#(the photos from this show actually have been better than usual which is nice but lmao calm down)

[nakanotamu]

#Naru #Erina Yamanaka #AWG #really feelin the dutch angles for this match huh guys #(the photos from this show actually have been better than usual which is nice but lmao calm down)

[targaryenluvs]

HARD TIMES / EVAN BUCKLEY

PAIRING: Evan Buckley x Fem!Reader

SUMMARY: Whilst waiting for his appointment, Evan abstains from sexual encounters. Which is a bit hard whilst simultaneously having a crush on the girl from the coffee shop.

WARNINGS: Fluff, sex mentions, teasing, makeouts & sexual depictions

WORDCOUNT: 2.5K Words

A/N: I’m actually in love with this idea 😂 May or may not have made Buck a whiner 👀 As per usual, @megalony for giving me the inspo to finish this off - check out her Buck fic!!

Gif not mine, credits to the owner!

He was cursed, indefinitely.

Getting rescheduled, running out of gas, random remodels galore. It seems as if someone was against him finally making his donation. But the waiting wasn’t the worst part, the no sex rule was major. Why on Earth had he stuck with it? Evan assumed it wouldn’t be too difficult, which it wasn’t.

Until he met you.

It was the fourth day of waiting and he’d changed his usual coffee place ever since they randomly only served skim milk. And he was happy to make the change, since his new place was actually three minutes closer as well as better. Ever since he saw you, he’d found himself ordering more than needed, adding a muffin or two, or ordering for the crew.

Anything that let him stare at you for a little while longer. You were always on time, every morning you showed up, ordered the same thing with the occasional additional treat. A smile on your face and always equipped with a kind compliment.

But Buck surprisingly couldn’t find it in himself to approach you. Whether he was too scared of embarrassing himself or he just liked staring. He found himself second guessing his actions at every turn. It wasn’t until you came in minus a smile that he worked up the courage to interact with you.

You were currently sitting outside, gazing at the oncoming traffic and people going about their day. The cup in your hands taking the brunt end of your restlessness as you tapped your fingers. The hand waving in your face brought you back, “Oh, I’m so sorry. Did you need something?” The man in front of you grinned, “Uh no, not really. I just- well you were…” He pointed out to the traffic before pointing at you again.

“Would you like to sit? Maybe it’d help you get your words together.” You joked as he laughed before pulling his respective chair, “Thanks, I’m Evan. But people call me Buck, whatever works for you.” You reached your hand out, “Y/n, nice to meet you Evan.”

Evan smiled before revealing the brown bag, “I uhm, well you looked like you were a bit down, so I ordered you a pastry. Thought it’d cheer you up.” Your regular pastry sat inside the bag, waiting for you to eat it, “Oh! You really didn’t have to, that’s so nice of you.” He waved his hand, brushing off your words, “It’s nothing really, just enjoy it.” You wanted to ask how he knew, but figured there was no point in it.

And the two of you talked for almost an hour afterwards, slowly getting to know each other better. The pair of you were quick friends to your surprise. And your relationship only grew afterwards, regularly catching up in the mornings over coffee. Which then turned to lunch together during his off day, and then dinner.

You knew it was quick, but you couldn’t help yourself, you really did like Evan. It was unbelievably easy to talk to him, he was such a warm person. And Evan sure as hell liked you. Every day he found it easier to get out of bed, overly eager to get to see your face and hear your voice. God, he could listen to you for hours.

He’d never really clicked so easily with someone, and he was grateful for it. It’d been a while since Taylor, it was refreshing to talk to someone and not just for a night. He found himself checking his phone every few minutes, hoping for a reply from you.

And everyone else noticed.

“What’s got you so happy Buckley?” Chimney asked from the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee. Hen glanced over to find Buck smiling down at his phone, “Nothing, just looking at photos.” Hen circled back to him, sitting down across from him as she surveyed his body language. You and Evan had been out last night at a movie, and you’d both posed in the cardboard cutouts.

The photo he was looking at had you as a bodybuilder and him in a dress he looked “absolutely stunning in”, according to you.

“It’s like your face is permanently smiling. Please tell me it’s not frozen.” She poked his cheek before he swatted it away, “Can I not just be happy?” Chimney shrugged before settling down next to Hen, “You can be happy, as long as you tell us what, or who, has you feeling this way.” Bobby came towards the trio, Eddie in tow, “Who’s feeling what?” Hen chuckled, “Seems we’ve got a smitten Buckley in the house. We’re trying to figure out who’s making him happy.”

Buck rolled his eyes before getting up, “It’s really not that big of a deal guys, cmon.” Bobby shook his head, “Yes it is, someone’s in love.” The group laughed as Evan shook his head, “Not you too, I thought you were sensible.” He shrugged his shoulders, “I am extremely sensible, and curious. What’s their name?”

“Her names Y/n, and that’s all you get to know for now. Damn vultures.”

“Don’t make me circle back for you Buckley!” Hen shouted out as Evan made his way down, what he didn’t expect was for you to be waiting for him. “Y/n?” You turned swiftly to meet his eye, “Hey Buck, you called me?” His eyebrows furrowed, “It must’ve been an accident, I’m sorry. But you didn’t have to come here.”

He was thoroughly impressed, did a phone call from him warrant a visit? Not that he was complaining. You looked even more gorgeous than usual, and you smelled—

“Yeah but we were supposed to meet for lunch, and you didn’t reply, I only got a call.” His eyes widened in realisation, he’d forgotten your date. Was it a date? Did you think it was a date? Is that why you were wearing a dress? You said you usually only wear them for special occasions or people. Was he a special person?

“I’m so so sorry, it must’ve slipped my mind. We just came back from a run. We can go now for sure.” Your smile spread as he spoke, “Is something funny? Please tell me I don’t have sauce on my face.” Your laughter filled the air, did you know that your eyes creased when you giggled? Your nose also scrunched, god you were cute.

His eyes trailed up to the balcony, where his entire team stood staring before straightening up, “Mhm, the top of the trucks are so pretty. Probably shiny too.” The random topics of conversation were more than enough to alert Evan to the eavesdropping taking place. “Guess you might as well meet those idiots.” You smiled, “Lead the way Firefighter Buckley.”

“Oh! You are brilliant!” Chimney exclaimed as the rest of the group laughed uncontrollably. Buck sat with his arms crossed, “It’s not even that funny!” You couldn’t help but pat his bicep, “Of course you don’t think it is!” You leaned into him as you giggled, practically pushing your chest into his arm.

Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look.

Evan’s eyes were staring right into Eddies soul, as Eddies laughter died down, “You okay?” He mouthed as the man across him from blinked rapidly before nodding. Eddies eyes trailed to you, and your low cut dress before returning to Buck. Oh, oh! Eddie smiled, “That’s a really lovely dress Y/n/n.” Evan’s eyes narrowed, wishing a few horrible accidents upon Eddie.

Murmurs of agreement broke out from everyone else, “It really is, what do you think Buck?” Evan’s lips drew into a tight line, “Oh, yeah. Definitely, they look good in it. I mean— you look amazing. Really good today. Not that you don’t usually, you always look so good. And smell! Not that I smell you, you smell. Good! You smell good.”

You couldn’t help but laugh as he stumbled his way through his monologue, “Good to know Buck, good to know.” You promptly turned to Bobby, “Yknow Evan never shuts up about your cooking, would I ever be so lucky to experience it for myself?”

Buck zoned out of the current conversation, replaying his epic fail in his head.The tightening of his pants had him shifting around uncomfortably, and Eddies grin aimed his way was getting to him.

He was going to kill Eddie.

Dinner that night was probably amongst one of the best dates he’d ever had. And he had asked you before you went out whether or not it was a date, repeatedly. But it was also a test of strength. You’d decided to wear a gorgeous dress, designed to test his patience.

And as if that wasn’t enough, he’d made the stupid mistake of inviting you back to his apartment.

Which, A) Gave the impression that something was going to happen.

B) Maybe made you think that he thought you were the type of girl to put out easily.

And Evan never wanted you to think that.

With a few glasses of wine, sweet music and amazing company you were bound to end up on his bed. Evan’s hands were soft yet controlling, lifting you up onto his lap to straddle him. “God you’re gorgeous.” He murmured into your neck as you giggled, “Is that so?” He smiled up at you as your arms locked around his neck, “Definitely.”

“Then we should settle in for the night, no?”

Evan wanted to curse his own mind for reminding him, maybe he could make the deposit another time, right? He knew it was wrong to think this way, but how could he stop himself from going all the way with you on top of him? “Dammit, I am so sorry. But I can’t.” Your swiftly lifted yourself off his lap, settling down next to him.

“Hey that’s fine, you’re not being forced into anything Buck.” Evan groaned as he leaned in to capture your lips again, “You are so annoyingly understanding. And I love that about you, it’s one of the many things I love. Including this gorgeous lace.” He joked as he traced the strap of your bra. “Oh hush, what’s going on?”

“Promise you won’t freak out?”

“Promise.” You smiled before grabbing his hands, with wide eyes filled with curiosity staring up at him, he couldn’t help but feel the pressure. “An old friend asked me to be a sperm donor, and before making my donation, I thought it best to uh…” You raised an eyebrow as Evan struggled to find the right words, “To keep my swimmers in the tank, if you catch my drift.”

“I catch your drift, or is it a flow?” Evan rolled his eyes as you raised yourself to kiss his cheek, “I fully understand, you don’t have to be sorry. I think what you’re doing is absolutely amazing Evan, helping to start a family? That’s really sweet of you, but it must’ve been a hard decision.”

And that’s what the loved about you. Your willingness to listen, to wait and understand what you were being told. Most girls Buck had been with had never really seen everything about him, nor understood him. With you felt truly seen, and heard. Never judged. And you were breathtakingly beautiful, which was a nice bonus.

“It was.” He watched as you grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head, “If i’m half naked, so are you. Now let’s sit and talk, when did you decide to help them out?”

For the rest of the night, the two of you simply laid in bed and cuddled, looking up at each other. Whilst you talked, Evan found his eyes trailing down your body. The two of you were in your underwear, and you your bra. With you practically ontop of him he found an intruder settling in.

“What is that?” You whined from underneath the covers, “Uh, maybe it’s my phone?” Evan rationalised as you stared at him, “Unless I stole someone’s phone and put it on charge, I don’t think it’s a phone.” Evan tried to stop you before you raised the covers, “Oh.”

“Well hello there.” The pillow was swept from underneath you as Evan buried his face in it, “Don’t,” Your laughter made his heart beat faster, and your hand which circled his crotch made him buck his hips upwards. “Oh god, please don’t.”

“Don’t… what?” Evan buried his head into your shoulder as you continued to tease him, it was the funniest thing you’d seen all day. And a helpless Buck was a fun one. “I like hearing you beg.” He slammed the pillow down onto his lap, “Y—you can’t say things like that!” His cheeks were turning red, whether it was embarrassment from his stutter or your hands, you liked it.

“Sure I can, just did. And you want to know something Evan?”

“Not really.”

“Indulge me,”

“Okay.” Evan gave in as you leaned into his ear, “I don’t sleep well with anything on.” You quickly kissed him before unclasping your bra, throwing your undergarments onto the floor and settling back in.

“Goodnight baby.” You smiled before turning off the lamp.

It was going to be a long night. Evan sat in the dark for about an hour before his situation calmed down, if he was sure of one thing? You were going to be the death of Evan Buckley.

It was donation day, finally.

Evan was practically bouncing off the walls after his shift, zooming down to the clinic before another mishap ruined his donation day. And luckily for him, he was given a cylinder and a few magazines before being sent on his way. His fingers drummed against the wheel of his jeep, he was having a good day.

The only thing better? His date with you tonight. What he hadn’t expected was to come home to candles, rose petals and his favourite girl happily sleeping in bed.

“Uhh, Y/n?” You sat up straight away in bed, “Evan! You’re back!” He walked up the stairs before setting his phone and keys down, “Whoa, you look…” You were wearing one of your favourite sets, and a new favourite of Evan’s, it didn’t exactly leave a lot to the imagination.

And he’d seen more than enough of you.

“Oh god, you look so good.”

“Well you’re extremely lucky, this is all for you. Almost five weeks, you did so well Evan.”

“I did well?”

“Yes you did, and you know what?” Evan shook his head rapidly, he was itching to touch you, “I cleared the day tomorrow for you and me, we can stay here as long as you’d like.” Evan felt weak in the knees, “Oh I love you. Now can I please throw you into bed?” You giggled before wrapping your arms around his neck.

“You can do whatever you’d like, Firefighter Buckley.”

“Oh, Firefighter Buckley?” Evan pushed you down to the bed before climbing over you, “Mhm.” His hands lifted your gown slowly, stroking the soft skin, “Now I really want to see you in my coat.”

“Oh? What, with your name on the back? All yours aren’t I?”

“That you are. You’re not gonna be walking for a few days.” Evan teased as he planted kisses along your neck, you raked your hands through his soft hair, “I’m definitely not complaining.”

Hard times have good outcomes, or something like that.

#911 fic #911 x reader #911 abc #911 imagine #911 fanfic #evan buckley x fem!reader #evan buckley x you #evan buckley imagine #evan buckley x reader #evan buckley #eddie diaz x fem!reader #eddie diaz x you

[mysterystarz]

black tie losers

geto suguru x f!reader

in which you’re at a charity gala and come to the realization that maybe being best friends with suguru is no longer an option

a/n: when i thought of this i ran to write bc geto in a suit

feedback is so appreciated <3

“stay still. if you keep moving, you’re going to look like a clown.”

geto sits in front of you on a stool, tie messily done up as he holds a lipliner pencil in his hands. he’s grinning at his work — because true to his words, you looked like a clown.

“suguru, you can’t line lips for shit.” you sigh, rummaging through your things to find some makeup remover. “remind me why i let you do this again?”

geto laughs, grinning at you in a way that was oddly wholesome. “because i wanted to help you get ready for tonight. there’s nothing better than taking credit for the date on my arm.”

date indeed—a platonic one.

you and geto were attending your university’s biggest charity gala tonight. as one of the most successful black tie events on campus, each attendee was required to look straight out of vogue magazine to ensure they raised enough money to make a difference.

geto—ever the gentleman—asked you to be his date. he wouldn’t get hounded by the customary droves of girls, and you’d have someone to match with.

of course, being your best friend, he decided to help you get ready.

he watched patiently as you dabbed the streak of lipliner away, smiling gently when you turned back to meet his eyes. he wordlessly moved forward to cup your cheeks, finishing up lining your cupids bow.

“there,” he said softly, “now some lipstick.” you gestured to the various tubes on your desk as you moved to dust some highlighter on your cheeks.

geto picked a particularly lovely shade and smoothly glided it across your lips. he seemed proud at his handiwork, beaming at you happily as soon as he finished.

“take a look,” he smirked, and you did just that. the mirror showed you someone beautiful.

somehow, stupid suguru had actually done a good job.

“nice job,” you mumbled, feeling oddly shy beneath his gaze. he cleaned up nice tonight—a bit too nice. so nice that you weren’t sure how to act around him when he attempted to tie his tie.

“you mean sensational job,” he laughed, flinging his tie around. “also please help. i can’t do this.”

you sighed as you moved closer to fix his tie. you could catch a whiff of his cologne — something fresh and oddly mouthwatering and it nearly made you screw up the final flip of the fabric.

suguru was acting a bit different, and it was driving you crazy. his presence was much closer than usual, and with every passing day, it seemed impossible to ignore the glaringly obvious fact that’d been looming over you for weeks.

geto suguru, your best friend, was an extremely attractive man.

you still weren’t sure how to handle this information. so far, it’d been unwarranted blushes and a whole lot of random butterflies where there shouldn’t be.

you supposed the gala would give you time to think—but you were wrong.

geto walked in through the ornately decorated doors with a smile, an arm threaded through his hair and the other wrapped around your waist. from this point, you could see all your fellow students interacting with the heads of various charities, and donations racking up by the second.

suguru stayed close, his touch firm and steady and searing and confusing in ways you couldn’t understand.

“would you like to explore a bit?” he whispered, his lips brushing your ear.

too flustered to speak, you wordlessly nodded as he dragged you to the photo booth at the edge of the venue.

“these are awesome,” he laughed, holding up a particularly unclassy mustache prop. you cringed, distancing yourself as much as you good within the tiny space to show your disapproval.

suguru pulled you closer again, his hands caressing your waist in a way that was more reverent than anything you’d ever felt. he was too close…it was too much.

he leaned close to you, gently pressing his forehead against yours.

“maybe i did too good of a job tonight,” he said lowly, tracing your lips with his finger.

“suguru,” you breathed out, “what is going on?”

he pulled away grinning. “you had a dusting of highlighter a bit too close to this one spot of your nose. i had to distract you so you wouldn’t stop me from touching your face.”

you groaned in frustration while suguru posed jubilantly for the camera.

the gala was beautiful. the pictures with suguru were super candid. neither of those were your major takeaways.

as you returned to your room for the night, you knew one thing for certain. suguru geto had become someone more than a best friend to you and there was nothing you could do about it.

unknown to you, suguru fell asleep that night dreaming of you, and all the ways he’d kiss you if he had the chance.

#nova scribbles #jjk x reader #jjk x you #jjk x y/n #jjk fluff #jjk drabbles #jjk headcanons #geto x reader #geto x you #geto x y/n #suguru geto x reader #suguru geto x you #suguru geto x y/n #geto fluff #geto headcanons #geto drabble #suguru geto fluff

[ikroah]

A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair or even just a bit bowed at the knees if she can show a faultless…personality! —“Personality,” Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers (1946)

It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin’ #26 - Ring-a-Ding-Ding V

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Read IKROAH on Archive of Our Own

Notes / Original Pencils / Transcript:

Notes:

ohhhhh my god why did i make this script so long my hand hurts this took forever aaaaagh

Welcome to the Lucky 38! This is a script that has remained basically the same for a long time but went through COUNTLESS extremely small rewrites over the course of production just to really nail Mr. House's dialogue. He's a long-winded guy, this whole issue is basically just him doing monologues, and I wanted to make sure it was all interesting and non-repetitive. I think I took out at least three uses of "merely" from the first draft.

