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sassykattery · 7 months

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Dollface Pt. 7

What's a smut fic in October without a lil monsterfucking?

CW: Main Character is afab, uses she/her pronouns. MC shows body insecurity. Profanity. Smut scene: oral (f! receiving), piv, creampie. Use of gendered terms: reader called "Good girl" "little girl". Size kink. Monsterfucking.

The main character is afab, uses she/her pronouns. This story is meant to be somewhat curvy/plus-sized reader insert, but the main character is given a physical description, but it's not crucial to the story or mentioned often after Part 1.

Themes: Romance. Magic. Adventure. Sex. Smut. Diavolo x fem! MC.

Characters: Main Character. Diavolo. Satan. Mammon.

Minors and ageless blogs DNI

18+ only

Masterlist

Once he was in her room, he gently kicked the door shut and locked it. He walked over to her bed and laid her back against the mattress gently, like she was his most prized porcelain doll.

"I-I, um, want you like... like this," she stated. He hummed approvingly and nodded, walking away to turn off the light, but then she called out to him again. "You can leave it on..." She sounded uncertain.

"You're sure?" He walked back to her, standing in front of her knees that dangled off the edge of the bed.

She looked away and back at him.

"I've noticed you prefer this in the dark," he added.

"I just... I don't look like you or most other people, humans, I mean. I know I'm not conventionally attractive," she replied, sounding disheartened.

"Darling," he murmured, climbing on top of her. "Though you can't see, I can when we're in the dark. I see every inch of this form, and I truly love every curve and how soft you are. You have nothing to worry about." He kissed her sweetly then, his tongue lapping at hers before breaking away. "So, it is my duty, I believe, to worship you in hopes you'll believe me."

Slowly, he crawled back and then came off the bed. At his full height, he stood and began to strip. His chains and fur fell to the floor in a heap, followed by his harem pants and boots next to it. He stood like a god before her, and when he looked down at her, he could feel, with his heightened senses, her arousal bleaching him like the most illustrious perfume.

"You're so... ethereal," she declared in a whisper. He crawled on top of her again, nudging her up the bed to lay in the middle.

"I think you are better suited for such a word, my darling. Seeing you when you first wake up is a privilege. All of my love tied up in this one body before me. It's almost too much to think about how much I love and adore you."

Her eyes began to shine then, her emotions peaking with his words.

"I love you too," she mumbled, pulling him down for more kisses. He gladly gave them to her, feeling her touch all over his body.

And thus began a slow series of rolls and turns as he helped rid her of her sleepwear, tossing it all aside lackadaisically. Their hands continued to busy themselves with all the groping and grabbing, massaging and squeezing, that they could get. Her hands greedily went for his new appendages, his wings and horns, to explore their texture and discover their sensitivity. Anytime she grabbed his horn, he groaned and leaned into her touch. But when she caressed his wings, that made him moan outright, never letting another have him like this.

"What else can your magic do?" She asked playfully, looking at him with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"Where have you always wanted to have sex at?" He asked in the same manner, grinning at her.

"Hmm..." she hummed thoughtfully. "I wouldn't mind maybe something like an under the stars thing."

"Close your eyes."

As told, she did, and then in the next moment, he tapped her shoulder.

Her eyes opened to see a dark sky glittering with so many stars she had never seen in her life. Plagued by light pollution and low viewing areas, she had never seen such a sky full of the galaxy she learned about. She could see stardust, twinkling and pulsating lights, brilliant arrays of colors. To the right and left were mountain ranges with snowcapped peaks. The air was fresh and quiet, the evening's serenade of fauna filling the emptiness.

And, of course, he was enthralled with her reaction, feeling her breathing nearly stop and her hands tighten their hold on him.

"Tell me you didn't just teleport us," she murmured, still gawking at the sky above.

He chuckled. "No, love. This is an illusion, but this is a real place I had been to in Japan and saw this very sky myself."

"It's beautiful." One of her hands reached down to feel her sheets still beneath them, but she couldn't see if they were laying on her bed or if they were on something else.

"I thought it was definitely one of the most beautiful things I'd seen in my lifetime," he replied in a murmur. "That was... until I met you."

She finally looked back at him, his golden eyes glittering.

"You continue to amaze me," she said, shaking her head.

"I haven't even shown you my best tricks yet," he murmured.

"Show me a little more," she mumbled before kissing him passionately, her hands coming to rest on either side of his head.

He groaned approvingly and reciprocated, eventually moving to her neck and the rest of her body, trailing down further and further until he stopped at her core.

"May I?" He asked, looking up at her and sliding her leg onto his shoulder.

She nodded and spread her other leg out for him. His dominant hand came to rub his fingers against her lower lips, spreading them open to gaze at the glistening slick accumulating there.

"I've been craving the taste of you for a while now. One taste is not enough," he commented before placing a kiss on her heat. She squirmed slightly, and her hand came to grip the sheets. He took that hand away and placed it on his head again. "Grab onto me instead," he commanded.

Lowering his head, he pressed his mouth against her spread cunt and began to lick it enthusiastically. His tongue took swipes at her clit, making her moan out, finally, with her hips bucking up into him. His other hand took hold of her hip, his thumb running back and forth across her skin. Her fingers curled into his fiery locks and pulled slightly. Seeing that as a clue of her enjoyment, he brought his lips up to suck her clit, his fingers moving away from her lips to drop lower and prod at her entrance. Feeling his finger get sucked in, he sunk in all the way to the hilt of his digit in one go.

"Ahh!" She called out, her face wrecked with pleasure already.

He moaned back to her, the sound vibrating against her heat. That only made her climb higher as the bliss lapped at her in waves. His finger then began to pump in and out, and soon enough, he added a second digit to start scissoring her open.

"Yes, yes, yes! Fuck! Diavolo you feel so good, fuck, I love you! I love this!" She began to actually babble for the first time. A rapturous smile adorned her face, and it sent his body racing with adrenaline to keep it going. With her like this, he couldn't stop anytime soon.

Taking away his hand, he tilted his face down slightly to sink his tongue into her quivering pussy. She twitched and slurred slightly, feeling his presence inside her. But what made her look down was when his tongue didn't stop sliding in. It felt enormously thick and longer, unlike what she had remembered from the first time they did this.

He kept his eyes on her, and when she had stared at him blankly for so long, he flicked the muscle against her walls, and she was sent to another level of pleasure. Her back arched deeply, and her other hand came to curl into his hair as well.

"Oh shit–" she gasped when she felt him wriggling more inside her. "Oh fuck, don't stop now. Pleeeeease don't stop. Whatever this is, keep going." Her voice had dropped in pitch and into a low groan. A burning fire started deep within her, a heat pooling in her center as he began fucking her with his tongue, sliding in and out and still continuously rubbing her walls incessantly.

Feeling brave, her hands finally took purchase of his horns, and the Demon Lord's eyes widened. The heat of her hands there, her essence on his tongue, bathing in her scent, it was all too much for him. His hips wanted to rut against the sheets, ready to take her, but he demonstrated great patience thus far; he wasn't going to ruin it now.

Diavolo took hold of her hips as he ravenously ate her out, bringing her closer and closer to ecstasy. Her body began to tremble as that singular flame in her core began to catch, spreading to the rest of her body. He noticed her breathing becoming shallow, little gasps escaping her throat between lewd moans. She was creaming around him, more of her slick coating his tongue. Her own body started to tigthen up, her thighs trying to collapse around his head.

"Please," she gasped, gripping his horns tighter. A traitorous tear ran down her cheek. His hands kept a death grip on her hips, seeking to bring her to her climax.

That's it, so close, he thought as he tried to sink his tongue as deep as it'd go into her pulsing cunt.

"Dia!" She gasped once more, heat dancing up her limbs and tracing back to her throbbing center. She cried as her orgasm overtook her, making her writhe under his hands, her thighs clamped around his head. Her cum flowed right onto his tongue and dripped out over his lips and chin. He drank every bit of her up, a growl vibrating in his chest at her sweet taste.

When her orgasm ceased, she instantly fell limp, breathing harshly and twitching. Finishing up his, well, "breakfast," he climbed up and laid himself on her, taking her weak arms and placing them over his shoulders to then hold her tightly. He gave her the time to recover as he listened to her breath rate slow, her heart not pounding quite so hard.

She hummed and turned her head, nuzzling his cheek. Lifting himself up, he looked down at her to find her gazing at him dreamily.

"That was a pretty good trick," she mumbled. He huffed air through his nose in amusement and kissed her cheek. Though, she became a bit more greedy as she kissed his lips, her legs wrapping around his waist.

"Naughty little girl," he grumbled against her lips. "Already wanting more?"

"I always want more of you," she whispered. Biting his earlobe, she whispered, "Fuck me, please."

"Mm, I thought you wanted me to make love to you," he murmured in reply, stroking her shoulders.

"There's a difference?" She asked naively.

"I would say there is," he answered somewhat thoughtfully. "So which is it?"

"Maybe a mix of both," she replied, looking up into his eyes then.

"Both it is," he agreed.

The Demon Lord started slow, kissing her everywhere available to him, trailing all over her body to physically show her his love for her form. He planted love bites where he saw fit, even one on her shoulder that could show if she wasn't careful. His hands rested nowhere, too busy caressing all her curves and enjoying the feel of her velvety soft skin beneath his fingertips.

"You'll never understand what this does for me," he murmured, kissing her neck again. "I cannot be convinced that you weren't made for me. Every bit of you sends my body aflame, makes my heart skip, my mind stutters. Your beauty knows no bounds, in my eyes."

She wasn't sure what to say then, but really, she didn't have to say anything with the way she looked at him so adoringly. He knew her feelings were mutual and true.

It then occurred to him that he forgot to mention something.

"Ah, um, I'm not sure if you noticed, but I'm quite different in this form," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes?" She agreed, confused by the statement.

"Well, that extends to all parts of me," he added, trying to hint at something.

Her eyes instantly flickered down and back up. "How different is it?" She asked, knowing what he meant.

"Mostly size," he admitted.

Her brows knitted together, and she looked askance. "Just when I was getting used to the other one..." she mumbled.

"Don't worry too much. I will still go slow, and you can tell me to stop," he added. He paused for a minute and caught her gaze again. "I don't want to hurt you, and I can change back anytime."

"Let's just try. I wasn't sure about taking you before, and I did it," she replied. He nodded and kissed her forehead.

"That's my good girl."

His dominant hand reached down between them again to start rubbing her clit, making her mewl and hum softly. Not making her wait much longer, he slid in two fingers and began pumping into her again. Her face was wrecked with pleasure once more while she tried to keep her focus on his face, as he did in return.

"That's it, baby, I'm going to open you up," he murmured to her.

She nodded, so he slowly added a third digit, making her squirm slightly at the stretch. Three of his fingers were easily more than four of hers. He felt her slick start to drip out of her, letting him know she was close.

"Dia," she whimpered, "Give me your cock."

And how could he say no? He was satisfied with his prep, so he pulled his hand away to start stroking his cock with it, covering it in her essence. Rubbing the fat head up and down her clit had her moaning loudly then. He caught onto her entrance after guiding it downward, groaning as he sank in.

"Fuck," he rasped, holding himself over her to watch her expression. Her eyes were wide but not panicked, just surprised. There was some resistance as the head popped in, but with one short thrust, he had slid more of his fat cock into her.

He realized she wasn't just looking at his face but all over, especially at his horns and wings.

"Is this what you wanted?" He asked, curious to her demeanor.

"Yes... Oh, sorry, I just... I'm sorry for staring," she finally looked away shamefully.

"No, please, look at me," he murmured, using his hand to guide her face forward again.

"This is what I wanted. It's amazing," she finally stated.

He smiled down at her and lowered himself back onto her, wrapping arms beneath her back. "Ready?"

She nodded. Slowly, he started thrusting again, his cock stretching her open even further. The burn was only temporary, as the more he pumped himself in, the easier it became.

"Oh fuck, you're so big," she finally whimpered, the initial shock wearing off.

"You're doing so good for me, baby, taking all of me," he groaned in her ear. She turned her head to kiss him. Her fingers dug into his biceps with her claw-like nails pressing crescents into his flesh deliciously, he thought. "So tight," he added with a wicked grin.

Thrust for thrust, he felt his nature wanting to take over. The pride said to make her squeal like never before, the demon said to fuck her until she passed out, and his own heart said he wanted to make sure this was all she would be able to think about for the rest of their days.

"Baby," he called to her in a husky tone. His wings stood on end as he started thrusting faster.

"Fuck me," she replied seemingly to his thoughts.

Perfect.

Keeping a tight hold on her, he lifted her up as he sat upright on his knees, and without a moment of reprieve, he started rigorously bouncing her up and down on his cock while thrusting his hips up into her roughly. Her moans fell out in time with each bounce. Eagerly, he dove down for her tits and began lavishly lapping at them, sucking her nipples and using his teeth to scrape the tender nubs.

"Ah! Diavolo!" She gave a short scream. Her walls were already so tight, and he could feel her body start to go rigid.

"Cum for me, baby, let go," he growled into her chest. He turned his head back up to her shoulder and placed more kisses and bites on her skin. When he felt her tell-tale signs of an orgasm, the tremble, the short gasps, her hips rutting back into his, he sank his teeth into the junction of her neck and shoulder. This sent her over the edge as he continued to rail into her until he felt her fall limp again.

He gently fell forward to lay her back. She was just coming down from the high when he murmured,

"I can make you a promise, my little darling, one everlasting and binding to us both."

Her haze started to fade at his words, and she looked up at him blearily.

"What is it?"

"I can give you a ring, tying us together," he answered.

"Wait, are you–"

"No, love, but I'll happily oblige you in the near future. Using my magic, I can tie us together so that no matter where we may go, we are always unified," he replied with a chuckle.

"Sounds like proposing to me," she muttered.

He shook his head and kissed her hand that he brought up to his lips.

"How does it work?" She finally indulged her own curiosity.

"I seal a very small part of my magic within this ring that will go on a part of your body, of your choosing of course, and I will do the same to myself," he replied.

"I suppose I could go for that. Put it here," she held up her hand away from his face, which had incidently been her left hand he brought up. "On the ring finger," she added with a grin, wriggling the finger she meant.

"It would be my honor," Diavolo answered. He took a hold of her finger within two of his, and in a low pitch, so low she couldn't make out his words, he verbalized the encantation.

She watched her hand intently, waiting for any sign of the spell working. Suddenly, a black line began to slowly encircle her finger where a ring would sit. Shifting onto one arm, Diavolo held up his left hand to show the same magical ink threading across the same finger. Before them, a glittering golden string started from the ink on his finger, twirling its way over to hers. When the connection was made, there was a brief surge of heat in her hand before it dissipated just as quickly.

