#like as a bullets enthusiast i was having the time of my life

[m0th-kid]

so uhhh i saw my chemical romance tonight and i don’t think i will ever recover from this

[miyukisu]

Freak Like Me .ᐟ kinktober ‘24 masterlist inspired by doja cat ❤︎ ╰ incl. kaiju no. 8, jujutsu kaisen, blue lock, bungo stray dogs, haikyuu

a/n - All works are p*rn with plot and written with afab! reader. Read the tags before proceeding with each fic just in case there's a trope included that you're not comfortable with. Masterlist will be updated throughout the month.

1 | On Camera - Cybersex ╰ Now Playing: Cybersex

❤︎ Narumi Gen (Kn8) x reader ╰ You just love teasing your best friend—even better now that he's frustrated and can only see you through a screen (2.1k wc)

2 | I Might Bite - Punishment ╰ Now Playing: Won't Bite

❤︎ Hoshina Soshiro (Kn8) x reader ╰ Resorting to dirty measures like biting your superior during sparring usually doesn't end without you having a taste of your own medicine... (2.6k wc)

3 | Talk Like That - Degradation ╰ Now Playing: Talk Dirty

❤︎ Hiromi Higuruma (JJK) x reader ╰ Who would have thought that your quiet and stoic boss had such a dirty side to him? (2.7 wc)

4 | There Ain't No Man Like You - Shower Sex ╰ Now Playing: Streets

❤︎ Toji Fushiguro (JJK) x reader ╰ People normally talk it out when they have a feud with someone, but you two? You decide to bury the hatchet by showering together (2.2k wc)

5 | Took Me For a Ride - Cockwarming ╰ Now Playing: Ride

❤︎ Geto Suguru (JJK) x reader ╰ It's raining pretty hard outside—good thing there are more ways than one when it comes to warming yourselves up... (? wc)

6 | Between Me and You - Teasing ╰ Now Playing: Often

❤︎ Michael Kaiser (Bllk) x reader ╰ Mutual pining's fun in the beginning, but both of you could only take so much teasing. Who's giving in first? (? wc)

7 | If You're Down, Boy - Hate Sex ╰ Now Playing: Go To Town

❤︎ Karasu Tabito (Bllk) x reader ╰ Karasu thinks you've got quite a mouth on you—time for him to show you what he can do with his too and make you shut up (? wc)

8 | Breakfast in Bed - Somnophilia ╰ Now Playing: Morning Light

❤︎ Nagi Seishiro (Bllk) x reader ╰ Nagi likes to have both breakfast and dessert in bed—care to indulge him? (? wc)

9 | He Want Lipgloss, Lipstick, Hickeys Too - Edging ╰ Now Playing: Kiss Me More

❤︎ Dazai Osamu (BSD) x reader ╰ You'd think he'd be more enthusiastic to get his hands on you because of the whole 'secret relationship' thing, but he has other plans in mind (? wc)

10 | Better Bite the Bullet - First Times ╰ Now Playing: Gun

❤︎ Iwaizumi Hajme (Hq) x reader ╰ He's just trying to be a good best friend by teaching you a useful skill in life... blowjobs (? wc)

©miyukisu do not repost/reupload/translate any of my works on other platforms

[rs-hawk]

more bestie’s werewolf brother? Maybe the alt one but it’s less fluff this time and he decides he also wants a baby with you?

We’ll call Alt Bestie’s Werewolf Brother Ahiga so we can keep Liwanu and him separate. So basically the difference is with Ahiga, you had a baby with someone else and he came back into your life, not caring and wanting to be there for you and your baby. With Liwanu, he was your first and he’s still a little mean to you.

Ahiga was obsessed with your baby. Sure, it’s sweet but like, come on. The two of you aren't even dating. He hasn't even asked you out on a date. He just sort of half moved into your parents' house, camping out in the living room so if the baby woke up at any time, he could rush in and try his best to help.

You have to constantly tell him to go home. He always whines, putting his ears back and his tail dropping. It tugs at your heart strings, but you don't understand why he's even here. He hasn't brought up you two being together, or what he meant when he agreed to stay. Plus, you don't have time to go out, even though your parents are suddenly very excited to have Ahiga around all the time when they never liked him when you were kids, and your baby is only a few months old. You don't want to be gone from her for too long. Would he even be okay with a relationship like that?

One day, you decide to bite the bullet and just talk to him. "Why are you here?"

He's sitting on the floor of the nursery, cradling your baby in his arms as he feeds her. "I'm feeding her. Do you want me to do it in the kitchen?" he asks confused, looking up at you, though he doesn't stop cradling her to his chest.

"No, that's not what I meant," you say as you run your fingers through your hair. "Aggy, you said you'd stay, and I'm happy with that, but...," you trailed off, now breaking eye contact. "You haven't said anything else."

He burps the baby before setting her back in the bassinet. Neither of you say anything for several minutes before he takes your hands in his. "I wanted to wait until you were ready. I want to stay. I'm going to stay as long as you want me to. I just didn't want to push you."

You shrug, now feeling a little silly. Of course he intended on staying and being with you. Look at everything he was doing for the both of you. "It's just, you hadn't said anything, so I guess I was just feeling a little insecure. Plus, with the way I look now, I just," you shrug again, drawing your hands away from his.

He grabs you rougher than you're used to, and suddenly his lips are on yours. He kisses you deeply, almost harshly. Like the only way for him to live is to get his tongue down your throat. You're surprised, but you kiss him back enthusiastically. While the kiss is brief, when you two split apart, his eyes are hungry. You're panting.

"You have never looked more gorgeous than you do right now. You're the happiest I've ever seen you, and it radiates off of you," he murmurs, cupping your face with his large hands. "I want you more than I've ever wanted anything."

Your face flushes as you peek past him at the baby. Between the rocking and the bottle, she's fast asleep. At least for now. "You know, I was cleared at my last visit," you say quietly, feeling a little shy. "If you're careful, maybe we could, you know."

His claws extend slightly, pressing against your cheek. "Don't tease me." His voice is hoarse like he can barely croak out the words.

"I'm not, if you're gentle with me," you say with slightly more confidence.

He nods hard, scooping you up bridal style. You laugh as he rushes you to your room, basically dumping you on the bed. He babbles out how much he loves you, how he's always loved you, how this is the best thing that's ever happened to him. You can't even get a word in to tell him how you've always felt about him because he's peppering you in kisses, undressing you with touches more tender than you ever imagined he could manage.

He breaks the kiss again to softly kiss down your body with an agonizingly slow pace. You sigh with pleasure, his touch so gentle that it relaxes your body. When he gets between your legs, his licks start off firm but slow, testing how you react. You moan his name, arching your hips up to meet his lips. He holds your hips down, easing his tongue inside of you.

At first he's taking his time with you. Relishing the taste of you as he stretches you with his tongue. You're beginning to become an overstimulated mess as he slowly draws orgasm after orgasm out of you. Your fingers are tangled in his fur as you try to pry him away from you, now your turn to babble how good he feels but you need him. How much you love him and how badly you want to feel him.

"Are you sure?" his voice comes out almost as a growl as he lets you pull him away from you.

You nod hard. "Yes, yes, yes," you insist, bucking your hips slightly to punchiate your point.

He readjusts, slowly pressing himself inside of you. With every inch you're moaning, begging him for more. He hushes you with kisses. By telling you how good you are for how well you're taking him.

"Fuck," you groan as he finally bottoms out inside of you. "S'full."

"You feel so good, my love. So warm and wet for me," he mutters, licking along your neck, his teeth grazing against your delicate skin.

You shiver, knowing that for wolves, the marking spot is so sensitive. Is that what he wants? You hold his head to your neck, leaning it more to the side to give him more access. For a moment, he just keeps up his slow and steady thrusting, rhythmically pumping in and out of your messy cunt. Then, as if realizing what you're doing, he growls against your skin.

"Mine," his low voice vibrates your skin. "Mine. My mate. Mine."

He's still careful of you, but the thrusts are a bit harder. Deeper. His knot now pressed firmly against your entrance with each thrust in. All you can really do is whine and moan, rolling your hips as much as you can to meet him. As he nears his finish, his claws knead the mattress beside your head, his teeth gently nipping at your neck.

"I want to breed you. Please, please," he groans in such a needy voice that you almost cum around his cock right then. "My mate. Breed please."

You can't even answer before his cock slams inside of you, almost knocking the air out of you as his knot locks you in place together. He's panting and kissing every inch of you he can manage, his hot cum pumping deep into your obviously fertile womb.

[infectioustomfoolery]

HALF LIFE HEADCANONS

(feat my man kade)

For all intents and purposes, this is for fun and any time period mishaps should be ignored. Part two eventually.

Gordon Freeman

- 5’10”, green eyes and slutty little waist, he/him, autistic, dumb little ponytail.

- So white. So very very white.

- Makes absolutely no facial expressions ever.

- Talks exclusively through sign language, but even then sparingly.

- Got a major staring problem.

- Probably trans idfk.

- He’s definitely gay or aroace.

- He has no idea he’s autistic, gay, or in love with Barney.

- He has PTSD and because of that he’s a prick to the Vortigaunts.

- Hopelessly addicted to morphine

- Anger issues but no one can tell

- Everyone in Black Mesa wants to fuck him silly.

- Derealization issues

- Really does NOT fw Alyx

- Regularly keeps up with Aperture Science

- Chell’s brother

- “I’m not gay, Barney.”

- He is. He so is.

- Definitely thinks Barney is a sexy beast in the combine uniform

- Plays DND and likes Star Trek

Barney Calhoun

- 5’6”, he/him, spectral heterochromia

- Gay and knows it

- Probably trans too fuck if I know

- Fluffy hair, permanent 5 o’clock shadow. He’s so goddamn hairy.

