anxiety-prone person who, if casually invited to participate, would assume they're just being polite and he'd actually be an annoyance to them. Trent needs overt, obvious, beat-you-over-the-head-with-it reassurance, which is why Ted is so very good for him because Ted is composed of THE most over-the-top positivity you've ever seen. (Compare that need of Trent's to Michelle thinking that Ted is too much...) When faced with a defensive journalist Ted says explicitly that he liked spending time with Trent. When faced with a still unsure writer who thinks of himself only as an observer--never a part of the team himself--Ted literally begs with monkey noises to hear Trent's opinions. He's blunt to the point of absurdity and someone like Trent who has likely spent the majority of his life hiding/being told that his true self is inadequate needs that level of constant, neon-light reassurance.

So Ted leaves the door open to a personal conversation, refusing to literally bar Trent from his life. The best part? Colin re-opens the door because he understands Trent and he knows his coach; of course Ted wants him included. Colin asks permission to CLOSE the door, not open it, and Trent is seeing this openness again and again over the course of several months, with each episode bringing him further out of his shell as he slowly unlearns that self-doubt. Yes, please stay, please tell us what you think, please offer your advice, please join our Diamond Dogs, please ask us questions (they're no longer perceived as a threat), please become an integral part of our lives. We trust you and we like you and we want you here.

Everyone's waiting for Trent to catch the door again because, you know, the rule of three, but what if he doesn't need to? What if he's past slipping a hand or a foot through the crack and scraping by on what that gets him? He caught the door before it could close to get closer to Colin. He caught the door before it could close to get closer to Ted. Now they've both kept the door open for him, his presence welcomed from the get-go.

Trent doesn't need to sprint for that opening anymore.

[notroosterbradshaw]

Uncle Brooster

A family party to celebrate Viper’s birthday brings the fluffiest of fluff with a side of 18+ NSFW slow smut for Rooster and our reader. 8.5k words.

part of: The Boyfriend Experience universe

Thank you @imjess-themess​ and @callsign-phoenix​​ for beta’ing - I truly appreciate it! Was hard to do this re-write justice, so hopefully, you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think. Reblogs and comments are highly encouraged and give me life xx

You had been stuck in traffic for at least four hours to this point. You’d left LA a little later than you should have with a hangover a little worse than it should have been, the city made you pay more than deserved. Travelling on a Saturday was a dicey decision at best and you tapped the steering wheel with the beat of a song you’d heard at least three times on different stations. Silence it is, with the occasional beeping from other aggravated drivers in the same predicament. 

It was well after mid-afternoon when you arrived at your grandparents but broke into a small grin when you saw that all too familiar blue Bronco parked a few houses down. He didn’t have to arrive without you, but he did, and it warmed your heart that Rooster felt comfortable enough to go to your family’s events stag even when you were running terribly late. Grabbing the champagne you’d picked up a few blocks earlier because even when it’s family, it’s still rude to turn up empty-handed, you popped out of the car as your nephew, Oscar, zoomed past you on his scooter.

“Don’t let Daddy catch me!” he exclaimed as Arron, your brother-in-law, raced around the side of the house after him. He smiled a friendly hello, roaring after Oscar. Ducking back towards the car to avoid becoming roadkill, you waited, protecting the chilled French beverages in each hand. Priorities on point always.

Wandering into the house, you were greeted by Nana with hugs and smiles. If you were anything like her, with her vivacity at 90, life would be good, you realised. “We didn’t think you’d get here. Bradley said you were stuck in traffic. Why did you go to LA?” she demanded.

“I had a birthday party for an old college friend. I probably should have driven back last night. At least I wouldn’t have been so late...” you grumbled, and would be in less of a puss after hours of containing your road rage. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You’re here now. Why didn’t Bradley go with you?” she frowned.

“To quote him, ‘I’ll die before I go to a club in LA’. ‘Please don’t make me go to a club in LA’. ‘I will do anything to get out of going to a club in LA’. So, he knocked out a wall in the bathroom instead. He said it was cathartic,” you shrugged. “Dude loves demolishing stuff, Nana. What can I say?”

“Could have been a nice getaway for you both,” she tried.

“You know he’s happy at home,” you reminded her. “That kinda scene is not for him.”

“Maybe you could learn something from him.”

“Probably, Nana,” you bit back your smile.

“There’s plenty of food outside. Go say happy birthday to your grandpa,” she ushered you out but not before she stopped you again, helping you smooth a crease on your sundress. “Can't half tell you’ve been in the car for hours,” she huffed. “This is beautiful, you look divine.”

It was Rooster’s favourite sundress and you figured the least you could do today and wear something easy on his eyes. It made you feel pretty sexy, knowing he liked it so much and only got brought out once before for a dinner date in your early dating days when he fell in love with it.

“Where’s Grandpa?”

She threw her hands in the air. “Holding court, where else?”

Holding court, with his friends and re-telling old war stories no less. Heading outside, you didn’t immediately spot Rooster but found Grandpa and made your way through your family and his lifelong co-workers and friends, stopping and being stopped as your past people before politely interrupting Grandpa to wish him a Happy Birthday.

“Here’s trouble,” Viper smiled, you were the apple of his eye. His darling granddaughter. 

“Happy birthday, sorry I’m late,” you apologised. 

“It’s okay,” he reassured you. “Rooster is here,” he clicked his tongue. 

“Grandpa, one day you’ll have to accept he’s my partner,” you said gently, putting a hand over his heart. Viper sighed, patting your hand.

“I know, but not today,” the old man smiled wickedly. “I like keeping him on his toes.”

“I know,” you rolled your eyes as he chuckled, pushing you away tenderly to continue his story. Hearing ‘Vietnam’ and ‘Mitchell’ as you wandered through the masses of guests, someone gently checked you with their hip as you passed and Rooster grinned at you… holding your six-month-old niece, Ava, in his strong arms tenderly.

Well, this was a new development.

“Hi,” he said quietly, lowering to kiss you gently, you cupped his cheek. “I missed you, sweet girl.” 

Shocked, you nodded at Ava. “Me too. I’m so sorry I’m late,” you said, extremely distracted by the sight before you. Rooster chewed his bottom lip, incredibly pleased with himself – he enjoyed rendering you speechless. It didn’t happen easily and it certainly didn’t happen often. “Stealing hearts and infants now?” you teased as he nodded, letting his grin rip wide across his tanned features, you know those warm honey-coloured eyes were dancing behind his mirrored aviators.

“Looks like it.”

“Are you okay? Do you need me to take her?” Something to distract me from looking at you with a baby, perhaps? He shook his head as Ava held his long, slender index finger in her soft hand and he watched her keenly, a little taken with her himself. She was a true beauty. Annie had told him Ava was your dead ringer as a baby, and he could almost believe it.

“I’m good,” he promised. “I’d love a beer though.”

“I think I can do that,” you told him as he smiled and turned his attention back to Ava, cooing in his deep rasp that almost made you want to cry.

Heading to the cooler, you greeted some of Grandpa’s former Top Gun students and Rooster’s superiors as you grabbed Rooster a beer and picked up the champagne bottle for yourself as Annie sidled over to you to say hello.

“Didn’t think you were ever gonna get here. How are those ovaries?” she smiled, nodding over her shoulder to Rooster who was still gently rocking a dozing Ava in his arms. “Give that man a baby, and give that man a baby now.”

“Oh, my God,” you sighed. “Make yourself useful,” you shoved Rooster’s beer and a champagne flute into her hands, popping the bottle and pouring yourself a generous glassful. “You want?”

“No, Ava will need to be fed shortly,” she replied as you took the drinks back.

“Was this your ploy?” you asked, looking back at Rooster.

Christ, was his chest broader today? Was it arms day? He did mention he went for a run on the phone earlier. He usually broke it up and used some of the free equipment near the beach if he felt particularly energetic. He looked so good. You mean, he always did. Sunglasses now in his sun-kissed curls, casual in a crisp white linen shirt untucked over a pair of khaki shorts and barefoot in the plush grass. He was not remotely interested in fashion, but just one of those people with that body that everything fit him perfectly. You groaned that you had to wait to love on him properly, without the gaze of your family and his higher-ups even if it wasn’t a workday. You were already imagining stripping him of that beautifully offensive shirt -  

“What, to see Rooster with a baby?” she joked as you gave her your attention again. Fantasizing about Bradley Bradshaw would not bode well for you at a family birthday party. Nope. You could be patient. You waited this long for him, what was another few hours? “No, I had to help Mom in the kitchen since you decided to show your face at the last minute, and he was the closest, reasonably responsible adult in the vicinity to hand her to.”

“And where was your husband during all this?” you asked, sipping your champagne.

She pointed to Arron and Oscar on the trampoline.

“I see.”

“Yeah,” she said, unamused. “I have three kids at home.”

“Hey, he’s your kid’s best friend,” you reminded her. “And that’s fucking priceless. We can’t say the same thing with our old man. Enjoy it now because one day, Oscar will be just like you and it should be terrifying for all of us to go through your teenage years again.”

Reminiscing her wild adolescent days momentarily, Annie shuddered. “If that kid is half the asshole I was, I don’t know how I’ll cope,” she laughed incredulously.

“How did Rooster react with Ava?”

Annie cackled. “Unfortunately, no ejector seats nearby for Rooster. Looked like I’d asked him to punch Grandpa.”

“Yikes,” you laughed, loudly.

“I showed him how to not drop her, but he figured it out pretty quick.”

“You just dumped her in his arms, didn’t you?”

“Threw him completely in the deep end,” she confirmed, still laughing. “He’s had her for nearly an hour though and I’ve offered numerous times to take her. He even knocked Mom back.”

“Oh, wow.”

“It’s been nice to eat and talk for once instead of being the Mom.”

“You are the Mom,” you reminded her, lightly kicking her shin. “But I know you’re so much more than that too.”

She flashed a shy smile. “Thank you.”

