#the alleged simmer

[itsimenergy]

sim style challenge, day 2 : dark academia

[bizzyb3e]

Spoiler free review, spoilers below cut

I just watched the School for Good and Evil movie and wow

Overall, I’m pretty disappointed. It was a fun watch, don’t get me wrong, it was fun picking out familiar characters and seeing them on screen, and the story is alright, but it just felt… lacking? Like most of the characters go unnamed, and it’s frustrating for people who have read the books and enjoy those side characters. The plot also felt very rushed. I watched it with my mom, who has never touched the books, and she said she felt like she was missing some context at certain parts, like some scenes and reasonings didn’t quite make sense yet.

And the CGI was pretty inconsistent? Like in some scenes it would be incredible and others it looked very… choppy? Idk, it felt like it was changing styles every two seconds.

However, I do think that despite the rough storyline (which is still alright) the actors did the best they could with what they were given. And the costumes were absolutely gorgeous.

There’s still a few nitpicky things but I don’t really feel like typing it all out cuz it’s late and I’m tired. ALTHOUGH I am going to rant about the characters and cut scenes from the book now, so spoilers below.

oh boy oh boy do I have complaints:

WHERE WAS THE WONDERFUL GORGEOUS AMAZING SCENE BETWEEN AGATHA AND DOVEY ABOUT AGATHA REALIZING SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL???? Reading that scene as a kid literally brought me to tears bc I was super self-conscious about myself, and it is my favorite scene in the entire series. AND ITS NOT THERE? 1568 wounded and 182 dead.

speaking of Agatha, while I love Sofia wylie, she was?? Too pretty?? like whenever the other characters would call her “witch” or “ugly” it just didn’t land bc she was literally gorgeous. And she blended in too well with the Evers, the whole point is she’s an outsider, she sticks out, but she fit right in. Wasnt goth enough :<

wth was the “blood magic” crap. Like huh

NO SWAN SYMBOLS ON UNIFORMS??? Like they even include the school insignia in the beginning, WHATS THE POINT IF THERES NO SWANS

while I can appreciate the chemistry that they gave tedros and agatha in the movie, I really wish that they had included more rivalry. Bc those two literally hated each other in the books.

Also Sophie talked about tedros being her “true love” for like two seconds and then it was pushed to the side. Like. He’s kinda the reason she goes full evil and all, but their relationship was just?? Nonexistent. Like she wears a few good outfits and suddenly their testing their love for each other in the trial by tale.

trial by tale was done DIRTY. Instead of being a massive school-wide competition between schools, they turned it into some flimsy tophie thing that literally only lasted like 10 minutes tops. That was such a big deal in the book pls

WHERE IS SIR AUGUST SADER??? MY MANS WHO HAD AGATHAS BACK.

They were missing so many characters???? Like Castor and Pollux and Uma and the BEAST FROM THE DOOM ROOM WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER RANT. Also a BUNCH of the characters just. Go unnamed. Like do they even introduce Kiko or Chad. And even the characters who are seem so bland and forgettable.

THE BEAST. THE DOOM ROOM. THE WONDERFUL SCENE WHERE YOU SEE SOPHIE’S TRUE EVIL. GONE. Like what was that.

Where were anadil’s rats??? How hard is it to get rats???

also anadil and dot seemed way too similar. And Hester’s character was inconsistent. Also dot not being played by a larger actor lowkey bugs me.

Sophie did NOT get to be evil enough smh

CIRCUS OF TALENTS ANYONE HELLOOOOO????

I know they kinda revealed what happens to failed students but not revealing that theyre the werewolves and fairies was so disappointing.

I cant believe we didn’t get Sophie singing T^T it’s not a big issue, but I still wanted to include it bc Sophia ann Caruso (her actor) was literally ON BROADWAY. My girl can SING. LET HER SHOW OFF.

no pink fingerglow for sophie :<

RAFAL IN GENERAL? Like what was that. He just walks around school disguised as his brother? Casually jump scares Agatha?? NO MASK?? genuinely upset me

also not really a criticism to the movie, but watching it on screen made me realize how creepy rafal and Sophie’s relationship actually is. Like. Yikes.

Upset that Yuba didn’t get enough spotlight

Also I wish they got the chance to show off the “room of champions” or whatever it was for both schools. Or Arthur’s menagerie. But I can live without it.

Sophie and Agatha not knowing about the schools in the beginning?? Like huh?? Sophie has dreamed about going there her whole life what do you meannnn

Honora being mean to Sophie rubbed me the wrong way. Like she’s supposed to be a very plain and nice woman, and I felt like Sophie still disliking her despite that gave Sophie’s character more depth

WHERE. ARE. THE. DREAMS. The nemesis dreams, Agatha’s true live dreams, WHERE ARE THEY? they could have helped explain so much for why Sophie was just suddenly like “oh yeah you’re my nemesis” and tedros declaring his love. Also they DIDNT talk about nemesis symptoms at all. At least that I remember. It felt so random when Sophie started turning into the witch.

okay im gonna end it with some positive things cuz I’ve just been ranting lmao

Loved lady lesso ngl. So gay for her.

having tedros not kill some unnamed kid as a gargoyle, but a kid that we got to actually know was a lot more satisfying. Really got the point across

HESTADIL CRUMBSSSSSS

honestly I was worried that they would chicken out of making Sophie ugly as a witch, but they did alright with it. Kudos.

Tedros and Agatha chemistry yesssss. When she tripped and he caught her>>>

Yes anemone POP OFF QUEEN

the wish fish scene was GORGEOUS

I liked the bit of background they gave Gavaldon. Like Agatha and Sophie’s classmates talking to them. That was nice :]

I honestly enjoyed covey’s character. She was a little manic at times, and a little different from the books, but I thought it fit the movie well. And I cracked a few smiles at it

Tedros and Agatha again. Sassy Agatha in their first conversation <3333

the ever Boys’ entrance was well done :>

Hester’s demon was FANTASTIC and absolutely sick

HORT MY BABY YES KING

that’s all I really have the brainpower to think about and write down. Also this became way longer than I thought it would. I had to rant about it somewhere cuz my friends haven’t watched nor read it and my mom didn’t want to hear it lol. Anyway, those are just my opinions on the movie. Even though I had a lot to complain about, the movie was still an enjoyable watch. It’s always cool seeing familiar characters in live action :D

[pengujoon]

FLUSHED WITH FEVER

cont. geto suguru x reader, fluff. suguru is really clingy when he’s sick, he’s so hot he’s burning up, living together!au, intentional lowercase, really wholesome

a/n. suguru brainrot is really hitting strong huh

you woke up to a warm, sunny morning, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. but as you stirred in bed, you felt a familiar presence around you, but something was off.

suguru was nestled close to you, and his skin felt like it was on fire, radiating an intense heat. his cheeks were flushed with fever, and he clung to you as if your touch could cool the burning sensation that consumed him.

“suguru,” you said softly, reaching out to touch his forehead. it was burning up, and he groaned softly in response. his arms were wrapped around you, holding you close, but he seemed almost desperate for relief.

you gently shifted so that you were facing him, cradling his flushed face in your hands. “suguru, you’re burning up,” you murmured, worry filling your voice.

he nuzzled against your hand, seeking comfort. “i know,” he replied, his voice shaky. “i couldn’t sleep, and i needed to be close to you.”

you couldn’t help but feel your heartache for him. “i’m here, suguru. let’s get you cooled down.”

carefully, you disentangled yourself from his grip, leaving the bed to retrieve a damp, cool washcloth. you placed it on his forehead, and he sighed in relief. you could see the agony in his eyes, but he held onto you as if your presence alone could chase away the fever.

you climbed back into bed beside him, and he immediately snuggled against your side, his body seeking the comfort of your touch. you ran your fingers through his hair, trying to bring him some relief from the heat.

“let’s get you some porridge. it’ll help you feel better.”

with a gentle smile, you disentangled yourself from his grip, promising to return. you went to the kitchen to prepare a bowl of his favourite porridge, hoping it would help ease his fever. the scent of the simmering porridge filled the kitchen, comforting and inviting.

after a short while, you returned to his room with the warm bowl of porridge in hand. you found him still curled up under the blankets, looking miserable, but the moment he saw you, his eyes lit up at the sight.

“i’ve made some of your favorite porridge,” you said, holding it out to him. “it’s ready whenever you want.”

suguru’s gratitude shone in his feverish eyes as he accepted the bowl. “you’re the best,” he whispered, his voice full of appreciation.

you sat down on the edge of the bed and helped him sit up. but as you did, he couldn’t resist nuzzling into you, his head resting on your shoulder. he ate a few spoonfuls but seemed more interested in being close to you. his arms wrapped around your waist, and he snuggled against your side.

“thank you,” he mumbled between nuzzles. “you’re always so good to me.”

you smiled, running your fingers through his hair. “of course, suguru. i’ll take care of you until you’re better.”

once he finished, you set the empty bowl aside and turned to face him. his feverish gaze met yours, and in that moment, you knew you needed to offer more than just comfort food.

you moved closer, your hand gently finding its way to the back of suguru’s head, fingers threading through his hair. you felt the heat radiating from him, but you didn’t mind. in this quiet, intimate moment, you leaned in, and your foreheads met. your touch was soft, and your eyes locked with his, offering a silent reassurance that you’d be there for him.

suguru closed his eyes, his hand resting on your cheek, and he whispered, “thank you for taking care of me.”

your heart swelled with affection, and you continued to run your fingers through his hair, giving him the comfort he craved. in this close, loving moment, you knew that your presence was the best medicine for him.

nanami in today's episode... mappa is never beating the gay for nanami allegations

[mzzledmutt]

—BLIND DATE

starring.ᐟ katsuki bakugou x reader

synopsis.ᐟ “a social engagement or date with a person one has not previously met.” After neglecting his personal life for so long, Pro-hero Dynamight, also known as Katsuki Bakugou, can no longer run form the inevitable. With the help of his nosy parents, Katsuki ends up on a blind date with you.

warnings.ᐟ SMUT, fem!reader, pro hero!katsuki, first blind date, drinking, fingering, cunnilingus, unprotected sex, vaginal sex, overstimulation, creampie, biting, marking, hair pulling, pet names (excessive use of princess), slight man handling, bakugou is a softie at heart, praise, slight softdom!katsuki, breeding

word count.ᐟ 4.8k words

m.mutt 𐂯 please enjoy my brainrot!!

KATSUKI Bakugou was known for many things. His boisterous personality. His bulky, intimidating stature. His impressive and powerful quirk. His less than family-friendly language and his hatred of paparazzi.

You would think being in the spotlight since 15, he would be used to it at this point. Maybe even indulge from time to time but, it’s never been his thing. He makes that fact well-known, constantly. Written and spoken interviews, press conferences, and award ceremonies, he will remind everyone to mind their own business. Especially when it comes to his personal life.

New photos and videos always arrive of the hero, dressed in alleged disguise, flipping off and yelling at the paparazzi. Especially when they get too close to his family and friends. One of his most iconic videos is of his poor father attempting to calm down both his large, rowdy son and his equally rowdy, yet smaller wife.

This strong distaste for the prying eyes and cameras belonging to paparazzi, unfortunately, takes a hard toll on his love life.

Their obsession with publicizing his entire life has forced his hand in many situations. That and the exclusive life he is now forced to lead. One of the biggest downsides of being a hero is the increase in difficulty in your love life.

These few relationships he’s had have all ended one of two ways.

One, in a ball of fury and tears. As a pro hero, Katsuki is often spotted with many people. Typically, people he knows. In bars and restaurants, caught conversating and drinking. Those candid moments are always being televised, even without his knowledge.

Suddenly, his after-work drink with a few friends is skewed and Dynamight is allegedly dating pro-hero Uravity. Resulting in arguments and watching as his partners stormed away.

Two, the spark simmers out. Coming home to put on a front feels exhausting as the days tick by, they both know it. It’s only inevitable until someone’s bags are packed. They’ll cry, holding hands on his couch as he speaks. They’ll go for a hug, only to realize now isn’t the time and leaving is the better option. Soon his apartment is quiet again, leaving him alone.

All of it has turned him away from the dating scene. He’s young and green, with plenty of time to settle down. Except, the consistent pestering from peers, fans, and his own parents is draining. Balancing his hero life, personal and love life all at the same time, was nearly impossible.

“I’m not going out with some chick you designed a dress for!”

“Just give it a try, you brat.”

Katsuki groans, his head rolling back at Mitsuki’s pestering. They were currently sitting in his childhood kitchen, eating brunch as they usually did on Sundays. “You have no idea, you could find the love of your life!�� His father chimed in, attempting to add support.

“Maybe you’ll finally give me a grandkid.” Katsuki cringes, shaking his head at his mother’s words. “Look, as your parents we just want what’s best for our little boy. Even if you’re a hulking mountain a man now.”

“I think you should give it a try, she was a sweet girl too. Very well mannered.” Masaru pipes up in Katsuki’s silence.

“Look, just give it a shot. I’ll give you her number and you two can work things out. If things don’t work out you can always try again.” She sips at her hot tea, eyes fluttering shut due to the steam.

“And if I say no?”

“Why do you have to be so incredibly difficult?” Mitsuki scolds as he swirls his spoon in his tea. “Why do you have to be so incredibly annoying?” He muttered followed by a swift pop to the head.

“Ow! Shit!”