"And now we belong to one another," he murmured, looking at their hands.

"I love you," she spoke in a rush, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him suddenly. He reciprocated immediately, holding her tightly.

Quickly, in a frenzy, they began to grope and grab at one another, their kiss devolving into being all tongue, teeth, and loud moans between them. He grabbed her legs and threw them onto his shoulders, folding her into a mating press. The way he pounded into her was loving and deep, making sure she felt every ounce of his desire and love for her.

"I love– agh, you too," he grunted.

"Fuck, baby!" She wailed, holding onto her legs then.

"Need you, need to make you mine," he spoke more animalistically then.

"I'm yours, take me," she whined back, tears openly starting to track down her face. "Let everyone know I belong to the Prince of the Devildom."

Those words threw him off the edge, pounding her harder and grunting like a mad demon. His grunts turned into growls and broken words of "Fuck," "Take it," and "I love you." His orgasm finally crashed like a tidal wave, forcing him to hold her tightly and still, growls and groans still escaping his lips. Hers came not too long after, her soft walls pulsating hard against his throbbing cock as he filled her with his cum.

It was quiet again, and Diavolo realized she was quieter than normal. He pulled back to see her eyes were shut, lips slightly parted, and breaths extremely shallow. The tear streaks on her face were noticeable, too

"My love," he murmured, stroking her face. She stirred only slightly with her body twitching.

Decidedly, he broke the illusion, leaving them in her bedroom once more, sprawled out on her bed. Though, he realized it was now broken, more than likely due to him, and he felt guilty for it. With careful movements, he put her legs back down on the mattress and pulled out of her, transforming back to his human form. Seeing as though she was still lost in limbo, he worked to clean her up, donning his clothes again and collecting hers to fold and lay beside her.

Soon enough, she stirred again, seemingly a bit more alive as she croaked out the prince's name,

"Dia."

"I'm here," he said, settling in beside her. She rolled into his embrace and nuzzled into his neck.

"That was amazing," she mumbled into his flesh. He grinned and stroked her back.

"Mm, it was. I'm glad you thought so, too. Are you hurt?" He murmured back, kissing the top of her head.

"A little sore, but I'm okay," she replied dreamily, her fingers dancing along his shoulder blades.

She dozed off like that, and soon enough, the demon prince pulled her blankets on top of them and found himself snoozing right along with her, both in pure bliss.

---

And that's how it was for several weeks. Diavolo made himself at home with her and her parents, who eventually gave up on the idea of making them sleep separately, especially after several episodes of them falling asleep on the couch together. They had realized the two lovebirds were young and infatuated, and it was a precious time to be in. The prince also managed to charm his way into her parents' hearts as well. He learned to help with dishes and do some of the house maintenance her father couldn't get to anymore with age. Though, these were all things he never thought he'd do in his realm, he learned to love the mundane living of humans. It was peaceful and simple, something he didn't know he enjoyed this much.

And, of course, there was her, the light of his life. He watched her finish up her higher education, so very proud when she ran straight into his arms after her finals, waving her test grades around joyously. Diavolo was sure to remind her when they were alone, just how proud he was of her accomplishments.

One afternoon, she and the Demon Lord were visiting her favorite coffee shop to grab a couple of treats. Diavolo had been waiting in her car while she went in and grabbed them when she was met with a stranger, a rather unique one that certainly stood out in the shop.

She had been waiting for their order to be finished when she heard a deep masculine voice suddenly speak to her.

"Apologies, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a question."

She turned her head and cranked it back to stare into a set of green-blue eyes with bright blonde locks that stood out against his ivory skin. He was wearing a cream jacket with one sleeve left off, teal button-up, black jeans, and black loafers.

"Yes?" She asked suspiciously.

"I'm looking for someone, and I was wondering if you knew–"

Suddenly, her name was called out, but she remained still until another man barged into the store as well. He beelined straight for the man in front of her, who turned to face the other man. This one had white hair, golden brown skin, and what looked to be a designer track jacket.

"Oi, Satan, Beel just took off. We need to go," the white-haired one stated.

"One moment, Mammon, I was just–" and just as the one with golden blonde hair turned to look at her, she was gone. She had taken the moment to quickly grab her order and ran out the door to her car while the first one had his back turned.

"Mammon, she might've been who we were looking for. She looked like the woman from the photo we found of Diavolo in that security footage at the mall," Satan groaned. Mammon looked around out the windows and saw two cars trying to leave the parking lot.

"Well, it's gotta be one of those two cars," he replied, watching both drive off, memorizing their license plates.

"Did you get the license plates?" Satan asked, folding his arms.

"Yup. Now let's go get Beel," Mammon replied, walking out. Satan sighed again and followed his younger brother out the door.

Soon, Diavolo, we'll get you home. Soon.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed.

Post made by sassykattery. Do not repost. Reblogs and comments appreciated.

Tags: @delphi-dreamin @itsmeninerz @flemmingbamse @themythicaldisaster @attic-club-sandwich @biteable-pink-pixie @marvelous-maniac

#obey me #obey me shall we date #sassywrites #sassystories #obey me fanfic #obey me diavolo #diavolo smut #diavolo x fem! mc #diavolo x female reader #dollface fic #dollfic #dollface #diavolo x f! oc #its gettin good yall

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frozenwolftemplar · 2 months

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I FINALLY SAW WISH!!!! 😁😁😁

And I have some notes (gonna keep this to ten for the sake of length):

The queen was the best character we stan an awesome Disney queen I was getting some major Queen Arianna from Tangled: the Series vibes and was loving it.

2. 'This Wish' was as awesome a song as I'd hoped.

3. The rest....uh....hm. They were...nice. Just...not what I was hoping? (I miss Broadway-style 😞)

4. Oh gosh 'At All Costs.' How could an entire freakin' studio's worth of people watch that and have not one of them, not a single one, go "This is 100% not the tone we want they sound like they're gonna kiss." The confluence of emotions I felt watching that can not be described beyond "if I heard this for the first time without seeing the visuals I...would be drawing some interesting conclusions." And the worst part, it really is a beautiful song...in the intended romantic context. Seriously, I have watched some fan animatics of Asha and Star Boy singing this as intended and got the right kind of feels. Big mistake on Disney's part keeping it in sans the romance.

5. And on that note, the Star Boy should have been kept and he should have been Asha's love interest. Seriously, it would have been perfect. I've really missed having Disney romances and would have absolutely devoured an Asha/Star Boy storyline.

6. I also felt there were some really interesting plot threads left dangling that really should have been pulled for all they were worth. Yes, the story they had would have unraveled faster than that pair of long johns, but what they could weave in its place! *wistful sigh*

7. For instance: Sleepy-stand-in being all tired and 'blah' after losing his Wish. Great opportunity right here: giving up your wish means giving up your spark, your fire, your zest for life, that thing that makes living living. The result is a Stepford kingdom, where the docile populace suffer from chronic ennui and everything looks perfect on top, but when you dig a little deeper, you see that yikes, this place is messed up.

8. Also: King Magnifico should have been thrown off his tower. End of discussion. (it's tradition!!!)

9. The animation was pretty and all, but anyone else think the crew was *really* limited by it? I mean, they did the Cinderella dress transformation...without changing Asha's dress, presumably because they didn't have time/resources/ability to create another model in a different outfit. Again, it was pretty, but maybe....maybe they should do some more tinkering before using it for a feature again.

10. I know what they were going for with the whole 'she called down a star because we're all made of stardust' bit, but personally, I would have thought it would have been much more meaningful if her dad, the philosopher who was always talking about the stars, sent it to her. Would have been way more touching and ushered in a nice storyline about her relationship with her dad.

And one more for the road!

11. How fun were those credits? 😁

#disney wish #disney wish movie #wish 2023 #asha #king magnifico #queen amaya #disney #animation #disney animation

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milky-aeons · 2 months

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𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐊

a/n: i wrote this story during a very tough time of my life, and reading back over it brings me so much bittersweet joy. i hope you guys enjoy chapter three!

warnings: female reader, sexual content, toxic!dazai, mentions of misogyny, mdni, w.c 7.5k

౨ৎ . . . chapter THREE of CROWNS OF STARDUST

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗. — Pablo Neruda

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐔𝐏 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄. Needlessly. After Doctor Yosano had seen to the last maid, who was white in the face with fear and confusion at everyone else's reactions to being checked over, each woman was sent to the servant's bathing area.

Two girls who were unfortunate enough to be the first the Head Maid seen to were plastered up against the side of the huge bath. Steam rose in heavy clouds, curling their hair and warming their bones, but nothing could stop them from visibly shaking with trauma.

"[N-Name]," One of them chattered. "Was it the General Practioneer of Yo we were seen by or a worker of the Devil?"

You swallowed beside Naomi, attempting to force your fright to relax. It made your spirit rebel — how a Court Official had this much of an effect on you. But that woman, the Head of all Maids, was no regular Court Official.

"Let us hope..." You said in a quiet whisper. "Let us hope that we do not run into medical troubles while we're here."

Naomi gave a curt nod. "Lets."

At least you weren't totally alone in your terror — every single woman in the baths seemed to have a similar reaction. The heat did nothing to tame the violent shivers breaking across their skin after a medical examination by Doctor Yosano Akiko. Each of them were checked over for any obvious diseases and given a necessary smallpox injection to protect the Royals if it was true they hadn't been vaccinated before. Which, coming from a commoner's background, it was likely they had not.

Whatever other examinations apart from those, you believed, was unique to each and every one of you. And just as terrifying.

It was obvious that now; every training maid of the Yo Palace would think twice about overstepping boundaries. Not when they witnessed just how easily the Head Maid handled a silver scalpel, or the smile on her face as she did so.

"When you were being checked over," Naomi whispered in a small, shaky tone. "Did she—?"

"I think it best not to speak of it." You shot her down. Apparently, the Head Maid had left lasting fear in her recruits that would follow them throughout their time in the palace. And, perhaps a lifetime. "If she is a worker of the Devil, then recounting her actions will only bring about misfortune."

Naomi made a small squeak followed by a rush of water when she slapped a hand to her mouth.

You were beginning to think that simply surviving Palace Life would be a lot harder than you thought, and not at all because of your habitual loose tongue.

"Are you aware of your duty?"

Even though it was not the Captain of the Ko Cavalry asking her the question when the King had assigned him with this task, the severity of it was no less. If she could offer some input, hearing such a question from this man made her wish to be successful even more. Although maybe that was a matter of her heart.

"I am." The blond Spy-woman answered. Dressed to pose a Yo Maid, she wore colours of white and black with a blue ribbon tying her hair securely. Standard servant attire for the Castle of Yo. How these two members of the Ko Court knew as such would be down to the man she was speaking to

Dressed in nothing but black save for the white tips in his hair, he commanded every Spy in the Ko Kingdom as a Spy-Master. His duty was to collect and listen to secrets. And occasionally reprimand those who choose unwisely not to provide them.

"Tell me again what your orders are." He asked her in that smooth, toneless voice.

The Spy-woman steeled her spine. Like an automated machine, she spoke the words; "I am due to arrive at Yo as a servant woman. My duty is to infiltrate the Castle and confirm if Yo really is struggling financially due to a rumoured drought. Once I affirm this, I am to return. Without being caught or discovered."

The deep grey eyes of the Spy-Master, akin to thunderclouds in a vicious storm, regarded his subordinate for a moment. She had a bright and intelligent crimson gaze, fair skin and a neat cut of blonde hair she trained into a knot. If he was an average man of the Court, he would surely be of the popular opinion that Higuchi Ichiyou was a rare beauty. Unfortunately, Ko's Spy-master was nothing but a hollow husk of a man that did nothing but obey what his King asked of him.

It was why he was so good at his job.

It also enabled him to say such unemotional, practical words to his most enthusiastic of subordinates.

"Prove that your useful, Higuchi. If you are caught and executed, then that will be all you were worth."

Higuchi was a trained Spy of the Ko Court, honed like a steel blade and fierce in her work. Although she was a young woman with a huge secret no Spy-woman should have. And it was that secret that allowed the words of her Commander to turn into icicles and pierce her heart. But being a Spy-woman came with the perks of hiding inner-pain, so she simply nodded her head and quietly memorised his pale face and large, dark eyes so she could visit them in her dreams a Kingdom away.

"I will be successful," She assured. "Akutagawa-senpai."

There were three ruling Kingdoms in this mythical land. Each Kingdom decided upon their own colours; Yo preferred neutral colours of blue and white, Ko was obnoxious in their affairs with shady black and reds decorating their hallways. Hama was the largest and most influential Kingdom of all and took a lavish liking to gold and gentle pinks. Together, the Yo-Ko-Hama country was a melting pot of colours and interests to anyone wishing to visit.

You did an experimental twirl in a cracked mirror stationed above your bunk. After the baths, the maids were dried and each given a designated bed inside a drab sleeping chamber with little light and life. Not that you particularly minded, as to your right was, miraculously, Naomi's bed. Your luck was looking up somewhat, you had thought with a sigh upon hearing the news.

The girl was dressed in the same uniform as you, although she was somewhat more ecstatic.

"Oh, [Name]!" Naomi gushed. She took the black skirts up in her grasp and twirled it as you would a ballroom dress. "Isn't it wonderful?"

You pursed your lips and turned back to the mirror. Caked in dust and not at all what you'd expect from Royals, but at the same time, would in a commoner's sleeping room, you inspected your own reflection.

Placing your ongoing spat with the monarchs that ruled over you all aside, you could admit that the Seamstress had a magic touch for fittings.

The basic black dress that collared at the neck and reached just above your ankles was not too heavy nor scratchy, like you had imagined. In hindsight, it was rather comfortable. Paired with the simple white apron typical to maid-wear and the blue ribbon tying your hair back, you could admire that you looked the part of a working woman.

Just not in the job she wished to be in, the thought came to you with a sinking feeling. You found some happiness in Naomi's glee, though. Who had abandoned spinning like a dancer and was attempting to tie the ribbon in her hair. It was with little success.

"Here," You said with a small laugh. Naomi immediately yielded and passed the blue silk over to you.

"It is not as easy as it looks." She muttered with a pout.

"No, it is not."

"Says you! Your bow is perfect."

Stationed in front of Naomi's mirror which was a little cleaner than your own, you carded your fingers through the long tresses. They came easily into a half-up hairdo, making the delicate features of her face more prominent. You smiled at her in the reflection. "I have been tying bows all my life."