As nice as the familial love was, Rooster still had your undivided attention. You sipped the cool amber gold and felt yourself melt. “He looks so good,” you said to her quietly.

“We can talk about this, if you want,” Annie joked, not missing the longing in your voice. “He looks very good. A bit of a natural, to be honest. You have the dreamiest look on your face,” she teased.

“You can see what I’m looking at, right?”

“Yeah, I can see,” she poked your arm. “Your old bedroom is just up there, I’m sure Rooster would love to see where you spent your formative years.”

“Rooster didn’t see me like that when we were teenagers.”

“No, I suppose not. But if you asked him to go up there with you with all these people here, I guarantee you, he would be dragging you up there.”

“I don’t think I need to christen Grandma’s favourite duvet today with his superiors here…”

“Bullshit,” she sang. Sadly, Annie was very good at planting very bad ideas in your head, and the little bunny bounced around freely. “If I know Rooster, the thought of getting away with something like that would be very, very appealing to him.”

“I watched him do 164 push-ups without stopping the other day,” you changed the subject.

“Why would he do that?”

You rolled your eyes. “For the sake of it. ‘Peak physical perfection’ was what he told me. He was gloating, I might add.”

"I’d believe it,” Annie shrugged. 

“He’s got an endurance like I’ve never seen,” you sipped your champagne to cure your dry throat.

“You’ve heard it your whole life. They’re the ‘1 per cent’,” she said in air quotes.

“Just ask them,” you said. “I miss him, I’m going to rescue him,” you decided with a hum of satisfaction but wouldn’t give Annie the pleasure of knowing just how true the ‘1 per cent’ really was. 

“I’ll come to get her soon but enjoy it for now.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you rolled your eyes with a grin that told her you’d do just that and wandered back to him. Gently caressing his side, you offered him the bottle, keen to see his next move. Pouting in thought, he adjusted his posture around Ava’s snug little body and grinned as he released a jazz hand, admitting success.

“Thank you, baby,” he took an eager gulp.

“Do you want me to hold her?” you asked as he shook his head.

He shook his head. “Naw, I got it,” he replied, swaying on the balls of his feet to subdue Ava like he’d been doing it his whole life. “I’ve held footballs bigger than this little love.”

Little love? Your ice-cold heart-melting at his endearments, you managed, “You look very comfortable, Bradshaw.”

He flushed a little. “What, you think I could do this?” he smiled shyly.

“I think you’d be a beautiful father,” you divulged. “Not that I… think of that.”

He giggled quietly. “Of course not.”

It was kind of true though – you enjoyed this incredibly selfish phase you were in with Rooster. You rarely left the house when he was home. Just the two of you in your own bubble. You didn’t have to be together, he could be found with a sledgehammer, knocking down walls or strumming a guitar in his makeshift music room, and you could be reading or lesson planning. You were just content to be together, doing your own thing.

“I think of that,” he shrugged easily. “I mean, not right now. But eventually. I want to have some kids.”

Of course you do, you sighed to yourself, sipping your drink. You felt an unfamiliar fluttering in your tummy. You just assumed it was your biological clock introducing itself violently. Fuck, unfair.

“You… don’t?” he raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

“I dunno…” you admitted. “I hadn’t really thought about it. I guess so, I’m not getting any younger.”

The lopsided grin on his face told you he was satisfied with your answer and the taunting could stop… for now. “We could do this one day,” he shrugged.

You were gone for 12 hours, and it had been pure torture. He went for a few drinks with his squad and could not keep interested if he tried (much to the humour of Hangman’s taunts of him being so pussy-whipped that he forgot how to have fun – Rooster agreed. He’d much rather be getting laid every night with a woman as sexy and eager as you than have to look like a desperate asshole like he did… Hangman quit his schtick pretty quick). He’d forgotten how to sleep alone, not curled around you (and you’d called at least a dozen times in a drunken stupor wishing he was there, wishing you were home, wishing you were fucking each other instead going back to the hotel without him. It was hilarious, and in Rooster’s mind, heart-warming you were missing him as much as he was missing you).

“You okay?” you frowned, he’d drifted off a minute.

Blinking as he came to, he nodded. “Thinking about your endless calls last night,” he recovered with a smug grin that you rolled your eyes at.

“You’re such a dick.”

He gasped, pretending to cover Ava’s little ears. “Not around the children!”

“Said the naval aviator.”

“We are all upstanding, respectable members of the US military, ma’am,” he recited.

“Are you shittin’ me right now?” you looked around and could only insinuate the backyard was an absolute pissing contest, testosterone was choking the place. How Phoenix and Halo put up with the shit from these guys only spoke volumes of their strength and resilience.

Rooster let out a hearty laugh. “Okay, okay. But we’re not all a bunch of dickbags,” he protested to Ava. “Are we?” he frowned, suddenly a little concerned.

Pettily, you replied and started counting on your fingers, “Bob,” you paused and frowned. “Just sweet Bob.”

“Sweet Bob?” Rooster hooted. “You must be outta your mind because that guy is as wicked as the rest of us. You’re just confused by the glasses, aloofness – ”

“Aloofness,” you mocked.

“He ain’t reserved, he ain’t shy. He plays the game better than all of us combined. Baby, that motherfucker is foolin’ you,” he said, seriously. “If you think for one second he isn’t sewing his seed in whatever port we’re in, Jesus, baby, you’ve fallen for it too.”

You groaned, now Rooster was just reaching.

“Trust me, Bob is single for a reason.”

“Nope, refuse to believe it,” you turned away from him as he grabbed your wrist and whispered by far the crudest thing you’d heard of all the antics from any of Rooster’s friends. Rooster smiled as he watched your facade change as he went into some very explicit details.

“Oh, my word.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t know this,” he giggled again, kissing your temple. “My innocent little baby.”

“Yeah, definitely something Natasha and I should have talked about.”

“She has her own shame,” he kept paying out.

You looked at each other and said in unison, “Bagman.”

“Well, you’ve broken my heart, Roost. I’ll never be able to look at that sly bastard the same again,” it kind of crushed you. Not-so-sweet Bob. You were more than intrigued though and would ask Rooster again sometime. He wasn’t entirely forthcoming about his friends (or his) antics when they were abroad. There was a code they quietly shared and you probably didn’t want to know.

“Don’t get me wrong, when he’s on form, he’s amazing – we all took notes. It’s not a front, but what you don’t see, babydoll, would make your head spin. Credit where it’s due, he will not behave like the wild man he is around the ladies. He’s very respectful of Phoenix, Halo, and you,” he gently cupped your chin and chuckled. “Lucky for you that you have such an honourable, roguishly handsome, intelligent, Adonis as me, huh?”

“I’m supposed to pay you those compliments.”

“On you for forgetting I have an ego,” he replied thoughtfully.

“Ooh, you are on one this afternoon,” you murmured.

He smiled, slugging his beer. He leaned down to kiss you deeply, no mind to anyone in your vicinity. “I love you and you know I’m settled. You’re the only woman that turns my head.”

“Keep talking,” you instructed.

He nodded you closer and he freed a hand to tuck you into his arms, trying not to squish Ava. “I am so in love with you, I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m whipped. Because I am. You’re the love of my life and those arseholes can fuck around all they like. You are the only woman I want. Who I fantasize to, first and last thing on my mind every day even when you’re next to me, who gets me over the line when I’m away. I am so infatuated with you.”

“Better,” you blustered as he kissed you again, a little softer this time.

“I love you,” he said against your lips. You whispered the same back as you snuggled into him, lightly tracing the soft skin on Ava’s little hand. Your sister sure made adorable babies. Casting his gaze over you, he sighed wistfully. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

“Oh, this was completely purposeful,” you smiled as he cursed quietly. You moved across the space between you to hold him as inconspicuous as you could with his superiors, and of course, Viper, lurking. He leaned down to kiss you again. “With that blue lingerie you like.”

You knew Rooster thoroughly enjoyed being teased and that was solely what the dress was. You motioned him closer again and he bent to hear right into his ear, a glutton for punishment. “What?” his tone guttural.

“Free reign. You can do whatever you want to me,” you gently kissed his jaw before he stood to his full height again, exhaling deeply, a look of disdain (or discomfort) crossing his features. “I’m very looking forward to getting you alone tonight,” you said kindly.

“That dress comes off the second we cross the threshold,” he hissed at you. “So goddamn sexy.”

“Watch yourself, Bradshaw,” Grandpa stalked past as you both gave each other wide berths.

“Yessir,” he replied, meekly, hoping the old man’s hearing was going and he didn’t hear him talk so disrespectfully. His shoulders slumped as, thank God, Viper didn’t stop to reprimand him. “One day, he’s gonna love me,” he muttered, hardly self-assured. Sure, Rooster was in on the joke, but he couldn’t wait for the day Viper was his mentor again… and didn’t only see him as the guy fucking his granddaughter. 

“Not today, he’s not,” you snickered, sipping your champagne and swishing the skirt of your dress a little, loving the movement of it – Rooster had very good reason to find this his favourite. Your silhouette in it drove him to a level of wild he’d never imagined.

“You are a fuckin’ menace.”

“I am, I agree but you wouldn’t change a damn thing.”

Of course, he wouldn’t. He lived for you smart mouth. “Jury’s still out on current behaviour,” he mumbled, giving you a playful side-eye as Ava started to whinge. Panic crossed Rooster’s face, with the little one peaceful to now.

You smiled. “It’s okay, she’s probably just hot. Stop cradling her like a football and see if she’s comfier down your chest,” you offered, you mimed what you meant. He was a little spooked the ease of just holding the infant got a little harder. Watching his struggle was a sight, but you wouldn’t tease him, he was by far trying his best. “Can I help?”

“Yes, please!” he squeaked.

“Come here,” you rested your glass on a nearby table and opened your arms, happily taking Ava from him. Rooster knew his strength, and it certainly wasn’t a lot to hold Ava, but he was not used to the posture of it all and shook his strong arms out willingly.

“Thank you,” he said softly. “She looks much happier now.”

