#multi-color vinyl

[mariska]

i have a Package arriving sometime soon (allegedly) in the mail today AND one of my aunts has sent me a mystery Package that my mom says is a Halloween gift from her......exciting day for opening Packages to receive little treats for me today

[a-d-nox]

astro hypothesis: what's your ideal bedroom like?

once upon a time (a year ago) i spoke of using your house rulers to deep dive into the story of the houses. i did a hypothesis about money and another about careers - but what about your home? for that take a look at your 4h and the persona chart of its ruler (ex: my 4h is in gemini, i will be looking at my mercury persona chart NOT my ic persona (thats more family and childhood dynamics in my opinion)).

today i want to focus on somewhere critical to all of us - our bedroom. you can look at the 12h and/or the moon in this chart to get a better idea of what your ideal bedroom looks like or should be like to feel most rested and comfortable.

why?

the 12h rules over solitude (where you might go to escape everyone else in your household), the subconscious (where we supposedly go in deep sleep), etc.

the moon rules over comfort (what we find comfort in), the subconscious (which connects again to deep sleep and dreaming), cycles and rhythms (hi sleep cycle and circadian rhythm), etc.

so here are some observations of what i believe to be important to a room based on these factors in your 4h ruler's persona chart.

a capricorn (10°, 22°) moon / 12h saturn / capricorn 12h / moon aspecting saturn person likely wants a minimal room. they don't what a lot of clutter - if their room is cluttered they might be experiencing a lot of waking/life stress/anxiety that is effecting their sleep. they like neutral and natural colors in a room - beiges, "agreeable grey", dark green, and dark blues in particular allows them to feel calm and as though they are able to relax. arctic white paint or cool white light may trigger them into feeling like they are in work mode instead of relax mode. they seek quality furniture that is timeless - they don't want to constantly have to replace the pieces they have in their room because they don't last or no longer fit the style. they don't want to have to think at the end of the day that something broke or they hate a piece because it doesn't fit the trend anymore and they now have to replace it. they don't want another thing they have to do, they just want to crash. organization is key - everything in their room should have a spot. they want everything that belongs in there to have a place (books are organized by author/series, clothing is color/season organized, glasses have a spot on a side table, jewelry has an organizer that rarely changes, etc). there is often a very refined and elegant feeling to their room. the sheets have a classic design (they are white or white and grey), the mirror is elegant yet classic, the bed is simple yet fits and fills the space well, etc. and most importantly room darkening curtains and lots of blankets (no capricorn/saturn person wants to be awakened by the sun or because they are too cold at night)!!!

a gemini (3°, 15°, 27°) moon / 12h mercury / gemini 12h / moon aspecting mercury person might have a rather eclectic style in their room. it might feel like they are testing out a look or like they have a lot of different vibes that don't necessarily fit one another. color finds its way into this room no matter what and it is often multiple colors at once that draw a person's attention. its very strange because this space is never just a sleep space for them often its multi-functional in some way shape or form like they have the ability to have a sitting space for others... could be a chair or a window seat or a desk... speaking of desks - books, vinyl, cds, gadgets, etc are a big part of the gemini/mercury vibes in a space. often their media have a spotlight moment in a room. lastly this space has an air of awareness in it - its not totally sleepy vibes, you know for sure when you see this space its not just for sleep. this is a place of study, reading, music listening, etc. it might just feel like not much sleep occurs in the space at all!

leo (5°, 17°, 29°) moon / 12h sun / leo 12h / moon aspecting sun rooms are warm and inviting. there are likely gold elements or warm paint colors used in the room. luxury is a must - the bed is likely memory foam or plush - the pillows are probably hotel/high quality. the comforter is down feathers and/or a fluffy/fuzzy blanket is present. it is very likely that stuffed animals are present too or at least one that is too adorable not to be there. there is some sort of central piece in this room - a giant mirror, a big art piece over the bed, a grand wall of books, etc. something in the room is guaranteed to always get a compliment from people who peak in during a house tour. it is also rather common especially in younger years for these people to keep their awards/trophies on display in their room as it fills them with a great sense of pride. windows are very important to this person's bedroom too as they tend to enjoy natural light when they can get it.

aries (1°, 13°, 25°) moon / 12h mars / aries 12h / moon aspecting mars people love a bold look in their room. its the energy of platform beds, industrial metal frames, etc. if they can use an "aggressive" color (red, orange, yellow, etc) in a bedroom they will... however they like a modern and sleek look despite their bold color schemes. they also like a minimal room - the bedroom is for their bed - point, blank, period. it's about having the essentials nothing more nothing less. they won't being using decorative pillows they have to remove every night or a decorative blanket that just hangs over their footboard. heavens forbid a decorative ladder with a decorative blanket that's not for use but for the eye. if they can't use it, they don't need or want it in the space it will just make them annoyed and cause them to feel like everything is in the way of them getting to the relax/wind-down portion of their day. now strangely enough, they often workout in their bedroom, so it wouldn't be shocking to find a pull up bar in the doorway or a peloton bike in the corner of the room. and 10/10 they will be getting up using an alarm - but it is rather unlikely they will need multiple alarms to make them get out of their bed in the morning.

likely more to come on home hypotheses, as i look to make renovations to my own home despite/because of being creatively burnt out. thank the heavens for astrology doing the leg work.

-a.d.

click here for the masterlist

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© a-d-nox 2024 all rights reserved

[robins-egg-bindery]

Windows by @drgrlfriend

Derek has a new neighbor who won't stop looking.

fic by @drgrlfriend

art by @maichan808 & @andavs-main

368 pages / 83,266 words

Title Font: PP Hatton

Body Fonts: Cardo, Geo

HAPPY FFWAD!!! Thank you @renegadepublishing for putting on this event in celebration!

More on the process below the cut!

I'm so excited to be posting this book! Super grateful @drgrlfriend was so down to let me bind Windows for Fan Fiction Writer Appreciation Day. This is one of my all-time favs, and I was thrilled to give it the treatment it deserves! @maichan808 & @andavs-main were also incredibly kind to allow me to include their stunning art pieces in the book <3 And thank you @renegadepublishing for putting this event together!

I wanted the typeset to be visually interesting and move around the page, without making it difficult to read. I created unique headers for each of the 28 chapters with royalty free art, and varied placement on the page in six different configurations. I also played with the text warp to make the text work as part of the image - one of my favorites is chapter 26, "Banshee", pictured above!

I used Brick duo for this bind, as part of the vision for the front cover, which was done in silver permanent vinyl. I think the rich rust color is perfect for how I would imagine Stiles & Derek's apartment building, and the silver is incredibly reflective - my favorite part is how the vinyl catches the light on the spine, and can reflect "Windows" on whatever surface it's on (pictured above). That's not an added effect, it's just doing that!

I did @tankbredgrunt's faux double-core headband with some Sulky Gutermann I bought at a secondhand store for $0.25, and it's so pretty! A bit thin to work with, but totally worth it for the multi-color effect it gives off.

And I finally got a proper crisp hinge! I think it really brings the whole book together, thank you knitting needles (even though you were a pain in the ass).

This project also marks my 100th book! I'm rapidly approaching the two year mark of my fanbinding career with no sign of stopping; thank you to this entire community, and all of the fandoms I've been able to bring this hobby to. I love how cross-fandom it is; and for an old floater like me, it's wonderful to bring all of my interests together and have something that transcends those lines.

HAPPY FAN FICTION WRITER APPRECIATION DAY!

[nemesyaaa]

pairing : nerd!bf!pope heyward x cute!gf!reader

warnings/infos : fluff and bittersweet angst, no smut actually but mentions of suggestive content.

highschool sweetheart trope. teenagers in love vibes.

╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ sweetheart highschool boyfriend trope with pope heyward headcanons !

ღˊˎ your nerdy boyfriend pope was the one to always support you, more than your own parents and whole family. your academic weapon boy loved to covered your empty locker with full multi-colors post-it with motivation quotes.

ᰔᩚ “ i believe in you, pretty girl like you who never lose.”

ᰔᩚ “ the only thing so hard is the pressure you put on yourself when you think you can success this whole exam but i know how smart you are. and everytime in your late night session you show me how smarty you are, it make me more and more in love with you.”

ᰔᩚ “ if you want this ice cream so bad, you know what to do ;) “

ᰔᩚ “ you know what is bigger than your ass ? your fat thick brain. make me cum so bad everytime.“ (jj forced him to write this tho.)

ᰔᩚ “ but it's okay if you fail sweetheart, i'm here for you. but don't pout if i'm getting more strict in your study lesson. i just want to help you, how bad i will be to let my girl lose like that and don't win after ??”

ღˊˎ- every time you had a class, and he finished before you, he would wait against the wall. probably, playing video games on his console. jj keeping him company.

➸ btw if you're in an exam, that fucking smart brain is going to climb on jj's shoulders to reach the high window of the classroom and looked after you.