"Truly?"

"Truly." You slipped the blue ribbon in place. "I used to work for the Miyazawa Farm. Skirts are not what a woman should wear when uprooting weeds but alas, that is all I had. So, I improvised. A strong bit of ribbon and my skirts became shorts."

Naomi's grey eyes that sometimes appeared violet blinked rapidly at you in the reflection. Her brows shot up, and all at once, she was in a fit of giggles.

You tied the bow with a frown. "What?"

"No, I mean no—no offense, but," Her giggles quietened and in their place was a bright smile. A talent of hers, you were noticing. You were fairly certain Naomi's warmth could ignite even the coldest of hearts. "It's just—Gods, you are the strangest woman I've ever met."

One brow raised at Naomi. With fingers still on the bow, you gave a tug and the ribbon came undone.

Naomi cried, reaching up like a bucket of water had been tipped over her crown. "[Name]!" She whined with fingers digging into her bangs. "You cruel woman!"

Despite it all, there was a smile on each of their faces. A mischievous upturn of your lips and the same sunshine grin on Naomi's, both of you contesting with silly stares. There was a shift in the relationship now; an upgrade from common acquaintances to budding friends. Inside these lying Palace walls and arrogant, sometimes insane Royal Officials, you were glad that at least something good was coming out of this job.

Perhaps it would make surviving that bit easier.

However the friends weren't fortunate enough to continue with their jests. In a second the radiance was shattered with a handful of words;

"Look! The Prince, it's The First Prince!"

The air took a steep fall in temperature once the title was said in an excited, womanly shout. You and Naomi locked eyes at the same time in the mirror, only moving when every other maid did so.

The lady who had spotted him apparently did so from the window — which was where a gaggle of women now squashed into. You secretly slipped your hand around Naomi's arm. You were never one to be overly affectionate, but after the sudden passing of your late parents, protectiveness came fiercely and uninvited into your personality.

Naomi didn't mind. If anything, she brought a hand to yours in quiet thanks.

"Oh, look! There he is!"

"Such a dream, isn't he?"

"A dream? That's too weak a word. Our Prince is a mythical being incarnate! Strong and brave and handsome."

"Ow — do not push!"

"If you were not so selfish, Cathryn, then I could gaze upon him easily also!"

The sickly, almost indoctrinated words of those who were star-struck by the Prince of Yo almost made you feel sick. Prince-struck, you decided upon while watching the maids fight like schoolchildren to get a look at him. Completely unable to help your curiosity, you found a pocket between the bustling bodies and peeked out. With just enough space to see clearly down into the Palace courtyard—

The Prince of Yo.

You had truly, never before seen him in person. As an only child, the First Prince was labelled with the Throne's Heir since he was but a babe. His fate was set in stone before words could come out of his mouth. So ever since then, he has been pampered with extra care and kept moderately inside the Palace Walls. There were rumours that he spent some time in the Kingdom of Ko in his earlier years, but you knew little of those wonders.

He was not what you expected.

The fierce nickname Demon Prince of Yo had some serious connotations. In your imagination, this enigmatic Prince who instilled the fear of God into the hearts of his people was a large, terrifying looking man. Perhaps with facial hair and an eyepatch.

However this man you were looking at was a stark opposite. He wasn't large, he was fairly slender, however towered over the two Guards he was sharing a joke with. You could not see his face as he was turned away and facing the far Gardens, was only greeted by the curly mass of brunet hair that was tossed when he laughed. With Royal attire of blue and white accompanied by golden embellishments that gave his status away, he looked every bit a pampered Royal Boy of a sheltered court.

In summary; not at all what you expected. Which made confusion dampen your nerves, because why did those men sound so afraid of him? Why was he named after a servant of Satan?

Outside the lancet window, you watched as the Prince stiffened slightly. Then turned right around to look up, and smiled at the attention he was receiving. A chorus of excited squeals erupted when he waved at them. That was right when you stumbled backwards thanks to the hip of another Prince-struck maid and your vision of him was cut short.

Naomi was there to steady you, hissing at the rude woman who cut across you so quickly.

You weren't paying attention, too busy analysing the sheer impact of seeing the Prince's face to care that a maid had near sent you to your behind.

Normal.

It was the first adjective that came to mind; his smooth skin flawless and evident of a spoiled life, curved eyes that tugged his smile up, generous thick waves framing his face. Everything about him is so normal, you thought, beside yourself with shock. All this time you entertained the thought that the First Prince was a terrifying man. That, with one look, you'd feel your heart still and skin freeze.

But you felt none of that. None of that at all.

Could it be that the Heir she naturally hated was just an innocent Prince laid victim to delusional drunkards and their nicknaming?

"[Name]? [Name]." Naomi was shaking you hard when you came back into the room. "Oh, [Name], what did that brutish woman do to you?"

Quickly to assure her and stop the said brutish woman from feeling Naomi's wrath — you looked down to her.

"I'm fine. It was nothing." Squeals and frantic waves from the maids were filling the quiet room still. Obviously, The Prince was one for attention and still waving at his new maids.

Naomi's bright eyes were wide with worry. "You were away for a moment. I feared that—" Slow recognition flitted across her face. "The Prince." Was all she said, although it held the weight of a million questions. "Did you see him?"

Partly because you wished to speak of something the other maids didn't agree with, and because said maids were becoming agitating with their over-zealous mewls, you ushered Naomi far to your original beds. The shorter girl didn't at all complain.

You told Naomi to sit back in front of the mirror so it could appear your were just doing her bow.

"Yes." You breathed after a moment. "I did."

Your friend strongly resisted the need to whip right around with a million questions on her tongue. Naomi waited until the maids quietened into a dreamy din when the Prince stopped waving to let her nosiness come through.

And the first question was;

"Is it true?"

Your lips thinned at the obvious loaded question. You were still wondering of the answer to that question, yourself.

Is our Prince truly a Demon?

And all you could offer Naomi was the truth.

"That's the thing," A sharp silence as most maids came back to their beds, many with stars in their eyes. You were careful to lean down to Naomi with a quiet tone. "It... outwardly appears... that it is not?"

This time, Naomi didn't hesitate to swivel right around. The ribbon fell from her hair and framed her saucer-like eyes with wild strands of black. "It is not—!? Mm!"

You had slapped a hand across her loud mouth.

And warranted the attention of a maid with bright red hair and a deep, confused frown. Desperately, you stretched your lips into a false smile that physically hurt and hitched your tone high. "Excited, isn't she? I'm afraid seeing the Prince has left her star-struck."

You had said it with the hopes that this red-headed maid was another Prince Worshiper like the rest of them. Thanks to some heavenly power, your hope was in the right place, because the maid smiled in genuine understanding.

"I can understand," She assured, reaching up to run her hand through her long ribbon-kept tresses. Both eyes glazed. "Our Highness has that effect on people. Especially us. Oh, how I wish to serve him in his room!"

Your laugh was strained and had every possibility of turning into a wheeze. It was a wonder it didn't. When you were sure the maid was whisked off someplace far away, you returned your attention to Naomi and took the hand away from her mouth.

"F-Forgive me." Was the first words off her tongue.

"I never thought it would be me scolding you to keep your tongue in your mouth."

Blush exploded across her cheeks. "I was just—just surprised. You think he is not?" Her brows dipped. "You, [Name], are telling me the rumours are fake?"

"I said no such thing." You countered with a haughty whisper. Your own confusion was taking an agitated route, which was not warranted nor what Naomi deserved. So you stopped, took a deep breath, and carefully turned Naomi back around.

"I said it appears that the Prince is not what those rumours say." You continued quietly while gathering her hair back up once more. "I'm just as shocked as you."

"I'm more relieved than shocked," The shorter woman said. With that confession was an obvious sigh that dropped her shoulders. "But what makes you say so?"

You took a little more time to answer, trifling it out with the very normal image of the rumoured Prince of Demons as you tightened the blue bow.

Mannerly brown eyes, a smile that was polite and loving to the maids, the Guards who laughed with him about a jest.

Naomi looked at you expectantly in the mirror. You sighed tightly.

"On first look," A beats pause. Your brows clashed. "He appeared... everything a Demon's opposite. The Prince was all a spoiled Prince was meant to look. And his smile," You didn't know why your teeth gnashed. It was the confusion, perhaps. "It was kind and warm towards his maids. Deserving of their desperate waves in its genuineness."

With every word, it was as if Naomi's own brows raised higher and higher until they had no room left. When she digested it — a lot better than how you had, very evidentially — she said; "Why is it that I don't feel at all reassured?"

It was a question you had no answer to. And even if you had, wouldn't have been able to, because a sharp bell tinkled through the air which signalled every new maid to duty.

You constructed a faux smile that hid any new found confusion around your Heir and took Naomi's arm to come with you. The girl knew that looking into it would only cause unwanted stress when she was expected to tend to the Castle.

Wonders and worries were reserved to the late nightly hours. Now, they were expected to smile and move ahead.

Although you had an odd feeling in your gut that you knew would stay throughout the entire shift. Confusion and dislike were not a fond mix. It made you constantly revisit The Princes short, snapshot image in your mind for some confirmation. How his smile lit his face up, how he waved in appreciation, the Guards laughing. Not all all the man who made drunk men confess their deepest fears or women tuck their children up safely at night.

Later

Water sloshed about in the tin bucket when you dumped another rag inside. A little too forcefully, but with annoyance steadily brewing in your gut and knuckles rubbed raw with dehydration, you were surprised you hadn't cracked what it was that you polished.

For the worse half of the afternoon, you had been stationed in an expansive hallway in the West Wing of the Palace. Given completely unique duties independent to Naomi, you were in her own company surrounded by the distant murmurs of Guards and consistent, maddening scrubbing of polish against wood.

"Royals, Royals, Royals." You hissed with every scrub. Trust the pompous family to have a simply random cabinet holding nothing but China in the middle of an unused hallway. "They just have all that—that tax money to waste on fruitless things, don't they?" You asked the spotless wood, albeit quietly, as the walls had ears. "What needs does a hallway have for fine China?"

Your reflection answered you. Wild and untamed thing that you were; your hair coming undone from the bow and cheeks dusted rose. Well, if you were to actually succeed as a housemaid for a month, you thought with a huff, reaching to tie the bow neatly again, you should learn not to scrub forcefully enough to shake your hair loose.

When the bow whispered and tightened did you drop your hands into your apron pocket and produced the small notebook every training maid had been gifted. Most women coming to the Castle had very little, if not no educational background. So, for the first few weeks they were permitted to take down their daily tasks instead of memorising them. Whether it was through sentences or broken pictures if they were illiterate enough, Miss Yosano did not mind.

What she did mind was that every task was finished at the time of the last bell. And if it wasn't — a bead of sweat came down your spine at the notion — you didn't want to imagine what punishment could possible await.

Fortunately, despite being against it all, you upheld your promise to Naomi and got every job done. Now, there was only one left;

Rake ashes from Guestroom One. Polish fireplace in Guestroom One. Think of how useless it is to have ten Guestrooms. Perhaps sweep the ashes under the pillow. Pray for strength. Card, beat and straighten Guestroom One's mattress. Check for mites behind Guestroom One's mirrors. For Naomi, for Grandfather. Empty chamber pot in Guestroom Five. Tend to the Guestroom guarded by too many men.

The last task was taken down in a haste, hence its apparent vagueness. A poor, appalled [Name] heard the words empty a chamber-pot come from the Head Maid's mouth and zoned out with shock. It was degrading enough that you were serving under a House of Royals that had no respect for their people, so you were beside yourself upon learning maids dealt first-hand with their utmost private waste, too.

For those curious individuals; you had not a pleasant experience, and secretly used the Guestroom's sink to rinse your hands until the waxy soap began to sting.

Yet you had snapped out of it enough to hear the warning that the room would be "guarded by many men", so that was all you scribbled down. A Lord, perhaps. Most of the Guestrooms you had been tending to today were kept in check by one outstanding Guard. Sometimes not even that. These West-Wing rooms were not used too often, you were told by Yosano before setting off.

However, the East-Wing of the Palace was. And you were also warned to be especially careful of your manners.

Let me see how long I shall last, the amusing wonder came as you walked bristly with the can of water. You thought herself fortunate that you had not bumped into any Royal Officials or — God forbid, the Royals themselves — while on duty. But now, you were entering an area that was apparently crawling with them.

Keep your tongue in, [Name]. For Grandfather, for Naomi.

You considered your execution if you snapped at a Palace Dweller, and then saw an empty bed beside a broken-hearted Naomi. It was what made you swallow tightly and try the damnedest to get this task done quickly as possible. For it was almost dusk; the sky outside the lancet windows was bleeding orange and blush.

The Castle of Yo was situated on a small incline in the Kingdom, far above any village houses or common squares. But you knew everyone existed under the same sky, and wished your Grandfather could see the same gorgeous display of twilight.

Do you miss me, you old wart?

"You better do." You answered, although a smile was on your face. "Who will you play chess with now?"

Images of the chipped board and hand-crafted pieces came with voice and laughter — all trinkets of the past. You were not given the liberty of reminiscing, because you had now turned a corner east. A new Wing of the Palace was where you found yourself. And Yosano had not been kidding, but she had also not been firm enough with her warnings, either—

The place was crawling with Royal Guards!

Everywhere you looked; beside the lavish paintings against the walls, potted plants watered by housemaids more experiences than you, lining every single doorway, there was men with swords and the hilt and hard expressions. Your hands tightened on the bucket, not feeling the nicest with so many eyes suddenly lasered on you. What, am I that threatening? You wished to ask. I'm carrying a bucket, for Gods sake! Hardly a weapon of destruction.

Alas, none of them would take their eyes off of you as you made way to the most protected room of all. An impressive diplomat, he must be behind those doors. With golden lining the wood and four men on each side, you couldn't help but wonder if he was a visiting Guest or a permanent resident. Or just a high-standing man of society who wished for more Guards than he needed.

You would not be at all surprised.

You came to a stop right before the Guard who looked wildly different than the rest of them. He was tall and fierce looking, with grey hair let fall around his shoulder and silver eyes. A wolf, was the first thing you named him while taking in his strange dress. They were definitely not Palace colours. No, this stranger wore a robe of murky green and had a thinner, longer sword sitting at his side.

A foreign diplomat, the man he's guarding must be. The Guard looked at you and you had to straighten your spine. This Guard is not from here.

"What business have you here?" Was the only question he asked you. A level, strong voice. Not commanding, like you initially expected. The aura around this man, the very way he stood. You were quickly understanding that perhaps this foreign man did not command for anything. He simply received it.

