#i've had those beads for so long it's nice to finally have a use for them

[dramatic-dolphin]

haven't posted tatting in a while, so here's the earrings I made for my mom! 🥰

[adobe-outdesign]

Is it too early to ask for thoughs or headcanons on the 4 perils? I just really like those guys.

Before we get too far, can I just mention what a great concept the Treasures are? They're probably some of my all-time favorite legendaries. The way they're based off the four perils is a nice mythology reference, but this is greatly enhanced with the way they're vessels with fake bodies. This is very cool and unique, and that combined with the way they're sealed away to prevent natural disasters gives them an appropriately epic, legendary feeling to the quartet. Just the vibes alone are immaculate.

For the record, my personal favs from most to least are Wo-Chien, Ting-Lu, Chien-Pao, and Chi-Yu, but honestly all of them are great in some compacity or another.

I know Ting-Lu was somewhat contentious when it first leaked, with many feeling like the body is too vague-looking compared to the other Treasures of Ruin. However, I honestly really like the abstract look—I feel like it makes it look all the more eerie, almost somewhat eldritch. It also really helps convey that the object is the actual Pokemon and the body is just made out of materials, more so than any of the other Treasures.

If I have one problem with the design, it's that the ritual bowl/ding feels like it's barely attached to the head; it looks like it's going to fall off any moment. I also feel like the neck's a bit long. Otherwise, the colors are nice and the concept and typing are clear.

Chien-Pao is an interesting combo between a saber-toothed cat, a snow leopard, and something akin to a ferret. It reminds me a lot of a spotted genet, though that probably wasn't intentional:

Regardless, this is a neat design, with the body being made of snow and the markings actually being ice crystals. The simple white and light blue palette conveys snow and cold, while the black coloring on the sword draws attention to it. I also like that the sword is snapped in half, with each half composing a fang. It's a nice touch.

My only complaint is that the sword going through the top of the muzzle looks a bit odd. It was probably done like that to show that the snow is built around the sword, but it just creates a weird tension point there. I also feel like the random crystals on the cheeks weren't needed, and I wish the model looked less smooth and more like actual snow. Still, it's nice looking overall.

Chi-Yu is the least ominous of the trio, but then again it is still the most ominous goldfish I've ever seen, so that's something. Once again, the objects are obviously the beads, though this one gets points for incorporating the emotion, envy, into the design by using jade magatama beads specifically.

I think my only problem with it—which is unfortunately a big problem—is that the body works well in 2D, but really does not translate well at all. I don't know why GameFreak is allergic to particle textures, but Chi-Yu looks more like paper with fire drawn on it than actual fire, especially compared to other 'mons with much more realistic fire on their bodies. This makes the beads feel jarringly three dimensional in a way that doesn't jive with the body. The actual design of the flames, with them forming some beautiful swirls and scales, is fine; I just wish it looked better when you were actually using it and not just looking at the artwork.

And finally, Wo-Chien, my personal favorite. I had high-hopes for a legendary dark-type snail, and thankfully, Wo-Chien did not disappoint. The muted color palette feels appropriately dark but earthy at the same time, and I love how the upper body is clearly just piles of leaves, with branches forming the iconic snail eyes. The way the colors alternate in said leaves also help break up the head while still making it clear what you're looking at. It's hard to make a snail look powerful and creepy, but they pulled it off beautifully.

I guess the only drawback is that the tablets that make up the shell are much less emphasized than on the other Treasure's designs; there's nothing to specially draw your eye to them from either a color or a size perspective. At the same time however, they do fit beautifully with the palette, and it could be argued that the body shape draws your eyes from the head to the "shell" naturally anyway.

So as a whole: all of these guys are honestly really solid, and some of the best legendaries we've had in a long time; cool inspiration, interesting concept, good designs, and a mythological feel make these four throughly enjoyable.

[dollywheeler]

September 10th, 1996

Dear diary,

I'm exhausted.

I woke up early today so I could get to the field before school and finish practicing. I finally managed to consistently land the routine, but it was a close call. I didn't get a chance to get to it last night, so if I hadn't gotten it this morning I would have completely bombed at today's practice. Luckily, everything turned out okay and I didn't make any mistakes.

I would have stayed yesterday after school but people were still doing extracurriculars so I went home first, thinking I could head back once everyone had left. As I'm still ahead with homework I decided to get started with clearing out the basement first. It was definitely a lot more work than I had accounted for.

I don't think I've been down in the basement in years, because I don't remember it being filled with this many boxes. I tried shoving the ones filled with books aside first as those could probably be kept or donated without much sorting, but there were plenty of others just filled with garbage and random crap. There was an entire cardboard box filled with dinosaurs - Mike used to be such a nerd. I could have sworn he'd had to donate all of those at some point - Mike complained about it often - but I'm also not surprised he found a way around it. Might have stolen them back out of the donation box when mom wasn't looking and squirreled them away somewhere.

Now I think about it, I do remember him using me as distraction one time. I think he got me gummy bears in return.

Anyway, there was a lot more to sort through than I'd thought.

I must have stayed down too long because mom came down to ask if I needed help looking for something. I told her I was just clearing out the basement so I could use the space and she seemed to freeze in her tracks. She looked around the basement for a moment, with this weird, sad look as if it hasn't been collecting dust for seven years, before her eyes settled on me again. Then she looked at me weird for a moment, before nodding with a tight smile and grabbing some boxes to sort through herself.

I almost started crying.

Maybe it's because of the look in her eyes as she'd stared at me, or because she'd looked close to tears herself. Or maybe I'm just feeling emotional.

Anyway, I really appreciated her help.

While cleaning, I found a bracelet underneath the cabinet - one of those woven bracelets you make at camp. It's green and blue and even has some beads braided into it. It's well crafted, honestly, but overall pretty ugly and chunky. I kind of like it. I matched my clothes to it and wore it today. It's nice to have something of Nancy's.

We managed to get the most important stuff shoved to the side for now. Mom knows which boxes need to go where, but it still took most of the evening to get it all done. Mom even ordered pizza so she could continue helping me. It was actually quite nice, especially once I had the idea to grab my CD player from upstairs and even mom started singing along.

It did mean we finished too late for me to justify going to back to school to practice, though, but everything worked out in the end. I might wake up early again tomorrow to practice in the basement - I really didn't mind that part. I liked starting my morning by being active, and now I can practice in the basement I won't have to miss breakfast with dad either.

That being said - I should probably go to sleep.

Love, Holly

[theautisticcentre]

NEGLECTED (III)

Shuri x GN! Reader

Summary: While Reader is on their way to the party, Shuri gets a talking to and starts to feel regret for her outburst.

Warnings: Angst, AU, shouting

----------------------------------------------

While you were flying with your family to the Avengers Compound, Shuri was continuing her work in her lab. She was, as always, completely drowned in her work. She hadn't payed a seconds attention on her words towards you an hour earlier, and was instead focusing on her new security cameras, when she heard footsteps nearby.

"I told you I didn't-" She stopped her words of anger when she saw T'Challa and Okoye walking into her lab. "Oh, it's you two. For what reason do I owe this little visit?" T'Challa and Okoye looked at Shuri, their faces stern. "Sister, we must talk." Shuri rolled her eyes and said, "Listen, if it's about Y/N, I promise I'll,"

"It is about Y/P, but it is not like our last talks. We saw Y/P leaving with sadness on his face. What did you say," said a serious Okoye. Shuri, with a twinge of fear, said, "I just told them how annoying they are with their constant pestering with these gifts. And most of them aren't even that good!"

"Shuri!" T'Challa said in utter shock and anger. Shuri soon followed up with, "What?! I work so much and so long for my country, and Y/P comes in and distracts me just so they can bring me...these! I swear, if Y/P didn't distract me, I'd be able to get twice as much work done!"

"Enough!" The three looked to the voice to see Queen Ramonda in the hallway them. She walked into their room, dismissed Okoye, and said her piece to Shuri.

"Shuri, words cannot express my disappointment in you. You are usually much more composed, yet now, your words have dealt as much damage to Y/N as any weapon you can or have made." Shuri angrily asked, "How?! What harm comes from telling the truth?!"

Ramonda kept her composure, and simply gestured to the bracelet you had made for Shuri. "Look at that." Shuri responded, "I did. It's subpar, mother-" "No. REALLY look at it." Shuri reluctantly picked up the bracelet, and analysed it again. "Well...the (colour) fabric used for the ring is a nice look, I'll give Y/P that..."

"The (material) beads added on do complement the fabric, and the heart shapes...are quite nice. OK...it's actually pretty good." Ramonda continued, "Good. Now, look at everything else Y/P's brought you." Shuri looked to her workshop, and soon picked up a necklace you made for her. "This necklace...the (material) used in this makes it gorgeous! And I just left it there?!...Because I was...working..."

Ramonda nodded to T'Challa, as they both saw Shuri start to understand.

"This shirt...I always wanted one of those double sleeve shirts, yet when Y/P made me one...I just...dropped it there." Shuri's stomach started feeling really bad. "This...this golden knife. Y/P made me this for self defense...and I threw it there..."

Finally, she grabbed a photo of you and Shuri at a Christmas festival in New York. "I...I loved that festival...Y/P wanted me to remember, and...and..." Soon after she stopped her sentence, tears started pouring down her face, as she chuckled. "I remember Thor had to hold back Loki when I flustered Y/N..."

"They've done all of this for me, and...I said they weren't good...And I...I told Y/P that Y/P annoyed me..." Shuri fell to her knees, the waterfalls falling from her eyes. "Oh, Bast, what have I done...I've broken Y/P heart...over what?! Over some damn piece of technology?!" She furiously stood up and threw many pieces of her work away, nearly hitting T'Challa with one.

"Now you see, Shuri?" Shuri looked up to her mother, and tearfully said, "Yes, mother...I need to find Y/P, and make it up to Y/P!" She quickly checked the security cameras around Wakanda, and didn't see you anywhere. So she reversed the cameras footage until she saw one recorded when you were blasted out of Wakanda by Bifrost.

"Y/P...Y/P left...Then Y/P's either at New Asgard or New York!" Shuri immediately got out of her chair and left her lab, determined to find you.

End of part 3.

[frogsandfries]

It only took me actually all freaking day

But I finally got merely most of this body of work organized across several documents.

Thousands. And. Thousands.

No. Literally. Thousands. Of (okay, admittedly horribly formatted) pages. Just for this one collection of work. Whhhyyyyyyyyyyyy

I somehow missed a chunk? Deleted it? I'm not really positive. So I do have to go back through and locate those items.

Anyway, so I get to have tomorrow off, and luckily my boss stopped in and reminded me that my schedule change came through or I would've missed work Sunday. They changed my schedule finally; it's fine. It'll honestly be nice to have Mondays and Tuesdays off. It can be hard to get shit done when I'm on the phones 9-5 M-F. Plus, there's this all-you-can-eat sushi place that I've been dying to give a second chance, and the best day to do that is Tuesday. Oddly enough, yes.

I get to chill out tomorrow, work Sunday, and then have my first Monday and Tuesday off. So......bleh. Could be worse. One time, in another job, long, long ago, on third shift, I had to work something like eight days in a row. That. Was awful. Awful, awful.

