#if i am on here please yell at me!!!!!

[sleepinglionhearts]

started reading one piece lads

[based on the stinky baby cat song you know the one]

[jadewritesficshere]

Pretty

Eddie Munson x reader

Contains: no plot just filth, sub!Eddie Munson, bound hands, edging, slight overstim, cumplay, ass play, aftercare, pet names (Eddie is called Baby), no gender descriptors for reader (your thighs are mentioned but not size or shape just that Eddie finds them beautiful)

This is unedited I wrote this in a blur idk how many words maybe 1k ill add that at a later time

18+ only!

"You look so pretty like this."

Eddie shudders as he feels your breath against the back of his neck. He looks ahead into the mirror, pupils blown wide at the scene before him.

You sit behind Eddie. A saccharine grin on your face. His back is flush with your front, he can feel every inhale and exhale you take. Your beautiful thighs he wants to bite are on either side of his. Your ankles are locked around his, holding him in place. Eddie's hands are bound with his belt, resting on your thigh.

Eddie's shirt is pushed up, belly button piercing glinting in the low light. The red of his piercing matches the red on his face that runs down his neck. If he had his shirt off, you'd be able to see the blush bleed into the top of his chest. He shivers as you blow against his ear.

"Look how pretty you are Eds."

He lets out a whine as your fingers delicately trail his length. His cock is flushed a deep red, almost purple at the top from how turned on he is. Slightly curved to the left, the tip leaking so much cum he's practically glistening. Your fingers ghost over the slit and his hips jump forward, only for your touch to leave. Teasing him again.

It was torture of the best kind. He isn't sure how long you have been teasing him. Tears in his eyes from pleasure and annoyance. Your hand wrapped firmly around him bringing him to the precipice only to let go before he reaches the edge. Tantalizing touches that sway the line of not enough and too much.

"Say you look pretty Baby."

He gasps as your hand wraps firmly around him again, hoping you won't remove your hand again. His nails dig into your thigh, trying to grab hold of anything he can. He can feel your smirk as you press a kiss to where his shoulder meets his neck. "I uh I look pretty," Eddie's voice is raspy.

"The prettiest boy." You murmur. "The fuck the prettiest boy." Eddie whimpers. A tear rolls down his cheek and he watches as you swipe it away. "Color?" You pause. "Green so green please don't stop," Eddie babbles slightly, turning to face you. You smile sweetly as your hand forces his jaw back to facing the mirror.

With your ankles locked around Eddie's, you spread your legs, thus causing his to spread wide open. Its obscene, being fully on display. "Awh," you coo at him, making him whine. Eddie shivers as you slide your hand up and down his shaft, your other hand gently squeezing his heavy balls.

Eddie jumps as you trail your fingers lower. You lightly press against his hole, just enough for him to feel it. It takes him a minute to realize the moan he hears was from himself. His cock leaks another spurt of precum, dribbling down your hand as you continue to jerk him off.

You remove the pressure teasing his hole and swipe up the cum that has leaked onto your hand. You coat your finger with it before pressing against Eddie's tight hole again. Your gently slide your finger in.

Eddie can feel his eyes crossing as his mouth drops open. He can feel you pump your finger in and out of him in tandem with the hand that is stroking him up and down. "Gonna come for me? You look so good baby. Look so perfect like this," you kiss the shell of his ear. Eddie nods, barely able to open his eyes. Barely able to think of anything as he feels the warm pleasure spreading throughout his limbs.

His hips snap up as a loud whine leaves him. His brain goes silent as pleasure comes over him in waves. You never falter your pace, its almost too much as he keeps cumming. It's the hardest and longest he has ever come, it almost knocks the breath out of him. His senses hone in on the euphoria he feels, numbing his mind to everything but the pleasure.

He pants and gasps as he slowly comes back to himself. He's barely aware he's holding onto your thigh with a death grip. "Did so good baby, so good." You murmur. "Uh-huh." Eddie can feel his heart beating in his chest. His limbs feel like jello. He's pretty sure if he tried to stand his legs would shake.

