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masiethewriter · 10 months ago

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Honored Eternal Path of Demise CH. 11 - Expected Betrayal

“There is nothing that can help us!” Luo Binghe suddenly roars, loud enough that Shen Qingqiu can’t help but take a step back. “We are stuck here with no way out and no matter what I do you keep acting like-” “Acting like what?!” Shen Qingqiu harshly interrupts. Finally Luo Binghe turns back around, ready to unleash his anger on a fighting target. “Like I am nothing but a beast that you wouldn’t rather see beaten to the ground than-” He suddenly stops. Looking right at Shen Qingqiu, his voice cuts off as his eyes widen. Shen Qingqiu takes that as the warning that it is.

First Chapter ~~ Previous Chapter ~~ AO3 Link

Loose rock crunch underneath their shoes. The rain has lightened to a drizzle, with the clouds beginning to part. Not too long from now they will clear a path for the moonlight to shine through. Shen Qingqiu expects himself to be back inside the mansion by then.

Far ahead of them, they can see the first signs of the gate. They are nearing a part of the game that Shen Qingqiu only remembers too well.

It could have been interesting for him to experience this part of the game which is usually reserved for Ning Yingying. When first playing the game, the tutorial had seemed like a promising start of something great. Teaching the player the obvious game mechanics as well as foreshadowing a few others.

How to crouch and pick up items is knowledge required for the player to progress. Having to find a hidden way underneath the fallen tree and the labyrinth of bushes are more discreet as lessons go. Investigation is key even when seemingly at a dead end. Walking into the dark always carries a risk that could be deadly. It is these lessons taught by the game that Shen Qingqiu has been following from the beginning.

And soon they will reach the next lecture where the most dangerous game mechanic of all will be introduced - The chase.

Shen Qingqiu does his best to postpone this for as long as he can. If Luo Binghe is a transmigrator, this is the perfect time to lure him into the hands of the Killer. His suspicion that this is a trap only grows as they get closer, so he needs to be prepared. The more time he has to do that, the better.

Shen Qingqiu is also uncertain how it will all play out. Back when playing the game, once he reached the corpse, the rest of this section would play out in a cutscene.

If he remembers correctly, the sequence of events will be as follows: after being horrified by their dead classmate, Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying will get attacked by the Killer. Somehow they will become split up, with Luo Binghe urging for Ning Yingying to run. The only way for her to go will be back towards the mansion. Using the flashlight, she will guide herself back through the maze. Right afterwards it will break down. Before she can act, the Killer will appear and in her shock she will drop the flashlight and run. It is first when she is past the fallen tree that the cutscene will end and the player has to guide her inside and to the safe room.

The rest of her story, Shen Qingqiu is quite familiar with by now.

How cutscenes are going to work when made into reality, he doesn't know. His assumption would be that they... don't. That the triggers will still be there, but that he can act them out as he wants.

Of course, Shen Qingqiu would not like any force taking over and controlling his actions. He has not had any limits to his free will since waking up in this game and he prefers to keep it that way. But he can't help the apprehension he feels at having to play out the cutscene himself. It is up to his own skills to survive this meeting with the Killer.

Also, with Luo Binghe being an unpredictable complication, his calculations are not in his favor. But that does not mean the math has no other solution. He will just have to find another way to add up the numbers.

Luo Binghe is only a few steps behind him. Upon seeing the gate, he had reacted appropriately positively and tried to hurry them up. Shen Qingqiu had to act extra stubborn and point out the danger they might be in not to have him run ahead. Even now, Shen Qingqiu can still feel his restless energy and has to force the both of them to keep a steady pace.

If Luo Binghe is truly playing another game, he is playing it well.

As they near the gate, Shen Qingqiu can't help the swe he feels as it towers above them. It is made of dark iron, only visible in the darkness thanks to two lights melted into it. The metal is thick and smooth, formed in a way so it is impossible to climb. Neither is there any way to squeeze through the bars. The gate functions as a perfect barrier between them and the outside world.

And lying against this locked cage of theirs is the dead body of someone who was once the classmate of Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying.

It is still not recognizable for what it is. From their current distance it rather looks like an oddly shaped rock or strange shadow. Luo Binghe has certainly not realized what it is yet.

"That must be the way out!" he exclaims and this time Shen Qingqiu can not stop him as he runs past him. "Come on Senior, let's hurry up!"

Shen Qingqiu does not hurry up. In fact, as the lights on the gate begin to reveal the colors and features of the strange shape, he finds himself slowing down.

There are many interesting views a person like Shen Qingqiu can look admire if he so chooses.

He can stare up at the unbelievable height of the gate and marvel at the sheer power it seems to emit as clouds glide by behind it.

He can look into the black void off the road, through the deep darkness in which the weakest light of a lamp post far away shines through.

He can look back the way they came, smaller bushes along the road harmless versions of the poisonous kind they passed not too long ago.

Many directions for Shen Qingqiu to look at. Each and everyone is preferable to that of a dead body.

After the last session he has seen enough of other people's corpses.

He can hear the moment Luo Binghe realizes what lies by the gate. A loud gasp of horror. As Shen Qingqiu looks towards him, he sees an expression of pure shock and terror.

Luo Binghe is covering his mouth with both hands, backing up towards Shen Qingqiu. Never takes his eyes off his deceased classmate. His breathing has quickened and a tremor runs through his entire body.

As Shen Qingqiu looks over at the body, he can't help but feel... not as affected.

Oh, it is horrific, don't get him wrong. His throat tightens up and he has to take deep breaths as his body shakes from something other than the cold. But the sheer heartache he felt as he saw Ning Yingying was so much more devastating than... than this person he doesn't know at all.

He knows from the others perspective, this used to be a human being. But he himself never got to know them as such. In the game, this corpse functioned as nothing more than a trigger for a cutscene. Forgotten as soon as it was out of frame. No personality, no backstory, no relationship to any of the characters besides their classmate status.

Slumped against the wall, huge gash in their chest and intestines spilling out, it is more the grotesque gore that is making Shen Qingqiu nauseous than anything else. Because... Because this is not a real person. Because no matter how many resets, in every single one of them, this person will be dead before the game has even started.

Essentially, they are mechanically no different from that of a piece of furniture.

"Senior Shen, this is..." Luo Binghe begins before he hesitates. Looking between Shen Qingqiu and his dead classmate, he swallows thickly as he continues, voice deeply serious. "We are not alone here, after all."

"We are not," is Shen Qingqius dark answer.

"What should we do? If we leave- If we just leave Ning Yingying might be in danger!" Luo Binghe worries and moves as if he is about to turn around and run back to her. Only Shen Qingqius hand on his arm keeps him still.

"She is in no greater danger than when we left her. Also look closer. The blood is fresh."

Shen Qingqiu does not need to explain what he means. Immediately Luo Binghes guard is up, looking in every direction. So far it is just the two of them. Still, the rustling from the trees and howling of the wind suddenly fill them both with much more dread. Shen Qingqiu because he knows what is about to happen. Luo Binghe possible the same.

Shen Qingqiu does not want to get near the corpse, but there is a sick piercing curiosity that moves him forward. Slowly he moves closer, kneeling by the body to study it. His only excuse for his actions is that Ning Yingying would have done the same if she was here, though for more sympathetic reasons.

The boy is around their age. His face youthful and pale, lips tinged blue. He wears the same school uniform as the rest of them, a badge on his chest confirming him to be a junior like Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying. Ignoring the cause of his death, there are no other signs of a struggle. He likely got killed right here by the gate, unable to do anything but fall over and die.

The slash on his chest starts at the hip and reaches across to his armpit. Blood still spills out in a steady flow, mixing with the rain and mud. The wound has split deeply enough that chunks of meat and intestines have fallen out, still releasing heat as they lay in a pile in his lap. Covering his mouth and nose, Shen Qingqiu has to swallow a couple of times in order not to empty his stomach.

This is undoubtedly the third most disgusting thing he has ever seen in his life. Ning Yingying’s corpse and the horrible bathroom taking first and second place.

"-must have been surprised when it happened," Luo Binghes voice suddenly interrupts his musings. "But this means we have no idea if there are others who have been kidnapped like us. Hopefully no one else has been hurt."

Wait, what did he say? Shen Qingqiu missed the beginning, was he talking about his classmate here? Now that he thinks about it, he doesn't actually remember their name... He's certain Ning Yingying has mentioned it more than once before, but he can't for the life of him recall what it is. The original goods would definitely have known, so that is kind of embarrassing actually...

"The faster we leave, the faster we can get help," Shen Qingqiu answers while making a mental note to better listen next time this guy gets named.

Luo Binghe simply agrees. He no longer looks as terrified, dark determination instead taking its place.

He turns away and marches to the gate. Standing beside it, his smaller frame compared to its great height make him appear almost insignificant. Like he is just a small matter to easily withstand as it continues its purpose in life. A purpose that is in perfect conflict with what they are trying to achieve.

Luo Binghe reaches out towards the gate handle. Every muscle in his body is taught. Hesitation keeps his movement slow.

As he finally grasps it, a tremor curses through his entire body. It is as if he has been hit by lightning and just barely manages to keep his hold. He lets out a painful breath, eyes big as he looks out at their freedom. Then he grits his teeth and pushes.

The gate does not move. Even against Luo Binghes strength, it is an immovable force. Made in such a way as to give them a hope that will never come to be.

Luo Binghes reaction is understandable. After having seen the actual danger that they are in, the need for getting out has become desperation. First he tries to pull, as if he just got the direction wrong. Then he puts more force into it, the strain of his muscles visible through his drenched sleeve.

"Let us out!" he growls as he puts both hands on the handle. His movement can no longer be considered push or pull, but pure violence as he tries to force it to move by his hands.

The gate stands still. It does not rattle for even a bit. Shen Qingqiu simply looks on, knowing that they will never get out. He does not try to stop Luo Binghe. He simply observes him as the rage of the other grows.

This does not appear to be the actions of a fellow transmigrator luring him into a trap. This appears as the expected behavior of a scared young man finding himself caught in a horrifying situation. Fear and anger blinding him, keeping him from giving up in a fight he has already lost.

Seeing Luo Binghe like this, Shen Qingqiu can only feel pity. Because in the end, he knows exactly how he feels.

"God dammit!" Luo Binghe curses as he releases the gate with a final kick. Hands yanking at his hair, he steps away, taking in huge gulps of air. Seeing him so vulnerable to his own anger, Shen Qingqiu decides to finally interfere.

"We should get back to Ning Yingying," is all he says. Standing back up, he does not bother trying to wipe off the mud on his pants.

It is as if Luo Binghe suddenly remembers he is not alone. His movement freezes, though he does not turn around to face Shen Qingqiu. Instead he hunches his shoulders, fists clenched tights enough that his knuckles turn white.

"And what are we going to do? We are stuck here." Luo Binghe hisses.

"Which is why I suggested not relying on only one solution to our predicament. Now we know this was a waste of time and can act accordingly."

"What are you even-!? How can you act like this? Are you not at all affected?"

Not liking the disgust in Luo Binghes voice, Shen Qingqiu can't help but defend himself.

"Of course I am affected. But staying here is not going to help Ning Yingying and it is certainly not going to help us."

“Acting like what?!” Shen Qingqiu harshly interrupts.

Finally Luo Binghe turns back around, ready to unleash his anger on a fighting target. “Like I am nothing but a beast that you wouldn’t rather see beaten to the ground than-”

He suddenly stops. Looking right at Shen Qingqiu, his voice cuts off as his eyes widen.

Shen Qingqiu takes that as the warning that it is.

"Senior Shen!" Luo Binghe calls out, but he is already ducking down. The gust of heavy metal slashes right where his head was a second ago, tearing at his hair. He throws himself away, sliding in the mud as he turns his back to Luo Binghe. Turns around so he can face the Killer.

By now he is more intimate with that devilish grin and the cold edges of the axe than he has been with anything else. It's a simple weapon, but through many, many sessions, he has been shown many, many different ways that it can take a life. Especially his life.

And while he hasn't gotten to see behind the mask since that one time, he honestly considers that a blessing. He found that he prefers the constructed grimace above the real face any time.

His many confrontations with the Killer has left him more skilled in the art of avoiding the deadly weapon. So as it swings down, he is already back on his feet, stepping out of its reach. Not even a second can be spared to check up on Binghe.

The earth is slippery with mud, even on the rocky road. Soundlessly the Killer charges forward. Shen Qingqiu jumps to the side, but is unable to keep his balance. As he falls, he feels the sharp edges of rocks cut into his palms.

Luo Binghe is behind him and for a second Shen Qingqiu worries that he will get caught instead. But looking back, Luo Binghe is just as capable at evading the Killer.

In fact, as the Killer slashes at him, he manages to lead him back towards the gate. A particularly brutal swing of the axe aims for Luo Binghes head, but he ducks just in time for it to hit the dark iron instead. A dull clang rings out and for a second it appears as if the force is enough to shake the Killers hold loose.

They are not that lucky. Shen Qingqiu is back on his feet, but Luo Binghe is stuck with the Killer between him and the road. Realising this, his eyes meet Shen Qingqiu's. He calls out only one word:

"Run!"

Shen Qingqiu turns. The command rings in his mind like white noise. Every instinct in his body screaming at him to get away. Pure survival takes over as he begins to run.

Running back the way they came. Running back towards the mansion. Running back to where he is meant to be.

He only manages a few steps. He stumbles as he is hit with sudden realisation.

Luo Binghe is staying behind. Luo Binghe is trying to distract the Killer. Luo Binghe is risking himself to allow Shen Qingqiu to escape.

This can not be a trap.

In fact, this is the exact same course of action that would have happened if Ning Yingying had been here. The same panic at the Killer's appearance. The same forced parting as the Killer stands in the way. The same sacrifice for the survival of another.

With this realisation, Shen Qingqiu can no longer deny the lack of proof that Luo Binghe is also a transmigrator. The only exception has been his invitation for Shen Qingqiu to join him. With anything else, he has behaved exactly as Luo Binghe the NPC would.

Shen Qingqiu hesitates. He was so certain Luo Binghe was trying to lure him to his death. But when looking back, he can find no reason for it. He made the choice that Luo Binghe must have malicious intentions, with no actual reason to back up this belief.

And now, this innocent boy is staying behind just so he has a chance to run away.

Shen Qingqiu should run. Luo Binghe can't die. It is definitely better for him to be in the Killers focus. No matter how their fight turns out, he will manage to get back up and continue the game. There is no reason Shen Qingqiu should worry. He has already played through the entire game, reaching every route and ending, with Luo Binghe staying alive to the end in every single one.

Luo Binghe is the last character he should ever have to worry about.

But Luo Binghe can get hurt. He can still be beaten down and defeated. He is not immune to becoming damaged enough that the game can reasonably push him out of the narrative for a while.

There must be a reason for why he doesn’t return back to the mansion right after meeting the Killer.

He may be safe from death. But no matter the argument, one simple reason makes it all mean nothing.

While thinking of Luo Binghe fighting with the Killer, Shen Qingqiu can not get the image of Ning Yingying’s desecrated corpse out of his head.

He turns back around. He sees the broad back of the Killer as he corners Luo Binghe. He tightens his grasp on the only item he holds in his hands. Then he swings his arm back, putting all his strength into it as he throws the item at the Killer.

The flashlights sails through the air. With a harsh crunch it hits the Killer right in the back of his head. It splits into pieces as it falls to the ground.

The Killer stops. Slowly, he turns towards Shen Qingqiu. Even through the two small holes of the mask, he swears he can see the rage building.

It is first now he realises that he certainly does not prefer for the Killers' attention to be on him.

It is too late. The Killer only needs to take a few long steps for Shen Qingqiu to be back in his range. As the axe aims for him once again, Shen Qingqiu can only return to the same deadly dance, steps cruelly memorable by now.

Back and forth the axe swings. Shen Qingqiu continues to evade. One jump leaves him on his knees. Before the Killer can chop him up, he takes a handful of mud and throws it in his face.

For the first time ever, the Killer lets out a yell.

The sounds are not understandable as words. But they do not hide their madness. Shen Qingqiu freezes, a chill running down his spine.

He never imagined the Killer's voice to sound so light. so... childish?

He has no time to put more thought into this. He forces himself to move and with the Killer’s brief distraction he allows himself to look back towards Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe is gone.

Dread fills him as he looks back and forth. But Luo Binghe is nowhere to be found.

He has abandoned him.

Shen Qingqiu does not have time to curse him out. The Killer has wiped the mud off his mask. As they face each other, Shen Qingqiu knows there is nothing that will keep him from becoming prey once more.

