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#the other two are a bit later when they're more comfortable and established as a couple
shivunin · 1 year
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To the Last Drop
(Maria Hawke/Fenris | 1,682 Words | No warnings)
It wasn’t that Fenris had never seen liquid lyrium in use. 
Obviously, that wasn’t the case. The mages of the Imperium had always made sure it was in reach, of course, and Hawke and the other two kept it on hand whenever they expected a brawl. He’d seen empty vials of it tossed aside mid-fight, seen it sipped from the finest gold goblets, passed from mouth to mouth in intimate moments—yes, Fenris had seen plenty of lyrium in use. 
He wished it weren’t the case, though. Because if he was unfamiliar with it, that might explain the way he couldn’t seem to help watching Hawke when she drank it down. 
Unfortunately, it was not novelty but something else entirely that kept his eyes on her lips, pressed to the glass, on the long line of her throat when she tipped her head back to finish the draught. 
On…on her tongue, when she traced it over her full lower lip to gather up any loose drops. 
“Ready?” Isabela asked, twirling a dagger in one hand absently, “I’ve an itch I need to scratch.”
“Oh?” Hawke said, laughing, her head still half-back. She was all but a silhouette to him, standing near the top of a hill while he leaned against a boulder at the bottom. 
“Again?” Merrill asked, peering at the Rivaini, “Is it the one under your shoulder blade that you can never reach? D’you want me to try—”
“No, no,” Isabela laughed, slinging an arm over the elf’s shoulders, “Not that kind of itch, Kitten.”
“Oh,” Merrill said, as the two began to wander back toward the road, “I thought…” 
Fenris had already stopped paying attention to them. Hawke was looking at him, one arm stretched across her bountiful chest, her head angled to the side. Fenris pushed off of the boulder and made his way very deliberately up the last rise. He stopped a decent distance away—he knew because he was measuring the space between them very carefully in his mind—and went on looking at her. 
He’d intended to say something. He knew he’d intended to stay something. 
Hawke eyed him carefully, then stretched the other arm across her chest, wincing faintly. She only ever did that when he was the sole observer—and yes, he only knew this because he was so often watching her—but Fenris could find no reason for it. 
Under other circumstances, he might think she was trying to get something from him. For anyone else, he would be right. But this: that he was the only one she allowed to bind her wounds, aside from the healer; that he was the one she balanced herself with when she was limping or woozy from blood loss. Fenris could not understand it, and he dare not ask. The obvious explanation—that she still trusted him after everything else that had happened—was simply beyond consideration. 
There had to be a reason. If she were anyone else, he thought with a sense of dissatisfaction, he would almost certainly ask.
“Stiff?” he asked gruffly, tapping the fingers of one hand against his thigh. 
Maria—her given name, not that anyone ever used it; Fenris only thought of her thus because she’d gasped it into his ear that night three years ago, told him not to call her Hawke while—
Nevermind. 
Hawke sighed and her mouth turned down at the corners in an exaggerated pout.
“I’m getting old, Fenris,” she said, so woefully that he almost believed her for a moment, “I feel it in my bones. Soon, I’ll only ever talk about…oh, gout and how young folk these days never know how to treat their elders.”
“You could have just said no,” he told her sternly, but the corner of his mouth lifted faintly. She must have seen it, for her lips curled up in answer, even as she lifted her eyes dolefully to the sky. 
“No, Fenris, you don’t understand,” she said, and set the back of her hand against her forehead, “Who will chase mercenaries all over these hills when I can’t hobble after them? Soon I shall be all wrinkles and white hair and—”
“And still look just as—” 
Fenris bit the end of the sentence off before he could make the fatal mistake of speaking it aloud, but both of them froze anyway. 
And still look just as lovely as you do now. 
The words hovered on his tongue for a moment, kept caged behind his teeth, and it was a force of will not to say the words aloud. 
They’d only made it this far by pretending it—that night—had never happened. Three years, nearly, and they were both still here together. That first night at cards in the Hanged Man, Fenris had hesitated at the door, abruptly itchy everywhere, as if the air itself were anathema to him. He’d thought to leave, to prevent the inevitable discomfort, but she….
She’d met his eyes and scooted over, nudging Isabela with her, clearing room at the other end of the table. So…so he’d know he still had a place there, even if it wasn’t at her side. Fenris thought he might be grateful to her for that forever, no matter what else happened between the two of them. How strange, not to realize how much having a place of one’s own meant until one faced down the possibility of losing it permanently.
“Well,” Hawke said after a moment, blinking first and lowering her eyes, “In any case, maybe I’ll be lucky and go bald. I cannot believe I forgot to tie all this up before I left the manor this morning. The wind is wreaking absolute havoc.”
“I can—” Fenris began, then winced inwardly. 
He could, in fact, help with that; it wouldn’t be the first time he’d tied someone else’s hair up, nor the first time he’d done it for her—but those had been simpler times. 
“If you have a bit of leather, or…anything, I can manage,” she said. 
Fenris’s fingers touched her token, still tied around his wrist, but he would not part with it—not even for the sake of her comfort. He reached into his pocket instead and retrieved a loose bit of leather he’d intended to tame his own hair with in case the weather turned. He despised the way wet hair stuck to one’s skin, and he’d endured it several times too many on these outings to the coast. The leather ought to be long enough for her hair, too, if he plaited it first.
“Turn,” he told her, his voice thicker than he would have liked, and she turned without a word. 
Fenris gathered the bounty of her hair in his hands, untangling several knots as carefully as possible. It seemed to cling to his fingers, twining around the joints, black against the pale blue lyrium that lined his skin. It had looked like that three years ago, too, had tangled around him just so when he’d tilted her head back over his hand to kiss down the length of her neck. It had felt like this draped over his chest when he’d combed his fingers through it after, and—
“Are you coming down from there anytime soon?” Isabela demanded from the bottom of the hill, and Fenris realized he’d been combing his fingers through Maria’s hair without moving onto the next step. For how long? Her chest rose and fell too quickly, as if she’d just climbed a very steep hill, but that was…probably just exertion. 
Fenris let his eyes focus again on her dark curls, pulling them into a simple plait down the middle while she answered Isabela. They were laughing about something—not him; it sounded different when Hawke was laughing about him—so all must be well enough. He finished the braid, tied it off as intended, and then he just…stood there, holding the end of her thick hair. 
It was soft as silk between his fingers, shiny as a raven’s wing and dark against the brown of his hands, against the pale blue of the lyrium that thrummed beneath his skin like a second heartbeat. Hawke was underneath his skin, too, in her way; and it was all the worse for knowing it had all been his choice. That having and leaving her had been his choice. And for all the times Fenris had wished he could forget what her skin had felt like, how she’d sounded when—
Well.
For all he’d wished he could forget, he was deeply, deeply grateful that he could still remember every second of it. What would he be if this, too, had been taken from him? He did not wish to consider it.
“Finished?” Hawke asked, turning her head. 
There was a faint quiver to her bottom lip that made him want to press his thumb to it, but he did not. He hadn’t the right. 
Fenris didn’t move at all. He just stood, and looked, and wished. 
Finished, she’d asked.
“I am…not certain,” Fenris told her. 
Hawke’s fingers found the end of the braid, tested the leather tie, but her attention was on him. He could tell; one could always tell when Hawke’s full attention was fixed on them. 
“Are you?” he finished, the words nearly carried off by the wind. She opened her mouth to answer and—
“Let’s go,” Isabela called from the other side of the hill, “I have plans for tonight that don’t include murder!”
Hawke turned, shaking her head at the words, but for a moment—just a moment—her hand brushed against Fenris’s, the warmth of her fingers barely felt between the joints of his armor. As she set off down the hill, the hand she’d touched curled into a fist, tight enough to dig into his palm, and flexed loose again. 
Fenris set off after her, eyes carefully on the steep ground ahead, but a careful observer might have been able to note the color in his cheeks, and the matching red that spilled over Hawke’s. 
It was unfortunate, then, that Varric had not come with them that day—for there was nobody present who would notice such things at all.
(For @14daysdalovers, Day 5: Lyrium. In case anyone is keeping track, this was about a week before the party ficlet I posted yesterday c: )
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thvhoe · 5 months
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(HIS) STUPID EGO | JJK
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PAIRING: Boxer Jungkook x Ballerina Reader
GENRE: ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP, BOXER AU, DANCE, AU SMUT, FLUFF, ANGST
Words: 10k
WARNINGS: abusive parents, drugs, making out, Jungkook is jeallyyyyy, cursing, they're complete opposites, cringe nicknames (lol you should know me by now), ANNOYING inner thoughs, lots of inner monologue, reader is insecure (of the relationship? So is jk btw), polar opposites dynamics, emo boy Jk, inexperienced reader, Oc knows smts up🤨, Jungkook ignoring his feelings (whats new)
SYNOPSIS:
Being with Jungkook has been a crash course in unpredictability–he's your life's ultimate plot twist. Surprises are the norm. But even if your feelings for each other are undeniably strong, some obstacle always comes in the way of everything happy. The obstacle?That godforsaken four-letter word. Or was it more than just that?
When doubts arise whether you're actually meant for another, youre quick to reassure Jungkook who you belong to
An: Its been 3 months😗 sawry🩵
Kook🩷: free today?
Today 8 am
You: what a way to wish me a good morning😵‍💫 I am
Today 8 am
Kook🩷: miss you, wanna see you
Kook🩷: u free rn?
Today 8 am
With a chuckle, you find yourself shaking your head in amusement at his sudden shift in the conversation. Taking a moment to think, you pause before tapping your fingers on your phone, glancing around the studio, and biting your lip in contemplation
You: i miss you too☹️
You: im at the studio...
Today 8 am
Jungkook hums, sitting up in bed well aware that youre busy at practice
Just having woken up of course you were the firts person hed text. With a smirk, he types out his response
Kook🩷: that ever been an issue?
Today 8 am
And with that he turns off his phone and heads straight for a shower
Your eyes widen, if he actually meant what you think he did with that last text–coming here and start acting all lovey dovey–especially knowing that Mrs. Chuu or anyone else could easily walk in, and assure the obvious–he was wrong, very wrong
You sigh, Jungkook had to know better right? He wasnt about to just walk in...surely hed wait for you outside or...something
"You always find a way to stress me out, Kook," you mutter under your breath, a sigh escaping your lips as you maintain your stretches
Your class with Mrs. Chuu was about to begin, and naturally, you want to be prepared
As you relax into the stretching, you can't help but wonder whether Jimin will make his appearance today. Yes, he's Mrs. Chuu's assistant, but will he become a regular in your classes?
The thought crosses your mind, and you secretly hope he'll show up. It would be nice to have a friend at the academy, someone you could chat with besides Mrs. Chuu and Joy, and perhaps make your time there even more enjoyable
The last time you talked to Jimin it felt refreshingly effortless. In retrospect, you hadn't had many deep connections in your life. Occasionally, you talked with Joy, and there were those acquaintances made at various competitions you'd attended. But, every interaction with Jimin was pleasant, relaxed, and oddly cozy
It was a nice feeling, one you tried not to overanalyze. After all, making comparisons between Jimin and Jungkook seemed unfair and unnecessary. They were two entirely different people, each completly different relationships in your life
Yet, you couldn't help but acknowledge that talking to Jimin was as comfortable and enjoyable as the conversations you shared with Jungkook
You shouldn't be thinking this-
"Hope you're not losing any sleep over the upcoming competition next month," Jimin's voice suddenly breaks the silence, his presence interrupting the train of your thoughts–with a gentle but firm touch, he helped you push your back further down, making your stretching a bit more comfortable
A giggle escapes your lips, "me, worried?" You playfully raise a brow even though he couldn't see your face. "I'm more concerned about what to have for lunch later," you joked, a grin tugging at your lips
Jimin chuckled in response "lunch, huh..." Jimin paused, a contemplative expression forming on his face as he though about his own lunch options. "I might swing by that place close to the academy, you know, the one with the something...hot chicken?" he mused, "Grandma's hot chicken? Or was it Granny's hot chicken?" he wondered out loud "something like that," he shrugs with a soft grin
You hum, your gaze momentarily fixed on Jimin as you sat back into a more comfortable position. A stray strand of hair fallling from your bun, framing your face. Your makeup, minimal yet cute. "Sounds good," you replied warmly "I haven't had chicken in a while. Be sure to enjoy your lunch," you added, your eyes locked with his for a fleeting moment
Raising a brow, Jimin's laughter filled the air. "You wanna come with?" he asks, rising to his feet and extending a hand to pull you up as well
"I don't know yet," you reply, accepting the bottle of water he offered you "Jungkook mentioned he might swing by in a little while," you continue, nervously biting your lip
Jimin laughs "Ah, the boyfriend, huh?" he asks, a teasing beam in his eye
You caht help but giggle, nodding proudly. "That's right," you affirmed before letting out a small sigh. "I'm sorry your first encounter with him turned out like that..." Your words trailed off, meaning the less than ideal situation
He waves off your concern with a dismissive hand gesture. "It's okay," he reassures you, a grin forming on his lips. "Men and their jealousy, am I right?" he jokes, attempting to lighten the mood
Aish Jungkook
You shrug, a small smile playing on your lips. "He's usually not like that. I think he was just having a bad day," you explain finishing your water and clapping your hand togeher "is Mrs Chuu not coming or...?"
Jimin chuckles once more, "ah, shes ill. I thought she might have mentioned it to you since you two are close," he mentions casually, noting the concern that flashed in your widened eyes. But hes quick to reassure you, raising a hand quickly in a calming gesture. "Don't worry too much, she's fine. Just a little cold, as far as I know. She should be back in action tomorrow," he confirmed with a nod
Sighing, you couldn't help but smile. "That's good to hear," you state, "so, it looks like it's just the two of us today?" You ask placing your hands behind your back "do you wanna..." you began, your words trailing off as you considered something. "I mean...never mind, you have a job to do, and I don't want to get you in trouble," you dismiss
Jimin tilts his head "Do I wanna what? I'm invested now, y/n," he teases, curiosity piqued. Your lips curl into a small smile as you continue, your voice a bit more hesitant
"It's just... every time Mrs. Chuus not here, I had to practice alone. But sometimes, instead of doing that, I snuck out to the city," you admit with a light giggle. "I get it if you're not a fan of the idea, though. After all, you work for her." You politely bow, not wanting to come off as rude or disrespectfull, especially since Jimin was a few years older than you
Jimin shrugs, his lips curling into a smirk as he casually crosses his arms. "Right here I've been thinking you're a bit of a bore Y/n," he teases, eliciting a slight pout from you as your arms fold
"Just because I prefer to keep things low-key doesn't mean I'm against having some fun once in a while," you retort, sticking your tongue out playfully
Especially since Jungkook, you think. Jungkooks shown you that its not bad to break out of habits.