You slowly move out from behind him (wait when did you stop touching him?). Eddie opens his eyes, tracking you as you grab a water bottle and wash cloth on the bedside table. You wet the wash cloth before wiping the cum off him. Eddie tries not to but jumps from still being sensitive. You murmur apologies, as if you have anything to apologize for. If Eddie's tongue didn't feel of lead, he would sing your praises.

You toss the wash cloth away and quickly undo the belt around Eddie's wrists. Even though there isn't a mark, you take your time massaging his wrists and hands. You gently place a kiss on the back of both of his hands. If he wasn't already completely in love with you, that would have done it.

Eddie can barely focus on your words, barely think through how good he feels. He's aware you are holding the water bottle up to his lips and he drinks greedily. You swipe away the water that dribbles down his chin.

Eddie curls into you, head against your chest listening to your heart. You slowly stroke his hair, comforting him. He's aware you're whispering to him, praising him. All he can think about is how loved he feels in this moment. How safe he is in your arms. How he can fully let go and know you have him. How he knows you love him with your whole being, just as he loves you.

[mintjeru]

guy i would not trust within a 15m radius of myself

open for better quality | no reposts

my shop is open!!

[koppaiterocker]

Oh you guys have no idea how much angst this single comment spawned in my head... If I was a fic blog it would be SO over

[moongothic]

[polycrews]

ddcds. for u (hopefully ur day will b a bit better!)

had to take a second to respond to this because dear GOD this made me lose coherent thoughts. ahem

[kiddokori]

my son has figured out the more sad and pathetic he meows the quicker i am to check on him because i think something’s wrong so now he exclusively wails at the top of his lungs like some lonesome spectre instead of just meowing like a normal guy. walk in the door hes running to me howling i rush to his side and ask him whats wrong my beautiful darling what ails you and he just flops over for belly rubs. male manipulator.

[quatregats]

🌹!

From a fic in which I throw Hornblower, who has learned to play piano by rote, in with one of Stephen and Jack's music sessions, and everything goes swimmingly, as you can tell by this very congenial start:

Hornblower, who had already decided that he disliked Aubrey immensely, baulked at the invitation, but he could not find it in himself to refuse it, an action which he felt would be very much like surrender.

Thank you very much! <33

[ssreeder]

Chapters: 15/? Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Aang/Katara (Avatar), others to be tagged later - Relationship Characters: Sokka (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Jet (Avatar), Suki (Avatar), Kyoshi Warriors (Avatar), Iroh (Avatar), Jee (Avatar), Hakoda (Avatar), Bato (Avatar), A bunch of OCs, Long Feng, Joo Dee (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Mai (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar), General Fong (Avatar) Additional Tags: Violence, Blood and Injury, War, Minor Character Death, Rape/Non-con Elements, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Attempted Sexual Assault, Major Character Injury, Amputation, Implied/Referenced Suicide, possible major character death, themes similar to the first two books, Sexism, Racism (like has already been written in first two books), dark themes, Human Trafficking, Slavery, Just a lot of dark war-like themes, there will be a battle, Torture, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Injury Recovery, Healing, Underage Sex, Underage Drinking, Animal Death, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Warnings each chapter, Hopefully some healing for Zuko finally, no promises, but that’s the goal, Reunions, hopefully a happy ending, Sokka gets some healing too, Non-Consensual Drug Use Series: Part 3 of Leaving It All Behind Summary:

-This is the last book of the series LIAB, please go read the other two books before this, or you will be very confused-

Zuko has been taken by the Earth Kingdom army to who-knows-where, and Sokka is determined to get him back.

But he can’t do it alone.

With Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors by his side, Sokka is headed to Ba Sing Se to find Katara and Aang so they can go rescue his fire bender.

Things aren’t as easy as he had hoped. Corruption, lies, and unknown horrors await them inside the city’s walls. None of this is helping Sokka’s mental well-being.

Hakoda and his men face a problem of their own as Azula approaches with the intentions of making it rain fire.