He has nowhere to run. He has nowhere to hide. He is caught in a fight he is guaranteed to lose. He has sealed his fate and now this will be the shortest session Shen Qingqiu has experienced so far.

If only he had never agreed to follow Luo Binghe outside.

The force behind the axe has grown with the rage of the Killer. Each swing more deadly than the next. At the same time, Shen Qingqiu’s realisation has weakened his resolve. He is not able to dodge as quickly. He has lost his footing and is stumbling through every dodge.

Finally, he falls. Rain continues to fall upon him as he looks up. Once again the Killer towers above him. As the axe is lifted high above his head, Shen Qingqiu finds the movement to be almost elegant. It is a second too late he realises he needs to move out of the way as the axe falls.

The axe is just as old. As rusty. Just as badly maintained. Dull and blunt. So it is more the force that splits Shen Qingqiu’s foot apart than its sharp edge.

Shen Qingqiu just barely manages to avoid having his head carved in. but it comes with a price. He is not able to get away in time. The burning pain that rushes through as his leg is cut open is unimaginable. His answering scream just as horrific.

His eyes are blurry with tears as he gasps for breath.

He can't breathe, he can't breathe.

The agony is too great, too ravenous, as it devours him through his leg, eating him whole.

Is his foot even still connected to the rest of him!?

An answer is given as the axe gets wrenched out of muscle and tissue. A second scream leaves Shen Qingqiu, pitch in perfect symphony with the wail that comes from his nerve endings.

He is going to die. He is going to die again. that he knows.

But why? Why does he have to go through this suffering before it happens?

This time he has no chance of dodging the Killer. He can only lay and wait for the axe to finish its work. This time he can't even look up at the huge frame. He is only just barely able to keep his head from drowning in the mud. This time, as the shadows of a deadly tool being lifted high above cover him, he closes his eyes and turns away.

Just because it is inevitable, does not mean he has to face it.

The wind howls. The trees crackle. Rain pours ruthlessly down on them. Not even the light from the moon peeks through to provide mercy.

A scream. Light and harrowing.

Not Shen Qingqius. Someone else's.

He looks up. What he sees shocks him.

With a loud thump, the axe has been dropped. Instead, the Killer holds both hands against his mask in an attempt to protect it. With a howl he steps away.

Luo Binghe follows.

Using his jacket as protection, he holds a heavy branch. Leaves full of sharp edges and thorns along its sides. Once more he swings it at the Killer, right as his face. Unable to see, the Killer is incapable of avoiding it. This time, the branch gets stuck between his arms and face. He shrieks as he tries to shake it off.

Luo Binghe takes this as their chance and lets go.

He does not run away. Instead, he goes straight for Shen Qingqiu. Using his strength, he pulls him up before he can even protest. But as his feet reach the ground, he is unable to hold in a cry of pain. Luo Binghe quickly reacts and looks down to see his stump of a foot.

Shen Qingqiu can't walk. But for whatever reason, this does not cause Luo Binghe to abandon him.

Instead he throws his arm over his shoulder. Standing together, he keeps them balanced. And as quickly as they can, they run away into the darkness, followed only by the anguish screams of the Killer.

#SVSSS #BingQiu #BingYuan #Luo Binghe #Shen Yuan #Shen Qingqiu #scum villain's self saving system #scum villain self saving system #scumvillain #mxtx #Am finally just adding the AO3 links because I keep forgetting to reblog with them

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littleseasiren · 2 years ago

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I've got you

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Little bit of angst, but mostly fluff

Words: Approximately 1100 words

A/N: I've decided to attempt Flufftober this month, so this is my first entry for the challenge. Prompt: I've got you. Hope you enjoy! Thanks @flufftober and @chaotictarlos

"So, my sister is getting married and she wants me to invite all you idiots to the wedding," Sam huffs as he drops down onto the couch.

"That's great, Sam. I'm sure we'd all love to meet Sarah and join her on her special day," Steve says.

"Yeah? Can I tell her to add you all to the list?" Sam glances around and meets everyone's gaze in question.

A chorus of agreement is heard. "As long as you won't be there," Bucky snickers.

"Of course I'm going to be there, I'm the best man!" Sam huffs in frustration.

"How much did you have to pay the groom for him to agree to that?"

Sam throws a couch cushion at Bucky, which Bucky promptly catches in the air before it can hit him. You giggle from the seat next to him, knowing he'll keep you safe from the oncoming couch missiles.

"Sure, we'll go," Bucky relents eventually. When everyone returns to the movie, Bucky softly asks if you will accompany him to the wedding as his date and you couldn't be happier.

You're floating on cloud nine before you are ripped back to reality when you hear Wanda and Natasha's conversation a few days later.

"We're going to have so much fun at the wedding, I can't wait!" Wanda says, giddy from excitement.

"Yeah, it's going to be a blast. All the hot men, the drinking, the dancing!"

Two weeks later

You instinctively close your laptop as soon as Bucky enters the room, missing the expression your movements cause. "Hey, doll. Everything alright?"

"Hmm, yeah all good." You mumble, not meeting his gaze.

"So, you got everything ready for next week?"

"Next week?"

"Yeah, remember Sarah's wedding?"

Your eyes widen in surprise. "The wedding is next week? No, no, it can't be so soon."

"Afraid it is, doll. But there's more than enough time. Do you need to go buy a dress? I can join you if you're worried about that."

You don't even hear his words, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. There's no way you will be ready in a week.

"I can't go with you to the wedding, I think you should ask someone else." You blurt out before you can stop yourself. For a few seconds, all you hear is silence.

When you meet his blue eyes, your heart rate increases. His expression is full of anger and hurt.

"Really? You can't go with me? I'd ask why not but I'm pretty sure it involves whatever you're constantly doing on your phone and laptop which you don't want me to see. The past two weeks you've been ignoring me and hiding things from me."

"Bucky, no, it's not like that!"

"Like what? You won't even tell me what you're doing!" His voice becomes louder with every word. "If you don't love me then you need to tell me! If you want to be with someone else then-"

"I can't dance!" Tears drop down your cheek at your exclamation.

"Wait, what?"

"I can't dance, ok? I thought about asking Natasha or Wanda to teach me but I don't want the whole tower to find out. I'd be the laughingstock! I've been sneaking off, watching videos and reading tutorials, trying to teach myself but I just can't get it!"

You wipe your cheeks, trying to stop crying when you hear Bucky laugh from where he stands. How dare he laugh at your admission! "You're such an ass!" Anger feels like it's boiling out of you as you rise from the couch and stomp towards the bedroom, but Bucky grabs your arms and stops you from reaching it.

"I'm sorry, doll. I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at the situation!" He pulls you into a quick hug and then steps back, giving you some space. "That's it? That's what you've been hiding all along?"

"Of course! Bucky, I know how much you used to love dancing, and now you're stuck with the one woman who can't dance!"

"You swear it's nothing else?"

"What do you mean?

"I just- when you wouldn't talk to me like you used to - when you hid things from me, I started thinking about a thousand reasons why you wouldn't want to be with me anymore. I thought maybe you found a better man or realized that you didn't love me anymore." He's biting his lip from anxiety as he waits for your answer.

"Bucky, there isn't a better man for me and I promise you, I will never stop loving you." Reaching up, you touch his chest lightly, placing your hand over the spot where his heart is beating frantically before you stand on your toes and kiss him softly.

You squeal with surprise when he picks you up, walks to the couch then pulls you into his lap, holding you close. "I love you too, doll. Always have and always will." The two of you sit in comfortable silence for a few seconds, just appreciating being close to each other once again. "So you'll go to the wedding with me, right?"

"Bucky, didn't you listen to a word I said?"

"I heard you, you can't dance. I don't care, Y/N. I just want to be with you."

"And I don't want to disappoint you! All I hear is how much you used to love dancing, and if you go with me you won't be able to dance!"

"Doll, you could never disappoint me. And if it bothers you so much, I can teach you a few moves. Besides, the fact that I'm an excellent teacher," Bucky smirks at this, "I'm also a super soldier. Even if you can't dance, like at all, I can throw you around the room and no one will even notice. You can even step on my toes and I couldn't care less. I've got you. I promise I won't let you be embarrassed. I just want to go with you, I want to show off my amazing girlfriend."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, doll. Now, tell me you'll go with me."

"Ok, I'll go with you. Oh, but I need to go buy a dress!" You jump up.

When Bucky rises with you and grabs his things, he notices your gaze on him. "Come on, doll. I'll go shopping with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I think it's best that I'm part of this important decision. I need to help decide what dress I'm going to rip off you at the end of the evening. It'll be my reward for having you step on my toes at the wedding."

He's too slow to block the cushion hitting him on the back of the head.

Tag List:

@morganmofresh

@dottirose

@cjand10

@buggy14

@crazyunsexycool

@tripleoyaa

@mandijo17

@fluffysucker

@moviegurl2002

#flufftober2023 #flufftober #day 1 #marvel #bucky barns x reader #bucky x y/n #james bucky buchanan barnes #bucky fanfic #bucky fluff #the avengers #steve rogers #natasha romanoff #bucky x you #avengers #sam wilson

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sketchfanda · 1 year ago

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Kirishima's Mystique:Virtual Sensuality

In the cozy little apartment that our resident Hero College trio shared and called their love-nest, Kirishima eyed the device he held in his hand before him. It was his birthday and of course Mina and Maya seemed to always go all out as he examined the gift they'd given him. Some sort of headgear or headset device, like those old virtual reality goggles as they bore the distinct logo indicating they'd been made on and came from none other than I-Island. Looking at his grinning girlfriends who seemed very eager no doubt to see what he thought and if he was going to try them on.

Kirishima:"Okay so what exactly is this?" *You couldn't lame him for being curious and wary. For one they already ha plenty of games consoles and two? Mina and Maya usually liked to be more saucier and spicier when it came to his birthday. Like the time they arranged that little weekend in Maya's home in Jagua or the time they got him a stripper.*

Mina:"That oh sweet man of ours is a very special gift custom made and ordered by the lovely Melissa Shield back on I-Island. As you might gather it's a virtual reality headset but this one's very special. It's total sensory immersion.*The bubblegum duo couldn't help but giggle at the adorable puzzled look on his face. No doubt he didn't have a clue what that meant and really could they blame their himbo? It took a while for them to get the gist of it when Melissa explained it. But once they got an understanding, well..*

Maya:"Meaning handsome you're not whole being is uploaded into the game. It's got a few devices in there keeps your body safe and sound while giving you just the right feedback. It'll make you literally feel like you're in the game and believe you us, stud, you're gonna love this game."*the shapeshifting bombshell added as she provided enough context. Yes it was exactly as said, soon as Kirishima put that headset on and it powered up, he'd find his 5 senses all experiencing a whole new world. One they were sure he was going to enjoy especially thanks to the customising and modifications Melissa made. That girl definitely earned a solid from them that's for sure.*

Well when they put it like that of course, Kirishima didn’t see any reason to doubt them, shrugging as he put on the VR headset. Taking a seat on the couch as he felt his body go into a relaxed state as his gift powered on, it was almost like drifting off into a dream. Closing his eyes briefly before opening them to find himself no longer in his living room but rather a sort of limbo. All around him from above and below to the sides, front and back was a clear blue sky with stray white clouds gently floating in the breeze and the floor a calm gentle ocean reflecting it like a mirror.

Kirishima took in the scenery around him, practically feeling a warmth akin to summer and smelling the fresh air. This really was like being in a whole other world but how exactly did this game work? Was there a tutorial or the like? What was he meant to do next?

??:"That's where I come in...."*The sturdy himbo flinched, jumping a bit as he turned to face the source of the voice that had suddenly spoken up. Seeing a blue glowing ghost-like woman levitating before him and he could only that damn she was quite the looker. A curvy toned body seemingly nude with her modesty preserved by digital patterns akin to that old Disney movie Tron.*"Hello there, pardon the sudden shock, welcome to Oasis. I'm Cortana, your admin AI and general tutorial guide and instructor. here to oversee your enjoyment and time here with the game. Nothing too major or serious, you play it however you want to. Just think it and it will happen, want to be a dragon in a fantasy world? Then go for it, maybe you want to be a pro-wrestler or a shark? Hunt down dinosaurs? All possible for you and of course the time you spend here amounts to only seconds back out in the real world..."*The azure digital babe spoke gently yet matter of fact-like, demonstrating an example of the VR world's potential as she held out her hand and made a single lotus flower bloom in her palm.*

Kirishima:*briefly shook his head as well as calmed down that voice in his brain embodying his libido. No doubt stirred by the sight of the more than easy on the eyes AI girl as he thought her words over.*"Anything anyway huh?"*He'd mused as he looked out at the tranquil limbo around him, which within seconds became replaced by a perfect replica forming of UA campus, from the school to the gymnasium and Heights Alliance dorm. In awe at how quickly the game played to his thoughts all the Cortana simply smiled...a distinct little mischievous twinkle in her eyes.*

Suffice to say that it wasn't long before Kirishima was giving Oasis a whirl, trying out being a shark as he swam in the ocean or took to the sky flying as a dragon. It was surreal for sure and felt incredible while Cortana maintained vigilance, no doubt ensuring his overall health and well being here in the virtual world. Time truly flied as he had fun as he caught his breath, relaxing on a simple, calm and tranquil grass field, Cortana sitting beside him cool, calm and composed as ever. Her digital form giving off quite a nice calm ethereal glow to it as she found the sturdy himbo look her way.

Kirishima:”Hey this has been great so far and all but if you don’t mind me asking, what would be fun for you? I mean if you got any ideas or anything, I wouldn’t mind trying them out.”*Asking sincerely as he was curious to see if the AI girl was willing to do more than just observe and ensure his own enjoyment of Oasis. Little did he know of course the moment he asked that question, was just what Cortana had been waiting for. Her azure eyes twinkling as she grew a playful little smile. One that reminded him of the kind Mina and Maya would give him during…..”certain” times.*

Cortana:”Well as a matter of fact…”*The admin AI's grin widened with sensual delight as with a snap of her fingers and a wave of her hand, the scenery around them changed. Oh how familiar it seemed to Kirishima as it bore a resemblence to one of the pleasure suits of Ms.Midnight's love hotel (that used to be a brothel of course, they didn't call her the rated R heroine for nothing). The queen sized bed, the luxury bathroom and the lush view of the skyline, all identical. Cortana taking delight in his reaction as she could tell his brain was working out the mental gymnastics*

Kirishima:*blushing even as he put the dots together.*"So I'm guessing this is the actual surprise part of my present here huh?"*The sturdy himbo got his answer of course in the form of Cortana’a playful smile as with another gesture, the lines in her body reformed in a different pattern. Leaving her torso utterly exposed before him, naked and ready to give herself to him. Her graceful feet nearly gliding along the floor as he found her pressing herself against him. Arms draping around his powerful shoulder as she pulled him in, pressing her lips to his. For a virtual girl, she sure felt and tasted damn well real enough.*

Cortana:*moaning deeply into the make out she initiated, purring as she felt Kirishima respond by grabbing and squeezing her indigo booty. Her tits rubbing against his firm pecs with delicious friction before she soon broke their liplock. A strand of saliva between them as she panted sensually, eyes twinkling with mischief.*”Ms.Shield was given very thorough instructions and details from your two lover girls in regards to my personality and programming. So feel free to be as rough as you’d like with me….”*With thtat said, she snapped her fingers as Kirishima found his clothes disappear in a flash of pixels, as the AI girl gently nudged him to fall and lay back in the bed.*

The indigo babe licked her lips at the sight of Kirishima in the nude, drinking in his sculpted, training enhanced muscles but especially his rising cock. That length and girth stirring before her to salute her as she climbed onto the bed, straddling his waist as her luscious digital booty hotdogged his sex-meat. Purring as she caressed his chest and abs while leaning down to kiss him once again, as they began to make out and indulge in a little heavy petting. Tongues dancing together as Cortana began to display the amount of sexual knowledge and experience she’d been provided in her programming first hand.

Deep throated came from The Indigo AI babe particularly as she felt Kirishima’s hands grab and squeeze her luscious, bubbly ass his cock pulsed and twitched. Her meaty buns feeling the raw hot desire coming from that length as her virtual pussy began to grind against it. Warm, sticky nectar coating his shaft in a soothing lubricant shower as her tits massaged his strong chest. The AI admin and her player soon rolling around the bed, deepening and intensifying their makeout as their combined arousal skyrocketed.

