#no conflict just croissant

[booasaur]

Ted Lasso - 3x07

Bonus:

[lupins-hehim-pussy]

I wanna know ur Fontaine msq criticisms 👁️👁️👂I’m all ears

I'm not sure if you wanted me to talk about this secretly or publicly but! Here I go!

The TLDR: Fontaine MSQ aestheticised prison, poverty, child abuse, the justice system/court and didn't properly address any of it.

More:

Focalors/Furina has way too much of a sympathetic angle for a dictator who's lets people drown with her inaction.

Neuvillette feels Bad for sentencing some people to death/prison, but that's it. He's one of the most powerful people in Fontaine. If he felt like there are systemic injustices, I.E sending an abused Child to prison, he should be the first person to DO something about it, not just cry and be sad so the audience can be like aw, that's complex character writing isn't it? No it's not! And guilt doesn't absolve you!!!!!!! (These are stuff we deal with in OTCOJ read my fic now /j)

Meropide has children in it, both Sentenced there (Wriothesley) and BORN THERE (Lanoire), and this is just a quirk of the place. Not only that, Meropide accepts prisoners of all genders and crimes. There are abusers and abuse victims in one place. Do you know how bad that is? How much potential for crimes to happen in a place like that— oh wait, Meropide isn't under Fontaine's jurisdiction. If you are assaulted as an inmate it literally means nothing to the court.

Wriothesley had no qualifications when he took over. Depending on how long he lived on the streets, how old he was when he killed his parents, how old he was when he was first taken in by the orphanage, etc, the man might never have more than 4–5 years of formal education. Sigewinne probably had to teach him how to write reports. And do Meropide's spreadsheets. Edit because I forgot to elaborate on this one: This isn't a point brought up anywhere, which is bad, because when poverty and incarceration robs you of a proper education (and the rights to vote in many places too, too, by the way), it reduces your prospects for jobs, reduces many people's ability to get a home etc etc. Wriothesley was just, narratively, Given his position.

Meropide is an industrialized prison, and they portray this as a good thing. Prisoners are paid in coupons for their labour, and this is also portrayed as a good thing.

The One-Meal-A-Day reform was something Paimon gushed about being so great of a perk, that people might want to go to jail for food (could be interesting and reflective of systemic poverty if MHY had brains, but they don't, so I was just Pissed because essentially all Paimon wanted to say was "Prison isn't so bad, but still don't go to prison guys! Prison labour is really hard!"). By the way, in most real-world prisons they are obligated to feed you three meals a day. Because that's how much food a human needs. MHY went with one meal just so they can say "if you want to eat more, you have to work." And then the welfare meal is a goddamn gacha. So imagine you're a starving child who's too weak to work in the fucking robot assembly line, and you wander up for your first meal in 24 hours, only to luck in with a shit one. I'd kill myself.

They wrote Wriothesley, who's a victim of the system, into a guy who's say shit like "I'm the Duke I can do whatever I want" for a cool moment where he choke-slams an inmate (I know he was a bad guy. But also, in copaganda when cops are violent/disregarding protocols, they are always only portrayed to do that against bad guys, so what does our critical thinking tells us about this one?) They wrote Wriothesley, who was an inmate of a prison so bad, so notorious that it is the literal boogeyman of Fontaine, that has a legal (???) fighting pit, with an administrator who abuses his position to be unreasonable, to willingly stay in the place and become an Administrator who would choke-slam an inmate while saying a cool line about how he has the power to do whatever he wants. They wrote him, the guy who had to be fed on the streets by melusines, to think one-meal-a-day was a good enough reform (while he spends god-knows how much on his boat). This wasn't a victim-turns-into-abuser narrative either, they want all this to be seen as positive character growth.

And then, the final kicker is, they gloss over his entire abuse. You can only read about these shit in his profile, which most people don't because they don't Have Him or doesn't care to unlock it/read it online, and they jammed his entire backstory into a flaccid info-dump at the end of his character story quest. This man isn't Allowed to feel abused and neglected and show any reaction to it within the narrative of Fontaine itself, because if they actually Gave Weight to what happened to him, they'd have to confront THE FUCKING JUSTICE SYSTEM they had NO PLANS on criticising. I don't think they ever explicitly said the fucking Crime-Theatre nonsense was Bad either.

I could go on, but this is already so long. But yeah, I hope this gave you an idea.

[chartreuxcatz]

I just watched the Update video and uhhh that popularity contest thing is… an interesting idea… Like fucking obviously i wanna vote for Croissant and Timekeeper, but also… they just got costumes this year, so that wouldnt feel fair… but auuuughhhggh new Croissant or Timekeeper costuuuume… auugsghsgsggggg… HELP.  I AM CONFLICTED.

[bilal-salah0]

I would like to share the story of Khaled Smeer, who once lived a stable life as the manager of one of the largest malls in Gaza. In addition to his management role, Khaled worked as an English translator, leading a busy life filled with activity and interaction with others. He lived in northern Gaza with his family, and everything was going well until the war broke out.

As the conflict intensified and the bombings escalated, Khaled’s home was completely destroyed. In a matter of moments, he and his family lost everything they had; no home to shelter them and no resources to rely on. Life was no longer the same. Now, Khaled lives in northern Gaza, where conditions worsen every day. They are struggling with severe hunger, with no access to the basic necessities of daily life—no food, no clothing, and no safe place to stay.

In the face of this tragedy, Khaled decided to start a campaign asking for help. He isn’t just asking for himself, but for all those who suffer like him. Khaled is trying to leave Gaza in search of safety and a chance to start over. However, he faces a significant obstacle: it costs 5,000 USD per person to leave when the border crossing opens.

Khaled’s words are filled with both pain and hope. Today, he is asking for your help, whether by sharing his story or donating to his cause. Every small contribution makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who reads Khaled’s story, and to all those who offer any form of support for Palestine. ♥️

$585 AUD raised of $60,000 goal

Note: The currency is Australian Dollar (AUD). The exchange rate is approximately: • 10 AUD ≈ 6 USD • 50 AUD ≈ 32 USD • 100 AUD ≈ 65 USD • 200 AUD ≈ 131 USD

@khaledshawikh

Sorry for the share

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[nassermohamd]

Don't ignore this post; time is critical to save a family's life

I am Dr. Nasser, a Palestinian from northern Gaza. I hope you will listen to my story since the beginning of the war on October 7th. Our lives started to unravel after the occupation forces informed us in the first month to evacuate our home, which was subsequently completely destroyed. We were displaced from one area to another, and on November 22nd, my dental clinic was bombed. Since then, I have not had a source of income. The conditions have taken a toll on me physically, and we moved around until we reached Rafah, where we were displaced again when the occupation entered. We ended up in the Nusseirat area.

We have no access to healthy food or clean water, and the tents we live in are not suitable for habitation. I am deeply discouraged by all of this, and my mental health has deteriorated significantly. The occupation has forced us into harsh living conditions, causing us to lose a lot of weight and suffer health issues. When the Rafah crossing opened, they demanded $5,000 per adult and $2,500 per child just to pass through.

Verified by nabulsi & Hussain

We constantly wonder why all this is happening during wartime. We wish to move to a safe area and hope to pay these amounts for safety and a better life outside of the conflict. I am very disheartened and hope that you can help me and my family to reach safety and secure a better life and future away from the war.

£6000 out of £50k🍉

@malcriada @appsa @aces-and-angels @tamarrud @three-croissants @troythecatfish @thedigitalbard @just-browsing1222 @newsfrom-theworld @blackpearlblast @bellabayushki @whoopsiedaisy20 @witchywitchy @enchantingheavens @el-shab-hussein @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness @miametropolis @monstercangirlofficial @neurotypical-sonic @vakarians-babe @communistchilchuck @zynp-krdg @lakevida @lilliputian-thing @licencetokrill @sayruq @sar-soor @sneakerdoodle @silicacid

[unpublishediary]

4th of July Confessions [ conrad fisher ]

SYNOPSIS‧₊˚ conrad confesses his feelings for you after a week of fighting and makes sure you know his feelings are real.

INTEREST₊˚ conrad fisher x you

| masterlist |

Not much time had passed since Conrad started his plan to win you back, and you were already growing suspicious.

First, it started with him going to your favorite place to grab your breakfast. He made it a point to hand you a croissant with more than familiar packaging, a gesture that seemed to bring back memories and leave you questioning his intentions.

Then he sat right next to you, even nudging your knee with his as you all ate breakfast, a deliberate closeness that bordered on invasive, stirring up a greater mixture of nostalgia and confusion within you.

Now he was volunteering to help you make the guest bedroom for Belly's dad and his dad's girlfriend.

You knew that Conrad had never been one for chores or family obligations lately. His sudden enthusiasm for helping out was as baffling as it was unexpected. Yet, there he was, smoothing out the sheets with surprising skill as he carefully arranged the pillows on the freshly made bed. It was as if he was determined to prove something to you, though you couldn't quite guess what that something might be.

The fact it was the 4th of July made the Cousins Beach air buzz with excitement and anticipation. Flags fluttered in the breeze, and the distant crackle of fireworks echoed through the neighborhood. The sun beat down, casting a warm glow over everything, as if the day itself was celebrating. But you knew that couldn't be it.

Conrad and you worked side by side, folding sheets and fluffing pillows in the guest bedroom, a comfortable rhythm settling between you. It was a far difference from the awkwardness that had plagued your interactions in recent days, replaced instead by a sense of closeness.

Conrad's sleeves were rolled up, revealing the faint sheen of sweat on his brow as he worked diligently, his movements precise and focused. You couldn't help but steal glances at him when he wasn't looking, admiring the way the sunlight caught the strands of his hair and the curve of his jawline.

Your conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated by shared memories and inside jokes that seemed to bridge the gap between you. With each passing moment, the tension that had once lingered between you melted away, replaced instead by a growing sense of ease and familiarity.

As you smoothed out the final wrinkles in the freshly made bed, Conrad stole a sideways glance at you, his eyes softening with unspoken affection. It was a moment suspended in time, a fleeting glimpse of the connection you had once shared and the possibility of what could be.

"We both know I didn't volunteer just to help you make a bed," Conrad remarked, his voice gentle yet tinged with a hint of playfulness as he sat on the finished bed. "I've been wanting to talk to you forever."

You followed him, sitting down next to him. Your gaze met his with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. Like you had predicted, there was more to Conrad's sudden eagerness to help than met the eye, and now, as you stood face to face, you couldn't ignore the tension that crackled between you.

"Is that why you insisted on helping me instead of Belly? She did give me a pancake apology," you replied, your tone light but tinged with a hint of teasing.

Your question hung in the air, a thread of curiosity along with a hint of suspicion. As you watched Conrad's reaction, you couldn't help but notice the subtle tightening of his jaw, the way his gaze momentarily flickered, betraying his intention to keep his emotions beneath the surface.

His fingers absently traced the pattern on the bedsheet, a nervous energy coursing through him, while his gaze remained fixed on some distant point, as if lost in a sea of conflicting thoughts.

"I mean, I did tell her off at that party if that helps," you offered, your voice light but teasing. You nudged him with your shoulder, a silent invitation for him to share his thoughts.

Conrad's tension eased slightly at your touch, the warmth of your proximity a balm to his troubled soul.

