#the-clapping-smiling-pig

[ducktracy]

are you anti "sour-puss" daffy? that characterization of him is the primary one in my head. like duck amuck is epitome of daffy in my mind.

CRACKS KNUCKLES SO LOUDLY THEY EXPLODE. i’m giving my “HEADS UP THIS WILL LIKELY BE EXHAUSTIVE” warning now because i love love love love love love love love any chance to talk and analyze and pontificate about the duck. TLDR: YES AND NO

SO. i don’t consider myself “anti sour-puss” so much as i would consider my stance “if Daffy has to be more egocentric and miserly than he usually is then i prefer a very specific set of circumstances for this to be the case”. i have warmed up to the Jones and Freleng duck of the ‘50s onward CONSIDERABLY in recent years—there was a point where i just refused to touch any Daffy short made after a certain point because i knew it would make me frustrated and sad and mad and that’s, respectfully, ridiculous!

it took me watching the Speedy and Daffy cartoons to realize that Daffy in THOSE shorts is what i thought Daffy was in the Jones and Freleng shorts. it dwindles a bit over time (compare how he behaves in The Hunting Trilogy to something like Ali-Baba Bunny, which is a short i still have yet to come around to for that reason—i don’t like the “MINE MINE MINE GO GO GO DOWN DOWN DOWN” duck very much and my issue was that i thought he behaved that way in every single cartoon after a certain point which is thankfully incorrect!), but there’s still some nuance. by the time we’re getting to shorts where Daffy is saying “HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO STARVE ON MY PROPERTY” is when i fully throw in the towel lol

another thing that’s helped me warm up is the realization that Daffy’s personality change is not nearly as objective as it’s made out to be. he has always had an ego, he’s always been reckless, impulsive, and yes, this absolutely includes the ‘30s shorts! Chuck’s Duck is Chuck’s Duck from day one with the line “not bad for a guy that never took a lesson in his life!”.

Scalp Trouble has Daffy on an ego trip fancying himself as an army general (and there is a legitimate, honest to god small dick metaphor joke in that short because he has this huge giant sword sheath that is indiscreetly phallic in design, only to reveal a tiny little dagger), ordering people around and essentially LARPing in this role we immediately know is way too big for him. and when it comes time to battle, what does he do but spend the majority of his time cowering in a corner.

he’s always had these traits! maybe they’re a bit more primitive earlier on, some other traits are a greater priority. but Drip-Along Daffy is one of my favorite Chuck Jones shorts because it’s basically a sequel to The Great Piggy Bank Robbery. and you could argue the same with Duck Dodgers! all shorts have him fantasizing about a hero role that is clearly too big for him to fill, and he is absolutely getting the biggest kick out of assuming this role. Drip-Along is still early enough to also have this sort of innocence and unflappability (that may more accurately be described as delusion or ignorance): when Daffy gets no reception whatsoever in the bar, instead of screaming at everyone to look at him, he just marches to the next order of business and indulges in his next part of his fantasy. this NEVER would have happened had the short come out 5-10 years after when it did.

likewise, the Daffy of the ‘50s and ‘60s is still insane, it’s just a different manifestation of how that’s the case. earlier on, he’s a bit more visibly unhinged. his HOOHOOHOOing fits are a catharsis that you can just FEEL crawling up his throat and dying to get out, and in the really early shorts you can see this sort of half and half battle between cognizance and succumbing to insanity (The Daffy Doc and Porky’s Last Stand especially come to mind). it’s an insanity that relieves itself through sheer manic catharsis. as time goes on, he matures a bit, he knows how to keep better wraps on it; the manners in which he gratifies his impulses just shifts.

and also, Daffy can still very much be a sourpuss early on! Bob McKimson’s Daffy, whose interpretation is very integral in my sort of mental default of who Daffy is, can be very bitter and cynical in particular! or, again, early shorts like The Daffy Doc or Scalp Trouble where he’s more argumentative and his ego is clearly much more tender.

the seeds of what Daffy would become have all been planted, and so that’s allowed me to bristle a bit less and lower my haunches. and i am making more progress in coming around to the later shorts! i’ve been on a Chuck Jones kick recently and been watching lots of Chuck Jones Daffy shorts and enjoying them. i love Drip-Along, Duck Dodgers, Duck Amuck, Deduce You Say, Robin Hood Daffy—i’ve even come around to Rabbit Seasoning which is kind of NUTS to me because there was awhile where i was acting like Bugs and Daffy shorts killed my firstborn. “pronoun trouble” is an inside joke with my friend and dear lord i laugh every time at Daffy’s reactions to Elmer falling for Bugs’ drag act, and the ENDING!!!! omg. i love it. i’ve come around to Beanstalk Bunny as well! it’s a great short!! in getting to know the duck better and understanding how nuanced his development is, i’ve gone a bit softer which is good.

i was just chatting about this recently—i think most of the thorns in my side come from the Daffy and Bugs pair-ups. what i like best and get most out of each character, i get none of when they’re together. i’d rather see Bugs behaving and doing something else, and the same for Daffy. i’m not opposed to a sourpuss Daffy so much as i really don’t like seeing him suffer. i feel like the Bugs and Daffy shorts “punch down” a bit more on him, and i still haven’t found a way to really properly articulate this… i’ll just copy and paste what i was saying the other day here:

Daffy earlier on has all the traits above we talked about, but the difference is that he isn’t really shamed for them outright? of course we’re meant to laugh at his cowardice as he says “go… back… in again….” to the giant towering rat gangster he screamed at to confront him, we’re of course supposed to laugh at the asininity and selfishness of him dodging the draft and taking the Little Man From the Draft Board down with him by locking him in a safe and suffocating him. Daffy isn’t exactly meant to be a role model (but that still doesn’t stop me from finding his bombasm and exuberance and zest for life extremely empowering!), but there’s less narrative pushback against it. seeing Daffy be Daffy and have every action be interrupted by another character rolling their eyes going “oh brother” is where i have a problem, it just sucks the air out of the room for me. especially when Daffy is made to feel ashamed or beaten down for this as well. that’s why i enjoy shorts like Beanstalk Bunny or Drip-Along so much, ending with stuff like “it’s a living!” or being contented in his new position that is often very degrading and a direct consequence of his impulsiveness. a huge part of Daffy’s charm for me is his resilience (even if that equates to ignorance at times), if he wants something he will go to absolutely asinine lengths to get it! and i love that! his drive is so admirable! and i just feel like after awhile that resilience is lost. the issue isn’t that Daffy is a loser, as he’s lost quite a bit before that—moreso, he doesn’t have that good humor about being a loser anymore

I’M ALMOST DONE I PROMISE. but my tags in that video post, as i said in them, i watched The Million Hare the other day which is a short i very much dislike. and it’s not really out of anger or “UUUURGH NOT MY DAFFY”, but moreso it just makes me SO. DAMN. DEPRESSED.

this is the most soul sucking image i’ve ever seen. i get genuinely sad that the cartoons have devolved to starting with “characters watching TV because they’re too bored to do anything, and Bugs just joins him”. no part of this is the resilient, impulsive, manic, pleasure seeking duck that carried us through the past few decades. and this certainly doesn’t represent the wily, impish, inciting rabbit of the past few decades either! Bugs has a greater excuse since i know there’s the pattern of his domestication and Jones’ rule of Bugs minding his own business before being provoked, etc. but man. this image just represents all of my problems with the later shorts and dynamics. the characters are hollow and so are the stories and the directors are checked out or moving onto greater things, and i think all of that just coagulates and manifests in the characters.

I HAVE SO MUCH MORE I CAN SAY but i’m finally realizing i’ve gone on way way way too long and don’t even know if i answered the question all that well LOL. don’t even get me started on “modern”interpretations of Daffy… [starts ranting about how TLTS killed my family for the 80th time as i’m gently lured into the nursing home].

BUT! to answer your question! i’m not really opposed to a more cynical and conceited duck because those traits have always been there, just in varying degrees of intensity. my ideal duck is definitely one locked in the ‘40s—Frank Tashlin and Bob Clampett’s Daffy have always been my favorite, but i’ve sort of adopted a coagulation of Art Davis, Bob McKimson, Norm McCabe and Friz Freleng’s duck as my mental default. i am extremely protective and loving and fanatical of Daffy, i love him more than any cartoon character and i resonate with him more than any cartoon character! i bet he too would also spend an hour typing up a diatribe on his character evolution and how he’s been sorely misrepresented. maybe. Daffy is one of the most varied characters of all time, and it’s really hard to pin him down for this reason. i like a duck that best has a bit of a balance between his traits, and i get more chafed when he’s made more narrow and transparent and just “flanderized” (for lack of a better word) to one or two tropes that then speak louder than his character. i prefer shorts that are more sympathetic and celebratory of Daffy rather than admiring how funny he is as a loser. which, he is funny! but IUNNO. i like a more upbeat and resilient and charming duck, and he can be all of these things later on, but it unfortunately does get fleeting

[alexandor]

"Uh... Actually I was hoping for your advice on something else."

"..."

[wileys-russo]

stealth mode II a.russo

unc!era stays on🔝

stealth mode II a.russo

"alessia we're on the bus!" you laughed quietly, smacking your girlfriends hands away where they began to wander, the blonde huffing and pressing her face into your neck instead.

"you are no fun." the brit muttered as you smiled and shook your head, body leaning fully into yours as her weight bore into you and the pair of you basically sat in one chair together.

"be professional captain." you warned playfully, another huff and something grumbled into your neck before she shuffled back a little, resting her chin on your shoulder with arms looped around your waist as the pair of you turned to talk to your teammates on the other side of the aisle.

"now girls! i know last time there was a lot of sneaking out after lights out, and that will not be happening tonight. we have a big game tomorrow and we need everyone well rested and ready to go!" your coach clapped for everyone's attention as groans sounded in response.

"yeah against the team bottom of the table who are yet to win a game." your girlfriend whispered causing those within earshot to snicker and a small smile curl into your lips as you gently smacked her knee.

"i also understand a few of you have your finals starting next week, so i would encourage you use your downtime tonight after dinner to get some study in!" the coach suggested, chuckling at the boo's that rang out her way in response, loudest of all from the boisterous blonde clinging onto you like velcro as she had the entire bus ride.

"i don't see you booing, but i did see you pack two textbooks into your overnight bag." lotte teased as you rolled your eyes as a few of the girls around turned their booing toward you.

"watch it." alessia sat up straighter, fixing the group of them with an evil warning glare as immediately everyone turned back to their own conversations and your girlfriend settled again.

"mean ole captain russo." you teased quietly, turning in your seat as your girlfriends eyes rolled but a smile.

"yeah cause the only person allowed to tease you is me, obviously." the english woman reminded as you shook your head and pushed her, accepting the airpod offered your way as the two of you settled for the rest of the bus ride, leaning into one another.

~

"less!" you gasped as your girlfriend snuck your last roast potato when she thought you weren't looking. "its carb loading!" she justified, giving you an innocent smile with her mouth half full as you made a face of disgust.

there was a snicker across the table and within seconds the blondes features shifted, potato swallowed and eyes narrowing, fixing the junior across from her with a menacing stare.

"something funny?" the striker questioned though everyone could tell it was rhetorical, the table a little quieter now as some watched on in pity and the junior went pale, shaking her head furiously.

"no? oh but i'm sure we'd all love to know what was so funny, its in the team spirit to share." your girlfriend baited with a dangerous smile as you frowned, squeezing her knee beneath the table before your hand was batted away.

"uh no no it was nothing." the poor girl stammered out as you sighed, knowing better than to try and intervene, not fancying an argument just yet and knowing your girlfriend could be incredibly pig headed about defending her behaviour.

"nothing? well then maybe you should go and finish your food over there, you might find something worth laughing at." alessia nodded across the room and within milliseconds the junior grabbed her plate and all but sprinted away.

"teach her to laugh at me." the english woman mumbled under her breath, nobody else daring to make a comment on the interaction as alessia turned feeling your eyes set onto the side of her face.

"what?" the blonde huffed, clearly now grumpy and irritable as you sighed. "you know what." you muttered back, scraping your last mouthful of food onto your fork with a roll of your eyes.

"god please not this tonight. i wasn't that mean!" alessia defended herself, crossing her arms and spinning to face you head on as you only hummed, your conversation interrupted by your coach standing and clapping for everyones attention.

"now as i said earlier girls, there will be no messing around, sneaking out, getting up to any sort of trouble tonight!" your coach warned as a few murmurs and mutters sounded in response.

"and to ensure that is what happens, myself and assistant coach taylor have organised with the hotel staff that there will be adults on a roster in the hallway and any player caught out of their room or in someone else's will be benched tomorrow." she finished as collective arguments and groans of discontent rang around the room.

"none of that! my mind is made up. i know you all think tomorrow will be an easy win but that is a lazy mentality. if you start to enter play thinking you don't need to try then that's already cost us the championship girls!"

~

"i cannot believe you're actually studying right now." your girlfriend made a face of disgust from on your phone screen where it sat propped up against your water bottle.

"some of us like preparing for tests russo." you smiled, knowing your girlfriend nine times out of ten would just show up on the day with a pen and a dream, her course work hardly her biggest priority considering she wasn't on an academia based scholarship.

"can i please come over?" alessia whined for the tenth time in an hour as you chuckled. "no baby, you can't." you repeated yourself with an amused smile as the blonde pouted adorably.

"but why?" "you know why, would you like the captain of the team to be benched tomorrow?" "they wouldn't bench me, its just an empty threat to try and scare everyone out of sneaking out." "well its not worth the risk." "oh babe come on please? i'll even study with you!"

"oh you will?" you laughed at that, the strikers pout shifting into a scowl and a huff. "i will! even study my favorite subject." alessia retorted matter of factly as you raised an eyebrow curiously.

"and that would be what? the playbook for tomorrow?" "no, my favorite subject would be you of course baby." alessia beamed, clearly quite proud of herself as you tried to bite back a smile.

"come on, you can tell me. i'm the best!" your girlfriend grinned wolfishly as you flipped her off and looked back down to the barely started essay in front of you.