ღˊˎ- you and your genius boyfriend loved hanging out in the big library of the school. you helped him with his research, and you liked it when he taught you things. you loved the fact that he was so intelligent, and that he had passions to share with you.

meanwhile, you watched him speak, your eyes on his lips. and he will ended up kissing you. his soft mouth against yours. short’n lazily kisses.

ᰔᩚ pope was the type of boyfriend to kissed you while softly caressing your neck, getting his hands on your sensitive skin by his touch, his tongue pressed yours, light string of saliva covered your lips. such a fine loser boy.

➸ you were in love with his starry eyes. especially when they looked at you, and chased after you. you know, they cared.

"keep focus, sugar. we're not done yet.”

“ too bad, your smart brain actually turn me on.”

“ maybe i can help you with that ? “

“ oh yes, just continue to telling me some facts with this so serious face. don't stop using your brain but start to use your fingers, let them play with something better than your console.“

“ sorry ma’am but nothing is better than my conso…”

you rolled your eyes. and smiled. because you knew that he telling you the truth. you made him shut up by taking his console.

“ you need to make me cum, and i will give your console back. do you think you can do that, nerdy boy ? ”

“ be prepare to squirt, because is there is one thing here that nerdy boys are the most good at is clearly playing with their toys. so may i give you five orgasms ? “

ღˊˎ he walked you home, taking the bus with you. you were sitting next to each other. each of you had an earphones in your ear. you shared new playlists, and you loved going to a music store and collecting old vinyl with him.

he putted the music headphones on your small head, and you murmured a song that he tried to guess by the movement of your lips.

ღ ˊˎ pope was a pogue. he was not rich. but he will do his best to spoil you. but above all, he's a nerd, he's not obsessed with money. like everyone else he feels the desire to be rich but he is happy with what he has.

for him, it's more important to teach you new things, to spend time on the internet with you, or to play a game while you sit on his lap.

“ man, i can hear your boner.” say jj because pope and him were always together. sometimes, the blonde one came at your house without your consent, and his excuses was “ it's just for a game, i will not sleep here. “

"she's my girlfriend, she sits on my lap and plays like a goddess, of course i have a boner. but why my bestfriend have one?”

“ excuse me for getting a boner when my character is literally a woman with big tits jiggling all over the place, barely covered and in armor. and fights like a fucking soldier.”

“ you two are really….”

ღˊˎ you loved as much as you hated when pope helped you study. because he was so strict. he wasn't the type of boyfriend who was going to get distracted and fuck you because you couldn't think clearly and made him waste our time.

no he was the type of boyfriend to tell you "yes, we've been at this for hours but you can add three more hours since we're still at the beginning of the exercise.”

“ can we take a break ? “

“ i already gave you by let you procrastinate while i'm asking you these answers. “

“ ….pope ! “

“ no no, you can be dumb as you want with your idgaf teachers but not with me. if i'm asking for your answers, i will get it. you can take your time, i don't care. “

“ you're so mean. “

“ because i care of your results ? because i care about your future ? fine, i like being that mean so. “

you gave him a death stare.

“ you better change this look before i get far worse than you could have imagined. “

you pouted, even though it didn’t change anything.

“i don’t want to sound rude but if jj can do it, anyone can do it.”

“ the fact is i don't know who you insult the most jj or me….”

“ listen, i know how smart you are, like i know this brain is the most unique thing i've ever seen. use it, i'm already proud of you, but you just need to show me a little of your incredible intelligence. and not only me, to everyone. “

you started to think more and more, and ended up to work harder to gave him the answers.

ღˊˎ pope was the type of boyfriend to give you handmade jewelry. especially bracelets. and every time you wore them, he was so happy.

he was also the type to watch the sunset on the high school bleachers or on the beach sand for hours with you, his precious girlfriend.

when night fell and he didn't wanted to going home, he would teach you how to surf.

ღ ˊˎ pope loved it when you wore his clothes, mostly his summer shirts and especially when you wore nothing underneath. he was a shy nerd so he would never admit how much he loved watching your freely nipples, slapped by the fresh wind.

you appreciated taking a nap on his chest for hours and hours in the bed of your room, while he's playing with his console, and with his other hand, cuddle you a little. sometimes, he randomly talked, making your ears so soft to his calm asmr voice, while he told you about the games he actually played, geeking about the fantasy core that you were clearly not aware of.

ღˊˎ he was your first love and you had your first time with him. was the same for him, you were the first girl he loved, and it was crazy for him how you made him so dumb when he was so smart.

ღˊˎ he loved complimenting you, telling you how beautiful you were, but also how smart and brilliant you were. that you were more than what people saw or thought about you.

ღ ˊˎ he liked how precious your moments were, how time lasted so long with you.

ღˊˎ you had filled your bedroom wall with your first words sharing together, with things you loved about each other, with photos of our dates. you don't want to forget anything. him neither.

ღ ˊˎ you were so cute with him and always stuck together.

ღ ˊˎ you thought it was going to last a long time, forever and for life. you were teenagers in love, filled with hard feelings, young matters, academic pressure.

ღˊˎ but today, back in the present, you were wondering what happened to your high school sweetheart, was he married, was his wife as nice as you, did he have children, did they look like him, did he have a big house, did he have the one you dreamed of when you were teenagers, was he as happy as he was with you, was he still a pogue or had he changed his future? did he still think about you when you can't get him out of your mind ? did he hear your late night thoughts screaming his name ?

ღ ˊˎ you went back to high school. but he was no longer there. you were no longer young, nor in love. you were adults and married. in the same life that you thought you shared.

ღˊˎ when you tried to contact him by phone but another woman answered the phone to tell you that her husband wasn't there. you understood, understood that you had become a simple memory. and him, the hardest ghost to find.

ღ ˊˎ he was your high school sweetheart, such a smart nerd and such an interesting person. it was certain that he had succeeded in life.

ღ ˊˎ you tried to call him one last time. “you were wrong, i’m not that smart.”

and you burst into tears when you heard his breathing and alive voice.

“ congratulations, pope heyward. was the life you cherished for. “

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

The Ultimate Muscle Car of its Time

When it comes to legendary American muscle cars, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee stands out as an iconic symbol of power, speed, and style. Despite the challenges faced by the performance era during that time, this rare gem emerged as one of the most exceptional vehicles of its generation. In this article, we delve into the remarkable features and unique attributes that make the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee a prized possession for muscle car enthusiasts.

Rarity and Authenticity

In the realm of automotive rarities, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee holds a special place. Among the limited production numbers, this particular model is one of only nine factory 4-speed Hemi Super Bees manufactured in 1971. What further adds to its allure is the fact that it was sold new through Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge franchise in Chicago. Documentation is key to verifying its authenticity, and this Super Bee comes with an extensive array of records, including the window sticker, invoice, retail order form, Bill of Sale, shipping document, and record envelope. This comprehensive documentation adds an extra layer of credibility to the vehicle’s rich history.

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

Unparalleled Options and Performance

As one of the most highly optioned 1971 Hemi Super Bees known to exist, this Dodge masterpiece offers an array of features that elevate its status to a league of its own. Let’s explore some of the standout elements that define its exceptional performance:

Engine and Transmission

At the heart of this Super Bee lies the mighty matching-numbers 426 Hemi V-8 engine. Equipped with dual 4-barrel carburetors and hemispherical cylinder heads, this powerplant delivers raw power and exhilarating acceleration. What sets Chrysler apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to performance, as evidenced by the unchanged 10.25 compression, forged internals, and the adoption of a hydraulic camshaft. Paired with the A34 Super Track Pak, which includes the 18-spline Hemi A833 4-speed manual transmission and a 4.10-geared Sure-Grip Dana 60 differential, this Super Bee offers an unrivaled driving experience.

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

Braking and Cooling

Safety and reliability are paramount in any high-performance vehicle, and the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee doesn’t disappoint. It features power brakes with front discs, ensuring quick and efficient stopping power when needed. Additionally, the car is equipped with extreme cooling equipment, a vital component for optimal performance during intense driving conditions.

Exterior and Interior Styling

The exterior of the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee is a sight to behold. Adorned in EV2 Hemi Orange with striking black striping, it exudes an aura of power and aggression. The premium optional concealed headlamps add a touch of refinement to its overall appearance. Other notable exterior elements include hood pins, color-keyed racing mirrors, and front and rear spoilers, accentuating its muscular and aerodynamic design.

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

Inside the cabin, the Super Bee offers a comfortable and stylish environment. The black vinyl bench seat interior provides a classic and timeless look, while the Hurst Pistol Grip shifter adds a touch of sportiness. The car is also equipped with a pushbutton Multi-Plex AM/FM radio, a Rallye dash cluster with a tachometer, and woodgrain-style trim, all contributing to an enhanced driving experience.

Wheels and Tires

Completing the Super Bee’s striking aesthetics are the premium Rallye wheels and Goodyear G60-15 Polyglas GT tires. These wheels not only enhance the car’s appearance but also provide excellent traction and handling capabilities, ensuring an exhilarating ride on the road.