- If he doesn’t pluck his eyebrows, he’ll grow a unibrow

- Dadbod

- Alcoholic

- Literally never shuts up

- Every single guard in Half Life 1 is Barney. They’re all Barney. Always have been.

- The Blue Shift Barney is “our” Barney, though. I like to think he retained all the other Barney’s memories.

- Frat boy in college. He told them he liked football and now he has to pretend

- Poses infront of the mirror everytime he has a uniform on

- Understands Gordon Freeman perfectly literally no matter what

- He got a fucked up leg from the elevator crash.

- Cries over Gordon at least once a day

- Really hates all the Half Life 1 scientists. They’re douches.

- Gun enthusiast

- Likes conspiracy theories

- Lauren doesn’t exist, she never existed. He’s just a fat liar.

- Listens to Mitski

- Beefs with Adrian because Adrian thinks its funny but really does not care

- Southern as Hell

Adrian Shephard

1.) She’s a FEMALE

2.) She’s not a BOY

3.) and most importantly, She’s a GIRL!

- 6’5”, blue eyes, she/him (she has a preference for she but Does Not Care.)

- Butch lesbian

- Was in the military with Soldier from TF2. She played along with his antics and sort of “trained” under him.

- white, but very tan

- She gets hurt a lot

- Laughs obnoxiously loud

- Wears boxers

- Blonde, either a crewcut or mullet situation

- Probably has an eyebrow slit, but in a scar way not in a gay way

- Speaking of which she is COVERED in scars and bullet wounds

- Also freckles why not

- Very high pain/spice tolerance

- Fucking LOVES nascar (poor and stupid)

- Was able to make it into the military because when she was filling out the papers she wrote "yes" next to sex and the government just thought he was a normal amount of US Marine stupid

- Colette and Gina saw her from across the bar, and they really dig her vibe

- Her mask makes her sound really grovely and awesome (see: https://youtu.be/Fr8Jxm65EC8?si=5WvOpXfQerjM7G79 )

- She beefs with Barney

- Gets a kick out of annoying Gordon Freeman to death

- Probably makes thirst traps on TikTok

- Has really good abs

- Scout’s older sister

- So she’s from Boston

[snookienthusi4st]

omg nvm i just saw the * for sfw on tamaki im so sorry 💀u can just do sfw then 😭

gotchu ml! ty for the req

disclaimer: i’m still putting my all into this but this is another guy i’ve never been the biggest fan of so just disregard anything you disagree with

warnings: none! js language ig but that’s always been implied lol

tamaki x fem reader hcs!

no nsfw bc i can’t imagine this man getting laid for the life of me i’m sorry 😭

lmk if you want anything changed!!

• lots of ways you two could’ve crossed paths!

• you could’ve met the same way haruhi met him minus the vase

• you could’ve been one of haruhi’s friends and tagged along w her to visit the club

• or you could’ve just felt like joining the host club

• either way he was incredibly charming

• you told him your name and he probably talked about how pretty it sounds and how well it fits you

• he’s incredibly cliche but like in a cute way

• like when you shook his hand he obviously kissed the back of it bc it’s tamaki suoh

• and if you ever trip or if you’re clumsy, he’ll def catch you everytime you fall bc it’s tamaki suoh

• will pick you up bridal style and carry you around for no reason bc it’s tamaki fucking suoh

• since he treats you basically how he treats haruhi in the show, it’s already obvious that he likes you

• but if you’re oblivious like me, then kyoya or one of the other hosts probably hints at it until you get the memo

• and neither of you ever rlly did admit your feelings

• like it was never really verbally said but actions got more affectionate

• from linking pinkies to holding hands to him to linking elbows bc this man is actually a leech(in a good way)

• you will never again in your life go an hour without him clinging to you, like you could be anywhere but he’s always gonna end up next to you

• will constantly buy you flowers

• will also buy himself flowers bc guess who it is!*

• after a while, you end up telling him you love him when you’re ready

• you both were sitting together and having some time alone, and it kinda just slipped out

“tamaki?”

“yes, my dear?”

“i love you.”

• he says it back obviously but js give him a second he’s literally about to cry

• you’re the sweetest person he’s ever met and you love him? he basically js won an award

• early bird

• but if you’re a heavier sleeper, he’ll wake up quietly so you have more time to rest

• unless you need to start waking up early for some reason, then he’ll happily coax you awake around the same time as him

• forehead kisses and running his hand through your hair is his usual method, but maybe you get a poke in the nose every once in a while

• and that little smile he gets once you open your eyes is a sight that makes your day the second it starts

“y/n..come on, can you wake up for me? y- there she is. good morning, my dear, did you rest well?”

• since you’re a host, sometimes he’ll get jealous when you have to go entertain a guest

• every once in a while he’ll give you a compliment or sweet talk you in front of clients to get more traction

• works everytime!! bonus if you get rlly flustered from compliments

• you two make each other’s lunches in the morning smtimes

• he can make a mean fucking ice cream sundae if there’s ever an occasion

• prefers tea over coffee

• always smells rlly good

• like you don’t even know how to place it but he does

• probs wears perfume instead of cologne, idk it js seems on brand for him

• bed bath and beyond enthusiast

• you guys take baths and showers together

• if you like your showers cold, can confirm he will actually freeze and it’ll take an hour for him to defrost

• he seems like the type to know how to play some outlandish instrument, whatever that means to you

*bullets 8-10

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

miles kane, swg3 glasgow 01/02/2024

oh my god oh my GOD i don't even know where to start. last night was hands down not just one of the best gigs of my life, but one of the best nights of my life full stop. it's twenty four hours later and my heart just feels so full and i still can't stop smiling with pure happiness 🥹 i've been to a LOT of gigs over the years, and a lot of those have been really amazing gigs too - but this one. wow. there was truly just something so special about this one that i know i'll carry with me for a long time to come 💗

i feel like i could ramble endlessly about all the things that made it so incredible (i.e. literally everything), so to try and avoid writing an actual essay, here are a few bullet points of my favourite things:

being right in the front row was AMAZING for obvious reasons, but also because of the number of times miles made eye contact with me and smiled at me as he was singing 😭 (naturally any time this happened i smiled back like a total idiot and forgot all the words) me and the lovely human i was there with were the only ones at the barrier who were really getting into it at the start, and i got the sense he loved seeing how much we were loving being there 💗

miles just has the most incredible energy ✨ that's absolutely something you pick up from listening to his music, watching interview etc - but it's quite something else to experience in person. the moment he walks into a room he just gives off such good vibes and such warmth. there's such a sense of groundedness to him as well as all the amazing passion, and also idk. i feel like in person you can really feel the sensitivity and vulnerability that's so present in his music too. he truly lights up a room and just has such a knack for holding everyone captive 💫

getting to witness miles being overwhelmed and unable to stop smiling at how enthusiastic the crowd was truly wonderful 🥹 you could just *feel* how much it all meant to him, and watching him get all the love and appreciation he deserves was just magic 💖

at the end, he came down into the crowd towards me and was making direct eye contact and then he FUCKING SPOKE TO ME??????? 😭 i was too dazed to actually take in what he was saying (i'm pretty sure it was something along the lines of "i like your necklace" but honestly who knows lol), and it was very brief because naturally i wasn't the only person in the crowd he was saying hi to, but fucking HELL. i was totally, totally unprepared 😭 i then had the privilege of a sweaty miles kane leaning over me to high five the people behind me, and i held his hand and - yeah. it was all so truly surreal that i might think i'd imagined it if it wasn't for the fact i can literally see the moment in this video 😭

i was there with @perfectly-clear-from-here and we were both just utterly ECSTATIC after the show, it was amazing getting to share the sheer giddy joy of all that with one of the loveliest humans i know 💜

and then of course (as if all of that wasn't already enough to make it the most wonderful night), we MET MILES after the show 😭😭 i've already rambled about that here so i won't do it again, but - yeah. let's just say he truly is the most wonderful person with the loveliest energy, and he is so easy to be around 🥹

the last six months or so have not been easy ones for me, and this felt like the most wonderful break in the clouds that just - idk. really restored me to myself. it was so special to get to experience live so many of the amazing songs that have got me through and been such a comfort in the difficult times, and i am just so endlessly grateful to miles for his courage in creating and sharing all that he shares 💗

**please do not repost my photos without permission**

[peachy-panic]

Companion, pt. 1

New Do No Harm content? In the current timeline? In 2024 the year of our lord? Could it be?

Here's part 1 of a couple-part saga in the Sebastian contract, which I lightly foreshadowed here.

WARNINGS: Not much outside the usual BBU tag and the uncomfortable power dynamics that come with it.

The house is warm when Sebastian gets home, in every sense of the word. A candle flickers an inviting glow on the coffee table, and the smell of garlic and onions rushes to greet him. As expected, he finds Jaime posted in the kitchen, tending to his latest creation on the stovetop. On the small bluetooth radio beside the toaster, a song he doesn’t recognize is playing.

It’s taking some time for Sebastian to get used to coming home to someone. For so long, for most of this adult life, it has been dark, empty apartments or cold, distant roommates, never allowed past arm’s length. And now, there’s Jaime, who has entered his life like a bullet and smiles over his shoulder when Sebastian walks into the room. 

He is getting better these days at reading his smiles, and this one, at least, appears to be genuine. Relieved, almost, that he is home. 

“Hi,” Jaime says first.

“Hello,” Sebastian echoes, dropping his coat over the back of a barstool. “What are we making?”

“It’s an Ezra recipe,” Jaime says, wiping his palms on his pants. “Is soup okay tonight? If that’s not substantial enough, I am happy to make something else with it.”