"need i remind you california, we have pre game traditions!" alessia tried a different approach as you rolled your eyes at the nickname. "yes we do, and we can make out in the change rooms tomorrow. not right now!" you warned as alessia groaned again, her head dropping down onto the pillow in front of her with a small thump.

"you are no fun. wheres your sense of adventure?" "left it behind." "clearly! but what did you bring with you?" your eyes flickered upward and catching the cheeky glint in her eyes you knew what it was she really wanted from that question.

not getting anywhere with your essay with the blonde distracting you and knowing the longer you placated her whining the more desperate she'd get, you closed your textbook and scooted your chair back a little.

"blue and black." you answered with a sly smile as your girlfriend closed her eyes and threw her head back with a groan. "seriously? the blue one? on an away game? where we're roomed separately?" your girlfriend accused as you nodded.

"you're lying, just to wind me up." "am i?" "you so are and-" the blonde fell silent as you grabbed the hem of the large faded UNC shirt you had on, lifting it up to your neck revealing the baby blue bra in question as your girlfriends jaw dropped and her eyes locked on your chest.

"i don't lie, goodnight babe. sweet dreams!" you dropped your shirt back down with a wink, covering yourself again and ignoring your girlfriends hurried protests, telling you you loved her and blowing her a kiss before clicking end call.

you grinned to yourself knowing for once you'd had the upper hand and gotten under her skin, it normally being the other way around as you chuckled at the incoming barrage of messages and calls from the striker.

you sent her a message you needed to concentrate and you'd message her when you were headed to bed, turning your phone over and putting it on silent.

though you should have known well enough, this would not the end of things.

so when you heard the knock on the window you just thought it the wind, not paying it much mind as you tapped your pen against your forehead trying to formulate the points of your introduction.

but then, it came again, and again, growing in frequency and volume as did your concern and slight worry for what was actually hidden behind the curtains.

you looked around for a weapon of sorts, grabbing one of your cleats and holding it up as if it was a sword, creeping toward the window as the knocks sounded again and you jumped.

taking a deep breath you paused, should you alert a teacher? your girlfriend? the hotel? no, it was probably just a bird who'd been fed by someone in this room before, that was clearly the only explanation (which didn't terrify you).

so steeling your nerves you crept forward a few more steps and yanked aside the curtains, your heart leaping into your mouth until you locked eyes with who the intruder was and your eyes widened as large as plates.

"alessia? what the fuck!" you hissed, sliding open the back door as she stepped inside and huffed. "i knocked like ten times are you deaf?" the blonde rolled her eyes as you glanced around to see if anyone could see before promptly closing and locking the door.

"how on earth-" you started to question but it was swallowed by your girlfriend pulling your body into hers, lips pressing sweetly against yours as you relaxed momentarily before tensing up again and pushing her off.

"are you crazy? you could have died!" you hissed, smacking her a few times as the taller girl shielded her face with her hands. "what two stories from the ground? worse it would have been a broken leg! and not my first." alessia grinned as you glared at her and raised your hand to hit her again.

"okay okay okay! i just snuck across three balconies, i'm fine see? nothing bad happened." your girlfriend assured softly with a smile that normally would have you melting but right now your heart was racing and it did nothing to quell that in the slightest.

"not yet! what if you had gotten caught? or if they come to do room checks and you get caught? we'll both be benched!" you warned with a shake of your head, pacing back and forth as the blonde sat herself on the edge of your bed.

"are you done?" alessia asked with an amused smile, leaning back on her hands and raising an eyebrow as you paused your pacing and fixed her with a glare.

"last room checks were at ten, and i'll set an alarm for six and sneak back over for the wake up at seven. no one will know!" the blonde assured as you huffed, shaking your head and deciding to ignore her, taking your seat back at the desk you'd been studying at.

"well thats quite the welcome." your girlfriend scoffed, stripping off her hoodie, tossing it onto your bed and making her way over to you.

"you're an idiot." you mumbled back, eyes not leaving the page in front of you. "oh its so lovely to see you too. no 'hey baby how was your day? hey baby how are you? hey baby I missed you! hey baby i appreciate you breaking the rules and almost dying for me!" the brit mocked sarcastically with a roll of her eyes.

"you choosing to do all that was your choice. i was with you all day alessia, and i saw you-" you paused to flip your phone over and shaking your head at the barrage of texts from her. "-like two hours ago." you turned it back over and opened your text book again.

"well i missed you. so you didn't miss me?" alessia asked, and beneath the hard mean exterior she often exhibited, she was always herself with you and you didn't miss the slight whiff of insecurity hidden in the question.

"of course i missed you less. but it was one night, and you could get us both in trouble!" you dropped your pen with a sigh, leaning your head back on your chair and staring up at the blonde behind you with a small smile.

"well, then at least we'd keep each other company on the bench wouldn't we?" alessia grinned, english accent thick as she leaned down to connect your lips, warm hands cupping your cheeks and necklace clinking as it tapped against your forehead, though that wasn't anything you weren't already used to.

"i love you." alessia pulled away, squeezing your cheeks slightly between her fingers before letting you go, retreating back to the bed and flopping down, wiggling around to get comfortable.

"shoes less." you interrupted as she went to speak, nodding to her sneakers which were currently resting atop your comforter. "an 'i love you too' would have sufficed, so bossy." your girlfriend rolled her eyes playfully but none the less pulled herself into a sitting position, yanking off her shoes and tossing them in a corner.

"you know i love you, but i hate when you wear shoes inside." You sighed with a pointed look to which she simply waved you off. "yeah yeah and you hate outside clothes touching your bed as well, i know all your little quirks baby."

"my little quirks? shall we discuss your game day routine?" you asked amused, pink flushing the strikers cheeks as she huffed. "doesn't count! all footballers have traditions on a game day, you're just weird." alessia shrugged as you scoffed.

"one; its soccer, remember where you are. and two; i'm weird?" you crossed your arms and glared her down only making her grin and wiggle her eyebrows. "the weirdest. but i still love you, don't i? just risked a broken leg for you baby girl, wouldn't do that for just anyone." the striker smiled charmingly as you hummed.

"no you're normally the breaker of legs." "hey that is so not fair! it was one time, a freak accident." "mm and it just so happened to be my ex involved in this freak accident?" "right? such a coincidence."

"whatever you say hot head. aren't british people supposed to be well mannered?" you chuckled, picking up your pen again as your girlfriend mocked you under her breath.

"you're not seriously going to study are you?" the striker groaned, voice thick with annoyance as she collapsed back atop the bed, head hitting your pillows with a small thump.

"well one of us needs to be the smart one in this relationship." you smiled in amusement, the older girl lifting her head and shooting an unimpressed glare in your direction. "and what's that supposed to mean?" alessia challenged, propping her head up on her hand.

"it means you know if you studied for once, or spent the same amount of time doing the work as you do complaining about it, you might not need to keep retaking things!" you gasped sarcastically, clapping your hands together before wrapping them around yourself with a shiver as a cold gust of wind blew through slightly open window.

"and if you actually closed your window in the middle of winter or wore pants, you wouldn't be so cold!" alessia retorted back with the same sarcastic bite, hauling herself to her feet and making her way over to the window.

"i like the window being open a little, it helps me think, and if I don't want to wear pants then i won't!" you defended as she yanked the window closed with a loud bang, grunting with effort.

"oh i would never complain about you not wearing pants my love." alessia smiled coyly, perching herself directly across from you on the end of your bed.

you'd first properly met the english girl at a frat party, your first since enrolling at UNC, invited by the girls in your dorm when they saw you didn't have any friday night plans, one of them dating one of the boys in the frat.

you had soccer tryouts on monday and though not usually a heavy drinker or party goer during season you'd agreed to accompany them, your families words about embracing college life ringing in your ears.

several shots later and you found yourself roped into playing a heated game of beer pong against alessia and one of the girls from your dorm emily, who you were delighted to learn when you moved in was also part of the soccer program at UNC.

"if we lose you're drinking that last cup, I can barely see straight." you mumbled to your other roommate sam who simply clapped you on the back. "if you could see straight i'd know you were having a terrible time." the girl grinned before taking her turn, missing by a mile.

"oh come on you can do better than that carter!" one of her friends jeered from beside the pair of you, a small group gathered and watching the game.

"i know we can." emily smirked, her turn now as she effortlessly sunk their final ball, not having missed a single throw as the small crowd cheered and you groaned.

"you're up!" you shoved sam toward the deadly final cup, knowing that it was filled with various remnants of everyone else's drinks, disgusted at the mere thought of how it would taste.

you watched on with a wince as she somehow downed the entire thing, gagging a little but steadying herself before fist pumping and tossing the cup over her shoulder with a cry of victory.

shaking your head with a small smile you left her to attempt to keep flirting with one of the frat boys she had been insistent looked exactly like her future husband as you wandered away from the table, searching the crowded room for any of your other friends you'd made this week in your classes.

but unable to see any you collapsed onto the couch instead, taking a small sip of your drink, though sam had mixed it for you and you'd been warned she had a notoriously heavy pour, so you put it aside with a wince.

"so what do I get for winning?" you looked up hearing an unfamiliar voice behind you, tensing in surprise as one of the girls you'd just lost to catapulted herself over the top of the couch, landing nimbly beside you.

"sorry?" you raised an eyebrow in confusion, taking in the smiling blue eyed blonde beside you, seeing it was indeed the girl who'd paired off with emily earlier.

she wore blue frayed jean shorts and a tight slightly lowcut tank top, neck adorned in at least three different necklaces, all beginning to get tangled with one another though she didn't seem to care.

"you lost, your friend sam drank but you didn't. so i'll ask again, what do I get for winning?" she asked again, a dopey grin gracing her lips as you chuckled.

"the rewarding sense of self satisfaction that you beat two drunk uncoordinated idiots at a game designed for douchey frat boys. take it or leave it!" you bit back, surprise flickering across the girls face at your sudden change of tone, though her features melted back into an amused smile.

"alessia." she introduced herself, extending the hand which wasn't draped over the back of the couch toward you. you gave your own name back as you shook her hand before dropping it, shifting on the couch and tucking one leg under another, placing your own hands in your lap.

"you know i have a feeling we're gonna become really well acquainted." alessia grinned, subtly shuffling a few paces closer to you on the couch.

"nice accent. where are you from?" you ignored her remark, the english girl with a slight twang you couldn't quite place. "guess." she sat back a little and raised an eyebrow as you paused.

"london?" "is that because its the only english capitol you know?" "no, you're just...posh sounding?" "posh!" the girl laughed as you couldn't help but allow a grin to curl into your own features.

"you're new, right?" alessia changed the conversation and you shifted under her piercing stare as her bright eyes looked you up and down.

"maybe I've been here for years, you don't know me." you smiled, reaching over for your cup and once again wincing as you took a small sip, placing it back on the coffee table.

"oh i'd know if you'd been here for two years, i never forget a face." she grinned. "but this is also my first year too, so maybe not." the blonde admitted as you pushed her lightly with a playful roll of your eyes.

"are you always so sure of yourself?" you questioned with a shake of your head. "sure of myself? no. confident? i try to be." alessia shrugged honestly and without having known her for more than a few minutes you couldn't deny that did in fact radiate off of her.

"so what are you here for?" alessia asked curiously, finishing her drink and placing her empty cup down beside yours. "well since you're so confident alessia, why don't you tell me?" you smiled slyly as the blonde hummed and looked you up and down for a moment.

"you're studying...psychology? mm no. maybe business? marketing? this wasn't your first choice school but you didn't get accepted to that one, plus your best friend was going to go here so you decided to join her. you call your parents every weekend, your mom lets say...almost every day. you broke up with your boyfriend because you 'didn't want to try distance' but in reality you'd been bored of him for months. am i close?" alessia grinned cheekily, tilting her head as she leaned in a little closer, only half an arms length away from you now.

"hmmm...no. i'm majoring in journalism as a backup this was my first choice school, because as a d1 athlete the soccer program here has had my name on it for years." you began to lean in closer as you spoke, hyper aware of the warm hand which was now resting on your knee as you did so.

"-i moved here alone from california. i don't talk to my parents much, i call my mom maybe once a week if i have to because she just begs me to come back home. i broke up with my girlfriend because she cheated on me with one of my now ex best friends, though she could get a little boring sometimes." you shrugged, your face now only a few centimetres away from alessia, whose eyes were trained on yours.

"nice to meet you alessia." you breathed out with a smile, your lips a hairsbreadth from hers as you pulled away, grabbing your drink and walking off to find sam or emily, feeling her eyes follow you the entire way, unaware of how fast your heart was beating in your chest as you did.

"hey that's mine, i was looking for that this morning!" the taller girl raised an eyebrow, pointing to the large shirt you had covering the top half of your body. "mine now." You smiled coyly, tucking your knee up to your chest as she shook her head, unamused.

"you know I don't care if you borrow my clothes california but at least eventually give them back."

"well i look better in them anyway russo." you smiled smugly not at all meaning what you said, you adored the way alessia dressed. "very cute, but I'm still taking it back with me tomorrow, it's my favourite." alessia shook her head again, having bought the article of clothing from the gift shop her first week of college.

"and you're studying again." alessia groaned as you turned back to your paper. "don't you also have things to work on? like your sociology class you're set to fail?" you questioned glancing over your shoulder and waiting for whatever else it was you knew she wanted to say.

"hey i can still pass if i take the test again or write a make up paper." alessia explained as you hummed along in understanding, turning your attention to your own essay.

"but let me guess, you haven't started either and you have no intention of working on it at all this weekend?" you chuckled with a shake of your head, unable to see but knowing the blonde had rolled her eyes.

"the paper has to be at least four thousand words and give my opinion on a previous medical study or report which was deemed 'unethical'." alessia started to explain as you hummed again, fully aware of the minutes ticking by in which you weren't spending writing your own paper, knowing you both needed to be in bed by midnight to get a goods night rest before the game.