It wasn’t long before their movements soon came to find them in a 69 position together, occasionally shifting on their sides to one laying atop the other. Cortana moaning with wanton ecstasy as she was performing stunning fellation on Kirishima’s cock, her virtual body not bound by limits snd therefore able to deepthroat him with no problem. Head bobbing away lewdly in sync with the penetrative plunging of his tongue deep into the folds of her slit as he lapped away and drank up her flowing nectar. The sturdy himbo experiencing first hand that sex in this virtual world was just as much a thrilling sensation here as it was back in the real world, Melissa definitely knew her programming.

But as delightfully erotic and pleasurable as the foreplay was, the moment Cortana had that length and girth of his penetrate her was when things really got fun. The indigo digital goddess moaning and gasping passionately as she rode Kirishima cowgirl style, his hands grasping where her waist met and connected with her hips as she found his red eyes glued to her bouncing tits. Her asscheeks clapping snd jiggling with every impact of their loins engaging in the primal dance men and women have done since the dawn of time. And loving every second of it, there was no doubt as much as sexual knowledge had been input into her data, actually experiencing the act of sex itself was even better.

it’d helped that Kirishima was a more than willing and able partner of course but given the intel she’d been provided about him, that wasn’t surprising. Nor was he content to simply stay idle and let her do all the work as he proceeded to assert dominance and show the blue bombshell first hand his depth of sexual prowess. Pouncing on her as she found herself in a mating press, screaming with ecstasy that is when she wasn’t making sweet sloppy tongue kisses with the stud jackhammering away into her. Orgasms rocking her digital form before she found it only getting better from here on in.

Doggy style, spread eagle, full nelson and more as the thicc toned virtual babe was out through a kama sutra marathon by the Herculean himbo. To say nothing of the delight when she got anal, it certainly helped that her own sexual sensitivity had been tinkered with enough that anal and oral sex wasn’t just in par with getting her pussy hammered, her entire body was one whole erogenous zone. One that the red riot stallion couldn’t get enough of as he couldn’t help but lose track of time. Minutes passing into hours within Oasis which amounted to just a few seconds back in reality which meant the lair could have themselves a marathon.

Which they most certainly did of course and Cortana could only imagine how much fun her player would have once they went from this bedroom to more exotic locations like the beach. Or especially when the next level of his surprise would make itself known soon as they decided to join in in the game. But no rush of course, they had all the time in the world. As back in the real world, Kirishima was laying back on the couch, headset on and a blissful smile on his face as his girlfriends sat on either side of him.

Maya:”Looks like he’s having fun but thst pats to be expected….so Pinky resdy to make this a 3 player game?”*The shapeshifting bombshell grinned at Mina as they both held up their own copies of the VR headset. Of course Melissa was kind enough to provide them with the means to connect with their boyfriend and enjoy Oasis together. They more than owed that blonde a solid that’s for sure. Nothing says happy birthday boyfriend like this….until they decided to try and top it down the line.

Mina:Ooh you know it…”*The bubblegum acid babe quipped in reply, the duo sharing a kiss as they began to slide their headgears on. It wasn’t long before they were soon laying beside their man and joining him in making his birthday present even more fun and spicier than it already was. Making this a very happy birthday for their Red Riot and making sure Melissa got some very well earned reviews…*

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freemaniaentertainment · 2 years ago

Text

Kieren The Game Blogger

Tutorial: Wake Up (Part 1)

SOME TIME… SOME PLACE… IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE...

Astrid’s Memory Bank: Accessing Memory…

“Hey,” a voice called out to me. “Hey,” it rasped again, but all I could see was darkness.

“Astrid! Wake up! Astrid...”

Familiar, it was a voice that had annoyed me for some time. Slowly, I opened my eyes. I will be honest; I would have preferred to stay asleep. Life had not exactly been the easiest for me. My days were nothing to write home about. Even more, everything was just easier when I slept. Soon, my blurry eyes came to focus on the white clouds slowly making their way across the blue canvas sky. Tilting my head, I turned to face where the voice originated. It was my annoying older sister, Petra. Suddenly seeing her made my mind pulsate with aggravating thoughts. All I could think of was how we got here. Why were we here? And why… Why were we lying on this hill in a grassy field? No wonder I fell asleep. As the wind hit my face, all I could feel was that cool afternoon breeze. And I could smell the fresh ripening of newly bloomed flowers. This place was tranquil and peaceful. Even in my previous life, I would have enjoyed being alone in a place like this. Unfortunately, I was not alone.

Aggravated, Petra exclaimed, “You fell asleep on me, sis!”

“My bad,” apologizing was all I could do. While moving my head off her shoulder, I wiped off my well-earned drool. It must have been a good nap. I could barely remember what it was like to be awake. “I was too tired to notice. We haven’t had a day off in a long time. Can you remember the last time we did?” But she could not answer me. I knew it had been stressful for her too. How unfair of me to say such a thing… Cue the eye roll… pause for laughter and whatnot… Seriously though, I sat up to take in the breezing air. Thanks to the warm weather, it was not too cold. This place was tranquil as all hell; even I had to admire the vibrant, saturated colors casting over the grasslands. It was beautiful, unnaturally so. And I still could never find the source of the looping flute and harp music that played over us. That damn thing created such an ambient mood. So freaking beautiful… My eyes roamed all on their own, despite me.

A regular city, made up of tall buildings and skyscrapers, could be seen over yonder. Its appearance screamed cold and dark, the complete opposite of where I stood. It was a dark mirror, a dark city punctuated by the transparent boundary that separated us from it. And the barrier was called The Invisible Wall. Inventive, right?

“So, we have to talk,” she cozied up to me. It was never a good sign when she did such a thing. Skeptical, my brow raised. Just what craziness was she about to spill to me? “I snuck out into the city one time.” And there it was…

My head snapped back at her, “Seriously!? When!? How!?”

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?” She definitely knew better. At what point was I supposed to correct her? Honestly? So, all I did was nod my head vigorously. I just needed to know more of her story that she graciously decided to burden me with. So, I played dumb.

“So,” Petra started, “y’know how I’m close friends with the Potioneer Ksarreni?” From how carefree she was, I could already tell I would not like anything she was about to say. “I visited her shop last night, and she showed me her hidden stash of potions resting in the basement. They were made from a forbidden text called The Cheat Book, which Ksarreni explained.” There was no way that it would be called such a thing. Just how on the nose could these people be? “One of them was a Cheat that allowed me to pass through, in and out, The Invisible Wall. The stupid thing wore off in an hour. But I can’t be too pissed. I bought it off her hands for a low price - y’know, since we’re friends - and used it to walk around the city for a couple of minutes, all while shifting into a new identity, of course.”

“Of course,” I added. Just what the hell would I know of such things? Honestly, I think I was more offended that she did not invite me to her fantastic adventure. Not like I wanted to go through the wall… “What was it like?”

“It was nothing special. I mean, what could be? It was nice, y’know, seeing some of the buildings up close and seeing buses and cars for the first time in person. But it’s nothing special compared to where we live.” Petra chuckled. She had a weird way about her. Anytime Petra was downplaying the importance of anything, her nose would move a certain way. Her eyes would shift when she was not honest or truthful with her words. Or maybe it was just me reading into my sister, seeing things I wanted to see… “Maybe one of the reasons why humans don’t like us Metamorphs is because our land was blessed to be corrupted with such beautiful magic.”

“Using the word ‘corrupted’ gives off the impression our land is a plague field of sickness and darkness, but I’d say it’s quite the opposite.”

“Astrid… Come on… It’s just something the humans made up to give the impression that our home is lesser and negative than their own.”

“Well,” I just had to open my big mouth, “how we use the word ‘human’ could also be something that causes a negative impression. I mean… Calling the human’s city Humankind’s Civilization, doesn’t that seem dehumanizing?”

“I don’t get it?”

She always needed help understanding how to communicate with people. Her blank eyes and that plain expression on her face irritated me so much. So, “It makes me think being humanoid isn’t being human at all,” I just had to explain. “And enough to categorize the rest of the Earth outside our home as a separate civilization.”

“As the word ‘humanoid’ defines it: a resemblance to being human. Although we have human-like attributes, we just look like them at the end of the day, and that is all it is.”

“Hmm, I guess.” It was a boring conversation. Being philosophical was something I secretly enjoyed, but not so much talking about it with Petra. That was a whole other thing entirely. So, I laid down and closed my eyes, relaxing my mind as it shifted back into another nap. Naps really were the best part of any day. Yet, understandably annoyed, Petra poked me on the cheek, constantly waking me up again.

“You’re gonna sleep the good days away!” Patience was not her strong suit. Petra was a woman of action, of getting things done. Watching me sleep must have been like slowly drilling a hole in her head, agonizing. I could feel her scheming to find more disruptive ways to wake me up like any bothersome sibling would. However, I was saved by something far more annoying than her. At the moment of her annoyance, her eyes fixated on some low-leveled enemies further away from the hill. They were not as far as the city, located in the grasslands’ unsafe and non-combat-free zones towards the bottom of the hill. How did I know the area was dangerous? Well, the giant floating text marks in the air were a dead giveaway. Sometimes it paid to be observant.

Low-level, the enemies include the usual assortment of bad guys. There were a couple of mutated spiders that stood no taller than children. Had it been my first time seeing them like I did the first go around, I would have passed all the way out. And not to mention, there were also slimes filling out the monster herd as well. Surprisingly, like everything in this far-out place, slimes were more formidable than what their cute and unassuming blob of an appearance would have many believe. Many adventurers who let their guards down around them quickly understood the danger of those little bastards. It really was a rookie mistake to underestimate something just because of looks.

I mean, what kind of idiots would do such a thing? Me. I would. It was the exact error my younger self made when encountering them for the first time. To be fair, that was during my first days of combat training. I did not know any better. At the time, there was no way I would have thought any different. But it was not all bad. Now, slime-killing has become a favorite pastime of mine. I like to call it revenge. And I think about it often. Squishing them… Salting them… Cracking their cores… Even now… Now I think about slaying down those slimy-little creatures and killing them all. I would do it repeatedly when they respawn just a few paces away. That is how this stupid world works. Death only matters for people, not monsters.

“Hey!” Eagerly, I sat up. Just thinking about those little bastards got me excited beyond belief. “Now that you woke me up, you know what I’m thinking?”

“No!” Petera asserted. “We’re not killing slimes. We’ve done that so much it’s starting to kill me.” Extending my tail, I moved it outside Petra’s peripheral vision and slightly smacked the arrow-shaped end on her forehead. “Ow~!” Petra cried out. I have to admit, I got her pretty good on that silly forehead of hers. It was safe to assume that there was an intense stinging sensation now pulsating right on her forehead, hopefully. “What was that for?”

“I was having a good nap, and now you won’t let me even kill slimes,” I crossed my arms and pouted. Childish? Yes! Did I care? No. Who said I had to act my age?

“Well, I’m sorry. I can’t help wanting to look for something bigger, higher-leveled to fight. That’s why my–”

“–level outranks yours,” I rolled my eyes, mocking her. “Yeah, I know. I know.” She never missed an opportunity to rub it in my face. But it was not my fault I was so under-leveled, and slimes deserved what was coming to them.

“You’re only a couple of levels below me,” Petra was still rubbing her head. Did I not mention I got her good? “You’d make for some good competition if you put in the effort. Not to mention getting that childish attitude under control.”

“But that’s my best feature. And, as you said,” I really needed to learn how to control the levels of my voice, “I’m only a couple of levels below you. Don’t let that need for competition make you cocky. A couple of levels means nothing.”

Something was squirming in my pocket. I felt it moving, but I could not recall what it was or how it got there. Either way, I was not some fresh-cut adventurer or some prissy noble. If it was a bug, I would leave it be. But this thing was much larger than a bug, and its form was more similar to a ball than anything else. I would have thought it to be a slime, but they usually have a goopy texture to them. I could still just squeeze the thing and see if it popped. It would only take a good grip, a wriggle of my two bare hands, and a lot of pent-up frustration. Before I could figure it out, a small white ball of light flew from my pocket. How could I have forgotten? I must have been sleeping on it. That white ball was my spirit pet, Buttercup. Fondly, I remember so badly wanting to turn twelve and being allowed to adopt a spirit pet. Each person’s spirit pet was unique, transforming into different creatures upon bonding. One person could have there’s turn into a dog-like beast while others could be as small as a worm. But my lovely Buttercup… She transformed from a white orb into a butterfly with a beautiful spectrum of colors for her wings. Delicate and regal, Buttercup was magnificent beyond belief. There was no greater beauty than the unstoppable Buttercup. Well… Other than me…

“What is it, my Queen?” I asked Buttercup. I could feel Petra judging me, per usual. But Buttercup just flew away, sounding like someone sprinkling fairy dust. It was every time she moved, and I loved it so much. My sister, not as much. Moving around, Buttercup was definitely trying to get us to follow her.

“Looks like she found a mission,” cracking her back, Petra was prepping to do what we did best. A mission, a hunt, a challenge, it did not matter. As long as I had my sister, there was nothing to fear. However, Petra was notably unenthusiastic this time around, “we better follow her because you know how Buttercup always gets when we don’t.”

“Such a shame,” as I wondered what was bugging my sister, I, too, stretched. Good missions always started with a warmed-up body, and that was adventuring 101, the basics that were drilled into us. But… “I was just starting to get comfortable again,” my complaining was definitely getting on my sister’s nerves.

“Wait…” I could tell my sister was cooking up something devious to get back at me. She was so easy to read. It was always the eyes. Her shifty eyes always clued me in when she was scheming to be a special kind of bad. “You think I’m cocky? How about we put that to the test?”

“Heck, yeah!” But I could never pass up an opportunity to wipe that smug look off her face and put her in her place. Meanwhile, Buttercup was moving around increasingly, trying to get our attention. “That way, when I beat you, you can shut up about me being under-leveled.” Frantic, the little spirit pet was buzzing around us furiously. She was such an attention diva. “Yes, we know! We’re coming!” That should have been enough, but my little diva zipped off without us. Now, she had our attention.

Continue reading on Tapas --> tapas.io/series/Kieren-The-Game-Blogger/info

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kalims · 2 years ago

Text

⊹ SPEAK NOW | malleus draconia

premise. malleus has been planning something for a while now, first he decided quality was foremost. wouldn't you appreciate the things he love about you? well that failed. now he just has to settle with quality, the most grandest suprise of a confession just for you.

it's just a battle of will if his impatience clouds over the voices that won't even let him profess to you!

content. gender neutral reader, fluff, crack

wc. 4.2k words, I know it's a hassle to read long posts but give me a chance :')

note. thank you to paru who generously commissioned me again! <3 i hope you enjoy it and everyone else as well <3

written a total of 8k+ words for mal in the span of two works now whew wow

not even malleus' future coronation would hold the amount of planning as this.

"my, I'm very impressed." sat upon a velvet chair lilia chuckles with a clear look of amusement present on his face. "I did not expect you to learn how to create a powerpoint presentation."

he watches malleus' lips curve into a small smile—no doubt feeling a sense of accomplishment by the former's words. he was always like this wasn't he? looking for praise when he was a child. fufu.. lilia muses, but his boy is all grown up now. malleus is no longer a child despite lilia having to say something about it.

no longer a child as in now a grown man attempting to get his 'approval' of his apparent chosen beloved.

when malleus stretched out an invitation to him for a serious talk (well. malleus didn't mention the serious part but the look on his face, is something lilia can easily discern.) he didn't think much of it. perhaps the boy just wanted to open up about something.

he's not sure if malleus already sensed his presence but lilia is sure that even though he's getting pretty old blending in with the shadows is a skill he hasn't slacked off upon.

lilia chose not to announce his presence and step out instead, who knows? maybe malleus will finally emit that startled face he's been looking for. though he seems used to the sight of lilia popping out of nowhere.. in everywhere to the point that it just doesn't bother him as much.

unsurprisingly malleus didn't bat an eye and just ushered him to sit down and that he did.

lilia merely watches in amused silence when malleus attempts to open the laptop, failing to click the right button for a few times before the black screen brightens up in light. before he knew it he could spot the microsoft powerpoint icon below the bar.

being curious was an understatement.

though he's certainly proud that the device; valid enough to call frail did not break under malleus' power. or, maybe he should just be proud that the boy did not lose his cool.

by the time lilia finished pondering about it, malleus had finally figured out how to fullscreen it. "are you ready?" politely questioned by the horned man, at least he still attained the manners taught by lilia.

the latter flashes him a fanged grin. "whenever you are."

the first screen is just an introduction. it looked familiar and lilia is fairly sure malleus just looked up a tutorial and copy-pasted it. 'why you should be my lover.' it read, and he already knew that this isn't meant for him. but meant to get his opinion.

not for me but for you. he muses. how adorable!

