#my hair is 50 shades of gray

[ilovejoo]

｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

habits they get from dating you; enhypen

word count: 1.5k warnings: n/a gn!reader a/n: like & reblog & follow for more; new blog here lol THANK U FOR READINGG

heeseung

always looking for you in a crowd to make sure you were doing okay, even if the situation doesn't call for worry

at parties, he can't help but scan the room to look for your familiar eyes. were you doing okay? were you having fun?

when performing while you're in the audience, he looks for your approval in the crowds while also ensuring that you were safe. was his singing as good as the singing he shows you at 3am on the living room couch? were you being trampled by his fans?

this type of habit that he developed is something he really can't help: though he trusts you to take care of yourself, he just wants the best for you.

subconsciously putting food on your plate before he takes his own

this can mean sneaking an extra choco pie into his pocket from a en-o-clock episode site or grilling the meat and placing it on your plate for you during kbbq nights. he grabs the first slice of pizza for you, reaches for the best piece of pie for you, and makes sure you have food to eat before he starts taking and shoving his own food into his mouth, even though everyone knows how much he values eating.

he saves the first, last, and best bites for you. if he knows you like a certain side dish, he'll move his onto your plate.

jay

making meals for two rather than one, or eight rather than the seven of his group

he got so used to cooking for you that even when you aren't there, he finds himself making a bigger meal than he used to out of habit.

two servings of ramen- damn, he only meant to make it for himself, but he added two on accident since two is the amount he makes every time.

whenever he's cooking, naturally he adds a few scoops extra of each ingredient without even thinking; caring for you and making sure you have food to eat is something he does subconsciously.

calling you "my" when talking to other people, as in "my baby," "my y/n," "my darling"

you overheard him talking to jungwon while referring to you as "my y/n," and you felt your heart skip a beat. "my y/n baked me a cupcake the other day!" or "my darling studied all night for their exam, i hope they aren't too tired."

the way you both know that he is yours and you are his is something that incorporated itself into his daily life and daily conversations.

jake

seeing you in every little thing, from the clouds in the sky to his eyes naturally spotting your favorite snack

his members are tired of hearing "oh y/n likes this!" "this looks like y/n!" "this reminds me of when y/n..." jake cannot get you out of his head, he is so down bad for you that every little thing reminds him of you.

somehow he will connect the color of a random car to the time when you went to the movies together and the commercial that played had the same shade of gray somewhere in it. romantic?

saying "i love you" literally every waking moment

when you wake up, in your sleepy eyes and messed up hair, he can't help but express the love he holds for you. seeing you shove a cupcake into your mouth: he's never seen anything more perfect in his life. you scored a 50% on your final exam: it's completely fine!

everything from your strengths to your flaws about you is so perfect, mesmerizing, lovable to him, and so he finds himself saying the words "i love you" every hour, every day. every time he feels grateful to have you in his life, he says a quick "love you," which is much more often than you would think.

sunghoon

playing with your fingers whenever you were next to him

like in iland where often he found himself fidgeting with the hand of the person next to him, your hand is always in his once he mustered the courage to grasp it the first time. rings, fingers, nails, anything on your hands becomes his personal fidget toy: all anxieties gone, all pressures relieved, everything perfectly fine. sometimes he will crack your knuckles, pinch your skin, earning a playful slap on his shoulder from you; the different ways he plays with your hands are endless.

asking questions like "did you sleep well?" or "was the food good?"

is this him being awkward and not knowing what to say to fill up silence, or is this him being a caring boyfriend? neither of you know, but you do know that he still genuinely wants to know in order to check up on you and make sure everything is good. his "did you like the chicken" translates to "i love you and i want everything to be just perfect in your life."

sunoo

attentively studying the hair stylists to learn how to do your hair when he gets back home

whenever his stylist tries something new on him, a different idol from another group, or one of his members and he finds himself particularly liking it, he studies it to the best of his ability to best replicate it when he sees you again. the way the straightener moves, the type of products to use: he memorizes it all.

he will see a certain style and think about how good it would look on you, and how he needs to see it on you asap, so learning from a real professional would be the best way to do it.

saving saturday nights for dates and building his schedule around it every week

"wait, saturday night? i can't, i have plans." he did not have plans.. yet. but! every saturday is saved for you, no matter what. therefore, on the way home, he picked up some face masks and candles for a self care night.

he finds himself saving every single saturday night just for you, no matter what may come up. he loves spending time with you, so having this time together means a lot to him.

jungwon

taking selfies everywhere to send mini updates of literally his entire life

you're his personal diary at this point, with the number of selfies and pictures he takes and sends to you. you thought he takes a lot of pictures for his fans? while that is true, he takes double the amount for you.

he makes up for all the time you guys are apart by updating you on things like his meals, practice ending, going to sleep, his member leaving his sock on his bed, etc. does it get too personal sometimes? yes, but you love it.

watching for your safety whether you are known for your clumsiness or not, his hands always ready to grab you

whether this means walking on the outer side of the sidewalk or hovering over you when you walk down the stairs, your safety is his priority.

when you bend down to grab something, he walks behind you so you feel safe, covered, and nobody bumps into you. when your head is dangerously close to the corner of a table, his hand gravitates between your head and the edge to prevent any potential injuries.

he can't bear to see you hurt or in pain, so he'll do his best for that not to happen.

niki

always sleeping with something by his side, and he can't sleep without the feeling of another presence right next to him

his members have been replaced by you at night sleeping next to him. twiddling with your hair as your eyes began to close, snuggling into that crook in your neck: all flows right into his nightly routine. after a while, he got too used to your warmth that whenever you are absent, he can't fall asleep.

this is where weighted stuffed animals, heated blankets, and such came into play; he really could not sleep without you, or at least a subpar replica of you.

dancing, singing, and trying to look his best whenever you're around to impress you and earn words of praise

"y/n look over here!" he'd do a quick but fancy dance move that he learned in the middle of your living room.

"wait, watch this." he'll play a video of him that heeseung took of him shooting a basketball into the hoop from afar.

"did you see our new performance? wasn't i just so cool in it?" he will say anything to hear praise coming from your lips: of course, he hears it all the time from his fans, but hearing it from you has a different meaning, so he makes sure to always look his best and impress you with all that he does.

he wants to look ultra cool and awesome in front of you, but can you blame him? he's just so in love with you.

[glitterjay]

— cute sub psh

⭒ what happens when you find out your sweet and caring boyfriend has a darker side he's been hiding? | mlist!

⭒ sub!sunghoon, afab!reader, begging, denial of orgasm, masturbation (m. receiving), pet names, hoon has a praising kink, suggestive content under cut mdni.

⭒ taglist: @hollyoongs @moon7jay @wondipity @defnotfertilizedtoesw

you and sunghoon had been dating ever since your senior year in high school. he was the sweetest, most smartest boy that could ever exist, and honestly, you were just the average normal girl who tried not to fail more than one class.

the relationship was wonderful. he'd always take care of you. your parents were basically in love with him as well, always thanking him for doing what he's doing to protect you in any way. little did you know there were dark thoughts behind that angel facade.

you and sunghoon had agreed on a sleepover at his apartment. his roommate was gone for the weekend, and you both took this as the perfect opportunity to spend time for yourselves. your boyfriend was in the kitchen preparing more snacks and popcorn while you stayed in his bed looking for a show or movie to watch.

the screen showed various opttions, one of them getting your attention almost immediately. the communication between you and sunghoon was probably one of the things that kept it so steady. you guys had talked about being intimate with each other beyond make out sessions, but you never really had the opportunity.

with 50 shades of gray displayed on the screen, an idea ran through your mind. you went through his closet quickly, finding a long white t-shirt that would obviously fit you like a baggy dress. you took your cute sponge bob pajamas (with a small pout since sunghoon was wearing matching patrick star pajamas) but your idea was more important.

you grabbed your phone from the nightstand, connecting it to the small speaker beside the tv and playing the soundtrack from the movie. you laid on your side across the bed, intentionally riding up the shirt so that part of your thigh showed a little. right on queue, sunghoon's footsteps started getting louder and closer.

"hey, baby, have you seen my-"

his words got caught on the back of his thorat. the sight was definitely erotic, and his cock twitching was clear evidence of that.

cute sub! sunghoon who asks you to rub his dick faster and harder.

cute sub! sunghoon who moans loudly when you call him a good boy.

cute sub! sunghoon who is gripping the bedsheets for dear life.

cute sub! sunghoon who feels like cumming every time you praise him.

"b-baby, please please please. 'm so close," he said. his hair was sticking to his forhead, glistening with the sweat that was dripping down. your hands were doing wonders to his cock, and hebwas very vocal about it. "hmgh! im- im gonan cum"

suddenly, your hand stopped moving. resting at the base of his dick. sunghoon's head shot up, tears threatening to fall any second. "no, no, no, no! why! i- i was so close!"

"darling, darling please," he took your hand into his, moving it at a fast pace again. his hips bucked up as he moaned loudly. "i'll pay you back, just please let me cum."

if you were being honest, seeing him in the verge of tears turned you on even more. it was going to be a fun and long night.

© glitterjay | tumblr

c's note: if you have any suggestions or ideas, or want to be added to the tag list, feel free to use my ask! reblogs, comments, and feedback are very much appreciated <3

[catindabag]

TBOSAS on Crack short take (54)

Lucy Gray: Wovey, sweetie, not to sound weird, but how do you address ✨The Amazing Lucy Gray✨ again?

Wovey: The Annoying Birdy from 12!

Lucy Gray: The what?! Who told you to call me that?!

Wovey: Bread Boy Pablo.

Panlo: Ha! That’s what you get for stealing my hair curlers, Baird!

Lucy Gray: I needed those hair curlers to look pretty on TV, Pablo!

Panlo: It’s Panlo! And my Mentor gave them to me as a gift!

Lucy Gray: Your Gaius Brat can suck a di-

Circ: Yo! What about Circ with the quirk, Wovey?

Wovey: Mr. Smarty Pants.

Circ: I can live with that.

Teslee: And me?

Wovey: Curly Tops.

Teslee: Okay.😞

Hy: How about Hy?😀

Wovey: Who are you again?

Hy: Nevermind.

Sol: And Sol?

Wovey: Never heard of her.

Sol: But-

Mizzen: How about me, Wovey?

Wovey: You’re ✨The Gremlin✨.

Mizzen: Eh. Could be worse.

Coral: And me?

Wovey: You’re the angry babysitter.

Coral: That checks out.

Jessup: How about me?

Wovey: You’re Mr. Baby Blue Suit.

Jessup: But my suit isn’t even-

Treech: Me next!

Wovey: Lumberjack.

Treech: Nice!

Lamina: And me?

Wovey: Salty Tears.

Lamina: Wovey, why?!😭

Sheaf: How about me, sweetie?

Wovey: Sheaf the Chief.

Sheaf: Wow. Andie was right!

Tanner: How about your big bro Tanner?

Wovey: Mr. One Eyed Joe.

Tanner: Did Treech taught you that?!

Brandy: *is on top of a tree* It was I! Brandy Sharp Candy! *evil laughs*

Tanner: Get down from there, you mangy little shi-

Brandy: Never!!

Dill: How about me, Wovey?😀

Wovey: Shorty.

Dill: That doesn’t make sense. I’m taller than you.

Wovey: Reaper gave me a gumdrop to call you that.

Reaper: Dill, I-

Dill: Reaper, you lying traitor!

Bobbin: How about me, partner?

Wovey: Bobby Corn Poppy.

Bobbin: Curse you Juno Phipps!😫

Juno: Yo, how’s life, peasants?😌💅

Bobbin: What the heck?! How did you guys get inside our enclosure without us noticing again?!

Apollo: We paid the Peacekeepers to let us in again.😀

Hilarius: Hi, Wovey!

Wovey: Hi, Mr. Rich Clown!

Lucy Gray: Hi, Coryo!

Coryo: Hi, Birdy.

Mizzen: Where’s the food?!

Coryo: Oh, that’s right! We brought you guys 20 boxes of the Capitol’s best spinach puffs and 24 bags of their signature cream cheese bacon today.

Lucy Gray: Nice!

Tanner: Can’t wait to try that!

Mizzen: Blondie, hurry! Toss those spinach puffs to me!

Coryo: Wait-

Mizzen: Feed me and only me, Snow Bae! Feed me and only me!!

Sejanus: Yo, back off, gremlin! Coryo’s my Snow Bae! Not yours!

Mizzen: *hisses like a cat* Be gone, you evil rock merchant!

Sejanus: I’m not a rock merchant!

Coryo: Calm down, Mizzen. These spinach puffs are for everyone-

Mizzen: I am everyone!

Coryo: No, you’re not.

Mizzen: I am the Bacon King!

Coral: Treech, get the ropes before the gremlin eats our food again!

Treech: For the last time, Coral, I’m not your servant!

Marcus: Is it lunch time already?

Sejanus: Hi, Marcus! My Ma made this delicious pie just for you!☺️

Marcus: Ugh. My giant headache’s back again.😩

Sejanus: But-

Marcus: Marcus is too busy nursing his headache, Plinth!

Sejanus: But do you still want my Ma’s homemade pie?🥺

Marcus: No!

Sejanus: But- Coryo, help me!😭

Coryo: Marcus, do you want me to leave you my boyfriend’s mother’s blueberry pie before we leave?

Marcus: Obviously.🙄

Ginnee: Hi, Moonshine!

Diana: Hi, Gin!

Ginnee: Diana, did you bring the thing?

Diana: What thing?

Gunner: The “thing” that I told you to secretly smuggle yesterday.

Diana: Yup! As promised by the moon goddess, I brought you one of Gaius Breen’s spicy banned books that you really wanted to read-

Ginnee: Shhhhh! Don’t say that out loud, girl!

Otto: Say what, Ginnee?😒

Apollo: Otto, buddy, I thought you knew?

Otto: Knew what?

Apollo: That dear Ginnee requested my lovely twin sister to bring her a very spicy banned book to read.

Otto: What spicy banned book?

Apollo: 50 Shades of Gray.

Diana: Yeah, that’s true.

Ginnee: Lies! All I can hear are lies!

Diana: And she also wanted me to bring her an official copy of the Twilight Saga.

Ginnee: Otto, I can explain!😭

Lucy Gray: Yo, is the 50 Shades of Gray all about me?

Coral: Everything’s not about you, Baird!

Lucy Gray: That’s incorrect.

Otto: Ginnee.

Ginnee: Yes?

Otto: Your taste in books is trash.

Ginnee: I know!😭

[randomfoggytiger]

Seasonal Color Analysis: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and Their Colors

If anyone wants to see more in-depth about David and Gillian and their colors, click to read more; but if you're okay without the extra details, no worries! We'll catch up on the next X-Files meta post.

Quick Summary of my first post: GA and DD both have red undertones (as seen in the above picture); but the red does not overtake the yellow in DD's skin (giving him a Warm Hue undertone) while the red tips over the scale into pink for GA (giving her a Cool Hue undertone.) GA is a Clear Winter, meaning her chroma (High) is first consideration when it comes to colors compared to their Hues (warm or cool); David is a Soft Autumn, meaning his chroma (Low) is also first consideration when it comes to Hues (again, warm or cool.) Because undertone does not change or fade with age, the same application for their younger selves applies still in their 50s and 60s.

TLDR: Explaining myself a little further with DD and GA's colors photoshopped near their face-- providing receipts, if you will~.

Saw a few posts (reblogged on my timeline if you're curious) and wanted to clarify some points I made on my color analysis post here:

David, Gillian, and Jewellry

David still has his warm and red undertone-- which doesn't change with age-- and can pull off cool colors as well as his predominant warm ones because he is Soft Autumn (meaning: if the chroma of whatever color remains muted, he can pretty much swing it.) He is encouraged to wear bronze, silver, pewter, rose gold, and other metals that err on the muted side.

Gillian is encouraged to wear White and Platinum jewelry over silver because of those metal's bright, cool undertone because she is a Bright/Clear Winter (if she were a Summer instead of a winter, silver would be advised for its muted, cool undertone.) She can also pull off gold because of her Bright Chroma (present in the warm yellows of her Bright Winter Palette, shown below.) Gillian is going to look great in some Springs instead of some Winters because of the Chroma consideration of her skin: if the color, cool or warm, is muted, she doesn't look as fantastic as she would with brighter colors, cool or warm. It's hard to tell with her modern appearances because of the frequent use of body tan, but her skin is naturally quite pale and cool and porcelain. If her outfits verge too warm, then her hair becomes brassier, and her skin takes on an orange tinge.