That’s how he ended up in this high-end lounge, awaiting a random woman his parents vouched for. He nursed a glass of whiskey, looking over their messages on his phone. Their conversation was rather bland, nothing incredibly enticing but, everyone doesn’t connect over text.

After some time, from his spot at the bar, he sends her another text. It’s only fifteen minutes, there could be traffic. He closes the messenger, choosing to scroll through his social media feed. Occasionally, he lifted his head scanning the area.

It wasn’t a quiet night, the place was bustling with conversation and laughter. Twenty minutes late.

He sent another text.

Everyone is secluded in their worlds, eating snacks and conversing with their loved ones. Their loud conversations exceeded the confinements of their seats. Katsuki was growing impatient.

Thirty minutes late. He’s already attempted to call, being sent straight to voicemail. Was this a joke? Had his parents set him up for some reason?

Glowering red eyes linger across the bar, noticing a figure he had seen earlier. Dressed in a sleek, black dress and nursing a martini between manicured nails. And another text.

Each time he looked in search of his alleged date, his eyes wandered back over to you. Watching as you pitifully looked around, maybe in search of someone like him. His eyes shut as he grimaced watching you pout. Your full, glossed lips jutted out with sadness.

He goes to pick up his phone and sends another message before, shutting the device off. Nearly an hour and a half late, he wasn’t that desperate to pester someone who didn’t care.

“Excuse me.” He calls the bartender. It didn’t seem like this mystery woman would be appearing any time soon so, might as well take a chance. “Lady at the end of the bar,” He gestured toward you. “Another of what’s she’s having, from me.” The man nods, heading off to prepare the new drink.

Katsuki grins seeing your reaction. Confusion washed over your face for a moment before you were directed towards him. Eyes locking for the first time that night. You smile and wave, he reciprocates nonchalantly.

Soon, his whiskey is finished and another is placed before him. “From the lady.” The bartender smiles, pointing his gaze to you once more. You raise your glass in solidarity, your beautiful smile still on display. He raises his glass, as a sort of distant cheers, taking a swig right away.

He watches as your gaze falls to the background, peering around the dim bar before you rise from your seat. Katsuki anxiously shifted in his seat, unsure of where you were going but, his anxiety didn’t settle as you stride over to him.

“Hi.” One word and he’s hooked. Your melodic voice wrapping itself around his brain and heart. “Hey, care to sit?” He offers the seat beside him. “Gladly.” You’re nervous, curt responses give you away along with the slight tremble in your hand.

“What are you doin’ here, beautiful?” He’s starting bold, liquid courage providing him strength. “I was supposed to be on a date. He hasn’t shown.” He ashamedly smirks. “Funny enough, I got stood up too.” He down the rest of his drink.

“What’s your name?” You answer sweetly, a bright smile on your face. He shared it, almost subconsciously. “I’m Bakugou Katsuki—“

“I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are. I’m surprised everyone is being so calm right now honestly.” You laugh and his heart skipped a beat, a feeling he hadn’t felt in a while.

“Places like these are used to seeing pros, they get over it.” He replies, leaning against the bar top. “Not every day one-half of the wonder duo walks through those doors.” You reason, a smug smirk on your face as if knowing you’d won.

“Touché.” You giggle, a sweet sound he yearns to hear again. “Did you enjoy your martini?”

“It was delicious. Thank you, again.” Well-mannered and gorgeous. “Anything for a pretty girl like you.” You flush, thanking him profusely. He orders you both another round, choosing to carry on the conversation.

As you two spoke he fell deeper and deeper into infatuation. “I’m the newest assistant for your friend, Chargebolt. This is only my third month at the agency and I’m tired.” You sip at your drink. “Really? Been so busy I haven’t had a chance to make the trip. Can’t be an easy job though, knowin’ Kaminari.”

“It’s not the most difficult task in the world but, I do have to keep my eye on him like a toddler.” You share a laugh at the comparison.

The conversation shifts to your personal lives. Lamenting on your lack of a love life, work beginning to consume your free time. How your close friends and family have urged you to get out of your shell. Which led to this night.

His hand lays over yours as he showers you with compliments. Deflecting anytime your humble attitude attempted to shut him down. He complimented your dress, you tried to brush him off claiming that the piece was old and unflattering.

“Well, I think that dress is absolutely stunning.” His hand grasps yours, and you reciprocate. “I should know, my ma’s a designer.” He’s almost smug in saying that as if his association with a designer made him the judge of all fashion.

“I’m aware, I’ve browsed her catalog since I was little.” The way your eyes light up talking about particular garments his mother fashioned that she always dreamed of owning. “I think you’d look gorgeous in just about anything.”

“Are you flirting with me Katsuki Bakugou?”

The question hangs in the air for a moment. The two of you leaning into each other's spaces unknowingly. He could smell your sweet perfume from her, the scent filling his senses. “I am, is that alright?”

“It is.” Your eyes flicker down to his lips as you lick your own before sitting back in your seat. Katsuki’s already hooked, still leaning into your space as if entranced by you. He leans back, stuck in an unfamiliar haze of attraction.

That haze seemed to slow the time as he checked his watch seeing he had been chatting with you for nearly four hours. It was dark outside, patrons still lingering in the lounge.

“Hey, it’s getting late.”

“Is there anything I can get you? A ride home? Maybe a nightcap?” The last part was slightly rushed as if he were embarrassed. “A nightcap sounds good, I’m off tomorrow anyway.” The wink you give him doesn’t go unnoticed making his stomach tighten. “Excuse me, can I close our tabs?”

“You don’t have to.”

“Please, let me. Besides that jerk should’ve been here paying anyway.” You sit in silence as he closes you both out of the night and thank him as he helps you to your feet. Bakugou drapes his big coat over your shoulders, holding out a hand which you graciously take.

The contrast of the warmth of the bar and the chilly night air flushes your cheeks. You’re thankful to the hero for his warm coat. “Your hands are really warm.” You mutter as you both stride down the sidewalk.

Katsuki’s notices before you. The stares. People turn to whisper to each other as he walks beside you. Soon, there are flashes and cheers of his name. He rolls his eyes out of annoyance, holding onto your hand tighter as he moves faster. “Can ya’ keep up, princess?”

A small swarm of fans and paparazzi crowd the couple, snapping photos and begging for an interview. He barks orders at them to leave you alone, keeping your face obscured from their ravenous gaze. You blindly follow, rather unphased by the crowd around you.

Before you, a sleek, exquisite sports car sat with flashing headlights. Katsuki opens the passenger door, still blocking you from view as he helps you inside. Once the door is shut, you’re concealed by his dark tint. “Can’t you guys just fuck off, for one night?” It was a rhetorical question, more to himself than the people around him.

He waves at fans along the street, ignoring the money-hungry reporters behind him as he opens his own door and settles into his vehicle.

“I’m so sorry.” He’s met with a soft laugh and a gentle touch to his hand. “Katsuki, I’m used to it. This is a part of my job too, I’m just more behind the scenes.”

“They’re just invasive,” The card engine roars to life, vibrating the interior. “Almost predatory. Going any length for a snippet of gossip.” He groans, leaning his messy blond head against the leather seats. “Bakugo—“ - “Katuski.” He speaks over you.

His head lulls to the side, his full attention on you. “Katsuki. I appreciate all you’ve done tonight.” Plump glossed lips upturned into a smile that melts his heart. “Consider it a late welcoming gift. You’re lucky, I usually send assistants gift cards to a spa.”

You both laugh, a break between the growing tension filling the cramped space of his car as you hold eye contact. His tongue darts to lick his chapped lips, teeth barely grazing the skin before he clears his throat and looks away.

“You sure you still wanna go back to mine?” He asks, buckling his seatbelt and you do the same. “Yeah, it’s just one drink.”

One drink.

Just one drink.

The phrase repeated in his mind almost the entire time. Your voice disrupting his thoughts the only thing keeping him from being completely silence. He drives you to his building. A large, clean structure. Covered in windows, and lights, and well decorated.

You don’t even need to enter the lobby. Katsuki leads you to an elevator activated with a special keycard.

After a short trip, the doors open to this grand place.

You find yourself in awe as you walk through his front hall. His apartment was massive and spotless yet, homey. Although he clearly preferred a more modernized look, it still managed to have the charm and personality of his childhood home.

“This place is ten times bigger than my apartment.” Katsuki laughs, taking his coat from you and hanging it beside the door. “I want to downsize, this was an impulse buy from when I first started. A financial disaster is what I refer to it as.” You giggle, he swoons.

The blond guides you to his kitchen, pulling out a stool for you to sit in at the island. “Are you hungry? I can whip something up.” He offers. “I thought I was just here for a nightcap, not dinner.” You joke, settling down in your seat.

“Well, I like a nice snack when I drink and a lady always deserves a nice dinner on the first date.”

“This is a date now?” You quirk a brow, still rather unsure of what to make of this evening.

“Wasn’t it always? We both had shitty dates who stood us up, we just found each other instead.”

“Yeah, then I guess it is.” You bat your lashes as silence falls over the kitchen for a moment. Katsuki clears his throat and smiles, moving away to gather something to eat. “What’re you making?” You ask seeing as he stands before the fridge. “Nothing.”

“Fresh bow of fruit, put it together today. I can get some crackers and wine, that work for you?” You nod.

“Could you grab the bottle off the counter? Don’t worry about a screw I’ve got one.” You help yourself to sort of peruse his kitchen, taking in little bits of his taste from the pictures and decor before returning the bottle to him.

Katsuki pops the bottle, pouring you both half glasses. You cheers, taking the first drink together and savoring the sweet taste. “I didn’t expect you to like sweet wines.”

“I indulge from time to time, besides it was a gift from my ma.”

“Aww, Dynamight the mama’s boy.” You giggle, grabbing a fresh strawberry and popping it into your mouth. “Oh hush, she gets these kinds of things for free and knows I’ll actually use them.” He’s close, using his elbows to lean on the counter.

“So don’t always do this?” You can smell his cologne.

“Do what?” He can smell your perfume.

“Being pretty girls to your apartment.” The scents colliding are an intoxicating concoction.

“Only pretty girls I like.” A strawberry is held cautiously between his fingertips, held between your space. “You like me, Katsuki?” A rather silly question on your part, he wouldn’t do this for just anyone.

“I do, princess.” He slowly bites into the juicy fruit, keeping his eyes on you.

The sudden bass and rap of his voice along with the intense eye contact fill you with a sudden wave of heat. The facade of small talk became harder to keep up.

It wasn’t long before Katsuki was brazen enough to lean over the counter and press his lips against yours. Your glasses of wine are soon abandoned, sloppily making out as you sit on his pristine countertop. He stood between your legs, hands crawling across your back and hips as you pant into each other mouths.

Soon, you’re both stumbling down his spacious corridor and into his dimly lit bedroom. He lets you go, turning to close the door as you take in your surroundings. Once the door is shut his attention is back to you, frantic hands roaming over each other skin, pulling at the almost offensive fabrics that keep your bodies apart.

Your clothes are eventually scattered among his own on the bedroom floor as Katsuki gently lowers your naked bodies into his fresh sheets. Cradling your head as he brushes his lips along your jaw and neck. You shiver under his touch, calloused hands running along your soft skin, cupping your breast, and rolling your hardening nipples.

You mewl under his touch, legs squeezing his hips to keep him in place. His teeth nip at your jaw, lowering to nip and suck marks into the skin of your neck. Your hips buck against each other, his hardening cock jumping against your dripping cunt.

It was becoming too much. you whine, pulling his attention away from your neck.

“What’s wrong, princess?” His words are followed by more gentle kisses. “Want you, ‘suki.” you pout, eyes watering dramatically. “You want more, baby?” You nod, lips still stuck in a pathetic-looking pout. His right hand moves to your jaw, pinching the bone between a few, thick fingers.

“Use your words.” His voice is strong, and commanding. Yet, loving and soft. “I want more, ‘suki.” He smiles at your muffled words and presses a wet kiss onto your puckered lips. “I’ll give you more then, princess.”

Your jaws sore when he lets go, the feeling of his fingers still remnant in their wake. Your legs fall slack as the blond kisses down your torso, from the valley of your breast to the bottom of your navel. He follows the trail back up and down once more, staring you in the eye.

His eyes shift down for a moment, a wolfish grin forming on his face. “You’re dripping, baby.” He cooes making your skin flush. another whine leaves your throat as you tear your gaze away, trying to focus on the ceiling above you. “No no, look at me.”

“Good. Look at me, baby.” His right hand moves from rubbing at your hips, to gently caressing your skin until his thumb lands on your clit. Your thighs quiver at the sudden contact, your gaze locked on him. Thumb lowers to collect the juices from your cunt, making a show as he brings the digit to his mouth to taste you.

You’re infatuated with the godly figure before you. His pale skin glistens with sweat, muscles unintentionally flexed as he lewdly moans around his fingers at your taste. “‘s so good, princess. You taste so fuckin’ good.”

He makes of show of it, wickedly at your already blissed-out appearance. “So damn sweet, soakin’ my sheets.”

Your eyes follow him as he descends between your legs once more, harshly biting the plump skin before soothing it with kisses.

You’re so caught in your own pleasure, the shock of his fingers prodding your cunt forces a gasp. His free hand moves your thighs onto his shoulders as he stares you down. “Can I?”

One thick finger breaches your cunny slowly, gently pushing in before pulling out. He follows the motions a few times, watching as you gush around his finger. Soon, another is added. Carefully, thrusting into your pussy as he presses kisses to your clit.