"so i was thinking-" alessia started as you scoffed lightly. "thats dangerous." you interrupted, your girlfriend giving you a serious dose of side eye before continuing. "so i was thinking. can you help me write it? i have a week." alessia finished with a smile, and now it all made sense.

"i knew there was an angle. you only snuck here to use me!" you huffed, giving her an unimpressed glare over your shoulder. "no i didn't! i mean yes, but no. please gorgeous you're so smart you barely even have to try!" alessia whined, shooting up to her feet.

"no. now get out and climb back to your own room, i'm busy." you mumbled annoyed, shrugging off her arms as she attempted to wrap them around you from behind. alessia huffed, moving to the side and tugging at her shirt on your body, trying to pull you off the chair and into her arms instead.

"go away alessia." you warned but before you could even utter another word the pencil was yanked from your hand and a warm hand firmly gripped your chin and turned your head.

"i didn't just come here to ask you to write a paper baby, i promise." the blonde assured softly, hands moving to cup your face and you'd be lying if your stomach didn't flip a little.

"i need to write my own paper and we have a game tomorrow." you sighed pulling your face away, her own softening as she took her seat back at the end of your bed, your pen captive in her hand as she swiped it from the desk.

"It's only friday you have plenty of time baby. come on and give me a cuddle at least, i really did come here cause i missed you." she opened her arms expectantly with a pout, getting up with a sigh eventually caving in as she knew you would.

"you're so annoying sometimes." you mumbled as you sat on her lap facing her, wrapping your arms around her neck as her own hugged your waist, the two of you sitting there just holding one another for a moment.

"i literally saw you a couple of hours ago, needy." you teased, leaning down to peck her lips a couple of times, her grip tightening around your waist.

"correct. but you slept over last night, and this morning i believe we started something before I had to leave for class, didn't we?" alessia grinned suggestively, hands moving to rest on your upper thighs.

"did we? guess I forget." you pouted sarcastically, moving her hands off your thighs and trying to reach for the pen still secured tightly within them.

"nah uh, you have to earn it." alessia smirked, holding it out of reach behind her head. "you know i literally have a whole handful of pens over there right?" you snickered, nodding behind her to your overnight bag on the floor.

"but you still gotta get through me to get to them." alessia challenged, tossing the pencil over her shoulder as it landed on the floor with a clatter.

"since you forgot, let me jog your memory gorgeous." alessia breathed out against your neck, peppering the warm skin with small kisses, hands moving slowly around your waist and resting cheekily on your ass.

"alessia." you tried to warn seriously, though it came out as more of a breathy moan as the blonde suddenly nipped at your neck, simultaneously squeezing your ass in her hands.

"yes love?" she hummed, slowly kissing up your jaw. "we have to-" you paused as she dipped her head and bit down on the other side of your neck,  harshly sucking to form a bright red hickey.

alessia had always been a biter from the moment the two of you crashed down into bed together, even if it was just to get your attention when she deemed you weren't paying enough of it to her.

the girl was notoriously mean to everyone but you, but that didn't stop her from being cruel in other ways when it suited her, the english woman perhaps the most eager tease you'd ever met.

"we have to?" alessia trailed off mockingly, moving her assault on your neck down a little lower as her hands moved to trail up your sides.

then before you could even utter another syllable her grip tightened on your hips and she pushed you down on the bed, moving to sit herself on top of you.

"we have to..." the striker whispered again, leaning down to tug on your earlobe with her teeth as her hand trailed up your stomach, nails gently raking down the bare skin, your shirt pooled up around your neck.

"do you remember yet baby?" alessia hummed with a grin, moving her jogger clad knee to rest between your legs and leaning down to connect your lips.

you withheld a groan as she bit down on your bottom lip, small gasp as she pressed her knee against you all she needed to take control of the kiss, tongue roaming your mouth freely.

"nope! no no no, we can't!" you pulled yourself from the hazy fog she was trying to drown you in and sat up suddenly, alessia falling off of you with a squeal as you pulled your shirt down and stood.

"no sex the night before a game. we have an agreement less!" you whined, burying your face in your hands and counting to fifteen, trying to will your body to leave its current state of need for the blonde.

"well fuck the agreement love i'm horny!" the brit hissed bluntly as you peeked out from your hands with a glare. "then count! we have an agreement for a reason." you reminded firmly, a slight pinch to your neck alerting you to a different problem as you hurried to the bathroom.

"alessia!" you shouted with a scowl, touching the two fast forming love bites on your neck with a wince, the blondes head popping sheepishly into the doorway as she shrunk beneath your glare.

however before either of you could say another word there was a knock at the door and both your heads snapped toward the door, your coach calling out your name.

"hide!" you mouthed at the blonde, yanking her into the bathroom as you stepped out, looking around the room wildly and hurrying to shove any evidence you weren't here alone into the closet as another knock and your name sounded again.

a towel hit you in the head as you spun around and glared at your girlfriend who'd thrown it. "hickeys!" she pointed to her neck as you hurried to sling the towel around your neck as if going for a shower.

taking a moment to collect yourself you rubbed your eyes a few times and slowly cracked open the door. "yeah coach?" you asked, faking a yawn as the womans eyes narrowed.

"i heard you yell, something wrong?" she asked suspiciously, trying to see behind you as you closed the door a little more. "no no, must have been someone else. night coach!" you assured, trying to close the door properly as a hand grabbed it and you winced.

"you won't mind if i check you're here alone then, will you?" "of course not coach." you forced a smile and opened the door properly, gesturing for her to come in.

"bit late to be studying, we need you sharp on defense tomorrow, its critical we maintain a low block." the woman noted your materials scattered across the desk in the corner as you hurried to note you weren't aware of the time.

"i could have sworn i heard you shout your girlfriends name. and i would hope that the captain of the team would know better than to be breaking rules?" the woman seemed to emphasize her point a little louder.

"oh we were uh, on facetime coach! we'd just hung up." you quickly lied with a smile as she hummed. "so i could shower! then head right to bed." you tugged on the towel with a somewhat nervous chuckle as she hummed again.

"well i'll leave you to it then." the woman did a quick check of the bathroom and you tried not to let the relief flood your face as she seemed satisfied you were alone, one last scan of the room before she left.

you barely exhaled before there was a thump and your girlfriend came careering out of the bathroom where she'd been hidden in the shower. "she is absolutely heading for your room now you idiot, go!" you whispered, shoving her with a huff.

"not that way! the way you came." you hissed, turning her around and pushing her toward the balcony door. "god you are so bossy, and everyone says i'm the mean one?" alessia scoffed as you smacked the back of her head.

"not the time! go!" you shoved her as she stumbled, catching herself and shivering. "hoodie!" she demanded as you rolled your eyes and hurried off to collect it, tossing it in her face and stepping back to shut the door.

"hey! what about my kiss?" the girl scowled as you stared at her in disbelief, a finger tapping her lips expectantly as you rolled your eyes but stepped forward, bunching her shirt in your hands and pressing your lips to hers.

"this was hot, like a forbidden love!" alessia grinned as you pulled away and pushed her toward the edge of the balcony where she'd climbed over. "yeah it'll be forbidden when you get suspended for being an asshole, go russo!" you pointed firmly as she blew you another kiss and swung a leg over the railing.

"i love you." "i love you." she repeated again as you went to close the door. "i love you!" a third time.

"oh my god shut up someone will hear you! i love you too, now go!"

[specialmouse]

If you live in Gaza during the Israeli genocide, you are lucky to be able to buy a kilogram of meat for under $50. Right now prices have skyrocketed, particularly in the North—imagine trying to feed your family on these prices. Now try to imagine you have no income because an occupying settler army is committing genocide against you and your people. Right now, outside contributions are one of the most important ways, if not THE main way, to get direct help to individual families.

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Please, please reblog! Tagging for reach:

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[meo-eiru]

hey girl i know you‘re busy and your wip looks so freakingdndndkkdkdkd good can‘t wait to see what you‘re cooking 🍳

wrote smth in the meantime about some of your boys relating to body image (idk if you‘re comfortable posting this, if not, that‘s totally cool and for your eyes only 🤍)

Yandere Boys reacting to you having a bad body image day

Silas: He wouldn’t get it. You‘d have to really spell it out for him. He‘d tilt his big head, his ears perking a little as he listens to you ramble about all the things you don‘t like about yourself. His big green eyes focusing like a cat while the words bounce off of him, as if you‘re speaking another language. The permanent smile etched on his face unfazed by the visceral hatred you‘re spewing about yourself.

After you finish listing your self-perceived flaws, he‘d blink a few times, tilt his head to the other side and simply say, still smiling:

„Hm? All those things…But they‘re what make you so beautiful… I don‘t know what you mean, Darling.“

He‘d pull you into his arms and squeeze you so tight you couldn‘t breath for a few seconds.

He‘d point at something you had listed as a flaw: „This part of you is so special… and this!“ He points to another „flaw“ „This makes me feel all tingly inside.. I love it so much!“

You stare at him, dumbfounded.

„Is this a human game? Are we listing things that are actually wonderful and pretending they’re bad? Ooh~ I want to play!“ He claps a few times rapidly. „Ok! Hmmm…Strawberries are disgusting! Birds sound like screaming pigs! Uh- My hair is really ugly and too shiny! I‘m too big for you! My-“

Elias: He would have a complete meltdown if you told him. He‘d think he did or said something to make you think like that. Once you‘re able to calm him down (yes, you‘d need to comfort him through this) and assure him it wasn‘t any of his doing, the tone of his voice would shift suddenly, as he peers at you through the fingers covering his face.

„Who said this to you…?“

You‘d look at him confused, knowing the loudest voice is your very own.

He‘d stand up, the tears still staining his perfect face as he stares down at you with an ominous glare.

„I‘ll kill whoever convinced you of these horrible things.“

You gulp, not sure how to tell him that you‘re the person who convincingly recites these awful words on a daily basis.

He grabs your chin and forces you to look at him.

„Who dares to make my precious treasure feel this way…?“

Micah: (Torn between him listening to you to be able to use this information in the future and him never letting you utter the vile words in the first place. For comfort‘s sake:) When you start pointing out things you dislike about yourself, he‘d calmly walk towards you and put a cold finger against your lips. Shutting you up with one motion, you‘d have no choice but to look at the pulsating eyes that seem to absorb your strength the longer you stare.

„Now, now…I will not tolerate malicious talk like that.“ His finger leaves your lips, opening your mouth slightly. It then traces your chin, moves along your jawline, down your neck and gently caresses the outline of your collarbone.

„A wonderful flower like you should never demean its gorgeous petals and curves.“

He grins a bit too widely, leaning closer to you.

„The most precious blooms have the most thorns.“

Oh I love this so much!! I've actually gotten a few asks before questioning how the boys would act in a scenario like this but I couldn't answer them because I wasn't sure if I could handle the topic appropriately but I really like this!

Silas really wouldn't understand why you don't like those parts about yourself. You are a beautiful human, everything you view as imperfections are just little charm points that makes you more endearing, more special.

I think Elias wouldn't be able to fully grasp it too to an extent, although not as bad as Silas. Elias views you as the perfect person and himself as the pretty trophy boyfriend with nothing else going for him. In his head he's the one who should keep working to keep your attention on him so it wouldn't fully register to him that you have your own shortcomings.

Micah would fully understand where your insecurities comes from. Does he agree with you? Absolutely not. Your everything is endearing to him, and he would let you know that. Comfort and reassure you so that you'll feel at peace with him, feel like you can share your pains with him. But he would keep note of everything at the back of his head, in case one day you decide to betray his predictions and he has to take you down a notch. Of course if he says something deeply hurtful that cuts deep into your heart he didn't actually mean it right? He has always been so kind to you after all

[georgiapeach30513]

When I'm With You

Summary: Poor little rich girl. Your dad may have been the richest man in Massachusetts, and own the Boston Bruins, but you were utterly alone. Everyone only wanted you for your money the perks you brought them. All but Ari. Who also happened to be your dad’s best friend and the Bruins top player. You sure knew how to make him sweat. And now he wanted to break his one and only rule; never to touch you.

Pairings: Ari Levinson X Reader

Rating: explicit

Warnings:  explicit language, explicit sexual content, unprotected sex, PIV sex, creampie, soft!Ari, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 4.1K

Moodboard Event

Ari Levinson Masterlist

Ice sprays up against the protective barrier and you’re able to slink down just a few extra inches before he notices that you’ve shifted. Keeping your eyes closed because you’re not in the mood to talk to one of the players. You are supposed to be observing, but this is just so boring! Maybe if you actually had friends that gave a damn for you and not your dad’s wealth you wouldn’t be here.

“What’s that?” The fool says, pointing his finger towards you. Don’t move, and don’t engage in the tomfoolery.

“That is this thing we call a woman,” Pigs. The second voice chuckles, while random bits of what you’re assuming are the sticks clapping together sound in front of you. They are gathering to gawk at you. Please just leave you to rot in peace.

“Back to practice,” yes, listen to that voice. Follow along like the good little soldiers you are.

“I thought this was a closed practice,” shit. Other voices join in, agreeing with the man. Have they ever seen a woman before? Legitimately seen a woman in the flesh that wasn’t pawning all over them.

“And she doesn’t look like someone who is stealing plays.”

“Still a closed practice, Lev.” “Yeah!” “Ask her who she is!” “Get her out of here!”

Fuck them. You were told to be here. “That won’t be necessary,” that took your father long enough. You don’t have to have your eyes open to know that he is looking at you, knowing you’re not actually asleep. All the players hoop and holler at your father. Trying to act all cool now that their team owner is on the ice.

“Sleeping beauty over there is my daughter,” oohs sound in front of you, and you know your lip is curled in annoyance. Embarrassing. “She’s going to be watching you, while I’m away.”

“Daddy D we don’t need a babysitter,” jeering. No, they need a kick in the groin. They act like dogs chasing a bitch in heat.

“Yeah, you do, Jensen,” they’re children. And your father wants you to just watch and observe. “Obviously the coach will keep you boys in line,” men. They’re men. “But I also expect you to listen to Ari and my daughter.”

“Your daughter have a name?”