Resisting a huff — what do you believe my business is, Guard? I'm in maid's clothes with a maid's pale, you shook the bucket in your hand. "I am to tend to this room, My Lord. It is almost time for the bell and it's the last on my list of duties."

Cool grey eyes slipped down your form in inspection. The Guard deemed you acceptable with a short nod and a step aside.

Although before you entered; "I am no Lord."

Water sloshed dangerous in the bucket when you backtracked to look at him. "Pardon me?"

"You addressed me as a Lord. I am none, nor have I ever been."

Your brows pinched. Truly, such bizarre words from a man of a Royal Court. Perhaps he was not from this Court, but still — it was common to address those higher in society with the appropriate label.

"Then..." You ventured with an unsure, albeit curious tone. "What shall I address you as?"

The strange Guard had his eyes closed now and returned to looking ahead. "Fukuzawa." Was the name he said, a unique one not from this Kingdom.

Was he asking you to use his name? In a Royal Court? Or was this a test?

You thought it probable that this man could be messing with you just to see a poorly maid whipped. In a Palace, no sort of deceit would surprise you. "If that is your name, my Lord, I cannot use it. It is improper."

"Then you may address me as Wolf."

"... Truly?"

"Indeed."

So he does not intend to whip me. He is just another outlier of the Court more stranger than the rest. Although you chose not to protest further with the odd Guard and pushed your way into the room. After all, you were still a training maid, and the time of sunset was almost upon you.

"Wolf. Honestly." You chuckled quietly once inside. Shaking your head, you set the bucket down on the floor. "What type of title is that?"

Although it could not be disputed that he didn't give you the same agitation other Royal Guards did. It was a thought you placed quietly aside, right where the ones of the Prince were to mull over later. Because now it was time for tending—

The wind was knocked right out of your empty stomach.

Gold. Everything in the Guestroom you stood inside was tipped and coated in the finest notes of gold; from the walls to the tables. A huge poster bed with the sheets only creased and not slept in took up most of the room's decor, its silk complimenting the curtains that tossed delicately in the wind. Painted a pale blue with intricate arts of white, the walls were embellished with paintings and the ceiling was high. From there, a chandelier glittered and danced with the settling sun.

You swallowed, having never seen such an obnoxious display of wealth. And then, the wonder and awe soured into sharp anger.

The Royal Family have this much money to spend on Guestrooms when their people are wasting away? Just for a foreign diplomat? A diplomat that didn't even sleep in his bed, but merely lay on top and turned just a few times. Nor did he touch his food tray. The silver platter had a delicious display of cheeses and breads, fruits and candied oranges, cracked eggs that were collecting grey with how long they have been left.

The shamelessly wasted food made your stomach growl and rage thunder. Whoever this man was that lived in here, he ought to be ashamed. To the highest order. Wasting a platter of breakfast and not appreciating a warm bed. But truly, what had I expected from Royals and their contacts? They would throw food and wealth at others to impress, do anything to cover up the breaking pegs of the Kingdom that held it up.

With a new-found shame and disgust at your monarchs, you busied yourself with everything you had conducted in the other Guestroom. Fixing the bedsheets, carding the mattress, polishing even specks of dust on the mirrors, however in this place you did it with a genuine snarl on your lips. Especially when you picked up a full entrée of food you hadn't even tasted before, much less seen, and dumped it right into the waste bucket.

Such a shame. Grandfather would be appalled when she told him. Or perhaps he'd attempt to defend them.

But how could you defend this? Wealth slapped against the walls and wasted food? You saw absolutely nothing but guilt in the action, making your frown deepen.

Although one part of the room that made your skin physically tight with anger allowed the frown soften somewhat.

A chessboard.

Situated on a table of its own with two plush chairs, there sat the most beautiful chess board you had ever cast your eyes upon. It was not out of place in this room of gold, but fond memories of your Grandfather made you look upon this ornament not with hatred, but gentle curiosity.

Oh, but you could not help yourself. You had such a soft spot for the game and the memories it held. Carefully walking over to the table right at the window, you reached out to finger some of the tiles. The stone was cold to the touch — pure marble, and not wood. The pieces were akin to crystals. Glossy, cloudy glass for the white and murky black for the opposing side. You knew it was just another ornament, another gaudy display, but you picked up a piece in anyway.

A pawn. Your lips kicked up when Grandfather's words echoed in your mind;

"My favourite piece? That's easy lass. A pawn."

"A pawn? But—But they're the weakest piece on the board, Grandfather."

"Aye, they may be considered weak. And they are. But at least they never back down."

"They never back down..." You parroted quietly. A steady ache bloomed in your heart when you turned the smooth piece over. Unsurprisingly, you found yourself preferring Grandfather's chipped wooden counterpart; those pieces never felt so cold and unloved.

A sudden creaking of a door behind you.

Your heart slammed against your ribcage and you snapped around — placing the piece blindly back onto the board.

It was the peculiar Guard. Wolf, per his request. He was looking at you with calm eyes, although one brow was raised ever so slightly.

"Miss Maid," He began. "Your service is appreciated, but I thought it worth mentioning the sound of a bell I just heard."

A bell? You frowned, wondering why that applied to you. Although realisation of why it did hit you with the terrifying force of a freight train.

That bell!

"Oh!" You gushed. Then quickly gathered composer with a tight cough. Acting ladylike in front of a Guard, even a strange Wolf Guard, who were you really? "I am done." You affirmed.

Gathering your skirts and rushing to take the bucket, you brushed quickly passed Guard Wolf and into the hallways. This was the first day and you were already behind time. Any other Royal Official and you would have went out of your way to be late. But the overseer of maids in this Castle was a terrifying woman who sent shivers up your spine. You pushed harder, only noticing that you failed to check over the room one last time before leaving.

One final check. Always. Don't you dare leave without it. Yosano's voice in your head. It was obvious that it was more a threat than friendly advice. No matter, you dismissed quickly. That room was untouched enough. You could wager your neck nothing was out of place even without it.

Unfortunate it was for your neck. What this particular training maid failed to consider that in her haste, she had left one item out of place in the room of gold and diamonds.

High, pleasure-riven cries were what filled the small room that the Prince of Yo was wasting some of his time. At present, it was with the most stimulating of distractions; sex.

He steadily eased his long fingers in and out of her — this high-standing Lady-in-Waiting who was becoming a little too frequent for his liking. Attachment of a woman such as herself could indeed prove a headache. But no matter — they were future worries that had no worth in the present. With long, luscious waves of deep red that matched the blush spreading across her cheeks, Rosette was the most impressive Lady of his Court.

He's be foolish, however, to think her anything but the venomous viper that she was.

"Oh—Oh, My Prince," She mewled for him. Rocked her hips into his skilled touch greedily. "There, it's there."

Dazai raised a brow and moved his quick touch to everywhere that wasn't there. "Hmm? Giving your Prince orders, Rosette?"

With a wicked grin unlike the smiling Prince his maids knew him to be, he listened at her agitated cry. It was followed by a rushed apology, of course, and then a desperate plea for him to spare her. That was the one thing Prince Dazai was always sure of - he'd never enjoy his maids in a sexual way. It was, as his Father would reprimand him, an unsightly display and encourager of more labels. Maids had loose tongues when not in Court. But Women-in-Waiting.

He felt her hands on his broad shoulders — a quiet beg, another shift of her hips into the hand underneath her immaculate skirts.

Women-in-Waiting tended to keep their love-affairs to themselves, unless it was to make other Women of the Court jealous. It was, in their minds, a race for the throne after all.

"My Prince—!" Rosette's whine was wanton again. It was becoming irritable, Dazai was noticing. Laced in a false tone that hid her want to cage him, lure with her charm so she could one day be Queen. With her strongly-scented perfume and painted lips, Dazai looked her right in the eyes and lowered his voice.

"You will never be Queen."

Rosette's equally red brows clashed in confusion. Bright, hazel eyes became wide. "My—?"

Although Dazai gave her no time to finish. In a frenzy, and partly because he wished her to silence, he attacked her lips with his and manoeuvred his touch back to where there was. He had it memorised, and whatever confusion was tightening Rosette's muscles melted away. She eagerly returned his attention with quick, tiring movements of her tongue and encouraging moans.

Her hips snapped harder into his touch. He pressed, twirled, sunk his teeth into her bottom lip and her movements stuttered.

"Hah—ah!" The Lady-in-Waiting came undone underneath him. Pressed up against the wall, her hands fisted into his shirt and she threw her head back. "Oh, My—My Prince! Ahh...!"

Dazai removed his fingers from her when she was finished and completely released her. He was cruel in that regard; sex was a passer of time, not an intimate act. Reaching for a cloth in his pocket, he cleaned his hand and hid the strangely cold smile playing on his lips.

Prince Dazai of Yo did not believe in intimacy. Love was difficult for him to feel. Wicked and intelligent, he was given constant praise for being it, so he could comprehend why humans would want to feel love. They were lonely, wishing for a deeper meaning to life than simple existence.

One thing he did not understand, however, was the want to look for a deeper meaning in existence. Sometimes, Dazai felt as if he was the only truly awake one in the room. Life had no meaning, existence was bleak as it was taxing. Humans only felt truly released when they allowed themselves to die, and that was where his opinion ended.

Perhaps that was why he kept seeing such dull, grey walls.

"My Prince?" Rosette called his attention back. Although he did not look to her, he heard how she smoothened down her gown and fixed her mused hair. Happy after-pleasure made her words light. "If I could ask, what was it that you said to me? A few seconds prior? I'm afraid I was too... preoccupied, to really understand."

Clever. Dazai fixed his expression back into Princely charm and lifted his head. Such a bright smile, his eyes closed and curved with it. "Forget it. I was too preoccupied too, it seemed. You do have that effect on men, lovely Rosette~"

The barest flicker behind her soft, hazel eyes. No one except for the Prince of Yo, who was perceptive to a point where it bordered unnatural, could catch it. Sadistic glee raced in his bloodstream — she had heard him. Loud and clear.

And she was far from happy.

It seemed that the most beautiful Lady-in-Waiting was not used to being denied. But he was her Prince, so she was cautious with her wording. "Oh, but allow me to beg you," She reached up to clasp her hands and rest them on her generous breasts. "For it'll haunt my dreams to know. I do respect everything you say, My Prince."

Dazai didn't allow his smile to drop, nor his tone to deepen. Although he made a quick decision that this little triste was coming to its close, and he needed to make himself clear. "Will you insist if I keep my secrets?" He sang with ribbons of playful tease.

"I believed we were past secrets."

There was his reason. Nail stamped in the coffin. "Well, how could any man resist you, Rosette?" The barest tilt of his head left. "I said we should stop seeing each other."

Rosette's face was like a mask had just collapsed right from it. Her false smile went from bright to completely slack, her eyes let their walls down to show nothing but intense hazel fury. "M-My Prince?" Although she could be given credit, for her tone was the same sugar-poison as always.

Dazai opened his eyes and all of a sudden, gone was the happy Prince many in the Court knew him to be. Now, he was appearing how he did to only a handful of unfortunates in the Palace. Blank, deep brown eyes. An uncaring smile. The Demon Prince of Yo saw the fractures in Rosettes plan and decided he'd tear it down until it existed as mere broken shards.

"I said; our triste has gone on long enough, and I wish to end it. I don't particular wish to be collared, and yet you are attempting to collar me. Perhaps there are men of the Court who wish to sleep with a viper who'll bite them after they do, but I am not one of them." Cold, amused laughter. "To answer you properly, I said you would never be Queen. Queens of snakes belong in a small burrow and not a Kingdom's golden throne."

Finding immense pleasure in the way Rosette's skin had drained in shock until it was mere rice-paper, Prince Dazai lifted a hand to the door. "You are free to leave." Was how he ended this distraction, his tone a teasing lilt.

Quiet amusingly, Rosette's ashen complex heated until it was the colour of her hair. With no words to her Prince, because after all, she was a Lady-in-Waiting and he a King's Son, she furiously gathered her skirts and rushed from the room. Leaving behind an unamused Prince who watched her go with unfeeling eyes. The Demon Prince of The Yo Kingdom. A man who cared not for other humans emotions and say everything in life through a lens of grey.

ʚɞ . . . 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

ʚɞ . . . 𝐌𝐘 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄

#bungou stray dogs #bungou stray dogs fanfiction #bsd #bsd x reader #bungou stray dogs x reader #dazai osamu #dazai osamu x reader #dazai x reader #kunikida doppo #naomi tanizaki #crowns of stardust #headers by astralnymphh #dividers by saradika!#port mafia #armed detective agency #🪄— milky writes #fukuzawa yukichi #akutagawa ryuunosuke #higuchi ichiyo

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in-the-sun-is-room-for-you · 8 months

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Next time you go outside, pick something up and hold it in your hand. It can be anything: a blade of grass, a stone, a bit of bark, whatever.

Then I want you to think about what you're holding. Let's use a stone as an example.

What's the stone made of? Stone, of course. What if we think a little deeper? Well, the stone is an arrangement of molecules, which are groups of atoms... you can keep going until you get to your preferred brand of Smallest Thing. For the sake of ease I'm going to stop at protons, neutrons, and electrons.

We know that mass can't be destroyed, so that means that every single particle in that stone has always existed. What might they have seen in those 13.6 billion years?

That stone, or whatever it is, you're holding was here for the birth of the universe, the first stars and planets, perhaps even life that isn't us. It has witnessed the horrific void of black holes and the wonder of nebulae and beauty that we can't imagine on a timescale we can't comprehend.

And through all of that, it just so happens that everything that stone has been through has led to it being here. Maybe one the particles that make it up were on opposite sides of a galaxy, maybe they were always together.

All of that history is being held in your hand. And in the ground you're standing on. And the clothes you're wearing. And you and everything around you and everything you ever have or will know.

We're not just made of stardust. Everything is made of stories. They're dying to tell them to an open ear

#original post

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princessbettina · 10 months

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Dance with The Stars-Stardust x Fem!Reader

(Summary-Getting to tag with the newly formed tag team P.C.B. aka Paige, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch, has you up for plenty of fun and wild adventures. One night, PCB and you have an exciting and thrilling match against both the Bella Twins and Alicia Fox.

That’s where everyone slowly discovers your crush on Stardust (he suddenly interrupts during the match as one of the Bella twins try to be sneaky and cost you the win) until Stardust saves you and distracts your opponents as you get the win. Afterward, you find yourself in a surprising offer from the one who’s from the 5th dimension.