You writhe at his ministrations, fighting to keep your eyes focused on the man before you.

He sets a slow and mind-numbing pace, slowly thrusting in and out. The sounds of your slick coating his fingers and your breath moans a chorus to him.

“Yeah? Feel good, princess?” He teases, gaze fixed upon your pleasure-ridden face. Your mouth is agape as strained moans are pulled from your aching chest. He was breaking you apart in two fingers, stretching you open and preparing you for his cock.

“You’re so fuckin’ tight. Gonna let me fuck this pretty pussy, baby? ‘M gonna stretch you open like a good girl deserves.” He declares, mainly to himself. Too lost in how your walls greedily suctioned his fingers back in.

Bakugou carefully leans down to lap at your clit, eliciting a soft cry and an arch of your back. He shuts his eyes as he savors the taste he was beginning to yearn for, suckling your poor neglected clit.

“Katsuki!” You shout, digging your nails into the pillow behind you. “Katsu—fuckk! Please, fuck me, baby! I need you so badly, need your cock so bad!”

He’s devoted to searing your taste into his mind. Messily coating his face and your cunny with a thin layer of wetness. Soon, he’s haphazardly withdrawing his fingers from your salacious cunt, against your protests to taste you further.

Spikes of blond hair bob between your legs, his tongue delving between your folds making you whimper and writhe. His hands grab a hold of your ass, holding you close to his face so you wouldn’t escape. Your back arches from the comforter, keening into his touch.

“God!” You cry as you fall back onto the sheets, fingers grasping for anything to clutch. His pace never falters, gratefully drinking your slick that spilled into his awaiting tongue, then swirling it around your throbbing clit.

“Kat—fuck! Baby—Katsuki!” Your body felt electric, an almost buzzing sensation that erupted from your pelvis and spread through your body. Your wanton moans are loose into the air, eyes shut as your head is tossed back.

You were a gorgeous statuette of pleasure.

You felt as if you bit off more than you could chew. Going out with a pro hero was already anxiety-inducing enough, practical criminal, allowing him to lure you to his apartment with promises of a nightcap, and now naked and wriggling beneath him was driving you to insanity.

And he's not even inside of you yet.

The maddening way his tongue circled your aching clit, inscribing his name into the bud. His blunt nails digging into the meat of your ass, keeping you relatively grounded. His tongue unrelenting stimulating your soaked pussy pushed you to your first orgasm.

A sudden wave of pleasure and the ever-growing pit in your stomach unravels through your body. You grip his hair, keeping Katsuki’s mouth in place as your hips buck into the pleasure. You loudly cry out his name, and a few tears roll down your cheeks as you cum.

He groans into your cunt, eyes rolling at the sweet taste of your cum. His hands rub your skin, easing away any pain left behind by his grip. Slowly, you open your eyes, chest still heaving.

“‘Suki,”

He pulls away, the lower half of his face soaked with slick and spit.

“M’yeah?” You can’t even think of what to say, just laying your head back to catch your breath. “You alright, baby?” You nod, still returning from your high. Katsuki crawls up to face you, a soft smile on his lips. “You look so pretty.” He cups your cheek, running his thumb along the soft skin.

“I want you to fuck me.”

He quirks a brow, a smirk on his face. “Yeah? I’ll fuck you, baby.”

“I promise, I’ll fuck you real good.” He captures your lips, sharing the taste of you once more. Your tongues are quick to entangle as you pant into each other's mouths.

Your fingers naturally gravitate to his blond hair, keeping him close as you kiss. Your bodies move together as you grind against one another, his hard cock leaking pre cum against your stomach. You’re both growing increasingly needier, rutting and panting like dogs in heat.

Katsuki breaks from the grinding, settling himself between your thighs. The tip of his cock pressed against your clit, spreading his precum as he teases you.

“You want it?”

“I want it, ‘suki.” His grin is wolfish at the nick, happily dragging his cock from your clit to press at your fluttering hole. He groans at the warmth and wetness, your dripping cunt already leaking onto him.

A pathetic high-pitched whine leaves your open mouth as his thick, heavy cock slowly bullies into your heat. Pushing deep into your plush, warm walls. Katsuki is slow, taking his time to ease you into the feeling. His lips are on your breast, kissing and nipping the soft skin.

“More, please.” You whine, your hands moving to hold onto his back. His hips increase in pace, still slow as you hiss once he draws back.

Katsuki slowly molds your tight pussy to his cock, stretching you open to only accommodate him. The sharp pain of your nails digging into his back only encourages him to thrust faster, making you cry out his name. Your cunt loudly gushes around his heavy cock, spilling syrupy juices down your skin.

“God damn, this pussy—fuck—you’re s’fuckin’ tight.” He grits out, grabbing your leg and pushing it back to the mattress. The change of angle causes you to lurch forward, your hands pushing at his shoulders. “Oh my god, Katsuki!” You shout, as his throbbing cockhead smushes against your cervix.

He’s back to sucking your tits, leaving spit-soaked freckled hickeys in his wake. You’re still adjusting to his size, the sudden change in position driving him deeper into your guts.

He’s pressed himself closer against you, his pelvis adding stimulation to your nice neglected clit. You throb around him and cry, fat tears slipping from your eyes. “Y’feel that, baby? I’m so deep in this pretty pussy. Y’feel me in yer tummy, does it feel good, baby?” You’re incoherent, only capable of breathless moans and sobs.

“You look so pretty, all fucked out ‘cause o’ me. Tell me, baby, do I feel good?” His hand cruelly comes down to press on the slight bulge in your stomach, causing your poor cunt to twitch around him. “‘s too much!” You cry out, pushing against him to no avail.

“Too much? You can take it, princess. Can’t ya’?” His pace suddenly grows rough, hips slamming into yours as he fucks into your cunny. He pressed your other leg to the mattress, forcing his cock all the way inside.

You’re mindless. Eyes rolled back into your skull, unintelligible moans and clawing at his skin. The rooms full of thick, humid air, the sounds of your squelching cunt, and a chorus of moans. Bakugou savors this image, in case he may never get the chance to see you again.

He caresses all of the right places inside of you, each thrust full of never-ending pleasure. His wicked tongue in your nipples and sinful roll of his hips push you to the edge. Like a burning fuse, slowly trailing all the way to a firework.

“Y’close baby? Don’t worry, you can cum for—fuck! You’re so fuckin’ wet—cum for me.”

Katsuki’s thrust increases to a maniacal speed, jostling you around his mattress without care. He was chasing his orgasm now, keeping you secure beneath he ruts into you. Heavy balls slapping against your asshole, the rough feeling of public hair against your soaked cunt. You can’t think let alone protest before he’s spilling his cum deep inside of your womb.

Katsuki keeps himself buried inside of you as he changes position, opting to hold you instead. You’re both panting as if you’ve run a marathon, hearts racing and skin coated in sex and sweat. You lay in silence, catching your breath for just a moment.

“Please don’t tell me you’re thinkin’ ’bout leavin’.” He mutters into your hair, rubbing your back. You breathlessly giggle against his chest, shaking your head. “I can’t feel my legs, Katsuki.” He smiles, cheering to himself.

“How about we clean up and get some rest? I’m beat.” A yawn cuts you off as you agree, alerting you to how exhausted you truly are. Katsuki kisses your forehead. “Get some sleep and tomorrow, we can continue this date. That sound nice?” You nod again, and slowly drift to sleep.

“Good. Stay here and look pretty, I’ll run a bath.”

[coastbycoast101]

Note 📝:Sorry for not posting much, been busy but I've got more fics coming 🫶🏾

None of your friends business

Warning!: mentions of cheating, reader being dumb, reader is kinda bipolar, katsuki fucking the sense out of her 😛, creampie

His phone vibrated and he reached into his pocket, his eyes squinted at his phone seeing you call him. Right now he's in patrol and he looks around before leaning onto one of the pillars on the building next to him.

"What's up y/n?" He answered the phone, the device going to his ear as he held it up. "Who's the girl in your car? You like being with other bitches?" y/n's tone sounded intense, lips moving faster as she questioned him. "The girl in my car? What are you talking about? He responded, eyes twitching with anger.

"you know what I'm talking bout' don't act clueless with me Katsuki" she responded back, one of her eyebrows rasing in anger. "One of my friends, Amy said she saw you and another girl In ya car!" She chewed on her cheek as she pouted, her fists clenched hearing about the alleged things he did.

Katsuki's lips curled in disgust, a scoff escaping him. "Amy? That bitch? She's always had it out for me. She's lying. It's not the first time she's tried to cause problems, and it won't be the last. Why would I be with anyone else when I have you, baby?" A smug grin tugged at the corners of his lips before he added. "You know me better than that. I'd never cheat on you." He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he waited for your response. "If you really want proof, I can pull over and send you a picture of the inside of my car right now. How's that sound?"

he could hear her huffs through the phone, and it made him a little angry too knowing she felt that way about him "Yeah yeah yeah, you better not be with anyone" she rolled her eyes, jealousy all over her tone as she gritted her teeth. He rolled his eyes too, a chuckle escaping him. "I'm not with anyone, y/n. Just trust me. I'll prove it. Just give me a second." He ended the call, tucking the phone away to pull out his car keys. He made his way to his car, the patrol he had been on momentarily forgotten.

He snapped a photo of the empty passenger seat and sent it back to you. Katsuki exhaled, his body relaxing a bit at the knowledge it was just a misunderstanding. "See? All clear in my car. Now, can we stop this bullshit?" He demanded, tone strained with the anger that had been simmering. "You know me better than that. Don't let that bitch get into your head."

his phone vibrated again after a few moments, her contact sprawled across his screen, his thumb clicked the answer button letting you speak first. "M' sorry suki'," she whined into the phone "m' sorry for not believing you... Can you come home, let me make it up to you baby." She sighed as she bit her lip waiting for his response.

Katsuki listened to the apology, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The anger had dissipated as quickly as it had come, replaced by the love he had for you. "It's fine, y/n. I know you didn't mean anything by it. I trust you." He answered, the words spoken with sincerity. "I'll be home in ten minutes. Get ready for me, baby." The promise of rough, passionate sex was already making him hard, his hand instinctively adjusting the growing bulge in his pants. He couldn't wait to hear you beg for release, to feel you tremble under his touch.

she giggled into the phone, her head resting against the headboard "yeah?" She could hear him shuffling around as he stepped into his car turning it on. "M' already ready, suki" she talked onto the phone, her voice making him feel hot all over. Katsuki couldn't help the grin that spread across his face, a chuckle escaping his mouth "Good girl. I'll be home soon, and we'll see just how ready you are, hmm?" He teased, the anticipation making his heart race.

He hung up the call, putting the car into gear as he made his way to their shared home. As he drove, he couldn't help but imagine how he'd make you beg for him, how he'd fuck you, make you cum repeatedly, and leave you a quivering mess. after a few minutes the door open, his footsteps creaking against the floorboards. She heard his steps as he hurried upstairs, going towards their room.

She could feel excitement flowing through her veins at what he's about too do and she couldn't help but not notice her biting her lip at the thought. As soon as that door opened it's like she pounced on him, her lips on his as they made out. He groaned into the kiss, his hands going to her ass, rubbing at her thighs.

Katsuki's hands gripped your ass, squeezing firmly before he lifted you up, your legs automatically wrapping around his waist.

"Fuck, y/n. I missed you." He muttered against your lips, the kiss turning even more desperate as he carried you to the bed. Once there, he laid you down, his own body following, pinning you beneath him. His lips moved to your neck, nipping and sucking as his fingers worked on getting your clothes off.

"Beg for it, baby. Beg for my cock." He demanded, the demand laced with a promise of a rough, intense fucking. she could feel his breath on her neck as he bit on the skin, her fingers fumbling with the buttons on his shirt. "Wan' it so bad, suki'.. please?" She could feel his bulge through his pants rubbing at her thighs as he made marks on her neck.

His eyes flashed with lust, a feral grin tugging on his lips. He pulled back to remove his shirt, throwing it aside before he returned his attention to your clothes. "Good girl. Now, spread your legs and let me see that pussy." His demand was harsh, unyielding, and it only served to turn him on more.

His hand moved to his belt, the buckle jingling as he worked at undoing it, his pants and underwear following suit. Once free, his cock sprang out, hard and ready for you. "M' gonna fuck some sense into you, don't know why you listen to shit like that." He growled, positioning himself between your thighs, the head of his cock teasing your entrance.

she felt his slender fingers push her lace panties to the side, his red eyes staring her down as he gripped onto her love handles. Her mouth drooled seeing the way his happy trail looked going down to his v line, her pussy felt wet and that's when she knew she needed him deep inside of her.

Katsuki's eyes locked onto yours, the intensity of his gaze almost daring you to deny him.

"Tell me, baby. Whatchu' need?" He demanded, his hips rocking back and forth, coating his cock with your wetness. His tip rubbed at her folds, her juices dripping down his shaft.

The anticipation built, his hand leaving your waist to grip your breast for leverage. "You're mine, y/n. And I'll fuck you until you can't think of anything else but my cock inside you."

"S-shit.." she felt her clit throb feeling him rub purposely on that nub. "Need you. Need that dick baby," she hissed, her hands going to his chin and holding it in her hand. Katsuki's mouth curved into a predatory grin, his eyes flashing with raw, primal lust. "That's my girl." He praised as he thrust into you in one smooth motion, burying himself to the hilt.