DAVID IN HIS COLORS

Here is the Soft Autumn palette below:

And here are my (bad) editing attempts of David in said colors:

The greens below even bring out more olive in his skin (compared to the very warm red usually present):

When David is swatched with Winter and Autumn colors, the differences really show up, I think:

The Winter swatches are vastly cooler than his skin, giving it a muddied, grayed out appearance; the Autumns, however, inject a level of warmth back into it, complimenting his undertone no matter what lighting he's in.

Lastly, here's David in a Winter muted Hue (left) and a Autumn muted Hue (right) to demonstrate the swatches a bit better.

Although he likely had very little sleep when filming either scene, David looks washed out, drained, and tired in the black; and significantly less tired and washed out in the brown.

GILLIAN IN HER COLORS

Here is the Bright/Clear Winter Palette below:

When GA is swatched with Spring and Clear Winter colors, the difference becomes more pronounced, I think:

As you can see, spring colors aren't bad; but the winter colors bring out a delicate, healthy pink to her skin (and hair.) Specifically: the nude shade on the left is warmer peach compared to her skin, whereas the nude shade on the right blends into her cool pink undertone quite naturally.

And lastly, here's Gillian in a Spring bright Hue (left) and a Winter bright Hue (right) to demonstrate the swatches a bit better.

There's a "GA vs. the shirt" quality the blue Spring has that the white Winter does not.

Masculine v. Feminine Aesthetic Footnote

I think I covered everything in my beautiful first post here and the follow-up response here. Have at!

CONCLUSION

I hope my facts are all in order, and that I haven't forgotten to present anything that might lead to more confusion, etc.

If we don't agree, all well and good.

Thanks for reading~

Enjoy!

**Disclaimers**: All resources taken from dear peachie, The Concept Wardrobe, The Dream Wardrobe, and other free source sites.

[fottitimioamore]

hii !!

i have a request,

could you write a rottmnt bros + april x fashionable!reader? like the reader is always looking put together with their outfits, makeup, and hair. fem, please.

thanks ! xoxo

Yeah totally! I'm lowkey jealous of people who have a fashion sense because my closet is 50 shades of gray. Literally. I think I have a blue shirt somewhere in there. Maybe.

I thiiink this was only a little after the ask came in, notifs on mobile are bizarre whyy

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♡ Pairing: All + April x fashionable!reader

♡ Warnings: None

♡ Relationship: Romantic

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Raphael

♡ He loves your looks! He thinks you look amazing all the time, but the fact that you can put together a fit no matter what is so cool

♡ He can't really wear clothes, given his whole shell situation, but he's gonna hype you up every time you show up

♡ So many compliments. It's almost overwhelming how much praise you get from this man

♡ I imagine his compliments are hushed, under a bashful smile that he can't help. He wants you to know how amazing you look, but saying it out loud makes him a lil' nervous

♡ He likes watching you get ready whenever he can. He's completely happy just sitting by you, watching your process

♡ He likes seeing you in his color. He'll never admit it, but whenever you incorporate a little bit of crimson into an outfit his heart flutters

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Leonardo

♡ Man fell hard and flat on his face after meeting you

♡ No matter how long you guys are together, he will always be astonished at the level of perfection you achieve with every outfit

♡ From your shoes to your hair (which he is soo jealous of), you are the embodiment of a bad bitch

♡ He studies everything about every fit, always going to you for tips about his own when he actually wears something

♡ Please do his makeup. I just know he'd strut around all smug, proud of himself and your work. "Oh! Oh this? Yeah, my girlfriend did it. She's great huh?"

♡ If you let him (try) doing your makeup or hair, I swear you'll see hearts in his eyes. He's not great at it, but give him some pointers along the way and he'll be your personal assistant anytime you need

♡ Matching outfits. All the time. He loves matching with you when you go out. Makes him feel closer to you

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Donatello

♡ This man draws his eyebrows onto his mask. There is no way he does not know his way around some makeup

♡ He's right there with you in the morning, granted his process is much simpler given his lack of clothes, and hair

♡ He still likes spending the time with you, even if he has to mess up his eyebrow for the 13th time just to have an excuse to stay

♡ Maybe you mess up one too many times and he must insist he do it lest he watch you struggle any longer ;)

♡ Now Leo can rock an outfit alright, all of them can. But Donnie? Whole 'nother level. Every time out of the lair with you, you guys are the models of NYC

♡ Like Raph, wearing his color is *chef's kiss* Most likely all of your duo fits will incorporate it in some way

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Michelangelo

♡ Star-struck. Every time. Always impressed at how put-together you look

♡ And like Raph, he wants you to know you look good. Unlike Raph, though, he is not afraid to tell you

♡ The world will know how amazing you look, doesn't matter if it's an everyday fit or something special, he is literally singing your praises

♡ When he's not hyping you up, he's admiring your sheer beauty. Every inch is pure perfection. Your hair, your clothes, your makeup, even the way you hold yourself.

♡ Perfectly content sitting watching you go about your day, goofy smile on his face (giggling and kicking feet vibes fr)

♡ He does like trying your makeup every once in a while, he is an artist after all. Normally though, he gets a little distracted and may start hiding little doodles on ypur shoulders. Nothing major, just something you can wipe of if you wanted

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April

♡ Bad bitch duo. Whenever you guys go out, she loves doing a matchy matchy thing. You guys will always compliment each other

♡ Shopping sprees? Yes. That's really all here is to that man

♡ Pretty decent at makeup

♡ Well someone had to teach Donnie how to do his eyebrows

♡ I dont see her wearing a ton, but she knows her way around it would love it if you let her do yours from time to time

♡ Vice versa too, you ever offer to do her's she will literally fall depeer in love

♡ She really does admire how perfectly you present yourself all the time, it really is a mystery to her how one person can be so beautiful

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Feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome! <3

[periwinklemoonlight]

I AM VERY INTERESTED I LOVE HEARING THOUGT PROCESSES AND ITS SO CLEAR HOW MUCH PASSION AND CARE WAS PUT INTO YOUR ZINE PIECE

AHH THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! i have so many thoughts i dont know where to begin LMAO ill start with the outfit designs first!!

to start things off, every design has one specific colour in mind to represent that hermit! pearl - blue, gem - green, impulse - yellow, doc - black/gray, and grian - red! (everyone's nails are painted their colour) every design was deliberately punk-inspired, since during the king arc the soup group was a force of resistance against the monarchy's tyranny :P therefore, the soup group are the main focus of the art and their designs are intentionally made so that they stand out more from the other two, though i made sure they were all unique in one aspect or another :] let's go character by character now! (i'm including all my initial design sketches + some inspo photos too)

pearl - she's the lead singer of soup group, along with playing the electric guitar! her design features a double tank top + low rise big pant combo, moon motifs of course, and two distinct shades of blue! The darker one is seen throughout her hair and outfit, while the lighter one in her moth antenna is reflected in her guitar. the main inspiration for her look was avril lavigne, which is also what influenced me to add those fun blue hair streaks :D on her shirt i wanted to have a sort of skeletal moth/butterfly design!!

gem - the keytar! i wanted to make sure that gem and pearl's designs looked very distinct from each other, so i went for a slightly different vibe with gem's! her design is based more off of the plaid skirts, big boots, and fishnet looks i found while looking through early 2000s lip service magazine scans (as well as some hayley williams looks!!) :D additionally, shes got vine tattoos over her body to call back to her nature elf vibe this season!

impulse - the drummer of course!! for his look, i wanted to go a little more anarcho-punk (since its a much older punk style and hes the oldest member of soup group LOL), so his vest jacket has got a bunch of diy additions like patches, pins, paperclips, and chains, along with a bunch of spikes!! in my mind, the back of his jacket has probably got a whole lot more patches, spikes, and studs :] beyond that, i made sure to give him lots of piercings (though my options were limited since s9 impy has a beard lol), and stretched earlobes for fun!! ideally his pants would also have a lot more patches and fun bits, but since his legs would be entirely covered by his drums in the final piece i went for something simpler

doc - an opener and feature on the song! since he's not part of the soup group, his design is quite a bit simpler than the others in terms of both look and concept :] his look is monochrome save for his robotic red parts and green skin, but still looks interesting thanks to that fun leather jacket :D his look is purposefully more reminiscent of a 50's style greaser, i wanted to go for an older fashion style to make him look more intimidating/mature, as well as set him apart from the look of soup group since the perimeter was an independent nation in the king arc!

grian - another feature/opener! design wise? hes literally just green day i can't even lie like the pun was perfect and also the black shirt + red tie combo is iconic and also fits his look so effortlessly it had to be done LMAO also, if you look closely in the final piece you can see he's wearing eyeshadow! this of course is again because hes grian day /silly. but to be real, i think this style also fits him really well since the tie + spikes & studs combo gives the look that sorta rebellious vibe that was all over his videos during the king arc :]

AND NOW FOR THE INSTRUMENTS!! this segment is thankfully much shorter

pearl's guitar is of course a nod to my design for her and her moth wings! butterfly guitars are harder to draw than you'd think LOL

gem's keytar has got a vine design all over it to match her tattoos

impulse's drum set has got the soup group punk band logo! the logo design may honestly be my favourite part of the piece, i feel like i really nailed what i was going for :D

and thats it! i'll edit this post or rb with any details i missed if they come to mind! thank u for reading anyone who has made it this far <3

[rubykgrant]

I've been slowly re-doing/adjusting my RVB face designs, and also working on more characters! It will eventually be a LOT, but for now; here are the main Reds, Blues, Freelancers, Doc, plus a bonus of Locus, Flowers, and my OC Poppy (just for the fun of it~). I love designing characters, and playing around with features so everybody has different noses, mouths, chins/jaw-lines, etc. For everybody, I have two versions. The first being their signature armor color, and then their actual people colors. I also wanted to include things like facial hair, glasses, scars, freckles and what-not (like Donut's hearing aide and Carolina's eye shadow, because she can't NOT be edgey haha).

(below is some design descriptions and notes on my thought process for everybody. it is a LOT, don't feel obligated to read it~)

Grif and Simmons both clash and compliment each other not only in personality, but in physical features as well (Simmons is sharp, and Grif is soft). I wanted to show that Simmons actually isn't as scrawny and gawky as he used to be, but he hasn't totally registered that he's finally "grown into himself", or that some muscles have happened (once he does, this unlocks "Confident Simmons", and nobody is safe. for now, he's just too used to feeling awkward). Simmons has a fairly strong jawline, an aquiline nose, and hair the color of red clay. He's had his hair very short and properly styled for many years, but after Chorus it started to grow out, and when he pulled it back to see how much he needed to trim, he realized he liked being a ponytail guy! (also, it isn't visually shown here, but trans Simmons is real~) Grif is a big guy, fat and pretty darn strong with thick limbs, and rough around the edges. He's also handsome and beautiful (not "in spite" of those features, but BECAUSE of them). His features are like a combination of rebellious and charming, with his default expression being chill. He has warm copper brown skin, and hair that reaches his shoulders, dark brown, very thick and wavy (it also magically never gets tangled). You can see where Simmons' cyborg prosthetics match the same area where Grif got his skin grafts, but over the years Grif has sort of "absorbed" the organic material, and the skin is a shade darker than when the surgery was fresh (Simmons himself isn't too terribly pale, but still lighter than Grif). Grif occasionally shaves or lets his beard grow in more full, but usually likes to keep just a little bit of face-fuzz around his chin

Sarge is very boxy and built like a brick. I enjoy the irony of a character who has a very BIG personality being somewhat short in stature, and Sarge is certainly a little bundle of dynamite. Despite his claims of only being 29, he somewhere in his 50s (possibly getting into 60s), but still going strong. I wanted to show the age lines around his mouth and his eyes, so he doesn't just look weirdly "smooth" (this man is basically leather, and proud of it. he also has larger earlobes, and bushy eyebrows). His hair has gone white and gray, kept in a perpetual buzz-cut, and he has some scruffy facial hair. He's broken both his nose and his jaw several times in his life, resulting in some unique shapes. Most of his scars happened years ago when he was younger, but the scar on the side of his head is from getting shot during Blood Gulch. He's rather pale thanks to wearing the armor every day for a few decades. His "solution" was to try and sun burnt on purpose so he'll be RED again, but Donut, Simmons, and Doc stopped him before it got too bad. He typically looks very grumpy and stern, but we all know Sarge is EXPRESSIVE with his emotions

My thought process with Donut was to combine Barbie with GI Joe; very pretty, but also pretty darn strong! He has sort of a "soft diamond" shape to his face and jawline. He looks very sweet, but has the potential to be INTIMIDATING. In the past, his hair was light blonde, but turned a strawberry-brown as he got older. During Blood Gulch, when he got EXPLODED, Donut got some scars on the right side of his face, and the hair in that area never entirely grew back. After finally accepting that he is PINK, Donut has also embraced other aspects of himself, both loving who he already is and enjoying what he wants to be. He doesn't hid his scars, but he styles his hair with a side under-cut and dyes the longer lengths a lighter blonde. He also wears a hearing-aid for his right ear, and his eyebrow on that side is a bit thin too. Donut's mouth naturally makes the "cute kitty shape", and he usually has some shiny chapstick/lip-balm on as well. He likes to get some sun on his skin, but is careful not to tan too much, and always uses lots of lotion

Doc is very "in the middle", not too tall or too short, he's not skinny but not chubby either... however, he's got sort of a sturdy build, very athletic without being too buff. A rounded jawline that ends in a small point with his chin. He has a very high bridge to his nose, making a refined line from his forehead down in profile, with sharper edges at the sides of the nostrils. His skin is a deep brown, and his hair is very dark, kept short, with the curls swept up out of his face. Doc isn't "vain" exactly, but he likes to feel comfortable with himself, and to a certain degree, this involves being satisfied with his appearance. O'Malley also enjoys feeling sort of "cozy" with the hair and what-not, so it is a shared reassurance. Doc wears glasses, and O'Malley absolutely knows how to do the "intense anime glasses thing" when he wants to look DRAMATIC. Something I wanted to show with both of them; Doc has very welcoming and kind vibes, but he is perfectly capable of being a sarcastic little smart-mouth, with a fierce sense of resolve. O'Malley likes to be very over-the-top and appear threatening, but there's potential for him to protective, and even joyful. Again, he looks very in the middle, applying to Doc and O'Malley's attitudes

Kai resembles her brother in many ways, but I wanted to make sure she's still unique to herself. Things they have in common; warm copper skin, thick and wavy hair, and they're both chubby. There is a subtle heart-shape to her face (above around her forehead and hair, and also lower with her jaw). Kai has had fun with lots of different hairstyles through the years, but she's decided to just let it grow out. She's dyed it some crazy colors in the past, without really knowing what she was using, but now Donut helps her coordinate, so she has a gradient going on (darker golden-brown at the roots, lighter shades of brown in the middle, and finally yellow at the ends). To keep it from getting tangles, she usually has her hair tied back, or wrapped up while she sleeps. Kai is somebody who is very aware of what she's physically capable of, in terms of both strength and flexibility. Sometimes she shows off with some interesting party tricks, but also just has a graceful way of moving when she wants to dance (or kick somebody's butt). Everything about Kai is LOUD and PROUD, but that doesn't mean she can't calm down and share quiet moments with the people she cares about. She also has two double sets of earrings; two studs up on her right ear, and two small hoops lower on her left ear

The first rule when drawing Tucker; he is the prettiest. He has fairly long and noticeable eyelashes. His nose has a defined smooth and broad curve to it, giving him a profile that is a bit regal, even heroic. He's one of those people who always looks younger than he actually is (not exactly a "baby face", but naturally youthful, until one day he's just gonna suddenly become a silver fox). He has dark brown skin, and thick black hair (4c), kept a little long at the top, but styled as a fade. He has pierced ears, usually just two studs (but can be more elaborate if he wants to dress up). Tucker is an interesting character; visually, he can very easily be a pretty boy, or a prince charming... but then he starts talking, and you realize how obnoxious and annoying he is. Underneath the flirty attitude and sarcastic jokes, he has genuine concern for others, and a fear that he won't be strong enough to protect people. Underneath THAT, he's a determined and clever person that is capable of doing amazing things. All that is wrapped-up within Tucker. I wanted to see a hint of the charm and smug attitude in his face, but the noble look is in there too. Physically, he's a short-king (manlet), but after training with Wash, Tucker has impressive muscles that combine with some quick reflexes