Sebastian does not let his smile drop or fade, no matter how desperately uncertain Jaime sounds. “Soup sounds great, Jaime. It smells amazing.”

It’s the truth, too. It’s a difficult balance, wanting to compliment his prowess in the kitchen and appreciate the genuine joy he seems to derive from it, while also trying not to think of the how and why. Sebastian doesn’t know much about what “training” looks like inside the facility, especially for the specialized domestic tasks that would have been assigned to Jaime, and he doesn’t particularly like speculating on the details. From everything he’s seen in the clinic, he knows that none of it is pleasant.

“How was work?’ Jaime asks, then seems to catch himself. He stiffens, looking sheepishly away. “Sorry. You probably aren’t allowed to talk about that.”

Sebastian snorts. “If only doctor-patient confidentiality applied in a place like that.” The words come out before he can consider the significance they carry to the person he’s speaking to. Guilt spikes sharp in his chest. “Sorry, that wasn’t…”

“It’s okay.” Jaime smiles, but it’s a tense, brittle line. 

“Um.” Sebastian clears his throat, trying to get their conversation back on the rails before he ruins the evening completely. “My day was okay. It was fine.” He shakes his head, pressing his fingers briefly to his eyes. “That was a lie. It was terrible, as usual. I don’t think I need to convince you that having a good day in that building would be a poor reflection of one’s character.” 

So much for salvaging the conversation, Tate. 

“Anyway, how was your day?” 

Jaime pulls the hand towel down from his shoulder and begins wiping at an invisible spot on the counter. “It was fine, thank you.”

Sebastian watches him, trying hard not to scrutinize the pre-packaged reply. His answer is always something of the same tune when Sebastian inquires about his day, never anything less than “fine,” never forthcoming on the details. It’s not the first time it’s sent Sebastian into a bit of a spiral about a concern he’s had from the very beginning: how does Jaime spend his days? Is he happy here? Has Sebastian provided him with enough resources to carve out some semblance of a life here?

He has tried. He has provided him access to the internet and all the movies streaming had to offer, he bought Jaime a reading tablet and granted blanket permission to fill it with as many books as he wants, he has given enthusiastic encouragement for Jaime to go for runs or walks whenever he’d like. It doesn’t feel like enough. He still ends up spending his long days at work wondering if Jaime is at home feeling like a prisoner. 

Sebastian pushes the thought away for now. 

“Is there anything I can help with?” He asks.

“It’s almost done, actually.” Jaime taps the excess liquid from the wood spoon and lays it on a ceramic dish. “Just needs a few more minutes to simmer. Sorry, I hoped it would be ready by the time you got home.”

Sebastian gives him a look. “You don’t have to cook at all,” he says. “Let alone have it hot and waiting at the table. You’re aware of my microwave burrito phase? My standards are low.”

“I remember.” Jaime assures him.  “I don’t mind, though. I like trying new recipes. Ezra lent me a cookbook. I tabbed a few that look interesting. If they look good to you, that is.”

“You have yet to steer me wrong. I’m starting to think it’s impossible for you to cook anything less than a masterpiece.”

The slight stutter in Jaime’s stirring is quick enough that Sebastian can brush it off as his imagination. 

“It passes the time,” Jaime says, a bit quieter. 

“What?”

“Cooking. Planning the meals, ordering the ingredients. Prep and cook time,” he elaborates. “It’s productive, is all I mean.” Jaime has gone tense, the way he does when he seems to say more than he means to, but he recovers quickly. 

The soup is ready shortly after, and dinner is delicious as always, but Sebastian can’t get out of his own head enough to really enjoy it. Jaime’s words—it passes the time—bounce around inside his skull, breaking open all sorts of subtext and confirming all of Sebastian’s fears. 

They’re cleaning up afterward, Sebastian scrubbing the dishes while Jaime dries, when a thought that’s been brewing spills out of his mouth. 

“Have you ever had any pets?” Sebastian asks, apropos of absolutely nothing. Jaime shoots him a quick side glance without pausing in his work. 

“Once,” he says after a beat. 

Sebastian knows it’s tricky ground, getting too close to details from Jaime’s past. He knows the rules he is bound by and how closely Jaime tries to follow them, even if sometimes Sebastian thinks he might be getting more and more comfortable with little rebellions. Sebastian is still riding the high from a couple weeks prior when Jaime had gifted him and Ezra the small nugget of truth that he used to play soccer, in his life before the system. What might have been an insignificant detail to anyone else was such a fragile, entrusted thing.

Sebastian doesn’t want to pry, though. He decides to keep his questions more general. 

“Do you like animals?”

“Yes.” That answer comes much quicker. 

“Would you…” Sebastian pauses, making sure he’s positive about the proposition he is making before he makes it. He is. “Tell me honestly if this isn’t something you’re interested in, and I won’t be offended in the slightest. I was wondering… if that might be something you would be interested in. Having a pet here.”

Jaime takes a minute to answer, like he’s choosing each word carefully. “Would it be solely for my benefit?”

“No,” Sebastian assures him, and it’s not a lie. “It’s something I’ve thought about before, but I don’t have a lot of experience with pets. Zero, to be exact, unless you count a goldfish that lived for under a week when I was seven.” He pauses. “I do worry about you getting lonely, though. Staying here by yourself all the time.”

“I don’t mind being alone.”

“I know. I just wonder if it might be nice to have some company. Something to look after.” Something to bring you comfort. Anything to make you happy here. 

A quiet falls over them, interspersed with the sound of running water and dishes clanking around in the sink, and Sebastian starts to think of how to walk this back. Because clearly this is something that gives Jaime pause. 

“What about…” Jaime starts, then stops. Sebastian puts down the dish he is working on and looks at him. Jaime meets his eyes for a split second and then averts them again. “Would you keep it, even after I’m gone?”

And shit. Maybe it’s a good thing he put the cup down in the sink, because Sebastian is pretty sure it would have shattered in his hand from the force of his grip. And he realizes, not for the first time, that the longevity of this… arrangement is something they need to talk about. In detail. At length. Soon. But now doesn’t seem like the right time. 

“If I brought a living creature into my home,” he starts carefully, “then this would become its home, too. It will be here for the long haul.”

After a long, weighty silence, he sees Jaime nod in his periphery. 

“I think I’d like that.”

****

@whumpervescence @shiningstarofwinter @distinctlywhumpthing @whumptywhumpdump @nicolepascaline @anotherbluntpencil @hold-him-down @crystalquartzwhump @maracujatangerine @batfacedliar-yetagain @thecyrulik @pumpkin-spice-whump @finder-of-rings @melancholy-in-the-morning @insaneinthepaingame @skyhawkwolf @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump @mylifeisonthebookshelf @dont-touch-my-soup @whump-world @inpainandsuffering @cicatrix-energy @quietly-by-myself @whumpsday @extemporary-whump @the-whumpers-grimm @thebirdsofgay @firewheeesky @whumperfully @hold-back-on-the-comfort @termsnconditions-apply  @cyborg0109  @whumplr-reader  @pinkraindropsfell  @whatwhumpcomments @honeycollectswhump @pirefyrelight @handsinmotion @alexmundaythrufriday @scoundrelwithboba

[definitelynotshouting]

dance au you say 👀👀👀 is it like Grian and Scar typically do different styles of dance but are for some reason partnered together or do they dance the same style and gotta choreograph a routine together but kinda buttheads with how they choreograph

Not quite, although thats a super cool idea!!! :D my au is about Grian asking Scar for dance lessons while preparing for an event he's been invited to-- he's expected to dance, and has never really applied himself to learn more than the very basics until now.

Scar, however, is an excellent dancer and offers to teach him, builds them an intricate gazebo to learn in, shows up to their first lesson in an immaculate new suit, and proceeds to unintentionally but enthusiastically seduce Grian-- who's had a crush for a long time, but hasn't yet gotten up the courage to do anything about it.

The penultimate scene goes a little something like this:

Grian asks Scar for one last practice session before the event. He doesn't even need to feign nervousness-- he's practically sweating bullets. But practicing isnt really his motivation here; in all honesty, he just wants to spend one more time in Scar's arms.

It's evening, golden and sticky with summer, and they're dancing as the sun slowly begins to set. Scar's complimenting, hyping him up, telling him he's a natural now, he'll do so great. He'll be rooting for him at the event the ENTIRE time. The jukebox's music fades, and the dance ends with a flourish, and Grian finds himself nose to nose with a Scar who is gazing at him like he's everything.

Then Scar seems to shake himself, disengages, and gently tells him he'll do great. Amazing, even. The envy of the dance floor. They both step back at the same time.

But the sun is hitting Scar's face just right, and he's gorgeous, and Grian just had him in his arms, and-- and-- and--

Grian impulsively darts forward and kisses the life out of him, fast and a little messy, with his heart beating right out of his chest. And then in true Grian fashion, he freaks out about his own impulsivity and flies away without addressing ANY of this bc he Cant Be Normal Ever, leaving poor Scar to stare off into the sunset with his hand pressed absently against his lips.

What follows after that is some very strained event participation on Grian's part, and Scar trying desperately to talk to him while Grian dodges him like his life depends on it. Eventually, Grian gets exhausted by it all and takes a moment to recoup by wandering outside for some fresh air.