His hips began to move, hitting you deep, drawing moans from your lips as he plunged into you, his hand moving from your breast to your clit. "Scream for me, y/n. Let me know just how much you need me." He demanded, the sound of flesh slapping against flesh, a symphony that only heightened his arousal.

she felt his thumb rub at her clit and it made her jolt, her back arching at the circles he rubbed on her, his thrust deep and raw. "F-fuck... I can feel it so deep" she moaned, her eyes shutting close as she felt his strokes. Her eyes fluttered open seeing him bite his lip as he thrusted into her, his arm hovering over her grabbing onto the headboard.

Katsuki's jaw tensed up, his hips pounding into you with a relentless pace. His thumb swiped at your clit, the pressure increasing as he watched you so closely, wanting to see when you'd reach your peak.

"You like that, baby? Want it deeper? Want me to pound this pussy until you can't even walk?" His voice was thick with lust as he leaned down, nipping at your ear,leaving a mark that he claimed as his own. He drove into you, his cock pulsing, demanding things as he rutted against you, each stroke causing you to feel even more needy, more desperate, more eager for release.

she nodded as she spreads her legs wider, her juices all over her thighs and his v line. "Y-yeah.." she felt her pitch go higher as he slammed into her balls deep, his thumb rubbing side to side. Her juices made squelching noises as she came, his strokes hitting her spot. He moved his hand to her neck, gripping on it as her eyes rolled back. She felt him pull out, his arm changing her position. Her back arched for him as his hands gripped onto her ass while his cock slid into her pussy from behind.

He groaned at the sight of your orgasm, the sound echoing through the room as he continued to thrust into you, his grip tightening momentarily on your neck. He pulled out, flipping you onto your stomach, your body slick with sweat and arousal.

"Fuck, y/n. You're mine." He hissed, his hand gripping your hip as he thrust back into you, the angle hitting you in a different way, more primal. He began to pound into you, his hips slamming against your ass, the sounds of flesh smacking against flesh filling the room. His free hand roamed over your body, gripping at your breasts, tugging on your nipples.

The intensity was building, his cock pulsing, ready to fill you with his release. He wanted you to come again, to hear you scream for him, to feel you tremble under his touch. his backshots nearly killed you as your hands gripped onto the pillow infront of you, your words coming out in stutters from the way he rutted into you.

 "F-fuck, soo good" her words coming out in babbles as he moved his hands to her braids, his hands almost getting tangled into them as he pulled onto her hair, his other hand gripping onto the plush of her ass, fingers digging into the fat.

Katsuki's grip on your hair tightened as he slammed into you, the feeling of your wetness gripping him sending him further into a frenzy.

"That's it, baby. Scream for me. Let me hear you please, y/n." His voice was a growl mixed with a whine, deep and demanding, his hips moving with a fierce, unforgiving rhythm.

His balls slapped against your ass, his cock pulsing, the end growing near. "Cum for me. Now." He demanded, his voice strained with the need to release, to claim you in the most primal way.. she felt his hand slap at her ass while her cunt clenched around him. Her hole fluttered around him as she felt her cum drip out of her and onto his cock using it as lube. "Mmhmmm, fuuckk.." she screamed into the satin pillow, her screams and moans muffled as he fucked into her with no remorse. She heard his breath hitching, his groans growing louder then hers as he pulled harder.

His thrusts grew more erratic, his cock pulsing within you as he felt the heat of his release building. He growled, a mixture of the sounds of your pleasure and his own lust echoing through the room.

"Shit, y/n... Ah, fuck I'm cummin, I'm cumming!" His voice was a groan, raw with the intensity of the moment. He filled you with his release, the warm spurts coating your insides, his thrusts slowing as he rode out the aftershocks. He let go of your hair, his hand moving to stroke your right cheek, a possessive smirk tugging at his lips.

"You're mine, and I'm never going to let anyone else have you." He groaned lowly, the word a promise he intended to keep.

Sorry if my names on there, I write better when I imagine it's me 🥲🥲,

[infamous-light]

You Belong to Me Ch. 8

Alcina Dimitrescu x F! Reader

Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 7

AO3: You Belong to Me

Summary: Lady Dimitrescu's obsession knows no bounds as she becomes increasingly possessive over you. Will you succumb to her dark embrace, or find a way to break free before it's too late?

Word Count: 3.9K

Warnings: Yandere, possessive/obsessive behavior

Your mind raced as you absorbed the message.

Could this be your way out?

The thought spiraled through your mind, igniting a flicker of hope deep within your chest. It was a chance – a slim one, fraught with danger and uncertainty – but a chance, nonetheless.

You stole a glance at Lady Dimitrescu, her elegant figure poised at her vanity, commanding the space around her. She focused intently on her reflection, her fingers moving with the precision of an artist as she applied the cream to her face.

Your own fingers trembled as you folded the note with as much discretion as you could muster, slipping it into your pocket. You took a deep breath, attempting to steady the storm of nerves swirling within you. Suddenly, Lady Dimitrescu’s gaze shifted from her reflection and locked onto yours through the mirror. Her eyes were sharp and penetrating, cutting through the air like a blade.

“Is something troubling you, dear? Your heart seems rather restless.” She inquired; her voice smooth but laced with concern.

Your stomach clenched in response to her words, the fear you were desperately trying to suppress bubbling dangerously close to the surface. You searched frantically for a plausible excuse – anything that might sound convincing enough to satisfy her. You swallowed hard, the action feeling monumental, as you fought to steady your voice and calm the tumultuous beating of your heart.

“I don't feel well, my Lady.” You managed to say, your words wobbly as they spilled from your lips.

You could hear the tremor in your own voice, and you hoped she would attribute it to your alleged illness. Lady Dimitrescu frowned, her eyes narrowing further as she scrutinized you from head to toe.

“You were feeling fine just a moment ago.” She remarked, her voice low and suspicious.

The tension hung in the air like a dark cloud, oppressive and foreboding. She turned in her seat, pivoting to face you fully. The fabric of her bathrobe rustled softly as it rode up to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of her upper thighs. Her golden gaze, unnerving and intense, seemed to dissect you piece by piece, leaving you feeling raw and exposed. Your stomach churned violently, and for a moment, you thought you might actually get sick.

“I-I know. I thought I was,” you stammered, fighting to keep your composure. “But then a wave of nausea hit me, and I don’t really feel hungry anymore. The drug... it’s still affecting me.”

Fear gripped you so tightly at the thought of being caught with the hidden note that your hands began to shake. Before Lady Dimitrescu could open her mouth to respond, the plate slipped from your fingers, crashing to the floor in a shower of ceramic shards, scattering like the remnants of your fraying resolve. Lady Dimitrescu's eyes widened in surprise. The initial shock was quickly replaced by a simmering irritation that twisted her features into a dark scowl.

“I-I need to go to the bathroom. I think I'm going to be sick.” The words tumbled from your lips as panic surged within you.

With a sudden jolt, you sat up, your heart racing despite your weakened state. You forced yourself to move across the bedroom. The world around you twisted and blurred, dark shadows shifting into a disorienting backdrop that threatened to swallow you whole.

“Pet!”

Lady Dimitrescu's voice cut through the haze, a sharp command that made your skin prickle. The intensity of her gaze felt like a weight upon your back, yet you willed yourself to ignore her, pushing forward into the bathroom. You slumped against the cool porcelain of the sink, its unforgiving edge digging into your chest as you fought to draw in a single breath. Each inhalation felt like a struggle, your lungs constricted as panic took over, threatening to pull you under. You needed to escape this stifling place, to distance yourself from her.

Suddenly, a large shadow enveloped you.

“Pet,” Lady Dimitrescu said, her voice low and silky, as her hand reached out to cradle your jaw. The warmth of her palm contrasted sharply with the chill in the air, and you felt a shiver run down your spine. “Look at me.”

She gently but firmly forced you to meet her gaze, turning your body with a grip that left no room for defiance. Her eyes pierced into yours, demanding your undivided attention.

“What has gotten into you? You reek of fear.” Lady Dimitrescu said, her voice slow and deliberate.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

There was no way you could confess about the note or how the maid had helped you earlier. Your brain desperately wracked for something, anything, that might divert her suspicion. Perhaps honesty was the best approach – though not the truth she sought. You hoped against hope that it would work.

“That’s because I am scared,” you began, your voice quivering. “I’m scared of you, your daughters – of this whole place! Being drugged and forced to be your pet, it’s all too much! I just want to go home! I miss my family!”

Tears brimmed in your eyes as you spoke, and you silently prayed that she would buy your explanation. Deep down, you meant every word. The fear, the confusion – they were painfully real. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though a flicker of hurt crossed Lady Dimitrescu’s face before she quickly masked it with her usual veneer of authority. 

“Such dramatics,” she said, annoyance threading her tone. “I understand that this transition is difficult for you, but you must embrace your new reality. In time, you will come to see that this is your home now. You belong to me, and you will adapt to this new life, whether you wish to or not.”

Relief washed over you, grateful that she had fallen for your half-truth. However, her words lingered, unsettling you. The notion of belonging to her, of being bound to this castle still made your skin crawl. She straightened up once more, releasing her grip on your jaw.

“Now, dry those tears and finish your breakfast,” she commanded, her voice carrying an edge of dismissal. “We don’t have all day.”

***

Currently, you sat across Lady Dimitrescu’s desk, your gaze fixed on a few documents laid out before you. The whole morning consisted of helping her go through her notes, meticulously analyzing every detail and ensuring nothing was overlooked. The task was mentally exhausting, each page filled with complex information that demanded your full attention.

As you shifted in your seat, trying to find a more comfortable position, Lady Dimitrescu's keen eye caught the movement. She paused her work, her eyes lingering on you for a moment before a small smile played on her lips.

“Perhaps we should take a break,” she suggested as she set her pen down. “I’ve had my fill of these reports. How about we pay a visit to the atelier?”

Your gaze snapped up in surprise. You had heard of the room during your first week here, but you’ve never stepped foot inside. Very few of the staff ever did. Her eyes locked onto yours, glimmering with a mischievous light that made your heart beat a little faster.

“The atelier?” You questioned; your curiosity piqued.

“Yes, I would like for you to see it,” Lady Dimitrescu continued. “The atelier is where I keep my more personal projects. I think you’ll find it quite... charming.” She rose from her chair with a fluid grace that seemed almost unnatural. “Come. There's much to show you, and I believe a change of scenery will do us both some good.”

***

You approached a heavy wooden door adorned with intricate carvings. As you drew closer, the elaborate designs came into sharper focus. The carvings depicted a lush, intertwining array of vines and flowers, each petal and leaf painstakingly carved with a level of skill that spoke of centuries-old craftsmanship.

You didn't have a chance to study it further as Lady Dimitrescu pushed the door open, the heavy wood moving effortlessly under her touch.

Inside, the atelier was a stunning contrast to the rest of the castle – a treasure trove of artistry and inspiration. The walls were lined with canvases draped in rich colors while some half-finished sketches were scattered about. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, its crystal pendants catching the light and casting a soft, golden glow that highlighted the finer details of all the artworks. And in the center, stood a large canvas, partially concealed by a heavy velvet drape.

“What do you think, pet?” Lady Dimitrescu said, her voice a low purr.

You stepped into the atelier; your senses overwhelmed by the vivid colors.

“It’s… beautiful.” You breathed, your eyes wide with wonder.

She hummed appreciatively. “Indeed. There is one piece in particular that is my favorite.” She gestured to that same large canvas in the middle. “Would you like to see it?”

You gave a brief nod. “Yes, my Lady.”

With a flourish, Lady Dimitrescu pulled back the drape, revealing a striking portrait of a woman – her features eerily reminiscent of your own. The painting captured every detail: the arch of the brows, the curve of the lips, the delicate contour of the cheekbones, but it was the eyes that held you captive. They sparkled with an otherworldly light, almost as if they were alive.

You could feel Lady Dimitrescu's gaze boring into you, scrutinizing every flicker of emotion that crossed your face. You swallowed hard, a chill creeping down your spine as you processed the painting.

“It looks… just like me.” You murmured, unable to tear your gaze away.

“Precisely.” Lady Dimitrescu said, stepping closer to you.

“Why?” You croaked, your voice sounding strained.

“There’s something about you that intrigues me,” she whispered. “Perhaps it’s fate that brought you to me.”

The corners of her lips curved upward, revealing a hint of her sharp, predatory teeth. The air grew heavy with tension, as if the very atmosphere around you had thickened.

“There’s so much more I want to share with you. So much more you could become.” Her voice was almost hypnotic, filled with promise and a hint of something darker.

Your stomach twisted, a knot of anxiety and unease forming deep within you. As the weight of her gaze came down on you, Lady Dimitrescu’s expression shifted, a playful smile breaking the intensity of the moment.

“But enough of my musings,” she said, her tone lightening. “What do you say we turn our attention to something a bit more hands-on? Would you like to try your hand at painting?”

The sudden change in topic made you do a double take. You blinked, the tension momentarily dissipating as you processed her unexpected suggestion.

“Me? Paint?” You echoed. “I’ve never really done it before.”

You looked up at Lady Dimitrescu, searching her face for any hint of mockery, but found only sincere encouragement.

“That’s fine,” she said, her smile widening. “It doesn’t require perfection; it requires passion.

She led you toward a blank canvas leaning against the right side of the wall, surrounded by a plethora of vibrant paints and clean brushes. You hesitated, glancing at the canvas and back to her.