I imagine Caboose as one of the BIGGER characters. He also has the strongest "huggable vibes" (he's literally friend-shaped, no matter how much Church used to argue this fact). Caboose has a naturally sweet smile, which makes it all the more serious when he's upset (a sad Caboose will break your heart... a mad Caboose might break your arms). As Sarge once said- "He's like an ox!". His skin is a shade of sandy brown. His hair is a deeper brown, very soft and a little bit fluffy (I'm especially happy with how his bangs turned out~). I really wanted to make it clear that while Caboose might be all kinds of adorable, he is indeed a grown man, able to take care of himself, and others as well (he understands things some of them never notice). The curve of his jaw is low and subtle, but also shows how "solid" he is built. Caboose is a hopeful person, and has the will power to MAKE things turn out OK one way or another. No matter how unusual his ideas might be, Caboose is dependable, and intuitively has the strength to be kind on purpose

Wash has kept the beard despite the teasing, which has finally transformed him from looking like a very tired lost teenager into a dad who works at a library (the beardo-fication of Wash~). His hair is mostly a light blonde, more golden brown at the roots and through his facial hair (during Project Freelancer, he had a shock of gray after the Epsilon incident, but it has faded). His skin is a light tan color, covered with MANY freckles, and a few scars on his face (the most recent neck injury isn't visible. the scar above his eye is actually from a skateboarding accident as a kid, but the one across his nose was sometime after Project Freelancer started to fall apart). Although he fusses over other people a lot, Wash is bad at taking his own advice, and tends to not eat or sleep enough. It also didn't help that he had a bad habit of ignoring his own emotional breaking points until he was in the middle of losing control... he's finally learned to recognize certain things, and accept every part of himself (a little punk kid, a dork, Mr Serious, a guy who had a Villain Moment, and somebody who really found where he belongs). Under the beard, he has an angular chin, his nose has a curved swoop shape to it, and he has a defined lower lip

Carolina is one of the few characters we see without armor in the series, so I knew what I was working with, but I also wanted to show how she has changed. Carolina is a naturally intense person with somewhat slender features, and she's worked hard to be VERY strong. Now that she's spent time with this group of goobers, and had some chill lessons from Grif, Carolina is rediscovering how to enjoy herself and be less harsh (remember, she is the BEST. this means she's gonna be the Best Red, the Best Blue, the Best at Being Annoying~). She cut her hair during Iris, a little bit choppy at the time, but later decided to keep it short and give it a cleaner trim. She's dyed it a darker, less vibrant shade of red (I imagine her natural red is a bit more carrot). She still uses heavy eye shadow though! (at this point, it is out of spite toward anybody who everybody who ever said it looked silly; not so silly when she's kicking your but, is it?). She's a bit pale, but with a warm tone to her skin. Most of Carolina's scars came from incidents when she didn't have armor, or was so determined to finish a mission, she didn't care if she got hurt. It isn't visible here, but she doesn't bother with shaving her legs (not to get all deep about it, but Carolina sort of has her own balance with embracing certain aspects of femininity, and also ignoring expectations of "beauty". she knows what she's about, and does what she wants)

These designs for Tex and Church exist within my story-line where they get to return in synthetic human bodies (originally intended for the Director to use for himself and Allison, once he could properly "resurrect" her... which didn't work). DNA samples were used as the basic building blocks, the genetic information was allowed to "randomize" itself. As a result, Tex isn't an identical clone of Allison (just like parents can have more than one child; related, but physically different). Ironically, Tex takes after Allison's maternal grandmother, and so does Carolina. Tex has light skin and blonde hair, which she keeps tied back in a ponytail, with two lengths that frame the sides of her face. Carolina and Tex have the same nose shape, a long bridge that curves up at the end. She considered cutting her hair different, or dying it another color... but she didn't want to constantly worry about "changing" herself to avoid any similarities with Allison. Instead, Tex wants to find out what it means to be HERSELF; which is BIG and BUFF. She's pretty tall with a thick body-type already, so she just had to work on the muscles (also, even with long hair, she still has a "warrior dude" vibe, and she's very proud of it). Tex naturally has a lot of confidence and a rebellious attitude, but she really isn't "mean"... at least, not all the time

Church definitely has some traits that came from the Director... but Church was always a contrary little so-and-so, and even though he had no control over how his body formed, it seemed he was destined to be the "opposite" of what somebody else intended. Church is much shorter than the Director, with a thicker more "chunky" body-type (he puts on some healthy weight later, getting a bit more chubby. he also works on being strong enough to pick Tex up. that was his whole motivation). He has a broader nose, and more squared jaw. He has light skin, but a bit more of a sandy color. The most obvious resemblance is his black hair, which sticks up like a soft hedgehog. He asked Carolina and Tex if he should avoid having facial hair (since they have to look at him, and he doesn't want them to be reminded of any unpleasant memories). They assure him that it's fine, and the hair on his chin kind of suits him (it fact, even through the similarities, they can look at him and just see CHURCH, as he is). Church can be a smug, loud-mouth jerk... but though all his rants full of curse words and insults, he cares very deeply about people. Even though he had some ego-trips, he mostly just thought of himself as "some guy". Now he knows how important he is, not because he's a special and highly advanced AI, but because a lot of people missed him. Now he can actually be with them all again, and just like Epsilon, he has the chance to find out what he's truly capable of (they can still project holographic avatars of themselves, but all of the AI Fragments are back too, and happily spend time in Church's head~). Although they make different expression, Church and Carolina have the same "neutral" shape to their mouths

Poppy was originally sent to a different group of Red and Blue Flag Zealots, meant to identify needed supplies and order more ammunition. She was designated "neutral", and had white armor with tan accents. When the teams ran out of bullets, they kept fighting in non-lethal ways, which Poppy thought was preferable to a clearly pointless war, so she just never put in the order for more. Both teams considered her a friend, playfully fighting over who's side she was on, but never getting mad at her for getting along with them all. After a dangerous incident left her knocked-out and recovering, Temple's group arrived to recruit more Sim Troopers. Poppy's group refused to join. When she woke up, they were all gone. She misses them dearly. Because she's still considered part of the Flag Zealots, the UNSC decided to throw her back into a new training program (which was actually pretty shady and insidious), and that's where she meets Sarge. Poppy has a calm yet sarcastic personality, with a raging inferno of a temper once somebody ticks her off. Perfect for Red Team! Poppy is medium-short, about the same as Doc. She has broad shoulders and strong arms, very sure-footed and versatile when it comes to fighting. A very go-with-the-flow attitude, somebody who can be comforting and encouraging, but isn't shy about showing her emotions. She has a somewhat rounded fact with a short, sturdy chin. Her skin is a light shade of brown, and her long hair is a dark earthy brown. Not pictures is her own prosthetic arm (she's meant to be a "mirror" for Simmons, clever like him, but not a know-it-all. she was the one in the accident, and woke up with cyborg parts. Sarge decides to just adopt her, and this SHOULD immediately make him hater her, but Simmons finds himself feeling pretty fond and protective of Poppy. accidental sibling! also, they're both trans in opposite directions~)

We've seen Locus without armor in a flash-back before Chorus, so I tried to translate that into my style I use here. I imagine that he actually wasn't doing to great Chorus, not eating or sleeping enough, what with the whole crisis involved; thinking of himself as a murder-machine unable to see the worth of kindness or mercy, and THEN recovering enough humanity to be horrified by his actions thus considering himself a monster without a purpose... y'know, that whole song and dance. Anyway, the Reds and Blues force him to be a person again, so he gained some weight back. While he has a very strong jaw, it's kind of low where the angle is (so he doesn't have a "long" chin, but a wide one). He also has pretty defined cheek bones, and other features as well (he wasn't smiling much for a LONG time, but he does indeed have lines on his face that deepen when it happens). He's BIG, burly, and buff... but hopefully looks less harsh than before

I like to imagine that Flowers keeps faking his own death, and has a set of plans outside of what Project Freelancer was trying to do... nothing ever worked out properly. Flowers mainly doesn’t like the idea of people being “thrown away” or treated like they’re worthless, and at his worst, that meant using people for some goal they didn’t choose for themselves. He wouldn’t like to admit it, but… “daddy doesn’t always know best”, and he’s trying to include people on the decisions of these goals now (while the Director and Councilor might have just thrown together Red and Blue teams to mimic the other group who had a nearly endless stalemate going, Flowers picked out the Reds and Blues for Blood Gulch because he LIKED them, and he genuinely thought Alpha would too… in a very twisted way, Flowers founded this family). Nobody entirely trusts him at first, what with all the lying. Plus he keeps talking like a overly cheerful serial killer. He’s an older and distinguished gentleman. Some gray streaks in his hair, which he keeps wrapped up in several small braids that make a flower-shaped bun. Some scars on his body from many missions and fights (including the ax to the shoulder). He has a warm, brown skin, and back tattoo that is just barely visible; orange blossoms. He has a tall and lanky body-type, but even past middle-age he still has thick muscles

[nighttimeebony]

My personal headcanons/interpretations of the physical differences between Wei Wuxian's original body and Mo Xuanyu's body.

Wei Wuxian's original body:

Tall, broad shoulders, and a very athletic build with a lot of toned muscle

Fine, wavy hair texture

Ink-black hair

Black eyes

Sharp facial features with high cheekbones and cat-like eyes

Long fingers

More of a tanned skin tone because of all the sun he gets at Lotus Pier

Scars on his hands, wrists, and fingers from getting bitten by dogs when he would take food from them

I imagine that wwx would have a lot of little scars from playing rough as a kid, tiny thin slashes of silver scattered throughout his body

WWX's body was built for strength, but not necessarily for endurance

An inhumanly high pain tolerance

Has a chipped tooth near the back of his mouth that you could only see when he smiled wide enough

Dimples

Freckles that become more prominent when he gets more sun, but are especially concentrated on his shoulders and the back of his neck

Mo Xuanyu's body:

Short and skinny from malnutrition; probably has like 50 different kinds of vitamin deficiencies

Paler complexion, almost pasty

Thicker hair texture, which makes it look fluffier, and more unruly; it's a pain in the ass to take care of; #1 in the world for worst bed-head, gets tangled like you wouldn't believe

Delicate, more "feminine"-looking facial features, like wider eyes, Cupid's bow lips, and an overall softer-looking face

Gray eyes

Dark brown hair

Much more flexible, can probably twist himself into a pretzel whenever he gets bored

Prone to undereye shadows from poor sleep

Body better built for stamina once it gets better trained; even when he does get more muscles, it's more wirey than shredded; slender and lean

Low pain tolerance

Poor circulation and is more prone to get cold

Lightweight drinker, much to his dismay

Nose is crooked from getting broken at least once

Probably has anemia; bruises very easily

Has a couple moles scattered along his body

MXY definitely has the better ass

Both wwx and mxy have a complicated relationship with food and hunger, but mxy's body especially has gotten so used to running on little food that wwx (in mxy's body) has a hard time recognizing when he's hungry until he nearly passes out from lack of energy. I imagine that thanks to being adopted by the Jiangs and being taken care of by his siblings, over time, wwx's body was able to recover from running on starvation mode 24/7, while mxy was never able to have that recovery period, so his body is still accustomed to operating on little to no food.

I imagine that wwx and mxy are like two different kinds of goth; different shades of creepy, and beautiful in different ways. wwx would be more like a vampire, while mxy would channel antique haunted doll; sharp and powerful vs soft and delicate. wwx in his original body is the danger you expect, the danger you run from on sight, while wei ying in mxy's body is underestimated, unexpected, the kind of danger you would never see coming until it's too late.

If you're like me and also enjoy stories that involve Wei Ying adjusting to life in his new body, then here are some fics with that exact premise:

Saw My Life in a Stranger's Face

the soft animal

Notes on a Resurrection

we are here

[owlnsfwsstuff]

MD x fem reader bj alex smut!!

Y/n pov

"And thats the end of my stream guys  come back next time where ill rate more toys for you~" i wink and shut off my camra i was a bj  for my braudcasts i would rate sex toys ibe never really gotten naked on screen ive always warn my underwhere and bra i sigh softly checking my watch " agh its ten already" i get up getting dressed today i was going to my boyfriends house his name was kim myung-dae hes tall and hadsome i lived him we met at a bar where i watch him get slapped by a small guy with blond hair and black roots i was later told his name was chanwoo he didnt like that myung never wanted to really be seen with him i comforted him from his brake up a few months past and we went from friends to lovers i would come over to his house and chill...he never really told me what he did for a living but i assumed he just didnt wanna talk about it i was really curiouse though "hey myung" i smile as he opens the door he looked a little distraught "uh hey " i look confused and came in seeing papers and his computer he removed everything and sat with me on the couch"uh are you ok you seem stressed" i tilt my head he sighed "y/n can i ask you a favour " i smile " definatly! Sure anything babe" i smile he held my hand a bit " i need you to help me with...my job" i smile " sure no problem what do you need help with ill do anything " he softly smirked and stood up telling me to follow down the hall there was a door i never really have went inside before"is this your office?" He smirked "you could say that...open the door~" i looked at him he stood back i turn the knob my eyes widen it was a...sex room!? With monoters,camras,a bed and sex toys coverd the walls  i blush deeply he closed the door " uh...t this...this is" i was so red and shocked alot made sence now

*Flashback*

"Good girl~"

"Can you sit at me feet...i want to pat your head~"

*Flashback over*

"A sex room y/n...is it to much" he said softly "uh n no!?" I said quickly he raised an eyebrow smirking "so...you like this sort of thing kitten~♡" he shut the door behind us moving falward " u uh....w w whatta you need my h help with i thaught i was helping with your work m myung" i blush dodging the question he smirked " you are helpingwith my work...im an MD i need..." he walked falward lifting my chin wispering " a sub~" i was 50 shades of red (lol or gray) h he wanted me to be h his sub i mean ...we havent had sex yet i said i wanted to know him more before i committed to it " u uh b but" he smiles softly " my job is broadcasting i do a live BDSM show where i play with subs the viewer's send in a point system calld chestnuts that converts into money that gets sent to me they can also request things ...dont worrie your face will be masked as will mine i wont say your name or who you are...so what do you say i know its a bit much you dont have t-" i cut him off " y yes" he looked suprised " yes?" I blush nodding  he smirked " wow that quick such a naughty girl~ i didnt know you where so eager you should have told me you liked this " he took me to the bed " i i thaught youd think im wired...also i know how the bj system works...i im one to i mean ive never been naked on c camera but i review...t toys" i blush he was more shocked " you share my beautiful  property with others thats rude~♡" i blush being calld his we discussed our safe words and how things would work as usual his safe word was 'macaroon' i choose 'strawberry' he told me to strip and get on the bed i obey he did his intro i where a red eye mask and he wore a black one "hello everyone MD is back ive been away for a while since i needed to find a new play toy~ but now i have found a beautiful one im sure youll like them as much as i do and to spice it up its a lovely woman since i havent had any woman on for a while~" the chat room flooded with commenters and chestnuts he stood up coming over showing me off " look how gorgeous this baby girl is~ such a cute kitten and that will be your name is that understood kitten~" he asked i blush nodding then he grabbed my chin " use your words~" i shake softly " y yes u understood.....master~♡" i purr out softly he was delighted as the show went on he had me binded up in red rope, nipple clamps on my now hardend buds and a vibrater deep inside i shake moaning as he walked over to a box "hmm what should i use dear viewers on this naughty kitten a riding crop....orrrr a paddle~♡?" He viewd the comments to see and smirk " riding crop it is~♡" he walked back over and moved my tied legs apart " oh look your dripping everywhere ...such a mess~..bad kitten" he strikes my thigh i shudder and moan out drooling " a a ah a a ah m mggs  s sorry" i wimper,smirking he struck my thigh over and over soon i was so pent up i squirt all over the toy the bed and the crop " oh my already~ well ill have to teach you a lesson next time then wont i because i didnt hear me say you could cum~" i whine as he went over to the camerai lay panting tired as i hear him say his outro ...that was a new ecxpiriance that i wanted more of...i loved that man our love was binding

"MD...out~♡"

Sorry for poor spelling and punctuation 😅

[bugeyedfreaks]

1-12 Femme Fatale XD

okey dokey let's do thissssss

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

I am very neutral on Femme (but leaning towards like!) because, on one hand, I do enjoy the episode that she was in, and I think she was a really fun and unique character, but on the other hand... I mean, it's hard to do much of anything else with her except have her be cranky and misandrist. ☹️ That coupled with the fact that she's, like, one of three female villains in the show is a bit of a bummer.

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

She would probably hate me saying this, but her outfit is fire and her hair is beautiful. I'm honestly very jealous she can pull that whole look off (even though she apparently stole it... I mean she did it very well!).

3. Least favorite canon thing about this character?

She was just in one episode! 😩 It's like how it bums me out that Sedusa was in, like, what... only three? Poor ladies.

