#nathan and hazel

[white-cat-of-doom]

One final day in Düsseldorf for the International Tour.

Bows, with Daisy Boyles as Jellylorum, Nathan Taylor as Gus, Samuel Bateson as Mistoffelees, and Grace Chan covering Cassandra.

Jessie-Jae Davis as Tantomile finds Gumbie Cat to cuddle with in the form of Hazel Baldwin.

Bailey Johnson as Coricopat and Samuel Bateson as Mistoffelees backstage.

07 June 2025.

[fionapplespiano]

Got bored...here's the X-Men as Degrassi quotes

Jean Grey:

Iceman:

Beast:

Kitty Pryde:

Cable:

Emma Frost:

The Stepford Cuckoos:

Aaaand ForgetMeNot:

Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

[everaylark]

ohhhh hey

[slugbeaker]

So I know we get that load screen that talks about Hazel living a few years longer than projected (if you're a good bean and get the stuff for Agrippa uwu) but she's still sick in general and in hospice care by the time Daniel leaves for Algeria.

What do we think the odds are Daniel relapses into his old ways and winds up using vitae to help 'cure' her? 🥲🥲🥲

[georgefarmer]

[vegalores]

ooc. i keep forgetting i have an oc with courteney's likeness as well, by the name of hazel! now i can introduce her to nathan and see if they get along and if they do i'm gonna cry :D

[bemtevis]

googles how to steal her look (josie from bottoms

[thatawkwardmoth]

Fun little reminder for all Emma Frost fans that are making OC children or designing her canon kids (Ruby, Megan, etc.):

With the exception of the Stepford Cuckoos, or maybe even them, Emma's children would not look like her. Not her current appearance. Emma has stated proudly multiple times she's had cosmetic surgery; a nose job, breast implants, so on and so on.

Her children would not look like her because she's changed the ways she looks. You'd have to go back to her childhood appearance in the comic books about her becoming the White Queen.

She's naturally a brunette, for starters. All blonde genes would have to come from the Father's side. Easy example, Megan and Ruby both being blondes either came from Emma's mother, Hazel, who is a blonde or Scott's mother, Katherine, who is blonde as well. While the character design makes them blonde so they look like Emma's children, genetically, they'd have a higher chance of having dark hair, like Nathan Summers.

I need this known and out there for the world because Marvel won't remember it, but I will. Technically, the Stepford Cuckoos shouldn't be blonde or that identical to Emma either, obviously they'd either look like a younger her or like whoever the other half of their DNA comes from.

Please stop giving Emma blonde children.

[devnmon]

stress relief

sam drake x reader

summary: sam has been the nicest house guest. he's cleaned dishes, done laundry, and whatever else he could to make up for staying at your place. you wonder how you can pay him back...

warnings: unprotected piv, oral (f!receiving), fingering, just reader being a slut for that man basically. nothing crazy.

word count: 3.7k

a/n: *drops this. runs away.* another one for mister sam drake iktr! have my plethora of horny thoughts abt him in another fic. more coming soon x

Sam Drake's voice was distracting, to say the least. 

You shouldn't be surprised the older Drake's tongue down your throat had been the only thing crossing your mind when you saw him. A classic case of a man you shouldn't be involved with: smokes, never stays in one place for too long, and always planning his next adventure. Not really a committed to anything type. Except maybe treasure hunting.

An eager, street style guy with a mop of soft brown hair and that same denim jacket he always wore? You should've been the furthest thing from enticed.

But still... he smelled of cigarettes and leather and the same cologne he'd convinced Nathan to buy him. Sam rode around on the same old motorcycle, engine roaring in the streets whenever he showed up looking for a place to crash. He spoke Spanish, Latin and Portuguese... safe to say a lesser intelligent man wouldn't have such a skilled tongue.

So, it was true; he'd spent more than enough nights on your couch for him to try and find a way to make it up to you. Sam had brought you dinner, a nice bottle of your favorite wine, and even offered to do your laundry on different occasions.

He was the perfect house guest, you've told him. In turn he's constantly over your shoulder asking to help out, even when you told him he didn't have to. You didn't want to take advantage of his quick hands and strong arms and skill to do basically anything around the house. How he'd not settled down himself, you would never know.

Sam smoked on the balcony at night mostly, you think it's because he doesn't want you to see him indulging in more than half a pack in one day. But he knows you disapprove... even if the smell instantly reminded you of him. A whiff of nicotine and you're glancing around to see if he's near. Especially when you knew he was miles away.

You had flirted very lightly back and forth at times, your chest pounding even harder at times when his voice would lower to a deeper octave. It only made you want him more.

He once caught the load of clean clothes you were close to dropping out of exhaustion.

"Sweetheart, I told you to let me get those."

There he went with your favorite pet name, the sweetest hazel eyes and natural aroma wafting around where he stood.

"It was my last load for the night... I thought I could just get it over with."

"Well, you've overworked yourself enough this week. May I?"

"You've already taken the pile from my hands, Sam." You chuckled, rubbing your eyes before starting towards your bedroom, hoping he'd follow.

Sure enough he was, carrying your clean and folded clothes in his arms. It wasn't a heavy pile, but his muscled arms still bulged out from his t-shirt, veins traveling up his forearms bulging out. The moment you smiled back at him, you realized his scent would be all over your laundry and didn’t know whether to leave it be or wash them all again.

The closeness of his scent on your clothes would ruin you if you left the thought idle for too long.

God, how could he be such a gentleman and... so different from the other men you'd been interested in.

He stood in the doorway after you entered, lingering with his eyes on your body.

"Um, where can I put these?" Sam asked, slowly stepping into the room. You realized this is the first time he's ever even been in it, and the rush of butterflies in your stomach said enough.

"Just over there," you replied, pointing to the chair in the corner of your room.

The groans of discomfort weren't lost on him with his back turned, he's always had sharp ears. It's not like Sam wants to leave you alone for the night, although he knows you'd much rather catch some shuteye than stay up and spend time with him. But he had to do something– he couldn't just sit downstairs by himself on your couch without even attempting to make you feel better.

"Can I do anything to help?"

"Please, Sam. You've done so much already."

"No, I mean for you. You're in pain and obviously I don't have magic powers but... I could at least get you some Advil and water before you go to bed?"

A sigh leaves your chest, almost wanting to jump on him right there and kiss him. But you don't.

"You're sweet. That would be great, thanks, Sam."

"Alright." He swings his arms together as he walks out of the room, retrieving two pills and a glass of water from downstairs before heading back to you. Much to his surprise, you've already gotten dressed for bed. Your lounge clothes left nothing to his imagination, one he'd been trying to shut down for weeks on end.

Every time he stayed with you, the desire to lay you down grew even harder to resist. Sam's guilt multiplied with each night, all the times he'd get hard imagining you on top of or under him. Crying out in pleasure from him, because of him. It was as if his greedy hands had to be sedated lest he lose himself and press you up against the wall one of these days.

Once he walked up to the door frame again, you're stretching your body, shirt riding up and revealing just a sliver of your midriff. It's quite a sight, since the only thing he's really seen you in are your baggy at-home clothes. Nothing this revealing. He swallows thickly, before knocking on the open door.

"Here you are." He starts, that Boston accent coming out in his voice so beautifully, before placing them on your bedside table. Sam averts his eyes before you caught him staring.

"Oh, thanks." You try to speak more but you're hit with a yawn instead, and god damn is it cute watching your eyes squeeze shut.

He nods, about to step out of your room and leave you to get some rest, until you call his name again. 

"Sam?"

He's all ears.

"Hm?"

"Um... this might sound weird but, could you.. massage my back? You can say no, obviously. But I think I might sleep better that way."

He's speechless at what you've asked of him, but he steps deeper into the room anyway.