“She’s probably hungry too. You did great,” you told him, rocking gently, hoping to calm her again.

While you focused on Ava, cooing and whispering sweet words, Rooster sipped his beer, watching you intently. You were so beautiful, but holding your niece was stirring up some shit in his already-convoluted brain. He’d been thinking about a lot of things lately. His career was on the rise, he’d officially transferred and moved into his parents' old beach house, leaving Virginia behind. When he was home, you spent every night together; where there was one, the other wasn’t usually far, and everyone could see how happy you were together. He could see it too. He had changed, he had mellowed and he wasn’t remotely miserable about it.

He loved making a life with you.

It was all moving in one direction and while he was excited for it all with you, he could admit it was scary because he’d resolved himself probably not having kids and probably not getting married after his mother raised him without Goose and how it affected her every day. Leaving nothing behind always seemed like the easier option if things...

But now the thought of his last name being passed along didn’t seem so farfetched. The notion kind of enthralled him, and he found himself thinking about it – thinking about Carole’s engagement ring hidden in the safe he’d recently purchased with his will, Goose’s dog tags, passport and that kind of stuff with some various items of yours also. You just wanted your passport somewhere you’d remember it as well as some legal docs.

“Uncle Brooster!” you heard Oscar before you saw him.

“Uncle Brooster?” you frowned.

“I may or may not have picked up a new nickname today that has stuck pretty quick,” Rooster explained, blushing a little. “Oscar started to say Uncle Bradley, but I guess, also Rooster?” he shrugged with a faint grin. Uncle Brooster didn’t seem to hate it, you realised as Oscar ran at him, Rooster catching him in his arms, sitting your nephew on his hip.

“You said you'd play!” he accused, thrusting his new mitt on Rooster’s face.

“Hi, Oscar,” you smiled.

“Uncle Brooster said he’d play when you got here,” he whined.

“Missed you too, bud,” you replied curtly.

“All right, pal,” Rooster nodded. “I promised,” he held his hand out for the ball, putting Oscar back on the grass, as he winked at you and lowered his sunnies over his eyes again. “Duty calls.”

“Is this where you tell me you coulda made it in the pros if the skies didn’t call to you again?” you asked innocently enough. You’d heard that story so many times over the years. Rooster loved baseball. An unhealthy amount. If the Phillies (you had no idea why because he had no connection to the city in any way) were playing, he'd lose a day yelling and cheering at the TV. You dreaded the thought when football season started.

“I could have,” he sighed. “I was scouted.”

“By Uncle Sam?” you teased.

“Oscar, lemme show you that pitch, buddy,” he rolled his eyes at you, wandering away after him. “Your Aunty is a real meanie.”

“Yeah, but if you ask her real nice, she will always let you get ice cream, even when Mommy won’t,” Oscar replied as you giggled. Rooster might have been King of the Kids today, but Oscar still knew where his bread was buttered.

“Yeah, you’ll always be ‘Bad Influence Aunty’,” Annie smiled, sidling up to you and offering her hands to Ava. You shook your head, enjoying the cuddles.

“I’m not a bad influence, I just say yes to everything you say no to when I’m sitting,” you grinned, as she motioned you over to the big tree you’d sit under as kids and play endlessly. The sun was starting to get to you anyway and you sat down on the cool grass with Ava eagerly.

“How’d Rooster go?”

“Said he could see us having babies one day,” you blurted out.

She smiled. “That’s exciting!”

You shrugged. “I like that it’s just us at the moment. He’s away so much that I don’t want to share him,” you played with Ava’s little toes. “Is that wrong?”

She sighed. “That’s really a conversation you need to have with him. Because I know you two will be amazing parents, but if you don’t want to do it, you have to make sure you’re on the same page. It could be a dealbreaker if you both feel strongly about it.”

It felt like a boob punch, but Annie was right. Argh, you hated talking. Even to Rooster who, in reality, he was the easiest person to approach. He’d talk to you about anything, even before you two got together. It wasn’t that he was a few years older, because his maturity was not his always strong suit but had an opinion on everything and he listened well. He wasn’t scared to give you other perspectives on matters or pander to you if he knew you really needed it.

Fuck, he really was breathtaking, you watched him pass under arm to Oscar who missed it but Rooster kept encouraging.

Knowing you were trying not to get too upset, Annie added, “But you two want to have as much time together is wonderful. Things have a habit of falling into place like this sometimes. It’s still fairly new to both of you. You haven’t been a couple for a super long time, you don’t live together – ”

“He wants to, he’s said it a few times now,” you admitted as Ava started whinging and you attempted to appease her.

“What are you waiting for?” Annie asked.

“Every day he’s away, I dread the knock at the door – ”

“Don’t be like that. Rooster is very good at what he does, he will always come back to you.”

“His dad didn’t.”

“And our dad left on his own volition. Real life happens.”

You nodded, solemnly. “I know.”

“You have to open yourself to that man loving you. Because he does. So much so and he’s not afraid to tell anyone but if you keep him at arm’s length, he won’t have to fight for you because there is a queue of women who would kill to be in your shoes. He will be the love of your life, it’s just up to you to accept that.”

Oof, Annie always had a brutal way to deliver her message but you knew she was right.

Ava refused to calm in your arms and Annie held her arms out, preparing herself to feed her daughter. You gave Annie a moment and palmed Ava over, giving your attention to Rooster, baseball forgotten and jumping on the trampoline with Oscar, having the fucking time of his life. “You are gonna regret that, babe,” you said quietly. 30-year-olds were not made for trampolines, no matter how many hours you’d spent on one as a child. You’d fallen for it many times. The aching muscles the following days were never worth it. 

Oscar showed Rooster a small tumble, close to the mat. Not surprisingly, he congratulated your nephew and asked him to step back, bouncing way too high for the small trampoline and flipping himself in the air, giggling like mad. 

“Good chance Oscar will be suffering a broken arm or leg sometime soon with Rooster’s influence. He will be double-bounced at some point today,” you told Annie as she sighed and nodded. 

Sitting outside as the guests had started to leave, you relaxed back against Rooster’s chest, sitting between his legs as he rested his chin against your shoulder, kissing and nuzzling occasionally. It had cooled off a little, the evening breeze coming in off the water and Rooster’s body heat kept you snuggly warm. He always seemed to burn just a little warmer than most.

“Goodnight, Rooster. I expect I’ll see you you on the tarmac at 0600,” Cyclone said above you and you felt Rooster straighten up. “At ease, Bradshaw,” Cyclone instructed, casually.

“Yessir,” Rooster replied, hating being caught unawares. “0600, sir.”

“Goodnight,” Cyclone said to you. “Hope to see you again soon.”

“Goodnight,” you said after him. “I think that’s the last of them,” you reported quietly as Rooster sighed.

“Not one day of peace,” he muttered.

“You knew what you were getting into with my family.”

“I know,” he said against your skin.

“It’s a lot, isn’t it?”

“It’s a lot,” he agreed. “Wouldn’t change it for anything. This is your life. Our lives have always been so ingrained in all this. It’s what you get when you date the ex-Admiral’s darling granddaughter,” you felt him smile against your skin and smiled a little too.

You nodded, humming in agreement. “Did you ever think this would happen, Roost?”

Chuckling, he replied, “Probably, yeah. When we finally got together, I realised work and play were a lot more muddled, but it’s okay. I mean, the Navy feels like it’s all I know these days. It helps that you get it too. Sometimes I wish you didn’t know the ins and outs of what I do because I know it scares you a lot.”

Sighing, you stayed quiet.

“But know, I am always going to come home to you, okay?”

You nodded, pushing further back into his arms and he tightened his grip around you.

“You’re quiet,” he noted.

“I’m just listening,” you admitted. There wasn’t much more you could add, anyway. You could listen to him talk about anything and everything. His voice was a lullaby to you.

“Strange you’re not arguing with me,” he teased, giggling into your neck. You reached back to wrap an arm around his neck, your fingers playing with the curls at the nape of his neck. He sighed, he loved when you played with his hair. He was a simple man, but he fucking loved being touched. He was never starved, but no one could touch him the way you did.

“Take me home?”

“Of course. Can I just keep you here in my arms for a few more minutes?” he asked softly. God, he was just perfect. He always knew the right things to say and do to make you feel safe and protected and after your evening, he knew you just needed him to keep you close. “Don’t wanna let you go yet.”

Turning back to face him, you kissed him. “I love you.”

Even in the dark evening, Rooster’s cheeks flushed. “I know, sweet girl. I know.”

Home later that evening, you’d left your car at your grandparents, Rooster driving his Bronco back for his early start the next morning. Your drinks had caught up with you and he trotted around the car to wrap his arms around you, leading you to the front stoop of his home. Noting you didn’t exactly fall into his arms, he stopped and kissed from your earlobe to your pulse. “You good?”

“Yeah,” you replied.

Warning sirens wailed in his head as he dared say, “If the answer to my next question is ‘fine’, I’ll going to be really concerned,” he teased, trying to play cool in his concern.

“Then best you don’t ask,” you told him as he hummed into your skin and held you tightly, before unlocking the front door and letting you both in.

“C’mon. What’s up, baby? Make me regret asking…” he joked, hustling you in his arms and a mess of limbs as he walked you to the kitchen. He dumped his sunglasses, keys and phone and hoisted you onto the kitchen bench. Fuck, you loved when he showed his strength and manhandled you a little bit. He pushed up the skirt of your dress and boldly parted your legs to stand between. “Have I said or done something?” he asked, pretty sure he hadn’t put his foot in somehow since leaving your grandparent's home.

“My God, no,” you held his handsome face in your hands, tenderly. God, you loved his face and his eyes warmed under your gaze, relieved. “Just a big day. I’m tired, I drank too much champagne, I guess. Never a wise decision in the sun,” you said as his large, strong palms massaged your quads. 

“No, probably not,” he admitted. “But for a sec, let’s pretend I can’t see right through you and I can’t tell something is eating at you…” he tried as you sighed and rested your forehead on his strong shoulder.