'1.) I am very influential. I will be king soon and I will get you whatever you ask.' true but he should get your opinion on that, whether you care about his status or not.

'2.) you told me you like my horns, so I shall banish everyone else who has it if it could deter you from loving me.' ah. that one is a bit extreme.. lilia has no doubts that the boy will actually do it.

malleus' face though, shifts into something serious when he spots the second slide. yep, he's not joking.

'3.) I find you very endearing and would like to wed you as soon as possible.' eh.. this one showcases his clear love for you but since humans and fae have varied degrees of love it might be a little too fast for you.

'4.) ramshackle has its charms but my castle is a much more comfortable living condition. if you'd be mine it will all be yours' romantic.

'5.) I will be with you forever. if there is ever a time when the world is against you, it will be us against it together. rest assured, you will not be alone because I will face it with you'

"how swe—oh." lilia blinks when malleus accidentally exits and with his keen eyes, was able to spot the amount of slides there are. goodness me. there are over a hundred. lilia chuckles.

lilia loves malleus. very much so, that boy is practically his son that he raised with his sweat and tears. there are no lengths he's not willing to cross for his beloved family but wow.. for once lilia is speechless once he realizes.

a bit much.. isn't it? though not mentioned, malleus took his sweet time going over each slide and pausing to further elaborate on the contents of the smile. and if there really are over a 100 slides it isn't gonna finish anytime soon.

plus cater invited lilia for another night out. isn't that nice? he can't simply bail on his.. young friend like that.

"I can see how much you see the prefect dear." lilia starts, watching malleus' face soften into something genuine. "if you want my honest opinion. a human will not receive much love in the valley." he says simply.

just like that his face crumbles into something heartbroken. like the truth was just slapped to his face and left there. lilia's heart clenches at the look so he continues, "but my opinion as your caretaker, love knows no bounds. if you truly love them then you should do so freely."

just like that malleus looks up at him, peering and all. looking hopeful.

slowly but surely the light that had drained from his face gradually came back and lilia is taken back to the past once he compares his current expression to one when he was a kid receiving his first gift that's something other than an object made entirely out of riches.

a gift so priceless.

malleus smiles, the one where his eyes would crinkle and obscure his vision, and his pointy ears would twitch in joy. if he had a tail it would certainly be wagging right now. "thank you. shall I deliver it to them now?"

"you mean to send, honey?"

he blinks. "ah, yes."

in an equally concerning and interesting way. lately, sebek has been... more lenient? which is strange to a degree because he would never let you get away without scolding your ear off for literally referring to malleus as 'tsunotaro'.

well. he did pause to give you a look but you get the point! the sebek does not only spare a look when it comes to the expense of malleus.

ace chatters away beside you, once again attempting to start an argument against deuce who's very intent on being a pacifist for some reason.

and grim? well. grim's probably robbing someone's lunch right now.

for once all you four have collectively set your eyes on something. you narrow your eyes. "he's acting weird." your hand flicks to a certain green-haired male while the other three nod in agreement.

"why don't we ask him right now?" ace suggests with a cheeky smile. before deuce could object and clamp his mouth shut he was already shouting; "sebek! why are you acting weird?"

said boy immediately hears. fae heritage you suppose. you can tell from the furrow of his brows but for an odd reason, you’re not sure of yourself his face shifts into something.. proud? sebek looks at the student he was conversing with before walking over.

and with a triumphant grin he says; “malleus-sama has finally taken notice of my devotion!” you raise your brows and share a look with the other three cause, seriously? that man can’t notice sebek if it meant his life.

though you can't deny the rush of curiosity flowing into your head. sure, it seemed wholly impossible and weird overall but it didn’t mean that you wouldn’t wanna find out.

it seemed like deuce wanted to know as well. “uh.. how exactly?”

“ha! are you planning to do the same?” huffed sebek.

deuce looked like a mixture of offended and concerned. “let’s go with that?”

“well, lilia-sama sent me a presentation and said it was from the master. It was about appreciating my one-of-a-kind existence!”

you look flabbergasted. “oh… wow, i didn’t know malleus was so caring about his.. subjects.”

sebek nods in agreement. to think about it, at the mention of lilia and the message in the same sentence flashes a series of memories back into your mind. earlier this day, didn't lilia send a heads up? something about malleus and.. message.

but that's just crazy right? there's no way it would be connected to this. you nod your head at sebek slowly, "good for you dude." his face scrunches up at your casual nickname but in favor of your genuine comment, he'll let it slide.

blinking, you ask; "where is malleus anyways?" at your question sebek's back straightens as he stands up straight and sort of, glowers at you.

a part of sebek knows that the most logical action to do right now was, of course, to withdraw that kind of information from you cause really, who are you? in comparison to the young master, not even the most noblest of nobles are being told his locations.

for a security measure sebek approves of.

but sebek has witnessed and watched malleus' glory himself. next to you, it's as though you’re blind to it which is immensely insulting—but, as he's on his way to run his mouth off at you he sees something in the young master's eyes.

something new and warm.

maybe that's what he needs. someone who will be blind to the glory accompanying him and just see the person behind it. that must be it! malleus feels like a person behind your eyes.

though most do not think so, you're good for him. and even as much as sebek would rather strangle himself to admit it, it's true.

so he makes up his mind and just tells you, sparing the other three (who are very interested in the conversation apparently.) a glance before leaning towards you so they won't hear. "I heard the young master was visiting the botanical garden."

huh. that's new.

before you could open your mouth to ask why he just shoves the face of his palm to your face. "and do not even think about sharing this to anyone!" he shouts. alerting everyone that you do have something to say.

seriously?

sebek just marches away, most probably going to haul silver out of his peaceful nap.

"what did he say?" asked ace.

you make a blank face. for the sake of your dignity, and probably his own you'll keep the promise sebek bestowed upon you. "absolutely nothing."

you ignore ace's grumbles and complaints, out of anticipation you suppose. there's nothing juicier than whatever he witnessed and since sebek practically announced it he wants to know whatever he told you.

again. you give the other two a farewell before walking off without another word to ace.

clearly, there's something freaky going on inside the garden. you wince, picking your leg out of an awfully strong grip of a plant that's very much alive. well, you knew they weren't dead but they didn't always try to just rip off your limbs.

also, it was literally raining in here, how is it raining?! the sun was literally out like a second ago before you entered.

if that wasn't supernatural then you don't know what is.

which makes you curious. whose ass would professor crewel and crowley alike hand back to them? something as strange as this wouldn't pass without notice.

you flinch. also, does no one see the lightning flashing from outside?!

okay so you know that malleus would definitely survive under this weather but your real question is; where the hell is he anyways? from the amount of time you crossed through the botanical garden gave you a vague understanding of the layout.

but that didn't mean you'd really enjoy spending a good amount of time wandering in search of a green man.

with horns.

he's pretty tall..

you blank. "malleus?" you try.

surprisingly unsurprising the man literally materializes next to you in the form of.. some kind of sparkle. and he displays a cool attitude even at the sight of you frowning at him out of confusion, probably also recovering from the jumpscare.

"oh.. you actually came." you deadpan. was it that easy all along?

a smile plays on his lips. "you called."

"is someone bothering you, child of man?" he asked seriously. stepping forward and you notice that he hesitates in taking your arms and checking them over but instead lets them hover over it uselessly.

you raise your brows but make no move to point him out. "uh.. no? but something is bothering me though."

maybe saying that was a mistake cause you suspect that malleus' fondness for you (if not too big of an assumption) surpasses all kinds of basic logic sometimes.

by sometimes you mean.. a long of times.

in a flash his concerned look shifts into something hilariously serious. "hm? there are.. what is it then? a cursed artifact?" your brows furrow and in a way you actually don't know what to say.

"what." you deadpan. "no?"

"perhaps lilia's guitar with electricity is bothering you?" tried again by malleus.

uh oh. now you gotta deny that one or else he'll actually destroy that and lilia is gonna be really cold when he does that. "heavens no!"

now he just looks confused. "what is it then? tell me. I will rid it for you."

you sweatdrop. "no I mean.. I heard you were supposed to be giving me a message or something from lilia. but you weren't anywhere so I asked where you were." you explained. gesturing wildly as malleus listens intently.

finally, after a good solid 10 seconds of silence, a look of understanding washes over his face and you exhale a sigh of relief. "ah. that is correct."

"so where is it?"

"please, give me a second."

right in front of your eyes he just flat-out disappeared in the same particles he appeared with. so you just stand there awkwardly in silence, only realizing that the very stormy weather had disappeared and faded into something normal.

you shrug. weird things are normal here you guess.

before then malleus had already returned with a.. chest of.. crystals and he looks oddly bashful and shy when he just holds it out to you. (also proud? but you get the point!) "uh." you start, unsure.

"what's this?" you gesture to the bundle that would cost you a whole literal mansion to get.

he smiles at you. "I realized that perhaps the message from the electronic device would not match up the meaning I'd like to convey so I figured I'd do this instead." also you didn't even reply to him. of course you wouldn't! he'd feel insulted too if that's all he'd do to express his love and gratitude.

malleus takes advantage of your confusion and carefully places the box in your arms. you nearly fall over from the weight cause what the hell are these things made of?

expensive minerals you suppose.

"these are traditional gifts in briar valley." he explained. but like, what? you mean over a thousand gems and whatnot in a box is a gift? all of a sudden you feel bad gifting him a rock as a joke because you didn't have anything on you.

I should really step up. you think grimly.

malleus seems to be thinking. "and.. a gift for cour—"

"malleus." seethed an eerily cold voice. both of you just freeze and malleus shuts up completely. is he actually looking tense and scared?!

you look at lilia with wide eyes, unblinking in fear that if you do blink he's just gonna teleport right at your face and next thing you know everything's black.

although malleus definitely looks less horrified than you, he looks way too scared for you to think that way.

hesitantly, malleus replies quietly. "lilia." he places his arms behind his back like he's speaking to a war general or something but that's impossible haha..

"care to explain why my instrument suddenly caught on fire after it got struck by electricity?" lilia raises a brow. casting you a kind glance for a second before returning his sharp look at malleus.

the latter tips his head in shame and you feel like you should not be witnessing this.

but wait. malleus actually did that? you thought he was literally joking.

you did not see malleus after that.

to word it better he was not allowed to see you.

lilia had said, and you quote. 'he simply won't learn if I don't punish him' with a shrug so casual that you doubted if it was the same malleus he grounded that you were thinking about.

the 'top 10 in ranking in terms of power' kind of malleus you were thinking.

if malleus actually listened to lilia then you doubt that he doesn't have some kind of comparable power.

while for some time you did think that lilia sent malleus to solitary confinement, unlikely but with him apparently not having met with anyone it's definitely possible.

well that theory was quickly thrown out the window when you find a letter right at the mat of your front door. signed in an eccentric manner by; m.d which could only belong to one person.

long story short, he wanted to meet you at the school cafeteria which was strange in itself cause you're almost sure that the students avoid malleus like the plague and if he's there surely it'd be wiped out right now.

which.. you're not exactly opposed to if it meant not having a huge line to the menu!

though you suppose the environment had made you used to it.

when you come close the doors magically open, and they were not given the privilege to close seeing as they still sensed you near.

well the reason why you won't let the doors just close is for the very fact that the tables of the cafeteria are absolutely gone. replaced with many eccentric tables filled with food, and drinks alike.

also, there's a literal disco ball so something was definitely going on. was there some kind of secret prom that no one told you about? if so then you're about to bolt out knowing full well you're in your regular uniform.

many people who you presume as students are all littered across the room with varying fancy degrees of clothing. either devouring the tables or just dancing.

overall it was very fancy and clearly you aren't even meant to be here.

you pause a little longer to take in the surroundings in hopes of satisfying your curiosity. unfortunately, all you had was a party you accidentally trespassed on (again. not your fault, no one told you!) so you just turned on your heel, and the doors literally shut in your face.

"???" you blink.

"apologies but if I let you leave malleus will be more upset." giggled a familiar voice, far less colder than you remember from your previous meeting. you snap your head to lilia who looks like he's resolved whatever with malleus.

you furrow your brows. "wait, this is his doing?" you cross your arms over your chest. unlike this very colorful room, in comparison to appealing dark malleus it was completely a contrast. a weird one.

lilia nods with a cheeky smile. he knows more than he tells you. "yes."

"but why exactly?"

"hm. you really don't know? shall I tell you?" he places a finger over his chin and looks up. "I shouldn't!"

is he really doing this right now?

at your frowning face lilia chuckles away. "I'm merely jesting, dear. you see malleus hasn't gotten time to properly convey his message to you."

well, that is true. you blank. even a few days ago since the adeuce duo was always following you around it was only in due time that their tongues would betray them when malleus asked to talk to you alone.

"you didn't even send the message that you said he had for me." you narrow your eyes at lilia who pauses. "oh, did I?"

"yes, you did."

he shrugs. "well that was an accident."

"like the time at the botanical garden?"

this time he looks more sheepish at your constant picking but quickly laughs it off. lilia appears behind you and guides you down the main area with a push. for such a small body he's doing it quite easily, no?

not that you'd ever say that out loud.

"I shouldn't keep my boy's special guest, off you go." he whisks you away to the crowd and pushes you there.

next thing you know you're face to face with a very happy malleus who obviously perks up at your presence and waves a finger.

suddenly there's some kind of big light shining down at you, in response you raise an arm over your eyes and think; what in the hell is going on?! why is everything going so fast?

you could hear everyone silence out and feel the embarrassment grow tenfold. why did you even come here again? "my child of man." malleus starts and by the volume of his voice you can tell that he's using a microphone.

you freeze up. "what." you reply slowly.

"before I've met you my world was encased in grey and white."

is he like proposing or something?

"everyone was afraid of me, even those deemed as strong. so it made me wonder, why you? a powerless, ordinary human were not?" way to hurt a 'powerless, ordinary human's' feelings malleus

"perhaps I am a fool but I realized the reason why everything was so colorless. when I stared into your eyes for the first time I realized that everything was warm—colorful. the rest isn't my world, because it's—"

you were about to think that you were equally flattered and embarrassed but before he could finish his little speech the mic just gets straight up cut off.

everyone looks behind malleus and you want to bolt out when you realize that those three are your friends. you facepalm. "oh for the love of.."

malleus reaches out to you. "wait—"

"hmph. I should have known this would have attracted trouble." vil.

"child of man?"

"how improper! draconia was speaking.. when I get my hands on them it's off with their head!" riddle.

"I apologize for the inconvenience i—"

"if you'd like them to have a suitable punishment I know just the thing." azul.

"stop speaking right now." seethed malleus.

"everyone keep talking." said leona smoothly.

"oh my.. this will end in disaster." lilia.

"ace I told you to not go here!"

"shut up deuce!"

"you—"

a myriad of voices all start bypassing each other and it's honestly hard to hear who's speaking save from a few familiar voices.

you glance at everyone with a mixture of concern and irritation before your gaze lands over malleus, then down his hand which held a microphone who was long broken before.

somehow lightning strikes inside the cafeteria, just centimeters away from the trio who huddled together and shook in a group hug.

"ENOUGH." everyone does just that.

"as I was saying, you are my world (name) and I'd very much like it if I can be yours." malleus says quickly, looking away shyly before smiling at you like he didn’t just snap.

everyone's jaw drops, including yours but that's not the only thing that did because well. you did too! figuratively and literally.

if the silence wasn't already prominent before then it certainly is because everyone just watched you on the floor after the thump, clearly unconscious and comically steaming from the ears.

then it's just a very panicky-chaotic scenario, a lot of screaming that just made more people start screaming too.

in a flash, malleus is hovering over your body. simultaneously looking you over for possible injuries that might have caused this and about to stare down anyone that actually dared to come in closer.

except lilia it seems.

the last person that tried to approach was grim and he got the searing glare from malleus.

malleus softens his look once he spares a glance at you and quickly leans over to lilia. "what's happened? have they been poisoned? cursed?"

lilia chuckles. "not at all. I'm afraid your confession had not only given everyone a shock but them as well."

"so I've done this?" malleus looks immensely saddened. lilia explains once again like he's done it over a hundred times. "it's not your fault my dear."

"you bring them to the infirmary, stay by their side. I'm sure they will be happy to see you there one they wake up." lilia said, malleus already being one step ahead and sliding you in his arms.

he's dreamt of doing this but definitely not this way!

"meanwhile I will deal with this mess of a party." lilia shakes his head. "go now."

an hour later you wake up disoriented and so confused as to why malleus is so suddenly affectionate with you. the bigger question is, why is everyone staring at you?!