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

I dunno, but boy, it would really be interesting to see if they'd even consider bringing her back in any other potential reboots that might pop up... 👀

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

6. What's something you have in common with this character?

There have been occasions where I have cursed the entire population of men under my breath (but, hey, I think that's the sort of thing everyone's guilty of at one point or another, we aren't all perfect). Unlike her though, it's definitely not something that's seriously integrated into my belief system like it is in hers.

...I think we also totally agree that Townsville needs more cool lady villains. 🤣

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

...does the fandom really do a lot with her, really? I have seen some really cool fanart/cosplay of her, and I've read a few funny little fanfics she's starred in that were pretty good.

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

Maybe underutilizing her? The problem is that she's in an episode that's... well, it's not super controversial or anything, but like I said in my first answer, she just kind of gets pigeonholed into a certain role by the nature of her villain concept. I think a lot of people also misrepresent the episode that she's in and kind of say it's about things that it's not. The world is definitely made up of more shades of gray than in a cartoon show about kindergarteners who fight, but there's still some good stuff you can take away from Equal Fights.

9. Could you be roommates with this character?

I do not think that would work out because she'd probably keep pulling stuff like... continuously missing rent and having some huge sob story about how it was the patriarchy's fault that she couldn't pay it, since that's her usual over-the-top MO in her episode. Left dirty dishes in the sink? "Oh, you want me to clean them up like some submissive 50s housewife?!" Trashed up the bathroom? "Well, be grateful I didn't leave the seat up like some man!" I think I would cry.

10. Could you be best friends with this character?

[imagines the arguments the two of us would most likely get into ten seconds into even meeting each other] ...probably not.

11. Would you date this character?

If I wanted to have one of the most toxic relationships of my life? Yeah, sure. Otherwise, heck no!

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

That she and Sedusa are frenemies with a fun-filled but ullllltra toxic relationship where they occasionally go on crime sprees with one another (maybe letting Princess Morbucks tag along now and then) and also argue about the best ways to take advantage of all those idiotic men in Townsville. 😆

[separatist-apologist]

Are You Ready For It

In the middle of the night, in my dreams, you should see the things we do

Summary: When Elain Archeron's roommate can't interview wealthy business man and school alumni Lucien Vanserra, Elain agrees to step in.

Little does she know what Mr. Vanserra does behind closed doors.

Or what he'd do to her, if she'd only agree to let him.

NOTE: Since this is a 50 shades of grey re-write, there is absolutely BDSM inside. It has been re-written to include an incredibly amount of consent/discussion/enthusiastic participation. However, if BDSM isn't your thing, it's just not your thing. No shame in the game. There is also some light DV but that occurs from a villain and not between the main LI's, but it will be included in the tags on AO3. Please use discretion when reading.

Also I've never read 50 sog so my knowledge is based on what I've heard. This is more like 50 shades of orange

written for @queenofsilverfire and @sjmkinkmeme

beta'd by the incomparable @the-lonelybarricade

Chapter 1: Some boys are trying too hard

Read more: AO3 | 15k words

Autumn in Velaris was Elain Archeron’s favorite time of year. In between the start of the semester madness of a new year and finals, October was a personal sweet spot for the college senior. Elain was looking forward to the future, one that saw her on her own for the first time in her life. Her roommate, Arina, would be moving out of their little shoebox apartment to live with her boyfriend Jack and Elain intended to take over the rent full-time. She’d been working more hours for a florist, squirreling away everything as best she could in order to ensure she’d have enough to live on.

It was a small life but it was hers. 

Elain biked from campus to her apartment, a mere seven blocks from the ancient, storied halls of Velaris U. The majority of the people living in the four story walk-up where also students which meant at any given time Elain could hear fucking, fucking, and partying through the paperthin walls. Rent was cheap and the neighborhood nice enough though the trade-off was the landlord was not interested in doing any maintenance at all. The gray hallway carpet must have been two decades old and the paint was peeling from every wall. Inside the apartment, Elain ignored the creeping black on the shower tile, scrubbing it away only for it to return with the humidity every spring.

Housing was expensive and Elain, like Arina, was poor. Splitting rent meant they always had money for cute shoes and clothes and, when the mood struck them, a drink at the bar. Elain stepped inside to find Arina sliding on a tall pair of heels. She was a cocktail waitress at a local sports bar that exclusively hired hot, tall co-eds. Elain had been offered a job more times than she could count and chose to see it as a flattering thing, though Arina’s shorts were basically cheeky underwear with sheer black tights beneath and the top was an actual sports bra.

“Do me a favor tomorrow,” Arina began by way of greeting.

“Missed you too,” Elain replied, setting her keys on the dingy kitchen countertop. Arina winced, pulling her thick, blonde hair up in a high ponytail.

“I’m supposed to be interviewing some hot shot CEO type for the school paper tomorrow. He's a former alum and this is a huge favor. I can’t make it, Jack—” Elain groaned at the sound of Jack’s name, plopping onto the thrifted seafoam green couch. “C’mon. Don’t be shitty about Jack.”

“And Jack? Is he allowed to be shitty?” Elain replied. Jack, who was so far beneath Arina as a dropout, wanna be streamer with a paltry following of two hundred. Elain had more instagram likes on a photo of the sunset than Jack had views on every bad video he’d ever made. He didn’t work, mooched off Arina for everything, and still had the audacity to treat her like she ought to be grateful to have him.

Elain didn’t get it. Jack was mediocre at best and Arina could have modeled if she wanted. Men routinely stopped her on the street to ask for her number and had literal celebrities in her DM’s on instagram. Jack was pale and skinny, unwashed and foul-mouthed. He’d never liked Elain and the only saving grace had always been that Elain wasn’t willing to abandon Arina like Jack wanted. For four years, Elain had been Arina’s roommate.

She would have continued, but Jack was dangling the promise of marriage over Arina’s head in exchange for her moving in full time. Elain understood it—Arina would spend the rest of her life financing his life while he played video games all day. Jack lacked all of Arina’s ambition and drive. 

Arina didn’t respond to Elain’s question, turning plaintive green eyes on her friend. “Will you for me? Thrity minutes if that. I’m sure he’s way too busy. I emailed him all my questions this morning so all you have to do is repeat them for him, record his answers, and thank him for his time. Please?”

Arina, head of the school paper, wanted to be a journalist someday. Elain sighed.

“I guess I can give some billionaire the ‘ol razzle dazzle. What’s his name?”

“Lucien Vanserra. He’s got some fancy tech company.”

“Vanserra? Like the Senator?” she questioned. Arina nodded with big eyes.

“Yeah. His oldest brother is the state’s senator in D.C. So he’s well connected. Just give him some doe eyes—yes, just like that—ask your questions and you’re free for the rest of the day.”

“Fine,” Elain agreed. “But you know I lack all your charm, so don’t be surprised when he writes a very angry e-mail.”

Arina rolled her eyes, well aware that when men found charming about her laid between her legs. “Thanks for this. Gray called, by the way. If you want to call him back.”

Arina still had a landline, complete with an actual voicemail. She thought it was charming though Elain found nothing charming about the shrill ring of ruby red phone at seven in the morning. Gray was her very recent ex and not by her design. He’d ended things, saying he wanted to meet new people in the last year of their relationship.

And Elain was still miserable over it. He wanted to be friends but Elain wanted to be in love. She’d blocked him so he’d stop sending her memes because it made her too hopeful he had changed his mind. She knew he hadn’t—she’d heard he’d slept with some girl in a sorority that same night. He merely wanted to keep her on the backburner and Elain needed to patch up her battered, bruised heart. 

“Thanks,” Elain murmured, suddenly guilty she’d been so harsh about Jack. Arina only nodded.

“Don’t wait up. My shift doesn’t end until one am but I can never kick those shitheads out until three.”

Elain nodded, watching as Arina grabbed her giant white purse and marched out. Arina made twice as much money as Elain did on one shift, though the trade was men constantly tried to touch her breasts. Elain didn’t envy her that.

She spent the evening working on homework and watching television when she could take staring at her screen for a moment longer. She wanted to stay awake for Arina and was forced to give up early in the morning for bed. 

Elain woke in the middle of the night to Arina’s giggling voice and a man—Jack— stumbling their way through the apartment. Elain reached in the dark for a shoe laying on the floor and threw it at the wall.

“SHUT UP!” she yelled, earning exaggerating whispering and a distinctly deep, masculine voice that did not belong to Jack.

“You have a roommate?”

Elain dug out ear plugs just in time for the moaning to start. Grabbing her phone on the side table, she noted the time was three thirty. Elain wasn’t about to condemn Arina for a one-night stand even if she did have a boyfriend. Maybe this was the first step in convincing Arina to leave him. 

Still, Elain woke bleary eyed at seven am to shower and do her hair ahead of the ten am meeting with the tech CEO. Lucien Vanserra. It was the sort of name that belonged to some snooty fifty something named by some bored heiress who wanted her son to sound more european. 

Elain curled her waist length, golden blonde hair carefully, letting it tumble down her back before she spent an hour carefully applying make-up so it seemed as if she wore none at all. She knew those types—something about the name Lucien made her think he was the sort of man that liked natural looking women, when there was nothing natural about her carefully lined pink lips. 

Dressed in a green and blue plaid dress and nice brown heels, Elain grabbed Arina’s list of questions from the counter, a sensible purse, made her way out of the apartment. 

As Elain was walking down, Jack was trudging up. Blue eyes swept over her, a sneer curling over his lips. He always looked at her like that, like she was the most disgusting filth he’d ever seen though Elain had it on good authority she looked quite pretty.

“Arina’s not in,” Elain told him by way of greeting. “Early morning meeting with her advisor.”

“She didn’t tell me that,” he snapped. Elain only shrugged.

“Maybe she’s ending things. Fingers crossed.”

“Bitch,” he hissed, shoulder checking her as she jogged down the steps. It had hurt her feelings once, the way he so casually called her that. Now, though, it was nothing to her. Every woman who disagreed with him was a bitch.

And Arina had brought home a man that wasn’t Jack. For whatever reason, Arina had abandoned her deeply held loyalty and Elain would cover for her. Jack was just behind her, shoving her at the bottom of the landing with the flat of his hand. Elain slammed into the glass door as a result, wincing from the force.

“Clumsy bitch,” he grumbled, slamming the door in her face and kicking her bike as he passed. As if it were her fault he wasn’t getting his filthy dick wet at nine in the morning. Elain was pissed by the time she got on the road, made worse by shitty drivers in big cars that seemed to have a personal problem with cyclists. She caught sight of her face in the mirrored window of the Vanserra building, noting the purpling bruise along her cheekbone. Fucking Jack. 

She pushed it out of her mind for the moment. Get through this interview and then she’d call Arina and rant. Elain took a breath and plastered a smile on her face. Thirty minutes. 

The lobby was sleek and clean, all tinted glass windows and shiny, slippery floors. There was a coffee stand opposite the elevators and huge, potted trees to offer color to the otherwise very corporate lobby. She walked to the front desk where a pretty blonde in a headset stared at her phone.

“Lucien Vanserra?” she asked when blue eyes flicked to her face. The woman clacked long nails on her keys.

“Arina?”

“Yep,” Elain lied, flashing Arina’s student ID so quickly the girl couldn’t get a read on it. Not that she cared—that receptionist could not have been more bored if she tried.

“I’ll let him know you’re on your way up. Twenty fourth floor.”

“Great,” Elain replied, though it wasn’t great at all. She joined the crowd of nice suits and skirts all huddled around the six doors that would take her upwards, glancing at the mirror between two of the elevators. She would have been flawless had it not been for that bruise. It wouldn’t matter—she doubted he’d notice. It was merely a stain to her vanity and a reminder that Jack was the worst man she’d ever met. 

Vanserra’s floor was just as sleek and just as clinical. Laminate wood broke up the heavy, shiny tile from the lobby though the effect was hardly better. Another blonde at another mahogany desk was waiting with the same annoyed expression. “You’re early,” the girl told her. 

Elain glanced at her phone. Early by two whole minutes. 

“Sorry,” she replied, her voice betraying just how not sorry she was. Elain took a seat on a nice elegant couch, practically sinking into the middle. She had to cross her legs not to look ridiculous or risk showing anywhere the underwear beneath her dress. While she waited, she pulled out her phone.

Sorry about last night.

Thanks for not telling Jack. 

I don’t know what got into me.

Let me know how the interview goes. I don’t think I’m going to see him tonight.

Are you mad?

Elain typed out a quick of course I’m not, I’ll see you soon just as the blonde answered a shrill, ringing phone. Her eyes slid to Elain before she murmured agreement.

“Mr. Vanserra will see you now.”

Why did she make that sound so ominous? Elain gingerly rose to her feet, ignoring the irritated receptionist and her clicking teeth. Was it a requirement to work for the Vanserras that a person have the worst attitude known to man? Elain followed the girl, dressed in a nice pencil skirt and tucked in white top, through an open desk space where people milled about, working and talking and generally going about their day. It seemed casual enough despite the heels on the girl in front of her. Elain caught jeans and legging on more than one person. The whole back wall was a long window overlooking the city, allowing sunlight to pour directly into the room.

She knew the corner office belonged to Vanserra before the door was ever pulled open. Tinted glass made it impossible to see in, though she was willing to bet he could see everything. King of his domain, ever the micromanager. The blonde rapped sharply on the glass, her sour mood melting into breathless fascination.

“Mr. Vanserra? Your ten o'clock is here.”

The tall, leather backed chair swiveled to look at Elain understood what had turned the angry receptionist into a purring kitten. She blinked at the man staring back at her, his shoulder length, auburn hair loose around his chiseled, golden brown face. Russet eyes peered at her with clinical interest and Elain wondered how he’d gotten the trio of scars etched through his otherwise immaculately thick brows. A full mouth turned upwards in a polite smile and when he stood she found that he was tall, well over six foot, and muscular despite the suit that hid his frame.

“Thanks, Beth.”

“Of course. If you need anything,” she added, drawing a bewildered look from Elain. It was so openly suggestive that Elain couldn’t help her open mouth surprise. Was that how he ran his business? 

He didn’t react. “Of course.”

And that was that. Lucien gestured for her to sit across his desk in another large chair, this one with a seat firm enough she didn’t sink to her neck. Elain’s eyes glanced over the shelves of books and the table of neatly organized awards and diplomas.

“So. Arina Novak–”

“Elain Archeron,” she interrupted quickly. “Arina is my roommate. She was…sick…so I’m filling in.”

Why did he look so amused? He steepled his fingers in front of his lips. “Another journalist?”

“Botany,” she replied quickly. His smile faded for a moment and Elain knew what he thought. Young—likely no older than thirty—and rich, he’d imagined her coming to meet him. Elain reached into her purse for her questions while he reclined in his chair.

“What do you do with a botany degree?”

She shrugged. It was a question her older sister asked constantly. “Starve, I suppose. So, for my first questi—”

“What do you mean, starve?”

Elain looked back up at him, unnerved by his interest. “My sister always says I should have done something useful. It’s just a bad joke. I like making floral arrangements and event planning. Stuff like that.”

“Ah. Event planning for a wedding?”

Elain blinked. He was staring at her with such intensity that his words sounded sultry, like he was asking if she wanted to get married. Heart racing, Elain nodded. “Maybe.”

“My mother is remarrying. Maybe I’ll give her your number.”

“You don’t have it,” Elain said without thinking. A cheshire's smile spread over his impossibly handsome face.

“Easily rectified, I would imagine.”

She looked back at her questions. “Did you always know you wanted to–”

“This is the part where I say this was my dream, right? That I’m so fortunate to do what I love and I could never have done it without the education from Velaris U?”

“Is that true?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Maybe I’m just good at conning investors out of money.”

“Spoken like a true nepo baby,” she said quickly without thinking. Lucien’s eyes went wide and too quick, Elain realized she’d crossed a line.

“I—”

He threw his head back and laughed, the sound dark and rich like honey dripping over chocolate. “That certainly didn’t hurt,” Lucien agreed, eyes sparkling. “Who taught you how to interview?”

“No one,” she breathed, so utterly embarrassed she could have died from it. “I’m sorry.”

He waved a hand, revealing a well defined vein just beneath the skin and a watch that made his fingers seem longer, the whole thing seem bigger.

She looked away. “I ah…do you think your education was helpful?”

“Of course,” he agreed as Elain quickly scribbled his words down. “Don’t worry about transcribing. I’ll follow up with your friend so she can quote me directly. I don’t trust you not to remind everyone I am not the self-made man the media makes me out to be.”

“Oh. Then I’ll get out of you–”

“Stay,” he said with easy authority, the sort that kept her rooted in spot. “We still have twenty-five minutes.”