“What should I paint?”

“Anything your heart desires,” she replied, stepping back to give you room. “Just let your instincts guide you.”

“Okay, I’ll give it a try.” You said uncertainly as you stepped forward.

You grabbed a paint brush off a nearby table, its weight feeling foreign in your hand. Next, you picked up a palette and a few tubes of acrylic paint. You squeezed out dabs of paint - vibrant reds, deep blues, and sunny yellows onto the palette. Slowly, you began to swirl them together with the brush, watching as they transformed into new hues – emerald greens and sunset oranges.

With a tentative stroke, you pressed the brush against the canvas, the bristles gliding smoothly across the surface. Each movement felt clumsy at first, but as you gained confidence, your strokes became more fluid and expressive. You layered colors, allowing them to blend and bleed into one another.

“Beautiful,” Lady Dimitrescu murmured, her gaze fixed on you as you worked. “You already have a natural sense of color. I can see the potential.”

Encouraged by her words, you started to create bold strokes, blending hues and allowing your emotions to flow onto the canvas. For the first time, you felt a sense of freedom.

Not long thereafter, you set the palette aside and stepped back to assess your work. Before you flowed a waterfall that tumbled down a rugged mountainside while the surrounding landscape was filled with lush green trees and rocky outcrops. While the colors weren't as smooth as you had hoped, and some areas lacked refined detail, the painting held a certain charm. It wasn't bad for your first attempt at painting.

“It’s remarkable, dear.” Lady Dimitrescu said, stepping closer to admire your work.

You blushed at her praise. “Thank you, my Lady. I didn’t know I could do something like this.”

“And that’s the beauty of discovering oneself. We often underestimate our own potential,” she stated matter of fact. “Now, I'd like to show you a technique that is helpful for beginners. It's called dry brushing. I'll demonstrate on a blank canvas so that you can observe closely.”

She reached over your head and picked up the palette you had just used. As she did so, the board ended up tilting slightly and some of the remaining paint dripped off the edge, landing on your vest. The sudden sensation of cold, wet paint soaking through the cloth made you flinch back.

“Oh my,” Lady Dimitrescu said in surprise, though there was a small, knowing smile on her lips, as if she found the situation both charming and entertaining. “I do apologize, darling. It seems I’ve turned you into a canvas of sorts.”

You lifted the bottom of your vest in a futile attempt to keep the paint from running further down the fabric. Her gaze followed your movements, and she reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against the paint-stained spot.

She let out a soft sigh. “Go wipe the excess paint off, pet, and leave the vest in the laundry basket. Return here once you’ve finished.”

“Yes, my Lady.” Your voice came out more awkwardly than you intended.

You turned to leave but not before your eyes were drawn back to the portrait of yourself. The uncanny precision of the details, the intensity of the gaze staring back at you. It unsettled you in a way you couldn't quite explain.

As you finally exited the room, you couldn’t help but wonder why Lady Dimitrescu had chosen this moment to show you the atelier. To show the painting of you.

What was her intention?

As you made your way to the Lady’s bedchambers, you paused, glancing down the hallway where her daughters' bedchambers were. The corridor stretched out before you, silent and shadowed. Nobody was around. The note in your pocket burned, reminding you of the main house key that was supposedly in Bela’s bedroom.

Your heart began to race as you debated snooping around in her bedroom. You didn't know where the Lady's daughters were, and the thought of running into one of them made your palms sweaty. Bela was known for her strict adherence to her duties, often seen patrolling the castle and overseeing the staff. Cassandra spent most of her time in either the armory or the cellar. And Daniela typically lingered in the library, absorbed in her books. You prayed that today they would follow their usual routines.

This might be your only chance to search for the key. It was a risk you had to take.

You pivoted on your heel and made your way down the hallway. The silence was almost deafening, each of your footsteps echoing against the carpeted floor. After a few more steps, you came upon Bela’s bedroom door. A small red gem rested in the center, which gleamed in the low light like a drop of blood. It matched the one on her necklace that she always wore.

You looked both ways one more time.

Nothing.

The hallway was empty. You slowly opened the door, the hinges creaking slightly, and slipped inside. The door clicked shut behind you. Bela’s bedroom was tidy and dark, the only light coming from a few scattered candles and the low flickering embers from the fireplace. Near the back was a large bed, pushed against the furthest wall, its canopy draped with rich, heavy curtains. A nightstand stood next to the bed, a single candle flickering on its surface. To the right was the fireplace and next to it was a desk, neatly arranged with papers and books, presumably placed there to keep Bela warm as she worked. On the left side of the bedroom was the vanity.

Where could the key be?

Logically, it would make sense to check her desk first. Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, you approached the desk, your fingers shaking slightly as you reached for the first drawer. It slid open, revealing a stack of neatly organized documents. You began to rifle through them, the papers rustling underneath your touch. Letters, schedules, and reports passed through your hands, but unfortunately, the key wasn’t there. You looked on top of her desk and moved some folders and books around, hoping the key might be hidden in plain sight, but it yielded nothing as well.

You walked over to her vanity and opened each drawer as well. Bottles clinked together, brushes rolled aside, but there was still no sign of the main house key.

A cold sweat broke out on your forehead and your hands began to feel clammy. You wiped them on your pants, feeling the fabric cling to your palms.

You needed to hurry.

You turned around and walked over to the nightstand. You opened the top drawer and moved some papers and personal objects aside. Your fingers brushed against the edges of journals, loose sheets of parchment, and small trinkets as you sifted through the contents.

Then, your eyes widened.

The key.

It lay nestled beneath a stack of old letters. For a moment, you simply stared at it, hardly daring to believe your luck. Then, with a swift motion, you quickly grabbed it and stuffed it in your pocket. You made sure to close the drawer before you made your way to the door. You cautiously opened it and peeked your head out. The hallway beyond was dim and deserted. Your breath came a little easier as you stepped out. You closed the door quietly, the latch clicking into place with a soft sound that seemed louder than it was.

You couldn’t believe it. You had the key!

Your heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. This was your chance to escape, to reclaim your life from Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters.

You picked up the pace as you made your way down the hallway, heart pounding violently inside of your chest. Before you could turn the corner, Catalina's face flashed across your mind for a split second, halting your steps mid-stride. The image of her warm smile and kind eyes filled your thoughts, bringing an unexpected pang of guilt. You wanted to say goodbye to her, to thank her for the help she provided in this nightmare. The thought of leaving Catalina without saying a word felt wrong, but you knew that time was not on your side. In the end, she would understand. She would want you to leave.

As you stood there, lost in thought, a distant scream sliced through the air, chilling your blood. It was followed by an eerie giggle. Possibly Daniela by the sound of it.

You knew you couldn't linger any longer.

You had to leave.

Now.

As you descended the staircase, you caught sight of a maid, her back turned to you as she dusted one of the heavy-looking vases. You hesitated for a moment. You couldn’t take the risk of her spotting you; if she did, it would surely spell disaster for both of you. She would have no choice but to alert Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters if she didn’t want to lose her life. Plus, you didn’t want to think about what the Lady would to do you if you did end up getting caught.

You continued down the steps slowly, your heart racing as you maneuvered through the foyer. You stayed close to the shadows, glancing nervously at doorways and corners, half-expecting one of the Lady’s daughters to pop out at any moment.

Finally, you reached the main door.

Your heart was pounding so hard it felt as if it might burst from your chest. You pulled the key from your pocket and inserted it into the slot with trembling hands, praying that it wouldn't make too much noise. The mechanism clicked, and you held your breath, waiting for any sign that you had been detected. You strained to listen, your senses on high alert, but the castle remained fairly silent. You pushed the door open with ease, and a rush of cool, fresh air hit your face. The sensation was almost overwhelming. You stepped out and shut the door behind you as quietly as you could. The final barrier between you and the horrors of Castle Dimitrescu was sealed away with a soft thud.

You let out a ragged breath, feeling the oppressive weight lift off your shoulders. The tension that had coiled tightly within you began to unwind, like a spring slowly being released. You could almost sob in relief, the overwhelming urge to break down right there nearly consuming you. But you knew that there was no time for that. You still needed to get away from here, to put as much distance between yourself and the castle as much as possible. Turning away from the main door, you sprinted across the courtyard, adrenaline overriding the lingering effects of the drug. Your breath came out in short, rapid bursts, your lungs burning with the effort, but you didn't slow down. You had to get away, you had to reach safety.

The chill in the air was sharp, nipping at your exposed skin and seeping through your clothing. It pierced through your layers, making every breath feel crisp and biting, but it was a minor inconvenience compared to what you had endured recently. Snow covered the landscape, its pristine blanket stretching as far as the eye could see, making each step a struggle. Yet, the sun's warm rays managed to break through the overcast sky, melting some patches away and revealing damp, slushy areas that squished underfoot. It reminded you that even in the harshest of winters, warmth could still break through.

Eventually, the winding path ahead twisted through dense woods, shrouded in shadows and thick underbrush that seemed to close in around you. A sense of trepidation settled in your chest, memories of local tales about the woods resurfacing in your mind. You had heard of Lycans roaming the outskirts of the forest, their howls often echoing in the distance during the night. Yet, for some reason, they mainly avoided the villages. It was as if an unseen force forbade them from coming too close, a mysterious boundary they dared not to cross. Regardless, it didn’t ease your fears.

As you pushed forward, several branches scratched at your arms and face, their jagged edges catching on to your clothing and drawing minor scrapes that stung in the cold air. But you hardly noticed the pain; your focus was fixed on the path ahead, each step taking you closer to home.

You couldn’t wait to be reunited with your parents again.

[hauntedhokage]

kiss prompt: kissing tears from the other’s face from this list

word count: 616

There wasn’t any kind of injury that could be considered less than a catastrophe in Sae’s world. He worked so hard to keep his body in top shape; extensive hours of stretching, never skipping a warm up or cool down, and intentional focus and care into recovery all to ensure that he didn’t get injured and have to miss any practice or match time. Lost time meant lost progress, and lost progress made for a very grumpy Sae. 

The ankle sprain of 2020 was an event his manager would never forget and something you’d been given the in depth story on as a warning for what you would be getting into by dating Sae. 

But this was worse than a sprained ankle during practice; that was something explained off without going into detail about the extent of his alleged injury. The scene you were watching was so much worse. He’d lost traction on the grass due to the rain and mud while mid pass, and from where you sat it looked like he had twisted his knee in the fall. This was horrifying, and you hope to never see him look so pained ever again. 

He’s bitter and volatile while getting evaluated by the team’s doctors, less so with the nurses when you’re sitting in a hospital room with him, and eventually he simmers down to just being bitter and frustrated when you're arranging him in the hotel room to keep his leg elevated the way you’d been instructed to. He wouldn’t need surgery, thankfully, but a week of bed rest followed by two-to-four weeks of only light solo exercise and physical therapy before he could be cleared to get back on the field was the equivalent to his life ending. 

He's quiet as he watches you navigate the room to make sure your bags were packed, you think he’s trying to figure out how to navigate public spaces without using the crutches he’d been told to use. You know he’s miserable, and if you could fix it you certainly would, but nothing you could say would have a high rate of success in making him feel better so you don’t know what to really say. 

“Babe, do you think my neck pillow around your knee would help?” you ask, turning to face him with your adjustable neck pillow in hand while you try to adjust it to how big you thought Sae’s knee was. What you see is Sae looking back at you, bottom lip caught between his teeth with his brow furrowed. This was a face you’d seen on a few very rare occasions, which has you dropping the pillow on his gear bag in your hurry to get into the bed with him. The tear streaks are clear now that you’re closer to him, your hands settling on his cheeks as you lean in to kiss his nose. 

“Crying like an infant, it’s shameful,” he mutters, making you shake your head as you tilt his head back to look up at you properly. “I’m not supposed to make mistakes.”

“You did today, but you’re human and that’s okay,” you whisper, kissing his cheek along the trail of fallen tears. “People thought you were playing like a true European and selling hard for the other team to get carded.”That earns a snort from your frustrated midfielder, and you kiss his cheek once more before pulling back to rest your forehead against his. Your request that he stop beating himself up is met with a sigh, his eyes leaving yours momentarily as he tells you he’ll try - which was close enough, you weren’t expecting even an attempt at getting over this for another two weeks.

[blankwashed]

shattered.

tw: (one swear word)

you didn't believe it to be true. it wasn't possible. the both of you had two children together, megumi and tsumiki. they were both bright students, always polite and wonderful children. never you had thought that their father would hide such truths from you.

toji fushiguro, the man you had given everything to. your body, your time and your heart. he became the center of your universe and yet...he chose to betray you. the pain in your gut made you want to throw up.

maybe it wasn't who you thought it was?

maybe it was his sister?

the sound of the door opening shut brought you back to where you were standing. toji, exuding his usual confidence walked in. his eyes met yours, biting his lower lip, confusion was plastered on his face.

"what happened, doll?" he asked.

you didn't respond immediately, you couldn't. you were afraid to spew out allegations that might not be true. your mind was tangled in a web of uncertainty and betrayal. instead all you did was to grab the phone and showed him the messages, all from a single person, a person who he named as "❤️".

his eyes bulged, his jaw tightened and the gears in his brain were processing the situation. "it's not what it looks like doll," he began, but as his words flew out of his mouth, you could feel that he wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

"then what is it, toji?" you demanded, your voice breaking. "tell me what it is, because from what i've read, it looks like you've lied to me. cheated on me, all this fucking time..." you said as you scrolled through his messages with her.

his silence was deafening. the anger and betrayal simmered inside you, boiling over the words you had never imagine saying. "how could you do this to us?! to me?! the children we have! after all we've been through, have you ever thought, just one second that you'd be throwing all of this away?!"

toji took a step closer to you, pushing a stray hair back behind your ear, "doll..".