Sokka and Zuko will both find themselves having to reintegrate back into a life they thought they left behind, with people they hardly remember. It isn’t easy for anyone, especially when they don’t recognize the person standing in front of them.

[spiritualweapons]

Miss Missing You - Chapter 2

Chapter 1 Sonny Carisi x Reader WC: 2431 AO3 I haven't written smut in a good long while so please be gentle, un-beta'd and slightly filthy. Edit: I figured out how to actually post it here lmao.

The hand on your thigh didn’t move any further but it continued its ministrations, meaning that by the time you pulled up outside your apartment building there was a pool of molten need simmering low in your stomach and you were sure your underwear were already soaked.

Sonny had ended up leaving with you after dinner, you’d told him you understood that he had to stay, that you were happy enough with having spent the time with him that you did and that you didn’t want to take him away from his work when it was so important.

“I promise it can wait, doll, besides, how am I supposed to concentrate knowing you’re heading home all by yourself.” The wink he’d sent your way as he collected his suit jacket and briefcase was cheesy but still sent a swoop of butterflies to the bottom of your stomach. “Hmm you’re acting like you already have an invitation to join me.” He pulled you by your hand until your body was pressed against his, his eyes sparkling in the dim lights of the hallway as they drifted down to look at your lips. “Do I?” he murmured, leaning down until you could feel the warmth radiating off of him and soaking into you, your lips parting of their own accord in the close proximity. “Well, I have nothing else to do.” With the strength of 30 marines you pulled yourself out of his grasp with a smirk, threading your fingers together. His groan shocked a laugh out of you but he allowed himself to be pulled along, out of the building and into your awaiting Uber. You didn’t think of yourself as a very voyeuristic person, you certainly didn’t actively enjoy making out with someone in front of other people and wouldn’t dream of doing anything further than even that, Sonny however was doing his absolute best to test you. His hand rested large and warm above your knee from the moment you got into the rideshare, thumb rubbing small circles into your skin as he slowly moved it further up your thigh, his long fingers brushing over your sensitive skin and sending electricity sparking through you. When you looked over at him to give him a warning you were met with hooded eyes that made your breath catch.

Sonny gave you a soft smile, the hand not currently making its way up your thigh reaching out and brushing your hair behind you ear before he leaned in and pressed his lips gently to yours, you parted your lips for him instantly trying to deepen the kiss to no avail, he pulled away just as quickly as he’d leaned in, the hand cupping your cheek rubbing a thumb over your lip before he sat back in his seat, turning his eyes onto the road. The hand on your thigh didn’t move any further but it continued its ministrations, meaning that by the time you pulled up outside your apartment building there was a pool of molten need simmering low in your stomach and you were sure your underwear were already soaked. You heard Sonny say a cheery goodbye to the driver but you were singularly focused, walking quickly through the lobby of your building and pressing the button on the elevator several times in your haste, Sonny laughing at you quietly. The doors to the elevator hadn’t even closed all the way before he was on you, pushing you up against the hard metal wall with his mouth hot on yours, a kiss that was all tongues and teeth. You pushed your hands into the hair at his temples and opened up under him, feeling so wound up already that when the elevator doors opened and he pushed away you actually let out a frustrated whimper. “Oh hello ma’am.” Sonny said and you felt your face flood with warmth as your neighbour stood looking between you both, her small dog jumping up to greet you as she held onto his leash. “Ms Martin, hello.” You avoided her eyes as you edged out of the elevator, feeling Sonny’s hand on the small of your back, “Um have a good night…” you trailed off fumbling for your key as your cheeks flamed. “God Sonny that was so fucking embarrassing.” You hissed as you finally got the door open. Throwing your keys on the side table you turned to him eyes narrowed at the mischief on his face, “You’re terrible I’m not going to be able to look her in the eye for months!”