Blinded by the desire to look down at them, calloused and worn, you decided to avert your gaze anywhere else. Because the other images swimming around in your head- the ones where he cups your face to kiss you or trails one of his hands down between your legs– were already too much to bear.

A prickling of sweat already emerged on your palms, watching him step further into your room. As if he’s been in here a million times before.

“My hands are kinda rough…” He smiled sheepishly, hoping you wouldn't take back what you had asked him.

Sam looked down at his palms, maybe he should've taken better care of them. Used moisturizing lotion after every venture he took, or something. How was he supposed to know you'd want him to do this?

“Oh, that’s alright. I figured they were, but it’s okay. I don’t mind.”

Your question still resonated in his mind. 

Did you really just... ask him to touch you? To use his worn hands and bring you relief for something he’s wanted to make go away since he’d been staying with you? His head spun with the reality of it all. Another pang of guilt stung in his chest as he spoke again.

"Well, then I'd be honored." Sam replied. A moment's silence passed and he spoke nervously again, "I-I mean, you clearly seem to be in some discomfort and I'd be damned if I didn't do anything I could to help you feel better."

You could've cried with how eager he was. The only thing that made your palms sweat at the image of his hands on your body would be the experience of his hands on your body, and how the hell you were expected to stay composed.

I am going to hell. Sam thought. No big deal. Just massage their back and get on with your night.

He knew it was going to prove difficult when he felt his cock throb a little in his jeans from how you looked right now. You were so attractive in every way, but in your lounge wear with half lidded eyes and that low, groggy tone in your voice? His mind clouded with your vision.

Sam could’ve sworn he was floating as he watched you flop onto your stomach, the soft mattress and clean linens already lulling you to sleep. It was then you felt his weight join yours, your heart skipping a beat.

Was asking him to do this too far? No, just shut up and let him relax you. If that was even possible when you knew he was nearing closer to your body.

He crawled over to you, eyes raking over your figure indulgently. Every part of you was perfect, and he’d be goddamned if he spent his whole life taking from you with nothing in return. His hands pressed to your lower back, touching his fingertips lightly like he’d break you if he was too rough.

“You can press harder. I’m not gonna break if you do.”

“I just don’t wanna hurt you, sweetheart.”

You swallow thickly before speaking again, "My back just feels tight. Like I've been sitting in an office chair for too many hours. There's probably tons of knots so.. you know... use whatever you've got. I know you're strong."

So he wasn’t dreaming when he’d catch you looking over at him when he was outside lounging in the sun. 

Were his cheeks getting hot?

"Yeah, well... if somethin' feels bad, you gotta tell me."

"I will... now please..."

He couldn’t deny you, not when you asked so nicely. 

Sam didn't know the stars could align so wonderfully in this moment. He'd been hard pressed to find any moment to make a move on you, when he'd ached to do so for much too long. 

At your request, he began to put more of his strength into massaging the muscles of your back before he even thought about taking such a huge leap. You deserved some relief from all your hard work. 

His body heat lingers right beside you, soft cloth of his sweatpants making contact with your skin. Sam smelled so lovely from his previous shower an hour or so ago. Much different than his usual musk of cigarettes and the outside, but either way it suited him.

A moment later the ball of his palms began to press harder into your back, taking a circular motion between your shoulders and down your spine. He switched from the palm of his hand to his thumbs with the same motion down to your lower back.

Sam had definitely lied about having magic powers. 

Immediate relief flooded your body as his hands' perfect amount of pressure melted away the tightness in your back little by little. His warm, rough palms and soft fingertips lifted all the pain as if he was plucking it from your body with every knead.

"Oh my god, that feels so good. Keep going."

Sam smiled to himself, content with how you praised him and how much better you seemed to be feeling. As he continued along the canvas of your back, he couldn't help but listen to the soft sighs leaving your lips. How your comfort in this very moment was because of him, and he wouldn't trade that for the world.

Granted, he still felt the urge to kiss every inch of your skin so, so gently. When your sighs turned to little 'mmm's and 'ah's, that's when he knew he was in trouble. Your sounds were only the slightest, but still caused an overwhelming amount of desire to course through his veins. His cock throbbed again.

Shit.

If you knew what you were doing to him as you made those sounds, you were very good at hiding it. Sam attempted to take a deep breath and steady himself once more, but doing so just made his body aware of how badly he wanted you. His mind wandered to kissing you again and he was zoning out, focusing too much on moving his hands where he really wanted to put them.

It wasn't too long after that you'd noticed he wasn't moving anymore.

"Sam?"

"Hm?"

"Why'd you stop?"

"Oh, uh, s-sorry. Just got lost in thought I guess. Didn't know you were still awake."

"When your hands feel that good, I’d want to be conscious for it." You lifted your head and opened your eyes to look at him. Was he... blushing?

"I thought you were tired."

"I was... but now I'm not. You must be magic or something ‘cause my back feels so better."

"Oh, well good. I'm glad." He smiled down at you, watching you sit up to face him. Your hair was disheveled a bit from laying on your pillow, but you still looked so good.

"My hero." you giggled.

God, did you have to be so adorable? He had to bail before he felt any more surges of wanting to kiss you before he couldn't control himself.

"Anytime." he exhaled deeply, "Well, I should probably leave you to get some shuteye..."

Sam began to stand up, but you grabbed his hand before he could walk out the door.

"Sam, wait."

"Uh huh?"

"I want to thank you. It means a lot to me how you did that for me."

"Yeah, sure. No problem."

“And for everything else, too.” 

“Oh, well…. I’m staying in your place, my gratitude can’t go unnoticed.” 

"No, Sam. I want to show you how much I mean it. I…” you trailed off. 

“What is it?”

“I want you."

Oh?

You have his full attention.

Your eyes locked onto him as he sat back down, your thumb rubbing over the top of his hand softly. Scooting closer to him, his eyes raked down your figure and back up to your face, not before stopping right over your lips.

"Sam, I want you right now."

He took a deep breath before meeting your eye.

"Sweetheart, I don't know how long I've been waitin' for you to say that."

Your lips in a desperate kiss after his words lingered in the air for half a second. One of Sam's hands cupped your face, his rough palm warm against your cheek as you were pulled into his lap. You could taste the nicotine on his tongue as he pressed you down into the mattress. Just like you thought he would taste.

“You kiss exactly how I thought you would, so sweetly… and I haven’t kissed anyone in such a long time…” you admitted between kisses. 

Sam bit his lip, “Thought about this a lot, too, sweetheart.” 

“You’re adorable.” 

Fingers raked through his brown hair, soft when it twirls around your fingers. He hums against your lips, one after another, intoxicating the both of you.

It’s a second later when he’s reaching behind his head and pulling his shirt off, his abdomen with bullet scars and soft hair such a sight to you. Sam’s arms came down and caged your body in under his. A rush of intimidation ran through you for a split second, but when he kissed you again, it all faded away.

Your shirt was next, his eyes widening when he noticed you weren’t wearing a bra.

“Shit, sweetheart. You’re so beautiful…” His lips connect to your neck, stubble scratching your skin just the slightest.

“Speak for yourself.” you replied between breaths, admiring the hair that littered his chest. There was no way to hide the warmth in his cheeks now, his lopsided smile infecting you to do the same. 

Stubble scratched your neck as he kissed his way down between the valley of your breasts and your torso. 

“Can I- shit…” Sam glanced up at you before he went any further. The look he gave you was lust blown, hazel eyes searching for any sign of discomfort as to what he was suggesting. 

“Yes, please, Sam.” 

He chuckled to himself and pulled down your shorts, your underwear the only thing keeping him from sinking his tongue into your warmth. Lidded eyes flit to your face and back down, hooking his fingers under the waistband to discard your underwear. There wasn’t a second thought in his mind as he ran two fingers through your folds, your arousal instantly coating his fingers. 