Warnings: None-This story takes place back in the year 2015 as that was when Stardust was still around, as was PCB in tag team form. Kind of a long story but I think it's worth the read :)

Divider Credit: saradika on Tumblr

After you got the offer to team up with Paige, Charlotte, and Becky, you knew your life would change in a good way. You had been a part of the company for a few years now and have been having everyone have their eyes on you when you made your entrance each night, including Paige. You and her became really great friends the moment you two were signed by the wwe around the same time. She was like your partner in crime.

One night on Raw, you were called by your closest friend Paige, as she wanted to put your skills to the test and take down the Bella Twins along with Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. The more help on her team, the better. You instantly accepted Paige's invitation, and it was made official.

"This just in, this has been made official by Stephanie McMahon moments ago. We are set to see PCB alongside Y/n in a tag match against the Bella Twins and Alicia Fox later tonight." Said Michael Cole as he spoke on commentary for those watching on television at home. You were ready.

You never teamed up with Charlotte or Becky before, but you enjoyed watching them in the ring plenty of times before and grew to be friends with them outside the ring, right next to Paige. Trust and loyalty grew and radiated between the four of you as you all stretched and waited backstage, talking amongst each other and watching the other matches on the TV screen that was next to you.

"We got this, ladies! We're going to take down those troll doll twins once and for all! " Paige exclaimed as you nodded and smiled. Charlotte and Becky squealed and clapped their hands which caused you all to laugh softly.

"Paigie Mack is right! We'll beat them so fast, they won't know what hit them!" Becky cheered as Charlotte laughed more and woohed like usual, again causing you all to laugh more.

Moments later, you glance away from the group for a moment, and as you turn your head to the side, you gasp softly to yourself as you begin to feel the blushing beating on your cheeks. Paige was quick to notice your sudden mood changes.

"Y/n? Baby girl, what's the matter? " Paige asked you calmly, gently resting her hand atop of your shoulder. Calmly collecting your thoughts and taking deep breaths, you turned your head back to face Paige and the others before smiling a blushy smile.

You glanced up at Paige and whispered towards her, hoping only she would hear and no one else. "Stardust just walked by a few minutes ago."

Paige widened her eyes and looked up and saw that Stardust was walking through the hallway and passed you and your gal pals. "Yeah, you're right, he's right down the hall now. Aiming for gorilla."

Or so she thought that's where he was going. Moments later, Stardust was seen walking back in the same direction where he came before moments ago in the same hallway. "Wait, Y/n! Do you have a crush on Stardust or something? " Paige questioned, a sly smile appeared on her face.

You continued to blush and then widen your eyes, playing it off and pretending that what she said wasn't true. Gently covering her mouth with your hand, the two of you laughed.

Somehow, both Charlotte and Becky heard about your little crush on the guy who wants everyone to forget about that so-called 'Cody Rhodes' fella and who literally hisses at almost everyone he comes into contact with.

"So, you have a thing for Stardust, don't ya, Y/n? " Becky asked, curiosity rolling off of her tongue. You widened your eyes again as you began to blush even more. You playfully denied what Becky said.

"Whaaat? No, I don't. You girls are so silly." You chirped, giggling nervously as you hid your face in your hair.

"I think you and Stardust would be so cute together, Y/n! " Charlotte said with a wink your way. Both her and Becky nodded in agreement. Soft giggles escaped from their lips.

"I ship it already! " Charlotte chirped quickly once more. You shook your head and took a breath.

You thought you were in the clear as you composed yourself and began to stand tall. That's when you stretched out your arms for a few minutes, as did the other three girls too.

Paige saw something that you didn't. She gently rested her hand on your shoulder and quickly whispered, "Girlfriend, here comes Stardust, five o'clock! "

Your eyes grew big, and it felt as if your breath was sucked out from inside you when you shot your head up and immediately saw Stardust walking towards you.

"Keep calm,Y/n," whispered Charlotte before she giggled softly with Becky. Paige bit her lip from anticipation as she watched Stardust walk up to you.

What was Stardust doing here?

"Greetings, Y/n. We finally meet each other at last." Stardust greeted you softly, that iconic smirk glowing on his face, causing your face to burn from blushing much harder now.

All you could do was smile back at him, your face almost as red as a tomato at this point. You couldn't wrap your mind around the fact that your crush was standing right in front of you and talking to you. "H-hi Stardust. "

Stardust found it cute how speechless you were. He smiled brightly at you before looking you up and down, starting from your feet all the way up to your face. Seeing that instantly made you flush that you felt like your face was on fire.

Who knew that one look, one stare even, could make you act wild?

Yeah, you knew it was for him to act mysteriously and flirty, but you never expected for him to do an act like that, especially for anyone he's rarely talked to.

"Wish we had more time to talk. I'm aware that you have a tag match soon. I've seen you around here and I must say that I've enjoyed seeing what you can do. I personally would like to get to know you better if you want to as well." Stardust said with a flirty smile.

You could instantly feel the smirks off of the faces of your team members in Paige, Charlotte, and Becky as they continued to stand by the both of you.

"I would be honored. It's a deal, Stardust!" You replied quickly as the smile on your face grew. He smirked and nodded his head at your response. The both of you wanted to keep this interaction going more, but it was Paige who snapped you out of your little love fit your mind was having.

Paige gently tapped your shoulder. You whipped your head around to face her for a moment. "Come on, babygirl! Our match is on next. We have to go now, bye Starboy!" Said Paige, as she waved quickly to the man and then motioned her arm to you, as both Charlotte and Becky began to walk towards gorilla.

Stardust playfully rolled his eyes as his smirk continued. He then made that tongue clicking sound softly, indicating that he didn't want you to leave so soon. "The name's Stardust, not that odd fella Starboy you speak of. "

You couldn't help but giggle at Stardust's remark. You smiled at him as you waved at him. "Sorry about her. I'll see you later, I promise."

Stardust liked the sound of everything that you said. You practically saw the smirk on his face grow by the minute. He was speechless as he quietly admired your beauty and glow.

All that the man that dances with the stars did next was simply nod as his smile continued.

You took a few steps forward and then looked back at Stardust briefly. You softly smile and then wave at him once more.

"Bye." You whispered with a smile before turning your back around and catching up with your friends in PCB.

You didn't see the wave that Stardust did as he continued to watch you exit and walk off in the distance.

He knew what he wanted to do next...

Your match against the Bella Twins and Alicia Fox had been underway. You and your team were dominant from the start, which was surprising because everyone thought of you to be the underdog. This dominance coming from you was one way to win over the crowd.

Seconds later, it was the Bella twins who decided to be sneaky and cause a distraction on you when they used what they like to call, 'Twin Magic'-where the legal tagged person switches places with their twin by hiding from the ref, not getting caught.

Charlotte and Becky were busy taking down Alicia in the far corner of the ring on the right, as Paige was laying on the ground outside the ring by one of the barricades after being taken out by the Bella Twins before they started with Twin Magic.

You stood in the middle of the ring momentarily, confused as what to do next. You wanted to help both of your team members, but your attention was quickly on the outside of the ring in front of you. You knew that the Bella Twins were up to no good, and you had to put a stop to them and fast.

You raised an eyebrow as you got closer to them. The second you got even closer to them and stepped out of the ring ropes was when Nikki switched places with Brie by sliding under the ring, hiding as Brie began to grab hold of you.

Catching you off guard momentarily as she grabbed the base of your neck and almost began to throw you into the ring steps. Brie's plan was cut short when all of a sudden, Stardust's music began to play.

The crowd cheered as it seemed as though Brie had seen a ghost. Stardust immediately ran down the ramp as Brie continued to hold onto you before throwing you right in front of Stardust when he was a few feet in front of her.

Thankfully, what Brie did didn't cause any injuries to you and Stardust. He quickly kept you up by maintaining his balance, along with your own, his hands snaked around your shoulder and then to your waist as he smirked at Brie, who backed away from the two of you.

Her hands up in surrender as she then stopped walking when it was Paige who began to throw hits on her from behind the moment Brie turned around.

You, on the other hand, began to stand up straight again and finally caught your breath. Stardust never left your side. His arm was still around your shoulder. You slowly turned your head to face him and saw him flirtatiously smirking back at you, causing you to smile and blush.

"Hello, beautiful." Stardust chirped, winking your way. Causing you to giggle and cover your mouth with your hand as a way to relax your nerves, being that close to and with your crush was a big deal.

The only thing you could do was smile up at him and move the strand of hair away from your face before Stardust took control of that, gently replacing your hand with his.

Seconds later, you and Stardust watched as Paige tossed Brie into the ring as then Nikki came back into the frame and helped her sister from getting pinned by Paige. Nikki was the legal competitor in the match, after all.

Comforting Brie for moment was what Nikki did before Charlotte came back into the frame too, hitting Nikki with a boot to her face as soon as she stood on her feet, causing her to fall down on the mat.

Quickly, Charlotte went for the pin on Nikki as the crowd chanted, "One... two... three!" The sound of the bell ringing afterward had indicated that you and your team won.

The ref raised up Charlotte's hand in victory as Paige, Becky, and yourself quickly joined her in ring. Before, though, you quickly told Stardust that you'll be right back as you then slid into the ring with your teammates. Sharing hugs and squeals together, celebrating your well-earned victory.

"Here are your winners, Charlotte, Paige, Becky, and Y/n!" One of the ring announcers announced, the crowd continued to cheer and clap for you and your team.

"We did it! I'm so proud of us, ladies!" Paige squealed between hugs with the three of you. Both Charlotte and Becky mentioned how proud and happy they were of you and of the win. "Way to go, Y/n! You're one tough and spicy lass, you are!" Becky said with a giggle and a wink.

You laughed softly and playfully shook your head. "Awesome job, Champ! Paige made the right decision on bringing you on board with us. I think you could be the next member of PCB." Charlotte said to you with a bright smile.

Everything that you were hearing made you overwhelmed with happiness. You actually became speechless. You thanked all three girls for their extremely nice words. Paige turned to look at you with a smile and whispered,

"You proved that you can truly take down anyone, Y/n. As your bestie, I officially welcome and invite you to be a member of PCB anytime. We can all count on each other."

Tears began to fill up in your eyes. Happy tears at that. You nodded your head and gave Paige another hug as she hugged you back. "Thank you, Paigie! You're amazing, and I love you!" You whispered to her as the smile on her face and yours grew. Charlotte and Becky joined the hug as it became a group hug and then tapped your shoulders afterwards.

Paige noticed that Stardust was still standing outside of the ring. She knew that he probably had something planned for you. "Babygirl, Y/n! Stardust never left, he's right over there." Whispered Paige as turned you around and motioned her hand in his direction.

There he was, standing in the same spot that he was when he saved you from Brie. Only this time he was making it seem like he was 'hiding' behind the ring rope pole. As soon as you made eye contact with him was when he peeked through and came out of hiding again, hissing at Paige, which she didn't quite understand why but just laughed. "What is he doin'? Anyways, I'll leave you to figure him out. See you later, darling. Good luck!" She waved and giggled before exiting the ring as Charlotte and Becky followed behind her.

Stardust stepped up onto the ring steps and entered the ring before pausing in his tracks and bringing both his hands to his face, making that iconic star symbol on his gloves. Watching this happen right in front of you caused you to giggle and smirk playfully the more you watched.

Stardust then quickly removed both his hands away from his face, and smirked directly at you, causing you to blush once more. Moments later, the two of you found each other both listening to the crowd and smirking at them briefly before looking back at one another, signalling that you both were thinking the same thing somehow.

Without hesitation, Stardust held out his hand towards you. This gesture only meant one thing to you and you were beaming with excitement. "How's about you become my beautiful sidekick? Partner if you will where together we can dance with the stars and rule this wrestling galaxy as one?" He asked curiously,smirking your way.

You widened your eyes for a moment before grinning ear to ear. You then chuckled softly and found yourself connecting your hand with Stardust's, causing the crowd to cheer. You officially were on board with your crush, and that made you so happy.

You couldn't wait to see what adventures Stardust and yourself would get into. You hoped it started now.

-The End <3

I hope you enjoyed my first Stardust story. I know, I know Stardust isn't around and not a thing anymore, but as a new Cody Rhodes fan, I really enjoy watching old clips and stuff of Stardust back then, he was really an enjoyable and fun character. He will always have a special place in my heart <3 I'll see you in the next one <3

#cody rhodes #cody rhodes fanfiction #stardust #stardust wwe #cody rhodes x reader #wwe x reader #wwe fanfiction #fanfiction

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likefolksongs · 1 year

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fall out boy on absolute radio listening party 3.26.23

[link]

the host asks about the parentheses around for in the album title - pete says it's "a double or triple entendre, everyone's trying to be someone and have their moment but that doesn't fill you up" but "there's something to be said about so much stardust." talks about how we're all just carbon, stardust and still can't get it together. he also just love parentheses!

talking about the album as an art form - patrick says they absolutely consider that and sequencing is important. there are a "few songs" which only made the record because of how well they told the story of the album. also love from the other side was conceptualized as an album opener because patrick felt none of the other songs felt like an opener!

the intro to lftos is patrick playing the same piano part at four different speeds, starting in sync and then falling out of sync as it continues - he says it feels representative of the whole album for him

with hold me like a grudge, pete says when patrick first played it for him the verses sounded like 2000s alternative radio hits but the chorus sounded "distinctly patrick" which was an "interesting blend." patrick: hm. thank you. i think. pete: yeah that was a compliment!

hold me like a grudge was the last song they wrote for the record! pete was second guessing other lyrics and sent patrick new lyrics to possibly replace the ones he was feeling unsure about. patrick read them before driving to the studio and by the time he got there the song was basically written in full.

pete makes a comment about how that's at least two songs "that people really like" that patrick's written in the car (referencing lotro); patrick says he's written a lot of songs in the car and pete jokes they should just toss him the keys

pete says it's the worst when you think of something in the car and are sure you'll remember it but you don't. says now when he thinks of something in the car when he's with bronx he'll tell him to write down words to trigger the whole phrase "but they don't make any sense together. i'll be like write this down and he'll be like '...okay." andy: like dad shut up [giggles]

fake out didn't come together until joe heard it! patrick had most of the lead guitar down but none of the rhythm guitar but "joe came in, gave it one listen, and picked up this acoustic. none of us had really thought about acoustic, he just went into the booth and we pressed record and he did it in one take... that became kinda the whole song."

patrick talks about soul punk briefly, says the most surprising thing about making it was that it was very unsurprising, because all the ideas were already in his head. part of why he enjoys working with the band so much is that they have ideas he never would've thought of.