“You can call her boss,” you didn’t mind that. He’s looking at you again, so you let a smile lift your mouth. “Best behavior. And boys,” men. “Keep your hands off,” oh good grief. He knows you don’t go chasing a puck for pleasure. “I mean it,” he hits someone’s shoulder, and there’s a soft pause, “Lev, watch her.”

Oh, no. You don’t need a babysitter. His back is to you, and he’s already walking out of the rink when you bust your eyes open, and stare right back at this Ari. Of all the fucking people to say that to, it had to be the one that you even somewhat thought was attractive. Your little brother had a poster on his wall of the giant that is Ari, The Punisher, Levinson.

Fucking hell. Ari skates the little bit of a distance to the barrier, and bangs his hands up against the fiberglass. “Seems like you’ve been trusted in my care, Boss.”

“Get back to practice,” is all you say before reaching in your bag, and pulling out a book. You don’t know if this is the right intimidation tactic you can think of, but Ari’s eyes flick down to the title. His mouth turns up into a devilish smirk before you look over the pages glaring, “Is there a problem, Levinson?”

“Didn’t realize that you were such a horror fan,” horror? You look at the cover of the book, and he chuckles. What were you thinking choosing The Score as a way to intimidate them? It has a cute cover, and a hockey romance. And was far from horror. “Made ya look, Boss. Alright, boys,” men. “Get back on the ice. And hands off. See you afterwards, Bunny.”

“I’m not a damn, puck bunny!”

He smiles skating backwards. His eye contact is both concerning and hot. You shouldn’t look at him either. Players are forbidden, and nothing but trouble. Especially that one. The player. The team captain. The one with the best ass on the team.

——

“She got nothing better to do?” You’d come to know the players better. That one is always talking like you can’t hear a damn thing. No, you don’t have to be here, but where else is there to go? What could be more important than keeping your father’s dream and legacy as a well oiled machine?

“It’s a bit weird that she’s at every practice, and she’s rarely watching,” a few of the players grunt in agreement. It’s your cue to fake sleeping. Again. “Her head is in one of those books, or she’s doing that. Who comes to practice to sleep?”

“Does it bother you that much, Jensen?”

“Well, no,” he sheepishly responds, backing away from Ari. “It’s weird, and unsettling.”

“She’s got a job.”

“Even the big man doesn’t show up as much as she does,” you didn’t have to listen to this. You had other things to do besides be here. You could — well you could just easily — there is always spending daddy’s money. But that’s not you.

You could always sit at a coffee shop alone, but you weren’t fond of coffee shop coffee. You could easily go watch a movie by yourself. Peeking through your lashes you glare up at Ari who is standing mask to mask with Jake Jensen.

Placing the bookmark in your book, you just get up, and walk up the stairs. You weren’t going to be the reason that the Neanderthals were fighting. There really isn’t anywhere else for you to go, but you’ll find some place.

“See you what you did,” Ari shoves Jake’s arm, while the younger man looks up at you. “From now on, don’t worry about it, okay? She’s a nobody, and she’s not here watching you scabs, got it?” Ari looks back to Jake, and the other man nods a head before Ari looks up at your retreating form.

—

Ari pushes your legs off a control panel, causing you to jump up, and get into a defense pose. Your confused look turns into anger very quickly, and you glare at him. “That’s an expensive piece of equipment. Keep your feet off it. Or do you think you can do that because Daddy can pay for it?”

“Fuck off.”

Ari taps on the panel for a few seconds. His vision goes from you to the ice, and then back again, “Why didn’t you just leave?”

“And miss an opportunity to fall asleep to the best lullaby in the world?”

“You’re not sleeping in the stands,” no, you weren’t. You’re trying to remain as invisible as possible. “You could have called some of your friends, and went to the mall or something.”

“I’m not seventeen,” of course he would think all you’re capable of doing is shopping. It’s what everyone thought. You were to be seen and spoiled, not heard.

“Then you could have gone to a bookstore. What are you reading today?” You lift up the book, and Ari tilts his head to read the title. “What’s it about?”

“An Irish Rugby player.”

“So no more hockey players?”

You shake your head no, and reach to put your book in the bag, “I like to escape when I read.”

“What else is in the book?” You furrow your eyebrows, unsure of what he’s meaning. “I mean is there — my sister reads a lot, too. The most popular books have, um…”

“Sex?”

“Yep. That — that’s what’s in there,” his cheeks flush the cutest pink color. Talking about smut in books clearly is out of his comfort zone. And you’re not entirely sure why he wants to talk to you about books at all.

“Why are you concerned if I’m reading a smutty book?” Ari shrugs his shoulders, trying to remember the title of the book. He didn’t want to read it, he just wanted to know what it was about. “Why are you concerned about why I’m up here?”

“Practice is over. Figured you needed to wake up,” he’s very strange and different when he’s not being the captain. “Why do you come to practice?”

“You told Jensen yourself, I have a job.”

“Yeah, but your job doesn’t really entail being here every practice. If I didn’t know any better I would think that you’re checking us out,” you roll your eyes, starting to stand. You can go home and sleep. At least there’s no one there to bother you. “Especially me.”

“You’re very full of yourself, Levinson,” you say as you stand up. You almost thought he was going to be different. But they’re all the same. They think they know everything about you. About how easy life must be because you grew up rich. It was isolating.

“Or is it because you have no friends, and nowhere else to go, so at least you’re not alone when you’re here.”

“Goodnight, Ari,” he didn’t know anything about you or about your life.

“Someone that seeks out human interaction so much, and yet she’s a bit rough around the edges. People using you for your family’s money made you jaded, but not everyone is out for that. Not everyone cares about what you can buy,” he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s just saying a bunch of words. But words shouldn’t strike you so hard.

“You keep talking about things you don’t know or understand,” you keep walking, but he stays behind you.

“I know because I’m just like you. It’s why I make a good captain.”

“Goodnight!” Ari jogs up in front of you, stopping, and making you halt your exit. “What?”

“I can’t lock up myself, so I have to leave first.”

“Then go.”

“What are you doing this evening?”

“What?” That came from nowhere, and you’re intrigued.

“What are you doing this evening? Where are you going? Do you have plans?” Ari knows he should let you go. He was told to stay away. But you seem distressed, and he’s bored. Nothing has to happen, just dinner and some wine. “I’m asking because I’m actually a really good cook. I’ve got a great wine selection,and you’ll be doing me a favor.”

Plus, if you like him, your dad can’t kill him. “We can carry on with our bantering if you like. But I really don’t want to eat alone, so can you join me?”

“You don’t have some puck bunny you want to have dinner with?”

“No, but you sure like to judge and insinuate I’m just like every other hockey player. We come in all different shapes and sizes, and I don’t much care for a woman chasing my money and fame. I’m going out on a limb to say you’re not going to do that, and this is just dinner.”

You aren’t. You didn’t need to. You had enough wealth from your father, “What are you cooking?”

“Fish? Chicken? Steak? Grilled cheese? Pizza? I’ve got this great pizza stone. My mom and dad are both in the restaurant business. Mom’s a manager, and dad’s a chef. I can make anything. Depending on what you say, I may have to drive to a store. But…don’t make eat alone.”

“You have to keep your hands off me,” Ari smirks. His eyes trail over your body in a not too unpleasant way. You kind of like it. You wish he would look again.

“Of course. I made a promise to your dad.”

“And this doesn’t change my watching practices.”

“I wouldn’t ever think it would. Kinda like you watching me,” he’s not wrong, but he’s so full of himself.

“Stop flirting,” Ari smiles, and you point down the hallway for him to go first. If you have to lock up the stadium, he must lead the way. He’s the forbidden fruit. Don’t fall for a hockey player. They’re nothing but trouble.

——

Ari looks up at you from the ice, and then back to his team. He tries to hide the grin that perks his mouth up, but a few catch it. Even the nosy Jensen rests his chin on his hockey stick smiling like an idiot at his captain. “That’s going to be all for today. Rest, drink your water, work out your muscles, and be ready.”

“Exactly how do you work out your muscles, Lev?” Jake’s eyes drift towards you before returning to Ari with a shit eating grin.

“Shut up, Jensen.”

“So that means that you and…”

“Jensen!” Another team member cuts in. “Shut up.”

“But we were told to stay away,” everyone groans, starting to walk off the ice. Each one knocking against his shoulder, and grumbling as they walk past. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. So Lev…”

“Shower quickly, Jensen,” Ari says, looking towards you. His mouth gets wider with a devilish grin. Jake starts to say something else, but Ari pushes him playfully again without looking away from you. Grunting something inaudible.

“I wish people would stop doing that.”

“Then shut up, and shower quickly. You bastards have five minutes.”

“Why five?”

“Because I have a meeting with someone,” Ari’s grin goes wider. Jake starts to say something, but Ari covers Jake’s mouth with his giant hand, and finally breaks eye contact with you, “Four minutes.”

“The boss said you had to leave that one alone,” he gives a hard finger point towards you. “You are a very bad boy. Misbehaving. Time out. Walk away, and nothing will happen.”

“And when you kindly fuck off, I’ll be an even badder boy,” Jake dramatically gasps, grabbing at his chest. “Three minutes, you cheeky bastard. Please, Jensen, I’m aching here.”

“I’m only leaving because I don’t want to hear about your blue balls. And you,” his face looks up at you, “You could have had this, and you chose that caveman! Don’t come crawling back to me! You could have had it all!” His hands slide over his chest, trying to make you swoon, you suppose.

“Jensen!”

“I am going!” His voice is nearly a whine as he marches away. “You get none of it!” He throws a hand up, emphasizing his point. Goober. He is loveable, but a goober nonetheless.

You start making your way down the bleachers, and lean over the edge, “What? You think I was going to follow you into the locker room, and you can have your way with me?”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “I don’t know the idea of you sucking my dick while I wash off sounds amazing,” you shake your head no, “You really don’t like sucking dick, huh?”

“Sweaty dick, absolutely not. While also being drowned by the water doesn’t sound like a fun time. But,” you step out onto the ice, and Ari’s eager eyes look up and down your body. “I could let you fuck me on the ice,” he shakes his head no. “In the stands?” Still he shakes his head no.

“Or,” you let your finger run over his chest, teasing him while also making your need for him stronger. Heat floods your body with anticipation of having Ari. Again. “I could let you take me in the locker room. That way when the big game happens this weekend, you get to stare at the place where you saw yourself leak out of me for the first time. It’ll be good luck.”

“I like that option. It’s the game that your father returns,” Ari knew you had a penchant for wanting daddy’s attention. He might have used it to his advantage. Who could blame him when you looked like that.

“I’ll give you two minutes to get cleaned, Levinson. Time starts now,” he smirks as he skates away from you, and you exhale a long breath. There would be no keeping the relationship secret when the entire team knows you are willing to drop to your knees for Ari.

You head towards the locker room, watching as players start heading out one after the other. It would be Jake that is last. You give him a cheesy grin, but he stops you. “I know what you’re doing,” no, he didn’t. “Lev can handle himself, and obviously you can, too. But — you’ve involved the rest of us in your affair.”

You nod your head, and take a step towards the locker room. “He’s more sensitive than you realize,” liar. “This place is his sanctuary. Just agreeing to fuck you here — it’s not just sex, you see?”

“What?” Of course it was just sex. It was amazing and fun sex. But there is absolutely nothing more than sex here.

“He’s had a thing for you for a while,” Jake shrugs as he starts to walk away. Ari didn’t even know you. “It was just a crush, but he did some instagram stalking. And he saw something in you. It’s not just sex, okay?”

“Okay,” you timidly answer. Jake’s face grimaces, but you don’t know what else to say. He’s not supposed to be the serious one here.

“Don’t act weird when your dad comes back. That’s all I’m asking. Keep doing what you’re doing. That’s all. He’s a good man. A giant big man that is super soft underneath his ultra thick exterior,” your mouth turns into an ‘oh’ as you finally understand. You nod your head. You could tell right away that Ari isn’t all that he portrays. You didn’t want to stop doing what you’re doing. Just didn’t want it so open. Too late now.

“Protect him, because he’ll protect you,” he says before finally walking away.

You gather up some courage to walk into the locker room, and spot Ari sitting down. Leaning over with his forearms resting on his thighs, looking like the most delectable meal you’d ever seen, and wrapped in only a towel. You turn around to lock the door, and remain with your back to him as you kick off your shoes, and shimmy out of your leggings.

Giving him the view of seeing the the cheeks of your ass. He sucks in a hard breath at the show you’re putting on display. His body is begging him to just have his way with you, but his head is wanting you to lead today. He’s tired physically. He needs you to.

Making your way over to Ari, you wait for him to sit up. Ari’s beefy hand grips his cock, and you crawl into his lap. Hissing as his thick girth pierces your body. And you don’t stop your descent until he’s fully sheathed. You take a few deep breaths, letting your body adjust to his size. You’ll never tired of this feeling.

“You look beautiful trying not to wince.”

“That does not sound like I look beautiful.”

”When you’re trying not to wince because I’m almost too big for this pretty little pussy, yeah, it’s beautiful,” you lift your body up slightly, but Ari pulls you back down. “Stay with me for a while.”

“You’ve got me,” you reassure him. Two more days until the big game, and Ari’s strong front is faltering. Leaning forward, you wrap your arms around the big man, and pet over his bare back. Moving to sit up, only to remove your top, and give him the satisfaction of skin on skin. Holding him again.

Big giant man, but loves soft sweet touches.

He never lets anyone see this side of him. Worried that he won’t be the captain that he needs to be. Worried he’ll let his team down. Arrogant to a fault, until he’s seated inside you, and then he is the softest man you’ve ever met. You like the two sides of him. And love that he fells comfortable enough to give you this side of him. That this part is only reserved for you.

You paint his freckled shoulders with your lips. Relaxing and easing him into a vulnerable state before rolling your hips. Taking him balls deep. He moans in satisfaction. The most beautiful sound that you could think of happens when his tip kisses your cervix. A pleasured pain of him bottoming out.