“I’m sure you’re a busy man,” Elain insisted, though she didn’t move at all. Lucien watched her appraisingly, waiting. 

“Not too busy for a current student at my alma mater. And if you leave, someone else will come in to talk to me. So really you’re doing me a favor.”

Elain very much doubted that. Crossing her legs, Elain couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you decide to do all this?”

His eyes glazed over, wholly focused on her knee. She didn’t dare move, certain he was just thinking though it felt as if he could see what was beneath her dress. He cleared his vision and exhaled a breath.

“I’m good at it,” he finally told her. “And sometimes you’ve got to lean into your strengths, right? I was never going to be an artist.”

“Is that a hobby of yours?”

She wished she hadn’t asked. His eyes went dark for a moment, that sultry smile back. “Not quite.”

Elain didn’t quite appreciate the sensual tone of his words or the way he was looking at her like she was a meal. What would he have done if it were Arina who walked into his office? Suddenly the blonde receptionist and her flirty words made more sense. He was sleeping with his subordinates.

How utterly cliched. 

“Well,” she began awkwardly.

“Sit down, Ms. Archeron.” her murmured and Elain immediately plopped back down before her brain caught up with her actions. Something about him exuded authority. Maybe it was the suit draped perfectly against his long, muscular body. Maybe it was the confidence in which he carried himself.

Maybe she just needed to get laid and any man looking at her the way he was would have been enough to make her obey. Elain didn’t want to examine that too quickly. Lucien cocked his head for a moment.

Studying her.

“What’s your plan after you graduate? Do you have a job lined up?”

“Why? Are you offering me one?” she replied, thinking of his receptionist. He was so utterly transparent, so completely absurd—

Lucien laughed again. “Oh, I don’t think you’d enjoy working here for a moment. Alumni help students find jobs all the time. Why should I be any different? I’ve been thinking on how I could support the school—”

“Maybe a scholarship,” she said quickly, noting how his smile never shifted. “Since you’re so fortunate to have so much.”

“Do you have experience in such things?”

She shrugged. “Do I need to in order to care about people less fortunate than me?”

“Touche, okay. I hear you. You find me spoiled and arrogant, then?”

Yes. A flush crept up her cheeks. She was messing this all up. “No, I…”

“It’s alright,” he all but purred, leaning forward, elbows on his desk. “Honesty is better than ass-kissing, right?”

“I suppose,” she agreed, shifting nervously in her chair. 

Pushing his luck, Lucien said, “Why don’t you give me your email and I’ll introduce you to someone I know in event planning?”

He slid an orange sticky pad and a rather nice pen Elain’s fingers itched to steal towards her. She scribbled the email quickly, wondering if this was going to come back to haunt her. It would be nice to get some help. Her advisor was utterly useless, uninterested in Elain’s future career and she lacked connections that other students had. Everyone else was lining up jobs so effortlessly and Elain was floundering in her interviews. If this man wanted to help her, Elain decided she’d let him. It didn’t mean she owed him anything—in fact, Elain very decidedly would not repay him with anything he needed. He’d get a thank you like anyone else. 

He glanced at his watch, frowning at whatever he saw. It was just enough time for her to jump out of her chair before he could boss her into sitting back down. 

“Well…this was…” this was what? A waste of her time? The new highlight of her erotic daydreams? “Thank you for your time, Mr. Vanserra,” she decided lamely. He rose and oh God she wished he hadn’t. He was like a dream, something from a fantasy and not real life. Men like him, with perfect bodies and perfect faces and the good sense to know exactly what cologne to wear, had no business walking around in real life. He offered her a broad hand and Elain accepted. His skin was warm, his grip firm.

“The pleasure was all mine. I’ll walk you out?”

And though he technically asked a question, he spoke it like a command. Elain didn’t bother to respond, merely nodding her head. She was oddly conflicted—he was so bossy it was irksome and so handsome she was willing to overlook it. That was a dangerous combination. 

Though ultimately, it didn’t matter. Lucien pressed the button that would take her back to the lobby and then made his way to the reception desk where his breathless secretary tracked his every move. She leaned forward, breasts all but spilling from her top and Elain was forgotten. 

She tried to pretend it didn’t disappoint her a little. He was merely a man very good at making people feel seen and special. That was his charm. She’d read too much into the interaction and now she felt stupid.

Still, Elain reflected on the meeting in her mind over and over, barely aware of the world around her as she biked home. Elain flung open the door to her apartment to find Arina on the couch, dressed in yoga pants and a slouchy shirt. She was frowning at her laptop screen and for a horrible moment, Elain was sure Lucien Vanserra had complained about her.

“How did it go?” Arina asked, brushing wisps of hair off her face. 

“What did he say?” Elain asked too defensively, dropping her bag loudly on the counter.

Arina didn’t smile. “That you were utterly charming and to let him know if we need anything else. Filled out all our questions. In and out, just like I said. Was he nice?”

And it wasn’t worth telling Arina the utter fantasy she’d let herself imagine. That a man like Lucien Vanserra, a person likely surrounded by a parade of beautiful, available women, was interested in college student studying botany.

“Yeah. Totally normal.”

“Good.” She snapped her laptop lid shut. “I need you to do something else with me.”

“With you? Or for you?” Elain sat beside her friend.

“With me. I ah…last night,” Arina took a breath, steeling herself. “I fucked up last night and if Jack finds out…”

“Fuck Jack,” Elain said automatically, though she omitted what Jack had done that morning. She could never bring herself to tell Arina the true scope of how awful he was. 

“A man came in and he was so charming and he was in this suit…he smelled good and he wasn’t being disgusting…I don’t know what happened, Elain. I swear, it was like…it was like someone else took over my body. I just wanted to be that girl, you know? The one that an attractive man wants.”

Elain’s mouth fell open because Arina was that girl to everyone but Jack. 

“He seems to think something is going to come of that night and I just…there’s this party this weekend and he invited me. Come with me. I’m going to tell him nothing can happen but I don’t want to go alone.”

“Why not just text him?”

Arina looked down miserably at her phone. “I don’t have his number. I’m afraid he’ll just show up and it’ll cause a huge scene. Please? Just one night. It’ll have free food and drinks–”

“Of course I’ll go,” Elain said easily. “If only for free drinks.”

Arina put her head on Elain’s shoulder. 

“You’re the best.”

LUCIEN:

Lucien reclined in his office chair, manilla envelope in hand, courtesy of his friend and partner, Jurian. Slicing it open with his finger, he pulled out the documents inside. 

Elain Archeron.

The very first sheet was merely a picture of a younger version of her–likely eighteen, likely taken on her first week on campus given it was her student ID. Jurian didn’t have much in the way of information. Elain was so clean she didn’t even have a traffic ticket. He’d watched her leave from his office on a cute little green bike, replete with a bell and basket. 

Jurian had dug up some things she’d written in the paper for her friend Arina—all on plant care—a few pictures of her that had been added to the paper, and then her former addresses. She’d grown up in the midwest which checked out to Lucien. She had that sort of sweet, down-to-earth persona that was refreshing to someone like him.

He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since he’d last seen her. Just a day and yet when he’d gotten home he’d had to take his aching cock in his hand and pump one out just to get through the night. Lucien couldn’t recall ever being so affected to the mere presence of a woman. Not like that.

It was her eyes, wet and brown and wide like a baby deer. She radiated innocence and he wanted to put his filthy hands all over her and ruin her. He would have bet everything he owned on Elain being a wild, bratty little thing in the right circumstances. Lucien set the paperwork back to his desk, turning his eyes back to her email. He wanted to talk to her and had no excuse to do so. He’d lied about the contact—he’d have to find one, first, if he wanted to make that introduction. He’d merely sensed she wouldn’t hand over her phone number without a reason. Lucien remembered being a college senior and how stressed everyone had been about finding a job. She was no different. 

Of course he wanted to help…only his help really was centered around her naked body and his cock. She didn’t know that. Not yet anyway. He hoped she might, if he could figure out the right way to approach her that made him seem alluring and sexy and not like a fucking loser. It was a fine line and he knew it. 

His door banged open and Beth stepped in, blue eyes bouncing between his moron brother and him. Beth was so obnoxiously obvious with her hot for teacher eyes that Lucien was extra careful with how he spoke to her. He knew if he or Eris ordered her to her knees, she’d have done it without a second thought.

Maybe that was what drew him towards Elain. Nepo-baby. Fuck she was funny and more importantly, she wasn’t impressed with him at all. When was the last time he’d fucked someone that wasn’t hoping for an accidental pregnancy or that her pussy was the one that would make him fall in love? He just wanted to know what it would be like.

That’s all it was. 

“How young is too young?” Eris asked by way of greeting, before Beth had even shut the door. Lucien suppressed an eye roll at her obvious interest. Lucien waited for her to close the door before answering.

“If you’re asking, you already know.”

“I fucked a twenty two year old the other night. Jesus, though…if you saw her body–”

“It’s like you want a scandal,” Lucien reminded Eris patiently. “She’s going to rat you out–”

“She didn’t know who I was,” Eris breathed, pacing Lucien’s office to mess with all his things. Eris and his nervous, political energy and his utter control…except when it came to his dick. “I want to lock her up in my house.”

“Yeah, I’m sure the press would love that. Cut her loose—”

“She’s coming to the gala tonight. Come with me. I want you to see her.”

“I don’t need to see her. She’s too young.”

“There’s free alcohol,” Eris said, switching tactics. “And Jess will be there–”

“I don’t want to see Jess,” Lucien grumbled. What a stupid, old crush that had been. She’d broken his heart more times than he could count and still he always came back for more when she got bored or lonely or nostalgic. It had been two years without Jess. Lucien didn’t want to reopen that door. 

“Free alcohol then. C’mon. She’s bringing a friend,” Eris added. Lucien scowled.

“I’m not interested in fucking some twenty-two year old co-ed.”

“Jesus Lucien, what’s your problem?”

“I’ll go,” he grumbled. “What’s her name, at least? Have Jurian poke around before you start making declarations of marriage.”

Eris dropped into one of the leather chairs, crossing an ankle over his knee. “Arina Novak. God, Lucien, she could model, you should see….”

Eris’s voice trailed off in his head. Arina Novak. Elain Archeron’s roommate. What were the odds his brother slept with her the night before Elain came in her friend's stead. His whole body tightened at the thought of seeing her again, somewhere outside of work where he could be looser, where a little alcohol might lower her guard just enough to appreciate what he had to offer. 

If he let Eris know he had any interest, his brother would pounce. “Fine. But I don’t think a twenty two year old is a good politician's wife.”

“She’s got a face for television,” Eris disagreed, clearly pleased his brother agreed. “And a body for porn. You’ll see.”

And that was that. Eris left Lucien with that little piece of knowledge when he still had hours left of his workday. He got shit done, his mind constantly wandering back to Elain in her tight, flared dress that showed nothing more than her knees and buttoned practically to her neck. Her cascade of loose curls that fell down her back in golden brown waves and her fucking full lips, the sort he could not stop imagining wrapped around his cock while her arms were tied behind her back. Lucien wanted to see her on her knees so bad it made him sick.

He went home and fucked his hand twice before he ever made it into the shower. It helped, if only a little and by the time he was dressed in a white button up tucked into belted black slacks, a jacket thrown on overtop, Lucien felt sane again. Like a man firmly in control and not ruled by his stupid, needy penis. 

He left his hair around his face before heading out, checking his phone every eight seconds as if she’d text. Not yet. But tonight, he vowed. Tonight he’d work her into dinner, would lay the groundwork to getting her into his apartment…into his ropes. 

He was early as he rolled up to the hotel Eris was holding his little fundraiser in. Gala, as if this were a charity. Lucien jogged up the steps to the swinging glass door and made his way through the wide, open interior of the lobby. It was an old hotel made from marble and glass and crystal, back when craftsmanship and style were more important than towering, sleek skylines. He could appreciate the former—he loathed the latter. 

The ballroom had been transformed into something straight out of the roaring twenties, save for all the people in modern clothing. A massive chandelier poured soft light across white and black swirled marble floors. A long bar at the far end of the room was serving pre-selected cocktails along with the obvious beers, of course. Waiters in coats and tails walked about with trays of food they offered to people sitting at round tables draped in lacy white. A dance floor was cordoned off and though there was a DJ, the music could have come from a small quartet of violins. All very tasteful for Eris’s chosen crowd and the perfect, ambient setting for Lucien’s slow seduction.

All of which was interrupted by his mother. Swanning over in a pretty blue dress, she grinned when she saw him. “Lucien,” she breathed, kissing his cheek. He was sure she’d left a pink stain on his skin. “I was starting to think I’d never see you again.”

“You know how work is,” he replied, though in truth Lucien couldn’t stand that old house. Beron, his father, might be dead but his ghost lingered. No amount of her engagement to Helion could alter that. 

“Mmm,” she agreed noncommittally. “You know, Jess is here.”

Lucien saw her the moment his mother said her name. Jess, with her straight, dark hair and her wide, coal colored eyes. She had glossy lips and her tits pushed up to her neck. An hourglass body taunted him, reminding her of all the nights he’d had her trussed up, that mouth gagging around him.

The thought used to make him ache. Their eyes met and Lucien was surprised he hadn’t had a visceral response. He merely inclined his head before turning his attention to the rest of the room. 

“Jess is over,” he told his mother without hesitation. 

“Well, let me introduce you to…”

Everything melted when his head turned towards those open doors and Elain Archeron stepped in. She wore a tight red dress and matching red lipstick. Her sultry eyes were all made up so they seemed wider and darker than before and her hair—fuck, her perfect waterfall of curls—hung loose around her face. The barest hint of breast peeked over the top of the nightmare she was currently clad in, the hem cutting against her slim upper thighs. Lucien’s whole body was tight again, his cock stirring in his pants.

She’d come just as he’d hoped he might. Beside her was Eris’s tall blonde—gorgeous, to be certain and yet Lucien was immensely grateful his brother had kept Arina from coming to her interview. 

Elain’s eyes swept over the room, snagging on him quickly. He couldn’t help his slow smile creeping over his face and was stupidly pleased when her face flushed. She wasn’t immune either, then. 

“Another time, mother,” he assured her, stepping away without waiting to hear her protesting words. Eris beat him to the girls, walking them towards the bar like an utter bastard. Elain glanced over her shoulder, looking away when she realized he was coming towards her. What was she thinking, he wondered? 

“This is my brother, Lucien,” Eris said with a practiced smile. Lucien extended his hand to Arina first.

“We almost met, once,” he replied. “Nice to meet you for real.”

“Thank you for talking with us,” Arina agreed, her golden face pale and nervous. Lucien could see the writing on the wall, even if Eris could not. She hadn’t come to fall into his arms. She’d come to tell him to knock it off. Elain looked at her friend with expectant eyes. 

“We’ve met,” was all Elain said, her tone very much saying do what you came to do.

“Can we talk for a second?” Arina all but whispered to cool, confident Eris. Elain squeezed her friends wrist before she left, turning her attention to him.

Finally.

“We meet again,” he said, gesturing to the bar they were leaning against. “Want a drink?”

“With you?” she asked, her voice breathless. Fuck. He wanted to hear her breathless in his bedroom. 

“Who else?”

And Elain, with her unbridled audacity, looked around the room. Lucien knew, in that moment she was no mere submissive thing but a brat who would need a firm hand. The realization made his cock ache against the soft fabric of his briefs and when she wasn’t looking, hips angled towards the wood of the bar, he rubbed the heel of his hand against himself to adjust. No need to let her know she had any affect on him at all.

Breathe, you dumb motherfucker.

She frowned, eyes snagging on someone Lucien vaguely recognized. The senior Nolan had stepped in with his blonde wife and their reedy looking son. “Him?” he asked, not bothering to hide how indignant the thought made him.

“What? No,” she breathed, looking back ut Lucien with those fuck me eyes. “I just…I know him.”

“How?”

“We dated,” she replied, eyes pinching for a moment. Lucien turned to study the man—boy, really. He was handsome enough in an obvious, eighties movie villain sort of way. Lucien didn’t know the Nolan’s well enough to comment on what it must have been like, though just by looking at Graysen’s weak chin, Lucien knew he absolutely did not eat pussy.

Elain, he bet, could use it. Lucien could too. He was distracted by the thought, of her riding his face, panting in that soft, breathless sort of way. Lucien could make her loud, could draw her out, could torture her for hours, keep her on that edge.

Fuck, how he wanted to. 

