#the only thing that i didn't like is that they didn't end the game with the girls confessing their love and kissing

[lionneee]

Your sworn sword

English is not my first language, please be kind

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•Warnings: fingering, degradation (just a bit), 'just the tip', talking of sexual themes, piv, smut.•

{Request: I have a request! Aemond is send across the narrow sea to be the sworn sword/knight of a (verryy beautiful) princess from a noble house is esso’s. As punishment what he did to lucerys Thanks for reading dear 💙}

To say that Prince Aemond was grumpy was an euphemism.

He was rigid, stoic, and rude.

But your father loved him.

You couldn’t understand why, not after his most recent kill: his little nephew.

You remembered meeting Luke Velaryon once, he was a nice, gentle, kind boy.

His brother Jace was just the same.

Princess Rhaenyra had been invited as a guest at your father’s name day feast with her family, and you remembered spending a nice afternoon with her sons.

You actually kept contact with her youngest child, Jace. You two sometimes sent letters to each other, talking of your days apart.

You would have never said it outloud, but you had a weakness for the boy’s dark, beautiful hair.

But he was promised to her cousin Baela.

As soon as you heard the news, you thought he would have stopped sending you letters, but he didn't, and you almost cried of joy when the next letter came.

Then, your father sided with the greens.

He sided with rude, dangerous people, and named the worst of them as your sworn sword.

When he told you about his choice you begged him, you cried, you did everything you could to try to change his mind but it was all to no avail.

Now, all the other Ladies never sat with you, they were afraid to speak with you, all because of some dark, evil, scary person standing behind you, following every step you took.

It was so obvious how much he hated being a night, yet, he stood his role perfectly.

Aemond was always there, lurking like a shadow behind you, his presence cold and heavy, suffocating your every breath. He never spoke to you unless necessary, never showed any warmth or softness in his voice. There was nothing but formality and distance, a thick wall of indifference that made your skin crawl whenever he was near.

To be fair, the only thing you thought interesting of him was his dragon Vaghar.

Your days had become a game of silence, your once carefree nature now replaced with the constant awareness of his eyes on you. You missed the days when you could write to Jace without a worry, when his words brought you comfort and a glimpse of hope. Now, the letters felt like a secret rebellion, something dangerous, but you couldn’t give them up. They were the only link to a world that still held some warmth.

You still wrote to him, though your letters had become shorter, more cautious. You dared not mention Aemond, or your isolation. Instead, you spoke of mundane things, of books you were reading, of the changing seasons. Jace’s responses, too, had shifted, though he remained kind and attentive. There was always a note of tension, a hint of restraint. You knew he was aware of the shifting tides, of your father's allegiance to the Greens.

 You happily walked in your room, smiling as you held the newest letter on your hand from Jace.

Aemond was walking right behind you, but you couldn’t care.

Jace's letter had just come.

You chuckled to yourself as you closed the door of your room behind you, leaving Aemond outside, guarding your door. 

You jogged to your desk, sitting down on the chair and breaking the sigil, opening with trembling hands the letter.

There were only a few lines written.

You furrowed your brows, confused. He usually wrote at least one page.

Dearest friend,

I assume you have heard of my family’s recent loss, my sweet brother Luke, gone by the hand of my uncle Aemond. 

It saddens me to tell you this, but due to your father’s allegiance and your newest sworn sword, I believe it is time to end our communications.

Jace Velaryon

You felt a pain in your chest.

A deep pain.

You weren’t going to receive any more letters from him. 

I believe it is time to end our communications.

You stood up from your desk, leaving the letter to hit the floor as you ran to your bed, laying face down, your arms crossed under your face as you bursted into tears.

You didn’t eat lunch, you didn’t have dinner. You didn’t want to get up from your bed.

Your maids, even one of your closest friends tried to walk past Aemond to check on you, but he was impenetrable, he wouldn’t let anyone in, not if you didn’t want them to.

His behavior left you speechless.

You knew he was loyal, you knew he was one to do his duty, but the way he stood up for you, not letting anyone in just as you asked, left you almost flattered.

The hours dragged on as you laid in your bed, the room dark and suffocating. The weight of Jace's words still lingered, pressing down on your chest. It was as though the last thread connecting you to the warmth of your past had been severed. You felt utterly alone, the castle walls seeming colder, the silence more deafening.

But outside your door, Aemond remained, steadfast and unmoving. His presence felt different now, less like the shadow you despised and more like an unavoidable part of your life. He had become a constant, whether you liked it or not, and now, oddly, that constancy brought a shred of comfort in your moment of loss.

By the time the moon rose high in the sky, you hadn’t moved from your bed, save to cry quietly into your pillow. The pain of Jace's rejection, not just of you but of the friendship you had cherished, was overwhelming. You couldn’t bring yourself to think of anything else, let alone leave your room.

A soft knock echoed through the thick wooden door. At first, you ignored it, thinking it was another maid or friend trying to check on you, Aemond would have taken care of it in a moment. But after a moment, there was another knock, firm yet measured, followed by a voice, calm, collected, and unmistakably Aemond’s.

 "You haven't eaten." He said, his tone devoid of his usual coldness, though it was still restrained. You laid still, wondering if you could pretend you hadn’t heard him. But the silence lingered too long, and it was clear he wasn’t going to leave. He was your sworn sword, after all, bound to you, whether you liked it or not.

"I’m not hungry." You muttered into your pillow, your voice muffled and thick with the remnants of tears.

There was a pause, a moment of hesitation, which was unlike him. Then, Aemond spoke again, quieter this time. "It has been hours. You should take something, if only to keep your strength."

His words were filled with disinterest despite the meaning of them. He made impossible things possible.

"I don’t want anything." You repeated, more firmly this time. 

The door opened with a loud creek, and Aemond just walked inside. You scoffed, annoyed, but you felt too sad to think about him pissing you off.

“Leave me alone!” You groaned on the mattress, clenching your hands into fists. You could hear him moving in the room.

“That puppy of my nephew is what has reduced you in this state?” He asked, scoffing. You turned your head to look at him, and you saw him looking down at a letter in his hands.

Jace’s letter.

You bolted upright on the bed, fury boiling inside you at the sight of Aemond holding Jace’s letter. His tall, imposing figure seemed even more oppressive in the dim light of your room. His one good eye flicked over the page with a mixture of disdain and cold amusement, while the sapphire in his other socket glinted in the low light.

"Give that back!" you demanded, your voice cracking from the tears and frustration, but Aemond made no move to return the letter. He dropped the letter, letting out another scoff.

“You’re a fool.” He said, his rudeness making you red to your ear.

“How dare you talk to me like that?” You exclaimed, indignited.

“He’s a bastard. You’re sweet on a bastard, the son of my whore sister. That’s foolish.”

You felt your blood boil at his words, each syllable a sharp jab to your heart. “You don’t know anything about me! You think you can judge me just because you think you're so much better than everyone else!?”

He stepped closer, towering over you, his expression a mixture of contempt and something unreadable. “I am better than everyone else. I’m surely better than that boy who has no right on the throne he wants to claim so much.”

Your anger flared, but underneath it was a deep sorrow. “He’s more than just a name or a title! Jace has been kind to me, and you—” you pointed an accusing finger at him, “you are the one who brings darkness wherever you go.”

Aemond’s eye narrowed, the air crackling with tension. “Kindness won’t save you, and neither will that bastard. This world isn’t built on sentiment. It’s built on strength and blood.”

“Strength?” you spat, incredulous. “Strength that comes from killing boys? That’s your idea of strength?”

He looked unfazed, his expression hardening. “Luke was weak. That’s why he’s dead.”

“You’re twisted.” You hissed. “It brings you pleasure, doesn’t it? Being feared, see people looking away from you –” He pushed you back before you could continue, as he started pulling off the upper structure of his armor.

You stumbled back as you looked up at him, confused and stunned, but he pushed you back again as he took off the lower part of his armor, making you fall back on your bed.

“You want to know what brings me pleasure?” He grabbed your ankle, dragging you down the bed until your butt was almost over it. He pushed the skirts of your dress up, exposing your legs.

“What do you think you’re doing?” You tried to close your legs, or pull down the skirts, but he raised your legs up, then he leaned down to grab both your thighs, spreading them apart, pressing his face against your underwear.

“This.” He mumbled against the thin clothing, his nose pressing against a funny spot against you, that made a strange sound come out of your mouth. “This brings me pleasure.” He growled as he pulled down your underwear along with the stockings. “Teaching stupid ladies their places.” He said as he dived his face back between your thighs, now his mouth pressing on that same spot, sucking and rubbing with his tongue, leaving you breathless for a moment, the pleasure was so high and so good you couldn’t speak.

You couldn’t see him, your skirts were covering the view, but you didn’t really care. Not when it felt this good. 

You didn’t think you'd ever felt this good. 

The one who was making you feel good, was a Targaryen Prince, a child murdered, the rider of the largest dragon in the world.

You could only squirm, your mind numbed by the pleasure, slowly overcoming all the alarms your brain was sending you, telling you to push the prince away, to not let him touch you in such an appropriate manner.

But then, all so suddenly it stopped, leaving you panting heavily. You saw Aemond raising his head from between your legs, coming into your field of vision.

His chin was wet, his only eye almost completely black as he looked down at you.

His hands moved on your skin, almost gently, caressing your skin as they moved up, your knees, your ankles. He wrapped his fingers around your ankles, securing your legs raised, your feet by each side of his head.

You should have stopped him.

This was improper, it was a sin. A sin you were committing with the worst man in the Seven Kingdoms.

You wanted to move, kick him back, telling him to stop touching you with his filthy, blood-stained hands, but under the dark gaze of his single eye you couldn’t move.

Aemond tightened the grip on your ankles, suddenly pulling you up so your hips lifted from the mattress. Startled, you let out a weak squeak, gripping the sheets tightly as your body moved forward, the back of your thighs landing harshly against him, your core rubbing against a protuberance on his pants, the impact sending another jolt of pleasure through your body.

“Yeah, you like it.” He hummed to himself as he dropped you back on the mattress. He leaned down, his body making space for himself between your legs as his face came to hover yours. “And you want to feel it more, don't you?” He smirked, looking down at you.

You could feel your face burning because of his words, more likely because of the truthfulness of them, because yes, you wanted to feel it again.

“No-” You mumbled as you looked up at him, directly in his eye, trying to sound firm, but he simply chuckled, grabbing your face with his hand, his fingers digging in the soft skin of your cheeks. “Such a liar. No wonder why my sweet bastard-nephew doesn’t want you.” 

That stang.

Your eyes immediately filled with tears and anger.

“How dare you?” You hissed as you tried to push him off of you, slapping his chest repeatedly, but he only smiled even more.

“There, there…” He hummed as his hand went back underneath your dress, finding you private again. No matter how much you fought, his body was keeping your legs apart, and he seemed impossible to move.

You only stopped when you felt a strange feeling, something filling you in a way you’ve never felt, that made you gasp out loud. You unconsciously let out a moan, your back arched instinctively, as your body almost contorted as he started moving his finger inside you.

“So easy to shut you up, mh?” He asked as he followed your face to be able to see every expression you made. “So easy to put into place.” He added then in a low voice.

You gritted your teeth together, trying to find in you the force to push him off, to not give him the satisfaction he was showing with that damn smile of his, but you couldn’t. The only sounds that came out of your mouth were whines or soft moans as his finger moved faster inside you, caressing everywhere inside you, and eliciting a pure bliss of pleasure.

“Jace is a fool for leaving you.” He said as he looked at you, your eyes half closed, your head leaned back, your lips apart. He didn’t even look like he realized he said that, it was like he was talking to himself and accidentally said it outloud. You turned your head to look at him, finding his eyes fixed on you, staring in appreciation. “You’re a rare beauty.” He said, his voice low and rough.

You blinked slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. A warmth spread across your chest, but you weren’t sure if it was the pleasure or the way his gaze lingered on you. 

No.

You thought to yourself.

Not him.

Please.

But the way he looked at you, like he was looking at the most beautiful thing in the world was doing something to you. It made your stomach clench, your head dizzier.

You’ve been told countless times by suitors that you were a sight to see, a beauty, but it did nothing if not make you blush or feel appreciated.

With Jace you felt your heart beat so loud you feared it could jump out of your chest.

You too were aware of your beauty, but you never thought of it as a rareness.

But now with Aemond Targaryen, the cold, mean, cruel man, who was doing unspeakable things to you, who looked at you like a Goddess, you truly felt like one.

Aemond’s gaze pierced through you, a silent intensity in his expression that made your breath catch in your throat. You wished you could deny the way his presence and actions were affecting you, wished you could ignore the way his words stirred something deep inside. But the truth was undeniable. 

As he slipped his second finger inside your thigh core, you felt it crushing on you. You didn’t know what, but for a moment, you forgot about everything, Jace, the war, Aemond’s sins, your worries, your anger and your sadness, it all vanished by the newfound feeling of ecstasy. You whined louder, making aemond clamp his other hand immediately over your mouth to muffle your sounds as he kept moving your fingers. You looked at him with wide eyes, you didn’t know what had just happened to you, but you wanted to keep feeling it, no matter what cost, you wanted to feel that good again.

He kept pumping his fingers inside you as you saw him starting to move, rub, against your thigh, some hardness pressing and caressing your skin. His brows arched slightly, his eye narrowing slightly as he pressed his hips harder against you, seeking more friction and pressure. 

You’ve never seen a man do a face close to that one.

You’ve never seen Aemond make a face like that, and it was beautiful, it was breathtaking, hypnotizing, you felt like watching him all day as he experienced his pleasure.

He didn’t miss the way you seemed affected, obviously. He looked down at you and found you staring at him, his eye darkened even more, his pupil dilating even more if possible as he clenched his jaw.

“You like this?” He looked down at you, moving his hand from your mouth to your neck, gripping it tightly, but not enough to actually cut your air off. You tilted your head back, wrapping your hands on his wrist and arm, gasping as he slipped his fingers out, passing them over your pearl just to see you squirm, his lips moving into a smirk. “No.” He said as he sat up in his haunches between your legs, forcing you to spread them to make room for his body as he started to undo his pants. “You love it.”

You tried to look down, trying to understand what he was doing but he squeezed your throat into a warning, keeping your head in place. “What are you trying to see, uh?” He growled as he pushed his pants down enough to let his cock spring free. “Such a curious menace, always getting into trouble.” He hissed as he leaned over her to look at you from above. “Always sneaking around, making my life harder.” He gritted his teeth. “Making me chase you.” He raised her skirts to your waist as he aligned his cock to your core, wet and warm, hot.

“No – “ You mumbled as you felt the tip pressing on your skin. “Y-you can’t- We’re not married-” You mumbled as you panted, shaking your head. Aemond smiled down at you, his thumb caressing the skin of her neck. 

“No one will notice.” He said firmly, pushing slightly, making his tip grace the inside your core, just slightly, enough to hear another moan from you. “Just…” He groaned as he repeated the movement, moving his hips forward as his face contorted in pleasure. “... the tip – Fuck –” He groaned as he started moving his hips, the tip of his cock was being sucked in every time by your cunt, as if it was trying to keep him inside. 

It didn’t feel bad.

She did feel like her cunt was being torn apart, but she found the pain mixed to the pleasure extremely pleasing.

It was good.

It was so good.

The pleasure was so overwhelming, so strong, so blissful.

“A-Aemond – “ You bit your lower lip as you arched your back, jerking your hips to find more pleasure as his tip kept slipping out and back in.

Aemond couldn’t tear his eyes off the sight, your core making a wet sound every time he slipped in, your walls forced open to make space for his thick cock, his red tip being welcomed in the warmness of your body, and then the sound of your weak wail every time he pulled back, only enough to be able to push back in.

“Yeah like that –” He growled as he tightened his hand around your neck, his eye still fixed on how your bodies connected, his thrusts regular, calculated and hard.

He was hanging by a thread, and he was showing a great amount of control, just by not slamming his whole long cock inside you, and making you scream in pain and pleasure.