“Can you know me worse?”

“Tried. Only made me want to know you better.”

“Then say less nice things.”

“Tried that too. You prefer me gruff and nasty,” he chuckled quietly, playing with the ends of your hair.

Looking up to smile, you gently kissed him. “Today was a lot.”

“Why? Me holding Ava? Being king of the kids? Get you all hot and bothered?” he goaded you.  

“Some of that. But also got a lot of, ‘so, are you and Bradley thinking about settling down?’ and ‘gee, he’s such a fine young man, better start thinking about weddings and babies’. And my favourite of the day from Aunt Maggie, ‘you are only getting older, dear. Bradley will want a baby eventually. If you don’t start thinking about it soon, you may be too old and miss the boat’.”

Rooster’s jaw hung. “You’re fuckin’ with me.”

“Nope,” you popped the P.

“Wow, okay. That’s a lot,” he said, a little taken aback and cradled you in his arms.

“Yeah, was a lot,” you replied, meekly, blinking back some tears while he couldn’t see your face. “What kills me the most is we’re doing so good right now.”

“So good,” he agreed.

“We’re having fun, we spend more or less every available minute together.”

“Yep.”

“Why does it have to be muddled with weddings and babies?”

He sighed softly, pulling back to look at you. “I dunno, baby. It doesn’t have to be.”

“You said it yourself though, you want kids.”

“I’m guided by you. You want a baby in ten years, fuck, that’s ten years I get to be completely selfish and have you to myself. You decide you want a baby now, well, whip your undies off and let’s get to it. We can start practising right now.”

“I’m on the pill, Roost,” you reminded him.

“Then stop it,” he shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me because you lead, and I will willingly follow. Always. If you decide you don’t want a baby, well… that’s okay too,” he said the last part quietly but you both knew he was lying.

“Bradley?”

He pursed his lips, looking at you. He knew what you were going to ask, and replied, “I want to have it all with you. But if you are happy as we are, I will be okay with that too.”

“Bradley…”

“I won’t lie to you. I want us to have a family,” he admitted.

“And what if I can’t give that to you?”

“You’re already my family, so how can I lose?” he shrugged. 

Breathing, you kissed him deeply. You were so in love with him, he always knew how to reassure you and this time, you truly believed him because he was all you needed too. “You really think about it?” you asked shyly. As undecided as you were… you couldn’t help but ask.

He nodded, a simple smile gracing his features and a shrug. “Baby… you’ve always been an Aunty. Seeing you with children isn’t new to me. I’ve always known you’d be a beautiful mother. The only difference is it would be our sweet baby.”

Sighing, you couldn’t believe this man was yours, you wanted to kiss his face off. “Knock it off,” you rolled your eyes as he laughed, quietly.

“And you work with kids all day. You’ve got the patience of a saint. Not with me,” he said meekly as you giggled. True, Rooster Bradshaw would get under your skin in about three seconds some days. “But with those kids in the pool, that’s commendable. You’re giving them skills they will use their entire lives.”

“Bradley…” you warned.

“You want a baby, yeah, I’d make a baby with you. The practice would be a lot of fun,” he rattled off. “Kid would be fuckin’ adorable, because… I mean, look at us,” he raised an eyebrow, gauging your response and you bit your lip, trying to remain passive. “And if you decide that you don’t want to either, that’s okay too.”

“I – ” you started and shut your mouth again so quickly that it worried him.

“You?” he frowned.

“No, forget it. Didn’t say anything.”

“I have magnificent hearing.”

“You shouldn’t for someone who is in a jet every day.”

“True, I’m on a one-way ticket to tinnitus. But you were going to say something, and I want to hear it.”

“It’s so dumb,” you dropped your gaze.

Cupping your chin, he sighed. “Nothing from your mouth is dumb.”

“Okay, you asked for it… you’re away so much.”

“Correct. Not a question though.”

“What if I change my mind and you’re away for six months or something?”

“Well, I hope those days are behind me but respectfully?”

“Of course.”

“You go off that pill and I will come home so ready to make babies with you that you will be sick of the time I am inside you,” he kissed that spot on your jaw that drove you absolutely wild.

It was so hot, you think you died a little. “Impossible.”

He laughed quietly. Shaking his head, amazed. ��Do you feel a bit better? I don’t want you down. It’s your body and I know you could hesitate because I might not be home as much as you need me to be.”

“We’ve got time?”

“Our whole lives,” he promised. You finally smiled, looking into his warm hazel eyes, as you cupped his chin, your thumb dragging across his marred skin, never wanting to change its perfection. “You good?”

“I feel so much better,” you admitted, softer now. More mellow from his touch. You hated the power he had over you to just snap his fingers and allow you just relinquish pain and distress. Every day he was teaching you, and it was amazing how easily he could get you talking.

“You feel really good,” Rooster admitted, quietly, his tone changed, his strong palms massaging. “Look really good too, like you need to be fucked really good.”

“I do,” you agreed as he sighed and hitched you into his arms. “Last 24 hours was pure torture.”

“I know, I know,” he kissed you softly, that kiss that drove you senseless. Just that kind of kiss that he stole before he would allow you to fall into it and your lips would chase him, a taunt he thoroughly enjoyed. “You’re here now. Bed?” he nuzzled your pulse, heady on your perfume. You giggled quietly, lacing your fingers into his curls.

“Bed.”

He smiled into your skin, his kiss leading to your lips and he kissed you properly for the first time today. You were so fucking addictive to him, his body on high alert. He knew what you needed and was not afraid to give it to you. His slick tongue tickled your lip as you gratefully fought back, missing his taste. You barely noticed he was carrying you back to his bedroom before you were lowered to the bed and his hefty weight was on you – right where you needed it to be. You wrapped your arms and legs around him, not letting him move as he huffed a laugh against your lips. “All right, all right, but you got me locked in pretty tight… how am I supposed to get you naked?”

Pondering, he was right. “Okay,” you released him and he backed up, offering you his hand as he pulled you to him, your back to him, nuzzling the base of your neck. “While I love this on,” he sighed. “The time has come, old friend,” he said to the dress as you bit back your smile and his nimble fingers made light work of the zip. He brushed the spaghetti straps off your shoulders, letting the dress float to the floor, leaving you in your strapless bra and matching underwear you’d promised earlier. He hummed, gently turning to him. “Shit..”

Pinching his cheek, you shook your head. “I know you like this one,” you taunted.

“I like this one, yes,” he swallowed thickly and your body was in flames. “Never used to give half a shit about getting a woman naked… but you make that effort to just give me a little more than I thought I needed,” his fingers traced your rib cage. “Makes me want to keep you in it just a moment longer. As well as the heels,” he tutted. “I don’t know how you wear them all day, but your legs could not look more amazing than if they were wrapped around my head.”

“Bradley,” resting your head on his chest, you were burning up under his gaze. He had the ability to make you feel like the most self-assured person on the planet under his touch. He cleared his throat to tease as you raised your eyes again.

“Don’t you dare get shy on me,” he bit back his smile, starting on the buttons of this shirt. You gently pushed your fingers away as he took the hint, his arms falling to your hips, massaging the soft skin and God, there was nothing you enjoyed more than helping Bradley Bradshaw undress. At the last button, you pushed the lovely shirt away and let it pool at his feet. He used his feet to kick off his sneakers. Popping the button and the fly on his shorts, you let the material add to the pile around his ankles before he eased you back towards the bed.

He crawled up the bed to you, his knees between your begging body. There was absolutely no need to rush. He placed a gentle palm behind your knee and dragged it to the ankle, unbuckling the heel and then repeating the action again on the other foot.

“Slow?”

You nodded as his lips crashed against yours, his arms caging your body impossibly close to him, wrapping your hands above your head with his, and again, your legs encased his hips, forcing his weight heavy on you. “I love you,” you told him as he breathed hard and said the same back, your name rolling off his tongue, his lips barely leaving yours as you grew a little more desperate for his body and he rutted his hips into yours, feeling a little more impatient than what you’d promised each other.

You rolled your head to kiss his well-worked biceps. Sitting you up, he made light work of your bra and his boxers, pinning you below him as your lips met again for a bruising crush of lips, tongues and teeth. You could kiss him all day, even with that moustache. It was so irrevocably Rooster that you probably couldn’t remember what he looked like without it anymore. You’d probably miss its tickle if he ever decided to shave it off. Other parts of your body would miss it too.

He hitched your legs wide as he slipped his middle finger under the seam of the blue lace underwear he left you in, the pad of his finger eagerly testing the waters as he tutted. “You’re so warm and wet, babygirl.”

“Have been all day.”

“I’ll bet,” he sighed. “Tell me if you need me and I will always take care of you,” he rasped, his warm tongue rolling around a straining nipple, lips enclosing and sucking purposefully. He bit you, a hiss escaping your lips as your fingers laced into his curls.

“You are so sexy – ” you tried as he slipped in a finger and his thumb started drawing circles on your clit. Your breath caught and a sigh of utter bliss escaped. His fingers were magical. “I need to touch you,” you said, reaching for him and he rolled your bodies to face each other, your warm palm reaching out for his hard cock. Your delicate fingers swirled the pre-cum around his head and he shuddered, chewing his bottom lip as you tugged at him, helping him find a rhythm.

“Good girl,” he cooed gently, his tongue sneaking between his lips as he breathed long and deep, wanting to feel your hands on him as much as you did him. “Good girl.”

You craned to kiss him, rough, the opposite of your bodies.

“I need you,” you told him, trying hard to compose yourself and not cum all over his fingers. While his fingers worked wonders, you just needed to feel as one. He breathed an ‘okay, baby’, dragging the flimsy material down your hips, moving to his knees to collect them over your ankle and tossing them over his shoulder. Sidling behind you, his strong arms dragging you tight against him, your back to his chest, your ass to cock.  So warm and slick, he sunk into you slowly, it was almost torturous as you pushed your hips back, taking him all in, your arm reaching back and curling around his hip.