“Oh, you have been thinkin’ about this, haven’t you? You’re already soaked…” 

“So much more than you could imagine.” 

“Yeah?”

Two of Sam’s fingers slipped inside you easily, while you gasped at his sudden intrusion. 

“Mhm…” 

He curled them inside you while dipping his head down to run his tongue through your folds and circle your clit. 

“Sam–!” You moaned, back arching as he continued to drag his fingers against your walls, curling them against the spot that sent jolts of pleasure through you. His tongue did an impressive job of agonizingly teasing your clit with his fingers inside you. 

“Want you to fuck me… so bad… please…” 

“I know, baby, I know. Gotta get you ready for me. Don’t wanna hurt ya.” 

“Cute.” 

Sam wanted you to feel nothing else other than pleasure and he’d hate himself if you were in pain while he was doing so. 

His fingers pulled out of you, moving downwards through your folds with his tongue and flitting it around your entrance. Your back arched again, pressing your heat directly into his face once again. 

The eye contact he kept with you was so intimate that when he smirked, you jolted even closer to release. Sam devoured you to the fullest extent, sending your hips stuttering tenfold. 

Just as your high began to peak, he pulled away, leaving you desperate and throbbing for just a bit more. One more flick of his talented tongue over your most sensitive parts and you’d be crying out his name as you came. But he didn’t. 

Instead, he pulled his sweatpants and boxers down to reveal his cock, pretty as ever, with a tuft of soft hair resting at its base. You knew he’d been so much more worked up than you were by the bead of precum sitting prettily on his tip. Instantly imagining what it would feel like in your mouth sent you moaning, while he crawled back up to kiss you again. 

“Ready for me, baby?” 

“So, so ready.” 

Sam pressed himself into you slowly, watching your face contort with pleasure inch by inch. He intertwined his fingers with yours as he bottomed out inside you. 

The heat in your cheeks returned when you tasted his lips again, his hips pulling almost all the way out of you before thrusting back in fully. His pace set a steady rhythm inside you soon enough, drinking in every sweet sound you made because of him. 

Vulgar, wet sounds came from where the two of you were joined, making it easier for him to slide in and out of you to no end. Sam grunts in your ear, desperate for more of those pretty sounds. 

“Lemme hear you… make those pretty sounds… louder for me now, doll…” He angled his hips a certain way to press the special spot inside you with the crown of his cock. Without any control, you omitted a sound that was music to his ears. 

“Thaaaat’s it, there’s the sweet spot…” he cooed, kissing it over and over again with the speed of his thrusts. It was so difficult for him to not lose himself inside you, to hold back rutting up into you like some feral animal. But when your eyes fluttered shut so prettily and your lips were all pink and swollen from his kisses, he faltered a little bit more each time. 

Something inside you craved a more potent dose of the older Drake brother, and you rolled over on top of him to let his head hit your pillow. He chuckled at the vision of you above him, placing your hand on his chest to steady yourself. 

Being on top of him created an unbelievable burst of confidence and power that ran through you with every lift of your hips. Each time your bodies connected, a vulgar squishing sound omitted and set you off dangerously close to release. 

With both hands on his chest now, Sam couldn’t help but thrust back up into you as your bouncing became more and more irregular. 

“Gettin’ close, huh?” 

“Mhm…” you whined. 

On account of your heavy breathing and the sounds you were making, it was obvious. His finger slipped between your legs to swirl at your core, immediately keeling over from the sensation. Your walls clenched around Sam’s length and there was no telling how much longer you’d last. 

“Fuck… f-fuck, baby…” 

“Oh, shit. You keep calling me that, I’m gonna come too, sweetheart.” 

“Keep doin’ that, baby, yeah… mmh yeah…” 

The high pitch in your voice gave away how close you were to exploding, and when he whispered in your ear, you knew it was over. 

“Come for me…” 

His accent was enough to send you over the edge. 

Your body convulsed, falling over onto his chest as the orgasm ripped through you. Sam’s movements stuttered, until he pushed up fully into you, his warmth coating your walls with his spend. 

The air was hot between your bodies, panting as you caught your breath in the warmth of your afterglow. 

Sam glowed in the low light of your bedroom, a sheen of sweat covering his body while his eyes lay closed. Just a moment passed before they opened again. 

“Shit, that was amazing,” Sam sighed. 

“Even better than I thought.” 

“Was that what you thought about? All those times before?” He ran a hand through his hair, a blush painting his cheeks just the lightest shade of pink. 

“Mm, not just that. But don’t worry, I’ll tell you in time.” 

For now, you slept like a baby in his arms. 

[white-cat-of-doom]

A few promotional photos from the International Tour to mark their opening in Munich.

Featuring Nathan Taylor as Asparagus, Theo Reece as Bill Bailey, Olivia Barnett-Legh as Bombalurina, Fin Adams as Carbucketty, Bailey Johnson as Coricopat, Alice Oberg as Demeter, Quinlan Kelly as Young Deuteronomy, Lucy May Barker as Grizabella, Daisy Boyles as Jellylorum, Gabrielle Parker as Jemima, Hazel Baldwin as Jennyanydots, Samuel Bateson as Mistoffelees, Russell Dickson as Munkustrap, Michael Robert-Lowe as Old Deuteronomy, Lauren Bronwyn-Wood as Rumpleteazer, Jessie-Jae Davis as Tantomile, and Isabel Moore as Victoria.

[theaawalker]

Is Neil Perry a Manic Pixie Dream Boy? 🍁

What is the Manic Pixie Dream Trope?

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope, coined by film critic Nathan Rabin, refers to a quirky, whimsical character who exists to inspire the brooding male protagonist to embrace life’s joys. Think of characters like Sam in Garden State or Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But what about boys? The Manic Pixie Dream Boy flips this script. These characters are equally eccentric and effervescent, shaking the lives of the protagonists with their charm and unbridled passion. Examples include Peter Pan, who literally whisks Wendy away from her mundane life; Augustus Waters (The Fault in Our Stars), whose metaphor-filled antics bring light to Hazel's world; and Theodore Finch (All the Bright Places), who pulls Violet out of her grief. The thing about Manic Pixie Dream Boys? They’re often destined to leave—sometimes by choice, sometimes tragically.

How Neil Perry Fits the Trope

Neil Perry (Dead Poets Society) is the epitome of the Manic Pixie Dream Boy, bringing color and life to everyone around him, particularly Todd Anderson. Neil isn't just a member of the Dead Poets Society; he’s its heart. While Mr. Keating inspires the boys with his philosophy, Neil is the one who revives the group, encouraging everyone to "seize the day" in practice, not just theory.

Neil’s Quirky Personality

Neil’s boundless energy manifests in his playful and creative antics, like grabbing Todd’s poem and dancing around the room with it, or turning Todd’s unwanted desk set into a "flying" object in a bid to cheer him up. His enthusiasm is infectious—where Todd sees an overwhelming world, Neil sees possibility and wonder. Even outside his interactions with Todd, Neil constantly uplifts his friends. He encourages Knox to pursue Chris, supports Charlie’s rebellious streak, and believes in the potential of his peers. Neil’s passion for acting is more than a personal dream; it’s a beacon for the other boys, showing them what it looks like to truly live.

Neil as the Catalyst

Neil rekindles the spirit of the Dead Poets Society, giving the group its purpose. While Keating plants the seed, Neil cultivates it, making the society more than just a secret club—it becomes a sanctuary where the boys can explore art, emotions, and their innermost selves. In this way, Neil isn’t just part of Todd’s story; he’s the catalyst for every boy’s personal transformation.