He glanced at you, his eyes softening with a mixture of gratitude and amusement. "Yeah, I heard something about that," Conrad's lips quirked into a smile at your remark, his gaze softening, "The night of our sleepover, right?"

You nodded, a soft chuckle escaping your lips like a fleeting breeze. The memory of that night danced between you, letting you share a flicker of warmth.

You both fell into another comfortable silence, only to be interrupted by the soft rustle of fabric as you leaned your shoulder into Conrad's. Sensing your proximity, Conrad instinctively inclined his head towards yours. He missed your laughter, but it was more like he missed laughing with you. So much that he found himself on the edge of confession.

In a voice barely above a whisper, Conrad's words lingered in the air, tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I know we can't go back in time," he paused, "but I want to know everything I missed," he confessed, his nerves palpable despite his attempt to mask them.

You stayed silent.

Conrad's courage swelled within him. With newfound determination, he lifted his gaze to meet yours, his voice a gentle murmur meant for your ears alone. "I really miss you. I miss Bambi, our secret meetings, everything," Conrad admitted, his sincerity echoing in the tender space between you.

Your gaze met Conrad's with an intensity that sent a rush of warmth flooding through your veins. In that moment, you realized how much you felt the same, and it was scary. It was scary that after everything that happened, you could still feel the same way about him that you did the summer before.

Both of you were closer than ever, but you didn't mind.

Your eyes locked, a silent conversation passing between you as you leaned in, your breaths mingling in the space between you. With a gentle touch, Conrad cupped your cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of your jawline, sending shivers down your spine.

Who initiated the final movement would remain unknown. Yet, in that brief instant of contact, your worlds collided. Your lips met his in a tender embrace. It was a kiss filled with longing and reassurance, a promise of all the words left unspoken. In that moment, time seemed to stand still as you lost yourselves in the warmth of each other's embrace.

"Guys!" A series of knocks on the door followed Steven's voice. It startled you both, causing you to pull away rapidly, "They're here!"

Breathless and flushed, Conrad's forehead pressed against yours, your hearts beating in sync. In the quiet aftermath, you shared a smile that turned into nervous laughs, "I also missed this," Conrad murmured, his voice a gentle caress against your skin, as you lingered in the quiet space between words. Had you finally found your way back?

You stood up, taming your curls the best you could with your fingers, "Come on, let's go."

NOTE: this scene is a part of my conrad x oc fic. No prior reading is needed to understand, but if youre interested in reading here are the links (rec to read on watt for faster updates, but a03 is fine too):

wattpad link

a03 link

[jaefluenza]

unproblematic | jjh.

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

warning: idk, you name it. (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)

jeong jaehyun x reader

5,152 words

He was the type of person whose presence could light up a room without him even trying. His smile was warm, his voice gentle, and there was something about him that drew people in. He was kind, patient, and generous in ways that made him seem almost otherworldly. Everyone who knew him admired him, and I was no exception.

My life had always been one of quiet contentment. I was the sort of person who avoided conflict, preferring instead to keep the peace and offer a helping hand where I could. My friends often described me as wise beyond my years, always ready with advice or a comforting word. I liked to think of myself as someone who gave more than they took, finding joy in the happiness of others.

But Jaehyun was different. He stirred something in me that I couldn’t quite understand, something I had never felt before. It wasn’t just admiration or respect; it was a deep, unyielding desire. I wanted him in a way that was almost overwhelming, a way that made me feel both exhilarated and ashamed.

It started innocently enough. I would visit his café every morning, a ritual that had become as essential to me as breathing. The smell of coffee, the taste of a freshly baked croissant, and the sound of Jaehyun’s voice as he greeted me by name—all of it combined to create a sanctuary from the world outside.

“Good morning,” he would say with that smile that could melt glaciers, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Good morning, Jaehyun,” I would reply, trying to keep my voice steady, trying not to let him see the effect he had on me.

We would talk about everything and nothing—books we were reading, music we were listening to, the weather. It was all so ordinary, yet every moment felt charged with an undercurrent of something more, something unsaid.

Then there was the way he would look at me, sometimes lingering just a moment longer than necessary. It was in those moments that I would wonder if he felt it too, this strange pull between us. But then I would remember—Jaehyun had a girlfriend. She was beautiful, kind, and from what I could tell, she made him happy. The way he talked about her, with a softness in his voice and a light in his eyes, made it clear that he loved her.

But that didn’t stop the desire from growing inside me, a desire that I tried to bury, but it always found its way back to the surface.

One evening, I found myself alone in the café, long after the last customer had left. The soft hum of jazz music played in the background as I sat at my usual table, lost in thought. Jaehyun was behind the counter, cleaning up for the night, his movements slow and deliberate. The light was dim, casting long shadows across the room, and the air was heavy with the scent of coffee and something else—something bittersweet.

“Do you need anything else?” Jaehyun’s voice broke the silence, gentle and considerate as always.

I looked up, meeting his gaze. There was a softness in his eyes, a warmth that made my heart ache.

“No, I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just enjoying the peace and quiet.”

He nodded, but instead of going back to his work, he walked over to my table and sat down across from me. I could feel my pulse quicken, the air between us thick with unspoken words.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, concern lacing his tone.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. How could I tell him that the reason I was sitting here, long after everyone else had left, was because I didn’t want to leave? Because I wanted to be near him, to bask in the warmth of his presence for just a little longer?

“I’m fine,” I lied, offering him another smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

He studied me for a moment, his gaze piercing in a way that made me feel like he could see right through me, see all the desires and longings I had tried so hard to hide.

“You know,” he began, his voice soft, “you don’t have to pretend with me. If something’s bothering you, you can talk to me.”

I wanted to laugh at the irony of it all. Here he was, offering me comfort, being the kind, generous person he always was, and all I could think about was how much I wanted him. How much I wanted to reach across the table, take his hand in mine, and tell him everything.

But I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t be that person who ruined something so pure, something so good.

So instead, I shook my head. “I’m just tired,” I said. “It’s been a long day.”

He didn’t push further, just nodded and offered me that same gentle smile that always made my heart skip a beat.

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As the days passed, I tried to keep my distance. I would still visit the café, but I would leave as soon as I had my coffee, not allowing myself to linger. But it was impossible to avoid Jaehyun completely. He was always there, always kind, always making me feel things I didn’t want to feel.

Then came the night that changed everything.

It was late, and the sky was dark, heavy with the promise of rain. I was walking home from the bookstore, the cool air a welcome relief from the thoughts that had been swirling in my mind all day. As I rounded the corner, I saw Jaehyun standing outside the café, his hands shoved into his pockets, his head tilted back as he looked up at the sky.

Something about the sight of him standing there, so serene, so beautiful, made me stop in my tracks. I felt a wave of emotion wash over me—longing, desire, and something deeper, something I couldn’t quite name.

Before I could think better of it, I found myself walking towards him, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Jaehyun,” I called out, my voice sounding strange to my own ears.

He turned, his expression softening when he saw me. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm and inviting.

For a moment, we just stood there, the silence between us filled with the sound of the wind rustling through the trees and the distant rumble of thunder.

“I… I don’t know how to say this,” I began, my voice trembling. “But I need to tell you something.”

He watched me, his gaze steady, as if he already knew what I was going to say.

“I… I care about you,” I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “More than I should. More than I want to.”

For a moment, there was only silence. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall into the unknown.

Then, Jaehyun took a step towards me, closing the distance between us. He reached out, gently taking my hand in his, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me.

“I care about you too,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “More than I should.”

My breath caught in my throat as I looked up at him, the world around us fading away until there was only him, only this moment.

“But I can’t…” he began, his voice filled with regret. “I can’t do this. I have someone, and I can’t hurt her. I won’t.”

I nodded, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. I had known this would be the outcome, had known it from the moment I first realized my feelings for him. But hearing the words still felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

“I understand,” I whispered, pulling my hand away from his. “I just… I needed you to know.”

He nodded, his expression one of deep sadness. “I’m glad you told me,” he said. “But I don’t want to lose you. Our friendship means a lot to me.”

“I won’t go anywhere,” I promised, even though I knew it would be hard, even though I knew that staying would mean living with this ache in my heart.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

We stood there for a few moments longer, the silence between us filled with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. Then, without another word, I turned and walked away, my footsteps echoing in the quiet night.

As I made my way home, the first drops of rain began to fall, mingling with the tears that I could no longer hold back. I had always prided myself on being wise, on making the right choices, on putting others before myself. But in that moment, I felt anything but wise. I felt raw, exposed, and vulnerable in a way that I had never felt before.

But despite the pain, there was a strange sense of relief in having finally spoken my truth. For so long, I had kept my feelings hidden, locked away where they couldn’t hurt anyone. But now, even though the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for, I felt a sense of peace in having been honest with myself and with Jaehyun.

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The days that followed were difficult. I still visited the café, but the dynamic between Jaehyun and me had shifted in subtle but undeniable ways. There was a carefulness in our interactions now, a mutual understanding of the line we could never cross. Our conversations, once so easy and free-flowing, were now laced with a delicate tension. Every smile, every lingering glance carried the weight of what had been confessed and what could never be.

Jaehyun was still the same warm, generous person he had always been, but there was a sadness in his eyes now, a shadow that hadn’t been there before. It hurt to see it, knowing that I had played a part in dimming the light that he so effortlessly radiated.

But I kept my promise—I didn’t go anywhere. I continued to show up at the café, day after day, because as much as it hurt, being away from him hurt more. I told myself that I could handle it, that I could be content with the friendship we shared, even if it meant swallowing down the longing that never seemed to go away.

And for a while, I managed. We fell into a new rhythm, one that was careful and considerate, but also tinged with the unspoken. The moments of silence between us grew longer, more comfortable, as if we were both trying to find a way to reconcile what was with what could never be.

But the desire I felt for Jaehyun, the deep, unyielding want, was still there, lurking beneath the surface. It was a quiet ache, one that I carried with me everywhere I went. I would see him, standing behind the counter, his smile lighting up the room, and I would feel it—a pang of longing so sharp it took my breath away.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky turned shades of pink and orange, I found myself alone in the café once again. The last customers had left, and it was just Jaehyun and me, the soft strains of music playing in the background. He was wiping down the counters, his movements slow and methodical.

I sat at my usual table, staring down at the empty cup in front of me, the weight of everything pressing down on my shoulders. I had thought I could manage, that I could keep my feelings in check, but the more time I spent with Jaehyun, the harder it became. Every smile, every kind word, every touch of his hand as he passed me my coffee—it all added to the weight, making it harder and harder to breathe.

“I think I need to take a break,” I said suddenly, my voice breaking the silence.

Jaehyun looked up, surprise flashing across his face. “A break?” he repeated, setting down the cloth he had been using. “From the café?”

I nodded, unable to meet his gaze. “I just… I need some time to figure things out.”

There was a long pause, the air between us heavy with the words we weren’t saying.

“I understand,” Jaehyun said softly, and when I finally looked up at him, there was that same sadness in his eyes, the same shadow that I had come to know so well. “I’ll miss you, though. This place won’t be the same without you.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The thought of not seeing him every day, of not hearing his voice, not feeling the warmth of his presence—it was almost unbearable. But I knew that staying, that continuing to pretend everything was okay, would only make things worse.

“I’ll miss you too,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I think it’s what I need to do.”