This is where Scar finds him; a little cold, a bit shivery, feeling VERY sorry for himself, and finally Grian doesn't have the patience or energy to run any longer. I actually wrote out a tiny snippet of this scene:

"You know, you're, uh, awful slippery when you want to be." Scar's voice is deceptively casual. "You've gotta teach me that vanishing trick sometime." "Grow wings," Grian suggests wryly, then sobers, pulling Scar's jacket a little tighter around his shoulders. "Sorry. For— that. Yesterday. Yeah." "Sorry you did it? Or sorry it happened?" "Scar," Grian says, pained, "you just said the exact same thing twice." "Not really." Scar's voice is quiet, contemplative. He still isn't looking at Grian when he speaks. "'Cause, y'know, there's— I mean, dancing is pretty intimate, right? Plenty of opportunity for things to just... happen, without them meaning to. It's pretty common, really." He's giving Grian an out, he realizes. An escape hatch left wide open, a gaping crevice Grian can slip through without snagging his feathers. He could lie, right here and right now, and Scar is telling him that would be okay. Everything could go back to normal. Maybe its the atmosphere. Maybe it's the night air, a cool caress on his face, and the moon rising high and bright in the sky above them. A waxing growth that limns them both in pretty silver, catching on the edges of Scar's profile. He's beautiful, as always, and as much as Grian's stomach trembles, he can't tear his eyes from the sight of him. "More like I'm sorry for ruining a perfectly good friendship," Grian croaks at last. Scar blinks, lips parting briefly, throat bobbing as he swallows. His gaze lowers slowly, until his lashes paint dark lines against his cheeks. "Who says it got ruined?" he finally asks. "Scar, I kissed you," Grian says miserably, huddling further into himself. "Yeah, that was kinda hard not to notice." "Scar." "What? It's true! I was there, I saw it!" Oddly, there's the hint of a smile threading into Scar's voice; when he turns to pin Grian's gaze, it reflects on his lips, tilted up the tiniest fraction. In the moonlight, his eyes almost glow. "But sure, lets assume you've ruined a friendship. Which you have not, by the way— in case you were wondering." All the air leaves Grian's lungs at once. He's paralyzed, tipping over the knife's edge of something only Scar can see. "I didn't?" "Nah." Scar's voice is achingly warm now. "Not even close. Actually, my only question right now is: do you wanna do it again?"

Anyway they smooch again and get catcalled by their friends and Grian dips Scar bc Scar deserves to get dipped and its very sweet bc sometimes u rlly do just need some low stakes pining THEE END❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[hwaightme]

"Your fan, _____" Series Masterlist

Hello there <3 welcome to the mini masterlist for this series! All works collected here are around the theme of what would each member be like as your fan and how that develops into a heart-fluttering romance! In general, the bullet-style fics are sfw, fem!reader unless stated otherwise, and done in two parts. Below the cut you will find the general disclaimers as well as additional information for each member, and links to the fics! Happy reading, and any and all likes, reblogs and asks are always welcome, thank you so much <3

Suggested order: Jongho, Yunho, Mingi, Wooyoung, Hongjoong, Yeosang, San, Seonghwa

GENERAL DISCLAIMERS:

These works are fictional and for entertainment purposes only, and do not reflect the people mentioned in them as individuals.

All works and moodboards have been created by me, and reposting is strictly prohibited.

Themes covered may be triggering for certain audiences and/or inappropriate for minors. This is why I keep the body of the works below the cut, and try my best to do extensive tagging and warnings. If you see something that does not sit well with you, please dni, and if I missed a tag lmk immediately.

👘 Hongjoong: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: hongjoong x fashion designer!reader warnings/tags: language, radio shows, reader is goth, goth subculture, a bit of mutual pining, seonghwa aries rage, san is sus, jealousy, DRAMA(rama), hongjoong is starstruck, reader has her own fashion house/brand, photoshoots, brand collabs, demon line boutta act up

🛸 Seonghwa: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: seonghwa x nerdfluencer & physicist!reader warnings/tags: language, SCIENCE, astrophysics, may the force be with you, scientific formulas, lego obsession, yunho driving, hongjoong jealousy and fatigue, seonghwa just wants someone to be a nerd with

📺 Yeosang: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: yeosang x talk show host!reader warnings/tags: language, yeosang lowkey writing fanfics, manhandling, wooyoung attacks, roommate gathering, mc yeosang, reader is a late night talk show host, exo and txt appearances, wooyoung has connections everywhere, yeosang always has a plan even when you think he doesn't

🎮 Yunho: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: yunho x game developer!reader warnings/tags: language, reader is a dev, coding/gaming is life, wooyoung knows, yunho as a gaming enthusiast, introversion, social anxiety, implied depressive episode, business friend playing wingwoman, flirting in chat, reader is oblivious, yunho wants to be noticed, gaming dates, ateez have potential as twitch streamers, yeosang is a legend, mingi is best homie

🍰 Wooyoung: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: wooyoung x baker!/cafeowner!reader warnings/tags: maybe language, a tad suggestive, ateez chaotic energy, wooyoung what are you watching boi, e-girls mention with yunho hints, time to vacuum the lawn to catch gossip, ateez wingmen, wooyoung falls fast, reader and wooyoung are both flirts, cooking, baking, mention of food/eating

🎤 Mingi: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: mingi x rapper!reader warnings/tags: language, reader is an underground rapper, mingi is totally starstruk, producer hongjoong energy, activism, criticism of music industry, dark side of idol life, hongjoong-ah instead of hyung, yunho is supportive friend (TM), mingi being a rebel, sneaking out, potential rap battles incoming, reader with that mic drop

💬 San: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: san x interpreter!reader warnings/tags: language, simping, hopeless romantic, linguistics, interpreter/translator reader, duo bird terrors, ateez wingman alliance, concerts, public speaking, job stress, slow burn, falling in love hard and fast

⚽ Jongho: (part 1) (part 2)

pairing: jongho x footballer!reader warnings/tags: jongho falling fast, you are a football prodigy, hongjoong lowkey is a wingman, jongho hiding feelings, sports, football, cute romance, overall wholesome vibes, jongho is an undercover athlete, yeosang seizes opportunity, hongjoong is in on the secrets, sports, football, cute romance, secret relationship, seriously in love, overall wholesome vibes

Your fan messages:

[ 1 ] - Jongho, Yunho

[ 2 ] - Wooyoung, Mingi

[ 3 ] - Hongjoong, Yeosang

[ 4 ] - San, Seonghwa

[wexhappyxfew]

Hi! I love your Silver Bullets girls, and Carrie x Douglass has a special place in my heart (even more since your last writing with them). So, for them I'd like to ask 35. (kissing their bruises and scars) from the Touch prompt list or 5. (the last thing they're thinking about before falling asleep is always the other) from the Subtle love list. 💗

HI FRIEND!!!! thank you so much for sending this and i am so so glad carrie and dougie have meant a lot, alongside the Silver Bullets girls (it seriously means SO MUCH and i always say it but its true!!!) THANK YOU FOR THE OPTIONS TOO!!!! i couldn't help myself and went with the second prompt (5) and decided to focus on some of their earlier meetings with one another and how they've developed into the people today. let's just say, i had a lot of fun! thank you SO MUCH!!!!! :D this was so much fun! <3 (and sorry for the wait for this....the semester was its usual chaos haha!)

greenland

(a/n): safe to say, for my carrie x dougie enjoyers, this was FUN to write. we get a bit into life before the annie bradshaw era of silver bullets! WITH captain birdie faulkner. BUT, because i am a sucker for someone who haunts the narrative and is simply talked about, we don't actually meet birdie here, just hear about her as a leader and all (a running theme!). we also get a bit into the storyline of what dougie means when he said he wanted to ask carrie to 'dance in greenland in THIS PIECE. and also carrie's dislike for greenland lmfao. please enjoy!!! <3

Greenland was anything but green, it seemed.

Maybe that's why the Vikings called it that - to freak the living fuck out of any sort of enemy that was bound to come this way and make them mistake what was actually a stupid ice block for well - 'green land'.

The landing had been less that superb and Captain Faulkner had dismissed them all to the bar to the left of the tarmac for the rest of the evening off.

Birdie Faulkner was everything, including a realist, and she seemed to understand that the rather harrowing conditions of their landing was something that required at least a drink or two before bedding down for the night.

With a half-finished beer, Carrie was sure that she could've fallen asleep in that very chair for the time being, but she had to present herself a best she could. With the newest B-17 group collected, Silver Bullets was formulated and crafted by that oh-so-brilliant mind of Birdie Faulkner, and they all had her to thank. And Carrie had to look a bit more put-together than usual - prove she's not just a wash-out bombardier with lackluster experience. That she deserved the spot in Silver Bullets more than anyone else.

"So?" a voice came from her right, settling into the other plush, leather seat at her side, the smiling face of Bessie Carlisle appearing as she popped open her own beer bottle, "Greenland, huh?" Carrie smirked and rolled her shoulders and glanced around.

"It's cozy, really," Carrie offered, "I'm considering taking a swim in the river, suntanning-"

"Okay, smart ass," Bessie said with a chuckle, her boot nudging her own foot, "can't say I'm complaining. Finally out of those training cycles, working towards the war. Maybe, we'll actually put ourselves to use instead of waiting just to go on a practice run." Carrie watched Bessie and then smiled widely.

"Love it so much that I may tell my future husband that 'Hey, we're moving to Greenland!', pack up the truck, babe, forget Brooklyn, home is where the grass is a solid as a fucking rock," Carrie said, sipping her beer, "not to mention the weather. I love to freeze."

"Someone's happy." a new voice chimed in, as Francis settled into a chair opposite them, sucking down a portion of her beer and grinning, "I've never seen you so enthusiastic about something." Carrie deadpanned.

"I'm really jumping for joy over here, Monty." Carrie told Francis, raising her glass of beer up in mock ceremony, "You know me so well." Francis and Bessie burst out into laughter as Carrie leaned back in her chair with a sigh and looked towards the ceiling.

"When the hell are we going to England?" Carrie asked, counting the flecks of rotting wood in the wooden ceiling, her eyes tracing the pieces that stuck out of the ceiling panels before losing her spot and recounting, "If I could just get another beer started, I'd be ready by tonight to head out. No pit-stops for me, I'm just fine with a beer stop and then jetting off to England and calling it a day."