Conclusion

In the realm of American muscle cars, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee holds a special place. Its rarity, authenticity, and exceptional performance make it a highly sought-after collector’s item. As the only year that the ‘Bee was built on the Charger platform, this Super Bee stands as a testament to Dodge’s commitment to creating top-of-the-line vehicles that capture the spirit of the muscle car era. Whether you’re a die-hard enthusiast or simply appreciate automotive excellence, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee is a masterpiece that continues to inspire and captivate generations of car enthusiasts.

[sheepiemc]

Seven Stupid Reasons to Summon a Demon

Reason #1: lonely

It was a day that started like any other. 

Your alarm went off (like always). 

You got ready for work (like always). 

You commuted (like always). 

You did your job for four hours (like always). 

Then, it was time for lunch. 

Normally, you opt to stay inside “the office” (or wherever it is that you work) and bring something from home to save money. But looking at your lunch — the same thing you eat almost every day — makes you sigh. 

You look out the window to the city down below. It was a gloomy morning, but now that it is midday, the sun is starting to shine through the clouds. A beam of sunlight lands on your skin and you enjoy the warmth. The ring on your finger catches the light and you look down at it. 

How ridiculous would it be to summon a demon to have lunch with you because you don’t want to eat alone? You banish the thought from your mind. You don’t want to disturb the demon you were thinking of; you are certain he has a lot on his plate (like always) and he wouldn’t appreciate being  bothered with something so trivial (like always). 

You sigh and look outside again. Maybe the fresh air will do you some good. You decide to spend your lunch break walking around downtown just because you can. Honestly, you don’t know why you don’t do this more often. You can find a lot of hidden gems this way. 

You wander around aimlessly before you happen upon a record store. It's just a little hole-in-the-wall place, mostly unassuming. When you step in, however, you're greeted by a music-lover's paradise. Multi-colored vinyl records, signed band posters, and album covers decorate the walls. The atmosphere is groovy and retro, speaking to a bygone era of funk and flower power. There’s even a disco ball hanging from the ceiling! You take in the scenery for a moment as you stand in the doorway. 

“‘Sup.” The guy behind the counter greets you without looking up. “If there’s anything you need help with or want to listen to let me know.” You nod, even though he isn’t looking at you, and go to explore the stacks. 

Your fingertips brush past rows and rows of records. You search all your favorite genres, looking out for your favorite bands, and find some gems. You don’t have a lot of money right now, so you can’t go crazy. You twist the ring on your finger as you contemplate what to get.

Actually, now that you think about it…

Maybe you can find something to add to your “special collection”. 

See, you were inspired by a certain demon to develop a “cursed” record collection of your own. Since cursed magical items are hard to come by on earth, whenever you find yourself in a place that sells records, you like to check out the classical music section for albums that feature, or are inspired by the devil. It's something you like to share with him and only him. After shuffling through the stacks, you find something you think will work. You smile impishly to yourself, proud of your new purchase.  

You make it through the rest of the workday thinking about the record. You aren't going to listen to it just yet; you like to share the experience with the devil himself. It's a good excuse to summon him from the Devildom — well, good enough for you anyway. You like to have a few more albums to listen to before you call him, so you don't feel as guilty for asking him to stay a bit longer. 

You take a deep breath when you finally arrive in your quiet room, in your now-still apartment. You place the record on top of the others and take a look around — empty, except for your cat, sleeping peacefully on your bed. You could invite friends over to fill the silence, but your friends are notoriously terrible at last-minute plans. You absentmindedly twist the ring on your finger. 

You need something to fill this oppressive quiet, your fingers itch and ache, you have to DO something. 

You have to play the piano. 

You go out to your living room, where you keep a digital piano. It’s a little fancier than a regular old keyboard but you live in a small apartment and you're not exactly rolling in it so it's the best you can do. 

The room is dark. 

You hate the silence. 

You sit at the bench and flex your fingers, hovering above the black and white keys. No sheet music, right now you just need to play your emotions. You play a low note and listen to it reverberate. 

Then a chord. 

Then another. 

You close your eyes and start improvising a melancholic melody over a haunting chord progression. You are so lost in what you’re creating you don't notice the blue light flooding the dark room. It’s gone almost as soon as it arrived and it brings with it a figure covered in shadow, a figure you also don’t notice. He stands tall in the center of your room, tilting his head to the side as he listens. Once he gathers what happened intuitively, he stands over you, proudly watching you pour your potent emotions into your playing. 

You strike a final chord and exhale loudly, ruminating on the final note. You gasp lightly when a teardrop you didn't notice falls from your face onto the keys. 

You nearly jump out of your skin when another chord is struck up the piano. The shadow figure reveals himself to be the very demon you were thinking about while playing. Lucifer doesn't look at you as he continues to play a lighter melody. Your hands jump away from the keys and press against the rapidly beating heart in your chest.

He continues to play, not yet sitting. His sketch sounds hopeful, almost as if to say, "I'm glad to have you with me again." He sneaks a glance at you and smirks, finally taking a seat on the bench next to you. You just watch him, absolutely mesmerized, still in shock that he's really in front of you. 

He stops playing and looks at the keys closest to you, a signal — it's your turn again. Your melody is more playful than moody this time, there's a lightness now that wasn’t there before. Lucifer responds with something firm and grounded. When it's your turn, you tickle your way closer to his side. He gets lower, too. You scoot closer. From the corner of your eye, you see him smile a little bit wider. In the middle of his turn, you start playing again and together you improvise a beautiful, colorful piece of music together, full of happiness and longing, celebrating each other. 

When you can’t contain your excitement any longer, you interrupt the song and throw your arms around him. The force of you throwing your entire body weight at him only pushes him over slightly — he’s quick to catch you in his arms, twisting his torso to face you. 

“I can’t believe you’re here,” you say into his neck. It comes out as barely a whisper. 

You feel more than hear the chuckle rumble in his chest. “You’re the one who summoned me here.” 

You pull back just enough to look at him. “Would you believe me if I said I didn’t do it on purpose?” 

He looks at the keys on the digital piano. “Something was calling out to me.” 

“I guess I’ve been kinda lonely today… And I was thinking about you… A lot…” 

Lucifer hums contentedly, stern lines on his face smoothing out. Obviously, he likes it when you stroke his ego. 

You roll your eyes playfully and bury your face in his neck again. “I’m sorry for summoning you by accident, I know you're very busy but…” You play with his tie. “Can you stay here a bit, with me?” 

Lucifer sighs softly. You steel yourself for the words you're sure will come out of his mouth, “I can’t” or “Not right now”. 

“MC, I don’t think you realize that I want to see you just as much as, if not more so than, you want to see me.” He traces his finger along your jaw and lifts your chin so that you're looking at him. “If I’ve made you think I feel otherwise, that is my fault and I must apologize.” 

You feel your heart skip a beat when the Avatar of Pride apologizes to you, a lowly human. You’re in such a state of shock, you don’t know what to say so Lucifer continues to fill the silence. “If I had the ability to summon you to my side whenever I wanted, I can’t say I wouldn’t abuse that power greatly.” 

His hand rests at the side of your face, thumb wiping another tear you didn’t even know fell. You got so used to that rowdy house in the Devildom, so full of people and chaos, that coming home to your quiet, little one-bedroom apartment in the human world every day has been wearing you down. More tears start to flow as the weight of your loneliness comes crashing down on you.

You hold him tighter and press your face into his shoulder, hiding in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I’m such a mess,” you say, laughing.  

He chuckles. “Don’t apologize. I appreciate all aspects of you. Even when you are a mess.” 

You sit on the piano bench for what you wish was all eternity but is likely only about 10 minutes before you reluctantly untangle yourself from the demon you unwittingly called to this realm. 

“Well, since you're here…” You stand, pull him from the bench, and lead him to your bedroom… where you keep your records! You present him with the newest addition to your collection with a wide smile. 

He takes it from your hands and looks at the cover thoughtfully. He reads the title out loud, “The Mephisto Waltz & Other 'Satanic' Piano Music Of Franz Liszt - John Ogdon”. 

He looks back at you. “Interesting,” he says in the most uninterested tone. You laugh out loud, you thought he might like that. 

“Well, if you don’t want to listen to it, I can just-” You reach for the record but he pulls it out of your reach. 

“I never said that.” 

He walks over to your record player and carefully sets it up while you sit on the edge of your bed. When the music starts up, you're surprised by how fast-paced it is but you're still into it. Luci looks at your desk chair meaningfully then back at you. You scowl and shake your head slightly, tapping the edge of the bed next to you. He smiles and sits down beside you.

You lean against him, sneakily snaking your arms around his middle, and play with one of his hands. 

You feel him relax, almost imperceptibly, leaning into your touch. He chuckles, and softly says under his breath, “This brings back memories.” 