Jaehyun nodded, his expression one of understanding, but also of pain. “I’ll be here when you’re ready,” he said, his voice gentle. “Whenever that is.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The lump in my throat was too big, the emotions too close to the surface. I stood up, my movements slow and reluctant, as if my body was resisting what my mind knew had to be done.

As I reached the door, I hesitated, my hand hovering over the handle. I wanted to turn back, to look at him one last time, to hold onto this moment for just a little longer. But I knew that if I did, I might never be able to leave. And I was awfully right.

As I stood at the door, debating whether I should turn back to say something more, the weight of all my unresolved emotions became unbearable. Without fully thinking it through, I found myself walking back toward Jaehyun. He was still there, behind the counter, his gaze following my every movement with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“Jaehyun,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“Yes?” His voice was soft, encouraging, but also laced with a hint of something I couldn’t quite decipher—hope, maybe, or perhaps apprehension.

My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest that it drowned out every rational thought. Before I knew what I was doing, I reached out, gently cupping his face in my hands. His skin was warm beneath my touch, his breath hitching as he looked at me with those deep, dark eyes that had haunted my thoughts for so long.

“Wait—” he started, but the words caught in his throat as I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against his in the lightest, most hesitant kisses.

For a moment, time seemed to stop. The world outside the café faded away, leaving just the two of us, suspended in a bubble of quiet intensity. The kiss was soft, and tentative, as if we were both afraid to push too far, to let the moment slip away.

Jaehyun’s hands came up to my waist, his touch hesitant and unsure. There was a second of hesitation, a moment where I could feel him battling with himself. But then, as if something inside him gave way, he kissed me back. His lips moved against mine with a gentle urgency, a tenderness that made my heart swell with something I could only describe as pure, unfiltered emotion.

The kiss deepened, our breaths mingling as the world outside ceased to exist. There was no past, no future, just this moment—just us. My fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him closer as if I could fuse us together, as if this kiss could make everything right, even if just for a moment.

Jaehyun’s lips moved against mine with a hunger I hadn’t expected, and a thrill of triumph shot through me. He wanted this—wanted me—just as much as I wanted him.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the consequences, not the boundaries we were shattering, not the people we were betraying. All that existed was the heat of his body pressed against mine, the way his hands roamed my back, pulling me closer, as if he couldn’t bear to let go.

I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, matching the wild rhythm of my own, and a sense of power surged through me. Jaehyun, the man I had admired from afar for so long, the man who was always so composed, so careful, was unraveling beneath my touch. And I was the one who had brought him to this point, the one who had made him forget everything else, if only for a moment.

We pulled apart, just enough to catch our breath, our foreheads resting against each other’s. His eyes were dark, filled with an intensity I had never seen before, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

“Jaehyun…” I whispered, but I didn’t know what else to say. Everything I felt—everything we both felt—was too overwhelming for words.

He didn’t respond, not with words. Instead, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me again, deeper this time, as if he were trying to pour all the things he couldn’t say into that kiss. And I let him, losing myself in the taste of him, in the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.

“Mmmh,” a soft sound escapes my lips before I can stop it.

My hands tangled in his hair, tugging him closer as I pressed my body against his, feeling the heat of him through our clothes. I wanted more—needed more—and the fact that he was giving it to me without hesitation, without regret, only made me crave him even more.

I could feel the tension in his muscles, the way he was holding back, as if he were afraid that if he let go, if he gave in completely, there would be no turning back. But I didn’t want him to hold back. I wanted all of him, every part of him, and I wanted him to know that I wasn’t afraid of what that meant.

“Don’t stop,” I murmured against his lips, my voice low and breathless. “Please don’t stop.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes searching mine as if he were looking for any sign of hesitation, any hint that I might regret this later. But there was none. I knew exactly what I was doing, and I wasn’t going to back down now.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice rough, strained, like he was barely holding himself together.

In response, I kissed him again, hard and unyielding, letting him feel exactly how sure I was. And that was all the encouragement he needed. With a low groan, he lifted me onto the counter, his hands sliding down to grip my thighs as he pressed himself against me once more.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer as our kisses grew more frantic, more desperate. It was as if all the pent-up tension, all the unspoken desires, were finally being unleashed, and there was no stopping it now. And I didn’t want to stop it. I wanted to let it consume us both.

A sense of satisfaction washed over me as I realized just how much control I had over him in that moment. Jaehyun, who was always so composed, so in control, was completely at my mercy, and the thought made my heart race with exhilaration. I had him—truly had him—and I wasn’t about to let that go.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” I confessed between kisses, my voice trembling with a mixture of passion and triumph. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you, Jaehyun.”

His response was a deep, throaty moan as he trailed kisses down my neck, his hands gripping my waist tightly as if he were afraid I might slip away. “I shouldn’t want you like this,” he murmured against my skin, but there was no conviction in his words, only raw, unfiltered need. “But I do. God, I do.”

The admission sent a thrill of satisfaction through me, and I arched my back, giving him better access as his lips continued their descent, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. I had won. In this moment, he was mine, and I reveled in the power that came with that knowledge.

“Then don’t fight it,” I whispered, my voice low and sultry, urging him on. “Don’t hold back, Jaehyun. I want all of you.”

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

The night had blurred into a haze of heated kisses and whispered confessions, a whirlwind of emotions that neither of us had been able to resist. Somewhere between the dim light of the café and the shadows of Jaehyun’s apartment, the world outside had ceased to exist. We had given in completely, surrendering to the desire that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long.

Now, as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, I found myself nestled in Jaehyun’s bed, his strong arms wrapped around me. The room was quiet, the only sound the steady rhythm of his breathing and the soft rustle of sheets as he shifted beside me.

Jaehyun was already awake, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as if he were lost in thought. When he noticed me stirring, he turned his attention to me, his expression softening into something unreadable. He reached out, his fingers gently threading through my hair, playing with the silky strands as if he were trying to memorize the feel of them.

“I was unproblematic before I met you,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with a mix of frustration and something deeper, something more tender. “Now, you’ve become my problem.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, but there was no regret in his tone, only acceptance of the undeniable truth we had both tried so hard to ignore. I looked up at him, my heart fluttering at the way his eyes softened when they met mine.

“I could be your little secret, Jaehyun,” I whispered, my voice carrying a hint of mischief, a promise of something forbidden. The idea thrilled me—the thought of being the one thing he couldn’t resist, the one temptation he couldn’t walk away from. The truth is, I was never this kind of person either.

He sighed, his fingers still playing with my hair as he considered my words. “You don’t deserve to be a secret,” he said softly, almost as if he were speaking more to himself than to me. “But I don’t know how to let you go.”

I smiled, leaning into his touch as I felt a surge of satisfaction. “Then don’t,” I replied simply, my voice laced with confidence. “Don’t let me go, Jaehyun. Keep me close, even if it’s just like this.”

His hand stilled in my hair, and he turned to face me fully, his gaze intense, searching. “You make it sound so easy,” he said, a trace of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “But it’s not.”

“Nothing worth having is ever easy,” I whispered back, my hand reaching out to trace the lines of his jaw, feeling the rough stubble beneath my fingertips. “But you know as well as I do that some things are worth the risk.”

Jaehyun closed his eyes, his forehead resting against mine as he let out a deep breath. “You’re dangerous, you know that?” he said, his voice tinged with both admiration and resignation.

“Only to you,” I teased, brushing my lips against his in a feather-light kiss.

He let out a low chuckle, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. “I should be pushing you away,” he murmured, his lips grazing my temple. “But I don’t want to.”

“Then don’t,” I urged, my voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t think about anything else right now. Just let this be what it is.”

Jaehyun’s arms tightened around me, and I could feel the tension in his body slowly melting away as he surrendered to the moment. He kissed me then, soft and slow, as if sealing a promise that only we could understand.

As the morning light grew brighter, the reality of what we had done, of what we were doing, began to creep back in. But in that moment, wrapped up in Jaehyun’s embrace, I didn’t care about the consequences. I didn’t care about the complications or the secrets we would have to keep.

All that mattered was that he was mine, even if just for now.

But then, my eyes flew wide open at the sound of the door swinging open with a sharp bang. I’m certain his did too.

“What the fuck?!”

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

epilogue - 3:00 am, 5 hours ago

As we lay there, Jaehyun’s hand absentmindedly traced patterns along my naked arm. There was a calm in the air, but underneath it, I could feel the weight of something unspoken between us. His fingers stilled, and he looked at me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” he began, his voice low, almost hesitant. His gaze never left mine, as if he were searching for the right words, or perhaps the courage to speak them.

I stayed quiet, sensing the importance of the moment, my heart pounding in anticipation of what he was about to say.

“I never meant for any of this to happen,” he continued, his eyes softening. “I never meant to feel the way I do about you. It just… happened. Slowly, quietly, before I even realized what was going on.”

He paused, his expression a mix of vulnerability and resolve. “At first, I tried to ignore it. I told myself it was just a fleeting attraction, something that would pass. But the more time we spent together, the harder it became to deny what was happening inside me.”

He shifted slightly, his hand moving to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing softly against my skin. “I started looking forward to seeing you every day. The way you’d smile when you walked into the café, the way you’d laugh at something silly I said—it all started to mean more to me than I wanted to admit.”

His gaze grew distant for a moment, as if he were reliving the memories he was sharing. “There were times when you’d be talking to me, and I’d catch myself staring at you, completely lost in how you made me feel. I tried so hard to keep it a secret, even from myself, but it was impossible. Every little thing about you drew me in deeper.”

I felt a warmth spread through my chest, the truth of his words wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked softly, though I already knew the answer.

Jaehyun sighed, his hand slipping down to take mine, intertwining our fingers. “Because I was afraid. Afraid of what it would mean, afraid of what we’d have to face if I admitted it. I didn’t want to complicate your life—or mine.”

“But you couldn’t help it,” I whispered, a small smile tugging at my lips.

He shook his head, a rueful smile on his own. “No, I couldn’t. The more I tried to distance myself, the more I realized that I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t escape you. And the truth is, I didn’t want to.”

His thumb stroked the back of my hand as he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “I fell in love with you in secret, because I didn’t know how to do it any other way. You were everything I wasn’t supposed to want, but I couldn’t stop myself. And now… I don’t want to hide it anymore.”

Tears welled up in my eyes at his confession, but they were tears of relief, of joy. “Jaehyun…” I started, but he gently shushed me, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my forehead.

“I know it’s complicated,” he said quietly, his lips lingering against my skin. “But I don’t care anymore. I don’t want to pretend that I don’t feel what I feel. I love you, and I want to be with you, no matter what we have to face.”

“What about her?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper. The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of reality we both knew we had to face.

Jaehyun’s expression faltered, the light in his eyes dimming as the gravity of the situation settled in. His hand tightened around mine, as if he were afraid to let go, afraid of what my question might mean for us.

He sighed deeply, his gaze drifting away for a moment, lost in thought. When he looked back at me, there was a sadness there, a regret that made my heart ache.

“I don’t want to hurt her,” he admitted, his voice filled with a quiet pain. “She’s been nothing but good to me. But I can’t keep pretending that everything’s the same when it’s not. I can’t keep lying to her—or to myself.”

I nodded, understanding the turmoil he must be feeling. It was a difficult situation, one that was bound to leave scars no matter how carefully we navigated it. But we both knew that continuing to live a lie would only make things worse in the end.