The two of you chuckle, and you reach for a nearby bottle of water, taking a sip before redirecting your gaze towards Jimin. "Honestly, I think it wouldn't hurt to get a bit of practice in before we head out though" you suggest, your smile warm "I'd like to feel at least somewhat productive today, i slept in this morning" you groan remembering your mother's scolding
"We should just do some light strevhing today, i see you still got the bandaid around your ankle" Jimin points out "we shouldnt dance at all today until its fully heales" he claps his hands together, ruffling one through his messy dark hair as he walks over to the stereo, putting on some music on low volume for ambiance
"Mh" you hum looking down, you remember jungkook mentioning it a few nights ago–that night, after youd taken a shower and walked out, his eyes flickering to your ankle in concern. You smile at the sweet memory, a warm feeling filling your chest. The way he so selflessly stopped what he was doing and tended to your hurt foot, how he made sure you were laying down comfortably before falling asleep himself
-
Jungkook's dreams have been all over the place lately–thats how he dealt with stuff that bothered him at the time
You look up at him, beautiful big eyes staring into his piercing ones–how you smiled when your gaze met Jimins, the way your lips met and how you giggled after the kiss, staring right back at Jungkook
He shakes his head, not wanting to remember the dream or rather nightmare that was clouding his mind and getting him into a bad mood. The sound of the engine beneath him as he drove his bike did little to relax him. What usually brought him happiness and sanity was now simply background noise to his thoughts
It was barely 10 am by now, Jungkook knew your schedule by heart, so you should be having your lunch break in around 30 minutes. He looks around the emty parking lot, only a few black and red cars scattered around the big space. He thinks about going in now, surprising you.
But then he remembers that people just love to run their mouth. He scoffs. Why couldnt you have a normal relationship, one that didnt need to be filled with hiding and secrecy. He curses under his breath before staring at his phone. 10:15. "Fuck"
15 more minutes until youd be walking out the doors
15 more minutes until he could hold you again
15 more minutes until youd remind him hes yours, and youre his
Damn that dream really fucked him up
Its not long until his hand automatically reaches out for his back pocket, effortlessly grabbing the half-empty packet of cigarettes along with the pink lighter youd chosen for him at the convenience store not too long ago. He smiles at the memory before lighting the temporary stress-reliever, letting the smoke out his mouth after taking a long and deep drag
-
"So, youre up for chicken still?" Jimin asks as he stretches his own body after a light practise round. Your grin radiates through the entire studio, pink walls contrasting your bright smile, echoing your short giggle
"Jungkooks probably waiting outside..." you chew on your bottom lip, looking at the clock that hung in the middle of the studio. 10:30.
Should you just go with Jungkook?
Your thoughts are interrupted as Jimin speaks his mind
"He should come along" he casually shrugs, mirroring your smile and shrugging his shoulder before grabbing his bag and walking towards the door, waiting for you to follow his steps
Your breath hitches for a second at the thought of Jungkook and Jimin in the same room again. You really didn't know how that would play out...
Jimin you were sure wouldnt mind, he was a sweetheart. But Jungkook on the other hand? You knew he wasnt the jealous type–always cheering for you and you alone when you danced duos with other guys
Somehow Jimin rubbed him the wrong way–at least thats how ut seemed to you
You take a deep breath, locking eyes with him as you smile
"Sure" you beam, quick steps carrying you towards him as you both walk out the studio room, greeting a few students that were passing by in the corridor before you finally walk out
The doors open automatically, letting the fresh rays of sun hit your moist skin. You always loved to apply some moisturiser and lip balm after practice
A habit
Your eyes spot him immediately. Leaning against his bike, Jungkook is the first thing that comes to mind when people think of perfection–his black, not too long, hair. His chiseled jaw and doe eyes, big but cute nose. Jungkook had it all. And you had him.
When he spots you, the smile you already had on your face grows 20 times bigger. Your blue top, along with your short flowy skirt make his heart go insane inside his chest–there was no one more perfect than you
His smirk widens when you make quick steps towards him, what he doesnt expect is for another person to follow behind you. That other person being the one he wanted to see the least today
His jaw clenches, hand forming a tight fist as he holds himself from rolling his eyes when you walk up to him, planting a soft but caring kiss against his cheek with a small "hi"
-
"Chickens fucking amazing," Jimin adds, chewing on his wings and smiling at you from the other side of the booth. You nod along, chewing on your tenders and occasionally dipping them into some hot sauce.
Perhaps this wasn't the best lunch after practise, but it made you happy, therefore it was well worth it.
There was something about eating out with friends that made your mind happy. Maybe its something new youre experiencing.
You wonder if this wouldve been something youd always liked; hanging out with friends after school, hoing to the mall. It always looked fun in the movies and dramas you watched
Jungkook is quiet, eating his burger and fries with a low grunt while Jimin makes you giggle. 'Fuck off,' he wants to say. But he understands that envy is stupid. That picture of you two...he was there when it happened, so he knew nothing was wrong.
No need to worry
But it was always there in the back of his mind.
"Kook?" You ask again as your hand lightly caresses his arm, searching for his eyes. He simply hums. "I'm done with practise for the day, I'll do the rest of my exercises tonight at home," you begin, cheerfully sipping your diet coke before continuing, "I was talking of going to the beach with Jimin, do you want to come with?"
Of course he does, it is your place after all. The beach is your domain. Yours and his
Unless you had any intention of showing Jimin. He tilts his head "sure," shrugs, popping a fry in his mouth, and a smile tugs at his lips when you do the same. He only moves the bowl of fries closer to you, making your eyes avert. Caught.
"You know that beach used to be a tourist hotspot," Jimin says, sipping his soda and fiddling with the serviette on his lap. "Until goverment decided the waves around the end of summer were too dangerous for people to swim in" he goes on to say.
"They are pretty big sometimes, ive never actually thought about that though," you agree, your palm now resting on Jungkook's lap aimlessly playing with his belt "its a shame though, its a nice place to unwind," you add simply to say something.
Jimin hums "I mean, maybe it's good that it kinda got abandoned, means less litter," Jimin says as he pops another chicken into his mouth. You nod once again, Jungkook's hand now finding yours as he intevenes your fingers. You sigh leaning against his arm, closing your eyes momentarily as you take in the moment. You could smell his aftershave, sometimes wondering what hed look like with a bit of a beard. You chuckle.
Jungkook nudges you, staring down at you and nodding his head as if to say, "Whats up?" You simply shake your head, smile, and drop a kiss on his cheek before returning to your stance muttering the word "nothing"
You werent much into pda, but lifes been hectic, and being with Jungkook so openly and casually right now–it was refreshing
Jimin's gaze is fixed on you two for a second, casually scrolling through his phone when he looks down, the time reading 12pm. "Should we head out?"
-
There was no reason for Jungkook to be upset just now. Perhaps it was because Jimin insisted on paying for your lunch that made Jungkook even more agitated. He's your boyfriend, thus if anyone were to pay for your lunch, it should be him, right?
The beach was peaceful, with little waves and few to no birds chirping. It was relaxing in a manner, assuming Jimin's laugh didn't overshadow yours as he showed you some funny cat video he found on Instagram.
Jungkook simply takes a pull on his cigarette while sighing and glancing down at his phone scrolling through endless emails requesting for him to fight at their venue, he ignored them all.
In the worst way possible, he felt like a third wheel.
"Kook!" As you walk over, sitting alongside him, your joyful voice rips him out of his reverie. Your hair was now out of its usual bun, blowing in the wind as your eyes met his. He loved how calm he got when you were around
"What are you up to?" Leaning on his arm, you ask.
"Watching over you so you don't trip and fall," he jokes, his lips smiling.
You frown, hitting his chest playfully as you caress it right after
"Are you my dad or what?" you ask. "Come on, me and Jimin wanted to see if the convenience stores open," you jab his cheek, forcing him to stand up.
"What do you want?" Jungkook asks as he stands up, stumping on his half-smoked cigarette and taking your hand in his. Content. Finally, some alone time.
"Jimin already left off, he's probably waiting for us to come on," you cheer, dragging him behind you, making him laugh a little. Fuck. He both liked and despised the sensation in his chest every time you smiled like that.
"Ever told you how pretty you look when you get this excited?" Jungkook asks as he catches up with you, wrapping his arm around you and slowing you down, as if he wants this moment to last forever.
"You tell me every now and then," you tease as you return his gaze. But Your smile fades quickly as you come to a complete stop. "Hey kook uhm," you begin, eliciting a hum from him. "You okay?" You ask, apprehensive, the breeze on the beach messing up your hair more than youd like.
"I'm fine," he assures you, but you're smarter than that.
When Jungkook was upset, he became quiet, observant
"You know...you know i can tell when youre lying right?" You tease "It's one of my girlfriend superpowers," you smile, now standing in front of him.
"Is it now?" Jungkook teases back, his hands on your hips as he draws you in close. "It's nothing, really," he promises, nose nudging yours.
You raise your brow, but when he raises his, you drop the subject. Fine, if he didn't want to tell you, that was his problem.
Grabbing his hand, you lead him after you, eventually arriving at a little convenience shop near the beach, Jimin already inside and conversing with the cashier, ever the social butterfly. You smile.
"Go get whatever you want," Jungkook says quietly, "I'm gonna get a new pack," referring to the cigarettes he smoked earlier.
With a nod, you walk around the snall store, scanning all sorts of snacks and drinks eventually settling for a drink you take a soda out of the fridge and walk towards him, thanking him after he pays for both your things.
-
The air is gradually becoming colder, and when Jungkook notices a few seconds later, he hands you his jacket without hesitation. It's a kind gesture, you think, so you accept it without protest, still concerned about him becoming chilly.
"So what-" Jimins' voice pierces both of your ears as he walks out of the convenience store a few minutes later, a bag in his hand, greeting you. But just as you are about to react, your phone begins to ring. Mom. You quickly excuse yourself from both of them as you go a few feet away, taking the call "yes?"
Jungkook ignores Jimin, his gaze fixed on the way you nervously play with your shoes in the sand. He knew better than to eavesdrop, not that he could hear anything you were saying anyway, but the way you fidgeted uncomfortably with everything in sight told him it wasn't good news.
"I don't think we started off on the right foot," Jimin says after a second, summoning all his bravery and swallowing fiercely when Jungkook's steely stare shifted to him. Piercing eyes on him. He was undoubtedly taller and more bulky than him, which didn't make him any better, but it was still intimidating–and Jungkook was well aware of this.
"We dont need to be friends" Jungkook responds, fishing a cigarette from his recently purchased pack and offering Jimin one as well.
When he shakes his head with a "not a casual smoker," Jungkook simply scoffs smirking before lighting up his cigarette.
"I mean it," Jimin says once more. "Y/n and i are friends, listen, if that's what you're worried about, I know my boundaries," he continues, now catching Jungkook's full attention as he turns back to him, intentionally-unintentionally blowing smoke in his face.
"What exactly do you mean?" Jungkook asks, annoyed already
"You're her boyfriend,"
Jungkook simply hums, taking another drag and removing the cigarette from his lips as he crosses his arms, the smoke trailing into the air. He remains silent as he waits for Jimin to continue. "Listen, dude, I'm not a thread of any kind if that's what you're worried about, Y/n is my friend, but I don't feel anything more towards her," he shrugs, crossing his arms as well, looking at the taller guy, who just shakes his head chuckling.
"Listen dude," Jungkook mocks, moving closer, "whatever the fuck you feel for my girl is none of my business because to be completely honest with you-" he takes another drag "youre nowhere near competition to me," he continues, the smoke blowing directly into Jimin's face, who just laughs.
"Wow youre an asshole, wonder what y/n sees in you" Jimins the one to scoff now as Jungkook shakes his head
If he thought that time they first met at the studio was bad, this had to be ten times worse. What the fuck did you see in him?
"you dont wanna go down that path with me, do whatever you want with my girl, but if i catch you being anything further than friendly considder yourself done for" Jungkook says taking a step closed "understand?"
-
Picking up the phone, you nervously bite your lip, hoping your mother doesn't hear the waves crashing in the background. You also hope that the two people behind you don't make any noise as you speak to her. You really cant risk your mom asking too many questions right now–the days was going too well.
You sigh as you wait for your mother to speak up. Eyes scanning the ocean in front of you, the way some birds fly in and out of trees and how some of them even dare to land a bit closer to you.
"Youre not at the studio?" Her voice is firm, but not irritated, which surprises you.
"I was up until recently, just left," you utter a white lie, because it was technically true, sorta.
"Just?" She repeats, and you can picture her rolling her eyes.
You hum.
"Well, that's not why I'm calling anyway," she continues, making you sigh with relief.
Whatever she called for, it cant be half as bad as scolding you for missing class.
A few strands of hair fly in front of your eyes but youre quick to tug them back, breathing in then out as you cross your arms. The weather definitely mode chilly now
"okay, whats up?" You respond casually, looking behind you and being astonished to see Jungkook and Jimin talking, before turning around.
"Me and dad are going out for a company dinner with some important business owners," she says over the phone, "they also have a son by the way." You simply roll your eyes.
"Okay, so youre not home tonight?" You ask quietly, the thought of Jungkook being able to maybe stay a bit longer exciting you.
"No," she says, shaking her head, her earrings clinging so even you could hear. She's probably wearing the ones your father bought her in Italy two years ago. Your lips smile slightly
"All right, thanks for informing me, have fun," you say as you hang up the phone and walk back after saying your goodbyes.
This is why you always said and knew your mom wasnt so bad. When it wasnt about ballet or your future you were talking about, she was a good mom.
"You okay?" Jungkooks calm voice fills your ears as his arms finds its way around your waist holding you closer
You hum "yeah"
-
When you come home that night, Jungkook insists on remaining at your house a little later, reasoning the fact that he did not spend enough time with you today. Now that you think about it, he was right–you did spend more time with Jimin today. That wasn't very bad in your opinion. After all, he was your friend.
And Jungkook was your boyfriend. There were two different ways you felt about both of them. Jimin you liked–he was nice and funny, a good way to make your days at the studio more fun.
Jungkook was someone who at this point knew you inside and out, someone you could seek out when you were stressed, sad or mad. He was the first person youd call when something happened. Jungkook was your sanctuary.