He closes his eyes and you lift your head to stare at him, left wondering whatever the hell he meant by that. You would ask, but he loves to be intentionally vague whenever you bring up his involvement in the lives of humans from the past. 

"This isn't what I thought this song would be," you quietly admit as you play with his gloved fingers. 

"Oh?" 

"It's called a waltz, so I thought, you know, we would be able to dance to it…"

"You wish to dance with me?" He says in a teasing tone, one that makes your face feel hot. 

"WELL, I JUST THOUGHT-"

"That would be fairly amusing…" He says, almost more to himself than to you.

He uses his free hand to lift your chin up so that you're looking at him. If your face wasn't red before, it definitely is now. 

"It was a silly idea, we don't-" 

"No, no. I believe I would like to dance with you as well." 

His smile is rather wolfish as he stands from your bed and pulls you up along with him. The next song on the record starts and it isn't very apt for a dance, either.

"The music-" You begin to protest before Lucifer snaps his finger and the record begins to glow with a blue light. A record scratch abruptly interrupts the music when Chopin's Waltz in A minor, B. 150 starts to flow through the speaker. 

He pulls your body to the proper position, one hand on your waist, the other cradling yours. Of course, he'll lead. You roll your eyes playfully. 

"Do you remember how to do this?" He asks, amused. 

"Pshh, of course I do," you say right before accidentally stepping on his foot. "Oop, sorry." 

He chuckles. "Follow my lead." 

And you do. You dance around your little room, only stepping on him a few more times before you get the hang of it again. ("It's been a long time, okay??") You twirl and pivot, avoiding tiny obstacles around your room, laughing when you attempt to take the lead by spinning him out and back into your arms. 

He finishes the dance by lifting you by the waist and spinning around. You giggle uncontrollably, feeling lighter than you have in months. When he brings you back down, you lace your hands together behind his neck and put your head on his shoulder. The music shifts to something soft that you can slow dance to. His arms tighten around your waist, holding you close as you sway together. 

“I really needed this,” you say. “I’ve missed you guys so much.”

You feel him stiffen slightly at the remark. You smile to yourself, delighted that something so small could affect him. 

You look up at him, “I’ve missed you most, of course.”

He smiles down at you and the affection you see in his eyes is so genuine, it embarrasses you. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, MC.”

You look down to hide your quickly reddening face. “I wish I could summon you more often but I know you’re very busy. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important.”

“Oh, yes,” Lucifer hums, as if he has to think hard about what he was doing before this, “I believe I was in a meeting with Lord Diavolo.”

“Lord Diavolo!?” Your eyes widen with panic. You push yourself away to look him straight in his face, hoping he’s just teasing you. 

His wolfish grin returns as he smooths down a lock of hair that is out of place on your head. “Yes, but it was one of those frivolous meetings he likes to trick me into. ‘Oh, Lucifer, you must try this bottle of Demonus I found in the depths of the labyrinthine cellar.’ Nothing truly important, I promise.”

Relief quickly washes over you and you relax back into his embrace. “So... I get to keep you a little longer?” 

“Tonight?” His hold around you tightens. “You may keep me as long as you wish.”

[talesofadragon]

𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬

Synopsis: The world was not created in colors to be lived seldom in white, black, or even gray. This is what Y/N believed, and she resolutely refuses to be told otherwise. But when a night at the city’s most prestigious nightclub triggers a series of misfortunate events, Y/N’s world of hues is thrown off balance, colliding with a stranger whose eyes may be blue but his world is a handful of shades too dark.  

Pairing: Mob Boss!Steve Rogers x Reader

Warnings: Mature scenes. Minors DNI.

Word Count: 4.2K

Chapter 3 - Star Command Blue | Varicolored Schemes Masterlist

𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐑 gifted half of the human race, Y/N was not the best judge of character. 

She didn’t believe the proverbs that insisted on the eyes being the windows of the soul. And she was not convinced that a circle of friends could reveal everything about someone's personality. Y/N just liked to observe—refraining from cementing any assumptions she had gathered during first encounters and preferring to see if her opinions could withstand the sands of time. 

But in times like this, she wished she had Yelena’s immaculate ability to read someone from the get-go. Because while Steve Rogers seemed kind, charming, and endearingly enigmatic, he might be more intimidating than Y/N thought. And he certainly seemed to be a lot richer and more important than she had imagined. 

“I feel like I’m sticking out like a sore thumb,” Y/N thought out loud. And while Sam had assured her that she was doing just fine, it was hard to take his words to heart when she was standing in the lobby of the immaculate, high-rise Stark Tower in her seafoam green pajamas. 

Sure, they were a classy pair that cost her forty bucks—and if she were a celebrity or some sort of influencer, she could possibly pass them as a stylistic choice—but she doubted that even her feigned confidence and the two bulky men on her side could make her pass for anyone but her ordinary self. 

“Believe me when I tell you that the concierge has seen worse than someone in their pajamas,” Bucky mumbled while reaching for the overnight bag in Y/N’s hand. He tucked it to his side, confidently striding toward the elevators. 

Y/N, on the other hand, cast a quick glance back at her car. Her poor Toyota Corolla was conspicuous in the sea of Porsches, Cadillacs, and Teslas. Even it looked dejected. She diverted her attention back to Sam when she heard him clear his throat. Maybe the eyes really are the windows of the soul, she pondered. Because while this man was a good six feet-something with a large frame and a set of hands that could strangle someone to death in an instant, his eyes were warm and earthly, grounding her to the present and making sure she didn’t lose herself to her thoughts. 

He motioned for Y/N to walk before him, and she promptly followed after Bucky. Like the building itself, the elevators were sublime and grand—maybe even larger than her own bedroom. As soon as the gilded doors opened, she was greeted with a spacious interior with intricate filigree patterns that went beyond the natural. Her eyes wandered, taking in the vinyl flooring and the framing mirrors, studying the implicit accents embellishing the corner of the elevator walls and the subtle details that sometimes go unnoticed. 

A serene yet evanescent sound infiltrated her senses, attributed to either Bucky or Sam pressing the button to Steve’s apartment. It was on the 40th floor, the last floor displayed on the panel. With great anticipation, Y/N stood between both boys, eagerly waiting for the elevator doors to glide open. And when they did, she expected to walk out into a mesmerizing hallway that mirrored the luxury and opulence of the multi-billion dollar building.

To her surprise, she was met with a door with an imperturbable aura—she doubted that even a grenade could make a dent in it. What was even more perplexing was the lack of a handle or a lock that left her wondering, how the hell does one open a door like this? Bucky seemed privy to the door’s secret, extending his hand toward the digital pad adjacent to the door. With a single thumb swipe, he unsealed the door, ushering everyone inside.

“Welcome home, Miss Y/L/N,” Sam announced, but it was hard to hear him when Y/N’s attention was drawn entirely to the apartment—scratch that. The penthouse—Bucky and Sam led her into. 

While Stark Tower was a vision of opulence with its crystal chandelier and gilded hallways, Steve’s abode was a vision. A luminous dream brought to life by the color palette the designer had chosen. 

Y/N was drawn into a dance of gradient blues that swayed with grace, an intricate choreography of light and dark that played across every surface. Star Command Blue blended perfectly with the white walls and silver furniture, which reflected a bridge between antiquity and modernity. 

Each canvas on the wall seemed to possess a voice of its own, tugging at her curiosity and unveiling a constellation of majesty and allure. And while the tower in which the penthouse was nestled was prolific and intimidating, Steve’s house radiated the warmth of a home. 

“This is,” Y/N started, too lost in this world of perfection to notice that Bucky had already settled her bag somewhere and was walking leisurely into the living room. “Beautiful.” 

“I’m glad you think that.” 

When this familiar yet unsuspected voice filtered through the air, Y/N whipped her head. Through the arch that separated the living room from the kitchen, she caught sight of someone fiddling with two mugs. 

“Steve?” 

“Evening, Y/N,” Steve smiled. “I’m glad you made it here safely.” 

“What are you doing here? Sam said you live upstate.” 

Steve sent Y/N a small smile, gesturing to one of the bar stools beneath the kitchen counter. She pulled it back and sat on it, watching as Steve reached for a jar of hot chocolate. “Marshmallows or whipped cream?” he asked so casually as if he was having a friend over, and they were getting ready to watch a movie. When he received no answer, he spoke again, “I’m not ignoring your question, doll. So, don’t ignore mine.” 

Yes, there was a command in his tone. One that was hard to miss. But the playfulness in his eyes and his casual demeanor made Y/N disregard it and answer. “Both. If it’s not too much trouble.” 

Steve nodded, sending a playful salute. The corner of Y/N’s lips curled, placidity overcoming her being. Her forearms rested on the marble surface, eyes focused on Steve’s effortless movements. 

Though dressed in pajamas of his own, cobalt blue to be precise, with the most delicate white stripes, his motion was no less graceful. He poured a couple of spoons of hot chocolate into a metal pot and placed it on the stove, giving Y/N an unobstructed view of his broad shoulders and handsome frame.