The Tragic End of Every Manic Pixie Dream Boy

If the hallmark of the Manic Pixie Dream trope is leaving, Neil tragically follows the script. His vibrancy, optimism, and dreams are extinguished not by choice but by the oppressive reality of his father’s expectations. Just as his energy inspires Todd and the others to live authentically, his death forces them to confront life’s stark realities. Neil’s demise parallels the fate of so many Manic Pixie Dream Boys. Peter Pan returns to Neverland, his absence forcing Wendy to grow up. Augustus Waters succumbs to his illness. Theodore Finch’s brightness fades, leaving Violet to carry the lessons he taught her. Neil, too, departs at the peak of his influence, leaving behind a legacy that galvanizes Todd and the other boys to seize their own lives... or die from the inside out.

In Conclusion

Neil Perry isn’t just a character in Dead Poets Society; he’s the embodiment of the Manic Pixie Dream Boy archetype. His quirkiness, passion, and unwavering support for his friends make him unforgettable. But like all Manic Pixie Dream Boys, Neil’s story ends too soon, leaving those he touched to carry his lessons forward. Neil may have left, but his spirit lives on in the Dead Poets, in Todd’s newfound confidence, and in every audience member who watches him seize the day.

#OhCaptainMyCaptain 🖤

[e-dubbc11]

LAST ANGST, I SWEAR.

"am I too late?" + "I did care, I used to care" with this hoe:

After this it'll all be sunshine and rainbows 😭😭😭

Hello my lovely friend!

Ok so I know you didn’t ask for this but the prompts you sent in finally inspired me to write a second part to another Matt fic I did called Unforgiven so I’ll leave it linked HERE.

Thank you for sending in a request for this hoe 🤣 I hope it’s ok and thank you for being a part of my follower celebration. You’re a wonderful friend and I love you to pieces.

Unforgiven Part 2

Photos are not mine. They are courtesy of Pinterest/Google.

Pairing: Matt Murdock x F! Reader

Warnings: Angst, couple of swear words, mentions of smexy time (18+ please)

Word Count: 3.2K

Summary: Matt had vowed to win you back after you had told him to leave. A new man is one of the obstacles in his way.

As always, thank you for reading!  I appreciate it so much and comments, reblogs are welcome and encouraged. Don’t be shy to tell me your favorite part. 💕💕 💕

Your body temperature had immediately risen when you uttered those four words. “I don’t forgive you.” Matt could feel the heat radiating off of your body and your heart forcefully beating inside your chest. You weren’t sure you had ever been that angry, that hurt, or had your heart broken that badly.

He knew he had hurt you with his lies and secrets but in his heart, he was just protecting you, keeping you safe, and making sure that his nighttime activities weren’t spilling into his everyday life as an attorney, a friend, and a boyfriend.

Although you made it very clear to him that you didn’t want to see him anymore; he was no longer your boyfriend and he could continue to be The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen without having you as a distraction but his secret would be safe with you.

When you told him to go, you tried your best to hold it together, to not let your voice crack or have your tears fall but as soon as he disappeared that night, your tears spilled over and streaked down your cheeks as fresh sobs fled from your throat. Remembering how acute Matt’s hearing was, you knew that he had probably heard you crying while trying to keep your balance as you carefully walked over to close the window Matt had left open.

Your knees gave out just as you reached your bed, you could already feel your eyes start to swell from the tears as you buried your face into your pillow and cried yourself to sleep. You saw Matt in your dreams that night. The man with the kind hazel eyes, soft brown hair, the adorable dimple on his cheek, and red tinted glasses suddenly morphed into the masked vigilante they called The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. His face was close to yours, a black leather glove caressed your cheek as he apologized over and over again for lying to you but even in your dreams you didn’t forgive him.

However, in both the waking world and the dreaming one, it broke your heart to tell him goodbye. You loved him too but some mistakes are not that easy to forgive and you wondered if you ever could forgive Matt or trust him again.

**********

Each day that had passed and you didn’t think about Matt was better than the ones where he rudely invaded your headspace but as the weeks passed, you had more good days than bad ones, and you even started seeing someone new.

But anytime The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen was in the news, you wondered if Matt was ok, how many scrapes and bruises did he go home with this time, and probably the one question that had been on your mind the most…Was he seeing anyone new?

It wasn’t supposed to matter. You were seeing someone else so why shouldn’t he? Was he honest with them about his little “side job?” Why were you still thinking about him?

Finally, enough time had passed to where you barely thought about him even if the Devil was mentioned on the news. It passed quickly and you were able to go about your day without Matt lingering among your thoughts. Your relationship with your boyfriend, Nathan, was going well; you were…happy.

At least you thought you were.

And not only did the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen keep his city safe, Matt was keeping you safe also. He never stopped worrying about you walking around the city at night even though you had grown up in Hell’s Kitchen, just like he did. He followed you, listened to your phone conversations, and it broke his heart to hear you were seeing someone else.

The night you made him leave your apartment, he told himself that he didn’t care how long it was going to take because he needed you back in his life. Matt never got the chance to explain to you that no one in his life knew he was the masked vigilante, not even his closest friends.

Every time a criminal was put behind bars whether it be from following the law or breaking it, Matt thought it was one step closer to everyone he loved being safe in the city he cared so much about.

But he quickly realized that when you cut the head off of a snake, two more grow back in its place and he sometimes questioned if it was all worth it or he wrestled with his conscience about the moral obligation and that if he could help, he should help.

Matt continued to do everything he could to ensure your safety and just like every weeknight, he waited patiently for you to get home from work. Nathan had a key so he let himself in so he could wait for you too. Matt could hear your boyfriend on the phone telling the person on the other end that he was going to…propose.

Completely shocked, Matt gripped the fire escape tightly so he wouldn’t fall over. He continued to listen to Nathan’s conversation.

“Yeah, I’m meeting her after work for dinner tomorrow night. I was gonna do it then…of course I’ll let you know how it goes. Plan on being my best man…alright, yeah I’ll talk to you soon. Later.” He said.

Matt drew in a sharp breath and a frown darkened his expression as he choked out the only word he could manage to get out, “No…”

It killed him to know that someone else was the object of your affection, that Nathan made you laugh, and your pulse quickened when you saw him. It also made Matt’s blood boil knowing that Nathan was the one who was kissing you, touching you, and pulling sinful noises from you when he wanted to be the one doing those things.

Nathan said he was meeting you for dinner tomorrow night so Matt decided he would meet you first and it would be the first time that he was on time for a date.

**********

Nathan was meeting you at the same restaurant where Matt had stood you up for the final time. It felt a little strange being there again and you thought the restaurant patrons and wait staff were staring at you like last time, even though they weren’t.

As you sat at the table enjoying your wine, you were looking over the menu when the server told you that Nathan was running a little late but he would be there soon. He texted too in case the server forgot to let you know. He was always very thorough.

Continuing to stare down at the menu, you felt someone sit down across from you. Without looking up from the menu, a slight smile stretched across your lips and you said, “Thank god, I’m starving, I ordered you a glass of wine.”

A voice you hadn’t heard in a long time replied, “Well I prefer whiskey but wine will do.”

You knew that low gravelly voice anywhere. When you glanced up from your menu, Matt had a slight smirk on his face.

“Hello, angel.” He said.

Narrowing your eyes, you clenched your teeth together and replied, “Oh now you decide to show up for dinner, Matthew? What the hell are you doing here?”

“It’s nice to see you too, sweetheart.” Said Matt.

As you angrily sipped your wine, you forcefully closed your menu, and wished Matt could see how furious you were but he knew without seeing your face. He detected changes in your breathing, how your pulse quickened, he was even close enough to inhale your scent but it wasn’t your perfume.

Seeing him again brought back a flood of emotions…anger, humiliation, sadness but also you were reminded of how attractive he is, the soft sexy tone to his voice, and just the way he made you feel inside.

How could he still have this hold over you? Maybe you never really gave up that hold in the first place.