One of the biggest production decisions of this issue was whether or not to cut the scene with Agnes and Cass and Victor, which immediately follows the end of the previous issue. The reason to include it was because it very necessarily established the change in location from the Vegas Strip to the Lucky 38 penthouse, which would have been jarring otherwise; the reason to exclude it was that it the issue was already extremely long and I thought opening right on Mr. House would have been more impactful. Ultimately, I did keep it, which was a good decision, but only because of the literally issue-saving idea to convey it as closed-circuit television footage instead of actual panels. Every single attempt at overlaying them with the lead-in to Mr. House was way too busy, but that idea really tied the page together like a nice rug.

And lastly, the framing device of the tarantula and the tarantula hawk was actually an extremely late addition to the comic. I had already finished the first three pages when I thought of it. My problem was that Mr. House's constant monologuing and Agnes' sad expressions got pretty repetitive. I needed something to break the action up while adding thematic heft and artistic variety. I've become a real enthusiast for wasps and tarantulas over the last couple months, so this one really was just a stroke of luck. It took only minimal revisions to make room for the framing device, with the most dramatic change being the complete replacement of the last page (which was originally just a splash page of the Lucky 38 in Vegas; bookending the first and last pages is so much better). So you see, the only reason for weaving a scene into this issue of a skittish desert-wanderer getting paralyzed and dragged toward a certain demise by a predator almost perfectly evolved to destroy it was just that I like bugs a lot. That's the only reason, yep.

Original Pencils:

Due to all of the photo-collage in the final version of the comic, there's a lot of panels and details that I (thankfully!) didn't have to draw myself. Sorry that the pencil isn't blue on the last three pages, I've been on the move for the holidays so they got scanned in grayscale by accident.

I did experiment with drawing the tarantula framing device myself, but ultimately went with the photo-collage method because the artistic juxtaposition actually made it much more readable when interspersed with the proceedings in the Lucky 38.

Transcript:

EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE OF NEW VEGAS. The city glitters in the distance, nestled between the shadows of mountains, with the spire of the LUCKY 38 towering above all else.

In the wilderness, a TARANTULA emerges from its burrow.

EXT. THE NEW VEGAS STRIP. On closed-circuit television monitors, a SECURITRON ROBOT approaches AGNES SANDS and ROSE OF SHARON CASSIDY, saying

VICTOR: Well howdy, partner! Fancy meetin' again here in Vegas!

CASS: What the fuck?

AGNES: Victor?

Unlike the usual police units, VICTOR's robotic "face" is that of a cowboy.

VICTOR: And heck, ya clean up nice! Sure lookin' a lot better now than when I rustled ya outta the bone orchard back in Goodsprings*--

CAP: *As was explained to Agnes way back in IKROAH #2. --Lou

VICTOR: --so how's about ol' Vic skips the rigamarole, huh? 'Fore all my yappin' makes ya want to go back, heh-heh-heh! I'm the welcome wagon, see. I'm to come and collect ya.

CASS: Agnes--

VICTOR: Boss wants t'see you, is what I'm sayin'.

AGNES: Boss?

VICTOR: Only of all of Vegas, friend!

CASS: Agnes.

MEANWHILE, the TARANTULA crawls beneath the starlight.

VICTOR: So why don't we mosey on over to the Lucky 38? And your good pal can come along, too!

CASS: I need to know what the fuck is going on, right now.

AGNES: I...I don't know.

VICTOR: And y'know, boss ain't ever let a soul inside before, least for not as long as I've been rollin' around on my spurs, so this ain't just an everyday social call, mind...

On the closed-circuit television monitors, VICTOR escorts AGNES and CASS to the entryway of the LUCKY 38.

VICTOR: ...but heck, I reckon ya'll oughta get along like franks on a fire! So come on! Lift's in the lobby here, and up to the top floor--and we can get the formalities out of the way before ya'll get [cut off]

INT. THE LUCKY 38 PENTHOUSE.

AGNES stands awestruck, looking upward, bathed in electronic green light. With horror, she ekes out a single question.

AGNES: ...what are you?

???: A "Hello" would have been preferable, but it'll take more than a crude faux pas to tarnish this moment. Who I am, Agnes--

What AGNES is looking at is a gigantic SUPERCOMPUTER and terminal, flanked by closed-circuit television monitors and guarded on both sides by SECURITRON police units. On the supercomputer's massive screen is the green-lit image of a face. The face

MR. HOUSE: --is ROBERT EDWIN HOUSE. The President, CEO, and sole proprietor of New Vegas--and more to the point, the intended recipient of a long delayed package.

AGNES: Oh, you...you mean the platinum chip?

MR. HOUSE: Correct. It's a...very precious artifact of the old world.

MR. HOUSE: My world, once.

In the back of the room, beyond AGNES, is an oil painting of MR. HOUSE, standing outside in front of what must have been a very large robot.

MR. HOUSE: In that world, I was the founder of RobCo Industries--a titan of innovation. We created a litany of robotic solutions for diverse markets, such as the Securitrons that you see here, and even a line of consumer-grade devices like the wrist-mounted Pip-Boy. But the platinum chip was, more than any other, my design. It was my vision.

MR. HOUSE: But it never left the factory in which it was originally made. Before it could even cool off from its assembly...we had the Great War. An international, thermonuclear bombardment of unimaginable power that annihilated the world in all of two hours.

MR. HOUSE: But not the entire world. Not Vegas. Not my Paradise. From my fortress of the Lucky 38, I saw to that. But as for the rest of the world, and my platinum chip--it took generations.

MR. HOUSE: First for the scarce remnants of humanity to crawl out from under their rocks, and for the world to at least resemble a functioning society again in which to do trade. And then for the work itself--of countless scavengers, treasure-seekers, and the like, all contracted to comb over the wreckage of Sunnyvale. It cost millions of caps, and later, New California dollars. And a not insignificant piece of my pre-war fortune as well. I, quite literally, moved mountains.

MR. HOUSE: I do not believe in providence, Agnes, but I do believe in destiny. How else to explain it? It was pristine when it was found. Neither the bombs nor the passage of time had so much as scuffed its sheen. But still...its value far transcended the mere market price of pure platinum.

MR. HOUSE: Amusingly, despite the discovery, I was still only as close to acquiring the chip as I had been originally in 2077. A final ordeal remained for me: how to ensure the safety of the platinum chip en route to its destination, from Sunnyvale to Vegas, without broadcasting its preciousness to thieves, armies, and raiders--or worse, to heavily armed fetishists for pre-war technology like the Brotherhood of Steel?

MR. HOUSE: Misdirection. Through a network of anonymous liaisons, I contracted the Mojave Express for a batch of deliveries, all superficially similar knick-knacks, to various intermediaries of myself. All but one of the orders were totally worthless decoys. But your identity as the carrier of the one genuine item was somehow compromised, leading to you getting attacked, and to the second disappearance of the chip.

MR. HOUSE: But look around you. Look where you are. You've made it, haven't you?

AGNES, still staring up at the visage of MR. HOUSE on-screen, doesn't respond. She frowns, nervous. The SECURITRONS guarding MR. HOUSE observe her stoically.

MR. HOUSE: Let me clarify: I had nothing to do with Benny's ambush. Heavens no! It goes completely against my interests. It would have been a perfectly quotidian day's work for you if not for his, and I stress, unexpected involvement. The platinum chip...belies its significance. For Benny to have not only discovered its delivery route but possibly enough of that significance to motivate such an act, this constituted a very troubling breach of my security. And I had been looking into it...but in a way, the issue seems to have resolved itself. Hm?

MR. HOUSE: A wild card. Now removed from the deck.

AGNES' gaze sinks to the floor.

MEANWHILE, a small shadow blots out the starlight in the desert outside of Vegas. It flies over the exploring TARANTULA.

AGNES looks back up at MR. HOUSE.

AGNES: I killed him.

HOUSE: So you did. I only wish that we could have spoken before you went rogue on my former protégé: if this story breaks, I can grant you amnesty, but not without controversy. And your infamy as an assassin could make our further arrangements quite difficult.

AGNES: Um...I didn't think there would be more to it than delivering the--

MR. HOUSE: Oh! Of course, of course! My apologies. Two hundred years of anticipation and yet I'm still getting ahead of myself. Well--would you mind? I've been waiting a long time for my mail.

The SECURITRON closest to AGNES wheels forward with its claw outstretched. AGNES reaches her fingers into a pocket beneath the belt of her dress to produce it: the PLATINUM CHIP. She holds it in her hand for a brief moment.

MEANWHILE, the shadow descends; the TARANTULA HAWK engages the TARANTULA.

AGNES relinquishes the PLATINUM CHIP to the SECURITRON.

MR. HOUSE: Thank you--it's a relief to pay for this chip for the final time.

The SECURITRON inserts the PLATINUM CHIP into a slot in MR. HOUSE'S supercomputer, feeding it into the drive with a CLIK.

MEANWHILE, the TARANTULA is fighting the TARANTULA HAWK.

From behind AGNES, another SECURITRON presents her with a stack of NEW CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC DOLLARS, which she gingerly takes in her hand and looks over.

MR. HOUSE: And I trust that you're satisfied with the agreed-upon compensation from the delivery contract, yes?

AGNES: Yeah, it's...it's fine...I'll be going now. Thanks.

MR. HOUSE: Oh? But you've only just arrived. I insist that you make yourself at home.

SFX: KZZSZZZTTT

The faces on the screens of the SECURITRONS in MR. HOUSE'S penthouse suddenly change from policemen to soldiers. AGNES recoils and tries to step away.

AGNES: H-hey, uh--

MEANWHILE, the TARANTULA HAWK pierces the underbelly of the TARANTULA with its stinger.

SECURITRONS surround AGNES.

MR. HOUSE: You are the first guest ever through the doors of the Lucky 38, you know. Nobody has so much as checked a coat inside since the war, so this meeting confers you a significant level of privilege...and inevitable celebrity. The people of Vegas have always gossiped, after all. Many have even clawed at the door desperately with dreams of being where you now stand. Surely you can comprehend how this compulsion to leave after such a deliberate and remarkable invitation risks considerable insult--to both myself and my citizenry? And very deliberate this invitation was. Don't you realize: if handing off my package was all for which you were needed, why wouldn't I have just had Victor relieve you of the chip outside? No, no, you see, as necessary as its acquisition was, the chip is ultimately just a key, for unlocking a new frontier...of possibilities.

MR. HOUSE: Possibilities for prosperity, peace, and technological advancement that haven't been seen in two hundred years. Possibilities greater than anything the New California Republic or Caesar's Legion could dream of, let alone achieve, by playing pretend in the clothes of their forebearers and convincing everyone else that it's statecraft. Possibilities--which if they key is turned by human hands--become certainties.

AGNES (a whisper): Are you not human?

MR. HOUSE: Don't let the video screens and computer terminals fool you: I am a living human. No less so than you. I just live with a particular set of, well...handicaps.

AGNES: You said you'd waited hundreds of years to--

MR. HOUSE: One could argue that the world has been waiting hundreds of years for this moment. Waiting for me. For the chip. For the long-dormant doors of the Lucky 38 to finally open, to a single and specially ordained individual: you, Agnes. And there are tremendous things waiting for us, waiting for us to accomplish them, together. I certainly couldn't do them with Benny. What do you say?

MEANWHILE, the TARANTULA has become completely paralyzed by the TARANTULA HAWK'S venom. The TARANTULA HAWK seizes its prey.

AGNES: ...no.

MR. HOUSE: I'm sorry--"No?"

AGNES: Yes--I mean, no. No! I don't want to help you! I...

Tears well in AGNES' eye.

AGNES: ...I just want to go back home.

MR. HOUSE: ...I see. Hmm.

MR. HOUSE: How do I put this in a way you'll understand?

MR. HOUSE: The die is cast.

AGNES, crying, looks up at MR. HOUSE again. Fear bulges on her face.

MR. HOUSE: Throughout the long delivery of this chip, several precise plans and fortuitous coincidences have aligned in just such a way as to make you, you specifically at this exact juncture, an irreplaceable asset in the ongoing endeavor of this wounded world's recovery from otherwise hopeless ruin.

MR. HOUSE: Your cooperation going forward is not merely crucial to this endeavor's success, but it's utterly non-negotiable. Should you entertain the moral issue of what's at stake, it's obligatory, even. It's why your refusal comes as such a...genuine surprise. Can't you see?

MR. HOUSE: I'm not a fascist, Agnes--I would never force you. But given the circumstances, I'm entitled, wouldn't you agree, to at least a brief demonstration of my vision? The vision that the platinum chip promises? Victor has surely seen your companion to the presidential suite by now--my other Securitrons can escort you to the basement, where I'm sure you can make a...properly informed decision.

The SECURITRONS close in on AGNES, who screams in protest.

AGNES: No! I said no! I already delivered your chip, I--I killed Benny! I-- I-- ...what do you want with me!?

MR. HOUSE: Haven't you been listening? I want what's best for you--for us. I know it's a lot, but bear with me for one moment longer, and I can assure you--that this is the beginning of something very incredible.

MEANWHILE, the TARANTULA HAWK has dragged the paralyzed TARANTULA back to the entrance of its own burrow.

The TARANTULA HAWK shoves its helpless prey into the hole, and then crawls in after it.

The TARANTULA is not seen again.

#fallout #fallout new vegas #fnv #courier six #rose of sharon cassidy #victor #mr. house #agnes sands #ikroah archive #volume 02 #26

[magicfootballstuff]

Strictly Unprofessional - part 6 (alexia putellas x reader)

Summary: You’ve just landed your dream job as a photographer at FC Barcelona Femení. The only problem? You hooked up with the captain five years ago and haven’t seen her since.

Part 6/9

———

Though you’ve only been at Barcelona a few months, you’ve come to realise that Alexia wins a lot of trophies. 

Every so often you’re tasked with taking photos of Alexia with her newest award for social media and that’s your job this afternoon. She’s changed out of her usual sports kit into a dark suit which she wears over a white tank top, and it’s a nice enough day that you’ve decided to take the pictures outside in front of the Barcelona crest on the wall by the main entrance to the training centre.

“I hate photoshoots,” Alexia confides in you, as you position her so that the crest is visible behind her.

“Really?” you ask, stepping back behind your tripod to check the framing of the shot on the camera display. “I’d have thought they’d be second nature by now. Just move slightly to your left please.”

Alexia shuffles across until you give her a thumbs up.

“I guess it’s like you say about doing shoots like this compared to taking pictures of us in training,” Alexia explains. “It’s much less natural. And I have to be the Alexia the world wants me to be, not the Alexia I actually am.”

You take a couple of test shots to check the lighting, before you ask, “And what would the actual Alexia do after winning an award?”

“I don’t know,” Alexia answers with a shrug. “Chill at home in my pyjamas with my dog?”

An idea pops into your head and you step out from behind the tripod to ask, “Do you trust me?”

Alexia frowns at you, curiosity in her eyes.

“Why?”

“Let’s do this shoot because it’s my job and we have to, but why don’t we do another one later?”

“I’ve just told you I hate photoshoots and your answer is to do another one?” Alexia says, arching an amused eyebrow.

“You can say no, but why not let me take some pictures of you at home with your dog and your pyjamas and anything else you like. Give me a chance to show the real Alexia.”

Alexia considers the suggestion but you can see that she’s still doubtful. You instantly kick yourself - she’s already made it clear she doesn’t like being photographed and you’ve probably just made her incredibly uncomfortable.

“Never mind, it was just a dumb idea…”

“I trust you,” Alexia interrupts you. “Let’s do it. Are you free tonight? I can order takeaway.”

“That sounds great.”

———

True to her word, when you arrive at Alexia’s apartment she greets you at the door with a takeaway menu for a local Thai restaurant and your camera bag is quickly dropped by the door and forgotten as you order dinner.

When the food arrives, you settle on Alexia’s couch and watch an episode of a new reality show you’ve heard some of the girls talking about. You haven’t seen it before but half an episode in you quickly realise why it’s popular - it’s just bad enough to be addictive. What makes it better is Alexia’s commentary, chiming in every so often with a joke or a scathing judgement. At one point, she sends you into a fit of giggles so hard that you choke on a noodle, and Alexia has to pause the show just to check that you’re okay.

As the credits roll at the end of the episode, Alexia starts to clear away the plates and you retrieve your camera bag. You’ve brought your smaller camera and none of the fancy equipment, wanting to stay true to your word about making this authentic rather than staged.

“Oh, so you wait until after I’ve got a stomach full of food to take pictures?” Alexia asks, returning to the room and eyeing up your camera as she sits back down on the couch.

“I thought this was about capturing the real Alexia,” you remind her. “Food baby and all.”

“Ugh, fine,” Alexia groans. She leans down to pick up Nala, before cooing at the dog, “You’ll just have to sit in Mami’s lap to hide her belly, won’t you Nala?”

You click the shutter of your camera a few times in quick succession, capturing a few photos of Alexia showering Nala with kisses and scratches. Alexia looks up at you, mouth pressed together in disapproval, and Nala uses the distraction as an excuse to leap off Alexia’s lap. You can’t help but take the opportunity to get a picture of Alexia glowering at you too, because her pout is just too cute.

“A little warning next time?” Alexia asks.

“Just pretend I’m not here. Act naturally.”

“Do you know how hard it is to try to act natural when somebody tells you to act natural?” Alexia speaks up. “Like which way do I normally cross my legs? Do I normally cross my legs at all?”

To emphasise her point, Alexia crosses and uncrosses her legs a few times each way, before she slumps back against the couch and props her feet up on the coffee table next to the empty takeaway containers. You snap a quick picture, then a few more when Nala jumps up onto the sofa again and nestles against Alexia’s thigh.