"don't doll me. don't come any closer. i don't even know who you are anymore."

"please, just let me explain." he pleaded. "it was a one time thing, i don't know why she kept texting me. and trust me doll, i was thinking about you the entire time. i just had to get it out my system.."

shaking your head, with ugly horrendous tears running down your cheeks, "i trusted you, toji. i gave you a chance, a chance to prove to me that you're different. and you threw it all away for what?! just one night with someone else?!"

he looked down, unable to meet your gaze, and the sight broke something inside you. this was the man you had thought you'd spend your life with, drinking tea at the porch when both of your kids would be working. laughing with each other while staring at the sky.

"i never meant to hurt you doll, i told you, its just a one time thing. satoru. satoru was the one who talked me into it!" he tried to defend himself once more and even trying to push the blame onto his co-worker.

"actually," you started "if you'd truly love me, you'd tell your useless friend to bug off. now, you hurt me more than i ever thought was possible."

the silence stretched between you, a hole dug too deep to be repaired. you wiped at your eyes, trying to compose yourself, but the pain was too raw like a knife cutting through your heart.

"i think you should leave," you finally said, your voice trembling. "let me think over what should be done now, where the kids should stay."

as the door closed behind him, another flow of tears came down your cheek. you sank to the floor, your body wracked with grief.

hours passed, you were still sprawled on the floor, lips chapped, stomach empty and heart shattered.

finding his jacket draped over the back of a chair, you went against your mind, clinging on to the fabric. memories came flooding back to you - nights where you spend wrapped in his arms, the cute little smooches you'd give his scar and promises of forever. all of that now thrown in the trash.

why? the question screamed in your mind. were you not enough? were you getting ugly? after giving him 2 kids, were you considered ugly?

you fell on your bed, the sanctuary for both of you where many memories were made. many firsts but now it all look like lasts to you. curling into a ball, clutching his jacket as if it were a soft toy, you wished it could somehow bring the old him back.

sleep took over your body after you were out of tears. the betrayal cut deeper with each passing minute, a wound that seemed impossible to heal

weeks later, you've found yourself healing. from the help of trust worthy friends, lots of binge-eating of ice cream and time for your hobbies. you were beginning to find a sense of peace, a fragile hope that perhaps one day, you'd be whole again.

megumi and tsumiki were still staying with you as you couldn't be so heartless to let them live with their father. after what he'd done to you, he looked as if he was the largest criminal wanted on earth to you.

"it's okay mama, you have us. we would never look for another mama," tsumiki said, while having her breakfast cereal.

a tear dropped from your eye. innocence. oh how you wished toji were as innocent as the both of your children.

suddenly, the doorbell rang, pulling you away from your thoughts. slowly, you made your way to the door, the weight of your heart on your shoulders. when you opened it, toji stood there, looking more broken than you'd ever seen him.

"please," he said through the grills of your door. "can we talk? just you and me."

you swallowed hard, the sight of both your children and their dirtbag dad. "i don't know if i can do this," you whispered, your voice trembling.

a hand came through the grill of the door, wiping your tears away. "i understand but i need you to know that i love you. i always have, and i always will.."

the words hung in the air, a bittersweet reminder of what he used to always remind you. you took a deep breath, the ache in your chest nearly unbearable. "i loved you too, toji. but after what you've done..not anymore."

he cupped your face gently with his hand, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to remember the warmth of his touch, the safety of his embrace. the cloud 9 that you always are on whenever he's with you. but then you stepped back, the distance between the both of you a reminder to yourself to treat yourself with more dignity.

"goodbye toji," you said softly. "i'll tell the kids you said hi and......take care of yourself. and her." you said as you closed the door on him.

you could only imagine what was happening behind the door. was he sobbing? was he feeling guilt? was he happy that he can finally leave you? your broken heart was heavy, mind too full of negative thoughts at that moment.

all, when the door closed.

[catboydogma]

years of nothing have subsided

codywan week 2024 sol master list (solsterlist)

@codywanweek 2024 day 8 prompts: 5th anniversary

notes: title is, of course, from anniversary by autoheart (The codywan band of all time). this concludes my contributions to this year's codywan week. whew! i haven't written this much in consecutive days in a long time lol. thank you very much to everyone who has taken the time to comment, i couldn't have made it to all eight prompts without y'all. thank you to the mods as well for running the event + the wonderful prompts. here's to another successful year of being Normal about Those Old Men!

wc: 1,823

cross-posted to ao3

The weekend came upon Cody with a vengeance. Before he knew it he was watching his class of younglings—Jedi Junior Padawans and clone cadets alike—filter out of the training salle with a sense of acute exhaustion. They were good kids. Mostly. But, hells, Cody was sure he hadn’t had that much energy as a cadet. The hand-to-hand module was progressing right on track—mostly due to Cody’s own diligence and rigor, and partially due to Obi-Wan having an uncanny sense of when to show up with a round of snacks and odd tasks to provide breaks.

A text alert made his comm chime from where Cody had left it half-buried in his bag. He started in on unwrapping his hands and slung a towel over his shoulders, blotting the side of his face against his shoulder. He had just enough time to grab a shower and change before—

OWK: Dinner tonight with Rex, yes? I can turn the heat down on the roast if you are indisposed

C: Yes. Class finished. ETA 5. Do not forget the paprika. And stir. The fond is key to the flavor.

C: None of your peppers.

OWK: They might add a nice kick

C: You will put the entire pepper in after alleging that it will be quote a shame unquote to let the rest quote simply lay around unquote. No peppers.

OWK: Ah, if you insist…

With a new sense of urgency rising, Cody decided his normal cooldown stretch could be cut short by a few minutes. It could be said that he trusted Obi-Wan with his life. But he did not trust the man with his recipes.

Cody’s shower was blessedly free of any and all interruptions—Obi-Wan had tasked himself to making some steamed buns. He had to go down the hall to Quinlan to source some eggs for the filling, which resulted in Quinlan following Obi-Wan back into their apartment like a stray massiff. At least by then the roast had finished and Cody could more successfully fend off attempts to add things even if the attempts were now on two fronts.

“So, who else are you expecting?” Quinlan asked as he eyed the fourth plate Cody put down.

“Rex will be joining us,” Obi-Wan said with a fond smile sent Cody’s way. “He’s back on-planet refueling for the time being. Cody’s been trying to angle for getting him set up somewhat closer.”

Cody just shook his head. Rex had always been a stubborn kid. Yeah, maybe Cody had hinted a couple times that now CoCo Town had a nice little ujalayi and specialty sweets store that stocked just the kind of things Rex was obsessed with. And maybe he had casually let Rex know that Ahsoka Tano was back on Coruscant and working closely with the same relief group that Fives and a recovering Echo had attached themselves to. But the man was free to come to his own decisions.

“He’ll always find his way back to you,” Quinlan said to Cody, reaching out to steady the wide dish of slow-cooked roast still simmering in its own juice. Cody looked up at Quinlan, startled by the strangely—for Vos—earnest comment.

“Thanks,” Cody said. For the comment or the help with the dish—he wasn’t sure yet.

Quinlan just winked at him and lounged back in his chair again. “Hey, good thing the kids aren’t in-Temple, actually. You’d have randos just dropping in all over the place once they get a whiff of this. Cody, you’re wasted on this guy. He thinks raw crab is a culinary delicacy.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan said drily, looking over Quinlan’s head to meet Cody’s eyes. “What a terrible thing, to have uninvited guests dropping in without prior notice or warning. I can’t imagine what one might do in such a scenario.”

Yeah, that was Vos in a bucket. Insightful and touchingly reassuring one moment. Clever asshole in the next.

A polite knock sounded at the door and Obi-Wan—who had been pretending not to be standing around and waiting for this exact thing—waved a hand at the control panel.

“I come bearing gifts!” Rex announced hastily. Smart. Cody would have to bide his time to get his mandatory headlock in before Rex left for the night.

“Oh, this looks lovely,” Obi-Wan said in delight. “Did you go all the way to Little Keldabe for this?”

“Nah,” Rex said, grinning at Cody over his sheet pan of ujalayi. “There’s this new place down in CoCo Town that Cody recommended to me a bit ago. Figured I’d go over and see what all the fuss is about. They’ve got a good selection on hand.”

Little shit.

Obi-Wan cast an all-too-amused look at Cody as he relieved Rex of the tray and set it down on the counter further into the kitchen. “Sit down, you came just in time. The nai wong bao will take a bit longer, but that’s for the best.”

Cody accepted compliments of his cooking with good grace and the four of them passed most of the meal in peace—for a given value of sharing a meal with Quinlan and Cody’s vod’ika. There was some inherent property to Quinlan that made Obi-Wan operate on 20% more smug when they were in close proximity.

And then, just as Cody was beginning to get suspicious at the noticeable lack of overt shit-stirring, Rex gave him a jaunty little grin.

“Happy anniversary to the both of you, too. I would’ve thought the two of you’d be doing something with just the two of you tonight, so I appreciate you making the time.”

“Oh, shit! You didn’t say anything, Obi,” Quinlan said, shaking his locs back and eyeing Obi-Wan with vicious glee. “That’s so sweet! What is this, six years? Seven years?”

“Five,” Cody said automatically. He wasn’t one for anniversaries. It was a date on a calendar. There was no reason for him to assign some arbitrary importance to a day and celebrate his relationship with Obi-Wan when he could celebrate their relationship any day of the week. Anytime. Any place. In the main room. The shower. Over the counter, a couple memorable times.

He’d assumed Obi-Wan felt the same way—the man never brought it up.

“Is it really today?” Obi-Wan asked, looking much too invested in this. “I hadn’t thought it was such… public knowledge.”

“Yeah, I mean.” Rex showed Obi-Wan a still from a datapad he’d had tucked away somewhere and Cody blinked as a wash of recollection swept over him.

One of their first engagements together—not just a ground skirmish or a dogfight above atmo, but a real drawn out battle with both Obi-Wan and Cody commanding from the frontlines—had been a turning point in the regard Cody had held for his General. Somehow Rex had gotten his hands on a holo of the two of them afterwards. They were both covered in blood and sweat and Cody thought that the fuzzy dark spots on Obi-Wan’s robes had been charred blaster holes at the time. They were tucked away next to a holo-table with a map of the enemy forces the 501st and 212th had been routing, heads bent together, shoulders brushing. Even more damningly, holo-Cody had a faint smile on his face as he watched his General gesture about the table.

“Oh,” Quinlan cooed at the same time Obi-Wan let out a faint “ah.” Cody, whose senses were now finely attuned to this sound from Obi-Wan, instinctively turned to look at him.

“You didn’t forget our anniversary, did you, Cody?” Obi-Wan asked plaintively.

“I should be asking you that question,” Cody said. He could not let this slander go on unchallenged. “You didn’t even mention it this morning.”

“—really heartwarming stuff,” Rex said to Quinlan as he swiped across his datapad and showed Quinlan another picture. “Look at that. Five whole years, wow.”

“Does our anniversary mean so little to you?” Obi-Wan asked. His eyes somehow got rounder and he laid a hand over Cody’s. “Five years is a significant milestone, Cody. I can’t believe this from you…”

Cody turned his hand over to trap Obi-Wan’s fingers in his. “I made you dinner, sweetheart. I can’t believe it took a reminder from Rex, of all people. And you didn’t even get me anything—”

“—‘s a good one.” Quinlan nodded approvingly and poked a finger at the screen of Rex’s datapad. “You should send that to Dex. He’ll get you free lunches for the rest of your life for that one.”

“Do excuse me,” Obi-Wan said cordially to Cody. He turned and lunged across half the table for Rex’s datapad—Rex turned out of the way just in time and Quinlan cackled, throwing his head back and eyes squinting shut in mirth.

“You two saps are disgusting,” Rex half-shouted at Cody as he skipped back from the table to escape Obi-Wan’s clutches. “Really, neither of you remembered your own anniversary? Prime’s tits, Cody. You really do deserve each other.”

“Show.” Cody pointed a threatening finger at Rex and smoothed his other hand down Obi-Wan’s back soothingly.

Rex gave Cody a shit-eating grin and flipped the datapad around to reveal a holo taken of Obi-Wan asleep on a fully-armored Cody’s shoulder. His hair was messily tangled over half his face and the light caught on a line of what was quite clearly drool dropping from the corner of his open mouth to Cody’s cuisse. Holo-Cody had his helmet off, glaring bloody murder and pointing two portentous fingers at the viewfinder. There was a telling patch of lines and imprints on one of holo-Cody’s cheeks—like he’d fallen asleep on the shoulder of someone wearing Jedi tunics.

Obi-Wan let out a sound of devastation and half-heartedly tried to make another grab for Rex. It was clear his heart wasn’t in it. “And you would do this to us on our very important fifth anniversary, Rex…”

“If it were that important, you wouldn’t have gotten it from me,” Rex said.

Cody let himself get a good chuckle out of that as he turned his head to press a kiss to Obi-Wan’s temple. “Yeah, alright. I was under the impression that you didn’t care for anniversaries.”