I'm absolutely dying of exhaustion. I actually want to go back through the chapters I haven't yet and get the tables of contents set up in each of the documents, just to be absolutely positive that I got everything saved. Blehhhh I should go back through the fics off AO3 and set up their tables of contentses, but.......it's honestly kind of a nightmare and I'd honestly rather save it for a) the really, really long fics, and b) later. Like, absolutely the last minute. Admittedly though, I do not know what I would do without the table of contents for Debt of Time. Probably split each of the books into their own, multiple documents so I don't have to spend ages and ages scrolling and scrolling and scrolling.

I wish I had something to do tomorrow, somewhere to go. I could go to the cafe up the hill. Or the other....is that one a cafe? Meh, I'll probably go to that one the next time I'm over at the post office. Now that I get Mondays and Tuesdays off, I could save the almost hour walk when I finally go over to take my sister's gift to ship, but....where's the fun in that? I could go over that way and check this place out that I think I've walked past several times. I want something more social, though, than just sitting at a cafe and prodding at fanfic.

Ugh, I guess I have enough paper presently to print some more textblocks, which I'll get to the first press and then neglect. Again, even if I bought one book cloth each paycheck, with the number of books that I have to cover at this point, it's going to take a long time to cover each of them, even if I don't do any kind of embroidery or embellishment (I keep thinking about a) 15/0 seed beads and b) that bead place in town). Even longer if the stack keeps growing. Oh, and don't forget that I haven't been able to squeeze more cover boards out of my budget, so there's a bit of a bottleneck there too.

What's the real hurry though? It's not like I have a bookshelf--still, yet.

But hey, I could and should be kinder to myself. I'm finally getting a vacuum, and also, I rather need my vices. Mine are not the most dangerous vices that were ever had by a socially isolated human. Also, I should finally be able to devote the necessary energy to trimming and punching the other half of my fic catalogue; that'll be......fun? Pleasant to fill up. I'm still struggling to think up an expandable enough spine. Maybe I should just not even worry about it and set up either a basic long-stitch or criss-cross spine. Well, actually, the long-stitch style spine might be a bit of a......poor match for what I have going on with the stab-type spine. An adapted criss-cross type spine could be good. If I break the initial volume into two parts and use two or three spines per volume, initially, that should give plenty of breathing room.

Honestly, now that I'm elbows deep into this random ramble, my mind keeps returning to a criss-cross binding as really the best option for a sturdy, expandable spine. Think about it: You could undo the spine, and either replace it, weave in another, or attach another spine and/or cover on the 'outside'. All you need is for the threads to pass through the signatures in some fashion.

Although, even a long-stitch isn't necessarily a bad idea. You'd have to set it up a little more like a travel journal, and even the only thing wrong with something like a travel journal is the poor way elastic ages. If it weren't for the matter of covering them, I think I'd be leaning more toward just weaving the booklets together by their spine stitching.

Maybe a softer, wrap-around style cover, to make up for any expansion? Maybe I'm too worried about expansion that I know will happen. I'm not just going to be like "well, section 'b' is full up; no more fics with titles that start with 'b'".

[bakubabes-tatakae]

Hello! here’s some thirst for chuuya from bsd😃Imagine brat taming chuuya manhandling you to ride his muscular thick thigh as punishment and clicking his tongue in annoyance when he sees you desperate and whiny, proceeds to slap your pussy/ass and leaving a bright cherry red mark to appear while your writhing in his strong grasp from the pleasure.

You know... this might be the first thirst that I've ever received thirst for Chuuya. I'm all for this. 😌 Just gonna uh, throw a tag in real quick. @cakers-2000… Come and get your mans.

TW: smut, thigh riding, 18+ content, slight degradation, dirty talk, pussy slapping, brat taming, minors dni

“Oh come on sweet girl, don't tell me that that's all you've got for me. You were oh so confident just a few minutes ago when you tried to put me in my place.” Chuuya's eyes were dark and devious as he looked down at you, your hands gripping onto his leg as he leaned back on the couch to show you he wasn’t lifting a finger just yet. "I told you that brat's don't get the help that they want. You really want it then you're gonna have to work for it."

You whined as you pulled yourself over his muscular thigh, desperate for more of him. You needed his help, every time that he had helped you before it had taken no time for you to reach that bliss that you needed so badly. Your clothed sex was nearly dripping as you chased that release, knowing that you needed more from him to get it. "P-please, I n-need you, Chu."

He huffed in response, that wasn't nearly as pretty as he wanted it to sound and you knew that. He didn't have to explain this stuff to you. You were more than capable of figuring it out yourself. "Tt, I don't think so. Use that pretty little mouth just like I know you can. Use it for something other than back talk this time and we'll figure this out." He gripped your chin tightly and made you look at him, clicking his tongue at you when you tried to avert your eyes from his. "That wasn't good enough, now give me what I want you damn brat. Then I'll help my pretty baby cum all over my thigh, yeah?"

You whimpered as he let your chin go, you wanted to cum so bad, needed to, and his words made it so hard. "S'too good for me. Please. Please, I can't take it anymore. Need you, need your help." Your hips moved downward more demandingly for him, and the seduction on your voice finally caught him.

Chuuya’s face contorted, his hand sliding between your legs as he pressed his thumb to your aching heat. “Look at you, so pathetic and desperate for me. Desperate to get exactly what you want. Tch, and it took you so long to be able to beg me this nicely.”

A lustful moan slipped from your lips as you felt his hands grab your hips. “Can I… can I cum? P-please, Chu?”

Chuuya pulled you over his leg quicker, feeling your sopping cunt soaking his pant leg. “Do you really think you deserve to? You’re the one that came up to me and took what you wanted without asking. Now is that any way for a lady to act?” He shook his head menacingly and tried his hardest to keep from giving in. He wanted to so badly, the way the tears slowly started to slide down your cheeks giving him a sense of confidence. Feeding his ego just a little more. Those tears were just for him. “I think the only way that you’re gonna be allowed is if you apologize to me. So what’s it gonna be sweetheart? Gonna say your sorry so that you can finally cream all over my leg?”

You almost screamed in frustration, his hand reached up to wipe a few more stray tears that fell down. You knew that you would never win and gave him what he wanted, putting on the most sinful voice that you could. “Chu, ‘m sorry. S-sorry for being bad. Just needed it so bad.”

Chuuya grabbed the back of your head and pulled you toward him, smothering your lips with his. “That’s more like it. Cum, now. Let me see that pretty face as you fall apart.”

And you did just that. He pushed back the pieces of stray hair that stuck to your forehead, small beads of sweat lining it from your efforts. You cried out as you felt yourself let go, his name falling from your lips followed by a spew of curses. The sly grin that painted his face as he praised you for your good work making a shiver run down your spine. His words leaving you breathless. “That’s my good little brat.”

©2022 bakubabes-tatakae, please do not repost/modify without my permission, please do not use my work as ASMR without my permission

[weareallstoriesintheend]

The Neighbours (Adam Sackler x Plus Size!Reader)

Summary: You move into a new neighbourhood, new apartment building and straight into a new life. On your first arrival into this new world you're greeted by a man that will make more of an impression that you ever could have expected.

Notes: This is a reader insert fic series however I wanted specifically to write the character as plus size. This is something I've wanted to do for a really long time.

Even if you don't identify directly with the physical descriptors of the character I hope you enjoy all the same. This is just one persons (my) feelings, opinions and experiences that I have put into this and I'm more than aware that people experience being plus size in so many different ways.

Please feel free to reach out and talk to me about this if you'd like too 💕

Chapter 1 - A Convenient Meeting

Word count: 1162

The sun shone directly above you, bringing beads of sweat to gather uncomfortably at your hairline as you dragged the last box down out of the truck. It landed with a thud at your tired feet and you huffed with pure exhaustion. Your t-shirt clung to your body in the most uncomfortable way and you picked and pulled it until it fell smoother on your waist without sticking to the sweat lining your back.

All the furniture had been taken inside already by the very gracious and helpful movers and now you were just hauling box after box, a strange weight combination of mostly books and blankets that was making your arms ache.

With the final box at your feet, you waved off the movers in their truck, thanking them for their invaluable help. You took a big deep breath and began your first proper look around at your new neighbourhood, it looked nice enough you told yourself. Pretty quiet for midday but bustling enough that it didn’t feel eerie. Moving to New York from your hometown had felt like a dream, albeit a mildly cliché dream. But a new job and some exciting work was calling and you had answered that call.

Now you were here that all too familiar anxiety was creeping up, a heavy crushing feeling blooming like warm water through your chest. Brushing it off you picked up the last box, thankfully a fairly light one, and carried inside.

The building didn’t have an elevator so your thighs burned as you climbed flight after flight of stairs. But finally, you reached your floor and realised that one of the movers had closed the door behind them meaning you were going to have to wrestle your keys out of your pocket. Twisting the box around you tried to balance it on one arm, using the door frame as a prop as you tugged at your keys which were stuck on the tight material of your jeans pocket. You huffed in agitation as the keys wouldn’t wriggle themselves loose and the box began slipping slightly in your pathetically tired grip.

“You need a hand with that?”

A deep voice spoke from behind you; you almost dropped the box and cried out. You hadn’t even heard anyone approach or a door open, so didn’t even get a second to look up as your keys unlatched themselves dramatically from your pocket and you had to fight to catch those too.

“Ooh fuck, shit sorry” the voice laughed, two large arms dipped forward to catch the box from underneath as it slipped slightly in your already waning grip.

You looked up finally and smiled, “No problem, you just startled me. Thank you”

The man that stood before you was large and even that was almost too simple of a descriptor for the wall that stood before you. He was overwhelming, not just in height as he towered over you but the width of his shoulders was a sight to behold. A camo green t-shirt was stretched across a broad strong looking chest and blue jeans hung low on his hips. Despite how intimidating his stature may have seemed his face was recognisable as something perfectly sweet. Caramel brown puppy-dog eyes, a gorgeous aquiline nose and goofy smile surrounded by full lips that socialites would pay thousands for. Pretty freckles dotted and smattered his pale skin so much so you could reach up and trace patterns in them.

A passing thought remarked how unusually beautiful he was, striking to say the least, before you shrugged it off as he spoke again.

“I got this, go ahead” he gestured to the door for you to unlock it.

He was still smiling down at you, a soft almost tentative smile that made you instinctively return one back. You clicked your keys in the lock and swung the door open revealing a mess of boxes and furniture all in the middle of the room.

You pointed in through your now open front door, “You wanna stick that down over there?”

He nodded without a word and walked inside, dropping the box down carefully on top of a pile of other ones. He wiped his hands on his jeans awkwardly before extending one out to you, “Adam”

“Y/N” you said, reaching out to shake his hand. His touch was warm and his handshake firm but you couldn’t help but notice how his hands swallowed yours whole, they were practically the size of dinner plates! A light flush crept up your cheeks at the thought but you figured you could play it off as just being overheated from carrying everything… right? That would work!

He coughed and let go of your hand, he absentmindedly looked around him the silence growing more and more awkward as this complete stranger stood in the middle of your new home. You tapped your fingers on your thighs trying desperately to think of something to say.

“You got groceries?” he asked suddenly, “It’s hot out, you’ll need like bottled water and shit”

It took you a second but you shook your head in response. You shrugged, “Not a damn clue where anything is in this neighbourhood, but I’ll… figure it out”

“I could show you?”