"I wish I had the same energy towards that, Bergie, I really do," Bessie said, "afraid to say I'd ask for a few hours of sleep thought over that."

"Sleeps overrated half the time!" Carrie admonished still staring up at the ceiling, "How you gonna get a thing done when sleep's-"

"Exactly what you need." Carrie blinked a few times and into focus above her head came James Douglass - fellow bombardier, with whom Bessie had introduced on one of Carrie's first days after her transfer on base.

Carrie remembered first time seeing him coming towards them, with that carpet on his face he called a mustache, a sharp smirk, a rather loud, somewhat obnoxious voice, a quick hand-shaking, before he was wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pointing out to various areas along the base like they'd been friends for years - something that had caught her completely off guard. And ever since then, with their few chance meetings, they'd been nothing but a trifle of teasing jabs and somewhat good-natured fun.

Key word: somewhat.

Because she could never actually read James Douglass unlike Benny DeMarco or Hambone Hamilton who were just about as sweet to her as her grandma's hotcakes. He'd see her and beeline, make a few jokes, flirt shamelessly, and then go dance with the next girl who'd take his hand. He was quite the character and Carrie usually didn't engage in much conversation past when he'd come to seek her out.

Except now, he was hung above her like a hyperactive golden retriever, like the dog, Kering, that had lived down the street from the Achterberg's in Brooklyn all her life. Running out of the Wilkes house anytime the door opened, barking and sniffing and tearing around the neighborhood like a lunatic. Yeah, Kering the golden retriever who looked like he was a lunatic reminded her exactly of James Douglass.

Nice to know home was never far.

"What are you trying to say, huh?" Carrie asked, still slouching in the chair and staring up at him hovering over her. Douglass grinned at her, showing off his pearly whites and that charming look on his face and he let out a chuckle.

"You know, a little sleep never hurt a soul. Only reason we're even alive," Douglass said, reaching forward to rub her shoulder, "makes the brain happy or some shit. Makes people less….cranky."

"You calling me cranky, now?"

"Cranky. Now that's just one of many words-"

"Oh, you little-"

"Alright!" Bessie said standing and shoving Douglass pack from where he currently was occupying Carrie's headspace, "Nice to know some things never change." Carrie glanced at her as she sat up and Bessie raised a brow with a smirk.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Douglass said from behind Carrie, before he moved around her chair and took the other open seat in the grouping of four, and kicking back to relax. Carrie watched Bessie before looking at Francis, who was rather interested in her cup of beer, before glancing at Douglass, who was already looking at her.

"What?" she murmured, before he made a face and she rolled her eyes.

"How was the flight over, Douglass? Invigorating?" Bessie asked Douglass, with a smile - leave it to Bessie to be sweet as cream on any given occasion.

"You woulda thought Greenland would be, well, fucking green-"

"That's what I said!" Carrie butted in, getting looks from the other three, before settling on Douglass who was watching her, with a mixture of interest and annoyance, but she couldn't seem to decipher the two and sank back in her chair, "Greenland's cold as fuck, not some East Coast paradise I'll give ya that." She heard Douglass chuckle at that as Carrie took in more sips of beer.

"With the way we were flying in, I wasn't even sure we were gonna make it at first, I'll tell you that," Douglass said, "you sit in that nose and you swear to God that you'll smash right into the tarmac. Good ole Ev Blakely don't let that sorta stuff happen though."

"Yeah, a real crap shoot." Carrie muttered, "Thought Birdie was gonna bring us in sideways." Douglass raised a brow as he sipped his beer.

"Guess you can say they lied about the fucking weather, too," Douglass offered, "really nice place here. Could barely move my fingers and toes when I actually stood up fully." Bessie let out a chuckle and started sipping her beer again as Carrie narrowed her eyes at her.

"Hey, they're putting on some music to dance, y'all wanna come?" Judy Rybinski's joyfully said as she appeared behind Francis, "C'mon Bessie, I know that look anywhere, you wanna!"

"You know me too well, Jude," Bessie said, getting to her feet and finishing off her beer.

"I'm coming with! No shot I'm missing a chance at good music and good company." Francis said getting to her feet, "The company part may be a stretch-"

"Oh c'mon!" Judy said, taking Francis' hand before looking at Carrie and Douglass unmoved in their chairs, "You two coming?"

"I'm going to continue working on these beers, Jude, but I appreciate it," Carrie said, "Greenland's officially fucked me up." Judy let out a chuckle.

"You enjoy that then, Bergie," Judy said before looking at Douglass, "Dougie?" Carrie glanced sideways at Douglass who sat quietly, before glancing over at Carrie and then Judy again.

"Maybe next time," he said with a nod, "I promise you a dance, got it?"

"Sounds good! Don't have too much fun!" Judy called before she disappeared and some Artie Shaw began playing over the speakers.

"Good to know we have one thing in common, Bergie." Carrie slowly looked over at Douglass, that annoying nickname rolling off his lips like it had before, "We both hate Greenland." And he grinned at her and couldn't help but smirk back.

"First off, don't call me that. Second, you might be right about that," Carrie said, sipping her beer again, "you know that it's called Greenland because of the Vikings?" Douglass let out a chuckle and shook his head.

"Nah, you're fucking with me," he said, "the Vikings? The guys with the horns on their heads?"

"I'm not kidding," Carrie said sitting up and fully meeting his gaze for the first time since he had hung overtop her, "I swear to you, they did it. Tricking their enemies. For the sake of how much can they fuck a person in the head." Douglass watched her for a moment, before letting out a laugh and sipping his beer again, before smirking.

"Maybe they were just being smart," Douglass countered, "before they knew that it was just one sheet of ice for miles on end. Then they realized what a shitty name Greenland was." Carrie stared at him for a moment, before smiling slightly, unable to hold back her grin.

"You really know how to get under my skin, don't ya?"

"Guess you could say I know what makes you tick."

"Oh so now you suddenly know everything about me, huh?" Carrie said, leaning over to give his shoulder a playful shove, "Well, go on, what's my favorite color?" She watched him and noticed him glance at her lips - surprisingly - before moving back to her eyes.

"I don't know….blue probably." Carrie watched him and stilled for a moment.

"Uh….yeah, actually." she said quickly, and forced down the way her cheeks flamed (and for what she didn't know), "Alright, well, where do I come from?"

"Brooklyn." Douglass said, laughing at the look on her face, "Look, sweetheart, that New York accent ain't just a voice with Southern twang. I know if I was walking down the streets, and I heard your voice, it'd be you."

"God, what the hell." murmured Carrie as Douglass chuckled, "You won't get this - school subject." Douglass looked at her and then smirked before leaning forward.

"Something with math, right?" he asked her confidently, "You don't just get interested in this sorta shit without having some interest there." Carrie watched him and tilted her head.

"Are you mind-fucking me or something?" she asked him, "How the hell-"

"Just good at reading people I guess." Douglass said with a smirk, "Contrary to popular belief, Bergie, I usually know what I'm talking about. There's a reason I'm a bombardier and not just some journalist or something." She watched him and licked her lips.

"Is that why you joined?" she asked him, "The Air Force? Flying in B-17s?" Douglass glanced at her and nodded.

"Had to join the fight somehow, couldn't just sit back and let the fucking Nazis think they could walk all over us," Douglass said, finishing his beer, "that sorta stuff just don't fly around here. Well, except us. We fly." The two burst out into laughter, before they both died down and looked to one another. For a moment, they were quiet regarding one another with somewhat hesitant gazes as Carrie finished off her beer.

"Well, I'm gonna head-"

"Did you wanna-"

They both watched each other, before breaking out into laughter and righting themselves.

"You go." Douglass said.

"I was gonna head out. Get some rest. Pretty tired." she said quickly, her heart racing as she smiled at him with a nod, "You?" Douglass stared at her and for the first time, she saw the sudden shyness in his gaze as he glanced away from her and then back.

"Just…was gonna get another drink, but you head out, get some rest," he said, before smirking at her, "you need it."

"Oh, you asshole." grumbled Carrie knocking his shoulder before standing to her feet, Douglass following suit. The stood there for a moment, looking at one another - usually, if this were a Silver Bullets girl, she'd give them a hug, but with Douglass, she felt frozen in place. She stuck out her hand instead, to shake, and he shook her hand, and she felt more awkward than ever before, as she shook back. His handshake was firm though, and confident and suddenly made her feel like some 16-year-old girl in high school and balked.

"Well, I'll see you around." she said, stumbling back a bit, "Night!" And she disappeared quickly - like she always did. She found the barracks, promptly settled into bed, and then stared at the ceiling, counting the dried pieces of wood hanging from the panels again.

And she replayed the look in James Douglass' eyes - over and over.

And for the first time in years, all she could think about was James Douglass' eyes that had watched her like that, as she tried to fall asleep.

To say the least, it was the best sleep in months.

[gay-robot-boyfriends]

What do you like the most about the bucket head (vava)? Share a headcanon about him to us

(Some art cuz the first thing i thought was "oh, Vile's not gonna like this" asdasaas) Oh man, where do I even begin! rubs hands together You guys have no idea how much I adore this manbot! I love everything about him, from his arrogant asshole personality to his design. The purple armour is my most favourite, but the others are growing on me.

Ohhh oh no i have so many headcanons! help!

Okay, first I'll share my canon HCs. In Maverick Hunter X, we see Vile being arrogant and rude, and he hates X for unknown reasons.