“Grind yourself like a whore –” He snarled as he started rolling his hips faster, the wet sound growing louder along with his pace. “Fuck youre so tight – You’re squeezing me inside - ”

It didn’t bother you the way he called you, the way he spoke. If not, it only aroused you more.

You bit your lower lip harder, and no matter how low you tried to keep your noises, it became impossible as Aemond moved his free hand, using his fingers to circle your pearl, putting just the right amount of pressure. Your back arched violently as you threw your head back, your mouth open in an oval shape, grunts and moans coming out one after another as Aemond tightened his hand around your throat, starting to cut some of your air supplies, your eyes rolled in the back of your head.

It was all so much.

It was all so good.

“Come.” He growled as he finally looked up at you. “Come, before I lose it.” His eye fixed on yours. He looked feral. He looked like a chained animal, that once set free, would have hunted and killed everything in its path. “Come, before absolutely ruin you.” 

It wasn’t like you had any control over it, because when the pleasure reached you in such a hard, strong frisson, you could only surrender to it. Your eyes widened, your mouth opened, but Aemond tightened his hand on your throat even more, killing every sound you could have let out. Your eyes watered as your hips jerked, the pleasure washing over you in devastating waves.

He snarled, letting go of your throat, but you barely had the time to take a deep breathe because you felt a stinging pain, barely muffled by the aftershocks of you climax, as Aemond grabbed tightly your hips and harshly pulled to him, making you slip down on the bed and making his cock thrust completely inside you, as he moaned on top of you.

“So fucking tight.” His voice was strained, his breathing heavy, then, you felt a strange sensation of wetness inside you.

You whined as the bliss of pleasure slowly faded away, leaving you in an uncomfortable pain, so you pushed Aemond away, who retrieved with a groan, slipping out of you.

You slowly sat up, looking at him as your mind slowly registered the last moments. 

Aemond stood up from the bed, tucking himself inside his pants and starting to put his armor back on.

You didn’t say anything in the meanwhile, you just stared down at the bed covers, where you and Aemond were laying till a few seconds before, committing one of the worst sins ever.

A sin that felt so good.

You snapped out of your moment of trance only when you heard the door slam shut, and a strange smell of burned paper in the air. You moved to the end of the bed, on the floor, there was a piece of paper on fire.

Jace’s letter.

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[centrally-unplanned]

Academic History YouTuber Premodernist released video recently on "State Flag" discourse, and flag discourse more wildly, that I thought was pretty good! I agreed with 50% of it. For those who don't know, there is a longstanding movement in the vexillology community to push for more simplified flag designs, and they hate the state flags of the US as their antithesis; a movement that catapulted into the internet mainstream when YouTuber CGPGrey released a video riffing on that debate and grading all the state flag designs.

That video is great by the way (it's hilarious, CGP Grey is just very talented as a performer), and the biggest thing Premodernist is wrong about is that the state flags do suck. But what he gets right is that the so-called "principles" briefly referred to in the video are themselves pretty weak; some are fine but others do not hold up to much scrutiny. The state flags largely suck for the boring reason that they just suck; they are shitty designs and often repeat each other in a domain where "standing out" is the point. Like what the fuck Montana:

This is something a 5th grader whips up in PowerPoint for a class presentation. Helvetica Bold?? "Mandated by law in 1985" yeah I didn't need Wikipedia tell me this decision dates to the 80's.

But that is boring and subjective, right? You can't just say they suck. So you had to make a theory about it - and I won't go into too much detail but it generally boils down to:

Make it simple, "something a child could draw"

Make it "distinct at a distance", since it is a flag you are supposed to see it at a distance

Three colors or fewer

No words on flags

Which I think you can get the philosophy for. These principles, which CGP Grey outlines, actually come from the work of Ted Kaye, who is a big figure in the aforementioned flag reform movement and the focus of most of the video. As part of the original CGP Grey video I just rolled with that, but I did remember him showing Utah's newly designed flag at the end which embodied these principles, and uh:

This is kind of mid? Like it doesn't suck, but it looks like a corporate redesign of a hockey team logo or something. A bit of a red flag (hah) if your front-and-center case is weak.

Anyway this is what Premodernist digs into in the video. The stuff I agreed with the most are the parts where he just ???? at some of these rules. "No finicky bits", a "child must draw it", "distinct at a distance"? None of these actually track for say this one:

A child drawing the US flag does not draw 50 stars and 13 stripes unless they are a budding librarian; you absolutely cannot tell if this flag has 50 stars on it from a distance, and that level of detail is clearly some kind of finicky. Of course your response is "okay sure but still, I can tell what the flag is from a distance, I can't count the 50 stars but I get the gist". But that is true for almost all flags!

It's a fern and a peace pipe and a brown thing and the word "Oklahoma" below it, you absolutely, 100%, will be able to tell what this flag is at a distance. You don't need to count the leaves to get the general shape, and when you think about it, it is actually kind of silly anyone would claim otherwise. There just isn't any need to appreciate the tiny details on a flag to understand whose flag it is. (the only valid critique here is that everything should be bigger - too much dead space)

Not to mention the "see from a distance" thing even being a metric. That isn't how you encounter flags most often today? Maybe in the 19th century on a battlefield that was (and even then you had battle standards), but it isn't now. You see it in textbooks, on your computer screen, as an icon for a football game team, right next to you in a government office. Why privilege distance? You just made that up as a value. 99% of "flag consumption" is not seeing it at a distance.

The "only use ~3 colors thing" is the funniest, you can just argue this with...no? No you don't. You don't. What? No. You can...you can just use more colors? Here is an example from the "manual" Ted Kaye wrote on the subject:

And the 5 bands on the chinese flag are fine! They are not "hard to look at" or whatever. Also, I am screenshotting a tiny corner of a youtube video, this image is like 240p, and I can tell its a dragon - and that isn't even the color point it is trying to make, dude just deviates off into another critique. Meanwhile the Amsterdam flag looks like a traffic warning sign. Chinese flag needs to not have the white stripe connect into the white seal background, that is an error, but otherwise I prefer it.

It is annoying how many of the state flags are a blue banners with a round seal in the middle. That does make them hard to distinguish from each other. But that isn't a problem with seal-on-blue, that is just a collective action problem! Flag-reform-favourite the tricolor can run into this too - here are the flags of the Netherlands and Luxembourg:

Like one of your needs to go home and change, that is ridiculous. Though if you had a complex seal in the middle that might avoid this problem! Funny that.

Even the "no words on a flag" argument, which I am more sympathetic to, doesn't hold up too well because too often you find yourself going "unless it is good" which just isn't a rule. The Iranian flag is the stand-out he mentions:

The middle crest is a stylized rendition of the name Allah, and the cursive lining on the tricolor bands are text as well - God Is Great, 22 times, marking the anniversary date of the Islamic Revolution. Stylistically beautiful, also words on a flag. The state flags just didn't try to do anything artistic.

I think the best point Premodernism mentions is a sort of stylistic unity Kaye & Co are pursuing above all else - everything sacrificed for corporate minimalism. Kaye's book will say it respects history and symbols should be meaningful, but then hates any symbols that require complexity. He singles out Turkmenistan as an ugly flag for example:

And as I said I only 50% disagree sometimes, I do think there is a complexity limit, and this flag goes over it, that is too detailed. Though the main reason this flag is bad is the weird choice to not put the banner at the edge, and have the crescent just...float off center? If it was this:

Two seconds in paint, already better, you can play with it. But anyway, you can say the symbols are too complex, but if you also say you care about historical meaning? Turkmenistan is a nation of traditional semi-nomadic tribes, who populated the Silk Road and made textiles as their ultimate expression of art. These carpet guls are traditional symbols used in those carpets that represent the five major tribes that compose the country. You can't just invent new symbols that have equal meaning to these, right? Like you can try if you want, sure, new symbols become meaningful all the time. But a rule that says "all art from before 1950 is tossed in the dumpster because it wouldn't pass muster as a Pepsi logo" is a weird rule to adopt if you say you value historical meaning. Turkmenistan does not have to look like France, and it is weird to want every national symbol to be aesthetically coherent to each other. Let 100 flags bloom! It is certainly "distinct at a distance" lol.

Anyway that is enough summarizing of a YouTube video - as I mentioned, he actually likes the state flags, I don't, I do think you have to balance a lot of this with just "general design principles". Never have your name on a flag in Helvetica Bold, amazing I had to write that one down for you. But a lot of these flag-specific rules derived from Kaye's work I often see bandied about are silly, and I was glad to see someone point that out.

[thinkinginpen]

Unexpected Company Part 2

a/n: It may not be the holidays yet but who doesn't love some good Christmas spirit in the fall? And two in one hour? Damn. pairing: old!logan x reader w/c: 3.6k warnings: romance, hinting, love, fake dating, age gap, etc. summary: You went to Logan's house, your grumpy old neighbor, to bring him cookies and get away from the Christmas party. Little did you know this grumpy old man would take a turn. Next thing you knew he was lecturing your ex on how to treat a girl right.

You reluctantly followed your ex as he led you away from the others. He steered you to a quiet corner of the room, out of earshot of the rest of the party. His expression was cold and unforgiving.

"What the hell is going on here?" he hissed.

"What do you mean?" you asked, feigning ignorance. You knew what he was talking about, but playing dumb seemed like your best bet at this point.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" he snapped. "You show up with some old dude in tow and act like he's your boyfriend? Don't try to play dumb with me, I know it's bullshit!"

"It's not bullshit," you said defensively. "He really is my boyfriend."

Your ex rolled his eyes, scoffing. "Yeah, right. You expect me to believe that you're dating some old geezer?"

"Yes, I do," you retorted. "What, are you jealous or something?"

He sneered, clearly unconvinced. "Jealous? Of a fossil? Fat chance. No, I just want to know what kind of game you're playing here."

You gritted your teeth, frustrated by his tone. "I'm not playing any game. I'm dating him, and that's it."

He let out a hollow laugh. "Okay, fine. Say I believe you. How did that even happen? How'd you end up with some old man instead of me?"

You hesitated, not sure how to answer that. There was no way in hell you were going to tell him the truth - that the only reason you were pretending to be in a relationship with Logan was to get under his skin.

You took a deep breath and decided to stick with the same cover story you'd used earlier. "It just happened, I guess. We clicked."

He snorted, still not buying it. "Yeah, right. You expect me to believe that you just randomly met this guy and started dating him? I don't buy it."

Your frustration was growing. How dare he question the validity of your relationship, even if he was right?

"Believe whatever you want," you said, crossing your arms. "But it doesn't change the fact that I'm dating him, and he's better than you in every way."

Your ex's expression darkened at your words, his fists clenching. "Oh, so now you're gonna pull that crap? You honestly think this guy is better than me?"

He stepped closer to you, looming over you. "You're really gonna choose an old man over me?"

You didn't back down, meeting his angry gaze defiantly. "Yes, I am. He's more mature than you, and treats me a lot better."

Your ex scoffed. "Yeah, maybe because he's been alive longer than my grandparents. You think he'll be able to keep up with you in a couple years?"

"Better than you can," you shot back. "At least he's still active. He works out, he can do stuff. What've you been doing every day since we broke up? Playing video games and eating pizza rolls?"

He bristled, clearly insulted. "That's not all I do!"

"Oh really? What else do you do?" you asked, feigning curiosity. "I mean, you spend a lot of time on the couch. I'm sure you got up from there at some point."

He clenched his jaw, clearly getting more and more frustrated. "That's not the point!" he snapped. "The point is that there's no way you're really dating this old dude. You're just trying to make me jealous, right? That's it, isn't it?"

You felt a flicker of satisfaction as he grew more agitated. "No, I'm really dating him."

He gritted his teeth. "No way. Prove it."

"Prove it?" you repeated, surprised by the request. "How am I supposed to prove it to you?"

Your ex rolled his eyes. "I don't know, kiss him or something."

You nearly choked at the sudden request. "Wh-what? You want me to kiss him? Right here, in front of everyone?"

"Why not?" he sneered. "If you're really dating him, it should be easy, right?"

You felt a pang of panic mixed with irritation as he challenged you. You glanced over at Logan, who was still standing calmly across the room, mingling with other people at the party.

Your ex chuckled, noticing your hesitation. "See, you can't do it. You're bluffing, and you know it. You're just using this old guy as a prop to make me jealous, and I'm not falling for it."

You gritted your teeth, feeling a wave of anger and determination wash over you. He was right about one thing - you weren't really dating Logan, at least not in the way he meant. But the way he was demeaning Logan… no matter his age, he deserved better than that.

Logan was listening intently to a conversation with one of the nearby families when he suddenly heard the heated argument between you and your ex. His eyebrows rose, and he subtly moved to listen in.

He was surprised to hear your ex tell you to prove your relationship, but his expression darkened as he heard the other man's mocking tone.

He quickly made his way over to the pair of you, his expression stormy. As he got closer, he made himself known by grabbing your ex by the front of his shirt.

Your ex was suddenly yanked backwards, his shirt crumpling as Logan's fist closed tightly around a fistful of fabric.

He sputtered as he lost his balance, staring up at the much larger man in shock. "What the hell-"

Logan towered over him, leaning down to speak directly in his face. His tone was low and dangerous.

"I'm only going to say this once, boy. Leave the girl alone."

Your ex's expression flickered from surprise to anger. "Excuse me? You can't just-"

But before he could finish, Logan pulled him closer, his grip still tight on his shirt.

"I can do whatever I damn well please," he growled. "And right now, what I'm doing is telling you to leave her alone. Understand?"

Your ex floundered, clearly stunned by the unexpected intervention. But he wasn't cowed, and he tried to pull away from Logan's grip.

"And who are you, her guardian or something?" he snapped. "You got no right to tell me what to do, old man. You don't love her-"

Logan's expression darkened further. He had clearly heard enough.

"I don't love her, huh?" he said gruffly.

Before your ex could react, he tightened his grip on his shirt and slammed him against the nearest wall, pinning him there with one arm.

Your ex's eyes widened in shock and fear as he found himself slammed against the wall. The wall shook from the impact, and several people nearby turned to see what was going on.

Logan leaned in closer, his face mere inches from your ex's. "You little bastard," he growled. "You don't have any idea what it means to love her."

Your ex tried to struggle, but Logan's hold on him was too strong. He was trapped, completely at the mercy of the older man's grip.

"Let- let go of me!" he gasped, his bravado faded as he stared up at Logan's angry face.

Logan's expression was stony, his eyes boring into your ex's. "Not until I'm done talking to you," he said gruffly.

He leaned in even closer, his tone low and dangerous. "You think just because you're young that you know better than anyone else? You think you know her better than I do?"

Your ex was visibly shaken, his cocky demeanor gone in the face of Logan's angry glare.

"I- I do know her better than you," he protested weakly. "I was dating her before you came around."

"Yeah, you were," Logan said gruffly. "And you blew it. Now she's with me, and you need to learn to live with that."

He paused, then suddenly pulled your ex closer, his face a mere inch away. "You're never going to touch her again, boy. Not as long as I'm around."

Your ex's expression wavered, caught between fear and anger.

"You can't just-" he started to say, but Logan cut him off with a glare.

"Dare me," he said gruffly. "Go on, boy. Say what you were gonna say."

Your ex swallowed, clearly intimidated. He tried to pull away from Logan, but he was still pinned in place. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke up.

"You can't just take her away from me," he muttered resentfully. "She was mine first."

"You don't own her, boy," Logan snapped, his voice hard as steel. "She's not something you can just claim like a damn trophy. She's her own damn person, and she can make her own damn decisions."

He leaned in closer, his face almost touching your ex's. "And she made the decision to ditch your sorry ass for me."

Your ex's expression darkened at the insult. "And why would she choose some old guy like you?" he shot back, his tone bitter. "What can you give her that I can't?"

Logan's glare hardened, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I can give her a hell of a lot more than you ever did," he said gruffly.

He leaned in even closer, his voice a low growl. "I can give her stability, and respect, and loyalty. Things that you clearly didn't know how to provide."

Your ex tried again to struggle, but he was still trapped in Logan's grip. His expression darkened even further as he spat back.