“Anyway, I have something special for this,” you tell Alexia, reaching into your camera bag and pulling out another camera, this one from your own personal collection that you would never take with you to work.

“Is that a Polaroid camera?” Alexia asks, her eyes lighting up. “I used to have one of those when I was younger. Then my sister took it and broke it and my parents refused to get me a new one.”

“Watch the TV again,” you direct Alexia.

“You know, this is the most staged unstaged photoshoot ever,” Alexia jokes, though she does as instructed and turns her attention back to the television.

“Are you this mouthy with other photographers too?” 

“No,” Alexia says, glancing up at you with a smile just starting to creep onto her face. “Only you get this honour.”

With the Polaroid camera in your hands, you point it at Alexia and get a quick photo of her mid-smirk.

“Hey, I wasn’t ready!” she protests, as the camera spits out the undeveloped picture.

“Exactly, that’s the whole point.”

You round the coffee table and sit down beside Alexia on the couch on the side not occupied by Nala as you wait for the photo to develop. The picture slowly appears, of Alexia caught slightly off-guard in a half smile, her gaze fixed at something behind the camera. She’s looking at you, you realise, and you stare at the photo in awe as it finishes coming into focus. It’s like you’re holding a tiny piece of your friendship in your hands, the picture capturing that bond between you more than it captures Alexia herself.

Alexia must see that too, because she asks, “Do I always look at you like that?”

“Like what?”

The silence between you is tense. It feels like the air in the room could ignite, though whether it’ll be a fire of passion or a flaming inferno of destruction is still yet to be decided.

“Never mind,” Alexia says, shutting down the conversation but leaving your curiosity piqued. “It’s my turn.” 

Alexia reaches for the camera, but you hold it out of her reach.

“I don’t think so.”

“Come on,” Alexia pleads, leaning across your lap and plucking the camera from your outstretched hand. “You had to know I’d ask at some point. I’m your apprentice after all.”

“I only have limited film for this camera,” you try to make excuses. “We can’t waste it.”

“Then a selfie,” Alexia says, flipping the camera around so that the lens points at you both. “So we’re both in it.”

“I don’t know…”

“Come on, a selfie is the opposite of a photoshoot,” she pleads with you, lifting the camera and stretching out her arm.

You turn your head to look at her, and whine, “Alexia…”

You hear the click of the camera and know she’s probably caught you at your worst, payback for all the photos you’ve taken of her over the last few months. Satisfied with her actions, Alexia lets you take back your camera but keeps the newest photo as it develops, maybe scared you’re going to rip up her latest attempt at photography if you don’t like the result.

The image finally comes into focus and you look at it as she holds it.

It’s raw in a similar kind of way to the one you took of her. The angle of the selfie and the lack of a front facing camera to aid means that only three quarters of Alexia’s face is in view, but while she’s smiling at the camera, the image of you is a side profile because you’re looking at Alexia with a look of what can only be described as adoration in your eyes.

You suddenly realise what the question she asked earlier meant.

“Do I always look at you like that?”

“Like what?” Alexia parrots your earlier question back to you.

Feeling bolder than perhaps she was, you respond breathlessly, “Like I want to kiss you.”

You hear Alexia’s breath catch in her throat, before she answers, “Sometimes. Do you?”

“Do I what?” 

Though you’re almost certain you know what she’s asking, you need to hear her say it.

“Do you want to kiss me?”

“Sometimes,” you answer just as elusively as she did.

“How about now?”

You really do. Alexia is right there, it would be so easy to lean across and close the gap. And here, alone in Alexia’s apartment with only Nala as your witness, is the most privacy you’ve had since you found yourselves in a hotel room in Ibiza five years ago.

But something is nagging you at the back of your mind, telling you that this isn’t a good idea. Your thoughts are clouded by Alexia’s proximity and you need a clear mind to decide if you’re willing to put it all at risk for a chance at happiness.

“Alexia,” you start. “I…”

I like you, is what you should say. I want to kiss you. I want to be with you.

But what you actually end up saying is, “I should go home.”

“Fuck,” Alexia says, panic in her eyes. “I’ve made you uncomfortable. Forget I said anything.”

“No, it’s fine!” you’re quick to say. “I’ve just … got a lot to do tomorrow. I should get back home.”

You get to your feet and start to collect your photography equipment, busying yourself with that to avoid having to look Alexia in the eye. You don’t know what you might do, what mistakes you might make, if you allow yourself even a second to look at her.

“Did I do something wrong?” Alexia asks. “Did I take it too far?”

“No,” you try to tell Alexia. “You did nothing wrong. It’s all on me. My head’s a mess. I promise it’s not your fault.”

“You really don’t have to go,” Alexia says. “We can watch another episode. I promise I won’t do anything, or say anything, to make it weird.”

The problem is that it’s not Alexia that you don’t trust not to make it weird.

Do you want to kiss me?

Alexia’s words echo in your ears and your brain is screaming that yes, you do want to kiss her. And you’re not a hundred percent certain, but you get the feeling that Alexia probably wouldn’t push you off her if you did.

What if you said fuck it to your inhibitions and let yourself indulge? Would it really be so bad after all?

The temptation to make a mistake you might never come back from is too great if you stay. 

As you stand by Alexia’s front door, camera bag slung over your shoulder, you have no idea how to say goodbye. But the hesitation gives you time to think, time to let your eyes drop to Alexia’s mouth and wonder again about kissing her.

What if…?

No. You can’t.

To stop yourself from at least attempting to kiss Alexia, you step into her personal space and give her a quick one-armed hug, too long to be fleeting but not long enough to actually mean anything.

“I’ll see you tomorrow? At Camp Nou?”

Alexia nods, her expression impossible to read. 

“See you tomorrow,” she replies.

You can’t get out of Alexia’s apartment fast enough.

#woso x reader #woso imagine #alexia putellas imagine #alexia putellas x reader #strictly unprofessional

[slutforsnow]

His Sunflower

Chapter 5 🕺

We boutta fly through these next few chapters to get to my lore idea so I never forget it 🫡

As the week of midterms went antagonizingly slow, Festus and Sunni were arguing, which pleased Coryo and Sej, but they didn't show it when Sunni told them about their most recent fight in the art room.

"What? Fes, why would I abandon Sej and Cori?" Sunni asked as her boyfriend watched her sketch out her next painting. She was sitting by the window, getting a headstart on the painting for class. Her teacher had wanted the class to paint the people, things, or places that made each person happy. Sunni, being the overachiever that she is, had to work twice as hard because of what she had planned.

"Because, my darling, they don't understand the love we have for each other. They hate us for it. Did you forget how Sejanus reacted when you told him the news?" Festus drawled, not really wanting to be here. The art room smelled awful to him; all the oils and paints? Not for him, but he dealt with it that way she didn't think he didn't love her. Well, he didn't, but Sunni couldn't find that out. Not yet.

"They don't hate us, it just came as a shock cause we've only known each other for about 3 months," She replied, setting her pencil down to look up a photo she had taken of her center piece.

"And how do you know what? Did Sejanus tell you that?" Festus snapped, a frown appearing on his face.

"Yeah, actually," Sunni sassed back, glaring at her boyfriend. "Say Sejanus' name like that again and see what happens."

The pissed off look was surprising to Festus; all he had seen Sunni do was smile, laugh, beam, and grin. He had to tread lightly when talking about her cousin because if he wasn't careful, she'd pick up on his true nature.

"Right, sorry, love," He said gentler, earning a bright smile of approval on her face before turning back to her work.

"I don't forgive you just yet, Fes, you'll have to earn your forgiveness."

Coryo had grabbed his shovel, as the three of them were in his family's apartment when she told them, but she told him no and bapped him on his head like he was cat.

It was like a factory reset for him; he hadn't been touched like that since he was a kid, so it had worked, and he sat back down, putting his shovel back in his closet, mumbling a quiet fine.

"Has he been working on improving?" Sejanus questioned from the floor, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah!! He's not a total ass like you guys say," She replied, beaming. "Yeah, he has his moments, but he's super sweet!"

'I could be better for you, Sunni. Better than that lowlife player and cheater,' Coryo thought, pulling his white hood up to rest on his head before glancing at his notebook that was squeezed into his mattress. How Sunni hadn't seen it yet, he had no idea, but was he grateful she hadn't? Yes. Yes, he was.

"Sun, it could be a front; he could still be a bad guy," Sejanus warned.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but he's changed! I know it!"

Then the party came. The boys plan to have a sideshow exposing Festus to the entire senior class during the party was ready, with photos (comprising of from texts to photos of Festus on dates with different girls) from sophomore year as proof, was ready and on a USB drive.

They were dressed in casual-ish clothing. Sejanus was wearing black jeans and a baggy band t-shirt. He didn't feel like dressing all nice like people usually expected him to do so—he also wanted to blend in as most of their class loved wearing band shirts on no-uniform days and since this was Clemensia's party, there would be no-doubt that a lot of people would be wearing band t-shirts.

Coryo, on the other hand, was wearing blue jeans, which had rips up and down them but he didn't really care; they were styled that way so people wouldn't pick up on his financial situation and he looked good in them too. He wore a large short sleeve plain white shirt and an oversized dark red hoodie over it with a gold chain he borrowed from Sejanus around his neck. He liked his simplicity. Not too "poor-looking" and not too fancy either. It was a perfect mix of what he needed to show and comfort.

The boys were waiting for Sunni by the door of the estate, and when they saw her, Coryo's jaw hit the Titanic.

Sunni had curled her hair a little, just to make it bouncy, and was wearing a white dress where the sleeves rested on the arms instead of the shoulders. It came down to the middle of her calves. She was wearing gold-coloured heels, which were the kind you had to tie on you, so you didn't fall out of the shoes. The only accessory she had was a silver necklace that had a jeweled sunflower.

She looked stunning. She was way too good for Festus. She was a goddess. Someone to be worshipped. Not be manipulated by Festus.

Coryo tried to speak as Sejanus answered the door.

"Festus!!" Sunni exclaimed, seeing him at the door. She giggled and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck, kissing his cheek, as Festus embraced her body.

"Hi, baby," Festus greeted, smiling and sending a triumphant smirk to Sejanus and Coryo as the two glared at him.

Tags: @etfrin @hearts4court @snows-wife @delusionalbunni @kiraflowersworld @victory-scream0462 @curled-hair-red-lips @morallygrayboys @phoward89 @xoxo-eyeballs @thereeallink @graciouslyc @acidaciruela @wanda-maximoff-enthusiast @firstworldproblemthings @nowitsmissing

#coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus smut #coryo snow #coryo smut #coriolanus snow x reader #coryo #coryo x sunni #coryo x reader #coryo x reader smut #coryo x oc #coryo x you #coryolanus snow #coriolanus snow fanfiction #coriolanus imagine #coriolanus fanfiction #coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus x you #coriolanus x sunni plinth #corio x oc #corio x reader #the ballad of songbirds and snakes smut #the ballad of songbirds and snakes fanfiction #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #tbosas x reader #tbosas memes #thg tbosas #tbsosas #tbosbas #tbosas

[snek-panini]

It's Friday the 13th! Here, have a book completely unrelated to that:

It looks fairly straightforward from here, but this is a bind of @dietraumerei's wonderful Good Omens series, The Sprawl of Life. It's a canon universe, pre-season-2 South Downs Cottage fic, and I typeset it when I did because I'd just watched season 2 and wanted the fluffiest, sweetest, most slice-of-life thing I could think of and this was it. Seriously, if you have been personally victimized by the season 2 finale this might be the antidote you're looking for. Though admittedly some of the lines do hit a lot more bittersweetly now than they did when I first read it in 2019.

More pics under the cut! This one's got an unusual format, go have a look!

It's a dos-a-dos! My first one! Before I started making books I'd never even heard of this format, but I've been wanting to try it ever since I found it. It's hard to find stories that suit the format, though--they've got to be within a certain word count, about the same length, and related to one another, and they have to be a pair, not a three or four part story. They look super complicated without (I've found, anyway) actually being that hard to make. If you want to impress a non-bookbinder make one of these to show them; all my family were fascinated by it.

For materials, the floral cover is scapbook paper from Joann's (the fancy stuff that's very flexible and feels handmade) and the spine is Allure book cloth from Hollander's in the wisteria color. It's a perfect match for the lavender in the paper. I've only previously used the Lineco/Books By Hand book cloth and gotten good results, but my experience with that brand in general was that it's a cheap, readily available base for starting out, but there are wider and better quality options out there once you get away from chain craft stores. Working with this cloth was proof of that. It's stiffer than the Lineco stuff, which made it a little harder to glue down but not enough to cause problems, and it took HTV better than any other surface I've used it on. Here, check out the spines:

Images of the spines. In case the photos are a little blurry, that's Demolishing Proofs We Never Believed In on the left and The World and its Beautiful Particle Logic on the right. The titles gave me some worries. I didn't want to obscure more of the florals by putting them on the front, but was worried they wouldn't fit on the spines since they're so long. I got them on, but it took a lot of careful measurements. Still, though, I couldn't be more pleased by them, and I barely had any of my usual trouble getting the HTV to stick.

Handmade end bands on both sides, in colors matched to the cover paper. I was a little worried about making my own for this project since the text blocks are only about 100 pages each. I was worried they'd be too short. But they're not, and I got a really nice front bead on them. I wanted to do three colors but that proved too challenging for my current skill level. Maybe next time. The second image is the endpaper. Specifically it's the back endpaper, so you can see how the second spine fits into the case. When you read a dos-a-dos, you read the first part, then flip it over like you're going to read the back blurb and there's the second part ready to go. I only explain this because, having never made one, I thought you flipped it over top-to-bottom until I did the case fitting for this one. The top-to-bottom one it called a tete-beche and I think does not have the shared cover board in the center; the pages are connected upside-down. (This is all from my limited research; pro bookbinders please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Couple of interior images. All the graphics came from rawpixel and they are the same in both halves. I kept the typeset really simple on this one, without any extra graphics. Partly that was to keep the page count down (images can take up extra space) and partly it's a reflection of the text. It's a happily ever after story, mostly. Their lives are so much easier here than in canon, and the focus is on communicating without barriers or frills and on building their relationship without other things getting in the way. So it's got a fancy title page, because it matches the cover, but the rest is straightforward with just some simple swirls around the chapter numbers.

I couldn't be more pleased with how this turned out. I was worried it would be very complicated since it's a new-to-me build, but I was exaggerating the difficulty and that made for an easy bind. I hope the author likes it too.

#bookbinding #fanbinding #snek makes books #good omens #fic rec #dos-a-dos #did i forget to tag something? #it feels like i forgot to tag something #oh well

[mastersoftheair]

"Masters of the Air detail- Part 4-The Lemmons magneto scene E4.

"Apple released one scene with Master Sgt. Lemmons, the Crew Chief, and the rest appeared recently in E4.

"He had an engine problem that they were troubleshooting just before the engine start for the mission. Lemmons actually rode in the gear well of number 3 fixing the engine, as the Fortress taxied out on three engines.

"Cary, the director for the first four episodes, was asking about what Lemmons could be fixing and wanted to know if various things were plausible. One was changing a carburetor, uh, no. It’s not only a massive job but doesn’t fit with Lemmons riding in the gear well. I suggested working on a magneto, as just about the only things that you can get to, through the access panel in the firewall on a B-17, are the magnetos and the starter.

"Okay he said, can we change the magneto? Uh, no, not within the confines of this scene and taxiing out to takeoff. How about setting the magneto points as it would fit the timeline, look good and would be plausible. He said to set it up. Okay, off we go.

"Edit- I did not have access to Lemmons book or John Orloff’s notes at the time this scene was being discussed. Soon after Jessica was kind enough to give me a copy of Lemmons book and it said that he indeed did adjust the magneto points from inside of the gear well.

"I talked to Stewart Heath from BGI. A guy who can, and did, make miracles happen. We talked about the magneto, and I showed him what it and the B-17 accessory section looked like through the firewall opening. He was also going to build a B-17 engine nacelle for this scene!

"I said that almost any radial engine magneto would work and that I could source one if he needed. He said go so I contacted Carl Scholl at Aerotrader in California and asked if he had a mag for a Curtis Wright R1820. Of course he did! And he shipped it off to us in the UK. Thanks Carl.

"Stewart made the nacelle and a box housing the real mag, a dummy mag and starter. It was painted black and looked pretty good on camera.

"Raff Law is the actor who portrayed Sgt. Lemmons. He and I sat down with the ‘accessory box’ and I taught him how to look like he was setting up and adjusting the points on a magneto.

"I pictured the original WWII radial engine feeler gauge tool, with the bent ends, in my toolbox back home and hoped that Props Department may have something close. They supplied some nice period tools and Raff learned what he needed to do on the table at our “office”. Next was time for him to practice in the nacelle that Stewart and BGI built.

"During the building of the nacelle the oil tank was a topic of discussion. I gave them some photos, especially of the stenciling which could be visible and they, as usual, did a wonderful job.

"The nacelle was set up for the scene and the video walls were set up underneath the nacelle. Incidentally the wheels and tires used on MOTA were actual un-airworthy B-17 wheels and tires from the Collings Foundation. Some of you Collings pilots might recognize the flat spots on the tires!! It is cool to see some actual B-17 parts that flew a lot and made it into the series. We will not talk about the tread pattern though will we…

"Several camera angles set up in and around the nacelle and really looked good and helped to convey just how difficult it must have been for Sgt. Lemmons to accomplish what he did. Amazing for sure. I only hope that the Lemmons family is happy with the result.

"So much was put into making this and every scene as rich and authentic as possible that it is a shame that so many of these details didn’t make the final cut. But that’s the way this business is, it’s better to have too much and cut things out than to have too little and the need for more. MOTA was way up on the quality and detail and doing it with all of this specialized aircraft equipment is many times more difficult to do than most other subjects. Well done folks! So many people behind the scenes going above and beyond to make this special [...]"