they discuss changing sound - pete says the first time he had that feeling of like "oh i don't know if this is too different" he was scared of it but he's learned that it's a good thing and that there's always going to be so much of the band's dna on it that it Will sound like a fall out boy song

andy: i think a band can not just be a city it can be a continent. writing these different things is building the map to what the bigger picture is

they bring up queen and bowie as examples of artists that kept changing but now when you hear their songs you just think "oh that's queen" or "oh that's bowie." the host mentions he used to hide liking queen from his friends and patrick says he had to hide liking ska from the band. andy says he's had a really big reggae and ska phase recently and loves being able to talk to patrick about it because "he's a fountain of knowledge."

heaven, iowa is one of andy's favorite on the record and he loved it from the start! patrick reiterates a comment from another interview about how he didn't like it that much at first but knew everyone else did, kept asking joe for any and all ideas because he didn't like how much "space" there was and how naked his vocals felt. andy says he thinks space in music can be magical.

they talk about track sequencing again - patrick says he and pete moved "the meat of the album" around many, many times.

pete talks about the pink seashell interlude and being obsessed with mortality. patrick talks about the process of scoring it and how joe added guitar to the string lines which he thinks brought it all together.

they didn't start out thinking they necessarily had a record - patrick says "we went in with neal for a week to see if we had something and by the end of the week we had half the record.”

patrick's been asking people to tell him fan reactions to the record since he doesn't have social media 🥺 "i know i've been driving everyone nuts... i've been asking everyone 'do people like it? what do people think?'" reiterates the dinner for your family line to explain why this record means so much to him.

pete says making an album is kind of like being a climber standing at the bottom of a rock face trying to find a route up; when you get up the route might seem like it was obvious the whole time but it wasn't. patrick chimes in to agree and add that it feels like the song that was the centerpoint of the album shifted many times.

the host mentions that he really likes and relates to the title of "i am my own muse." pete talks about looking at his four year old and thinking about how "at that age, you Are your own muse. you're like 'i just color, i do what i want, i'm not trying to conform to your idea of my creativity' and welcoming some of that back into your life as an adult or an artist is great.'"

the host mentions that his nine year old son's favorite song ever is "centuries" and the band are appropriately flattered (though patrick does say sorry when the host says he's probably heard it more than any other song ever ajfioenaj).

going back to the discussion of different songs being the centerpoint of the album, patrick says flu game was "one of the first songs to have that spot."

patrick talks about not being the most confident guy but that he's learned to share all of his demos; he thinks he might not have played flu game in the past. pete chimes in to say in the past patrick has tried to throw out some of his best ideas.

patrick says flu game "kind of started the record" because it was the favorite out of the first five songs they made with neal. "this was the one that convinced neal i think." pete notes "this would've been an insane record if [flu game] was the lynchpin."

flu game was originally the lead single! pete: you know how we always talk about how if we were gonna fly in a helicopter that i would have to knock you out like b.a. baracus? patrick, instantly: yes. pete: if we had made this the first single you guys would've had to b.a. baracus me. patrick, protesting: that wasn't my choice!

pete says baby annihilation felt like an authentic way to pay homage to his past spoken word bits and he trusted neal to be able to make it work.

they have a discussion about the distinctions between emo/pop punk/straightedge hardcore and pete talks about how arbitrary the labels that are assigned to musicians often are. pete talks about how fall out boy started as kind of a break from the more hardcore stuff for him that he was doing for fun which allowed it to be more freeing. patrick agrees, talks about how andy and pete were in "real bands" so no one was taking fall out boy completely seriously which allowed them to be looser.

kintsugi kid was one of the songs patrick was mentioning earlier that was almost cut from the record but made it because of the track sequencing. patrick says he always felt very strongly about it and believed in it so was very glad when it made its way back on to the record. pete calls it the little song that could.

the host asks about their songwriting process and pete talks about how the best songs are the ones where he and patrick "clash" just the right amount; songs where one of them dominates over the other don't connect as well.

they discuss the different producers they've worked with; pete says every producer they've worked with has felt like the right person for the job. patrick talks about how working with so many different producers is part of why he wanted to go back to neal.

patrick talks about how important it was for this album to be a single producer album; with mania they had so many different producers and he wanted to get back to just being in a routine with the same person. andy: it's the difference between microwaving and actually cooking. patrick: yeah, i agree with that! andy, jokingly: thanks, i'm gonna leave.

patrick calls what a time to be alive his baby. says every time he played it for someone they would say "really?" pete: patrick was really determined to get this song on the record. i felt like gamora like "is it done? what did it cost you?" pete and patrick in unison: everything [laughter]

patrick says he and pete struck a bargain (pete: i don't remember this). patrick didn't want so good right now to be on the record (he wasn't going to name the song but pete told him to go for it) but pete was really advocating for it. patrick said that if pete let him have what a time to be alive he would green light so good right now.

pete talks about how art only really becomes art when it connects with its audience which is part of why they wanted to do those small shows and host listening parties, to see how people reacted

the host asks how their relationship with fame has changed; pete says they had a year or two where they were super famous "and it was not a great life;" talks about how he looks at kpop groups and boy bands and thinks "god bless that it wasn't that long for us." he says he made a point to rearrange his life to be less famous and prioritize his family and the band. also pete makes a star wars reference and patrick does a yoda impression 😭

the hour wraps up with pete asking the host if he still wants a video for his son and they do a quick video for him 🥺

#fall out boy #pete wentz #patrick stump #andy hurley #fob #sorry this is so long they truly talked about So Much #i wasn't gonna do a write up and i doubt anyone will actually see this bc i am not a Big Blog tm #but they just kept saying things i wanted to remember without having to relisten to the whole thing #and i hadn't seen people talk about this interview besides patrick's yoda impression lol #anyways hope anyone who stumbles upon this enjoys!

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melit0n · 3 months

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So, last night I was having a chat to some of my friends about space n' stuff because I live further out in the countryside, meaning I can actually see the stars, and, finally, I had a clear night.

I was showing off the different constellations I could spot, the star clusters etc. so, of course, we ended up talking about how big space is. My friend talked about how thousands of light years away, Earth doesn't even exist yet. And then, there could also be a planet with sentient life light years away that we won't know until ages into the future (which we all agreed was kinda sad that we wouldn't get to see aliens but oh well).

And then. And then the one friend who had just been looming in the conversation the whole time says:

"Well, we can wish, can't we? I'm sure our souls will stick around in the stardust long enough for us to catch a glimpse of what might be."

It just made me think, y'know? How tiny we are to the universe yet being so utterly different from eachother. The guy driving past me on my way to work has got a home, probably a pet, maybe an s/o to get to. The girl who bumped into me in the hallway was late to a class and, by how tired she looked, probably works two different jobs to keep up with student debt. They've both got lives, maybe ones similar to mine (that makes me sound really self centred I'm sorry 😭).

Either way, we're all so different yet so interlinked. I can only hope that, when I die, I get to go up to one of those stars, maybe become apart of a constellation that will have some wacky story that symbolises love or mourning or something, and get to look with wonder (and probably a bit of horror considering the current state of everything) at humanity.

I hope my soul does stick around in the stardust so I can catch a glimpse of events and people far past my time. I think that's a human thing, though, wanting to stick around long after we shouldn't. Oh well.

#just made me think a bit last night #Sunday 1:30am chat with the lads always ends up with me contemplating my fragile existence #maybe I'll make a little doodle out of this later as well #I'll always be a space person at heart #mel's thoughts #space #poetry #??#maybe??#feels like something poetic to me

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satans-helper · 3 months

Text

Reaching for Stardust - Part XIX

Read Looking for Space here / Playlists / Read RFS on wattpad or read previous parts here

Word Count: ~4500

Warnings: sexy time;)

So sorry this is late. I kept fretting over this chapter because we're at the end, and a large part of me really doesn't want to end this but I also know that time has come. It took me so long to come up with an idea for a sequel, which so many people had asked for, then spent so much time planning this story, so much time writing, but it never felt quite like how it felt when I had been writing LFS. Not feeling the same, not getting much hits on this series and very minimal feedback ultimately made me feel like I may have even made a mistake by meddling in something that was so good on its own. Suffice to say, it looks like, as it stands now, the next chapter after this will be the final one. Thank you so much to all of you who have been reading along <3

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“Ready, honey?” my dad asked me as he approached my side, quite dapper in his suit and tie, while my mother walked ahead, leading the way. The boys and girls were behind, blocking my view of Josh in the middle. Although I already had a succinct idea of what his wedding suit looked like, I was eager to see it in the flesh and on him, the beautiful boy who could wear anything and shine as bright as all the stars in the sky because he himself sparkled so vividly.

I linked my arm with my dad’s. “I think so,” I told him, trembling a bit in my heels. “It’s just doing all this with so many people watching that freaks me out.”

He patted my arm. “This is your day, and Josh’s too. Pretend we’re not here.”

I laughed a little, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “That’s hard to do. But I told Josh I would try.”

“No ring bearer?” my dad noted, and I followed his eyes outward again.

With a chuckle, I said, “It’s Sam.”

My dad laughed a little too. “Oh.”

Only a few more moments, those brief seconds of heart-pounding anticipation, went by before my dad and I were stepping down the aisle. I felt unsteady on my feet, inclined to fall right over onto the wooden floor that my heels clacked so loud in my ears over if it hadn’t been for my dad keeping me upright and walking.

I looked up first, gazing briefly at the glittering paper stars and moons that hung from the ceiling, at the lights that cast a warm glow over everyone and everything, willing myself to block out the “everyone” except for Josh. With a shuddering breath, I looked back down and ahead, my eyes searching for him. He wasn’t hard to find. In his royal blue crushed velvet suit jacket, gold jewelry and the rhinestones around his eyes, my beloved Starshine stood out amongst everyone else.

Josh’s eyes widened and glittered when he looked at me, his gaze roaming from my face then down the length of my body. I hoped he liked the dress, the color of it matching the sky I saw in my mind whenever I thought of him, the material as gentle and sweet as his touch, the delicateness of it true to his affection for me. Another step forward and his gaze traveled up again to meet mine–I thought it was just the light at first, and the rhinestones, but then I saw that they were wet with tears. That revelation made me realize my own eyes had already been the same, tears welling and threatening to ruin my makeup. Then he erupted into a huge, silent smile, white teeth shining, the little gap between his two front teeth the next thing I found myself focusing on.

How I loved that smile, those teeth, those perfect lips, and my chest heaved when he mouthed “hi” at me, his brow tense as if he were trying to pull back the tears in his eyes.

I mouthed the same word back, trembling once more. My dad squeezed my arm and patted my hand before we parted, leaving me standing in front of Josh, who quickly took my hands in his own.

From there, I felt and saw only him; my hearing drifted to and from the officiant, in and out of the words spoken that weren’t exactly our own but that mirrored our feelings, our devotion, our eternal love. But I heard very clearly when that stopped and our time came. The vows. The open declaration that everyone would hear, most wouldn’t remember, that shook my anxiety alive once again.

I had decided to go first during our planning. Clearing my throat as discreetly as I could, my hands shook slightly as I took the piece of paper I’d prepared from the officiant. I’d memorized almost all of it but I glanced down at it anyway, trying to blink back the tears that were still hanging out on the rims of my eyes. Looking back up, I met Josh’s eyes–the only person who needed to hear the words.

“Joshua,” was my simple beginning, and just hearing his formal name made him blush and smile sweetly in front of me. “My beloved,” I added, smiling back, my heartbeat stirring then slowing a bit when I returned my eyes to the paper. “The second you entered my life, you changed it and you changed it for the better. In my heart, it really didn’t take long before I knew I couldn’t live life without you.” Looking up again, Josh was smiling wider, infectious; I smiled even more in turn, the words coming out more freely, stronger: “I hope from here on out, forever and always, I can remind you that you are the sun, the stars, the moon and the entire universe. You’re my entire universe.” With a laugh, I reached for one of his hands to hold once more and went off script for the last sentence: “And I love you so much sometimes I don’t know what to do with myself besides tell you that.”

I heard a sniff which made me look away and search for the cause; my sister was dabbing her eyes with her knuckles. She chuckled and waved me away when we made eye contact; I let out one quiet laugh and returned my focus to Josh, who had apparently forgone the use of notes completely, and my heart fluttered as wild as a bird’s wings when he said my name.

“You, darling, are the pearl of my world,” he went on, taking my other hand. “When I feel the heat of the sun, I feel your hand in mine.” With that, he gave my hands a squeeze. “When I feel the cold chill of winter I know I’ll be warm again soon with you by my side. You’re the sun, the light that brings me to life every single morning.” I smiled, feeling shy and more beautiful than I ever had before. “Every day for the rest of our lives I will tell you that we’re soulmates, because we are, and every day I will thank the heavens above that they brought us together.” His dark eyes were soft as he held my gaze, cheeks rosy and sweet. “There’s not a force in the universe that would ever tear us apart. I love you forever and always.”

“I love you more,” I said quietly, not sure Josh could even hear it over the murmurs of praise and scattered but excited applause from our guests, but he smiled and shook his head, giving my hands another squeeze.

“Samuel?” the officiant said, and hearing Sam’s formal name made me giggle. But Sam was graceful and composed as he presented our rings–Josh’s wedding band and my own, my engagement ring still shimmering on my finger. I was sure I’d never take either off. I watched closely as Josh slid the white gold band on, making my left hand complete; I felt his eyes on me as I did the same for him. Seeing the shiny, brilliant gold on his beautifully sculpted hand made me dizzy for a second, but his eyes meeting mine grounded me.

I heard the next words more clearly–we were unified through it all. Married. Together forever, no matter what might happen. Then Josh was stepping closer, slowly, almost tentatively, but our first kiss as a married couple was anything but–it was no chaste, modest kiss. No, Josh’s lips were fierce and passionate, knocking the wind out of me, and I looped my arms around his shoulders to hold him closer, truly completely forgetting there was anyone but us there beneath the lights.

There was an uproar of applause–and loud cheering from our best man, groomsmen, maid of honor and bridesmaids–when the kiss happened, growing in volume when we broke apart and actually looked out at everyone for the first time.

“Hey, hey,” Sam whispered, sidling up to me and nudging me with a pointy elbow. “Party time?”

I laughed, throwing my arms around him. “Dinner time, Sammy. Party time after, okay?”

“Samuel, go to the bar,” Josh said, spinning his younger brother around. “And please get us some champagne.”

“Normally I’d refuse that demand,” Sam said, grinning and smoothing the lapel of his dove gray suit down. “But I guess since this is YOUR day.”

“That’s right,” Josh affirmed, patting him on the back before Sam drifted off to fulfill the request.