"I wonder what Jimin was so upset about earlier that he had to leave," you say under your breath as you take your clothes off and strech, cracking your neck and knuckles as you searched your dressing room for a pair of pjs. It was a mess in here, which is why youd told Jungkook off when he got up to follow you, just for the fact of wanting to be close
Jungkook sighs shrugging as he types on his phone raising your suspicions. So you were right–something had happened between them that he didnt tell you.
After your mom had called and basically scolded you for leaving practice earlier than you were supposed to, the mood between Jungkook and Jimin seemed thicker than it was before. However in the moment you didnt even considder asking, just wanting to go home. So when Jimin excused himself, you and Jungkook left as well. Thank god for your parents not being home tonight.
"I hope it wasn't anything you said to him while I was gone," you cross your arms over your chest now, the slow music you'd put on soon after arriving now just background noise as you virtually start a staredown with your boyfriend. "Kook," you sigh, disappointed, as his silence reinforces your point. "What did you say?" you groan, slouching on your bed, hugging a pillow on your lap.
"Nothing" he rolls his eyes, casually nipping at his liprings as he doesnt break eye contact. "I didn't come up here to talk about him" he complains, now looking away as he throws his head back
You throw your pillow at him, grabbing another one to take up the position of the previous one.
Jungkook just lets it fall to the ground after it hit his back, eyes meeting yours once more
"Just tell me what you said or I'll ask him myself tomorrow," your tone becomes solemn. Whatever had been said couldn't have been nice. You knew Jungkook and how his harsh remarks might be misconstrued in every way.
"He started talking shit, and I reminded him where his place was," Jungkook simply responds, cravking his neck as he raises his brows "happy?"
Sorta?
You needed more information than just that
"What exactly did you tell him?" You ask peacefully, your chin resting on the cushion.
"I just told him that I don't see any competition in him," he respods, pursing his lips as he watches you now lie on your bed, eyes closed and frustrated. "What do you think?" He speaks up again, body now fully turning to you "do i need to see him as some sort of competition?"
You shouldn't fight about this, so you tried your best to stay as calm as possible when you ask your next question
"Did i make you feel like im interested in jimin at all?" unsure of your activities that resulted in Jungkook acting the way he did. Jungkook wasnt good with words, he usually let his actions speak for themselves
Jungkooks quiet now.
So this is why he was barely present the whole day. Jungkook was jealous.
You smirk
"Kook," you coo, "are you possibly-" you move in closer, teasingly playing with the back of his head, your palm burdied in his hair "-jealous?" You laugh.
The humour you found in this circumstance did not sit well with Jungkook, who scoffs, "I'm not fucking jealous of some 5'6' guy" as his muscles bulge from his arms practically as he tenses up.
Hed fucking love to know what makes this situation so funny in your eyes because he was more than serious about this topic
However, his outburst did not worry you in the least. Simply remaining calm. "Going for heights now?" You say with a smile "think im dating you cause youre tall?" You laugh.
"That's one of the reasons," he says casually. You chuckle.
"Kook," you pout, cradling his face and focusing it towards you. "I like you because you make me feel safe," you smile. "I also feel safe with Jimin, and i feel happy when jimins present." You begin, perplexing and confusing the fuck out of Jungkook, whos about to speak up, but you don't allow him. "Jimin is nice, smart, and funny," you say, making Jungkook scoff,
"what the fuck are you on about?"
"Let me finish," you say, flicking his forehead, "you are all those things too, you know?" And much, much more.
"But one thing distinguishes you two is that-" you nudge his nose with yours while kissing his pouty lips once "I'm dating you, and I'm all yours and yours alone."
"At the end of the day, you're the person I'd pick over anyone else." You mumble. Jungkook's previously tight face now relaxed as his gaze is drawn to yours, his hand wrapping around your waist, drawing you in closer. All insecurities dissipating. "I saw that foto too you know" you say with a sigh "the one of jimin and me, i though-" you shake your head "i though if you ever were to see it you wouldnt care cause-" you trail off "cause i really didnt think there was anything wrong with it"
Jungkook hums "There isnt-"
"Yes, there is," you say, silencing him. "But how would I know if you don't tell me what's wrong?" you sigh, irritated.
"I need you to tell me when things bother you, kook, I want to be as reassuring to you as you are to me," your smile fades somewhat as you gently caress his cheek, his hand tightening around your waist. He'd never been excellent with words, but his actions always spoke louder than his words.
"Never ever do i want us to fight just because the right communication wanst there" . The gentle falling of rain suddenly begins at your window, admits your voice.
"How are you so wise huh?" He pinches your thigh. "been watching too many dramas again?" He chuckles.
"Be serious," you giggle, hitting his chest. "What I'm saying is that friendships come and go in my life."
"You know I've always been terrible at those," you joke. "But i could never imagine my future without you, kook"
"Neither do I," his sweet voice fills your ears like a new favourite melody.
So hed thought about a future with you?
"Are we back on track?" You ask.
"We never fought," Jungkook states flatly, going in for a kiss but your palm against his chest stops him.
"We didn't," you say, nodding, "but we were apart."
Jungkook hums, "maybe."
As you kiss him, a breathy laugh leaves your lips, his hands bringing you onto his lap. "You know what i read the best part of making up is?" You initiate.
"Sex?"
"No, realising"
"Realising what?" Jungkook leans back looking at you confused, hand craddling yoru perfect face hoping to make you feel more comfortable
If this wasnt the right moment to say how you felt, you dont know when youd ever get the chance to tell him again
"That ones feelings are stronger than you think" your hands play with his hoodie, swiftly looking down "i dont wanna keep hiding how much i actually like you kook"
Breath hitching Jungkooks heart starts beating faster. Not now, he thinks. Hes not ready for this. Not fucking now out of all you could say
"I think I-" your shoulder shrug "i might..."
"Dont say it"
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bhaalism · 2 months
Text
— I'll do anything you say (if you say it with your hands)
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› astarion x f!reader
› wc : 1k+
› a/n : literally inspired by the fact that if it was me with a worm in my head with Astarion I'd be using the hell out of that connection
warnings : set post cazador fight act 3, mutual masturbation, bathtub sex, psychic link, fingering, jerking him off, creampie, mention of voyeurism
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The bathwater was scalding hot, with a little magical help, as you scoot forward to submerge your body except everything from the nose up on your face. You can feel the tension in your muscles evaporating like the steam rising from the placid surface, enough to make you let out a few pleased bubbles of air as the door opens.
You'd never been so thankful for it to be your rotating day in the washroom, while the proprietor of Elfsong had been gracious enough to give your party the top floor it was unfortunate that it didn't include more than one bathroom. Which meant some nights you had to simply dab a diluted mixture of floral water around your nose in order to sleep without the tang of blood, mud, and unmentionable liquids robbing you of rest.
Your heavy eyelids crack open and the sight of Astarion stepping into the foggy space makes your lips curve in a lazy, comfortable smile as you watch him undress. The planes of his skin and the subtle movement of muscle beneath them, how his hair fell a bit more messily here in private with you than he'd ever allow it to with others.
"You know they're going to say you're cheating our system by technically getting two washroom days."
Turning to you he gave an eye roll at your words before motioning you to scoot forward so he could sit behind you. "Nothing's stopping them from doubling up."
"Well that's not true, Shadowheart might kill Lae'zel for real if they were forced into this sort of... compromising position." You giggle as you turn around to face him, legs on either side of his hips and your arms gently hooking behind his neck.
"Hm, you know I'm not sure it would end that way, darling, but it's hardly for me to speculate." He murmured, resting his forehead against yours and you both slip into an easy silence as his arms wrap around your midsection, enjoying the way his skin warms to match your own in the near scalding water.
This had been your routine since the day your party had confronted his former master, bathing together quickly became a necessary comfort for Astarion and you were happy to provide. Behind your eyelids fragments from the battle flicker across your vision, a blur of gore and shrieking ended with your love burying a dagger in Cazadors chest, each strike more frenzied than the last.
It had crushed you, his cries in the aftermath and the horrible silence that he wore like a second skin for the rest of the night. It wasn't until you'd started washing his silver locks free of blood much later that he'd finally spoken to you at all, and even then it was piecemeal sentences built back up to his usual banter over the course of days.
Vulnerability was still something you both had to make a conscious effort for, but no matter how slow the steps you'll walk this path with him for the rest of your life.
His lips brushing against the shell of your ear pull you out of your ruminations, making you shiver in his hold and you feel the worm in your head stir, longing for connection. When his hands drift lower to squeeze and knead the fat of your ass the wriggling feeling becomes more frantic, demanding, and you gasp feeling the link establish itself between your minds.
Your hips move of their own accord, grinding down against him and you can feel the swell of him but it was more than simply a physical feeling, it was mental as well. Like occupying two bodies and feeling the differing sensations at once. The synchronicity was enough to make you dizzy, but hearing his words in your head pushed the feeling higher.
You're always so wet.
With a whine you capture his lips in a sloppy kiss, all tactless tongue and spit but neither of you care enough for pretenses at the moment.
Don't tease, I can't help it when it comes to you.
At that he groans into your mouth, a gravely sound you greedily drink down as your tongue slides over his.
His lithe fingers are quick to find your clit and you know he can feel the ache spreading inside your abdomen already with each brush of his fingertip against your slick nerves. You break away, dropping your head against his shoulder with a wanton moan.
Are you rubbing hearts against me right now?
And what if I am?
Your breathy giggle cuts off in a strangled cry feeling his thumb press against you firmly as he slides two fingers inside you, easing against the slight resistance of your walls. You know he can feel it too, the way your toes curl as his fingers start lightly scissoring against the spongy flesh and your clit throbs from sheer need.
But you can feel him too, how his cock aches with each brush of the head against your abdomen, the way he longs for you to wrap your fingers around him, smear precum along the slit while you find that particularly sensitive spot right at the underside. You don't recognize at first that you've been doing that, with the first whispers of longing in his head your body had been the one to react, reaching out to stroke him in firm pumps of your hand.
Not until he's nearly whimpering against your neck, burying his face against you and you can feel the way he's trying not to cum from your touch alone. An odd sense of pride wells in your chest, usually he's making you come undone in a mess of whines and tears.
You like making a mess of me, too, hm?
His voice teases the edge of your pleasure buzzed mind, making a self satisfied smile stretch across your lips.
Of course I do, just look at you my love.
Your vision is his as your body pulls away slightly, your eyes taking in the sight of him in his hands and the expression on his beautiful features: such bare, open need. A gasp leaves your mouths at the same time and you know it's because he's never seen himself like that.
Your pride swells again alongside the burn of your building orgasm, a fire being stoked and encouraged to build into an inferno. Your thigh muscles tighten and you let go of his cock, begging in your conjoined minds to feel him inside you before you cum. Your beloved is quick to oblige, especially since you know the same white got need is thrumming through his body in time with yours.
The feeling of his cock nudging past the ring of muscle, parting your walls and of your own body eagerly forming around him as he started with shallow thrusts makes your lungs feel painfully starved of oxygen. The sound of water sloshing is distant, drowned out by your tandem moans and the overwhelming feeling of occupying each other at this moment.
His desperate need to bury himself as deeply as possible inside you melds with the way your cunt sucks him in with every thrust, your body begging for the chance to milk him for all he's worth and he's beyond ready to give you exactly what you want.
As you tighten around him, clamping so hard it makes his breath come out in choked gasps, you can feel the way his balls twitch and throb with each spurt of thick cum that seeps against your walls. It's a step beyond any orgasm you've experienced before, since really you're experiencing a dual climax and you can tell it's just as immense for him.
The way he sags back against the washtub tells you he's beyond spent, and as your own heartbeat slows you feel the connection ebb away, leaving only the post climax euphoria to bubble inside your head.
Astarion remains inside you, softened, clearly simply enjoying the closeness of you as your fingers caress his jaw and slide through his dampened hair.
"I can't believe I never thought of using this ridiculous parasite for something besides nighttime visitations." He says against your inner wrist, having grabbed your hand to nuzzle against you in a way that was so purely adorable it nearly made you fully dissolve into a puddle.
"Do you think The Emperor saw all that?" You mused, realizing even with your connection to Astarion he wasn't the only occupant in your head at the moment.
"Please do not make me think about a voyeuristic squid while I'm still inside you my sweet."
You melt into giggles at that, pressing sweet kisses to his cheeks, forehead and lips as you two relax deeper into one anothers embrace and the now cooling bathwater.
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pulisicsgirl · 6 months
Text
gonna be the death of me - mason mount
summary: as his publicist, Y/N is willing to do whatever Mason needs to make him comfortable at his latest sponsored photoshoot
pairing: Mason Mount x publicist!reader
word count: 2.4k
warnings/tags: no established relationship, suggestive language, sexual tension(??), they're both down so badly for each other it's insane
requested: no
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notes: surprise!!! I think I speak for all of us when I say we were caught completely off-guard by Mason's new Nike ad... 🫣 But anyway, I was inspired by it to write out a blurb or two, but this one just kept going and it turned into a full-length fic 🤭 So... enjoy?? Also, I couldn't pick only one picture for this fic so please enjoy both of these
As a publicist, there was nothing unusual about you attending an event with one of your clients. Especially when it was for a sponsored ad that you’d had a large part in organizing. But something about this one felt different—a nervous, fluttery feeling in your chest as you walked in the front doors.
Maybe it was the fact that it was Mason, a client of yours that you maybe fancied just a teeny tiny little bit, no matter how hard you tried to convince others that it wasn’t the case.
Or maybe it was the fact that the partnership you had organized for him involved him modeling in nothing but his underwear.
Yeah, it was probably that.
In an effort to remain professional, you had done everything in your power to remain cool and collected that day. You had waited for Mason to arrive, meeting him at the doors before the two of you strolled into the building to determine what needed to be done and where he needed to go.
If Mason was honest with himself, he felt like he was a bit out of his depth with this photoshoot. He had never even been someone to parade himself around topless, let alone in only some tight-fitting underwear.
He had agreed to the shoot months ago, when things hadn’t been going so well for him. He had been struggling with his transfer to a new team and thought that maybe trying something new was just what he needed to snap him out of it. Unfortunately, it had taken quite some time to iron out the details, and now Mason’s nerves were getting the best of him.
So when one of the staff involved in the Nike shoot had approached him, a bottle of body oil in her hands, his stomach sunk to his feet. He only half listened as she explained that it would make the shots look more appealing.
“We understand that this can be a bit uncomfortable, so if you’d like to have someone from your team that you’re more familiar with help you apply it, that would be completely fine. If not, one of the stylists can assist you.” She gestured toward the team of people who had put a few light touches of makeup on his face just about 20 minutes ago.