"What, you think you're some kind of saint, just because you're older? You don't know me. You don't know what I can do for her."

"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea," Logan said. "And from what I can tell, you're a damn coward who couldn't even keep her happy when you had the chance."

He leaned in so close that his chest was practically pressed against your ex's. "And you think for a second that you could do better than me?"

Your ex was clearly flustered, his expression torn between anger and fear.

"I- I could give her-" he started to say, but Logan cut him off with a scoff.

"Yeah? What, like you could give her a future? What's your plan for the future? Keep working a minimum wage job and play video games in your mom's basement all day?"

Logan chuckled, but he was seething.

"You wanna know what it's like to treat a girl right? First rule: You take care of her. I don't just mean buy her gifts and open doors for her. I mean really take care of her. Be there for her, listen to her, show her respect and loyalty and all the other things you seem to be completely incapable of."

He looked your ex over, his expression still disapproving. "Rule two: don't act like a damn child. Don't throw temper tantrums every time something doesn't go your way, don't blame her for your problems. Have some damn respect and act like you're actually worthy of her."

Logan's expression darkened further. "And rule three: Be a damn man. Don't let the people around you walk all over you, don't let people who don't matter to you drag you down. And for the love of God, don't try to cheat on her just because you can't keep it in your damn pants."

He leaned in closer, his voice low and fierce. "And if by some chance you've managed to follow all three of those rules, then maybe - MAYBE - you might be worthy of someone like her. But let's be honest, boy. We both know you haven't managed to follow a single one."

Your ex was caught between anger and fear, his expression shifting as Logan listed off the rules for treating a girl right. He opened his mouth to argue, but was cut off by another scoff from Logan.

"Don't try to deny it, boy. We both know you've failed at all three. You're a damn child, pretending to be a man. And until you grow the hell up, you will never be worthy of a woman like her."

With that, he finally released his hold on your ex. The younger man stumbled backwards, clearly shaken.

Logan glanced over his shoulder at you, his expression softening. "Come here, darling," he said, his tone suddenly gentle.

You approached the pair, your heart racing after witnessing the intense encounter. You could sense your ex's glower as you stepped up next to Logan, who wrapped a protective arm around your shoulders.

He pulled you close, his presence warm and reassuring. He kept his gaze locked on your ex, his expression still stern.

"He won't be bothering you again, baby," he said gruffly.

Logan led you over to a nearby couch, his arm still around your shoulders. Most of the party seemed to have started minding their own business again, though a few people were still shooting curious glances your way.

He sat down on the couch, pulling you down next to him.

He put his other arm around you so that you were essentially squished between his broad frame and the couch cushions. He could tell that you were still a little shaken up, and he squeezed you gently, trying to reassure you.

"You alright, baby?" he asked gruffly, his voice low so that the other guests couldn't overhear.

"You can stop the act now Mr. Logan."

Logan raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in tone. He continued to hold onto you, but turned to get a better look at your expression.

"What do you mean, hun?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

You could tell that he was playing dumb, probably to save face in front of the other guests. Your expression became a mixture of exhaustion and irritation.

"You know exactly what I mean, Logan," you said. "We can stop. I think we've sold the act enough by now."

Logan's expression softened, and he let out a low chuckle. He glanced around and confirmed that most of the party had gone back to their own conversations.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice even further. "You sure about that, baby?" he asked, his tone suggestive.

You rolled your eyes, though a slight smile tugged at your lips. "Yes, I'm sure," you reassured him. "I think we've put on enough of a show. No need to keep this going any longer."

He chuckled again, tightening his grip on you. "Well, I don't mind keeping it going a little longer," he said, his voice low and suggestive. "I'm enjoying having you like this."

You sighed, but couldn't help the tingle of heat that ran through you at his words. "Stop it," you said, trying to sound stern despite your growing arousal. "We're in a room full of people, remember?"

Logan chuckled at your protests, clearly enjoying the way you squirmed in his grip.

"C'mon pretty girl, for Christmas' sake please can we keep this going?" he pleaded, his voice low and coaxing.

You fought to keep a straight face, trying not to let his words get to you. But it was difficult, especially with the heat rising in your cheeks.

"I thought the point of this was to make my ex jealous," you reminded him, trying to sound more stern than you felt.

He squeezed you tighter, his expression turning smug. "Yeah, it was," he said, his voice a low rumble. "and we've done a damn good job of that. But now that I've got you all to myself, I'm not ready to let go just yet."

Logan loosened his embrace slightly, allowing you a bit more breathing room.

"Honey," he said, his tone suddenly more polite. "Would you mind grabbing us some food?"

You blinked, a bit taken aback by the unexpected change in tone. But you composed yourself quickly and nodded.

"Sure, I can do that," you said, rising from the couch. "What do you want me to bring back?"

Logan smiled, pleased by your response. "Surprise me," he said. "Oh and how about some of those cookies you and your mother baked?"

You chuckled, amused by his request. "You've got a sweet tooth, huh?" you teased, as you made your way towards the buffet table.

Logan watched you as you walked away, his gaze lingering on your figure. His eyes stayed fixed on you until you disappeared among the crowd, at which point he settled back against the couch, a satisfied smile on his face.

The party continued around him, but his thoughts were focused on you. He couldn't help but feel a stirring of possessiveness. He had played the role of your boyfriend for the evening, and it seemed like he had done a pretty damn good job of it.

As Logan sat on the couch, waiting for you to return, he couldn't help but reflect on how the evening had started. He thought back to just hours earlier when he had been sitting alone, feeling grumpy and wishing he was anywhere else.

Then you had appeared, bringing him a plate of cookies that you had baked yourself. He had been hesitant at first, but the delicious treats had quickly won him over.

He recalled the conversations you had had once you had sat down. He had initially intended to brush you off and get back to his brooding, but he had found that he couldn't bring himself to shoo you away. Instead, he had ended up engaged in a surprisingly enjoyable conversation, and before he knew it, the hour was getting late.

You returned to the couch, your arms laden with food for both of you. You noticed that Logan was deep in thought, and he was visibly startled when you put the food down on the coffee table.

"You spaced out there, old man," you teased, gesturing for him to grab some food.

He chuckled, still slightly disoriented from his musings. "Sorry baby, got lost in thought there," he said, shaking his head.

He perked up when he saw the cookies you had brought back, a smile spreading across his face. "Hey, you remembered."

You chuckled, watching as he eagerly reached for the cookies. "Of course I did," you said, taking a seat on the couch next to him.

"I figured you could use a little comfort food after dealing with my ex," you added, taking a bite of your own food.

Logan grunted in agreement, already stuffing a cookie into his mouth. "Your ex's a damn fool," he said, his voice muffled through the food. "He'll never be good enough for you."

You raised an eyebrow at his assessment. "And you are?" you asked teasingly, poking him in the side.

Logan chuckled, swatting at your hand. "Hey now, watch it. You're gonna make me choke."

He finished his bite of cookie, then turned to look at you dead in the eye. "And to answer your question, hell yes I'd be good enough for you," he said, his tone serious.

You were surprised by his sudden shift in tone, and you found yourself momentarily speechless. You fumbled for a response for a few seconds before finally managing to gather your thoughts.

"You're awfully confident, old man," you said, trying to mask the flutter in your chest.

Logan chuckled at your response, clearly amused by your attempts to hide your reaction to his declaration. He continued to eat his food and the cookies, glancing over at you between bites.

You did the same, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in your stomach as you silently ate.

The room was filled with the sounds of the ongoing party, but the two of you were mostly silent as you ate. Every so often, Logan would steal a glance at you, his eyes fixed on your lips as you chewed.

You glanced over at Logan, noticing a small spot of food stuck in his beard. It was a bit distracting, and you couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"You've got something on your face," you said, reaching over and gently swiping the food from his beard.

Logan froze as your fingers touched his beard, and for a moment the two of you just sat there, frozen in the intimate moment. Your fingers lingered in his beard, tracing the length of it and feeling the coarse texture.

And then, almost against his will, Logan found himself tipping his head closer to yours. His eyes met yours, and his expression darkened with desire.

You became aware of his lips drawing ever closer to yours, your breath catching in your throat. Your fingers were still in his beard, as if frozen in place. Your whole world seemed to have narrowed to the two of you in that instant, the sounds of the party fading into the background.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, your lips met. The kiss was gentle at first, a tentative exploration. But then something seemed to snap, and the kiss deepened. Logan reached up to cup your face in his hands, pulling you closer as he claimed your mouth in a hungry kiss.

You found yourself responding eagerly, your fingers tangling in his beard. The kiss was intense, and it felt like the whole world had vanished around you, leaving just the two of you. Your heart raced as his hands held your face in place, his tongue slipping past your lips to deepen the kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as you got lost in the kiss. His beard tickled your skin, and you could feel the heat radiating from his body as he pulled you even closer. Your hands moved up to his shoulders, gripping the material of his shirt as you kissed deeper.

Logan reluctantly pulled back, breaking the kiss as he sucked in a gulp of air. He was breathing heavily, and his expression was still darkened with desire.

He nodded towards your ex, who was watching and seething from across the room.

He leaned in and whispered in your ear, "Merry Christmas, bubba."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Part 1 Part 2

🏷️: @princessleah94 @littlbitch69

[barcaatthemoon]

baller || kelsey plum x reader ||

Kelsey takes you out after a game.

Kelsey made a beeline for the locker room at the sound of the final buzzer. You stayed in your courtside seat as some of her teammates gathered around you. It was always a bit of a party whenever you managed to find time to come to Kelsey's games. She swore that she played better whenever you were in the stands, something that her teammates all also agreed with. Personally, you thought Kelsey played great whether you were there or not, but you'd accept all of the extra love you got from it.

"I am sorry to delay your post-game kiss. Hopefully Becky was good company." Kelsey was panted slightly as she spoke to you. The huddle of girls around you had kept you from seeing her as she sprinted from the locker room over to where you'd been sitting.

"You say that, but I still haven't been kissed yet," you teased. Kelsey pushed past everybody to get to you. Once she was close enough, Kelsey cupped your cheeks and pressed several quick kisses to your lips before ending it on a longer one. You broke the kiss as her teammates whooped and hollered at the two of you. "Take me home now please?"

"Hold on, not yet baby. I wanna take you out," Kelsey said. She helped you out of your seat and walked you out of the arena. After a win like that and with you on her arm, Kelsey felt like she was on top of the world. Nothing could knock her down a peg, not even your potential rejection of her wanting to take you out. "If you don't want to go out, that's okay. I didn't make reservations anywhere."

"Aren't you tired after all that?" Kelsey shook her head as she grabbed your hand to kiss the back of it. "Can I pay tonight or are you wanting to show off?"

"You know me baby, I gotta show off a little. I'd take you dress shopping if it wasn't so late," Kelsey told you. You cracked a smile at her, knowing that was true. She had once kept you out all day with a game, shopping trip, and extravagant dinner before ending it at the club with her girls. "Are you sure that's okay?"

"Absolutely fine by me," you told her. Kelsey bit her lip as she turned back to the wheel. You knew that she was playing a bit, but you didn't mind. Showing off meant more than just throwing around some money with Kelsey. She would do everything she could to make sure that you had a good time, and usually, that meant being a bit over the top with her flirting and jokes.

There were seemingly hundreds of flashy restaurants all over Vegas, but Kelsey knew what you liked. It was the kind of place where you had worked before you even moved here. A hidden gem among the locals, known mainly to the people who found themselves getting off work as all of the parties died down.

Both you and Kelsey were regulars here. The staff knew you both, although they saw Kelsey as an extension of you at times. It didn't matter if the woman came in on her own, which had only happened a couple of times, they'd send her on her way with your usual order. Neither one of you had to even look at a menu, the waitresses already knowing what you'd want.

"It's not the Ritz, but I need something good. I hope to have a long night ahead of myself," Kelsey said with a wink. You rolled your eyes at her, but didn't disagree. It was likely that you and Kelsey would be up all night as soon as you got back to her place. You didn't mind that, in fact, you were already having a hard time keeping your hands completely to yourself.

You loved the pre-game outfits and all, but there was something about Kelsey's lowkey post-game outfits that got you. You loved seeing her walk around in the practice shorts and Aces t-shirt that you knew you'd be wearing in the morning. You liked seeing Kelsey comfortable, and maybe, just maybe, you were relieved that she wasn't getting stared at by strangers.

"So, and you can totally say no to this, Chelsea found this big couples' retreat thing. They did it last year, but Darren didn't want to, so I went and coupled up with one of the single girls, which was fun. Anyway, I was thinking that it would be more fun if you came with this year, but you don't have to. I know that I already ask a lot with you coming to my games and shit…" Kelsey trailed off awkwardly. You smiled at her as you leaned across the table to kiss her cheek.

"I'd really like that. Just let me know when it is, and I'll make arrangements," you told her. Kelsey perked up at your agreement, having thought it would be harder to convince you.

The two of you left the restaurant shortly after that, not wanting to go home quite so early into the night. Kelsey knew that some of the girls on the team were planning on going out, but she wanted you all to herself. You had always loved the lights, so Kelsey drove up and down the strip a few times until you started to get very obviously tired.

"Can I carry you upstairs?" Kelsey asked as she pulled into her garage. You quirked an eyebrow at her, but the longer that you looked at her, the clearer it became that she wasn't joking. "Please?"

"Are you ever scared that people think you do too much for me?" you asked. Kelsey scoffed at your question. The idea that there would ever be 'too much' was ridiculous. Kelsey knew that you were going to be the person she grew old with, and if she could make any aspect of your life easier or better, then she was determined to do so.

"Never. I get teased every practice because everybody thinks I'm whipped, but I just love you. You do so much for me that nobody sees or knows about, and I don't think that I'll ever be able to make it up to you, so I try in other ways. I know that it looks like a lot, but it's not. You love me, and you let me love you. Besides, do you know how fucking cool I look running around with you on my arm in all those fancy ass clothes?" You could tell that Kelsey was nowhere near stopping, so you climbed over the center console and into her lap. Immediately, Kelsey got quiet and started to run her hands down your sides until she got to your ass.

"I love you too," you told her. Kelsey grinned into a kiss, much sweeter than any of the others you had shared that night. Kelsey didn't try to push it further, only just pulling away before you buried your head into her shoulder to hide your yawning.

"You're so cute when you're sleepy," Kelsey whispered as she took you out of the car. She carried you upstairs first, knowing that her basketball bag would stay in the car until the morning because she wasn't leaving your side all night.

[aurawra21]

Is there anything about the flipside you liked? My favourite thing about it was the sharing trauma ending and it is my headcanon ending for the series as it shows how Nicole is good for Jecka and is in character to how Nicole bullied jeffery to get in trouble with the pedo just to Jecka could smoke in peace.

yes, there are parts i liked!

I liked the route where we saw Jecka's pov when Nicole committed. i wanted it so badly like i wanted to know her side of it b/c those texts messages from the previous game had me spiraling. Jecka going to Nicole because she didn't feel safe at home or at school. Nicole wanting Jecka to hangout with her more so she doesnt have to hangout with other people who make her depressed, quite literally BEGGING her bc she's her only real friend:

like, the two of them at their lowest just wanted to be around each other. they both sought each other out bc they needed each other so bad

i liked the Jecka and Kelly dynamic, they were funny af trying to figure that riddle out, they just wanted their paychecks uwu, we do not talk about the ending

i liked that in the ending where jeffery d!es, Jecka is literally like, people may hate Nicole but she's kind of necessary to me, in a fucked up way, she helped me, the little smiley face she put at the end was cute, despite the context

the little gay comments they would make, ex: "but will you be my girlfriend after?"

Jecka having kissed Ari AND Kelly is like yes ty i know she's a girl kisser but more confirmation never hurt

Emo Jecka route and we get passenger princess Nicole, like we KNEW THAT but i love the confirmation. like, it's funny that even in that moment, no matter how drunk out of her mind Jecka is, Nicole is nOT giving up her passenger princess rights. a passenger princess that backseat drives Jecka LMFAO

anyway yeah, there were stuff i liked. this is how i played the first games anyway, take what i liked and run with it!