Your upper body worships him so softly, but your lower body is taking him for all he’s worth. He bucks up, his hips meeting your own in a sinful dance. No words are exchanged as you give freely, and he takes greedily. Allowing you enough control, while also spearing up into you with so much need and ferocity that you go brainless.

Ari.

That is the only thing in your head. The only thing that truly matters. In this moment.

The two of you work because you each get what you need from the other. A safe place to land when you need it. No judgement when you let your vulnerable sides out. And still such a need for the other's body. The need to be all in. And you mean all. A few short weeks, and you want more. You crave more.

Truth be told, it was never just sex even for you. It’s comfort. And this big burly man is the most comfortable man.

His hands grip to the bench, and he stabs into your body so fiercely that you lean up off his shoulders. “You’ll be at the game, right?” You give him a head nod in response, and grip to his shoulders. Using his body as reigns as you hold on for the ride of your life. Planting your feet firmly before you fuck him. If he wants it hard, he’ll get it.

Raising up of him, and slamming yourself down over him again and again. Each time with more force and ferocity. Each time letting him go deeper. Letting him take more of you because you don’t care anymore. You know that he could take all of you, and he would protect it.

“Do I get a kiss after the game?”

“Make it official?” You whimper. Your body starts to seize and it’s not just because of the impending orgasm. It’s the fact that he is ready for the world to know. Ready for you to admit what you already knew. You are a goner.

“Yes,” he pants. Grabbing onto your hips, and using them to center himself. His body tightens up, and he tries to fight off the inevitable. Whether it’s his release, or your refusal to give him what he wants. You. No hiding. Official.

“So…we’re…”

“I’d like to think that we are,” he soothes. His mouth attaches to your neck, and he kisses your most tender area. Nipping and suckling onto body like it gives him life. Pleasure builds up in your core, and you don’t know if you can hold on much longer. Or deny anything anymore.

“Say it,” if he wants you, let him tell you. If he wants to be public, he better be honest with you first.

“Be mine. Only mine. And I’m only yours.”

“Wrong answer,” you grit your teeth. Getting pissed off at him not wanting to make that final fall.

“Being my girlfriend sounds childish,” you cock up one of your eyebrows. That is definitely the wrong answer. You can’t fight off your pleasure anymore. There’s too much pressure, and you careen off course. Letting your body soak up the euphoria that only he’s been able to give you. But you can’t stop. You want him to feel the same way you do.

Punishing yourself with pleasure you bounce on top of him. Mewling out his name, and wanting to curse him for his stubbornness. Asshole. If he wants you. He can do it the right way. He can say it. Scream it. You didn’t care. Just admit it.

“Oh god,” he screams, and clenches onto the bench harder. “You’re so fucking amazing,” his voice is so hard as he fights off his own pleasure. “So fucking perfect,” he repeats, and allows himself the release that you are aching for.

Moaning as ropes of his warm cum paint the inside of your body. The feeling of him so deep inside of you makes you come again. Your walls clench down around him. Holding him in place as you pulse around him. You black out from pleasure. Eyes lulling in the back of your head, speaking in tongue and you look up at the ceiling. It’s just too much. He’s too much. Nothing can ever feel like that.

“I want you to be my girlfriend,” he whispers into your ear as you come down from the best high in life. “I want the world to know who you belong to, and who I belong to,” his nose pets along your jaw. “Please?”

“Yes,” you whisper. You collapse onto his giant body. Arms going limp as they wrap around him. “I always feel my best when I’m with you.”

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season @marveloustaylortot @rnurse-kole @peaches1958 @seitmai

@smile1318 @andydrysdalerogers @cjand10 @midnightramyeoncravings @kmc1989

@pandaxnienke @kmm-fluv @donutloverxo @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @bambamwolf87

@rogersbarber @distractingbeth @musingsfromthemitten @theinheriteddutchess @buckybarnesisdaddy

[blushspatula]

I was thinking for the Jttw AU I'm making where the reader doesn't know Chinese. I mean, the work is set in ancient China and we have to be realistic (and because we want some ssalsa and drama in the story).

So, imagine the pilgrims trying to teach the reader to speak Chinese (the Chinese vocabulary would be learned quickly, although they would have trouble with the hieroglyphics).

If anything, I see the reader communicating with signs and sounds, even a theatrical performance to make their point if necessary.

Tripitaka is the one who would take Chinese teaching seriously, having a lot of patience and being a good teacher, but his teaching method is extremely formal and old-fashioned, more like Buddhist philosophy lessons than a language class.

Sun Wukong and Pigsy are the sons of bitches who would teach the reader vulgar words or confuse the reader for their amusement.

Sandy would laugh silently for a while, but eventually he would feel sorry for the reader and teach them how to correctly say "no," "I don't want," "I don't feel like it, thanks," "leave me alone," and "Sorry, I don't know Chinese, I'm a foreigner."

---

Wukong grabs the reader's arm and leads them to where Pigsy is eating the fruit. Before he can take a big bite, Wukong steals it away and the pig whines in complaint. Now the monkey king turns his attention to the reader, "reader, look." He points his eye at the reader, implying that he should be attentive to see the wise teaching of the Monkey King. In his hands as he held the fruit, he hands it to Pigsy and says, "Fuck you." He puts his two hands together and bows in thanks.

Sun Wukong does this several times until the reader assumes that this would be a way of saying "thank you".

The reader nods at the two with a smile, implying that they understood the new teaching and its meaning.

Pigsy, taking the final review exam, hands the fruit to the reader "what to say?"

The reader grabs the fruit, thinks a bit and in broken Chinese says, "Fuck you".

The two clap their hands in triumph.

Now, it's night time and the meal is ready. Sandy pours the vegetable and wheat noodle soup into a bowl and hands it to the reader.

The reader, with a grateful smile, tells Sandy to "Fuck you".

The entire group falls into an overly loud and awkward silence.

Tripitaka is having a poker face, Sandy raises an eyebrow in question, very bewildered, while from a distance a horse can be heard squeaking.

Pigsy, to hide his laughter, proceeds to eat from his bowl loudly, while Wukong hides in the nearby tree holding back his laughter.

The reader proceeds to look at the two bastards with a murderous look.

[lotusloong]

Nothing and no one save Sun Wukong himself could convince me the Monkey King doesn't love dancing. Especially Netflix Monkey King, but any of them I could see acting like this.

Any kind of party with lively music you bet your ass he's on the floor shaking it like no ones business. When he's young and living with his monkey's on Mount Huaguo you could argue it wasn't dancing so much as...throwing yourself around in a wild manner, laughing and giggling the whole time, Wukong among them, very drunk.

Then when he entered the world of man he learned what "proper" dancing was. Specific steps to follow to make a specific pattern, with or without a partner. Some were more eye catching and fun looking to him than others, but one thing for certain was that the Monkey King wanted to learn everything.

On his way across two continents, looking for his first immortal to teach him the secrets of immortality, he would stop and ask the people he saw to teach him the steps, and he would practice while crossing the seas and climbing the mountain ranges.

Even trapped under the weight of Five Elements Mountain he would hum songs to distract himself, tapping his fingers and moving what parts of himself he could to mimic the dances he remembered so fondly.

When he's finally free, he spends nights with his fellow disciples, showing them the fascinating (if a little out of style) dances he learned. Imagine his surprise when Bajie mumbles how he remembers one from his days in the Celestial Realm, probably very out of practice after so many centuries. Wukong shocks him by getting close to his face, practically demanding the pig yaoguai show him the steps he remembers. Wujing recalls a far off memory from when he was little, a dance his parents used to perform that Wukong all but drags him to his feet to recreate. Tang Sanzang laughs at their fun, saying he had never spent much time learning the art. Wukong is understandably appalled by this, begging his Master to stand and dance with him just once, he promises it'll be fun! The monk can't refuse such a happy grin.

And it's now, with your hand in his, arm around your waist, that he thanks the universe for giving him so many opportunities to learn. Your own dancing skill level doesn't matter, he's an amazing lead, taking you around and around the campfire as his fellow disciples and Master clap and laugh to the music one of Wukong's clones is playing. You're smiling and giggling as you go, the fire dancing across your features in a hypnotizing way the Monkey King will commit to memory.

"Your hand in mine, and-" He hums softly, his voice warm and breathy where he whispers it in your ear, unheard by the others of your group. "I could never choose to love another..." He pulls away, meeting your gaze with his golden one, smile soft and secretive. He's trusting you to not make a big deal of his feelings, to keep your hand in his and spin around and around for the rest of the night until you can't move another muscle.

So you do so, pulling him closer even as Bajie gives a loud "WHOOP!" from behind you, resting your head on his chest and following him into another pattern of steps.

And if you whisper those same words back to him later in the dark of the night...well, the only witness would be the full moon, it's heavenly glow blessing your first kiss.

[sanguineterrain]

Hiii i love your writing SO much💕, you're so good with the characterization of the boys it's crazy. I was wondering if I could request a second part of your dick x assistant fic?

thanks sm! i surely can deliver a 2nd part of these two :3 pt 2 to this.

dick grayson x gn!rogue!reader. flirting, canon typical violence, reader being a brat teehee! all fics are rb to @sanguinelibrary

****

This coffee shop is packed.

Normally, you'd say 'fuck it' and just go without caffeine. But you've stayed late for three nights in a row, and Bruce requested coffee ten minutes ago.

And because you work for the local billionaire, you have to buy from the expensive, organic, ridiculously priced coffee shop across town.

The cashier looks up. "Next?"

You step forward in relief, opening your mouth to recite the order you memorized a year ago, when a man cuts you off.

Oh, hell no.

"Hey, what the hell is your problem?" you ask, patience finally snapping. The four people behind you also express their anger at the offending cutter.

He turns around, and suddenly you're looking into blue, blue eyes. Dick smiles apologetically.

"Sorry." He turns. "Sorry, everyone! Everyone's coffee is on me."

That soothes the line completely, and a few even clap. You, however, are unamused.

"I've never seen you in this coffee shop," you say, folding your arms as Dick gets out his wallet.

"Really? I'm here all the time," he says easily. He points to you. "I'll order for them as well."

God. He thinks he can just flash his pretty smile and have you eating out of his—

"...And can I get that with no foam? Thank you," Dick says, finishing the order. He pulls out his card. "D'you mind if I pay ahead for everybody here in line?"

The cashier, predictably, is absolutely dazzled by Gotham's pretty prince, their eyes big and awed. They nod as Dick puts four fifty dollar bills in the tip jar.

"I just wanna say that that was so great, what you did for those kids in the hospital last week," the cashier says. "I live in Blüdhaven, and you're definitely our hero. I mean, wow. Between you and me? You outshine your dad, too."

Dick laughs and hands them another fifty. "Well, someone's gotta keep him sharp, right? You have a good day, okay?"

You stand there blankly until someone behind you says, "You gonna move or what?"

Gotham. City of manners.

You leave the line and walk to the pick-up area, where Dick is chatting with another customer. Good God.

"What was that?" you ask, not caring if you're interrupting.

The lady chatting up Dick begins to protest, but Dick quickly soothes her, apologizing profusely. She leaves.

Dick turns to you, cocking his head. "Hi. What was what?"

"I had to order Mr. Wayne's coffee, too. And mine! What did you even order?"

"I got both of yours," Dick says. He holds out a brown pastry bag. "And I got you a white chocolate raspberry muffin."

"I hate those," you lie.

Dick's face falls, crinkling the bag. "Oh. I thought... uh, sorry. Someone said you..."

You're suddenly hyper-aware of what a jerk you're being. What has Dick done to you, besides be a nice guy?

It's just... you know you should be wary. No guy is this nice and polite and pays for coffee and compliments your laptop stickers and laughs at your jokes and doesn't also have a secret. Dick probably goes American Psycho on the weekends, or does pig's blood sacrifices in his basement. Rich people are weirdos.

He did buy you coffee, though. And a muffin.

"Actually. Sorry. I, uh, thought you said something else. I do like those. Thanks." You take the bag.

Dick perks up. "You're welcome."

You eat the muffin, mildly humiliated but extremely hungry.

"Order for Dick?"

The barista slides a cardboard cupholder with three drinks. He smiles at Dick.

"Hey, man. Nice to see ya! Thanks for the save."

Dick waves his hand. "No trouble at all, Darryl. Take care!"

"And how do you know him?" you ask, following Dick to the creamer station. "Or are you going to tell me it's because you're in here all the time even though I've never seen you here once?"

"Okay, you got me," Dick says, smiling sheepishly. "I don't come here. I know that guy 'cause I found his dog. And saved him from a mugging. Nice guy. He's getting married in November."

"He invited you to his wedding?"

"Yeah! Not sure if I can make it, though, which is too bad. They're having it at the Botanical Gardens. I've always wanted to go there."

"What—" You stop, looking down at the cups. One is Dick's iced caramel mocha, one is Bruce's hot black coffee, and the third is your exact order. "How do you know what I order?"

Dick shrugs. "Just noticed when you bring it to work."

You thought Dick couldn't say what he eats for breakfast, much less what you eat.

"Do you stalk me?" you ask.

"What, no! I don't stalk you. I'm just... observant."

"That's exactly what a stalker would say."

"I would never stalk you." Dick raises his right hand. "Scout's honor."

"I doubt you were ever a scout," you mumble, fixing your own drink.

"You're right. I actually got kicked out of Boy Scouts. I wanted to be a Girl Scout 'cause of the cookies. My little brother was a Scout, though. Got an Honor medal. Never let me forget it."

You turn from the counter, suddenly remembering your exasperation. "Mr. Grayson—"

"Dick! Or Dickie, if you prefer. Why won't you call me Dick?"

"Because it's unprofessional," you say frostily, sipping your drink. "You're my boss' son. And I'm not calling you Dickie."

Dick leans against the counter. "But we're friends now, remember?"

"I don't think I ever agreed to that."

"Pretty sure you did! I have an excellent memory."

You sigh. "Just—"

The TV blares loudly, 'Special Report' popping up on screen.

"And in a shocking turn of events, Brendon Sommer was found dead in his apartment this morning, just two days before his trial. D.A. Colson says this is a tragedy but insists that neither he nor the police suspect foul play. Sommer was a key eyewitness to the Maroni case..."