“I thought you didn’t use this apartment,” Y/N remarked. 

“That’s the second question. You haven’t even heard the answer to the first,” Steve quipped. 

“It’s a sentence. Laced with the words you’ve previously used.” 

“No. It’s a sentence laced with an underlying question,” Steve pointed out. He raised his index finger at Y/N, stopping her next words from tumbling out of her mouth. “Hold that thought,” he said. “Bucky. Sam. Where are the marshmallows?” 

“You mean Natasha’s marshmallows?” Sam walked into the room. He held Steve’s gaze as he plucked out a kiwi from the fruit ball, unaware of the curiosity that crossed over Y/N’s features. 

Steve hummed. Both he and Sam turned to Bucky, who stood by the wall with his hands in his pockets. “No.” 

“Don’t waste time, Bucky,” Steve huffed. “Y/N wants marshmallows with her hot chocolate.” 

“Alright, then. Sam, go buy some marshmallows.” 

Bucky's casual tone made it seem like he was unaware that it was past midnight and there were no 24/7 stores nearby, which is probably why Sam scoffed at his retort. “I don’t take orders from you, Buckaroo. But you take orders from him,” he stated matter-of-factly, pointing at Steve. “Give up Red’s marshmallows. Gentlemen don’t keep pretty dames like Miss Y/L/N waiting.” 

“Watch it,” came Steve’s sharp remark before Y/N could tell them that she didn’t mind having her hot chocolate without any marshmallows. And although Steve’s authoritative voice left a trail of goosebumps on Y/N’s skin, it did nothing to deter Sam. 

“What? I’m not being inappropriate. It’s not like I call her doll or something.” 

Steve leveled Sam with a glare, but this time, Y/N was the least bit fazed. If anything, she mirrored Bucky’s amused expression, watching the two men playfully bicker. 

“Are you trying to tell me something, Sam?” Steve’s eyebrow arched.

Sam smirked, “You’re smart, Rogers. You can figure it out.” 

Steve grumbled in response. Thankfully, the water started to boil, seeking the man’s attention. 

Y/N glanced at Sam, giving him a small smile. “You can call me by my first name, you know?” He lit up brighter than a Christmas tree, and from the way he straightened up and turned to his boss, Y/N knew he was gearing up to fire another playful remark. 

“Heard that, Stevie? Y/N’s okay with using her first name.” 

“Will you shut up, Sam?” Steve pointed out over the dulcet sound of Y/N’s laugh. “As for you, Bucky. Get me those damned marshmallows before I reassign Nat to Singapore.” 

That seemed to kick Bucky into action. He stepped away from the wall and strode into the center of the kitchen. There was no indication as to where he was heading to get those marshmallows, and something seemed to poke his brain because he swiftly turned around. “Close your eyes.” 

Sam and Steve’s voices overlapped, with the former arguing that they weren’t five and the latter insisting he wanted to sip his chocolate guilt-free without having to worry about pelting Bucky with the decorative pillows of his living room. 

Bucky didn’t have any of it. “If Nat finds out I showed you her secret stash, she’ll turn me into those feathery pillows of yours.”

“James, seriously!” 

Y/N turned to Steve with knitted brows. “James?” 

“That’s question three, doll,” Steve said. 

“It’s Y/N, Steve. Not doll,” Sam teased. “Should we teach you how to spell again?” 

“Bucky, get me those fucking—”

“Language.” 

“Goddamn it, Wilson,” Steve grumbled. Y/N was holding a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. For three intimidating men, they sure acted like children. “Bucky, get me those damned marshmallows before I turn Sam into one and roast him.” 

Needless to say, Bucky was like a tree. Unmoving, unyielding, rooted in place. Steve groaned again, turning off the stove. “This is stupid,” he voiced out. And yet, he closed his eyes afterward. Sam did the same. 

Amused, Y/N closed her eyes when Bucky’s voice echoed, “It’s okay, Y/N. You don’t have to.” 

“That’s favoritism,” Sam protested at the same time Steve remarked, “You’re a punk.” 

“Sorry, lads. But I don’t trust either of you with this.” 

When Bucky was sure both men were not peeking, which was utterly surprising, if Y/N might say. He set a course toward one of the lower kitchen cabinets. 

Surprisingly, despite his bulky frame and substantial muscle mass, he moved lightly on his feet—his shoes scarcely making a sound, even after taking three steps. His fingers eased the cabinet open, once again without a single noise.

It was filled with bowls and other objects like blenders and hand mixers, and Y/N was almost certain Bucky was going to magically pull the marshmallow bag out of one of them until he glanced at her with a wicked glint in his eyes and gently pressed the top of the cabinet. 

It opened, revealing a hidden compartment that made Y/N edge closer in her seat. Once Bucky got the marshmallow bag, he reached for a dessert bowl and placed a couple of them in it. 

Within a few seconds, he stashed the bag, closed the compartment and cabinet, and shoved the bowl in Steve’s hands. “You owe me.”

“Get out of here,” Steve grumbled. Bucky obeyed, not before waving at Y/N. Sam, on the other hand, was still in his seat. “You too.” 

“What? Am I not getting any hot chocolate? I drove her here.”  

“I pay you. Quite well, might I add.” 

With a hand on his heart and a sorrowful expression etched on his face, Sam expressed, “Money doesn't buy happiness. Hot chocolate on the—”

Steve pelted him with marshmallows, mumbling something about how late it was to be dealing with his shenanigans. Sam had managed to catch a white marshmallow in his hands and a blue one in his mouth. He dashed back into the living room, calling out for Bucky. 

“I’m sorry about them. They can be quite bothersome,” Steve said. He poured the hot chocolate into two mugs, adding the whipped cream and marshmallows to Y/N’s. 

“I think you’ve used the wrong word,” Y/N retaliated. The two had quenched her uneasiness, making her feel as if she had known the trio for a long time. 

“Careful, doll. Or I might start thinking you like them more than you like me.” 

“I never said I liked you.”

“Damn.” Steve feigned hurt, glancing down at the hot drinks. “Kinda makes me wish I was having whiskey instead. I thought we were closer than that, Y/N.” 

A hearty laugh escaped her lips, making all her earlier tension and queasiness dissipate. Gladly, Y/N accepted the drink. Her fingers were careful not to brush against Steve’s, knowing she didn’t want to contradict her earlier statement so easily. 

“Thank you.” 

“You're welcome.” Steve sat across from her on the marble countertop. He sipped his plain and mundane hot chocolate, watching her indulge in the whipped cream. “I hope you’re feeling more comfortable now.” 

The spoonful of whipped cream paused just before reaching her lips. Y/N nodded, a sheepish smile forming as she parted her lips to take a bite. “I really am sorry for bothering you.” 

“You’re not a bother, doll. I’m more than happy to accommodate you for as long as you need.” 

“Why, though? It’s not like you’re obligated to.” 

Steve surprisingly nicked one of the marshmallows in Y/N’s drink and dipped it in his own. Playfully, he caught her eyes and plucked the treat in his lips, licking them clean afterward. She wondered if this was her answer. 

“It’s… complicated. In a sense that it’s hard to articulate it without needing to filter my thoughts.” 

“Then, don’t filter them,” Y/N stated. “Undisguise your thoughts.” 

Steve’s eyes twinkled with mirth. He chuckled, letting his blue eyes fall to the counter. As his eyes rose again, the subtle hints of green within his blue irises became unmistakably apparent. Somehow, the clash of colors was too endearing for Y/N to ignore. 

"My father passed away while serving in the military, leaving my mother and me on our own. Being a single parent in Brooklyn, especially a single mother, was far from easy. Despite the challenges, I always admired my mother's strength. I looked up to women like her and people who faced adversity head-on. Life kept throwing obstacles our way, but she never gave up the fight. 

“I suppose what I'm getting at is that I feel a deep calling to help those in need, especially those who've been marginalized. Some, like Sam, joke about it as a 'savior complex.' Others tease me for trying to be 'Captain Righteous.' Call it what you will. For me, it's about having a strong sense of morality and wanting to aid those who've been treated unfairly by the world, however way I can.”

Steve’s answer caused Y/N to grapple with her own thoughts. How ironic, she had asked him to undisguise his when hers were meandering in her head, elusive and unbridled. After a moment of prolonged silence, Y/N tapped her nails against the mug, looking at Steve from beneath her lashes. 

“So, I gather it wasn’t so that you can sleep with me? Or is this a speech you give to all the girls you invite over after their electricity goes haywire?” 

She anxiously chewed on her lower lip, trying to gauge Steve’s reaction. He narrowed his eyes, and Y/N was scared that she messed up, but the hearty laugh that reverberated through the kitchen told her otherwise. 

“I’m sorry, doll. But you made it pretty clear that you don’t like me.” 

“Maybe not,” Y/N chortled. “But, I do admire your kindness. That’s twice you’ve helped me now without asking for anything in return. And you’ve made me feel safe on both occasions. So, thank you.” 