A guttural growl from behind you as his fingers crept over your thigh, dragging it over his hip and opening you to him as he lazily drove into you, his palm gripping the tender flesh to keep you close. He laced his other hand in your hair, giving it a gentle tug, to kiss your shoulder blade as you mewled into him. “So good,” you manage, the slow pull of his cock and the sharp snap of his hips rendering you lifeless in response.

“Touch yourself,” he begged. “Please?”

With that voice, he could make you willingly participate in a multitude of sins, but this was too easy. He lived for watching you bring yourself pleasure, and he breathed raggedly as he tried to keep his eyes on your body, but lost to the sheer pleasure as your walls started to tighten around him. Your fingers toyed with your clit as you drew haphazard shapes, writing his name, knowing exactly what you wanted as he cursed, begging for your orgasm, his hips drawing into you, slow and delicious. You were far too wet and warm for him to last, and you were far too close as his cock hit you in the most desired of places.

“Come, baby. You are so close,” he struggled to say as his hips sped up. He was so close, only holding on to feel your walls pulsate around his cock, milking him, and dragging his orgasm out too. He gave your hip a wild smack and his teeth sunk into your shoulder.

“Holy shit, Bradley,” you moaned as his hips stuttered into yours, his orgasm triggered.

“Jesus,” his resolve crumbled as he fucked into you, hard and fast, coming thick and hot inside you as his hips continued to stutter of their own volition. “Shit,” he breathed, you both in a tangle of limbs and quietly panting. Rooster massaged your side and over the spot-on your ass he groped so roughly. “You okay?” he kissed across your shoulder and to your bicep, a litany of goose-pimples bursting on your overstimulated skin, the last sparks of your orgasm firing as he breathed deeply, trying to control himself still feeling the last jolts of your electricity.

“I’m okay,” you sighed, blissed, and found his hand resting on your hip, twisting your fingers in his.

“Love you. I’m so fucking in love with you, sweetheart,” he whispered, urgent.

“I love you too,” you told him, and he kissed you and kissed you and kissed you until you begged to stop to go to the bathroom.

“Sure you’re okay?” he asked, watching you unsteadily, your legs rendering you a little like Bambi learning to walk. He chewed his bottom lip, highly amused. Mission accomplished if your legs were shaking, but he’d lift his game up if you were still able to walk, period.

Keeping your thighs together, he sat up to meet you at the end of the bed, eyes dancing mischievously as you caught his chin in your palm crudely.

“I’m amazing, I love you. Gear up, big boy. Your night is just getting started,” you warned, as he smiled willingly, the pleasantries over. A tinge of red crept to his ears as he watched you cross the room precariously and close the door after you. He rubbed his face and collapsed back on the bed, blissfully. He heard you all right, gear up, big boy.

masterlist.

A/N: the tag list no longer exists. To keep up to date, give @notroosterbradshaw-library a follow x

[bisexual-horror-fan]

Do-Over-December 11th. Billy Loomis X Stu Macher X FEM! AFAB! Reader. Candy Cane. Poly!Ghostface. "Candied Glass."

Hello, hello, hello! We are back on track and tryna stick to it! Poly!Ghostface Christmas fuckery! I hope you all enjoy this and missed this as much as I have! Onwards with re-doing Kinky December! Not much else to say but let's goooo-

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Rating. Explict. Length. 2.7K (Old Length. 2.4K.) Warnings. Light Holiday Fluff. Masturbation. Sex Toys. Dirty Talk. Exhibitionism. Light Tempature Play. Impatiant Boys. Cunnilingus. Dirty Pictures.

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It’s mid-December and the holiday break is about to be upon the college campus you attended. It was your first winter break with your boyfriends Billy and Stu, you had gotten together with them last spring and things had honestly been going pretty good.

Okay, okay, better than pretty good, it’s been amazing. Billy and Stu had already been together prior to you coming into the picture. You all started off as friends, and you’d developed a serious crush on them, but you didn’t do anything about it, scared to make any kind of move because they were already with each other.

It had all the hallmarks of an all consuming crush, musing and daydreaming about what could be, desperate to spend any time you could with them. Said extreme longing was not helped by the fact that they returned those lingering looks and fleeting touches that had you questioning if they were into you too, but you pushed those feelings down. 

You seriously tried not to look too deeply into it when they were nice, like when Stu offered to buy your textbook for a class you needed. You had protested, but Stu gave you a shrug and a wink as he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, saying, “Don’t worry about it.”

Or when Billy remembered your coffee order and brought you one to your shared class one morning when he knew you had a rough late night the day before trying to finish an essay. It went on like that for a couple of months but one night after a party, the three of you were hanging out in their apartment, all still kinda drunk and sitting around, a quiet moment broken when Stu spoke up, “You know we are into polyamory right?”

And just like that, the rest was history. You started dating them, and it had been pretty fucking great thus far. With the break about to kick off it meant some time apart, you’d met them at school and were from a different town than them, you all have plans to return to your respective families for the holidays. 

You wished you three could have spent it together, but it wasn’t possible with how far away your hometown was away from theirs. So instead, the three of you were having a small celebration, to do your gift exchange before the real holidays hit.

You three had all night to spend together, and so far you had watched a couple of movies, had some dinner and were currently deep in opening gifts. You were college students and set a budget but Stu, with all of his parent's money at his disposal, he totally went over the limit to spoil Billy and you. Mostly you because Billy had already had the talk numerous times throughout their friendship/relationship to quote- “Fucking knock it off, man.”

So Stu still did spoil him, but not as much as he used to. 

Spoiling you was new and exciting and fun. He loved how flustered you got, unused to such attention. He had gotten you a new coat you had been looking at but deemed too expensive previously you were going to stick it out, but Stu said fuck that, it’s winter, you deserve a good coat. Stu also got you the newest book in a series you enjoyed, and some new headphones and a few other things. Billy had gotten you one of those giant three wick candles in one of your favourite scents and a sweater that he admitted Stu helped pick out, but he bought. 

You loved all of it. 

You had pulled the sweater on and were just thinking about getting the dessert you had made for the three of you to share when Stu pulled out another gift, and you rolled your eyes as you chided him, tone flat, “Stu. Another?”

“Last one! I promise!” He said, holding one hand up as the other held onto the gift. Billy looked over and smirked, pointing at the package as he asked, “Oh, that’s it, isn’t it?”

Stu’s smile widened, and he wiggled his eyebrows in that way that made you snicker as he replied to Billy, “You know it!”

He handed you the package, and you placed it in your lap as you inquired, “Billy in on this one?”

“To be fair, I was in on all of them.” Of course, they conspired against you, but to be fair, you did the exact same thing, telling Billy what you got for Stu and vice versa. You just wanted to make sure you didn’t get the same thing and make sure your gifts were good enough. 

“Why am I not surprised?” You finally set to open the present, tearing at the paper apart, letting the shreds fall onto the hardwood floor with the rest, the torn wrapping was about ankle deep around the couch where the three of you were sitting. 

You opened the box and couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you serious?”

See, you had wanted something like this. You had never owned any sex toys previously and had expressed interest in getting some now that you were out of your parent's house and away at college you wouldn’t have to worry about them finding them, and you had the privacy and space to use them comfortably. It was a very thoughtful gift, but you weren’t expecting this to be what he went with. 

You reached into the box and lifted out the toy and held it up. It is a glass dildo, smooth and weighty and in the shape of a candy cane, and striped like one to boot. Billy was laughing a little behind his hand, and Stu managed to hold back his laughter, but only barely. Stu hit Billy on the leg, and he nodded once before clearing his throat and putting on a more serious look as he asked, tone surprisingly even, “What, you don’t like it, baby?”

They shared a look, and you smirked and turned it over in your hands, and Stu said, “Yeah. It’s appropriate, don’t you think?”

You nodded with your lips pursed and looked Stu in the eyes as you said in your own serious tone, “I’ll give you this much, Stu.” You pointed at him with the end of the dildo as you finished your thought, “-It’s very festive.”

That did it, and the three of you broke down laughing. You laughed too much and too long, but when you all stopped you were in the middle of your boys, throwing an arm around each of their shoulders and hugging them, “Thank you for the gifts, boys. I love them.”

The rest of the night continued on, the boys loved their gifts just as much, dessert was shared, and you all talked about what your plans over the holidays were. You were going to miss them so much, and they were going to miss you too, but you were still planning on spending the night tonight, then going off back home tomorrow. 

You ended up in bed with them, of course. Two weeks apart would be bad enough as it was, you needed to try and get your fill of them tonight. You were sitting on Billy’s lap, his back was to the headboard of the bed, and you were currently in deep and lost making out with him, his hands roaming on your clothed form. You felt the mattress dip behind you, feeling Stu get onto the bed, one of his hands on your hip and his other hand coming up to cup your cheek, “Got started without me?”

And with a hum you pulled back breaking the kiss with Billy and reached back, fingers finding Stu’s short hair and looking up at him,“You were taking so long, it’s not my fault Billy has no patience.” 

Billy rolled his eyes, the action is playful, head tilting back as he says, “C’mon, you see her man, how am I supposed to have her in bed and not do something.”

Stu’s hand under your chin and tilting your head up at a more aggressive angle, “Very true, impossible to resist.” 

Then he was pulling you into a kiss of his own, you kissed him back easily and Billy had leaned forward now, his mouth on your neck and fuck this was the best. Three of you taking turns and hands all over each other, it always heated up so quickly. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of whose hands or mouth were where, but you weren’t about to complain about getting so much attention when it felt this good. 

Fingers started to explore further and breathing was picking up. It felt way too hot for your sweater soon and Billy was helping you take it off and threw it aside, and you started to help him with his shirt, Stu was still pressed to you, and he whispered in your ear, “We got a little something in mind for you baby.”

Stu’s hands were pulling your shirt up, and you let him help you take it off, his hands were on your breasts, groping at you through your bra and you hummed questioningly,

“Mmmhmm?” You hummed questioningly, and he said, “Yeah, somethin’ we want to see you do.”