“I don’t want to be the reason for her pain,” I whispered, my voice tinged with guilt. “But I also can’t change the way I feel about you.”

Jaehyun reached out, his hand cupping my cheek as he looked at me with a tenderness that made my heart ache. “This isn’t your fault,” he said gently. “You didn’t ask for this any more than I did. But I have to be honest—with her and with myself. I owe her that much.”

There was a long pause, the silence between us heavy with unspoken emotions. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between his sense of responsibility and the undeniable pull he felt toward me.

“I’ll talk to her,” he finally said, his voice steady, though tinged with sadness. “I owe her the truth, even if it hurts. It’s the only way forward.”

My heart ached for him, for the difficult conversation he was about to face, but I knew he was right. We couldn’t build something real on a foundation of lies, no matter how much we wanted to.

“I’m here for you, Jaehyun,” I said softly, reaching out to take his hand in mine. “Whatever happens, I’m here.”

fin.

—

jaefluenza; navigation

[radley-writes]

A confession:

Most 'character development' help posts do nothing for me. Nada. Zilch.

This is not a denunciation of such posts - they evidently work for a lot of folks! But if I see questions like 'what is your character's favourite colour?' or 'what is your character's biggest fear?' I am clicking away.

Obviously, working this sort of thing out is important! These details add fun little quirks to your character, or shine a light on their backstory. But when I'm developing a complementary cast of characters, with a smorgasbord of unique and interesting personalities...

I just put them in situations.

I call this the fanfic approach, as it basically amounts to writing mini fics about how your characters would react to a variety of stressors. For instance: let's start with a simple scenario with a potential for conflict!

A barista gets the character's coffee order wrong. Like, horrifically wrong. They create an unholy abomination of syrup shots and espresso that probably tastes of cough syrup, and hand it to your character, straight-faced. How does the character react?

Working with the cast of No Man's Sky...

Mavrik would shrug and chug the coffee anyway. She's drunk worse; she ain't bothered. No point causing a fuss.

Vox would threaten to kill the barista and their entire family, in graphic detail, until they were escorted out of the coffee shop and banned for life.

Oleander would smile politely, engage the barista in small talk, show genuine interest in their hopes and dreams, then proceed to make such a pleasant yet insistent song-and-dance about how this was not their order that the barista would apologise profusely, remake his drink, and offer him complimentary free croissants for the rest of the year.

Jagura would drink the coffee-trocity without noticing the error.

Renzou would apologise to the barista.

As you can see, we have five distinct, diverging reactions - and thus, five unique characters! I like to repeat this exercise with three-ish prompts of varying intensity. Here's some ideas, if anyone wants to play along:

Your character is waiting for a train. It's running late, but only by five minutes. However, they are hoping to catch a connection at the next station, and this will reduce their transfer time by half.

Your character finds a box full of sickly kittens, abandoned in a rainy street. There are far too many for your character to adopt and look after alone.

Your character walks into a room where there is most definitely not supposed to be a dead body. There... is a dead body.

You get the idea! Your characters don't always have to react in a unique way to every scenario, but there should be some individual flavour to their actions, whatever they may be.

Go forth and put those little guys in situations and scenarios! And pretty please feel free to reblog and let me know how your cast would react!

[heart4gyu]

just for show pt.2 || mc!heeseung x ‪mc‬!reader

PT.1 || PT.3 || note: i honestly didn’t know where i wanted the story to go so let me know your thoughts guys! it rly motivates me when you guys have something to say abt my writing… i think i like it & ofc this definitely leaves room for a pt.3 (lmk ??) hope you guys enjoy tho ^_^!

the longer you thought about it the more you realized it really wasn’t heeseung’s fault. it wasn’t his fault that everyone did react so well to everything the two of you did. and it wasn’t his fault that you caught yourself falling for his kindness.

you weren’t in love with him or anything, so why was the thought of his possible rejection so… heartbreaking. maybe it was the embarrassment of falling for someone who just wanted to be your friend.

you didn’t know why you felt so conflicted but this was your job and you were going to do your best at it no matter what. when you got home that night, you told yourself that you’d keep your relationship with heeseung professional. even if the friendship that was growing between you was one of the most genuine you’ve had in a while.

the next day, you and your manager were the first to show up from both of your teams. you both sat and talked while you waited, and she mentioned that you and heeseung were invited to host at an upcoming award show.

she told you that you didn’t have to make your decision right away. of course, you told her about what happened so she wanted to make sure you knew the choice was yours. but you both knew that declining the offer with no valid reason wouldn’t look right.

“it’s okay, you can tell them that i accept,” you said, looking down at your hands.

“then congratulations on your first gig as an award show host,” she said, leaning in to place a hand over yours. you looked up and she gave you a cheerful nod.

“well we don’t know if it’s certain yet,” you replied with a small chuckle, still nodding back as a thanks.

“no it is, heeseung accepted right away yesterday,” she said, raising her eyebrows at you, making you roll your eyes at her.

“thanks for keeping it professional,” you said, and you both shared a laugh before the conversation, thankfully, switched to another topic.

after some time had passed, you decided to grab something to eat from the breakfast table that was set for the mcs and artists. you filled up a small bowl with some fruits and a small croissant.

“y/n?” you heard from behind you. you knew that voice well, so you took a deep breath before responding.

“good morning, heeseung,” you replied, suddenly very interested in which fork you should choose.

“uh… would you like a drink? we picked some up at the cafe on the way here,” he offered, with only one cup in his hand. you looked down at it then back up at him.

“oh that’s nice of you but i don’t really like coffee,” you said, trying to move around him but he stepped in front of you again.

“i- i know you don’t. it’s tea actually, the way you ordered it last time,” he said abruptly, a slight blush appearing high on his cheeks.

you let out a small sigh as you took the cup in your empty hand and he gave you a small smile. he almost looked relieved as he took a small step back. he didn’t move more than that though and he looked like he wanted to say more. the silence was beginning to get a bit too awkward for you though.

“thank you. uh… i’ll go first then,” you said, returning the small smile. you brushed past him lightly but you could feel him watching you all the way out of the room. your face felt like it was on fire by the time you stepped into the dressing room.

how could you even think about getting over your feelings when he made you react like this? he only looked at you, you barely brushed past him, he remembered your drink order… but that didn’t mean anything. maybe his manager wrote it down or something.

you forced yourself to forget about it as your team did your hair and makeup. you usually sat by heeseung for this part but when he came in you were already finished and making your way to put your interview outfit on.

heeseung knew you were avoiding him. the next time he saw you you were already on the set reading over your lines, which you usually did in the dressing room together.

“hey, y/n, can we talk for a second?” he asked as he approached the small stage.

“i think we’ll be getting started any moment now so… maybe later,” you said, knowing you’d be leaving the second your segments were recorded.

a minute passed before the director walked in and started giving orders to everyone. then the lights and cameras were on, mics were being handed out, and you both were putting on the perfect show that everyone loved.

you smiled and laughed at heeseung the way you always did. for a second he forgot that you no longer wanted anything to do with him. he found himself paying attention to every single movement you made. the way you placed your hand on his arm, the way your cheeks rose when he made a joke, how your eyes sparkled under the bright lights as you watched him talk.

he wasn’t sure why your conversation the other day bothered him so much. he wanted to clear up the confusion more than anything but he didn’t know what that was in the first place. why were you suddenly so upset at him? the reason didn’t matter just the thought of you being hurt by him made him so mad at himself.

he was pulled out of his thoughts when a couple of the lights turned off and the director was making the call for a break. when he looked back down to where you were stood beside him you were already gone. he needed to talk to you. it’s all that he could think about since the other day.

you had ran off to the dressing room to touch up your own makeup. well, really you just wanted any excuse to be on your own and away from heeseung of course. but as if you summoned him yourself, there he was walking through the door.

“oh, there you are,” he said, his eyes lighting up when they came in contact with yours in the mirror. you didn’t say anything just finished applying some gloss to your lips. you quickly tried to make your way out of the room but he stood blocking the door.

“can we talk, please?” he asked. you took a step back when you looked up and his eyes were doing all the begging for him. then took another step back when he moved closer, eyes still not breaking away from yours.

“there’s nothing to talk about, heeseung,” you said, shaking your head and looking anywhere but his eyes. before you knew it he had walked you all the way back to the vanity. you let out a gasp as the makeup shook from how abruptly you hit the table.

“then why are you avoiding me?” he said, head leaned down to try and look you in the eyes. as if the answers he searched for would be found in them.

“i’m not! and we were great on the show like always so there’s no problem,” you replied, wanting nothing more than to be out of this room.

“i’m not stupid and you know that’s not what i meant,” he said, speaking quieter the closer he got to you. your bodies weren’t touching but the proximity still made you feel like you couldn’t breathe. “just tell me what i did wrong.”

“you didn’t do anything wrong! and there’s no more discussion! so let’s just go back out there and do exactly what we were doing before,“ you replied, finally gaining some confidence and looking up to meet his gaze. “everything is for the audience, for the show anyway.”

he looked you in your eyes, so intensely you wanted so badly to break the eye contact but you couldn’t let yourself back down now. the corner of his lip lifted so slightly you almost missed it and he looked down to see your hand gripping the edge of the table.

“everything just for the show,” he said, but you couldn’t tell if he was asking. he leaned just a bit closer as he placed his hands behind yours on the table, your noses practically touching now.

it took everything in you to not let your chest rise and fall so obviously hard and for you not to close the gap despite the tension that you knew he could feel too. why was he doing this? you couldn’t let him win. something switched in your mind now because all you wanted was for him to feel what you felt.

“just like you said,” you replied, placing a hand on his chest to hold him in place. you raised your head and your lips were so close it felt like they were magnets attracted to each other. but you didn’t move any closer, all you did was stare up into his eyes. you shifted your eyes down from his eyes to his lips once… twice… then you felt it.

you could feel his heart beating hard and fast in his chest, and that’s all you needed. all you wanted to know before you pushed him away. he let out a breath that he didn’t know he’d been holding in, as he took a step back of his own.

“our break is over soon. why don’t we save some of the theatrics for the cameras,” you said, as you walked away knowing you successfully gave him a taste of his own medicine. he wasn’t the only that could make someone fall for him.

[ahmafmohesn]

**A Daily Struggle**

In the heart of a war-torn region, a Palestinian family of seven faced an unrelenting struggle for survival. Having fled their home in the north due to the ongoing conflict, they relocated to the south in search of safety, only to find their new life fraught with its own set of challenges.

Every day, their existence revolved around one pressing issue: the escalating cost of basic necessities. To put food on the table, the family needed between $80 and $90 daily. The price of chicken, once an affordable staple, had skyrocketed to $10 per kilogram. For a family of seven, even one chicken was barely sufficient to meet their protein needs. Vegetables, essential for maintaining health, were no better. A kilogram of tomatoes cost over $15, a staggering amount in such dire circumstances.

The burden didn’t end with food. The cost of housing was another crushing challenge. Renting a small apartment or even a single room could easily surpass $2,000 a month. Even securing a piece of land for a tent was prohibitively expensive. With remittance fees reaching up to 25% and job opportunities scarce, financial relief was out of reach.