The Nike team had been nothing but wonderful and accommodating with Mason the entire day, and he really appreciated the effort they had put into making him feel comfortable. He was momentarily relived by the alternative he had been offered, but the relief was short-lived when he realized that the only person on his “team” was you.
The staff member guided him to a cozy dressing room just off the hallway from the main area and explained that he could change and leave his things in this room until the photoshoot was over. There were a few sets of the underwear that he would be modeling laid out for him and a robe hanging to the left of the door.
Mason changed and spent the entire time trying to convince himself to just have one of the Nike staff help him. He didn’t want to make things weird. Part of him did want you to rub your hands all over his body, but he didn’t want the first time you did it to be for something like this.
No matter how much Mason tried to muster up the courage, he just couldn’t shake the way that the idea of a complete stranger oiling him up just compounded the nerves he was feeling, to the point that it made him feel sort of sick.
So minutes later, he was approaching you, body covered by the robe that they had provided for him. You noticed, as he shuffled in your direction, that he was fiddling with his fingers, a nervous habit of his. That, combined with the sheepish look he gave you as he stopped at your side, confirmed that he was feeling a bit anxious.
“Hey, Mase. You doing okay?”
Mason had to ignore the way his heart fluttered at both the nickname and the expression of concern on your face.
“Um, yeah, I-“ he started, stumbling over his words a bit. “If I’m honest, I’m pissing myself at the moment.”
Your eyebrows drew together in sympathy, knowing how difficult it must be to be paraded around like this.
“You’re going to do amazing, okay?” you smiled at him, and he only nodded in response. As he shifted back and forth on his feet, you knew there was something else on his mind.
“Um, could you… could you actually do something for me?”
“Anything, Mase. What do you need?”
Having worked with numerous high-profile clients, you learned that when a client asked for something, the answer was always “yes” and if it was something you couldn’t do… well you needed to figure out how to do it anyway. But Mason had never been one to give you much trouble. He had always been extremely kind and considerate of you.
“This is, um… well it’s a bit strange, and if you want to say no that’s completely fine, but,” he paused, taking a brief glance up at your face before he spoke quickly so he didn’t chicken out. “They gave me this oil I need to put over my chest and back and everything and they said I could have someone from my team apply it so it would be someone I’m comfortable with.”
He took another short pause as he tried to gauge your reaction. Your heart skipped a beat as you realized what he was saying. He must have noticed the slight falter in your expression.
His team… you’re his entire team today. He means you.
“If you don’t want to, it’s completely okay. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t—”
“Mason, it’s okay,” you rested your hand on his shoulder to reassure him. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, still feeling a bit hesitant. “I would really appreciate it. I’m just… I’m feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing, and I’m not overly fond of the idea of a stranger putting their hands all over my body.”
But you are fond of the idea of me putting my hands all over your body?
You mentally slapped yourself, trying to rid your mind of the filthy thoughts that were running through it.
“Don’t worry about it, Mason,” you smiled at him reassuringly, masking the way that your heart felt like it was going to leap out of your throat. “That’s what I’m here for, right?”
That was absolutely not what you were there for.
So that was how you found yourself following Mason into the dressing room that Nike had set up for him.
You couldn’t help the little flutter in your heart as you noticed that, rather than leaving them on the floor, he had neatly folded his clothes in a pile and placed them on a table in the corner of the room. You weren’t sure why that small detail affected you the way that it did.
Mason untied the belt of the robe, slipping it from his shoulders and tossing it over the back of the chair. You cast your eyes to the floor, suddenly feeling flustered at the sight of his nearly naked body, covered by only a tight-fitting pair of boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination.
It blew your mind that anyone who looked like he did could be feeling nervous or insecure about showing himself off. But Mason was merely human, after all, like anyone else.
You did your best to be as calm and causal about the situation as you possibly could. Mason approached the large vanity in the room, pointing you to the bottle of oil he had been instructed to apply to his body sitting on the counter in front of the mirror. You unscrewed the cap, placing a bit in your hand and telling Mason that you would start with his back.
You figured starting there would give you a moment to collect yourself before you had to look at him, face-to-face.
You rubbed the small amount of oil between your palms to warm it before placing them flat over Mason’s back and the touch of his skin on yours felt like an electric shock. You didn’t miss the way that the muscles in his back tensed slightly when you first touched him.
You spread the oil over the soft skin, from his shoulders, down to his waist. As you rubbed it into his lower back, you couldn’t help but admire how the underwear he was modeling hugged his bum.
No! Stop! Get it together, Y/N!
You tried to force yourself to think of anything else—anything other than Mason and his bum and the fact that you were oiling up his naked back.
You began analyzing the kind of oil they were using for the shoot (you had to come up with something, right?). It was sort of light and didn’t make his skin look greasy, like a swimsuit model or anything. It more so had the appearance like he had done a light workout and worked up a thin layer of sweat.
I can think of a few activities we could do to work up a sweat…
You shook your head, trying to snap yourself out of whatever this effect was that Mason was having on you.
Deciding that his back was finished, you stepped around to Mason’s front, pouring a bit more of the oil into your palms and running your hands over his arms.
Then, the only bit left to do was the bit that you didn’t know if you would survive… his chest and stomach.
You discreetly tried to take a deep breath, biting the inside of your cheek as you started at the top of his shoulders, brushing your hands over his collarbones before your hands drifted lower. You felt the heat rushing into your cheeks.
Mason prayed silently that you couldn’t feel the way his heart was hammering in his chest as your palms smoothed over his skin. He felt like every inch of him was on fire as you touched him in a way that was more intimate than you ever had before.
But as he tried to focus on anything other than how much you were putting him on edge, Mason glanced down to your face and realized he wasn’t alone in how he felt.
He watched as your cheeks burned bright red and you refused to look even remotely close to his face. He felt suddenly a bit lighter at the realization that you were just as tense as he was.
“I thought I was supposed to be the one that was nervous here,” he mumbled quietly, attempting to break the tension in the room.
He could tell you were fighting the grin that took over your face almost immediately. “Oh shut up, you,” you tried to keep up appearances, but it fell flat and Mason could read you easily. You both giggled softly.
You finished up the last bit of his torso, smoothing your hands down his sides, over his Champions League tattoo that you tried to admire without him noticing, and across his tummy. You noted the tiny mole on the upper part of his stomach, swiping a finger over it as you brushed the last bit of oil onto him.
You took one step back from him. “Alright, I think that should do it,” you spoke as you tried to wipe at an itch on your face with the back of your hand.
Mason noticed a shining spot of oil that you left behind. He stepped forward, nearly closing the gap between you as he lifted a hand, wiping it off of the tip of your nose with his thumb.
You gazed up at his face, unable to get away with just gluing your eyes to his torso the way you had been before. The look in his eyes was unreadable as he dropped his hand from your mouth to your jaw, just slightly pulling your lower lip down with his thumb, watching your reaction closely.
The tension between the two of you could’ve been cut by a knife. You felt as though you had stopped breathing as the you stood there, neither daring to make a single sound. Your eyes darted around his face, taking in all of the features you had never noticed before. His hand continued caressing your jaw as you held your hands cautiously on either side of him, afraid to make more of a mess with your oil-covered hands.
Abrupt knocking on the door of the dressing room caused you both to jump, snapping out of the sort of trance you had been in.
“We’re ready for you in 5!” a voice shouted from the other side of the door.
Both of you took a step back from each other, suddenly aware of how close you had been standing. Mason cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck as he tried to gather himself.
“Will you be alright?” you asked, remembering how nervous he had been feeling just a few minutes ago.
“Y-Yeah, I-“ he hesitated for a moment. “Yeah,” he repeated, this time a little more certain.
Seeing how flustered you had been at seeing him the moment he had taken off the robe and how you had blushed at your fingers touched his skin had been the confidence boost he needed to be a little more sure of himself. Seeing the way that you had reacted to him made him feel ready to go out and do the photoshoot.
You watched a soft smile pass over his face, and you wondered what could possibly be going on in that gorgeous head of his.
“Alright,” you giggled at his expression, now seeming much lighter than he had before. “I guess you should head on out. I’ll clean up here and then I’ll be right there.”
Mason nodded, slipping the robe back over his shoulders before he turned to walk out of the room.
With the sudden boost of confidence, he spun on his heel, dipping his head to place a quick kiss on your cheek, and then he was out the door before you had the chance to react.
Your eyes went wide as you took a moment to process everything that had just happened. When you turned to the vanity to begin tidying up, you caught sight of your beet red cheeks. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath as the biggest grin took over your face.
This boy was certainly going to be the death of you…
tag list:@landoslover @thoseboysinblue @lovelynikol16 @swimmingismywholelife @masonsrem @bracedes @neverinadream @lizzypotter14 @notsoattractivearenti @chilwellspulisic @mm-vii @10vnderhaze
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pastelbakugou · 4 months
Note
(*´∀`)♪ I’m here to request/suggest a scenario!
I love reading KiriBaku x Reader, but a lot of it is already established relationship, so I’d love to see your interpretation on how the throuple comes to be. Who liked who first? Who was dating who first? How did they decide to bring in a third? Was it smooth sailing or did it get a little angsty at first?
Of course you don’t gotta answer all those questions if you decide to write this one. I just really wanna see some the boys trying to navigate this kinda thing (*´꒳`*)
So I just finished writing a drabble/scenario that @ayustuff so wonderfully suggested and it explains a lot of how I think they would first establish their relationship. Ya'll can read that here if you'd like. What I will do now is give my opinion on their living situation (in bullet point headcanon style) after you all have established your relationship, but it's still a bit fresh. The reader is written as gender neutral here.
I stated that I think that they're relationship would begin during their third and last year of UA, so we'll start there.
You are all super excited about being a throuple. You and Kirishima show your enthusiasm bit more outwardly than Bakugou, but that's to be expected.
You guys decided to keep your relationship to yourselves for a while, but after some time the rest of the class figured it out. The sudden softness towards each other after weeks of Katsuki and Eijirou bickering. The lingering glances and quick gentle touches. Yeah, they figured it out.😅
No one really confronted you guys about it. They more or less just recognized it for what it was and accepted it and moved on. Aizawa also knew that something was up, but seeing as it didn't affect any your grades nor your abilities to train and become better heroes, he minded his own.
You would swap which room you guys would hang out in every evening. On Mondays and Wednesdays you would all be in Katsuki's room. Tuesdays and Thursdays were spent in your room. And Friday through Sunday you all stayed in Kirishima's room.
Kirishima may never admit it, but he loved having both of his partners in his space for long periods of time, because when Monday rolled around, his room smelled freshly of your mixed musks and by the time it was his turn to "host" again, your smells were just starting to fade.
Bakugou didn't mind having you and Kirishima in his space, but he really loved being in your space because of how safe and homey it felt. Kirishima's dorm was fine, but yours was softer. More pillows and cushions, a soft rug in the middle of the floor, and an oil diffuser that sometimes smelt of eucalyptus and other times lavender.
You, however, didn't really care whose room your stayed in for the evening, you were just happy to be with your boys.
The sleeping situation was sometimes awkward because you would bid each other a good night, just to later come out of your dorms to find your partners curled up in bed together.
Sometimes, Kirishima would find Katsuki in your room or you'd find the red head in Katsuki's room or Katsuki would find you in Eijirou's room.
The biggest issues was space. Your beds were only full size, so really, only two people could sleep comfortably on one mattress.
Your solution? You'd gather at the end of an evening and decide who stayed with whom. Sometimes, you wanted a bed to yourself, leaving the others to their own devices. Other times, Katsuki would back out and let you and Eijirou share a night and vice versa.
You all were so excited to share a place after you graduated. The first thing you all pitched in on was a California King bed, opting to put it in Kirishima's room since he had had the biggest growth spurt during high school.
You still had your separate rooms, wanting to maintain a healthy relationship regarding your privacy, but also due to having differing work schedules.
Sometimes, one of you would have to be up early or someone would come back home late, and in an effort to not disturb the others you'd tiptoe off to you own room.
House chores were never an issue between the three of you. Bakugou refused to assign designated chores because he thought it was stupid. You were all adults. "If something needs to be done and one of you had time, you fucking do it." He explained and you and Kiri both shrugged in agreement.
The only chore that was designated was cooking and Katsuki took that because he refused to eat nothing, but meat(Kirishima's preference) or take out(Your preference, except on a rare or special occasion.
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clanwarrior-tumbly · 11 months
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That with mark and alternative Y/n was so adorable!!! :0
May i request like the aftermath headcanons? Like Mark begins to trust alternative Y/n and sees them now as his Guardian “Angel” and they become a duo! him bragging around school catching others attention like adam and Jonah? :3
Aw thanks! I'm glad you liked it! Also we're calling this an AU where "all the victims are besties and attend the same school"
If y'all wanna read the prequel it's here!!!!!
.................
Mark had prayed all his life for a guardian angel.
Never did he think one would come as an Alternate, of all things.
But...how else could he describe you?
Ever since that night, you've kept your promise to protect him, keeping him safe from the others who wanted to prey on his loss of faith and hope.
It still took a while for him to fully trust you, though, getting jumpy whenever he spots you in the corner when he's about to sleep or hears your voice all of the sudden.
And of course his nightmares have gotten 10x worse, but you're always there to comfort him.
The worst ones are where you sell him out to your "Savior", though those eventually faded.
You only went into hiding when Thatcher visited his house for a wellness check after his school's receptionist got concerned with his prolonged absence.
He didn't give away the fact you were still present, but did report his encounters with the other hostile Alternates, allowing the lieutenant to collect evidence.
Once Mark is determined not to show any M.A.D symptoms, he's okay enough to go back to school, where you still watch over him regularly.
Alternates haven't found a way to infiltrate schools yet, but you didn't wanna take any chances.
From your observations, you learn that he's quite the shy/loner kid, sometimes getting teased by others for his personality alone.
You also learned that Cesar usually rushed to his defense...but with him gone, Mark was pretty much on his own now.
One day, he's drawing you during class. But when the teacher left the room for a minute, some jerk snatched his "Reassurances" notebook and made fun of him in front of everyone.
He managed to get it back, but he hid in the bathroom during lunchtime and cried for a while until you appeared in the mirror and asked what's wrong.
Long story short, you gave the bully M.A.D later that night and left them to their fate (spoiler: they were part of the 3% who lived, unfortunately, but they dropped out of school).
Mark's not one to condone this kind of thing from you, but....you actually did him a huge favor by getting rid of them. They've bullied him for years--ever since the day he shared that "scary night" story back in elementary, in fact, and they never let it go.
With them gone, he becomes a bit more confident in himself, eventually telling his friends about how an Alternate actually helped him.