“You know you can’t just flash that dimple at me and I’ll fall at your feet, Murdock. It doesn’t work that way. Besides…I’m with someone else now.” You said, sternly.

Looking quite nervous, Matt adjusted his glasses, licked his bottom lip and finally asked, “Am I too late?”

“Matty, I just said I’m with someone else now.” You replied, immediately regretting calling him by his nickname.

It took a long time for you to become emotionally stable after Matt left. There were a lot of tears and sleepless nights and it wasn’t because you didn’t love him.

You loved Matt more than anything but he was the one person that you trusted the most and he had been lying to you from the very beginning of your relationship so how could you be sure he wouldn’t do it again?

“But he didn’t ask you yet.” Matt said assertively.

Confused, you replied, “Ask me what? And how do you know Nathan is gonna ask me something? Have you been spying on me?!!”

The tone of your voice went from confused to angry.

“You can’t marry him, sweetheart.” Said Matt in barely more than a whisper as to not draw any attention to your table.

Again, confused, you replied, “Ok first of all, I’m not marrying anyone and second, I know you know something Matt because you wouldn’t have said that, otherwise. You weren’t honest with me before so you either answer my questions truthfully NOW or get the hell outta here. Understand?”

Firmly, Matt said, “I understand, y/n.”

You started your interrogation.

“Have you been following me, Matthew?”

“Sometimes.”

“Do you spy on me with your bionic hearing when I’m at home?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever been listening during any…intimate moments?”

Matt’s body tensed and bit back what he wanted to say.

“Do you need me to repeat the question, counselor?” You asked.

“Only once and as soon as I heard what was going on, I left, ok?” He finally said.

You tried to stop yourself from smiling and enjoying yourself but you couldn’t.

“And in your opinion, what did you determine based on what you heard?”

A devilish smirk stretched across his lips and he leaned in closer so you could hear him better.

“That he doesn’t make you come nearly as hard as I do.”

Forcefully clenching your thighs together, you bit back a strangled moan as you remembered seeing stars each time Matt pulled an orgasm from you. He had never been selfish in bed;you would give him that.

You had to pull yourself together as you still had more questions for him.

“Why did you feel like you couldn’t tell me about your extracurricular activities?” You asked.

“I thought it would be best if you didn’t know and I could keep you out of harm’s way. I thought I could keep it separate from my regular life. No one knew about it, sweetheart…not Foggy, not Karen, no one.” Matt said.

You said, “Is that supposed to make me feel better? That no one else knew? People care about you, Matt. You shouldn’t keep secrets from your friends, that’s why they’re your friends. Or from the person you love.”

“That’s why I came to you that night because I wanted to tell you first. I did care, I used to care about keeping everyone out of that life. I didn’t want anyone else to carry that secret but it kept getting harder to separate the two and I didn’t want to push anyone else away.” He said.

“You can only walk into a wall so many times before we start to question things, Matt.” You said.

He smirked again and replied, “Well I am blind, angel.”

One side of your mouth curled into a slight smile. Matt always knew how to get you to smile.

Over the past several months, you learned holding onto the anger and hurt you felt after Matt left wasn’t good for you, mentally or physically. You had to forgive him and let it go. You would never forget what he did but you could forgive him for it and understand why he did it.

“I am sorry, y/n. I tried to prevent you from getting hurt but I hurt you anyway.” Said Matt.

He turned and tilted his head slightly, listening intently at something only he could hear.

“What? What is it?” You asked.

“Your boyfriend is coming; I hear him talking to the host and yes he is going to ask you to marry him. I heard him on the phone yesterday telling someone about it.” Matt said, quickly.

There were so many thoughts overwhelming your brain. Obviously you still had feelings for Matt and they never truly went away to begin with. This was also the first time you had thought about Nathan since Matt sat down at your table and now he’s telling you about a proposal.

What were you going to do?

“All I ask sweetheart is that you really think about it. Shit, he’s coming. I gotta go. I love you.” Matt said as he grabbed his cane and walked away before you could respond.

“Who was that?” Asked Nathan.

You shrugged and replied. “I don’t know. But he’s blind and was asking for help back to his table.”

**********

You could never go back to that restaurant again after what you’ve experienced there.

The first time was when Matt had left you to sit alone waiting for him to show up but never did and the second time was telling Nathan that you couldn’t marry him.

Overstimulated was an understatement compared to what you were feeling and didn’t feel like walking home so you called an Uber. The ride home let you decompress a little which left you emotionally and physically drained. The stairs up to your apartment seemed to multiply with each step you took and all you wanted to do was take your shoes off and drink a glass of bourbon.

As soon as you opened the door, a gentle breeze pushed the curtains away from the windows and hit your cheeks as you dropped your keys into the bowl by the door.

You didn’t remember leaving the window open or leaving all of the lights off.

“Matty?” You called out, holding your can of pepper spray.

His unmistakable gravelly voice answered you.

“Hey sweetheart. You can put your pepper spray away.” He joked.

Matt removed the black hood from his face as you flicked on the lamp and he walked over to the couch to sit down.

“You wanna drink? Or are you ‘on duty?’” You asked.

Matt smirked in your direction.

“Can I just have a sip of yours?” He asked.

“Very funny, Matthew. I need a whole glass tonight so you either have your own or none. What’s it gonna be?” You asked in a semi-scolding tone.

He chuckled.

“Ok, then pour me one too, angel.” He said.

Hearing him call you “sweetheart” and “angel” again gave you butterflies like it always did to hear him say those words.

“Aren’t you going to ask me if I said yes?” You asked.

Matt chuckled again.

“Well, if you had said yes, I don’t think you would be here…alone.” He said.

Matt always knew how to make you smile and frustrate you at the same time.

You grazed his fingers as you handed him his glass of whiskey. The same thick talented fingers he used tirelessly to work you into a frenzy, that had you begging him to fuck you until your vision went white and you couldn’t see straight.

Matt wasn’t wrong when he said that Nathan didn’t make you come as hard as he did. And what he didn’t know was that Nathan never did. Sure, he got the job done but it was never the way it was when you were with Matt.

Obviously, it wasn’t just about the sex. And it wasn’t that Nathan was a bad guy; he just wasn’t…Matt.

“Then you would be correct, counselor.” You said, taking a sip of your bourbon as you pulled your feet up into the chair you were sitting in.

Matt’s eyes were wide and you could hear the trace of desperation in his voice when he asked, “I want another chance, sweetheart. I know I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

“But you did, Matt! You’ve been lying to everyone!” You shouted.

Matt pressed his lips together and shook his head.

“And what would you have me do, y/n?! I didn’t want you to get hurt.” He snapped back.

“And maybe you should let me make my own decisions, Matthew.” You replied. “Everyone seems to want to make my decisions for me! Just let me choose! I know what I want.”

“And what do you want, y/n? You want to have to look over your shoulder when you walk down the street?!” Asked Matt.

“I’ve done that my whole life! All I want is YOU!” You blurted out. “It took me a long time to try and get over you and I don’t think I could do it again. I love you, Matt. I never stopped.”

Matt’s hand gripped the glass tightly and his breathing became rapid. He licked his bottom lip, searching for the words he wanted to say but you didn’t give him the chance to say anything.

All in one motion, you set your glass on the coffee table, the amber liquid moved from one side of the glass to the other and back again, and you walked from your chair, over to him. You removed the glass from Matt’s hand, set it down on the table behind you, and crawled into his lap.

His body was a warm cradle for yours as he snaked his arms around your waist and buried his face into your chest. A long exhale escaped his mouth as his warm breath hit your bare skin and your fingers tangled in his soft brown hair.

Being in his embrace again felt like you had never been apart, his fingers danced up and down your back sending restless shivers down your spine just like they had always done, and he pressed his full lips to your throat like he had a thousand times before.

“I love you too, angel.” Said Matt, gently wrapping his fingers around your throat like a necklace.