He placed his briefcase on your kitchen table and took off his jacket, loosening his tie with one hand in a way that had your mouth going dry, “Look the silver lining is, she’s not home right now. Probably don’t have to worry about making too much noise.” You stared at each other for a moment, feeling the tension in the air build to something palpable before it snapped and you moved towards each other. His arms were around you again, lips pressing open mouthed kisses to your neck as you tried to get the buttons of his dress shirt open, fumbling when he started sucking lightly at your pulse point, “Fuck Sonny, I’ve missed you so much, I’ve thought about you every night.” He walked you backwards ripping his tie off and throwing it over his shoulder before helping you with the rest of his buttons, you gasped as your back hit the kitchen island, pushing his shirt off and taking in the expanse of lithe skin now on display for you. “What did you think about?” His voice was rough already, lips fuller than usual after being on you and you watched idly as he reached for the hem of your shirt, toying with it a moment before pulling it up and over your head. “You, touching me.” You sighed, your skin on fire as he reached around and unclasped your bra, pulling it off and exposing your chest, nipples hardening in the cool air of your apartment. He ducked his head again, kissing across your collar before moving to your chest, breath warm as he reached out and flicked his tongue over one of your nipples before pulling it into his mouth, sucking and nibbling at it, you lost your hands in his hair again, pressing into the sensation and clenching your legs together at the intense pressure that had been slowly building between your thighs since you’d left his office. He pulled back, “Where did I touch you? You gonna show me?” He held your eyes as he helped ease your pants down, rubbing small circles into your ankles as he pulled your shoes off too before reaching under your legs and lifting you onto the kitchen island. You hissed as your bare legs were exposed to the cold counter below that you idly thought would definitely need a deep clean tomorrow if the way Sonny was looking at you was anything to go by. He dropped your pants and shoes off to the side and stepped back to toe out of his own, hand fiddling with the belt of his pants, you could see he was hard through them already and the thought that you were the reason for it, had a rush of want surge through you so suddenly you thought you could probably pass out with it. You felt exposed, naked and laid out for him but the way he was looking at you made you feel bold, he wanted you as much as you wanted him and it spurred you on as you leaned back on one hand and started tracing the other down your body, hissing when you rubbed a nipple between your fingers, “Like this.” He was unblinking as he traced your hand with his eyes, letting out a soft curse when you swiped a finger through your folds, you were wet, a veritable mess, soaking for him and making the two fingers you gently rubbed over your sensitive nub glide effortlessly, your head falling back as a moan escaped your lips.

“Fuck, gorgeous, you look..” Sonny was looking at you in wonder, breathing heavily and belt all but forgotten about as he watched you explore yourself. You smiled wickedly at him as you moved your fingers up to your mouth, tongue licking over their slickness. He was on you in an instant, licking past your lips to chase the taste of you, kissing you like he wanted to pour himself inside your mouth, like you two could morph into one another if you both just kissed each other hard enough. You had other ideas, hands moving down to finish the job he’d started, you made quick work of his belt and unzipped his pants, reaching in and cupping him outside his underwear, revelling in the way his mouth fell open against yours as he let out a low moan and you sighed, “I thought about you fucking me too, god I used my fingers, a toy but it’s not as good as you, as the way you can make me feel.” He pulled back and you grinned as he pushed his pants and underwear down in one fell swoop, cock springing free as it hung hard and heavy between his legs, he gave it a quick pump, stepping back to look at you, his eyes black with how blown the pupils were. “You want this?” All you could do was nod and watch as he moved forwards, cupping your cheek and pressing a soft kiss to your already bruised lips, “Tell me it’s what you want.” he said softly. “I want you Sonny, please.” his eyes shut and he sucked in a ragged breath before nodding. You didn’t waste any more time, wrapping your thighs around his waist and dragging him in further. You watched in awe as he lined up with you, pushing the thick head of his cock through your folds slowly and dropping his head to your shoulder as he pushed into you. Your hands scrambled for purchase on his shoulders and back as you adjusted to the intrusion of his length, the walls of your pussy fluttering around him as he filled you to the hilt, “Fuck, Sonny.” “God you feel so good, I’ve been waiting for this, wanting to fill you up so bad.” he was all but babbling against your temple and you turned your head, kissing below his ear tenderly. “Please, move. I need you to move Sonny, god.” It was the right thing to say, the neediness in your voice giving Sonny all the ammunition he needed to begin snapping his hips against yours in kind, driving the hard length of his cock deep into you, he wrapped one arm around your waist, the other reaching up to tangle in your hair and pull your head back to look at him. He looked wrecked, eyes blown and neck and chest red with exertion, littered with marks of your doing, you leaned up and kissed him, feeling like he wasn’t close enough, even while he was buried in you bringing you closer to the edge. The press of his torso against yours brought delicious friction to your nipples and you gasped breathing into his mouth as you felt the sparking sensation of your climax get closer, “I’m so close.” “Come on sweetheart, I’ve got you, I wanna feel you come for me.” His voice was tight and his thrusts were becoming erratic, but still he moved the hand that was threaded through your hair down between your bodies to press against your clit, shocks of pleasure cresting over as you felt your orgasm crash into you, knocking the wind out of you as you rode it out, shuddering with every press of Sonny’s cock and touch of his hand. “God you’re so beautiful I can’t, I fuck…”