#better too much than too little. i'm Always saying this btw #masters of the air #hbo war #behind the scenes #history #(given the amount of detail about lemmons in this) #long post #raff law #ken lemmons

[gunilslaugh]

Hiii, first time asker hehe

I was wondering if you could do Seungmin when he likes someone a few years older than him.

I feel like he would have more audacity and he more cheeky than usual.

Like she tells him she’s not interested in younger guys and he’s like “a challenge how fun” kind of vibe? Idk if this makes sense haha

Thank you for your content🥰

Hello, welcome first time asker lol. I hope you like your request!

Oh Seungmin

Summary: You weren’t interested in younger guys, however Seungmin was determined to prove himself to be an exception. (non-idol au) (office au)

WC:~1.7k

Warning:none

photo not mine credits to owner.

Your office had just received a new hire and of course your boss had to assign you as the one to train them. It’s not like you hate the new hire, you haven’t even met them yet, but you don’t particularly like that you have to train somebody new on top of getting your work for the current project you’re working on done. A part of you wanted to suggest (argue) with your boss that the head of your department would be better suited for training the new hire. Alas the head of your department was actually on a business trip to do field research. Now why your boss picked you out of all the other employees in your department you aren’t quite sure. What you did know was that you unfortunately can’t get out of it. 

You arrived at work a bit earlier than usual to settle your things before the new hire would arrive. You were busy editing a document when the new hire arrived. 

“Y/n this is the new hire you will be training. I’m sure you’ll treat him well.” One of the other employees of the office informed you. You stood up from your chair, dusting off the imaginary dirt from your pants. 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Seungmin.” The new hire introduced himself with a smile. 

“I’m y/n. Let me show you around the office.” You stepped outside of your cubicle area. You began to walk around the office with Seungmin, showing him around the different departments, where the copying room was, the breakroom, storage, bathrooms. 

“Now this room is ‘top secret’. This is the room where we come to when we’re hiding from our work.” You opened the door to reveal a shabby looking room. There was literally nothing in it. You supposed it was supposed to be another storage room, but never ended up being used as one. Instead it sits empty with flickering lights and white walls that are painting themselves beige. “It may not look like much, but when you’re having a hard day you’ll find that it feels like a sanctuary,” you told. 

“Duly noted,” Seungmin said. He looked around the empty room. His eyes stopped on you, taking a nice look. You noticed, but didn’t say anything. Seungmin had actually been taking glances at you the entire tour. He couldn’t help it. You looked so beautiful. The way you showed him around. You had a professional nature, but at the same time there was this hint that you didn’t particularly care to be doing what you’re doing right now. You spoke articulately about your office and how it runs, but you half-hazardly pointed things out. Like your words said one thing, but your body language said another. It successfully piqued Seungmin’s interest in you. 

You ended the tour by coming full circle back to your department. You showed Seungmin where his cubicle was, which happened to be across from yours on the left side. You started to get him set up with some simpler work. Seungmin tried his best to pay attention to what you were telling him. It was proving to be difficult though with the way you unintentionally leaned closer to him to show him what to do with the documents on his screen. 

“Alright, that should do it. If you have any questions, my cubicle is right over there.” you pointed across the way to your cubicle.

“Great, thanks,” Seungmin states. Seungmin watches you walk the short couple of steps back over to your cubicle. Seungmin couldn’t help but steal glances at you throughout the rest of the work day. 

At the end of the day you traveled the short distance over to Seungmin’s cubicle to check on his work. Again Seungmin couldn’t help but admire you as your eyes scanned over the documents on his computer screen. 

“There are a couple of errors that need to be fixed, but this isn’t bad for a new hire. Good job,” you told Seungmin, straightening up from peering over at his computer screen. 

“Do I get a reward for that?” Seungmin asked cheekily. A bit of a suggestive manner in his eyes. 

“You’re paycheck,” you answered blankly. Then you proceeded to walk back over to your desk to pack up for the day. Seungmin didn’t expect you to be so cold to him, however it only made him more interested in you. Igniting a bit of a spark in him. 

Seungmin fully intended on acting on the newly lit spark in him. Any time at work he would take the chance to flirt with you. It didn’t even matter if others were around. He had no shame about his flirting with you. You typically would brush off Seungmin’s flirting, which unfortunately for you only encourages him more. After a couple of weeks of his flirting you finally confronted him about it. 

“Seriously Seungmin what is your deal?” You cornered him in the break room when nobody else was there. 

“Can I not flirt with the girl I like?” he returned. 

“Well the girl you like isn’t interested in guys younger than her. Sorry,” you rejected him. That wasn’t going to stop Seungmin though. 

“C’mon I’m only three years younger than you. I can be an exception,” he stated. 

“I’m really not interested in you Seungmin.” You reject him for a second time and begin to walk towards the exit of the breakroom. 

“You just want me to chase after you for a while don’t you? That’s ok I can do that. I like a challenge,” Seungmin calls out after you as you leave the breakroom. 

Seungmin meant it when he said he could chase after you. That’s exactly what he did. He would get you coffee and leave little notes on your cups. Saying stuff like: “Your smile makes me happy :)”, “You’re working hard”, “The only way you could be more perfect would be if you were mine”, “I know these notes make you happy, so why not let me make you happy?”. He would pull your chair out for you when your department had your weekly meetings. He would run and be your errand boy whenever you needed copying done, something from storage or another department. 

Despite all of Seungmin’s chasing you still wouldn’t let him into your heart. You did open up to him more and even started to treat him as a friend. Seungmin wanted to be more than your friend though. He just wanted you to be his. He wanted to look out for you, remind you to take breaks when you got hyper fixated on a project, have meals with you, send you good morning and goodnight texts with random text throughout the day simply because he was thinking about you. He wanted to cuddle you in his arms. His intentions were pure even if was a bit cheeky with his flirting. At the end of the day he really did just want to love you. 

Seungmin notices that it has been quite some time since you stepped out of your cubicle. He was pretty sure you didn’t have any meeting to attend to, so he wondered what was taking you so long. He couldn’t really focus on his work cause he could think about where you possibly disappeared off to. That’s when he remembers what you said about the “top secret” room. That it could feel like a sanctuary when you’re having a hard day. Seungmin honestly hopes that he’s wrong as he stands up from his chair and begins to head in the direction of the “top secret” room. He gently knocks on the door before opening it. Sure enough he finds you sitting in the corner of the poorly lit room with your knees tucked up to your chest. He closes the door behind him and carefully walks over to you, taking a seat right beside you. 

“Are you alright?” he softly asks you. Instead of answering him verbally you shake your head. Seungmin places a comforting hand on your knee. 

“I’m sure whatever it is, it'll be ok. It’s probably really stressful right now, but you always figure it out,” he comforts you. 

“What if I don’t?” Your voice sounds so dejected, it pains Seungmin’s heart. 

“Then I’ll figure it out for you,” he declares. 

“Huh? You don’t even know what’s bothering me,” you say. 

“True, but I really just want to take care of you y/n. I know my flirting style is kinda cheeky and maybe you don’t take it seriously because of that, but I really care about you y/n. I want to make you happy, help you with any problems you encounter, make sure you eat your meals, take you out on silly little dates, be the person you think about before you fall asleep or,” he lets out a bit of a chuckle.  “Be the person who you fall asleep beside. I want to hold you in my arms.” Seungmin very carefully and slowly wraps one of his arms around your shoulders, giving you plenty of time to shove him away. “I want to love you y/n if you’ll let me.” Seungmin silently waits for you to respond. The silence is killing him though.

“I meant it when I said I was interested in younger guys,” you finally spoke. Even though you rejected Seungmin again and again month after month. He never let it deter him from liking you. This time however your words actually hurt him a bit. Seungmin opened his mouth, but before he could say anything you kept talking. “You might be able to be an exception though,” you continued. Now Seungmin’s heart is filled with hope. 

“You’re giving me a chance?” He had to make sure. 

“Mhm, you better not waste it,” you threatened him. 

“I would never.” He wraps his other arm around you pulling you towards him. You let him, resting your head on his shoulder. “As much as I like this we should probably get back to work,” Seungmin states after a few moments. 

“In a few minutes. Let’s stay like this for a few more minutes.” You snuggled your head further onto his shoulder. Seungmin definitely wasn’t going to tell you no. He pulls you impossibly closer to him, resting his head on top of yours. 

#xdinary heroes #xdh #xdh imagines #xdh x reader #xdinary heroes imagines #xdinary heroes x reader #xh o.de #xh ode #xh seungmin #xdh fluff #xdinary heroes fluff #xdh o.de #xdh seungmin #seungmin x reader #oh seungmin x reader #o.de x reader #oh seungmin #seungmin #o.de

[the-phantom-author]

Popstar!gf | Dad!Hasan

No one but @starsyoubreaklikesugardust asked for these, but here they are.

Reblogs always welcomed, request are open

I also floated around the idea of them getting pregnant super early on in their relationship, like less than six months. But decided against it.

It is not planned. Total accident, one that happens about two years into your relationship. Upon finding out start a few serious conversations between the two of you; parenting styles, names, how ya’ll will be handling the public in regards to the kid (kids but you don’t know that yet), and where ya’ll will be living.

Neither you nor Hasan wants to live outside of LA, it’s where both of your houses are, and you’re both attached to them. But you both agree that it would be for the best to live together. As much as Hasan loves his house, yours is undeniabibly better.

Its bigger, more comfortable, and honestly just a better place to start a family in, especially when the parents are people with as much publicity as you and Hasan.

Secret pregnancy

I am not even kidding, from the moment that you tell Hasan it is agreed that you’re not going to be saying anything about it publicly. It makes the stress that you could face during your pregnancy so much less, which is nice especially when you find out it’s twins.

Is she gaslighting her audence the whole time? Yes. Does she regret it? Absolutely not.

The boys, because we love twin boy dad!Hasan on this blog, are announced via instagram. Both you and Hasan have separate post that you make that are off your new little family, neither of the babies names are actually said, nor will they ever be, but its enough infomqation to let the people know where you’ve been.

Anytime she talks about the twins and Hasan in interview from that point on they are “My boys”.

When they are like a year old Hasan starts to bring them to concerts with him, usually along with someone else be that a friend or family member. But there are always tons of photos of him from the night with one of the boys on his shoulders, or of him walking around with one of them.

Your fans knew Hasan was someone special when you accidentally announced your relationship when you kissed him after a show on New years. But each and every single one of them cry when they see the twins run up to you for the first time after a show.

But they also cry when they see the pictures of you and Hasan walking out of the venue at night, each carrying one of the twins who are passed out in your arms.

Even your fans who arn’t fans of Hasan can not help but fawn over him being such dad material.

In conclusion, Hasan is in his “Trophy Husband Era”

#hasanabi #hasanabi x reader #hasan x reader #dad!hasan #popstar!gf

[maple-rose]

I went to see Gundam SEED Freedom tonight.

I don't ever talk about it here, but before I fell into the Fire Emblem hole, Gundam SEED was my obsession throughout highschool and university (if you ever find my deviantART or livejournal account, uh.... the proof is all there, embarrassingly...).

Anyway I've been waiting for this movie for like 15 years. It's kinda surreal that it even exists, amidst rumors of it being cancelled and all.

I wore my Murrue cosplay jacket I made 15 years ago (it still kinda fits, lol), brought a Haro plush and a Lacus plush.

The movie itself, it was fun! Lots of fanservice (both in terms of people and mechs). The pacing felt too fast in the 1st half, and most of the new characters aren't very well developed but that's kinda expected given the run time. Other than that, as a long time fan, it was a good movie!

Also it looks really nice! SEED/Destiny always had inconsistency in art and animation so it's good to see more good animation.

Some specific thoughts under the cut (spoiler warning):

Mu x Murrue scenes! screams Have I mentioned they were my OTP throughout highschool and university? Mu cut his hair and it looks way better! The new ORB uniforms look good, though kinda wish to see Mu in casual outfits more

RIP Archangel T__T You went through and survived so much…

Mu said his line lol (actually 2 of them, Shinn called him an Ossan and he said he's not an Ossan (callback to same exchange with Dearka))

Kira's pinboard has some nostalgic photos on it! Including the shot of the Archangel crew from the 3rd Destiny ending <3

Lacus got so many new outfits! I'm not sure if I like her role in this but she is more interesting than in Destiny

I got new respect for Athrun now. I was hoping someone would slap Kira out of his slump and he delivered!

I actually like Shinn more now too, when he's not being an angsty teen and instead a simpleton kid/the comic relief

Kira.. I think this Kira is an improvement from Destiny at least; he was really boring in Destiny… so it's good to see some emotion and see him crack. But also be more honest with his feelings

New girl Agnes is Flay 2.0? but if Flay could actually pilot a mech?

I was expecting more new mechs (to sell kits), so I'm really surprised they brought back so many existing ones (even the Buster and Duel… but not Aegis)

Though when Freedom deployed and they played Meteor, it was very nostalgic! (Meteor is basically Freedom's theme song, it first played when Freedom was first shown SEED)

New songs by TMR, Nami Tamaki, and See-Saw (who broke up pretty much after Destiny ended, came back for another song)! Also some nostalgic BGM came back

The new antagonists aren't really redeemable or sympathetic, which is a shame 'cause that's one of the things I liked about SEED; but with the runtime I get it, they're supposed to be the "bad guys" so the main crew can come together

It's kinda funny how that guy keeps calling Kira a failure, 'cause Kira is literally the Ultimate Coordinator

Lacus's pilot suit is really funny. This is actually the first time she's been sexualized like that; usually she's the pure one

The final scene is.. what I expected from a SEED climax, but a lot more hammy lol. Power of love!

They did end up confirming AsuCaga, but funny thing is Athrun and Cagalli never actually talked to each other or were in the same room even.. Meyrin is the one with Athrun (not sure if I like her new hair...)

Who is that kid with Cagalli?? He called her "Nee-san". He looks like Mu... it can't be Mu's kid, he looks too old for that. Another clone of Mu's dad? Some new guy who happens to look alike?

I saw a lot more cameos than I thought I would. The whole Archangel crew, Miriallia and Sai, Erika (ORB's head of tech, the one who gave them all Gundams), Arthur (Minerva's 2nd in command guy), Andrew Waltfeld (why didn't he have a bigger role?! He was just shown in 1 passing shot). Even some dead people were shown in flashbacks. Actually I think the flashback at the end showed all the major characters who died.

#gundam seed freedom #gundam seed #gundam seed movie spoilers

[officialchristiancagebbgirlblog]

Punishment

Fic type: smut

Word count: 4281

This, I think, is the longest fic I’ve ever written holy shit. I’m not lying when I say this took days to write. I hope you guys enjoy!

You tease Christian from home while he’s out only to receive your punishment when he returns

Mention of: blindfolds, creampie.

Link to masterlist

Happy reading 🩷

“Are you sure you can’t finish early?” You pleaded on the phone. Being stuck in your shared hotel room while Christian was stuck at work training for an upcoming PPV was your least favourite part of travelling with him.

“No, honey, I have to keep going for another few hours, and then I’ve got a meeting about my match. I won’t be back until at least half 8?” You could hear the sadness in his voice; it bummed him out to know he had to keep going before he could be back in bed with you.

You sighed to yourself trying not to let it get to you, saying your goodbyes shortly after. Sure, it was only like 3 hours you had to wait but it didn’t change how much it sucked. He had already been gone since lunchtime for various interviews, work events. And at that point in the evening, you had exhausted all the channels on the television so nothing was grabbing your attention to keep you busy. All you could do was lay there on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

After what felt like 2 and a half hours but was only 1, you were still laying there. Not moving. Trying to come up with something, anything to entertain yourself:

“I could listen to some music!” You thought to yourself,

No. There weren't any songs that you could think of.

“I could go for a walk?”

But that involved dressing up. You were quite comfortable in your lingerie. Plus the weather wasn’t ideal…

“I could FaceTime my friends?”

Nah, they were going to be busy at this time for sure.

“I could maybe…have some fun? By myself?”

Absolutely not! Christian had made it very clear to never do that without his presence!

“I could…

I could tease him. Teach him a lesson for leaving me here with nothing to do!”

It was perfect. Show him what he was missing out on! You knew it wasn’t entirely fair on him as he didn’t have a choice. He had to be there today. But fuck that! He should know better than to leave you on your own.

But how to do it? You were already dressed in the right attire so there was no need to get up and put something on. Just imagining his reaction was enough to get your mind racing and it wasn’t too long before you picked your phone up again to start your photography session.

Taking a mix of photos and videos, you adjusted yourself into various positions so he could get a good look at your soft, warm body without revealing too much. You had to keep him hooked after all! It’s no fun if he saw everything through his phone screen!

It was daring, exciting to partake in this activity. The idea that he had to hide his excitement from others was exhilarating and you ate it right up. Perhaps the most daring thing, though, was the final video you sent to him where you lost control. All the photos that came out nice had been received, seen, and salivated over by him with red cheeks and a desperation to keep people from looking at his phone or asking him questions.

You got yourself all worked up that you forgot about his rule: no masterbation without his presence. So when you shot the video of your fingers under the soaked cotton of your underwear and hit send, the realisation hit 30 seconds too late of what you had gotten yourself into. Not only was it bad enough you took the video and actually sent it to him but he had seen it within seconds. Which of course meant you couldn’t delete it now. There was no hiding evidence.

7:45pm rolled around and you knew you were in trouble when he returned and didn’t give you the usual chipper smile and bountiful kisses all over your face. Instead when he entered the room, he stood at the foot of the bed with a growling frown. His cheeks were pink, his eyebrows were furrowed in an angry concentration, and his tight trousers proudly displayed his love to you. You should have been apologising, explaining yourself somehow. But the way the denim curved around his surely leaking cock was so distracting that you barely even noticed he took a hold of your ankles and pulled you down the bed.