My HC is that Vile is annoyed by X's tendency to see the good in everyone, which I think makes Vile distrustful of him. X is also a rookie maverick hunter, but he has already been praised for being the father of all reploids, having infinite potential, and being a peacekeeper. I can see that ticking off Vile as well; he just sees X as any other reploid and isn't impressed, and over time, he grows to hate him.

The event of Maverick Hunter X takes place, and at the end, when Sigma finds Vile (who is dying), he asks him what he was hoping to achieve, to which Vile responds with: "…What did I plan to do? Thinking about it now, I'm not actually sure…" Sigma is not listening to him by that point he's calling for someone to come retrieve Vile. "I don't care what happens to this world… By defeating X, I've validated my own existence… and that's all that matters to me now. My name… is Vile… I … am… I…" Vile then dies or enters an emergency shutdown mode.

What he says at the end made me think he could have been redeemable in some way because his nonsensical ideas were motivated by the need for an objective (or validation) that he gave himself. I'm sure he was built exclusively for the purpose of fighting.

He has more than just his cannon, which can fire energy lasers and boomerang cutters; his entire body is a weapon. He has bombs, plasma weapons, and flamethrowers in his knees, bullets shooting out of his finger tips, removable armguards that allow him to fire missiles from his arms, and, if that isn't enough, he can projectile fire his entire fist and forearm.

Fighting and war are just what makes sense to him. It's what he's always done and known, and he's very good at blowing shit up. But if he had known more or been built differently (he has a malfunction in his robot brain), he could have been redeemable, and I love me a redeemable asshole villain.

OKAY! Let's get to the brain rot, HCs!

For Vile, three things make sense in life: drinking, fucking, and blowing shit up. He has a bar in his headquarters and can make killer drinks, but no one is aware of it! He keeps trophies and mementos from his favourite battles.

Outside of battle, he is actually pretty clean. His place is not messy at all. His cannons and other weapons are on display on the walls. They've all got names! Since he is also a weapons enthusiast, he sometimes disassembles them to clean and modify them, even if it is illegal, like disabling safety features or just making them more dangerous.

I just love the mental image of Vile alone in his headquarters with a drink, tinkering with one of his weapons or even his own body in some cases, given that some of his weaponry is internal. I don't think Vile can actually remove his armour to reveal a fleshy body, but I think he can detach it, revealing some of his inner workings and ammunition. It's how he reloads bombs, missiles, bullets, and fuel for his different flamethrowers.

I got more HC for my vilex bullshit, but I'll stop here! Sorry for the long response, but I love him so much I can't be normal about him!

[atla-confessions]

Please read, as follows, my propogandist persuasive bullet-pointed essay on why we all should consume far more Yuezula than is the current normal intake, and why Azula and Yue make the best pairing for both characters and indeed everyone involved.

The cage symbolism as connected to the reality of being a princess. At the beginning of their respective stories, both girls are in cages: Yue in the cage of responsibility and duty over love, and Azula in the cage of her own perfectionism and the propaganda of her rearing. By the end of their arcs, Yue unlocks her cage by making a choice and seizing back her autonomy, but at the same time transferring her straight into another cage of responsibility and immortality, as she loses the human life that she never really got to live. Azula ends up in the cage of her madness and a physical cage of the asylum, which she was in a steady course towards throughout the whole series. Both cages of their own making, and yet constructed by fate, which they are helpless against. Like parallels say what???

Both princesses without mothers. This isn't really touched on much in Yue's case, but Yue isn't really touched on much either, aside from what we can infer about her from what's shown. But the reality of both of them is that they grew up as princesses without a mother to guide/teach them. Ursa is a really cool and complex character, and this is by no means bashing on her, but she was at a loss for how to deal with Azula and guide her: Ursa's actions towards Azula were incredibly influential towards who she ended up becoming, and ultimately Azula did not have that positive maternal guidance. Neither did Yue (assumedly), and I think that Yue not having a mother to stand up for her and ultimately how she ended up with all that responsibility is reflective of Katara's situation at the beginning of the series. Now, this brings in Katara: why not yuetara? why not azutara? You raise an excellent point, but let me raise you another: Yukazula. That aside, as this is a Yuezula essay, I believe that yuezula makes a superior pairing because both Azula and Yue actually lived as princesses, and also, the vibes.

They would be hilarious together. Can you even imagine? Yue would not put up with Azula's bullshit, as a fellow princess and enthusiast of keeping the universe in balance and sacrifice and everything: Yue basically contradicts everything Azula is and stands for, and vice versa. If they were tossed into a situation where they had to work together, neither one of them would be able to come out of that pairing unchanged. Yue would have to learn some selfishness in order to just survive with Azula, and Azula might actually learn some humility. I mean, Yue's the moon spirit, which far outranks her, so Yue would have to demand her respect in some ways.

Spirit wives. Spirit wives. Guys. Please. The ultimate power couple. Need I say more?

It has unlimited crack, angst, and fluff potential. Literally this ship is an untapped goldmine. Any au. The spirit world is super fun to play with, Yue's whole mysterious aura is super interesting to tweak and play around with, she's way underutilized in fandom anyway, and Azula deserves the redemption that a Yuezula relationship could give her.

In conclusion, please consider the unlimited health benefits of consuming and offering more Yuezula to the fandom. Please. We are starving.

X

[mia-tiny]

『 Mingi & Overstimulation 』 | KTB ‘22

⇒ pairing: s. mingi x fem!reader

⇒ smut, overstimulation, oral (fem receiving), fingering, vibrator, handcuffs, panties used as gag, crying, sadistic dom mingi, multiple orgasms, dirty talk

⇒ word count: 899

💕 view my masterlist here

🖤 view my Kinktober ‘22 masterlist here

⇒ author’s note: bro when I tell you that this man’s voice in person is deep, I mean that I didn’t think it was possible to have a voice that deep. videos don’t do it justice

There is absolutely nothing you can do to calm the quivering of your legs as they squeeze around Mingi’s head. You wish desperately that you could reach down and grip his hair as he devours your needy pussy, but your wrists are cuffed to the headboard. In addition, you can’t even beg for mercy since he has stuffed your panties into your mouth, effectively silencing you as he has his fun.

He glances up at you as he sucks harshly on your clit and you try to plead with your eyes. He replaces his mouth with his fingers momentarily in order to speak to you.

“What is it?” he teases, knowing there is no way you can answer him. Still, you attempt to speak, the muffled sounds making him feign further confusion. “Baby, I can’t understand you. Just tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”

You throw your head back in frustration and tug on your restraints in a mini tantrum. Mingi just laughs and once again begins lapping at your core, the sensation overwhelming. He has already made you cum two times just like this, leaving your body sticky with sweat and incredibly sensitive. The continuous onslaught of pleasure has your climax building rapidly once again despite the sting of overstimulation.

All it takes to push you over the edge is Mingi humming in satisfaction around your swollen clit. Your body doesn’t even feel like it is yours anymore as you shake like a leaf, the sound of your muffled wail filling the room. Tears finally begin to spill over from the intensity of your orgasm, but your boyfriend isn’t even close to being done. So long as you don’t use your safe word or signal, he could go for hours like this, just admiring the sight of you absolutely falling apart. 

He at least removes his mouth from your soaked cunt and, for a moment, you have a shred of hope that he will call it quits early tonight. Of course, you are quickly proven wrong as he pulls a small bullet vibrator from his pocket. He gazes up at your desperate expression with a proud grin.

“Do you want another, angel?” he taunts sadistically. When you shake your head defiantly, he gives your core a sudden slap that has you jumping in surprise. “I said, do you want another one?”

Intimidated by the lecherous look in his eyes, and fearing another slap, you nod enthusiastically. He smirks.

“That’s what I thought.”

You hear the small toy buzz to life and prepare yourself for another round of bittersweet pleasure. He glides the object into your pussy with ease, watching with desire as your hole swallows it greedily.

“Still so hungry for more.”

The strength of the vibrations have you attempting to close your legs, but Mingi effortlessly pries them open again. Without giving you time to adjust, he inserts two of his thick fingers and pushes the toy directly against your g-spot. Your back arches off the mattress and you moan pitifully into your own undergarments. You receive no mercy as he begins flexing his fingers in a “come hither” motion, the vibrator also being dragged against the most pleasurable areas, as he intended.

Your muscles are sore at this point from continuously tensing, but it is impossible to relax any part of your body. The sensations in your core seem to extend everywhere, setting each inch of your skin on fire. Your brain feels as if it is floating off as you separate soul from body, your current existence being only defined by the overwhelming pleasure and pain.

His fingers increase their pace as he also reaches up to tweak one of your nipples. Spots dance in your vision as you feel your climax approaching once again. You don’t even have the energy to moan as it hits you like a truck, your breath stopping altogether as you cum harder than ever before. Mingi curses to himself as he takes in the sight before him.

Even after you resume breathing and squirm away from his cruel touch, he continues. Totally entranced, he also uses his left hand to rapidly rub your clit, your high building swiftly once again despite the fact that you came down from your fourth orgasm just moments ago. You are openly sobbing at this point, but the euphoria that comes along with the agony is enough to keep you from tapping out.

It takes only thirty seconds before you are coming apart again. Your eyes squeeze shut and you tug hopelessly at the handcuffs, your wrists surely red and bruising by now, but you can’t feel anything other than the unrelenting pleasure at your core.

Once you stop shaking from the intensity of your orgasm, Mingi finally grants you mercy and removes his hand from your sex, pulling the vibrator out in the process. Your entire body is numb and you feel like you could sleep for a thousand years. You are so dazed that you don’t even notice your boyfriend removing his clothes and coming to kneel between your legs. Having thought you were done, you look at him in startled confusion when you feel him line his cock up with your pussy. He chuckles at your expression, per usual.

“You didn’t think I’d let you off that easy, did you?”