Your eyebrows shot up your forehead “Really? You…umm… you don’t have too. That’s okay”

New city, complete stranger in your apartment offering to show you around the neighbourhood – this was starting to feel kinda ‘victim of a new Netflix documentary’. But his smile and soft eyes were inherently disarming.

“Nah it’ll be fun” he grinned, “I’ve gotta get some milk anyway… come on!”

He bounded out of the room and you had to bite your bottom lip to keep back a giggle. He was surprisingly bouncy for one so large.

“You strike me as the kinda guy that drinks milk straight from the carton” you said to him jokingly, following him close behind and grabbing your keys from where they had been left in the lock.

You had to stop dead in your tracks when you realised he’d halted straight in front of you and was eyeing you suspiciously, “How did you know that?”

And off he went again. Smiling to yourself you pulled the door shut and jogged after him, his long legs carrying him half way down the stairs in an instant. Your new neighbour was… interesting.

Adam was waiting for you on the street, bouncing a little back and forth from toe to heel. “Ready to go?” he beamed at you and held out his arm for you to take. You giggle, eyebrows still furrowed in mild confusion at how friendly this complete stranger was being. Linking your arm with his, the long strides he took tugged you forward.

The voice in the back of your mind told you, with a coy smile, that you weren’t going to get rid of this new friend anytime soon. And honestly? You didn’t think you minded all that much.

[latte-fairytaekwoon]

Private Show (Choi Jongho) Rated

Pairing: Choi Jongho × Exotic Dancer! Reader (Female)

Genre: Smut, Slight Fluff, Idol AU.

Summary: Knowing the maknae has been lusting for a certain expensive stripper, Yunho arranges a private dance just for him that includes a little bonus gift.

Word Count: 4.4K+

Warnings: Strip clubs, exhibitionism, voyeurism, pole dancing, masturbation, breast play, lap dance, spanking unprotected sex (always use protection), cum facial.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Paying no mind to the lovely lady that was currently running her fingers through his hair, Jongho's eyes kept wandering around the bright, neon lighted room, shifting around in his seat at times so that it would be easier to see the stage in front of him. The girl, feeling a bit disappointed to be slighted as such, turned her attention over to his companion, who was more than eager to accept her little dance on his lap. His large hands fought hard to keep them at his sides, knowing fully well the rules of not touching the exotic dancers. But there was certainly no rule about the girls touching the clients and some, like the bubbly and energetic one currently grinding on Yunho's lap, were more than happy to get a little handsy with them. He couldn't help the excited giggle as he tilted his head so she could glide her tongue down the side of his neck, loving every second of the attention he was getting. Noticing that his younger friend was hardly enjoying himself, Yunho sighed before taking out a couple bills from his pocket and holding it out for the young seductress. Wanting to leave him with one last souvenir, the stripper pulled one of the straps of her glittery bra down, allowing the male idol to get a glimpse of her nipple. Biting his lip, Yunho discreetly placed the bundle of cash inside her garment, sighing blissfully as he watched her saunter off to go entertain another man.

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself." He pointed out as he looked at Jongho with a curious gaze.

"Maybe because I'm just not into these types of things..?" Jongho shrugged as he reached for the glass that was on the table in front of him.

"Bet you wouldn't be saying that if Y/N was the one performing."

Yunho smirked when Jongho sipped on his drink too harshly, lightly letting out a cough after choking on the alcoholic liquid.

"What?"

Yunho rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Oh come on dude, you practically drool and get hard everytime she's on stage."

Jongho lowered himself in his seat, gaze wandering uncomfortably across the glittery floor underneath him. Chuckling in an endearing tone, Yunho patted Jongho's back affectionately.

"Awww. Does the Ateez' baby have a little crush on the hot stripper?" He teased him.

"What?! N-no..." Jongho furrowed his eyebrows, moving away from Yunho as far as he was able to in their seating booth.

"I mean, I honestly don't blame you. There's a reason she's the most sought after and expensive dancer in this place."

Catching sight of one of the bouncers heading their way, Yunho inwardly smiled to himself as the plan he had devised was about to come into action, the main highlight of why he had dragged Jongho down to the club with him, albeit with very little resistance from the younger male.

"Excuse me sir? Miss Y/N is ready to receive you in the private room."

Widening his eyes at the bouncer's announcement, Jongho whipped his head over at Yunho, who had the biggest and somewhat unnerving grin plastered on his face, almost as if he was taunting the maknae. Jongho especially felt somewhat slighted when his Hyung dared to produce his infamous black card out of his pocket, waving it around in front of the other's unamused face.

"Of fucking course you'd be able to afford a private dance with her." Jongho rolled his eyes, trying to seem as though it didn't bother him that Yunho had actually gone out of his way to book a personal session with the most desired woman in the establishment.

"Black card privilege my friend." Yunho giggled, putting his card safely back in his wallet after making sure to flex it.

"Oh suck it." Jongho grumbled, no longer to hide his annoyance at not being capable of affording exclusive time with a sexy woman who could charge 6 digits an hour solely because she was that gorgeous and lavish to look at.

Slumping an arm over his malcontent friend, Yunho leaned in to finally speak out the crucial part in his devious plan.

"Jongho, I booked the private dance for you kiddo."

With mind unable to believe Yunho's words, Jongho looked at the older male in confusion and almost as if he was in a daze. Chuckling, Yunho cupped his younger member's face and closed his agape lips.

"Don't drool just yet, you haven't even seen her."

Slipping himself out of his seat, Yunho extended his hand out towards Jongho, helping him up before proceeding to lead him out of the main hall and up the stairs. Jongho felt the pounding of his heart resonating in his ears, mouth slightly feeling dry the closer they approached the door of the private room. Gulping as he realized just behind those 2 doors he'd be faced with the very personification of his lustful desires, Jongho's hand slightly trembled as he reached for the doorknob. Snorting softly at the younger member's hesitation, Yunho leaned in and opened the door for him.

"Trust me Jongho, Y/N is actually very nice and will make sure you're comfortable at all times." Yunho assured him whilst simultaneously pushing him inside.

"How the hell do you know that?" Although Jongho's inquiry was more as a mental question towards himself, he was not ready for Yunho's answer.

"It's not the first time I've spent money for a one on one session with her-"

"Uh what?!"

Without getting any further explanation, Jongho watched as Yunho waved him a goodbye and closed the door, the light beeping sound letting him know that it was secured with a lock. Turning around, Jongho looked around and admired the soft pink aesthetic the room had been decorated with. It had a somewhat innocent and angelic vibe to it, which he didn't particularly dislike. In fact, he thought it was rather cute as in his mind he was already picturing a deep red lighting and a bunch of chains rattling across the walls. It was a pleasant contrast.

"I'm glad you seem to like the decor, I was here to make sure every detail would be to your liking."

Whipping his head towards the voice that startled him with their presence, Jongho's breath was caught when he saw none other than Y/N leaning against one of the walls, lips curled up in that mesmerizing smile of hers that never failed to melt him. With slow steps, she approached him, a completely tactic and intentional move so he'd be able to check her out from head to toe, and boy did he make use of it. He licked his lips as he took in her off white costume, consisting of a pearl beaded and lace bra that made sure to push up her soft looking breasts in the most alluring way, matching lace panties that had pearl studded clasps at the hip sides, no doubt intended for fast and hassle free removal. Her legs were accentuated by thigh high white stockings and the criminally high platform heels that helped her figure look elongated and more graceful. Her abdomen was decorated with a diamond belly chain that was fitted around her waist, a tiny pink butterfly pendant dangling in the middle, matching the pendant on the diamond choker that adorned her captivating neck. She had gone a lot more softer than she usually other for on her makeup, blush pink and soft coral main the focal points on the apples of her cheeks and lips, barely any color on her eyes save for the winged eyeliner that helped make her eyes look more enigmatic. Several parts of her body had been brushed with sparkling highlighter, mainly focusing on her shoulders, cheekbones, collarbone and the sides of her arms and thighs. Her hair was even styled differently, soft curled ends piled up into two half ponytails, the rest of her hair let down in similarly styled waves except for the long parted bangs that helped frame her face into having a more cutesy and angelic aura.

"Of course...." Her silky voice brought him out of his trance, making him focus his attention on her words.

"I did have a little help. Your friend told me a few things you seemed to favor." Her soft and semi mischievous giggle made him feel slightly abashed with himself.

Coming up close to him, Y/N took hold of his face, slightly squishing them in an affectionate manner.

"Don't be shy baby. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Leave everything to me."

A soft gasp escaped Jongho's mouth when she playfully pushed him to sit on the cushioned seat behind him, nearly falling off but managing to catch himself before that happened. Strutting over to the pole in the middle of the room, Y/N looked at him and sent him a heart fluttering wink.

As if on cue, the lights dimmed just a bit as a slow and sensual song started to play. Whipping her hair around, Y/N's arm outstretched itself to take a firm hold of the pole. Kicking one leg off the floor and using it as momentum, it stayed outstretched while her other leg bent around the pole as well, helping her to spin around expertly the pole. No matter how many times he'd see her do it, Jongho could never stop himself from whispering a soft 'wow' at how effortlessly and natural she made it seem when he knew very well it took a lot of strength to execute such a move.

Spinning around a few turns, she carefully planted her feet back on the ground. Making sure she was facing Jongho, she kept one arm on the metal bar behind her as her body slowly slid down, back supported on the pole. She made sure to keep her legs parted, hips swaying side to side in rhythm with the music, her free hand caressing her bare inner thigh with a teasing motion. Once down on the floor, she stayed on her knees as she trailed her hands up her torso, cupping her breasts and giving them a hard squeeze. Jongho widened his eyes when he watched her turn her back to him, still on her knees as her hands reached up to unhook her bra. He watched with anticipation as she peeled the straps off her shoulders, taking it off one arm, then the other until it was tossed across the room.

"Oh fuck-" He groaned when he came face to face with her bare chest for the first time since he started going over to the club. Being such a popular dancer, Y/N only fully stripped in settings like this, private room to wealthy paying customers, a privilege he now got to experience thanks to Yunho.

Taking hold of her breasts once more, she kneaded them between her palms, letting out a hiss as she purposefully pinched them to make them as hard as possible. As if the sight couldn't get more erotic, she lifted her hips slightly off the ground and proceeded to roll her hips up into the air, giving Jongho the perfect imagery of how she would look if she was on top of him, dick filling her pussy. After playing with her perky tits enough for his amusement, she got up once more and went back to the pole. Holding onto it, one hand a few inches away from the other, she lifted her body up and kept her legs spread as she spun around in a straddle spin. She made sure to keep a cheeky smile towards the man watching her performance, noticing that his hand began to rub dangerously close to his very obvious hard on.

"Oh sweet boy, don't worry, I won't keep you waiting." She giggled inwardly to herself.

Expertly, she spun herself down, legs further spreading as the eased into a middle split onto the floor. Y/N didn't stay long in that position, quickly bringing her knees together as she used the pole to help her get up off the floor. Circling around to be in front of Jongho once more, she turned around once more and bent down to touch her ankles. Her hands then proceeded to glide up her legs until they reached up to her barely covered ass cheeks. Wanting to play with him more, she playfully gave her ass a rather mild slap and if she had been able to she would have seen the effect it had on Jongho, the idol lightly jolting up from his seat as one of his hands twitched against his lap. Hands coming up to her hips, her fingers quickly snapped open the pearl decorated clasps on her underwear, the garment dropping fast onto the floor just like Jongho's mouth.