The young man of the family found his daily budget constrained to just $25, struggling to cover the most basic necessities. Each day felt longer and more grueling as the air grew increasingly polluted and the weight of the conflict seemed unbearable. With the war dragging on for over 11 months, the family had lost everything they once had, clinging to their resilience as their sole remaining asset.

In this relentless struggle for survival, their only hope was to seek help for purchasing essential food and cleaning supplies. Each day was a testament to their endurance, as they continued to face the harsh reality of their circumstances with unwavering patience

@timetravellingkitty @deathlonging @briarhips @dirhwangdaseul @mahoushojoe

. @feluka @fiqrr @irhabiya @commissions4aid-international @wellwaterhysteria

@rhubarbspring @schoolhater @pcktknife @transmutationisms @sawasawako

@mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others @jezior0 @7bitter @tortiefrancis

@toiletpotato @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @tododeku-or-bust

@softwaring @malcriada @three-croissants @palestine @palms-upturned @bhgfood @igothurtdoingsafetydance @oversensitivebi @idgaf-to-you @ohverthinker @pigeonobsession @pglang @apessimisticperson @qbanalras @bcofit @owengrose @byzantiumhollow @90ndyliars @uqvisddj092hfko @ifyouknowmenoyoudontbitch @unthreadable @hgk477 @ankle-beez @tfaoptimusstan @bfkaji @ihaveathingforwomen @askkakuro @palestine @gadistudung @ihaveathingforwomen @777greywolf @bvnnyb3ast @tttttan-drawing @vfxl @weaverworks

[gldrushsblog]

SUGAR AND SIN | JK

🧁✧ ˚. TITLE: Sugar and Sin.

🧁✧ ˚. PAIRING: Mafia boss! Jungkook x female oc

🧁✧ ˚. BLURB: Aurora’s bakery is running smoothly, but her secrets? Not so much.

🧁✧ ˚. GENRE: Mafia au, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, slow burn, dark romance, crime/thriller

🧁✧ ˚. WARNINGS: This chapter contains mentions of past violence and struggle with mental health.

🧁✧ ˚. TAGS: ocs struggle continues, day in ocs life kind of chapter, also ocs parents make an appearance

🧁✧ ˚. TAG LIST: @scuzmunkie

🧁✧ ˚. A/N: just talked with my friends and life is so good!!

CHAPTER 5: AURORA

The scent of freshly baked bread filled the air, warm and comforting, as the brunette pulled the last loaf from the oven. The sun had started to peek over the horizon, casting a soft glow through the windows of the bakery, more than sign enough that Sunrise sweets had started its opening hours.

Normally, the early morning routine would be enough to soothe Aurora's nerves, but today, even the the rich and robust aroma filling the air wasn't enough to still the oh so exhausting conflict of thoughts in her head. Wiping her hands on her pink apron that read - Feeling downie? Eat a brownie - she looked over at lia, her back turned to her, displaying her blond hair that met with silver near the ends tucked in a bun as she arranged pastries in the display case.

Lia had been her rock, her best friend and the person who let her use a shoulder to lean on after a rough day or a night soaked in alcohol since they were both were six and awkward, and from that day they had found it embarrassingly hard to let go of each other's company. Lia following her to this city and supporting a hand around in the bakery while she also engaged in modeling gigs to chase her dream of being one was proof enough.

It was ridiculous to the brunette how she hadn't become one already with her charming face all across the big hoardings and displays.

"You done with the bread?" She asked, not turning to her yet.

"Uh- yeah.. yeah. I'm done. I'm done with the almond croissants, too. Mrs. Lee will be in any minute, and you know how she gets if they're not ready," Aurora replied, the chuckle leaving her mouth sounding forced rather than something that came easy to her, making the blonde head turn to face her.

There was that anxiety and worry in her eyes that ticked Aurora. She had been giving her that look a lot lately even after Aurora's countless attempts at brushing it off ever since the night lia dropped by for dinner- the night before the hellish one.

It made her feel guilty. There used to be no secrets between them, but then again, she'd rather have that than drag her to this mess.

"Rory, Mrs Lee is gone on a vacation." Lia said carefully and calmly. A flush of embarrassment crept up on the brunettes cheeks at that. "Oh.." Her mouth parted before she covered it up with another chuckle. "Must have slipped out of my stupid head." She said, her fist hitting her head in a dramatic mannerism, and oh, she could gag at that.

"Things are slipping out of your head a lot more than what I consider normal. Is everything really okay?" She asked for what seemed like the 80th time ever since that day. Did she suck so bad at acting?

"Nothing to worry about! Just the usual stuff, you know? Rent, bills, keeping this place running smoothly." she tried to sound nonchalant, pushing the nightmarish memories away.

Lia didn't look entirely convinced. Yet her response was a soft hum and not another inquiry of her well being.

She sighed internally at that but before she could turn back to her croissants, a soft and curious voice spoke again. "Speaking of bills, how much more till we save up enough to shut that slimy's bastard's mouth up?" She didn't miss how her tone turned irritated at last.

"You've already got so much on your plate. You don't need to worry about saving up above all that." She sighed. Well, modeling did took a sweet amount of money and Aurora was content in making a deal with the devil than be a speed breaker in her best friend's path to her dream.

Lia's expression softened, but the worry didn't leave her eyes. "I just don't want you to carry this burden alone, Aurora. Especially not when it's a impossibly big one."

"Oh, lia." She breathed, crossing the distance between them and taking her hand in hers to squeeze it in affirmation. "You know I appreciate your concern. I really do." A thought crossed her mind- I want to tell her everything. Everything about the reckless deal she had made with a man far more dangerous than Mr Choi.

Instead, she swallowed the truth, hoping that her reassurances would be enough. "I've been exploring some options," she said, choosing her words carefully. "We might not have to worry about that creep for much longer." I will just have to worry about a blood thirsty demon.

Lia looked at her with suprise flickering in her eyes. "Really? What kind of options?"

Before she could think of another cover-up, the bell above the door chimed. She thanked the gods above for the interruption before scurrying away to attend the person behind the counter.

୨୧

The sky had darkened to a deep indigo, and the city lights were illuminating the streets with a faint glow. After a long day of dealing with all kind of sugary goods and making sure lia wasn't wary of when she'd sometimes zone out, her eyes lingering a little too long at the spot she saw a man's brains spill out, Aurora was making her way to her apartment.

Even the familiarity of the space she lived in was replaced by a chilling unease since the most unexpected series of events played out in the places she seeked comfort in the most.

So she opted for the next best thing.

"Aurora!" A middle-aged woman with comforting features spoke with a voice as warm and cheerful as ever, her eyes lighting up when she saw the younger verison of her behind the screen. "There's my girl!"

"Hi, mumma!" She greeted as she held the phone up to her face while sitting on the couch while holding a cup of hot cocoa in another, the tension in her shoulders easing a bit.

Before the older woman could start to go on and on asking about her daughter's well-being, another familiar face appeared in the frame. "Rory-bug!" Her father's face practically invaded all of the space on the screen as he pushed in with a grin before squinting slightly as he leaned back.

She couldn't help but laugh at his struggle with technology. "Papa!"

"How's the most handsome man in the world doing?" He grinned again at that. Daniel Beckett was a reserved man with a tough front he had made up in all the years he had served in the police yet was the softest around his two most favorite girls.

"Not good since my rory bug is nine thousand, six hundred kilo meters away from me." He said with a frown, making the woman beside him and in front of him break into a laugh again. He was extra like that.

"Your old man can be dramatic.." Her mother side eyed her husband, who only kissed her head in response, and Aurora regained her faith in unconditional love. She always did when she saw her parents together. They were a crucial reason why she had grown to be a hopeless romantic.

"But he's right. We miss you a lot, baby. How's everything going at the bakery?" She tried not to tense up at the mention of her bakery and forced her smile to keep in place. "Yeah, everything's going well. It's been busy, but in a good way."

Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly, the way they always did when she sensed something was off but softened again. "Well, that's nice to hear that you've been busy, but just don't push yourself too hard, rory. You've always had a tendency to take on more than you can handle."

"Your mom's right," the man beside her chimed in, his voice full of fatherly concern. "If things get too much, you know you can always come home for a bit. Take a break." There did not go a conversation with her father where he didn't tried convincing her to come back home at least once.

"I know, Papa. But I've got it under control," she assured them, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. "That's my girl." Her father encouraged, making her feel lighter.

While her mother gave her a gentle smile, the kind that always made everything seem a little better. "We just worry about you, baby. It's not easy being so far away, not being able to help you when you need it."

"I know, Mom. I miss you both so much," she admitted, her voice almost giving away the vulnerable emotions that had been overwhelming her. But she knew better than that, one hint of her in distress, and they both would be having a crisis of their own.

"We miss you too, Aurora," Daniel said. "But we're proud of you, you know that? You're doing something amazing with that bakery." Her eyes crinkled up. "Thanks, Papa."

"How's lia doing, rory? How's it going with her modeling? Aunt Ruby always seems to worry about you both out there." She was grateful for the change of topic her mother brought.

"She's doing well, mumma. Modeling agencies are soon gonna be lining up at her feet, so tell Aunt Ruby there's nothing to worry about." No wonder, lia is always exploiting her blood pressure. "We're both big girls." She added with her chin slightly tipping up, earning a laugh from her parents.

From there, she steered the conversation towards more mundane topics- Papa's most recent attempt at tinkering with that old car of his that he has been calling classic for the last twenty years, Mumma's gardening, their family dog's Pluto's health- things that connected her to the life she had left behind. Things that made her feel distant from the chaos that had been her life for the past few days.

But she was once again pulled back from the comfort of it all. This time, it was from a ring on her door.

"There's someone on the door.." She trailed on, making a movement to stand up and go attend the person behind. "I will have to go now, but I will talk to you guys later. Love you, mumma. Love you, Papa." She ended, finally turning to them with a departuring smile that was met with a load of "I love yous" and flying kisses sent across her way before the call ended.

Setting down her phone, she neared the door, but before she could twist the knob open, a crisp white envelope fell from the sharp, slit like opening at the bottom.

A frown twisted on her features, and she bent down to pick up the envelope.

Carefully pulling away the seal, she pulled out a single piece of paper that was mostly blank if not for the small, bold text written across the middle that read.

"Expect me soon."

To be continued..

→ Previous chapter.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - I’m largely pleased with BL & pissed with Kpop

April 2023 Wk 3

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Step By Step (Thai Tues WeTV & Gaga) ep 1 of 10 (MDL says 12, but I think it’s just 10) - Abused intern trope is a go! I wasn’t sure I would like the lead, but he’s totally adorable. Although (I gotta say it) who tf eats a croissant with a knife & fork? Also.. the main couple has good chemistry! Hallyfuckingluya! In fact, the quality of the acting and sound etc is generally superior to a normal pulp. It’s good! This is a good show? How exciting! 

Our Skyy 2 (PondPhuwin) eps 1-2 - Honestly, I was nervous to watch this but I liked it a lot! Doomed soulmates + paranormal time travel to fix the past. I’m happy for the outfits and the dancing (if not the singing). It’s not a bad premise and it’s nice to see GMMTV lean into its high production values for a change. I could’ve watched this as an actually full length BL. Gotta say, Puhwin’s English is so good and v west coast USA accent (international school kiddo got skillz). Meanwhile, loved seeing MarcPuwin again. My Gear & Your Gown disappointing us wasn't their fault. *Hilarious that Marc is side couple in 3 BLs airing simultaneously, that’s a record! (Waves at Marc X1.) I’ll be rating each of these installments separately, as I did the first time around. This one gets an 8/10 from me.