Your walls were still fluttering around him as you came down from your own release and you let out a whimper as you felt him spill into you, a low groan deep in his throat as he held you close to him, hips fucking into you a few more times before slowly stilling as you both caught your breath. You were the first to move, reaching back and smiling softly up at him, raising a hand up and brushing the hair that had escaped the hold of his gel back off of his face, “Hi.” You whispered, not wanting to break the quiet moment of bliss between you both, he huffed a soft laugh and leaned in pressing a kiss to your bruised lips. “Hi.” He replied, pulling back and staring at you in what you could only describe as adoration, you felt the flutter of butterflies in your stomach return with fervour. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to use this kitchen island anymore without thinking about this.” “Yeah I think I might’ve ruined breakfast forever.” Sonny looked at you for another moment before straightening up slightly, slipping out of you and causing you both to hiss at the sensation. He reached for you and helped you down off of the bench, smirking when you winced slightly from the way your ass stuck to the imitation granite. You fixed him with a glare but there was no heat in it, you clenched your legs together slightly against the onslaught of gravity and pressed yourself against Sonny for a moment, taking in his dishevelled appearance and feeling both proud and lucky for just how beautiful he was, you said as much, revelling in the pink blush that spread across his ears and chest. “Thank you.” He said softly, reaching for your hands and bringing them up to kiss your knuckles. “For what? You did a lot of the work just then.” “For reminding me that I need to walk away from work sometimes.” You began to shake your head but he squeezed your hands, “I’m serious doll, I love my job but it can’t be everything, I gotta have more than that. I want that with you and I don’t wanna jeopardise it.” His eyes were glistening, serious in their hold on you as you felt your throat constrict for a moment, you felt very lucky indeed as you pulled away, watching as Sonny’s face looked momentarily confused at your sudden absence. “Take me to bed, Sonny.” you said pulling on his hands in the direction of your bedroom, “We still have 3 other cancelled dates to make up for and I’m not done with you yet.” he looked at you for a moment in awe before quickly moving forwards and scooping you up into his arms making you yelp in surprise as he carried you to your bed, a promise of more on his lips and burgeoning love in his touches.

[marypsue]

Yes 100%. My other pet peeve is when people claim expensive programs that would benefit society “pay for themselves” like no! On a dollar amount they won’t! But we should fund them anyway because making people happier+healthier? that’s worth spending money on

I mean, the research has been done, repeatedly, and it's my understanding that funding a lot of programs (like Universal Basic Income, or housing-first solutions, or preventative medicine) is actually less expensive in dollars, year over year, than paying for the social programs that prop up the current state of affairs...

...but that also doesn't mean that the current social programs shouldn't be funded, because they help people! Even if they don't solve the problem entirely!

If we can't make everything perfect in the future (we can't, because perfection doesn't exist), but we also can't make things less bad for people right now, then what are we even doing.