Yelping as you were forced to sit upright at the foot of the bed, he placed two fingers on his right hand under your chin and forced your face upwards to look him in the eyes.

“You’ve been such a bad girl tonight,” he rasped with a slight upwards curl on the corner of his mouth, “I think you deserve to be punished for what you did tonight.”

Christian took a step forward closer to your face with his legs either side of you, trapping you in place. Not that you had any intentions of moving, however the idea that you couldn’t escape your fate was so delicious. He slowly started to unbuckle his belt making sure to take his sweet time. The leather squeaked slightly when he pulled it out of the hoops, and the metal played a sweet sound as it loosened and finally unbuckled. He took a step back as he worked on the zip of his trousers and finally the button, wasting no time in removing the clothing from his legs entirely. And there he stood before you. Tight black boxers hugged his hairy yet soft thighs, his cock even more prominent.

“Use your teeth.”

His tone was harsh, but his voice was soft and deep. You maintained eye contact with him as you leant forward towards the waistband with your mouth agape. You couldn’t help but giggle as he shivered to the feeling of your lips making contact with his body. Just as slowly as he removed his belt, you carefully took the fabric between your teeth and began to inch it down his long slender legs. He watched you the entire way down biting on his bottom lip to stop any pleas to go faster from slipping out. If the shiver wasn’t good enough, hearing him gasp in pleasure as his cock sprang free, slapping against his stomach surely did the job at soaking your panties.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his boxers pooled around his ankles and he eagerly stepped out of them. Now kneeling on the carpet in front of him, he pulled you back up onto the bed. It was a far better view for him. Plus he wanted to know exactly where your hands were at all times. He couldn’t have you touching yourself now could he? Certainly not after your behaviour up until that point!

Taking hold of his now throbbing cock he took hold of your chin with his thumb and finger. With a devious smirk, he forced you to open your mouth wide for him. You stuck your tongue out for him to place the head on so you could begin relieving him. Beads of precum had formed at the tip just begging to be lapped up and tasted by you. And you were all too happy to oblige, using the flat of your tongue to clean him up. Christian’s head rolled back and his mouth fell open at the warmth and the wetness that suddenly appeared for him.

“Yeah, that’s it baby.” He purred as you began to gleefully take him deep into your mouth. His fingers tangled themselves in your hair as he took a rough fistful, rocking his hips with each pump of your mouth. It was clear he wasn’t going to last too much longer as moans began spilling from his lips, sweet nothings floating into your ears. The hair above his cock was beginning to tickle your face more than you liked so you pulled back to focus on the head of his cock. Still you kept his joy going by replacing the pumping action with your hand on his shaft. Going tip to tip with your tongue and his penis, you licked up and down, side to side, in circular motions keeping a steady speed to not rush his orgasm which was already fast approaching. But when your tongue began to dip into the slit of his head, he let out a breathless “oh god” and an “oh fuck!” before those sweet words were spoken: “oh god, baby, I’m cumming!”

As he whimpered out your name, sweet streams of hot cum shot out onto your still moving tongue. In normal circumstances, you would spit the cum out not being a huge fan of the texture but you felt it was deserved today. Once he pulled his still twitching cock out of your mouth, he instinctively reached for the nearby bin for you to spit out his seed. But you kept eye contact as you swallowed every last drop and showed him the evidence. His cheeks flushed a darker shade of pink and his eyes darkened at your actions.

“Stand up. It’s your turn.” He growled, pulling you up and pinning your front against the wall with an order to “stay there a second.”

You turned your head to watch him pick up a clean sock of his from the dresser. Somehow throughout your entire sex journey with each other, neither of you had thought to buy an actual blindfold. Surely by this point he had multiple odd socks that were looser than the other at this point. He returned to you, slipping the sock over your eyes and tying it behind your head in a tight, secure knot. He made quick work of removing only your bra, flinging it to a random corner in the room to be found hours later. Keeping your panties on seemed to excite him even more. He pressed his body against you, making sure your hair was moved out of the way to reveal your neck.

“Before we start, lovely,” he began, his dominant demeanour dropping for a moment, “if at any point you feel uncomfortable, you want to stop, tell me straight away okay? Don’t feel bad or scared to say it’s too much and we need to stop.” His fingers gently traced shapes on your shoulder as he whispered his concerned words to you, waiting for a response.

“I will, baby, I promise.” You smiled reassuringly over your shoulder, “I always feel safe with you and I want to do this really badly.” Although you couldn’t see it, he returned your smile and planted a gentle kiss on your cheek and then your lips, holding on for a second longer than he intended.

After receiving your consent to continue, he moved his kisses to your neck, sparing no time with leaving a trail of love bites down your skin on either side. He separated your legs with his which allowed his, once again rock hard cock to spring up between your legs, landing neatly between your folds through the soaked fabric. Beginning to rock his hips like he did before, the hairs on his chest and stomach tickled with each movement. He reached around to begin to fondle your bare breasts now leaving no space between your bodies.

“Does that feel good?” He cooed, his hot breath tickling your ear and sending a shiver down your spine. You couldn’t say anything so you just nodded. The roughness of his hands skyrocketed the pleasure as they kneaded your soft skin, taking some time to gently pinch your nipples. Mixed with the feeling of his slow thrusts you were in ecstasy. You let out a quiet whimper as your head rolled back onto his shoulder, his lips making their way back down to leave soft kisses over the marks he had made. There was a twinge of pain as your skin was sensitive but the moistness of his lips felt oddly soothing.

“Christian…” you gasped, “please I need more!”

Feeling him smirk against your skin made your body quiver and your legs feel like jelly. He guided you back to the bed with his hands on your hips before turning you around to face him.

“Mmmm…you look so beautiful right now!” You could hear the smile in his voice as he studied your face for a brief moment, “Let me get a good look at you, baby girl.”

Carefully he untied the sock trying not to catch your hair or hurt you accidentally. As it slipped off your face, you had to spend a second to adjust to the light, squinting hard before feeling comfortable enough to open your eyes normally. Christian’s hair was a little bit damp and messy from his enjoyment so far, sparse beads of sweat gently rolling down the side of his face before settling in his neatly trimmed beard. But despite the sweat, red skin, and mucked up hair, he had never looked so handsome and you found yourself leaning forward to show your love for him. There was no hesitation as he leant forward and closed the gap between your lips.

However the kiss, although full of love and a hint of passion, was short lived. That gleam in his eye from earlier returned as did his hard on which was just begging to be touched again. He pushed you back to lay down on the bed and took a rough hold of your legs to, once again, pull you down to the edge of the bed. Instinctively you tried to sit up but he held you down by your hips. The smirk returned as he shook his head at you for attempting to go against his order. That damned smirk. A part of you hated how it had so much control over you. You watched as he sunk down to his knees allowing his fingertips to gently slide down your thighs as he reached the floor. Licking his lips, he reached down to your thighs, making and maintaining eye contact with you. He left a trail of kisses leading up on either thigh being careful not to get too close just yet.

Every time he got close to the sweet spot you felt a small heartbeat on your clit. You were getting increasingly more desperate for his tongue to relieve you of the built up pressure.

“Oh god, you have no idea how good your pussy smells right now!” He moaned out, lifting your legs wide apart. He was becoming just as desperate as you were, practically salivating over the knowledge that he was about to be able to lick up every last drop of your excitement. He began to lick at your inner thigh where the crease of your skin started to become your right pussy lip. You fought back the sounds of pleasure by biting on your bottom lip hard enough to almost draw blood. The feeling of the top of his tongue trying desperately to slip under the fabric of your panties through the leg hole to get even just a hint of your taste was so intense. Clearly he had run out of patience as he grabbed either side of the waistband and yanked your panties off in one clean swoop to join the fate of your forgotten bra. He threw your legs over his shoulders as you watched him lick his lips with an almost silent “fuck!”, dipping his head down to return the favour from earlier.

The feeling of his whole tongue slipping between your folds to drag a slow, full lick from bottom to top was enough to make you lose concentration and let out a yelp of pleasure. You felt him groan against your wet lips sending a wave of pleasure upwards from the vibration. He said something in response which you didn’t hear as he parted your lips with either hand and delved in deeper, his tongue slipping into your entrance.

“You taste so good…” he barely mumbled, his mouth too busy to say anything else. You reached down to hold his head doing anything to reign in the feeling that was starting to become too much for you to handle any longer, but he was quick to grab your wrists before you even felt his slick hair under your hands. Christian looked up at you as he held them tightly on either side of your hips. Regardless of how much fun he was having, he was still determined to punish you for sending him those photos and that video. It could really go either way from here: either he was going to force an early orgasm so you were even more sensitive than you already would be, or he was going to completely deny you of that experience. He was still going to have his way with you but only one of you would be crossing that finish line.

His lips moved up north and hooked onto your clit, sucking roughly on that little button. Instinctively your legs tried to squeeze together from the intense pleasure, pressing against his ears. He took a hold of both your wrists with his left hand moving them to rest on your stomach to force at least one of your legs apart so he could reach you again. It took a fair amount of force to separate your leg from his head but he got there in the end, holding it as far away from his head as he could. His tongue flicked aggressively in all directions at your clit as you let out a strangled shout of his name, the pleasure being too much to stay quiet. Your hips lifted to his face as you felt your orgasm approaching which he sensed. He pulled off you with a satisfying pop, lips red and slightly swollen from the action. He spent a moment admiring his work, your pussy glistening and your clit throbbing from pleasure. Looking up to see your face, he let out a soft moan.

“Oh baby, that was a lot huh?” He teased, lips slightly pouting. Your face was beet red and hot, covered in a layer of sweat that continued all down your body and stuck long strands of hair to your forehead. With legs trembling, you pulled yourself up the bed to allow him to follow you, still on his knees.

“There’s a good girl,” he cooed encouragingly, “you ready for more?”

Admittedly you weren’t sure if you were. You were still so sensitive from him eating you out, you didn’t know if you could take a rough fucking especially for long. But as he moved your legs apart for the third time that evening, the concern left your mind.

“Please, Christian. I need you to fuck me!” You begged, becoming desperate for him again. He pursed his lips wondering if you deserved it.

“Hmmm…,” he wondered aloud, “maybe if you beg for it some more, I’ll fuck you?”

“You bastard.”

You spent a moment trying to think of the quickest thing you could say to get him to reward you. Perhaps you should apologise for teasing him before? That would surely get him to give you what you needed? Still watching and waiting for your pleas, he took a hold of his erection and began to rub it between your wet lips, making it infinitely harder to concentrate.

“I’m sorry I touched myself w-without your presence or permission. I shouldn’t have…” you swallowed thickly, the returning pleasure fuzzing up your thoughts, “I…I shouldn’t have done it. I promise I…I promise I won’t do it again.”

You looked up to see him smiling down at you, still teasing your vagina by rubbing with only the head of his cock. “What do you need from me, sweetie?” His voice was dark and lustful, needing to hear you say it one more time.

“I need…I need you to fuck me. Rough, hard, fast, in any way. Please don’t tease me anymore, I need- ah!”

He didn’t even wait to hear you finish, sliding his cock deep inside you. The feeling of him finally stretching you out was intoxicating. You both let out guttural moans as he wasted no time in burying his cock as far as it would go. Adjusting himself to a missionary position he began to snap his hips roughly pounding in and out of you. By that point, you had completely lost the ability to focus on anything but the feeling and the sound of his skin slapping against yours. Incoherent words fell out of both of your mouths. It seemed he shared your inability to create a coherent sentence. With your hands splayed across his back, you placed a kiss on his shoulder as he dug his fingers once again into your thighs. You were able to regain focus for just a moment as you tasted the subtle saltiness of his sweat on your lips.

“Oh fuck baby, I…I can’t last much longer,” you whimpered, “please, don’t stop!”

He simply panted in response, picking up the pace and angling his hips so he could hit that sweet spot. His lips brushed against the edge of your ear and you barely heard him whisper, “that’s it, tell me how good it feels.”

You really wish you could but you could only moan and whine in response, his thrusts being the only thing your mind could comprehend in that moment. That and your orgasm that was right there. It seemed that he picked up on the urgency of that feeling as he knelt up, pulling your hips with him so your legs sat on either side of him and your ass on his thighs. He stared you down, mouth hanging open, eyebrows furrowed in concentration as the pace he had set began to falter. Breathing heavily, he brought his thumb up to his mouth to suck on it for a brief second before lowering it back to your clit to rub circles on it. There was a growing tension in your lower stomach the longer he paired the two motions, which was moments away from releasing.

“Christiannn…” you whined out his name, your hips rocking and jerking with his, eyes squeezed shut. Sweat was dripping off his body and rolling down yours as he leant forward a bit to see your face closer. Your walls had become so tight around him as you teetered on the edge of release, just needing his encouragement. Your eyes opened to meet his and as he flashed you a sweet smile, you got what you wanted.

“Oh baby, please…cum for me!”

That’s all you needed, letting out a loud gasp and becoming still and tense. Rippling feelings of an intense release of bliss overtook your body as you came around his still thrusting erection. As you slowly came back down to Earth, you heard him whimper as he gripped your hips desperately. He lurched forward laying on top of you as his equally explosive orgasm hit, even stronger than his first one. His lips crashed against yours to stifle the noises of his pleasure not wanting to be too loud. After all, his pleasure was for you and you alone.

It took him a little bit longer to come down from his orgasm, eventually choosing to lay there still connected with you just trying to catch his breath. His face was buried in your neck, still quietly moaning against your skin, planting lazy kisses on the now bruised marks. Although the room was muggy and a little too hot with him choosing not to move over just yet, everything felt perfect. You traced random shapes on his sweat slicked back, your eyes glazed over in a post bliss. Finally he unpeeled his body from yours, the air cooling you down a little bit. As he gently pulled his cock out from inside of you, you felt his seed spill out from inside of you making you gasp and him chuckle at your reaction. He effortlessly picked you up to place you in the armchair near the bed as he began to clear the bed, not wanting to sleep in the now wet sheets. He had also, thankfully, turned the air conditioning on which helped clear up the room, choosing to also open the window behind closed curtains to let some fresh air in.

“I think I’ve…learned my lesson!” You mentioned, standing up to dry yourself off with a nearby towel. He shook his head with a smile, “I hope you have, otherwise I’d have to start all over again.”

Passing him the towel so he could do the same after new sheets were on the bed, you picked up the old ones and placed them in the laundry basket for him, climbing under the top blanket.

“I do want to say that it felt incredible as usual” you praised, as he slid in to lay next to you for a snuggle. He gently laid a kiss on your lips stroking your cheek with his thumb in response. You exchanged the usual ‘I love you’s as you settled down with bodies still buzzing in joy. He reached down to pull your leg over his hips so you were even closer, making you giggle slightly when he grumbled: “you’re so far away, what the fuck?” Planting another quick kiss to your forehead to hear you giggle one last time, he kept his lips near your face. Feeling the tickle of his breathing helped you drift into the best sleep you had in a long time. You continued tracing shapes on his skin which helped him drift away with you in a well deserved good night's sleep.

#christian cage #captain charisma #christian #christian wwe #instant classic #christian cage x reader #christian cage fanfic

[homegrownkel]

GERMINATION: greeting the world

Introductions are the worst part of meeting new people. Having to think about making a good impression - reading whether or not you gauged correctly, not realizing when you've missed the mark. It's the culmination of the worst part of being of a social species. Trying to move from the other to becoming part of the group. It means Kel knows from the first moment of consciousness that today will be Rough. Luckily the crockpot did its job and there's fresh minestrone for his thermos. Less luckily, half the soup spills on the way to the car.

It's just another blemish on an already rough morning. Kel hasn't had a reaction to any sort of mental influence like this in so many years that they're not the only one caught off guard. Someone will figure out how to mitigate the fog - they can already hear chatter about it in the group, which is much more attention-grabbing than poor Kato. Nice guy, but maybe there will be a better second impression. One that sticks.

And then every thing that needs to go wrong will - apparently the camera used to take the first ID photo wasn't the proper model, or was missing whatever coating the Foundation used in the past to take his ID photos. But the security department needs a new one. Kel can't blame them - if they were a guard and someone handed over a picture of a flower arrangement as a security card, he wouldn't let them in either.

The one in charge seems just the type the commission would pick, observant, experienced, just friendly enough to inspire some level of loyalty. Small flashes of the man in action - usually from a distance, add depth and color to his form, old memories overlaid on a fresh face. They fall into place for some of the others in the room as well, though at least one face is so familiar there's nothing new to learn at a glance.

"Good morning," Kel bobs a nod at their new boss in an attempt to be less... ominously looming, and gives him a perfectly average handshake before moving towards a seat in the back. Then it's time for the parade. And what a show it is. The team is clearly hand picked for something, but even Kel can tell that more than a few people have history of some sort and still others won't mesh well despite the rigid hold an MTF's commander usually has. For at least one that might actually be the problem.

There is something to be said about going in the middle of a set though. Avoiding the nerves of being the first, but also knowing you aren't the last first impression somehow relieves some of the pressure. Or at least it does for Kel. It's easiest to see everything from the metaphorical middle of the pack anyways.

"My turn then?" They smile quickly and straighten up before swallowing down the worst of the brogue they'd never gotten rid of. "Some of you may already know me as Kel or Engineer Trebond, but I guess I'm going by Garden Variety here. Bit of a nod to my hometown, I think. Small place, big on uh... agriculture. I've been working in the foundation research divisions almost 3 decades now. My work's mostly in the actual building of things, more practical application and testing than the theoretical stuff, so I'm a bit excited to see how these things actually run in the field. Fun fact, um..." He sits back in his chair, smile turning nervous. "I'm 209 centimeters tall. Yes, really. Oh I think that's six foot.... ten inches? Math might be a bit off, but I'm past the threshold where people try to say it makes a difference. Anyways - if you need me, send me a page. I like to wander and this campus seems a bit large, so it's better to not pass each other while searching."