Ofc seldom few actually believe him, though it definitely caught the attention of Adam, Jonah, Sarah, and Evelin.
They're trying to get a paranormal/ghost-hunting club established and think it would be neat to have a friendly Alternate as their mascot and/or helper.
They are surprised when Mark agrees to join, considering he used to say it was "demonic" and didn't want anything to do with the club--but you've changed his perspective.
Obviously they don't want any authority figures getting word of an Alternate hanging around the school, so they do their best to talk to you in secret, learning how you helped their friend that night and why you're so benevolent towards innocent humans.
Sarah and Jonah are lowkey nervous interacting with you (Sarah bc her brother nearly died thanks to the actions of two other members of your kind, and Jonah bc he's skittish around all things scary).
If anyone trusts you, though, it's Mark.
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femmefatalevibe · 9 months
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Femme Fatale Guide: How To Build Steamy Sexual Tension With Any (Potential) Lover
Whether you're seeking to ignite a new flame or rekindle the hot-and-heavy passion in your long-term relationship, here are some must-know tips, tricks, and spicy strategies to build sexual tension with any prospective or reliable lover.
Set The Stage: Create a date night (or daytime) atmosphere that sets the mood. This could be a nice meal or a glass of wine in a candlelight setting or dim lighting with sensual music and plush seating or pillows. Dress to impress in an outfit/hair & glam look that makes you feel like the hottest person in the room. Wear your hottest matching lingerie underneath your outfit paired with a seductive perfume and/or scented lotions & hair mist. Feeling clean & well-groomed also helps get both of you in the mood.
Master The Art of Direct Eye-Contact: Convey confidence and show your partner they have your full attention. Maintain strong eye contact when they speak. Allow it to linger a bit longer and during natural conversational silences to build tension stronger than the curl of your lashes.
Embrace Seductive Body Language: Look up at them from a downward gaze, twirl your hair, subtly touch, bite, or lick your lips, and offer suggestive side glances/look away every now and then throughout your conversation. Lather your hands in an upward motion (as you would with soap) as your (prospective) partner is speaking during this tension-building interaction. Touch the nape of your neck or collarbones as they speak.
Tease with Playful Touch: Break the physical barrier with a subtle touch on the shoulder, thigh, knee, or with your foot (either under a table or while next to each other). Allow your partner to exchange the favor before becoming more frequent with your subtly handsy advances. Once this level of comfort is well-established work your way inward with your hand or foot placements to initiate the desired hot-and-heavy tension.
Ask Engaging Questions. Dive Deep: Inquire about their day, highlights of the week, plans they're looking forward to, their hobbies, interests, favorite books, foods, places they've traveled to, important people in their life, experiences that hold significance in their heart/mind, dreams, places they want to travel to, and goals for the future. Listen intently and follow up with thoughtful questions to get to understand their emotive experience/learn more about who this person is at their core. Stimulate the most influential sex organ – it will always be the mind.
Get Creative with (Subtle) Innuendo: Find flirty ways to subtly include naughty comments or insights in your more colloquial conversations. Be clever, not overt and crass with your approach. References to food, music, travel, style, movies/theatrics all work well to showcase your intellectual and sexual prowess.
Use Your Body As A Conversation Starter or Discussion Topic: The fit or feel of your outfit, the softness of your hair, smoothness, and the scent of your skin. Allow the other person to anticipate and fantasize about the outcome of this interaction – what it would feel like to fully interact with these belongings or elements of your being as the conversation gets steamy and things become hot and heavy.
Relish in the Seduction. Enjoy The Slow Burn: Don't try to rush or force the sexual tension. Allow it to build slowly throughout a conversation or evening. Change up the pace of your conversation – embrace moments of intense conversation, lingering pauses, and intense sexual tension (from either your dialogue, touch, or an undescribable burning desire that feels like it could be cut with a knife due to your relational chemistry)
Leverage Flirty & Dirty Talk via Text: For when you can't be together in IRL, a sexy text can immediately build tension. Share some of the dirty thoughts you're thinking about them, flashbacks to any memorably hot experiences between you two, things you want to do with them later, any sexual innuendos that have you thinking of them throughout your day or week, a sexy song lyric, fantasies you want to explore with them, etc.
Embrace the journey and sensory exploration. Don't focus too much on the outcome. Enjoy the ride of learning about each other's sexual turn-ons, fantasies, bodies, and communication styles. Don't rush. Think of it like a game where neither player can lose. Explore the depths of each other's minds while allowing this submission to overtake your bodies. Remember it's all in the tease.
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angelsdean · 5 months
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sorry i'm still thinking meta-ly about deancassie's goodbye. like first there's what i said in the linked post. dean notably isn't the one driving in this scene. it's sam behind the wheel, steering them away. because leaving cassie again is painful. it's the last thing he wants to do. and dean is someone who struggles to do the leaving when it comes to the people he loves. at four years old he establishes this sort of idea about love and leaving. he tells mary as he comforts her after john left, "i love you too. and i'll never leave you." he sees how john leaving hurts mary and dean promises to never be the one who leaves. and while, later, his life circumstances often get in the way, he continues to struggle to do the leaving. and it hurts him deeply when he gets left.
so, this goodbye, he can't be in the driver's seat. he just can't do it. and then on the road, sam asks, "You meet someone like her, doesn't it makes you wonder if it's worth it? Putting everything else on hold, doing what we do?" and dean just smiles and pointedly does not answer. because we know what his answer would be. we know already, despite the facade he puts up, that dean doesn't really want to be doing this. he scoffs at the apple pie picket fence life in a "the lady doth protest too much" sort of way. we know he had his own dreams, desires. he wanted to go to college too. he wanted a normal life. so, if he could just put it all down? if he could stop hunting and not feel guilty about it and build a life with someone he loves, would he? yes, of course, yes. but he doesn't feel he has that choice. he still feels bound to this duty, this mission. so what's the point in answering that question when the answer won't change anything? instead he puts on his sunglasses and reclines back and tells sam to wake him up when it's his turn to drive. (because he still can't drive yet. they're still too close. he could easily turn the car around. he doesn't trust himself not to)
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but, back to the other part of deancassie's goodbye that really gets me. it's dean's insistence that they will see each other again (even if we know this to be false, being the omniscient audience we are with the power to see into the future.) because dean has.....faith. dean got his crash course in faith in the previous episode and now, well, he's a bit of a believer in things that seem impossible. cassie says she's a "realist" and "doesn't see much hope" for them. but dean says he's seen stranger things. cassie says "goodbye" with an air of finality but dean responds with, "I'll see ya, Cassie....I will." determined and believing every word. because, again, dean can't bear to leave the people he loves. but if he must or if circumstances / other powers force them apart then he'll do everything he can to find his way back to them.
he is literally, literally the kind of person who does not say "goodbye" but "see you later." a fact that is made all the more heart-wrenching when you think about 15x18 too. "why does this sound like a goodbye" dean asks, his whole body filling with dread. "because it is." and dean pleading, "don't do this, cas." and then cas, like cassie, says "goodbye" with an air of finality. and what do we know about dean? well, he doesn't accept goodbyes. "I'll see ya....I will."
anyways dean's last goodbye with his first love and dean's last goodbye with his last love, two people that also share very similar names, is just. well. it sure does make me feel some kind of way.
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nahoney22 · 6 months
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Honeyyyyyy🥰
congratulations on hitting 4000 followers! Thats huge! Honestly, no one deserves it more than you. Thank you for all the wonderful things you have requested throughout the years💕
I would like to request a Jesse x Fem!Reader, where reader gets discharged from a lengthy hospital stay and gets to go home, where her partner Jesse picks her up and takes her home and cares for her. Its a very self indulgent request i must admit. It can be sfw/suggestive or nsfw if you like, but mostly i‘d love some caregiver!jesse 🥺
ilysm 💕🌸🪷
Relief
Jesse X F!Reader
word count: 781
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After being discharged from hospital, Jesse shows you just how much he missed, cares and loves you.
warnings: 16+ as there is implied sexual content but nothing explicit. female reader, mentions of hospital visits and reader having a bad autoimmune system, slight angst but fixed with lots of fluff and comfort. Established relationship.
Authors note: thank you for the support always bestie. Enjoy, sorry it’s a little on the shorter side. ily 💜
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After what felt like an endless cycle of blurred days and nights, the comfort of home beckoned. Your autoimmune condition had warranted an extended stay at the hospital, and although the memories of long hours and less-than-stellar meals lingered, there was a beacon of hope waiting for you on the other side.
You had been with Jesse for just over a year now and never had you been so lucky. He was the perfect blend of kindness, humor, and of course - undeniable good looks. So, it wasn't surprising to find him eagerly waiting for you in the lobby, his foot rhythmically tapping the floor. But when his eyes met yours, any signs of impatience melted away, replaced with a beaming smile.
"There’s my girl," he greeted with a joyous grin, leaning in to plant a tender kiss on your cheek.
Mustering a weary yet content smile, you replied, "Here I am." Your smile widened in delight as he gracefully unveiled a bouquet of your favourite flowers from behind his back. "Oh, Jesse," you murmured, "you really didn't have to."
"No," he smirked, arm confidently linking with yours, guiding you as he flagged down a cab, "but it made me happy to."
With a content sigh, you both settled into the taxi, heading towards the sanctuary of your home. The mere idea of being enveloped in the soft embrace of your own bed was enough to make you feel more relaxed. Jesse's eyes were fixed on you, tenderly observing the visible signs of your exhaustion. But, he was smart enough not to voice his observations. Instead, he pulled you closer, letting you nestle into his side for the duration of the ride.
A short while later, the familiar setting of your home welcomed you. Stepping inside, you inhaled deeply, reacquainting yourself with its comforting aroma. Overwhelmed by the warmth and familiarity, you sank into your couch, releasing a sigh that echoed your longing. "I've missed this so much," you murmured, gazing up at the ceiling. As your gaze wandered, a realisation dawned. The place was spotless. Not a single trace of dust to be seen anywhere.
Catching your surprised expression, Jesse chuckled, "Thought I'd do a bit of tidying up."
Your laughter joined his as relief washed over you. The realisation that he'd taken it upon himself to do every little chore that was pending made your heart flourish.
From the laundry to the dishes, from taking out the trash to scrubbing that stubborn grout in the kitchen sink you'd been meaning to tackle – everything was done.
"Jesse," you whispered, admiration and affection swelling within you. Although you two didn’t share a home, mostly due to Jesse's commitments with the GAR, seeing the lengths he'd gone to care for your space during your hospital stay only deepened the bond between you.
Jesse's face lit up with a touch of pride as he then pointed towards the fridge. "I also prepped some meals for you." He admitted with a sheepish grin, "Though, I won't guarantee they're gourmet quality – cooking isn't exactly my specialty." His hand instinctively went to the back of his head, a gesture he often made when slightly embarrassed.
“Anything would be better than the dirt they serve in there.” You shudder at the cold gruel you were offered.
Overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness, you responded, "I can't begin to express my gratitude." He settled down beside you on the couch, wrapping an arm around you protectively.
"You could start by resting and taking it easy," he said with a playful smirk, his lips gently brushing your temple. His fingers began to work magic as he moved them into your hair, massaging your scalp and making you sink further into his embrace.
"That sounds perfect right now," you admitted, stifling a yawn as relief washes over you. Curling even closer to him, you whispered, "I love you."
"And I love you," he replied, ensuring both of you were covered with a throw blanket before starting a holomovie, the volume just low enough to be comforting. Cherishing moments like these was essential because they were so rare.
That evening, Jesse managed to whip up a surprisingly delicious meal. The two of you shared stories and laughter, catching up on all the happenings you missed while you were away. And as the night grew deeper, he effortlessly lifted you, a hint of mischief in his eyes, and carried you off to bed. Even as passion ignited between the two of you, kisses turning into heated dances and breathing turning into soft moans, Jesse's touch remained gentle. And his whispers held promises and love that saw you through the night.
Oh, how you missed him.
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Requests open until the 15th of October 2023 ☀️
Kofi 🧋
Masterlist
Tags: @andyoufollowyourheart @whore4rex @imperialclaw801 @temple-elder @mysticalgalaxysalad @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417 @eyecandyeoz @captxin-rex @jesseeka @ashotofspotchka @theroguesully @ladykatakuri @jambolska-grozdova @arctrooper69 @padawancat97 @rain-on-kamino @either-madness-or-brilliance @staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog @chrissywakingup @kixs-husband @pb-jellybeans @nunanuggets @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 @tech-aficionado @grizabellasolo @therealnekomari @tech-depression-inventory @brynhildrmimi @greaser-wolf @tinyreadersmur @seriowan @by-the-primes @the-bad-batch-baroness @kaminocasey @marvel-starwars-nerd @ladytano420 @ladyzirkonia @raevulsix
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inezdeortiz · 4 days
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oh and if it's okay to request twice, could you do hcs for killua with an s/o who at first, when they met, (hunter exam, she met gon on the boat with the other two) seemed really shy/introverted, never really talked, and a lot weaker than him and gon, but overtime as they get closer reader slowly opens up and she turns out to be really outgoing, affectionate and silly? (A big troublemakerr) Especially when they start dating, very cuddly and loving. It's like the total opposite of readers personality at the start of the friendship. Also ends up stronger than him loll. Fem! Reader pls, Thank youuu <333
It's completely fine requesting twice! Or thrice! I'll be glad to make it for you! Also would you like a name? Wouldn't want to just call you anon.
AU: None
Characters: Killua Zoldyck
OS/HCS/IMG: Head-Cannons
Genre: Pure fluff!
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Killua met you on the way to the exam site not knowing that the exam already started the moment they boarded the ship
It was before a storm came, you were just spacing out looking in the ocean horizon but when the captain said that there was going to be a storm that they're gonna cross
While the ship shook roughly the only unbothered ones was Kurapika laying down a hammock, Leorio eating a green apple until he said it's sour, Gon helping the men drink water and medicine, Killua just chilling leaning on the wooden wall with his arms behind his head, and you just watching Gon take care of the seasick men
That was later on until the captain called you five to the helm, all of you introduced each other but it took at least 2 minutes for you to speak since you really don't speak much
Killua saw that you are weak, and rather introverted, although you still participated in the Hunter exam, he admires you a bit for that but you're weak what if you get hurt?