“Sounds fascinating,” he replied dryly, ordering a neat whiskey while she continued to stare. Elain jerked when she realized he had moved on, her whole face impossibly tight…and bruised. When had that happened? While she ordered a vodka tonic, Lucien brushed his knuckle over her cheekbone. 

“What happened here?” he asked, noting she’d clearly tried to hide it with her hair and a thin layer of carefully applied make-up. He turned his head to look at Nolan, wondering if he needed to take him out back and beat the shit out of him. 

Elain’s eyes widened, her fingers swatting him away. “I fell.”

Lucien stared for a moment, letting her see how little he believed her. “Face first?”

“I…can be clumsy,” his pretty little liar assured him. 

Lucien reached between them for her hands. He’d spent enough time around his mother, perpetually covered in those same bruises, to know that people who fell threw out their hands to catch themselves and people who were shoved violently or hit unexpectedly had soft, unblemished palms…just like Elain. She yanked it back.

“It wasn’t him,” she breathed when Lucien rose to his full height. “Just some douchebag in my apartment building. No big deal.”

“No…big…deal…” Lucien repeated with glassy eyes, thinking of his own mother and how often she’d breathed those same words. “If you say so.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked, shifting on her feet to look at the clear, bubbling liquid in her hand. Changing the subject to shift his attention, but Lucien was single-minded. He’d find that dumbfuck and he’d show them what happened when someone bigger, someone stronger, pushed them around. He did not believe it wasn’t personal or even the first time. 

“My brother,” he nodded towards the pillar Eris was reclined against, talking to his too-young blonde. “Man of the hour, as always.”

“Does that bother you?”

He grinned. “No one cares if I stand here talking to you, so nope.”

Another flush crept up her neck. “Thank you again, for meeting with me. I know it meant a lot to Arina.”

“Sure,” he agreed, not caring one bit if he did Arina any favors. He wanted to know if she had enjoyed it. No way to ask without being a creep, so instead, Lucien added, “You should let me buy you dinner. Tomorrow.”

Her eyes were so big, her pretty, red lips parted. He had fight the urge to rub his thumb over her mouth, to smear it around her face. He wanted to see that lipstick stained against his cock and fuck, Lucien had to turn and face the bar completely to keep people from seeing the obvious bulge in his pants. 

“Dinner? For what?” she asked, the sweet little thing. 

“A date,” Lucien replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world—because it was. “I’ll pick you up…eight o’ clock?”

“A date?” Was it really so unbelievable to her he found her attractive? Surely that wasn’t new. Elain was easily the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. She outshone her friend and everyone else in the room without even trying. She had an effortless way about her and Lucien was willing to bet that when she wiped off all her make-up, she was just as cock-achingly stunning. 

“I uh…”

Lucien reached in his pocket for his phone, sliding it easily across the bar. She caught it on instinct. “Put your number in.” It wasn’t a request and Elain, without even realizing what he was doing, automatically picked it up and began doing what she was told. 

Good girl. 

She bit her bottom lip. Lucien resisted the urge to grab her by the chin and kiss her, forgetting where he was for a moment. 

“It’ll be fun,” he assured her. “No pressure.”

“I pay for myself,” she began, unaware of how much heat that filled him with.

“Absolutely not.”

Her fingers hesitated on the screen. “I don’t want to owe you—”

“You won’t,” he replied. He didn’t want her in his bed because she felt obligated over a decent meal. He wanted her in his bed because she was dizzy and sick with desire. “I pay for dates, though. You don’t owe me anything except your sharp wit.”

“As long as you understand I don’t have sex on the first date,” she told him firmly. Lucien almost demanded a list of men who hadn’t understood that. In time. 

“Very reasonable,” he agreed, not bothering to mention there would be a second date…and third…and on and on so long as the relationship between them remained mutually beneficial and fun. He’d explain it all tomorrow, he decided. What he wanted from her…what he wanted to give her. Start slow, start easy before working her into his personal playroom. 

Pleased to have her number, Lucien shot her a quick text so she had his phone number, too. “Feel free to text me anything you like,” he told her, letting some innuendo seep into his voice. She glanced up at him, eyes narrowing a fraction.

“You want memes?”

I want to see your pussy.

“I love memes,” he replied. “And conversation.”

“Noted,” Elain agreed, just in time for a red-faced Arina to stomp over, interrupting what was proving to be the highlight of his night.

“Can we talk?” she said, eyes cutting to Lucien with open suspicion. He merely waved the girls off, watching the sway of Elain’s hips as she went. She looked over her shoulder once, finding his unabashed staring.

I want you, doe-eyed fawn.

He’d have her.

ELAIN: 

Elain woke the next morning to a text from Lucien.

Good morning.

It wasn’t real. She didn’t know how to deal with some millionaire and his fascination. Had he really sent her a good morning text? She’d been so sure she’d imagined the whole thing, that she’d somehow stumbled into a hallucination that involved the absurdly hot Lucien Vanserra that Elain hadn’t even considered texting him, even when she left. She had immediately gone home to take a shower and perhaps alleviate some of the tension in her body beneath the pulsating water but she could hardly be blamed. After all, Lucien’s hands were so big and he smelled absurdly good.

He was going to realize that every time he spoke, all Elain was looking at was his mouth. She took a breath, inhaling strawberry and cinnamon scented air from the candle she’d been burning, mingled against the smell of burning, cheap weed.

Jack.

If Jack was around, the text was real. Elain was quick to respond good morning with a pink flower emoji before she stomped out of her bedroom in her sleep shorts and tanktop.

“Nice tits,” Jack said by way of greeting, staring at their television as he slammed around a controller in his hands. 

“Where is Arina?”

He shrugged. “She wasn’t here when I got here.”

“Then why are you here?” Elain demanded. “You don’t pay rent.”

“Bitchy as always, I see,” he replied. “Do you ever chill out?”

“Nope,” she replied. “Get out of my apartment.”

“Fuck you,” he retorted. “I’m waiting on my girlfriend and I have a key. Take your own bitchy advice, though, if it bothers you so much and go somewhere else.”

“She’s going to dump you one day,” Elain told him, practically vibrating with rage. “And you’re going to die alone.” He looked over at her with such obvious hatred that Elain yielded a step. “Arina’s not a dumb cunt like you. Heard Graysen was out again last night. Wonder why you can’t keep a man?’ 

“I’m going to tell her,” Elain whispered, the only card she had left to play. All at once, Jack exploded, flinging his controller against the wall so hard the drywall cracked. He rose to his feet, quick as a flash, to stand in her face.

“Tell her what? What a fucking nosy ass bitch you are? How you’re so fucking jealous that Arina has a man you try and sabotage it at every turn? Arina is going to figure out what a miserable, stupid bitch you are one of these days and cut you loose.”

“Maybe Arina will realize she could do better,” Elain whispered, her whole body shaking. 

“I hope you fucking die you stupid–”

“What’s going on in here?” Arina’s voice cut through Jack’s fury. Eyes wide and rimmed red, Elain didn’t have to ask if her friend had been crying. Elain took another step back and so did Jack, his fury smoothing into nothing.

“Just a friendly chat–”

“You said you hoped she died,” Arina pressed, clearly outraged. “Why would you say that?”

“Baby,” he tried but Arina held up a hand. Jack’s anger was back. “She’s fucking jealous–”

“Of what?!” Elain demanded. “All you do is sit here all day playing video games and smoking weed! You don’t work, you don’t help out! Why would I be jealous when you’re such a fucking loser!”

“See!” he tried but Arina was nodding her head.

“No…Jack…God she’s right. You’ve been saying for the last four years you’d get a job and you still haven’t–”

“My streaming—”

“Is never going to take off!” Arina interrupted, her anger burning hot. “I need help now, not for some hypothetical future!”

“I’m going to take care of you–” he tried, but Arina flung the door open behind her.

“Get out.”

“Arina–”

“GET. OUT!” she shrieked. He hesitated before ripping his system from their television so hard it nearly toppled over. 

“There’s someone else, isn’t there?” he asked when he had his things. “What’s his fucking name?”

“Common sense,” she whispered. “I should have done this last year.”

“I’ll fucking bet. I’ll find out, Reena and when I do…”

“You won’t do anything. That would require effort,” she snapped before shoving him into the hall.

“You’re a loose, ugly fucking bitch!” he screamed from the hall. “No one is gonna want you you fucking trailer park, daddy-issues cunt! Good fucking luck, Arina!”Arina didn’t react to his words, kicking her shoes off with a relieved exhale.

“You okay?” Arina looked at Elain, considering her words for a moment. “I think it took having a one-night stand with Eris Vanserra to realize how bad things were.”

“One night stand?”

“Yes,” Arina said firmly. “But it was a good night. He didn’t badger me one time and I know that’s like, a low bar but when I told him I didn’t want to do things from behind and he just agreed I had this moment of like, what am I even doing? You know? I feel bad I cheated on Jack but I needed to leave him. Eris gave me a reason, I guess.”

“And you don’t want to see him? He seemed interested,” Elain hedged carefully. Arina flopped onto the couch, nose wrinkling when she caught that stale weed smell.

“No. He’s in D.C. half the time and men like him never want anything serious. Even if he did, they don’t stay faithful. I see it all the time in the bar.”

“Lucien Vanserra asked me out. I won’t go if–”

“No, go,” Arina said, waving her hand. “Just be careful. He’s cut from the same cloth. He’ll always want more. Men like that know they can have whatever they want. Today it’s us, tomorrow it’s a different barely legal teenager. Have fun…let him take you somewhere nice, at least. Get a little jewelry out of it. Maybe a car.”

“Gosh, you make it sound too romantic,” Elain teased. 

Still, she was grateful Arina agreed and didn’t find it weird. The advice was a good reminder, too. Lucien was a grown man and so utterly unlike the other men on campus that he was practically in a different orbit. She couldn’t expect anything genuine or long-term for him. It was a first for Elain, who was so used to relationships that spanned years that maybe this was what she needed. Maybe she ought to take a page from Arina’s book and have a one night stand.

With that in mind, Elain put on the tightest black dress she owned, the one that just barely covered her ass and showed a generous amount of cleavage. She put a lacy pink thong on beneath and the matching bra, having shaved herself within an inch of her life. 

More tall, black shoes meant she won’t have to stand on tip-toes to reach his mouth and Elain took a chance and left her hair down hoping he liked that soft of thing. A sleek ponytail might have gone better, given she’d smoked out her eyeshadow and put red lipstick on again.

She strolled into the living room where Arina was still sitting, dressed down in sweatpants and an over-sized university t-shirt. 

“Jesus, Elain, why not take out a billboard that says you suck dick,” she said loudly, just in time for knocking on the door. 

“Want me to answer?” Arina teased. “Take pictures for prom?”

“Shut up.”

Elain pulled open the door where Lucien waited, eyeing the dingy, loud hall of her building with distaste. He was so ridiculously out of place she almost laughed. She wasn’t inviting him in, not when he looked so good in another well tailored set of black slacks and his shirt—blue, this time—was half hidden beneath a vest that hugged his muscular chest. He’d rolled his sleeves to his elbows and still had on the watch but it was his loose hair that made her felt wet between her legs.

Lucien couldn’t help himself, it seemed, his lips parting in a soft oh as he looked her up and down. “Ready?” 

If he was affected by her appearance, he didn’t let it show.

“Use protection!” Arina yelled just as Elain snapped the door shut. 

“No expectations?” Lucien tried to joke as she led him down the stairs. Elain watched him move, just a half-step in front of her. He was so tall, so broad…what was he like in bed? Was he the sort of man who relied on his good looks and didn’t think he ought to do any other work beyond that? Elain chose to believe Lucien lived up to the promises his big hands were currently making. 

“Don’t tell me you’re the sort that thinks clothes and consent are the same,” she replied, letting him jerk open the door. He looked down at her while she passed, his eyes so utterly dark she shivered.

“Your friend said to use protection,” he reminded her. “I just want to ensure I’m living up to your whispered expectations.”

Fuck he was so stupid and hot. “She’s just…”

Lucien’s smoldering look silenced the lie about to pour from her lips. Instead, Elain slid into the door he held open, reclining against the clean leather. His car smelled clean and masculine, like he’d just bought it that day and had sprayed himself quickly with a bit of his cologne. She wanted to bathe in that rich, spicy smell. 

Lucien jogged around the drivers side, folding his body behind the steering wheel. Elain forced herself to breathe, to act normal even though she couldn’t take her eyes off the muscle flexing in his forearm. Lucien cut a glanced towards, reaching for what she thought was her leg before he swerved and set it against the stick shift. 

“I don’t think you look like you suck dick,” he said after a moment and Elain, who had currently been imagining what it would be like to kneel between his legs, wanted to die. He’d heard that?

Lucien cleared his throat. “That came out wrong. You look nice.”

“Thanks,” she managed, just barely breathing. “You do, too.”

Lucien smiled ever so slightly, as if he knew he looked good. He’d be stupid not, she supposed, doubly so when they reached the restaurant and the hostesses eyes became wide like saucers at the sight of him. 

“Table for Vanserra?” His voice was smooth and dark and velvet, skittering up Elain’s spine before wrapping around her neck. 

“Right this way,” she breathed. Arina’s words rang through Elain’s head. What was it like to move through the world this way? To have people who always wanted you so viscerally? She imagined it was incredibly tempting and a good reminder that she could offer this man nothing but her physical presence no matter how fascinated by her words he seemed.

The interior of the restaurant was dim, with tables covered in thick white fabric and as far as Elain could tell, a pre-set menu. He was showing off, then.

Doubly, when she was taken to a rather intimate semi-circular table in the back. No chairs, only a long bench Elain slid onto and Lucien joined her on the other side until his leg was pressed against her own. She could barely think let alone speak which was just as well–Lucien ordered wine and other small plates for the table with practiced ease. 

He put one arm over the back of the book, drawing her closer against his chest and creating a bubble around them that made Elain’s whole body throb. He took a breath, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “Good day?”

“Yeah,” she breathed. “I uh…” She couldn’t remember one thing she’d done. Lucien chuckled.

“I feel the same way. You’ve been on my mind.”

She looked up at him and fuck, that was a huge mistake. He definitely caught the way her eyes zeroed in on his mouth, the way she tracked his tongue moistening his lips. “I have?”

Lucien cupped her face in his hand, the size of him enough to hold her neck, too. He brushed a thumb over her cheek, over the bruise she couldn’t quite manage to hide. “You made an impression, calling me an arrogant, spoiled nepotism baby.”

“I didn’t–I never—you–” she spluttered but Lucien dragged that same thumb over her lips, silencing her entirely. 

“Most people only want to talk about how wonderful I am.”

“I’m sure you have…good…qualities,” she replied, the pad of his finger still against her lips, salty from his skin. Lucien gripped her chin, tilting her closer.

“Mm, I suppose,” he agreed, lowering his face. He was going to kiss her. Elain felt electric, her skin humming with anticipation. 

Just like in the car, Lucien swerved at the last moment. “Wine?”

Elain’s whole brain went blank for a moment, trying to catch up with what was happening. Lucien reached for the uncorked bottle and poured two glasses of red. He offered it to her, watching as she took that first drink.

“Do you like it?”

No. Elain had never been much of a wine drinker. It tasted like wine—Elain had never been able to identify a difference between vintage and type. It was just wine flavored, sometimes sweeter and sometimes not. “It’s fine.”

“Do you prefer white?”

“I prefer vodka,” Elain told him honestly, a little annoyed he’d put his lovely mouth so close to hers only to pull away at the last second. “And a nice cider.”

That clearly surprised him. Good. Let him see that all the wining and dining wasn’t necessary. Elain would have been perfectly content at a greasy spoon. His money wasn’t what interested her, besides. It was his hands and how they’d feel running against her body. 

Not that Lucien didn’t try. He’d ordered on their behalf, watching her eat beautifully plated creations with a watchful eye. What did she enjoy? Did she enjoy the flavors, the textures, the presentations? No, no, no. In fact, every new thing was having the opposite intended effect. It reminded Elain she did not belong in this world, that she should never have agreed to go. What would likely have impressed a million other girls only served to make her feel inadequate. 

Elain had put a considerable amount of distance between them by the time the last plates were cleared away. She could see he was frustrated, unsure of what he was doing wrong. Elain bet this had worked a million times before. Instead of trying to escape, she ought to be crawling in his lap and calling him daddy. Some part of her still wanted to, of course. It wasn’t as if Lucien had stopped being hot. He was merely unattainable to her now—a fantasy better left in her head. 

Lucien paid while Elain checked her phone brazenly. It was universal speak for a bad date that would absolutely not be replicated, a shame given how wet the fabric of her thong still was. Lucien kept eyeing her, letting the silence drag.