And with that, the worst was over. The members of the team grow more and more interesting as they go down the list, but maybe that's just the relaxed nerves speaking.

#fhq.task #fhq.gv.i.i.intro #tendril:autogenic.02

[kaigarax]

Exactly As I Am

Narushima Melt x Reader

Quote: "Fall in love with someone compassionate." & "Fall in love with someone you'll love forever."

Someone You Loved Featuring: The Pilot

Narushima Melt wasn’t quite sure why he was here.

He was a stranger to the bride and barely even knew the groom. They’d had… three (maybe four) conversations? Maybe the groom was actually a loner that didn’t know how to make friends and needed to fill the roster? Or perhaps they wanted famous people here and Melt happened to fall into that position after his latest role?

Probably not.

Most of the people here were probably either related to either bride and groom or a business partner of some sort. Perhaps even both. None of them were very recognizable to Melt - though he did get recognized by a few people. Even asked for his autograph at one point which was a total ego stroke.

The wedding venue was nice.

Very nice.

And very expensive.

His manager had asked him to dress in his nicest of suits. A dark blue top and black pants. You’d alway thought that he looked better in blue and white (something about it bringing out his eyes better) but white gets dirty so easily and Melt didn’t want to have to walk around checking every seat before sitting down. Besides, he looked good in black too.

Speaking of you, Melt was a little surprised to see that you’d been invited here as well. Well maybe not considering that you’d been asked to come here as a photographer. What’s more surprising is that they managed to get you to take photos of them at all. His own company had to book months in advance when they scheduled you to take photos of him and even then they hadn’t been sure if you’d make it or not.

You either must have been getting paid real well or someone important to you was chasing in a big favour. Melt wonders if you’d ever do a big favour like this for him.

He spots you from across the room despite your clothes seeming to blend into the environment as you walk around taking photos of all the different guests.

You’re dressed nicely. Well nicer than what you usually wear - and you actually look rather pretty today. Well, you always look pretty but today you stand out compared to most of the other girls here.

So, of course, Melt easily makes his way across the room to you, convincing you to let him sit beside you at your table sequestered in the back of the room. Makes sense. Out of the way and convenient access if someone wanted to talk to you about something.

There’s a tall dark haired man, The Hero Melt thinks, stands out against the light sheets of the table. He looks to be around Melt’s age if not a little older. Definitely older than when you must have taken his photos.

Sitting across from the dark haired man is the Chef. A short dirty blonde hair guy. Truthfully, Melt isn’t all too sure why he’s called the Chef - none of his photos have to do with cooking - but perhaps it’s just another one of your practical jokes.

His own title, The Pilot, is an inside joke taken a little too far. Not just were all the photos you took of him when he’d been posing in the cockpit of an airplane but because you liked to tease him about all his failed television shows. All of which failed after releasing the Pilot.

“Ah, unrequited love.” You say, as you take a seat at the table in the back of the room.

Melt takes a seat beside you, frowning slightly.

You always were such a weird one. Speaking out randomly about whatever happened to be on your mind. It was probably the most memorable thing about you though. It’s how his first conversation with you occurred back when you first started taking photos of him.

The Hero and the Chef both look to Melt as he takes a seat beside you. Both of their expressions are calm and neutral - the Hero’s slightly more playful than that of the Chef’s. Melt turns his own attention to you.

“Who?” Asks Melt.

You point to a boy with pink hair sitting on the other side of the room with his friends.

From Melt’s perspective there doesn’t seem to be anything all that special about the pink haired boy. He’s good looking but nothing jaw dropping. More cute than handsome. Young. Or at least younger than Melt.

Though, Melt would admit, he does recognize the look on the boy’s face. It reminds him of himself when he thinks about-

Okay maybe he’s not ready to admit something like that yet. But he will say that he knows for a fact that your assessment is right. It usually is when it comes to things like this.

“Who’s he in love with?” The Chef asks, leaning towards you.

You smile teasingly, “guess.”

The Hero leans towards you too which causes a frown to form on Melt's face, “the brown haired girl?”

“The blonde girl?” Suggest the Chef.

Amatures. Melt isn’t even all too sure what you saw in either of these two. They’re just like everyone else. Nothing that screams brilliant. Though Melt has never been the best at determining another person’s worth. It wasn’t something that should have been valued unless they planned on going into an occupation like his own anyways.

Melt’s eyes scan over the various people before a smile forms on his face, “the girl with the golden eyes.”

Your own eyes light up at that, “oh, and what makes you think that?”

“A gut feeling,” Melt shugs, “I guess.”

You shake your head as if soldering a young child, “I expected better of you, Mr. Airplane.”

Of course you’d use that nickname. Melt has to fight the urge to roll his eyes.

“Mr. Airplane?” The Chef asks, saying the nickname tentatively.

He doesn’t fight it very hard, “just a silly nickname.”

Though admittedly, that might have to do with the annoyance already building up in his stomach as he watches the Hero and Chef cozy up to you. He understands that you’re close to them but do you really have to be that close to them?

Melt supposes he should have done more research into your relationship with the other Muses.

Well, too late to cry over spilled milk.

He’d get to the task at a later point in time.

The Hero laughs, “it suits you, being the Pilot and all.”

You laugh along with the Hero, “ah yes, the Pilot.”

Melt has trouble fighting the blush on his cheeks at the sound of your laughter, “you’re such a brat.” He’s always had trouble with keeping up his cool persona around you.

“At least I don’t rely on gut feelings to know when someone’s in love.” You say back.

As if that’s something to write home about.

“How do you know when someone’s in love, (Y/n)?” The Chef asks, saying your name so softly and sweetly that Melt almost needs to barf.

“Well,” you (in all your wisdom and glory) begin, “I would recommend years of observation - as experience is the most sure way of figuring this kind of thing out - but I’ll give you guys the sparknotes. To know if someone’s in love you just have to follow their gaze.”

“Why?” Asked the Hero.

And you smile sweetly in response, “because the gaze never lies.”

The gaze never lies? Melt supposes that might be true. You always were more insightful than everyone else so maybe he should give this some consideration.

People did have a tendency to look at things they liked. Melt was looking at you right now. But the statement is quite the ambitious one to make. One that seemingly seeks to encapsulate all of the human race into a single sentence about love. What about people that look away when they’re in love? Are you saying they don’t exist at all? Is it something that people just can’t help doing?

When the thought proves to be too annoying, Melt quickly disgards it.

No need to ponder about something as complicated as that if Melt won’t be able to come up with a proper answer.

“Do any of you ever plan on getting married?” You ask. Melt presumes the question comes because of their present location.

Melt shrugs, “eventually.”

“Eventually?” You ask, repeating Melt slowly and playfully.

“Well, obviously whoever I get married to is going to have to be okay with being in the public light. Constantly being harassed by the paparazzi whether they’re famous or not just because they’re associated with me. I don’t plan on getting married until I’m ready to settle down in my acting career.” Explained Melt.

“Very mature of you.” You tease.

Usually this is where Melt would stop, but your teasing seems to egg him on which causes him to say, “besides, actors and models are more popular when they’re single anyways.”

You sigh, “and he drops the ball.”

Melt pouts in response.

You can be so mean to him sometimes - but that’s why Melt likes you more than everyone else. You don’t do it with malice intent but because you want him to be better. And you don’t baby him like how others do either. You tell him when he’s in the wrong and what you think he could be doing better. You make him better.

“What about you, Viking boy?” You ask, turning to look at the Chef, “you are the oldest of us four. You plan on getting hitched anytime soon?”

Viking boy?

The Chef was proving to be weirder and weirder.

The Chef scratches the back of his neck sheepishly, “I guess I never thought much about it.”

You get a thoughtful look in your eyes as you respond, “any girl would be lucky to have you. Or guy, if that’s what you’re into.”

“Well I-”

The blushing Chef is cut off with a playful pat on the back from the Hero, “come on, Sweets, don’t tease him.”

Sweets?

“And what about you, Cellophane?” You shoot back.

Cellophane?

Were you really close enough with The Chef and Hero that you had given them nicknames? So close that they were able to refer to you as something like ‘Sweets?’ Melt isn’t sure if he likes the way his stomach tosses and turns. If you were going to let a dude call you something like Sweets then who was Melt to judge?

The Hero clears his throat, attempting to be coy, “what about me?”

“Any special someone in your life?” You asked.

“Na,” the Hero shakes his head, “it’s a bachelor’s life for me.”

For someone smiling, Melt thinks that the Hero looks awfully sad. It’s an expression he had never been all too familiar with but wanted to master. He wonders if it would be weird for him to suddenly pull out a camera and capture the expression of the Hero. it would definitely be invasive but Melt imagines it’s something that you would do if it interested you enough.

Melt obviously doesn’t stop and pull out a camera (because he’s a normal person) but he does wonder.

“Well no shame,” you say, “not everyone in this world gets married.”

“And what about you, Sweets?” Asked the Hero.

“Marriage,” you say the word as if tentatively tasting it for the first time, “what do you think?”

Marriage.

Melt’s heart does a weird kind of thing when he thinks of you married. It’s not that fluttering feeling romantic writers always talk about. It’s kinda sad to drop off his chest as he imagines you as a bride. Perhaps he gets such a sad feeling because he knows you’d never marry someone like him - and he’d never get to marry someone like you. Imagines you’d end up with someone older. Someone nicer to you than he was.

Annoyed with his own thoughts, Melt attempts to distract himself with something else. His eyes wandering the room and landing back on the pink haired boy from before.

Ah, how much simpler life would be if he had been someone like the pink haired boy. How easy it would have been to look at the girl he likes and confess his feelings. How simple it would have been to have just taken the golden eyed girl’s hands and express his feelings in a dramatic fashion that would make even the most reserved of folks blush.

Eventually, Melt’s gaze lands on an orange haired boy that the golden eyed girl keeps looking at.

If the gaze never lies then it appears this girl too seems to hold an unrequited love. Ah what a funny situation the trio seem to have found themselves in. Though Melt isn’t really in a position to say something like that.

He looked back at the pink haired boy.

Then, Melt turns to look at you, “what makes you think he has an unrequited love, (Y/n)?”

“Don’t think, Mr. Airplane.” You say, your voice so certain and sure, “I know.”

“Oh do you now?’ The Hero adds, his own voice coated with a teasing lit.

“Of course,” you say with seemingly a boundless amount of wisdom and a smile that sends Melt’s heart into a pathetic flutter, “I know people’s hearts. Why else would my works be so popular?”

If Melt could smile like that he bet he’d be able to have any role he wanted.

Bets that you can get any heart you want.

“Because you’re good at taking photos?” The Chef suggests, his voice ever so polite and reserved.

The Hero laughs, once again, at the Chef’s words, patting him playfully on the back, “I like you. You’re so straightforward! Not like this little missy here.”

You pout, “hey!”

Melt feels a smile pull at his lips as he watches you, “people like your photos because you pick such good looking Muses.”

You smile in agreement, “very true! The muses I pick have excellent hearts.”

An excellent heart? Melt doubts that. Almost everything he’s done in his life has been for and because of himself. Everyone in the idol industry did things purely for their own gain - whether that be for financial or fame. He doubts that anyone, other than yourself, would refer to him as someone with an ‘excellent heart’. It’s almost enough to make him laugh.

“Hey,” the Hero points out, “you never answered the question, Sweets.”

Sweets.

“I haven’t,” you hum playfully, “have I?”

Melt’s full on grinning as he looks to the Hero, “this is what you mean, ain’t it? She hates answering questions directly.”

“Hey,” you frown, “you’re ganging up on me.”

“That’s because you make it too easy.” Replied the Hero.

The Chef, being the ever sweet man he is, smiles softly, “it’s okay, (Y/n). You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to.”

Melt thinks that the Chef is someone you’d end up marrying. Someone to indulge in your playful behaviour. Someone to treat you softly and gently like how you deserve. Someone that understands both their own emotions and yours. Not someone like Melt that jumps into situations without thinking. Someone so driven by their own emotions and unaware of the feelings of others.

As much as Melt hates to admit it (and be sure he absolutely loathes it) the Chef is someone much better suited for you than he is.

The Hero playfully scolds the Chef, “you’re too easy on her.”

Melt nods, “a total simp.”

“The two of you could learn a thing or two from him,” you say, rolling your eyes but smiling warmly.

“Doubt it, Sweets.” Replies the Hero, rubbing your head softly.

Perhaps you’d do better with someone like the Hero. Someone that plays off your attitude well. Someone to keep you on your toes and push you back a little. Someone that clearly shows his affection for you.

You grab the Hero’s hand, “love is such a mysterious thing.”

Melt raises a brow but follows your gaze.

The bride and groom seem to have taken to the dance floor, spinning around and laughing beautifully. Melt doesn’t think he’s seen the groom that happy before. Sure, he may have only seen him… three times before but he knows for a fact that he didn’t think he was able to make such a warm and loving sick expression.

It’s almost as annoying as it is cute.

Melt hopes that one day he might be able to find someone that he can dance on a floor like that with. With reckless abandon of the tune and melody simply because you can.

The Chef clears his throat, “I thought you said that love was a well understood thing?”

“I did?” You asked.

Melt nods, “yes.”

“You sure?”

The Hero nods, “very~”

“When?”

Melt rolls his eyes, “during my exhibit.”

“Oh,” you laugh softly, “I guess I have.”

Melt leans over towards you, gently flicking your forehead much like how you used to do when the two of you would film and Melt would say something snippy. The gesture seems to hold just as much warmth to you as it does to him as you smile brightly in response. Melt hates that you’re able to smile so warmly when you look at him because his heart has begun to thump erratically in his chest once again.

“Perhaps I should say fate is such a mysterious thing.” You suggested.

Fate.

Melt has always been a big believer of Fate - almost to the point of being called hopeless. Maybe it was because he didn’t like the idea of everything being in his own hands. Made the world seem much… bigger. Pinning everything on this idea of a greater force no one can control just made the world seem so much more manageable.

“Do you think they’re each other’s first love?” The Hero asks as his gaze is once again captured by the married couple.

“No.” Melt mumbles.

At the same time he hears the Chef proclaim a bright, “yes.”

The bride, while clearly in love, doesn’t look the same way that most people do when they’re in love for the first time. There seems to be history in her eyes. Something similar to what’s in your eyes. The eyes of someone that has seen something. What exactly, Melt isn’t too sure but he does know that it has to be something.

“She’s his first love.” You said.

The Hero leans towards you, “hm?”

“It’s the way he looks at her. You always look at your first love differently from everyone else. There’s a certain kind of softness in his eyes.” You explained.

“It’s too bad his best man doesn’t seem to like her very much.” Says the Chef, his voice thoughtful and considerate.

You tilt your head to the side, curiously, “what makes you say that?”

“Because he’s sitting so stiffly.” Explained the Chef, pointing out the best man.

The Hero shrugs thoughtfully, “he does seem rather annoyed.”

Melt look over to the best man. There’s a certain look in his eyes that reminds Melt of himself as he watches the dancing newly weds. Melt isn’t sure if feels sympathy or annoyance towards the best man for allowing himself to get into such a situation, “I get that impression too.”

Your eyes land on Melt, a bright look, “Elaborate.”

“I guess it has something to do with the way he acts around her. It’s like he’s stepping on eggshells.” Says Melt despite not seeing the best man interact with the bride at all. It feels more like an assessment of his own reaction than the best man’s. But he’d never admit that - especially to you.

“He could just be shy,” suggested the Chef.

The Hero takes the opposite approach, “or maybe he doesn’t like her and is upset the groom is marrying someone he doesn’t like?”

You say exactly what Melt hadn’t wanted to hear most, “he’s in love with her.”

“And what makes you say that?” Asks Melt, hoping you don’t hear the shakiness in his voice.

“Follow his gaze.”

Fall in love with someone compassionate.

---

Exactly As I Am

My Dearest,

I used to think that I would want the person I loved to love me in return. That I would want them to remember my name. I’ve found that simply getting to know you is enough for me.

Yours Truly

---

“Don’t you think purple hair is kinda tacky?” You ask, tilting your head to the side playfully, a teasing look in your eyes. Your taunt is childish at best and downright cruel at worst but Narushima Melt does his best to try and take it in stride. He knows you’re doing it on purpose because you want to see if he’ll lose his cool.

That you’ll push and prod him because you can.

Anyone else would have either been ignored or promptly escorted away from Melt’s sight. Why should he have to sit there and listen to someone make fun of him, much less a photographer meant to be taking photos of him.

Melt frowns ever so slightly, “it’s not the hair colour I picked.”

You’re lucky you’re not just anyone.

A renowned photographer known for shooting her Muses up into fame faster than a rocket gets shot up into space. If Melt plays his cards correctly he might even manage to score a role in the upcoming movie with that Director you took photos of a few years ago. All he has to do is make it through a few more of the excruciatingly long photo sessions with you (they’re not actually that long) and he’ll be set. Or at least that’s what his manager tells him.

“True.”

Melt raises an eyebrow.

“Purple doesn’t suit you very well.”

Ugh.

Why do you have to always know exactly what to say to push his buttons all the time?

You’re the most annoying photographer ever! How anyone ever managed to put up with you in the first place, Melt isn’t sure. Honestly it’s a miracle you even managed to convince someone to be your muse in the first place, much less 12 (or was it 13) other people.

“Melt,” you hum his name teasingly as you reposition him into a different stance, “aren’t you going to answer me?”

Fine.

If you’re going to insist on being like that then so is he.

“And where’d you get an opinion like that?” Taunted Melt.

You smile easily, seemingly amused, “a magazine,” your hands gently gliding over his own as you position them in where you deem is the perfect place.

“It seems you’re just another bee.”

You laugh softly, “I am quite fond of honey.”

Melt has to do a double take.