You were already so turned on that you were down for basically anything, “What is it?”

A look shared between the two of them, and they knew by how you responded that you were in the right mood to be open with them. Stu wrapped his arms around your waist and lifted you up a few inches, you let him and assisted, standing up on your knees as Billy took to removing your skirt. Then you were just in your panties and Stu had removed your bra as Billy moved out of the way, and you were put in his place, leaning against the pillows and headboard. Stu had his hands behind his back and after a moment he showed you what he was holding and-

It was that same present as before, you snickered and asked as your gaze ran over the glass candy cane in his hand, and you deadpanned,“Seriously?”

Billy ran his fingers through his hair before moving closer and leaning over you, one of Stu’s hands lands on your thigh, spreading your legs and Billy, much closer to you now, was looking into your eyes as he said, “Seriously. We think it’d be hot to watch you use it on yourself for us.”

Just like that, you were in. You would do just about anything for either of them solo, but having both of them wanting something from you? No way could you say no. 

You nodded once and the toy was placed in your hand and the boys backed off a bit, getting comfortable on the end of the bed, and you settled in. You weren’t sure how to start, you hadn’t used toys before at all, let alone one made of glass. It seemed sturdy, good quality, you turn it over in your hand as you looked at them and bit your bottom lip, they were watching you. As the thought and the situation fully washed over you, this was hot, you were much more into this idea than you thought. You’d done a lot with them, but certainly had not done a dedicated time masturbating in front of them. This was something special, it could be another gift of sorts, a new experience, new memories foraged with them.

Why not put on a show?

You started simply, pressing the toy to your damp panties and sliding it up and down, a slow tease for them and you. Sliding up and down, more pressure, focusing on your clit a bit more with each pass, and it was starting to feel pretty good, hips tilting up more into the cool sensation of the toy. 

All too soon you wanted more, and your fingers hooked in the crotch of your panties, you pulled them aside, bringing the toy down and touching it to your soaked flesh. You weren’t expecting it to be so cold, you shivered a little. 

“That good?” Stu inquired, brows raised and Billy was smirking, arm thrown around Stu’s shoulders, and he asked teasingly, “Yeah? You’re shaking already.”

“ ‘M fine, it’s just cold.” It’s a half lie as you slide the toy up and down a few more times before finally dipping inside yourself and oh-

Oh, fuck.

You didn’t expect that at all.

How good the difference in temperature felt. You were burning hot and the toy being so cold gave such a unique sensation, you slide the toy in as far as it would go, holding onto the hooked end with one hand. It slid in so easily. Another thing you didn’t plan on was how little lube it needed, the glass was so smooth, no ridges, it glides in and out with very minimal effort. 

It was unrelenting as you clenched on it, no give to it at all, that was something you weren’t used to either. Okay you got it, from just a minute of pushing it in and pulling it back out, thrusting back and forth experimentally you understood the appeal. You wouldn’t need to play this up much at all, it felt good, damn good. 

You vocalized it, soft moans crossing your lips, head falling back onto the pillows as you played, thighs spreading wider, you tilted the toy and brushed that spot inside just right and gasped. 

“Ah! Oh, fuc- that’s good.”

You needed your underwear gone, toy leaving you for only a moment, holding it in one hand you arched your hips and the other hand slid down and set to removing your panties, you pulled them off and with a coy smile you tossed them to the boys. Stu caught them, both looked very amused and seemed to be enjoying the show immensely. 

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t enjoying it yourself, ass touching back down on the sheets you slipped the toy back in and resumed a steady pace, eyes rolling back as you did, my God this was fun. Having them watch you, doing this so close to them, finding pleasure in yourself and them enjoying every second of seeing you get off. 

A hand met your ankle, and you looked down to see Billy getting between your legs, “Apparently cold is good.”

Apparently he was still impatient.

You nodded once, a harder thrust, and you moaned again, Billy’s hand slid up your leg and over your thigh and his hand nudged yours. You got the hint, moving your hand away, he leaned in close, his tongue ran over your clit and that your back arched. The cold glass, his hot breath and even hotter mouth around your straining clit, it was so much to handle. He had been paying good attention, he angled the toy just right to hit that sweet spot, and you were unable to stop the loud moan that left your mouth. 

Stu had moved up to be closer to you again, and he was kissing you and one of his hands was on your breasts and teasing one of your nipples and oh my God. You might have been laughing when you first opened up that present and laid your eyes on that toy, but you sure as shit weren’t laughing now. 

The rest of the night was amazing and needed. The three of you, all entangled together, soaking up every second you could because you knew that you wouldn’t have the chance for a while. 

You packed the toy and brought it home, you might have had a round or two on your own and sent the boys a few pictures. 

The one of you in your Christmas sweater and a skirt flipped up, wet pussy on display, face down ass up for the camera while you had one hand sliding the toy in and the fingers of your other on your clit was Billy’s personal favourite. The one you snapped with you in your family living room, late at night after everyone else had gone to bed, in just a robe, fully opened, exposing your naked body, lights from the tree as you laid on the floor in front of it dancing over your body as you used that same toy was Stu’s favourite. 

Only one problem was that now you can’t look at candy canes without getting a bit wet and wanting to squirm while missing your boys. 

Christmas can’t come all the time but thanks to that lovely little gift you certainly were.

[pinguwrites]

Kinktober 2023 | Day Ten — William Killick + uniform kink, dirty talk

Pairing -> dom!william killick x wife!reader

Warnings -> smut (minors dni), dom!william, sub!reader, mention of military duty, use of good girl, sir kink, captain kink, william in his uniform>>>>>

KINKTOBER 2023 MLIST

Disclaimer: The Edge of Love characters, plots, quotes, etc. do not belong to me and belong to the rightful owner(s). This is only fanfiction and this is just for fun.

“I knew you liked it,” William said sweetly, resting his forehead against yours. He cupped your cheeks in his hand, caressing it with his fingers. “I can see the way you look at me when I wear it. All bothered-like. Just want a strong man to take care of you, hmm?”

You shuddered. William was right. You did like it when he wore his uniform, especially now that you were finally seeing him against after his deployment. How was it your fault he looked so damn good in it? It complimented his skin tone, it matched his dark brown hair almost perfectly, and it outlined his body, showing that he was strong and muscular and fit. When he wore it, it was like he commanded respect, and when you were by his side, it felt like no one could hurt you, that you were under protection, William’s protection. That you were his. 

“Yeah,” you admitted, trying not to get all flustered about it. If you didn’t downplay the situation you were sure you’d be in for nights of teasing. “It just, it looks nice on you. It’s a pretty colour.”

Images of fantasies you’ve had came up in your head. You tried to push them down, but you couldn’t stop thinking about them, especially now . . . William, holding you in his arms, shielding you from the dangers of the outside world. He would command you and dominante you, but in the loveliest ways — in a caring way. In a way that said he loved you. Sometimes he’d be on top, fucking you so good, but with his uniform on. He’d ask you — no, demand you call him ‘Captain’, and you would.  

William kissed you softly, his lips brushing up against yours. “I know it is. Is this what you want?” he asked.

“What?”

“Is this what you want?” he repeated. “To make love to you in this uniform?” His hands trailed up under your shirt, aiming to touch your breasts. “I can do that. Only if you want it.”

“Yes!” you immediately said, then averted your eyes, embarrassed at how eager you sounded. “William, I want it.”

“Darling,” he cooed. He picked you up in his arms, bridal style, and carried you to the bedroom, laying you gently on the mattress. “I’ll give it you. But first we need to lay some ground rules, okay?”

You looked up at him, curious, while he unbuckled his belt. What a wonderful sight.

“It’s not William anymore,” he said sternly. “You’ll call me Captain Killick. I deserve it, don’t I? For my wife to respect my position?”

“Yes, sir.” You could feel your body getting hotter, and the area between your legs wetter.

“You’ll be obedient, too. No brattiness,” he said, as he pulled his fat cock out, “no pleas or cries. Just ‘yes, sir’, ‘I’ll do anything to please you, sir’. I’ve served you all those years out there, fighting to keep my darling girl safe, and in return you’ll serve me. On your knees with your mouth, legs spread with your cunt — whatever I ask.”

Your response was filled with lust, “Yes, sir. Whatever you ask.”

“Good girl.” He gave you a proper kiss this time, a passionate one, with his tongue sweeping over your lips and pushing its way into your mouth. He let out a muffled groan, hiking up your skirt and pulling down your panties. 

“Get on your hands and knees for me,” he said in your ear. You hesitated. He had never taken you in that position before, but you obeyed nonetheless, waiting in anticipation.

“Ohh,” William moaned, pushing his cock into your wet pussy. He immediately started thrusting, hard and fast, without giving you a chance to adjust. 

“William!” you yelped, clutching onto the bed sheets for some stability.

He swiftly spanked your ass.

“C-captain Killick,” you corrected, little whimpers leaving your mouth. 

“Good girl. Ah, fuck — I can feel you clenching,” William said, his balls slapping against your skin, but you could also hear the sound of clothing shuffling. “Like it this much? Being—under my control? Dirty.”

You squirmed and tried to cover your wanton moans by placing your hand over your mouth, but William pinned your hands behind your back the moment he noticed what you were doing. “No, I want to hear your moans. Don’t hide them from me . . ."

He slowed his pace down and leaned over, his stomach touching your back. His thrusts were now more stiffer, and rough, pushing his way deep inside you. “Need to do this more often. Getting you so wet . . . I’ve missed you, it’s been so long since I’ve been inside of a woman.”

He cupped your bouncing breasts, pinching your nipples, eliciting a squeak out of you. “My darling wife. I love you . . . Now, stop squirming," he chastised, "and let me fuck you good."