[boguspearl]

So what are my thoughts for Arcane season 2? Well from what I've seen in the trailer, I think almost every character in the series is going to go through a massive shift, starting with caitlyn in the first season caitlyn was calculating smart not rash (okay not rash enough to wage full on war, but rash enough to let a criminal out of prison) she was new to the scene but she knew that she didn't want war with the undercity, but now in a fit of blind revenge she's going to war anyway

And by the looks of it Vi's right along side her she's given up on Jinx its even the first lines of the trailer, she starts out fighting along side the enforcers, along side caitlyn, but we see her off on her own broken, this most likely because she's finally seen just how far caitlyns taking things.

However the biggest change of this season is going to be Jinx, in the first season Jinx was crazy, but things are about to take a turn i mean sure on the surface we see her bombing the city leading a revolution piloting an airship while looking deranged but looking deeper does she really look completely insane.

Personally i think she looks kinda sad, i mean sure they show her looking completely done with it all ready to blow the world that's wronged her apart, but there's something deeper I think we're going to start the season with Jinx truly regretting what she's done, she's going to panic as the floor gives away beneath her and that will be her tipping point the point where there's s small possibly of her being reached, but there's no one left to reach her no one left willing to try, caitlyn wants her dead, Vi has given up on her, Silco is dead her hand, she's alone, alone except for sevika who will most likely use her to rule the undercity Jinx will be forced back into believing what she's doing is right

Until eventually she's going to snap, she's going to see that she has nobody and she'll be exactly who they think she is and she'll be more broken than ever.

But never mind all that the real thing that i think the arcane trailer is showing or more accurately hiding is the enemy. Okay hear me out we all know that season 2 just like season 1 will be releasing in three separate arcs each obviously show casing a separate story of the same season, now while Netflix has released three separate posters for said arcs they seem to have only given us one trailer, now if you look the trailer like that you can see the story breaks of the arcs, in the first part they show a clear enemy jinx, Vi and Cait are trying to take her down, the second the people of the undercity as they rise up but near the end there's nothing each shot fired each punch thrown even jinx threatening to burn it all down unlike the beginning of the trailer we aren't shown the enemy, this concerns me because who are they fighting, am I reading into this is it still Jinx that's the enemy or is caitlyn and Vi fighting each other or and what is most likely is there a new enemy something so feared that it actually makes them all fight together in some strange twisted way and if so what, i mean im actually clueless I've never played the game or gotten into anything else part of this universe so i have no idea what they could be up against.

Anyway thanks for reading my craziness, debates bellow

[ariaste]

A Discussion on Book Endings

Hey, friends. Thanks for coming today. I'm sorry to break it to you, but this is an intervention. Please, don't get defensive -- everyone here loves you and cares about you. But listen... I'm gonna need book readers and reviewers to reflect on the idea that finishing a book and going "Oh, I loved it so much, but I wish it was just a few pages longer!" is not really a valid point of negative critique in the assessment of a text.

Let me explain.

When I read people's otherwise wildly positive reviews of books and they say that line, I don't interpret it in context as, "This story needed to be a few pages longer for the plot to work, structurally, and for the ending to achieve a solid resolution." Rather, they basically seem to be saying simply, "I loved it and I didn't want it to end." That's always a GREAT feeling, but then they're.... taking points off from their total rating because of that??? They seem to be penalizing the author because they weren't left with a feeling of "Ugh, thank god it's over"? It's like, "This would have been five stars if it had had just one more chapter but it made me sad that it ended, so four stars" -- Guys, do we understand that's an insane take? It's insane. A book has to end. If you shriek "NO!!!" that it's over because you were having such a great time, that's... that's a symptom of a 5-star book, babes. I'm not sure why there's such a fashion these days for penalizing authors for this particular thing in this particular way, but it's really baffling to me.

But setting aside the puzzling trend of "I'm knocking points off because it ended when it should have gone on until I personally was fully bored and exhausted of it, like the 11th season of a TV show that was only supposed to go until season 4" -- listen, I guarantee you that nine times out of ten, when you're out here longing for just one more chapter or saying "this could have used an epilogue" you... are wishing for something that would have actively ruined your enjoyment and the quality of the book.

Are you a writer yourself? Have you ever finished writing a book before? Have you done it more than once? Have you deeply studied the endings of books? They are HARD, let me tell you what. Endings are so much harder than beginnings, because you're looking for that beautiful final note, like the ending of a symphony, and you're trying to ride it for a few glorious seconds before the FLOURISH and dum-dummmmmm....! and the conductor collapses as the audience bursts into applause! Right? Yes? Except that chances are that one more chapter or epilogue would ruin the pacing and resolution of the ending and muddle up the summary of the theme and thesis statement, and all of this WOULD ACTUALLY fuck up your experience of the story as a whole. For example, please consider the last Harry Potter book as an example. We all hate JKR now for being a TERF but oh, children, how quickly we forget that back in the olden times, we used to hate her for that fucking epilogue that made everything that came before feel rancid and pointless and hollow and cheap. Y'all remember how sickening and infuriating that was? Do you remember the Hunger Games epilogue? Nine times out of ten, that's what you're inexplicably wishing for.

To see this point illustrated, let's do a quick exercise together. Go pick out a piece of classical music -- some of my best suggestions for this are Beethoven's Ode to Joy, or "Der Holle Rache" from Mozart's Magic Flute, or Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Listen to it all the way through. If you're struggling with scrolling addiction and your attention span has been severely damaged, fine, listen to the last two minutes ("Der Holle Rache" is the shortest, just 3 minutes). Then, after the song is done, click back to some random spot earlier in the piece, listen to another 30 seconds, and then stop. Consider: Did adding that last 30 seconds materially improve the piece, or did it undermine the overall emotional journey? Did it help the ending to stick the landing even more than it already did, or does it just feel weirdly stuck-on as an afterthought, like the "for more fun videos, check out the rest of our channel and don't forget to subscribe!!!" card at the end of youtube videos?

When you are wishing for an epilogue, my doves, you are wishing for something you do not actually want -- or which you probably would not want if you had the option to see it in practice and compare it side by side with the original. You are wishing for something that would more than likely make the story worse. You are holding the author at fault for something being wrong with the text only because you hit immersion and were having a lot of fun and didn't want to come back up for air. Like, I'm just not sure that's something that the author should be blamed for? It sounds like they were doing their job really well???

Please, just. Separate your feelings of "bittersweet disappointment that this wonderful book is over" from "frustration that the author didn't stick the landing, ugh what a flop" because they are two separate things. Before you say "I'm taking points off because I wish there was more", please take two seconds to ask yourself critical thinking questions like, "Why did the author choose to end the book here rather than in two more chapters?" because (other than a few wild outliers that should not be counted) the answer is never, "They got bored and just didn't feel like finishing the story." Chances are, they chose that specific ending for a reason. They ended it there because that's the point that underlines the thesis statement of the book, or because the emotions of that scene are the ones they want you to remember and walk away with, or because that marks the place where the story arc is genuinely over. When the author says, "And they all lived happily ever after," that means that what happily-ever-after looks like is in your hands now.

Nine times out of ten, you don't want one more chapter. Please. I promise you that you don't want one more chapter. The book is done; what you want now is either fanfiction or someone to talk about it with. Or maybe to start the book over from the beginning! Believe me, you would not want one more chapter if you had it. (Or, if you did have it and it magically didn't suck, you would just keep wanting more chapters because that's what "really enjoying the book" means. In which case, go read fanfic, that's what it is for.) I promise you, I promise you, the book would probably be worse with one more chapter and you would not like it as much. Please stop wishing for the author to be less good at their job. Please. A book has to end; so does this post. And we all live happily ever after*. The End.

----- * The post-canon coffeeshop AU sequel will be detailed exhaustively on AO3

[brekkie-e]

So, I am in no way a fan of finding out only three choices matter. Let me get that out of the way.

But. I do keep seeing folks say all the choices are Solavellan centric, and this game only cares about female Lavellan Inquisitors- which I don't agree with. The only decision that relates directly to Solas is the "save or kill" one. And here's the thing. As much as I can understand why that appears Solavellan leaning, that is actually a really important distinction for any Inquisitor.

If the Inquisitor is going to be as important to the plot as they've implied, they need to do it better than they did Hawke. Hawke was impossible to get right because they were just a blank slate every man character. By defining the Inquisitor's goal before they even show up, they can (in theory) write them differently from the jump. If you played a Cadash who romances Sera and vows to kill Solas at the end of Trespasser- your character would not in any way feel accurate if they show up and start talking about how they wish they could change their friends mind. But vice versa, a Trevelyan mage who befriended him would feel off if they showed up saying they can't wait to kill him if you didn't go that route.

Most characters in a story will revolve around their goals, and actually defining the Inquisitor's is important here. I dont think it’s just relevant to a romanced Solas run.

By clarifying this difference, an Inquisitor who hates Solas can show up to Varric's injured bedside and rage about how they want to kill him for what he's done. An Inquisitor who still cares about him can show up to the same scene and have an emotional melt down because now they are doubting, and did their faith in Solas get Varric hurt? These are distinctions that I feel would really make the Inquisitor feel like a realized character regardless of romance.

So, all in all, I don't think the choices are proof that this game only cares about Solavellan. That doesnt mean I'm not annoyed and stressed about them as well though. Like. Im sorry Keiran and the Well of Sorrows what's up with that?

[pedro-pascal-love]

It's so sad that she loved him and Cregan loved her too, but he didn't respect her. She could have prioritized her future and married a good man, but she didn't because she kept waiting for a man who in the end will never go for her. Now she finds herself at the end of the road, alone and with no one to turn to. It is so sad because she is a totally worthwhile woman. She may not know about arts and crafts or embroidery, but she has her own good skills, the only bad thing about her is that she waited and still waits for love from a man who is not worth it, instead of prioritizing herself.

She may love Cregan, but it's time to prioritize herself. She's spent so much time living for Cregan, she doesn't know what it's like to live for herself. Besides, even though Cregan seems to love her in the same way, he doesn't seem to be willing to be with her openly as husband and wife. Besides, it would be very disrespectful if Cregan suggests her to be his mistress. That woman doesn't deserve to be anyone's mistress, not even his. Arra also doesn't deserve to be disrespected like that by her husband, who has a mistress. They are both too much woman for so little man. If Cregan decides to take a mistress, then Stark honor would be in tatters. Our girl must choose a new dream, perhaps walk other paths, choose other battles. I know it's sad, but we women must know how to choose our battles. We cannot stay and fight among ourselves for a man who says he loves you, but at the end of the day he is going to marry another woman. That only means that he only loves himself, he is not capable of loving anyone else. It is undignified and very sad that she (I say Reader like this because I can't imagine myself as her) and Arra are chasing the love of a bad man. Sometimes the right decision is not to marry the man we want, but to marry the man who loves us the most, and Cregan doesn't really love either of them.

I think it's more than clear that I want to come to blows with Cregan for getting these two girls' hopes up for nothing. I wonder if Lord Cerwyn (Cregan's canon best friend) and Lord Glover (Cregan's canon cousin on Cregan's mother's side) wouldn't like to seriously court our girl. I mean just because Cregan rejects her all the time doesn't mean other men are the same. Lord Cerwyn and Cregan were best friends since childhood, their home is only half a day's ride from Winterfell on horseback. I think it would be good for our girl to be appreciated by a man who really sees her. Summary: girls if a man promised you something and not only didn't deliver, but also started dating another woman. Leave that man, that man is not worth it, you can't go crawling around for a man's crumbs. More if that man made it clear to you that for him everything was a game, if you accept him back into your life, then you won't know when he is serious and when he is just playing with you.

Reader is definitely going through it. But don't worry, Cregan will be going through some stuff of his own too. He's not going to come out of all this unscathed.🤫

[semperama]

hey, erin! 80 + maxiel for the ask game 💓

"Is your seatbelt on?"

------

It's always a rush, cheating death.

Daniel's been doing it since he was a kid. ATVs on a red dirt track. Launching bikes off jumps this side of too big. Flying to Europe, climbing into the cockpit of an open-wheel car, braces still on his teeth. Deadly crashes in the rain. Heart shattering in his chest, again, again, again.

And the danger that isn't physical, too. The thousand different ways people find to make you feel small. The bigger you are, the harder you fall. The faster you go, the harder you crash.

------

"Is your seatbelt on?" Max asks while the others are still climbing in, Sophie and Jos, the sun setting behind them. "Daniel. The buckle."

------

The thing is, you can only cheat it for so long. No one is invincible. No one lasts forever.

He thought he'd have a few more years before it all flashes before his eyes, all those moments he didn't appreciate enough when he was going through them. He did appreciate them, but not enough. It never could have been enough. That's how it goes. That's the tragedy of it all. He smiled through all of it, because he wanted to, but that didn't make it stay.

------

"Is your seatbelt on?" Daniel asks, cheeky, even though they strapped Max in minutes ago. They give them the green light, and Daniel floors it, reckless and delighted.

Max's laugh rings in his ears. Over the engine, over the rush of wind. It's Max's laugh that stays with him, long after the rest of it is over.

------

"Can I come see you in Australia, after the season?"

Max's voice over the phone, more direct than he's ever been. Daniel's not oblivious to the hints he's been dropping, and he hasn't been ignoring them either, but of all the things he's ever been scared of, this scares him the most.

"You don't want to ruin your holiday on a sad sack like me," Daniel says. It's a joke. It's always a joke. It's never a joke. He's not sure if Max knows.

"Don't be stupid," Max says. Then, "Please."

------

Max's suitcase in the trunk of his car. Max's smile in the passenger seat. They say everyone dies twice, once when your heart stops, and once the last time someone says your name.

"Is your seatbelt on?" Daniel asks as they pull away from the curb, sliding into traffic. It's different, like this. He and Max have driven all over the world together, but never here. Never going the speed limit, stopping at red lights, home at the end of the road.

He doesn't realize his hand is shaking on the gear shift until Max's settles on top, lacing their fingers together. "Daniel," he says softly.

Daniel breathes out. He glances over at Max and smiles, because he has to enjoy this as much as he can, has to keep it as long as he can.

He isn't dead yet.

[pasaatimonarkin]

No crying in the Burlesque club I part 6

Han Jisung x reader feat. OT8 Stray kids

Mafia!au

Warnings: cursing, guns, mentions of blood, sexual language, SMUT at the end [please skip the end if you are a minor or don't feel comfortable readind smut]

Word count: 9,9k [I have no idea how it got so long]

part 5

The moments kept replaying in your mind as you got dressed. Han wiped the sweat off his forehead before zipping up his jeans. His eyes never left you and you could feel his gaze pierced on your back as you put your lingerie back on. 

As you put your dress back on, you got startled as you felt Han’s hands on your back, helping you zip up the dress. “Thank you” you whispered over your shoulder and Han gave a light kiss on the top of your head.  

“Ready?” Han asked as he moved to the door. You stepped into your heels and nodded, taking a deep breath before leaving the room behind Han. 

"Oh, you were already waiting for me?" you heard Coco flirt as she saw only Han leaving her room. 

"It's not what it looks like," Han says with a smirk, while you stand behind him, your hair a mess and a hint of lipstick smudged on your cheek. You couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at her blatant disregard for your relationship, but you bite your tongue. 

You walked past Coco with a sense of defiance, wiping your mouth to indicate that you did something intimate in her dressing room. The smell of her perfume lingered in the hallway, but it was overpowered by the musky scent of sex that clinged to your skin. Your eyes never met hers, and you could feel the weight of her gaze as you pass. 

Coco's mouth opens to say something, but no words come out. You've seen that look before – a mix of surprise and annoyance. It's the look of someone who thought they had the upper hand, only to realize they were playing a game they didn't understand. Han's smirk only widens as he follows you, his hand sliding into yours. 

As you exit the club into the cool night air, Han turns to you with a glint in his eye. "I hope that was enough to prove my point," he says, his voice low and teasing. "But if it wasn't, I can always give you a repeat performance." He tugs at your hand gently, pulling you closer. You can feel the heat of his body, and the memory of his touch is still electric on your skin. 