[dytabytes]

i have a problem and it's a combination of these facts: 1) my brain has Chosen Donquixote Rosinante as my Beloved Lil Guy 2) I really want to write about five million fanfictions about him but 3) I have not actually read up to the point where he exists in canon yet because 4) One Piece is very long so 5) I can't write anything specifically good because I don't know his canon therefore 6) I am just writing reams and reams of adult content because people are willing to ignore canon when you're writing cumshots 7) oh god i am writing so much porn Please save me from myself

[elegyofthemoon]

kicking and screaming FREE ME ALREADY

[provincial-girl]

Hey there, so  I continue to have Big Feelings about A League of Their Own. This time, I can’t stop thinking about the show’s exploration of the importance of community in general, and  queer community specifically, and the ways those communities function as a crucial support network for marginalized groups. The scene where Carson and Greta (and the Peaches) help Jo around the bases feels like an especially important moment, a sort of culmination of the work the show has been doing.

So let’s take a look at what happens. Jo sustains a knee injury that’s a re-agitation of the injury she got from the bar raid; she’s been left hurt and vulnerable as a direct result of her queerness. As soon as Jo goes down, Greta kneels next to her, and Carson sprints out to her as the Blue Sox coach comes out of the dugout. The coach gets to Jo just before Carson, but he remains standing over her as Carson kneels down across from Greta and takes Jo’s hand. Greta and Carson are very clearly cast in this protective pose, flanking Jo while kneeling at her level, while the coach and umpire stand over them in positions of power. The coach doesn’t ask if she’s ok, only if she can walk, when it’s pretty clear she can’t, as Greta immediately points out. The men then speak to each other about what will happen next, and the umpire never actually speaks directly to Jo. Carson protests that “they clearly won,” and Jo calls it a “stupid rule,” but the umpire says “rules are rules.” Greta and Carson share a look and decide that simply won’t do, that they’re not going to let these rules hurt their friend, and they offer physical as well as emotional support as they help Jo around the bases. 

Despite the fact that the moment has feel-good sports movie vibes, this scene is, at it’s core, about members of marginalized communities coming together to form a network of support. It’s about a queer woman being hurt and in a vulnerable position, with a white man in a position of power saying “rules are rules,” like nothing else can be done to help her, like he can’t even imagine a possible solution outside of the rules. It’s about Carson and Greta, two other queer women, who share a look and decide, despite the fact that it will cost them something, to work outside of the rules to protect and empower their friend. It’s not even a choice they have to think about, which is made clear when Jo says they don’t have to do this, and Greta says quietly “of course we do.” They offer support when the man in an actual position of real power refuses to do so, because not helping this vulnerable member of their community is unthinkable. 

It’s just the three of them walking the bases for a while, a small found family. It feels very intentional that the camera almost immediately cuts to the pained reactions of Lupe and Jess, the two other queer characters on the team (that we know of), and that Jess, arguably the most visibly queer of all the Peaches, is the first to call the whole team in to offer additional support. Jess quite literally clears a path for them, wiping the dirt off each base before they get there. There is no real need for Jess to do that, or for the team to be there, but both things happen, a clear show of support for a woman that the whole team likely knows or suspects is queer, even though doing so will cost them the Championship. Even Shirley, despite earlier misgivings, walks at the front of the group, right next to Greta, without a moment’s hesitation. 

What they’re doing is actually sneaky subversive, because the Peaches are, metaphorically,  still on Jo’s team, so they’re kind of breaking the rules right under the noses of the umpires. Jo’s team does help her around the bases despite the umpire forbidding it, but she doesn’t have to forfeit anything. These women band together as a community of marginalized people who work outside of the rules to support each other when the men in power barely give them a chance, even actively restrict them.

Speaking of queer community and women supporting women, let’s talk about Bev in this scene. Bev walks out of the dugout to applaud the team as they come down the third base line, and for the only time I can remember in the series, she appears overcome by emotion, like she understands the importance of this moment. Bev walks down the third base line with her girls, an act of solidarity, because this has never been about baseball for Bev. Whether it’s fighting the league trying to trade away players, paying to keep Jo’s name out of the paper, or giving Jess her fines back, It’s always been about taking care of and protecting these girls in the best way she can. Shortly after this scene, she all but comes out as queer when she returns Jess’ fines, which gives this moment extra weight. She sees this team rallying to support and empower a known queer woman, which must be an amazing, overwhelming moment. In that final shot of the team where they circle up and they’re having a moment of quiet reflection, Bev is a part of it. She’s become a part of this community of women, and I just really love that for her. 