You seem to have taken it in stride though Melt isn’t sure if you’ve actually misunderstood the insult or not. Sometimes you do like to play dumb but he can’t figure out if you’ve actually misunderstood what he was saying or not.

Truthfully, Melt isn’t actually mad at you for calling his hair tacky but the topic a sensitive one for him. One of the other models he’d been modeling with had made fun of his hair the other day and ever since then Melt’s been debating on changing it. He obviously won’t because then the others would know that they got to him and he definitely won’t give them that satisfaction but it did put him in a bad mood.

None of the other models or staff on set had stepped up to defend Melt forcing him to take all the criticism.

To hear that you were simply just following their lead now did nothing to help his already crumbling self-esteem.

Seeming to understand the turmoil going on in Melt’s head you break out into laughter, “you’ll find the life of a worker bee to be quite a fulfilling one.”

Melt’s heart does a weird fluttering thing at your laugh which only makes his scowl deepen, “fulfilling is a nice way of saying boring.”

“And what’s wrong with being boring?”

“Everyone wants to be special.”

“Special people,” you smile teasingly, “don’t get insulted when they’re called boring.”

        I used to wanna be         Living like there’s only me         But now I spend my time         Thinking ‘bout a way to get you off my mind         I used to be so rough         Never really gave enough         And then you caught my eye         Giving me the feeling of a lighting strike

“Would you consider doing shots underwater?”

“What?”

You poke your head out from behind the camera, “underwater shots! I’ve been wanting to try underwater photos. I got a waterproof camera recently and wanted to try it out. So I was wondering if you wanted to take some underwater shots.”

“No.” Melt shakes his head, “I don’t want to do it.”

“Aw, come on! I promise I’ll be quick!”

“You’re never quick when it comes to taking photos.”

“That’s because you only see me when I take photos in a professional setting! I’ll have you know that I can take photos in a timely manner when I try to.”

Melt chuckles, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

You snap a shot, “so you’ll do it?”

“No.”

“Lame~”

Melt scowls, “don’t you have any other people you can ask?”

“I do,” you snap another shot of Melt, “but I don’t want to ask them.”

Melt turns his head away from the camera lens.

You snap another shot.

“Did you spend a lot of time with your other Muses?” Melt asks, attempting to redirect your attention.

“Well, I did have to spend time with them so that I could take photos of them.”

“But did you spend a lot of time with them, outside of the studio?”

“I didn’t take all of my photos in a studio. Actually, I took at least half of them at the moment sporadically. Always searching for the perfect angles you know? Always in the pursuit of something greater than what we already have.”

Melt nods but he doesn’t actually get what you’re saying.

“But yeah,” you hum softly as you move from one camera to the next, “I did spend a lot of time with each of the muses. Some more than others, of course.”

“Do you still talk to them?”

“Some of them.”

Melt wonders what the expression on your face was when you answered him. If you got a sad misty eyed look or if you smiled ever so gently in a way that people do when they’re happy about what happened rather than being sad that it ended. Or maybe your face didn’t change at all, staying neutral and stoic.

You seem more like the kind of person to not linger very long in the past which is actually kind of ironic because you’re a photographer. And what are photos if not moments of the past frozen in time?

“Am I a Muse?” Melt asks suddenly.

“Do you want to be?”

Melt shrugs, “I mean, I know you take photos of people all the time and do a bunch of photoshoots like this with people that don’t end up being Muses but… I guess I was just curious. It doesn't matter much anyways.”

“It matters to me.”

Melt swears that if his heart keeps fluttering like that he’s going to end up ruined.

        Look at me now, I’m falling         I can’t even talk, still stuttering         This found I’m on, it keeps shaking         Oh, oh, oh, now!

You step out for a moment when your manager comes running into the room speaking to you about something important. Melt hopes it’s nothing too serious and watches anxiously as you head out. It’s rare that something pulls you away while you’re in the middle of a shoot and even rarer for you to leave without mentioning something to Melt. It’s so rare that this is the first time it’s ever happened.

Melt left speechless as your manager follows you out of the room.

Well, hopefully it won’t be anything too bad. Maybe there was an important call you were expecting? But then wouldn’t you have said something to him earlier? And it wasn’t like you to be forgetful about things like that.

If Melt really needs to know then your manager will probably tell him.

Right?

On another note, Melt was pretty surprised when he saw how small your management staff was. Consisting of only two people. Your co-managers as you called them. One to help you manage your schedule and the other to help you manage your work life balance. Melt bets that you would probably spend your entire day just taking photos of things if you could.

Most people don’t actually know that you have two managers. Your second one prefers to keep more in the background of things. But that makes sense. Most photographers don’t even have managers in the first place. Only the really famous ones, which you happen to be.

Melt was very surprised when he heard that you weren’t with a publishing company or distributing company of some sort. That you preferred to keep things small and freelance if you could. Melt knows that he certainly would have signed with the best group he could have if he were in a position like yours.

He supposes the fame just never mattered as much to you.

“Is everything okay?” Melt asks as you come back into the room.

“Hm?” You’re out of breath slightly as you turn to Melt, “did you say something?” Wow. Melt’s always known you were pretty, thought you were pretty when he first met you, but right now he suddenly finds himself wanting to press his lips to your own. He isn’t really all too sure why either. He just knows that his heart is racing and his head is pounding. It feels like he was the one running around rather than you.

“No,” Melt turns away from you, “nothing. Let’s just get on with the next set of photos. Where do you want me to stand?”

        All I wanna be, yeah, all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah         Is Somebody to you         All I wanna be, yeah, all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah         Is somebody to you         Everybody's tryna be a billionaire         But every time I look at you, I just don’t care         ‘Cause all I wanna be, yeah, all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah         Is somebody to you

“Tilt your head up a little higher.” You request.

Melt tilts his head back while you alter the lens of the camera. He watches curiously as you scramble around with the lighting, running from light to light and changing the settings. Most photographers have teams of people to do it for them but you always seem to prefer to do everything yourself.

Melt can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not.

On one hand it shows that you like to get your hands dirty. Do all the heavy lifting yourself. But, on the other hand, it displays that you’re kind of a control freak; thinking that you can do everything better than the people around you.

Caught up in his own thoughts Melt doesn’t realise that you’re standing behind him until your hands are readjusting his shoulders.

“Lean a little more to the left and direct your gaze this way.” You direct, placing your hands gently on his face as you position in the right spot exactly.

You’re definitely a control freak.

And a little needy.

Melt’s surprised at how your hands feel. Usually your touches are fleeting and over top of his clothing. You’re always making sure to maintain a professional distance between yourself and the people around you. It makes sense. Wouldn’t want to get into a scandal or anything through miscommunicating or a touch that lingers a little too long.

But sometimes, just sometimes, Melt wants your touch to linger just a little longer.

Especially right now as your hands reposition his face.

They’re not exactly soft but they're not rought either. A nice inbetween. Just enough texture to have him curious about what kinds of things you do for fun. Obviously you’re holding cameras all the time but there must be other things that you do. Maybe you just don’t like to lotion your hands? Or you’re an avid swimmer?

“Don’t lean forward so much, Melt.”

Oh shoot.

He does his best to bite back a blush.

He doesn’t do a very good job though as you quickly catch onto his change in demeanour.

“Oh, that’s a nice expression.”

“(Y/n),” Melt frowns.

“Hm?”

He doesn’t say anything in response, the words once again alluding him. Melt doesn’t get tongue tied often… well maybe he does. He’s not much of a speaker in the first place but it gets a little annoying when he wants to talk to you. When there’s things that he wants to say to pretty girls like you.

“Have you ever been in love before?” You ask, whispering softly as you lean in towards Melt.

Melt rolls his eyes, “you’re annoying.”

“What?” You pout playfully, “I was just curious.”

“Yes,” Melt huffs, “if you must know. Yes, I’ve been in love before.”

‘SNAP!’

“Hey!” Melt exclaims, “you said you would tell me before you take photos.”

“Sorry,” you say though it’s obvious you aren’t actually sorry, “I liked that expression you made. You don’t make it very often.”

“You’re lucky I’m nice.”

“The luckiest~”

        I used to run around         I didn’t want to settle down         But now, I wake each day         Looking for a way that I can see your face         I’ve got your photograph         But baby, I need more than that         I need to know your lips         Nothing ever mattered to me more than this

“I think that’s enough photos for the day,” you said, turning off the bright spot lights. Melt nods, getting down from the chair you had seated him in and starting to take off the clothes he’d been dressed in, leaving him in a simple shirt and pants.

You fiddle around with the equipment. Twisting chords together and placing cameras into their proper cases.

Usually Melt would immediately make his way off set. He never was one to linger. But today he finds his feet planted to the ground as he watches you move around. When he first met you he had assumed you weren’t all that familiar with this industry world. You were so standoffish and aloof when speaking to the other people on set and even more so when speaking to him. In retrospect, Melt suppose that might’ve been because you wanted to see his character.

Watching you now though Melt can see just exactly how wrong he was. You move so smoothly and efficiently as if you’ve been doing this for a long time. You have a good understanding where everything is and you’re calm.

“What’re you doing after this?” Melt asks, moving to stand beside you.

“Curious about something other than yourself?” You teased.

Melt frowns, “I don’t only think about myself! I also consider the feelings of the cast and crew! Well,” Melt looks down to the ground, “at least I do now.” Despite knowing you’re only teasing you seem to always somehow hit the hard hitting topics. He supposes that he should be used to that though.

“Only teasing, Mr. Airplane.”

“Hey!”

“Hm?”

“You said you wouldn’t call me that anymore!”

“I lied~”

Melt snorts, “you’re such a brat.”

“Guilty as charged~” You seem to have finished packing everything up as you throw a jacket over your shoulders and sling a polaroid camera around your neck. The polaroid camera is the first thing that catches Melt’s attention. It reminds him of those brightly coloured ones that he used to see in commercials when he was young. Instafilms or something like that. One of his younger cousins had had one of them always taking pictures at the worst of times.

Your own camera looks a little on the older side. Looks a little beaten up but well loved and taken care of.

From all the photographers that Melt’s met he can definitely say that you’re the most in love with your work. The only one that seems to always have a camera within arm’s reach. Always searching for the perfect moment to capture and share with the rest of the world. He might even go as far as saying you’re not like any other photographer he’s ever met if that didn’t sound so cliche.

“Hey,” Melt leans against the door as you go to open it, “you never answered my question.”

You give him a raised eyebrow but your eyes sparkle in amusement, “didn’t think you cared.”

“Why would I ask if I didn’t care?”

“Touche.” You move to open the door.

Melt doesn't move, he’s not going to let you get away this easily, “well?”

        Look at me now, I’m falling         I can’t even talk, still stuttering         This ground I’m on, it keeps shaking         Oh, oh, oh, now!

“Not used to not getting what you want, huh?” You tease.

“Haha,” Melt rolls his eyes, “very funny.”

“Well I certainly think so~”

You always did like making things more difficult than they needed to be. Why else would you insist on doing all the crew work yourself? You, if anyone, could have very easily assembled a crew attuned to your every need and want with your fame alone. Heck, you probably had people lining up to work for you if you really wanted.

Melt thinks that that’s likely the most interesting thing about you though. The fact that you do all these seemingly crazy (and oftentimes stupid) things without explaining yourself. He remembers reading an interview from you. You answered every question in an open ended way. Leaving lots of room for interpretation. Never directly or outright saying things. You definitely got off on leaving people confused, that's for sure.

Melt, believe it or not, had actually done a little bit of research on you the other day.

He didn’t like how you never answer many of his questions so he had gone off and looked for information himself. You were from a suburban town near one of the larger cities. Grew up with your first Muse, the Soldier. Attended university with the Storyteller and Auteur. Traveled around the world.

Overall, there wasn’t much information on you but that’s what Melt had been expecting. The most he found about you came from the quotes of your muses, specifically the Mentalist. Back when your fame was first rising it was the Mentalist that did most of the promoting of your skills and talents. So much so that your names are practically synonymous with one another’s.

“So, are we just going to stay here all night?” You ask.

“Fine,” Melt opens the door, “but you’re coming with me to my next set.”

“What? Why?”

“Just,” Melt blushes, “just because.”

He thanks his lucky stars that all you do is smile and nod, deciding not to push the topic any further, “sure. Whatever you say, Mr. Airplane.”

Melt walks ahead of you, not wanting you to see his flushed face, “so who’s been your favourite Muse?”

“My favourite Muse?”

“Yeah, you know. Which one of your Muses did you like the most?”

“I don’t have a favourite. I like each of my muses differently. It’s unfair to compare them like that.”

“Come on,” Melt gives you a playful nudge, “everyone has a favourite. Don’t give a cliche answer like parents do whenever they get asked which child is their favourite. I’m sure there was one that you liked working with more than the others.”

“Well if we’re going to specially say which one I liked working with the most then it would have been The Mentalist.”

“Why?”

“He was easy to work with. Understood the industry and was there to help me feel better about all the mistakes I made.” You get a fond smile on your face that Melt hasn’t seen before. It makes his heart skip a beat.

“And,” Melt swallows, “which one of your Muses was the… funnest to work with?”

“The Storyteller.”

“And the best looking?”

“Objectively? Or based on my own preferences?”

“Your own preferences.”

“The Dancer.”

“Then what about objectively?”

You smile teasingly, “the Dancer, still.”

Melt’s mood begins to sour but he can’t exactly understand why.

“You know,” you hum, “these are never heard before answers.”

“Oh?”

“Definitely,” you explain, “I don’t just go around and answer questions directly~ I prefer to leave things up to speculation. So don’t go around and tell everyone or else I might get some angry calls from my Muses.”

Melt laughs at that.

        All I wanna be, yeah all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah         Is somebody to you         All I wanna be, yeah, all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah         Is somebody to you         Everybody’s tryna be a billionaire         But every time I look at you, I just don’t care         ‘Cause all I wanna be, yeah, all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah         Is somebody to you

“So, what’re you going to call my series of photos?” Melt asks, leaning against the wall.

“Hm,” you lean on the wall beside him, “what do you think I should call it?”

“The Model?”

“What? I was teasing earlier about your hair being tacky but that title is definitely too tacky!” You sigh dramatically, “I’d never recover from the humiliation of using a title as rudimentary as ‘The Model.’ I can already hear the criticism of the press.”

Melt snorts, “as if some of your titles aren’t already tacky. The Detective and The Violinist, just to name a few.”

“Those titles are who they are.”

“And I’m not a model?”

“You’re so much more.”

Melt feels his cheeks flush. He wonders if you can see how red his cheeks are between the dim lighting and makeup that had been applied to his face earlier on. You probably don’t because you likely would have taken the chance to tease him as you usually do. He’s thankful that you don’t. He’s not sure he’ll be able to live down this level of embarrassment… ever. To think that someone like you would be able to make him blush like a middle school boy with his first crush.

His heart’s fluttering dramatically.

Is this a normal feeling?

Melt isn’t all too sure anymore.

“I’m thinking, The Pilot.” You say suddenly.

Melt turns to look at you standing beside him. You’re closer than he thought you were - just barely a breadths width away from his arm touching your own. He’s obviously used to you touching him (always politely and properly) from the photoshoots but this feels different. Doesn't have that same professional distance. Doesn’t have that same context.

“The Pilot?” Melt asks, “like an airplane Pilot? Wait, is this because you always call me Mr. Airplane?”

“No,” you laugh, “like the first episode of the show.”

“Tacky.” Melt teases.

You give him a playful shove, “the Pilot because all the shows you star in fail after airing the first episode.”

Melt pouts, “low blow.”

“Obviously I’m only teasing,” you smile fondly, “the Pilot because I want this to be the first episode in a long career for you.”

Wow.

He kind of hates how you’re able to switch so easily between a stoic and serious personality and a calm and collected one. How you’re able to go from pouting to romantic in seemingly a matter of seconds. He definitely hates how he’s probably not the first.

Obviously, not being one to be outdone, Melt leans down and whispers into your ear, the same way you’d done earlier before, “have you ever been in love before?”

You smile, “of course.”

“Yeah,” Melt says, “that’s what I expected.”

“You know,” you hum thoughtfully, “you aren’t the first one to ask me a question like that. I always thought I looked like someone that falls in love easily so it always surprises me when someone asks me a question like that.”

Melt frowns, “you aren’t.”

“I don’t look like someone that falls in love easily?”

“You aren’t surprised.”

“Oh? And how do you know that?”

He pulls away in a huff, not really quite sure how to articulate his words. Melt’s never been all that good at saying what’s on his mind and he’s even worse when it comes to girls like you. People like you. That poke and prod in an attempt to see the inner workings of his brain. How can someone else understand what he’s thinking when he barely does himself?

“Smile for me.” You say, holding up your polaroid camera.

Annoyed, Melt gives you a practiced smile.

‘SNAP.’

        Look at me now, I’m fallin’         Can’t even talk still stutterin’         All I wanna be, yeah, all I ever wanna be, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

“Throw it out.” Demanded Melt.

“What?” You hold the photo just out of Melt’s reach, “but you look so cute!”

“No I don’t.”

“Yes you do.”

“No.”

“Hm,” you pull a silver compact from your pocket, “can I keep it if I promise that I won’t publish this with the other photos?”

Melt raises an eyebrow, “you want to keep a photo of me?”

“Course~” You say it as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “who doesn't keep photos of people that are important to them?”

He’s important to you?

His heart skips a beat.

He’s important to you.

And then another.

He’s important to you!

“Want to see them?” You ask, opening up your silver compact.

“See what?”

“My secret collection of photos.”

Melt shrugs, trying his best to seem nonchalant, “why not? You’re going to show me either way.”

There looks to be about a dozen or so photos in the compact that come pouring out when you take them out. Melt is surprised to see that he actually recognizes most of the people in these photos. He’s never seen any of these specific photos before but he knows for a fact that these people are your other Muses.

Some of them are faded.

Others are a little blurry.

But overall they’re all in good condition.