He immediately shook that idea of his head when he thought about you getting hurt later on you all arrive on the island as the captain talked to Gon where to go
Well you know the drill already, but when all you got trapped in a circular tower, and when the time came where it was your turn to fight one of the prisoners
You luckily won because it was a gamble, you have no experience in fights but gambling? you have experience in that area
Timeskip to where you finally have established a relationship with Killua and the Chimera Arc, when Kite ended up dying by Pitou
You ended up becoming traumatized because of it, you slowly inched to having a panic attack
Killua being the soft boyfriend he is, comforted you the best he can as he sensed that you are near a panic attack, since you saw Kite as a father figure
Throughout the days you have been with Killua and Gon, the Greed Island, Chimera incident, and the incident where Gon died and also the Hunter Association President election
You grew stronger and became even more out-going, your shy and introverted personality disappeared
You also turned out to be very affectionate and loving towards to everyone you trust even Killua!
Killua was flabbergasted when you become stronger than him, who's trained by highly feared and well known assassins? he couldn't help but leave his jaw down the floor due to shock-
He ALWAYS always tries to shove you away when you tightly hug him or hold his hand because he's shy- but ends up failing because you always give him those puppy eyes
In other words, you love Killua and Killua loves you! Even if he denies it, Gon is always there to say for you<3
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I apologize for taking a while to post this😭 My phone got confiscated by my mom before I could finish it but I got it back! So here you go!
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May we have some wholesome NY hc’s :3
I’m curious as to what you can come up with when you’re not also torturing the baby :]
*looks up and freezes like a deer in headlights* uh-oh I've been caught - they've found out my secret and realised I don't have what I ask them for oops...
Jusssttttt kidding. Here you go though, I might have taken some hcs from you as well since I can no longer differentiate between what I come up with and what someone else came up with first unfortunately.
We have already established that he is a cat, right? So he curls up whenever he sits in positions that sort of confuse the others because how the hell does one even twist enough to be like that, let alone be comfortable in that position-
Alongside this, his brothers got hold of a laser pen and they love standing behind York and moving it all over the wall in front of him just to see his eyes unintentionally follow the laser point everywhere. One of them moves about the laser pen, the other records. It's always hilarious and they love keeping it as blackmail.
Speaking of blackmail, he has a lot of dirt on everyone; way more than they'll ever be able to get of him. This is for two main reasons. One : he's quiet - kind of like Alaska except that he's paying attention all the time to what people are saying. It doesn't help the others that he has sharp ears too, and can keep up with a conversation happening a couple of rooms away. Two : even though he himself is kind of closed off to most people, except his brothers and friends perhaps, other people find him easy to talk to. They feel able to express their true feelings and ideas that they would otherwise keep to themselves to New York, since they have the idea that NY wouldn't judge them. He won't if it is something serious, and that's the only time he doesn't keep it as a secret to hold over the other person when needed later in the future. The rest of the stuff, though? Straight to the blackmail folder. He even has a folder for this on his computer, with a document for each state and territory. Mass is unable to hack into this because NY also has secrets on him that he keeps on paper + NY sometimes sells the information he has on other states too, and Mass would love to get his hands on that too. [wasn't exactly a wholesome hc per se but it just came to me so yeah]
He is a family man. We've seen that in the videos as well. He's very devoted to his ma and grandparents, and likes to look over his brothers too. He's also exceptionally good at making them feel better when they're sick.
You're not taking care of yourself in front of him? Think again. You're going to get scolded and given a huge amount of food and water then forced to get some sleep. Yes, he is a hypocrite in this case. No, he doesn't care about it. He just wants others to be fine
His love language actually isn't just physical touch, since there are days it feels uncomfortable for him. It is also food. He can cook just fine, but that requires supervision from someone else (for reasons not mentioned here as I'm trying to keep this angst free) so he prefers baking instead. It's simple to do - just one instruction after the other, you don't have to think much about what you need to make, and it always smells and tastes good. He's amongst the best bakers in the statehouse; making delicious cakes and pastries all the time, and his bread is amazing too.
You know like how we say that Maine is sort of like Loui's dad or a much older brother to him because of how many people moved from Maine to Louisiana? Well, that but with New York and Florida. He's more of like an uncle than a brother, since the gap in their ages is a lot more than between ME and LA, but Florida is very close to him. He often goes to him for advice on certain matters and NY loves hanging out with him too, even if his pranks get a bit annoying for him. Also, whenever Florida is serious, it's usually only in a conversation with NY, since as I said before, despite being the typical NE state who glares all the time and is disgusted by what you said, New York can refrain from judging someone else - and that it exactly what Flo needs. In fact, NY is the one who convinced Mass to help Florida in his spelling, and himself aids Florida in reading the English language correctly too. In turn, Flo helps NY improve his Spanish too (so does Cali).
New York can speak a lot of languages, particularly because NYC is amongst the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. He isn't very fluent in all of them, but the number of languages that easily flow off his tongue is quite huge too. This also means that the other states find it easy to talk to him (and New Jersey because of the same reasons) since it's always easier for someone to open up when speaking in a language they are more connected to, because emotional reasons. Moreover, NY tends to fall back to speaking in Dutch whenever he is very sleepy (like usually if someone wakes him up [on accident ofc, no one would dare to on purpose] then he slips back into Dutch) and as you said, he has a Dutch accent when really tired and the others think it is so adorable.
It isn't just Florida who goes to him for advice. The others too come to him at times, mostly related to financial issues since he can explain such stuff well; like he did in that video where he was teaching some of them about how the stock market works and something which happened in it. He's a good teacher too, but unlike Mass he doesn't really want to become a professor or anything. Some states also get statehood advice from him, and he played a very active role in helping most of them in the transition from being a territory to a state of the union - like a lot of the other og13 did too.
Speaking of pranks, it's actually very hard to play one on him. He can hear you from far off, so your footsteps can give you away. Like with all the og13, sneaking up on him or surprise attacks are out of the question - for both your safety and his sake. And the ones you might have thought you could play on him? He can see right though it, since he can quickly realise what you're doing.
Whenever he is upset, the other states bring him into a group hug and it becomes a cuddle pile. They quite literally squash the sadness out of him. It works pretty often.
He also gives great hugs too (not just in the group ones). He can hold you so tightly you think he may not ever let go. His hugs are very comfortable and he usually likes receiving them too. He also hugs more often in the months when he is colder, in order to feel warmer. Whenever the west has wildfires, some of them often go to him to cool off.
In the west, I feel like he's pretty great friends with Cali, Nevada, and Alaska. Cali is obvious; he's taken that state under his wing. Nevada he gets along with because he's fun to hang out with. NY and NJ also look over him. Nevada can often be very money-oriented, and New York knows how to work with money, so they discuss financial affairs often too. Alaska and New York are historically close too, so they sometimes still hang out together - especially if they want to just sit there in the silence, but not exactly be left alone for the time being. They usually just watch the sunrise or sunset together depending on when Alaska woke up (since he sleeps a lot and New York doesn't sleep much). Also, Alaska often is set on New York by the others to get him to sleep. He just holds NY in a bear hug, shushes his protests, and falls asleep while cuddling him. New York can do nothing else except go to sleep too - which is why this is so effective.
He is adorable when sleepy. Well, I mean, he's always cute but when he isn't entirely awake he isn't giving his infamous death glare to the others, so his soft facial features are more seen and he looks so adorable it's actually not fair.
He isn't always in a mischievous mood, but when it is, he usually chooses to annoy his brothers. He can run away quickly, and has been known to climb the roof in a matter of seconds just to get away from their wrath lmao
Even if he was already sitting comfortably on the couch, the moment one of his brothers or friends gets there, he's switching to use their lap as a pillow. It's really sweet for the others.
Well, I'm not too sure if this was exactly wholesome NY hcs or just NY hcs but see - I didn't torture the baby! Anyway, this is all I can think of right now and I hope you like them. Feel free to add on!
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ifishouldvanish · 3 months
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(sorry, one more bc it's been on my mind for a long time)
I worry though, about... the dynamic. Can someone really find and bond with another through their grief and loneliness, without this grim depression they share becoming *worse?*
For me, personally, whenever I think about them... I think there's going to be a level of catharsis. They have something that would be very hard to find in another living being, and a certain love for humanity and the past that would be difficult to find among vampires, and this shapes them into shattered pieces which fit together. But would they still be able to find happiness? It kind of feels like they're two damaged clocks that have coincidentally been stuck on the same minute and hour hand. Would they be able to heal and move time forward?
Okay so like!!!!
I see it less about bonding over the shared grief itself and more about what their responses to that grief have exposed in each of them. Like, in the beginning and on the surface level, yes. It is the grief and loss and loneliness that brings them together. But they are foils!!! I'm telling you!!! They can learn from each other!!!
I've mentioned probably all of this before in scattered pieces across all my posts at some point but!! I think the lowest common denominator, the core of their dynamic, lies in how they seem to have established their senses of self.
Alucard struggles with how not to define himself by his father, and then having to define himself in opposition to his father. "Slave to our families' wishes" etc. And when that chapter of his life closes he's like, "welp, guess I'll just entomb myself here 🤷" until Trevor and Sypha are like "what?? Dude no??" And he's like "oh haha I guess you're right, I can uphold the legacy of the best parts of both of my parents!!" And they're like "ya!!" But then a month goes by without anyone coming round to say "hey!!! Share that knowledge with me!! Fulfill the role you've given yourself" and he is just... so fucking bored and unfulfilled?
He needed they-who-shall-not-be-named to come along so he could fill that role, needed Greta to come along so he could fill that role. He tells Greta about how rescuing others sort of fills a void for him/gives him purpose, which is honorable, yes. But like... It's also so sad imo?? This comfort in denying his sense of self? "I don't know what to do with myself, just gimme a shout if the world ever needs saving again"?? Like Alucard, honey, babygirl, sweetheart... you need to learn to live for yourself 🥺
Olrox on the other hand is... not selfish exactly, but he knows what he's about and he refuses compromise himself. You killed the only man I ever loved? Okay, then I'm killing you, and no, I don't care if your nine year old son witnesses it. You want the juicy story of why that boy is terrified of the big bad vampire? Okay, but you will learn about my humanity first so you can sit with your cognitive dissonance about it later. You think I'm just going to throw myself at your feet because you promise us all eternal night? How about you kindly go fuck yourself? You happily stump for Erzsebet because she promised you that she'll create a world that will allow you to relive your glory days? Couldn't be me!
Like obviously we have a much more limited viewpoint for Olrox because we know so much less about him and his past, but this is not a guy who's waiting for someone to give him a purpose. He acts alone, he doesn't play nice with others, he has his own agenda, and is even a little bit of a hedonist: investigating the relationship between the abbot and Erzsebet? Might as well fuck a hot monk while I'm at it. I said eat the rich, but I might as well look good doing it. You hate/fear me cause I killed your mom? Get over it already. You think the opera singing night creature is annoying? Well, I'm familiar enough with opera music to know he's actually reading you all for filth, so I think it's great!
I think at the end of the day, Alucard is a character who defines himself by others, not understanding why he still feels so empty and alone. And Olrox is a character who defines himself by his own terms, but in being caught between both human and vampire worlds has learned to push people away because he thinks he is better off that way. But by the end of the season, his worst fear is realized: I cannot do this alone. I am at the mercy of someone else's help.
But Olrox isn't like anyone else Alucard has rescued before. He's a fellow vampire. He's a fellow immortal. He's going to be around for as long as he is. And maybe, in that time, a little bit of that ego can start to rub off on Alucard. Maybe he can learn to live for himself without apology, without feeling like he has to atone for the sins of his father. Maybe, just maybe, he can learn to exist outside of the role of the mythical savior.
Because Olrox doesn't want one of those—heaven's no. He can take care of himself, thank you very much. But what if he could learn he doesn't always have to? Who better to restore his faith in the world than the guy who has his mother's conviction that all of this mess is worth saving so deeply ingrained in him that it's been the primary source of his identity for centuries?
I'm starting to ramble here so I hope this is coherent, but in conclusion: they would be so restorative for each other and look so hot together and that is why I believe in Alurox supremacy 🙏
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bropunzeling · 1 month
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11, 22, 37!
11 Three tropes that are fine but overrated
oh gosh hmm. some of these are gonna come across as hypocritical lmao and also insert a healthy dose of "for me specifically" but: (1) i think soulbond/soulmark tropes can be done well, but mid executions of the trope focus a lot on ~finding~ the person rather than interrogating what it means to have bonds or marks or things of that nature, and leave a lot of interesting nuances about choice and free will and conflict between romantic relationships and other things you might want (career, friendship, autonomy, etc) on the table. i wish more takes on the trope let it be messy! (2) hurt/comfort done well is really fun but when people are just like. aggressively making their little guy sad and pathetic and a poor little meow meow whose never done anything wrong it gets grating. i love a sad guy but i prefer when they're sad because of shit they did to themselves instead of external factors. (3) curtain fic/established relationship stuff can be fun sometimes but like. there still needs to be a smidgen of conflict or growth or change or a shift for me to be interested. there has to be a point imo! even when i write my silly self-indulgent post-fic time stamps its important to me that there's a point to it beyond just "im love them" (though im DO love them)
22 What is it about watching the same two idiots falling in love over and over again?
i think the thing is, there can always be a new dimension to how these two idiots fall in love!!! every story is an opportunity to get at some new nugget of like, how people are, or what it is to be vulnerable and open and willing to risk heartache. with two different people you have so many opportunities to look at different shades and facets of their character. especially with rpf where real life events can shape characterization in real time. The Trade opened up a whole new dimension of matthew that creates new angles to investigate matthew&leon and what it means to fall in love with someone thousands of miles away and who you see even less (or, someday, for my break up/make up agenda)! jamie getting dealt to philly opens up new ways to poke at the jamie/trevor relationship by adding distance and tragedy and the potential of falling for other people! even picking a new trope or time period is just so fun for being like, now how would they be under THESE circumstances? also like, i LOVE flip-flopping who gets to be down bad immediately and who is oblivious because it's not only a fun creative challenge but also just opens up new worlds. idk! there's so many possibilities and so many facets to explore and to me that's delightful.
37 Do you research before writing or while you write? Is it fun or boring for you?
id say i do some up front, just to nail down the broad beats of the story and to minimize how much reworking i have to do later on (or for period type fics, to make sure that i dont introduce plot points that simply cant have happened in that time frame!), and some i do as i go -- for example, for a while there i just HAD the battles of alberta in 21-22 down pat because i was using them so often to shape story beats, but the games in between i had to look up as i went. i also am constantly pulling from new articles or features that offer new bits of characterization i want to use. tbh with the current wip i DO feel very wobbly because i don't have my normal anchors of the schedule/have to make things up, which is simultaneously freeing and hard because it's so much easier for me to write about sports games that really happened than the fake ones im constructing for the narratives 😂. but yeah id say mostly i research as i go!