I actually love this whole ending for all of them, because these characters have found this precious sense of support and community that transcends baseball. They’ve done it in spite of the restrictions placed upon them, found a way to work around society and the league’s rules to make a safe, supportive place for each other. It feels like the best kind of found family, and I love that A League of Their Own prioritizes showing queer characters receiving the love and support and sense of community in the face of all that adversity. 

[waywardsalt]

back to thinking about quitting

[luminousnotmatter]

This Close

a little j.h.s. something

pairing: My favorite Texan Naval aviator, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x Female...Reader? OC? She’s kind of both? I’ll explain more in the Author’s Note. 😜 warnings: Mutual pining. Yearny. Friends with feelings they’re not acknowledging. PG-level swears. Takes place in a bar that’s not The Hard Deck. There’s a Dean Martin song used.😜  word count: a little over 1k. author’s note: This is my first bit of writing shared in a good long while, and also my first bit of writing for Top Gun Maverick since that movie happened to me this year. Be gentle please I’m nervous???? 😨😱 This story is actually part of a moment I have in mind for a whole, longer, multi-parted story that’s currently simmering on the stovetop of my brain until I can figure it out more/work up the nerve to plot it out and start writing and sharing it involving Jake and a Lady OC who I’m also still developing. Hence she, ‘Birdy’ a nickname she’s referred to as once here ☺, is sort of straddling the Reader/OC line at the moment. I honestly prefer writing this way than in the second person; it’s easier for me and I find I like the way things flow and feel better, so hopefully y’all don’t mind it. Okay. I’ve officially rambled w a y too much so I’m shutting my cakehole now. 🤐 I sincerely hope it pleases you! 💕❤ bonus material: This is the song that’s playing in the bar in case you want to listen in on Jake and Birdy’s dance.  It’s not a love song really, but I love it and find there is a certain sweet, romance to it. But then again, I’m a known Sap, so form your own opinion. 😉 tagging: My Sweet B.💗 ‘cause she’s a dear, inspiring, and encouraging gem of a lady, whom I love. @bradshawsbaby​

"The sun is sinking in the west the cattle go down to the stream the redwing settles in her nest it's time for a cowboy to dream..."

With the first few lines of the song and Dean Martin's signature croon, the energy and volume in the crowded bar immediately shifts, lowering from it's previous loud, buzzing intensity to a quieter, pleasant hum. A few of the dancing couples rearrange themselves into new pairs, but most stay with their current partners.

  Jake's green eyes glow warm. His lips are still upturned in a gentler, one-sided version of his familiar wide and sunshiney smile, as his gaze sweeps around the space casually, before meeting hers.

"Shall we?" he quirks an eyebrow up. Speaks only loudly enough for her to hear. His left hand remains loosely entwined with her right, leftover from the previous, faster dance, but he's inviting her to join him for this one, not assuming she wants to. A gentleman's gesture.

And some might argue against it: but she knows, believes, has seen, that Jacob Seresin is a gentleman, in the truest sense of the word. He just....buries that part of himself, walls it up, far too often.

She tightens her grip on his hand. Let's herself notice, secretly relish, the roughness of his calloused fingers and palm. And the skipping jolt it sends to her heart. "Let's." and a smiling nod is her only response.

“Purple lights in the canyons That's where I long to be With my three good companions Just my rifle, my pony, and me...”

They step in close to one another once more, less than a foot of space between them. It's not really different than what they had been doing a minute or so ago, albiet slower, but the feeling, the energy between them has changed, just as it has for the place as a whole.

  It's not necessarily an unpleasant change.

Jake's right hand holds her waist with a sort of tentative firmness, the heat of his palm bleeds through the material of her dress to her skin. His left hand has raised her right while they sway and take small steps in time with the music.