Bed Friend (Sat YT, GaGa & iQIYI uncut) ep 10fin - A very Check Out the series ending. Disastrous sun glasses. King being shy was adorable. Nevertheless I do think the final 2 eps felt a little tagged on and superfluous excess. Ultimately? This just wasn’t as good as the first 5 episodes set us up to hope for. Series review below.  

Pastsenger (Thai Weds Gaga) ep 7 of 12 eps - Cute confession and boyfriends phase. The bit with brothers’ boyfriends serving each other food was kinda charming. Could do without blushing maiden trope. But hey ho. (Waves at Marc X2.) 

A Boss and a Babe (Fri YouTube) ep 8 of 12 - Cute phi/nong convo and teasing, but this is largely boring. I do like that the conflict is all about business loyalty, cubical friendships, and coworker gossip. This is as it should be in an office romance. But I wish the characters were consistent.  

Tin Tam Jai (Tues Gaga & iQIYI) ep 9 of 12 - The boyfriends phase. I just know with this show that the moment it ends I’m going to entirely forget about it. It’s boring.  

Chains of Heart (Sat iQIYI) ep 10fin - What a waste. Seriously don’t bother. It seems to end unhappily, but maybe not, but also who tf cares? 3/10 Series review below, for my sins. (Waves at Marc X3.) 

Future (Thai Sun YouTube & Gaga) ep 5fin - It was Songkran so no new ep until tomorrow. May your New Year be blessed. 

The Promise (Thai Weds YT & WeTV) ep 7 of 10 - the put YT on a week delay off WeTV, so I will watch it next week. I have WeTV but I prefer YT. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Unintentional Love Story (Korea Thurs iQIYI) 9-10 fin - Awe a crying kiss. My fav! This one was fine. Not a v good kiss but KBL has to bow to form on occasion. The sides didn’t get much of a resolution. (Although we know why.) It was a solid ending. Series review below. 

Our Dining Table AKA Bokura no Shokutaku (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 3 of 10 - this ep was a little slow for me, oh I know, that’s what this show is doing, but yeah. Still it’s soft and sweet and wonderful. Why are you not watching it? Go. Now. 

The Eighth Sense (Korea Weds Viki) eps 7-8 of 10 - Honestly? I checked out a bit this installment. Possibly because JaeWon checked out as well. I mean, I understand what the narrative is doing, portraying JW coping (badly) with loss and the complex knot of guilt, love, fear, lust, and shame. But I don’t really feel drawn into a romance when the main characters are separated for most of an hour. I do like JiHyun’s personality shift and aggressive stance on renewing the relationship. That’s fun to watch. And I do love his besties. Of course ep 8 ends with major heartbreak and pain. I expected nothing less from this show. Gotta admit I’m a little mad tho, I wanted it to EXCEED my expectations. 

My Story (Pinoy Sat YouTube) ep 2 of 10 - I don’t like one of the couples (not side dishes, this is a 50/50 split) but I weirdly like Sky’s new arc, even if he’s with someone new. 

Naked Dinner AKA Zenra Meshi (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 2 of 12 - it’s just so odd. I can’t believe THIS is the JBl we get 12 eps of. This one?  Japan, must you? (How many times a year do I type that phrase?)

Finished this Week

Unintentional Love Story - A boy who just lost his job due to faked corruption charges accidentally discovers his ex-boss’s favorite artist, now a recluse. His ex-manager offers him his job back if he can convince the artist to rejoin society. Instead, they fall in love. Gongchan (maknae of B1A4) carried this show (which I don’t expect from the idol element). He was luminous with extraordinarily expressive eyes. That said, he had weak chemistry with his co-lead. But everything else was quietly queerly KBL pristine and beautifully executed, even the conflict. I’m not sure on rewatchability for me, and it didn’t whip me into a verbal frenzy the way some KBLs do but it’s still getting a solid 9/10 

Bed Friend - Office frienamies transition a flaming hot one night stand into a f-buddy relationship, that is essentially built on a puppy/cat dynamic (and kinks into it at one point). Our puppy is loyal, smitten, and protective with endlessly worshipful eyes, while our cat is snarky, prickly, and deeply damaged (ALL THE TRIGGERS). NetJames give lovely high-heat with excellent chemistry and tuned-in performances of surprising depth, unfortunately the story ultimately failed them. Had the show had the strength of its convictions and kept to a tighter, darker, harsher 8 eps it would have been the first high heat to earn 10/10 from me, but once they fussed with it, it dropped to a solid 8/10. Could have been great but they overworked it. Still if high heat is your thing, this one will not let you down. Full review here.

Chains of Heart - This was a terrible show, unbelievably confusing, badly subbed, with characters behaving illogically, nonsensically, and heartlessly. What’s worse? The leads had fantastic chemsitry, were willing to do high heat (and do it well) and were pretty! So they squandered a decent cast and some actual production money on a shoddy scrip and terrible directing - what a waste. Seriously, don’t bother. It maybe ends unhappily, maybe not, but you should neither care nor bother to find out. 3/10 

It’s Airing But ...

Love Syndrome (Thai Sat WeTV) stopped at ep 2 of 12 - I’m just not into any aspect of it (except Lee Long Shi and I can watch him in Tin Tem Jai) - saving to binge if the end is solid.

Venus in the Sky (Sat YouTube) pilot/tester?) 0 of 10 - not entirely sure what’s up with this one distribution-wise, but the pilot was classic university-set pulp. I hope it happens because the leads are cute with good chemsitry and I thought it was fun. However, this pilot holds together as its own little short too.

Make a Wish (Thai Weds ?) stars Fluke Natouch (OhmFluke UWMA etc...) & Judo (The Miracle Of Teddy Bear) in a medical-fantasy. About a doctor who sees ghosts and a deity who resides in a Bodhi tree that earns merits whenever he fulfills a wish, based on a y-novel by Sammon (Manner of Death, Triage). Same as above.

Stormy Honeymoon (Vietnam) - 3rd in this series and the ULTIMATE in domesticity. New side couple is cute too. But I’m kinda over the leads at this point. (see comments)

In Case You Missed It

BL Express has a post on upcoming GL. I don’t track this, but they do. 

I decided to hold off and binge Cafe in Love and Destiny Seeker. So I’ll be watching and reporting back after I’ve collected all the eps. I realized that I miss binging BL. That said I have been siting on To Sir, With Love forever. Not sure why I am so reluctant to dive into that one. 

[ Not into Kpop? Skip to “next week.”] 

Peak Time pretty much ended exactly as expected, which was also exactly how it started. Our BL boy Karem got booted for the grave sin of being a, ya know, 2nd gen idol dude bro. But it was the superior survival show. BLK made me cry, so did MASC for that matter. We have discussed this before, I am a sap. I look forward to seeing where Vanner go next. 

Boy’s Planet was ultimately disappointing. I watched some predictions about who Mnet actually wanted to win, and they were mostly correct. With the delightful upset of China scooping the #1 spot. (Delightful bc I am a chaos money who lives for politics fucking with soft power and watching China give the jaundice eye to S Korea for half a decade bc they Hallyued their way into winning the culture war using Kpop, and NOW China is doing what we all knew they would which is... infiltrate. Ultimately? Boy’s Planet was nothing more than an exercise in manipulative editing, they just accidentally manipulated the global vote into Zhang Hao winning. Not to slag off that baby boy’s serious cuteness - I genuinely thought he was great, actually. Frankly, I emerged cackling and mostly just v. disappointed in Pentagon fans. I think they deserve to lose their group for how little they supported Hui. Let’s be truthful? They are likely losing their group or Hui wouldn’t have been on the damn show in the first place. (Cube seems highly disinterested and their 7 year contracts are uppity up.) This is neither the first nor the most extreme version of me being disappointed by Kpop fans. There’s a reason I don’t participate in that fandom. 

In more relevant news to THIS fandom, JiWoong made it into ZB1, which means we will NOT see him or the Kissable Lips pair back on our screens anytime soon (if ever). 

RIP the pretty.... 

Whatever, it is still the golden age of Korean BL. Our Dating Sim happened. We will all be fine. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Happy Merry Ending starts Weds April 26 on Gaga (with ep 2 the next day) 8 eps total. It looks cute: opposites attract, musicians, giving me Wish You vibes. It’s from the Our Dating Sim’s Kidari Studio. Adapted from the manhwa of the same title (해피메리엔딩) by dorae (도래). Stars Lee Dong Won (main rapper of KNK - yes that’s Semantic Error’s Park Seo Ham’s group) opposite actor Byun Sung Tae. Also stars Kim Kyu Jong (of SS501) and actor Shin Myung Sung (The Heavenly Idol).

The Eighth Sense ends, thank fuck. I don’t think I could take much more of the tension with that one. 

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED)

This week’s fashion hall of shame:

those glasses, both useless and ugly 

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Leaning into their brand. 

Leaning outside of it but looking sexy AF. Thank you GMMTV! 

What do I always say? I love it when a drama reviews itself. 

All Our Skyy 2: Never Let Me Go (PondPhuwin) 

(last week)

Current Kpop earworm? Winner’s Remember. I got nothing to say about it except it’s great and everyone always seems to forget about Winner but they just keep singing, and that’s kinda the sentiment of this song.

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: The conventional approach

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps)    

When the Galactic Federation first encountered the mechanical species known as the Gord, the meeting did not go as well as they had wanted.

In true mechanical fashion the Gord lacked the understanding of emotions and many organic customs. Negotiating with them was about as productive as trying to get a toaster to roast a croissant.

Nothing the lead negotiators tried seemed to get through to the Gord until they decided to take a gamble and bring in a new negotiator from one of the most recent species to join the federation. They claimed to have dealt with similar situations on their own homeworld and argued that they would be able to make the Gord understand emotions.

Their name was Marcel Tomkins, and they were human. --------------------------

*Door opens in background*

Tomkins: Greetings ambassador.

TC-734: Acknowledgement unnecessary.

Tomkins: I only wished to begin our talks on friendly terms.

TC-734: Emotional responses are not necessary for negotiations.

TC-734: Gord do no need have such functions.

Tomkins: On that I must say you are in error.

TC-734: Explain.

Tomkins: Friendly emotions equal desirable outcomes of functions.

TC-734:  By your logic you claim that emotions translate to programming functions?

Tomkins: Just as unfriendly emotions equal failure for processes.

TC-734: We find your logic conflicting as emotions are a unique to biologicals.

TC-734: How can you claim that they are equal to programming?

Tomkins: Biology is just a different of programming.

Tomkins: We carry out functions on a daily basis and either reach desirable outcomes or failures in our processes, forcing us to either alter our programming to complete the task or seek additional resources.

TC-734: If you are programmed for a task then what purpose does it serve to alter your programming?

TC-734: Unless you admit that your programming, or emotions, are flawed.

Tomkins: Being capable to adapt to different circumstances is a most effective way to keep a program running, is it not?

TC-734: *pauses*

TC-734: We must conclude that it would be effective.

Tomkins: I can give you an example.