“I don’t,” Obi-Wan said with stiff dignity as he pushed himself to his feet and retreated into the kitchen to check on his steamed buns. “And I was under the impression that you had no strong feelings about them, either.”

“Five years is a long time,” Cody said thoughtfully. Maybe they could do something just this once. Just the two of them. Obi-Wan smiled at him over as he returned to the table with a tray of sweets and Cody couldn’t stop himself from smiling back. Yeah… maybe the two of them could try out having a special occasion just for the two of them. Nothing fancy. All he needed was Obi-Wan here with him.

[scrapyardboyfriends]

Plotdale

28th August 2024

[The Cafe with Aaron, Fauxbert, Nameless Date, Nicola and Jimmy]

*Fauxbert sits at a table while Nicola serves him breakfast*

FAUXBERT: *Gives weird compliment about bacon* See look…I’m nice! Everyone’s been complaining that I’m hostile all the time. 

NICOLA: *Existential Crisis Face* Great…my life has amounted to showing viewers that this imposter can be nice… #RobertComeBack 

*Aaron enters*

*Nameless Date sits at the table* *Doesn’t even merit a close up he’s that unimportant*

AARON: *Searching for Motivation Face* *Barely glances at the table where an alleged date is happening*

PLOT: No Aaron…look harder...show “Jealous Face”

AARON: Nah Mate, the table just happens to be in my path to the counter. Had to look at it to avoid walking into it. Oh look…there’s Jimmy. Hey Jimmy…let’s talk about your Plot, mine is too pathetic to even participate in today. 

PLOT: Can you at least vaguely look at the table while you’re talking to Jimmy?

AARON: *Resigned Face* Fine, I will let my eyes drift briefly over the table. Now…back to Jimmy…

JIMMY: But I don’t want to have Plot! I keep having Plot and it’s not going well for me Aaron.

AARON: Yeah…but do you want Will to handle your Plot? 

JIMMY: *Horrified Face* God no! 

AARON: *Relief Face* Great, then let’s get going. I’ll escort you back to your Plot. 

JIMMY: I miss Robert. 

AARON: *Wistful Face* Same, mate…same. #RyanHawleyIsADemon

FAUXBERT: *Searching for Motivation Face* 

PLOT: Yeah but like…watch Aaron leave please…

FAUXBERT: *Hasn’t Learned How To Ignore The Plot Yet Face* *Stares at Aaron vaguely as he escapes* *Glances back at alleged Nameless Date* Oh…you’re still here…Who are you again? *Smirk of Acknowledgement*

[The Woolpack with Aaron, Gail and Fauxbert]

GAIL: *Weirdly wistful about Caleb Face* For some reason, I’m going to say that Caleb is full of positivity cause I’m quirky like that. 

AARON: Right…but can you do it while you get me a pint please? I’ve had a rough day trying to avoid the Plot. 

PLOT: *Pushes Fauxbert through the door* Now do it just as we practiced!

FAUXBERT: *Still Hasn’t Learned How To Ignore The Plot Face* *Approaches Aaron at the bar* *Stares at his back for 1…2…3 seconds* And I’m out… *Flees off screen*

AARON: *Confused Face* What are you doing mate? 

PLOT: No Aaron…no lines…just wistful staring…It’ll sell the whole thing, I promise!

AARON: Okay…but like…why do I like this guy again? We’ve never even had a real conversation. 

PLOT: Shhhh…it doesn’t matter….stare….let the sexual tension simmer…till it boils over tomorrow…

AARON: Oh I’m going to need more than a pint for this….#RobertComeBack #IMissWhenMyPlotsMadeSense 

[radfemsiren]

The Neil Gaiman allegations are almost completely out of relevancy now. The male class solidarity crowd with their "We're just worried for the trans women" rhetoric won this and made people not even look up the allegations at all for fear of being turned into TERFs if they touch content made by one. It's so disheartening. In the end nobody gives a fuck about the victimized women.

It’s extremely heartbreaking. It mirrors the Cody Ko situation, where when women lead the charge, the sex crime will sit in the open simmering quietly for years. Only when a man says something will people care to listen. Very upsetting overall

[beardedmrbean]

"Disney wasn't an antisemite"

Uh you sure you wanna die on that hill?

How about we ask the Jewish Press what they think

Actress Meryl Streep reignited a debate that has simmered below the surface in Hollywood for decades: Was Walt Disney anti-Semitic?

The occasion was the annual awards event of the National Board of Review, an organization of filmmakers, students, and movie scholars. Streep presented an award to Emma Thompson, for her role in the new movie “Saving Mr. Banks,” about the making of the 1964 Disney film “Mary Poppins.” Thompson co-stars as Poppins author P.L. Travers, alongside Tom Hanks as Walt Disney.

Streep took the opportunity to blast Disney as racist and misogynist who also “supported an anti-Semitic industry lobbying group.”

She did not actually call Disney an anti-Semite, but many people took it that way. The Hollywood Reporter declared that Streep accused Disney of being “sexist, racist and anti-Semitic.” Film professor David Hajdu said Disney was “a deeply flawed human being. A misogynist? You bet. An anti-Semite? That, too.” An unnamed “female Academy member” interviewed by the Reporter referred to him as “that old anti-Semite, himself, Mr. Disney.”

Hollywood historian Neal Gabler examined the anti-Semitism charge in his 2006 biography of Disney. “Of the Jews who worked [with Disney], it was hard to find any who thought Walt was an anti-Semite,” Gabler reported. “Joe Grant, who had been an artist, the head of the model department, and the storyman responsible for Dumbo… declared emphatically that Walt was not an anti-Semite. ‘Some of the most influential people at the studio were Jewish,’ Grant recalled, thinking no doubt of himself, production manager Harry Tytle, and Kay Kamen [head of Disney’s merchandising arm], who once quipped that Disney’s New York office had more Jews than the Book of Leviticus. Maurice Rapf concurred that Walt was not anti-Semitic; he was just a ‘very conservative guy.’ ”

On the other hand, one former Disney animator, David Swift, has claimed he heard Walt make an anti-Semitic remark, and another ex-staffer, David Hilberman, has alleged that one employee was fired because he was Jewish. (However, according to Gabler, Disney himself was rarely involved in firing anyone except the top brass). In addition, the original animated version of the “Three Little Pigs” portrayed the Big Bad Wolf as a stereotypically Jewish peddler, although after complaints, the segment was altered.

When it comes to explicit proof that Disney was anti-Semitic, the critics’ case weakens.

“There is zero hard evidence that Disney ever wrote or said anything anti-Semitic in private or public,” according to Douglas Brode, author of Multiculturalism and the Mouse: Race and Sex in Disney Entertainment. Brode told The Hollywood Reporter that Disney used more Jewish actors “than any other studio of Hollywood’s golden age, including those run by Jewish movie moguls.”

Gabler also revealed that Disney “frequently” made unpublicized donations to a variety of Jewish charities, including a Jewish orphanage, a Jewish old age home, Yeshiva College (precursor to Yeshiva University), and the American League for a Free Palestine. The League, better known as the Bergson Group, publicly supported the armed revolt against the British in Palestine by Menachem Begin’s Irgun Zvai Leumi. Disney was embracing not just Zionism, but its most militant wing.

How, then, did the rumors of Disney’s alleged anti-Semitism spread so far and wide?

That’s where Meryl Streep comes in. The “anti-Semitic industry lobbying group” with which Disney was associated was the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. The group’s statement of principles said nothing about Jews; its declared purpose was to prevent “Communist, Fascist, and other totalitarian-minded groups” from gaining a foothold in Hollywood. Among its members were politically conservative actors such as John Wayne, Clark Gable, and Ginger Rogers. But some of its other members were accused of being privately anti-Semitic, and in general it had a reputation as being reactionary.

Gabler believes that “the most plausible explanation” for the rumors about Disney were a kind of guilt by association: “Walt, in joining forces with the MPA and its band of professional reactionaries and red-baiters, also got tarred with their anti-Semitism. Walt Disney certainly was aware of the MPA’s purported anti-Semitism, but he chose to ignore it…. The price he paid was that he would always be lumped not only with anti-Communists but also with anti-Semites.”

The irony is that while Meryl Streep was condemning Walt Disney for associating with extremists, she herself was doing the very same thing. The actress to whom she gave that award when she made her anti-Disney speech, her close friend Emma Thompson, is active in the anti-Israel boycott movement.

Streep hailed Thompson as “splendid, beautiful, practically a saint…a living, acting conscience.” Yet this “saint,” together with other British actors, publicly urged a boycott of Israel’s Habimah theater troupe when it participated in a festival in England. Habimah, of course, has nothing to do with Israeli government policies or any political issues. Its only “crime” is that it’s Israeli.

By contrast, Thompson had no problem with the National Theater of China taking part in that festival, even though it really does represent the Chinese regime – a regime guilty of the most heinous human rights violations, aid to terrorists around the world, and support for the genocidal government of Sudan. But of course, hypocrisy is the hallmark of the “saints” of the anti-Israel boycott crusade. ______________________

The Antisemitism claim is literally communist propaganda.

[dustorange]

the very idea of a person self-identifying as a “commentary” content creator is sort of lame and impotent and repulsive in that theyre already like very presumptively assuming a place of discernment and intelligence and a sense of rising above the fray and above the alleged stupid dumb rote memetic imitative trend brainlessness of upper middle class like tiktok Influencer or Normie people but even in their analyses—which are often mostly or at least directionally correct—THEY ARE GUILTY OF EXACTLY THE SAME KIND OF GROUPTHINK and TRENDS, just using stretched-out academized language, e.g., every point they make criticizing “overconsumption” is the exact same, albeit vaguely correct, as every fellow like vaguely left person and it’s the exact same as every textual social media’s current majority wave of opinion. And so they’re like dialectically framing themselves in this narrative as a very thin brave cutting-edge new criticism layer OVER the like dumb sheeple overconsumers who just latch onto trends and don’t think for themselves—but that stimulus is so small and the response (criticism of the stimulus and either explicitly or implicitly That Type Of Person, usually “”normies”””) is not new at all and they’re only repeating mindlessly the tropes that have already been laundered through X The Everything App or The Atlantic consensus but it’s framed as suchhhh smart important sociological analysis and the other problem with it is that implicit in this “commentary” or in this criticism is this sense of gleefulness that they get to be on this side of the tide of criticism, such that even though they ARE right, and their explicitly stated reasons are indeed like correct and follow through, you know that these reasons really just a mask for something else, a deeper personal social resentment/jealousy, and criticism in this way, a leveling of the playing field with the acting-wrongly-by-overconsuming socialmediabrainedNormie who is perceived somehow to be higher either by virtue of wealth or because of social status/popularity or (and i think this is a very big one) because they are Happy. The act of criticism confers intellectual status; it promises status to these people who, deep down, know they shouldn’t have it. Because they’re rotten and dumb and groupthinky too, and they have the added bonus of being moralising and bandwagony after pretending to be above that! Because they don’t have the horsepower to actually organically react and form thoughts on these cultural trends—they HAVE to wait for the vocabulary to trickle down (the term overconsumption) and for the “go ahead” to be given . Which is why all of the criticism is exactly the same!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT ITS ALSO TRUE THAT THE TREE SUGAR SCRUB OVERCONSUMPTION SHEIN THING IS CRAZY. But the criticism of it by certain people just rings so subtly jealous and sour and smirky and like it’s driven by lowheat simmering anger and its just like ugh i dislike you even more than the shein $300 haul people because you have a resentful vindictive wrongness of spirit that you’re trying to launder as thoughtful anticapitalist cultural analysis

[chokememaximoff]

Riding Hearts: A Biker's Love Story I

Wanda Maximoff x Reader series

Abstract:Wanda infiltrates a dangerous biker gang to uncover secrets of super weapons. Amidst the chaos, her bond with Y/N evolves, leading to passion, sacrifice, and a love story that defies the odds.

TW:Violence,Death,Blood,Gore,Trauma,Manipulation,Language,Substance,Sexuality,Danger,Criminality

Y/N Y/L/N's leather-clad fingers tightened around the handlebars of her roaring motorcycle as she sped down the darkened highway. Wind whistled past, carrying with it the scent of freedom and rebellion. She had been part of the Wolfpack biker gang for as long as she could remember, a family forged in the crucible of danger and loyalty.

Her mind wandered back to the day that had changed her life forever. She had been a young girl then, innocent and vulnerable, when a predator had cornered her in an alley. Just as fear had threatened to paralyze her, a group of leather-clad bikers had stormed in like avenging angels. They had fought off her assailant and taken her under their wing.

Now, Y/N was a force to be reckoned with, her name whispered with a mixture of awe and trepidation on the lips of anyone who dared cross her path. She had earned her place as the right hand of the Wolfpack's leader, a position that came with both respect and fear.

The night was alive with the rumble of engines as Y/N and the gang pulled into their makeshift headquarters – a rundown warehouse hidden on the outskirts of the city. Her heart quickened as she dismounted, the weight of her responsibilities settling on her shoulders.

As she strode through the warehouse, the other gang members parted like the Red Sea, clearing a path for their fierce leader. Y/N's piercing gaze scanned the faces of her companions, a mix of misfits and outlaws bound by loyalty and a shared thirst for adventure.

But tonight was different. Rumors had spread like wildfire that the notorious Avengers had set their sights on the Wolfpack. The Avengers were known for their uncanny abilities, a league of heroes who often walked the fine line between good and questionable tactics.