At first she looks everywhere but at her partner's face. Gaze sweeping around the room at the other couples, the lights above the bar, patrons' abandoned drinks....

She's exposed, raw, hyper-aware of the pounding of her heart against her ribs, of how hot her cheeks are, of the inherent intimacy there is in this slow closeness, and somehow it seems that if she looks in Jake's eyes it will be a tacit acknowledgement of the Truth she's currently refusing to actively acknowledge: that she likes this. Likes him. This man is her friend (becoming one of her favorite, best ones), so of course she likes him, and she is comfortable with him, as a woman and as his friend, but that Truth? What it actually means deep down? It's a damn frightening thing to look at head-on.

All these sensations and thoughts scramble through her heart and brain in milliseconds.

“Gonna hang my sombrero, On the limb of a tree Comin' home, sweetheart darlin' Just my rifle, my pony, and me...”

The sound of the Naval Lieutenant humming the tune of the song near her ear draws her eyes back to him, almost against her will, but not actually. He's looking around too at first, but quickly meets her eyeline with a gentle widening of his smile.

  "You know this song?" she asks with a smile of her own; she knows this tune well but wouldn't have guessed he did. It brings an ache of fondness to her chest that he does.

"Mm-hm." he nods and grins fully with his mouth closed. His nose scrunches up once, barely perceptible but she catches it. The skin around his eyes crinkles and her chest is hurting again.

  She drops her gaze for just a moment, trying to think of something to say. The silence isn't uncomfortable, it's just that she likes the sound of his voice. Likes the way he talks to her. But when her eyes catch the sheen of sweat on his skin over the hollow of his throat, they fly back up. Immediately.

  Jake is still looking at her. His look is so very unguarded (her heart whispers the word: tender) it sends any thought of words out of her mind. His pink mouth is still smiling, but it too is a smaller, softer, a more intentional, meaningful thing.

“Whippoorwill in the willow Sings a sweet melody Ridin' to Amarillo Just my rifle, my pony, and me...”

He breathes out the quietest, whispered, "Hey, Birdy."

Her throat is tight with some unexpressed, still-ignored emotion but she's able to whisper back, "Hey, Jay."

Jake gives her hand two squeezes in quick succession.

“No more cows to be ropin’ No more strays will I see Round the bend, she'll be waitin' For my rifle, my pony, and me My rifle, my pony, and me...”

Someone in the crowd calls for the song to please be played again, just once more. Their request is granted.

She swallows hard. Jake's lashes are long and his eyes are so green and the unguarded, tender look in them is still there. He is no longer smiling, just looking; his expression still soft, open.  He's not only looking at her but seeing her. The rosy, ruddy glow to his cheeks and the firmness of him beneath her hand that cups his back, all shout of the health, vitality, alive-ness of him.

It's a fight to think of other things besides her desire to lean all the way into his chest.

I wanna give up that fight.  For right now: I can give up. I give up. she thinks to herself. With a finality and resolve to which she grasps tightly.

Before anxiety and self-doubt and outright fear can question and crumble that resolve she does it.

She takes the half-step in, tucking her left hand between their two bodies up by her face and rests her cheek to his t-shirt covered chest, right below his left clavicle. She allows any tension to bleed from her shoulders, her neck, her arms, and lets him hold her.

Just for the rest of the song, she tells herself.

As he curls his right arm all the way round her back, Jake holds his next inhale at its peak for a quick extra second or two, then lets it out evenly, once she relaxes fully against him. She can't see his face of course, but he feels like even his blinking is slow, and careful. She's never been quite this close to him before now.  And he's never....he's not sure he has ever allowed himself to consider that he's wanted her to be...but his deep-down self is realizing: he has. Damn.

He shakes that realization and its implications off for the moment. It doesn't have to be dealt with right now.

  Just enjoy the rest of the song, Seresin, he tells himself. Rests his cheek gently against her head. Holds her.

They sway and take small steps, to and fro, to and fro, until the song does...eventually...unfortunately....end.