“Congratulations,” Jake said, looking brilliant and beautiful in his maroon suit, silver jewelry complementing Josh’s gold. He pulled his twin into a long, tight hug, eyes closed for a moment before he opened them to look at me standing behind. “To both of you. Happy to be here.”

“You’re the best man,” I said as if he needed a reminder.

“The BEST man,” Josh agreed, squeezing Jake even tighter for a second before stepping back, hands on his twin’s shoulders. “Thank you for being here.” I watched Josh’s focus flit over to Danny, who came over and took Josh in his arms next. “Daniel, my brother. You look incredibly dapper.”

“Thank you,” Danny replied, smiling, as gorgeous as any of them. I was worried that the cool, lavender-ish gray groomsmen suits might wash him and Sam out, but they’d chosen just the right side to keep their tan skin sharp and pretty, all of their jewelry shiny and drawing in the right amount of attention. Besides, those suits complemented the soft lilac and murky lavender of the bridal party.

“Are girls allowed in this little crowd?” Bev asked as she approached and my sister captured me in a hug while Jane met Jake’s side, who pressed a quick kiss to her temple.

“Yes!” Sam answered from behind, approaching with two glasses of champagne in one hand, three in another. “But I need help getting more booze, if one of you ladies wants to assist.”

“On it,” Bev said dutifully, swishing away in her muted lavender dress.

After our group toast, Josh and I had our own duty to make our rounds with our various family members and other esteemed guests. We circled each table, giving hugs and thanks while we were lavished with compliments and well wishes. It was a bit of a blur, but Josh’s hand on my arm, that hand traveling to my waist, kept me both rooted in reality and swept up into the fantasy of it all. I felt like a fairytale princess in my fine blue dress that swirled around me as I moved, Josh’s blue suit the perfect companion, both of us looking like we shot straight down from the sky.

“You look absolutely stunning,” Josh said quietly in my ear as we made our way to the next table, hand on my waist. “Utterly gorgeous and ethereal.”

“Thank you.” I wrapped my arm around his waist in return, feeling the softness of the crushed velvet beneath my palm. “So do you, my gorgeous little prince.”

“I don’t know why you were so nervous.” Josh gestured at the numerous guests we still had to speak with. “You’re a natural at this. So regal and graceful.”

I laughed loudly, unable to contain it. “You’re the only person who’s ever said that about me.”

“Well, it’s true,” Josh said, leaning in close to press a quick kiss to my cheek. “And I know you better than anyone.”

Finally there came a point where we were done mingling and we could sit down beneath the faux-night sky of the lodge, the paper, cardboard and light-up constellations and celestial bodies hanging overhead and creating a comfortable ambiance.

After Jake and Kirsti’s equally lovely, charming and humorous speeches in our honor, we dug into our catered dinners and shared more champagne and wine. By the time I was done with my plate, I was sufficiently buzzed. Mostly from the alcohol, sure, but from joy and love and excitement too–I could feel those emotions unraveling, bursting even, deep inside me, making me warm and light. Josh’s smile was brighter than the sun he compared me to; his laughter rang through my ears like the prettiest song, and I kept looking down at our hands in their rings in near-disbelief that this wasn't all a fairytale.

I was a little unsteady on my feet again when it was time to cut the cake, but this time it was purely from booze, not nerves. No, thankfully my anxiety had entirely floated off into nothing with how purely joyous, exciting and electric the evening was–Josh and I just giggled, holding each other close, as we went up to the tiered treasure of pastry. Like the lodge, it was also even more beautiful than I’d seen in the final photo after our final tweaks to the flavor profile–perfectly smooth white frosting to match the snow outside, thinly sliced, caramelized pears and their sugared leaves on the top tier, the whole cake complete with the finest layer of white edible glitter to make it all shimmer.

“I like this tradition!” Josh said with a laugh as we clasped out hands over the hilt of the shiny silver knife. I laughed too, trying not to let it move my body too much so we didn’t destroy the cake; Josh guided us to the edge and we both pressed down, listening to more applause as the blade sliced through.

“Anything with knives,” I agreed too late, having been trying to retain my focus to say it any sooner. Josh nodded with another giggle and reached for the two forks that had been set for us instead; I carved out the first little bite, then he followed suit, and we fought more giggles while our arms crossed over one another’s and we brought those bites of cake into each other’s mouths.

“Fuck,” Josh said, glancing at the cake again. “This is good.”

“Really good,” I said, wishing we could steal more bites without tainting it for everyone else. But soon enough we got our full pieces, as did all of our friends and family, and the wildly delicious winter cake made the perfect cushioning for even more alcohol as dessert quickly segued into dancing.

Beginning with our first dance, which sent a whirlwind of butterflies into my stomach yet again. But as the first guitar strums of “Annie’s Song” began and Josh’s hands gave my own a delicate squeeze while our eyes met, the butterflies fluttered off to leave me in a sense of calm that was entirely unexpected.

Then again, I shouldn’t have expected anything else, I thought while Josh and I held each other close and moved with the music–there was nothing in the universe that could shake me up too badly to ever be calmed down again, not as long as Josh was a part of that universe.

Dancing with everyone commenced–the beginning of the “party time” Sam had been so eager for. I was too, honestly, and after spending some additional time on the dance floor after our song, Josh and I sneaked out with our boys and girls to finally get stoned.

We all huddled together during the trek through the snow, into the woods–the canopy of shimmering stars overhead became fractured as we moved deeper into the trees, but the moon was big and bright, helping us see in addition to the use of smartphone flashlights. Once we were tucked into a dark cove of coniferous trees, the flashlights turned off and the two lighters–one Sam’s and one Danny’s–flicked on, and soon smoke was swirling around all of us in the cold dark.

Talk of the food, the cake, the dancing, everyone’s outfits, the vows and everything else looped in slightly hushed tones through the woods we huddled in. Muffled giggles shared between our group eventually turned into somewhat raucous laughter that echoed through the darkness, and our shoulders bounced off one another’s with each rasping breath of chaos and delight.

“You’re fucking married,” Sam said, nothing more than a lanky silhouette in front of me so I couldn’t be sure who that statement was directed at.

Josh replied first with, “Fuck yeah, I’m fucking married!” and another loud, delightful cackle. Then his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me in close. “We're fucking married.”

“We are.” I reciprocated with my arm around him too. “I finally married my little wood elf.”

“Oh my god, he totally is,” Bev said, passing one of the three mobilized joints over to my sister, who I was still surprised to see with us there but, as she’d told me, it was my “special day.”

The lights on the dance floor mingled with the lights from that canopy of faux-constellations and celestial bodies above, the whole reception room of the lodge as rowdy and as magical as any fairytale celebration. Though I was not normally one for too much dancing, I couldn’t deny the urge to dance like the drunken, high, lovesick fool I was with anyone who cared to join and for as long as my heels would allow me which was, much to my delight, much longer than I’d anticipated. Riveted and fueled by the splendor of our loved ones, the gorgeous moonlit night, the dark beauty of the lodge and the song in my heart, I was spurred onward and onward until the full crowd became a small group of stragglers.

It was then, when things became quiet and tables were completely cleared, that the few of us who remained began to retire. Josh and I gave our last obligatory goodbyes to a small selection of folks, then the final people were our closest kinsfolk who, of course, insisted on one last night time smoke session out in the woods before everyone went off to their rooms.

Josh and I had the best room of them all–I knew as much even without seeing any others. Ours was luxuriously large, actually too large for just two people, with high ceilings and everything made of wood like the rest of the lodge; but it was its intimate, special beauty from the woodland world outside that made it the best.

“Look at that moon,” Josh said softly from behind me, then I felt his arms circle around my body. We were standing in the frigid cold on our balcony, swathed in the shadows from the towering, dark trees and the infinite universe above it all–the countless sparkling, silver stars, the milky way somewhere out there beyond our vision, Andromeda’s beating heart in the sky an elusive yet constant reminder of how far we’d come and what we meant to one another.

“For being only half illuminated, she sure is bright,” I said, relaxing in his arms, blinking up at the cosmos. With Josh wrapped around me, the winter air didn’t feel like a biting cold at all; on the contrary, I felt safe and warm in January’s thick, frosty darkness.

“You know, I’ve been waiting all night to say certain things to just you,” Josh began, resting his chin on my shoulder, his words warm in my ear. “But now that we’re actually alone and I’m high and drunk and the sky looks like this, I don’t think any of the words I thought of can do my feelings justice.”

“That was a long sentence,” I said with a giggle, reaching a hand up to run through his curls. “My beautiful celestial poet. All of your words do everything justice as far as I’m concerned.”

“Well, it may be a bit gauche to use a cliche right now,” Josh went on, pressing his lips to the side of my neck. “But thank you for truly making me the happiest man on earth. Or rather, in the entire universe.”

The glow of the moon and the shimmer of the stars followed us back inside our room through the windows. Curtains drawn, we let the night sky act as our light while we carefully stripped out of our wedding clothes; only then did a chill run down my spine, but the sudden cold was quickly swept away as Josh pounced on me and wrangled me down onto the giant bed.

As he climbed over me, running his hands up my arms to hold them over my head, he said, “I do kind of wish you kept the dress on. But I imagine what we’re about to do would absolutely ruin it.”

I smiled up at him, enchanted by his long lashes fanned over those dark, gleaming eyes. “You really looked so good tonight, Josh. I mean, you always look good.” With my arms free, I brought my hands to his shoulders. “But…wow. Now I’m kind of wishing you kept the suit on.”

“I’m flattered. And yet–” Josh rolled onto his back and pulled me on top instead, both of us erupting into giggles. “This feels so much more right.”

I properly straddled his hips, his hardness already sliding between my legs. “I’m inclined to agree.”

We took our time with slow, deep kisses and languid touches over each other’s bodies. For all the changes over the years, the sense of comfort and security that being with Josh gave me stayed the same; actually, I thought as he rolled me back over and took the lead again, his hands spreading my legs and mine traveling down to his hips, that comfort and security had grown to be even more profound. Especially now that we were married, which felt like the beautiful bow to tie everything together–to tie us together in totality and finality.

“My beautiful girl,” Josh said quietly while he slid his cock through my wetness, his teeth shining as he smiled.

I gasped and clutched his biceps as he pushed his hips forward, sinking slowly inside. “My beautiful boy,” I said back, running one hand up his shoulder, his neck, to caress that truly gorgeous, enchanting face. Josh’s beauty elicited as much pleasure as feeling him did, just in a different way–I could look at that face forever. The fact that I was now guaranteed to look at him forever was one of the biggest blessings I could ever imagine.

Josh’s hands squeezed my breasts as he leaned back, angling his hips up more while he thrust, and the just-right repeated thrusting of his cock inside me had me panting and whining quickly. I held onto his forearms, just about the only part of him I could adequately touch, and kept my hands wrapped around the sturdy yet soft security they kept me in. His whole body, really, was so reassuring to have in bed again, in that moonlight, in the fairytale lodge, in the whole, infinite universe that had, for whatever reason, been kind enough to bring us together.

When I reached a hand out to try and urge him to come closer, he did–Josh gave one hard thrust as he surged his upper body back to me, planting his lips on mine in a searing kiss that muffled both of our moans. My fingers curled in his hair, keeping our mouths together, until I allowed one of them to slide down the nape of his neck, his shoulders, the center of his strong, silky back. He chuckled when I grabbed his ass; I hooked one leg around his hips and he turned away to let out a clear moan that rang through my ears like a melody.

“You make the sexiest sounds,” I said, cradling the back of his head while I kissed and sucked on his neck in an effort to wring more of those sounds out of him.

Josh let out what sounded akin to a purr as his hips moved faster, pounding against my inner thighs, his cock angled just right inside me; I made to slip one hand between us but Josh beat me to it, bringing his fingers to my clit.

“Sweetheart,” Josh said quietly, voice raspy and so sexy that I whined and grabbed his ass harder. He pressed his forehead against mine, looking into my eyes. “I’m close.”

My back arching gradually with his fevered thrusts and the incessant stimulation of my clit, I was letting out my own stream of continual, desperate moans. His intense gaze, those beautiful eyes, stole any words that I was going to speak–instead, I tugged his hair to kiss his perfect lips again. Our tongues tangled and teeth nipped, and when I pressed a soft kiss to Josh’s jaw, his breath hitched before he moaned and sank as deep as possible into me, his hips slowing to a full stop.

Before I could say or do anything at all, Josh pulled out and slid down, settling down between my thighs. I gasped with surprise when his tongue lapped over my clit and two fingers slid inside me, curling and pumping, his eager moans vibrating through my center, up my spine.

“Josh,” I whimpered, then moaned his name again, my eyes shut tight as the overwhelming pleasure rippled through me. My legs started to quiver on either side of his head which I reached down for, my fingers hooking in his curls again, and then I was seeing a different kind of night sky and canvas of stars behind my eyes.

Breathing hard, my hands loosening my grasp on him, I looked down to see Josh lick his fingers clean. He kissed my knee before he shot back up, collapsing on top of me to kiss my lips before he rolled off and flopped down next to me. Immediately, he curled into my front, resting his face against my chest while he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. He let out a soft little grunt, then a huff as he rubbed his face against my skin, the tip of his nose brushing against my sternum, as if he was already getting ready to fall asleep.

“Joshua,” I said softly. He knew what I was going to say, and it’s not like I wanted to get up either, but best practices were always needed.

“Just lie here for five minutes, love,” he replied, tightening his grasp around me including hooking his legs around my body. With how much muscle was wound in his, there was no way I could get out anyway. “That was amazing. Married sex is fucking fantastic.”

I chuckled and pet his hair, his shoulders. Almost fifteen ended up passing before I actually managed to get up. When I came back from the bathroom and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt, I saw Josh was actually fully asleep. I sat down on the bed next to him and just looked at him for a minute, stroking those long curls and the shaved side that was exposed with his profile, touching the gold hoop in his ear next, which made him stir just a little.

I managed to pull the covers back just enough to cover about half of Josh without rousing him from his sleep; then I was crawling underneath them myself, nestling my body flush with his, reveling in the glowing warmth of his heat as the night outside grew colder.