"What the fuck?" you burst.

No. No way. You had him.

Dick squints at the TV. "This doesn't make any sense."

"Yeah, no shit! Colson is fucking guilty! That had to come out in the trial!"

He raises his brows. "I... didn't know you were following this case so closely."

Shit. Too much. Dial it back.

You fold your arms. "No, I mean, I'm not. Well, I am, but... it's just that Sommer was an assistant, so it's personal to me. The lowest rungs on the ladder are always getting stuck in the shit."

Dick's eyes turn soft and sympathetic. "Yeah. That's true. He was only trying to protect his boss."

Fat lot of good that did him. Those Fortune 500 hotshots are all the same.

You wonder what Nightwing thinks of all of this. You're sure he's full of righteous fury at Sommer's death, but what good can that do? You were at least trying to stop more little people from getting stepped on.

"I have to go," you say, taking your drink. "I have, uh..."

"Work?" Dick offers.

"Yes. Right. Work." You nod. "Thanks for the... and the... you're really, um—you didn't have to—"

Dick grins. "It's no trouble at all. I'd buy you coffee every day if you'd let me."

Seriously, what is wrong with him?

You can't manage anything but an awkward wave in response, bumping into the shop door on your way out.

You're going to the coffee shop by your apartment next time. You doubt Bruce is lucid enough to know the difference.

****

Beeeeep! Beeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeep!

You wince as the museum alarm goes off. You have maybe two minutes before the cops get here. Inept as they are, you don't want to have to slip out of handcuffs.

Hopefully, he gets here before you...

"I thought stealing diamonds wasn't your thing."

Nightwing lands three feet away from you and the display case with the special ruby on display at the Gotham Museum.

The ruby that's now in your hand.

"It's not. Diamonds are overrated. Rubies, however..."

You toss him the ruby. Nightwing catches it one-handed.

"I don't..." He sighs. "Did you do this to get my attention?"

"Not like I can look you up in the phone book, Wing Ding," you say, strutting past him. "C'mon, we have about a minute before the cops show."

Nightwing grabs your arm. "I don't think so. I have you on two counts of breaking and entering and falsified evidence."

"Wing, baby, you'd have me even if I didn't do all that," you say, patting his arm. "And as much fun as it is to be apprehended by you, I can't play with you tonight. We have serious business."

He presses his lips together, and you watch him fight the battle between doing what's right and what's good.

He finally exhales through his nose and puts the ruby back. Which is fine. The diamond necklace you swiped before he came is safely in your pocket. Just because they're overrated doesn't mean you don't have rent to pay.

"Let's go," he says, stalking out of the museum.

You happily bounce after him. "Oh, Wing, I knew you liked me! Am I your favorite thief with a heart of gold? Be honest. I can tell when you're lying."

"You certainly keep things interesting," he says, leading you up a fire escape and onto a rooftop.

"Why, Wing," you say, skipping behind him. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. I'm choked! I'm touched!"

Nightwing stops and turns, hands on his hips.

"I don't feel good about letting you go, so start talking. What happened with Colson?"

You sober at the mention. "I swear, I don't know. He was supposed to be arrested. I laid it all out."

"You turned him to the cops?"

"Yes. I had no choice. Somebody didn't want to help me bring Colson in."

"The way you were doing it was illegal," Nightwing says.

"Yeah, well, Colson's free and Sommer's dead, so it doesn't really matter, does it?" you snap. "I couldn't even get Colson before killing Sommer."

Nightwing steps forward, frowning. "Hey. His death isn't your fault."

"No? Because I could've done anything to make sure Colson got what he deserves, and they got Sommer anyway."

You take a deep breath. You can't get worked up now. Nightwing is a resource you can use to get Colson.

"Why do you care so much about this case anyway?" he asks.

"Because Sommer gave everything, and he was still disposable. That's how all of us little folk are treated. We're just bricks in the wall."

Nightwing tilts his head. "You're including yourself in this analogy?"

Whoops. You shouldn't be giving personal information away. Dammit. How is he so good at putting your defenses down?

"Well, I do have a life outside of this, Wing."

"Really? I don't," he says, grinning.

"No? Not even a special someone?"

"Hm. No comment."

You try not to deflate at that. "Well, anyway, Colson needs to go down. He can't get away with this."

"The circumstances certainly implicate him. But we have no evidence that he was involved in Sommer's death."

You perk up. "We?"

A sigh. "I suppose we can work together, considering the time you've invested into this case. But I have rules," he says.

You grin. "Sure, Batboy. I'll go slow since it's your first time."

He ignores you. "My first rule is that you can't commit any more crimes."

"What!" you say. "But I'm so good at them!"

"Number two is that we have to do things my way, by the book. We can't rely on illegally-obtained evidence. I will help you with every resource I have, but we have to be good and honest about it."

"You're stifling me already, Golden Boy," you say, spinning around him. "Where's your sense of whimsy and joy?"

"I left it at home. Are we clear?"

You stop and heave a dramatic sigh.

"I guess. Are you really dating someone?"

Nightwing scoffs. "Is this you telling me that you're interested?"

"Well, yes. I can fight, by the way. I'll fight for you, babe."

He smiles. "Eh. They're feisty. They can probably fight better than you."

"Ouch! Who's this challenger? Can they promise a dowry of more than five goats and three cows?"

Nightwing laughs a real laugh. You beam at the sound.

"What would I do with goats and cows?" he asks.

"I dunno. Build a farm, I guess."

"I have to build a farm, too? Sounds like a lot of work."

"Marriage is hard work, Wing!"

"Sorry, my heart belongs to someone else."

"I'll court you, yet. I'm an excellent chef. I'll bring us grilled cheeses next time," you say.

He shakes his head, but his posture is relaxed. "You're unbelievable. Really. Criminal, but..."

"I reject the label of criminal. I prefer 'independent contractor.' Or 'director of joy and whimsy.'"

"Okay, Director. No more breaking into museums," he says.

"But how will I get your attention, O Wise and Beautiful?"

Nightwing gets close, breath fanning your cheek. His hand rests on your back. He tilts his head like he's... like he's gonna—

Your heart stutters.

"You've already got it," he murmurs, tongue resting between his teeth. "Meet me here on Friday. Oh, and..."

Nightwing holds up the diamond necklace you took on a single finger. Your eyes widen.

"How did you—"

He grins. "You wouldn't want these, anyway—they're overrated, remember?" Nightwing shoots his grappling gun to the opposite roof and swings away. "Have a good night!"

You watch as he disappears beyond the skyline. You try to muster anger or regret for getting caught and losing the diamonds, but you can't. If anything's criminal, it's that damn smile of his.

God. You are so screwed.

[kayhi808]

First Crush - 7

It took forever to get Abby down for her nap. She was too excited about Bucky coming over today. You can't lie, you're a little excited too. It feels like an important step is being made. You've invited him into your sanctuary. You switched up the menu to a roasted chicken. He ruined the idea of spaghetti & meatballs with his guts & eyeball comment. Roast chicken was a better idea, you can just throw it in the oven & enjoy the movie with them.

Looking around the living room to see if there was something you missed. You threw Abby's toys in a basket & pushed it to the side, so at least the living room looked a little neat. You had on shorts & a peasant top. A little dressier for staying home, but you wanted to look good for Bucky.

"Mama?" You hear her footsteps running down the hall. "Mama?"

"Yes?"

"Where Bucky?" She looks around frowning. "I'm all done sleeping."

Bucky texted just a little bit ago saying he was getting near. "Pretty soon. He's on his way over right now. Let's brush your hair & put on a clean tshirt. We can wait for him downstairs.

*****

You and Abby wait on the stoop, singing songs she learned at daycare. There's a rumble of a motorcycle turning the corner that catches your attention. Of course he would own a bike. Your forehead wrinkles watching him pull in between the 2 cars parked out front. He looks sexy as hell, but you should have learned your lesson with Jason. Abby is jumping up & down clapping her hands watching Bucky take off his helmet. You have a hand on her arm keeping her away.

"How's my favorite girl?" Bucky smiles up at Abby as she pulls away from you & launches herself off the stairs at him. You're terrified that the daredevil gene will end up getting Abby hurt one day.

"ABBY!" Bucky easily catches her & hugs her to him. He sees the anger on your face and sets her down. "Abigail," turning her face towards you, "Don't you ever pull away from me like that. You know you aren't supposed to jump down the stairs."

"It's ok, Mama. Bucky catch me."

"No. No, it's not ok. What if he didn't?"

"I think you scared your Mama, Abby. Maybe you should say you're sorry." You see a stubborn frown on her face before she said she's sorry & you nod & kiss her brow. You stand up to face Bucky who looks concerned & bends down to kiss your cheek and whisper, "You ok?" He gives you an identical kiss to the brow that you gave Abby.

Nodding, "Nice bike."

"It's easier to find street parking," he shrugs. That makes perfect sense, but why does it still bother you? You shake off that thought & give him a smile.

Abby slips her hand in his, "Cans I ride it with you?"

"Absolutely not."

Bucky picks Abby up, "Let's listen to Mama, huh?"

"She's going to give me a heart attack.' You lead Bucky upstairs to your apartment. Abby has already switched topics & talking a mile a minute.

Once inside, Bucky opens his backpack & brings out 2 pints of ice cream, which brings a smile to your lips. Shyly, "I didn't know what flavor to get."

"Didn't know what would go well with guts & eyeballs? I switched to roast chicken by the way." He laughs & nods. "These are perfect. Abby, look what Bucky brought for dessert."

"Strawberry is my favorite! How yous know?"

Shrugging, "Lucky guess."

"Bucky, yous want to play toys in my room?"

"Um..."

"Baby, remember we were going to watch a movie. I'm going to make popcorn right now. Maybe you and Bucky can look for a movie instead."

"Oh yea! Come, Bucky." She tugs on his hand.

"What do you want to drink? I got iced tea, water, soda, juice...."

"Iced tea?"

"Mama, cans I has juice, please?"

"Yes, ma'am. One ice tea, one juice."

You put the chicken potato veggies in the oven. Pop some popcorn. Get their beverages and bring it to the living room. You find Bucky wearing a plastic lei and holding Pua, the pig from Moana, on his lap. Your jaw drops but you quickly take out your phone and snap a picture of him glaring at you. "Abby, where are you?"

You hear her feet running down the hallway, "I'm here, Mama!" She has a lei on & hula skirt. "I had to gives Bucky your lei."

"That's fine, Baby. It looks good on him."

Nodding, "So pretty!" She runs out again.

"Abby! What are you doing? The movie is going to start." You turn to Bucky who looks a little shell shocked. You straighten his lei. "You look good."

You hear Abby running back and now she's added on a tiara, "Ok, Mama! Puts yours on." She climbs on the couch and places one on Bucky. "There."

"That's perfect, Baby. Let's take a picture." Standing on the couch next to Bucky, she wraps her arms around him squishing her cheek up against his. "Nice! Say cheese! Smile, Buck." Then you sit on his other side and get a selfie of the 3 of you.

"Lemme see, please." Abby takes your phone and squeals. "Good work, Mama! We so pretty!" She plops down next to Bucky, "Okies, I'm ready for the movie."

You play "Moana", one of Abby's favorites so she's zoned out singing every song. Doing little dances. Bucky takes the opportunity to wrap his arm around you pulling you close. Whispering, "If you send those pics to anyone on the team, I will end you."

Next Chapter

@waywardhunter95 @rebeccapineapple @ordelixx @onceithough @crazyunsexycool @thezombieprostitute @ilovetaquitosmmmm @julvrs @unaxv @s-a-v-a-n-a-34 @winterslove1917 @ozwriterchick @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 @mrsnikstan @hisredheadedgoddess28 @itsteambarnes @otterlycanadian @enchantedbarnes @purplecolordeer @samsgirl93 @buckitostan @blackbirdwitch22

[1hoverman0k]

Bigs dont even clap. Pigs cant smile and they dont clap either

[professorfcknmoriarty]

Best of Sam/Evan 2024 Fic Recs

Home is not a place words: 33,711 (bioloyg)

Much like the magic they sought out to understand, this thing between Sam and Evan is both new and very, very old. What was once an amorphous well of love and trust has split into its constituent parts for examination. Only, Evan isn’t sure that he wants to examine it. As the age old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. ~ “You cool, or am I gonna have to put you in an arm bar again?” T2 snorts, a somewhat disaffected sound. Evan gets the sense that he just said the equivalent of, “You could try.” Evan huffs and squats so that they’re on the same plain. Sort of. “Look, I’m gonna be living here for an unspecified amount of time, which means we’ll be seeing each other on a pretty regular basis.” He’s met with a blank look that communicates something to the effect of, “Yeah… and?” “So,” Evan begins pointedly, “We’re gonna have to find a way to get along. For Sam’s sake.” If it weren’t for her, he’d be fine beefing with this teacup pig for the rest of his natural life. T2 takes a moment, his tail flicking as he considers this. He lifts his head with an air of finality, which Evan takes as his cue to continue. “Truce?” Evan tries. “At least temporarily.”

Show me your scars, and I'll show you my heart words: 2,525 (bioloyg)

An unofficial follow up to Home is not a place ~ She loves his smile. It makes her heart do funny things. When it was rare, Sam could rationalize the response, but now that they come more freely, she’s forced to sit with the fact that she loves Evan. She may even be in love with him, though she has no way of knowing without something to compare the feeling to. That was scarier a year ago than it is now. She knows Evan won’t fault her for taking the time to figure it out on her own.

Our Rituals of Care words: 39,174 (WIP) (Vee (Vera_DragonMuse))

The unpredictable and unconscious workings of new magic weave their way through the Pilot Program and suffuses their lives with warmth.

Tender Ferocity: The Founders in the Early Days of New Magic (2024-2027) words: 12,655 (Vee (Vera_DragonMuse))

Thank you for attending the opening of Tender Ferocity. We value your membership to the Boodle-Stitchnit Museum of Magic History and in thanks for your continued support, this guidebook has been included with no additional cost. It provides replications of all the works on display, in-depth image descriptions, additional information, and transcriptions where needed. The exhibit will run through the end of December 2253.