Inching your face closer to his, you brushed his stubble with your thumbs and softly planted your lips on his as your eyes closed in relief, a blur of a smile stretched across your mouth as he continued to kiss you, and his name fell from your lips over and over again.

Matt covered your mouth with his own while gently winding strands of your hair in his fingers, his tongue stroking against yours as he told you he loved you over and over again.

There was a lot of uncertainty at the moment but the one thing you were sure of was that you loved each other and you never wanted to be without him again.

One way or another you would figure it out but tonight he was yours and all was forgiven.

Tag List: @munsonownsmyass @gijos @chezagnes @elgrandeavocados @freshabogados @matt-erialgirl

Others that might enjoy: @itwasthereaminuteago @fluffyprettykitty @k-marzolf @hellskitchens-whore @jvanilly @she-likesorchids

Thank you for reading, I appreciate it! I’ve only tagged a handful of people. If you liked it, you can tell me, I don’t bite. I know I haven’t written for Matt in awhile, no pressure

[davey-the-disturbed]

A Bird’s Nest, Part 2

Part one

This is a short one, but it’s build up for a good scene i promise. (Something’s better than nothing, right?)

CW: mention of whipping, pronouns “it/its” being used to dehumanize, forced nudity (just a shirt) let me know if there’s more!

“Bloody thing up and attacked me, unprovoked!” cried the red-headed man, holding his arm as if it were injured. Wren fumed. That lying bastard! 

“HE’S LYING, HE—” The knife pressed deeper, a trickle of warm blood running down his skin. 

“If you want any hope of surviving this, you’ll keep your mouth shut.” Wren gritted his teeth. The knife briefly left his skin, but before he could do anything, the huntsman shoved him away. He tripped and fell into the redhead, who wrenched the boy’s arms behind his back. Wren jerked forward with a small cry as his shoulders locked up. 

Before him, Sir Nathan sheathed his knife with a smooth spinning motion then crossed his arms, eyeing Wren. 

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, lashin’ out like that.” He smiled, showing crooked teeth. 

“Let’s see how much you keep after a good-ol flogging.” 

Wren’s eyes widened, his breath coming faster as he glanced around. The hunters were gathering, excited at the sudden entertainment. Some of the men grabbed mallets and started pounding two stakes into the ground nearby, which Wren was shoved towards. His wrists were grabbed on either side, ropes crudely wrapped and knotted by burly men. Wren was forced to his knees, his shirt unceremoniously ripped off of him as secured his wrists to the stakes. 

NO! He tried to shrink away from searching eyes, but with his arms pinned down it was pointless. Every hunter could see the large, circular brand above his shoulder blade, marking him as property. As less than human. 

He hadn’t been forced to remove his shirt since the day that that scorching metal was pressed into his skin. He shivered at the memory of the searing pain, the long, excruciating days that followed. That was the worst he’d ever been hurt. Well, until now. 

The men had gone oddly quiet, but Wren didn’t dare look up. Sir Nathan’s voice came from behind him, along with the scrape of a long whip across the ground. 

“Who here’s man enough to deal the first blow?” Strangely enough, no one spoke up. Whether the reality of the situation had sunk in, or the brand on his back shocked them, the men stayed quiet. 

“You there. Boy.” Wren risked a glance over his shoulder, but apparently Nathan wasn’t talking to him. Instead, a young man who didn’t look much older than Wren stepped out of the circle. His skin was pale compared to the tanned faces of the older men, his wavy blonde hair pulled back from his warm hazel eyes. The bearskin he wore was too large, engulfing his form and making him seem smaller. 

“Yes sir?” 

“C'mere.” The young man went to stand beside Sir Nathan, looking extremely nervous. Wren’s arms began to ache from the extended position. 

“You do the honor, why don’t you. Prove yourself worthy of joining our ranks.” 

Wren braced for the sting, hunching to be as small as he could and praying to whatever Great Being was out there. 

Please knock me out quickly.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in August 2024 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Happy reading!

[ Text list below ⤵ ]

❓What was the last queer book you read?

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Failure to Comply - Sarah Cavar 🧡 I Spit On Your Celluloid - Heidi Honeycutt 💛 You're Embarrassing Yourself - Desiree Akhavan 💚 Death of the Hero - Briona Johnson 💙 Between Dragons and Their Wrath - Devin Madson 💜 The Crimson Crown - Heather Walter ❤️ Sacrificial Animals - Kailee Pedersen 🧡 Oath of Fire - K. Arsenault Rivera 💛 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💙 This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings 💜 Mistress of Lies - K.M. Enright 🌈 Wolf Bite - T.J. Nichols

❤️ In the Valley, A Shadow - Samantha Tano 🧡 Follow My Lead - Adrian J. Smith 💛 The Last Woman I Kissed - Venetia Di Pierro 💚 Full Shift - Jennifer Dugan & Kristen Seaton 💙 Hers for the Weekend - Helena Greer 💜 Come Out, Come Out - Natalie C. Parker ❤️ Rules for Ghosting - Shelly Jay Shore 🧡 How to Leave the House - Nathan Newman 💛 Plot Twist - Carmen Sereno 💙 On the Far Side of a Crescendo - Kalyn Hazel 💜 Tiny Oblivions and Mutual Self Destructions - Maxwell I. Gold 🌈 Daylan and the River of Secrets - Edd Tello

❤️ The Italy Letters - Vi Khi Nao 🧡 The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie - Lee Wind 💚 The House Where Death Lives - Alex Brown 💙 Ash's Cabin - Jen Wang 💜 The Avian Hourglass - Lindsey Drager ❤️ The Heart Wants - Krystina Rivers 🧡 A Grand Love - Janna Barkin 💛 You Can't Go Home Again - Jeanette Bears 💜 Libertad - Bessie Flores Zaldivar 🌈 Her Golden Coast - Anat Deracine

❤️ Mighty Millie Novak - Elizabeth Holden 💛 Rise and Divine - Lana Harper 💚 Dying for You - L Flowers 💙 I'll Have What He's Having - Adib Khorram 💜 Changing Her Tune - Amanda Kabak ❤️ Monogamy? In this Economy? - Laura Boyle 🧡 The Rainbow Age of Television - Sayna Maci Warner 💛 Medusa of the Roses - Navid Sinaki 💙 Confounding Oaths - Alexis Hall 💜 Idol Lives - K.T. Salvo 🌈 Brother's Keeper - Quinn Cameron

❤️ Key Lime Sky - Al Hess 🧡 Crushing It - Erin Becker 💛 The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou 💚 Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher 💙 Tasting Temptation - JJ Arias 💜 Ami - S. Jae-Jones ❤️ You're the Problem, It's You - Emma R. Alban 🧡 Cubs & Campfires - Dylan Drakes 💛 The Dark We Know - Wen-yi Lee 💙 Practical Rules for Cursed Witches - Kayla Cottingham 💜 Riyati Rebirth - Kalani Shimizu 🌈 The Brujos of Borderland High - Gume Laurel III

❤️ A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 🧡 Dance of the Starlit Sea - Kiana Krystle 💛 Scattered Snows, to the North - Carl Phillips 💚 Beyond a World Apart - Caitlin Myers 💙 Don't Let It Break Your Heart - Maggie Horne 💜 Nothing Heals Me Like You Do - Harper Bliss ❤️ How It All Ends - Emma Hunsinger 🧡 How Do I Sexy? - Mx. Nillin Lore 💛 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💙 Prince of the Palisades - Julian Winters 💜 Better Left Buried - Mary E. Roach 🌈 Back to Back - Jo Fletcher