Looks like you’re in for a long night.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Taglist: @minkysmilk @annaflwrs @han8ul @whatudowhennooneseesyou

[dewdrops-whammy-bar]

Special Ghoul my beloved...

Tagging @puppsworld bc he seemed enthusiastic about this (thanks for the yelling!!! You will never catch me I'm too slippery >:3)

Written in bullet format bc brain is going too fast to make coherent sentences let’s goooo

Warning for references to self-harm/self-mutilation, blood, and autocannibalism! This gets messy y’all

BEFORE:

Ok so Special isn’t a “true” ghoul. They’re a human who turned themself into a ghoul via an unstable and experimental ritual.

This has resulted in issues like mobility issues from excessive scar tissue. Turns out doing your own top surgery isn't such a great idea.

Which human you may ask?

Mary Goore themself! (I had to. I love them ok sue me /lh)

BACKSTORY:

Mary ended up at the Ministry when they took a rough turn in life. They had heard of the Ministry before and were already subscribed to that sect of Satanism but didn’t have any interest in joining an organized religion. They knew the Ministry would take them in so they headed to the Sweden location.

They weren’t officially a Sibling but were in the process of becoming one. (They didn’t really want to, but it was the only way the Ministry would let them stay.)

They heard about the Ghost project starting up and jumped at the chance to get involved with music again

Unfortunately the only way to get involved with that was to be a high-ranking sibling (which could take years) or a ghoul. You can see where I’m going with this.

Mary found an old book deep in the library that detailed a prototype ritual of turning oneself into a ghoul. They decided they had nothing to lose and started planning.

THE TRANSFORMATION (this is where it gets gory):

The ritual involved a lot of carving sigils into skin and a ritual disembowelment. The book strongly recommended a few people help with that but Mary said fuck it I’m doing this myself

Gave themself top surgery while they were at it (transgenderizes your metalhead twink)

They died obviously. At least their mortal vessel did

Mary crawled out of the Summoning well the next night as a ghoul and promptly ate their former body. Yummy.

They kept their skull and some bones bc that’s fuckin metal

GHOUL LIFE:

Seestor was NOT pleased when she found out what had happened

But Mary/Special couldn’t really be Banished, they weren’t from the Pit.

So she begrudgingly let Mary join the Ghost project

They ended up as a co-writer and concept musician and eventually a spokesperson

They go by either Mary or Special, but their friends mostly call them Mary. Special is more of a title to them. Don’t call them Phil unless you want your insides to become outsides.

They have sick scars all over their body from their transformation!!

They don’t have an element, but they do have a bit of magic.

They’ve got a lot of unsettling traits. They don’t blink a lot, they walk silently, and they’ve been known to cause disappearances in nearby towns. A ghoul’s gotta eat.

They’re outwardly cold and grumpy but they’re pretty chill if you get on their good side. They despise Imperator and higher-ranked Ministry members but are protective of Siblings.

They hate the friendly voice they have to put on for interviews, but it’s one of the only times they can let down their mental mask around other people and just chill. (Lots of complicated feelings there, possible hurt/comfort idea?)

They only take off their mask around people they trust.

They like to scare new residents by standing in dark corners and staring at them.

They’re close with Terzo’s ghouls, Cowbell, and a couple humans.

They trust Cowbell the most bc they’re both kinda misfits.

Ghouls only need human meat once in a while but Mary has more cravings for it than most. Ministry members are off limits though.

They were referred to as “it” for a while (mostly by Imperator and her most loyal following) so they aggressively correct anyone’s pronouns (Theirs and others’). It’s the one of the only cracks in their “cold creepy ghoul” demeanor. They’re especially protective of trans Siblings.

They’ve been known to appear from the shadows and correct a condescending cardinal on a Sibling’s pronouns.

Special ghoul my beloved… this was super self indulgent and fun to write. Feel free to use this as inspiration for art/writing!

[mariacallous]

“I am opposed to war, unless in self-defense.” This was the most-liked comment on Douyin—the Chinese counterpart to TikTok—in reaction to a speech delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Jan. 9. In his address, Wang previewed China’s top diplomatic goals for 2024 and emphasized “the unwavering resolve of all 1.4 billion Chinese citizens to achieve reunification with Taiwan,” a statement made just days prior to the island’s general elections.

The broader reaction to Wang’s remarks likely wasn’t what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hoped for: Tens of thousands of Chinese social media users responded, many of them with grievances, sarcasm, and defiance, widely questioning the costs of a potential war.

One man from Shanghai complained, “Who is going to fight the war? If I die, who is going to pay my mortgage or my car loan?” Wang’s speech framed “national unification” as one of “China’s core interests,” but as one user from Hunan rebutted, “[China’s] core interests are that every Chinese can be treated equally and have access to elderly care and health care.” The pushback went beyond economic and social grievances. Some posters were even bolder, suggesting that Taiwan’s democracy may demonstrate a political alternative to mainland China: “The fact that Taiwanese choose their own way of life,” said one commentator from Shandong, “might show that Chinese people can take a different route.”

The mood among social media users is a sharp departure from past elections. After almost every Taiwanese general election since 2016, a wave of pro-war fever has swept the Chinese internet. After Taiwan’s 2020 elections, for example, upbeat war enthusiasts in China produced oil paintings that illustrated wild fantasies of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) capturing Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen alive after landing in Taiwan and forcing her to sign an official surrender document onboard a Chinese aircraft carrier—a scene reminiscent of the 1945 Japanese surrender that ended World War II.

In 2021, one of the most popular songs to go viral on Chinese social media was “Take A Bullet Train to Taiwan in 2035.” Its allusion to a high-speed rail line connecting Beijing and Taipei was a dog whistle to nationalist masses who hoped that unification was on the horizon—by force, if necessary.

Absent from these fantasies, however, was the blood and violence that accompanies real war. At the time, China’s star was rising on the international stage, and public confidence was riding high on China’s success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic within its borders. As such, the sentiments surrounding unification and the use of military force were quite romantic; many people believed that victory over Taiwan would be easy, that the Taiwanese would surrender voluntarily if the PLA simply blockaded the island.

In 2024, however, things have changed. The most recent Taiwanese presidential election—in which the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won a repeat victory—served as an uncomfortable reminder to the Chinese public that neither Taiwanese politicians nor voters are interested in Beijing’s plans for political unification. Although the forceful unification narrative still exists, any push from nationalists to reignite war fever has now run into a wall of skepticism following the DPP victory.

“Wake up,” one Weibo user wrote in opposition to the broader online calls for forceful unification. “Stop dreaming,” another echoed. The defiant voices are becoming a common reaction to the suggested use of military force to an extent rarely seen, given the massive culture of censorship on Chinese social media.

A clear reason for this change is China’s economic slowdown. While Taiwan went to the polls in 2024, China was grappling with a youth unemployment rate above 20 percent, a housing market crisis with sales down by 45 percent, and a stock market in free fall that lost $6 trillion in just three years, the likes of which haven’t been seen in almost a decade. News about Taiwanese elections failed to arouse the same nationalistic reactions among the preoccupied Chinese public that had occurred in the previous two contests.

Instead, the 2024 elections triggered a flood of complaints: “Sort out our own economy, what a mess.” a Shanghai resident said angrily. “Look at our stock market,” an apparently frustrated investor from Hunan grieved, “It’d be better to keep the status quo, and leave Taiwanese alone.” The gloomy economy has made some commenters question the underlying justification for war: “With low-income people making less than 1,000 yuan a month ($140), and the national insurance tax going up, huge medical bills, and unaffordable apartments, why do you want forceful unification? I don’t get it.”

“It is the economy that really matters,” another person from Tianjin pointed out. “[Taiwan] being independent or not has nothing to do with ordinary people.”

The changing attitudes toward Taiwan’s elections reflect a broader shift in public sentiment in China’s online space. Discontent about the country’s poor economic reality has been growing louder, drowning out calls for a military takeover.

Ironically, the CCP’s own past propaganda efforts contributed to this cooling effect. Right before Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in August 2022, official and semiofficial rhetoric in mainland China was so belligerent that it led many Chinese to believe that the day of unification had finally arrived and that the military would shoot down her plane and launch its attack on Taiwan imminently.

This was the peak of forceful unification hysteria, but it only left its crusaders disappointed. In the end, there was not only no shootdown of Pelosi’s plane, but there also weren’t even military exercises conducted before she left Taiwan. Many Chinese, especially forceful unification advocates, felt betrayed and disillusioned by their government’s failure to follow through on its belligerent rhetoric, and the after-effects of this letdown are still being felt today.

During Taiwan’s 2024 elections, war enthusiasts were continuously reminded of Beijing’s military inaction following Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. “Have you guys forgotten Pelosi?” one said. One commonly repeated joke, observing the lack of military action, scoffed that the only thing that was fired up when Pelosi visited was the stove in her hotel. The kinds of threats that once resonated with nationalists now drew widespread ridicule online: “delusion,” “talking a big game,” “an unrealistic fantasy,” and “all hat, no cattle.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the Chinese political spectrum, the 2024 election prompted the resurgence of the view among many liberals that Taiwan’s democracy represents a desirable political model. In the early 2010s, many Chinese saw Taiwan as a beacon of hope for Chinese society—a liberal, civic, and democratic alternative to the one-party state. The liberal Chinese writer Han Han coined a popular phrase—“The most beautiful scenery of Taiwan is its people.”—that encapsulated the view of how trustworthy and free a people can become under democracy.

But after the crackdown on liberal intellectuals and online speech under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the honeymoon did not last long and was gradually replaced by a climate of xenophobia, jingoism, war euphoria, and a longing for unification by force. Making matters worse, a growing nationalist mood in Taiwan led many to believe that Taiwanese looked down on mainlanders.