You roll your eyes, trying to play it cool. "I think you made it pretty clear," you reply, a hint of a smile playing on your lips. Han chuckles, squeezing your hand as he opened the passenger seat door for you and you slid in to the seat. 

"I have to say that I'm proud" Han says after he takes a seat next to you. You raise your eyebrow, "Proud of what?" 

Han smiles as he does what you did when going past Coco and wipes the side of his mouth, not breaking eye contact with you. You blushed. You didn't mean to be that bold, but you also wanted To make Coco know that Han was off the market. 

"So, are we together?" you blurt out, suddenly feeling the need to clarify your relationship status. Han's smile turns into a grin as he starts the engine. "What do you think?" he asks, his voice filled with amusement. 

He shifts gears smoothly, his eyes never leaving the road as he continues. "I mean, if having sex in a someone’s dressing room doesn't scream 'exclusive', I don't know what does." You swat at his arm playfully, trying to ignore the way your stomach flutters at his words. 

"You're terrible," you say, but the smile on your face gives you away. Han's teasing is a familiar dance, one that you've both performed many times. It's his way of diffusing tension and keeping things light.  

"Come on, don't tell me you didn't enjoy it," he says, his eyes glancing at you briefly before returning to the road. "You looked like you could take on the world when you left that room." The car's headlights cut through the darkness as you drive away from the theater, leaving the sounds of laughter and music behind. 

You hesitate, then decide to ask the question that's been bothering you since the moment you left the dressing room. “I have noticed that you stopped calling me with nicknames. Why is that?" The silence stretches out between you, filled only with the hum of the engine and the sound of your own breathing. 

Han looks at you, a smile forming in his lips “It was my way of flirting. But then I stopped because your name is the sexiest pet name I know," he says, his voice a low rumble. 

You can't help but feel a warmth spread through you at his words. The jealousy from earlier had dissipated, replaced by a renewed sense of belonging. You lean back into the leather seat, watching the passing streetlights flicker across Han's profile. His hand is still in yours, and the warmth of his touch comforting. 

Once you get to the house, you both head to the kitchen, and Han starts rummaging through the fridge. You lean against the counter, watching him, the adrenaline from the encounter still coursing through your veins. You had so many thoughts flying through your mind. You had so many feelings towards Han though you weren’t sure if you should. You were kind of scared of your feelings, because you had never had a real relationship before. “I’m going to bed” you finally mumbled, not feeling like eating anything. 

Han looks over his shoulder, a question in his eyes. "You’re not hungry?" he asks, mouth full of leftover food. You smile softly at his squirrel-like cheeks, “Nah. I’m just tired”. You fidget with your fingers and look down at them before continuing. “You could join, if you want” you mumble. 

Han's smile softens, and he closes the fridge door, stepping towards you. He wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you into him. "Is that what you want?" he whispers, his breath warm against your neck. You nod, feeling your body relax into his embrace. He kisses you gently and you can taste the salty hamburger in his lips.

You lead him to your room and began to change your clothes to comfier ones. Han takes off his clothes, leaving him only in his boxers. You can’t help but blush as flasbacks from the club fill your mind. Han climbs under the covers and you crawl into bed beside him, and he pulls the covers over you both. You lay there, nestled in his arms, feeling the steady beat of his heart. His hand traces patterns on your back, soothing the last of your nerves. You close your eyes, letting the comfort of his embrace wash over you. 

"You know," you say, your voice a whisper in the quiet room, "I don't think I've ever felt so... wanted." 

Han's hand pauses on your back, his grip tightening for a brief moment. "What do you mean?" 

You sit up, looking into his eyes. "I mean, I've had flings, and casual relationships, but nothing that's ever felt... real. Nothing that's made me feel like I could trust someone completely." 

Han's expression turns serious, his gaze holding yours. "And now?" 

You take a deep breath, feeling your heart race. "Now, I think... I think maybe I've found someone I could trust," you say, the words leaving your mouth in a rush. You bite your lower lip, waiting for his response, feeling vulnerable and exposed. 

Han's eyes searched yours, his expression unreadable for a beat too long. Then, his arms tighten around you, and he whispers, "You can trust me." The sincerity in his voice is like a balm to your soul, soothing the raw edges of your insecurities. You lean into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his chest against your cheek. 

For a moment, you're lost in the comfort of his touch, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your ear. Then, you pull back to look at him again, needing to be sure. "Really?" 

Han's smirk returns, but there's a softness to it now. "Yes, really," he says, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "I know it's not the most romantic declaration, but I'm not exactly Shakespeare." He brushes a strand of hair from your face, his thumb lingering on your cheek. "But if it makes you feel better, I'd say you're more than just 'wanted' to me." 

You laugh, feeling your cheeks warm at his teasing. "Well, that's a relief," you reply, poking his chest lightly. He captures your hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing your knuckles before placing it back on his chest. 

Curiosity gets the better of you, and you decide to ask a question that's been niggling at the back of your mind. "Han," you begin, your voice soft, "have you ever felt this way about anyone before?" You watch his expression, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt. 

Han looks at you, his eyes serious. "I've had my share of flings," he admits, his voice a low murmur. "But nothing serious, no. Nothing that's made me feel... like I do with you." He runs his thumb over your hand, his gaze never leaving yours.  

The confession hangs in the air, and for a moment, you're not sure how to respond. You swallow hard, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. You've never been the girlfriend, never been the one someone talked about with that kind of intensity. You've always been the casual fling, the one who didn't get the emotional attachment.  

You decide to not ask further and press your head back on his chest, reaching your arm over his stomach. Han tightens the grip around you, “Good night” he whispers, placing a kiss on top of your head. “Good night” you mumble against his chest and close your eyes. Maybe I shouldn’t think this so deeply. We kissed, we fucked, we confessed. I should just relax, you think before falling asleep. 

- 

You were having a peaceful evening for once. It was just you, Han and Jeongin watching tv. It felt like a normal day with no operations or twirling your body for men’s pleasure. But you should have seen it coming that a evening like this would not stay like this for long. 

The sudden buzz of your phone jolted you upright. It was a message from Chan, summoning you all to his office – even you. Your heart skipped a beat. The words on the screen were commanding: "Meeting. Now." The room grew quiet, as Han and Jeongin stared at their phones, reading the same message. You knew what it meant, Strays had a new mission incoming, 

You stood up and made your way towards Chan’s office, Hyunjin, Changbin and Lee Know joining you from the garage. Han and Jeongin filed behind you as you stepped to his office. Seungmin was already there, his eyes gleaming behind thick-rimmed glasses, already had his laptop at the ready. 

Changbin leaned against the wall, arms folded. The others scattered around the room. Han was standing tall beside you, his hand resting lightly on the gun holstered at his waist.  

Chan sat at his desk. His eyes were sharp, scanning the room as you took your positions around him. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight, and announced, "There's a party tonight at the Golden Hall. The boss of the Blackjacks is going to be there. We need to get to him, get him to talk if he knows anything about who the Red Dragons are working with."  

Han's gaze locked with yours for a brief moment before he broke the silence. "What's the plan?"

Chan's expression grew serious. "Hyunjin, you're the bait. We need you to draw Kang’s attention." 

Hyunjin nodded, a sly smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Always happy to play the fool for the cause." 

"You're our extraction plan," Chan said, looking at Felix, "If things go south, you're to get in, grab the boss, and get out. Don't engage unless absolutely necessary. Your speed is our advantage." 

Felix nodded, the tension in his posture relaxing slightly. 

"Jeongin, you're with Hyunjin. Keep an eye on him. If things get messy, make sure he doesn't get too carried away with the act." 

"Always do, boss." Jeongin nodded. 

Chan's gaze fell on you last. "Y/N, you're with Han. Your job is to make Kang talk incase he doesn’t talk to Hyunjin". His voice was a low rumble, leaving no room for interpretation. 

The room spun around you as his words sank in. Shock ricocheted through your body like a stray bullet, leaving you stunned. Me? Taking part in a mission? Chan had been so protective that he still hadn’t given you permission to go in your own apartment or into the Burleque club alone. Now he was suddenly counting you as one participating in their mission?

"What?" You asked in disbelief "you want me to participate?" 

Han took a step closer to Chan, "Isn't it too dangerous? " 

Chan's eyes narrowed. "I know the risks, but she's part of this family now. And if she's willing to be with you, then she knows what she's signing up for." 

You eyes widened, your breath catching in your throat. Did he know about Han and me? The room felt suddenly suffocating. You searched his face, but his expression was stern like always when looking at you. 

"How long have you known?" You managed to choke out, your voice barely above a whisper. 

Chan raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking between you and Han. "Long enough. But that's not what this is about." He leaned forward, his hands folding into fists on the desk. "This mission is too important to leave anything to chance. It's a mafia party and they want women in there, that's why every group of attending men need at least one woman" 

"How can you suddenly make me go in the heart of danger if you couldn't even let me stay at my own goddam apartment?" You ask, my voice raising with anger. 

Chan's expression remains unchanged, his gaze unwavering. "You're a part of this whether you like it or not," he says, his voice as cold as steel. "You chose to be with him, and that means you're in." 

"But I can't—" You start to protest, your voice shaking with fear and anger. 

Chan holds up a hand, silencing you with a look that could cut glass. "You can, and you will," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

"Seungmin will get you the floorprints of the Hall, memorise them so you know where you are moving. Y/n you go inside with Hyunjin, Jeongin and Han. Hyunjin and Jeongin go to talk to Kang. Pretend to be interested in his group. Y/n and Han are there for look out, if he won't talk, send y/n to seduce him. Changbin will wait with the car outside in case something goes south. And like said Felix keeps eye on it outside and Lee Know is going to be prepared here" 

Your stomach twisted into knots. Seduce him? You had never been in a situation like this before.  Everyone else nodded, understanding the plan and it's risks but you couldn't get your head around it. 

"Wait seduce the boss? Who do you think I am, a hooker?" 

The room grew tense, everyone's gaze on you. Your heart raced as the reality of the situation sank in. 

"No. But considering your work, I expect you to know how to get to men. You got one of my men didn't you?" Chan said but there was no tease or joking in his voice. 

"What does that mean?" 

Chan's eyes bore into me, his voice low and measured. "It means you know how to use what you've got to get what you want. And right now, what we need is for you to get close to Kang, get him talking. Whatever it takes. Hyunjin is good at making people talk without them noticing but Kang loves women. You are our second best shot at getting him to tell about the Red Dragon’s deals." 

You felt the weight of his words, the implication clear. Your throat went dry. You just couldn’t believe that your own borther just told you to there and make a dangerous mafia boss drool for you. 

Chan's gaze moved around the room, his eyes meeting each of you in turn. "Alright," he said, his tone final. "Get ready. We leave in an hour." 

Everyone started to leave the room, going in the own rooms to get ready, get some suits on and make sure their guns were loaded and ready in case needed. You walked from the room your heart racing, Han following you closely and closing the door behind him. 

" I knew Chan would be pissed if he found about us, but this? What happened to all the you must stay safe talk?" You ask Han, the annoyance and afraidness could be heard in your voice clearly. 

"I'm not sure" Han says, his face showing the uncertainty of the situtation. But he knew he had to listen to the boss, like he had for many years. ”I don’t like this either”. 

At the same time you were slightly interested on what happened in their missions like these, but fear had the upper hand. Han took your hand in his, squeezing it tightly. ”I’m sorry” he said quietly, eyes not leaving yours. Your face softened, ”It’s not your fault. Chan hates that we went behind his back. This is his way of revenging, making us regret it. But…we can handle it, I’ll try my best” you said, trying to reassure you more than Han, 

Han's grip tightened around your hand. "I'll be with you," he assured, his voice a comforting rumble. "And I won't let anything happen to you." 

You nodded, trying to believe him, trying to believe in yourself. The walls felt closer than ever, the air thick with the weight of what was to come.  

In the quiet of your room, You stared at the mirror, eyes wide with anxiety. You had an hour to become someone else, someone who could charm a dangerous mafia boss and survive to tell the tale. You let out a shaky breath and picked a dress from the closet. A sleek, burgundy dress. It was tight, clinging to every curve, and dangerously low-cut, leaving little to the imagination. You stepped into some golden heels and opened your hair from the messy bun it had been in the day.  

Seungmin had already texted you the floorprints of the Golden Hall and you did your best to take in most of it. Memorizing how to get from room to room.

You brushed your hair before tucking it into a tight ponytail. While getting ready you had decided to act strong no matter what happened. You couldn’t give Chan the satisfaction of knowing you couldn’t handle this kind of life, because you had to. You had formed something special with Han, and you weren’t going to let it go because of him. 

You stood in front of your bathroom mirror, doing your best with your makeup. You painted on a mask of seduction, darkening your eyes and reddening your lips, until you barely recognized the woman staring back at you. Doing your own Burlesque make up had it’s advantages, making you able to make yourself look like a seductress who could charm her way out of any situation—or so you hoped. 

The door creaked open, and Han stepped into the room, his eyes scanning over you. He'd changed into a tailored black suit that hugged his frame like a second skin, a white button up shirt and a crimson tie laid against his chest.  

"You look beautiful," he murmured, his voice a warm caress that sent a shiver down your spine. His eyes lingered on your face, like he was trying to see the real you behind all the makeup.  

"Thank you," You murmured, turning to face him fully. His eyes traveled over you, lingering on the curves the dress accentuated. You could feel his desire, a silent flame that burned just as hotly as the fear that coiled in your stomach. He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from your face. 

"You don't look bad either," You said, trying to lighten the mood. Your voice wavered slightly, betraying the nerves that danced just beneath the surface. Han's lips quirked into a smirk. 

His hand slid around your waist and pulled you into his embrace. His arms felt like steel bands, but the warmth of his body against you was reassuring. "You know I've got your back," he murmured into your ear, his breath warm against your skin. You nodded, ”I know” 

In the car on the way to the Golden Hall, the silence was palpable, the air heavy with the weight of what was to come. Changbin's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road ahead. Hyunjin was fixing his hair in the passenger seat and You were sitting between Han and Jeongin. Felix would take his own car and be ready in case he was needed inside.

Han’s hand was resting lightly on the gun that was tucked in his pants. You could feel the tension in his body, deep in thought of what was to happen. You took a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart. 

The Golden Hall loomed in the distance. As you approached, the headlights danced across the gleaming marble facade, casting shadows  on the huge walls. The sound of music and laughter grew louder, people were chatting and smoking on the outdoor stairs. 

Changbin pulled the car to a stop at the curb, the engine purring quietly. You stepped out, a united front of deceit and danger. The cool evening air was a slap in the face, a stark reminder of the cold reality of the world you were about to enter. The scent of expensive cologne and perfume mingled with the faint hint of gunpowder, a potent cocktail of wealth and violence. 

You circled your arm around Han's, your hand coming to rest on his bicep. His warmth seeped into you, a reassuring presence in the sea of uncertainty. His eyes met yours, a silent promise of protection. For a brief moment, you felt like you could conquer the world—or at least the Golden Hall. 

As you approached the grand entrance, the bouncers eyed you with a mix of curiosity and hunger. Hyunjin took the lead, his charm oozing from every pore as he flashed them a winning smile. "We're with Kang's entourage," he announced, the lie slipping from his tongue as smoothly as silk. The bouncers nodded, their gazes lingering on your group before letting you pass. The doors swung open, revealing a world of glitz and glamour that was as fake as the smile you pasted on your face. 

Inside, the Golden Hall was a cacophony of sounds—the clink of champagne flutes, the murmur of hushed conversations, and the pulsating beat of music that thrummed through the floorboards. The air was thick with the scent of wealth and the unspoken promise of power plays. Your heart raced as you stepped into the fray, every step taking you deeper into the lion's den. 

The room was a kaleidoscope of colors, the chandeliers casting a warm glow on the faces of the unsuspecting prey mingling below.

Hyunjin and Jeongin split off, weaving through the throng of bodies like shadows. You felt a knot form in your stomach as they disappeared into the throng, leaving you and Han to navigate through the socialites and gangsters. 