Taglist:

@rainyforest777

@thatwitchybitch420 

@madeinuk

@gentyleman

@henrywintersdearestgirl

[vampzity]

𝘼 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚

Pairing: idol! Yeosang x gn!reader

Genre: fluff (PURE FLUFF), one shot, valentines au, pet names (honey, my love, babe), valentine's series, mini idol au

Synopsis: It's Valentine's Day, one of your favorite days of the year. Your boyfriend Yeosang is at the company, practicing with the boys for their upcoming Coachella debut and World Tour. Not to mention he’s been gone for weeks due to the Japanese leg of the tour. Taking advantage of this, you decide to bake him a bunch of cupcakes to surprise him with. However, you aren't necessarily a keen baker just yet ...

Now Playing: Lucky - Crying City

Word Count: 2.4k

A/N: I thought this would be the cutest idea for Yeosang, as he's a more quiet and closeted member. I hope you guys enjoy! :))

Yunho's Pt. Masterlist San's Pt.

You ran down the stairs in your apron as the oven began to beep relentlessly at you. Signaling that it was time to set its temperature. You hurried over to the batch of cupcakes that were sitting on the island table, patiently waiting to be baked for about 30 minutes.

You pulled the oven open, grabbed both baking pans from the table ,and placed them neatly side by side. You closed the oven and picked up the timer, beginning to set the time until your phone rang from upstairs. You groaned and set the timer down, making your way up the steps of the home. Walking into your room, you grabbed your phone off the charger and picked it up quickly before it hung up.

“Hello?”

“Y/n? Honey, Happy Valentine’s Day..”

Yeosang spoke to you softly, allowing you to feel his love through the phone. You smiled, your face painted pink hearing him call you ‘honey.’

“Happy Valentine’s Day Yeo. I can’t wait for you to come home, if I had to go any longer, I would’ve died.” You let out a small laugh, taking a seat on your shared bed. Yeosang sighed laughing with you, trying hard to hide his agreement with your sentence.

“It’s only been a couple of weeks, my love. You know the deal.”

You groaned, taking off your apron and laying down in the bed, looking up at the ceiling. “I know Yeo, but on Valentine’s Day? Like yea,” You paused for a second holding your left hand in the air to make air quotes. “Fan service, but what about my service?!”

Yeosang chuckled at your words, making you roll your eyes. He knew you were serious, but he often just found it cute when you considered yourself to be his biggest fan. Yes, you were his girlfriend, but in your eyes, you were his biggest supporter. Practically stuck with him through his entire trainee process to now. He went through a lot to get where he was now, both you and Wooyoung had seen it all being that was his best friend.

Overall, he deserved it. You believed Yeosang deserved the number of fans he has, even if you considered yourself number one. He worked hard to get here, they all did and finally, it was paying off.

“Why of course honey, you’ll always be my biggest fan. You know I’m forever grateful for such a thing.”

The young gentleman paused for a second, before continuing to speak again.

“It never goes unnoticed.. nothing does. I promise that.”

You smiled at his reassuring words, feeling content with the amount of love he expressed to you. There was never a moment where he didn’t. Never a moment where he didn’t remind you of how much he adored you and everything that you did for him. He always made sure to reassure you of how grateful he was for you. You were his girl, and he was going to make sure you knew that.

“I’m happy you know that. It’s just so dreadful going this long without you.” You whined like a child in the toy section.

Yeosang let out a small laugh, shaking his head as he began to speak.

“Babe, there’s been plenty of times where we have been away for a while. What’s got you worked up today, hm?”

You paused at his question, pondering for a minute.

“Well, it’s Valentine’s Day Yeo. The first we would ever spend together! I guess it’s my nerves. I’m overwhelmed with what to do, you know?”

You heard his faint hum over the phone, permitting you to speak some more.

“We’ve been together for what, 3 years? Not once have we had this holiday to ourselves. So the one time that we do, it’s just.. I just want everything to go right today. Is that so hard to ask?”

You sighed heavily, feeling an unbearable amount of weight on your shoulders as you continued to be overwhelmed by the topic of conversation.

“It’s okay, my love. I promise you that in the end, it will all turn out okay. Be positive for me, can you do that?”

You let out a small mumble as a response, nodding your head softly. Yeosang raised an eyebrow, knowing that you tend to get quiet when nervous. Even then, he still wanted you to communicate always.

“What was that, honey? Speak up for me.”

You felt your face turn red at his words. You knew how sweet Yeosang could be, but there were times when you couldn’t resist him. He knew exactly what words to say to you, and how to say them. How to use them.

“I said.. okay..” You beamed a light smile as Yeosang responded, soon leaving a bit of silence between you two.

“Well, what are you guys up to? When are you coming home?”

You pouted with the reminder that there was still some time before your beloved boyfriend came home. You dreaded such a long wait, but nothing could suppress the excitement you felt about it. It was the first Valentine’s that you two had ever spent together. The first time where Yeosang wasn’t on ‘idol duty’ as you like to call it. So of course, you were more than static to spend your first Valentine’s together.

“We’re just finishing up practice, honey. I’ll be home soon,” his voice trailed off as a bit of silence was present.

“I want to say.. in 2 hours or less. Okay?”

You hummed in response, being sure not to spoil the surprise that you had waiting for him when he came home. Two hours was more than enough time for you to decorate the cupcakes you made for him once they finished baking.

“Yeosang!! Hurry up!”

You heard a faint yell in the background as the members called for your boyfriend, making you frown at how short your call time was.

“Well don’t keep your members waiting Yeo. The more time you waste the longer you take to come home to me!” You laughed, smiling widely as you imagined Yeosang’s smile on the other side of the phone.

“Ah yeah, I guess I’ll go then. See you later y/n, I love you.”

“I love you too Yeo.”

The phone call ended and you sighed as you put your hands on your chest, feeling the rush of butterflies go through you. It was exciting to see Yeosang again after not being with him for a few weeks. Between tour practices, the Japan concerts and god knows what else, it seriously took a toll on you being alone for so long. Even if you’ve done this a billion times before, it was still a feeling you could never get used to. You get used to having Yeosang around just for him to be taken so quickly, it was never a delightful feeling.

You placed your phone down beside you, yawning slightly as you turned onto your side. Letting your heavy eyes fall shut, you drifted off into a soft sleep.

Yeosang placed the bouquet of roses in the trunk of the car next to the white box that was placed there before. It contained a heart-shaped cake with your favorite flavor. He had it specially made for you by one of your favorite bakeries in the city and he was beyond excited to give it to you.

He took a sat in the back with Wooyoung, fastening his seatbelt as the car proceeded to drive him home. Wooyoung held his new camera up in front of the two boys, waving to it.

“Wooyoung, are you vlogging right now?” Yeosang questioned him, looking towards the camera he held.

Wooyoung nodded happily and began to ramble on a bit as Yeosang sat in silence. He mentioned today’s practice, the last concerts in Japan, and what he was deciding to eat for dinner today. He turned to Yeosang, facing the camera to him.

“What about you Hyung? Tell our fans what a special day it is today!” Wooyoung smirked as Yeosang gave him a soft glare.

Rolling his eyes at the younger, he grabbed the camera and fixed his hair, smiling slightly.

“I bought a special cake for someone. Flowers too. It’s our first holiday together, so I hope they like them.”

Yeosang flushed pink, handing the camera back over to Wooyoung. Wooyoung gagged at his elder, laughing loudly enough to echo in the car. Yeosang hit his shoulder harshly, making the young boy groan in pain as he began to complain of his hard punching.

“You did this to yourself, Woo. You know exactly what nerve to hit.”

You woke up to the loud sounds of ringing and yelling in your ears, making you startle out of your sleep. You quickly sat up and looked around for your surroundings, only to see you were in the shared apartment that belonged to you and Yeosang.

“Y/n!!! Honey!!”

You raised your eyebrows at the sound of that familiar tone. You knew that voice from anywhere and your heart immediately skipped a beat at hearing it. You stood up from your bed, grabbed your apron, and immediately made your way down the steps to the kitchen. To your surprise, Yeosang stood there waving the smoke towards the window.

“Yeo..? What happened..?” You coughed, feeling the unpleasant smell of the smoke come through your nose.

“Hi, honey. Whatever you were baking, it uh… well let’s just say,” He held one of the trays in front of you, laughing slightly. “I’m sure this isn’t what you were going for.” A dozen cupcakes sat in the baking pans, completely charcoaled. Your eyes widened and your face dropped at the sight of your hard work. You brought your hands up to your face and groaned, feeling nothing but disappointment wash over you.

“Ugh, are you serious?! I just let myself fall asleep like I didn’t have any priorities!”

Yeosang walked over to comfort you, softly placing his hand on your back as his other hand removed your hands from your face. You felt nothing but despair as the one day you wanted to go right, went completely wrong. All because of your foolish need to sleep. It just felt irresponsible.

“It’s okay, my love.” Yeosang began to rub your back slowly, trying not to upset you more than you already had been.

“No, you don’t get it, Yeo! This day was supposed to be perfect! It’s our first Valentine’s together, and I completely messed it up!”

You sighed and placed your apron in the swivel chair by the island table. You took a seat next to it and put your head down, clearly frustrated by how this day ended up. Yeosang grabbed the white box with roses that were placed in the dining room and walked over to you with it, placing it by your head. He nudged you slightly, making you groan in annoyance as you refused to lift your head.

“If it makes you feel better, I got you something.”

You stayed silent, feeling completely worse over the fact that you had absolutely nothing to gift to your boyfriend. The cupcakes were supposed to be it, as he knew you had recently been taking baking classes to open up your bakery. Yeosang stood beside you, waiting for you to pop your head out to him but all to no avail.

“You’re not ignoring me, are you? On Valentine’s Day?” Yeosang leaned up against the table, smirking softly when he saw you peek an eye out towards him.

You muttered under your breath, looking away from him quickly as you wanted to turn your head back down. Yeosang tilted his head at you, resting his cheek against the palm of his hand.

“Agh you know I don’t like the muttering, my love. Speak up for me, let me hear you.”