She couldn’t help herself, so annoyed with him for his stupid date and all his money and good looks that Elain dug through her clutch, pulling out a mirror and her lipstick, repainting it against her lips while he watched her with dark, nearly rabid eyes. 

“Well,” she began, snapping the compact closed loudly. “This was fun but—”

“But nothing,” Lucien interrupted smoothly. “Stand up.”

And fuck, Elain did exactly as he told her to. Lucien rose to his feet, putting a hand on the small of her back to guide her back to his car. A valet had it pulled up and Lucien, still showing off, pulled a neatly folded bill from his pocket and handed it over without a second glance. Opening her door, Lucien’s expression told her he was not done with her and dinner was merely a prelude for whatever he’d planned next.

This time, Lucien slid his hand over her thigh and squeezed. A rush of heat flooded between her thighs, filling Elain with want.

“Where are you taking me?”

“What would impress you, Elain?” he asked instead, pulling from the road in a dark alley and cutting the ignition. Elain hesitated. “You hated every minute of that, didn’t you?”

She blinked. She wasn’t used to being called out this way. Lucien leaned forward, blanketing her in his scent. “Tell me the truth.”

“Yes,” she admitted. 

“What would it take to impress you?” he whispered, curling his other hand against her face. His thumb smeared lipstick over her cheek and Elain didn’t think she’d ever been so aroused in her life. She could feel her heart beating between her legs hot and insistent. 

“You can’t impress me,” Elain lied. In truth, she’d been impressed when he’d sidled up next to her at the bar and offered her nothing but his time and attention. Lucien knew it. One moment he was looking at her with his wild, needy eyes and the next his mouth was slanted over her own. 

Elain moaned at that first brutal touch. There was no polite first kiss, no slow seduction. It was as hot as he was, burning like there was fire just beneath his skin. His tongue swept into her mouth, hand tangled in her hair. Elain was electric, made all the worse when he yanked her into his lap. She leaned back, softly beeping his horn for all Lucien cared. He reclined his seat as far as it could go, forcing her to lay against him while he kissed her breathless and stupid. His face was messy from her mouth and when she pulled back to look, Lucien’s grin was feral and hot. 

“Did you make a mess of me?” he breathed, grabbing the back of her neck. He nipped almost painful kisses against her skin. “Am I making a mess of you?”

It was so utterly indecent. Elain pressed her hands against his strong chest. “I told you no sex on the first date.”

“As if you were going to give me a second,” he replied, skimming those same hands over the curve of her ass. “Besides, it’s hard to fuck you the way I want in my goddamn car.”

“Then what…” she trailed off when his hand slipped beneath her dress, brushing against her fabric.

“Soaked,” he taunted, lips back against her own. “When’s the last time you touched yourself?”

He rubbing her through the lace, teasing and taunting just enough to make her breathless but not so much he was giving her what she needed. 

“Last night,” she admitted, moaning against his jaw, her hips rolling against his hand. Lucien chuckled darkly. 

“Tell me.”

“You’re not the boss—”

Lucien tangled his free hand in her hair and tugged, exposing her throat. “Tell. Me.”

“Shower,” she panted, so obscenely turned on.

“Did you spray the water against your pretty pussy?” he asked, licking the column of her neck. 

“Yes.”

“All spread out?”

“Yes,” she whined, back to rocking against his hand. Lucien pulled the fabric apart, dipping one of his fingers into her body.

“What did you imagine?”

God she couldn’t tell him, it was so embarrassing. Lucien pushed and Elain couldn’t help the whimper that escaped.

“Tell me, baby. What was I doing to you?”

“Stop it,” she whispered and all at once his hands were gone. Lucien’s eyes were wide, his lust replaced by real fear. Elain ground herself against him. “I can’t say—”

Lucien kissed again, needy and hot, his hand back beneath her dress pumping roughly. His thumb rubbed against her clit, drawing out moan after moan. His tongue stroked against her own, his claiming, devouring her whole. 

“Was it this?” he asked, his voice a rasp. “Was I eating your pussy? Was I fucking you? Tell me, Elain. Tell me so—”

“Yes,” she agreed. “All of it.”

“Is that what you want?” he continued, each kiss sliding into the next. She was building, grinding in his lap. Lucien pushed a third finger into her body, filling her entirely with his touch, his claiming kiss. He curled those fingers, thumb rubbing tight circles and Elain came apart all over his legs and hands in a dark, abandoned alley. Lucien rode her through it, kissing hard until she was panting and sensitive. 

And then she was back in her seat while he wiped his hand against his thigh like nothing had happened. He restarted the car casually, as if she couldn’t see the large, heavy outline of him bulging in his pants.

“I—”

“The first time you touch me won’t be in my car,” Lucien interrupted before she could offer. 

“What will it be like?” she whispered. Lucien smiled, pulling them back onto the road. 

“Have you ever been tied up, Elain?”

Not really. Graysen had once bound her hands up in silk but she’d escaped easily. She suspected Lucien was not asking to do the same. “No.”

He nodded. “I have a proposition for you, if you’re interested.”

Still coming down from her orgasm, Elain was in a lusty fog. “What kind of proposition?”

Lucien gripped the steering wheel tightly for a moment. “I’m looking for a specific kind of relationship, Elain.”

She wasn’t sure she liked where this was going though she waited for him to just get it out. “I’m looking for a submissive. Do you understand what that means?”

She wasn’t stupid. “What sort of submissive?”

“In the bedroom,” he explained. “There would be…rules.”

She was certain he could deliver this information without making it sound so sinister. “What sort of rules?”

“I can send it to you,” he murmured, cutting a glance to her. “If you’re interested?”

“And if I’m not?”

“Then we part ways with no hard feelings,” he replied easily. “It’s not for everyone and I’m not in the business of forcing women into having sex with me.”

“But…but you won’t have sex without these conditions?” she questioned.

“Precisely.”

And Elain, who was perhaps not thinking entirely clearly and still far too interested in him, despite the disastrous date, decided to be bold again. “Send me your rules.”

Lucien smiled. “You got it, baby.”

LUCIEN: 

He didn’t hear from her all day. Lucien had his contract sent over that very next morning along with another good morning text. She’d said nothing at all, filling him with cold dread. Silence was an answer just as sure as anything and yet he couldn’t stop thinking about how she’d fucked his hand in his car and how it had still smelled like her when he’d gotten in that morning.

He wasn’t going to push. 

Still, he was in a foul mood when he returned home, throwing off his clothes angrily around his large bedroom. Phone tossed on the bed, Lucien paced restlessly. He could have had her all the same—he could have started out by meeting her expectations before easing her into it. He wanted too much all at once and Elain in that tight dress had made him too desperate.

Considering just walking it all back, Lucien went into his bedroom again where his phone screen was lit up against the black blankets.

My sister is a lawyer. I don’t think any of this is enforceable.

Of course it wasn’t. It was merely an agreement between them, one he could set expectations up front so there was no confusion later down the road. Not that things couldn’t be negotiated but Lucien had learned early it was better to just tell people what he wanted. Lucien liked to fuck rough, liked inflicting pain and he liked doing it to someone who wanted to take it. Clear consent, clear boundaries. 

Consider it guidelines, then.

He waited, staring at the blue bubbles on the other end. She’d read it and she wasn’t running. Lucien thought that was positive, over all. 

So you’d negotiate?

Fuck he would have done just about anything if she agreed. Still, there were some things he was unwilling to bend on—the submissive and the dominant roles being the most important.

Tell me your terms.

Elain was quick. 

I’m okay with spanking but no belts.

Reasonable. Lucien could abide by that. Still, he wondered if there was a middle ground as he texted:

What about paddles?

It took her a moment to formulate a response. Lucien appreciated how thoughtful she was.

Maybe. Ease me into it and we’ll see. How hard do you plan on going in the beginning?

Not hard at all, at this rate. He took a steadying breath.

We can start small, work our way into it. See what you like and what you don’t. 

He almost asked her to come over and find out. He’d tied her up with silk easy enough to escape and lick his way up and down her body. He wasn’t sure he wanted to fuck her just yet—Lucien was certain if he did, he’d compromise too much and lose the things he enjoyed, too. More bubbles from Elain.

How will you know if I don’t like something?

Lucien tapped out his reply.

We’ll have a safeword. Say it and I’ll stop. You have control, too, even if you’re yielding it. If you can’t trust me, this doesn’t work.

I barely know you.

Come over. Let’s rectify that. No contract—just conversation and whatever else feels good.

There was a beat and then—

Okay.

Lucien sent a car over, letting her know not to get on her bike given the lateness of the hour. Turning in a circle, he surveyed his apartment through the eyes of a new person. He hadn’t invited a woman over in…fuck. Since Jess, if he was honest. Not that he hadn’t had his moments in between but those were quick and dirty and never in his bed. 

Not that Elain was a girlfriend—Lucien didn’t want that. He merely wanted a reliable partner for sex, like a step above fuck buddy but step below girlfriend. Most women balked at that. He could see Elain finding fault with that, too, but Lucien had girlfriends in the past. Too messy, too painful. Jess had taken his heart out of his body and pulverized it beneath her immaculate shoes. No hard feelings, she’d said after sleeping with his best friend at the time. It hadn’t worked out with Tamlin but she’d almost launched herself into the stratosphere. Tamlin had money, power, and prestige without working for it. Lucien would always be working, would always be merely the seventh born son. 

Eris was too into blondes to ever give Jess the time of day. Still, Lucien hadn’t wanted a girlfriend before Jess, either. He’d merely romanticized her to the point of divorcing her desire to accumulate wealth and power from what he wanted her to be—someone who loved him for him, and not his last name.

He closed the door to his playroom firmly, though he intended to give her a tour if she expressed interest. He wouldn’t bring her in tonight…but maybe soon if she responded well to some light bondage and a small spark of pain. Lucien tied up his bedroom, changing out of his suit for a more casual set of black basketball shorts and an easily removed white t-shirt. He tied his hair off his face and left only ankle socks on his feet. Tossing his clothes in the hamper and his dishes in the sink, Lucien thought his space, big as it was, was obviously masculine and still tastefully decorated and inviting enough. It wasn’t as if she’d see much, anyway. The hall, the living room and the massive glass wall overlooking the city…but Lucien intended to veer her into his bedroom even if all she wanted was to talk. 

Get her used to coming straight here, at any rate.

A knock on his door sent Lucien scrambling, settling at the last minute to project an aura of cool. He opened the door casually, surprised to see Elain also casual. No dress and very little make-up. He could see the faint freckles on her nose and that ugly purple bruise still blotted against her fair, flawless skin. She had a bag shrugged over her shoulder which gave him hope. Dressed in skin tight leggings, slouchy boots, and an oversized top, he realized he’d been right that she was hot with and without the makeup. Had she put more lacy underwear on for him? Something to remove with his teeth, perhaps? 

She fiddled with the tail of her low pony. “I just brought the bag in case…I can go home—”

“No worries. Come in.” He hadn’t meant to leave her out in the hall ogling. 

Elain’s interest was polite, eyes wide as she drank in the large paintings on the wall and his immaculate furniture. 

“You know, the wealthy man who is a secret deviant is kind of a cliche,” she said, dropping her little bag by the door as she came into his bedroom. Lucien closed the open closet and the bathroom, having already closed the bedroom door. A mounted tv against the wall could provide entertainment if his hands and mouth could not, and Lucien thought it better if there was only them and four uninterrupted walls. 

“Oh yeah?” he replied, enjoying her sense of humor. “I’m starting to think you’re a brat, Elain.”

She sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out her phone to scroll through the photos she’d taken of his contract.

“It doesn’t say anything in here about being a bra—”

“You just are,” he interrupted. “I can work with that.”

“So I don’t have to be your docile little pet on a leash?”

“Jesus Christ, Elain.”

“I also see you want me on birth control–”

“I like to fuck raw,” was his explanation. “Go to the clinic and get checked out. I’ll do the same.” She blinked. 

“What’s the point of this? Is it like a NDA?’

He almost laughed. “I would prefer discretion, but I doubt anyone is interested that seriously in my sex life. It’s more like guidelines, like I said. I want to be upfront about what I’m looking for.”

“And what, exactly, are you looking for?”

Fuck. He recognized that guarded expression, her wary curiosity.

“Like a fuck buddy but with rules. As long as we’re doing this, we’re not fucking other people. No dating, no romance and if you change your mind, no hard feelings.”

“No dating,” she repeated. 

His heart pounded in his chest. “No dating.”

“You took me on a date yesterday.”

Ah, fuck. 

“That was different,” he tried to explain, unable to explain the relief cascading over her features.

“No dating is good. Great, even,” she replied.

“Because I’m so bad at it?” he tried to joke. Elain shook her head, toying with her ponytail again.

“My boyfriend broke up with me a few weeks ago and I’m sucking at getting over it. I don’t want another boyfriend…and I don’t think I would fit into your world, anyway. I’m always dating and maybe slowing down and figuring myself out and having a little fun without all the pressure of everything else would be nice.” Lucien’s relief was punctured by one sentence. I don’t think I would fit into your world, anyway.

He shook it off. “So…is that a yes?”

“It’s a conditional yes,” Elain replied. “I want to get a feel for it because I’m all in.”

She eyed the leather restraints resting against his headboard. 

“There’ll be none of that tonight,” Lucien murmured, though he very much hoped to spread her out at some point. Deciding he’d hold off on showing her the playroom, Lucien joined her on the bed. “Let's start easy.”

She nodded.

“The only thing I want to know right now is if you’re my good girl or if you’re my brat.”

Elain sucked in a breath, looking up at him with those wide, doe eyes. “What’s the difference?” she murmured as he stroked her face.

“My good girl lives to please me and a brat likes to push my buttons.”

“How would I know which one I was?” she whispered, eyes fluttering shut. Lucien wanted to kiss her. 

“My good girl would tell me how she really got this bruise,” he whispered, thumb rubbing over the hurt. “And I’d reward her for being honest.”

She exhaled against his palm. “And what would a brat do?”

“She’d make me pull it out of her.”

“I think I’d rather be your good girl,” Elain whispered, unaware of how immediately tight his entire body went. That was Lucien’s favorite dynamic, though he didn’t mind a little brattiness from time to time. 

Still stroking her face, Lucien murmured, “Tell me, baby girl, who hurt you.”

He waited for her natural resistance, for her to tell him some little lie. Elain opened those sweet, wide eyes and he watched her give in. Testing herself to see how it felt. Trusting this moment and him, too. If he reacted badly, if he flew off the handle or punished her unfairly, Elain would back away. He’d promised to reward her. 

“His name is Jack. He pushed me down the stairs.”

Lucien swallowed his hatred. “Is Jack the ex-boyfriend?”

“Arina’s,” she said, scooting a little closer. He could see, from the anger and anguish warring in her features, that Elain needed to tell someone this. He was a stranger, harmless to her. 

Ex-boyfriend. 

“No one gets to put a hand on what’s mine,” Lucien murmured. Elain practically melted at his words. She wanted to be taken care of which worked out perfectly well for Lucien. “Do I need to teach him a lesson?”

“He’s gone,” she murmured, some of the fantasy shifting into reality. He saw the wariness return. Too far, though Lucien wasn’t about to let it go. Not yet, anyway. Maybe he’d put it on Eris’s radar if he was still panting after the roommate. 

“You’ll tell me if he comes back.” It wasn’t a question. And Elain, the good little thing, nodded her head.

“Good girl,” he praised. “My good girl. I reward my girl when she’s good. Do you want to know how?”

Elain nodded, letting him push her gently to the bed. This was easy, was just a test run. He had every intention of putting her on her on her knees but first, rewards. After all, Lucien had promised and she’d been honest. Elain watched, heavy lidded, as Lucien straddled her hips. “Arms up.”

She did exactly as she was told, letting him pull off her shirt and find the lacy black bra beneath. He couldn’t help his smile.

“For me?”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. Lucien dragged a finger over the fabric, teasing her nipples just beneath. “Take it off.”

Her back arched, pushing her body against his erection without meaning to. She sucked in a breath but didn’t stop, unsnapping quickly and sliding it over her arms. Just like that, Elain’s small, pert breasts were all but in his face. Naked from the top up, Lucien wasn’t sure he’d ever seen anyone half as sexy. Her hair tumbled around her face, half covering her from view. It was all he could do not to bury his face between them though Lucien wasn’t above a little groping. His hands dwarfed her, taking them entirely into his palm. Elain watched, her eyes impossibly dark, chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Are you going to be loud for daddy?” he asked because God he wanted to hear her scream. Lucien wanted to see her on her hands and knees and beg, but for now, learning that she needed to articulate what she wanted—and loudly—was enough. Elain nodded, still watching.