You moved through the crowd. You felt like a pawn in a high-stakes chess game, each move scrutinized by the sharp eyes of the elite. You made our way to the bar. Han's hand was a firm presence at the small of your back, guiding you through the maze of bodies.

The bartender, a man with a nose that looked like it had been broken more times than he could count, gave you a nod as you approached. "Whiskey," Han ordered, his eyes never leaving the room. The man slid two glasses across the counter. You clinked your glasses together, the sound lost in the din of the partygoers. 

As you sipped the burning liquid, your eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of the Blackjacks' boss. The crowd was a mix of the rich and the ruthless, their smiles as sharp as the knives hidden in their jackets.  

Han leaned closer, his voice a rumble in the chaos. "You okay?" he asked, his hand brushing against your lower back. 

"I'm fine," You said, thought you were everything else but fine. 

You watched as Hyunjin and Jeongin approached a group of men huddled together, their laughter growing louder as they drew near. The crowd parted for them, eager to catch a glimpse of the entertainment. You stomach twisted into knots as you recognized the man at the center—Kang, the boss of the Blackjacks. You didn’t even need to know what he looked like beforehand, his looks yelled power. His eyes were cold and calculating, his smile a mere curve of his lips that didn't reach his eyes. 

Hyunjin laid a hand on Kang's shoulder, his grin wide and infectious. Jeongin hovered at his side, a silent sentinel ready to jump into action at a moment's notice. You could see the tension in their shoulders, the way their eyes flicked around the room, searching for any sign of trouble. 

Kang's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the two newcomers, his gaze lingering on Hyunjin's hand a beat too long before he shrugged it off. His smile remained in place, a veneer of charm over the predator beneath.  

You leaned into Han, "When do I go in?" you spoke quietly. 

”If Hyunjin doesn’t get the information needed, he will nod towards us. That’s when you go to make your move” he murmured, his eyes never leaving the group 

The music grew louder, a pulsing bass that vibrated through your chest. You watched as Hyunjin leaned closer to Kang, his laughter a little too loud, a little too forced. Jeongin hovered at the edge of the group, his eyes sharp and alert. They were playing their parts perfectly. 

"Han," You whispered urgently, "what do I do when we get to Kang?" 

His gaze never left the group, but you felt his hand tense on the small of your back. "Just play it cool," he murmured. "Be charming, be sweet, but don't give anything away." 

The knot in your stomach tightened. "And if he doesn't fall for it?" 

Han's hand slid around to your waist, his grip firm and comforting. "Then you improvise," he murmured, his eyes darkening. "Use your instincts. Pretend you are doing one of your shows, when you are the most confident. Imagine he is your audience". You nodded and sighed, feeling the warmth of the whiskey spread through you. 

As the conversation between Hyunjin and Kang grew more heated, Han's hand tightened on your waist, pulling you closer. His eyes never left the group as he murmured, "I think you need to make your move soon." 

Your heart thudded in your chest, the dress feeling tighter with each passing second. You tried to still the tremble in your voice. "Okay,” 

Suddenly, Han's hand was there, cupping your cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the bead of sweat that had formed on your skin. He looked deep into your eyes. "I'll have my eye on you at all times," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to your frayed nerves. The warmth of his touch seeped into you, a reminder that you weren’t alone in this. 

You watched as Hyunjin and Jeongin extricated themselves from Kang's group, their smiles still in place but their eyes now cold and calculating. They moved through the crowd with the grace of panthers, leaving in their wake a trail of confused and slightly annoyed-looking men. You saw Hyunjin nod towards Han who then turned back to you. "It's time," he murmured. 

You took a final deep breath, the dress feeling like it was made of lead as you stepped away from him. The crowd parted slightly, the ocean of wealth and danger opening a path for you to tread. Your heels clicked on the marble floor, the sound echoing in the vastness of the room.  

As you approached Kang the world around you seemed to slow down. The group of men parted for you, their eyes raking over you like a physical touch. You pasted on a smile as you stepped into the circle of power surrounding Kang. 

Kang's gaze slid to you, his eyes lingering on the v-cut of your dress, the way it hugged your curves. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he took you in. 

You stepped closer,"I hope I'm not interrupting," you said, your voice a sweet melody that belied the turmoil inside you. 

Kang's eyes narrowed slightly, his smile never wavering. "Not at all," he replied, his voice a silky threat. "What brings a beautiful creature like yourself to a place like this?" 

"Oh, just looking for a good time," You said, trying to keep your voice steady. "I heard this was the place to be." 

Kang's gaze lingered on you, his eyes raking over your body in a way that made you want to shiver. But you held his gaze, smile never wavering. "And what makes you think you can find that here?" he asked, his tone teasing. 

"Well," you began, "I've heard a rumor that the company here is... exceptional." you let the word hang in the air, your voice a soft purr that seemed to resonate through the group of men surrounding you. 

Kang's hand slid around your waist, his touch a cold reminder of the role you were playing. You forced yourself not to flinch, instead leaning into his embrace. His eyes lit up with interest, his grip tightening slightly as he pulled you closer. "And what kind of exceptional company are you looking for?" 

"The kind that knows how to bargain," you murmured, your hand resting lightly on his chest. His heart was a steady thump beneath your fingertips, a stark contrast to the frantic beating of your own. 

Kang's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with interest. "I might know a thing or two," he said, his voice a dangerous purr. "But first, tell me your name, beautiful." 

"Call me Luna," you said, the pseudonym rolling off your tongue like a well-practiced lie. His thumb stroked the bare skin above your dress's waistline. The touch sent a shiver down your spine, but you didn't pull away. 

"Luna," he repeated, his voice a caress. "A name as enchanting as the woman who bears it." His eyes traveled down to your lips, and you could almost see the cogs turning in his mind, calculating his next move. 

"Kang," you responded, your voice a coy purr. "I've heard you're quite the poker player. Perhaps I could be your lucky charm tonight?" 

The room seemed to hold its breath as Kang's eyes lit up, the challenge clear in his gaze. He leaned in, his breath warm against your ear. "Is that so?" he murmured, his hand sliding down to rest on the curve of your hip. "I'd be more than happy to see if your luck holds up at the table." 

Your heart raced as he led you through the crowd, his grip on your hand firm and possessive. The poker room was a stark contrast to the raucous party outside—the air was thick with the tension of unspoken threats and the scent of money. The green-felted tables gleamed under the harsh lights, the chips glinting like the eyes of predators ready to pounce. 

Kang pulled out a chair for him, the leather creaking under his weight as he took his seat. You positioned yourself behind him and laid your hands on his shoulders.  

The poker game was fast and furious, the air thick with tension and the scent of money changing hands. Kang's eyes never left the cards, his mind a whirlwind of strategies and bluffs. Each play was a dance, a silent conversation that spoke of power and control. His opponents were seasoned players, their faces a mask of indifference as they raised the stakes. 

With a flourish, Kang laid down his hand—a straight flush. The room erupted into a mix of gasps and murmurs of respect. The opponents' shoulders slumped in defeat, their pockets significantly lighter. Kang's smirk grew wider, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath him. 

"Impressive," you murmured into his ear, your voice low and intimate. His gaze flicked to you, a predatory gleam in his eyes that sent a thrill of fear down you. He took a sip of his whiskey, the ice cubes clinking against the glass. "You're quite the player, Mr. Kang." you continued as you took a seat on the armrest of his chair. 

He placed his hand to rest on your thigh. "And you, Luna, are quite the lucky charm," he said, his voice a gruff rumble. His thumb stroked your skin in an intimite gesture. 

"Perhaps we could make a trade," you whispered, your voice a seductive purr. His eyes narrowed, the gleam of interest in them sharpening. "Your secrets for my... company." 

Kang's smile grew predatory, his hand squeezing your thigh slightly. "What makes you think I have any secrets worth sharing?" 

You leaned in closer, your breath tickling the shell of his ear. "Call it a hunch. And I'm sure I can make it worth your while." 

Kang considered your offer, his thumb continuing its slow, rhythmic stroking of your thigh. "What exactly are you proposing?" His voice was a low growl, the hint of a challenge in his tone. 

"A simple exchange," you purred "I want to know about your dealings with the Red Dragons." 

Kang's hand stilled, his eyes flicking up to meet yours. For a moment, you could see the wheels turning in his mind, weighing the cost of his secrets against the allure of the unknown. "The Red Dragons, you say?" He took a long sip of his whiskey, his gaze never leaving yours. "What makes you think I would have any dealings with them?" 

You gave him a knowing smile,"Let's just say I know how the wind blows in this city," you whispered, leaning closer so that your breath danced across his cheek. "And I can feel the heat of their breath on my neck." 

Kang's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on the whiskey glass. "And what makes you think I'd tell you anything?"  

With a boldness that surprised even you, you slid onto his lap, your dress hiking up just enough to reveal the edge of your garter. His eyes darkened, the pupils dilating slightly as he took in the sight. You placed your hand on his chest. 

"Let's just say I have a... vested interest in their business. And I'm willing to make it worth your while to share what you know." 

"What makes you so eager for this information, Luna?"  

"Let's just say I'm a woman who knows what she wants," you murmured. 

Kang's eyes never left yours, his hand tightening slightly on the whiskey glass. "And what makes you think I would be so easily swayed by a pretty face and a... willing disposition?" His voice was a silky threat, the challenge clear. 

"Because," you whispered, your teeth grazing his earlobe, "I'm not just any woman." your hand slid up his thigh, your fingertips grazing the bulge in his pants. His breath hitched, and for a moment, you thought you had him. 

But then, his hand shot out like a snake, grabbing your wrist and squeezing hard. "Careful," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You might not like what you find if you play with fire." 

You yanked your hand back, the pain sharpening your focus. "I can handle the heat,".  

Kang's grip on your wrist didn't loosen, but his gaze softened slightly. "I don't doubt it," he murmured, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin of your inner wrist. "But the price for my secrets isn't one to be paid lightly." 

You swallowed hard, the weight of the mission pressing down on you. "Name your price”. 

"I want you in private," he said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate through the very air. "Where we can... talk more freely." 

You nodded, your heart racing as you slipped off his lap. The room felt like it was closing in on you. You knew what he meant by "talk," and the thought made you nauseous. Had you gone too far with the act? But you couldn’t back now. 

Kang stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over you. He took your hand and led you through the labyrinth of the Golden Hall. The music grew fainter, the laughter more distant, until you reached a corridor that smelled faintly of cigar smoke and leather. He opened a door that led you to a bedroom.  

The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the flicker of candles scattered on the nightstands and dresser. The king-sized bed was the centerpiece, draped in luxurious fabrics that whispered of secrets and power plays. Kang walked over to the bar, pouring two glasses of amber liquid. He handed one to you, his gaze never leaving yours. 

"Drink," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. You took a sip, the whiskey burning a path down your throat, warming your insides. He took a sip of his own too. The silence stretched out, the tension in the air so thick it could be cut with a knife. 

"Now, about the Red Dragons. I want to know who they have deals with" you said, setting your glass down with a delicate click. 

Kang's smile grew, a cold gleam in his eye. "Ah, yes," he said, leaning against the bar. "The infamous Red Dragons. They don’t have deals. Only one, a bigger party they're dealing with."  

You took another sip of whiskey, your hand steady despite the racing of your heart. "What party is that?" you asked. 

Kang chuckled, "The kind that makes even the bravest of men tremble," he said, his eyes never leaving yours. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. You should pay your part of our trade" 

With a nod, you took a step closer to the bed, heels clicking against the marble floor. You sat on the edge, legs crossed, keeping your composure despite the racing thoughts in your head. Kang followed, his footsteps deliberate and predatory. He sat beside you, the mattress sinking slightly under his weight. His hand rested on your knee, his thumb making slow circles, a silent reminder of the power he held. 

"The group they deal with," you prompted, "What is it?" 

Kang's gaze remained locked on yours, his hand sliding up your thigh "A group so powerful, even I dare not speak their name aloud," he murmured, his thumb tracing the lace of youe garter. 

With a slow, deliberate movement, you leaned in, placing your hand on his chest to push him back onto the bed. He allowed himself to be moved. The bed's softness seemed to swallow him whole as he lay down, his expression a mix of arousal and anticipation. You slid closer to him, your hand moving to his belt buckle. 

"Tell me the name" you whisper, while slowly unbuckling his belt. Every inch of you felt nauseous of what you were doing, but you were so close to the answer. 

Kang's eyes glinted with amusement as he watched you, his chest rising and falling with every breath he took. "Not so fast," he murmured, placing a hand over yours. "First, I want to hear you beg for it." 

You clenched your jaw, the taste of the whiskey in your mouth turning sour. But you knew this was part of the game, so you leaned closer, "Please," you breathed, "I need to know. Tell me who they're working with." 

Kang's smile grew, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "The name you seek," he murmured, his hand sliding up to cup your cheek, "is the Snake." His thumb stroked your bottom lip. "But you must understand, Luna, that knowing the name of the Snake is only the beginning. It's like holding a cobra by the tail—dangerous and deadly." 

You nodded, trying to keep your revulsion hidden. "I understand," you whispered, your hand still on his belt. The need to escape was a living, breathing thing inside you, clawing at your thoughts. But you knew that any sign of fear would be a mistake. 

Slowly, you rose to your feet, hand trailing away from his body. His gaze followed your every movement, his breath growing heavier as you reached for the zipper of the dress. You pretented to start unzipping it. 

With a sudden burst of speed, you spun away from the bed. Your heart hammered in your chest as you sprinted towards the door. Kang's surprised grunt echoed through the room, and you knew he was already on his feet, moving to stop you. Your hand trembled as it reached for the doorknob. You twisted it, the door swinging open, and you slipped through, slamming it shut with a resounding thud. 

And there Han was, leaning against the wall, his eyes wide with shock as he had been listening to your conversation. He grabbed your hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "We have to go," he hissed, pulling you into the shadows of the hallway. 

The door to the room slammed open behind you, Kang's enraged shout echoing down the corridor. "You little whore!" His footsteps were like thunder as he pursued us, his fury palpable. 

Han's grip on your hand was ironclad, pulling you through the maze of the Golden Hall with a sense of urgency that bordered on panic. The opulent surroundings were a blur as you darted through the crowd, dodging the grasping hands of drunken patrons and the suspicious glances of the Blackjacks' guards.  

You didn't speak, your breaths coming in ragged gasps as you ran. Your feet stung with every step, but the pain was a distant echo compared to the fear coursing through your veins. You looked over your shoulder to see Kang running through the mass with his guards trailing behind you. Panic surged through you and your heart was racing so fast it threatened to burst through your chest.  

Han's grip tightened on your hand as he pushed through the crowd. His jaw was set, determination etched into every line of his handsome face.  

Hyunjin and Jeongin were waiting at the door. 

"We have to move," Han barked, his voice low and urgent. "Now." 

The four of you broke through the guards' line like a battering ram, their eyes widening in surprise as you barreled past. The cold air hit you in the face but you didn’t stop running. 

Changbin was waiting in his car and as he saw you four running for your life, Kang and his men behind you, he started the car.  

You dove into the car, the leather seats sticking to your bare skin. Han slammed the door shut behind you. Changbin didn't bother to ask questions, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror before he floored the gas pedal. The engine roared to life, the tires squealing as you shot away like a bullet from a gun. 

your chest was heaving as you tried to catch your breath. The adrenaline still pulsed through your veins. Han's arm was around your shoulders, his hand squeezing gently in reassurance. Jeongin was quiet beside you, his usual smirk gone, replaced by a look of grim determination. 

As the car sped away from the Golden Hall, the lights of the city flashed by in a blur. The sound of the engine was a comforting roar in the silence that had fallen over the four of you. You couldn't believe you had done it, that you had gotten the information and escaped Kang's clutches.  

Turning to face Han, you finally found your voice. "Holy shit, I did it," you exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and triumph coloring your voice. 

"You did," he said, his expression a blend of pride and concern. His eyes searched yours, his hand still on your shoulder, grounding you in the reality of your successful escape. 