"so you'll help me right, azul?"

the former laughs nervously at you and tips his hat in an apologetic motion. "I'm afraid I can't.. someone like me surely is not worth your time." he continues laughing, sneaking a gaze behind you and dipping it quickly once he sees the flash of green.

you just stare at him confused. why won't anyone talk with you normally?

note. OMG I just realized the title i picked is literally perfect!! if you know the song then you'll know the line 'horrified looks from everyone in the room' IT MATCHES RIGHT HELP

commision me!

#twst x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #malleus draconia x reader #malleus draconia #malleus x reader #twst #twisted wonderland #twst fluff #twst scenarios #twst headcanons #twst imagines #x gn reader #malleus x you #twstnexus

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oneandonlycringe · 2 years ago

Text

Soft & Wet

Word count: 1.7K

Summary: Simon has come home and wants to play.

Pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x GN!Reader

Warnings: AFAB!Reader, pet names but no pronouns, slight overstim, slight bondage (just the arms), slight dirty talk, aftercare, uhhh let me know if I’m missing anything

A/N: yall i straight wrote this at work but i’m happy with it. title is a jojo reference. my first ~on paper~ smut wowwy. comments, likes, and reblogs appreciated. *muah*

NSFW under cut

Scarlet rope ran over his calloused hands, contemplating on the best way to make you immobile but not hurt you. Even deep in thought he was devastatingly handsome. To add to that, he sat on the backs of his thighs with only black boxers adorning his muscled waist. A pang of affection hit you, until a sharp thwack rang out as he tested the strength of the rope. You laughed a little in shock and felt a roll of wet, molten heat tingle between your thighs.

You stayed laid out on the bed, naked, relaxing against the plush comforter and stacked pillows counting down the seconds until you finally suggested he needed direction. You were entirely content watching him exist, but you’ve been turned on since the moment he had you lay down.

“Why don’t you find a tutorial? I’m sure there are some for beginners…”

“Hmph. I know how to do it. I changed my mind. We’re doing something else.”

“Ooh. Switching tactics, Lieutenant?” You teased.

He growled and leaned down to press his forehead against yours, locking blown out eyes with your own.

“The only thing I need to hear from you tonight is you moaning or crying from how fucking good I’m gonna make you feel.”

That shut you up. You could feel the impatience growing larger now, but quickly simmering when he finally made his first move.

Simon leaned back again - far enough to reach the edge of the bed, and balanced himself on one arm while the other grabbed something from the floor. You honestly had no idea what it could be, but knew that it would leave you deliciously aching for more.

“Close your eyes, honey.” He purred.

You did as told and smiled when the bed shifted again as he got into position. Heart rate now through the roof - you were real excited and real wet.

You gasped when one large, hot hand grabbed your forearms together, ring and pinky slipping into the crutch of your fist. You curled your fingers in further, holding onto whatever piece of him he would offer to you.

Next came the dry drag of rope across the sensitized skin above your clasped hands. Around and around they went, until he gave one, two tugs to make sure your hands weren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Only a little space for your wrists to move apart was allowed. More tugging followed to tie off the ends into what you were sure was the most complicated knot you would ever see if you could.

Whatever Simon grabbed from the floor was now being slotted into your hands, a thick rod designed to be held with a dial in the middle that he quickly shifted away from your palms. The bulbous head already pressed against your wet lips causing a chill to run up your spine.

You had a pretty good idea of what it was, owning a variant of it yourself for those nights before you met Simon. You were honestly glad you didn’t have to put in the elbow grease for things like that now.

To cap it off, Simon’s hands fit between your knees and pushed your thighs back until they framed your tied hands. You imagine he was going to spread them more as the night went on. Lines of arousal sloped the curve of your butt and you desperately wanted to open your eyes at this moment; to see the effect you were having on your silent partner.

“Open your eyes, beautiful.”

White spots clouded your vision momentarily, but the final product got you more excited than you could have ever dreamed. Toys weren't part of you and Simon’s routine, but those two forces together scared you enough with how crazy he already made you feel. His visage both comforted and warned you that your pleasure tonight was entirely in his hands, despite you being in custody of the toy. Two black pools encompassed your own, a searing heat already building in the center of your womb.

“Thoughts?”

“I’m kind of at a loss for words, Simon.”

He tugged his lips up enough for it to resemble a smile.

“I thought about this a lot while I was gone so you better indulge me, sweetheart.”

“Oh, I’m not complaining.”

Simon reached over your hands to finally turn the wand on the lowest setting. The instant thrumming startled you despite all the warnings. The head of the vibe was resting on your lips sparking a gentle but insistent buzzing inside your nethers. Not enough to get you off but rather get you wetter. You hummed in the back of your throat and leaned your head back onto the pillows. His hands never left the backs of your knees, but you quickly felt them travel up and down your thighs before ending on the inside close to the action. You smiled secretly, knowing exactly how he behaved after all this time.

Simon spread your legs farther and farther apart, gripping almost to the point of pain on the tender flesh.

“How’s it feel?”

“Good, Simon.” You swallowed. “It’s nice.”

You might have been putting your foot in your mouth. You couldn’t come from this. He had to know that. While the vibrations were good they weren’t intense or close enough to where you needed them to be.

He seemed to pick up on that, for his next movement released one of your legs to move your bound hands down enough for the head to slip between your spread lips and press against the hood of your clit.

Shit.

You moaned for real this time. Fuuuck - that was good. It was near knee shaking already and it was still the lowest setting. Your hips started to rock into the feeling. With enough time, this could definitely get you there.

“How ‘bout now?”

“Fuck, it’s good. R-really gooood.” A long moan stretched out. A sweat began to build on your forehead and your breath was almost knocked out of you at the increase in sensitivity.

“Fuck, darling. You look really good right now. Good enough to eat.” Simon growled out. When you looked into his lap you could finally see the effect you had on him. His thick length pressed against his left thigh, still trapped under his boxers lifting the fabric up with its weight. You swore you saw it throb. Suddenly your throat was quite parched and painfully empty, but you figured he wouldn’t let you near his third leg for a while.

“Think you can take more?” He questioned. Shit, you really had to think about it. You were definitely getting close, but you loved when the pleasure was just a little too intense to the point of overstimulation; the shakiness of your legs, not being able to catch your breath - it was all amazing.

“Yeah,” you whimpered. Soft puffs of hot air escaped your lungs when Simon’s smile grew. He loved to see you at the point of pain - the edge so close but still so far away.

Simon shifted on his knees, getting down low and using his thick thumb to again slide over the dial, increasing the vibration even higher than the few centimeters he had before. At this point, it was almost to the very max and you began to feel that painfully sweet stimulation. Tears built up and you could feel your walls clenching down on nothing, releasing sweet sticky juices. Your lids became too heavy to keep open. Hiccupping gasps and high pitched cries left your mouth. You couldn’t see Simon’s face anymore but knew he would look as smug as humanly possible.

You pushed your hips away from the plastic to try and gain some sense of balance again, but warm hands quickly grabbed your waist to press you against the comforter. One hand stayed splayed across above your mound while the other reached down past the head of the vibrator to use the hot tip of his calloused thumb to peel back the hood of your clit. The sensation was far worse as you tried to keep the vibrations off your most sensitive area, further annoying Simon.

With the hand that held you down, he used the bottom of the handle to angle the toy down into your folds. While still keeping your hood back, you couldn’t escape the mind numbing frequency pounding directly onto your many nerves. The swollen bud was puffy and irritated - and shit - yeah, now you were really coming. You screamed his name over and over and over again until you forgot your own, only knowing the one word of the only person who could do this to you. You already felt crazy and sweaty and your walls were so tight it hurt and you leaked so much the backs of your thighs were chaffed. This was probably the hardest you had come in your life. White noise traveled between your ears, and you still couldn't see, couldn’t dare open your eyes as your mind tried to process the pleasure and the pain.

After what felt like the end of your meager existence, the vibrations finally stopped short, and it had felt so long that your body didn’t know how to exist without it. The shaking never stopped, the tears, and you were so happy and so messy and never had you looked more beautiful to Simon than in that moment.

His hands were gentle, moving the wand out of your numb hands, and proceeded to untie your wrists. They were only slightly bruised, a dark red to match your overworked cunt. You couldn’t move a single body part, and Simon knew as much. That’s why he massaged your arms, the tops, the back, and the insides of your thighs and fell a little bit more in love when he felt you melt against his touch.

Sufficiently sated and not urgently hard anymore, Simon wrapped his arms around your middle, burrowed into the back of your neck and breathed deep your scent. You had already passed out at the first touch of his massages.

He grumbled something in the secret recesses of the junction of your neck and wandered too into a deep slumber. He might make you privy to his thoughts later; how he secretly wanted you to do the same to him. Maybe he’d let you get your revenge tomorrow.

#simon ghost riley x reader #cod mw2 #ghost x reader #simon riley x reader #task force 141

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miekasa · 4 years ago

Note

Mie, I’m begging for some Jean college au bf hcs - im literally so down bad for this man and the way you write men is just 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

Absolutely, not a problem 😌 I saved this ask as a draft a while ago when you sent it, sorry for just now getting to it. Anyway, I love Jean with my whole heart, best boy, best boyfriend <33

King of forehead kisses, and not even just because of his height in comparison to yours; he just likes it. He likes the feeling of pressing his lips against your skin, and making you feel safe.

Brings you tea or coffee however you like it every day without fail. If he can get it to you in the morning before work/school then he’ll do that, if not he’ll meet you some time in the middle of the day to drop it off. Your own personal courier just for drinks.

He… has a thing for long(er) nails. He loves the feeling of them against his skin, even if you’re not scratching to apply pressure—just you holding his hand them grazing his skin is enough for him.

That being said, he will pay for you to get your nails done. Actually, he’ll pay for… almost anything you want, but the nails benefit him as much as they do you so feel free to ball out.

He never blowdries his hair because he doesn’t... know how to do the back of it. You did it for him once and he hasn’t stopped thinking about it since, but he’s also too embarrassed to ask you to do/style it again.

On the subject of hair, he does do his best to style it and take care of it, but he’s a sucker whenever you play with it. Sometimes he feigns like you’re messing up all his hard work, but he’ll literally crane his head into your touch. He loves it.

The first time he lays on top of you and you run your hands through his hair... top 10 most euphoric moments of his life. He tries to fight off the sleep threatening to take over him, but it’s futile. Give it 15 minutes at most before he’s knocked out like a baby.

Dogs love him. Anytime you’re in a park or just taking a walk and there’s a dog around, it’ll come up to him and he looks adorable leaning down to pet it. He loves dogs, too! So he’s always happy to stop and pet them. He’d be a 10/10 dog dad.

Has your name saved in his phone with two hearts at the end. Do not point it out.

Loves taking pictures together and if you guys are on a date, he’ll ask someone to get a picture for him. He just likes having them to look back on (and to send to his mom, later).

He doesn’t mind painting classes or videos or tutorials, but he hates paint by numbers kits. He claims that they have no sense of color theory and that it takes the originality and fun out of painting. Not to mention the quality of the paints isn’t great to begin with; all of which he takes very seriously.

It’s pretty cute actually, to see him get worked up over the paint kits. He claims that painting and drawing isn’t even something he takes “that seriously,” it’s just a hobby for him (one he’s insanely good at); but in moments like these, you can tell that he’s way more into art and art theory and history than he lets on.

Huge movie guy, from animated movies to martial arts movies, Jean is usually willingly to give anything a watch at least once. When he’s high, he can go on about his favorite directors and art styles and movie details for hours if you don’t stop him. It’s super cute. Just don’t bring up Moana, because he’ll start crying.

Arm around the shoulder kind of boyfriend for sure. It’s a casual way of keeping you near him and letting everyone know that you guys are together. Plus it allows for him to easily pull you into him for a quick forehead kiss when needed.

Listen. If you hug his arm, he’s on cloud nine. He tries to be nonchalant about it but he’s about three seconds away from his eyes rolling back in his head it feels that good to him. Bonus if you lean your head on his bicep a little—then he’s a goner.

He takes his bagels very seriously and believes that both you and him deserve nothing but the best quality bagels. He’ll grumble if a bakery gives you guys a less than favorable one and make a note that taking the long route to get to his favorite place is much more worth it.

Always makes you walk on the side furthest from the cars. If he notices you’re not, he’ll just shuffle behind you until he’s shouldering the street and you’re on the inside.

He grew up on a kind of modern ranch situation; not exactly all the way in the countryside, but not isolate from the city, either. Because of this, he knows how to ride horses, take care of smaller farm animals, tend to plants, and yes he knows how to use a lasso. You wouldn’t know any of that though, because he never ever talks about it. The only way you find out is when he takes you to visit his mom’s house for the first time, and she asks him for a hand around the place.

(He’s got a cowboy hat, too, but refuses to put it on. He got it when he was, like, nine, okay, leave him alone).

When he thinks you look tired, he’ll wrap his arms around your shoulders to hug you. It’s usually followed up with a kiss to your head, and a promise that you guys will go home soon and get food on the way.

He’s a really good cook. He just understands and flavors and pairings really well, so he doesn’t need a recipe to make something that tastes good; he just kind of knows what to add to get the balance he’s looking for.

Naturally, he’ll cook for you. Especially if he finds out that you haven’t eaten all day/in a long time. He doesn’t care if it’s 11pm and it might seem excessive to make steak and potatoes with a side salad at this hour, he’s gonna do it to make sure you eat, and you are going to sit there and watch.

He also bakes pretty well, though he isn’t as experimental with his baking as he is with his cooking. He usually sticks to what he knows, and it’s not cupcakes and brownies and cakes; he’s better at croissants, and cheesecakes, and canelés.

Dating Jean means getting along with his friends. If you guys didn’t know each other before you started dating, be prepared to be ambushed by Connie and Sasha (after Jean stops hiding you away and gives them the green light lmfao). Neither of them waste time with the small talk and formalities; straight into mini golfing and beer pong. They make you feel welcome right away.

Sasha always teases that you’re too good for Jean, and that she might just steal you away for herself some day. Sasha is also Jean’s main confidant, so she really knows just how much he loves you, and yeah, she teases him for being lovesick, but really she’s happy for Jean. And proud of him for facing his feelings like this.

Connie adores you, and you know he trusts you when he starts going to you for advice/help. Could be anything from schoolwork, to what color he should get his new shoes in. He’s also the one who, surprisingly, you have the sentimental talks with about your relationship with Jean. It’s easy to overlook, but Connie loves Jean, and he’s come to love you too; he just wants you both to be happy, so he’s there to listen when you need it.

Jean waits outside of your classroom after you’ve had a test or presentation, usually with a drink or a snack, or the promise of taking you out as a treat. Always tells you he’s proud of you, and is there to comfort you if you think you didn’t do too well.

He does not shut up about whatever major you’re in. It could be the same as his; it could be the complete opposite as his. He thinks it’s so sick that you’re doing it, you make it look cooler, you make it look better, and he’s certain you’re the smartest person in your program.

He’s pretty serious about his studies, too, so he’s always down to study with you in the library whenever you’re both free. More often than not, he shows up after you, usually with food or extra chargers. He greets you with a kiss on the forehead, and asks you how you are while massaging your shoulders gently. If it’s been a while since you took a break, that’s the first item on the list, after that, he gets to work and stays with you until you’re ready to go, even if he doesn’t have as much work to do.

He always sits across from you. This goes for when you’re in the library, or out to eat at a restaurant; Jean loves sitting across from you. He gets to see your face the best that way, and he adores looking into your eyes when you talk.

He’s not... not a morning person. He’s not up at 6am ready to grind, but he wakes up before noon; let’s say 10am is his happy medium. That being said, if you wake up before him, regardless of the time, there’s a 9/10 chance he’ll lay on your back and tell you to hush so you guys can sleep for 10 more minutes.

If you’re (close) friends with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, Jean is... happy you’ve got people to rely on, but, “Of all people on the planet, you put your trust in Jaeger?” He acts so bitter (because he is), but deep down inside, he’s glad you have Eren to rely on if you need to.

(Also, you have to humble him and remind him that he and Eren aren’t all that different. If you like him, why wouldn’t you get along with Eren, bye).

Turns out though, that it’s not Eren who threatens to beat him up if he breaks your heart. It’s not even Mikasa, although, her threat goes without saying; it’s Armin he’s terrified of.

The last time Armin hated someone, it was this guy in your program, who happened to share a few mutual classes with him, too. Jean never knew the full story, just that he’s pretty sure that kid dropped out the following semester.

If you have a job on campus, Jean usually doesn’t show up while you’re working (knowing how embarrassed he would be if you did that to him), unless you work the night shift and it’s dead. Connie, however, does show up; usually in some kind of crisis (“Please help me, I don’t know what the fuck APA formatting is and this is due tonight, please, please, please!!”). Your coworkers actually thought Connie was your boyfriend for a minute. That’s when Jean starts showing up more lmfao.

He makes it a point to go on a scheduled, night out, kind of date at least twice a month. He knows life gets busy with school and work and midterms, but he always makes sure you both set side a time to take a well-deserved break and be with each other.

He’s the romantic type, so these dates are pretty swoon worthy, too. Drive-in movies, nice dinners, classy art exhibits, Jean plans it all. On that note, he really likes planning dates; he just doesn’t like talking about them with his friends beforehand.

All in all, very romantic, very precious boyfriend. He’s always thinking about you, what you need, and how he can help you out. You’re one of his main priorities, and he just wants to treat you right.

#anonymous #when.... when.... WHEN IS IT MY TURN #aot x reader #jean x reader #jean kirschtein x reader #jean kirstein x reader #aot imagines #no because he's the love of my whole life #jean fluff #jean smut #eren x reader

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pc-eight-four · 3 years ago

Text

False IDLE(s): Python's built in text editor is the ONE!

When I started to learn Python, I was working my way through a text book and an overwhelming supply of YouTube tutorials to try my hand at being a digital wizard. Now I won't be covering the fabled 'Tutorial Hell' that many of us who are self taught get trapped in, screaming for relief, surrounded by piles of abandoned code taunting us from every side. What I want to share was the never ending saga of code editor/environments pushed on you from all sides, also known as IDE's. Here's a snippet from CodeAcademy defining an IDE:

Sounds pretty cool right? That's because it is! It seemed like every tutorial I read preferred on over another. 'Learn Python 3 the Hard Way' by Zed Shaw had me start out with ATOM text editor (goodnight sweet prince), it was simple, but to my newbie brain, full of settings i was sure I'd never understand. Then a few tutorials pointed out the amazing features and capabilities of PyCharm so I downloaded a free community edition right away! So sleek and flashy with cool highlighting, but what were all these weird files and directories showing up around my helloworld.py file? I was already up to my ears in esoteric ideas and syntax, no one said anything about surprise files and directories! All this AND the resources this program were using up was making for slow loading and I could hear my poor little laptop begging for mercy. VsCode was more aesthetically pleasing for me, and supported multiple languages but -there's those damn funky files again!

There were some editors I found that were minimal , but they all had little things that bothered me or did something for me that I wanted to understand before handing over control to the automation gods!

As beginners we're at our most susceptible to marketing manipulation and advertising. The waves of information are hitting us from every side and everyone is offering safe harbor in their particular product and solution. It's the paralysis of choice! But fear not, because the Zen of Python can guide us here, reaching out through the darkness like the beam of a lighthouse:

SIMPLE IS BETTER THAN COMPLEX

Just for the sake of this tutorial imagine that as soon as I read the Zen of Python, clouds parted and a serpent delivered a message, whispering in my ear "Look into the language for your answers".

To my surprise, Python has an editor bundled into it BY DEFAULT that's simply called IDLE (Integrated Development Learning Environment) and if you are coding with Python, then you already have it at your fingertips!

But how easy is it to access?

How To: Python IDLE

In Mac or Linux, open a terminal by either searching for 'terminal' or often times CTRL + T will launch it automaticlally. Once you find it you should be looking at something like this:

The little blinking block is waiting for you. Type all lowercase idle and hit Enter.

For Windows you should have some menu shortcuts like these:

Type, Click and that's it! You have just launched Python's very own text editor and development environment!

You might wonder where the familiar text editor is since the window clearly says IDLE Shell at the top. The Python Shell aka REPL (Read Evaluate Print Loop) is an important tool and has it's uses, but I find myself most often opening IDLE for the text editor.

We can get to the text editor by finding the File drop-down and selecting New File. Alternately the keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + N

Voila! A blank canvas!

Let's enable the numbered lines that we're used to seeing by selecting the Options drop-down and choosing Show Line Numbers

Enter a Hello World program .....

Before running the program we want to save. Navigate to the File drop-down and selectSave File or CTRL + S

Once the program is saved, navigate to the Run drop-down menu, selecting Run Module to run the program. Once again you could just hit the F5 key to bring economy to your movements (if you forgot to save, IDLE will remind you before allowing you to continue)

Looks like Mr. Worldwide has entered the chat!

Everything is working as it should! If you are coding along with this you may be wondering two things. Why is your editor so painfully WHITE (Bright light! Bright light!), while these examples are relaxing you with their cobalt blue. Why does your IDLE still launch into the Shel when opening?

Like everything else so far, this is an easy fix.

Dip into that Options drop-down menu and select Configure IDLE. This brings you into the Settings menu where we change font size and face (I've tried a bunch of fonts, none seem to be as clear and pleasing as the default) and make many of the configuration changes to make our hearts sing.

Let's take care of the 'Theme' first so our eyes can be awash in the deep blue of this little tutorial. Switch from Fonts/Tabs to Windows .

The option you're looking for is right at the top. Select Open Edit Window

Click Apply and your settings will be saved.

To get our initial configurations aligned to our delicate sensibilities, Switch from Windows to Highlights. Now to the right ( your right), click the drop-down menu and select IDLE Dark. Ahhhhhh...

Your eyes are already relaxing after searching for the perfect simple IDE for Python for so long.

Click the Apply button after you make any changes and you are ready to code, leaving a little bit of the worry and complexities noobs are pounded with on our journey to high digital sorcery.

There will be a time in our growth as Python programmers when we will be ready for all the virtual environments, automated package importers and GIT integrations you can shake a stick at. In the mean time, IDLE is a perfect middle ground that is reliable, simple and is even written in the very language we are learning!

Every text editor and IDE has it's audience and it's place. You my find that Pycharm , Vims, VsCode or even Emacs is a perfect fit for your Python development and to you I say hurrah! What's important is that we find tools that feel comfortable for each of us and let us focus on learning and building rather than fumbling around endlessly with the tool itself.

Hopefully you find IDLE is a hidden gem of an IDE that serves you well in your learning journey.

One last thing weary traveler.....

Happy Coding!

#python #pythonidle #pythonide #noob #codenewbie #diy #linux #pythoncoding #idle #tutorial #codingtutorial

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nomattertheoceans · 2 years ago

Note

May I ask what else did you already sew? And how did you started? 😁

Of course you may ^^ I love sewing so I'm always down to talk about it!! I'm sorry, this got kind of long xD I hope you don't mind!!

So I started over a year ago. My mom has a sewing machine so I started with her, she taught me the basics of how to use it (how to install the thread, how to change a needle, how to select the stitch you want, how to hold the fabric,...). Then after about two months I bought my own machine because it was a bit restrictive to have to go to her house and everything! The machine cost me around 70 euros, so I'd say it's a manageable investment if you enjoy sewing! But in general if you can't afford it, you can find someone to lend you their machine, or even clubs that have machines available.

I started with very easy things. My very first alone project was just to make little pouches, then I tried a cushion cover. Basically, I sewed two rectangles together and tried to make the stitches go in a straight line (not as easy as it sounds 😂)

Then I graduated to slightly more complex projects: scrunchies and snoods that I made for Christmas. Still pretty easy but with a few more steps.

Then I... went a little crazy 😂 and decided I would try to make a dress without a pre-existing pattern (a pattern is a set of instruction that you have to follow, as well as lifesize representations of the pieces of fabric that you need, I don't know if that's clear haha but it's a guide basically). It did not go well xD it took me and my mom over two months to complete despite being a really simple dress, and I had to ask my grandma for help a few times (she's been a seamstress since she was 16 so she's really good!! But she doesn't want to teach, sadly. The only way she helps is if I go with a very specific question and then she answers me haha). We completed it in the end, but it wasn't an experience I wanted to try again soon lmao so I bought patterns for the dresses I made since then ^^

Since then I've sewn a lot of different projects!! Basically I always try to push the boundaries of what I can currently do, cause at first I wanted to only try things I was already good at (I was afraid of wasting fabrics if I messed up), but obviously when you do that, it's almost impossible to improve. So I try out new things and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and I have to start over, but I still learn something when it doesn't work.

If you want to know what kind of things I made, here's a non comprehensive list

about five dresses (if I could I would only make dresses!! but it requires a lot of fabric and fabric is kind of expensive..!)

one skirt

a few tote bags/beach bags (those are fun cause once you figure out the steps to making one, the others are similar and you can play around with colors and patterns and stuff)

a hair towel

a messenger bag for my boyfriend (a very simple one, though, for gathering mushrooms, nothing fancy)

aprons for a friend's daughter (one for gardening and one for baking ^^ they were so cuuuuute! Sewing for a four year old is the cutest thing kajsjdhja)

A Christmas hat ^^

Right now I'm working on a mobile for my cousin, she's having a baby! So I'm making animals and trees and clouds out of felt. I'm only in the beginning of the project though

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, it's literally the middle of the night right now and I'm min bed writing this xD

Overall, I'd say you have to be patient and handle frustration well if you want to sew. It's a very methodical hobby! You follow a procedure, you try to picture in what order you have to work for the project to work out. Since I don't take classes, sometimes I spend an hour looking up tutorials for a specific technique and then another hour trying it out on scraps of fabrics, just for one detail in a project. I also bought a few books that explained sewing techniques and stuff, so I spend a lot of time on that, too. Also, the reality is that you don't spend that much time using the machine, overall, cause the most time-consuming part is cutting the fabric, pinning it, ironing it,....

But it's also very satisfying when the project comes together!! And as someone who generally has issues staying focused, I've found that I can spend an entire day sewing and not see the time go by!

I'm sorry this got so long, I saw in your tag you were interested so I went a little overboard!

#look at me ramble lmao and this is me trying to be concise 😂😂#thanks for asking though!! I hope i wont scare you away for crazy long answer lmao

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bodacious-bombini · 3 years ago

Text

ART TUTORIAL TIME, BAYBEEEEE

How to Draw: Stylized Nebula

Never thought I'd be making one of these, but I couldn't find any helpful (for me) tutorials online, and I just so happened to figure things out on my own! I still wanna change a LOT about the hair in my piece, but I think the tutorial still works!

For this tutorial, you don't NEED these brushes, but if you wanna have your piece look exactly like mine, and you're using Clip Studio Paint, you should get the Galaxy Brush brush pack (Content ID: 1758879)

Step one! Find a nice, dark color! Preferably something that isn't black, as when we Color Dodge the colors, they're going to look mostly like brighter versions of the dark color. (Notice how the colors all become different purples in step 4, due to the purple background color!)

Step Two! Use that dark color with a fluffy brush! I used Clip Studio Paint's default cloud brush, but I'm sure you could find better brushes. This is where you're going to shape your nebula!

For me, my nebula is a person's hair! I wanna go back to my piece and make all of her hair nebula bits, but in case you're new to my blog (hi!!!), I am doing daily drawings! This tutorial is one of my daily posts! If you wanna see this art finished, I'll be uploading that after today! Is this relevant to bring up? No! I am writing this post at like, 3am :)

Step Three! Get some colors!!! This is where you're going to want to experiment around. Or, just take the colors I'm using! They should probably be lighter colors for the Color Dodging to work, so keep that in mind. It might be worth it to find a photo of a real nebula and try to guesstimate colors! For my colors, I had absolutely zero plans for what I was doing, and all my friends say it looks great!

Your brush choice might be important, too! The brush I'm using here is a brush from that Galaxy Brush brush pack!

Step Four! COLOR DODGE YOUR COLOR LAYERS!!!

Or don't! Play around with other blending modes! I actually didn't end up using Color Dodge for my final piece :)

Step Five! Add some stars! A bunch of little dots is all you need, or maybe you want some big dots! It's up to you :) Season to taste!

For me, I used the Stars brush from the Galaxy Brush brush pack! But the stars from that pack are only white for some reason, but that isn't really an issue as you can just use the Layer Color layer property in Clip Studio! I made my stars pink :)

And there you have it! My first art tutorial! Feedback is appreciated! I'm so friggin sleepy, so, goodnight! Follow my comic on Webtoon, cuz I'm gunna be serializing it (relatively) soon!

#my art #drawing challenge #art wip #character design #art tutorial #nebula #nebula tutorial #nebula hair

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language-of-love · 5 years ago

Note

For the intimacy prompts: 3. Touching foreheads and/or 51. Slow dancing

For some reason, this sparked a little high school AU idea, so I hope you enjoy it! Read on AO3.

❅ ❆ ❅ ❆ ❅

Spreading his fingers wide inside his mittens, he tries to soak up as much heat as possible from the roaring bonfire as wisps of snowflakes mix with the embers shooting up towards the stars. It’s too cold to be out here and there’s a million reasons why he should have gone home hours ago, but the one reason he’s stayed is inching ever closer.

And he just can’t help but wonder.

The music coming from the open windows of Twyla’s hatchback changes to a soft guitar intro that’s familiar, but his memory of it is too far out of reach as his mind is so focused on the proximity of Patrick Brewer as he hums along beside him under his breath.

David doesn’t usually come to these high school parties, but Patrick had asked him if he’d be here as they’d put a final coat of black paint on the chairs for Cabaret and David had found himself so tongue tied that he’d somehow mumbled that he'd “maybe make an appearance”. Patrick’s smile had been immediate, wide and welcoming before he’d quickly tucked it back away with reddened cheeks and David knew he had to show up. To see. To put himself in the path of a possibility.

“What song is this?” he asks, needing to break the silence with something.

“The Civil Wars and Taylor Swift. I can’t remember the name of it though.”

“It’s pretty.”

Pretty. That’s the best he can come up with? Patrick’s the best musician at their school and…

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Oh. Okay.

“Where did everybody go?” Patrick asks.

When David lifts his arms to tug his beanie down over his ears, his elbow rustles Patrick’s coat and swirls of anxious anticipation erupt in his belly at the unescapable knowledge that Patrick is choosing to stand very, very close to him right now. Ten minutes ago, he was standing on the other side of the bonfire. He’s not now.

“I heard something about a beer run and I think some of the couples have retreated to their cars. I’d steer clear of Jake’s truck by the barn unless you’re into that sort of party.”

Patrick’s chuckle is deep and rumbly and the breath he expels creates a cloud that mixes with David’s before disappearing up into the smoke.

“Nah, I’m good here…” Patrick’s words trail off into the cold air and David conjures some courage to look over at him, finding him staring back with a look so full of questions David feels a bit uneasy at the multitude of possible answers. “...with you.”

“With me?”

“Yeah. Is that…? Is that okay?”

David’s face gives away his answer as his mouth curls up into a half smile that he can’t seem to stop, even as he chews at the inside of his cheek. God, he just likes Patrick so much and he’s wondered, for a while, if he was picking up hints. But Patrick’s always been with Rachel. Until a few months ago. So...David just wasn’t sure of his preferences.

Stevie had chastised him just last week about that though, spread out on her bedspread as she puffed smoke from her joint towards the ceiling. “David, you’re not going to learn his preferences hanging out every night with me.”

Fuck, she’s going to be unbearable if she learns she was right all along.

The music gets louder suddenly and David shifts his attention to Twyla’s car, spying her through the window holding up her thumb in a silent show of encouragement and oh god, does everybody know? How mortifying. Looking back over at Patrick, he has to catch his breath at the smile he sees there, waiting, patiently for whatever is supposed to happen next.

“Do you want to dance?” he hears himself ask.

When Patrick’s eyes go wide, David regrets that impulse immediately and tries to conjure up something to say so he can take it back.

“Um, I’ve never,” Patrick says, his voice quiet as he speaks towards the frozen leaves at his feet. “With a guy, I mean.”

“Oh, okay.”

Patrick’s fingertips from where they are poking out of his fingerless gloves are bright pink as he tentatively reaches out for David’s arm, and David lets his body move in the direction he’s being lightly tugged until he finds himself face to face with a very flushed, very nervous, Patrick Brewer.

“But I’d like to.”

“The song’s almost over though,” David hedges, suddenly overcome with a wave of insecurity.

“David.”

“What?”

Patrick’s hands are on his waist now, pulling him forward and David, well, he takes a deep breath in and lets the cold air shock his system into action.

“Come here.”

He does.

His arms anchor into the thick padded shoulders of Patrick’s brown corduroy jacket and his eyes dance everywhere except Patrick’s face for a good ten seconds as he lets himself acclimate to this new, dreamlike reality he’s found himself in. When he does force himself to meet Patrick’s gaze, he almost stumbles in surprise at the warmth reflecting from the fire in Patrick’s whiskey colored eyes and the soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Too strange?”

Why did he ask that? God, he needs to stop self sabotaging himself all the time.

“What?”

“Dancing with a guy.”

Patrick’s hand at the waist of his entirely weather inappropriate leather jacket clenches a little and David’s afraid he’s about to let go, but instead, he slides that hand inside the open jacket and spreads his fingers wide along David’s back and David’s unsure of what to do next. But something he’s heard his mother say many times as she’s prepared for another role pops into his head and maybe for the first time in his life, he heeds her advice.

He leans in.

And so does Patrick.

Their foreheads are thankfully warm from the fire as they meet and David waits with bated breath for Patrick to answer the question he probably shouldn’t have asked. But now that he has, the answer has somehow taken on monumental importance.

“It feels right.”

Oh sweet Jesus.

Before he can respond, the song ends and there’s a jarring shift to a driving beat, but things go silent and David chuckles softly as he pictures Twyla in her car, frantically searching for another slow song on her drugstore brand MP3 player. He could let go of Patrick’s shoulders while they wait, but he doesn’t, and neither does Patrick. They just keep shuffling their feet and smiling down at their shoes crunching the dead leaves and the thin layer of snow.

When the first few notes of Christina Perri’s “Arms” comes on though, he huffs and can’t stop himself from turning towards Twyla’s car and shouting “A little on the nose, don’t you think?”

“But David, it’s so romantic!”

She gives her horn a little honk and David gives her the finger, but he’s grinning from ear to ear as Patrick’s arm winds its way into his jacket to join the other one to draw him in closer.

“David,” Patrick says, so soft, practically a whisper, drawing David’s attention back where it belongs, back to where Patrick’s eyes are darting new questions straight at his mouth.

Okay.

So, this is happening.

His cashmere mitten gets snagged a little in the short hairs at the back of Patrick’s neck as he tips his chin and draws him in and their lips are a little chapped from the cold, but the tiny pant of breath Patrick expels the second their mouths touch spreads like fire all over David’s skin. Patrick leans into it, just lets himself be kissed, smiling sweetly into the firelight when David pulls back too soon to let him, both of them, take stock of what’s just transpired. Patrick doesn’t say anything, but his fingers are pushing tenderly into David’s plush sweater and he’s keeping the tip of his nose close so it’s brushing David’s as he takes a few uneven breaths, so David just waits. He wants Patrick to make the next move.

Thankfully, he does.

“Wanna go warm up in my car?”

“Did you fix the heater?”

He can’t help it. The last time he was in Patrick’s car it was an icebox.

“Yeah. I watched a YouTube tutorial.”

“That does not dispel confidence, Patrick.”

“Fine, you wanna stay here and makeout in front of Twyla and whoever else is watching us from their cars right now?”

David’s jaw drops open at the return of the overly confident Patrick Brewer he’s been crushing on for weeks and he just shakes his head and lets himself be led through the parked cars, many with windows scandalously fogged, to the passenger side door of Patrick’s little silver sedan. Away from the prying eyes of their classmates and past the unknown of their first, Patrick doesn’t hesitate, not even for a moment, from initiating their second kiss. He presses David up against the car and with fingers so cold David can’t help but flinch, he holds David’s face steady as he kisses all the breath from David’s lungs. His stocky frame is warm and pulled tight as he settles his weight between David’s legs and it’s not long before the back door is opened and they scramble into the back seat in an uncoordinated tangle.

Through laughs and demands, he manages to wrestle the car keys from Patrick’s pocket and climbs over his lap so he can reach up into the front and turn the car on and get the heat going. The radio station is set to some sports talk show and he’s about to start turning the dial to find something more appropriate for the mood, but Patrick’s hands are on his hips dragging him back and he abandons that task for the prospect of more kissing.

Patrick’s thighs are thick and wide and a perfect perch as he settles himself onto his lap and smiles down at flush pinked cheeks and lips wet from his kisses and he honestly can’t believe that all of this is real. Pulling off his mittens, he finally gets his hands on Patrick’s skin as he wraps his hands around his neck and lowers himself down to his waiting mouth, shivering at the eagerness of Patrick’s lips and hands welcoming him back. Patrick’s ineffective tune-up of his heater is no match for the stamina of teenage hormones and it eventually sputters out, but they’ve done a pretty good job of warming themselves all on their own at that point anyway.

Their drive back home is spent with fingers clasped, shivering, and smiling from ear to ear as Patrick’s death trap of a car trudges slowly along the back country roads with fogged up windows and young love blooming warm in their hearts.

He hears it from his mother the next day at dress rehearsal when Patrick’s neck is covered with hickeys and the makeup team can’t seem to cover them up. He can’t help it if Patrick was already wearing the lightest shade.

From the look on Patrick’s face as he smiles over at him from center stage, he can honestly say that neither of them have any regrets. Not a single one.

#david x patrick #david rose #patrick brewer #schitt's creek #schitts creek #my sc fic #designatedgrape

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tmnt-mags · 5 years ago

Text

Michelangelo x Fem!Reader

Soulmates

Mikey has always been one of my favorites and I feel like he always gets the least amount of love from the fandom. The turtles and reader are 18+ cause that's what I do.

Warnings: brief mention of abuse.

Mikey had been in love with the idea of a soulmate since he could remember. A person made by the universe that will love you the best. For a turtle mutant that lived in the sewers it was the ultimate fantasy. However, Master Splinter had told them it was very unlikely that they would have any. They weren't human after all. Still Mikey held on to hope and dreamed for the day that he might meet his one and only. He was straight as far as he could tell so he went out of his way to watch any video he could find about ladies. He would be the perfect boyfriend. He learned about periods and makeup and watched hair tutorials. He even found a wig and after cleaning it up the best he could he would practice braiding on it. Mikey had also watched videos about the female body, more than just porn, he watched women talk about sex and listened as they complained about human dudes. He couldn't exactly practice, but he would try to prepare best as he could. He would make up for being a mutant by knowing more and being better than any human man.

He was doing a cool down after a pretty intense training session with Leo.

“You did good Mikey, but you can't celebrate after every hit. You lose concentration and will get hurt.” Leo said stretching off to the side.

“Yeah bro you got a pretty good hit on me at the end.” he opened his mouth to stretch his now sore jaw. “Hey leo we’ll be 20 soon right?

“Mikey not this again.” Leo stopped and walked over to his younger brother. “We’ve talked about this, there is almost no chance of any of us having a soulmate.”

“You don’t know that Leo. Donnie doesn’t even know! I don't wanna give up hope.” It was the same argument that they had been having for years and years. His brothers had all seemed to give up on the idea, but Mikey wouldn't.

Mikey counted down the days until their birthday. After meeting April they finally found out their real birthdays from her father's notes. They all hatched on the same day, but at different times. Donnie actually turned out to be the oldest than Raph, Leo, and finally Mikey. He had been hoping that he would turn out to be the oldest but it was meant to be he guessed.

Mikey shot up and looked down at his arm excitedly, but didn't see anything. He wasn't worried though, the day was still young! He grabbed a black sharpie and wrote a simple ‘Hi angel’ on his forearm. He checked it throughout the day but still nothing. His brothers didn't even bother writing anything.

Everyday he would write a message or draw a picture hoping that his soulmate would see it. After 2 months he started to get sad. His dad was the first to take notice, and suggested that Mikey meditate. After an hour with no luck in concentrating, Mikey was about to stop when Splinter sat across from him.

“My soulmate hasn't written me back.” He said, “Maybe you guys have been right all along.”

“I would not worry yet my son. It is possible that your soulmate is younger than you, should you have one.” Splinter reached over to pat Mikey’s knee, “I have always been hopeful that you boys would have one, but I do not want you to be disappointed.”

“Don’t worry about me pops! You know me nothing gets me down!” Mikey cheered and jumped up. He ran out of the dojo throwing a thank you over his shoulder.

Splinter did know his youngest. He was happy and enjoyed having fun, but he was also sensitive. He always had been, and out of all of his sons he worried the most about Mikey and what it would do to him if he didn't have a soulmate. He sighed and decided it would be best to meditate as well. It had always been very helpful to him.

But months passed and soon a year did too and he never heard from his soulmate. Some days it was harder to write his morning message, but he still tried. He didn't want his soulmate to wake up on her 20th birthday with no message. As far as he knew his brothers never even tried to write theirs. Mikey knew they were just afraid of the possibility that they really didn't have one. He was too. He really wanted a soulmate.

It had been a busy 2 weeks. They met a girl, who also happened to be the first human they met, they totally kicked Foot Clan ass, uncovered a super villain plot and saved the city. They truly were heroes now and that was really fucking cool. They had made a new friend in a woman named April. She was pretty and nice and didn't seem to mind the fact that they were giant turtles, after the initial shock of course. He didn't even realize he hadn't written anything on his arm during all of this. He sat in bed and stared down at himself. He didn't write anything for 2 weeks and nothing had changed.There was a painful uncomfortable feeling in his chest as he looked at his arm trying to manifest words there somehow. Nothing had changed. The world didn't end because he didn't write anything. He sighed and laid down; he looked over at the black marker he kept by his bed. He started to reach out for it but instead rolled over and tried to go to sleep.

It had been 3 months now since he had written something on his arm. He tried not to think about it, sometimes he felt a tickle there but whenever he checked there was nothing. His mind was just playing with him. The brothers were on patrol tonight and Mikey was trying not to get distracted but it was one of those days he couldn't help but think about his soulmate. Leo and Raph had already got on to him about it tonight. He realized he should have tried harder when his jump to the next roof fell short and he went crashing down to the fire escape below.

“Mikey!” His brother yelled and came rushing down to see if he was alright.

“Im good dudes,” he grunted and he started to get up. “That hurt though.”

“Are you okay?” The boys jumped and turned and sitting on the steps a couple feet from them was a girl. “Ummmm, hi.”

“Hey” was all the boys could say. She nodded and looked at them, and there were a couple of moments where they all just stared at each other.

“So, i'm gonna take a wild guess here and say this isn't normal for New York?” she said and then pursed her lips.

“No it's not.” Raph grunted at her.

“Did you think that it was?” Donnie questioned. She shrugged at them.

“I'm not from here and it seems like wild things always happen in New York.” The girl defended. Mikey stared at her. She was pretty and was wearing shorts and a large t-shirt that was covered in dried paint. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun and she had bangs that covered her forehead. She was holding a cup in both hands and looking at them. She didn't seem frightened at all.

“Should I be freaking out?” the pretty girl asked.

“No! You don't need to be afraid of us.” Mikey suddenly forgot about any pain or soreness from his fall and stood up the rest of the way and moved in front of his brothers. “I’m Michelangelo, but everyone calls me Mikey.”

“I heard your name.” She giggled at him but then looked him in the eyes. “You are okay right? That seemed like quite the fall.” the turtle smiled widely and did a spin in the tight space.

“Right as rain baby.”

“Oh so you suddenly don't hurt?” Leo said, crossing his arms.

“The voice of an angel healed me I guess.” Mikey said and gave the girl a wink who raised an eyebrow at him.

“Sure it did, lover boy.” Raph said and then smacked the back of Mikey's head who yelped out.

“Not cool bro.” he groaned. “Whats your name angelcakes?” the girl let out a gasp.

“How did you know my name?” she said with surprise. The boys blinked at her dumbly.

“Seriously?” Donnie asked.

“No, my name is (y/n).” She laughed. “What are your names?”

“Oh these are my brothers Donnie, Leo, and Raph!” He motioned at each one and she gave a small wave as he did.

“You’re really not scared?” Donnie asked her quietly.

“A little shocked but not scared.” (Y/n) said happily.

The boys sat and talked to her for a little bit but Leo reminded them that they had a job to do. So with an invitation for them to come back and hang out again they boys parted with their newest friend to continue patrol. When they got back to the lair Mikey felt like he was on cloud nine. She was pretty, nice, and had a great smile. Mikey sat and smiled thinking about (y/n) when his eyes caught sight of a little black marker. He frowned. He wanted to find his soulmate, he really did, but now he didn't want to write anything cause what if it wasn't her. He really wanted it to be her.

“I think I’m in love~” he sighed.

“Sure you are Mike.” Leo grunted. “Go to sleep, it was a long night.”

Mikey sighed and rolled onto his side. He looked at the marker and felt guilty for some reason. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Life was good the boys went over to (y/n)’s apartment about once a week and April would come down to the lair to visit them about the same amount. A couple of months after they met they introduced the girls and they got along really well. Mikey sat April down and told her that he was sorry but his heart now belonged to (y/n). She smiled at him and patted his shoulder and told him that she forgave him and even though it would be hard she would heal. His brothers laughed but he ignored it.

April was working and the boys were at (y/n)’s place. They had eaten pizza and were talking about whatever came to mind.

“Do you guys have soulmates?” (Y/n) asked rather suddenly.

“Well we actually don't know, but we think it's very unlikely that we will.” Donnie replied.

“Oh. I hope you do.” she said. Mikey felt nervous as he asked his question.

“Do you have one?” she looked over at him.

“Not yet, but I hope I do. I’ve written on my arm every day since I turned 20 6 months ago.” she said, pulling her legs up to sit criss cross on the couch.

“We missed your birthday?” Leo asked.

“It was like a month before we met.” she shrugged.

“I can't believe I missed my true-love's birthday!” Mikey exclaimed and threw his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into him.

“You're squishing me!” She pushed away from the orange clad turtle laughing. “Do you guys want soulmates?” the boys quieted, and fidgeted awkwardly.

“I mean yeah but what's the point? Looks at us! We’re freaks.” Raph called out before crossing his arms.

“But soulmates are made for you! The universe wouldn't have given us someone who is scared of us!” Mikey defended. It was a conversation that had been had many times.

“Actually I'm not sure about that.” (y/n) said. Four pairs of eyes turned towards her.

“What do you mean?” Donnie asked.

“Well my parents were soulmates and my dad used to beat my mom senseless until he was arrested and they divorced when I was 8. They were soulmates but he used to hurt her so much.” (y/n) looked down at her hands. “It took her awhile to realize that just because the universe made you soulmates didn’t mean you were meant to be.”

“What happened after that?” Leo almost whispered the question.

“Well she met my step dad who is a great guy. His soulmate isnt the romantic type so they just ended up being close friends, and then he met my mom. They fell in love and he became my step-dad. You don't need to be soulmates to love each other, sometimes soulmates are just platonic, and sometimes soulmates aren’t good for eachother.”

“I’m sorry.” Mikey said softly.

“Don't be! Everyone is happy now. I mean, I don't know about my dad. He's never tried to reach back out. I kinda don't want him to anway.” (y/n) looked back up at the turtles.

“So you must hate the idea of soulmates.” Raph suggested.

“When did I say that? I want a soulmate, I really do. I want that fairy tale happily ever after people always talk about.” She sighed and smiled. “That's why I write my soulmate everyday. I had wished that they would be older than me but I guess they are a bit younger. I just hope that when I'm 42 I don't suddenly get writing from my soulmate who just turned 20.” She laughed.

“That can happen?” she looked over at Donnie and nodded.

“You guys don't know that?” the boys, except for Mikey, nodded.

“We never thought we would have them, so beyond movies I don't think any of us really looked. Didn’t want false hope.” Leo looked at her.

“Well I did cause I’ve always wanted a soulmate!” Mikey interjected.

“Mikey used to write on his arm every single day but hasn't in months.” Raph told her.

“Hey how do you know that?” Mikey looked at him.

“You think we didn't notice? We just never brought it up cause we know how you are.” Leo mumbled. The youngest turtle pouted at this.

“Why did you stop?” (y/n) asked. Mikey sighed and leaned his head back.

“It just kinda felt pointless. I would write something every day and nothing ever happened and then I realized one day that I hadn’t written anything for 2 weeks and still nothing changed. It just kinda felt pointless lately.” Mikey told everyone. There were flashes of sadness or pity from his brothers. They always knew the day would come when Mikey realized that none of them had soulmates. They knew it would come, but they didn't want it too.

“Well thats dumb.” (y/n) said rather bluntly. “What if today is her birthday and she's waiting to see if her soulmate will write anything. There were girls in my highschool that swore that they wouldn't write first and that their soulmate had to be the one to write first.” She said, leaning into Mikey.

“Well I think thats kinda dumb.” Mikey pouted at her. She rolled her eyes and leaned forward grabbing a cup of markers.

“Here write something!” she said, giving him the cup. He grabbed a black marker and opened it.

“Fine. Anything for you angelcakes.” he blew a kiss at her and looked at his arm. He felt a weird tightness when he brought the marker to his skin. He decided to write a simple ‘Hi I’m Mikey. What's your name.’

(Y/n) shivered as he started to write and felt a tickle on her arm. She gasped and pulled up her sleeve. The brothers' eyes widened as they watched Mikey’s hand writing appear on her arm next to the old writing that she had done. Mikey did not notice.

“Mikey! Look!” The oldest turtle said pointing at (y/n). Mikey looked up at Donnie and then at (y/n)’s arm.

“Oh haha very funny. That's not really nice.” He rolled his eyes.

“What Mikey? It's not a joke!” She put her arm right next to his and told him to keep writing. He drew a squiggle and watched as it seemed to magically appear on his friend's arm.

“What? Dude! Thats awesome!” Mikey cried out. This was the best thing in the world! His angelcakes was his soulmate!

“Why haven't you written me back?” She asked slightly outraged. Mikey stopped and stared at her.

“Cause I haven’t gotten any writing.” Mikey said, remembering how she said she wrote to her soulmate everyday. The room fell quiet and Mikey felt the beginnings of a horrible pain in his heart.

“So I’m yours, but you're not…” She trailed off feeling a sudden wave of emotion and felt tears in her eyes.

“Um sorry to interrupt, but I don't think there's any reason to get upset.” Donnie started. He grabbed the marker that matched the writing she already had on her arm. “Try writing something (y/n).” She nodded quietly as a few tears fell. She opened the cap and wrote hello. Mikey felt a tickle and shivered at the phantom writing on his arm, but he looked down and there was nothing there.

“Nothing” Mikey whispered. He felt like the world was crashing down. A moment so happy followed by something so heartbreaking. Raph and Leo looked down and away. Their faces filled with sorrow for their brother, and for the hope they had just felt for themselves.

“Now hold on just a moment.” Donnie rolled his eyes. “(Y/n) why do you write in that color?”

“It's my favorite.” she sniffled.

“Do you always write in green?” He pressed.

“Yeah, like I said it's my favorite and I want my soulmate to know that. I feel like it makes it a little more personal.” (y/n) continued. Donnie leaned forward and grabbed her marker. Everyone watched as he took the marker and held it up to mikey.

“Everyone look.” They all looked and Mikey’s eyes widened.

“It's the same color as me.” he mumbled.

“(Y/n) please try again with black.” She quickly snatched up the black marker and wrote ‘I hope this is Mikey.’

“Donnie you're a genius!” Mikey tackled his brother and then quickly went back to the couch thrusting his arm at (y/n). “Do it again!”

She quickly drew a heart while staring at his arm and watched as the black lines began to appear on Mikey as she drew them. She practically threw herself at mikey wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his face.

“Woah. I think that we should probably leave.” Leo suggested as his two other brothers got up and followed him to the window.

“Thank you Donnie!” (y/n) shouted out. Donnie gave a thumbs up and went out the window and closed it behind him.

“I can’t believe we’ve known each other for 5 months without finding out!” Mikey said nuzzling her face and wiping whatever tears were still there.

“I can't believe I never thought to write in black!” She laughed and kissed his cheek.

“Wait!” He leaned back. “The turtle thing doesn't bother you? Really? Truly?”

“Of course not! I’ve had a big crush on you for like 2 months now! This is the best news ever!” his soulmate cheered. “Also I just kissed you like 10 times.”

Mikey laughed and held her close, kissing her cheek. He had a soulmate! His soulmate was a beautiful, funny, nice girl who liked him!

“I knew there was a reason I’ve always loved green.” She said with a smile and leaned in to kiss mikey’s lips. It was a nice sweet kiss and just what he always thought a first kiss should be, yet so much better. He sighed and relaxed against the couch with (y/n) in his arms.

He had a soulmate and things couldn't be better.

#tmnt 2014 #tmnt #tmnt x reader #tmnt imagine #tmnt michelangelo

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eurosong · 4 years ago

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Undo my ESC 2021 - Semi-final 1

Good afternoon, folks! Every year, I take a look at each semi-final and share what feasible change I would make – as small as changing a few lines of the song or an element of staging, or as big as a different song completely winning a national final – to make it even better (just in my own opinion of course!) This year will be harder than usual, but I’ll try to set aside my conviction that every 2020 artist should have been able to return to see how different SF1 might look. Let’s go!

🇱🇹 Lithuania: PiN was in the Roop's hands, and whilst I fell in love with some of the underdog songs they were up again, most notably Home and Never fall for you again I wouldn't take away the chance away from the Roop. There's nothing I'd change about Discoteque, and I love their nod to On fire, but the way that they also took things in a different direction to last time.

🇸🇮 Slovenia: I may be in a small minority, but I absolutely love Amen and I loved Voda too! Ana Soklič has so much presence and stunning vocals with so much texture and depth; she can sell me pretty much everything. My only change would be to insert Slovenian language lyrics!

🇷🇺 Russia: I was initially really disappointed that we wouldn't see the iconic Little Big on the ESC stage - but I commend the way they wanted to share the limelight with other artists. The unexpected Russian mini-NF ended up being a revelation and very diverse for its size. I liked all three songs, but I think that the best hands down won. There is nothing I have to change to Russian woman, one of the most powerful propositions of the season for me. I just hope juries will value it and we won't see a Telemóveis style situation!

🇸🇪 Sweden: After a year of being happy with the result in Sweden - I was always in Dotter's corner, but who can't love the Mamas? - we return to more familiar terrain of an MF result disgruntling me. Tusse has charisma and talent, but his song is lacklustre at best for me. My fav was, once again, Dotter, and I wish that either she'd taken the win or that the Mamas got their shot at ESC as main artists.

🇦🇺 Australia: I really enjoy Technicolour, one of the more out-of-left-field entries from Oz. I am so intrigued as to what the Diane Warren song offered to Montaigne was like, as I'm certain that this isn't it, but I'm glad she trusted her gut and went for something so distinctive. My one change would be to get rid of the unnecessary key change at the end.

🇲🇰 Macedonia: When there was a nationalistic furore with attempts to stop Vasil from representing MK, I was entirely on his side even though his song for me is one of the least appealing of the edition. I'd still want him to get his chance at ESC - but his Sudbina would have been such a more compelling entry for my taste.

🇮🇪 Ireland: Lesley Roy served nostalgic pop wonderment for the second year in a row, and another song that has etched itself already onto my life's soundtrack. I don't know what I'd change, except perhaps translate one of the choruses into Irish Gaelic - it'd make the message of a return to home even more resonant for me.

🇨🇾 Cyprus: Cyprus and I haven't seen eye to eye for several years now, and it's a shame as they were one of my favourite countries of the 90s. I do enjoy El diablo more than their last trio of songs, but I find it leans too heavy on a clear inspiration from Gaga, which takes away from some of the more original elements of the song. So, I'd rework the chorus, and also change some of the lyrics elsewhere because some lines just flat out make me cringe.

🇳🇴 Norway: I seem to have been in the minority of people delighted at MGP's final results! I had bigger favourites - the rambunctious sea shanty that is Vi er Norge, the kickass empowering Witch woods or the pulsating groove of Playing with fire - but I wouldn't take Tix' win away from him given how meaningful it was for him and what the guy has been through. My change? Revert partially or entirely to the Norwegian version, Ut av mørket; for me, it hits my heart harder.

🇭🇷 Croatia: Sincerely, my biggest disappointment of the NF season potentially - I wish Damir had been internally selected, not just because of my wish to see all ESC'20 alumni return, but because his was the best Croatian song for me since Moja štikla. Tick-tock is harmless but if we can't get a Damir return in this hypothesis, then I'd go for Rijeka, which captivated me with its epicness on first listen and has just risen in my estimation since. Though, given Nina's histrionics after coming second, maybe I'd have Albina perform the song instead.

🇧🇪 Belgium: I was prepared to not be on board with Belgium this year despite my long-lived love for the country - I found Release me, whilst orchestrated beautifully, entirely lacking in dynamism; and I really couldn't stand the way the band dumped Luka unceremoniously. And yet... this lush piece of art is one of my favs of the entire season. And there's something different and singular in Geike's voice. So the only thing I'm changing here are the dudes' attitudes to ESC so that they can value it more, especially Alex.

🇮🇱 Israël: As one of the most naturally charismatic performers of 2020, I had high hopes for Eden's return and the original idea of a mega-NF for her seemed really promising. Instead, we ended up with an uninspired strewing of songs, of which the best didn't even get the chance to be recorded by her. Set me free was my favourite of the three that got to the final, but I feel they've really worsened it with the revamp, in between the hail mary pass of the whistle vote and the extra emphasis on "I'mma". I would have Eden perform Shoulders instead - I don't know how it NQd and think it would allow her to showcase her personality a lot more.

🇷🇴 Romania: I really enjoyed Roxen's selection last year - small but quite diverse, and I felt the best song won. My change would be to have seen a similar national final with 3 or 4 other songs of hers this time, because I'm not convinced in Amnesia anywhere near as much as I was of Alcohol you.

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: I wish they had gone with something at least a bit different rather than this cut, smudge and paste from last year that is so on the nose with its "you loved Cleopatra, so you will love this, won't you?" feel that it even namechecks the previous song. Efendi has a lot of talent and could have shown more diversity here.

🇺🇦 Ukraine: I'm getting used to the surprise revamp of Šum by now, but the question still remains for me, why did they do it? They needed to cut about a minute off the duration of the track, but to me, that doesn't explain why they also had to change the melody in large parts of the song. I'd be tempted to revert to a shortened form version of Šum version 1.

🇲🇹 Malta: Another unpopular opinion, but I'm just not that into the Maltese song this year. The lyrics are great and Destiny has poise and presence and PIPES and I'm sure she'll do well, but the style - a glammed up Electro-Velvet, essentially - doesn't heat me up, and I feel like the different parts of the composition are too dissonant from each other, like we have 2 or 3 songs in one here. My change would be for her to have gone with something more soul-ish in its sound, like AOML was.

And the AQs of this semi

🇩🇪 Germany: How did juries decide upon this, especially when there seems to have been many promising artists in the German selection? No shade against Jendrick who seems like a lovely chap, but the song sounds like the cheerful four chords on a ukulele you hear repeated as royalty free background music on Youtube tutorials, merged with a post-chorus breakdown taken from a Stefan Raab b-side. I would have gotten out my phone book and given Lilly among clouds a call - she gives me the vibes of being able to create something totally show-stopping.

🇳🇱 Netherlands: My original slight disappointment at this was more because of how high I have Grow than any fault of its own. It's another gorgeous composition from Jeangu, with probably the best set of lyrics of the year, and this is going to be a moment. I change nothing.

🇮🇹 Italy: I like Måneskin and their performances at Sanremo were brilliant - but they were far from being at the top of my favourites list. I would have given the win to Madame with Voce, or Ermal with Un milione di cose da dirti. Both would have been my #1 of the entire year, both move me deeply. Madame showcases contemporary Italian style with classic songwriting, whilst Ermal almost created a companion piece to Fai rumore - Diodato wanted to hear the sound of his loved one, whilst Ermal struggles to make a noise and say what he feels about his love.

Join me soon as I take a look at SF2 and its songs (and France, Spain and the UK, the auto-qualifiers from that semi!)

#eurovision 2021 #esc #eurovision #eurovison song contest #opinion #esc 2021

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cancerbiophd · 5 years ago

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PhD Dissertation Masterpost of Advice and Resources*

*or at least what helped me when I was writing mine for a PhD in Cancer Biology in the US--so they may not apply to other fields and/or countries.

Firstly, what a PhD Dissertation and Defense process is like (for my program)

Always check your university’s graduate college’s dissertation formatting and guidelines. That should be your #1 rulebook to work off of. Download their formatting guide and read it thoroughly. Before turning in your dissertation, make sure you’ve addressed all the requirements.

Get a sample from a previous student as reference, preferably one from your program, or even better, your lab. All dissertations are publicly available online at your university’s library (with the exception of those with embargoes). Always have an example on hand--you never know when it’ll come in handy for minor formatting details, or even references (if it’s a dissertation from your own lab).

Familiarize yourself with whatever writing program you’re going to use, and if it can do any of the formatting automatically for you. For example, Microsoft Word can make a Table of Contents for you if you use their Automated Styles, and you can use the Navigation Pane to view all your sections at a glance (and jump instantly to that section). I highly recommend figuring out all the formatting before you start writing, as it may be really frustrating to go back and fix things (especially if you’re doing this on the due date). Scroll down to the end of this post for formatting resources.

I think the ideal timeline is one month per chapter, give or take a few weeks depending on how much you have done beforehand and how much time you have per day to allocate to writing. There will be a lot of back-and-forth edits with your advisor, you may find out there are missing data that need analyzing/finalizing, etc. Your last month or so of writing may have to be dedicated 100% to your dissertation, so plan accordingly. I have heard many PhD’s tell me to even start a year out, because you may be busy your last couple of months with job interviews, or even starting your new job, etc.

Export your images as .png if possible or your document will become too large.

Use a citation manager, if you don’t have one already, such as Mendeley.

Also have a way to keep track what each reference is about, especially for the Introduction as that may require some new additions (ie. things you learned in class or lab meeting but never actually had to chase down a primary reference for). You can use Excel, Word, or good ol’ fashioned printouts in subject binders--anything that helps you remember what the paper is about what. I ended up citing over 400 references in my dissertation--that was a lot of papers to keep track of!

As with any large writing project, make an outline first. This way you can better structure everything from a bird’s eye view, and make sure you’re not missing anything. Just like building a house, you need to set up the frames first before the drywall. The outline to my Introduction was 5 pages long before I even wrote the first complete sentence, and the outline also helped me not feel too overwhelmed with the task before me (likewise, I also started off each paragraph with a brief outline of the points I wanted to cover. It worked really well in getting rid of writer’s block)

Have a separate folder for each chapter, to keep things better organized and easier to manage. I didn’t put everything together in a single file until the very end.

And always back up your files, or work entirely off a Cloud-based system, like Dropbox or Box (which your university may provide for free). There’s absolutely nothing worse than losing allll your hard work, especially your Dissertation!

Set aside at least 1 hour before your Dissertation is due to your committee for last minute issues, like formatting, uploading, etc.

If you’re in the Bio field, I highly recommend making your figures using Biorender.com. It honestly saved me so much time, and it took my dissertation and defense to a whole new level of professionalism. It’s free to use for students, though the paid student version ($35/mo) has more features.

Links to other resources:

University of Michigan guide for using Microsoft Word for Dissertations

Dissertation templates (with build-in-instructions) from Duke University (scroll down to end of page) (thanks @conquerorwurm for this one)

Making an outline from Sacred Heart University

More about making an outline for Dissertations

Other tips on surviving this challenging time:

Write smart, not hard. Use your energy and creativity levels wisely. For example, I found out I was really great at synthesizing thoughts (and thus words on the document) in the morning, but not so much at night. So I did most of my writing in the morning, and then reserved evenings for making figures and adding references (aka things that required less brain-energy).

Take breaks! This is definitely a marathon, so please try not to push yourself too hard to prevent burning out. Here’s what my writing schedule looked like 1 week before my dissertation was due to my committee--you can see I worked hard, but I also had lots of breaks throughout the day to eat and/or recharge, and I tried to sleep 7-8 hrs/night.

The moment you think you can’t do something alone, seek out a resource that will help you. There’s no time or energy to waste. Resources include: your advisor, another lab member, a university writing center, online tutorials, even other grad students on tumblr. No one else has written a dissertation on their own, so you shouldn’t have to either.

Have a support system, like another fellow student going through something similar who you can talk to. It helps so much to not be lonely during this.

Have something fun planned after you turn in your dissertation and after you defend to look forward to. Sometimes all that was left to get me through the tough and frustrating moments was the thought of all my plans post-defense: going to my favorite used bookstore, reading for fun again, relaxing and watching movies, and more. Small things, but oh so powerful to keep me going sometimes.

You will get through this. I know it’s hard. I know how close to tears you are. But I also know you will survive. Remember all those tough times in the past? Like when you were studying for your qualifying exams? Or writing and re-writing that grant application for what seemed like the 500th time? Those were some tough times, but you got through them all. And so you will also get through this.

And lastly, but probably most importantly:

Do what works for you. You haven’t made it this far in your academic career without a solid understanding of your own working style, so stick to that. My advice is just what happened to work for me, personally, and thus may not apply to anyone else.

Good luck, and congratulations, soon-to-be Dr!

#grad advice #writing advice

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