"Oh my god.." Was all he could mutter as he gazed at Y/N's bare pussy that was tempting him to go over and eat it up. Y/N did not make it any easier as her fingers once again reached back to spread her folds apart, letting him see just how wet and glistening they were. Feeling aroused and wanting to play with herself a bit, Y/N turned around to face Jongho again as she sat back down with legs spread. Hand reaching in between her thighs, Y/N threw her head back as she rubbed 3 of her fingers against her throbbing clit, spilling out the hottest moans Jongho had ever heard. His eyes stayed trained on her core, teeth tugging at his bottom lip as he saw how engorged and swollen her pussy lips were becoming thanks to her fast hand movements. As if the picture couldn't get any better-

"Jongho..." He tensed up when he heard her mutter his name. Opening her eyes, Y/N giggled at his shocked expression.

"Yes babyboy, you're not the only one who's getting turned on." She admitted, her rubbing becoming more intense and her sounds starting to get more high pitched. She could have made herself cum right then and there but she immediately halted her movements when she felt herself get too close to climaxing. She had already made up her mind that if she was going to cum, it was going to be on Jongho's cock, the very cock that she had been craving for quite some time. She vividly remembers the first time she saw him, sitting there in the crowd, eyes locked on her. Unlike the usual and common stares she'd get from other men that only displayed carnal lust and appetite, Jongho's eyes were different. They looked at her with pure adoration, staring at her as if she was an absolute goddess. He looked past her sexy body and dance and peered deep into the art and beauty of it, admiring each and every move she'd make onstage with fascination. Every time she'd perform and he was there, he always had an expression that seemed as if he had just discovered a priceless treasure or gem and Y/N loved the way he looked at her. He made her feel alive again, reminding her of why she loved performing, a love that had almost gone extinct after being viewed as nothing more than an object of entertainment and pleasure by many others. Seeing Jongho stare at her the way he did then, the way he was looking at her now, refueled that passion that had been buried deep inside her, being awakened once more by the man sitting in front of her.

Getting on all hands and knees, Y/N began crawling over to Jongho, the boy noticeably stiffening the closer she approached him. Sitting right in front of him, Y/N didn't hesitate to press her palms on his thick thighs, rubbing them in a gentle massage. She continued a pattern of stroking his thighs, thumbs occasionally pressing down hard. With a mischievous smirk, she hovered a hand above the tent in his pants before pressing it down to start palming him.

"Oh-Oh..." Jongho's breath hitched, thighs clenching at the feeling of her touching his intimate place, a picture he only got to live in his dreams up until that moment.

"You feel so big and thick even under these layers of clothes. Do you mind if I get a closer look?"

Noticing his hesitation and getting an inkling as to why it was, Y/N leaned forward, burying her face in between his legs as she placed her mouth right on top of his clothed bulge. Jongho outright moaned loudly at the contact, hips involuntarily bucking up each time she closed her mouth over his tent, only to open it back up before repeating the ministrations.

"Y/N please....." Jongho whined. Y/N giggled underneath him, the vibrations doing nothing but riling him up further. Giving in, Jongho began to unzip his pants, his hands sudden being pried off as Y/N took over and finished the task of undressing him. She pulled his pants and briefs down to pool around his ankles, face marveling at the sight of his erect cock right in front of her.

"Oh I was right. You are very thick and big."

Getting up, Y/N sat herself on top of Jongho's lap, the man underneath her gasping when she started rolling her hips against his, her wet folds coating his cock with her juices.

"Y/N are...are you sure this is ok?" He finally voiced out the biggest concern he had about all this.

Chuckling, Y/N wrapped her arms around Jongho's neck, leaning in close enough that her lips fanned over his own.

"Honey, it's perfectly fine. The only rules that apply inside these 4 walls are the ones that I set."

Taking hold of his hands, she placed them on her hips before continuing.

"And the number 1 rule is having you touch me as you please."

Jongho hesitantly ran his hands across her sides, still apprehensive about getting himself or her in trouble. Pouting slightly, Y/N began to grind her hips harder down onto his cock, gasping softly each time her clit felt stimulated by his shaft. That tiny action served to have him slide his hands down to cup her ass, squeezing harshly as he himself began bucking his hips upwards, matching the pace that she had set. He kept his eyes trained on the way her breasts bounced each time she moved fiercely on top of him. Releasing his grip on her ass, he placed them on top of her pillowy mounds, giving them tight squeezes that had Y/N shuddering when his thumbs brushed against her nipples, being extremely sensitive in them. After toying around with her sensitive nubs, making sure to flick them every so often, Jongho licked his lips before pressing his face against in between her tits. Opening his mouth, he latched his lips against one of her nipples, giving it harsh suckles, loud and sloppy noises being heard even over the music. Y/N closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his warm mouth on her boobs. Her fingers came up and tangled themselves on the back of his hair, palms unconsciously pressing him into her chest even further, back arching so that he would be able to take more of her soft flesh inside his mouth. Releasing the first nipple with a loud pop and a thin trail of saliva, Jongho knew it wouldn't be fair if her other nipple didn't get payed the same attention the other got. With a groan, his mouth once again enclosed over her nipple, practically devouring it into his warm and wet cavern.

Y/N's hip movements started to become more and more frantic. After having teased Jongho and herself so much before, she was beginning to feel much too hot and bothered, her pussy feeling empty and in desperate need to be filled with a fat and thick cock. Pulling Jongho's face off her chest, she suddenly got off his lap so she could move over towards the ottoman on the other side of the room. Getting on all fours, she presented her ass to Jongho once more, hand reaching in between to play with her reddened clit.

"Jongho please fuck me. Fuck this little hole of mine and use it as you want."

Not wanting to wait to see if it was a dream that he would wake up from or not, Jongho got up from his seat and began walking over to the exotic dancer. His clothes started to form a trail across the floor as he stripped out of every article of clothing he had on, the last garment dropped right as he came up behind her round and firm ass that was just begging to be slapped by one of his palms. Cupping the sides of her ass, Jongho rubbed the tip of his cock against her slickened lips, his precum mixing with hers, some of it even oozing down lightly on the floor. Any other time she would have appreciated how soft and gentle he was being, but right now that was the last thing she needed.

"Jongho don't tease me. Just drill that cock inside me and break me like one of those apples you break." She didn't even care that she accidentally made it known that she knew very well what he was capable of doing. Jongho on the other hand got a smug smile on his face after finding out that she had actually gone out of her way to do research on him.

Y/N had to press her hands against the top part of the couch to keep herself from holding forward after Jongho plunged his cock deep inside her. Not giving her dripping and warm walls time to prepare, Jongho began slamming his hips against her ass, his shaft being squeezed by her wet and clenching walls that made sure he wouldn't be going anywhere. Needy moans and cries of pleasure echoed in that room, most of them coming from the girl that was being impaled to the hilt by a thick cock repeatedly without mercy.

"Yes! Just like that!" She cried out, deep breaths spilling out as she pushed herself further back into Jongho's thrusts.

"You like being fucked like this?" He growled from behind, dropping one hand to slam hard against one of her cheeks that was rippling each time he pushed deep inside her core, the action making her walls contract painfully around Jongho's cock.

"I- yes! Fuck yes baby I do! I love being fucked as if I was nothing more than a glory hole." She shamelessly admitted.

Jongho once again brought his hand up and then dropped it down, giving her beautiful and supple ass a few repeated smacks, the loud cracking of his palm on her skin continuing to sound across the room until her flesh started to turn a pink-reddish hue. After getting his fill of making sure to slap her ass, Jongho cupped the sides of her soft cheeks, fingers digging harshly into her skin as he spread them out as much as they could, admiring the way his cock entered and re-entered her drenched hole.

"Fuck! You feel so good inside me baby, your going to make me cum."

Hearing those words made the male idol drive harder and more forceful thrusts into her body, using the power in his hips as his cock continued to stretch her tight hole. Y/N was losing her mind at how good the pleasure felt, she wouldn't have been suprised if her agape mouth was drooling saliva down her chin at the point. She focused on nothing else except relishing in how deep Jongho's cock was in her. She loved how rough he was being with her, and Jongho could also tell, her long drawn out screaming moans being a big clue that she was taking his hard thrusts very well. Too well. Swear began to mist both of their bodies, dripping down their foreheads and temples as his merciless pace continued. Y/N began to contract violently underneath him, her moans turning into full on wailing.

"Oh fuck! Jongho I'm gonna-"

She was caught off, lips only managing to spat out piercing whimpers of ecstasy as her juices seeped out and onto his length, warmly coating the entirety of his shaft. Y/N couldn't stop clenching around his cock, almost as if her body was purposefully trying to prolong her mind breaking orgasm. Feeling her spill all over him, Jongho's pace became more sloppy, less calculated, a clear indication that his own climax was not too far behind.

Knowing exactly where she wanted his cumshot, Y/N pulled away from Jongho's cock, quickly turning around and getting on her knees as her hand wrapped around his shaft and rapidly jerked him off, eyes looking up at him as she lowered her face even further so his tip would be right above her forehead.

"Oh shit!" Jongho spat out, head thrown back and eyes shut tightly, unable to hold back from cumming after realizing what Y/N had in store.

Within seconds Y/N felt his cum start to shoot out towards her face, tongue poking out to catch some of it. She loved how hot, thick and sticky it was. Her free hand came up to fondle his balls, proving to help in extending his high as much as possible as well making sure that more cum would be pumped out of him so that it could be splashed on Y/N's pretty face. The girl giggled as a second load shot out unexpectedly, drowning her face in cum as she swallowed what had been collected in her tongue. Jongho was panting almost feverishly when his high finally started to rescind, allowing him to calm his heartbeat that was pumping ferociously. Peering down, he let out a shocked exclaim as he saw the stripper's face drenched in his cum, a huge smile on her face that turned even brighter when she felt him get hard again in her hand. Making sure that his boner wouldn't go anywhere, Y/N leaned in and pressed a kiss to his tip, tongue poking out to dip into his slit.

"Your friend paid for 5 hours and we've only used up 2. What do you say we make his money worth while?"

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Taglist: @little-precious-baby @yunhofingers @multidreams-and-desires @deja-vux @brie02 @couchpotatoaniki @a-soft-hornytiny @daniblogs164 @yunsangoveryonder @minhyukmyluv @nanamarkie @mingismoon @ateezbabysitters @rainteez02

[accio-victuuri]

More repo from those who attended the 12/21 showing of ADLAD Beijing. Not open to the public and invite only. Mostly industry personalities came to watch. 🎭

I already shared two here and here. more under the cut. so nice to hear good reviews for xiao laoshi. 🤍

• the soul of the first half, he expresses patient no. 5's loneliness and grief through his perspective. at this moment, he's no longer the ambassador of three luxury brands or the most handsome man in the world, he's just ordinary patient no. 5. he uses his sincere and reserved acting to bring this character to life; his complicated mind, his cathartic shouts is one with this character and exactly how patient no. 5 is. every time he speaks, his proper vocalization is extra pronounced. he does not have the restraints of a professional acting background and it's as if every cell in his body is exuding a unique energy that awakens and enlightens.