Hyunjin turned to look at the backseat and you "So, who are the Red Dragon's working with?" 

You took a deep breath, still trying to compose yourself from the chaos of the last few minutes. "The Snake," you murmured, the name feeling like venom on your tongue. "He said they're working with someone called the Snake." 

Hyunjin's eyebrows shot up, his eyes glinting with interest in the rearview mirror. "The Snake?" he repeated. "That's big. They're a shadowy group, even for our world. No one really knows who they are, but their influence is everywhere." 

"Red Dragon's have made a dangerous deal" Changbin said, voice low. 

Once you got back to the house, everyone else made their way to Chan's office, to tell about the information you had just learned. You couldn’t follow them, you had to get to your own room. All the adrenaline and fear felt like seeping you away. 

You stumbled into your room, the door slamming shut behind you as you leaned against it, gasping for air. Your legs felt like jelly, threatening to give out beneath you. You had never felt so dirty, so violated. The taste of Kang's whiskey was still on your tongue, a bitter reminder of the man's touch. You unzipped your dress and let it fall on the ground. 

Stumbling over to the bed, you collapsed onto it, the mattress sighing under your weight. You could still feel his hands on your skin, his breath hot against your neck. You shivered, wrapping your arms around yourself in a desperate attempt to find some semblance of comfort. 

You felt a mix of proudness, fear and disgust. You were proud that you actually were useful and surprised even yourself with all the things you managed to say in the situation. You felt fear from thinking about how easily he could have killed you or made sure you could have never left that bedroom. Everything could have gone wrong. And finally you felt disgusted about the way he touched you, like he tainted you with his touch. 

The door opened, and Han stepped in, his eyes scanning you from head to toe. He closed the door with a soft click, the sound echoing through the quiet room. He didn't say a word, just approached the bed, his expression a mix of anger and concern. He sat down beside you, his hand tentatively reaching out to touch your shoulder. 

"Are you okay?" he whispered, his voice hoarse with unspoken rage. 

You nodded, your eyes squeezed shut as you tried to push the memories away. "Yeah," you croaked, "just disgusted. I can still feel his touch on my skin." 

Han's grip tightened, his thumb tracing gentle circles on your shoulder. "It's over now," he said, his voice a soothing "You're safe." 

But the feeling of disgust lingered, a thick film coating your soul. You couldn't help but feel like you had lost a piece of yourself in that room with Kang. 

Han's touch was gentle, but firm. He leaned in, his warm breath fanning over your skin. "May I help?" he asked, his voice a tender rumble that seemed to resonate in your very bones. 

You nodded, unable to find the words to express the tumult of emotions churning within you. He began by kissing the nape of your neck, his lips moving in a slow, deliberate pattern. His hands followed the contours of your body, tracing the curves and valleys as if committing them to memory. It was as if he were trying to erase the memory of Kang's touch with his own, to replace the feel of Kang's cold hands with the heat of his own passion. 

Han's kisses grew more insistent as he moved down your body, his lips pressing against your collarbone, your breasts, your stomach. Each touch was tender, a silent apology for what had transpired.  

Finally, his eyes met yours again. You knew what he was trying to do—erase the horror of the past hour, replace the touch of the monster with the gentle caress of the man you loved. And so, with a tremulous smile, you reached up and cupped his cheek, drawing him back up to you. You brought his mouth to yours in a kiss that was more than just passionate.  

Your kiss grew more intense, his tongue exploring your mouth as if he could taste the fear and replace it with something sweeter. His hands slid over your skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. With each touch, the tension in your body began to unravel, your muscles relaxing under his ministrations. 

He pulled away, his eyes searching yours. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion. 

You nodded, your voice stronger now. "I need this," you whispered. "I need you." 

With a gentle nod, Han stood, taking off his jacket and shirt, revealing the taut muscles of his chest. His eyes never left yours as he undid his belt and let his pants fall to the floor. His movements were deliberate, a silent promise that he would not hurt you, that he would not take without asking. 

He climbed onto the bed, his body sliding over yours. He kissed you again, his hands framing you, his thumbs wiping away the tears that had escaped your eyes without you even noticing it. Your kiss deepened, the taste of whiskey fading as the familiar scent of him filled your nose. 

Slowly, carefully, Han began to explore your body again. His touch was feather-light, as if he were afraid to break you. He kissed away the tracks of Kang's fingers, His hands slid over your hips, your waist, your breasts, each touch a declaration of ownership, of love. 

He moved down your body, his lips leaving a path of sweet agony. When he reached your inner thighs, he paused, his breath hot against your skin. His eyes met yours, and you nodded, giving him the permission he sought. He kissed you there, his mouth tender. His kisses were like a balm, a gentle reminder that you belonged to him, and him alone. 

With a swift, smooth motion, Han swept off your panties, the fabric fluttering to the floor like a discarded piece of the past. The cool air hit your skin, sending a shiver up your spine. But it was his touch that followed, his mouth that set your body ablaze. He kissed and licked, his teeth grazing your sensitive flesh, and you moaned 

The world outside the bedroom door fell away, forgotten in the face of Han's love. His hands held you in place, grounding you as his mouth moved. Each flick of his tongue sent waves of pleasure crashing through you, pushing the fear and revulsion further and further away until all that was left was the here and now, the feel of him. Your legs trembled, hips bucking as the pressure built, a dam ready to burst. 

”H-Han” you whispered, the sound of his name on your lips was a prayer, a desperate plea for release. He sucked harder, his fingers digging into the flesh of your thighs, and you could feel the dam giving way, the wall crumbling under the relentless force of his love. The orgasm hit you like a tidal wave, your body arching off the bed as you moaned.  

As the tremors subsided, Han slid up your body. He kissed you again, a soft, gentle press of his lips to yours, his tongue dancing with yours. 

"I want to make you forget any feelings of him touching your skin," he murmured, his voice a promise in the quiet of the room. His hands skimmed over your body, not seeking to claim, but to heal. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as if your were made of the most delicate glass. 

"Do you want this?" 

You nodded, "Yes," You whispered, the word a plea for salvation. 

With a fierce determination, Han claimed your mouth once more. His hands continued their exploration, moving over your skin. 

He slid one hand lower, his fingers ghosting over your stomach before finding the apex of your thighs. As he touched you, his fingers parted your folds, the contact sending a bolt of electricity through you. 

He began to circle your clit with his thumb, the sensation sending waves of pleasure that crashed against the lingering fear. You bit your lip to keep from crying out, the tension coiling tighter with each pass.

As his hand moved lower, his fingers sliding into you, your body arched. He filled you with a gentle pressure. His thumb continued to work its magic, the friction building until you could feel the beginnings of a new climax. His eyes never left yours. 

He knew exactly how to touch you, how to make you feel safe again. His movements grew more insistent, his hand working hard. You moaned into his mouth, your hips moving in a silent plea for more. 

He obliged, his fingers sliding deeper, the friction against your sensitive inner walls sending jolts of pleasure through you. Your nails dug into his back, your body responding to the delicious invasion.  

As the orgasm washed over you, your body spasmed around his fingers, your hips bucking against him as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over you. The room fell away, leaving only the sound of your gasps and his steady breathing.  

Han's eyes searched yours, a silent question in their depths. "Do you need me to stop?" 

You shook your head, reaching up to pull him closer. "No," you murmured, my voice a whispered caress. "I want you, Han." 

With a nod, he kissed you softly. He slid his hand down your body, his fingers teasing the sensitive flesh of your inner thigh before gently pushing them apart.  

He positioned himself at your entrance. His eyes never left yours as he pushed into you, filling you completely, the sensation overwhelming and perfect. You bodies moved together.  

Han's strokes were slow and deliberate, each one designed to erase the memory of Kang's touch. He took his time, savoring every inch of you. His love was a fire that burned away the darkness, leaving only the warmth of his embrace. His hips rolled, a gentle rhythm that matched the beating of your heart. 

You needed to feel him deeper, you whispered, "Harder." His eyes flashed, a spark of something primal and raw lighting up the depths of his gaze. 

"Say it again," he rasped, his voice a harsh whisper. "Tell me what you need, y/n." 

You took a deep breath, your voice a shaky whisper. "Harder."  

Han's eyes lit up with something feral, something possessive. He leaned down, his mouth finding your ear. "Again," he urged, his voice a growl.  

"Harder," you gasped out, the words barely audible. 

With a low growl, Han complied, his hips driving into you with an intensity that stole your breath. Each thrust sent a wave of pleasure crashing through you, obliterating the lingering shadows of fear and disgust.  

Your nails dug into his back as he moved faster, the sound of skin slapping against skin a cacophony of passion in the quiet room. His hand slid down to your hips, his grip firm as he held you in place, his other hand cupping your cheek. 

His strokes grew deeper, his breaths coming in ragged pants.  

Han's hand slid down your body, his thumb brushing against your swollen clit with a feather-light touch. The sensation sent you spiraling over the edge, your body clenching around him as you screamed out his name.  

The climax shuddered through you, the intensity of it leaving you gasping for air. But Han didn't stop, his hips moving in a relentless rhythm that sent aftershocks of pleasure through you. His breath was hot against your neck, his teeth grazing your skin as he claimed you in the most primal way possible. 

Han's climax hit him like a bolt of lightning, his body tensing as he groaned your name. His eyes squeezed shut, his mouth open in a silent roar as he spilled himself inside you.

Finally, with a shudder, he rolled over to catch his breath, his chest heaving against the sweat-dampened sheets. For a moment, you laid there, your hearts pounding in sync, the only sound in the room the harsh intake of your breaths. 

Han lifted his arm, inviting you into his embrace. You didn't hesitate, curling into the warmth of his body, you head fitting perfectly into the crook of his neck. His arm tightened around you, his hand gently stroking your back in a soothing pattern that lulled you into a state of semi-consciousness.  

You laid there in silence for a while, but then Han broke the silence, his voice a gentle rumble in the stillness. "Are you okay?" he asked, his words a warm caress. 

You took a moment to gather your thoughts, the echoes of pleasure still resonating through your body. "I will be," you murmured, your voice muffled against his chest. "Thank you." 

Han's hand stilled on your back, his thumb tracing lazy circles. "You never have to thank me for loving you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "And you never have to go through something like that alone." 

He pulled away slightly, his eyes searching your face in the dim light. "What Kang did...it's not your fault. You're not tainted, y/n. You're strong, you're brave, and you're mine." The conviction in his voice was unshakeable. 

"I love you," he said almost whispering.  

You were caught off guard with his confession. A wave of warmth flashed in your chest as you looked him into his eyes. They were fillled with love, pure and unfiltered. 

"I love you, too," you whispered, the words a soft exhale. His eyes lit up at your admission, the corners of his lips tugging up in a gentle smile. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead, then your cheek, then your lips. 

[lurkingshan]

Japanese QL Corner

We've suddenly got an abundance of shows with dark themes and adult vibes, with a bit of a mixed bag on their execution. These are available for weekly streaming on Gaga unless otherwise noted.

Smells Like Green Spirit

A fan subber came through and we are now able to watch this show on a slight delay from the airing in Japan. This first episode was great, but be warned that this is not a light watch. This show is less a full blown romance and more of a queer coming of age story with a rather bleak worldview that will likely include a romance subplot. Our story centers on Mishima, a young person who is questioning their gender and just trying to live while being constantly targeted by school bullies. The bullying in this show is graphic and violent and Mishima has already been assaulted and targeted by creeps in the first episode, so take care and ask for content warnings if you need them. I have read the manga so I'm aware of what's in store--if you would like to know what to expect before watching, feel free to ask.

Happy of the End

CWs: Assault, attempted murder, blood, death, forced fellatio/rape (against a main character, graphically depicted more than once), revenge porn, sexual coercion and exploitation, stabbing, suicide attempt, suicide, violence

We have arrived at the end of this story, and it did not quite come together for me. I liked a lot of what it was doing; the relationship between Chihiro and Haoren giving them both a reason to persist despite their general apathy toward survival was compelling, and the actors gave strong performances in some very difficult scenes. I thought the show had a strong sense of style and tone, as well. But for me, it crossed the line into over the top trauma porn one too many times, seeming to revel in making the characters suffer and piling on unnecessary traumas that were depicted quite graphically, making the show deeply unpleasant to watch. And in the end, it suddenly veered into a happy ending that felt like a mismatch for the rest of the story, which was achieved via a time skip and Chihiro and Haoren healing offscreen despite their circumstances only getting worse over the course of the show. @bengiyo laid out why that ending felt like the show pulling its punches, and I agree. I can appreciate a story that has an established bleak worldview telling us about a specific time in these characters' lives where they mattered to each other, but slapping that unearned epilogue on it just makes the whole thing feel like torture porn followed by cheap consolation. It didn't feel honest. I don’t recommend watching this one unless you are pretty comfortable with gratuitous sexual violence.

Love is Like a Poison

We’re zipping along nicely, with this week’s episode mostly focused on the case that Haruto helped Shiba win. That courtroom scene was wild. I’m intrigued by all the advances and the early confession from Haruto, because as we and Shiba well know, the man is a con. What’s his angle, and why does he think romancing Shiba is the way to get it? Whatever he’s after, I think Shiba should give in because look at him!

Chaser Game W 2

This week we met Itsuki’s first love Yoreum, who is now a famous Korean idol and still hung up on her from back when she did a homestay with Itsuki’s family. She did a livestream from Itsuki’s cafe in the special spot where Itsuki and Fuyu like to canoodle; jealousy and dramatics ensued. Then suddenly we were doing an elevator rescue? Idek. I’m rooting for the new girl to break this couple up to be honest.

[corviiids]

hello if you are still accepting death note submissions, how about astarion

amazing submission thank you

verdict: no to both investigative questions. could astarion beat kira? probably, but not the normal way.

could astarion intuit the mechanics of the death note

no.

could astarion identify light yagami

no.

listen. i love astarion very much. he's very clever. but only in all the wrong directions. he has no ability to plan ahead. or really plan at all. he's too impatient to sit around and analyse clues. his plan for beating cazador was to walk into cazador's palace fuck around and find out. 10000% he couldn't beat light at his own game, so that's out, but honestly it might be more effective to beat light yagami NOT at his own game (like ending a chess game by just upending the chessboard) because L tried that and it didn't really work out.

what im saying is if the rest of the worm gang figures out that light is kira, astarion could probably beat him from there. but if you left astarion to his own devices and went "can you find kira" he'd give up.

i do think he might like, accidentally eat light or something though. that counts.

could astarion survive

ok here we run into some interesting questions. for the other ones ive been kind of waffling between whether im putting the character in the death note universe but borrowing their contextual abilities from their own universe, vs putting light yagami/kira/etc into the character's universe... i think due to baldur's gate being the way it is we have to put light in bg3, because astarion's backstory is so contextual and historical you cant really remove him from it while preserving all the relevant factors. what im talking about is two things

can light yagami figure out astarion's surname

what happens if you write an undead person's name in the death note

which are linked - because does light know that astarion is a vampire and therefore undead? the most straightforward way to find astarion's surname is to find his tombstone, but in order to do that light would have to know that astarion had died.

more to the point, the first rule of the death note is:

The human whose name is written in this note shall die.

where we run into TWO problems. the death note takes place in the 'real' world where there are only humans and obvious non-humans (ie animals and shinigami), so there's really no need to make any finer distinction.

but astarion is 1) an elf and 2) a vampire. so does the death note work on elves?? maybe? but an undead vampire ISN'T a human, not in the normal sense and also not in the extrapolated sense where you can assume elves and humans having similar personhood probably have the same rules apply. vampires are undead! that's very different! you cant kill a vampire with a heart attack!!! his heart isn't even working!!!

ALSO

You cannot kill humans at the age of 124 or over with the Death Note.

if we say aging stops when vampires die the first time, then astarion was 39, but then we're saying he's dead, in which case he probably can't die again. if we say aging continues as a vampire, then he's over 200, and he's excluded by this rule.

so i feel like astarion survives due to some stupid loophole.