He licked the length of her abdomen, taking her pants in his teeth and tugging. She gasped softly and Lucien thought it was probably too easy to impress her. 

“When’s the last time someone ate this pretty pussy, Elain?”

She swallowed hard. “Um…”

He waited, sliding his fingers into the band of her pants to help shimmy them down her body. “I asked you a question.”

“I can’t remember,” she admitted, jumping ever so slightly at the tone of his voice. “A year, maybe?”

Lucien felt bewildered. “What about your boyfriend?” He said it with an ugly sneer. 

“He didn’t like it,” she said, utterly naked save for the matching thong. Lucien was obsessed with the thought of Elain dressing herself up for him, putting on cute little things only he could see.

Lucien lowered himself before her, slinging her slim thighs up over his shoulders. 

“No wonder you’re so needy,” he murmured, kissing her pussy through the fabric. “You’ve been neglected.”

Elain whined softly as he nuzzled against her, inhaling the sweet, musky scent of her body. What kind of man had this wet, soft creature in his bed and didn’t devour her? Lucien had been dying to have her pussy on his face since he’d met her, since he’d watched her cross and uncross her legs in his chair. 

Pulling her out of them, Lucien stared for a moment at her bare, soaking cunt. Spread open and quivering, Lucien couldn’t believe he’d put his fingers inside her and then drove her home. If he’d known how fucking sexy she was, he’d have had his cock in her, needs be damned. 

“Fuck, baby,” he praised, rubbing her clit with his thumb. Elain responded with a sweet moan. “So wet for me.”

He was toying with her, watching how she arched and wiggled. She’d come so easily on his hand, drenching his pant leg in her slick. Lucien had smelled her on his skin all day no matter how hard he’d scrubbed. Now he’d have her on his tongue every time he spoke.

“I’m going to taste you, now,” Lucien told her, breathing the words against her wet skin. “And you’re going to be really loud for me so I know what you like. Do you understand, baby?”

“Yes,” she breathed. 

“Yes what?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied. Close enough. Lucien would take it, at any rate. He hadn’t quite figured it out with her, though he was usually sir with the others. He was testing out the whole daddy thing, had always wanted that dynamic, though he’d never had a submissive who made it seem genuine. Elain looked so sweet, so innocent that it felt more natural. 

Tired of teasing and fascinated with the thought that there had been a man out there that hadn’t like eating pussy, Lucien slid his tongue up the length of her, just to see if maybe there was something bad about the way she tasted. He groaned, grinding his cock into the bed at the explosion against his senses. She was fucking good, better, even, that he’d imagined. There was a sweetness that clung to her that made her more than palatable. He could have bottled her and worn her like cologne if he’d had half a mind.

“This is my pussy now,” he told her, offering slow, languid swipes of his tongue against her trembling clit. “No one else gets to touch it. No one but me gets to taste. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir,” she moaned, grinding her hips into his face.

“Greedy,” he warned, noting how her eyes went wide. “Behave yourself.”

And fuck Lucien if she didn’t settle herself down, spreading her legs wider. One day he’d let her be wild, would let her do whatever she liked but today she’d do everything he said if only to prove this was a good fit for them both. 

“Good girl,” he praised, returning to his kissing and sucking. Elain merely moaned every time he did something that felt good and remained silent when he didn’t. It’s how Lucien learned she didn’t like the hard and fast flicks and didn’t like when he combined sensations all at once. She liked a steady pressure and the flat of his tongue stroking up and down the center of her while his fingers teased at her opening without actually penetrating. Her hips began to roll again, her moaning reaching a fever pitch. Lucien wanted to die, was so hard he couldn’t think straight. She was so hot, so wet and when Lucien pushed a finger into her gasping, sucking pussy, he was reminded that she was tight, too.

She came apart with a scream, writhing and grinding against his face until he pushed her back to the bed. It was enough to punish her, at any rate, though he rode her through it just because he liked the sight of her naked.

“What did I tell you about being greedy?” he gasped when she was done, catching her wide eyes filled with lust.

“Sorry–”

“Get up,” he ordered, stunned when she scrambled to her feet to obey. Her tits bounced as Elain stood at the edge of the mattress, her legs still trembling from her orgasm. Lucien reached for a pillow and dropped it at her feet so she’d have something soft to kneel against. 

“Take off my shorts,” he said. Her eyes sharpened, stepping towards him.

“Can…can I take off your shirt, too? Sir,” she amended quickly.

“Daddy,” he replied, gauging her reaction. 

“Daddy,” she breathed. “Please?”

“Yes,” he agreed, if only to be as naked as she was. Lucien was still struck dumb by the soft curve of her body, the flare of her hips and the pull of her waist. Her breasts were perfect, tilted upwards towards the sky and tipped with the rosiest nipples he’d ever seen. Elain was stunning, obviously gorgeous but every inch of her was somehow pretty. He didn’t know how to describe it any other way.

She was careful with his shirt, sliding up over his chest was careful fingers. Lucien swallowed a groan at this slow exploration, helping her get it over his head, given Elain was a good head and shoulders smaller than him. Petite was the right word, he supposed. 

Perfection.

She stared for a moment, hands at her sides. “Someday, I’ll let you lick,” he murmured, reaching for her wrists and putting them against the waistband for his shorts. “Something other than my cock, I mean.”

She gazed up through dark lashes. 

“Take them off and then get on your knees.”

Elain treated his shorts and briefs the same way she’d done with the shirt. Slowly removing, fingertips grazing his skin. Her eyes went wide when his cock sprang free, swollen and thick and practically weeping precum. Elain sank to her knees, letting him tug her ponytail from her hair and sweep the curls up in his fingers.

“Greedy girls suck cock just the way I like,” he told her. “And I like to bruise your throat. Do you understand?”

“Yes, daddy,” she whispered. He was going to come in five seconds, he just knew it. 

“Open your mouth, baby,” he ordered. “Be my good girl and stick out your tongue.”

She did so immediately, allowing him to wipe the beaded moisture of his slit against the pillowy soft tongue hanging between her lips.

“Swallow.”

She did, never taking her eyes off him.

“Good girl. Open again.”

This time, Lucien pushed himself into her mouth, stopping when he heard her gag softly. She barely had a third of him. He’d have to train her but Lucien had the time and the inclination. He’d bring her to work with him, put her beneath his desk, and have her work him root to tip all day like it was her greatest purpose in life. 

Dragging himself out, Lucien managed one command. “Suck.”

She did, hollowing her cheeks, eyes never leaving his face.

“Fuck, you’re so pretty like this.”

Elain didn’t say anything at all, though a flush of pleasure stole over her cheeks. She was a perfect submissive, he decided. Rough around the edges but eager to please and so utterly trainable.

Lucien practically vibrated with delight, holding her face steady to push himself into her. 

“Can you take more? Widen your jaw, baby,” he murmured, watching her gasp a quick breath of air before he pushed further, the crown of his aching cock hitting the spongy softness of her throat. 

“Use your hand,” he added when it was clear anymore would hurt her. He was holding himself back, easing her in, just as he’d promised.  “Perfect. You’re perfect, baby. Look at how pretty you are, sucking my cock.”

Tears slid from her eyes, dragging mascara with it. Next time he hoped she didn’t wear it, though he wiped it with his thumbs as he pumped in and out of her mouth. She timed her hand, using her saliva to lubricate his skin. 

“My good girl,” Lucien praised, every inch of him impossibly tight. He was clenching his ass to keep from coming though he couldn’t hold back much longer. “Are you going to swallow daddy’s come? Hm? Good girls swallow.”

She hummed her approval and Lucien groaned again.

“Good girl,” he said, increasing his hips until all he could hear was the wet sucking and gagging of her mouth. “Fuck, Elain—” he came with a rough, ugly grunt, pushing an inch further than he’d meant to. Hot ropes of come spurted from his cock directly into her throat and Elain, with on hand bracing his naked thigh, her eyes wide with surprise, took it all. 

He hauled her to her feet, game over for the moment. “Good job, Elain, you did so well, c’mere—” he kissed her, lavishing praise and soft touches over her skin. At some point he’d keep her as his submissive the entire time she was in his apartment but for now, Lucien let her slide back into herself, the part that sassed him back, at any rate. 

Lucien got her into the bed, pushing back the blankets and tossing her his shirt while he pulled on his shorts. The sight of her draped in his clothes made him achy all over again. 

Tugging her against his chest, Lucien stroked her hair.

“How was it?”

“A little weird,” she admitted. “But I liked it. I uh…it felt nice,” she said, nuzzling into his chest. 

“Good,” he murmured. “I’ll take care of you, alright? You can always stop–”

“Should we pick a safe word?”

They should have at the fucking beginning. He’d gotten lucky she hadn’t needed it. “Yeah. What do you want? Something that doesn’t belong in the bedroom…so don’t choose stop.”

She frowned. “How about vodka?”

He smiled, kissing her forehead. “Works for me.”

“Isn’t cuddling outside of the bounds of fuck buddies?”

“Nah. First of all, we’re  between fuck buddies and dating. Like…friends with very specific benefits.  And afterwards, you should get used to being taken care of, especially if something is painful. It’s just good practice…and I’m not above a little cuddling, besides.”

“What are you above?”

Lucien shifted uncomfortably. “Vodka.”

“Are you safe wording this conversation?”

“Yes. I don’t want to discuss what might convince me into a relationship. I don’t want one.” His voice was too hard though he kept his touch light, sweet. “Trust I won’t change my mind.”

That settled her.

“Well…just for the record, friends with benefits implies some manner of friendship. You could be open without worrying I want to date you.”

But Lucien didn’t trust that. He wanted to believe her because Elain was earnest and nice and had done everything he asked. He’d been around too many women with ulterior motives, who wanted to be a Vanserra more than they wanted anything else.

He kissed her head.

“Let’s watch a movie baby,” he murmured. 

She curled closer. “Whatever you want.”

Lucien smiled. 

“Good girl.”

[pooklet]

anon asks: unhelpful answers edition!

1. I don’t use the hair binner, so I’m not sure how that works. I’ve always used Wardrobe Wrangler to bin hairs (and I don’t even fully know how to use that). But making elders keep their colors isn’t part of that process, as far as I know. What I always do, when recoloring a hair, is just give elders the same hair color texture as adults. That’s all! So if I was retexturing a hair (ignore the old texture, I grabbed one at random) all the textures inside the bodyshop project would look like this:

It sounds like you may have downloaded some hairs in which the recolorer has given elders a different gray texture. I have no idea how to fix this after the fact other than to make a bodyshop project of the hair and replace the gray textures with the color that the younger ages have (assuming the recolorer hasn’t also deleted the elder stage, which is a whole other can of worms). Someone else might know if there’s another way to do without making a new recolor, but I’ve always just done that. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!

edit: oh my god i’m so dumb. you can just export the adult texture and import it over the gray one in SimPE!! again, this assumes that the recolorer did not completely delete the elder age, but yeah. there you go! i cannot believe i forgot about that lol.

2. My own! I’m still using human ones for the moment cuz I haven’t been able to decide which alien ones to default instead. I use 32, 42, 47 and 51 from my Kids In Technicolor set. If you want the exact ones that I'm using, here you go! These skew darker than Maxis’s default S1/S2/S3/S4 range, so if your skins are mostly geneticized in keeping with Maxis skintones, mine won’t fit well in your game. If you’re just interested in the textures that I use, not the specific shades, you could default some different shades from that set, which you can find in this sfs folder.

3. Hi anon! It is a default slider, yes, and it’s toward the back of the “Face” section, which is the first group of sliders. :)

Edit: if you are making sims in CAS, you won’t have that slider available and will need to get the Bodyshop Sliders for CAS mod. Sorry about that! I never make sims in CAS so I forgot that slider wasn’t there! Thanks to @kayleigh-83​ for pointing that out.

4. Alas, I have no idea how that mod works! Modding is completely beyond me. But it does work in my game, you just have to have it in your downloads. If it’s not working for you, you may have some sort of conflict, and may want to test it using the 50/50 method in CAS. Don’t forget to backup your neighborhood first, and restore it after you have finished 50/50ing!

5. I have no idea! :( There are tutorials on making accessories but I’ve never braved them. But this looks like a really good place to start, if you want to give it a try. :)

6. Hey anon! I assume you are the same anon who has asked for Lilac a couple times before and I am sorry for the delay. He’s going to be up with the other spares after the next Cakebread update (in which Tiara is finally going to die) but since you have been so patient I have uploaded him ahead of time. Here you go! Everything is in folders, so you can delete anything that you already have. You can dump his sim file in your Savedsims (or I think he will still work fine in Downloads).

The floorplans and library were built by @skulldilocks​ and my versions  are missing some CC that I accidentally deleted, so here are some top-down pics she took for me: library, gas station.

[mollymagician]

Thanks for the tag @threefill !!

Tag game are always fun because I’ve got chronic insomnia and need something to do when I’m up at 4 AM besides tear my hair out over my wips. Answering here because this is where I keep most of my shipping nonsense.

What ship were you completely obsessed with as a teenager, but now you don't care about anymore?

Luke/Mara Jade. I absolutely still care about them, but they did Mara so dirty I had to put it down for a while. I was too mad.

Which ship would you consider your first one?

Okay so, anyone remember that TV show Beauty and the Beast in the 80s/90s, about the people who lived secretly in tunnels under New York City? And there was this guy (the ‘beast’) who looked like a lion person? And he was in love with Linda Hamilton? It was really fucking weird. Anyway. I loved them. LOVED THEM. ❤️❤️❤️

Your first fanfic was about which couple?

It was a little hurt/comfort thing about Luke/Callista from Children of the Jedi, because I’m nothing of not predictable.

My VERY first fanfic was a bunch of scenes of Artoo and C3PO sassing each other, but thats probably not the kind of couple you mean.

Do you remember the first couple you saw fan art of?

The first I can actually remember was some excruciatingly depressing art of Himura Kenshin/Tomoe. (Did I never see Luke/Mara fanart? Really? I must have. That’s weird now that I think about it.)

Have you ever gotten into ship discourse?

Er, don’t think so? Someone gave me shit once for liking Harry Dresden/Karin Murphy cuz Dresden is problematic and I told them to fuck off, does that count?

Did you use to have any NOTP or have one currently?

Reylo kinda squicks me.

Who were the last couple in the last fanfic you read?

Dream/Hob Gadling

Currently, do you have any OTPs?

Dreamling owns my entire brain, at the moment. It’s been YEARS since a ship hit me so hard.

Is there any couple that, to this day, that you are extremely mad about not getting into?

Sort of? I wish Babylon 5 had happened at a time when I could have gotten really involved in fandom, because I would have been bonkers over Sheridan/Delenn. I mean I was, I just had no outlet for it.

Is there any ship you used to dislike but now you think they're kind of interesting?

Nope

Do you have any ship that, in the past, would have been considered normal but now you would be cancelled over?

Oooohhh yeahhhh….James Norrington/Jack Sparrow, I’m guessing.

What is your favourite crack ship?

lol I dunno. I love Matthew the Raven so much, I always have the urge to ship him with someone but he’s, like, a bird.

What is the couple you read the most fanfics about?

Dream/Hob 100% hoo boy

What do most of your ships have in common?

“The grumpy/reserved one is soft for the sunshiny/sassy/wacky one.” It is like catnip to me, and also cocaine.

What do you absolutely hate in a ship?

One looking down on the other, 50 Shades of Gray style, you know the vibe I mean. There’s a difference between snarkiness and contempt.

Tagging @pellaaearien @glowwormz @zigzag-wanderer @ml-nolan @verminetroglodyte @aquilathefighter @snarkythewoecrow @ghostboyjules @kydrogendragon

[artemisia-black]

My Black brothers headcanon is that they are practically identical, there’s minute differences of course (slightly different shades of gray for their eye color, Sirius is half an inch taller, Regulus’s hair is a bit shorter) but you have to know them really well and be near them to tell, and Hogwarts despairs because there’s no way to tell them apart from a distance or from behind, aside from their robes (lighthearted crack headcanon of mine also features them owning a copy of the other House’s robes, just to mess with everyone) Every once in awhile, someone approaches a Black, and they’re midway through a conversation before realizing this is the brother. They’ve started responding to their brother’s name by their later school years because there’s a 50% chance the shout was actually directed at them and the other person just hasn’t realized who they are.

I love this especially as it shows up Harry’s bias towards Sirius when he calls Regulus ‘ less handsome.’

I also imagine them looking similar but Sirius being more ruggedly handsome ( Aragorn from LoTR) and Regulus being more runway model put together.