“You’re very welcome, Y/N,” Steve smiled appreciatively. 

After a minute of silence, Y/N turned back to Steve, catching his attention. “You never answered my question.” 

“Which one?” 

“All of them.” 

“All three?” Steve teased, raising an eyebrow. 

Y/N rolled her eyes. “They were two, but I’ll bite since it’s disrespectful of the guest to contradict the host.” 

Steve snorted, shaking his head. “What was the first one?” 

“What are you doing here if you live upstate?” 

“I do live upstate, but I had this conference call tonight that needed my team to be there, so I ended up at the office. It's pretty close to Stark Tower.” 

“A meeting at midnight?” Y/N asked skeptically. 

“Ten in the evening,” Steve corrected. “With Singapore. It ran for two hours, and you calling me actually put an end to it. So, thank you for that.” 

You’re welcome, I guess? Y/N thought. But instead, what came out of her mouth was, “I thought you didn’t use this apartment, but Natasha has a hidden marshmallow stash?”

"She's not just good at hiding marshmallows. She's got this stealthy talent for hiding whatever we might need. The apartment serves its purpose during times like this—late meetings or emergencies. We don't use it a lot, maybe once or twice a month. Natasha's always on me to keep it stocked, but I usually ignore her advice and pay the price when she refuses to share her stash."

“Fair enough. And why did you call Bucky ‘James’?” 

“It’s his first name. Any more questions, doll?” 

“Just one,” Y/N said. “Who’s Natasha?” 

“My wife,” Steve replied without missing a beat. Y/N’s eyes widened dramatically, the color in them dissolving as her pupils dilated. She shifted in her seat, torn between leaving and staying. Steve’s unadulterated laughter fixed her in her place. “I didn’t peg you for someone who’s easily gullible. Natasha’s my assistant. The one you spoke to over the phone.” 

“You freaking asshole!”Y/N chastised. Her voice was barely audible, overwhelmed by Steve’s boisterous laugh. “It was bad enough I actually thought that woman was your wife when she answered the phone. Do you know how unnerving it was thinking I was going to be yelled at by a woman who’d think of me as a mistress?” 

Steve reclined, and if anything, laughed even heartier than before. His posture arched, revealing his neck and providing an unobstructed view of the prominent veins coursing across his skin.

“It would be anticlimactic if, after that earnest speech, I would turn out to be a liar.” 

Y/N shook her head. “You know? We’re here in your apartment, joking and sipping cold chocolate, and I realized we don’t know much about each other.” 

“Well then, Y/N. Let’s change that,” Steve smirked, placing both his forearms on the table. 

Y/N gnawed at the inside of her cheeks, looking down to hide her flushed face. Steve was now inches away from her face, not enough for their noses to touch, but enough for her to see the green sparkles in his eyes and catch the hint of amber in his perfume. 

“What’s your favorite color?” she voiced out. 

Steve did a double take as if he was shot in the chest. “Favorite color?” He sounded dejected. “Doll, that is a very anticlimactic question. I expected more from you.” 

“Hey! I think it’s important to have the answer to that question in one’s arsenal.” 

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those lunatics that think they can have you all figured out from your favorite color, birthday, and shit.” 

“No,” Y/N chuckled. “It’s just… I think we spend years getting to know people, and yet, we can’t recall the smallest details about them. We’re just left with a general impression. But I happen to care about the details. Without them, everything would be lacking, and there would only be incomplete pictures.” 

It felt somewhat ridiculous to voice this aloud, especially in front of Steve. But even though Y/N braced herself for a bemused look or a sarcastic grin, she was taken aback to see Steve lost in contemplation, as if he were mulling over her words.

Tapping his fingers rhythmically on the countertop, he finally confessed, "Honestly, I've never given it much thought."

“Never?” 

“No. Guys don’t typically get asked what their favorite color is.” 

“Well, I’m asking you now.” Y/N mirrored his prior actions, leaning across the countertop. She grinned, looking expectantly at the man before her. “What’s your favorite color?” 

His response wasn't immediate. Instead, he took a moment, his gaze wandering as he considered. "It's blue."

Y/N pushed herself away from him, her face contorting into a grimace. “Really?” 

“What?” Steve shifted in his seat. “Is it that bad?” 

“No. It’s anticlimactic, though.”

This time, Steve almost fell out of his chair from the force of his own laughter. “You are so mean, doll. So mean! What’s your favorite color? Slytherin green?” 

"No!" Y/N shook her head. Even with the clock ticking closer to one in the morning, the genuine warmth in Steve's laughter radiated like the midday sun. "I don't really have a favorite color."

"Now, that’s anticlimactic."

"No, it's me embracing life's different shades instead of limiting myself to just one."

“So, if someone were to psychoanalyze you based on your favorite color—or lack thereof—would they diagnose you as a non-monogamous person, who prefers to indulge in all the shades of people life has to offer?

“Steve!” 

“Y/N.” 

“Now, who’s the mean one?” Y/N pouted playfully. Steve responded with a wide smile as he took charge, placing the empty cups in the dishwasher and exchanging them for water. "Thanks."

“You’re welcome. Now, it’s my turn to ask.” Steve paused, waiting for Y/N to nod. "Tell me, what's your profession?" Steve's question hung in the air.

Y/N's lips curved into a mischievous smirk as she lightly tapped her index finger against the exquisite crystal water cup. "Go on, take a guess."

With a nonchalant smile, Steve replied, "Well, I've narrowed it down to the top three options."

"Top three?" Y/N raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"You strike me as someone effortlessly elegant and beautiful. My best bets are fashion designer, model, or a sugar baby," he replied, his tone light.

"Steve, seriously?" Y/N exclaimed, her face hidden behind her hands as she fought to contain her bubbling laughter. Despite her efforts, Steve's infectious mirth resonated through the kitchen, tinting his cheeks a vibrant shade of red. "I'm not a sugar baby!"

“Damn, baby. I could’ve used some sugar,” Steve teased. Y/N was torn between the urge to nudge him playfully and the temptation to burst into laughter right in his face.

“I’m an interior designer,” Y/N answered earnestly. 

Steve’s blue-green eyes raked over her soft features, assessing her. His penetrative gaze made her squirm, though it was more welcoming than uncomfortable. “I think it suits you. Where do you work?”

“Potts Designs.” 

“The most elite design studio in North America. So, you’re beautiful, graceful, and intelligent.” 

“Stop.” A blush crept over Y/N’s cheeks, tinting them pink. Her lashes fluttered rapidly as if trying to hasten time before her eyes returned to meet Steve’s gaze at eye level. “What about you? What do you do for work?” 

The cheeky bastard wiggled his brows and adjusted his position. From that act alone, Y/N knew he was going to tease her before giving an answer. 

“Guess.” 

“Well.” She had leisurely stressed on the “l”, giving away that she had already suspected such an answer and was immensely entertaining it. “You strike me as someone annoyingly determined and sophisticated. My best bets are financial officer, real estate agent, or a member of the Illuminati," she lightheartedly responded. 

“Illuminati,” Steve barked, vehemently shaking his head. “I’m afraid that they’ve rejected my application a long time ago. I’m just not cool enough for them.”

“Well, it’s their loss,” Y/N joked. “What is it that you do then?” 

“I’m a businessman,” he answered. “I own a threat security company and a couple of other firms. I’m also an angel investor.” 

“Damn, angel.” Y/N fluttered her lashes, resting her hands near Steve’s, enough to touch the rings on his fingers. “Does that mean you’ll invest your time in me?” 

Steve almost choked on air, clutching his stomach as tears formed on the edge of his lashes. He wiped them away with his fingers. "Tell you what, help me plead my case to the Illuminati, and I'll gladly take you as my sugar baby."

“Lucky for you, angel face, women love a man with power. You got yourself a deal.”

She extended her hand, shaking Steve’s. They only looked serious for a minute before their expressions faltered, and they laughed as if they had known each other for years.

Series Taglist: @crazyunsexycool @patzammit @wintasssoldier @themrsroger @theroyalmanatee @panandinpain0 @spectre-posts @googie-jeon

One Decade Later... Sab has finally updated this series! We're finally kicking it up a notch with this chapter. I'm excited about what's coming next!! What do we think of Steve and the reader? I also want him to give her a new nickname based on the information he now has, what do you suggest?

[mahoganydoodles]

PA’ATENI by neonheartbeat (@urulokid), author’s copies.

A memory of flames licking at the pillars of the throne room on the ancestral plane, N’Jadaka’s mouth curled in a mocking sneer, filled Shuri’s memory. Fire and earth. “You were happy to die at my hands,” she echoed, the skin on her arms pebbling as a shiver ran through her.

“Yes. But I only wished for one thing, and I had not gotten it before my death. So I was glad you showed mercy in the end.”

“And what did you wish for?” Shuri asked, advancing on him from the bed. “Your people swimming up the river to break Wakanda’s borders? An empire of blood against all other nations in the world?”