Even though we're miles apart, we're each other's destiny words: 9,280 (godhashealed)

Sam finally gets Evan to go to a party. *** “You should bring Evan to one of your parties” Their face is beaming with mischief reflecting Sam’s disbelief at the nature of their question. Sam muses for a moment before ultimately coming back to reality “I don’t think Evan would have fun at the parties I go to, maybe a gala…I’m already planning to ask him about one of those so I can surprise him with Davey” K makes a buzzer noise with their mouth and frowns. “Cmonnnnnnnn you don’t know unless you ask. And he never says no to you .”

Seegenpelater words: 6,041 (Aryn)

“Okay,” Sam says, leaning back to sit on her knees and clap her hands on her thighs. “I know it’s late, but I’m calling an Honesty Hour. That alright with you?”

“Can’t think of a better time to do it,” Evan says with a shrug.

“Is there any part of you that is disappointed I didn’t seek out Seegenpelater after the Qohlye denied me, even if their magic was better suited for me?”

Or: Sam has a nightmare, and has a long-overdue chat with Evan about it.

a reason for dreaming words: 5,337 (cigfigs)

Sam and Evan have been dating for a while now, and they've honestly never been happier. But there's one thing that Sam has never liked, and Evan's on a quest to mend that wound. He's successful, but not quite in the way he expects. Can be read as a follow-up to 'heaven is not fit to house a love like you and i' but again is not a necessary read to understand! It's basically just smut. Soooo, enjoy!

would it be so bad? Words: 4,006 (rramfx)

“Would you like to sit with me?” She asked, quieter than she’d been. The man shook his head, taking a step back. “I would hate to impose, I’ve already ruined some of your garden, I would hate for more to die because of me.” “You said you want to see my flowers up close. The ones closest to me will not die.” “How can you be sure?” Sam thought for a moment. “Would it be so bad if they did?” --- obligatory hades and persephone retelling because it's LITERALLY evan and saM

heaven was not fit to house a love like you and i words: 4,051 (cigfigs)

Sam and Evan spend a sleepy morning in each other's arms and reflect on the effects their relationship has had on their personalities and feelings and who they have become. somewhat of a character study. sort of an epilogue follow-up to 'i'm yours and thats it. forever' but can be read as a standalone as it doesn't really reference anything from earlier. if read as an epilogue, it is set several months later :)

but i'll be there next time words: 1,112 (kermit_coded)

"I'm looking for a reason to have a sofa."

The Smallest of Hopes words: 3,975 (lavbeebear)

Evan is a creature more designed for paranoia than for hope, it's only in recent years that these instincts have lead him astray and he's been forced to try and learn to wrangle them. Starting as quickly as their post-mission meal at Nandos Evan finds himself unable to believe that the goodness can stick even when he beats the fearful monster inside of himself as fiercely as he can. Evan is an animal surrounded by people who love him with and through his many fears, and as they prepare to go their separate ways Evan tries to hold onto his very fragile hope. Or: post-canon angst about Evan and his tape box of hope, his fears about authority and his need to protect his friends while struggling to verbalize what he needs to feel protected but just this once people are getting it right for him

Watching Somone Lose Their Mind words: 1,221 (lavbeebear)

Sam is trying very hard to keep everyone on track and everyone around her is losing their grip on reality, it is all a puzzle that can be solved though. It's all fine and normal a kind of thing to worry about but something easily moved on from until Sam saves the day and unmakes her friends with one simple turn of phrase. Or: Sometimes you accidentally make your friend say a lot of things and you think really hard about how you would do anything for him to always feel good

I want a reason to buy a sofa. words: 1,741 (pengblackgirlorjustlexi)

Evan invites Sam to his studio and they have pre-sofa conversations.

Feeling Someone Find You words: 2,507 (lavbeebear)

They've saved the world but now Evan's run away again to escape the burden of his wanting that he throws on other's shoulders. He is only trouble, too much work and only something that other's are forced to carry until they can throw him aside. He must finish the task, try and right the many wrongs he's put upon the world. Impossible to do, worse if he doesn't try. Perhaps one day he will be good enough. Enter Sam: who simply will not stand for that and will put to rest her dearest's many worries about the weight of his wanting and the joy of being able to provide someone with rest.

Holding on So Tightly words: 1,811 (lavbeebear)

Sam has been tearing herself up with worry, something inside her knowing that something is wrong with Evan. It's probably a childish assumption, even despite their recent reunion the distance that has stretched between them in the years since they were young cannot be ignored. So many things, said and ignored had been added to the turmoil in-between them and it's very possible that this isn't Evan running away from the world and condemning himself to isolation, perhaps he is simply removing her from his life. She still can't shake the worry though and when Evan's shadow appears in her room she knows her childlike and foolish instincts were correct.

a soft place to land words: 1,126 (infinitelactose)

She hummed to herself as she poured heaped teaspoons of instant coffee into their respective mugs. It struck him then, as he watched her, that she was beautiful, which he had always known, sure, but - well, it had been a fact of life, not something that he felt. Until recently. Sam was his friend, his best friend. He loved her desperately, more and more each day he had known her. She made him happy. Happier than anything. So why was he crying? * a little domestic fluff. evan just wants a soft place to land.

What Fits words: 2,059 (Observing_Stellar_Motion)

You want that Sam/Evan kiss? You're getting the Sam/Evan kiss! You're just also getting a fun conversation between them as a postmortem on the whole season and a debrief on the current state of reality in the world of MisMag. But also they kiss.

you're mine and that's it. forever. words: 12,809 (cigfigs)

Sam and Evan love each other. This is a fact of life as undeniable as the existence of humans. But what is more easily denied is how deeply the love runs between them, and what that could mean for these two. This is the story of how two incredibly worried and stubborn people learn to let themselves have what they so greatly want, and find exactly what they need in the meantime. Not without tripping over some cracks in the road on the way, though. Obviously.

You're Evan, all that other stuff doesn't even hold a candle. words: 1,302 (pengblackgirlorjustlexi)

Friday night cuddles and just because presents made and given with love.

dangle on the leash of your longing words: 2,457 (HeartHarps)

And in the throes of Sam holding and handling him with the drive of her mouth, he felt soft leather slip around his throat. The clasp deftly fastened. Fingers sneaking underneath to test the tightness. When Sam broke the kiss, some metal component jingled quietly. Evan’s eyes fluttered open, and as he stared up at Sam, registered the full feeling of the collar now around his neck.

Be my Evan Kelmp. words: 1,906 (pengblackgirlorjustlexi)

The moment we've been waiting for, more quiet evenings and subtle romance. We love to see it.

Gift exchange words: 739 (Inkwellsandfeathers)

Evan isn't sure what to get Sam as a gift for Christmas, Sam loves it regardless.

Updated to add (and disappointed in myself for losing):

Denial is a River words: 9,142(WIP) (godhashealed)

What if the pilot program met up again for a different reason and not to save magic????

*i've always loved fic rec posts bc they make it so much easier to emerse yourself in a pairing, so I decided to do one myself

**does not encompass all Sam/Evan fics currently available and posted. these are just some of my favourites

***these are arranged in no specific order

****I did not include any fics that are pilotcule or include other ships as this is an entirely Sam/Evan relationship focused list

*****if one of these is yours, and you'd rather stay off fic rec lists send me a message, and I'll remove it

[tinaswampdweller]

I decided to court the King of Curses

Sukuna x Reader

A Short Fluffy Drabble

-Sukuna being a little tsundere and ooc, unedited and a little choppy

“Flowers? Are you serious?” The pink haired boy said incredulously, eyebrow cocked in a judging manner.

“Yes, flowers, Yuji. They’re for him, obviously.” Comes my snappy reply as I fiddle with the flowers, adjusting the arrangement.

Yuji shakes his head in disbelief, an exasperated look present on his face.

“Knowing him, he’ll probably tear them apart. With his teeth. Definitely with his teeth.” He says with an assured nod. I frown at his assumption.

“Well, I don’t care. It’s the thought that counts. Now shut up and switch with him for a minute!” I gesture wildly with my hand. Yuji’s mouth dropped, his offended expression almost caused me to snort.

“You’re seriously a piece of work, is that why you begged me to come over? To see your freak of a crush? Is this gonna be an everyday thing now?” I rolled my eyes at him, shoulders slumped as he continued to lecture me.

“Well, yes. Now hurry! Switch! I’ll keep my seal on you so he shouldn’t be able to move around too much.” I sit up quickly, excitedly clapping my hands together.

Yuji huffed, eyes rolling in annoyance before succumbing to my request. There’s a noticeable beat of silence, the air in my room gradually becoming colder and electric. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck raise.

“You’ve got it bad, kid. But I already told you I don’t fuck sorcerers and I definitely don’t fuck girls like you.” Came his gravelly voice, juxtaposed by Yuji’s sweet and youthful face. A face that was now sporting narrowed, empty eyes, a truly unreadable expression present on his face.

I huffed at his words, a sharp pout forming in my face. I placed my hands on my hips.

“Girls like me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I yelled, offended by his insinuation.

“I’m smart. I’m pretty. I’m a really good catch actually.” I continue, puffing my chest out proudly.

“It’s a little desperate don’t you think, trying to coax me out with flowers, dressing in clothes you think will catch my eye. It’s not gonna save you, or the kid. Just will make the deaths more satisfying actually.” Sukuna retorted dryly with a disapproving look bordering on judgemental.

“Well, until then. You and I are gonna enjoy our little five minute dates together each day.” Ignoring his attempt at hurting my feelings, I grab the previously dropped bouquet from the bed and hold them out in front of him. A cheery smile stretched on my face.

“Anyways here’s your flowers, and I brought something for you to eat. Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s just pig meat, but it’s apparently the closest thing to what you’re into.” I explained in a matter of factly manner.

“Acting like a wife when I haven’t even given you a ring yet.”

I inhaled sharply, eyes peeled in shock.

“…”

“Don’t-” he started with a glare.

“Yet! You said yet right? Oh my god, Yuji he said yet! Oh my god, oh my god! Thank you lord!” I gushed out excitedly. My hands were clasped together and raised high to ceiling. Before he could backtrack, the words had already penetrated my ears and now my heart. ‘If only Yuji was here maybe I could fangirl with him, though realistically he wouldn’t care.’ I was starry eyed and bouncing giddily on the bed.

“I’m not marrying an annoying girl like you, rather live in this brat forever than bound myself to you.” Snapped the curse angrily, his glare penetrating deeply into my form as he watched my antics.

“Your brain says that but your heart says what it feels without thinking. Don’t be coy with me, I’m basically the king of curses’ fiancé. What would Gojo think?” I question with a thoughtful look.

“It doesn’t matter what that incompetent twit thinks. He’s the last person I’d look to for approval..”

“Well, anyways, my mother’s really kind, she’d approve no matter what.” I change the subject immediately, picturing my lawyer mother who was always smiling at anyone even if they were terrible criminals. There was no doubt in my mind that she would have no problem with Sukuna.

“A family of people pleasers, my heir will truly be the weakest link.”

“Did you just-”

“Don’t.”

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

My tears ricochet

Next chapter

summary: There are thunder clouds in the horizon that threaten Eris’s chance of being a high lord. Rhys strikes a deal. The only thing left to find out now is who gets out of this deal alive?

warning: death, blood, enemies to lovers, fighting, forced arrangements, talk of marriage of convenience.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Things were changing in Prythian. With the length of fea lives, high lords didn’t change often. But when the shift did happen, it was as if someone were to open a beast's belly, and suddenly everyone was on the fence; the territory was for grabs, and others could gain something from the new weaker high lord until the power fully settled in him.

“I’ll need you with me tonight," Rhys said, slowly swirling his drink in the glass. The tension could be felt in all the courts, but Rhys had been deep in his thoughts ever since the news about the new high lord had circled. “You’re in a mood to kill the new high lord of autumn already?", you mussed, making Cassian let out a snort. You had lost the number of meetings that had been held in the past week alone. And while you didn’t like Eris, a small part of you couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him. On one hand, this, no doubt, had to be a relief. To know that the world was no longer tarnished by Beron. But the responsibility was still hard to carry all alone.

“A diplomatic meeting," Rhys clarified, making you roll your eyes, “That can be changed real quick with a dagger." But you could see the plea in his eyes. And something else. An emotion you couldn’t quite grasp. It had been there for a couple of days now. It was hazy at first, while Rhys was still contemplating it all in his head. Now, however, it was set and done, leaving a trail of unease in your gut when you caught a glimpse of it.

“I need you." You were not sure what exactly those words implied. Knowing how fond you and Eris were of one another, it was as if Rhys had planned a civil war to break out in the autumn. Unless he needed Eris to decline whatever offer Rhys was going to propose, and you were just the thing for that, “Fine, I’ll be there," you huffed, bringing the glass to your lips. Even if you knew that not even booze could make a meeting like that bearable, "I can't wait to see Eris’s face when you walk in." Azriel’s low voice filled the room, followed by Cassian’s chuckle. “You enjoy his misery way too much, Az," you said, shaking your head with a smile. “What can I say? I’m a simple man," the spymaster smiled before downing his drink.

Eris had been dreaming of this day since the moment he realized that this brutality would only end when Beron was six feet, make it ten so the bastard wouldn’t have a chance of crowning out, below. One thing he didn’t take into consideration was that the new power would rip at him from within. Leaving him quite shaky and restless. Not to mention that he didn’t have anyone to guard his back. His younger brothers were all corrupted by his father to be of any help at all.

“Apologies for your loss once again," Beron’s right-hand man clapped Eris’s shoulder. "The council will miss Beron’s presence," the other added sympathetically. No doubt, Eris thought. All the males in this room had been fed like pigs out of the same hod for decades. And Beron fed them well with promises that were never truly delivered. “But we do not doubt you, Eris," and here was the silent warning that they expected the same treatment from the oldest Vanserra. No doubt already able to sniff out Eris’s plans on wiping the council out. “Yet we are here to guide you if..." “If that’s all, I would like to end the meeting," Eris said, raising his hand. The yapping of these old men had drilled the last bit of sanity out of him today. With a flow of “Of course, of course," and “our apologies for holding you up," Eris watched them pick up their scrolls as they hurried out of the room.

The moment the door closed, Eris let out a deep sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. Exhausted. He was just so exhausted. If only he could sleep at night. To just… “You looked like a fox kicked by a hunter," Eris opened his eyes to the sound of a familiar voice. "Lucien, my patience is running low tonight." It came out harsher than Eris intended. He was glad that Lucien had agreed to listen in on the meetings in general. He didn’t have to. But Eris had no one to turn to. “This wasn’t that bad of a meeting," the youngest Vanserra said, pulling out a chair for himself. The meeting had barely touched on serious topics. Council had tried to swing the chatter to that, but Eris had fully focused on the food supplies and growing stock.

"Would be better if you came back to stand by my side fully," Eris pressed once more. While a part of him understood Lucien's choice, another was bitter that every offer had been declined. “You know I have duties elsewhere," Lucien replied like he had ever since Beron died. “This is home," Eris pointed out, fingers drumming against the table. Their eyes met, and Eris knew Lucien’s next words before they had even touched his lips. “This was never my home," he stated with a shake of his head.

Eris knew that, it clawed at him that Lucien had been out there, going from court to court. At the time, it felt like the best choice. To take him away from all of this. To make sure that no hits, whether physical or emotional, were ever directed at him.

“How’s mother?", Lucien cut the silence upon the two brothers. "She would have happily danced on his grave if she had a chance," Eris mussed. Both brothers couldn’t help but smile. It was crazy to think that she was finally free. No more playing pretend. Their mother was finally a free woman who could do anything she wanted. And even if it hurt to admit it, Eris knew that she too wouldn’t stay back home with him. Her heart had been elsewhere for decades already.

“Why are you still here, Lucien?" Even if Eris loved having Lucien back, he knew too well that he didn’t just linger to be there. There had to be a reason. “Can’t I come over to spend quality time?" Lucien smirked right as Eris cut him off mid-sentence, “Cut the bullshit." And here they were, back at square one. With all the real emotion swept beneath the masks they have been wearing, “Rhys wants to meet with you tonight." Eris let out a deep sigh at Lucien's words. He just didn’t have it in him to go through one more toying session today. “He has valid suggestions," Lucien reassured his older brother. “He can shove them right up his ass," Eris pushed back his chair, turning to pour himself another drink. “Eris, hear him out. You need allies now; you need recognition," there was truth in Lucien’s words. Even if the times were changing, some old rules still applied, even if Eris didn’t plan to rule by the textbook his father had created. But there were still things he couldn’t escape. “I’ve already made a name for myself, Lucien; they know what to expect," Eris stated bitterly. Not daring to look back. Not daring to meet his brother’s eyes.

Swallowed by the never-ending piles of work, Eris had lost track of time. Only the footsteps that sounded down the hall made him halt as he lifted his head. Listening. “Of fucking hell," Eris muttered. All the fibers in his body twisted. Because he knew. Knew without seeing. Knew it deep within his gut. "Joy and cheer!", your voice echoed as you opened the door to Eris’s study. The devilish grin shone across your face. "Hello, kitten," you mussed up at him. Cassian was grinning, barely holding back a laugh. Even Azriel ran a hand over his mouth to hide his smile. Eris slowly gazed up at Rhys, “I would have offered you to sit, but since you brought that malice with you..." his eyes darted back at you. Looking you up and down in that profound, unimpressed expression of his. Even if deep blue had always been your color. No one wore it better than you did in Eris’s eyes.

“Oh, because you’re such a cuddly bun," you purred, crossing your arms over your chest. "Y/n," Rhys stated firmly, glaring your way. You let out a huff, “Not my problem; he has his nickers in a twist." You pointed at Eris, who pinched the bridge of his nose, “Lord forbid... I have no time for this. You know where to find the exit." Motioning with his hand, the oldest Vanserra gestured to the door. Already turning away to leave.

"Eris, at least let me make a proposition," Rhys insisted, stepping forward before glancing back at you, “And you sit." The order was degrading, at least. Like a youngster being scolded. "I'm not your lap dog," you grumbled, eyebrows knitted. “You sure look like one," Eris muttered under his breath, making you gasp.

You were about to give him a piece of your mind when Rhys cut in, “There’s unease among the high lords." Eris blinked a couple of times. The low lights were doing no favors for his already paler skin. "Rhys, you either tell me something I don’t know or you leave," the high lord sighed with tiredness. He had heard it all before. And one more conversation about this might end up being the reason why Eris was going to drop dead himself. Rhys stood silent for a moment before uttering, “They want to make a vote; they deem you not fit to rule until they know how Beron died."

And for the first time that night, Eris’s eyes were truly forced on Rhys. A new layer of tension lined his shoulders. “What?" he muttered beneath his breath. “They are planning to hold a meeting without you." Now those words cut Eris deep. That same wound Beron cut open over and over again. You’ll never be good enough. Do you think you could ever sit among them? With me gone, you will be nothing in their eyes. “That’s nonsense; I have a right to be informed about this." Eris gripped the edge of the table. A flame of anger rekindled deep within.

“You need alliances and show them that you have it under control," Rhys pointed out, no doubt having gone through all of that himself. In some ways, “I do have it under control," Eris snarled bitterly. “Well, reports say otherwise," Rhys noted, pointing at the reports in his hand. Eris’s eyes skim over the text with urgency. “Look… I’m offering you help”. Rhys's voice died down.

That same sense of chill ran down your back. It was as if something from deep within was warning you that this was way more serious than you had thought. Eris shook his head as he read. Almost all of the high lords were in on it. There were no direct threats there, but the implications were obvious.

“Marry Y/N," and the room died down for a moment. The silence was so intense that the ringing in your ears nearly made you hold onto your head. “What?”, You both breathed in unison before your eyes fell upon one another. One heartbeat. Two. “Hell no", “Over my dead body," both of your declines fell one after the other.

"Eris, you know how the council runs and how they are about the business. You need to make public appearances. You need someone by your side," and Rhys had a point. If most courts had moved on from council power, Beron had held onto them for dear life. They fed his power. Stopped the fires of rebellion for him. And now their way was Eris’s people's way. “I sure as hell don’t need that leech," Eris said in frustration. “Hey, word choice," Azriel pointed a finger his way, making the frown on Eris’s face even deeper. “I’m not marrying that monster," you hissed.

“I would once again suggest you look at yourself," Eris grumbled back, running his hand over his face. But you were done with him. He could go to hell the way he was standing now. It’s your brother who met your angered face. “Why was I not informed about this? What right do you have to even suggest this?" You stepped closer to him, your hands reaching for his shirt. “It’s a marriage of convenience," Rhys said again, trying to kill the frustration his suggestion had caused, “You play by the rules; secure the spot for Eris among that table, and then we’ll find a way to split you apart. My word will be worth more if you’re courting my sister."

No, this couldn’t be happening. Gone were the times when women were traded like pigs. This was a joke. A nightmare. You pinched your hand once, twice. Nothing. It didn’t all fade away. “No, absolutely, no," you breathed, your hand falling on your chest. This was not the life you had dreamed of. Not how it was supposed to go.

“What’s the catch here, Rhys?" Eris breathed. Was he even considering this? Surely he wasn’t. “He left Mor by the fucking border! Do you want me in ribbons by your door?", you pulled at Rhys’s black shirt, practically hissing through your clenched teeth. “I wouldn’t dirty my hands with you that much," Eris’s voice killed your huffs as you turned back at him.

"Asshole," you spat his way. “Whiny little girl," Eris huffed back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I fucking hate you," you shrieked in frustration, pulling at the roots of your hair as the situation slowly sank in. “Oh, you hate me? Do you want to know how I feel?" Eris laughed bitterly, his eyes not leaving you, “If you were my wife, I would put poison in your morning tea." His cold words sliced through you. You let out a bitter chuckle. Taking a breath to compose yourself. A shaky hand running down the skirt of your dress to smooth the material. “Ah, well, if you were my husband, I would happily drink it." Your words lingered in the air,and you could see it even if it was just a flash. A blink. That second of shock that flashed through Eris’s eyes.

With a quick step forward, you pushed at his chest, "Never do you hear me?" You hissed one more time, “Will never happen." His hand caught your wrist with a swift motion as he pulled you closer to him. Your chest firmly pressed against his as he muttered right against your face. “You’re screaming at me as if it’s my idea," Eris huffed, dropping your hand.

You blinked, turning back to your older brother. Who swore to protect you. To always look out for you. “You’re a shit brother, Rhys," you stated. Finding it so utterly hard to even look at him now. All this time. He could have warned you. Said something. Asked. But no. “I’m trying to stop another war from happening," he stated as if this were a simple transaction, not a life-altering decision. “By sacrificing me?" You hit your chest in frustration. Your youthful years would spent slaving in another country, and for what?

“Don’t be so dramatic," Eris huffed, making you let out a frustrated whimper, "Oh, my apologies for not seeing any gain in this for me." Rhys took a deep breath. “The court wants a married man with a powerful woman by his side." Here it was his lord's voice. Not your brother. He stepped closer to you, trying to reach for your hands, but you backed away instantly. “This is more about you than anyone else," he tried to reason. So you were to be a play toy. A figurine in someone else’s game. “Just unbelievable," you said, shaking your head and stepping back. Your leg hit the cabinet, sending a couple of bottles tumbling down. Rhys called your name once more, but you didn’t. Couldn't be here any longer as you bolted towards the door.

"Y/n," Rhys called out in warning, moving towards the exit as well. “Don’t you dare follow her; you’ve done enough damage for the night," Eris’s cold voice made the Lord of the Night halt. And for the first time that night, the uncaring mask on Rhys’s face slipped: “Don’t lecture me when I’m trying to help," venomous frustration seeping through, “I’m landing you my biggest asset. She’s my only blood family." Eris couldn’t help the smile that crept over his face, “If you loved her so much, you wouldn’t toy with her like that”. Rhys’s jaw twitched.

"Careful," Azriel reasoned for the second time that night. Eris had forgotten that the two of them were even there. “Stop barking from the back rows," he hissed at the two batboys. Cassian quickly placed his hand on Azriel’s chest, stopping him in his tracks. Eris shook his head, “You miscalculated, Rhys; admit it." Turning back to reach for the bottle of brandy, Eris took a swig straight out of the bottle. “You’d gain power out of this. But your precious demon of a sister will never forgive you for this." That struck a nerve deep within Rhys. And suddenly, the suggestion itself felt ingenious. So there was a catch after all, huh? “A day," Rhys said firmly, “I’m giving you a day to think this through; then my offer is off the table." Like that. He was dismissed as if he too wasn’t a high lord now. As if Eris wasn��t in an equal position to demand. Eris leaned forward,“You were never the one offering, Rhys; it was never your call to make."

[specialmouse]

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[newkatzkafe2023]

SORRY THAT ASK WAS UNFINISHED.

https://www.tumblr.com/newkatzkafe2023/740092891029012480/lara-legomonkiekid?source=share

So remember this? Could we have a fem Black Myth Wukong and D.O in this?

And for shits and giggles maybe a fem Erlang dragging a heavily pregnant Wukong and being upset with reader because, and I quote, "Because of you, she can no longer drink with me!"

And a pregnant D.O following her angry auntie Pigsy who's just lashing out at reader because, and again I quote, "YOU DEFILED MY CUTE LITTLE NIECE!!!"

Oh man here we go🤣🤣🤣

(BMW Wukong) Ohhhhhhhhhh jeez of all the irresponsible sh*t she has done, this had to be the cherry on top. Listen, it was a few mouths back she was had went to a celestial party with Erlang and had a few waaaaaaaay to many drinks together. Erlang had to go to the bathroom, and that's when she saw you from across the dance floor a tall, hot male monkey man.

You were smoking a blunt with an annoyed expression on your face, you were wearing all white clothes and you were also bored and nobody to dance with. Wukong jaw had dropped and purred at you and strutted over and began flirting with you and smiled back at her. Then you treated her to some more rice wine, and you both started to make out, and soon you both went to one of the backroom and got it onnnnn all night long. You left her alone that next morning as you were out on Vacation, but unknown to you, you had left a parting gift with her. Although months later you were at home when their was banging on your door, you opened it to see a pissed 3 eyed lady.

(Erlang) YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON WHAT YOU DONE?! YOU HAD KNOCKED HER UP?! AND BECAUSE OF THAT NOW WE CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE!!!!!😡😡😡

You were shocked and majorly confused until you saw a familiar female monkey who was very, very pregnant. Ohhhhhhhhhh jeez this is gonna require a little explanation but your secretly excited, Or else Erlang would make you take responsibility.

(Destined one) You ran a tiny book and tea shop that also sells plushies in a quiet village, and because of your job, you met the destined one. She was looking for a book during her travels and you found her to be adorable and quiet, but she walked into your shop looking so serious. You chirped at her out of concern for her and soon you both found that you had a lot in common and it helps that you don't talk very much either. Though you both enjoy each other company she had to leave, but from all the time in your village she came to your shop every day. You both grew closer, and your bond grew, and one night, you took her out on a date, and you both had some drinks from a restaurant. Then you both soon had your first kiss, and apparently, more did more then that, giving her a safe travel goodbye, and told her you'll miss her terribly while she blew kisses at you as she left. Months later, you were sweeping in your shop when a short angry female pig kicked down our door.

(Zhu Bajie) YOU DEFILED MY CUTE LITTLE NIECE YOU TEA SCENTED LITTLE SH*T!!!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬

You jumped in terror of the sudden noise and looked over to see the destined one with a rather large belly bump. Oh, ohhhhhhhhhh, now you know why Ms Bajie is upset. Though you are in a way happy, as you are afraid as you ran over and kissed the destined one. Just hope Bajie calms down or she'll break her rake over your ass.

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