❤️ DITCHLAPSE / [REALLY AFRAID] - Tommy Wyatt 🧡 The Love Archives: Bonus Scenes & Excerpts for Palestine - Various 💛 Guardian: Zhen Hun - Ying Priest 💚 The Sunforge - Sascha Stronach 💙 Queering Reproductive Justice - Candace Bond-Theriault 💜 Gender Explained - Diane Ehrensaft & Michelle Jurkiewicz ❤️ The Unlikely Pair - Jax Calder 🧡 In Universes - Emet North 💛 We Love the Nightlife - Rachel Koller Croft 💙 Lessons from Cruising - Martin Goodman 💜 Wild Ginger in the Rhubarb - Eule Grey 🌈 Not My Circus - Delicia Niami

❤️ Asunder - Kerstin Hall 🧡 The Phoenix Keeper - S.A. MacLean 💛 Encounters with James Baldwin - Various 💚 Verity's Game - Jennifer Giacalone 💙 Hunt Me! I Crave the Chase - Fae Quin 💜 The Audacity Omnibus - Carmen Loup ❤️ Haunted to Death - Frank Anthony Polito 🧡 Blood Orange - Paige Grunewald 💛 The Bad Things We Did - Chris Archeske 💙 Dark Restraint - Katee Robert 💜 Worth the Wait - Kenna White 🌈 The Maid and the Crocodile - Jordan Ifueko

❤️ Loving Corrections - Adrienne Maree Brown 🧡 The Last Witch in Edinburgh - Marielle Thompson 💛 The Duchess of Kokora - Nikhil Prabala 💚 The Scales of Seduction - Rien Gray 💙 Survival Is a Promise - Alexis Pauline Gumbs 💜 Loka - S.B. Divya ❤️ The Every Body Book of Consent - Rachel E Simon 🧡 Southern Lights - Liz Arncliffe 💛 Then Things Went Dark - Bea Fitzgerald 💙 Death at Morning House - Maureen Johnson 💜 The Last Doorbell - William Parker 🌈 The Pairing - Casey McQuiston

[iouinotes]

match made in heaven | Alex Walter

pairing: Alex Walter x female!reader

show: My life with the Walter boys

warnings: just kissing word count: 2,2k

summary: At your birthday party you get dared to spend 7 minutes in heaven with none other than your best friend Alex.

a/n: A modified review of "Beautiful boy" Thank you @rogueanschel-reads for the woderful idea!

"Come on, even a stranger can sense your attraction for each other, the hidden love that lays beneath your friendship."

Maybe it wasnt the best idea to play truth or dare.

Well, firstly I want to say that I love my friendgroup. Grace, Skylar, his boyfriend Nathan, Kiley and of course, my best friend Alex.

Really, I love these guys. But sometimes they make me want to jump off a cliff, no regretting or turning back.

In moments like this, where I want to spent a good time partying with my friends, because its my 16th birthday, they need to remind me of the he-who-must-not-be-named-topic. That means for outstanders, my non-existent, strictly friendly feelings for my best friend Alex.

The guy, who has absolutely no idea, he's being compared to Voldemort. But for the matter of fact, Harry Potter are my all-time favorite movies and early Voldemort was actually quiet handsome. So, it kinda makes sense. Why? Because Alex has put a spell on me with his smile and his pretty face.

But back to my party.

We are currently in the living room, our knees are touching the legs of the person next to us and someone (Grace) encouraged us to smuggle a few bottles of alcohol to the party, even though we didnt plan to drink.

Now, Skylar had the great idea to embarrass everyone by playing truth or dare, but with a twist. He likes to call it "match made in heaven" or what it actually means, making out in a closet. Something like that, I've never participated in any of these games.

Until now.

As I am the birthday girl, I started the game by choosing truth. But I could really have just voluntarily confessed my feelings for Alex. Because Grace winked at me and I knew at that moment, that the next few minutes meant trouble.

"So, y/n. Describe us your magical boy, that you dream of being able to call your own." I knew it. She could have just asked me what college I wanted to attend or something less embarrassing, but no. She needed to ask me about my type in boys, which obviously is my handsome, brown haired best friend next to me.

As I'm about to hide my head in my hands, I hear the encouraging shouts of the people I call my friends.

"Okay, okay. Let me think for a moment." I couldnt make it that obvious, I liked him. But still, it was worth a try.

"Someone who has an angelic smile, where you just stare at his face and can´t stop looking at him. I-I like brown hair and I dont know, what it is, but hazel eyes, they somehow make my heart beat faster. I mean- he´s attractive, because he is a gentleman. Caring and supportive, someone who listens to my wants and needs, but still continues to be his true self. I can read books with him or we watch movies together and talk about it after. He makes me feel seen, safe. I love him, because he is everything I could ever dream of and more."

When I finish speaking, Grace grins innocent and looks at me with her long eyelashes. "I wonder, who that could be."

My eyes secretly dart to Alex, trying to figure out, if he knows, that I am very obviously describing him. But he just watches the floor, his eyebrows are drawn together and I almost think, he looks annoyed.

"Someone is jealous" I hear Skylar´s voice in my ear.

As the game went on, his behavior kept being slightly off, even though he never said anything about it and continued to smile at me, when we looked at each other.

And then, Alex was asked about his favorite memory, whether it was about being in school, with family or with friends.

Well, he told them about the first time, he introduced me to his favorite book saga, the Lord of the Rings. I never knew, that day was so special for him, but as he described my hilarious reactions and facial features, how he saw my eyes widen with disbelief as he read out the first chapters, I remembered.

When I look back, it really was a wonderful night. We did a sleepover at his house and were talking about watching Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. Somehow, we also talked about the books and that I read the seven books about the famous wizard and he the books about the elves and other creatures (don´t judge me for this description). We discussed almost every aspect, but he still convinced me to give his favorite books a try. So we spent the night spread out on his bed, eating sweets and reading the first book. Well, he mostly read it out loud to me, because his pronunciation was definitely much better than mine. It was fun, also because I got to watch him being in his element, so it really was a heartwarming evening.

I smile at the memory, a warm feeling blooms in my chest and when he finishes talking about it, he looks at me fondly. I had to keep myself from wanting to giggle like a little girl, but my inner 13-year old, most definitely did giggle.

Back to the original topic. Next, Grace was dared to wear one of my clothes, Kiley told us about her celebrity crush (Timothee Chalamet, but you didnt hear it from me) and when Alex was asked who he would trust with his secret, if he was spiderman, he mentioned me again. It was sweet and I had planned to tell him, that I would love to be the girl in the chair.

But, as the game went on, my name constantly fell from his lips. He was dared to show one of the most terrible photos of him and revealed to the group, a snapshot from us, wearing unrecognizable Halloween costumes. Funny, but my idea to go as ghosts wasnt that bad.

Nevertheless, he talked about the best gift he had ever received, a pair of cowboy boots, I got him two years ago (Nathan was playfully annoyed that one of his presents werent the best one) and as the game continued, the question, that I tried my best to avoid, was eventually asked.

"You two are always around each other and I've barely seen you apart, like ever. Are you sure, there is nothing going on between you? It seems like it."

Alex and I looked at each other, but then quickly laughed it off. It was what we always did, when someone asked us about our close friendship. None of us really answered and that meant for me, that he neither confirmed or declined having feelings for me. Very confusing and bad for my hoping heart.

So, when our friends are looking at each other now, grinning like they planned something really wicked, I know, that my personal hell is waiting for me. Or in my situation, a modified version of heaven.

"Y/n, I dare you to play seven minutes in heaven with just your best friend Alex." Grace is smiling in front of me and when I want to debate about it, she cuts me off.

"But I havent said I would take dare-" my words are going silent and I only hear my pounding heart.

"You always choose truth, that´s boring. You get the dare now, so stand up and cuddle with your wizard!"

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Alex holds his hands out for me, so he can help me stand up. He silently looks at me and I try to assure him by smiling, but I think I´m failing at it. Because he looks as unnerved as I feel right now.