“I wished,” said Namor very quietly, watching her and not moving, “to hear you say my name.”

348,367 words | 1,112 pages | 2 volumes

When I first reached out to Neon to ask if I could bind pa’ateni for them, I had all these dreams of beadwork and jade and rich purples and golds and silk and layers of fabric emulating the rich description Neon weaves (you know this was gonna be a FANCY fancy bind). 

But when I asked Neon what kinda cover they wanted and they said “Ahhh just very natural I think,” that threw me for a LOOP. Because I was like fuck! Now what do I do! And the answer was… that I couldn’t be happier with how this bind turned out, so THANK YOU so much Neon for pointing me this direction!

One of the things i love about pa’ateni, and all of Neon’s work, is the attention to the ordinary. Part of the reason Neon’s characters feel so real is how much regular stuff gets description—whether that’s thinking about laundry chutes or washing their hair or getting drunk at a local bar. There’s a peacefulness to it, and that peace is at the heart of Namor and Shuri’s relationship (once they finally get on the right track). It reminds me of evenings at the ocean, of the quiet solitude of the ocean crashing. That something doesn’t need to be divine to be ethereal. 

I drew on that for this bind. There were two separate versions—the original NSFW story and a SFW version as well—that I modeled after a wave crashing onto the shore, two books forming a single image. The wave theme is echoed on the inside as well, in the moon cycle of the footer border, the moon and water iconography of the custom dinkus, and the full-page chapter titles of the sea. 

To complement the two volumes, I focused on one of the moments that stood out to me the most from the very start: the scene where Namor leaves Princess Shuri a bouquet of kelp. I made a custom Peller box with HTV of the passage quote on the inside, with multi-colored vinyl on the outside woven together to make kelp. A very special box (even by cool slipcase standards) for two very special books 🙂

Pa’ateni is such a beautiful story that builds on the emotions of grief, compassion, selflessness, and desire in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Read it on AO3, and thank you Neon for telling such a beautiful story. 

[bananaofswifts]

Taylor Swift’s third re-recorded album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), has earned over 575,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first four days of release (July 7-10), according to initial reports to Luminate — marking the biggest week for any album in 2023. Of that sum, album sales comprise over 400,000 copies – the largest sales week for an album this year, too.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is a re-recorded version of Swift’s 2010 No. 1 Billboard 200 studio album Speak Now. The 22-track re-recorded edition includes new recordings of the original album’s 14 standard tracks, along with bonus cuts and previously unreleased “From the Vault” recordings. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) follows Swift’s re-recorded Red and Fearless albums, released in 2021. Both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

If Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) debuts at No. 1 on the July 22-dated Billboard 200 chart (which reflects the tracking week ending July 13), Swift’s count of No. 1 albums will rise to 12, surpassing Barbra Streisand (with 11 leaders) for the most No. 1 albums among female artists. Swift would also tie Drake for the third-most No. 1s among all acts, with only The Beatles (19) and Jay-Z (14) ahead of them. (The Billboard 200 began publishing on a regular, weekly basis in March 1956.) The top 10 of the July 22-dated Billboard 200 chart is scheduled to be announced on Sunday, July 16.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

2023’s previous largest week, by equivalent album units earned, was tallied by Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, which launched with 501,000 units in the week ending March 9, as reflected on the Billboard 200 chart dated March 18. The year’s largest sales week was held by the debut frame of Stray Kids’ 5-STAR with 235,000 copies sold in the week ending June 8, as reflected on the June 17-dated charts.

Sales: With over 400,000 sold in only four days, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) already has the largest sales week for any album since Swift’s own last studio album, Midnights, debuted with 1.14 million copies sold last year (week ending Oct. 27, 2022; as reflected on the Nov. 5-dated Billboard charts).

Vinyl sales comprise over half of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’s sales – as the three-LP set has sold over 225,000 copies on wax. The latter marks the second-largest sales week for a vinyl album in the modern era (since Luminate began electronically tracking sales in 1991). It is second only to the first week of Midnights’ vinyl LP, with 575,000 sold in its opening frame. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is available in three color variants on vinyl – orchid marbled, violet marbled and a Target-exclusive lilac marbled color.

The remainder of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) sales is comprised of CDs, digital album download purchases and cassette tape sales.

Streaming: The collected 22 songs on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) generated more than 200 million on-demand official streams in the U.S. July 7-10, according to Luminate. The most-streamed tune on the album, by audio on-demand official streams, is the “from the vault” cut “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version),” with over 13 million on-demand official audio streams in those four tracking days.

[thewanderinginn]

10.12 H (Pt. 1 & 2)

The Quarass of Germina was a busy woman. Most rulers were, but she calculated her time down to the increments of each day. If you were a being made up of countless lives and experiences, you could do anything.

Which meant that you had better choose the best anything. She could have been re-teaching a sword school to new warriors. Or overseeing Germina’s dry farms. Or smithing an artifact.

She had taken the time to come to Khelt-Jecrass in the north to find two adventurers. Why?

“Chemath Marble. You do not know what it does. Its use has been lost, and even when the mines were open thirty years ago—they provided only four nations with enough marble to be considered significant.”

The Quarass was pontificating. She liked doing that too. Pisces sat there staring at the girl with brown skin, a headdress of multi-colored jewels, and the light, colorful clothing of Germina, a child until he met her eyes. A girl who owned the Serkonian Lance, the Relic casually propped against the table she sat at.

The tent Germina’s people had set up was spartan; Colth and Pisces had been given sweet dates, water, and nothing else. Was it a sign of traditional Germinan hospitality? Or the nation’s poorness?

Read More...

[decrepit-in-the-dark]

I did not forget Dave Strider's birthday at all so here's a masterpiece I've been working on in his honor (lying).

Image description under cut!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION START. A blank background, where Dave Strider from webcomic Homestuck stands alone, stone-faced and monotone. He is a preteen boy with white hair, white skin, and is wearing a white and red t-shirt with a red-labelled vinyl record, black pants, a pair of all-black aviator glasses situated over his eyes, and a multi-colored spotted party hat on his head. He is saying "penis", encased in a speech bubble. The artist's water mark is "Beast" with a heart symbol and their @ decrepit_in_the_dark. IMAGE DESCRIPTION END.

[brokehorrorfan]

Poor Things' soundtrack is available on vinyl for $32 via Waxwork Records. The score marks multi-instrumentalist Jerskin Fendrix's first foray into film composition.

Shipping in March, the album is pressed on 180-gram colored vinyl. It's housed in a gatefold jacket designed by Vasilis Marmatakis.

[oreo-oro-orero]

Thought I could expand on the Ekko and Jinx obsession idea I posted a while back.

Jinx originally started listening to Ekko just after her third year of middle school, back then he only did covers of other songs and he didn't start making original ones until her first year of highschool and she was his first follower on soundcloud

Ekkos music has helped Jinx through a lot and it helps calm her when she has one of her episodes and after Silco was arrested and given life in prison after he graduation, her listening only increased and she found herself becoming even more of a fan then she already was.

Jinx owns "The Firelight Collection" which is a collection of four specially crafted vinyl records which held the all four of the albums Ekko released in the span of a year for his Firelight event, she has one of the only 10 sets available and she is very protective of it making sure no one touches it and she cleans and polishes it semi-daily

Jinx has an Instagram account where she posts graffiti art and Ekko is one of her followers. He follows her on a alt account and has some limited edition merch she sold a year ago, he wears it to bed and it's his favorite shirt. He also owns a couple of other pieces of her merch such as a lamented poster of one of her popular posts which is a multi colored picture of a cartoon monkey painted on a billboard in a well known part of piltover.

One of the only things Jinx dislikes about Ekkos career is the reputation he has for being sort of ladies man or boy toy and she would find herself getting viciously angry reading the tabloids and articles that claimed this often leading to her sending very colorful worded messages to the reporters and writers of those articles.

[twh-news]

MARVEL'S LOKI: Original Soundtrack - Season One (Vinyl) (On-Sale Info) | Mondoshop

This week we are proud to present a long-teased project - Natalie Holt's Emmy®-nominated score to the incredible first season of Marvel Studio's LOKI. Featuring all 48 tracks from the complete first season soundtrack, and housed in a slipcase with artwork by Anne Benjamin, three printed inner sleeves and a TVA file folder insert.

As always, all new releases go on sale Wednesdays 12 NOON CT at mondoshop.com. 

NEW RELEASE: MARVEL'S LOKI: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK - SEASON ONE 3XLP

Mondo, in conjunction with Hollywood Records, is proud to present the premiere physical release of composer Natalie Holt's Emmy®-Award nominated score to MARVEL STUDIOS’ LOKI Season One. The incredibly talented, classically trained multi-instrumentalist brought an immediately noticeable unique musical flourish to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the main title theme ‘TVA' (also nominated for an Emmy®). From the jump, the propulsive, bellowing synth and melodic strings carry this high concept sci-fi story of timelines and multiverses to emotional depths with delicate precision. "I had an idea for the look of the sleeves, inspired by the opening credits from the TVA theme in Loki’s logo in black and white, and I’m thrilled with how Mondo and artist Anne Benjamin have taken my concept and created such epic and beautiful Loki inspired artwork,” says composer Natalie Holt. “I really hope people can turn down the lights, open their ears and enjoy interacting with this Loki vinyl set!” Pressed on three 180 Gram colored vinyl discs (also available on 180 gram black vinyl) and housed in a slipcase featuring an all new illustration by artist Anne Benjamin.