Tomkins: Right now you are in negotiations with the Galactic Federation, but they are going nowhere.

Tomkins: That is because we are speaking two different programming languages that are not compatible.

TC-734: So-

Tomkins: Unless one of us adapts to the other and a pathway can be established.

TC-734: And that is what you are doing?

Tomkins: Correct.

Tomkins: I have adapted to your programming so a dialogue can be established.

TC-734: And what do you expect of us as a result?

Tomkins: That you upgrade your programming to better understand ours as well.

TC-734: You wish us to experience emotions?

Tomkins: *Hands ambassador a data pad*

Tomkins: Inside here is a catalogue of the various emotional and behavioral psychologies.

Tomkins: For now all I ask is that you study these and consider altering your programming so we may have further successful processes.

TC-734: *Silence*

Tomkins: In this exchange your benefit to loss ratio is greatly stacked in your favor, as what harm could come from knowledge?

Tomkins: You may even find methods to further exploit negotiations to end in your favor even further.

TC-734: You willingly admit that this knowledge could be make us superior to you in our talks?

TC-734: Your logic is not reasonable.

Tomkins: Only if I do not further update my own programming to counter your own.

TC-734: Logic now understandable.

TC-734: We shall take this data for further investigation; then we shall return.

Tomkins: A most logical outcome to our discussions.

Tomkins: Until we meet again.

[spiralinghours]

“On Display”

Fandom: Saw franchise

Characters/Pairing: Detective Mark Hoffman x Special Agent Peter Strahm

Rating: 18+ (R)

Tags/Warnings: Feeding kink/fat fetishism/belly kink, mild pet play (use of animal name calling… pig play maybe?), dominant Strahm and submissive Hoffman dynamic

Summary: Hoffman’s weight is a little more obvious and Strahm gets excited seeing public reactions. Strahm also invites Hoffman over for a little more pet treatment.

Author’s Notes: The 4th follow up or installment after “Filth”… Dunno if I’ll do more in this specific series, though I do like the idea of of more domestic pet Mark, so we’ll see. As usual, hope y’all like.

Thoughts of the conflicting, heated interaction in his office had lingered like a sheer reverie or a fuzzy nightcap in Mark’s constant thoughts. It made sense the way it would go on to subconsciously affect his nighttime after hours binges—seeking comfort in the richness of food, but also reaching a gratification in the lustful act of devouring everything he could, feeling himself stretch, wanting Strahm to see the results of his secret, shameful activities. Mark wouldn’t so readily attribute his behavior to just Strahm, but there was no denying he was the catalyst.

Hoffman wasn’t the only one weak over this newfound, fucked up rapport. Strahm did his best to be subtle when he picked up on certain things, but his tense and stern demeanor often lead to snapped pens and pink crescents from the way he clenched his fingernails into his own clammy palm.

It was different things throughout the day that had Peter acting uncoordinated and unwise—squeezing his thighs together so tightly that his sharp knees clanked. Hoffman would be sat in a chair and reach forward for something, displaying both how his—ugh, Peter hated how he’d started using the word—tits shelved over his wide belly, and also just how much of a struggle bending down or reaching forward was becoming. Not to the extent that it was impossible, but definitely in a burdensome way that emphasized every curve, every way in which his gut bowed out.

Peter was squirming.

Mark had also taken to hefting the curve of his gut and undoing the lowest button on his shirt when he didn’t think anyone was looking, anytime he sat down. From there, he would go about his desk work, unconsciously scritching the sides of his belly, cold stare never leaving whatever paperwork was in front of him.

There were other things starting to happen: seemingly innocuous, joking interactions from Fisk or Perez or other higher up’s on the case. (But hardly ever fledgling officers, who feared looking at Hoffman wrong lest they get their heads bitten off… Still, it was evident that behind his back they wanted to snicker.)

Fisk had taken to using cheeky, bearish terms with Hoffman, and saying things like “How’s the bulk going?” or “Getting ready for winter hibernation?” The comments were usually lost on Mark, who was typically focused on whatever inner thoughts were struggling to form, unless they were punctuated with a little poke or soft punch to the belly. All those little touches would merit were dismissive grunts and not much else.

Perez, alternatively, had a more subtle, gentle approach in how her interactions shifted. It was as if she had taken an interest in making sure Mark was taken care of—babied even.

“I didn’t know if you had time for breakfast so I picked up an extra egg and cheese croissant,” she would offer. Some days it would end up being two breakfast sandwiches or pastries, which she claimed was an accidental duplicate, or something she changed her mind about.

Sometimes a plate of cookies, folded neatly into foil wrappings, would be left on Hoffman’s desk, or in front of his office if the door was locked. Lindsey would chalk that up to “Well, since you liked them the last time you tried them…”

Strahm didn’t often outright say anything about the treats, but when Mark caught his glare one day, plate of brownies this time under his inspection, “Perez’s a stress baker,” was all Peter could explain. There was a bitter, curt taunt to his words.

But it was an acknowledgment. Mark hardly took in the connotations of everyone else’s behavior towards him. He only cared what Peter saw and thought.

Overall, Mark’s gut went from making the occasional peek to full on protruding past his suit jacket, leading the way wherever he walked with a slight bounce. Which on that note, his already signature stiff waddle had become… more pronounced.

When it came to his shirts, there were no creases, no wrinkles to suggest any give (save for the few that tugged around his heavy chest)—there was only noticeable tension from the ever-rounding figure that Peter couldn’t ignore. He couldn’t even pretend he was zoning out or staring just past Hoffman. It was too much. He had to say something.

On the afternoon Strahm decided to take action, he cornered Hoffman into a supply closet in a dead hallway. The chemical scent within was so overbearing, adding to Mark’s confusion at being blindsided into the crammed space.

“Are you getting fat on purpose to get a reaction outta me? Are you acting out for attention like some kinda brat? Or are you just that much of a dumb, hungry pigfuck that you can’t tell your suits are getting too small?” Peter rammed Mark against the wall, nearly bouncing his head off the dusty surface. He caged one arm over Mark’s shoulder, while snaking the other one roughly to his side, grabbing a hearty palmful of chub.

An instant, shamed arousal coursed up Mark’s back, tickling up the back of his neck, to the base of his skull. “You been looking?” He finally answered, breathily.

“You want me to look?” Peter roughly grabbed Mark by the cheeks, squeezing hard in one calloused hand, forcing him to make eye contact. “Other people are looking too, you mutt. They know.” He craned his face closer in on Mark’s, nostrils flared, exhales harsh. “You like being an attention slut? huh?”

“I love it,” Mark let himself chuckle in that low, syrupy way—a mess of electric nerves and wanton craving. He splayed a hand over Peter’s grasp on his stomach, pressing into the dense cushioning.

“Don’t say what you don’t mean, Detective.” Peter pulled away, jerking his hand out callously from Hoffman’s touch, as if it insulted him. He took a moment to straighten himself out, fixing his tie and collar. “You sound pathetic. Like you wanna be fondled and coddled like a pet. If that’s what you want—what you really want—come by tonight. I’ll text you my address.”

Mark wasn’t one to say much unless he had some barbed retort to spit out—something very tough guy and witty. The moment would have called for it, but he was at a loss. There was something giddy building in him, something blinding at the prospect of whatever Peter had in mind to… do to him? Other than a casual fucking or getting sucked off, he couldn’t imagine what else there was. But Strahm’s words trickled down languidly in his mind, clawing away, implying something more.

The man was a freak, after all.

For once, despite Strahm walking away again as if nothing happened, there was a later promised.

As twisted and poisonous as the whole runaround was, Mark had to smile to himself.

——

A lot of small details wandered into Hoffman’s mind as he waited, foot tapping, at the retro-patterned wrought iron door to Strahm’s townhome. Many menial things that wouldn’t matter in the next little while: Did his home smell more chemically-clean, or more like spices and seasonings from multiple home-cooked meals? Would it be bare and minimalist, or would Strahm have photos of friends and family tacked up? Did he have anyone outside of Lindsey, for that matter?

Breaking Mark’s stream of consciousness, the interior door gusted inwards, revealing Peter looking past an old iron curl. “Come in,” he stated neutrally.

Mark proceeded as the outer iron door was opened for him, slightly disappointed to take in a mostly minimalist view. The space looked very put-together at least.

“I dunno if you—”

“You like pasta, right?” Peter interrupted, wasting no time on whatever mindless chitchat Mark had to fakely offer.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Perfect. It’s not fancy but you’ll like it.”

Mark followed Peter deeper into the house like a dog, descending into the den that connected to a meager kitchen.

Peter nodded towards the sectional in the den. “I’ll bring you your food in a sec. Try to get comfortable.”

Hoffman had barely shucked off his suit jacket, overcoat, and holster before Peter had sauntered in with a stacked plate of Fettuccine Alfredo in one hand, and a wine glass clasped to a bottle of Lambrusco in the other. Moving past his guest and setting onto the couch as if Mark wasn’t even there, Peter set everything down on the coffee table just to pour himself a glass.

“I bet you’re hungry, huh?” Peter purred, eyes fixed on his wine glass. “When are you not, I guess.” He took a sip and snapped his fingers. “Down on your knees, in between my legs.”

Normally Mark would have thrown around a lackluster “Fuck you” at such a command—a bizarre one at that. But in this case, he sank down, crawling over to fill the space between Peter’s thighs.

“Good dog,” Peter scoffed. He reached for the plate and loaded the fork with a ridiculously heaping amount of fettuccine. “Open your mouth,” he instructed.

Mark did so, already having an inkling where this would go, brain shifting into a strangely calm autopilot. As he eagerly let Strahm push the food so deep past his lips—lapping messily at the sauce trickling down his chin—he felt the reward of a soothing hand rubbing the chubby underside of his chin.

“You’re so well-behaved tonight,” Peter cooed. “Such a good boy.”

Mark only responded with a quiet nod and an expectant, open mouth (tongue hanging out mindlessly).

“More already? Such an appetite. You gonna eat it all?”

Mark nodded obediently, blue irises gleaming up meekly.

“You promise? Even if you say you’re too full?”

He nodded again.

Strahm proceeded to shovel more careless forkfuls past Hoffman’s slick lips and salivating tongue… So repetitiously, in the midst of silently flipping through the cable stations and sipping at his wine, that it was as if Mark was just another inanimate fixture in the room.

Before too long, the sound of a stifled groan followed by a muffled rumble in Mark’s stomach indicated that he had hit a wall. Another fork serving was on its way to his mouth when he shook his head. “That’s enough,” he grumbled.

“Hmm, interesting, because I remember just a few minutes ago you said you’d finish. In fact, you’re almost done with this. You have dessert too, you know.” Strahm’s voice was so cruelly soft yet detached. It wasn’t new, but he was so hard to read.

Mark submitted to the ease and unusual security of waiving control. He settled back into his rigid kneeling position, arms folded behind his back, chin tilted up, mouth open, like a pup waiting for a treat.

The song and dance continued: Peter feeding him the pasta (which, as it turned out, was a serving for four as opposed to one like Mark assumed), and then after, a full pint of fudge ice cream.

By the end of dinner—what Peter deemed the end, ensuring Mark finished everything he instructed him to—Mark was panting stupidly, still kneeling as he was told, but clearly in need of relief.