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wearyeyebrow · 1 year
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Hidden in Lace
Summary: Diluc internalizes the various roles he's meant to play, but what would it be to listen to his own desires? A night of trying something new turns into an intimate discussion with you. NotSFW leaning but nothing explicit. Tags under the cut.
Tags: lingerie, implied sub Diluc, discussion, implied sex, romance, gn reader, established relationship, hurt/comfort
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It's late in the evening at the Dawn Winery and you're pouring over your work, holed up in Diluc's study. Diluc's purposeful footfall notifies his return and the clink of china tells you he's refilled your teacup. You sigh and stretch before taking an appreciative sip. He's pulled another tome forward, sifting through the glossary, when his deep voice breaks the silence.
"Your birthday is next month - is there anything you'd like?" 
You hum and mark your place with a finger. "Huh. I can't think of anything… wait-" your eyes light up. "Actually, there is something I want, but only if you're comfortable with it." 
His brow furrows. "What do you mean?" 
"Well... I - you see, I've always wanted to see you in a set of lingerie. Would you mind if I bought you some?"
Diluc pauses for a moment, hand hovering in mid air, "...You want to buy me something for your birthday?" 
"Well that, in and of itself, wouldn't be my present. You'd be allowing me to see you in whatever I buy - that's the gift." 
"But... you could have-" he coughs into his hand and looks askance, "No matter. I can get you something and... also do that for you, if that's what you really want." 
"Really?" You can't completely hide your delight.
He shrugs, attempting to feign nonchalance. "It's hardly fair buying someone else a present for your birthday."
"That means... you don't mind? Wearing what I pick out?" 
"I reserve the right to say no upon seeing it."
"Of course. You're allowed to say no to the whole thing too, you know?" 
He's quick to reassure, a faint smile on his lips. "I know - it was just a reminder for myself."
"Nervous?" 
"...Preemptively unsure, maybe." 
You close your book and set it on the table with a thud. "It's just a fantasy of mine. I love the look of lace and I love what you look like even more. The two go really well together in my mind's eye." 
He cocks an eyebrow, expression incredulous, maybe a little cheeky. "Oh? So you've thought about this before...?"
You smile wide, unabashed. "Indeed - especially when we've been unable to see each other for awhile. You are one of my favorite fantasies." The slight color of his cheeks contrasts with a slightly scandalized expression. "Now that you've tentatively agreed, can I take your measurements?"
-
A few weeks later and you're waiting for him to open the dressing room door, leg bouncing in anticipation. He seemed a little hesitant when you handed him the set but you just know it'll look stunning on him. 
He calls out to you, voice muffled by the dressing room door. "I believe I've managed to put it on, it's... it's a bit... I'm not sure if it suits me." 
"I'll have to see it on to decide whether I agree, right?" 
"...Would it be alright if I come out in slacks, just to start?" 
"Of course - do anything that makes you feel comfortable, and that includes calling it off." 
There's a pause in conversation, and just when you're about to ask if he's okay, the dressing room door creaks open.
Oil lamp light flickers across the wall, lighting up his body as he enters the bedroom. Your breath catches in your chest, and your words die in your throat. 
His slacks are black, pressed well and tight to his thighs. They're held up with a leather belt and silver buckle. They sit low on his hips, just below the tips of his hip bones, and you can see the delicate trail of hair that reaches his navel. The top is made of jet black lace, delicate, but there's some weight to it. The lace has a soft, almost scalloped edge, hugging the curves and concaves of his chest. The fabric drapes over his body, as if it's meant to be there. It's intricate and stunning, embellished with tiny facets of white crystal, catching and shimmering even in the dim light.
He clears his throat at your silence. You try and blink away the sudden fog clouding your mind. 
"Come here, love." You rasp, barely recognizing the sound of your own voice. He does as you ask and you rise to meet him. You drink him in, hands softly sliding against the fabric. His breath hitches at your touch, but he is otherwise silent. You finally find his face after roaming his body with hunger in your eyes. He's flushed a beautiful red, head tilted to the side, avoiding the heaviness of your gaze. 
"Darling," you murmur, and his eyes flicker to your face, "You look stunning. Words rarely fail me, but I am having trouble articulating just how beautiful you look in this." He blushes impossibly red still, slightly overwhelmed, and maybe just... slightly uncomfortable? You pause.
"I guess I've never really asked, even though I've said it lots of times. Do you like it when I call you beautiful? Or would you prefer something else?" 
"I..." he clears his throat, "I am unsure how to respond." You look at him with concern. "It..." he breathes out, and even in the complete privacy of your bedroom he can only manage a whisper. "I do like it. But... I don't feel like I should." 
You gently prompt him to sit on the edge of the bed with you. "Do you wanna talk about it for a bit?" 
He wilts slightly, "I will do my best, but I'm afraid it's - it's quite nonsensical, or rather, it's really not worth any emotional weight." 
"Even so, it seems to weigh on you. Talking about it might help, if you want to."
"But… even now?" He gestures to himself.
"Especially now, if something's bothering you."
He sighs and almost reluctantly sits next to you. "...The piece you picked out is very well made, and it - it fits well." 
You nod. "I got it with you in mind and had it tailored for your measurements." 
"That…" he sighs, still flushed red but now turned inward. "I'm glad, I'm thrilled even-" 
"You don't sound thrilled." 
"Truly I am. It's just hard to acknowledge that to myself."
You soften your voice. "What do you mean?" 
He sighs. "There are certain... images? Ideals might be more accurate, that I have always been meant for, what I should like, how I should act. I feel… like a disappointment, when I find myself unable to live up to those ideals." He sighs again, eyes fixated on the carpet, "The more time I spend with you romantically the more I find myself enjoying every aspect of it, especially those that I am not supposed to like. I… was actually really looking forward to tonight." His voice trails off. 
"Was my request a little too much..? It's okay if it was."
He shakes his head and reflexively kisses your hand, voice low. "No - it's nothing you did, I - I'm just in my head all of the time, so hung up on - on..." his shoulders drop, and he sighs, as if resigned. "I am my own person. I am not beholden to the opinions of others in any other area of my life, and yet... it feels I'm doing something I shouldn't."
"Have you always felt this way when having sex with me?"
"Certainly not."
"Then… do you remember when you started feeling this way?"
"We were both figuring things out in the beginning. You graciously went through the motions with me -"
"It wasn't about being gracious-"
"I know, I'm sorry, that was the wrong way to put it. It's more accurate to say that our courtship began traditionally." He chuckles suddenly, "Well, not completely, you were the one who approached me, for which I am thankful." You squeeze his hand. "But more recently, our - the dynamic has shifted and..." He grimaces, "Whatever the hell that means - gods, the more I say it out loud the more trivial it all sounds." 
Your brow furrows. "But if it's bothering you, it's important."
He sighs. "It just - I want to make sense of why I feel this way. I know that you and I are the only people in our relationship. What we do together is ours and ours alone. Yet I... I feel like I shouldn't enjoy it."
"What, exactly, do you feel like you shouldn't enjoy?" You ask softly, hoping he'll elaborate. 
A gentle shade of red creeps down his neck and he falls onto his back. The bed feels nice and cool against his flushed skin. You shift onto your elbow and give him some time to think. You watch his adam’s apple rise and fall as he swallows. 
"Even in Mondstadt, the city of freedom, decorum is held in high esteem. There are roles certain people are meant to play, burdens to bear. So I… I feel like I shouldn't enjoy it when we're intimate and I - I don't have to worry about anything, when I don't have to think, I can only be myself, and there's- there's no danger, it's just us." He flushes all the way down his chest and averts his gaze, "When you call me pretty, and you direct me, and you... you praise me for doing as you’ve asked. It - I've never felt…” he tapers off, biting his tongue even in the midst of his confession. “In the back of my mind there's this voice saying that I'm being too much, too needy, I don't know the word for it. Unbecoming, maybe." His eyes flicker back and forth as he gazes at a spot of nothing on the ceiling. "______, you know why I changed the trajectory of my life and why I keep the details under wraps. I feel as though, even when I enjoy something so much, it does not fit the role I'm supposed to play, and therefore I shouldn't enjoy it." He smiles wryly, "Or maybe I'm misjudging the situation. Maybe I'm just awful in bed."
You shift onto your side and rest your head against his stomach, idly tracing your finger over and through the lace on his chest. His skin is warm and your voice is gentle.
"You’re wonderful in bed, but even if you weren't it'd hardly matter, that isn't why I care for you. I'd rather ask, is this how you want to enjoy intimacy?" 
There's a beat of silence. His chest dips with every slow breath he takes. 
"Yes." 
"Me too." You seek out his hand amongst the covers and intertwine your fingers. "I don’t know if this will help but… I've never lived up to my 'potential,' I've rarely been what people have wanted, in vague terms anyway." He frowns but continues to listen, "I've tried, you know, to be what they wanted, but I couldn't even do that - that's when I realized that it's all futile. I'm…' you breathe in deeply, "I'm not going to censor myself for the sake of someone else's ideals or vision of me, especially since it never works, because, no matter what, I always come up short. But with the right people, with you, with others like me, those 'shoulds' matter less and less.” He squeezes your hand and you squeeze back.
You turn and meet his eyes. "To me, you're just Diluc. You're loyal and thoughtful, you care for moral causes and you work too hard. You have my back whether we’re fighting or resting together. I love all of that about you. And I also love you like this, when I call you pretty and your ears turn red, when you look at me like - like I'm… heh." 
You shift up onto your stomach. He feels your tender hands start to run through his hair, separating any snags onto the bedspread below. 
"You're allowed to enjoy yourself and you're allowed to feel pleasure - before anything that you are, you're a person. I don't expect any more of you than what you willingly give." 
He breathes out and sits up slowly, blinking slightly as he adjusts to the dim glow of the oil lamp. His gaze flits between your eyes and his calloused fingers run up and down your arm. His voice is hushed and a little unsure.
"...What if it's still hard to convince myself of those things?"
You tuck a stray piece of hair behind his ear. "Truthfully, I don't know. I think you deserve the world, but… I'm not sure how you convince yourself. Maybe I'm also looking for the answer to that question." 
You rest your hand against his cheek and he tilts, capturing it with his own to place a reverent kiss to your palm. His eyebrows furrow and he rests his forehead against your intertwined hands.
"I think I've said all I can put into words tonight. Thank you for listening. I have a lot to think about, but I feel more at peace with myself. May I come to you again after I've given it more thought?" 
"You can come to me with anything, anytime." 
"Please know I reserve the same space for you."
His eyes close as you place a gentle kiss to his forehead. He feels you lightly tug at the garment he's wearing. 
"Would you like to save this for another night?" 
He bites his lip, as if he just realized he's still wearing it. 
“I… I did say that I've been looking forward to tonight.”
You smirk, “So you're okay to continue? I hardly know what to do with myself, you just… you look so good in lace, I knew you would.”
He can't meet your eyes but the red tips of his ears give him away.
You run a hand over the fabric. “Do you like it, Diluc?”
“...I do,” he whispers, "Archons I do."
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anonymous-harpy · 2 months
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Queso I might not be able to WATCH Hazbin Hotel however there's plenty enough information coming out that I can do this: fix the pacing problem. This issue also plauges Helluva Boss, though I feel to a lesser extent.
First things first. The extermination getting pushed up either needed to happen at the end of the first season or we didn't have the reveal of who killed the angle happening... What? The very next episode? Alastor is the only mystery really stringing us along and carrying weight as far as I can tell. Hold onto the murser mystery to let it stew AND for something I'll explain a tad later.
Episode 2? Uhm I honestly don't know enough about episode 2 or 3 however I feel seeing the other overlords could work to help world build, just cut the Murderer of the Exterminator reveal, and add in a "filler" episode of Charlie working with Angle Dust, establish Vaggie's arc, not whatever shallow thing is going on with her and DON'T resolve it in that same episode. (Fizz forgiving Blitz is forgivable given Fizz's validation needs, but hand waving the end of season 1 is not working for me even if I enjoy Stolitz) AND have Alastor having a conversation with Charlie because somebody pointed out something interesting about Alastor and Charlie's relationship relating to episode 5.
Episode 4 is perfect in all it's dark glory. Would love for Charlie to show her daddy issues that Alastor tells him about and it blows up in her face again before Husk gets involved. Oh and after the apology acceptance cut to Alastor going "HmmmmmMMMMMM" because I want this show to reflect some words in the next episode.
Episode 5? No instant gratification of Charlie and Lucifer repairing their relationship. I would like to see the START OF IT not an instant fix. And maybe have bubbly loving dad-man do a sort of Hot-Then-Cold over the hotel to give more weight to Charlie feeling like he doesn't care and then Alastor. Maybe before Lucifer even shows up, Alastor isn't totally convinced of this idea working however a "Give the dog a head pat" comment of praise to Charlie on her starting to make progress with Angel. And Charlie's daddy issues kicking in and defending Alastor would feel more warranted. Also when he's attacking the invaders, let him AGAIN let Charlie's name fall from his lips to not completely invalid her belief that he has faith in her idea.
Episode 6. Bitch we need to pump the breaks. No jumping to the realization Heaven's rules are bullshit. Let VAGGIE reveal herself not Adam. I like this trial, but I like it being set up as Sera saying "It's too soon to call him redeemed" which is DO MUCH MORE INTERESTING than jumping the gun on the rules. It allows things to get interesting in the next two episodes.
I'll revisit this ideas thing once the rest of season 1 is out and I'm able to watch reviews and the like, but From this jumping off point, I like the ideas of episode 6 ending with Adam reveling to the council or whatever it is that an angle was found dead in hell. That would make it easy to make lesser angels and the.... Oh kami they're called "winners".... i sense lottry shenanigans and I would cry of laughter omg. Anyhow, revealing the dead angel could be the power move Adam makes tp put Charlie down.
Then episode 7 could be Charlie having to comfort Angle, maybe lying a tiny bit like "They're considering it, but you still have some more work to do" because no addict has for sure reached recovery in that short of time and can be trusted on their own. (My own parents were once addicts and thank god the were able to recover. My birth gave them the strength to quit and even then they both admitted they relapses once for a little bit while I was still very very little and they did not go back full force. They didn't want to screw me up and were able to correct themselves before it was too late. They never did none of the stuff that fucked them ever again.) But anyway. It could give Angel some more hope for himself, Val could be more of a monster because I feel Angel's recovery is life or death for him. And Alastor could be even more on Charlie's side to add to that drama
Episode 8 could go with way on Angle. Tragic or Uplifting, it's gonna be impactful and would set up season 2 for more conflict one way or another. Dealers choice honestly, but I know the heaven/hell conflict would escalate.