The 2024 elections, however, prompted a renewed interest from the Chinese public about their neighbor, home to the world’s only Chinese-speaking democracy. News about Taiwanese elections aroused great curiosity on Weibo about the nuts and bolts of the electoral process—what a ballot looks like, how many ballots one can cast, how votes are counted, and how candidates are selected. When a few Taiwanese Weibo users answered these questions, they were liked and retweeted by thousands of Chinese accounts, drawing genuine admiration and blessings from many.

“Are we going to see one day like this?” one user from Gansu wondered with a crying emoji. “Maybe this is accumulating experience for our own future: giving speeches, holding debates, and counting votes,” commented another, from Tianjin.

China’s shifting public sentiment is bound to have repercussions for cross-strait relations, but it would probably be a bridge too far to infer that the Chinese public will fiercely oppose a war in the Taiwan Strait. Ultimately, the nationalist base remains. At present, the euphoria about forceful unification is quieting down, mainly because the party’s over-the-top propaganda failed to meet the expectations of its most ardent supporters. But if aggressive rhetoric were followed by military action in the future, war fever could be easily fanned again.

Despite the prevalence of extreme nationalism, Chinese public opinion is more divided on Taiwan than it seems, and these divisions are only likely to increase. What concerns most ordinary Chinese are decent jobs, good income, accumulating savings for retirement, and getting affordable access to health care and housing.

So long as the economy is struggling and people’s livelihoods are threatened, there is no guarantee that the CCP’s attempts to exploit nationalism will work; quite the opposite, it could be faced with plenty of pushback.

[breitzbachbea]

I'm With Him And This Is Real Life, Honey

Thank you all for your enthusiastic responses! This is a Spamano One-Shot which I originally wrote for the dearest @someone-you-do-not-know, as part of my Rake Courtship AU, vaguely set in the Regency or preceding Georgian era.

If you want some general backstory for this AU or read another piece of unbearable Spamano longing and Lovino never getting what he deserves, partially because he won't allow it to himself - here is another One-Shot set in the same AU.

Summary for this One-Shot: After Antonio's and Michele's wedding has been crashed by Michele's former suitor, Lovino urges Antonio to go after his former fiancé and Lovi's cousin, if only because if Michele's father Salvatore finds him first, there will be bloodshed. They find Harry and Michele, sadly just in time to witness their elopement wedding, which will complicate things further. This is the night after that Lovino spends in an inn room with Antonio. I also made a little playlist for Spamano and Sicire in the AU, if you'd like to listen to "Would you be so kind" whilst reading Lovino's suffering.

Here's the fic - enjoy!

It was a quiet night. No wind that howled, no rain that pounded. They were the only guests at the inn – It wasn’t shabby enough that they all had to share a single room, vermin not included, and not classy enough to carry gossip to where it shouldn’t be. Not that Lovino had ever been in an inn. People of a certain class always stayed with one of their own, that was what mansions were for. Everything about this was so beneath him.

But now he wished he had simply bitten the bullet instead of drawing the line and insisting on separate rooms. He’d rather have shared a room with these two sources of his malcontent than having to listen to their bed creak through the walls. Already a pillow over his head and he could still hear the creak of wood and the slap of skin on skin.

“I’m not sharing a room with you two knobheads! I don’t care, I’ll pay for it myself!” He had protested an hour earlier or so. “I’ve had enough of you as is, for all I care I never need to see either of you for the rest of my life, but a night’ll do! I’ve been a witness against my will to your we-” He had stopped himself, suddenly aware that there was no need to bellow details about the place. No need to blow their cover

“Well, kind of you to give us the privacy,” Michele had replied and there seemed to be genuine surprise in his voice. Of course, overshadowed by how pleased he and his lover had seemed by the implications.

He didn’t even end up paying for it, but his cousin’s rotten lover. Not that Lovino had much money on him, as he had left in a hurry, but Antonio hadn’t been allowed to pay either. Simply thinking of the entire charade made him want to retch again.

Michele had taken Antonio’s hands and looked him in the eyes when he said: “You’ve already done far too much for me to ever repay it. Please, Antonio, don’t make my debt any greater. I’ve caused you enough hurt as is, let me be the bigger person now.”

Bigger person, his ass. A bigger person would put their money where their mouth is and not fuck his new husband within earshot of his old fiancé.

Christ alive, why was that stupid candle still burning. The light it produced wasn’t much, but he could see Antonio clear enough as he laid next to him in bed.

Because of course his luck was just so that there was no more than one bed in each room. At least Antonio wasn’t talking to him. He had rarely spent a moment in silence with him ever since his father had asked to spend time with him and Michele.

Antonio was mute now, as he stared at the ceiling. He had his arms crossed over his chest, stripped to his undergarments and shirt like Lovino, who could see dark curly hair peak out at the top of his shirt. In his sculpted face – Lovino still couldn’t believe his cousin had chosen to bang someone who’s face looked like an entire carriage accident over this – the brows were slightly knitted and the full lips had a hint of a pout.

He couldn’t imagine how Antonio felt, but wouldn’t want to switch places with him. A twinge of guilt came over him to have dragged him into this whole affair. What concern should it be to Antonio if the man he was betrothed to ran off with someone else and incurred the wrath of his monstrous father? He was no longer Michele’s fiancé and was not obligated to care for him anymore. And yet he did.

There was another twinge and it took Lovino a moment to realize it was jealousy. Underneath fondness for Antonio’s selfless nature, it was jealousy that it had all been wasted on Michele. His stupid cousin got betrothed to a sweet, hot, rich, important guy and then he blew it, he would have deserved it so much more than Michele. He deserved to be fawned over and cherished and spoiled rotten, he deserved to have a husband who was as kind and doting and hot as Antonio. Instead he was relegated to be the best man and agony aunt, the company that Michele couldn’t be and now he was in bed with the hottest man he’d ever seen and wasn’t even allowed to touch him. Relegated to hear his cousin screw his lover in a second-rate inn and hiding underneath the pillow as not to hear the muted throes of passion...

He could see the hairs on Antonio’s strong arms. He realized he’d been staring at Antonio the entire time and felt his face burn up.

In that moment, he could hear something that sounded like a pent-up moan from the other side, followed by some laughter.  

Antonio’s eyes squeezed shut for a moment, face scrunched up in discomfort. He sighed through his nose as he relaxed and his eyes opened again.

Great, now he could even hear them suck face in the silence. Antonio’s own expression turned from displeased to awkward – and he turned to Lovino, who felt panic well up in his stomach and fan out to his limbs.

“What the fuck are you looking at me for?!” he asked him and buried his face in the mattress, hoping it would swallow him. He could still hear the damn bed creak. “It’s not my fault!”

“S-Sorry …” Antonio apologised. Great. Simply great. He could hear Antonio clear his throat.

He tried to visualize what was going on in the other room, in the hopes that his rotten cousin and his troll of a lover would be enough to exorcise his feelings of desire. Sadly, whenever he tried, his mind too soon drifted off and kept the steamy fantasy with a tanner body underneath his own fingertips, full lips ghosting over his own body, rough but gentle hands gripping his hips, his own fingers running through wild, curly hair -

Lovino screamed into the mattress. “I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him tonight, and if I don’t I hope his dad strings him up by his own entrails, he deserves it,” he muttered into it.

“Are you alright, Lovino?” Antonio asked and Lovino considered biting himself through the entire bed and then the floor to escape the situation.

He lifted his face but didn’t face Antonio. “These two have not a bone of shame in their entire body,” he said as he stared into the dark, since Antonio’s body blocked most light of the candle in this position. “We should just have bid Michele good riddance and washed our hands of the entire thing. He’s clearly enjoying himself as is, that ungrateful bastard.”

Oh god, as if the universe itself wanted to mock Lovino, he could hear the sounds on the other side increase in frequency. He gritted his teeth.

“I mean …” Antonio sighed again. “It was the right thing to do, Lovino. It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but still you do it.” He could hear the smile in his voice. “And I guess it is their wedding night …”

Something almost slipped Lovino’s lips, but he bit it back. There was no need to tell Antonio what he had seen the night before Antonio was supposed to marry. No need to increase his suffering.

“You’re being a saint about this,” Lovino said. “If I was you, I would have walked already. To do it with you around … aren’t you mad?” He’d be mad if he was Antonio. To be betrothed to someone who doesn’t want you, have that fiancé kidnapped at your wedding day and run after them only to barge in on their elopement wedding … If he was Antonio, he’d curse everyone he ever met. Lovino included – after all, he had spurred him on to run after Michele.

“I mean …” Another sigh, this time more of an angry snort. “I would prefer to not have heard it, but … what is done is done. Pretending that it isn’t wouldn’t change much, I can fool myself. I don’t need Michele for this.”

Lovino’s brows furrowed while the rest of his features softened. I wouldn’t have fooled you, he thought. Maybe he should have run to him the night before the wedding. To hell with Michele and his secrets, Antonio would have deserved the truth.

The noises from the other side had stopped. At least that torture was over. Lovino turned on his back and clutched the pillow against his chest instead. “You are a saint,” he said. “Michele doesn’t know what he’s missing.” He didn’t dare look at Antonio. “And I’m the fucking Virgin Mary for putting up with all of it!”

Antonio laughed. “Yes you are. Thank you, Lovino. I appreciate it and I’m sure that Michele does so, too.”

He snorted. “Psht. Yeah, sure.”

“When you get married, I’ll be your best man, yes? To pay back all you gave me.”

Lovino’s heart sank into his guts. “Yeah, sure.”

Antonio put the candle out. “Good night, Lovino.”

Lovino stared into the dark. He could hear indistinct murmurs from the other room between the lovers. “Good night … Antonio.”