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Tagging:

@sparrowofrhiannon @starbuggie @lightsofthe-living-gvf @sanguinebats @gvfrry @clairesjointshurt @bizzielisteningtogreta @jjwasneverhere @gvfrry

If you’d like to be tagged in any of my fics, you can go here or DM me :)

#greta van fleet #josh kiska #gvf #josh gvf #jake kiszka #jake gvf #sam kiszka #sam gvf #danny wagner #danny gvf #gvf fanfiction #josh kiszka x reader #gvf fic #rfs

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fulcrumstardust · 4 months

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Moira!! Just saw the post from mid November about your wips and dealing with the pressure of finishing them, and just wanted to say, I hope you find a way to be gentle with yourself about it. Everything you’ve ever written is so precious and amazingly crafted, emotional and healing – let yourself experience at least a fraction of that in the creation process, please! I've been checking in for an update of Stardust Eyes methodically once a week since last chapter, but even if you post the next chapter three years from now, even if you never find the right way to finish it, it will still bring so so much GOOD emotions and joy (and yeah, angst - the good kind) on every reread - and there have been many. I might be extra emotional because I just finished rereading (seelonce) mayday yesterday, but my point is... Thank you for that beam of hope you bring with your writing - it means so much!

hey I'm responding ten years later but thank you so much for this! <333 I read this when you sent it and it made my heart very warm and fuzzy inside.

You know it's all a result of linking your value to what you produce and like, we live in a society etc etc. There is not a lot of space for art these days, of any sort, but even less for free art. If it doesn't support a financial goal or capitalism grind, it is lesser then. And I'm playing a hypocrite there because I do have professional goals in mind etc, so dealing with unfinished works is making me question my craft and abilities at all time. It also feels like I'm letting people down, and I'm sure a lot of writers feel like that. I guess we're all a bit neurotic about writing our silly little stories. anyway, I overshared there sorry. But I'm really grateful for your generous words, it means so so much to me. I can't tell you how many times I've felt discouraged about a story and reading back some of the comments people have left me is fueling the motivation again. And even if I have my suspicions, I wish you'd come out of anon so I could squish you into a proper hug! but in any case thank you, I hope you have a merry end of the year <3333

#anon #replies #you're really trying to make me cry istg ;_;

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winniethewife · 6 months

Text

Jewels made of stardust

(Poe Dameron x OC! Rhoswen Jewelace.)

Chapter 1: I miss you when we're mad

Words:1041

A/n: I really hope you all love it! I've been writing it for about 2 months so I'm really excited to start sharing it.

“Hey, Jewelace! What the hell was that? You can’t just disobey my orders like that.” Poe called out after her as the red haired woman struts away from the hanger, and him. Rhoswen stops and turns to him a look of exasperation on her face.

“Oh, I’m Sorry, I Just saved your ass out there! If we had followed your orders we would be dead and you know it. That was too close. I think a little thanks might be in order.” She puts her hand on her hip as she glares at him, her Emerald eyes blazing with fire.

“Thanks? You want me to thank you for that stunt you just pulled?” He’s yelling at her now

“Yeah! I didn’t realize you were stupid and blind. I may not have your title 'commander', but you're standing here because I made the right choice. That TIE fighter was going to kamikaze right into you and if I didn't shoot it down then we would all be star dust.” She stands her ground. Angrier than she's been at him before, and they’ve gone toe to toe on more than one occasion. They’re starting to draw attention. Poe knows he can’t get chewed out by the General for fighting with his captain…again.

“What do I have to do to get you to respect me out there?” he asks, his voice hushed, his tone soft, almost a whisper, but filled with menace.

“I don’t know, try earning it.” She growls at him with venom in her voice, before turning on her heel and storming off, heading for the refreshers as quickly as she can. Leaving a slightly stunned commander in her wake. As she slides past some other resistance fighters on her way in she doesn’t even bother to try to bring a smile to her face. Rhoswen pulls off her jumpsuit as quickly as she could, just wanting to get into the showers and on her way as quickly as possible, wanting to leave as little chance as possible for Poe to catch up to her. She took a quick peak in the mirror before turning on the shower, her emerald eyes meeting her own gaze, it was hard to tell what was dirt or freckles scattered across her porcelain skin. Her chin length red hair clung to her head with sweat and grime. She sighs and turns to finish getting undressed before hopping in the hot shower, hoping the hot water will help distract her from her fight with Poe Dameron.

Poe however stood stunned in the harder thinking over every that just Happened. He and Rhoswen had a very similar background. She was also the child of two Rebel heroes, she had lost her parents at a very young age and had been raised and adopted by the Organa-Solo family. She was about the same age as their Son Ben at the time and apparently Han had a soft spot for her. He had heard all the stories from General Leia Organa. Some stories He was sure Captain Jewelace probably prefer he didn't know.

As Poe finally came to his senses he looked around then decided to wander off to his quarters to get showered and changed before reporting to the General. He couldn't help but think, about her as he walks. They had almost been friends at one point, when he had joined the resistance she was only slightly younger than him, a skilled piolet herself. They had talked for a long time at the beginning, his life on Yavin 4, hers on Chandrila. Her red hair was long then and she always kept it back in a ponytail. She had a sassiness to her that he quite enjoyed. It seemed like they almost could have been close. But when he was appointed the leader of black squadron they went separate ways for a while, and by the time he saw her again with the determination to lead and fight against the First order, not to mention win the heart of the Red haired girl he was thinking about the whole time they’d been apart. But she had lost her Father. When Han Solo died Rhoswen was never the same, she kept everyone at a distance. No one got close. But that didn’t stop him from trying. That was until she was placed onto black squadron as his captain, his second in command. After that they fought all the time and were never friendly. As Poe sat on his bed he thought about the first time he saw her after he got back from destroying Starkiller Base.

~ Several months prior~

There was a lot of celebrating that night. Starkiller base was destroyed against all the odds. Poe was looking for her, Rhoswen. His red haired conquest. When he found her she was almost unrecognizable. Her signature pony tail cut off, her hair now just cut at the chin she, was at least a couple drinks in and she had been crying. Poe Sat next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey…I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone sad about a victory against the first order… you doing okay Red?” He called her by the nickname he had always called her back when they first met. She just looks at him with an empty glare. She shakes her head and gets up, grabbing a jacket off the back of her chair. He recognized it, Han Solo’s Jacket….

“Oh maker… Red! Wait!” He gets up and follows her out of the party.

“Leave me alone Dameron.” She says as tears start to return to her eyes.

“Rhoswen wait…I’m..I’m so sorry about your Dad….” He says as her grabs her hand. She lets him hold it, stopping in her tracks. She couldn’t look at him. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and die. Poe knew exactly what she was going though. His other hand going to the ring hanging around his neck. Losing your parent, without knowing that was going to be the last time you see them.

“Just…I just want to be alone Poe.” She says as she pulls her hand away.

“I….Alright.” Poe would live to regret letting her go that night.

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Tag: @femmeanonymelives

#star wars #poe dameron #poe dameron x oc #solo oc #oc #star wars fan fiction #star wars fanfiction #star wars sequel trilogy #Rhoswen Jewelace #Rhoswen #oscar isaac fic #Spotify #poevember

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thenightling · 11 months

Text

My favorite "perfectly reasonable" reactions to finding out Jaskier in the Netflix series version of The Witcher is now canonically bisexual

I am going to quote some of the responses to the revelation that Jaskier is bisexual and give a rebuttal to some of them.

____________________________________

The most common unhappy response: "He's only attracted to women in the books! He's straight in the books!" A possible rebuttal. = You can be a womanizer and flirt who sleeps around with a lot of women and still be bisexual. Just because it's all you've seen doesn't mean it's all there there is.

______________________________________ "Another change from the books. This was probably the last straw that made Henry Cavill leave!"

This one is particularly annoying because it requires making Henry Cavill a thinly-disguised-homophobe. No. Henry Cavill did NOT leave because Jaskier was revealed as biseuxal. Jaskier's ballad about Geralt mentioning his "stupid hair" and "what for do you yearn?" existed in season 2. And Jaskier talking about applying chamomile to Geralt's "lovely bottom" was in season 1.

There is no official statement anywhere stating that Henry Cavill left because of deviations from the source material. Yes, Henry Cavill IS a fan of the video games and novels but there's no official explanation as to why he left. In fact the rumor that he left because they strayed from the books all originate from gossipy Youtube videos with no more substance than old supermarket tabloids.

There are countless other plausible reasons for Henry Cavill leaving The Witcher such as: 1. He wasn't happy with his Netflix contract. Netflix contracts are very restrictive and strict. 2. He thought he could return to playing Superman, unaware of the shakeup at DC / Warner Brothers that wound oust him from the role. 3. Henry Cavill has obsessions that become all-consuming he became fixated on the Warhammer franchise. 4. Henry Cavill might have wanted more pay.

That's just four of the many reasons that could be behind his leaving The Witcher.

Seriously, the moment people start claiming that Henry Cavill left BECAUSE Jaskier is bisexual I have to point out a few things. 1. There were far bigger deviations from the books in Season 2, including the creation of a brand new villain. A change to the ending of the Beauty and The Beast-esque story and how Geralt reacts to the revelation about why his friend was cursed. The changing of a chracter's personality and having him die when he lived in the books. And also having Yennefer tempted to sacrifice Ciri. If you think these things are minor changes but he'd quit over Jaskier being bisexual... Well, that says a lot about you.

2. Henry Cavill was still in the show and involved in the show when they decided to confirm Jaskier is bisexual. Henry Cavill is IN this season that shows Jaskier with Radovid. This was filmed before he left. Before. 3. Jaskier's ballad about Geralt mentioning his "stupid hair" and "what for do you yearn?" existed in season 2. And Jaskier talking about applying chamomile to Geralt's "lovely bottom" was in season 1. 4. Henry Cavill was in the movie based on Neil Gaiman's Stardust novel. I suggest you google the character Captain Shakespeare, who does not exist in the novel Stardust. Just because YOU can't handle the idea of your favorite manly man having a non-straight best friend doesn't mean Henry Cavill agrees with you. Henry Cavill is not your magical shield for being a homophobe.

________________________________________ "Only Andrzej Sapkowski can make him bisexual. He's straight in the books." Yes, so we've been told many times. But Andrzej said he doesn't mind the change. You don't need to keep reminding us that Neflix was the first place to officially have Jaskier as bisexual. Your own insecurity is showing in that you have to remind us that the version you are obsessed with is straight. We're strictly discussing the canon of the Netflix show. _________________________________________________ "He's not Gay!!!! He's attracted to women!" Yes, he is attracted to women. And men. And possibly a pretty androgynous elf. The character was confirmed as bisexual, not gay. _____________________________________________

"Nice headcanon bro." Except it's not a headcanon. This was confirmed by Netflix, Joey Batey (Jaskier's actor), the showrunner, and show writer. You might like it but within the show version this IS canon. Jaskier and Radovid (now played by thirty-eight-year-old Hugh Skinner. It may never have been said in the books (We know! We know!) but it is a thing in Netflix.

We're strictly discussing the canon of the Netflix show.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1309204/the-witcher-joey-batey-confirms-jaskiers-romance-season-3/

___________________________

"They turned Jaskier into a ped0!" Rebuttal:

Oh, they did not! This is not the Radovid of the novels. He's not a teenage boy. He's a thirty-eight-year-old man. Yes, *Gasp* another deviation from the books. Speaking as someone who just had to adjust to Interview with The Vampire's Claudia being portrayed as fourteen-years-old and by a nineteen-year-old actress... Grow up.

___________________________ "When you try to be a smart ass but the show shuts your dumb ass up. Try harder, Twink." Rebuttal: Umm... first, I don't think you know what a Twink is. It's not just a new replacement for the f slur. Also the show didn't shut me up. It's the show that confirmed the character is biseuxal. _____________________________ "Why is it always short haired, over-weight, ugly, middle aged, women who want this? ALWAYS!" I have the short hair but otherwise I don't think that really fits." ____________________________________ "I casually scrolled through TEN YEARS of your profile pictures to see what kind of person I was dealing with." Umm... What? Because I posted about Netflix confirming Jaskier is bisexual in the show and it wasn't negative?! Okay... ______________________ "They didn't even try to follow the books. For starters his name is Dandelion! DANDELION!" I got this particular one twice and I responded with "Actually, in the original Polish his name is Jaskier, which directly translates to buttercup. Netflix is using his untranslated Polish name. The novels were originally written in Polish." And for some reason that earned the response of "Oh! You're OLD!" I didn't realize there was an age restriction on liking a character who is meant to be in his forties but okay... (I'm forty-one and unashamed). ___________________________________

"Why is it always the weakling who can't even fight that they make queer?" Rebuttal: Umm... That's not true. John Constantine, King Shark, Deadpool... None of those characters are straight and they kick ass.

Also Jaskier has a persona now of The Sandpiper where he helps the oppressed and outcast, and smuggles people to safety. When I compared him to The Scarlet Pimpernel this person got very offended because the Scarlet Pimpernel protected French nobles and all the French nobles deserved to die. I tried to remind him that in the novel the Scarlet Pimpernel rescued children. I haven't bothered to see their reply after that yet. I have a feeling I'm going to end up having to block someone.

________________________________ "I am tired of people saying Jaskier and Geralt are a couple and husbands!"

Rebuttal:

Umm... Sir, this is a Wendy's.

That particular comment was on a Facebook thread that had NO ONE saying any of those things. It was just a conversation about Jaskier and Radovid. ________________________________________ "Another character RUINED by Netflix." If you think a character is ruined because a depiction of him isn't straight, that's on you. _________________________________ "The whole point of Dandelion is he looks and acts gay but he's not!" I'm pretty sure that wasn't the point but okay...

________________________________ "They made Jaskier bi for the normies." Yet again I find myself thinking: "That word doesn't mean what you think it means." Long ago, before the MCU, nerdom wasn't trendy or fashionable. It was specifically the refuge for outcasts and outsiders.

Fast forward to 2023 when nerdom has been relatively mainstream for the last decade or so. And now we have fans of The Witcher angry that "normies" have made Jaskier bisexual in The Witcher Netflix series.

Okay but... Despite the presence of general more acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, being bisexual or, as Jaskier's actor cals it, sapiosexual (attraction to intellect before gender) is still not considered normal.

People who identify as LGBTQ+ are still on the fringes of society. The very outsiders that nerd culture embraced and protected.

I have news for you, angry fan boys who are upset that the bard has been confirmed bisexual... you ARE the normies. When you start gatekeeping outcasts and outsiders (minorities) and whine about things being "Woke" because they allow in women, black people, or get upset and have a tantrum when they reveal a character might not be entirely straight... that's not the behavior of someone on the fringe. That's not original nerdom. I'm forty-one. I was a teen in the 90s and early 2000s. I've seen genuine nerdom. I was and am a Goth. We welcome and embrace those on the fringe, we don't shut them out because we don't want to think of our masculine manly man being friends with a non-straight medieval version of Freddie Mercury.

#The Witcher #Witcher #Jaskier #Buttercup #Dandelion

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