• Xiao Zhan-laoshi deserves to have countless fans. Without talking about his good looks and just focusing on his performance, he is invested to a level beyond what professionally trained actors can achieve. His lines are solid, and you can tell that this is his passion! Xiao Zhan, incredible! No wonder he has so many endorsements, these brands have taste!

• Zhan Zhan, I've had the opportunity to work with this warm and kind boy several times. I've seen him at his lows, and I've seen him at the top. At this show, he was a pleasant surprise, and the comfort that makes you let out a long sigh at the end. He did it, A Dream is his fortune, and also became his life. Patient No. 5, with light cast by Hu Ge ahead of him, one can just imagine how much doubt-filled expectation he was met with when he took over. Today seeing him up close, I saw the beads of sweat on his forehead, the tears in his eyes, the anger and grief that I hadn't seen so clearly before; it wasn't just his measured control, or judgement with ease, but his shared empathy with the character between every breath as he immerses himself in the life of that character. He's no longer the youngest person standing on stage, and he definitely does not need the care of the senior actors.

• A dream like a dream, a perfect curtain call. There are many reluctances, but in the end we will say goodbye.I can understand now why the actor can't get out of it for a long time after entering the role. Stepping out, you just think of yourself as the one in the play. First of all, I would like to say hard work to all the cast and crew, and bring us a shocking performance. Xiao Zhan, a handsome man who couldn't be more handsome. I finally know the fans of Xiao Zhan, there is a reason to follow all the way. I am not a star chaser, looking at you so close, i think of the word clean. I also hope that you will live up to all those who like you and have a smooth career.

• He played really well! Really good! The lines are great! The breath is super steady and perfect. The interpretation of No. 5 makes people immersed in the role he has created and forgets to remember him as Xiao Zhan. Less than a year on stage, he is Patient Number 5 !There are a lot of scenes in the previous play, and the changes in the role are very wide. He shows every emotion. It's very good, with various expressions and body language, it is easy for the audience to emphatize. Following No. 5, I suddenly feel sad, happy, and confused. I felt that he merged himself with the number five very well, you can't tell which of these reactions are from Xiao Zhan's performance or patient # 5. that's it. Smooth and natural.

• "Like a Dream", I have seen it premiered five times in the mainland. Today, I watched the Yanghua version of "Like a Dream" which is said to be different and revised this year. It is still the peak of theatre. because of xiao zhan, each ticket experience is phenomenal. after watching his performance, i can objectively say he’s pretty good, and successfully completed his role as patient #5.

compilation source one two three

[haileygarciasunshine]

A Little Party Never Killed Anybody

Great Gatsby AU

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Gatsby!Reader

Written: May 17th, 2021

Posted: May 17th, 2021

Warning: Mentions of Alcohol.

Word Count: 1,678

Author's Note: Steve and Bucky come back from the war, and it's based in 1920, not 1940.

Cat's Pajamas: Anything good, the best, the greatest.

High-Hat: To Snub, be Snotty.

Summary: The reader meets Two soldiers that Jay befriended in the army. Fluff

TV and Movie Inspired Masterlist

Groaning, you pulled into the driveway. As per usual, the house was filled with party-goers. The house was so luminescent, that you could see the lights from miles away.

It wasn't long before one of the many butlers that your brother employed greeted you.

"Good evening, miss Gatsby." He stood beside your car door, waiting for any form of instruction.

"Good evening." You grinned, exiting the car. "I'm assuming my brother is brooding as per usual." You spoke tugging off your gloves.

"Yes, he is, miss Gatsby." He nodded.

Exhaling a huff, you nodded. "Of course he is." Turning toward the house, you felt dread wash over you. The jazz band's music danced through the air as people danced along.

"I suppose I should get going then." You spoke as your voice broke.

Making your way towards the stairs, you were abruptly stopped by the butler.

"Wait, miss Gatsby!"

Furrowing your eyebrows together in confusion, you turned slightly allowing yourself to gaze at him.

"Yes?"

Clearing his throat, he adjusted his collar. "Mr. Gatsby told me not to tell you-"

"Is that so?" You questioned raising an eyebrow.

"He invited Two of his friends from the war-"

Cutting him off with a groan, you rolled your eyes grumbling to yourself.

"I think you might find their presence refreshing..." He muttered, quickly getting in your car and taking it to the garage.

Standing on the steps stunned, you hummed in thought.

One of the many drunken party-goers stumbled behind you.

"Gatsby's party is the Cat's Pajamas!" He bellowed holding his arms out as if to show.

Jumping, you felt your heart race as you were startled by the sudden booming voice.

Scoffing, you stomped into the house. It became much more of a hassle to dodge drunken people. Wherever you walked, it reeked of alcohol.

Making your way to the second floor, you stood on one of the many platforms that overlooked the party.

"There you are!" Jordan's voice singsonged through your ears.

Rolling your eyes, you were about to come face to face with one of the people you had a strong dislike for.

Turning around, you plastered a fake smile upon your lips. If you hadn't put on a smile, word would spread that you were a bad co-host.

Leaning in, you greeted her with air kisses as she did you.

"Where have you been-"

"Y/N!" Jay's familiar voice called. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Come, there's someone I want to introduce you to." Swooping in, he linked his arm through yours. "Pardon me, miss Baker." He spoke, offering her his signature flirtatious smile. "I must steal my sister away." Lifting her hand to his lips, he placed a gentle kiss on the back of it.

The sound of Jordan's giggles filled the air. Only those standing immediately close to her would be able to hear. A pink tint danced along her cheeks, as she gave Jay a toothy grin.

Whisking you away, he ushered you into one of the rooms he had one of the butlers clear out. Closing the door, you let out an exasperated sigh.

"Thanks for the save." You chuckled, making yourself comfortable on one of the chairs.

Chuckling, Jay nodded. "Of course."

"So, is there really someone you want me to meet, or was that just one of the great gatsby rumors?" You questioned raising an eyebrow.

Rolling his eyes, Jay stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Clasping his hands together behind his back, he stared in admiration at the Greenlight across the bay.

"There is." He muttered. "I just figured I'd give you a moment to regroup since we both know how you get when you're around too many people."

Sighing, you joined your brother's side.

"How long are you going to keep waiting for her?" You questioned glancing up toward your brother. You were overwhelmed with sorrow, as your heart broke for him.

"As long as it takes," Jay responded without missing a beat. "I've loved always loved her."

Frowning, you nodded. Even if you didn't understand why he felt strongly towards Daisy, you pushed your personal feelings for her aside in support of your brother. Jay had girls throwing themselves at him left and right, but he never took up their offers.

Opening your mouth to speak, you were interrupted by the sound of someone knocking.

"Sorry to bother you mister and miss Gatsby..." The butler's voice trailed off, as he opened the door, allowing himself and two other men inside the room. "I have mister Rogers, mister Barnes, and mister Carraway."

"Thank you," Jay spoke dismissing the butler.

Glancing at Jay, you couldn't stop yourself from feeling confused. He was throwing an enormously luxurious party yet, he stood here in an empty room wanting to introduce two friends of his to his sister. Both men stood before you proudly, in their uniforms.

Clearing your throat, you shook your head in an attempt to clear your mind.

Smiling, you extended your hand greeting the men. "It's nice to meet you."

Glancing up, you felt a strange sense of Deja Vu.

"Have...Have we met before?" You questioned glancing between Mister Barnes and Mister Rogers.

"Please, call me Steve." He spoke shaking your hand graciously. "This is Bucky."

"Y/N." You spoke.

"We served in the war, with your brother." Bucky chimed in, his blue eyes piercing into yours.

"Ah, yes." You thought aloud as you nodded.

Before you knew it, the room had cleared, leaving you and Bucky alone. As time went by, you sat together on the loveseat in the room conversating for hours.

Attempting to stifle a yawn, you covered your mouth with your hand. Glancing at his wrist, Bucky gauged the time.

"It's getting late.." Bucky sighed. "I should probably go find Steve.."

"Oh, yes of course." You spoke, feeling a ping of sadness. Out of all the men you had met, Bucky had been the most genuine.

Leading you out of the room, it wasn't long before you were caught in a swarm of women. Each one, desperately wanting Sargent Barnes' attention.

As more and more women, came, the more distance that was created between you. Frowning, you found yourself on the outside of the swarm

Turning on your heel, you began making your way down the hall. Tears foamed in your eyes as you walked away.

A warm firm hand clasped around yours preventing you from any further retreating.

"Where do you think you're going doll?" Bucky questioned, giving you his warm toothy smile.

Rolling your eyes, you yanked your hand out of his, earning a frown from him. "I'm surprised you noticed with all the High-Hat women around you." You spat, crossing your arms along your chest.

The beads and sequins of your dress lightly scratching your skin in the process. Luckily, you had been wearing one of your favorite dresses. It was a baby pink tank dress, with hand-sewn beads and sequins all through it. Around your middle, the dress had a silver belt made of beads.

As you stood before Bucky, you shifted all of your weight upon one leg. With your free one, you began impatiently tapping on the marble floor.

Bucky smirked at you, as he read you. Tilting his head, he bit his lip. "Are you...Are you jealous miss Gatsby?"

Scoffing, you rolled your eyes. "Not even in your dreams, mister Barnes." You spat, resuming your walk down the hall.

"Oh!" He exclaimed chuckling. "You are!"

Not bothering to respond, you shook your head. The rest of the walk was filled with silence. Joining the party, you felt a slight panic bubble within you. Jay was always the more sociable between the two of you.

Sneaking a glance at you, Bucky was able to pick up on your sudden change in demeanor. Taking a chance, he slipped his hand into yours. The feeling of his warm firm hand, caused butterflies to erupt in your tummy. Glancing up, you sent him a closed-lip smile, silently thanking him.

It wasn't until you both had almost walked the entirety of the house that you found Jay and Steve.

"Great of you to finally join us." Jay teased.

Rolling your eyes, you let an exasperated huff tumble from your lips. Jay bounced his gaze from your conjoined hands to your face, sending you a silent question.

Removing your hand from Bucky's, you cleared your throat. As you glanced at his features, you thought you were able to see a flicker of disappointment.

Steve had excused himself for a brief moment, leaving the three of you alone. Something undescribable hung in the air.

"So, old sport..."

Shaking your head, you already drowned out what Jay was saying to Bucky. Gazing around the platform, you observed the party-goers. It had gotten much later resulting in the party slowly dying down. Some of the attendees had passed out along the steps while others were laying along the floor in the halls.

"What time works best for you?" The sound of Jay's question rang through your ears. Snapping your head towards either man, you gaped at your brother.

"Whatever it is, you don't have to participate in." You spoke turning toward Bucky. Panic began bubbling up.

"How about Nine?" Bucky questioned.

Jay smiled. "Nine it is then." He nodded, retreating to one of the rooms as he excused himself to take a call.

Turning to face you, there was a tinted color along Bucky's features. "I, uh.." His voice trailed off.