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randomfoggytiger · 10 months
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Alpha In-Depth (Part I): Vibing and Internet Wive-ing
This was an anon request; and the idea intrigued me so much I immediately sat down and started hammering it out. So, here you go!
**Note**: I will ghost edit this later; but I'm working on Part II as I type so I'm in a bit of a hurry.
Surprisingly there is a lot of little details you can weave into an overall narrative in this episode. Alpha follows Arcadia and is followed up by Trevor, all three blending together to create the storm that is Milagro and the revelation that is The Unnatural. And, aside from that, there is still residual Diana-Fowley-under-every-rock suspicion and protection from Scully's side and some self-doubt (in denial) from Mulder's side. Both are half-right and half-wrong.
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The Lead Up
I have a different read on S6 than most other meta; namely, that it was a ball compared to their previous seasons. What could have been in S4 (what was hinted in Home) was halted by Scully's cancer; and what couldn't be in S5 was aided by Mulder's "atheism" and Scully's loss and self-doubt (see here.)
But S6 is on the heels of FTF; and, while there was a huge setback in The Beginning with the files being taken from them and Mulder accidentally brushing aside Scully's big hallway confirmation, it's recovered in the name of grim survival: two agents, shoulder to shoulder, mucking through their toilet brush duties together, unbreakable. The shift in Drive is important, establishing Scully's skill at handling all the big mytharc pieces while Mulder is forced into a metal box hurtling down the highway; and Triangle affirms it by having Mulder stumble into another universe while both versions of Scully work overtime to save "Dorothy" and bring him home. By the end of Triangle all is normal: Scully is reaffirmed in her ability to add meaningfully to Mulder, not just his quest; and Mulder acknowledges this more openly, having to rediscover his FTF fears again on the Queen Anne (afraid of never seeing Scully again-- hence the kiss.)
The rest of the season is (mostly) a blast until the drama of Two Fathers/One Son-- which is important (and I wrote about it here) as a one-shot and 1 and 2 as a Typing Personality combo), because it establishes the central flaw of Mulder and Scully's ability to rip him out of it. By the next episode (Agua Mala) Scully is miffed, yes, but more at the storm than at Mulder-- because who would fly down to investigate a sea monster in a hurricane-- but whatever feelings that still lingered about One Son are demolished by the end when Dales forces Mulder to pause and acknowledge Scully's effect on the case. Not that he didn't want to; it's just that Mulder hadn't-- something a future Dales brother points out to him in The Unnatural. By Monday they're teasing and even beaming at each other, etc.
Suffice to say, there is normality restored with the X-Files back. On the heels of Monday there is Arcadia-- and while my posts on Arcadia were a bit dialed up to explore the psychological effects, the result is the same: Mulder and Scully enjoyed their time for different reasons. He enjoyed bullying the neighbors passive-aggressively and she enjoyed the domesticity of it all... but both of them were ready to leave by the end, Mulder having drawn firmer boundaries because of his discomfort with domesticity and Scully having retreated a little due to being teased to death (and almost literally dying.) This leads directly into the episode we're breaking down today:
Alpha
Ah-- Alpha, my Alpha... if only you weren't so badly written or were vastly more interesting.
The first shot of Mulder is him adding photo evidence to his corkboard, intently focusing on the crime. Scully appears in the hallway, having doubled back at some point from leaving the building, checking back in with him-- "Aren't you going home?", a question she may not have asked since Paper Hearts (correct me if I'm wrong.) It establishes that she and Mulder are on completely comfortable terms; and she's curious about his movements and well-being outside of the office, which is opposite to the prevailing meta that they were tense or on bad terms at this time.
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"I AM home," Mulder cheerfully responds, still intensely focused, "just feathering the nest."
A fitting follow-up to Arcadia, which was an emphasis on a "normal", suburban home life. Mulder is still firmly rooted in his basement, not yet ready to step out on a Saturday night with his girl and baseball.
"Watcha got?" Scully slings out, interest piqued.
Mulder spells out the case, with Scully zipping out her own "Mind if I ask the cause of death?" in a scene not dissimilar to their quippy exchange in Fight Club (if more low-key and not as RST-y.) He's delighted she's involving herself this eagerly, hiding little smirks and smiles between his rapid-fire sentences and throwing out a quirky inflection to his "multiple bite wounds" detail, adding some pizazz to his delivery.
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Scully's skepticism peaks when Mulder mentions the suspect is a dog; and she walks (read: leans on one leg then the other, seesawing into the room reminiscent of a teasing little girl on a playground) into the room to see the evidence herself and disprove it.
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Mulder brandishes the X-Files enticingly ("That alone is not what drew me to this case") just out of her reach while he trots out the juiciest part ("The two men were found inside the container.") Scully plays along, taking the casefile when he dramatically relinquishes it--
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until Mulder tells a joke so bad (repeating "doggone" thrice with various inflections, each more emphasized than the last, so that Scully will know he told a joke and smirk at his genius) that it spoils the mood and kicks her into full-on skepticism mode. Her "Yeah, I got it" is hilarious and deadpan; but it's a gentle "yeah, you stink" rather than her full-powered sarcasm-- and she bites off a smile of her own for "getting" him by a quick question about the investigation.
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"Did anybody, um, examine the victim, Mulder?"
Scully's little quip amuses herself and Mulder, who gives a little head tilt in a 'well, y'know...' kind of way. Her amusement continues despite her charmed exasperation.
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Mulder has witnesses, experts, and an outside source; but Scully doesn't budge. "Mulder, I don't have to tell you how absolutely and completely wrong that seems." He gives her a two confirmational head bobs and a few "yeah"s and "mhm"s, unphased by the nonsensical nature of the case.
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Their vibe is very S7: lots of "yeahs", Scully sauntering around confidently and familiarly butting into Mulder's business after hours... it's domestic, really. Arcadia was the new wedding and honeymoon, settling in and sifting their lives together; Alpha is an exploration of "the couple"'s first cross-purposes disagreement (in this case, over the woman Karin); and Trevor will explore the complicated familial dynamics of two messed up people having a child. After those three episodes back-to-back, and no change in Mulder, the desperation of Milagro makes clearer sense.
Mulder KNOWS how ridiculous this case is.
Scully: "You're not going to tell me that a dog did this?"
Mulder: *a pause to consider*: "Bad dog."
Scully: "...Yeah."
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At the first crime scene, Mulder leads the charge while Scully scuffles off to do some footwork of her own.
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When Mulder questions the man in charge of the crime scene team, we learn a bit of backstory--
Man: "Did you ever own a dog, sir?"
Mulder: "Yeah."--
confirming a lot of meta speculation about Mulder's childhood (well, that and there might be a picture of a dog in Tena's house somewhere... if I recall the lore correctly.)
Mulder does a goofy little "gotcha" and hand clap over the man's not-so-subtle dog poop answer to his questions; and Scully, though not particularly fond of poop jokes, does almost crack a smile of her own... if only because Mulder stepped into that one (heh heh, puns.)
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Scully takes over the interrogation while Mulder retraces her steps and stares into the same emptied box. ...Until he hears that there's a cryptozoologist involved in this case and scurries over, eager to get into the more outlandish aspects of mythological animals.
Scully's facial reaction-- "oh no"-- is perfect as he winds up and starts to rattle off his myths and monsters spiel; but he's put on pause when she ruthlessly cutting his speech down in the prime of its life with a smirk on her face.
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As the case rattles on-- a dog attack in BELLFLOWER??? really?-- and Mulder scopes out the oddities about the newest crime scene (while avoiding dog feces and making a "Watch your step" joke to Scully. She heeds his warnings because she is, after all, practical),
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In their exchange of theories, Mulder congratulates Scully on figuring out where he's going with his newest leap: "You get a biscuit, Scully." Scully stores her comeback for later, content (for now) to simply laugh at his idea of a dog with human intelligence.
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A sidenote: Scully always, always holds the umbrella (Irresistible, Small Potatoes, etc., and here. Nice continuity.)
This leads them to Berquist Kennels, where Scully springs out her comeback pun, having lain in wait for the first golden opportunity: when Mulder responds "Actually, it's more of a behavior problem" to a contractor's questions, Scully smirks, realizing this is her moment (even the stars aligned so that she is accidentally holding her hands in front of her, clutched, like a devious little mastermind), and cuts in with the speed of light: "Yeah, he doesn't listen and he chews on the furniture."
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Mulder, as shown above, is tickled-- but he's more caught out than overjoyed, huffing out a "heh" noise before digging for his badge.
An Odd Moment That Portents More
An odd moment happens: Mulder is completely at ease in Karin's office until Scully makes a sarcastic remark ("You sure this woman's not an authority on bats?"), his mood shifting a little.
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He jovially makes a "tsk" sound, and reaches out in a "c'mon, none of that" gesture that almost fully envelops an unsuspecting Scully in a hug. He gets as far as grasping both shoulders before his partner turtles up, tucking her chin in and going straight and stiff as a board.
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Scully's expressions shift swiftly from shock to realization that Mulder never gets this grabby without a motive (having just gone through an entire touchy-feely case where Mulder sort of used her as a cuddly prop to forward his sneaky motives.) Cynicism creeps in, and she begins to suspect that he has something to hide, searching through the room in earnest and starting to nail him down about "this expert."
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Mulder, meanwhile, is not reading the room-- ironic, yes-- coasting through life unbothered while keeping crucial information back form Scully to determine her either way (which ends up shooting himself in the foot, because Scully's first impression of Karin is not a positive one.)
When Scully finds out he knew more about Karin than he initially let on, she is even more suspicious and not at all pleased... and Mulder knows he's in the doghouse (heheheh.)
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THIS explains his weird arm grab earlier: Mulder knows Scully is viciously jealous, personally and professionally; and had tried to detour Scully from getting snippy about his new friend-- wanting his partner to trust and get along with her, a social outcast and someone he is already protective of. We saw how his last "friendship" shook out with Diana Fowley (not to mention his former collaborations with very helpful women in the field, i.e. Detective White in Syzygy and Bambi Berenbaum in War of the Coprophages); and this seems to be a redemption attempt on his part. A "see? I can make good friends-- I'm a good judge of character" mea culpa.
Mulder had even read Karin's books before even meeting her (an interesting parallel to reading Scully's thesis in the Pilot); but Scully is pleased when Mulder answers her "Better than human??" sniff over Karin's book with "She's not a real people person", giving her hope that this lady will be a very disinterested professional. She saunters away, playfulness restored (for now.)
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Mulder is fidgety, holding something back; but the full jig is up when Scully finds Karin's 'I Want To Believe' poster.
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"Well, she seems to have made a connection to you."
Karin now enters, not noticing Mulder's handwave at first. Then Mulder does something here he usually never does willingly:
"Karin? I'm Fox."
He's says it gently, establishing this is how they'd forged a connection between them; and Scully, savvy as she is, recognizes this and doesn't draw any attention to it. But still. (Not only did she have to content with Dr. Bambi and Fox, but now she has to contend with canid enthusiast Karin and Fox.)
Mulder is genuinely enthusiastic-- "Nice to finally meet you"-- sticking out his hand again with sparkling eyes (ala meeting his hero in Space.) Scully is... less enthusiastic.
When Karin realizes Mulder had come to consult her she asks, "Is there any other reason you came here?" It's sad when you consider her advanced illness and desperate wish for a loving-- or any-- human connection before her death; but this is Mulder pre-The Unnatural: everything is buried in work with no time for socializing.
Scully catches all of this, of course, without any of the context. She knows there is more going on, firmly pressing Mulder on the "friend" claim when Berquist leaves the room.
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He admits that he and Karin met online; and Scully pauses, making sure her subtext meaning is clear: "Online."
Mulder catches it and closes his eyes, frustrated he'd fallen right into this pitfall. He firmly insists, "Two professionals exchanging information." Scully knows he's being honest... so that only leaves Karin's motive unexplored. And from what she's already seen of her (antisocial, not a people person) it's very unlikely that this woman's motives would extend only to professional interest.
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Another murder, another crime scene.
Another Karin Berquist sighting, another opportunity for jealousy and suspicion.
Scully sees her coming and excuses herself-- "I don't think wolf woman is here to see me, so I'll..."-- not above giving the two "friends" some alone time (which reminds me of Mulder's "Don't say I didn't do nothing fer yeh", though it's a bit of a stretch.) She still tags along with Mulder back to the dog ranch where the three do some research, keeping her grouchy feelings in check until she sees proof positive that Karin is, indeed, amorous for her partner.
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Scully then begins to grill Karin on her shift in opinions on the case (Mulder watching their pin-pong match with interest in both ideas), rolling her eyes at Berquist's assertion she's "just going by the facts."
When Karin explains the Chinese myth pertinent to the case, ending with the statement "...capable of opening doors, stealing wives, and disappearing into thin air. Maybe there is some basis in reality for this trickster myth", Scully snidely follows up with a pointed "Oh, I'm... fairly certain there is" while looking from Karin to Mulder, which earns her a measured look from Mulder. Scully turns from her waspish mood and this discussion, mocking the idea internally and recovering some of her former mood as she steps to the car.
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Mulder follows her out, not irritated so much as confused; and his question-- "Everything okay, Scully?"-- sets her off.
"How well do you know this woman, Mulder?"
"How well do you know anybody you meet on the internet? She likes to talk."
Scully is appeased by his rationality, stepping back a little from her emphatic (read: aggravated) interrogation: "Well, I question her motives."
Mulder divines her interpretation, flattered but dismissive when he asks: "Are you suggesting that this case was the way to get me out here to meet me?" Off of Scully's confirming-but-not-admitting expression, he responds, "I'm flattered but, uh--" and does a little, flattered head shake.
He insists that Karin didn't kill a bunch of people to draw him to her; but Scully insists that "She's enamored of you, Mulder. Don't underestimate a woman. They can be tricksters, too."
Mulder's not buying it.
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Two interesting things:
#1. A rather dark line of thinking for Scully, who would tie even extreme acts of violence to the lengths a woman would go to win Mulder's love or even his attention. This will ring more and more true in Milagro as it exposes Scully's desperation to be the center of his attention, too.
#2. Scully is alluding to this moment, yes; but more broadly, Diana Fowley lies right behind them with her treachery and cunning. Scully knows that her partner is easily manipulated, but it wasn't until the Fowley arc that she realized how much Mulder will believe on hopeful faith and blind loyalty. Since then, she's become his aggressive guardian. This will be immensely important in Part II.
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Thanks for reading~
Enjoy!
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