“I’m so full, please, can I, like, lay down or something? Jesus…”

Peter didn’t speak, just let his heavy-browed gaze momentarily rake up and down Hoffman’s begging form. He took in the way Mark’s sides were starting to curve out along with the rest of his gut, putting such a strain on the every button. Again, Peter moved without indicating his intentions, scrambling around with unexpected red, silken throw pillows of various sizes and layering them strategically in a spot on the couch.

“Next time you’ll have your own little bed,” he explained, “but tonight you can be on the couch. Now, lay down.”

Mark was trying to take in the implication of having to be on something other than the couch, but he was too dazed. That was a later concern. He settled down on the cushy pile and rolled to his side, belly plopping out far in front of him (causing him to wince and whine). Peter had returned to his original seat, reaching his hand over to unfasten Hoffman’s belt, then the button and zipper on his struggling pants. From there he scratched lightly up and down, trailing his fingers across Mark’s gut.

“I’m gonna keep you so well-fed,” he murmured with that familiar sweet viciousness. “You won’t be able to hide what a pig you are. My pet to fatten up, for everyone to see.”

“You’re twisted,” Mark replied, low and hushed, but no intention of arguing.

“Maybe. But you came here. And you keep letting me do this.”

Mark couldn’t disagree.

[bluemidnightmelody]

lover/fighter - my favorite moments

[Little snippets from my Finnick/OC longfic that are stuck in my head]

From Chapter 47 - Awakening

Johanna, who has now been caught up by her pursuer on the other side of the buffet table, grabs a croissant from one of the baskets and shoves it into Rhea's mouth to get her off her back, as she is currently clinging to her. "It really was exciting, so exciting in fact that Rhea had a complete blackout," she announces with amusement and then grabs a croissant herself when Rhea lets go of her.

"Stop laughing and tell me what actually happened," says Rhea after she has swallowed the first bite.

Meanwhile, Finnick notices the wet lump of cloth on the floor that Rhea has dropped while chasing after Johanna. Now he also realizes what that strange smell is that he has just noticed on Johanna. "Were you drunk in the pool? Have you lost your minds?" he asks, now slightly irritated. He's not really angry, but a deep-seated concern rises in him along with memories of Rhea's first unfortunate encounter with deep water that send a shiver down his spine.

"I was drunk next to the pool, or so I think. Only my blouse was in the pool, however it ended up in there," Rhea replies calmly. Even if she can't remember the night, she remembers what happened the evening before and realizes in retrospect how absolutely unnecessary their conflict was. The situation was unfortunate, and her emotional involvement obviously makes her vulnerable, causing her to sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture. But basically, the very last thing she wants to do is argue with Finnick, and that's true even now, because she can tell he's tired and upset.

"Yeah, I guess that was me when I tried to give you back your clothes," Johanna comments with an amused grin.

Many emotions flash across Finnick's face in the blink of an eye. "What?" he replies, puzzled and obviously unsure of how to interpret this.

"Unexpected, but I support it," says Cashmere with a grin.

And only then does it click for Rhea. "Wait, stop, it's not what you think," she says vehemently, without knowing exactly who she is addressing. She hadn't even come up with this idea, but now that she thinks about it, she and Johanna must really make a very suspicious picture, especially considering the surrounding circumstances.

Johanna grins at her and asks mockingly, "And how would you know that?"

"Well, I...," Rhea begins resolutely but realizes that she can't offer any justification. Her face heats up, causing the pounding in her head to increase again. "I would just know if something like that happened, wouldn't I?" And she really is absolutely sure about this one thing, even if she can't remember what happened last night. Even if she had completely lost control of herself, this one thing would not pass her by without leaving any traces, she just knows it.

"Calm down. We had a lot of fun, but not that much fun," Johanna then explains reassuringly, not just for Rhea's sake, because she's not the one who seems most upset about it. Funnily enough.

Rhea lets her head fall back and sighs. "You really are a bad influence, you know that?" she replies.

"Well, everyone has their own talents. We should do it again sometime," Johanna laughs back.

"Probably better not," comes Finnick's immediate objection. He realizes too late that he has accidentally spoken a thought out loud, but he can't help it. It's all a bit too much for him at the moment. He wanted to get a good night's sleep and then talk to Rhea in a civilized manner to ease the tension from the previous evening. He would never have expected Johanna to make her stay the night with her. But that's how it is now, which is why he's exhausted and tired and faced with such an unexpected situation again.

It's all stressing him out right now, but he doesn't want it to end the same way as the night before. Hoping that Rhea might not have heard his comment, he says, "Come on, I'll take you home."

Rhea has heard it, of course, and since Finnick has been hoarding the bad luck, this hits a sore spot. "Wait a minute," Rhea announces firmly. "Regardless of whether it's a bad idea or not, I can do as many stupid things as I like." Her tone is not directly angry, but after just getting over this issue with Oliver, she can't help but make it clear. She doesn't have the patience to go through the same thing again with Finnick at the moment.

Finnick rubs his face. He's just tired and he realizes that he's not in the right state of mind to make smart decisions with his answers in a conversation like this. "Yes, I know, and I didn't mean it like that. But I'm tired, so can you please let me drive you home and we can sort this out another time?"

It's a mixture of easily wounded pride and genuine concern for him, as he actually looks much more worn out than she does, that drives her to reply, "I'm perfectly capable of getting myself home." On the one hand, she's just so tired of everyone seemingly viewing her as so weak that they don't even trust her to find her own way home. On the other hand, her subconscious has been whispering the darkest things to her the whole time, about where Finnick is coming from at this hour, about the fact that he apparently slept even less than she did, about what he did instead and with whom.

Against this background, the question arises as to which one of them would actually be more uncomfortable sitting in the car together. He must feel terrible, he wouldn't want to go anywhere except for a shower and to bed, and Rhea doesn't want to be the reason he's denied that any longer.

Finnick, on the other hand, knows full well that he won't sleep a wink until she's finally out of this cursed building. It almost seems as if nothing good could ever happen here and he honestly wishes he had never brought her here in the first place. If only she could just give in for once. "With this outfit on the bus or on the street? Surely any cab driver would be delighted too?" he argues, with a scrutinizing glance at the remainder of her attire.

Compared to many other things you get to see in the Capitol, she is actually still relatively modestly dressed. However, the knowledge that she's barely wearing anything under her perfectly tailored blazer is almost enough to make him nervous in a way that's completely new to him. It's ridiculous, considering he's seen her much more revealing on the beach in District 4, but still the embarrassment almost takes his breath away when his gaze lingers just a moment too long on the black collar above the top button where just the tiniest sliver of white lace peeks out from under the fabric of the jacket.

Rhea crosses her arms in front of her chest, unaware that she is making the problem much worse with this move. "I could walk home naked if I wanted to," she replies stubbornly, simply because she feels challenged. She doesn't know exactly what she wants to prove to him here, but once she's started, she can't give in.

Finnick laughs, if only to distract himself from the strange direction his thoughts are suddenly taking. "Don't make such claims if you're not prepared to go through with it," he counters, convinced that she would buckle and give up at this point.

Rhea bites her lower lip, looks at him for a moment and then down at herself. She ponders for a few seconds, lifts her eyes to search his, puts on the most unimpressed expression on her face and unbuttons the first button.

Finnick's breath is taken away for good. What the hell is happening here and who is this person in front of him? Surely not the same as the one who was already too uncomfortable to take off her dress in front of him, knowing that she was wearing swimwear underneath. She's not really going to take her clothes off in a room full of strangers, is she?

But then Rhea boldly reaches for the second button without looking away from his face for a second, which shows absolute bewilderment and a thousand other emotions.

"No, stop it," he croaks desperately as he suddenly regains his voice. The next moment he is standing in front of her, trying to grab her hands to stop her. Rhea tries to wriggle away, and a small scuffle ensues, but Finnick quickly gains the upper hand. "How can anyone be this stubborn?" he announces breathlessly as he holds Rhea's wrists securely between them but is careful not to grip them too tightly so as not to hurt her.

"That's rich, coming from you," she counters, looking up at him from below with a fiery gaze. Rhea is in a state of exhilaration that she has never experienced before. It can't be compared to being drunk, her thoughts are completely clear. But it's as if pure energy is flowing through her body, completely masking any thoughts of being in a room full of people. She's aware of it, but for some reason she doesn't even care. Half an hour ago this would have been absolutely unimaginable, and she can't begin to explain it, but it's downright electrifying.

Finnick is somehow caught up in the moment. The way she looks at him is doing something to him and he can feel an intense tension again, but it's fundamentally different from yesterday and he's not sure if he wants to escape it or embrace it. Suddenly he is more awake than ever before and he concludes that if there are suddenly no more boundaries for Rhea, why should he hold back and make things unnecessarily complicated.

He lets go of her wrists, but without giving her a chance to get away he bends down, picks her up and throws her effortlessly over his shoulder.

Finnick has already taken the first steps towards the elevator before Rhea realizes what is happening and starts to protest loudly. "Hey! Let me down this instant!" she complains energetically as she tries to straighten her upper body. Unfortunately, the only thing she can do in this position is helplessly berate the back of his head while he simply ignores her.

"I'm going to let you down into the car. Now stop squirming," is all he says, having to make an effort to remain serious as a grin creeps onto his face. Luckily, Rhea can't see it as she tries to get him to let her go by pounding on his back with her fists. It wouldn't do any good even if she didn't hold back so much that he feels almost nothing of it anyway. She's just not harsh enough to really assert herself when it comes to physical matters.

Links to all the chapters: lover/fighter - Chapter Index

fanfiction on ao3 and wattpad

[brittle-doughie]

Can I request Yandere Pink Choco cookie please? She deserves some love its one of my favorites cookies 💖 if you want of course

Thank you!

In a Heartbeat (Pink Choco Cookie)

Being a Valentine’s Day figure meant that all Pink Choco Cookie was about is the spread of love to all around! Ironically, despite that, she’s a pretty lonely cookie, wondering if she herself would find love one day like the cookies she helps does. It’s a pretty nice feeling to be in love and she wants to experience that..

That was..until she met you.

You were likely on the receiving end of her attempts to get you to experience this “Love Virus” many times.

It didn’t work, but you were more then happy to spend time with her! She wasn’t expecting your enthusiasm, so she’s flattered and red in the face.

Blushed like crazy when you held and hugged her. She doesn’t experience much physical affection, so you holding her like this brought a surge of warmth to her heart.

She HATED being alone now that she had you as a pal. If she had spare time, she would be spending it with you

As expected, this might cause some conflict with other cookies who wished to spend their time with you too. Pink Choco isn’t budging, she finally had someone she can stand by their side with and she sure isn’t going to pry off them easily.

She gets incredibly hostile when it’s persistent cookies or cookies that knew you on a higher level like Croissant or Pomegranate. Like actually pointing her Love Blaster around at cookies.

Now that she’s experienced love, regardless whether it be romantic or platonic, she’s gotten a craving for it. She’ll do anything to earn it from you!

They might say their love for you was strong, but Pink Choco’s love was stronger. Nobody loved you more then she did.

Now that she had you, she didn’t feel lonesome anymore and wouldn’t miss that feeling ever. She was all for having the full capacity of your love just for her and won’t take any cookie wanting a piece of your love lightly at all.

Always there for you, pushing away any cookies that try to do so. All you needed was her, a cookie to hold and a cookie to love..