MARVEL'S LOKI: Original Soundtrack - Season One 3XLP. Music by Natalie Holt. Artwork by Anne Benjamin. Package design by Mo Shafeek. Pressed on 3x 180g Color Vinyl. Also available on 3x 180g Black Vinyl. $50 

[roppongi-division]

"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." - Nelson Mandela

Introduction

Kai Quinlan is the leader of the Roppongi Division rap battle team, Private Party. He is known far and wide by his nickname, Veenyle. A former opera singer trained by his talented, yet overbearing mother, this awe-inspiring DJ gave up opera music the day he received his first sampler. Now, known far and wide all across Japan, he makes a living by entertaining the masses with his radio show during the day, and his stellar turntablism at night.

A man of Japanese and African American descent, Kai is a light brownish man with long grayish-black dreadlocks that go down past his neck to his upper back. He has a full-grown beard and moustache along with sideburns, all of which are the same color as his hair. He has light brown eyes which are often hid behind his black circular-shaped sunglasses. He stands at 6'2" and weighs 195 lb. approximately.

When he isn't DJing, he tends to dress casually. He wears a white tank shirt showing off his muscles and a pair of long black faded jeans with black and blue sneakers. Around his neck are two gold chains. He also has two earrings in his right ear, a gold ball earring in his earlobe, and a gold loop one at the top. Lastly, he sometimes wears a black ball cap on his head.

When he is DJing, he often adopts his 'Wolf of Shadows' persona. As such, he often dresses like a wolf with black wolf ears and a tail attached to his black jeans. On his face is a black Oni mask, which obscures his facial features. He also has a black bandana over his eyes, which, surprisingly, doesn't blind him. He also wears a pair of black headphones with a skull and bones motif on both cups. He also wears a black and red jacket with a black t-shirt underneath. Lastly, he has another gold chain around his neck.

Name Meaning

Kai - A name of various origins. In Japanese, it has a number of meanings, including "ocean" (海), "shell" (貝), "open" (開), "restoration" and "recovery".

Quinlan - A name of Irish and Gaelic origin. It means "descendant of Caoinlean, slender" or "fit, shapely, strong." It is also a form of the name "Quinn".

Aliases:

"Wolf of Shadows" - His stage name

DJ Veenyle - His radio/MC name

"The Multi-Armed DJ"

Pops/Dad - Zakari

Husband/Mi amor - Mireya

Biographical Info

Gender - Male

Age - 34

Birthday - April 16th

Ethnicity - African American

Hair Color - Grayish-Black

Eye Color - Light Brown

Height - 188 cm (6'2")

Weight - 88 kg (195 lb.)

Star Sign - Aries

Piercings - A gold ball earring in his right earlobe, and a gold loop earring at the top of the same ear.

Markings -

A microphone and headphones tattoo on his right arm.

A wolf tattoo covering the majority of his back.

A moon and stars tattoo behind his left ear.

Family -

Mother

Father (Deceased)

Sister

Wife

Adopted Son

Voiced By - Pase Rock (Rapping)

Fun Facts

MC Name - Veenyle

Occupation - Radio Personality/Club DJ

Position - 1st Member/Leader

Favorite Food - New York–style pizza

Least Favorite Food - Pastrami on rye

Likes - DJing, his family, Japan, inventing new music techniques, sunsets, musicians, Japan's nightlife, Roppongi, casinos, wolves, his radio show, Minato City, new music equipment, rap battles, and early mornings.

Dislikes - Lacking inspiration, waking up late, crows, trolls, people who call his show and wastes his time, senseless noise, prima donnas, his son's suicidal tendencies, sweating, and thinking about his past.

Hypnosis Microphone

Kai's Microphone takes the form of a pair of black and gold Bluetooth headphones with LED lights that light up at various intervals.

His Speaker takes the form of a large gold Buddha-esque statue with six arms and a gold vinyl disc on its head, which acts as a halo or a crown. Directly behind the statue is a dharma wheel, which acts as the speaker.

His rap ability, Trance, has his speaker delivering a hypnotic tune that puts one, or all, of his opponent(s) in a sort of trance, making them wander aimlessly and forget what they were doing, effectively making them skip their turn. He can use this continuously, but the downside is that Kai loses a lot of stamina each time.

Kai's rap themes aren't centered solely on one topic. His themes change periodically depending on his mood or situation. Often times, however, he'll often rap about the direction that music is taking, and how it is constantly shifting and changing. He raps about how music has lost its true "spirit" and that we need to "give life back to music". He'll also sometimes rap about his past, the love for his family and the direction that Japan and the world are headed.

Personality

Kai, for the most part, is a rather laid-back individual who tries not to let the stress of life bother him. Despite his intimidating presence and appearance, he tends to be rather level-headed and calm. He tends to be very private, however, especially when it comes to his personal life or his past. Besides those in his inner circle (i.e. his family), he tends to keep most people, even his closest friends, at arm's length to avoid them becoming too close.

Despite that, Kai is not one to shy from something even if it is challenging or uncomfortable, especially conflict. He always tells what he is thinking and doesn't care if what he says is hurtful or rude. The only thing that matters to him is the truth. He'd rather have someone hurt his feelings than lie to him, because at least then, he knows where he and the other individual stands.

It may be due to the fact that he's not stranger to violence, but one of Kai's most well-known traits is that he looks at everything as a competition. And when that happens, he tends to throw everything he has towards winning. Though he won't resort to cheating or deceitfulness, he refuses to hold back to spare the other person's feelings. This often causes others to shy away from Kai, but his family and friends know that is just how he is.

Another aspect of Kai is that he is not content to just be another nameless face in a crowd. He loves to stand out and show just who he is. This may be why he created his alternate persona known as, 'Wolf of Shadows', as it is something that no one has ever done before. He is not an attention hog, but he won't shy away from being recognized when he feels he has earned it.

As stated, Kai is known for being a private person outside of DJing. It is only when he is making music or on the turntables that he reveals himself to others. He loves everything about music, because he feels that he can express himself with his music than he ever can normally. This is something he often expresses in his raps, as he often thinks about the direction that music is heading.

Background

*Coming soon*

Trivia

His MC name, Veenyle, is a homograph of the word, 'vinyl', like 'vinyl records'.

He owns and operates his own Internet radio station, which he calls 'Real Music Radio'. He cites his fanbase as part of his tribe, calling them 'The Wolfpac'.

Besides being a DJ, he is also widely known as an expert music producer. He has worked and produced music with the likes of 86, Vox, Yorii Sakuma, ArgoξOrchestra, and many more.

He also helped to produce most of the songs from HypMic's Collab albums.

Though he'll sometimes travel to different cities and divisions to DJ at clubs or events, he usually sticks to his city of Roppongi.

He is called "The Multi-Armed DJ" not only due to his speaker, but because he seems to "sprout" up to ten arms when he is DJing (Truthfully, he just moves his arms really fast, creating afterimages).

He is a man of many roots, being born Japanese, African American, Native American, and Jamaican (The last three are on his mother's side).

His favorite brand of cigarettes is KOOL Menthol 100s.

It's believed his reason for being forced into joining the D.R.B. by the Party of Words is due to his rap ability, which the Government believes to be a sort of brainwashing, which they hope to utilize for their own benefit.

[helenewate]

it's chilly and grey in Ohio today, and I put my fall perfume on (jazz club by replica xoxo) and I'm listening to the wind by cat stevens and I'm actually getting quite sad! it feels, smells, and sounds like a wet October afternoon on campus, running from class, to the coffee shop to write, to work, back to class, to a meeting with my advisor who I love and miss dearly, then driving home and enjoying the changing scenery and the multi-colored leaves on the train tracks and the multitudes of deer frolicking through the blanched, dying fields.

I'm one of the few and lucky people who have always loved and felt inspired by school. academia is where I thrive, and I think had I not been in college and going through the motions of coming to adulthood in this little wet patch of Ohio, I would not have written this book. I just feel very lucky to have been placed here at this moment, because I think this is where I needed to be.

but today, I'm missing the dark corner of the coffee shop on my little green vinyl booth. today, I'm missing the trek to the post office in the rain. today, I'm missing the cluttered basement office of my advisor/professor and our talks of books and life. today, I'm missing room 208 with the view overlooking the great maple of the front lawn and the rooftops of the shops across the street. today, I'm missing the lake where you froze in autumn weather and I met a man I liked very much for the very first time. today, I'm missing the faces I knew by sight, but not by name.