Word had it that they were after the gang's alleged connections to acquiring super weapons – weapons that could tip the balance of power. And so, with trepidation simmering beneath the surface, Y/N braced herself for the arrival of these so-called heroes.

As the gang settled into the warehouse's dimly lit interior, Y/N leaned against a stack of crates, her steely gaze fixed on the entrance. Moments later, the massive doors creaked open, and in walked a figure cloaked in shadows.

Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch herself, stood in their midst. Y/N's eyes narrowed, assessing the intruder with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. This was the woman who had come to infiltrate their ranks, to play the dangerous game of deception.

The tension in the air was palpable as Wanda's eyes met Y/N's, and for a fleeting moment, the two women sized each other up. Y/N's aura exuded power and danger, a stark contrast to the subtle intensity that radiated from Wanda.

As the gang murmured and exchanged glances, Y/N's lips curved into a sardonic smile. She knew the drill – a test to see if the newcomer had what it took to be part of the Wolfpack. And she was more than ready to see just how far this Scarlet Witch was willing to go.

Little did Y/N know that this encounter would set the wheels of fate into motion, weaving a tale of intrigue, danger, and a love that defied all odds.

..

The warehouse air crackled with anticipation, the eyes of the gang members fixed on Wanda Maximoff. Y/N Y/L/N leaned against the crates, her arms crossed, as she observed the Scarlet Witch with a mix of skepticism and intrigue. This was no ordinary newcomer – Wanda's aura held a unique blend of determination and hidden vulnerability.

Razor stepped forward, his biker vest adorned with intricate symbols that told the stories of his battles and triumphs. "Welcome to our little slice of paradise, sweetheart. We've heard you've got guts, but here in the Wolfpack, we don't just take anyone."

Y/N's lips curled into a half-smile as she unfolded her arms. "Razor's right. We're a family here, and family comes before anything else."

Razor nodded in agreement, his stern expression softening slightly. "So, Wanda, let's see what you're made of. You want in? You'll have to prove it."

The gang members moved in a little closer, their challenging stares fixed on Wanda. Razor motioned to a makeshift target at the far end of the warehouse. "You've got a shot at that target. Impress us."

Wanda's gaze remained steady as she focused her powers. Scarlet energy crackled around her fingertips, and with a sudden surge, she released a bolt of energy that streaked across the room and struck the target dead center.

The gang members exchanged glances, some of them nodding in approval. But the air remained tense, and Y/N's raised eyebrow conveyed her begrudging acknowledgment of Wanda's display of power.

Razor's lips curled into a smirk. "Not bad. But raw power won't always save your hide."

He signaled to the gang members, who produced a series of makeshift weapons – a knife, a chain, and a pair of brass knuckles. "Pick one."

Wanda hesitated only briefly before choosing the knife. She held it firmly in her hand, her stance determined as she braced herself for what came next.

As Razor signaled the start, gang members lunged at Wanda one by one, attacking with ferocity. Wanda's movements were swift, but the odds were against her. She managed to evade some blows, but others landed, leaving her with bruises and scrapes.

The gang members jeered and laughed, taunting her as she struggled to hold her ground. Y/N's gaze remained fixed, her expression unreadable as she watched the scene unfold.

Wanda fought valiantly, but eventually, she found herself pinned to the ground, a gang member's knee pressing into her back. The laughter echoed in her ears, and humiliation burned in her chest.

Razor's voice cut through the commotion. "That's enough."

The gang members stepped back, leaving Wanda on the ground, breathing heavily and disheveled. Her pride stung as she slowly pushed herself up.

Razor's gaze locked onto Wanda's. "You've got heart, but you'll need more than that to survive with us."

As the gang members dispersed, Y/N pushed off the crates and approached Wanda, her expression inscrutable. "Welcome to the Wolfpack," she said, her voice a mix of begrudging respect and something else.

Wanda nodded, a mixture of determination and humiliation in her gaze. As Y/N walked away, Wanda's jaw clenched, a silent promise forming in her mind – she would prove herself, no matter the cost.

As the echoes of laughter and the sting of humiliation lingered in the air, Wanda's path into the heart of the Wolfpack became more uncertain and challenging than she could have ever anticipated.

...

Weeks passed since Wanda's initiation into the Wolfpack, but the gang's skepticism hadn't faded. The dimly lit warehouse buzzed with anticipation as Wanda stood at the center of the room, a mixture of trepidation and determination in her eyes.

Razor's voice cut through the tension. "Time for your next trial, Wanda."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the gang as they gathered around, eager to see how the Scarlet Witch would fare. Y/N Y/L/N leaned against a pillar, her arms crossed, her gaze piercing as it fixed on Wanda.

A gang member stepped forward, holding a bucket filled with a thick, gooey substance. "For this trial, you've got to dig deep. Reach into this bucket and find a hidden object."

Wanda's brow furrowed as she glanced at the bucket, then back at the gang member. She hesitated for a moment before plunging her hand into the goo. Her fingers squelched into the mess, searching blindly.

The gang members exchanged knowing glances, smirks playing on their lips as they watched Wanda's struggle. Y/N's gaze remained steady, unmoving, her expression inscrutable.

Finally, Wanda's fingers closed around something hard and cold. She pulled her hand out, revealing a small metal object. A key.

Laughter erupted from the gang members as they clapped and cheered, their amusement evident. Wanda's cheeks burned with embarrassment, the goo dripping from her hand as she held up the key.

Razor's voice broke through the laughter. "Impressive, Wanda. You've got a sharp eye."

But the trials were far from over. Another gang member stepped forward, holding a makeshift costume – an outlandish outfit that seemed better suited for a carnival than a biker gang's initiation.

Wanda's eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the ridiculous outfit. The gang members roared with laughter, clearly enjoying the spectacle that was about to unfold.

Y/N's gaze remained unmoving, her lips quirking into a faint smile as she watched Wanda's reaction. There was a spark of something in Y/N's eyes, a glimmer of understanding beneath the surface.

As Wanda reluctantly donned the costume, her face flushed with embarrassment, she stepped forward and began a hesitant, awkward dance. The gang members clapped and hooted, their amusement showing no signs of waning.

Wanda's heart raced as she danced, her movements stiff and self-conscious. The gang members' laughter echoed in her ears, a constant reminder of the spectacle she was making of herself.

Finally, the dance came to an end, and Wanda stood in the center of the room, breathing heavily but resolute. The gang members applauded her efforts, their approval evident.

Razor stepped forward, his expression a mixture of amusement and something deeper. "You've shown us something tonight, Wanda. You've got guts."

Wanda's gaze flickered to Y/N, who stood at a distance, her expression unreadable. Wanda couldn't decipher Y/N's thoughts or emotions, and the uncertainty only added to her unease.

Y/N's voice cut through the commotion. "But remember, the Wolfpack doesn't just tolerate weakness. We test it."

As the gang members dispersed, leaving Wanda standing alone in the center of the room, Y/N approached her, a glint of something in her eyes that was more than mere amusement.

"You're not like the others," Y/N said, her voice a low murmur. "You've got a fire that burns even through humiliation."

Wanda met Y/N's gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't read the emotions in Y/N's eyes, but the intensity of the moment made her feel exposed and vulnerable.

"I'll prove myself," Wanda replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her nerves.

As Wanda walked away, the echoes of laughter and the sting of humiliation mingled in the air, a reminder of the trials she had endured and the challenges that still lay ahead.

[fatehbaz]

Updates on Sauk-Suiattle Tribe and the Skagit River: The owner of the three major dams on the Skagit, Seattle City Light, is currently petitioning the US federal government and moving to extend its operation of these dams for the next 30 to 50 years. This re-licensing would allow Seattle City Light to continue operating for decades in the future, just as they have, without protecting salmon, basically. Almost every other dam in the Pacific Northwest has installed “fish passage infrastructure” which allows migrating salmon and other species to continue traveling along the river course. However, Seattle City Light has not installed the fish passage infrastructure on the Skagit. The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe has repeatedly asked for this installation. So the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe launched a lawsuit against the city of Seattle, with the tribe saying that Seattle is deliberately turning public opinion against Indigenous people while also “greenwashing” its reputation by promoting the city and its dams as “green.”

---

The water sustains life here, in spawning grounds and rearing habitat for native salmon and steelhead. But some 20 miles upstream, the Skagit is quiet. It’s been replaced by the soft crackle and hum of high-tension power lines carrying one-fifth of Seattle’s electricity generated by three century-old dams. Almost 40% of the river is locked up for cheap [...] hydropower. Now, as a fight over the river’s future simmers, a question about the value of life itself is being revisited: Does this river have inherent civil rights?

Seattle City Light is moving to extend its use of the dams for another three to five decades, and tribes and other environmental groups have been pushing the utility to do more for salmon.

The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, one of the smallest and poorest in the region, and its one-person legal team asked its own courts to recognize the rights of the salmon. A tribal court struck down the request over jurisdictional concerns, but it brought attention to the way governments, utilities, the legal system and landowners perceive their nonhuman neighbors. [...] The 19-acre Sauk-Suiattle reservation is nestled in the foothills of the North Cascades. It’s bound by mature-growth forests [...] and the Sauk and Suiattle rivers. [...]

“This is where nature is,” said Jack Fiander, a member of the Yakama Nation, and longtime legal counsel for the Sauk-Suiattle tribe. “Where we’re at is sort of like the Amazon is to South America. We’ve got to constantly watch and comment on when somebody wants to harvest timber or something, and it’s getting more and more difficult to protect it.”

When the dams went in the Skagit River, there was no consultation with the people who lived there for generations — the ancestors of the modern day Upper Skagit, Swinomish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes and Canadian First Nations, Fiander said.

And the tribes didn’t have the resources then to fight for fish passage.

As the city’s latest re-licensing process ramped up, the Upper Skagit tribe asked for fish passage at the Gorge Dam, the lowest of the three. The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe challenged the electric utility’s “green” power claims, and asked for salmon to have an equal shot at life in the Skagit and its tributaries.

---

Headline, photos, captions, and text published by: Isabella Breda. “’Rights of nature’ movement gains steam in Pacific Northwest. Can it help species on the brink?” Seattle Times. 11 February 2023. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks added by me.]

---

The Washington State Court of Appeals gave the green light for the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe to proceed in its “greenwashing” litigation against the City of Seattle. In September 2021, the Tribe, based in Darrington, filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging City Light’s claims that it’s the “Nation’s Greenest Utility,” and that its hydro-electric operations on the Skagit River have improved conditions for salmon are misleading and harmful to the tribe. The Tribe said the city couldn’t claim its dams are green because they lack fish passage, like nearly every other dam in the Pacific Northwest. [...]

In the original complaint, the Tribe alleged when Seattle took credit for improving conditions for salmon species on the Skagit, it “wrongfully shifted blame” for dwindling fish populations from the city’s dam operations to the tribes. The “public misperception,” wrote the Tribe, makes them a target of “public ire, harassment, and vandalism.” “Seattle has done the worst for salmon while claiming to be the best, meanwhile pointing the finger at everyone else for Skagit salmon decline,” said Jack Fiander, attorney for the Sauk-Suiattle. “Seattle says their greenwashing is harmless puffery, but when you’re turning neighbor against neighbor to improve your corporate bottom line, it is harmful to our community as well as the fisheries resource.”

The legal proceedings come as Seattle City Light is in the process of relicensing its Skagit River dams with the federal government. A new license would last between 30 and 50 years. Negotiations have been underway for four years, with fish passage being the most hotly debated issue. [...]

Last year, the city of Seattle was successful in getting the Sauk-Suiattle’s lawsuit dismissed by a King County Superior Court Judge. [...] Monday’s ruling reverses the dismissal and allows the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe to proceed. The suit seeks to keep Seattle from advertising themselves as being fish-friendly until fish passage is installed over all three dams.

Seattle City Light was the first public utility in the country to earn a green power certification from the Low Impact Hydropower Institute. The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe said the utility used misinformation to gain the green status.

Skagit River Chinook salmon, steelhead and Bull Trout are all listed on the Endangered Species List and are threatened with extinction. [...]

---

Headline and text published by: Susannah Frame. “Court of Appeals sides with Sauk-Suiattle Tribe in ‘greenwashing’ case against Seattle City Light.” King 5 News. 6 March 2023. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks added by me.]

---

Italicized first paragraph in this post added by me.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Former Conservative cabinet minister and MP for Labrador Peter Penashue was arrested Saturday after a long-simmering dispute Penashue claims is fuelled by illicit drug dealing and police inaction. 

Penashue says he smashed the windows out of a vehicle parked outside a Sheshatshiu home, in part, because of a dispute over who owns the house. [...]

"I put on Twitter, I said, at 10:30, I'm going to break every window ... just watch how quickly the RCMP come to protect the drug dealers, and sure enough, five minutes later, I'm arrested. It don't take long," Penashue said.

Penashue told CBC he bought the house for his son, Ben, last summer, and Ben moved into the house with his children in September.

However, he said because of issues with drugs and alcohol, Ben agreed to transfer ownership of the home to Jeremy Andrew in January in exchange for about $2,500 worth of cocaine and a promise of about $12,000 more in cash.

"The way it works in Sheshatshiu, the band council owns all the houses in the community, they're all social housing, and so if you give away your house or buy a house, you have to do up a letter and it goes into the band council, and then they recognize the new owners," he said. [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada