#unique landing page

[reel-fear]

Honestly, every single time the whole 'poppy playtime is a bendy rip-off' stuff ever shows up I find it all extremely unconvincing and silly.

For one thing, rip-off usually is meant to imply that it's a cheap lazy copy of a better more polished thing, and uh. Sorry but even from chapter 1? Poppy Playtime is a better game than Bendy, it has a simple but understandable story, the game manages to be thrilling, creepy, and very intense at times... I mean that Huggy chase in the vents ALONE puts it way above Batim for me.

I mean BATDR had the most slow stupid chase I've ever seen [and every other encounter with the ink demon is text telling u he's there and then a timer goes down and u get jumpscared] and batim's chases were either silly or just not nearly as theatric or terrifying as that.

When making the vent sequence I mean not only is it absolutely horrifying to realize how fast Huggy is in there but also it's so theatric and cool? The fact that you round a corner after thinking you escaped only to see a terrifying animation of that thing crawling toward you is awesome! I wish Bendy had stuff like that!

And all the stuff it shares with Bendy are generic things Bendy ripped from other horror games/media anyways. I'm not saying Poppy Playtime isn't inspired by Bendy I for sure think it is but Bendy is such a generic story that somehow fails to do tropes 100 other horror games have done any comparison only makes Poppy Playtime look better.

"It has employees being sacrificed for their company" That is not a concept Bendy invented, literally look at any of the sci-fi horror series Bendy is very inspired by. This is literally a twist in the original Alien.

"It has a scary woman forcing you to do tasks for her" Once again, not a concept Bendy invented, a scary mysterious person forcing you to do fetch-quests is a concept found in tons of horror media. And at least Poppy Playtime gave you a chase with her and let you defeat her, look at poor malice. She's barely on screen for more than 10 minutes before she gets stabbed.

"It has a cult worshipping the monster" This is something tons of horror games and media have done too. I mean In The Tall Grass has a guy who worships a giant magical rock in the middle of a grass maze, Bioshock [which Bendy has only been taking more and more direct inspiration from while failing to grab any of the compelling parts] also had a lot of themes of religion and cult-ish behavior, almost every horror media franchise has at one point done a cult thing.

Bendy couldn't even come up with a reason Sammy worships the ink demon, the best motivation we've ever gotten is just that 'he's crazzyyyy the ink made him insaneeee'. Who is the cheap rip-off here?

At least Poppy Playtime gave their cultist a motive for worshipping the monster + a proper boss fight that feels intense and looks awesome! Bendy didn't even let you kill Malice [she got stabbed in front of you and then just collapsed on the floor how thrilling] meanwhile you get to kill three of the villains in Poppy Playtime and the gameplay and action in those scenes have only gotten better as the game went on.

I mean Sammy walks into a room and goes "AAA SCARY I'M BEING MURDERED" then later shows up and for NO REASON sees a normal human man and assumes it's the ink demon before once again someone else kills him for you. In Poppy Playtime you defeat Catnap as he floods the world with this horrible nightmare-inducing gas that intensifies the color palette and his design. Fight off versions of him that are illusions that you need your flare gun for, then watch in a wonderful animation as he mistakes the monster for his savior before getting killed by it, in a brutal way I might add, which game are we accusing of being cheap, lazy garbage again?

I just find this argument to be people who Really Really need to find a reason to hate Poppy Playtime which I think is silly. The devs being weird, shady people is already enough reason to dislike the game, you don't need to invent reasons why secretly every part of the game is malicious or bad. But esp when I see Bendy fans saying they don't support Poppy Playtime or dislike it bc of its devs or even saying its cringe ummmm.

I have bad news about the fact Bendy's devs are worse and it took not one, but TWO over an hour long videos to cover it all. Plus the Bendy games are just the worse games in every aspect, if I could sell my batim copy for a copy of Poppy Playtime I wouldn't hesitate at all.

Saying this as a bendy fan, we have no right to be super judgy towards Poppy Playtime. If Poppy Playtime is embarrassing cringe, Bendy is too and is way more embarrassing of an interest. We shouldn't spread misinformation just because we all want to hate Poppy Playtime, you can dislike Poppy Playtime without making up a bunch of nonsense to justify it.

Honestly seeing people just blatantly be unfairly mean to Poppy Playtime only makes its critics look worse and makes it hard to take any backlash to the games seriously. Because surprise surprise if you spread misinformation to make a point people will quickly stop listening to Anything you have to say bc they won't trust you're telling the truth anymore.

[a3ldwli]

I will design a stunning website using

Get a stunning, ready-to-use website design with **Webflow**! I'll develop a responsive and attractive site tailored to your business goals, whether you're an entrepreneur or a small business owner. I'll turn your creative ideas into a professional website using the latest design tools. **Take the first step towards your dream website—order now!**

[staff]

Tumblr’s Core Product Strategy

Here at Tumblr, we’ve been working hard on reorganizing how we work in a bid to gain more users. A larger user base means a more sustainable company, and means we get to stick around and do this thing with you all a bit longer. What follows is the strategy we're using to accomplish the goal of user growth. The @labs group has published a bit already, but this is bigger. We’re publishing it publicly for the first time, in an effort to work more transparently with all of you in the Tumblr community. This strategy provides guidance amid limited resources, allowing our teams to focus on specific key areas to ensure Tumblr’s future.

The Diagnosis

In order for Tumblr to grow, we need to fix the core experience that makes Tumblr a useful place for users. The underlying problem is that Tumblr is not easy to use. Historically, we have expected users to curate their feeds and lean into curating their experience. But this expectation introduces friction to the user experience and only serves a small portion of our audience. 

Tumblr’s competitive advantage lies in its unique content and vibrant communities. As the forerunner of internet culture, Tumblr encompasses a wide range of interests, such as entertainment, art, gaming, fandom, fashion, and music. People come to Tumblr to immerse themselves in this culture, making it essential for us to ensure a seamless connection between people and content. 

To guarantee Tumblr’s continued success, we’ve got to prioritize fostering that seamless connection between people and content. This involves attracting and retaining new users and creators, nurturing their growth, and encouraging frequent engagement with the platform.

Our Guiding Principles

To enhance Tumblr’s usability, we must address these core guiding principles.

Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Retain and grow our creator base.

Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Improve the platform’s performance, stability, and quality.

Below is a deep dive into each of these principles.

Principle 1: Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Tumblr has a “top of the funnel” issue in converting non-users into engaged logged-in users. We also have not invested in industry standard SEO practices to ensure a robust top of the funnel. The referral traffic that we do get from external sources is dispersed across different pages with inconsistent user experiences, which results in a missed opportunity to convert these users into regular Tumblr users. For example, users from search engines often land on pages within the blog network and blog view—where there isn’t much of a reason to sign up. 

We need to experiment with logged-out tumblr.com to ensure we are capturing the highest potential conversion rate for visitors into sign-ups and log-ins. We might want to explore showing the potential future user the full breadth of content that Tumblr has to offer on our logged-out pages. We want people to be able to easily understand the potential behind Tumblr without having to navigate multiple tabs and pages to figure it out. Our current logged-out explore page does very little to help users understand “what is Tumblr.” which is a missed opportunity to get people excited about joining the site.

Actions & Next Steps

Improving Tumblr’s search engine optimization (SEO) practices to be in line with industry standards.

Experiment with logged out tumblr.com to achieve the highest conversion rate for sign-ups and log-ins, explore ways for visitors to “get” Tumblr and entice them to sign up.

Principle 2: Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

We need to ensure the highest quality user experience by presenting fresh and relevant content tailored to the user’s diverse interests during each session. If the user has a bad content experience, the fault lies with the product.

The default position should always be that the user does not know how to navigate the application. Additionally, we need to ensure that when people search for content related to their interests, it is easily accessible without any confusing limitations or unexpected roadblocks in their journey.

Being a 15-year-old brand is tough because the brand carries the baggage of a person’s preconceived impressions of Tumblr. On average, a user only sees 25 posts per session, so the first 25 posts have to convey the value of Tumblr: it is a vibrant community with lots of untapped potential. We never want to leave the user believing that Tumblr is a place that is stale and not relevant. 

Actions & Next Steps

Deliver great content each time the app is opened.

Make it easier for users to understand where the vibrant communities on Tumblr are. 

Improve our algorithmic ranking capabilities across all feeds. 

Principle 3: Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Part of Tumblr’s charm lies in its capacity to showcase the evolution of conversations and the clever remarks found within reblog chains and replies. Engaging in these discussions should be enjoyable and effortless.

Unfortunately, the current way that conversations work on Tumblr across replies and reblogs is confusing for new users. The limitations around engaging with individual reblogs, replies only applying to the original post, and the inability to easily follow threaded conversations make it difficult for users to join the conversation.

Actions & Next Steps

Address the confusion within replies and reblogs.

Improve the conversational posting features around replies and reblogs. 

Allow engagements on individual replies and reblogs.

Make it easier for users to follow the various conversation paths within a reblog thread. 

Remove clutter in the conversation by collapsing reblog threads. 

Explore the feasibility of removing duplicate reblogs within a user’s Following feed. 

Principle 4: Retain and grow our creator base.

Creators are essential to the Tumblr community. However, we haven’t always had a consistent and coordinated effort around retaining, nurturing, and growing our creator base.  

Being a new creator on Tumblr can be intimidating, with a high likelihood of leaving or disappointment upon sharing creations without receiving engagement or feedback. We need to ensure that we have the expected creator tools and foster the rewarding feedback loops that keep creators around and enable them to thrive.

The lack of feedback stems from the outdated decision to only show content from followed blogs on the main dashboard feed (“Following”), perpetuating a cycle where popular blogs continue to gain more visibility at the expense of helping new creators. To address this, we need to prioritize supporting and nurturing the growth of new creators on the platform.

It is also imperative that creators, like everyone on Tumblr, feel safe and in control of their experience. Whether it be an ask from the community or engagement on a post, being successful on Tumblr should never feel like a punishing experience.

Actions & Next Steps

Get creators’ new content in front of people who are interested in it. 

Improve the feedback loop for creators, incentivizing them to continue posting.

Build mechanisms to protect creators from being spammed by notifications when they go viral.

Expand ways to co-create content, such as by adding the capability to embed Tumblr links in posts.

Principle 5: Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Push notifications and emails are essential tools to increase user engagement, improve user retention, and facilitate content discovery. Our strategy of reaching out to you, the user, should be well-coordinated across product, commercial, and marketing teams.

Our messaging strategy needs to be personalized and adapt to a user’s shifting interests. Our messages should keep users in the know on the latest activity in their community, as well as keeping Tumblr top of mind as the place to go for witty takes and remixes of the latest shows and real-life events.  

Most importantly, our messages should be thoughtful and should never come across as spammy.  

Actions & Next Steps

Conduct an audit of our messaging strategy.

Address the issue of notifications getting too noisy; throttle, collapse or mute notifications where necessary.  

Identify opportunities for personalization within our email messages. 

Test what the right daily push notification limit is. 

Send emails when a user has push notifications switched off.

Principle 6: Performance, stability and quality.

The stability and performance of our mobile apps have declined. There is a large backlog of production issues, with more bugs created than resolved over the last 300 days. If this continues, roughly one new unresolved production issue will be created every two days. Apps and backend systems that work well and don't crash are the foundation of a great Tumblr experience. Improving performance, stability, and quality will help us achieve sustainable operations for Tumblr.

Improve performance and stability: deliver crash-free, responsive, and fast-loading apps on Android, iOS, and web.

Improve quality: deliver the highest quality Tumblr experience to our users. 

Move faster: provide APIs and services to unblock core product initiatives and launch new features coming out of Labs.

Conclusion

Our mission has always been to empower the world’s creators. We are wholly committed to ensuring Tumblr evolves in a way that supports our current users while improving areas that attract new creators, artists, and users. You deserve a digital home that works for you. You deserve the best tools and features to connect with your communities on a platform that prioritizes the easy discoverability of high-quality content. This is an invigorating time for Tumblr, and we couldn’t be more excited about our current strategy.

[fatehbaz]

"An Indian state is celebrating as a beloved nearly-extinct unique subspecies of lion, the Asiatic/Persian/Indian lion, a charming charismatic creature, has been brought back from the brink. India, with the power of science, is saving nature! It's apolitical!"

Not so fast.

This nearly-extinct Asiatic lion situation brings to mind the nearly-extinct Asiatic cheetah reintroduction situation a few years ago.

Weaponizing the image of naturalist and the "stewardship" of "nature" for nationalist pride and power.

This is a HELL of a time to be using words like "Gujarat's pride."

Hmm.

Wait a minute, what's that?

:(

That's an interesting headline about lions from March 2025.

Any other interesting headlines from March 2025?

(Literally just the top of the page when you search 'modi gujarat' in March 2025.)

Busy month for Modi!

What else has he got going on in March 2025:

So what's up?

Until about a century ago, lions lived across much of Asia, from the Mediterranean to India. (A unique subspecies of lion, Panthera leo persica.)

Now, on the continent, they only live in one place: Gujarat state.

So administrators in Gujarat are essentially stewards of the last lions in Asia.

And a few years ago, the Indian nation-state sought to make itself the stewards of (some) of the last cheetahs in Asia, too.

Like the lion, the cheetah also used to range from basically the Mediterranean to Bengal. And like the lion, the cheetah also has a critically-endangered unique subspecies still surviving in Asia: Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, variously called the Asiatic or Persian cheetah.

Only 25 or less Asiatic cheetahs survive.

And they only live within the borders of Iran.

But back in 2021 and 2022, the Indian Prime Minister had a little project.

Hmm.

Sounds good? "Extinct cheetah brought back!"

First: On his own birthday, he did this.

Second: They're not actually Asiatic cheetahs. They're a different subspecies. African cheetahs. And they weren't from the Sahara or North Africa either. They were from southern Africa. Quite a ways away and a different ecological world from South Asia. And ecologists did note this.

But what was the PM's interest?

Like:

"Modi named one of the felines 'Asha' which means hope [...]."

"They are the world's fastest land animals, and that's the pace at which Project Cheetah, launched under Modi's leadership is working."

"India is now the only place to be home to lions, tigers, cheetahs, and leopards."

Modi's just a little birthday boy!

Gujarat's pride!

[ducksido]

Can I request a marine biologist yuu with Octavinelle please? And separately. Maybe a oneshot or headcanons. I'll let you decide! A couple of students maybe tease them or shoot them a couple of judgemental looks and Octonauts shoot a threatening glare in turn. Then Yuu and Octonaut go to the library and Yuu starts staring at their unique features. Make sure to take care of yourself and to take breaks when needed!

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul adjusted his glasses, displeasure tightening his jaw as a pair of students snickered behind cupped hands, their eyes flitting toward you with undisguised mockery.

“Who even studies marine life here?” “Do they write love letters to fish or something?”

You lowered your head, already used to these jabs, but Azul was not.

He straightened from his seat at the Lounge, a slow, calculated smile playing on his lips — the kind of smile Azul only gave before reeling someone into a deal they’d deeply regret.

“Gentlemen,” he said smoothly, “you’re free to mock what you don’t understand... but I’d caution you not to insult someone with more knowledge in their pinky than you possess in your entire house ranking.”

The tension crackled, and the snickering died faster than a jellyfish on dry land.

Later, you and Azul sat in the quiet corner of the library, thick marine taxonomy books between you. But your eyes weren’t on the pages anymore — they were on him.

His hands moved so precisely, webbing barely visible between his fingers. His eyes gleamed silver under the reading light, subtly inhuman. His gills pulsed ever so slightly at his neck.

“You’re staring,” Azul said without looking up.

You flushed but didn’t look away. “You’re fascinating. Your physiology, I mean. I’ve never seen anything like you. It’s... beautiful.”

Azul’s pen stopped mid-word. The tips of his ears pinked. He looked at you fully now — no smugness, no sales pitch, just Azul.

“Beautiful, you say...?” His voice was soft. “You’re the first to call me that without wanting a deal.”

Jade Leech

The comments were subtle this time, muttered under breaths as you passed.

“Fish lover freak...” “I heard they talk to eels.”

You kept walking, but Jade’s eye flicked up sharply from where he tended to a potted mushroom in the hallway.

He turned to the students, smile polite, tone icy.

“Careful. Some species in the ocean eat their own kind. You wouldn't want to find out which ones I take after.”

The hallway cleared quickly after that.

Later, the library was quiet, and you found yourself seated beside Jade in the flora and fauna section. He’d brought books on deep-sea ecosystems, and you were completely engrossed — until you noticed him watching you.

Or rather, you were watching him. His movements were so fluid, deliberate. His heterochromatic eyes were hypnotic, shifting hues like moonlight on water. His smile was sharp — but never for you.

You tilted your head. “Your... jaw structure. It’s slightly flexible, isn’t it?”

He chuckled lowly, amused. “It is. You notice such curious things.”

You nodded. “You’re remarkable. Biologically. But also... your elegance. It’s very... predator-like.”

Jade leaned closer, voice like silk.

“I’m flattered, dear Yuu. Most people call me unnerving. You call me elegant.” A pause. “You should be careful, though. Flattery makes a hunter curious.”

But when he smiled this time, it was genuinely pleased — maybe even a little shy.

Floyd Leech

The teasing was louder today.

“Hey, Yuu! Find a date at the aquarium yet?” “Better watch out, they’ll try to dissect you!”

Floyd didn’t take kindly to that.

He appeared behind the hecklers like a shadow from the deep. A crooked grin stretched across his face.

“Wanna see how it feels to get squeezed till your spine pops~?”

Screams and fleeing ensued. You sighed.

Later, you sat with Floyd in the library, his legs kicked up over the table as he chewed bubblegum and flipped through a book upside down. You were sketching something in your notebook — a diagram of eel anatomy — but your eyes drifted up to his profile.

His teeth were very sharp. His grin even sharper. His eyes were the color of stormy ocean water. And his skin had a gleam that reminded you of slick scales under sunlight.

“You’re lookin’ at me again, Shrimpy~” he sing-songed, lolling his head to the side.

“I can’t help it,” you admitted, scribbling. “You’re like something out of a marine biologist’s fever dream. In a good way.”

Floyd blinked. Then he leaned in, nose to your notebook.

“You drew me all cool~! Aww, Shrimpy thinks I’m a sea monster~!”

You blinked. “That’s not what I—”

He plopped his head on your shoulder, purring with satisfaction.

“You’re weird. I like that. Let’s go scare the guys who called you fishy again. Maybe I’ll show them what real marine biology looks like.”

You laughed despite yourself. “Floyd, that’s not how science works.”

“It is now~!”

[gay-dorito-dust]

been thinking about dante with an artist!reader who secretly draws him (he finds out anyways). like he knows they can draw but suddenly stumbles upon a whole different sketch book and sees beautiful drawings/doodles of him in either his human form or devil trigger even. I can imagine he’d be a lil’ emotional bc “never thought someone could see me this way” and then confronts the reader about it (its all cute and stuff*barffss*)

Dante had never once knew a day where you were without your sketchbooks, pens, pencils, a handful of colouring pencils and a incredible talent to bring whatever you drew to life. It didn't matter what it was that you were drawing becuase it always came out looking better then the actual thing; art was a massive part of your life with some of your favourite works were pinned to your walls, showcasing your range as well as your clutered desk filled with half finished sketches and images that you were using as references were strewn about the desk too.

So when you had asked him to grab something from your room, a sketchbook? pencils? that weird manakin that you use when drawing people? He couldn't remeber exactly what you wanted as it went in one ear and out the other. So he thought if he grabbed whatever his eyes landed on and pray that it was the one that you needed, however what his eyes first saw was your open sketchbook on your desk, and on the two page spread was sketches and drawings of him and his devil trigger form.

Dante's breath hitched in his throat as he felt himself move on it's own towards the open sketchbook on your desk to get a better look of the sketches, only to be left without without any air within his lungs as he saw how you saw him; dangerous but in the beautiful way possible with how you made the red within his coat stand out, or how you made gold mingle with the red of his devil trigger pratically glow in a heavenly light as his horns looked more like a halo then actual devil horns.

You even made his wings looked beautiful on their own with how you made them look as though they had collected all the colours in existence and selfishly hoarded them within his demonic looking wings!

You made him look ehtreal, like he wasn't a demon but instead an angel with a unique look that made him look demonic, and it was enough to have dante a little caught up in his feelings as he didn't exactly held a fondess towards his demonic heritage as it was only something that granted him more benifits for demon hunting and nothing more. Yet here you were making him wanting to appreciate this aspect of himslef when he goes through all of your sketches, only to find more of his devil trigger and himself whether it'd be him fast as sleep or eating pizza and strawberry sundaes; You made him look like a work of art only ever seen within a museum along with the other admired masterpieces.

Something he didn't think anyone would ever see him -especially his devil trigger form- in that particular light and you only proved him wrong by drawing him the way you saw him on the daily, and enough to draw him in bulk within the precious pages of you've sketchbook, something you've told him stuck with him about how you didn't draw anything you didn't view as beautiful or was worth showing it's hidden beauty.

So seeing him within your sketchbook only made Dante feel more honoured to be viewed as beautiful by you, to be the muse that you spent countless and tireless hours working on to perfection late into the night, to be something you wanted to display the truest beauty of by drawing him from the heart of an artist and the end result was something Dante couldn't have fathomed at all.

Further forgetting what he had came into your room orignally for, Dante rushed out the door and went down the stairs in a flash as thougg he was running out of time, capturing you within his arms as he burries his head within your neck and catching you by surpise. 'Jesus Dante, what's gotten into you.' you laughed as you heard him purr soflty in your ear, making you smile and begin to run your fingers through his hair gingerly. 'what's going on within that head of yours?' you add barely above a whisper as his arms tightened on your waist.

'I saw you're drawings of me.' was all he said, still in someway in disbelief that you could make someone like him look like something worth drawing, worth any aspect of portayal as anything other then some half demon that people stay clear of.

You stop caressing his hair upon hearing him say this, which only made him groan as he nudged his head further into your neck needily, huffing and pouting like an overgrown puppy dog that desperetly craves affection constantly. 'You did?' Dante hums. 'what did you think of them?' you asked, nervous now of what his thoughts and opinions on them were.

'i've never had someone draw me, or see me like you do.' Dante says. 'You know i've never liked my devil trigger, nor the fact that i'm half demon, but yet seeing your drawings of me have made me want to be kinder to myself and not be so harsh to a part od me that you view as beautiful.' He adds, kissing the side of your neck as you caresed his hair once more, making him purr once more as his eyes closed in content upon feeling safe.

'Silly Dante.' you cooed, kissing the side of his head, 'of course i see you as beautiful, always have and it doesn't matter what form you take because you'll always be my beautiful muse, devil trigger or my sweet toothed man,' you finished, wanting nothing the to make Dante see that he was all the man you ever seen him as no matter what, it was the least you could do in hopes of showing Dante that he was worth the time and effort you put into your drawings of him; You do it a hundred times over again if it meant getting squashed tightly against his chest as he purrs into your neck like an conent cat.

Dante pulls away to look you in the eye, mimicing your soft smile as he rests his forhead against yours, high off of your words as he wished he had met you earlier in his life but regareless he'd treasure you with his whole heart for as long as he can. 'Your too good to me sweetheart, far too good for me but i'm too selfish to let you go now, far too greedy to let anyone else be seen the way you see me.' he says, nudging his nose to yours.

'Then be selfish all you like becuase i'm not going anywhere, im content here in your arms as life with you is an adventure i wake up each morning eager to greet with open arms.' You tell him, pecking his lips soflty as another purr ripped from his throat. 'but please for the love of god don't leave pizza boxes laying about again or i'm cutting you off from having strawberry sundaes for a month.' you added with a pointed look as Dante pales, knowing this was bound to come to light no matter how much he kisses and cuddles you to death.

'Dully noted sweetheart, dully noted.' Dante said, hoping you wouldn't actually cut him off from his strawberry sundaes.

[reasonsforhope]

"In an unprecedented step to preserve and maintain the most carbon-rich elements of U.S. forests in an era of climate change, President Joe Biden’s administration last week proposed to end commercially driven logging of old-growth trees in National Forests.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, issued a Notice of Intent to amend the land management plans of all 128 National Forests to prioritize old-growth conservation and recognize the oldest trees’ unique role in carbon storage. 

It would be the first nationwide amendment to forest plans in the 118-year history of the Forest Service, where local rangers typically have the final word on how to balance forests’ role in watershed, wildlife and recreation with the agency’s mandate to maintain a “sustained yield” of timber.

“Old-growth forests are a vital part of our ecosystems and a special cultural resource,” Vilsack said in a statement accompanying the notice. “This clear direction will help our old-growth forests thrive across our shared landscape.”

But initial responses from both environmentalists and the logging industry suggest that the plan does not resolve the conflict between the Forest Service’s traditional role of administering the “products and services” of public lands—especially timber—and the challenges the agency now faces due to climate change. National Forests hold most of the nation’s mature and old-growth trees, and therefore, its greatest stores of forest carbon, but that resource is under growing pressure from wildfire, insects, disease and other impacts of warming.

Views could not be more polarized on how the National Forests should be managed in light of the growing risks.

National and local environmental advocates have been urging the Biden administration to adopt a new policy emphasizing preservation in National Forests, treating them as a strategic reserve of carbon. Although they praised the old-growth proposal as an “historic” step, they want to see protection extended to “mature” forests, those dominated by trees roughly 80 to 150 years old, which are a far larger portion of the National Forests. As old-growth trees are lost, which can happen rapidly due to megafires and other assaults, they argue that the Forest Service should be ensuring there are fully developed trees on the landscape to take their place...

The Biden administration’s new proposal seeks to take a middle ground, establishing protection for the oldest trees under its stewardship while allowing exceptions to reduce fuel hazards, protect public health and safety and other purposes. And the Forest Service is seeking public comment through Feb. 2 (Note: That's the official page for the proposed rule, but for some reason you can only submit comments through the forest service website - so do that here!) on the proposal as well as other steps needed to manage its lands to retain mature and old-growth forests over time, particularly in light of climate change.

If the Forest Service were to put in place nationwide protections for both mature and old-growth forests, it would close off most of the National Forests to logging. In an inventory concluded earlier this year in response to a Biden executive order, the Forest Service found that 24.7 million acres, or 17 percent, of its 144.3 million acres of forest are old-growth, while 68.1 million acres, or 47 percent, are mature."

-via Inside Climate News, December 20, 2023

-

Note: This proposed rule is current up for public comment! If you're in the US, you can go here to file an official comment telling the Biden administration how much you support this proposal - and that you think it should be extended to mature forests!

Official public comments really DO matter. You can leave a comment on this proposal here until February 2nd.

[alphynix]

Metriorhynchids were a group of fully marine crocodyliforms known from the mid-Jurassic to the early Cretaceous of Europe and the Americas. They were the most aquatic-adapted of all known archosaurs, with streamlined bodies, smooth scaleless skin, small front flippers, larger hind flippers, and shark-like tail flukes. They may also have been endothermic, and might even have given live birth at sea rather than laying eggs.

Rhacheosaurus gracilis here was a metriorhynchid that lived in warm shallow waters around what is now Germany during the late Jurassic, about 150 million years ago. Around 1.5m long (~5'), its long narrow snout lined with delicate pointed teeth suggests it fed on small soft-bodied prey, a niche partitioning specialization that allowed it to coexist with several other metriorhynchid species in the same habitat.

Unlike most other marine reptiles metriorhynchids didn't have particularly retracted nostrils, which may have had a limiting effect on their efficiency as sustained swimmers since higher-set nostrils make it much easier to breathe without having to lift the whole head above the surface. The lack of such an adaptation in this group may be due to their ancestors having a single nasal opening formed entirely within the premaxilla bones at the tip of the snout, uniquely limiting how far it could easily shift backwards – other marine reptiles had nostrils bound by the edges of multiple different bones, giving them much more flexibility to move the openings around.

(By the early Cretaceous a close relative of Rhacheosaurus did actually evolve nostrils bound by both the premaxilla and the maxilla, and appeared to have started more significant retraction, but unfortunately this only happened shortly before the group's extinction.)

Metriorhynchids also had well-developed salt glands in front of their eyes, but the large sinuses that accommodated these glands may have made their skulls ill-suited to deep diving, being more susceptible to serious damage from pressure changes and restricting their swimming to near-surface waters only.

Preserved skin impressions in some metriorhynchid fossils show several unusual "irregularities", including curl shapes, small bumps, and cratering. It's unknown what exactly caused these marks, but they may represent scarring from external parasites such as lampreys and barnacles.

———

NixIllustration.com | Tumblr | Patreon

References:

Andrade, Marco BD, and Mark T. Young. "High diversity of thalattosuchian crocodylians and the niche partition in the Solnhofen Sea." 56th Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2008. https://svpca.org/years/2008_dublin/abstracts.pdf#page=14

Séon, Nicolas, et al. "Thermophysiologies of Jurassic marine crocodylomorphs inferred from the oxygen isotope composition of their tooth apatite." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 375.1793 (2020): 20190139. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0139

Spindler, Frederik. "Live Birth in a Jurassic Marine Crocodile." Abstracts of the 90th Annual Meeting of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft, 2019. https://www.palaeontologie.geowissenschaften.uni-muenchen.de/pdfs/palges2019_abstracts.pdf#page=141

Spindler, Frederik, et al. "The integument of pelagic crocodylomorphs (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae)" Palaeontologia Electronica 24.2 (2021): a25. https://doi.org/10.26879/1099

Young, Mark T., et al. "Convergent evolution and possible constraint in the posterodorsal retraction of the external nares in pelagic crocodylomorphs." Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 189.2 (2020): 494-520. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa021

Young, Mark T., et al. "Skull sinuses precluded extinct crocodile relatives from cetacean-style deep diving as they transitioned from land to sea." Royal Society Open Science 11.10 (2024): 241272. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241272

Wikipedia contributors. “Metriorhynchidae” Wikipedia, 12 Nov. 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metriorhynchidae

Wikipedia contributors. “Rhacheosaurus” Wikipedia, 02 Dec. 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhacheosaurus

[anareblogz-posts]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐬

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 | 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 | 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -Theo Nott's world shifts when he sees Y/N Y/L/N. Theo imagines what it would be like if her name were different—if it fit more harmoniously with his own. 𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃 - @bernardsbendystraws

Theo Nott walked through the bustling corridor of Hogwarts, he found himself involuntarily pulled into a conversation by his best friend Mattheo Riddle.

“See that girl?” Mattheo murmured, nodding his head discreetly in the direction of a group of students gathered by the window.

Theo followed his gaze, his eyes landing on a figure bathed in the golden light of the afternoon sun. There, leaning against the windowsill with a book in her hand, was Y/N Y/L/N. The sun caught the highlights in her hair, making it shine with a subtle brilliance that seemed to cast a halo around her. Her focus was entirely on the pages before her, yet there was an aura of effortless grace about her that immediately drew Theo in.

Theo blinked, feeling a sudden shift in the rhythm of his thoughts. He’d seen Y/N around, of course—Slytherins often crossed paths in the common room, during meals, or in classes. But today was different. There was something magnetic about the way she was absorbed in her book, a tranquil confidence that seemed to set her apart from everyone else.

Mattheo’s voice cut through Theo’s reverie. “Y/N Y/L/N,” he repeated, as if trying to engrain the name into Theo’s memory. “Isn’t she something?”

Theo nodded slowly, his gaze still lingering on Y/N. “Yeah,” he murmured, almost to himself. “She is.”

He tilted his head slightly, as if assessing the name itself. Y/N Y/L/N. It was a name that fit, he supposed, but it felt almost… too plain for someone who seemed to radiate a quiet elegance. He found himself imagining how different it would sound if it were changed.

“Y/N Nott,” Theo said softly, almost as if testing the name out loud. The idea made him smile just a little. It wasn’t that he was particularly attached to his own last name—far from it. It was more about how it rolled off the tongue, how it felt like it might fit just a bit better with her own unique presence.

Mattheo’s brows furrowed in confusion. “What was that?”

Theo shook his head, realizing he’d been caught lost in thought. “Nothing. Just… thinking.”

Mattheo shrugged and began to walk away, leaving Theo with his thoughts. Theo’s gaze remained fixed on Y/N, even as she shifted and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her attention never straying from the book.

Theo sighed softly and turned away, the idea of Y/N Nott lingering in his mind like a pleasant daydream. It was a strange feeling, this almost love at first sight, but it was undeniable. As he walked off to his next class, he found himself looking back once, just to catch another glimpse of Y/N, the girl whose name felt almost like it was meant to be his.

[blackcat-star]

Maybe for Jingwoo you could do an angst story ( I’m alway here for angst ).

Another idea is maybe making a friends to lovers story where in the beginning Y/N (or reader) was with Jingwoo in the double dungeon and was the only one who stayed behind for him. So they both got beaten up pretty badly, if you want to make it more interesting maybe they both become players. But I was thinking when they land on the “alter” Y/N (or reader) proclaims their love for Jingwoo, and what he assumes to be his last words, says it back to them. But they wake up in the hospital and from there you can use your imagination :) just some ideas

Farewell.

Sung Jinwoo x Isekai!Reader. Angst, Open or maybe Sad Ending.

This finished earlier than I expect. And I think this is the longest oneshort I've ever write.

Sorry for the long waiting again. Hope you like this. I love you all 💗.

_________________________

[Hello, L/n Y/n] [Congratulations, you have been selected as the first person to experience our isekai system. You have received an invitation to the world of Solo Leveling Note: You cannot return to this world if you press Accept [Do you want to go?] [Accept   |  Decline]

One night, while you were sleeping, you suddenly dreamed that you entered a majestic and magnificent space, covered with blue stones whose names you did not know.

You found yourself standing on a large platform, before your eyes was a strange screen.

The air was thick with silence, the soft hum of energy surrounding you as you stood before the strangely glowing screen.

The invitation, still fresh in your mind, had come to you in a dream. An offer to leave this world for a new one, a world you were only familiar with through the pages of your favorite manhwa, Solo Leveling.

You accepted without hesitation. Of course, who would miss this opportunity. Then the world spin brings you into complete darkness before you even know what happened.

Opening your eyes reveals a totally unfamiliar setting.

__________________________

It was raining that day, you stood in the middle of the park, barefoot on the cold cement floor, your eyes still not used to the image of this world. The rain fell heavily, splashing cold drops of water on your face, and your body shivered from hunger, and confusion.

"Welcome, special player," the system's voice rang in your head for the third time, cold and emotionless, as if everything was a pre-determined program. "Congratulations on successfully entering the world of Solo Leveling, hope you will have fun here. I'll be your assistant, please call me when you need."

Your body shivered as you held yourself tightly while your clothes remained wet. Your forehead was covered in wet hair while your feet remained cold from the frozen state. The world around you remained blurred like a distant memory from your dream state.

You shivered slightly, hugging your drenched body with both hands. Your hair was sticking to you. "System...?" you muttered, your voice trembling.

"Yes, I am here," the system replied, its voice as flat as an emotionless recording. "You are a special player. Your privileges include: a unique skill system, an ability to grow beyond limits, and an undisclosed mission. Time to adapt to the new world: 72 hours."

This world was truly Solo Leveling. You told yourself, trying to calm yourself as cold drops of rain continued to fall on your face. Where were you? What point in the story? A cold wind blew past you, causing you to collapse. No suitable clothes, no food, no shelter. You groaned. 'Why did the system bring me here without giving me any identity!!?'

At that moment, footsteps rang out from afar. You turned around, reflexively.

A woman and a boy were walking through the park. He stopped when he saw you, his eyes wide with surprise. He pulled his mother's shirt and pointed at you.

You recognize the boy.

Sung Jinwoo.

...But he's so small. You realize you have transformed into a child of 8 or 10 years old during that moment.

Kyung-hye leads Jinwoo by the hand while she greets "Hello, who are you?" with a gentle smile. "Where are your parents? Why are you standing in the rain like this?"

You're still so shocked that you unconsciously shake your head. Kyung-hye thinks that means you don't have any relatives (although that's true at the moment.)

Jinwoo remains beside his mother while staring at you with his eyes. Jinwoo extends his hand to his mother as he asks her permission to bring you home. "Can she go home with us?"

The unexpected offer from her son made Kyung-hye turn her attention toward him. Heavy drops from the continuous rain kept falling onto the uneven pavement. You remained motionless like a forsaken kitten while your body trembled from the cold.

"...Do you want to help her?" Kyung-hye asked, gently, while brushing your wet hair aside to get a better look at your face.

Jinwoo nodded, his eyes unusually determined. "She's cold. We can't leave her here."

Your eyes met briefly before Kyung-hye returned a smile. "Yeah, you're right. I must not ignore this child." She lowered herself to the ground while extending her hand. "You want to visit my house today? At least to change and eat something?"

You looked at those gentle eyes, and then looked at Jinwoo. A genuine smile from the boy appeared so natural and kind that you automatically returned it.

You found comfort in a soft towel while sitting at the table with a hot bowl of porridge in your presence. Kyung-hye was worriedly stroking your hair, while Jinwoo sat across from you, eating while secretly watching you.

You tried to adapt to this small body, with shorter hair, more slender hands. The system in your head was still silent, not mentioning any mission or goal. Only a line of text appeared faintly.

[World positioning complete. Identity synchronization: complete. Temporary: living as a normal child.]

A new life had begun.

________________________________

Years passed...

You grew up next to Sung Jinwoo like it was the most natural habit in the world.

From the moment Jinwoo asked his mother to take you home, the two of you became an inseparable couple.

You and Jinwoo used to share the lunch box your mother made together, even though sometimes it was just a boiled egg or a few small pieces of ham. On days when you got bad grades, you two would sneak into the warehouse behind the school together, trembling and worried but still trying to smile to comfort each other. The times you both got punished for being naughty in class - drawing on the blackboard, imitating the teacher's voice, or secretly hiding candy in your desk - all became unforgettable memories.

You used to run away with Jinwoo from the big kids who bullied the weaker students. Jinwoo wasn't good at fighting, but he always pulled you ahead, panting but still turning back, asking softly, "Are you okay?"

And after all those times, Kyung-hye's mother would appear at the school gate, smiling gently when she saw the two of them, dirty and scruffy, still holding hands.

Time passed so peacefully that you almost forgot that this world would become chaotic in a few years.

Only your feelings for Jinwoo were always there. From the time you knew him through the pages of a comic book, until the time you actually met him.

Those feelings grew over the years.

You started off with a crush on a character before your feelings evolved into an innocent friendship. This connection required no special cause similar to the way sunlight illuminates mornings or cicadas fill summer air with their songs. Then gradually, you realized that your heart started to skip a beat every time Jinwoo smiled. A warm feeling rose when he held your hand as you crossed the street, even though he was grown up and no longer needed you.

You liked Jinwoo.

That love was not noisy, not dramatic. It crept in like the spring rains silently watering the fields of memories. But then, over time, that feeling also began to hurt you.

You still paid attention to the plot. You knew that Jinwoo would meet his destined person in the future. You were just a character added by accident. But you still couldn't help but like him.

Everyone knew you liked Jinwoo.

Even Jinah, his younger sister, when she grew up, used to look at you with both curiosity and certainty. One summer afternoon, when the three of them were peeling fruit in the living room, Jinah suddenly asked in a nonchalant voice.

"You like my oppa, right?"

You were stunned. Just for a second. But it was enough for your face to turn red. You smiled, changing the subject by shoving a piece of apple into Jinah's hand, saying, "Eat it, or the apple will turn brown."

Only Jinwoo didn't know.

He only sees you as a friend, a sister, nothing more, nothing less.

You don't blame him.

It's just that sometimes you wish Jinwoo would look back at you a little more. Not with the eyes of a close friend, but with a softer, deeper gaze, like you've always looked at him all these years.

______________________

And then the incident came like a flood, without warning, without mercy.

The peaceful world began to crack when the first dungeon gates appeared. Strange, violent creatures beyond imagination began to pour out of nowhere, spreading panic and destruction everywhere. Ordinary people were no longer strong enough to fight back. But then - along with the danger - people with supernatural powers also awakened one by one. They were called Hunters.

In that chaos, the Sung family could not escape the vortex of fate.

Sung Il-Hwan, the calm and responsible father, was one of the first to awaken the power of a hunter. With a rare ability, he joined the raiding team with the desire to protect humanity from the threats of the dungeon. But during a high-level raid, the gate slammed shut - and he never returned.

The name Sung Il-Hwan became a silent mark in the missing person records. No body, no clues. Only a void remained, deeply embedded in Jinwoo's heart and the whole family's.

The pain had not yet subsided when another disaster struck.

Mrs. Kyung-hye, Jinwoo's mother, could not adapt to the environment that was gradually being eroded by mana. Her normal human body could not withstand the waves of mana emitted by the hunters. One morning, she collapsed without warning. The doctor called it Eternal Slumber - a deep coma that current medicine could not explain or cure.

She was still there, lying motionless in the cold hospital room, as if she were sleeping a long, endless sleep.

And so, the Sung family - once warm and filled with laughter in the small house - now had only three people left.

Jinah, Jinwoo's little sister, tried to be strong every day, hiding her tears behind her strong eyes so as not to become a burden to her brother.

Jinwoo, awakened with only E-rank power, now has to shoulder the whole family, amidst the life-and-death battles and the loneliness that gnaws at his mind.

And you - who is by their side like a remaining piece of peace, a friend who accidentally gets caught up in the story of people who shoulder a fate beyond the ordinary.

So the story has officially begun.

At the same time, the Isekai System - which you once considered an echo from an old dream, a part of a distant memory after long days of living as a normal human - suddenly reappeared.

After many years of silence, it reappeared with a mission for you.

[System mission has been activated.] [Main mission: Support the protagonist until he achieves Shadow Power.] [Note: When you complete it, you can choose your own path, as long as it does not affect the story.]

It was just a simple command, but it was like a cold knife cutting through your heart. You stood there, looking at the message that appeared before your eyes, unable to do anything but accept it. Because you knew this was not a dream. And from now on, things would never be the same again.

The Double Dungeon event occurred. A seemingly normal raid turned into hell. Blood spilled, people fell. Lives were crushed without mercy. And in the middle of that boundary between life and death, Jinwoo opened his eyes to a System of his own. A System as powerful, mysterious, and cruel as his own fate.

He began to change. With each passing day, his body grew taller, stronger, his eyes sharper. Old wounds healed, pain disappeared.

But in the process, you also gradually realized that it was not only his body that changed - but the world around him was shifting.

The story began to roll.

Jinwoo was no longer the clumsy, gentle Jinwoo of the past. He was now the center of an approaching storm. Big names began to notice him. Fierce battles, life-or-death choices, and pre-arranged fate.

You knew - the time would come when he would meet Cha Hae-in. That girl, that gaze, that position in the script was predetermined from the beginning. Even though you've never met her, you know that no one can replace her in Jinwoo's destined role.

And you?

You're just a supporter. A good friend who always stands behind, takes care of every wound, takes care of every meal, wipes the blood off his hands without asking where he came from. An outsider, witnessing the love story forming from afar, in silence. And someone who secretly likes him.

But you have to close it. Lock it tightly. Because you understand the rules of the game. You're not allowed to love. You're not allowed to interfere with a pre-written storyline.

You're a variable. And variables never have a happy ending.

________________________________

He met her.

Cha Hae-in.

The girl with eyes like a calm lake, always reflecting calmness and kindness - a beauty so pure that it seemed like it could wash away all the ruins in the person's soul. An S-rank Hunter, but gentler than anyone you've ever known.

You stood there silently behind. When Jinwoo's eyes met hers, you saw light.

The light that had appeared in Jinwoo's eyes when he woke up after the Double Dungeon incident, realized that he was still alive, realized that he still had a chance to fix everything, realized that he could still see his family, see you. But now, that light was no longer directed towards you.

In that moment, the world seemed to stop.

You, a person who had gone through countless scenes in this story, suddenly understood. That it wasn't that you weren't good enough. It's just that you're not the one destined to be in this story.

You're an outsider. A sideline. A nameless shadow.

Time passed.

Jinwoo grew stronger, taller, colder. He became an icon. The one who holds the darkness. The one who breaks all limits. At the same time, your mission was completed, but you did not choose to leave, you still wanted to stay by Jinwoo's side a little longer.

And then Jinwoo successfully created the Holy Water of Life.

His mother - Kyung-hye - woke up.

You stood outside the hospital room's glass window. Inside, Jinwoo burst into tears. Those tears were unlike any you had ever seen on his face, not tears of loss, or hatred, or victory. But tears of life.

Jinwoo also became an S-rank hunter, successfully making a name for himself. He also quickly became powerful, then got the attention of the whole world, created his own guild.

You were the one who observed all of that process, observed his growth. Your heart warms, then quickly cools. That's when you realize.

The most important things in Jinwoo's life don't need you anymore.

Not because you're not important. It's because your role in the story has ended.

_______________

The first time he talked about her was after a meeting at the Association, when the two of you left the building together. The afternoon sunlight fell gently on your shoulders, and you - as usual - walked beside Jinwoo in silence.

Jinwoo suddenly spoke, his voice low, as if he was thinking about something far away. "She's different."

You turned around, frowning slightly. "Who?"

"Cha Hae-in."

You paused briefly before switching your voice to inquire "What exactly do you mean by difference?"

A relaxed smile appeared on Jinwoo's face as he shook his head while recalling something pleasant. "I don't typically trust hunches or gut feelings. But when I'm near her, the mana in my body is no longer chaotic. It's peaceful, as if - as if I can breathe."

You smiled. A smile so beautiful that even Jinwoo glanced at you. But you just looked forward, nodding, "It sounds like you found a place where your heart doesn't have to fight anymore."

Jinwoo didn't say anything. Maybe he thought you were misunderstanding.

As for you, you knew you were right.

Another time, after the two of them had just returned from a dungeon, it was raining lightly. The two of them took shelter under the awning of a small restaurant, their clothes still wet from the cold dew in the dungeon. Jinwoo wiped the raindrops from his forehead, then suddenly asked.

"Do you think someone who always fights and always kills is worthy of love?"

You were stunned, your heart filled with unease. "..Why do you ask?"

Jinwoo looked out at the rain, his eyes as deep as the night.

"Because I'm afraid. Hae-in once came to join Ahjin, she admitted that she liked me. I'm afraid that if Hae-in really liked me, she would suffer too much pain. I'm not an ordinary person. I live in blood and darkness. And she's too pure."

You were silent.

In that moment, you just wanted to hug Jinwoo, to tell him that you weren't afraid of his darkness, that you'd lived with him for so long and never found him hateful. But instead, you just smiled.

"If she chose you, then she have discovered qualities you never knew you possessed."

"So you think I'm worthy?"

You nodded slightly. "Yes. Very worthy."

Because otherwise, why would I have loved you for so many years?

________

Jinwoo released a deep sigh as both of you sat on a rooftop watching the Seoul skyline during a late evening.

"I often yearn to experience life as ordinary people do. No system, no monsters, no war. I could do something simple. Have someone waiting for me to come home. And if I'm lucky, maybe..."

He was silent. "...Maybe get married. Have a family."

You didn't reply.

You just clenched the hot cup of tea in your hand, your eyes silently looking down at the traffic below. Your heart silently broke once again - not because Jinwoo loved someone else, but because you realized you were never his choice in the first place.

Everything seemed to be going in the right direction.

Except for your heart.

"Do you think I'm suited to a normal life?" Jinwoo suddenly asked, his eyes following the clouds drifting by.

You looked up at him, smiling slightly. "Depends on your definition of 'normal'."

Jinwoo nodded slightly, then was silent for a long while.

Then, he turned to you, his gaze very gentle. As if he was thinking about something very beautiful, very gentle. "I was thinking about asking Hae-in out. You know, the government built a park at the gate where my father went missing. The only friend I could think of to join me at that place was her."

Your face showed a pleasant expression while your heart endured the pain of his words. 'What about me? Am I not your friend?'  You didn't say anything.

He smiled, a rare smile, not of victory or power. But a smile that came from the desire to live, the desire to be happy. "I want to take her there. Simple. Walk, eat ice cream, play games."

You looked at him.Time appeared frozen at that instant. His gentle voice carried through the room without being either too high or too low yet every word he spoke left a deep impression.

You remembered the day Jinwoo was still an E-rank, awkward, scared, and silent. The one who used to sit huddled in the corner of the hospital. Now he had become a strong person.

You had been with him all that way.

And it seemed like at this moment, you had made a decision for yourself.

____________

"Unnie, do you really have to go?"

Jinah looked at you with sad eyes. Kyung-hye standing next to you also looked at you with pity.

More than anyone, they were the ones who understood your feelings for Jinwoo the most. More than anyone, they knew how much you had sacrificed for Jinwoo. To make the decision to leave, you must have torn your heart to pieces.

With trembling voice Kyung-hye held your hand before she spoke. "I'm sorry I can't help you."

You smiled as you shook your head. "I don't need anything. I am satisfied by his happiness alone. He's found happiness in his life. I think it's time for me to let go and truly live for myself."

Jinah hugged you, unable to hold back her tears. "Unnie, you can stay...you still have us."

You bit your lip, gently touching your head to Jinah's forehead. You just smiled. Gently. Quietly. Then promise. "Someday, I'll come back to see everyone."

It's a lie, a lie only you know.

They don't stop you. Because they understand, there are things that can't be kept - no matter how much love.

You left before Jinwoo returned. No message. No goodbye.

The flight took off.

You sat by the window, your hand on the system screen.

[Request: Erase all your memories related to the Solo Leveling storyline.] [Sub-request: Completely erase memories of Y/n from the memory systems of all individuals who have ever come into contact with you.] [Do you want to confirm?] [Yes/No]

You looked out the plane window, taking in the land of Korea one last time, all your memories since the day you came to this world playing back like a movie. A tear fell down your cheek. You smiled. "Yes"

[Processing...] [Success. From now on, you will not remember anything about the plot. We will not appear again. Wish you a peaceful life.]

Then you fell asleep.

______________________

At the park which used to be a high-level dungeon now served as a lively promenade, where children played while sunlight bathed everything in golden light.

The stone path guided Jinwoo and Hae-in through the park while the wind made the trees' branches dance and let fresh leaves fall from the branches. HHae-in softly held Jinwoo's hand as wind blew through her golden hair.

A girl sprinted by as her mother followed behind her with a pleasant expression. That laughter - unintentionally - struck Jinwoo's ears, like a strange yet painfully familiar bell.

He paused.

His head turned slightly as his gaze focused on an empty area in front of him. A fresh breeze brought forth the fragrances of new grass and damp earth together with another distinct smell.  Something he couldn't name.

He automatically reached his right hand toward his chest.

There. His heart.

It was like something was quietly throbbing. Not clear, not intense, but persistent like a whisper in a dream. He frowned. It felt empty. Like a forgotten silence in a song he once knew.

"...What's wrong?" Hae-in approached him with soft words while squeezing his hand gently as she watched him with worry.

A friendly smile appeared on Jinwoo's face but his expression in his eyes remained blank. "I'm fine. Something important seems to be missing from my mind right now."

Hae-in tilted her head slightly, then smiled. "Then... when you remember, can you tell me?"

Jinwoo looked at her before gently squeezing her hand while smiling. He gave his word to share the information.

Jinwoo experienced a brief emotional twinge as he continued walking under the tree canopy.

There's something still missing. A name has been erased. A look, a laugh, a habit that was once so familiar, now only a pale image deep in his mind. And even though there are no more memories, his heart still carries a nameless emptiness.

No one can fill it. No one can replace it.

Farewell, Jinwoo, my love...

______________

Why oh why tell me why not me 😔

Why oh why we were mean to be...

[leighsartworks216]

One More Chapter

Sylus x gn!Reader

This is the shorter of two fics I want to get out tonight, but it makes me really soft. Just imagine his really deep, quiet voice speaking in a low rumble.

Warnings: teasing, pet names, fluff

Word Count: 623

Main Masterlist

Love and Deepspace Masterlist

AO3

“How many more times will you yawn before you finally go to bed?” Sylus mused, turning a page in his book. “Let’s count, shall we?”

You sigh. If there’s one thing Sylus excelled at, it was finding the perfect way to prod at your nerves. Unfortunately, you were too drained to snap back.

The page scratches uncomfortably as you flip it, shooting uncomfortable goosebumps down your arm. “Once I finish this chapter, I’ll go to bed.”

He hummed nonchalantly. “This wouldn’t happen to be the same chapter you were on the last time you made that promise, now, would it?”

You glared at him over the edge of your book. He knew very well it wasn’t. It’s not your fault the last chapter left on a cliffhanger. You just needed to find out what happened next, and then you could go to bed! Just one more chapter-

You covered your mouth with your hand to stifle your yawn.

“One.”

You grab the sides of your book with more force than necessary and bury your face in its pages. The words were a little blurry, forcing you to strain more to read them. Sentences were slower to process, especially when it came to deciphering how they connected to the plot. Who did and said what got mixed up more times than you want to admit. But you got through a page through sheer determination to spite the Onychinus leader.

“Two.”

Every time he spoke, you bristled. And yet every time you looked up at him, he couldn’t seem to be bothered to take any interest in you, engrossed in his own book. You wouldn’t be surprised if it was a novel on unique torture methods.

By the time Sylus counted to five, you couldn’t read the words anymore. Your vision was fuzzy no matter how many times you rubbed your eyes. Even if you could glimpse a word or two, the synapses in your brain couldn’t even begin to conceive of registering them.

A hand grabbed the book, thumb resting at the center of the pages as it was removed from your grasp. You couldn’t even think of snatching it back. The piece of paper you were using as a bookmark was picked up by another hand and slipped into your story, safely marking your place, before it was shut.

With nothing to distract yourself, your exhaustion caught up with you in an instant. Your body sagged into the sofa, eyes closing even as you fought to open them again.

“Come on, sweetie. Let’s get you to bed.”

Strong arms slipped under your knees and behind your back, lifting you effortlessly from the plush cushions. The movement startled you, rocketing your tired brain into a panic as you grabbed onto him. His arms tipped you further into his chest, your head landing solidly against his shoulder. The quick beating of his heart resonated in your ear.

“I won’t drop you.”

You watched him carry you through the halls of the mansion, counting the bars on the handrail as he began ascending the stairs. You sighed as you curled up further into Sylus’s arms, letting your eyes fall shut once more. “You better not…”

He chuckled. You felt it in your own chest.

The next moments are a haze. You remember the welcome embrace of a bed. Cool sheets, warm blankets, all holding you in a big hug. Your body had a mind of its own as it stretched out, toes pointing and back arching, before curling into a ball. When you reached out blindly, unsure yourself what you could be reaching for, a soft plushie made its way into your arms.

A warm hand brushed your hair back from your face. “Sleep tight, kitten.”

[notapradagurl7]

My Favorite Star.

Black Fem! Reader x Joey Bada$$ as Unique/KadeemPornstar!

Summary: On a regular Friday after work before waiting for one of his latest videos, your neighbor Kadeem brought you a package until you found out that your fine ass neighbor was your favorite porn star, Unique. You decided to spend time with him.

A/N: it’s been a minute since I wrote about Joey, enjoy! don't forget to leave comments, likes and reblogs are welcome to support, drop a request if you like, they're always open!

WC: 4433k.

Warnings: dirty talk, smoking weed, praise, orgasm denial, fingering, use of AAVE, cussing, use of the n-word, rough sex, choking kink, protected sex, consensual for both parties, exhibitionist kink, AU where Unique is in the modern day world, PWP, pet names.

Taglist: @megamindsecretlair @satoruya @planetblaque

@playgurlxoxo @naj-ay444

@becauseimswagman1 @beenathembo @brattyfics

@hxneyclouds @henneseyhoe @yassbishimvintage

@nahimjustfeelingit-writes @nayaesworld @ovohanna24

@novahreign @writingsbytee @avoidthings @kimuzostar @slippinninque @keyera-jackson @theblacklewinsky

@euphorichappiness10 @life-in-the-slut-house @caashmoneynae @siqueth @miguelspvssy @liatreads @kaylaahisthebestest-

@uniqueoutlierblog

@dxddykenn

@secretlifeoofmarpessa @dpennedit

@westside-rot @mymindisneverhere

@mind-somewhere-else

@kindofaintrovert

@lady-olive-oil @23jammy @musicisme333 @saturnville @enchantedillumination @mogul93 @theereina @uzumaki-rebellion @blyffe @hotmessexpress94 @fakxmbj @kumkaniudaku @ranikyani @mama-2001

______

It was a typical Friday night, the kind where the world outside felt like a distant echo while you nestled into your cozy apartment with a bag of snacks and a comfy pink blanket in your bedroom. The smell of something sweet and lavender wafted in the room.

The flickering light from your TV danced across the four on your brown skin as you scrolled through your favorite adult site, your heart racing with anticipation for the latest video featuring Unique.

Your freshly two-strand twisted locs hung in front of your face, your fingers carefully pulled out the black rubber bands.

The black screen with red trims displayed a white loading icon that was frustrating, while the message read, "New video arriving soon—don’t miss out on UniqueDaDon!”

With a deep sigh, your face contorted in frustration as you rolled your eyes, the weight of impatience settling heavily in you. Your thumb angrily swiped up the screen, dismissing the page with a flick that felt almost like a release.

You shut your phone off and tossed it onto the pillow, the device landing with a soft thud, mirroring your exasperation.

Where was Unique? Your favorite porn star, Friday, Wednesday and Monday nights before 11pm were his usual scheduling time on the adult site. He was never late either, this was new.

A sudden yet alarming knock on your door jolted you back to reality. You glanced at the time—11 PM. Who the hell could it be?

Your heart raced for a different reason now, but as the doorbell chimed, your phone's camera revealed Kadeem's familiar face. You sighed in relief, putting down the gun that had been your recent purchase.

“Y/N, you've got a package! It’s a crockpot, right?” His voice was teasing, laced with that signature charm that made your heart flutter.

Damn it. They accidentally sent your purple crockpot to him. That was the last time you ordered anything online without double-checking the delivery address.

“Uh, yeah! Just, uh, some... new cooking material for my collection!” You called back, trying to play it cool, but the heat creeping up your cheeks gave you away.

You opened the door, your heart racing as you took in his appearance. He wore a black tee, paired with sweatpants. and those dark brown eyes of his sparkled under the orange hallway lights.

Kadeem chuckled, his laughter deep and rich, echoing through the thin walls between your apartments. “Cookin’ material, huh? What’chu cooking tonight?” he teased, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed casually.

“Maybe some beef stew this time, hopefully it turns out good, not too soft, if not, i'll just order take out,” You replied with a nod.

“I always smell something good from your apartment, I know you're good at what you do,” He said, smiling a bit.

He resided directly opposite you in the upscale, five-story apartment complex located in the suburbs, where both of you occupied units on the first floor. This location suited you due to your job at the nearby library, which provided a tranquil environment.

Kadeem resided in apartment 102 while you were in apartment 101; the building was quiet and uneventful, mostly occupied by residents or college students who minded their own business.

You tried to play it cool, but the heat creeping up your cheeks betrayed you. “Uh, thanks for bringing it over,” you said, trying to sound casual.

He leaned against the doorframe, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “You know I got you, Y/N. Just doin’ my neighborly duties,” he replied, stepping a little closer. He leaned casually against the doorframe, the air thick with unspoken tension.

“So, what you into these days? Besides, ya know, cookin’?” His gaze dropped to your box, and you felt your heart skip a beat, knowing he couldn't see the website you had been on.

You smirk, trying to deflect. “Oh, you know, just the usual. Binge-watching, and the occasional art pieces of mine.” You shot back, trying to keep it light-hearted, but the heat of the moment was palpable.

You wanted to be done with this conversation quickly before you missed a notification, pursuing your lips. Especially testing out your new crockpot.

“Well, thanks again Kadeem, I'll be sure to let know you if I need to smoke weed,” You quickly said, eyeing him up and down.

“Anytime, Y/N,” Kadeem replied back, as he walked away from the door and toward his apartment door.

“Bye Kadeem,” You sang playfully with a smile, waving back to him before closing the door.

He sold marijuana to nearby residents while working as a full-time adult film actor to cover his expenses, on a reputable black-owned porn site that strictly filtered out unsavory characters, minimized ads.

He exclusively showcased black women or curvy black women in his content. In their mid-twenties and some older, in their early thirties. From this very neighborhood.

His work wasn't much vanilla, nor too many hardcore videos, if there was a fantasy from the woman then Unique would fulfill it. He was always at the top row of the home page, verified with five stars.

After work, you would smoke weed with him since he was your plug, chatting about your day, and you always made a point to pay him. However, Kadeem consistently reminded you that it was free of charge.

Your heart raced as you clicked on the notification, the familiar thrill coursing through you.

“Oh shit, I can’t be late,” you whispered quickly, grabbing your phone with ease.

You ran inside of your bedroom and grabbed your laptop, putting it on the charger, you flipped the light switch and the darkness filled the room.

You snuggled into the blankets of your bed to get comfy, grabbing your earbuds and plugged it in your phone below, the timer on the adult site went to 10 seconds, as the logo of the website flickered on the black ink screen.

“Five…four…three…” You mumbled under your breath, your eyes glued to the screen.

“Now Unique wants to post on time, huh?” You sang lowly but smirked a bit, biting down on your lip.

The intro music softly faded in and out, and suddenly there he was Unique displaying that signature smirk that made your stomach flip. You felt a rush of heat flood your cheeks. Good thing this video wasn't recent either.

The video began with Kadeem showed off that signature smirking, lying down at the front of his bed with his hands behind his head, a smirk on his face and while the black woman with the same dark brown complexion as him, crawled toward him with the dim light of the room that felt as intimate as your own.

Your mouth went agape once the video faded out, and you quickly came to a sudden realization, the same man who was your plug, lived across from you was your favorite porn star? How the hell did you not see that?

His hands adorned gripped her throat, momentarily constricting her airflow, eliciting a soft harsh gasp from the woman, passing the condom to him, her hands rested on the headboard as he lifted her and settled down onto his dick. She began riding him with a steady pace.

“Faster, you pretty slut,”

His eyes flickered back to the camera with a playfully glint as if he was looking at you through the screen, letting low groan from the warmth of her walls gripping his dick tightly, “Talk to me, baby. Tell me how good you’re feeling,”

Every moan, grunt, thrust spurred you on, the ache in your stomach made you squirm underneath the blankets, and your tiny whimper left your lips.

“Lord, help me,” you whispered, sinking deeper into the pillow as you tried to ignore the ache building inside you.

You knew you shouldn’t be watching this, especially when you had just seen him a few moments ago, but here you were, it felt all too real. Your breath hitched and panted heavily.

And then he did that one thing you liked, talking to the wrong through her climax.

“There you go, let me have it,”

Once the video was over and swiped up to exit, you quickly ran toward the bathroom and accidentally knocked over your small dresser, the thud noise echoed through the walls. You screamed out loudly.

“Shit, all this fucking time, it was him,” You mumbled to yourself, wondering how you did not see it.

You were still bewildered by the fact that it was really him, and you imagined how it would feel to be in her place, to have those hands on you, to feel that body against yours. That friction with him.

Just then, the doorbell rang again, pulling you from your reverie. You cursed out loud, but curiosity got the better of you. You cleaned up mess, and threw the glass in the trash. “Who the fuck could it be now?”

You quickly paused the video and tossed your phone aside, throwing on a hoodie to cover up as you made your way to the door, your heart racing once again.

“Y/N, you good in there? I heard you scream and a loud thud. You alright?” Kadeem’s voice echoed through the door, concern lacing his tone.

“Yeah, just uh...tripped over something! I’m good!” you called back, trying to sound nonchalant, but the slight tremor in your voice betrayed your nerves.

“Alright, just checking on you,” he replied, and you could hear the concern in his voice. “You know I’m just across the hall if you need anything. Like...you know, a good smoke or a good meal.”

You chuckled awkwardly, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks again, but it wasn’t just from embarrassment anymore. It was that undeniable attraction you felt toward him, mixed with the knowledge of what he did for a living, that sent your heart racing.

You stood at the door, then opened it revealing Kadeem there. Still dressed in the same attire, while you exhaled a blissful sigh. “Actually, I don't feel like cooking tonight, I could use a good meal,”

“Dinner is on me, I got you. What do you want to eat?” Kadeem asked in a warm tone, his eyes on you, you felt the heat rush in your cheeks again.

“I'll just take some wings and fries, my drink can be a fruit punch, ranch on the side too by the way,” You added, batting your eyelashes at him.

“Done,” he said, pulling out his phone, scrolling through the DoorDash app, typing in the food, the drinks and the sauce.

“While we wait, can I ask you something Kadeem?” you said softly, your tone a bit nervous yet steady. You walked over to the light purple couch with him, you took a seat on the left side.

He looked up from his plate, his eyes flickered back to you, while he gently plopped onto the couch beside you, “Of course you can, what’s on your mind?”

You hesitated briefly, but the moment felt right. “So, um… this might sound a bit weird, but I’ve been watching a lot of your content online. Like, you know, Unique? Your videos? I’m a fan.”

“You’re a fan of my videos?” he asked in a soft tone like he was surprised a bit. His body shifted toward you and his knees brushed against yours.

“Yeah, you’re good at what you do,”

Kadeem smiled at what you said to him, “I appreciate that, but you know, I could tell you were a fan. Your comments always stood out, they were always so funny, and clever,”

Your heart raced as you processed his words, feeling exposed yet thrilled. “So you’ve been watching me watch you?” you teased, your voice playful despite the heat washing over you.

“Can you blame me? You’re kinda hard to miss. Cute as hell, smart, sexy, funny, beautiful, always with that smile,” he replied, leaning back against the couch, as he flashed that charming grin. “And trust me, I’ve got fantasies of my own about you.”

You swallowed hard, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. “Are you serious?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady, but the way he looked at you made it hard to concentrate.

“Let’s just say, I’ve imagined what it’d be like to have you in many positions,” he said, his voice low and smooth, sending shivers down your spine.

Kadeem had a crush on you, and those feelings surpassed into something deeper, but your imagination did run wild.

“I've had a few of the same.” You could hardly believe the words spilling from his mouth, it made your heart race.

“But honestly, I’d rather just have you all to myself, no cameras,” he admitted, his tone shifting to something more intimate.

You tried to speak but the words caught in your throat. You weren’t sure how to respond.

“Tell me what you want, Y/N. Don’t hold back,” he replied, his voice a tempting whisper.

“No cameras. Just us, I want it to be real, you know?” you confirmed, your voice steady with sudden confidence.

Kadeem’s expression softened, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I like the sound of that.”

You took a deep breath, the weight of his question hanging in the air. “So you want me to fuck you Y/N?” he asked you with a smile on his face.

You nodded nervously yet spoke up, “Yes, I do. But fuck me like you hate me yet you can't resist me, spank my ass, gently choke me, praise but without the word good girl, and edging, give me some direction, like that rough edge in your videos,”

“I can definitely do that. But I’ll make sure it’s all about your pleasure too. I want to know what makes you feel good but just say no when you want to stop” he mused, nodding at you.

Before you could respond, the doorbell rang again, breaking the moment. You shot him an apologetic smile and jumped up, He rushed to the door.

As Kadeem opened it, the delivery driver stood there with the food, the aroma of garlic parmesan wings and fries wafting in, making your stomach growl. You couldn't wait to eat.

“Perfect timing!” you exclaimed, he grabbed the bags from the driver and tipping him generously before closing the door. He hurried back to the couch, where you were already eyeing the spread eagerly.

He placed the bags on the brown polished coffee table, hissed from the heat touching your skin.

“So you like garlic parmesan?” he asked, opening the containers to reveal the steaming wings and crispy fries, each accompanied by little cups of ranch.

“I like what I like, so how have you been?” you replied, your heart still racing from the earlier conversation as you settled back next to him, the food between you both.

“I’ve been good, this is the kind of night I can get behind—good food, good company,” he replied with a smile, picking up a wing and taking a bite, savoring the flavor.

You laughed softly, feeling the playful energy between you both. “And you enjoy my company?” you suggested, dipping a fry in ranch and offering it to him.

“Absolutely,” he replied, leaning in to take the fry from your fingers, his lips brushing against your fingers. The simple action sent a thrill through you, igniting the chemistry that simmered beneath the surface.

After your food was finished, thrown in the trash and both of you washed your washes your hands, you grabbed his hands and led him to your bedroom, nudging the door open to the room that was neat. The walls were painted a soft lilac, a comforting hue.

Thankfully you did some spring cleaning this morning, so the vibrant floral sheets and candles gave the room a cozy feel. The smell of fresh linen and lavender filled the air.

The bed was in the middle of your bedroom, with the dresser in the corner and a small bookshelf beside it overflowing with novels and trinkets collected over the years. The vibe Kadeem got from it was one of warmth and personality.

“Nice place you got here,” he remarked, taking in the surroundings with appreciation. He stood in the middle of the room with his

“Thank you, I try to keep it comfortable and inviting," you replied with a grateful smile. Was this man trying to steal your secrets on interior decorating, or was he just being polite?

You grabbed a condom from the dresser and passed it to him. “Will it fit you?” you asked him, a teasing glint in your eye, though your voice carried a hint of genuine curiosity as well.

"Trust me, it’ll fit," he said with a wink, taking off his shirt while unwrapping the condom and tossing it onto the bed. "Now, you ready for this?"

Your eyes almost sparkled with lust as you nodded, you felt the lust building up inside. His dark brown skin was beautiful, and his chest was toned, each muscle defined under the soft glow of the candles.

“More than ready,” you breathed, your heart racing in rhythm with the pounding of your pulse. You tugged at the edge of your shirt, pulling it over your head to reveal your breasts.

After taking off your shorts and panties, you wiped your sweaty hands on the towel you had used before tossing it into the hamper. You were so damn nervous but took a few breaths to keep your cool.

You bent over onto the bed and wiggled your ass at Kadeem, he responds by giving it a rough smack, you stifled a moan while he towers over you.

With that, you pushed him gently back onto the bed, the soft mattress cradling you as he hovered over you. His chain dangling in your face and kissed your lips again, pulling down his sweatpants and boxers, his dick was thick and hung near his thigh. That was a monster.

“Damn,” you mumbled to yourself, your jaw hung low. You were damn speechless for the first time but you swallowed quickly.

“Like what’chu see beautiful?” Kadeem asked with a grin, flipping the light switch, the darkness filled the room but he turned on the other light switch to dim.

It wasn’t too dark in the room but just enough light to see both of you, he kneeled onto the bed and hovered over you again.

You almost covered your face until he grabbed them, your cheeks heating again like a blushing bride getting ready for her wedding day, “Don't hide that pretty face from me,” he added.

He stepped closer, his hands framing your face as he leaned in to capture your lips in a heated kiss. You melted into him, the soft pressure of his mouth against yours made you moan.

Your legs spread open for him, his eyes on your pussy then flickered back to you, his fingers gently fingered your pussy, you gasped softly, “Shit, no teasing, Kadeem please…” you whimpered biting your lip, he definitely wanted to do that first.

He chuckled darkly at your quick reply, his mouth wrapped around your nipple and kept pumping his fingers in and out of you at a tortuous, fast pace. He loved every moment of his, the faces you made and the way your moans echoed through the walls, alerting the residents Kadeem fucking you good.

Your essence spread all over the bedsheets, driving you wild in pleasure. “Fuck..m-more,” you babbled softly, moving your hips to his fingers. Kadeem smirked at you while picking up the pace. You were a wet whimpering mess, legs shaking as he watched you break apart underneath him.

“Fuck Kadeem, just like that!” You reached for him desperately, when his fingers curled up inside you with reckless abandon, your back arched and your hands clutched his shoulders.

His hand grasped and kissed your breasts, releasing your wrists while your hands rested on his neck. His mouth sucked your nipple and his fingers kept that pace, “You better not cum till I say so,” he said with his voice raised an octave.

“Ohh…fuck! Fuck! Kadeem!” You moaned again, catching the faint squeaks from your bed as you scoot away, “No runnin’ from me, that’s the rule,” he replied as he grabbed your wrists again. All you could was scream loudly in pleasure from his other finger pinching your clit again.

“I-i need y-your d-dick, Kadeem,” You lamented in between sentences, feeling that familiar knot tightening in your stomach, his lips slotting against yours, your mouth parted for a scream of pleasure. That had his dick harden from you.

His tongue explored your mouth and twirled with yours. swapping spit in the deep kiss and leaving a spit chain as he pulled away from you. you were so tired of the damn teasing, your hands squirming in his clutch.

“Look at you, all lost in it,” Kadeem spoke up, feeling the pleasure from you, the heat raised, his thumb swiveling onto your clit and essence pooling around his finger.

“That feels too good!”

You were betrayed by your pussy, every thrust of his finger made your body scoot across the bed and you shifted and turned, and your skin began to heat up. You essence gushed onto his fingers, he stopped immediately and withdrew his fingers from your pussy. You couldn't help what body knew what to do, he released your wrists and spanked your ass roughly.

“What did I say? You don't listen…” Kadeem barked at you, his nose rubbed against yours.

Your chest rose and fell as you took a moment to compose yourself after nodding at him. You clenched the bedsheets while he enveloped your body, directing his thick dick towards your wet entrance.

His half-lidded eyes watches how your mouth parted for a slut like moan when he shoved himself inside you, pleading the man to fuck you harder. Bullying his dick deep inside to fit every inch, fulfills that craving of friction. “Already so fucking wet-damn..” he muttered.

"Kadeem, you're soo big,” You trailed off after a plethora of moans, he knew that you were speechless and only answered with a wild moan or two. Kneading your other breast while giving long, deep strokes that go dizzy and dumb, He likes this side of you, the way your body responds to him. He was definitely gonna make you his.

"You’re mine,” He whispered in your ear, digging deeper into you again as he watched himself go in and out effortlessly, your wetness coating his dick like a blanket. He wanted to get every drop, he moaned at the sight.

He brought his body closer to yours, your arms wrapped around his neck and his thrusts went sporadic, the gold chain touched your collarbone and you shook from the cold metal, “M-mine, you're all mine,” you trailed off

Nails scratching relentlessly onto his back with every ruthless thrust, Kadeem kept grunting and raspily moaning from that, he was spurred on from the way you bounced under him to your moans, this was better than his video, you were finally filled up to the brim by him. “Keep scratching me up pretty girl, I'll fuck you harder,” he groaned lowly.

The sounds of skin slapping against skin and your breathless moans, echoing off the walls as you saw the colors of the room blurring from your tear-filled eyes. As if the room was spinning, the bed creaked from the movement from when he picked up the pace again, thrusting deeper and harder, pushing you closer and closer to the edge. “That’s my girl, you’re doing so good, baby,”

“That’s it, let it build. You can do it,” he encouraged, his voice a low growl that resonated within you.You felt your swollen pussy clench around his dick tighter. “Let me cum, Kadeem,”

“You can cum now,”

With that, you came undone immediately. Your essence left a big mess on his dick and bedding, He followed suit by filling you up and you screamed loudly, the soft glow of the lights casting light onto your bodies. Kadeem collapsed beside you.

“You good?” he asked in concern with his eyes flickering toward you, you nodded weakly. “I'll run you a hot bath,”

“Damn girl, you’re something else,” Kadeem panted lowly, looking at you while kissing your lips.

“I can definitely say that same thing about you, baby,” You chuckled lightly.

He picked you up and carried you into the bathroom, running a hot bath for you while he gently settled you into the foamy bath, sighing in bliss at the touch of the warm water on your skin. He pulled up his sweatpants, then crouched near the tub. He looked like he had something on his mind.

“Can I take you out for a date?”

You smiled at the man and nodded in agreement, bringing your legs close to your chest and wrapping your arms around them. “I’d like that, you remember what’s my favorite place?” you asked him, heat in your cheeks.

“Yeah, that Italian restaurant around the corner. I can pick you up around 8? This weekend?” he asked you with a gentle tone, smiling at you.

“I’d like that,” You replied with a warm smile. Feeling that warm fuzzy feeling in your stomach. This was a great Friday night, now he was all yours.

—————-

[anonity]

seeing

paige bueckers x azzi fudd

hi ladies! happy valentines day <3 i have the flu 😩 the last time i had the flu my ex-gf broke no contact to tell me to take care of myself.. just thought i’d share that.. i meant to post this wednesday but i lost the original draft i had of it and only just now finished rewriting it

WC: 765. supa short, longer fics coming i pinkie promise

summary: paige should look away. she knows she should. but azzi is beautiful and, more importantly, hasn’t noticed paige staring. (or maybe she has, and is letting her look anyways.)

the cabin drums with the white noise of plane engines, accompanied by a stillness unique to the sky — suspended moments paige has only found 35,000 feet in the air. 

somewhere behind them, there’s a flight attendant passing by with a drink cart. it clatters against someone's seat, the wheels making an unpleasant scraping sound.  aaliyah is craning her neck to see if they have fritos, and KK is arguing vehemently with whoever is behind her. paige barely registers any of it. 

because azzi is sitting next to her, leaned into the window seat they’d fought over, bathing in the dim light of the overhead lamp — and paige cannot stop looking at her. 

she’s reading. or at least, she was reading, because the page hasn't turned in a hot minute. it’s a new book (a paperback paige had caught her eyeing in the airport and bought the second she looked away), but the spine is already cracking from use. 

her head is tilted just so, cheek pressed against the cool glass, and the way she’s leaning has the setting sun softening over the curve of her jaw. paige swallows thickly, shifting in her seat. 

she should look away. 

she knows she should. 

because azzi is her best friend, her teammate, the peanut butter to her jelly. and so she should turn away to scroll through her phone, or even watch the moving where-are-we map displayed on the flight screen in front of her. she should do anything but sit there, yearning in the cabin of an avelo airline, and stare. 

but azzi hasn’t looked back yet. and so long as it stays that way, paige figures she can get away with it. there’s something stupidly intimate about watching azzi when she’s so clearly focused on something else, eyes decorated with golden flecks where the sun is catching them. there's something soft in the way azzi hasn’t noticed yet, or kind in the way she probably has but is choosing not to acknowledge it. maybe that is what creates the weightless feeling that only seems to exist in the quiet in-between of being with azzi. the way she’s letting paige look, deliberately allowing her to have this moment.

paige knows the second azzi turns her head, she’ll have to school her expression – pretend she wasn’t memorizing the way azzi tugs her lip in between her top teeth, or the way her eyebrows are knitted together like she’s trying to figure something out.

for how hard paige is staring, you would think she’d notice the way azzi’s eyes have stopped following the paper in front of her.

she doesn’t, though. azzi shifts, paige tracking the way her fingertips slide up the spine of the book, and lets her gaze follow upwards – to the slope of her shoulders, the outline of collarbone where her sweatshirt is falling.

then, azzi inhales softly, speaking without raising her gaze. “you’re staring.”

paige freezes, eyes landing on the digital airplane in front of her. “no i’m not.”

azzi smiles. “you are.”

paige shuffles further back into her seat, rolling her eyes. “you think you got your degree, and you know every fuckin’ thing, huh?” she deflects, grin widening at the reference as she nudges azzi’s knee with her own.

azzi hums. she has that look she gets when she knows something paige doesn’t – like she’s waiting for her to figure it out. “i know what it feels like when you’re looking at me.”

paiges grin stutters, her stomach flipping like it does when there’s turbulence. it’s the first time azzi has ever really acknowledged that paige looks at her. if she’s honest, she feels a little caught, walls she thought were well-built around her crumbling at the mere notion of azzi noticing the way paige watches her (of azzi recognizing the way paige looks at her, seeing it in the pages of whatever romance she’s reading).

paige risks a peek over, but azzi is still staring at those same words. paige’s shoulders slump in relief. azzi’s giving her this – this safe distance, the opportunity to ignore what's sitting thickly between them. 

i know what it feels like when you’re looking at me. of course she does. it’s all paige can do sometimes: stare.

then paige laughs, light and easy like her world didn’t just briefly stop spinning. “crazy thing to say,” she mutters, faking an unbothered yawn. she prays azzi doesn’t catch the way her voice wavers.

azzi finally turns her head, but paige's gaze is trained stubbornly on her phone. not because she’s embarrassed, but because she’s not sure what would happen if she looked at azzi right now – not while azzi is looking at her.

but from the corner of her vision, paige catches it – azzi smiling, soft and knowing.

and yeah. she probably knows.

[saintobio]

sincerely yours. (8)

↳ gojou satoru/reader

when a twist of fate led their marriage to the path of a quintessential tragic romance, two past lovers go through another series of experiences on love, heartbreak, identity, illness, and trauma along the road to a happily ever after. 

genre. heavy angst, amnesia, modern au, 18+ 

tags/warnings. profanity, mentions of cheating, implied suicide attempt, toxic relationship, explicit smut

series masterlist -> episode nine

9:21 AM.

Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound of your index finger drumming a slow and steady cadence against the table was nearly in perfect synchronization to the tick tock of the clock above the wall behind you. An icy, uninviting atmosphere was the best way to describe the current situation inside the conference room at this time of the morning, with the gelid detachment between the boss and her employees as you built a wall—an impenetrable wall—around yourself to keep the inner turmoil you had in your head. 

So, you listened. You succumbed to silence as a result. 

“I’d like to present this new idea that we, along with the ecommerce team, have come up with to increase engagement on our website.” Even as the marketing manager started to speak, you remained frigid. “We did go through some feedback that people have been posting online and they’re mostly saying that the current web theme is too plain and that they’re hoping to see a more engaging website, so we would love to propose some ideas that could improve Hearte’s overall online presence. We know that keeping the brand’s look consistent is very important, especially now that Hearte is still establishing its own name in the fashion industry, and we have currently done a phenomenal job with our brand style. However, as the online website is our visual storefront, not only is its functionality critical, but we also have to ensure that the web design is in line with our aesthetics.” 

9:26 AM. 

You leaned back on your chair with your arms crossed, looking up to speak to the manager from across the conference room. “Let’s keep the unnecessary introduction short and just go straight to the point,” you strictly announced, receiving curious eyes in return as it was their first time seeing you becoming all stern and unamused. Such an odd sight to see from a boss who used to have the brightest of sunshines reflecting on her smile. “What’s the proposal?” 

The marketing manager cleared her throat and moved her presentation onto the next slide. “Yes, Ms. Y/N. So… uh, based on the data that you can see on the screen, our online sales increased by 15% for the past two weeks, but we still have about 10% of shoppers abandoning their shopping carts. Earlier this week, we set up email campaigns and social reminders to decrease our abandonment rate and urge shoppers to return to their carts. While working with the IT team, we did some A/B testing to determine which version would drive our business metrics. We’ve also reached out to The Society Management and added Kendall Jenner to our PR list so that possibly, in the future, we can get her as a model for our landing page and attract the western market,” she continuously explained in a manner to convince you of how much effort their department was doing to increase Hearte’s sales, “But what we believe could bring a tremendous improvement on our website engagement is by introducing style guides. This will capture the interest of the audience now that they can mix and match some outfits based on their own style, and—”

9:32 AM.

Sigh.

“Ms. Ono, I have to be honest, but I expected more from you,” you cut her off by leaving a frank comment on her presentation, “Fashion brands have been doing style guides for years. You make it sound like it’s unique, but it’s nothing new. How sure are we that it will actually bring a dramatic improvement on our website engagement? I doubt most of them would even browse through it.” 

“Well, uh…” The marketing manager faltered, glancing at the head of the social media team for some help, which she didn’t end up receiving. “I think it’ll work the way we want it to as long as we introduce engaging copies that make buyers fall in love with the designs.” 

“You think?” You criticized her word of choice. “Ms. Ono, I gave you enough time to brainstorm with your team, so the moment you step inside of this conference room, you should have prepared whatever strategy you had in mind. I don’t settle for ambitious words like ‘I think’ or ‘I believe’. I want to hear a proposal that’s original, unique, and captivating. I want you to be a hundred percent sure that you know what you’re doing before you waste everyone’s time like this. Do you understand? Am I being clear? I want a proposal that would definitely get us somewhere and not just by assuming we will.” 

Were you being too harsh? They said that the fashion industry in itself was harsh, so what was so surprising about seeing you being strict, candid, and business-like? This was the nature of your job. This was normal. 

9:47 AM. 

Very timidly did Nobara raise her hand beside you to chime in on the discussion. “I know I’m not in the position to make suggestions, but…” She pressed something on her laptop before carefully sliding it to your side of the table, showing you what appears to be a classic early 2000s ‘dress-up game’ with a base model and a selection of outfits that were inspired by your designs. “I just wanted to show you this, Ms. Y/N. I do agree with Ms. Ono’s idea to introduce style guides, but maybe we can do it in an interactive way. I know the dress-up game idea may look childish and unsophisticated, but I was kinda hoping that we can just make certain adjustments so that it could match Hearte’s classy and simplistic style. We can have base models in different body types and skin tones to show our brand’s diversity, then we can have shoppers try dressing them up using the outfits on our current collection. That allows them to easily visualize how the pieces would look on a certain skin tone and body type.” 

The way everyone else in that conference table looked at Nobara was very obvious that they were expecting you to reprimand her for even having the guts to offer such a farcical idea. What does she know? They were probably thinking that. You’re just an intern. You knew they were saying that in their minds. On the other hand, you surprisingly liked her proposal and enjoyed the unique idea of introducing it to the website because her proposal actually did make sense. People would be curious, people would try it out by interacting with the website, and that means the engagement would rise up. 

“I like that idea. We can go with that,” you said, sliding the laptop back to her while nodding at the marketing and social media managers, “I need the team to discuss Nobara’s idea further and polish it thoroughly before we can start adding it onto the website. Make adjustments as needed and ensure that everything is still in line with our brand. If you notice any flaws with this proposal, you can flag them with me and I’ll review them.” 

9:54 AM. 

Just as you were about to wrap up the meeting, a certain someone entered the conference room in haste—panting out of breath with her long, wavy hair and creased red pants. “I’m so sorry, I’m late.” 

Her casualness made you clench your jaws tightly, fueling the fire to your already terrible day. You could no longer stop yourself from unleashing your rage as you looked up at her with a critical squint. “Ms. Hirai, what time’s it?” 

“It’s ten, I know. I’m so sorry,” she repeated her apologies and paid an apologetic bow to everyone in the meeting room, “I’m sorry, everyone. I was caught up in heavy traffic today.” 

You let out a silent scoff and ignored her compunctious act. “How long are we gonna keep using that excuse, really?” you questioned her, earning the intrigued eyes of your employees who were all sensing the sudden tension between you and your best friend, “As the fashion merchandiser and my second-in-command, you should’ve been here in this meeting with me, but where were you? You anticipated that there would be heavy traffic, yet you couldn’t be responsible enough in coming to work early knowing that we have a meeting? Or was it because you’re too busy doing other things so you’re no longer interested in showing up to work on time?” 

Akemi shook her head, contritely. “It’s… It’s not like that.” 

“Not like what?” Your icy stare bored into her. No trace of compassion was present in your eyes. “I’m sure you’re living a very blissful life outside of work and I’m glad you are, but is that also why you don’t bother with anything else anymore?” 

“Y/N—”

“Miss Y/N,” you corrected, “I’m your boss, so treat me like one.” 

Wide, chocolate brown eyes greeted you in response. It was clear that she was at a loss of words and could only repeat her meaningless apologies a thousand times. “I’m really sorry, Ms. Y/N. It won’t happen again.” 

“You didn’t even let me know that you’ll be coming in late,” you continued and ignored the pitiful expression on her face, focusing on her swollen red lips and her dewy, rosy cheeks. She must have had a really good morning to look like a cherry blossom on a spring day. Was she so preoccupied being all lovey dovey with your ex-husband this morning? Did she sleep comfortably on the same marital bed you used to share with him? Your jaw tensed visibly. “You’re just coming in whenever you want. You don’t respect people’s time. You don’t respect my rules. You don’t respect me.” 

Yes, you were overreacting by taking things too personally and it was the reason why you got up from your seat and bolted out of the conference room upon realizing your unusual outburst. You could hear the clicking sound of your stiletto echoing across the corridor as you stomped towards your office, swinging the glass door open and heading straight towards the ceiling-to-floor window to have some peace of mind. Peace? How ridiculous. How could you find peace? You couldn’t even grasp the fact that your best friend was acting like everything was normal. You couldn’t understand why she was rubbing her relationship to your face as if she wasn’t just a placeholder to somebody’s ex wife.

“Y/N?” Akemi’s voice cut you out of your toxic trail of thoughts—your mouth thinning with displeasure while you didn’t bother turning around to meet her gaze. Breathe. You had to breathe and think rationally. “I…I understand you’re really angry right now, but I was hoping we can have this much needed talk.” 

You could feel her reaching for your hand at the height of your frustration and your defensive instinct led you to angrily swing your arm away, accidentally hitting her cheek as you pivoted on your heel to face her. It took two seconds for your eyes to shift from glaring in frustration to widening in surprise after seeing the small cut your diamond ring left on her cheek. “Are you okay?” 

“Y-Yeah, no, it’s fine,” she insisted with her palm pressed onto the right side of her face. “I deserved it.” 

Good lord. What was happening to you? Despite having all these unspoken rage and unresolved conflicts between the two of you, you would still drop everything and be concerned for her. You would still let your walls collapse. You were the villain that couldn’t stick to being a villain. Why? Why did you feel this way? Was it because you knew she wasn’t technically doing anything wrong? Or was it because you were just projecting your personal frustrations onto her? Was betrayal really the issue here? Or was it the huge possibility that she could in fact be Gojou’s one true love? You had thought of this before, but the same questions in your head never stopped. And never did they stop from invading your headspace as you made your way towards the small fridge to grab an ice pack that you soon offered to Akemi, leading her to one of the couches while finally coming into your senses. 

Yet there was silence and nothing but awkward silence when you two sat at a safe distance from each other. 

“I’m shameless.” She was the first one to break the uncomfortable atmosphere. “I know you’re thinking that and I do agree with you. I really am shameless to even look you in the eye right now.” 

You sighed and looked away, only to keep yourself from the furnace of pain that you had been bottling inside. “Stop. You’re making me seem like a villain right now. I’m tired of seeing myself this way.”

She closed her legs and sat humbly, reaching forward to squeeze your hand. “You’re not. You’re not a villain and you never were,” said the same woman you accidentally smacked a few minutes ago, “I understand why you would feel a certain way towards me. I’d even understand if you hate me so much that you wanna murder me. I’m your best friend and I know about your history with Satoru, yet here I am seeing your ex-husband behind your back. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t plan it. I truly didn’t. Even though you’re not together anymore and I’m technically not homewrecking anyone, I’m still putting us—you and I—in a really awkward position. You didn’t deserve any of that and I’m very sorry.” 

At least, she was self-aware. But looking at the brighter side of things, you were getting calmer now that you were hearing her side of the story, though that didn’t stop you from feeling any less horrible. “I don’t really care who you date,” you claimed, adamantly, “And I most definitely do not care who Satoru chooses to date. We’ve been divorced for three years.” 

“It’s still not right that I’m seeing him.” She let her guilt speak up for her. 

And you let your resentment speak for you. “Then, why him of all people?”

“It’s…” 

“Complicated?” 

“Y-Yeah…” 

You decided to keep a straight face. “How did this happen?” 

Akemi looked as if you had just forced her to be on the hot seat because of the apathy on your visage. “It was a drunken mistake at first and we kinda just…”

“I’m not asking about when you two started fucking,” you replied, bluntly. Something you had never done before in your usual sophisticated vocabulary. “I’m asking when you realized you have feelings for him. When did you fall in love with him?” 

She had trouble finding the right answer. “It just happened. I d-don’t really know. Whenever you asked me to look after him, I guess the bond he and I developed from that made me see him in a different light.” 

You disregarded the pain in your chest and let the volcano explode on its own, because her answer only meant that she was already growing feelings for your ex-husband at the same time you were confiding to her about him. That was the worst part of it all. 

“Why do you like him?” you questioned further, “Despite knowing what happened while I was married to him, why did you still end up falling in love with him? If that’s so hard to answer, then don’t think about us or me or our friendship. Just think about the decisions you made for yourself. Why are you with Satoru?” 

Her gaze found the floor. Hesitance. Guilt. Shame. Those emotions were all dancing in her eyes in a complete roundabout. While she took a moment to fully reassess her decision, you weren’t sure if you deserved to still feel hurt when she gave you an honest answer. “When I met Satoru, I didn’t meet the toxic, cheating ex-husband that he was known for,” she said, slowly, “I met a man who holds such a high respect for his ex-wife, adores his son like his greatest gift of all, and values his marriage more than anything else in this world. I met a vulnerable man who isn’t afraid to open his heart to strangers. A man who gave me emotional support even when he’s the one who needed it the most. I… It’s hard to explain, but…” 

Was there really anything left to say? Her point was clear, and your silence while she was speaking was more so because you were trying not to let the tiny pricks in your heart affect you further than it already did. The fullness of her voice and the way her eyes shined when she talked about him were enough to tell you that your best friend had truly fallen in love and you would be cruel to take that away from her. Even from him. They would not have been involved in such an intimate relationship if there had been no attraction between them to begin with, so then… Why did it feel like you were being cheated on? She was no Sera, and he was not the Satoru that only used you for his corporate ambitions. It was just Akemi and Satoru—they were each other’s right person at the right time. The only thing blocking their path to a loving relationship was you. 

You. The irrational and spiteful ex-wife. The ex-wife who always played the ‘victim card’. The selfish ex-wife who wanted all the good things to only come her way. 

Well, god be damned, because you were beginning to confuse yourself with the version of you that wasn’t even remotely like you at all. She was just a mirrored image of yourself that you thought people perceived. 

“You can do what you want.” The moment you spoke again, you were already creating a huge wall between you and your best friend, making sure that there were boundaries that none of you should ever cross now that she had chosen to be with someone you had sincerely loved in the past. It may sound like you were letting go, but truth be told, you just didn’t think that you even had the option to hold onto anything. Satoru wasn’t yours and you weren’t his anymore. You were two individuals living separate lives. “If you wanna be with him, that’s your choice. I don’t plan on intervening. It just… just really surprised me that you didn’t have the decency to tell me at all.” 

Akemi nodded, apologetically desperate. “I understand how you’re feeling and I’m sorry. I really, truly am sorry, Y/N.” Her voice and her countenance did show the genuineness in her plea to be forgiven, but you were too numb to feel anything else. “I hope we can stay friends despite everything.” 

How could you even stay friends in a situation like this? 

First option was to keep pretending that their relationship wasn’t bothering you. Second option was to focus on your own relationship with Toji to the point where everything else just didn’t matter anymore.

Yeah, you thought. You could certainly choose the latter. 

“Our friendship isn’t my top priority at the moment,” was your straightforward response to her, “I wanna focus on my son and his relationship with his father. That’s all.” 

Any regular person would have thought: ‘Wow, Y/N. You handled that well.’ ‘You’re so mature.’ ‘You’re a lot calmer than we expected.’ The thing was, you really did think that you had been way too calm about it. In spite of the scene you caused at the conference room, or the dramatic exchange you had with Akemi in your office, you still handled it much better than one would think. In TV shows or movies, the ex-wife would have dragged the best friend to the ground, slapped her face, pulled her hair, started a nasty catfight, and called her all the terrible labels you could think of. Look, part of you wanted to do that. And the other part of you—the sympathetic, altruistic part of you—thought you shouldn’t do that. You would only look pathetic. 

Of all the negative things Satoru had made you feel over the course of your failure of a marriage, this aftermath was probably the toughest. 

You just weren't in the right state of mind to justify why. 

You also couldn’t justify why you had been looking for unhealthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety. If anyone from your family saw you standing at the smoking area near the parking lot right now, they would have given you an earful of how you must be out of your mind for even putting a cigarette stick between your lips. How exactly could tobacco be good for you? You would say, first of all, that nicotine does in fact cause pleasant feelings to distract you from unpleasant ones. You couldn’t find any other way to relax your mind any faster than one cigarette stick could. Besides, staying in the office and seeing Akemi around was getting too suffocating and you couldn’t afford to have your negative mood lingering in your mind for the rest of the day. One stick wouldn’t hurt. Another one wouldn’t, too. And another one should be fine, right? 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” 

The irony. You didn’t even have the time to recoil before the main cause of your stress showed up in front of you, frowning after he snatched the cigarette stick out of your lips. He was quick to throw it to the ground, stomp on it like he would do with your heart, and give you a questioning look that made you scoff at the ridiculousness of this situation. This could be a dream for heaven’s sake. Or a hallucination. There was no way Satoru Gojou would be standing right in front of you just as you were thinking about him.

“Since when have you been doing this?” he questioned again, holding your wrist this time to make you realize that his presence or this interaction wasn’t just a figment of your imagination. It would have been better that way, but the reality was, Satoru was there and he wasn’t the least bit pleased. “I know you’re mad at me and this isn’t the right time for me to chew you out like this, but…” he paused, taking your cigarette pack. “I can’t believe you’re fucking smoking right now, Y/N. Did you get this habit from Toji?”

Okay. Gojou could be way out-of-line sometimes, but this was the apex of it. 

“Don’t bring Toji into this,” you snapped back, shooting him a glare that could easily kill. “What are you doing here?”

You could see how deep his inhale was just by the loudness of his sigh after it. His face showed a combination of yearning, regret, frustration, and pity as if he was deciding which emotion should dominate him more. But among the multitude of emotions that were drowning him right now like a tidal wave, he looked all the more exhausted. Whether it was dealing with you, trying to make amends with you, or simply being around you—you could tell that he wanted to drop his constant need to care for you because it was beginning to tire him out. 

He didn’t really answer your question, and instead, asked one of his own. “Are you smoking because of stress?” he asked, trying to mask the sympathy in his eyes. “It’s bad for you. Set a good example for Sachiro.” 

You’re bad for me, you wanted to say. Why did it even matter to him, anyway? You were nothing more than just a mother to his child. Anything outside that role was completely not his business anymore. The fact that he was even within the vicinity of your office was ridiculous, because you were already having a bad day and his presence was adding further into it. “Don’t you dare talk about setting a good example to my son like you’re so righteous yourself.” 

“Y/N, come on.” He reached for your hand once more as if trying to show how much he cared or how worried he was with what you were doing to yourself because of him. “I don’t want you to—”

“Keep your fucking distance, Gojou. You’re not in the place to give a damn about me anymore,” you raged, withdrawing your wrist and breathing heavily as you tried to keep yourself from further exploding. You would have. You were so close to cursing him off, but you saw the flash of pure shock in his eyes, and that was how you realized what you just did. All these violent reactions, these unusual outbursts—these were not you. This was not the meek, soft-spoken ex-wife that he was once married to. 

“Toru?” 

Unfortunately, Gojou no longer had enough attention span to listen when he looked away, only to turn to his new woman with a genuinely worried expression painted on his face as soon as he saw her coming out of the building with a hand on her cheek. You realized that he was actually here to pick her up and was doing everything that a caring boyfriend would; checking every inch of her face to see how bad she was hurt and asking her what happened and whether she was okay. You didn’t know how to react the moment he turned back to you with his tired, yet passively accusatory eyes. “Did something happen?” 

You knew that his question actually translated to: ‘Did you slap her?’ With your thorough knowledge about his acquired trauma from physical violence, you felt the sudden need to clear your name, but you didn’t know if you should be grateful that it was already your best friend who did the part in doing such. “Nothing happened. It was an accident.” Her tone was almost begging before she started tugging his arm. “Let’s just go, please.” 

Satoru didn’t want to let it go, but decided that it was best to just leave it be as he glanced at you with a slightly detached gaze. “I’ll see you in a couple of days,” he reminded, referring to the dreaded New York trip together with Sachiro. 

A conflicted look from him and an apologetic gaze from her. That was all that you received before they got inside the car and left you alone and miserable in that parking lot. You watched his car fade into view with her on the passenger seat and him probably holding her hand as he drove through the street. Just when you thought you could actually stomach the sight of him and her together, it would be a big fat lie to say that it didn’t sting. It stung worse than the times he ran after Sera than to stay behind with you. Worse than when he used to treat you like a mistress rather than a wife. 

You must be going crazy, indeed. Who in their right mind would cry over her ex-husband in the middle of the parking lot? Why would you even shed tears when you were the one who wanted him to find someone else and move on? This was becoming a never-ending loop because you were letting yourself be affected by it. It shouldn’t be that way. Never. 

“Toji.” You were doing your hardest to conceal the weakness in your voice as you pressed your phone into your right ear. “I-I need you… right now. Please.” 

“Hey, I was just about to pick-up Sachi from daycare. Is everything okay?” 

Wiping your eyes, you looked at the dull skies wondering if the universe was trying to reflect all these emotions running inside of you. “Yeah… Can you come soon?” 

He didn’t really hesitate to answer, quickly understanding that he had to drop everything else right now and be with you. “Alright, I’ll be there.” 

Satoru was conflicted, but he didn’t know what exactly made him feel that way. Was it because he saw you smoking in the parking lot? Or was it because he could tell that you gave Akemi a tongue-lashing after catching her half-naked at the penthouse a few days ago? Either way, both options were not very you. And he couldn’t understand why you were slowly starting to look less and less like the person he knew, which was confusing on his part because you had been adamant on telling him to forget about you. You were rigid on your decision to not let him enter your life as your husband for the second time around. He told you he still loved you, but you said you loved another. He told you he wanted to work things out and make your family complete again, but you said you were already doing that with someone else. Gojou knew his hands weren’t clean and the reason you may be acting that way was because out of all the women he could have been with, it had to be Akemi Hirai. Your best friend. Your confidante. Your business partner. She was a territory he shouldn’t have crossed, yet he did. 

But, at the same time, she was the only person who had been there for him during his lowest. She was the company he needed when his heart was the loneliest. He couldn’t even remember the amount of times she came to his aid when he was crying over his memories of you, memories that he could no longer hold onto. Akemi brought peace to his heart, and if there was anyone else he could be with, it would be her. 

It was becoming more and more clear to him how he felt about her. 

Although, voicing that out loud was a different story. Keeping it in his thoughts was for the best because he didn’t want to lead Akemi on. She didn’t deserve that nor did she deserve to feel like a substitute for someone else. He wanted to be a hundred percent sure about being with her before he could fully confess his real feelings for her. It could still develop through time, perhaps far better and more passionate than what he was sharing with her right now, but until then, settling for what they had at this moment in time was for the better. What was important was that both parties were clear about diving into this relationship. 

He wasn’t ready for commitment and she understood that. She was willing to wait for him. She was helping him move on in the least painful way. Where else could he meet such a person like her? 

She was gentle, motherly, sensitive, and intuitive. She was classy and sophisticated. She knew how to dress nicely. Her nails were always clean and pretty. Her smile was very charming. Her laugh, endearing. She was the perfect woman anyone could have. 

“Why’d you suddenly want to go to the mall?” she asked, intertwining their hands together as she looked up at him with her beautiful doe eyes. Her question made him cut out of his trance, remembering that they were strolling around the galleria. 

He touched the small wound on her cheek as if stroking it could make it heal faster. “Nothing,” he said. “Just a last minute idea.”

Truthfully, Gojou wasn’t sure why he had brought her there. All he knew was that he had a lot going on in his mind while he was driving through the city and the next thing he knew, he was already pulling up at the galleria out of his natural instinct. But since they were already there, he might as well buy her a little something. Anything. And then his eyes caught sight of Chanel as if the high-end boutique was pulling his feet with such gravity that it led him to go inside the store while hand-in-hand with the woman next to him. 

“Mr. Gojou, how are you?” 

Right. The staff knew him so well, especially for the amount of times he had been there with his ex-wife when you two were still married. 

“Are you looking for anything specific?” One of the familiar ladies that used to assist you approached him with a lingering stare towards Akemi. “Perhaps for your…?”

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, can you… uh,” he turned towards the rack of tweed sets, “Do you have any new collections?” 

“Yes, absolutely,” said another lady, “Right this way, sir.” 

It was easy to notice how the staff were exchanging glances at the sight of Satoru and Akemi together, but his mind was far too distracted by the nostalgia of being in that place alone to even care about his surroundings. All he did was look back at Akemi and encourage her to try out the newest collections that they had, thinking that she was oblivious about what was going through his head. “You go and pick whatever you like.” 

Although she was clearly not used to it, Akemi did eventually try on some of the outfits he specifically had chosen for her. They were Chanel’s signature tweed sets that he always found to be very elegant, and he definitely wasn’t wrong that they would suit her when she came out of the dressing room to show him how the clothes wrapped her small frame perfectly. 

He could see your smile through her face, your excitement when you tried the outfits on, and the shine in your eyes when you looked at yourself in the mirror. Except, Gojou had to remind himself that you weren’t her. That his mind was just messing with him. 

No, this was wrong. Why was he thinking about you while he was with her? 

He had to have some sort of distraction. Something so tangible that all of his senses would go numb. 

The one way he was able to overcome that dilemma was by sharing yet another steamy exchange with Akemi later that night. He couldn’t remember who initiated first, but it must have been the equal desire that they had for each other when they dove straight into a heated makeout session the moment they stepped inside his bedroom. One thing led to another. First he was kissing her lips, then her collarbones, then her inner thighs—devouring her completely with his lust-driven actions, doing the most by pleasuring her body using his own. 

She was a giver just as she was a receiver. Not that he didn’t expect her to be so experienced when it came to sex, but she definitely knew what she was doing without any guidance from him. Perhaps he just wasn’t used to it anymore. Perhaps he had just forgotten how it felt to have sex with someone who didn’t rely on him to initiate the next steps they should do. Fuck, he couldn’t even remember the last time someone stared at his eyes while putting his hardened member inside her mouth the way she did. She knew her power over him while at his most vulnerable state, ruining his masculine ego and destroying it with her own feminine pride. 

And in the midst of their intimate session, Gojou was zoning out while he was sliding a condom across his shaft, ready to enter her from the back. His mind was giving him a flash of memory, not a distant but recent one from two days ago.

“I still can’t believe you did that, Mom. You’re being ridiculous.” 

His mother wasn’t exactly showing the slightest hint of regret on her face despite knowing full well that sending the custody claim almost made you lose your mind. She was keeping a straight face as she sat on the barstool next to him, taking a sip of wine from her glass while he, on his own, was downing a glass of scotch. “She had it coming.”

Satoru sighed his frustration away. “Don’t do that again or today’s the last time you’ll ever see me.” 

“What are you talking about?” His mother frowned. “Who was there for you when you were trying to end your own life because of the lies she told you, huh? You’re feeling bad for her now, but did she feel bad for you back then? You missed three years of your son’s life because she was being too spiteful towards you.” 

He had never met someone more stubborn than his own mother, but maybe this was a clear sign for Satoru to realize where he must have acquired that one similar trait of his. After all, people always made it seem that he was more like his dad even though he despised being compared to his father. To say that his mother was a complete angel was a lie. But neither was he. “Whatever, just don’t… Just leave Y/N alone. She’s still the mother of my child and I don’t want us to keep fighting. At least, for Sachi’s sake.” 

His mother finished her glass of wine before turning the stool towards his direction. There was a minute of silence that passed between them before she spoke again. “I just don’t want you to get back with her, darling. You two are toxic together.” 

Funny, because he could say the same thing for her and his father. “Well, it’s not gonna happen now. Y/N’s gonna hate me forever.” 

“What, ‘cause she rejected you again?” 

“No,” he countered, shaking his head and chugging all the remaining liquor on his glass. “She knows about the thing I have with Akemi now.” 

Her mouth fell open, gasping as she did so. “Y-You… and Akemi? Are you together?” 

Satoru expected this reaction from her, but didn’t think she would actually be more fixated on his new relationship than the effect it would bring on her ex-daughter-in-law. “It’s not something to be proud of, Mom.” 

“Well, I’m proud of you,” she still stressed that fact, “It’s nice to hear that you’re finally moving on, Satoru. Y/N is not good for you, but I know Akemi will be. I like her and I know she’ll make you a lot happier than Y/N ever did.” 

“You’re still awake?” Gojou let out a yawn as he felt the heaviness of his eyelids telling him that it was time to sleep. He tried checking the time on his phone, but realized that he still had the photo of you and Sachiro as his lockscreen. He wasn’t planning on changing it anytime soon, but considering that Akemi saw it, he was expecting that she would have something to say, yet nothing came out of her mouth. She simply stayed silent while laying on his chest, letting him touch the slope of her naked back as she slightly raised her head to meet his eyes. He had already closed his phone and placed it back on the nightstand. “What, did I not tire you enough?” 

“Shut up.” She hid her reddened cheeks and smiled on the crook of his neck. Her hand was placed on his chest, fingers tracing his collarbones. “No, I’m just thinking about how you’re gonna manage New York and all.” 

Satoru’s breathing was still for a few seconds, keeping his eyes glued on the ceiling as he held her on your marital bed. “You’re scared that the infamous cheater is gonna cheat on you or something?” he joked, a distasteful one, but still meant to ease whatever was burdening her mind. “Not gonna happen even if we’re in an open relationship.” 

“That’s not it,” Akemi quickly replied, denying his claims, “I’m more like hoping that you’ll be patient with her. She gets angry a lot these days and we know we’re the main cause of it, so please. Please don’t try to argue with her, okay? If she says hurtful things, learn to understand her.” 

He wrapped his arms tighter around her smaller frame. Gojou was certain that he was about to doze off soon now that he had closed his eyes and let the exhaustion pull him into a good night’s sleep. “I won’t,” he spoke his words slowly, drifting off to dreamland, “I won’t make her angry.” 

“Okay.” He felt her lips kissing his jaw just before the both of them gradually matched the calmness of each other’s chest. One heart, one soul, two bodies.  “Good night, ‘Toru.” 

…

…

…

In the middle of his sleep, he mumbled, “Good night, Y/N.”

On the other side of the city, you woke up in the middle of your slumber, facing the handsome face of your fiancé, Toji Zen’in, who had already drifted off to dreamland while holding you in his muscular arms. No wonder people were jealous of you for having such a refined man like him in your bed every night you go to sleep. The thing was, you had no reason to feel discontented with your life since you already had everything. You were wealthier than the average person, you ran a business that you were passionate about, you had an adorable son who meant the world to you, and you had Toji. There was nothing else you could ask for. And if by remembering Sera’s words back then, you would be selfish to ask for anything more because others didn’t even have half the fortune you had. 

So, in that sense, you should be happy. 

You had to be happy. 

You were happy, right? 

“Go to sleep,” whispered a half-awake Toji, stirring from his sleep as he held your waist tighter like you were his comfort pillow. “You alright?” 

Sighing inwardly, you traced the scar on his lips. “You’re so gorgeous.”

His lazy, boyish smile came into view. “I know that,” he joked, closing his eyes as if succumbing into a few more minutes of sleep. “Don’t tell me you’re turned on right now ‘cause I can go all night. Doggy. Missionary. Cowboy. Reverse cowboy.” 

Were you? Maybe a little. And maybe you had to have a distraction from your ‘source of happiness’. 

“That’s very naughty of you, Mr. Zen’in,” you replied, cheeks heating up from his vulgar words. Your hand was finding its way to his toned chest, while his were traveling to the curves of your waist and hips. You could feel him angling his body to make sure he had access to slide your underwear just a little above your knee, gliding his hand along your thigh before letting his fingers touch your sensitive bud. “T-Toji—”

A smirk appeared on his lips. “Hm? I thought you wanted this?” 

You nodded, taking a deep breath. “Y-Yeah, I…” There was no use holding back from moaning because his fingers knew how to move perfectly well, playing with your clit in circular motions before sliding two of them into your entrance. “...Fuck.”

“Feel good?” His hot breath tickled your neck, moving his mouth from your collarbones down to the valley between your breasts. “Wish you knew how delicious you are.” 

Another moan, much louder this time around, escaped your lips when he attached his mouth onto your breast, sucking the round mass with his tongue doing God’s work. You were so high into sexual desire that your back arched on its own, dominated by the pleasing sensation all over your body. You could barely even respond to him when he started asking why your mood had been so down when he picked you up after work or why you still wouldn’t tell him whatever happened back there. 

“It’s nothing,” you replied, disregarding the painful encounter you’ve had with your ex-husband and your best friend. “...Just work stuff.” 

As you closed your eyes, you could feel Satoru’s fingers entering deep inside of you, deep enough to have reached your g-spot and have you moaning wildly. It felt unreal. It felt goddamn out of this world. But since Satoru was familiar with every inch of your body, his touch alone could easily send you to seventh heaven. He was heavenly. He was saintly. That mesmerizing gaze of his paired with his sky blue eyes and messy white hair. His beautiful, beautiful face, watching you beg for him to do more. More. More…

“Satoru…”

The intense feeling suddenly stopped, awakening you back to your senses as you opened your eyes and saw the dark, animalistic gaze of Toji Zen’in. “What’d you say?” he asked in a deep voice. 

Out of panic, you slightly pulled away and shook your head. “N-Nothing. What did I say?”

“I thought I heard you say his…” he trailed off, pulling his fingers out of you and instead, placing a tight grip on your hip. “Did you?” 

“No, no. Not at all.” Your voice came in a hushed tone, looking at his eyes intently. “Why would I do that?” 

He let out an exasperated sigh, falling back into the bed with one arm under his head. “Don’t play games with me, Y/N.”

Desperation led you to climb on top of him, sitting on his crotch before encasing your lips with his soft ones. “I’m not,” you mumbled, kissing him again. “I never did. I promise.” 

Yet, despite your attempts at inviting him for an open-mouthed kiss, he had already lost the interest to engage in sexual activities with you. He didn’t say anything nor tried to argue about the shit that you said, but he did stay silent for a couple of minutes, simply holding you on top of him without another word to utter. It scared you to think what was going through Toji’s mind, but this was also all your fault. Why, in the first place, did you even let your mind imagine that white-haired toxic ex-husband of yours when you had Toji Zen’in in front you? 

Perhaps in this relationship, you were the toxic one. 

You were the poison that could kill the life out of the man who only wanted to love and heal you. 

“Toji, I’m sorry…” 

He held his breath. “Should I be concerned that you’re going on a trip with him?” 

“No, it’s…” Pulling away, you gave him a look of combined sincerity and denial. “We’re just gonna fix Sachiro’s papers, you know that. We won’t even be staying in the same room.” 

Fixing Sachiro’s papers. Dealing with his dual citizenship. Changing his last name to Gojou. Solidifying your son’s identity as the son of Satoru Gojou. That’s all there is to it. All the technical matters. 

“Is he staying at a hotel or are you letting him stay at your apartment in Manhattan?” he asked, although there was no hint of suspicion in his voice. Or at least, he must be good at hiding it. 

You chose to be honest. “I have to let him stay at my apartment,” was your answer, leaning your head on his shoulder. “Only because Sachi wants his dad around all the time. We’re just trying our best to co-parent.” 

Toji’s dry humor took over. “You sure you’re not gonna let him fuck you senseless?” His tone was laced with resentment. “And then you’ll come home to me crying about how he got you pregnant for the second time. You’d better kiss our marriage goodbye if that happens.” 

“What kind of person do you think I am?” you retorted, annoyed by his word of choice as if you were a cheating scumbag. “If he’s gonna get someone pregnant, that won’t be me.” 

His eyes sparked with curiosity. “What do you mean?” 

Deciding between telling and not telling, you figured that the latter would only cause more drama to bounce back at you like a boomerang. “He’s with Akemi.” 

It looked like Toji didn’t hear it right. “Akemi? How’d that happen?” 

“I don’t know what kinda relationship they have, okay?” you snapped, no longer wanting to keep up with this topic further. “I just caught them. They said they’re seeing each other, but it’s complicated or whatever—I don’t really give a damn. But he’s with her is all I know.” 

Toji went silent for a few minutes, unable to determine whether he should find the situation pitiful or humorous. One thing for sure though, was that he found it unbelievable. “That son of a bitch,” he muttered under his breath, smiling in disbelief, “So this is what’s ruining your mood these days, huh?” 

Your eyebrows furrowed in response. “It’s not.” 

“Your ex-husband slept with your best friend. Yeah, I’d be mad, too.” His comment wasn’t really meant to irk you, but he successfully did so. Minus the intention. “Getting mad is understandable, getting jealous is questionable. Which one are you?” 

Fuck it. “I said I’m not jealous. Will you stop now?” You sunk yourself under the covers, turning your back on Toji. “I don’t wanna talk about it.” 

Now that he knew and you saw his reaction, you wondered what it would be like if Gen and Ian knew. Or if your dad knew. What would they think of Satoru? What would they think of Akemi? No, nevermind that. What would they think of you? Another fool in a deck of cards? Another game that was played with? 

You didn’t want to know. 

Ideally, you and Satoru really shouldn’t have gone to this New York trip together as if your family was still intact, because as much as you wished that that was true, you were far from that. You were only playing house for the sake of your son, but that also meant putting you in a painfully awkward situation together as ex-spouses. He had a girlfriend back home and you had a loving and loyal fiancé who proved the whole word that he was loyal to you. And although your respective partners were supporting the whole co-parenting situation, you knew by yourselves that this was nowhere to near to being comfortable for them, too. 

“Everything okay?” You heard the familiar voice of your past, only to see his dull, blue eyes taking a peek at you. 

“Yeah,” you replied, almost inaudibly. You just boarded the plane while Satoru was talking to the pilot, and found your spot on one of the beds in his private jet. It took a few minutes for him to get to where you were now. “Why?” 

He shrugged, eyeing a sleepy Sachiro next to you. “Just wanna make sure you and Sachi are comfortable.” 

You didn’t know what else to say, so you just looked back at your peaceful son who was hugging his elmo plush like the cute angel he was. Even though he was growing so fast, you could still remember how he was just as small as a puppy in your arms when he was first born. The memory of it caused you to press your lips on his forehead, caressing his soft, white hair. At some point while observing the scene, your son’s father thought it would be a good idea to slide the blanket further up your shoulders, acting as though he was only doing it to keep Sachiro warm. And later, he sat on the reclined airplane seat, drinking the coffee that was served to him by the stewardess. 

It was crazy. 

Crazy that Toji could be lying next to you and you would feel nothing. But Gojou was meters away from you and your mind was on a never-ending race. 

Just before noon, the airplane landed safely at JFK airport and Satoru’s driver took you straight to Central Park Towers, treated like a V.I.P. by security just because your ex-husband was Japan’s third richest person and second most influential businessman. At times like these, you would almost forget the power Satoru held even before he was the chairman. You two were almost royalty. Now that he was leading the Gojou Group, his reputation only grew more despite the scandal of your broken marriage. He knew not to share his relationship publicly anymore nor did he expose Sachiro to any of his social media. It was a mutual decision for you to keep your son away from the spotlight knowing the scrutiny and the lack of privacy that would enter your lives once again—all the unnecessary noise, the unwanted comments, the unruly attention. Besides, for safety reasons, Sachiro had to be hidden from the public since he would become the sole heir to his father’s conglomerate, inheriting his parents combined assets that could one day make him the richest and most sought after bachelor in Japan. 

“Mamaaa!” A lively Sachi came running to you as soon as he entered the lobby of the apartment suites, his father following him behind. 

“Careful, baby!” you said, standing at the lobby while talking to your housekeeper, “You might trip.” 

Satoru decided to carry his son after noticing your worried expression and immediately walked towards you. He was all smiles as he looked at Sachiro’s cheerful blue eyes. “He seems a little excited, isn’t he?” 

“He lived here for almost three years,” you answered, signaling a quick ‘thank you’ to your housekeeper before guiding your boys to the elevator. “He must’ve missed the place. Did you, Sachi?”

“Yes, mama~”

It was a little bittersweet for your ex-husband, though. Especially the moment he stepped inside the apartment, looking at every corner and realizing that it was the same place you had lived in back when he was suffering from emotional distress on the other side of the world. This apartment was where his own child grew up in and he had no idea he had even existen then. Not only did that make you a terrible ex-wife, but it also made you a heartless mother. You had separated them and now you were taking him to the place where you had his son hidden from him. 

That wasn’t your intention. That was never your intention. 

“I’m glad you chose a nice place,” he complimented, acting as casual as possible. “Does your father own this place or?”

“Gen loaned it to me,” you said, holding Sachiro’s hand while letting Satoru follow you closely. You stopped at one of the guest rooms and urged the tall man to feel at home. “You can stay here for the meantime.” 

“I don’t wanna make things uncomfortable for Akemi.” He looked away, avoiding your eyes. “I can just stay at a hotel—” 

“Dada!” His mini-me tugged at his hand along with yours. You already knew that those puppy eyes would look back at the both of you. “Sachi wants Dada to stay.”

Frankly, you weren’t upset a while ago, but since he had to bring up Akemi and make it seem like her feelings were his priority, you lost all the will to be kind. Was their relationship that deep for him to act like such a loyal, righteous partner? Where was that same loyalty when he married you? “Do whatever.” 

Noticing the tension between his parents, Sachiro’s eyes started to well up with tears and that was all it took for you two to completely focus your attention back to your 3-year old. 

“Sachi…” Satoru tried to reach for his son, but you (spitefully) beat him to it. 

“It’s okay, my baby. Don’t cry,” you comforted your son, picking him up and carrying him in your arms, “Daddy will still visit you every day even if he's staying at a hotel.” 

Satoru, as guilty as ever, shook his head and wiped his son’s eyes. “No. I’ll stay here for Sachi, okay? Don’t cry anymore.” 

It felt like hours sitting on that enormous sofa, staring at the television screen even though your mind was miles away. You had already texted Toji good night and reassured him that everything was fine, but you still couldn’t stop thinking about what he was doing back home. Sachiro had fallen asleep almost half an hour ago, and how you wished you could also enjoy your slumber while snuggling under those heated blankets, but how could you? How could you be comfortable in the presence of an ex-husband who was coming out of his room, freshly showered in his low-waisted sweatpants and tight-fitting black shirt? Not to mention how he was obviously flexing his arms while drying his mop of messy, white hair with a towel. Ridiculous. A little seductive, but definitely ridiculous. 

“Still up?” His sky blue eyes met yours as soon as he looked up. 

You adjusted your position on the sofa and leaned on the corner, pulling a small cushion to place above your thighs. “Can’t sleep.” 

And the night went on just like that. You, sitting on the couch. Him, sitting on the other end as if going near you might suffocate him. It didn’t help that the silence was beginning to be too uncomfortable. You couldn’t tell what he was thinking of. Perhaps Akemi? Perhaps you? You doubted the latter. 

“I think…” You cleared your throat to escape from the awkward tension. “I think I’m gonna go for a night swim. You can go to sleep next to Sachi tonight, just make sure not to wake him up.” 

Satoru’s curious gaze trailed on you as you got up and tightened your robe. “It’s a little too late at night to go for a swim, no?” 

You couldn’t even face him as you responded. “I need to clear my mind off some things.” And by things, you meant him and this whole mess of a situation that you had put yourselves together. Two divorcees staying in the same living space wasn’t exactly a brilliant idea to begin with.

“Want me to join you?” asked Satoru, and he himself could not believe he asked that question. He may have asked it out of his innate care for you, probably worried for no damn reason. What he didn’t realize was how wrong his suggestion was, especially that you two were dating other people now. 

If only you were such a cruel person, how ironic would it be if you allowed Satoru Gojou to join you for a quick night swim? 

How ironic would it be for you to feel each other’s warmth under the crystal pool, getting carried away by the romantic lights that lit the city? 

How ironic would it be if the intense sexual tension ended with you doing things under the sheets, completely disregarding the fact that the both of you had respective partners who were overthinking this exact NYC trip?

How ironic would it be if, for once in your life, you became the cheater? 

Thankfully, you didn’t have the mindset of a cheating person. 

However, it was Satoru who took back his initial offer. “Never mind. Forget I even asked that,” he muttered, sounding annoyed more so to himself rather than at you. 

You offered a nonchalant shrug. “Okay.” 

And as you were heading to the poolside, you could sense Gojou’s presence behind even though he just very clearly rejected the idea of going on a swim with you. He was still the same confusing man that you married before. Only now, he was ten times worse. “Wait, Y/N.”

“What?” You turned around, annoyed at his push-and-pull behavior. At this point, you didn’t really care what he was thinking of anymore. All you did was to take off your robe, leaving yourself with only your underwear on before you slowly got down on the pool. 

Gojou, on the other hand, was ridding himself of his shirt and sweatpants to join you in the pool with just his boxers on. What even was this situation? You two had that same question in your head despite swimming at the edge of the pool to stare at the cityscape. “I only asked to join you because I wanted to talk. That’s all.” 

You wanted to laugh at how he was clearing his intentions to you. 

“Why do you sound defensive around me?” He couldn’t see it, but you were rolling your eyes as you leaned against the pool coping. “I never knew Akemi would be the jealous type.” 

Satoru looked surprised by your claim, seeming as though he didn’t recognize the kind of person you were anymore. You were never this unreasonably sarcastic nor acidic with your words during your marriage even at the height of his affair with Sera, yet you had just become the worst version of yourself. “She isn’t,” he muttered, finding his spot next to you, “But I don’t wanna give her a reason to be.” 

You huffed. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. You make it sound like I’m gonna make a move on you or something.” 

“I never said that.” 

“You were thinking about it.” 

“Says who?” 

What is it about Satoru Gojou that makes him so irritating? Was it the way he talks? The way he thinks he’s always right? The way he acts like he’s such a clean person? 

“Please,” you retorted, bitterly. “Toji isn’t comfortable having you around me, either. Just so you know.” 

“Can we just—” There. His last string of patience finally snapped and his true colors came to show when he grabbed your wrist and made you face him. The spiteful Satoru. He was back, even just for a second. “Y/N, I’m not trying to argue with you here. I’m trying to talk to you like a civilized person. You’re the mother of my child and I respect you. I’d still care for you and will always protect you, but I want you to at least act like a fucking person around me. You’re a grown woman.” 

Wasn’t it bad that he, of all people, was basically telling you to grow up? Memories of your marriage and all the back-and-forth arguments that you had with him flashed before your eyes. He should be the last one to say such a thing. “You’re the one who’s been crossing the fucking line with me since day one, Gojou. Don’t tell me to—”

“And do you wish I had just killed myself for you to forgive me?!” The ridges of his neck became prominent, making his anger much visible now. He was staring down at you intensely, backing you against the edge of the pool, trapping you in between his arms. “I’d have probably done that. But you…You did unforgivable things to me and look how easy it was for me to forgive you.” 

You looked away, not trying to have this conversation again. Not trying to have your guilt eat your heart out. Maybe your behavior really had become too much and it was about time you take a step back and realize how ridiculous you had been acting because no way was this man trying to make a better point than you. 

“I slept with Akemi, I know. She’s your best friend, I fucking know. But I never did that to get back at you,” his voice bore so much authority in them. “I begged on my knees just to be with you again. Swallowed my pride just for you to be my wife again!” His breathing became ragged. “But you chose to move on. You said you love Toji. You said you’d be happier without me, so why don’t I deserve to be happy without you?” 

The inability to speak wasn’t because you were at a loss of words. The problem was choosing the right ones. Words that wouldn’t put you in a disadvantageous position. Words that wouldn’t make you look like an unreasonable person. 

“You wished me well when you first found out about Akemi and I. You said you don’t care who I choose to date even if that choice is her,” he said, much calmer this time. He was placing his forehead against yours, body pressed against each other. “If that was true, then why are you still so angry with me?” 

Your heart raced as you locked eyes with him. His eyes were the same kind of blue that reflected off of the surface of the pool. Anyone could easily get lost in it, but you knew where to place yourself in order not to. “I’m… not angry…” 

“Baby, you and I both know that’s not true,” he said with a serious gaze, lifting your chin with his hand. 

But you swatted it away, averting your eyes. “Don’t call me baby. You’re being ridiculous.” 

With a loud sigh, Gojou gave up and simply placed his forehead on your shoulder, letting you feel the weight of his head and the warmth of his breath. “If you were still my wife, I’d have kissed you right now,” he declared, breathing heavily as if stopping with all of his will to do what he just said. “I’d touch every inch of you, tell you how much I love you, carry you back into that room, and make more beautiful babies with you…” 

“Satoru,” you warned just as he pulled away, smiling despite the sorrow in his eyes. 

“…But I won’t do that. I’m not gonna do that,” he claimed and sounded like he was convincing himself rather than clearing it up. “Akemi doesn’t deserve a partner who can’t move on from his ex-wife, so I’m doing my best to forget about you.” 

Your breathing took a halt. You weren’t sure where those tiny pricks in your heart came from. Toji needed the same. He deserved a wife who wasn’t pining for her ex-husband. Satoru was just being true. 

“Then, forget about me,” you gave a barely audible reply. 

Gojou pulled away and kept his distance now, showing that he was indeed trying to stick to his words. “I will.” 

Why did it hurt when it shouldn’t have? 

“Good.” 

He looked at you with eyes that carried a million emotions. But what was most visible was him seeing the light, probably realizing that he truly was doing the right thing and that he was proud of himself for being able to resist you. Because then, that only meant he was only a few steps away from the path of moving on. That if he could let you go, then he could live a better life. 

It only made sense why he pulled that little stunt back there—being close enough to you was probably his way of differentiating how his body reacted to you versus how it reacted to Akemi. And now that he was able to determine whatever difference that might be, it would be easier for him to know what exactly to avoid. 

After all, you two would be spending the rest of your lives as a present mom and dad to Sachiro. Co-parenting was your only connection and the only way to make that work without falling for each other was to rid yourselves of any kind of attraction towards one another. 

Good for him. 

“Let’s be good parents, Y/N.” Satoru looked at you from across the pool. “Let’s set a good example for Sachi and show that divorced parents can still be good parents. Let’s not be toxic to each other, especially not in front of him.” His words were coming from his personal experience and as you knew the whole history behind the mess within his family, you were truthfully considerate of his words. His traumatic experiences were what shaped him to become the problematic man you once married, and he was doing his best not to let his own son be the same. “I’ll provide Sachiro with everything he needs and I’ll always be present in his life, so please let me have as much time with him as possible. I’m making up for the three years I lost with him.” 

You nodded. “I don’t have a problem with that. 

As the established relationship you had with Gojou became more professional and strictly transactional, the distance between you two also grew more and more. There was no longer any space for love and intimacy. There was only familiarity and acquaintanceship. 

“Go to sleep soon,” he said without sending another glance your way, climbing out of the pool and reaching for his clothes, “We have a long day tomorrow.” 

[knoepfl]

Hii! I looked at your page and I don't know if your willing of doing smut.

If you are willing, please could you write about Legoshi x afab!reader. Go crazy with it.

Hey there! I'm not good at writing smut but I tried it a bit. Tell me what you think and I hope you like it. <3

In Your Arms

Characters:

• Legoshi - A shy, sensitive, and tall gray wolf with a deeply caring nature, struggling with his confidence and instincts.

• Reader (You) - Bold, playful, and confident with a direct yet affectionate approach that perfectly complements Legoshi’s reserved personality.

Trigger Warnings:

• Intimacy: The story contains detailed and passionate depictions of physical intimacy.

• Sensuality: Romantic and suggestive content between two consenting characters.

• Emotional Vulnerability: Themes of trust, self-doubt, and emotional connection.

Masterlist

Words: 1508

---

The soft hum of the night buzzed outside your dorm room window, the faint glow of streetlights filtering in and casting long shadows across the walls. The air inside was warm, carrying a subtle sweetness from the candles you’d lit earlier, their gentle flicker making the room feel cozy and private—perfect for tonight.

You had been waiting for Legoshi to arrive, anticipation bubbling in your chest. Though he towered over you with his lanky frame and bashful demeanor, you found it almost adorable how easily you could get under his fur. He was shy, soft-spoken, and utterly endearing, but you? You were nothing short of his opposite—bold, playful, and unapologetically teasing.

The knock at the door finally came, and your heart leapt. Padding over, you opened it to reveal him standing there, his ears slightly folded and his hands stuffed in his pockets. His tail swayed nervously behind him, brushing against the walls of the narrow hallway.

“Hey,” he murmured, his voice low and a little gravelly, though his golden eyes softened the moment they met yours.

“Hey yourself,” you replied, stepping aside to let him in. “Took you long enough. Were you pacing outside the door this whole time?”

He chuckled softly, scratching the back of his neck. “I—uh, maybe a little.”

You closed the door behind him, leaning against it with a sly smile. “Well, you’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Legoshi scanned the room, his keen senses picking up the soft notes of lavender and the warmth radiating from the candles. His gaze landed back on you, his cheeks tinged with pink as he realized how close you were standing.

“You really like setting the mood, don’t you?” he teased, though his voice carried a nervous edge.

“Only when it’s worth it,” you replied, stepping closer to him. You reached up, barely brushing his chest with your fingers as you adjusted the collar of his shirt. “And you’re very much worth it, Legoshi.”

His breath hitched at your words, his ears perking slightly as his golden eyes widened. “You always know how to make me feel… nervous.”

You grinned, your tail flicking playfully behind you. “That’s part of the fun.”

Before he could respond, you took his hand and led him toward the couch in the corner of the room. You pushed him down gently, watching as his long legs awkwardly sprawled out before he quickly folded them under himself. He looked up at you, his expression a mixture of uncertainty and adoration.

“What’s on your mind, big guy?” you asked, settling yourself into his lap without hesitation.

He stiffened under you, his hands hovering uncertainly by your sides as though unsure where to place them. “You—you’re so close…”

“That’s kind of the point,” you teased, leaning in until your noses were almost touching. His scent was intoxicating—earthy and warm, with a hint of something uniquely him. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re still shy around me.”

“I’m not shy,” he protested weakly, though the blush on his cheeks betrayed him.

“Oh, really?” you challenged, your fingers trailing up his chest and over his shoulders. “Then why are you trembling?”

He swallowed hard, his eyes darting away. “Because you’re… overwhelming.”

You laughed softly, your voice low and melodic. “Good. I like keeping you on your toes.”

Before he could overthink it, you leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his jaw. He froze, his hands finally settling on your hips as though grounding himself. Encouraged, you kissed him again, this time closer to his lips.

“Relax, Legoshi,” you murmured against his fur. “I’m not going to bite. That’s your thing, isn’t it?”

He let out a soft laugh, the sound vibrating through his chest. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet, here you are,” you replied, finally c apturing his lips with yours.

Time seemed to blur as the kisses grew hungrier, your hands tangling in his fur as his lips trailed down your neck. His movements were hesitant at first, his touch unsure, but your soft sighs of encouragement spurred him on. Each gentle caress of his claws against your back sent shivers down your spine, and you found yourself pulling him closer, eager to close the distance between you.

"Legoshi," you whispered against his ear, your voice soft but filled with need. Your hands trailed down his chest, pausing at the hem of his shirt. "Can I?"

He nodded quickly, his breath hitching as you began to pull the fabric over his head. His fur was warm against your palms as you ran your hands over his broad shoulders, marveling at the strength hidden beneath his usually timid demeanor.

"You’re so tense," you teased lightly, your lips brushing against his neck. "Relax, Legoshi. I’ve got you."

His hands found your waist, his claws grazing your skin as he held you steady. “I—I’m trying. You just… make it hard to think.”

“Good,” you replied with a sly smile, leaning in to capture his lips again.

He kissed you deeply, his earlier nervousness fading as his instincts took over. His hands roamed your body, tentative at first but growing bolder as he followed your lead. You could feel the heat radiating off him, his breath warm against your skin as he nuzzled into the crook of your neck.

With a gentle tug, you guided him toward the bed, your movements deliberate yet playful. He followed without hesitation, his golden eyes locked on yours, filled with a mixture of nervousness and desire.

The soft glow of the candles bathed the room in warmth as you settled onto the bed, pulling him down with you. His frame loomed over yours, his ears flicking back nervously as he tried to steady his breathing.

“You’re overthinking again,” you teased, brushing a strand of fur away from his face. “Just follow my lead, okay?”

He nodded, his hands resting on either side of you as he leaned down to kiss you again. This time, there was no hesitation—only passion and a quiet desperation that left you breathless.

Your hands explored his fur, tracing every muscle and curve as his kisses grew more insistent. His lips trailed down your neck and across your collarbone, each touch igniting a fire that spread through your entire body. His claws grazed your sides, careful not to hurt you, but the sensation only made you want him more.

“Legoshi,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. You pulled him closer, your bodies pressing together as the heat between you grew.

His breathing was ragged now, his golden eyes darkened with desire as he searched your face. “Are you sure?” he asked softly, his voice trembling slightly.

You cupped his cheek, your thumb brushing against his fur as you nodded. “I’ve never been more sure.”

What followed was a slow, deliberate unraveling of barriers and inhibitions. He moved with a mix of careful precision and instinctual passion, his touch growing more confident as you guided him. Every kiss, every caress, was filled with an intensity that left you both breathless, your bodies moving together in perfect harmony.

The world outside ceased to exist as the night deepened, the only sounds in the room the quiet hum of the candles and the soft whispers of your names. He was attentive to every detail, his golden eyes never leaving yours as he poured his heart into every movement.

Though the moments were heated and passionate, there was an undeniable sweetness to it all—a sense of trust and vulnerability that made the intimacy all the more profound. His touch was gentle yet firm, his kisses both demanding and tender, and you found yourself completely lost in him.

As the candles burned low and the night wore on, you lay tangled together in the aftermath, your head resting against his chest. His arms were wrapped tightly around you, his breathing slow and steady as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

You looked up at him, your eyes meeting his. The vulnerability in his gaze made your heart ache in the best possible way. “Better than okay,” you replied, your voice filled with warmth.

He smiled—a small, genuine smile that lit up his entire face. “Good. I—uh, I didn’t want to mess anything up.”

“You didn’t,” you assured him, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “You were perfect, Legoshi.”

His ears flicked back, and you could see the faintest hint of a blush creeping across his cheeks. “You always know what to say to fluster me,” he muttered, but the softness in his voice betrayed how much your words meant to him.

You laughed softly, your fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. “That’s because you’re easy to fluster. But I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

He held you closer, his tail brushing against your legs as he nuzzled into your hair. The night stretched on, and though sleep eventually came, neither of you let go, content in the warmth and comfort of each other’s embrace.

---

[circeyoru]

Collection of Overlords _ Part 2 = Requested

[Alastor x Soul Owner of All Overlords!Reader]

Part 1 — Part 1.5 — Part 2 (here) — Part 3 — Part 4 — Part 5 — Part 6 — Part 7 — Part 8 — Part 9  — Part 10 — Part 11 — Part 12 — Part 13 — Part 14 — Part 15 — Part 16 — Epilogue

In a room, dark and empty, the floor below encased millions of crying and pleading souls. Yet you walked over them as one would to insects on the ground. Your eyes peeked open a bit and the voices all quiet to nothing

The rows of Knight armours and life-sized wooden figures that aligned the walls all bowed in your presence. Your feet brought you to a round red table to the farther side, on top of the table was the exact replica of the landscape of the Pride Ring

In this domain of yours was a lovely creation of yours after Lucifer took over Hell, a table for each of the Rings of Hell and one each table was the exact map of everything within the Ring. From buildings to landmarks to the portals to other Rings for the Hellborns. You had it all and saw it all with your eyes around all of Hell

Your fingers hovered over the marked territories and the duplicates of your souls’ figures placed in their respective areas. Your eyes scanned over, spotting some new figures that has appeared and some areas marked with unfamiliar colours and aura. A hand waves over the entirety of the map like a fan, domains marked in red was nearly half of the place

Whispers of souls from the bodies of your provided winged creatures known as Cages flew around you. They were of your design, with black feathered bodies and wings, similar to that of a crow or raven. But with a twist, eyes red as blood, wings of blades, metal claws, and uniquely their bodies house the souls you deemed with potential to return back to their own lives

“Sinners have been brazen.” 

“Very bold. They have stolen your land.” 

“Disrespectful. Undeserving.”

“Lazy Overlords!”

“Now, now, my Cages. They have a hard time as it is, don’t give them too much pressure.” While your tone was understanding and sweet, the coldness and disappointment in your eyes told a different story. “But I suppose they have been slacking in my absence.”

“Slacking. Slacking.” 

“How dare they. How dare.” 

“Punishment. Punishment.”

“Meeting?” 

A smile formed and your eyes closed, you turned away from the table as familiar dolls floated over to you. “Yes, it is time for a reunion.” 

A soft tune played in the radio tower. You sat in the comfortable armchair while your finger swayed from side to side with the music, you hummed a bit with your eyes closed, and one leg crossed over the other. Various pages floated in the air while a pen was writing on each of them at lightning speed

Your head tilted up a bit as something came to your knowledge. With a snap of your fingers, the paperwork all disappeared and the soft tune was gone. You hummed as you got up and faced outside, even with your eyes closed you can see all of Pentagram City that was the heart of the Pride Ring

“Alastor.”

The Radio Demon immediately appeared after the shadows rose to form his figure, he bowed with hand over his heart before placing it behind his back as he straightened up, “Yes, My Dear Liege?”

“Is Vox still challenging you to random games of his?” You remained facing the view outside of the tower’s window.

“That he is.”

After Alastor had rubbed into Vox’s face that you were avoiding Vox, the insecure Overlord was keen on challenging Alastor on battles of a playful nature to one up him as a way to prove he was superior. Though all that told you was his childishness and lack of responsibility

It had been a while since your presence was made known to the other Overlords, particularly your elite collection. Your stay in the Hazbin Hotel was passed within the group, but none dare to approach you as it was against your likeness to seek you out under information passed along. It wasn’t wise to fake or arrange a chance meeting as well, for you’d know and they don’t want to face the consequence

While you were physically absent, you were not ignorant to what goes on, especially with your collection. You thought perhaps it was time for you to formally make yourself known since they have been very well behaved even after Alastor egged them so. Good that none took the bait

It’s not your intention, however, to put such test and tease for your wonderful elites, but when the opportunity is there, you can’t resist. You let things fall and observe the results. They were very amusing with their persistence to find you yet appear as though they weren’t bothered with your absence

Though the fun’s gotta end

“Arrange a meeting of my Elites,” You turned your head to Alastor’s direction with your eyes closed, “Hmm, in 6 days, let’s do it at Camilla’s place. The Witching hour would do nicely.”

Alastor bowed once more, “Of course, as you desire. Shall I broadcast it right away?”

You gestured to his chair for him to take a seat. When he did, you placed a hand on his shoulder and your eyes opened with a glow, in turn, so did his pendant with an eye design, “Please do.”

Alastor felt power surge through his form as his tower lit up with an eerie green, he spoke into the microphone on his desk, “Let this be a broadcast to the only Elites~ A special message and invitation to the Collection of Elites from Our Beloved Liege.”

Simultaneously, in various parts of the Pride Ring, targetted individuals received their broadcast. Immediately standing at alert

Zestial threw away his teacup and saucer the moment he felt the left coat pocket glow. He carefully took out his pendant and made it hover in the air while his head bowed, awaiting for the message broadcasted through Alastor’s powers mixed with yours

Carmilla raised from her seat when her chest warmed from the pendant, she pulled it out from the charm from the chain around her neck. She brushed aside the documents she had littered around her desk and placed it down, bowing with her hair down when she realized the situation, the long await word from you

Rosie shushed her cannibals, excusing herself when his pendant warmed up with a glow. She arrived at her private room and set the pendant on the couch while she seated next to it, acting as if you were present with her

Zeezi immediately threw a punch at the demon, quickly ending the fight. She kicked away the body, wiping away the blood on her hands before taking out the pendant, and bowed her head to it with eyes closed

Vox’s eyes widened, eying the pendant when Alastor’s voice came through, he was about to dismiss it but the fact that your title was mentioned meant Alastor was speaking on your behalf. He travelled through the cameras to where the other two were lazing around with the pendant in hand, putting it on the table in front of him and which made Velvette and Valentino snap to attention

“A meeting will be held in actually 6 days, at the Wtiching Hour. The meeting place will be at Carmilla’s. Needless to say, your attendance is mandatory.” Alastor relayed all the details you told him.

However, before Alastor ended the broadcast, you spoke up near the microphone, “I look forward to your presence, everyone.”

Once the news was out, the Overlords immediately got to work

Zestial went to Carmilla’s place help her prepare to your standards and satisfactory. Preparing the room to be more elegant and dignified, different from how the usual Overlord meetings were when she hosted

When Carmilla’s daughters heard the news, they were excited as well, it has been ages since they last saw you and even longer when their household was hosting your meeting place. For it was an undeniable honour for you to pick their rundown location for something so rare and sacred

After all, this was the first meeting you’ve hosted and called the others since years, it felt even longer when it was you that gathered everyone together like this. Surely, the topics of discussion was grim and serious for such an occasion

Either way, all Overlords were going to enjoy their time in your presence. Just having you near them was a gift and for you to call them was a joyious event, one worthy of celebration

Though they were very envious that Alastor got you to himself all this time. Again, the blame would be on Vox who had been causing you such discomfortable in your own world, for all their territories were yours to begin with. You were merely gracious to share your spoils with them. Lowly sinners that rose to their current standing and ranks with your support

All looked forward and dreaded the day that was to come. The other sinners and demons felt a change in the air when the Elite Overlords were more active. It was subtle but hard to ignore when the Overlords were more on edge and easy to come to anger

Zestial appearing in the streets more, Carmilla’s demand for perfection, Rosie’s increase appetite, Zeezi’s increase violent battles, and the Vees’ desperate need to produce more results

Somehow, the nobodies Overlords heard of an Overlord meeting and planned on attending as well. Yet the moment these self-proclaimed souls planned on doing so, knight armours and wooden figurines took a hold of them and the shadows devoured them without mercy

Alastor set down a plate of food in front of you, noticing the small smile on your face even when your eyes were closed. “Does something amuse you so, My Liege?”

You chuckled, “Oh, nothing much. Merely some souls begging for a good torment.”

Alastor felt his smile grow, understanding the implication. He so loved your sadistic nature to those unworthy, for he done the same. “I see. As long as you’re enjoying yourself.”

Your eyelids fluttered open a hinch, “Believe me when I say, I am.”

Note: Okay, I lied. There's more to write than I thought. In my defense, there wasn't much idea, but then it flooded when I started. So there's part 3 where the Overlords are meeting the Collector~

Circe Y.

Other Works: MASTERLIST

Taglist:

@aconfusedwonderland @crowleysthings @donustellaron @mistpurpl3 @plutobots @ray-rook @thealienartist @serenity-songbird @galaxydreamer468 @raynerrold @wen01203