When we walk out of the room and into the small storage room, we hear Skylar´s distance shouting.

"No lights and close the door! That are the rules, we set the timer!"

Why was I friends with them again?

When we approach the room, unlocking the door and stepping inside, we are suddenly surrounded by darkness. And when he closes my only way to escape, its quiet for a moment. Then, I hear is curious voice.

"What did Grace mean about your wizard?"

I relax and gently laugh. Nothing has to happen, everything is fine.

"That you are as bad at keeping secrets than Draco. Harry really found out on the first day in 6th grade, that something was clearly up with him."

Alex groans. "Please no more talking about your Drarry shipping. I get it, it could have been an enemies-to-lovers romance."

I smack his arm, taking a step closer to him.

"Okay, what would you like to talk about instead?"

I can make out the outlines of his face in the darkness, seeing how he also takes a step closer. I feel myself breathing heavily and my hands nervously shaking.

"I think, that I should keep you warm, because I literally see your hands shaking." When he takes another step in my direction, I hold my breath and in the same second, I feel his arms wrap around me.

His hands find their way to my back, embracing me in his warmth until I feel him breathing on my neck. I need to stop myself from shivering at this feeling.

"I can work with that." I whisper, snuggling into his chest and closing my eyes. I hear his racing heart and immediately need to smile.

"Your heart is beating very fast." His chin rests on my head, I feel him holding me closer.

"It´s the darkness." Of course, it is.

When I also close my arms around his waist, I feel for the first time a kind of inner peace, that I read about in books.

When a character feels safe in the embrace of their beloved.

Silence surrounds us for a minute and I begin to thank Grace for her dare, because him holding me in his arms und me, hugging him, is much more than wonderful.

"When you call me a wizard, do I get to call you a witch?" I burst out a laughter at his question.

"Only if you won´t compare me to Umbridge." He nods quietly.

"You are as far away from being like Umbridge as the earth is away from the moon. So, you don´t have to worry."

"Good." We are silent again.

"So, have you ever thought about what you would do, if you would get to spent time with a person, when you have seven minutes in heaven?" I think for a few seconds, before I answer him.

"I always imaged this game as a way to confess feelings or solving a fight. Maybe a hidden chance to make out too, I guess."

I hear him taking a deep breath, not expecting much. Until-

"Can I kiss you?" My knees almost give out.

"You what-?" I turn to look at him. Noticing his widen pupils.

"I mean, would you, um, want to kiss. Like, me. Now. Not that you need to, but you sounded like you would want that experience, so-" he tries to hold a stable voice, but I can sense, that he's slowly freaking out.

"Alex. You just asked me, if we should kiss."

I can´t believe it.

"...yes?" He sounds so sincere.

"Why?" I ask, while continue to look at him, feeling every centimeter that divides our lips from touching.

"Like I said, I don´t want you to miss out on anything."

Silence.

"Okay and maybe I just wanted an excuse to kiss you, before that dream boy of yours does."

I lean forward, watching as his eyes keep looking at my lips, even though he tries to hold the eye contact.

I slowly raise my hand and place it on the back of his neck, caressing the dark hair and twirling a few strands.

"Are you jealous, pretty boy?" I feel his cheeks getting warm, seeing the effect my words have on him.

His hands hold me tighter and a startled expression is shown on his face.

"What? Me, jealous? No." I raise my eyebrows at him.

He signs. "Maybe. I dont like the thought of someone else with you." His thumb brushes over my lips.

"Kissing you, touching you. It just doesnt feel right, that someone else would do that."

"You mean, someone who isnt you?" I look at his lips and he hums quietly. His hand slowly wanders to my chin and directs my head closer to him, I can feel his breath on my skin.

"We don´t have to do it-" I begin to talk, but then again, when he speaks up, his voice sounds out of breath, like he's holding himself back.

"No, it´s just one...little...kiss" his voice becomes quieter, the less distance there is between our faces.

And with one, last look, he catches my lips in a slow kiss. Keeping me close to him, by holding onto my waist. His hands find their way to my cheeks, caressing them with his fingers and I feel my heart pounding as prominent against my chest as feel him kissing me.

I don't notice, that he's directing me back until I gently hit the wall, while his hands slowly explore my sides. My hands tangle in his hair, tugging him closer, so I can feel everything of him.

And in that moment, I understand the name of the game. Because this truly feels like heaven.

When I notice, that I can´t breath anymore (but who needs oxygen when you can have Alex Walter), we gently break apart. Still holding onto each other.

And as soon as we catch our breath, both of us are smiling at each other and we share our feelings without a word.

"That was-" he doesnt get to finish his sentence, because in a blink of an eye, the door opens and brightness consumes us.

We quickly break apart, but apparently too late, because Grace´s voice is the first one to tease us.

"Right, you are just friends."

You can imagine, what the entire evening after that was like...

[theotherwolfinsideyou]

Top 100 American Baby Names of 2025 Sorted by A/B/O Dynamic

Something I've seen under-discussed is the fact that in an Omegaverse setting, names would probably be sorted not just as male/female but as alpha/beta/omega as well. Names would be more dynamic, as names commonly go from masculine/feminine to neutral in our world, but they would stay generally consistent.

Here's what gender I think each of the top 100 American baby names of 2025 would be, sorted by vibes and vibes alone. The names in bold are names that I 100% think would be used only for that dynamic, and would seem weird on any of the others.

Alphas:

Female: Emma, Charlotte, Ava, Harper, Nova, Camila, Gianna, Scarlett, Eleanor, Elena, Elizabeth, Isla, Emilia, Maya, Naomi, Athena, Iris, Victoria, Madison, Valentina, Aaliyah, Addison, Emery, Amara, Ruby, Josie, Skylar, Maria, Leah, Kennedy, Ember, Audrey, Cora Male: Liam, Mateo, Lucas, Asher, Leo, Hudson, Muhammad, Maverick, Theodore, Jack, Benjamin, Sebastian, Samuel, Alexander, William, Josiah, Luke, Julian, Ezekiel, Isaac, Caleb, Jayden, Joseph, Adam, Amir, Atlas, Jaxon, Xavier, Andrew, Zion, Axel, Adriel Gender-Neutral: Avery, Riley, Carter, Hunter, Adriel

Betas:

Female: Olivia, Amelia, Sophia/Sofia, Evelyn, Violet, Hazel, Ivy, Willow, Layla, Chloe, Nora, Delilah, Lainey, Paisley, Lucy, Grace, Ayla, Emily, Kinsley, Sophie, Alice, Autumn, Sadie, Adeline, Eden, Hannah, Serenity, Nevaeh, Natalie, Clara, Savannah, Oakley Male: Noah, Elijah, Levi, James, Henry, Ethan, Michael, Elias, Wyatt, Mason, Owen, David, Aiden, Isaiah, Waylon, John, Matthew, Jacob, Nathan, Anthony, Cooper, Weston, Thomas, Lincoln, Wesley, Jeremiah, Walker, Christopher, Miles/Myles, Ryan, Easton, Everett, Parker, Christian

Omegas:

Female: Isabella, Mia, Elli, Luna, Aurora, Eliana, Aria, Lily, Mila, Ella, Penelope, Stella, Leilani, Zoey/Zoe, Brooklyn, Bella, Melody, Everly, Gabriella, Millie, Raelynn, Daisy, Lyla, Madelyn, Hailey, Jade, Anna, Lillian, Brielle, Liliana

Male: Oliver, Ezra, Luca/Luka, Grayson/Greyson, Daniel, Theo, Gabriel, Jackson, Santiago, Roman, Enzo, Nolan, Silas, Joshia, Rowan, Beau, Cameron, Colton, Bennett, Brooks, Jace,

Gender-Neutral: Kai, Logan, Eli, Micah, Charlie, River