[walmartbrandwhatever]

cherry and marcia hcs because I love them so dearly.

they met when they were 6 at a park. cherry was sitting alone on a bench and marcia being afraid of nothing just sat down and started yapping.

Marcia used to be afraid of nothing except for storms. whenever there was a storm she would curl up in the corner of her room and cry.

her parents weren't around much, both working to hard to keep the life they had built so her house was often empty.

cherry having a not so good home environment would spend days upon days at marcias and they would just hang out.

cherry was the quiet popular girl who did her work but when she was at marcias house they would talk the most shit and about drama going around the school.

cherry is really good at doing other people's hair, and it's something she quite enjoys doing. someday, when things get too stressful, Marcia will let Cherry just mess with her hair as they sit in silence or talk about what's bothering her.

Marcia used to roller skate a lot when she was younger but stopped when she reached highschool and started to worry more about her staus.

cherry lowkey hates oranges. she hates anything to do with them while marcia LOVES them.

on the days where they were practicing for rodeos they find a way to fuck with eachother.

they had a game where they had gotten this small little figure and have made it a game to place it somewhere on eachother and whoever has it has to try to get it to the other person without them noticing. the last time they played marcia got it to cherry(I'm gonna come back to this later)

once they reached high school, Cherry had met Bob in her math class. at first they didn't really talk but after being paired together during class they sort of just hit it off.

Marcia and Bob? did NOT hit it off. they started unsure of each other and then turned to them, not liking each other.

there was one day where bob and marcia had ended up alone waiting for the rest of there friends and marcia got to see the true version of bob Sheldon that had been pushed down deep.

he had started talking about the stars, going into detail about the ones he knew and how important they were to him. no matter what changed in his life or the little amount of actual love he got from his family they stayed a constant. a reminder that there were nice things that even he could see.

Marcia before would have never expected it from someone like him but it made her look at him with a different light. only for a little while because that was the only time she had ever seen that side of him. after that he went back to the bob Sheldon she had known. the bob Sheldon who hated her just as much as she hated him.

Marcia was considered a weird girl who was simply friends with Cherry Valance. that didn't bother her much up until that point.

Marcia hated how Bob treated Cherry like some sort of trophy. Cherry had always told her that he wasn't like that and that he was real kind and she didn't need to worry.

the weeks when Cherry would spend hours at Marcias turned into just a few days, focusing her time on Bob which didn't hurt Marcia.

she understood that a d she respected it. she spent most of her time with bev, brill, and trip. she learned a lot with them and learned that something were better kept hidden than out.

her parents had very different ways of thinking. her father grew up with a single father who didn't have much taught her to fit in and roam with the crowd because that's how you got successful while her mother grew up with a rich family who was cold and uncaring. she taught marcia to stick up for herself and to trust those who are her true friends.

Marcia often battled between what her parents wanted her to be. she wants to make her father proud, but she doesn't want to disappoint her mother, who always taught her to be kind and true to herself.

reaching highschool she learned real quick between the difference of social class and how she needed to fit in if she wanted to make it to graduation.

Bev had told her that she needed to stop "acting so weird, you'll never get someone if you act like that," and marcia had laughed in her face then. Bev, that day, wasn't too happy with her, nearly cost her the spot she had within the small group. she learned that day to take most things with a smile and that things would be easier if she just kept others happy.

Cherry had been spending time with Bob, the nights where they both just needed to escape from their lives, the would drive Bob's car out to a reserved place and just look at the stars.

the first time Bob got real drunk she had freaked the fuck out because she would not be with someone who ended up like her father.

he the next day had showed up at her house with flowers and with an apology. she practically melted into his arms after she explained to him why she had freaked. he had promised that it wouldn't happen again, though he never kept that promise, leading to her snapping at the nightly double.

Cherry post cannon distanced herself from all the socs for the most part. she only really stayed connected to chet and somewhat marcia.

the two grew apart for a little bit as Marcia battled with the pressure of her parents and with the ideas of social class.

one night marcia just completing broke down in front of her parents. they talked for hours after that, working through their problems and how she had been feeling. her parents had always loved her, she knew that but her father rarely showed any emotion and her mother too busy fighting with her own family to realize how her own family was falling apart.

the next day Marcia asked Cherry to talk and they did. Marcia apologized from practically everything that had happened andthey both made a promise to be better, to talk things out no matter how they felt.

that's all I have rn but please feel free to add in the comments or in my inbox 🙏 also trust I'm just feeding yall until I finish this fic.

[punishereditz]

Dixieland Delight

Pairing: Tyler Owens x f!reader

Warnings: 18 plus only! Minors DNI! DO NOT COPY! Smut. Poor knowledge of football. Strip tease. Restraints. Begging. Edging. Spanking. Praise kink. Marking. Dirty talk. Unprotected sex. P in V.

AN: Roll tide.

Word count: 1.8k.

Summary: Alabama vs Kansas state. Yours and Tyler's favorite teams going up against each other. So, when your team wins, you celebrate.

~

You and Tyler had a lot in common. The main thing you both had in common was that you both are southern. Tyler was from Kansas but has been in Oklahoma since college. You were born and raised in Alabama. You loved Oklahoma, you loved Tyler, but most of all, you loved where you came from. There was nothing like home. The hot summers. The food. The beautiful sunset settling over the ranch you grew up on. Or the joy that was felt during football season.

You weren't as big of a fan of football as Tyler and your dad was, but you liked to keep up to date on it. Watch the highlights and see who won. So, when this year's football season rolled around, and it came down to Alabama and Kansas State... it was like World War || in the apartment you and Tyler shared. Both yours and his family were getting together for the holidays and your dad got tickets to the game. Your mom didn't want to go, and you wanted to, but you had an idea that was even better than going to the game. So, you insisted that Tyler go with him, and he did.

But before he went to the game, you gave him a simple command. Don't get drunk, let you know when he left the stadium, and let you know when he was almost home. Tyler was suspicious of course, but you didn't say anything. It would ruin the surprise. The surprise you were a little too excited for. Your plan was simple. If Kansas wins, you will wear their jersey and let Tyler be in complete control. But if Alabama won, you would wear their jersey and take control over Tyler. You loved it and had the game playing in the background as you got ready.

You took your time. Curling your hair until it was perfect and doing your makeup until it looked flawless. Depending on what team won, would depend on what lipstick you would wear. It was getting to the end of the game, and you looked down at the two jerseys laid on your bed. The crimson red lingerie set to match Alabama and the purple lingerie to match Kansas. Your eyes went back to the tv, and a smile grew on your face as Alabama won the game. 45 to 20. You picked up the crimson lingerie and slide it on. Then you put on Daisy Duke shorts. The denim hugging your ass beautiful. Your ass filling the little fabric so well, Daisy Duke herself could be jealous. You grabbed the cropped jersey and put it on. Then to top off your outfit, you put on your cowboy hat and cowboy boots. You spread the red lipstick across your lips, and you looked in the mirror to make sure you looked good.

As you made sure everything was perfect, your phone buzzed. Tyler letting you know he was almost home. You quickly got the song ready and ran until you were at the end of the hall. You squalled with excitement, and you had to take a deep breath to calm yourself. The headlights of Tyler's truck lit up the living room, then they clicked off and you heard his door close. As he opened the front door, you hit play. Dixieland Delight by Alabama playing through the speaker. Tyler rolled his eyes and scoffed as he tossed his keys on the table by the door. But his scoff quickly got caught in his throat as he saw you come around the corner.

He felt his cock react at the sight of you and he felt heat filling his cheeks. His face turning the shade of the jersey. Sure, it was the rival team of the night, but even with that, Tyler felt his hate for the team dissipate some. "Wha- what are doing?" He finally formed words.

"Reminding you who the winning team is, and always will be." Tyler felt his cock twitch when you walked up to him.

"Trust me, I already got that lecture from your dad." He smirked, but it flattered when you rested your hand on his shoulder.

"Oh, no. You haven't gotten a lesson like this." Tyler felt his body react to you when your eyes lingered on his lips, positioned yourself closer to him and used that voice you knew got to him. You leaned closer. Your breast pressed against him. You kissed his neck. "Roll tide." You whispered in his ear in time with the song. Whispering the chant in his ear with cockiness. You moved your hands over his body until you untucked his shirt. Slowly unbuttoning it. Undoing his belt and the zip of his jeans.

"When are you gonna learn?" He bit back a groan as you pushed his shirt off of him. Your hands moving over his abs. "Since you experienced one type of Dixieland Delight... how about I give you a different kind of Dixieland Delight?" You looped your fingers through his jeans, and you pulled him back until you were in your bedroom.

You pulled his jeans and boxers down. Bending over as you did. Giving him a good view of your ass. You pushed him down on the bed. Grabbing his belt. You tied his hands down to the bed frame and then you moved back. You gave him a little twirl. Moving your hands over your body. You bent over, slowly taking your boots off. Running your hands up your legs as you stood up. Your hands stopping at your shorts, you unbuttoned them and pulled them down at a torturous speed. Your hands moving up your sides and gripping the jersey. You pulled it over your head. Fixing your cowboy hat. Tyler groaned and his cock twitched at the sight of you in the crimson red lace bra and thong and cowboy hat.

He so desperately wanted to run his hands over your body. Take your big breast in his mouth and slap that perfect round ass. But his belt kept his hands in place. He groaned in frustration, but his frustration quickly went away as you crawled towards him, and you now straddled his lap. You placed a finger under his chin and tilted his head up so he would look you in the eyes. "P-please." He whimpered.

"What's that?"

"Please, give me that sweet pussy. I need it. I need to be inside of you darlin'." His voice was a low growl as he begged. It wasn't often he was the one in submission, but whenever he was, you fucking loved it.

Not being able to deny him, you pushed your underwear to the side. You slowly lowered yourself down on him and he let out a low growl. He grabbed the belt and when he pushed his hips up, you moved up so he couldn't.

You chuckled at his desperation and as you started to buck your hips back and forth, you held onto your cowboy hat and rode him like it was rodeo. You slowly increased your speed. Bouncing up and down on his cock. Your moans filling the room. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head, and you could feel your climax building. But Tyler's was building to. "Oh, I'm c-close." Tyler moaned and a mischievous smile formed on your lips. You slowed down until you were just sitting there. He groaned in frustration, and he pulled against the belt.

"Fuck, darlin' come on." He panted and you leaned down. Your breast in his face. You took the cowboy hat off and placed it on him. Now him wearing it. You slowly brought your hips up, then slammed them down. He moaned your name, and you did it again a few more times. Slowly coming up and slamming back down on him. His climax was right there, but because of the pace you had, he couldn't quite get that release he craved. And you knew this. You knew you had him on edge, and you just kept him there. You wondered if you wanted to keep him on his toes or give him that sweet escape he yearned for.

With your mind made up, you quickened your pace. Your tits jiggling as you bounced fast and hard on him. The sight sent Tyler into his climax and his muscles tensed as he filled your pussy up with his seed. His climax sending you into yours. Both of you were a breathless mess. You slowed down. Staying settled down on his cock. You both came down from your highs. But Tyler wasn't done. His cock was still rock hard, and he could easily go again. So, when you undid the belt and his hands were finally free, he pulled out, gripped your waist and pushed you down on the bed. He grabbed your hips and pulled you up so your ass was in the air for him.

He slapped your ass until the skin matched the color of your thong. "Hmm, darlin' I love this ass." He groaned in pleasure as he shamelessly stared. Rubbing his hands over the skin. "I love when you surprise me. Such a good girl." He ran his cock through your folds. Stopping at your entrance, he got his cock good and wet with yours and his cum. Then he pushed his cock in until he bottomed out. His hands gripping your hips. He groaned and slowly pulled out. Then, he thrusted back in. Yearning a loud moan from you. He started to pound. Thrusting in and out of you at an ungodly speed. He grabbed you by your hair and he pulled you up until your back was flush against his chest.

"Such a good little slut for me." He growled and he kissed your shoulder. Kissing up your neck. Leaving marks. You could feel your climax start to form. His ruthless pounding making your legs shake. You moaned his name out and he suddenly pulled out. He turned you and pushed you down so you were laying on the bed. He thrusted back into you. Your legs draped over his shoulders. You moaned his name again. Your eyes rolling to the back of your head as you clenched around him. Then, you were coming undone. Soaking his cock with your release. Your second climax hitting you harder than the first one.

Tyler's second climax hitting him even harder than the first one too. His hands gripped your skin. His cock throbbing inside of you as he once again filled you with his seed. He slowed down. The both of you taking deep breaths. You smiled up at him. Moving your legs off of his shoulders, you leaned up and kissed him. Grabbing the cowboy hat and tossing it over your head. He laid back on the bed and he pulled you into his arms. His hands gently rubbing up and down your side. He kissed the top of your head.

"Guess Alabama winning wasn't so bad."

[dreamerwitches]

Rating labyrinths: Gertrud!

Okay! Let's go with the labyrinth ratings wheeee!!!

What I'm going to do is rank separate parts of labyrinths (eg. anthony's labyrinth from ep 1 is separate to gertrud's from ep 2) but I'll also give an average at the end.

I will (most likely) only be doing labyrinths that are in colour (so maybe not manga witches)

Anthony's labyrinth from episode 1

I think this is a really good one, especially as the first shown (not including walpy's). It really shows of the cut-out style of the labyrinths and the deep blue-hued colours are perfectly moody. The use of runes in the background is also really fun for secret messages. I feel the only downside is that it doesn't really scream Gertrud to me. Like, if you didn't know the series well and was shown this, I doubt you'd think it belonged to her. HOWEVER... I think this does work for Gertrud since all her precious roses are in her room with her. It makes sense that she'd keep them close.

You could say that it's weird that this labyrinth doesn't share colours with the main one but I think it works because it's a familiar's labyrinth. The photorealistic buildings also match the main labyrinth. I wonder if the butterfly and anthony traffic signs are meant to be a subtle warning to madoka and sayaka hmmm

I really like this one. A 5/5 for me

Gertrud's labyrinth from episode 2

There's a lot to it so it's kinda hard to summarise in images lol. But it's another great one. Great imagery, lovely colours and has themes brought over from Anthony's labyrinth. I think the orange tones, although relaxing, also give off this sepia feel that makes it a little unnerving too. Like looking through a tinted view makes things seem unreal.

One of my favourite parts are the doorways that lead to black nothingness. Really helps with the labyrinthine feel. Small touches like the portraits with slight things changed in them to make them scary. It's the kind of thing you don't notice unless you pause. I also like how it seems the labyrinth becomes more luscious as you get deeper. The trees start bare, then with black leaves, then Gertrud's room is fully in bloom.

I wasn't sure whether to rank the boss room separately, maybe I will... I think the ceiling that doesn't quite make sense works well to make it feel disorientating and it's a fun contrast to the kinda pretty garden around Gertrud. It's messy but in a good way. I also think having the boss room have a different theme to the rest works. Just as before I mentioned that roses are only in her boss room, I think it would make sense that her special place may be better taken care of or just look overall nicer. It's very good but I'd say, not my favourite segment. Maybe just because it's only one room?? That makes it a little unfair to compare to the rest...

I'll give the labyrinth a 5/5. Boss room is a 4.5/5

Gertrud's labyrinth from Magireco episode 11

Yeah... this one isn't it, chief... like, it has the things of her labyrinth but it's just not... uhhh I dunno it feels more like a set piece than a proper area...

Let's start with what I like: of course, I love the Gertrud motifs. The butterflies, the cut out images and the hidden text (although it's no different than the original anime iirc). I really like the halo above Gertrud's area. And the hanging loops. It's weird but pretty. Suits Gertrud!

Sadly that's where my positives end. The stark white is NOT Gertrud it's so weird... I guess the stone rose works better but not the rest. I kinda hate in the zoom out where... it just looks like a video game level, like I'm looking at mario 64 or something ToT that is not a labyrinth..! Just the overall layout is meh. I dislike the random fluff pile below it too. Just felt like they didnt know what to fill it with...

It's a dud but has some good things... I'm giving it a 1.5/5. I know there's worse which is why it's not a 1.

So overall Gertrud get's a.... 4/5 wow!!!