"We should get going," Steve spoke, clasping a hand on Bucky's shoulder. Gazing between you and him, he felt the electricity in the air. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No." You quickly responded. "I was just leaving." Following the direction that Jay had gone, your movements were hurried as you practically ran into the room.

Sighing, Bucky returned his gaze to Steve. "Oh, I know that look." Steve beamed staring between his best friend and the direction you had just retreated in.

"Shut up." He hissed, ducking his head. "Let's get out of here."

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[elles-writing]

Sweet Baking

Fili x reader

A/N: Something a bit Christmas/winter-themed. I had @guardianofrivendell in mind while writing it, but it's in pairing w reader, so don't worry.

Tags: @guardianofrivendell  @kumqu4t   @trxblemaker

Warning: don't eat or drink while reading

Fili was never one to rest. When Erebor was reclaimed, Fili's duties only grew. He was the first in line to take after Thorin, and though it wasn't anytime soon, there was still a lot to learn and to do.

The best part of his days was, when he came back home to you, his beautiful One. You got married a few months ago, and though Thorin wanted you both to be safe and live inside of Lonely Mountain, you made a compromise to live near, but in a little cottage (though it was still almost in Erebor). Once Fili will have to take after Thorin, you both would move out of your cottage to the castle.

The snow was crispy under his boots. There was still a bit of daylight left. The wind was rising, and bringing little snowflakes along, straight to Fili's face.

The prince wasn't cold, especially under those furrs. He thought about you, his lovely wife. You'd get cold easily, and he used that as a heavy exuse just to cuddle you all the time. He smiled into the evening dawn, and a few snowflakes fell to his lashes and brows. He blinked and narrowed his eyes to see through the icy wind. He looked up to the sky. The clouds seemed to be heavy, and he thought they may arrive in the middle of the night. There will be a lot of fresh snow next morning.

When he opened the door, a warmth and sweet smell of home embranced him. He smiled and felt his body to warm up immediatelly. Not that he was cold, though.

He heard how you hummed a song. He placed his coat and boots away, and curiously followed your voice.

He found you in a kitchen, your hair in messy bun on the top of your head, flour on your cheeks, nose, hands up to your elbows and dress, and there was a dough. He sniffled familiar sweet smell and his stomach let him know how hungry he was.

You didn't looked up, though. You were far too busy with making a little balls from the dough, which he recognized as your favourite biscuit recipe.

He quietly walked behind you and placed his arms around your waist, kissing you behind your ear.

"You're finally home," you said happily. Fili nuzzled his face to your shoulder.

"Mhmm," he muttered.

"There's a hot stew, I can give you some. It must've been freezing outside-" he pecked your lips quickly.

"Finish the cookies first, my dear wife. I can wait a while longer," He smiled and you chuckled and shook your head.

"Only if you won't eat any of the dough." You heard his groan.

"That's not fair!" You giggled and took another piece of dough, which will hopefully make it to be a cookie.

You were in a comfortable silence for a while, and so you spoken.

"What do you think about Kili, his wife and Anlia, coming over at Sunday?" Fili's eyes were fixed on the cookie dough the whole time.

"Aye, that would be great." He smiled. Kili got married a few years ago, and their three years old daughter was Fili's niece. Kili and his wife didn't expected it, so they quickly got married. He had a huge soft spot for her, spoiling her on any opportunity with sweets and gifts. Sometimes Kili would joke Anlia liked 'Uncle Fili' the most out of the whole family. As sweet as she was, she would always give her father some of the cookies Fili or you gave to her, but being as stubborn and with huge sweet-tooth, she wouldn't give Kili any more of what did she got.

Fili was often thinking about having children with you, but he didn't wanted to pressure you into anything, just in case you didn't wanted to. He knew a child was a big responsibility, but you haven't talked about having one yet.

Fili wondered how they were doing.

"Are you sure you will wait for the cookies? You must be hungry dear," you said. He just nuzzled his face to the crook of your neck. You chuckled.

"Alright. But only this one and not even a tiny little piece more." You placed a small ball of raw dough to his palm. He kissed your cheek.

"You are the best, my brightest star, givanshel." He muttered while chewing the raw dough, sweetness of honey lingering in his mouth.

"Enjoy it, amralime." You smirked.

Fili regretfully went to get himself a bow of stew. He sat down to the table, and there was a while of silence.

In a while, Fili felt sweet smell. His eyes widened and he groaned.

"Can I get another piece of dough, Givanshel? Please," he looked at you. You offered him a smirk.

"You already got a one. No more, Fee." Fili fowned and you chuckled. He stood up and walked behind you, brushing your hair softly his fingers.

"What about if I, I don't know, would had something for you? Today, at night," he whispered to your ear. Your cheeks burned red, but you chuckled and soon started laughing.

"Are you really trying to seduce me over a piece of raw cookie dough, Amralime?" He blushed, but he was happy to hear your laugh. The most beautiful sound in the world to him, really.

"Aye, of course not," he said and quickly took one ball of raw dough, swiftly placing it to his mouth while you weren't too focused.

"Really, amralime? It's not long since I've been baking a pie, and you tried to do exactly this!"

"I have no idea what are you talking about," He muttered with full mouth, chewing the delicious thing.

"You and your sausage, actually," you muttered and snorted a bit with laugh. Fili spit out half of the dough from his mouth, while you shook with laughter.

"Amralime, where did you came up with this?" He said, dramatically horrified. You tried to speak, while you were laughing at his dramatics.

"Don't tell me that you are innocent! Don't you remember who it was, who was saying all those inappropiate jokes at Durin's Day this year?" You laughed again when you seen his expression. He was blushing, embarrassed.

"Hush amralime. You know the Mirkwood elves have a strong wine," he muttered with burning cheeks. Your cheeks hurted from laugh.

You turned to him, kissing him directly on lips. You could feel the sweetness of the dough. He placed his arms around your waist, you placed your arms around his neck and sighed happily, when you felt his lips softly pressed against yours.

"I love you," you muttered.

"I love you more, amralime," he said. You grimaced and he chuckled.

"I'm 'n love w' you more," you muttered, eyes still closed. He softly chuckled.

"I love you the most," he pecked your cheek and swiftly stolen another piece of raw dough, and placed it to your mouth before you would start complaining. You smiled at the sweet taste of the dough.

"It's good, isn't it?" Fili asked and you nodded. Then you both grimaced and your eyes widened.

You quickly pulled the cookies out of the oven and checked them. Most of them would be still edible, but some of them were already burned.

"I'm sorry, givanshel," Fili placed one of strands, that escaped your bun, behind your ear. You shook your head.

"It's okay. If we won't eat the rest of the dough, it will be okay," Fili pulled sleeves of his tunic up.

"Let's get it done then," you nodded and placed it away, then took another baking tray of the raw cookies, and placed it to the oven.

This went for about another few hours, and once you were done (baking, not admiring your husband's forearms, of course), you let out a breath and sat down on one of the chairs in your kitchen. Fili stood behind you and massaged your shouders. He pecked your cheek.

"You must be really tired," he said when he noticed you almost falling asleep on the chair. You only hummed in response.

He picked you up bridal style and walked up the stairs to your shared bedroom.

"I need to wash that flour away," you muttered. Fili hummed and placed you on your bed, and when he came back, he had a wet cloth in his hand. He cleaned your face and hands, and helped you to undress. He quickly took off his shirt and socks, and tucked you in bed. You jawned and he kissed your forehead, placing the covers over you two.

"Sleep, amralime," He muttered.

"Sweet dreams."

* extra *

You woke up in the morning and your eyelids fluttered, trying to wake up. You felt warmth around you - it was nice, and comfortable. You felt a breath on your shoulder, and when you looked there, you noticed your sleeping husband. His breaths were soft, which meant he was still deeply asleep. You shifted in your bed, and realized his arms were firmly holding you around your waist. You thought back about the night before, and realized your husband helped you to get undressed to your undergarments, and that he wiped your hands and face with wet cloth. You fell asleep when he tucked you under blankets.

You noticed he was shirtless, and your cheeks burned. Though it wasn't like you have never been intimate before, it was still something that made your cheeks heat up.

"Are you enjoying the view?" Fili's morning raspy voice send shiver down your spine. You turned to him.

"Is it a crime, admiring my husband?" You replied cheekily and tried to get up, but his arms held you firmly in bed.

"Don't go, amralime. It will be cold without you here," he muttered and seemed to be falling asleep again. You stroke his hair.

"There's some flour left," you muttered and started playing with his braids, ended up with marriage bead.

"Mhmm," he muttered, half asleep.

When Fili fell asleep, you carefully placed his arms off of you. You wanted to stay, sure, but someone had to hid the cookies before Fili would eventually find them and eat half of them.

When you were finished, you took a warm cup of tea to your cold hands, carefully sipping the steaming tea. You felt a pair of arms wrapping around your waist, and smiled to yourself as you heard your husband telling you to come back to bed, to rest. You looked out of the window, noticing the soft, fluffy snowflakes, falling down from the sky, looking like feathers of angel wings.

"You are my angel," you suddenly said. Fili watched you, as you watched the snow slowly falling down, your face full of wander. He smiled.

"You are my angel, too," he captured your lips in feather-like kiss, just as soft as the snow outside, but instead of coldness, it was filled with warmth and love.

Because after every darkest night, there comes the brightest day, and after every winter, there also comes spring...

[theangrypokemaniac]

I'll state from the beginning that the images below display the sort of sweet synchronicity to which only love can give life:

MaAndPaShipping is the best ship, and here are five reasons why:

1. It Made James

Like the boy do yer? Ever felt the slightest tingle of warmth at the mention of his name?

Well get down on yer knees and give thanks to his mother and father for gifting him to the world!

Where would we be without their remarkable commitment? Could James have grown into the dandified dream boat of your desires if deprived of the safety provided by his parents?

Had they not brought him up, he'd be dead, The Dog of Flanders fantasy made reality. If miraculously he survived, foraging in the wild is not conducive to a foppish personality.

Is that to yer fancy? No? Then let's have a little respect. The luxury Ma and Pa gave enabled his macaroni tendencies to reach such heights.

Their love created him! How can it not be celebrated?

You lot would ship Jessie's parents but you can't, because she has no dad, and I don't suppose you'll ever assent to his obvious identity of Windy Miller, although 'Jessie Miller' has a wonderful ring to it, so what can be done?

Should a Pa Jess be conjured for the purpose, he still buggered off, didn't he? Where's the allure in a faithless git?

I can't comprehend the obsession with Ma Jess. As soon as here she's stiff, and what is there to remember but coercing her daughter into eating snow?

Hey, I named her. What more do you want from me?

I'd rather have the living, visible ancestors, if you don't mind.

Yeah, says the history fanatic.

Why not make the most of the chances offered, and follow a devoted couple whose love made a difference to your existence?

2. Canon!

There are many ships which I find repulsive for involving depravity, or absurd as the subjects haven't met, or don't inhabit the same fictional universe.

Video et taceo: I see and I say nothing.

Neither does anyone. Forcing decent folk in to incest, bestiality etc. is quite alright.

Perverted ideas are left alone, but woe betide a Rocketshipper, because that's offensive.

It may be the only original ship left standing, with proper evidence and sanctioned by Nintendo, but no, it's fair game for undermining. People pick at your arguments, quibble constantly and NEED to register their objections NOW. You MUST be made aware of opposition. You're not to be permitted your views the way those with twisted tastes are indulged.

Why, out of tens of thousands of combinations, does making Jessie and James an item provoke hostility?

The strength of negativity actually serves as validation, for why be so concerned if it's an impossible relationship?

However sick they are, I'm not anti any ship. I can't muster sufficient interest to do it, and if I scroll on, I forget. I certainly don't attack those responsible.

Anti-Shipping is inherently nihilistic for promoting loneliness. They aren't against Rocketshipping through wanting Jessie and James to be with someone else, as an alternative is not readily available, so the outcome of it is neither finding a companion.

MaAndPaShipping attracts no sourpuss silliness, for 'tis canon beyond question. There's nothing about being 'just friends' when married with a son.

How's the state of your O.T.P.? Not looking too clever I expect, and what's your contribution: wishing, and hoping, and thinking, and praying?

Cast it off! None of that longing is necessary in these quarters, as MaAndPaShipping is a fait accompli.

Hallelujah! Wallow in that Love!

Don't you yearn for at least one ship that all of us accept by default, to the extent these aristocrats are spoken of as a single unit?

Across the internet, Ma and Pa are bracketed as 'James's parents', never 'he' and 'she', always 'they', barely counting as distinct characters. That's how undeniable the love is between them. Sheer indifference has awarded it a blessing from everyone.

MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!

Of course, now I've drawn attention to it the moaning will start, but we all know a spoilsport when we see one.

If they had any legitimate complaints they ought to have mentioned 'em before this piece highlighted the marriage!

Except it won't have occurred to 'em previously, proving the eternal, indissoluble quality of MaAndPaShipping.

You get good value with this one.

Find a post referring to Ma and Pa as individuals and I'll have written it, for that's what you call ironic.

3. It's a Fine Rocketshipping Proxy

I was at primary school when Pokémon hit the West like the bright, bearded meteor it is, atomizing all competition for a child's attention.

I have shipped Jessie and James before I knew anyone else did it, unaware shipping was even a thing.

There are other pairs where I think: 'That seems to fit', but it's incomparable to what I feel for them.

It is part of me. I bleed it.

I have shipped it longer than most Tumblerries have dwelt upon the earth.

I used to believe, what with the hints and manga finale, that this resolution was  inevitable, and all I had to do was wait.

Well I've been patient for two decades now, thus when I look at the modern incarnation, and realise it's no nearer to that goal, and instead is further away, waiting starts to wear a bit thin.

I resent the lack of appreciation shown to the fans by the cretins in charge, how any meagre shippy inclusion is done not with an interest in deepening bonds, but with the blatant cynicism of moulding us into performing monkeys dancing to their manipulative tune.

I dislike being treated like a sea lion, expected to clap me flippers at the wave of a fish, or as a panting dog begging at top table, where, because they're desperate to maintain the status quo, every scrap flung down from above now comes with an Anti-Ship kick in the teeth, just to be sure nothing progresses. Not whilst the franchise can still be milked for all it's worth.

I have lost faith Rocketshipping will happen. What passes for Pokémon today carries not the remotest indication of any intention on the so-called writers' part to finish it that way.

Even if it did, it's not my Team Rocket, it's those skeletal, gargoyle bastardisations. My Jessie and James never got the reward they deserved.

I'm somewhat in the market for a replacement. Beneath this loathsome carapace of acid and ice beats the tender heart of a true romantic, and it must have an outlet!

Shipping Ma and Pa provides a certain spurious relief, because it's as close as you can get to Jessie and James without it being them, both biologically as his parents, but they're so similar to the duo it counts as proof in itself.

Holy Matrimony! is prime Rocketshipping territory, not merely the balloon lift, but many slight additions are as important, like the haircuts matching.

Ma and Pa are therefore Jessie and James in the past, present and future:

The past for representing Jess 'n' Jamie gone Victorian, and we've all wondered how that'd turn out.

The present as it's there right now, absent of suffering the shameless whims of morons to get what you want. 'Tis yours to savour.

The future as a glimpse of Jessie and James once married with children, and they agree:

That's how they play it given the opportunity!

What, James in blue, for his and Pa's hair, and Jessie wearing purple, like Ma's, with a red shawl for her own, and Ma Jess's orange earrings to copy the beads?

• Money!

• Bun!

• 'Tache!

• Classy pad!

• Fancy gear!

• Pampered pet!

• Identical cups of Earl Grey!

4. Original Blend

Ma and Pa have only got two fans! We care more than the entire fandom has in twenty years!

Rocketshipping art is ten a penny, so why not display a pioneering spirit, sharpen up those pencils and be inspired?

Let your mind expand and marvel at the possibilities of these unchartered territories, and I'll reblog it if it's nice.

Pay attention to the condition of it being nice. I'm not putting up with any old toss.

Real Ma and Pa is what I want too, not those Sinnoh coffin-dodgers.

It's never been done! Every drawing breaks new ground!

I don't like fan fiction, but I wouldn't say 'no' to that either. Recall the 'nice' stipulation again.

Come on, be the first amongst your friends and get ship shape!

5. It Gives Us All Hope

Suppose your favourite amour one day became canon: you imagine that's the end of the matter?

Well it ain't.

Between Ash, Misty, Brock, Jessie, James, Gary and Tracey, there are three-and-a-half out of fourteen parents (Flint doesn't count as a complete man) and one out of twenty-eight grandparents, and that's not enough!

If the series drew to a close with your beloved couple apparently walking into the happily-ever-after, there's no guarantee it'll endure. In fact, the odds are they'll split up within a few years and leave another generation to fend for themselves or starve.

That's right, so don't presume the final episode is all you need to worry about. Can you rest easy knowing it'll go pear-shaped once the camera stops rolling?

It's futile soothing one's worries with:

Oh, but they know what it's like to be alone. They'd never inflict such stress on their children.

Oh really?

Look at that poor showing of grandparents. Either Pokémon has a system reminiscent of the sci-fi film Logan's Run, where everyone over thirty is vapourized, or these disappearing maters and paters were themselves victims of abandonment.

I bet when they settled down, they thought it'd be different for their kids, they'd make sure of it, but no, off they went down that same route of feckless self-indulgence, and that's being kind assuming they intended not to repeat history.

Depressing eh? What's the good in any of us surrendering to romance, real or otherwise, if love is but a mayfly of emotion, and all dreams are doomed to die?

Then Ma and Pa arrive, and suddenly the storm clouds part for a ray of heavenly light.

It's not only that they made the effort in what was probably an arranged marriage and have stayed together from youth, it's that they've stayed together when no one else has, which augments its value.

When separation is commonplace, sticking it out becomes rarer and rarer as any belief in the sanctity of wedlock erodes with every failure.

If they didn't bother, why should I? What's the use when it won't work?

Once that idea enters your head, it's over, and your gloom-laden attitude fulfils itself.

Society is collapsing about Ma and Pa's ears, but they persevere nevertheless, refusing to buckle under the turgid malaise engulfing the arrogant and weak.

It's bloody beautiful, man!

You may suggest an environment of supreme wealth erases normality, and to their class and time period divorce is still taboo, so they don't really have much of choice but to remain wedded.

Ah, but it's not as if they simply tolerate one another for appearances, or carried on for the sake of their son (which is more than anyone else did besides), not when he walked out on them.

They've been married longer than James has lived, so at least eighteen years (don't all squeal at once), and they're still blissfully contented!

They hold hands!

They use terms of endearment like 'dear' and 'my precious'!

They were made for one another!

They work as a team!

They want the same thing for James!

It could bring a stone angel to tears it's so beautiful!

See what success can be achieved when you try? When you endeavour to love the one you're with and make yourself worth loving in return?

Better that than chucking 'em at the first sign of trouble.

Ma and Pa is such an irrevocable union even the despair of losing their only child failed to tear 'em asunder, and that'd defeat many, but not this husband and wife.

Be grateful, for it means all is not in vain.

It doesn't have to be misery and pain: love can last despite the pressure of a wretched, hollow culture bent on self-destruction. Your ship might just succeed too.

God bless 'em for keeping the magic alive!

...

Why do I have the presentiment that I'm going to regret encouraging support?

[lucienladamned]

Memories

This is a short story I wrote for my character, Alois. In this writing he looks upon his keepsakes and reminisces about the good... and the bad of his past

~♡~

 It was the first Middas of the new year. Alois had his head buried in his hands, blinking back tears. If only he hadn't forced Qadir to leave early… Maybe he would still be alive then…

A knock came upon the door and a second later quickly opened. “Listener,” cooed the jester, “Must you really sit in here all day? Let's kill someone!” He hopped inside the door and gingerly closed it behind him, approaching the desk of the Sanctuaries leader. “You're looking a bit down, Listener,” he soon observed, “Shall I tell a joke?”

Alois raised his head and shook it. “No, Cicero, please just grab me something to eat. I must keep waiting for the night mother to speak to me once more.” The old elf’s eyebrows scrunched together tightly, his eyes goaded Cicero into leaving him be.

 “Ah, maybe some other time then, Listener! I do know you used to love slaughtering those milk maidens,” Cicero said as he left the Listener to his own thoughts by quickly leaving the room.

Alois pushed his chair out and stood up, then brushing off his robes from the charcoal shavings. Making his way towards his personal chest, he looked around his living quarters. How had it even come to this? Living alone, bitter, and in the freezing stones of Dawnstar… He knelt down in front of his chest and carefully opened it, looking down at the assortment of random objects and nic-naks inside.

Reaching down he brought out a beaded necklace. Big, blue and black beads hanging on a fraying string… some of their colors were even fading. Damn, he could remember when he got this like yesterday.

         ~◇~

“Papa, papa,” mused the young dark elf, “You're back!” He ran up and jumped up into his father's arms along with his two brothers as his mother watched. “What did you bring us? Did you bring us some sweet rolls?” The young boy, around ten to be exact, seemed to be brimming with joy at the sight of his father.

The old man smiled back down at his boys. “No,” he said, “but I have got you boys some taffy.” He reached into his knapsack and brought out a long candy and handed it to the boys. “Now you three share now. Go and play, Papa is tired.”

 The three brothers ran off to go play. “Wait, Alois? Come outside after dinner. It's important,” the old man croaked, taking off his hat and scratching his balding head.

“Yes, Papa,” replied the oldest, his back turned to him and fixated on the candy. He was paying no attention to his pops… which wasn't out of the ordinary for the three boys.

After dinner the old man went out and sat down on the porch steps, drinking out of his mead bottle little by little. He was looking out on the setting Ashland sun, silently sending a prayer to Azura… Then his oldest child bounded outside.

“Papa, what going on?” The child say down next down to his father, his feet swinging back and forth slightly. “Is everything alright?”

 His father sighed and wrenched his eyes away from the sun. “Yes, Alois. Everything is okay,” he said softly, looking over at his son. His eyes were tired and worn out, almost like old leather. “I just wanted to talk to you.” Pulling a long, beaded necklace out of his pocket, he held it up to the purple sun. “You see here, boy? This is precious. Was your grandfather's, and his father's before him,” he started, the worn out necklace twisting and dancing in front of the pair. “It ain't worth much, Alois, but it's precious. And it's yours, sunny boy. I hope you understand.”

Everything had gone through one ear and out the other. He had just nodded along through the whole thing. He wasn't much more than an oblivious child after all. “Yes, Papa. I understand,” he said bluntly as the beads were handed to him and lay in his hands. “I'll take good care of it.” The young boy didn't know it now, but this necklace will come to mean the world to him in a few years.

                                ~◇~

 Alois shook his head to shoo the memory away. No. It was too hard to think about it… about his family. He sighed and carefully placed the necklace back into its place, searching for something new to bring out. He pulled out his… lute.

           ~◇~

The young adult of an elf was standing on the street corner in Vivec City, playing desperately on his lute and sang a traditional Dunmer tune. The man just barely had enough to eat… nothing to rest his head in an tonight, however. Damn it… These damned entitled Dunmer … He just wanted to rest well for one night, for Boethiah’s sake! He shook his head and finished his last chord before sinking against the wall and resting his life in his lap, defeated.

From a block away, a young red guard caravan leader heard the beautiful playing of a lute. “Say, who do you reckon is playing that,” he said, amazed.

“Don't pay any attention to it. It's just that poor sod, Alois. Doesn't know when to stop his damned playing. Quite an annoyance if you ask me.”

Qadir had heard enough and was already walking away to find this ‘Alois.’ Sounded like a damned good player to him. He had just turned the corner when the Dunmer had sunken down. Pushing his dreads behind his ear and quickly putting them up, he made a quick game plan.

Qadir took a deep breath and approached the down right poor elf with his chest puffed out. “Ah, was that you playing,” he tried to say as smooth as possible. It worked for most of the persons he was up against anyways. That's why he was a merchant after all! Yet, his words came out a little lighter than usual. “I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I'm Qadir. Pronounced KUH-deer. Nice to meet you. Want to go for drinks tonight? All on me.” He flashed the elf a wide grin and held out his hand.

 This was just for a night, right? Turns out that Qadir stayed much longer than anticipated…

    ~◇~

The old man snapped back to reality and wiped his eyes. Damn that red guard… making him fall in love like that. He shook his head and placed the instrument back down, instead pulling out a small wedding band.

          ~◇~

“Come on! Come with me,” the dark elf urged, tightly grasping the other mans hands in his. “Leave the market place, we can start our own stand, Qadir!”

 It was pouring rain out in the dark of the Morrowind city. They were both just 40 years old at the time of course. Both confused. Both soaking wet from the horrid weather.

 “Come with me! We'll start our own farm! We'll be happy,” he urged, slipping his hands out of the others. “Q-Qadir look, please,” he begged, reaching into his pocket and bringing out a plain, gold band. “Qadir I love you.”

 Qadir stood there in complete shock. Leave the city? Start their own farm? It was absurd. Impossible even. “W-Wait, Alois think about this! A farm, a farm?” His eyes laid down upon the band in the others hand and opened his mouth to speak once more before closing it. Had he really saved up… for a farm? For him? “L...Let us do this. We'll Leave tomorrow afternoon.”

 Alois nearly cried out in relief as he slid the ring onto his man’s ring finger. “We'll elope, my darling! Mara will love us either way!”

           ~◇~

The old man wiped the tears streaming down his face. Was that really the last time he was… happy? God he missed it, he missed Qadir so fucking much. He yelled out in frustration and threw the ring to the bottom of his chest. He was fucking angry. Angry at the tribunal! Angry at those fucking bandits! Angry… angry with himself. He took a shaky breath before bringing out one last thing… Qadir’s head garb.

            ~◇~

“I'll see you soon, honey,” cooed Qadir, leaning down and kissing his husband on their doorstep. “I'll be safe. I promise,” was his last words to Alois before waving and departing for the road with their weekly goods.

Alois had anxiously waited for his husbands return, constantly staying out to tend their farm much too late into the night and nearly never sleeping. It had been about a week… Qadir should be coming home soon! By the eight! He couldn't wait…

 There was a quiet knock on the door. Alois quickly sprung from his chair to answer it. “Qadir, baby you're finally home-!” But it wasn't his love.

“I, er, I've got something to deliver. A notice of… death. Of your housemate Qadir.” The courier handed the elf the thick envelope. “Oh, and sorry for your loss.”

 Alois was left in shock as he just nodded, closing the door in front of him. Dead? He couldn't be. He was completely fazed as he sat down and tore open the letter.

 It truly was a death certificate… and a small note of condolences.. and somehow, the only thing that was left on Qadir was his headscarf… and it was in the envelope with it.

He threw the papers at his feet and clutched the scarf in his hands, staring down at it in complete shock. He was alone… again. He broke out into tears and sobbed into the scarf. Damn the eight! Damn their fucking plans!

  ~◇~

Alois hadn't realised he was sobbing into his sleeve in reality, crumpled in a pitiful position, the last thing of his husbands clutched in his hands. By Sithis he missed him so much.

“Listener? Perhaps now you need a jest? Or a story?”

[wulfiestired]

00:00:00 for someone i've not interacted with FOR GRINS nyeheh

The forest wasstrange. Mallel as used to compact houses of the refugee slums on theouter shore side of Lindon.  They were close knit families who dideverything together despite blood. Everyone wove nets and sangtogether in the evenings, cooked and ate as a group, and shared whatlittle wealth they had with one another. There was no shame in beingpoor here. They had a lifetime to recover from the horrors that hadaccosted their families leaving them less than whole.

It was a good enoughlife that Mallel found himself feeling pulled under tow by someunknown current as he held a letter in his hands. The thick vellumwas a decadence few of them could afford and only Galion could read.Thranduil, it had read. The name had sounded strange even onGalion's tongue. Mallel's initial feeling was a want to burn theletter. He only agreed to go in the end for his uncle warned himagainst shunning family. “You have lost more than you'll ever know.Don't cast aside those who still yet breathe.”

They had left, thefour of them. Galion had managed to tell Ereinion of their leaving. Acommon courtesy as Oropher was technically now a king. Mallel wasn'tsure if the title was worth anything. They took on the road withoutmule nor shoes and they meandered along slow and weary without a mapto guide them. Mallel missed the sea and he sang old shanties withGweren and braided his uncle's hair every morning in imitation ofsailor's knots. Galion too seemed sad. He had grown up at the sea'sside like Mallel, though on another shore. “Never leave your familybehind, Mallel.” He had said achingly one night, when Gweren andTathar lay asleep beneath a crabapple tree where the misting raindidn't reach them so deeply. “You may gain little in return.”

Mallel wasn't socertain if he meant his parents or the empty zeros on his wrist.Galion was like Tathar, half a soul left lose to wonder. His ownnumbers burned on his wrist but he refused to look at them. He waslike Gweren, alone but okay. As long as the numbers stayed still,they would all stay together and neither uncle nor Galion had to feelalone.

They arrived inGreenwood after a year of unhurried travel. The forest feltforeboding to Mallel though Gweren practically buzzed withexcitement. She claimed there were spirits in the wood though Malleldisagreed with this. He believed in maiar well enough- they hadbrought ruin to so many. It was hard not to see the pain their touchhad carved into the land. Spirits though? Ghosts hardly existed.  Yetthe forest did seem haunting in a way. Perhaps it was that it was soquiet? Here everything was silent and soft. The only sounds seemed tobe their foot falls on the packed loam of the forest path and thedistant call of animals or… was that the whistling of the silvan? The smell was unobtrusive, unlike Lindon. Here it smelled of wood,plant decay, and animal musk. It lacked the smell of the ocean thatsaturated everything, the scent of fish oils on everyone's skin. Itlacked the joyous song of sailors and shore fishers, the clatter andlaughter of people on market days and the loud crash of the waves.There was none of that. It was just eerily quiet.

Furthermore thisland seemed to lack colors. Greenwood war dark, a twilight wood ofdark greens, browns, and greys. That only seemed to echo further asthey were led to Oropher's keep built of precisely cut stones hewnfrom the mountains west of the wood. Faintly he heard Galion andTathar mention Doriath but Mallel found himself instead focusing onthe newly named king. Oropher was resplendent in a way. He had longwhite hair, grey eyes, skin as pale as ithil's rays, and silvergarments beaded with pearls and fine shells. His garments were oldhowever, remnants from Doriath that didn't quite fit him as well asthey should. Beyond his antiquated finery however, the elf heldlittle regality. He sounded tired, weary of the world and what it haddone to him. Though Oropher would never be a father in anything butname to him, Mallel found he could follow the man.

They settled with atribe on the river though the people knew little sindarin and thetheir own language was from a different branch than that of Tathar'sclan. They enjoyed singing however and both parties found great joyin learning new manners of fishing from one another. Everythingseemed well for a long time until the morning Gweren's numbersstarted to move. They had trickled down like rain through the leaves,drizzling at times and pouring at others. Mallel had felt anxious forher but she only seemed to take it in stride. It was well that thiswas happening, that their family would grow.

She had left then,one evening with a group of people from the river tribe. They went totake fish to a marketplace where several of the nearby tribes met.She never did come home though. The tribes folk had murmuredexcitedly when they returned that she had met an elleth named Calemirthere and had decided to stay for a time. Mallel had been distraught.He had been attached to the hip with Gweren since she had been bornon the sinking shoes of Beleriand. He had barely been big enough tohold her but he bore her on his back while they ran to safety, neveronce tripping. Yet so easily she let go of him when he would neverlet go of her.

Uncle and Galiononly seemed excited for her and Mallel didn't understand. He waslonely and it stabbed deep in his heart more so than leaving all ofhis friends in Lindon had. After a time he grew tired of waiting forher to come back and set out on his own to join Greenwood's guard asa scout. He didn't notice at first… perhaps due to his own griefand distress, that his mark had started to tick down on that day. Itwas a slow process, much slower that Gweren's. He only noticed itwhen he was bathing with a few other trainees in a spring afterpractice one day. One elleth spoke up excitedly upon seeing his markmove and everyone murmured excitedly, wondering whose path he wouldcross.

Mallel wasn'texcited though. He wasn't ready to meet anyone while he was still sovulnerable

It began to tickfaster though as their training pass and finally the day came whenthey were to pair with a more experience scout each and join a patrolgroup. Mallel was beyond nervous. He was normally a social butterflybut… The numbers were nearly depleted and he wasn't ready.  Hefollowed the older ellon he was paired with – an ellon nameFathloth who had a deep scar over one cheek that he claimed was fromdrunken archery gone wrong. The claim was made with a little humorthough he seemed otherwise straight laced. They made their way to aclearing where several figures busies around readying to head off onpatrol.

“Everyone,”Fathloth called. “I have a recruit with me. His name is Thranduiland he wi- boy? Are you alright?” He stopped mid speech and lookeddown at Mallel but Mallel only had eyes for an elleth across theclearing from him. He was barely aware of his own feet as he walkedover trampled grass and leaf to her, fingers loosely tracing over thequiver on his hip. He reached her and absently held up a hand as ifto touch before he held it still in some amount of self restraint.Was a hand shake to formal? He wasn't sure… he hadn't seen thishappen often and..

“I'm uh… It'snice… it's nice to meet you,” he offered, eyes not quite meetinghers anymore. “My name is Mal- er… Thranduil….and you are?”

His heart skipped abeat as silence folded over him before finally he heard he answer.“You can call me Caleth.”