You blushed hearing his sentence. He felt awfully flirty today, and it could be because it’s Valentine’s Day, but it continued to catch you off guard. He nudged you again, moving the box closer to you. You lifted your head as you caught the box and bouquet of roses in front of you. Hesitating to touch it, you look up at Yeosang for a moment.

“If it’s the gift you’re worried about, trust me.. it’s not as grand as you think.” He reassured, giving you a small smile.

You sat up a bit, proceeding to open the white box open for its contents. Your face painted one of confusion as revealed was a smashed red and pink cake on the right side. You turned the cake a bit, reading the words still present on the cake to Yeosang.

“Hap…Valent…s? How sweet Yeo.” You chuckled at your words, looking up to see him in embarrassment.

He turned the box of cake fully towards his direction and frowned at the sight. He brought two fingers up to the bridge of his nose, sighing softly.

“It must’ve fallen over in the back of the trunk.. this was unfortunate.”

You laughed, standing up from your seat and pulling Yeosang in for a hug. His eyes widened, as he didn’t expect you to be so joyous over a messed up cake. He wrapped his arms around you, kissing your forehead softly. You nuzzled your head into his shoulder kissing his neck lightly.

“Thank you, Yeo.”

You lifted your head to look at him, a confused look painted on his face. You smiled and placed your hand on his cheek, caressing it softly with your thumb.

“I know my gift to you was practically ruined, but don’t feel bad about your gift either.” You walked over to the drawer, pulling out a spoon. You scooped a piece from the cake, shoving it into Yeosang’s mouth and then some into your own.

“Mmm red velvet? Still tasty.”

Yeosang beamed at you, feeling nothing but a gross amount of love in his heart. How quickly you light up a room with your positivity and how easy it was to make his heart ache for you.

“I’m glad you like it, honey.” he looked over at the fridge, seeing a brochure hanging from it. “How about we order some pizza?”

He looked over to you as you nodded pleasantly. After the stressful day that occurred, all you wanted was to sit and relax with the person you adored most. Watch movies and eat countless slices of pizza without worrying about a thing in the world.

“Well, let’s change into something comfier then.” He grabbed your hand and made his way up the stairs with you, stopping at the door of your shared room.

“Y/n?”

You looked up at him, his eyes full of admiration as he gave you a small smile. You cocked your head at him as he squeezed your hand gently.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, honey. I love you.”

divider creds: @cafekitsune

A/N: I told you guys that this one shot was gonna be pure fluff! Since Valentine’s day is tomorrow I’m going try to work on San’s part for today so it can be uploaded. Then hopefully work on Mingi and Wooyoung tomorrow. Jongho will have to just be posted the day after but that’s okay!

Taglist: @skzline @evidive @kittykat-25 @amuromio @xoxkii @losrpark @classyrbf @sundaybossanova @owmoiralover @vrtualsins @sanslovesblog @honeyhwaaa

*comment to be apart of future taglists!*

[theadorableapprentice]

You Must Be Mad

MC x Solomon Warnings: Fluff Word Count: 894

A/N: Another Solomon story... But my next story will be either Satan, Barbatos, or Belphegor as I have stories planned for all three of them! I hope you enjoy this!

You were pacing in your bedroom, completely lost in your own thoughts. Not even the nasty weather outside could distract you. 

Did he really love you too? Was Asmo right? No, there was no way. Solomon keeps everyone at arms length… But Asmo would know better than anyone… Right? I mean, he seems to know Solomon the best. And Asmo had a point. Solomon does try to spend a lot of time with you. He would drop anything to help you. And there was that one time you thought he was going to kiss you… But surely you misinterpreted what was happening. Surely. 

Lightening strikes outside and you don’t stop thinking about it. Thinking about every interaction.

“MC, I saw this trinket while I was out and it reminded me of you… So here you go!”

“MC, I saw a cat that reminded me of you! Would you like to see?”

“MC, I have to go to the human world to pick something up for Diavolo. Do you want to come with? We can stop by that store you really like.”

Okay, so maybe he did go out of his way to spend time with you… But that doesn’t mean he has feelings for you. Those are totally things friends do too. 

You could almost hear Asmo’s voice in your head refuting that. “Yes, friends can do those things, but not Solomon. Stop denying it.”

Why were you denying it? If he had feelings for you back, that would be great, right? So why hasn’t he said anything? No, you know the answer to that. Fear of rejection and also there’s the whole thing of him losing so many loved ones so confessing to you could bring him more pain in the end… But wait, why should he have to confess anyways? 

No, you’re going to confess to him. You’re going to do something big and dramatic for him because he deserves that. He does big and dramatic things for you, so why shouldn’t you do something for him? But what should you do? Actually, you knew exactly what you were going to do. And hopefully he would find it equally as sweet as he will funny. 

Standing in the pouring rain outside of his window at Purgatory Hall, you wondered why you thought this was a good idea. You cast a small spell that would amplify your voice so Solomon could hear you over the rain and the thunder. 

“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Solomon is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. Be not her maid since she is envious. Her vestal livery is but sick and green, and none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.”

Solomon appeared at the window, opening it and looking really concerned. “MC? What are you doing out there? You must be mad coming here like this!”

You smiled. “It is my gentleman, O, it is my love! O, that he knew he were! He speaks, yet he says nothing. What of that?”

Solomon looked even more confused, but a slight blush dusted his cheeks. “MC, are you quoting Shakespeare at me?”

You tried not to laugh. You skipped ahead a few lines. “He speaks! O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head.”

Solomon let out a small laugh. “Hold on, MC.” Solomon closed his window and a moment later the front door opened and he met you outside in the pouring rain. “It’s a little wet to be outside, don’t you think?”

“I find it increases the drama.” 

“And, why exactly are you dramatically quoting Shakespeare to me?”

You gently grabbed his hands in yours. “Solomon the Wise, the most wonderful sorcerer and best human being I know, you mean more to me than I can describe with words. When I see you or hear from you, my heart does a little happy dance.”

“MC, I-”

“Solomon, let me finish. You are one of the smartest, funniest, kindest, and most chaotic people I know. Now that you’re in my life, I would feel as if something were missing if you were gone. All of this is to say, I’m quoting Shakespeare at you because I am without a doubt in love with you… And if Asmo tells me to tell you one more time I might have to strangle him.” You chuckled at the end of that, but smiled up at Solomon.

Solomon chuckled too. “Yeah, he can be a bit persistent, can’t he? MC, you didn’t have to do all of this for me. A simple ‘I love you’ text would’ve sufficed.”

You shook your head. “No way. You deserve big dramatic gestures of love. So now that we have that established, can we have the classic kiss in the rain?”

Solomon was about to say yes when lightening struck a tree not too far away from you guys. “Maybe we should skip that and go inside.”

You hurriedly nod and follow him into Purgatory Hall. 

Not so unfortunately, you and Solomon got sick and spent the week together. You could’ve probably used magic to make things better, but where was the fun in that?

[sarahreesbrennan]

sorry if you have already answered this, but are we getting any queer rep in Long Live Evil? 💕 i am super excited to see what you've cooked up for us either way!

I came back after I'd gone off on one, seeing the post had struck a chord and being thankful but fearful of my inbox. Let me say with delighted surprise that all the asks are very kind.

Thank you for this one, sweet anon. I am so excited and so nervous about my best beloved, Long Live Evil, and about coming back with a new book of my own after so long, when I believed for a long time it was hopeless.

I'm really grateful to find readers waiting for me. But I know readers are naturally more invested in characters they know: I extremely appreciate you taking an interest in the future.

So, short answer: YEAH you are!

Long answer: Long Live Evil wouldn't exist without its queer narratives.

C.S. Pacat and I were talking in our virtual Brookline Booksmith event recently about our favourite Disney villains. C.S. Pacat picked Maleficent, a fine choice. I picked Snow White's Evil Queen. We agreed we loved most of them.

Here's the relevant excerpt I was quoting in my last post from Carmen Maria Machado's In The Dream House, saying 'I think a lot about queer villains, the problem and pleasure and audacity of them.' Well... me too.

I think many of us have experienced feeling made wrong in some way - for not wanting what society said we should or being what we were expected to be - and that one step along that journey of discovery is going 'Okay, if it's wicked, I'll just BE wicked.' And that's part of why those characters appeal - because they seem free, and free of pain.

But modern storytelling isn't confined to coding, and audiences can now feel free to expect, not the certainty, but the possibility characters who aren't introduced as such still might actually turn out to be LGBT+. The essays I've read about Supernatural, Teen Wolf, Sherlock, Ted Lasso, Fox 9-1-1... I think the latest argued Jaime Lannister was bisexual. (Pretty persuasive.)

I remember reading the Raven Cycle going 'oh? OH.' I remember being at a writing retreat in 2013 and running through the halls screaming about Nico diAngelo. Ten years later we got a Nico diAngelo book co-written by Rick Riordan and the amazing Mark Oshiro. I watched Red, White and Royal Blue with a friend and she said 'honestly I hope the guys get together, but...' and I (having read the book) silenced myself with a herculean effort and watched her hopes come true. I didn't know about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and almost dropped the book in a swimming pool. But I've also read and watched many things thinking, just maybe... oh, no. Still that hope existing is meaningful, the thought that if the story had gone differently, if this revelation had happened, if this realisation had happened, if, if, if...

Long Live Evil is a story about the story going differently and asking yourself questions about your own nature, and the escape to fiction of those who really need escape. The book is based on that 'if,' and the 'if' itself is joyous, and brings me back to the idea of gleefully transgressing the narrative that much villain love is based on.

It's also an ensemble story with a rogue's gallery of characters and multiple PoVs. (I was much inspired by the Six of Crows ensemble.) So it isn't about any one character's romance, and by the book's nature there exist many possibilities. A critique partner read and said 'I didn't know you were going THERE' and I responded 'Should I?'

I've never been one to confirm where stories are going, and I won't do so now. I'm not talking about any one character or telling you a direction.

I'm just saying yes to rep. It's baked in.