“They’re never before seen by the public,” you explain, “kind of like those photos people keep in their wallets of their loved ones, you know. I did consider keeping them in my wallet but then I thought about how easy it would be to lose (and wallets get stolen all the time) and then they can get damaged much easier. That’s why some of them have yellow stains.”

“Have you shown this to anyone else before?” Asks Melt, slowly flipping through the various polarized photos.

“You’re the first one to see it in a while.”

“Oh,” Melt gives the photos a little shake as if they’ll whisper secrets to him, “who was the last person to see it?”

“The Bookkeeper.”

Oh.

Melt figures it would have been another one of your Muses that would have had the privilege of seeing something so special to you. It’s always the people who matter the most to you that get to see things like this. And a part of Melt has always known that you must have loved the other Muses but it feels a little different to see it with his own eyes. Makes him feel a little less special.

“Anyone else?” Melt asked.

“Just you and the Bookkeeper.”

That makes him feel a little better.

But only ever so slightly.

Fall in love with someone you’ll love forever.

---

Song: Somebody to You Artist: The Vamps, Featuring: Demi Lovato

---

Her: How much?

#oshi no ko #oshi no ko x reader #narushima melt x reader #100 ways to fall in love #someone you loved

[mysteriouslybluepirate]

Criminal Justice (2007)- Episodes 1-5. Watching Con O'Neill's old stuff cause it's fun. Day #? RALPH STONE!

Warnings: Murder. Blood. Drug Use. Needle Use/Injection is shown on the scene. Drunk driving. Accused/discussed sexual assault. Abusive parents, grief, and general bullshit in the justice system.

Should you watch this if you haven't: YES! Five episodes, each being an hour, but if you don't have any issues with the warning, it should be a fun time. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this show and Con is a very important character! He is on screen more than most of his other tv parts and is having a great time. It's a story about one defendant and the shit that goes down as he's tried for the crime.

Special thanks to:

@dianetastesmetal who I chatted with around midway through about the show! (For me it was ~2 in the morning, so it was a whole lot of fun!)

The Usual Suspects! I would love to hear your thoughts about this show down alone! I want to thank all of you for following me and giving me love. Y'all are enabling my current fixation, and I thank you all! If you haven't seen it, just ignore me <3

@sphealybojeely @thedowneyheart @kimpreg @gydima @ivegotnonameidea @treesofgreen @tummy-stab-wounds @mossiestpiglet @sidewalk-scrawls @crybabyclover @

Criminal Justice- EP 1 (Guest starring my brother)

Why does that kid look like Benedict Cumberbatch?

He just needs a haircut. That hair looks awful.

This takes place in 2008 right? 

Why didn't the dad knock?

He's going to go have sex, huh, he's not going to his friend's house. 

Is he going to abuse his position here? Pretend he's a cab driver?

I feel like cab drivers are trained to drop a rando with no destination to a hospital or a police station. 

Also, a situation that's only playful because it's a young woman. If this were a homeless person? This shit isn't flying. 

DON'T SHARE YOUR FUCKING DRINKS WITH A STRANGER??!?!?!

I got to inform my brother that in England they call soft-served ice cream 'whippies' after the popular brand 'Mr. Whippy', to which he just said 'it's a clown land'

DRUGS! Here we go!

This is suspicious as fuck. Don't take her booze! She's a chick you just met! 

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING

NOOOO! NO. NO. NO. KNIFE GAME IS TAPPING, NOT FUCKING STABBING! WTF! 

Society would be a lot further on if we just stopped caring about peer pressure.

WHAT? HE STABBED HER!?!?!?!?!? WHY ARE THEY FUCKING? 

We have seen so much of this man's ass, why? 

We are 12 minutes in?

Oh. She's dead. She's so dead. 

OH SHIT. Yep thats a stabbing

Brother guesses it was the parent, I say ex lover.

God, he's just bad at this

BRO WENT BACK AND NOW HAS A WITNESS?????

This is an actual ACE ATTORNEY CASE WTF

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. HE THEN CRASHES THE CAR? ACE ATTORNEY LEVELS OF DUMB!

Bro, is this your first break in?

Ohhh he's fucked. 

Ohhhhh, this is the cops best day of his life

Oh, good luck defense attorney Con. You better get Phoenix Wright levels of bullshit. 

Oh my god, don't fucking fight the cops. 

Bro, take a nap. It's been a long night. 

OH MY GOD IT'S HIM. 

Hello Con! Lovely to see you. Love the rat man fit. I know it's on purpose, but damn. He looks wet.

This is where my brother bullies the shit out of Con. 

OH I LOVE HIM-He's actually giving good legal advice! The cops are going to do whatever they can to get a false conviction.

'No comment man'- Hard nose solicitor I FUCKING LOVE IT

RALPH STONE! TROLLIN'. I love it. GOD I LOVE IT.

It's so much easier to be quiet when you're nervous. 

Lessons to be learned from this tv show: Don't random desperate women, don't fall to peer pressure, don't say shit to the police. 

They wouldn't have left her body there. They would have taken photos then taken the body out of the house asap. It's weird they've waited so long to investigate. 

Solicitation of evidence. It's illegal to receive testimony from a private source without giving the evidence to opposing council. 

Nice that she packed him a sandwich. 

Why is the shitty cops boss so much taller? That's funny. 

Whelp. RIP Ralph, you did all you could. Having the guy almost assault a police officer isn't fun.

OHHHHH!!!!!! RALPH I LOVE IT- GOOD GOD IS HE FUN

Oh this whole detective thing feels illegal. Without his attorney to represent him.

Yeah. Sure. Don't get buddy-buddy with the guy who wants to put you away for years.  

IS THIS DETECTIVE A VILLAIN? Oh, he likes you? FUN.

They're in a public spot, there is no expectation for privacy and this can be recorded, HAHAHAHAHHAHA. GOOD, HE DIDN'T SAY SHIT. 

It's 2007, a bit of weird transphobia was to expected. 

UHHHHH….. I SWEAR TO GOD. DON'T SWAP ATTORNIES!

CLASSIST BRITISH PEOPLE AHHHHH-

OH I'D BE PISSED!!!!!! RALPH IS SO GOOD!!!!!

Oh good, Ralph corrected himself about his client's name and pronouns, nice. 

Ralph at the end of ep 1-'I looked into his eyes, and we vibed. He can't be innocent'

AWWW RALPH STILL WANTS TO HELP HIM EVEN AFTER HE GOT SCREWED OVER BY HIS POSH LAWYERS! God, I love him. 

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

EPISODE 2: This is where my brother dipped out, but I summarized as much as I could for him. 

I'm going to be honest I skipped through this ep a ton. I generally got the gyst. I'm here for my guy, you know. 

I watched a bit, but this just establishes our protagonist's life in jail. 

I skipped Ralph's scene/ the trial. Seriously the preview in ep 1 gives you the gist. Read a summary. Etc. His roomie is great.  

AHHH RALPHS SMILE. "I don't care what you'd do as a lawyer, just as a human being" AHHH. 

GOD HIS CELLMATE IS SO GOOD.

HAHHHAHHAHAHAHHAH! WTF?!?!?!??! Oh, poor ralph. You guy just blowing up in court.

At this point, if I was Ralph Stone, I wouldn't really believe him, but that's what that whole grin was for. He just knew our guy was innocent!

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

Episode 3

Oh good. Protag was able to deep throat the drugs. 

Ralph! AHHH!! God, he has great outfits in this show. 

WHY DOES RALPH HAVE A FOOT THING? I noticed it earlier, but why are we drawing attention to it. 

Oh good, Ralph doesn't want to senselessly tarnish a dead girl's name. Nice. 

THAT FACE! Uh, the reluctant face! Chewing on the lip! 

Ralph! AHHH!! God, he has great outfits in this show. 

WHY DOES RALPH HAVE A FOOT THING? I noticed it earlier, but why are we drawing attention to it. 

Oh good, Ralph doesn't want to senselessly tarnish a dead girl's name. Nice. 

THAT FACE! Uh, the reluctant face! Chewing on the lip! Love it.

Ohhh, god. Ralph's a good actor. That's cute. 

OHH THE DETECTIVE ALSO BEING THERE! SHIT. RALPH RUN!

GOD HIM BEING VAGUE AS SHIT TO A WITNESS! I love it. 

'With alpha brain?' What the fuck?

AHHH! I LOVE RALPH. 

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA. I got to see his chest :)

Oh, Ralph doesn't like this at all. But shit. Not much he can do. 

Oh no. It's really not ethical. And this yonger lady is going to mess it up. 

AHAHHAHAAAHAHAAA. THE WIGS! 

Is this inadvertently informing the audience of how fucked the courts can be. Which is both good and bad. People deserve to know exactly what our lawyers know.   

RALPH BEING THE FUCKING SAD DOG MIDDLEMAN THAT NEEDS TO RUN BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM IS SO FUNNY. 

Ralph with glasses gives me life. 

OH SHIT THE FRIEND SHOWED UP?

Okay, this is fun. But maybe let's not make jokes in a murder trial?

I love the one juror struggling to stay awake. Showing that even with all these verbal chess, they still need to convince the jury. 

Hey, babe. If you really fucking hate prison, maybe don't give a shit about how your mom reacts here!

Good on Ralph. Trying to speak up for her. 

(Seeing Ralphs…ex? For the first time) Oh I love them. WHAT ARE THEY ON?

OH SHE MOVED ON, GOD HIS ACTING. A SECOND TO SEE THAT FULL FUCKING FACE JOURNEY! 

Oh good. We can really hate the cops now. I mean, I already did. BUT. 

OHHH DO THEY HAVE FOOTAGE. 

OH, HE COMPLIMENTS RALPH WHEN IT LOOKS GOOD IN FRONT OF THE JURY. 

God I hate her(lead defense lady), but this scene is fun. 

RALPH IS HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME. He's watching the divorced parents fight and he loves it. He should be allowed to smile.

Ha, she's sowing seeds of guilt but that's really not how the law works. 

Ralph-'I told you not to talk two episodes ago, and you do it fucking now?!?!??!?!'

Is Ralph being kinda shitty? Yes. Is there any other option right now? Nope. 

Them showing how mentally I'll people in prison are severely punished without being able to seek help is cool. 

Back to court- OHHHH! SHIT. Yeah, digging at how the medical examiner is only going on prosecution for the state is suspicious as fuck. 

FUCK. ASSHOLE DON'T SAY SHIT! DONT CONTRADICT THE DEFENSE!!!!!

SHIT

Ralph, mentally deciding if now is a good place to just call it a day when his client is just begging to go to jail.

OH ANOTHER FUCKING CON CHARACTER WHO FELL IN LOVE THE WRONG WAY!!?!?!?!??!?!!? Well, that fills out my bingo card. This makes maybe 20 characters. I swear to god, if he ends up sad and alone I will make a Con O'Neill drinking game. 

"Are you calling me a hypocrite?" *Slight head tilt* -ME rolling on the floor laughing

Good on Ralph for staying with him though. 

AWWW. Ralph's an asshole but this is one of the few cases that's gotten to him! I love it. :)

Aww, they are sweet as a couple, but he needs to reorient himself. Find his own center and work on not 'always looking for doubt' before moving on. 

OH GOD! Don't fucking smile Con. It's mean. To me. Personally. 

AHHH! HIS TICKS WHEN HE'S LYING! Okay, that's funny as shit. I love him.

It's good that the main defense younger lady and the defendant trust each other. AND CON'S GRIN!

Say what you will, this man loves his job

OH SO YOU'LL LET THE SENIOR DEFENSE CHAT AND BE EXTRA BUT NOT THE JUNIOR! RUDE!

OHHHH SHIT THEY GAVE HIM BACK (the inhaler) EVIDENCE

AHHHHHHH!H!H!H!H!HH!H!HH HE TOOK EVIDENCE BITCH! It proves that he stayed in her bed

RALPH SMILING AHHHH!H!H!H!H!H!HH!

Oh they're getting him addicted to drugs to keep him loyal. Whelp. That's going to ruin him.

EPISODE 4:

Why is Ralph going into his clients home? 

Ralph(I'm paraphrasing)- Look, I'm a hard ass. I'm a dick who usually has guilty clients and does what he can to abuse loopholes and police mistakes to get them free. If I have a gut feeling, that really fucking matters. So I'm going to do what I can. 

Yeah, the neighbor did it

OHHHH! SHE PULLED RANK ON RALPH AHAHAHAHAHHAHA

Stone is pissed, and doesn't want to freak out in court. OR HE'S GOING TO EXAMINE A WITNESS?

What act is he playing here? I love it. He's being a clever cheeky bastard. Knowing how people want to treat court like they're the important heros that can save the day! AHAHHAH! I love it. 

"Are you the kind of person-"- SHUT THE FUCK UP-He's just trying to establish his character before crushing it.

OHHH THEY ARE ABUSING THE SHIT OUT OF HIS COYNESS AND NERVOUSNESS WHEN TALKING ABOUT SEX. 

AND HE'S HIDING EVIDENCE

Ralph, I love you. Babe. This is the kind of trust in the justice system I need. 

Another court scene goes by without note. But Ralph shows up? Oh boy, I'm typing. 

OOOOHHHH RALPH GETS TO BE A DETECTIVE!

SCENE SKIP

WHY ARE THE CLIENT AND YONGER LADY DEFENSE ATTORNEY SMOOCHIN? EXCUSE ME? ISN'T THAT AGE GAP WEIRD??!?!?!??!?

Oh good. Ralph. 

OH MY GOD HIM FUCKING SITTING ON THE TABLE? Me Moment. Queer? Coded. I'm assigning it to him. I'm giving him an honorary badge even though this is probably one of his straightest roles. 

Ralph- "I like getting my clients off." YEAH so does she! *Ba Dumb Tisk*. See, Ralph is smart. Get entangled with others in the arm of the law, not your fucking client. 

Scene passes without note. But a few prison scenes go by. 

GLASSES!!!!!! Look at them! THE EXAMINER GENUINELY HELPED. I'd also be smiling at him like that. 

Aww, Ralph's trying to ask without asking to hang out with a friend. 

Skipped a bit. Back in court. 

AWW Ralph and the yonger female defense attorney leaning together to chat. 

BRO HE IS SO WHIPPED FOR THE EXAMINER! I LOVE THIS!!!!!

THAT FUCKING SMILE. GOOD FOR HIM! GOOD FOR HELLEN! I love that they're immediately like, yeah, this might be a conflict of witness BUT. She still has a point.

I WOULD BE SWAYED BY HIS CHARM! I HAVE BEEN SWAYED BY HIS CHARM.

DAMN. Good on the friend/witness. 

Oh wow, the cellmate is just as shitty and corrupt as everyone else? I'm shocked. 

I love Ralph trying his best here. 

"You're 46 years old, what do you know about justice?" :0. WOW.

OH SHIT THIS MIGHT FUCK THIS ALL UP. CALLING IN THE DAD IF HE HAS AN ALIBI

OHHHH FUCK. RALPH IS A SECOND FROM STEPPING IN. 

OHHHH FUCK. GOOD ON HER. CALL THE DAD OUT FOR BEING ABUSIVE. 

FUCK if they pull her in the case is fucked. 

YEP RALPH SEES IT! SHIT!!!!!! 

EP 5: 

JURY CONSIDERING VERDICT! 

HI RALPH! LOVE YOU BABE!

Hour and a half deliberation is good! 

Yeah, I should have seen that coming. 

WHELP. SHIT. 

He's going to kill himself within a year. Calling it now. 

That moment when you work the same job as our prisoner protagonist 😐. Hey, don't dis a dishwashing job, protag. It's nice and easy.

HI CON! 

"'Self-deprecating jokes get you out of hard questions'- avoids the question by shoving toast in his mouth"-me. God, I was messaging @dianetastesmetal during this bit. Who pointed out how loving these characters is a form of self-love, and I will partially embrace it. Maybe I just want to see a man with a nice chest and a nice smile huh! ;)

Oh good, the protagonist is doing more drugs. Love that

GLASSES! I AM BACK ON MY WHORE SHIT. 

The hugging of the book! THE GRINNING! AHH!

This is why Ralph is emotionally distant, 'cause he's lost good cases before. HAHAHAHHA HE CAN'T LET IT GO. 

AHHHHH!H!H!H!HH!!H  THE TUFTED-UP HAIR ENTERING THE PRISON!

OH SHIT! RALPH INVESTIGATING THEIR RELATIONSHIP! He's asking the protagonist to sell out his legal advisor! 

No, RALPH IS SO RIGHT! She abused her station and got too close. 

Oh good. Another arm of the law is weird around police reports and evidence. Great.  

AHHH! Her sewing that little tidbit in the cop's head! She's onto him! 

Yeah, good on our protag to stand up for himself. 

Cellmate is going to get killed cause he knew too much, huh. 

Hey, good on the cop for looking into it a bit more. Still a jackass. But you know. 

Skipped a few scenes without note.

OHHH SHIT HE FILED THE SUIT!!!!!!! GOOD ON RALPH! We love a man who cares about giving justice to his client. 

'Frances- out for blood after Ralph is about to ruin her career'

 'Ralph-Half passed out on a couch with a rag over his eyes, already done with this conversation. Ready to throw every insult she directed to him back into his face.'

Ralph knew to get romantically entangled with a medical examiner and not a fucking witness.

GET IT RALPH! God, good for him. SHE ABUSED HER POSITION! She took everything they worked for and threw it all away. She didn't let their client find justice. 

Yeah, cellmate's about to die, huh. 

OHHHH SHIT! GET IT!!!!!! Good on him! Yeah, he's going to get murdered, but good on him. MURDER THAT BASTARD! 

OHHH SHIT. THE ASSHOLE COP HELPED THE MOB! 

GOOD ON THE CHIEF FOR CALLING HIM OUT! DAMN! 

Oh, wow. Ben's life is ruined. He's hooked on drugs, and he thinks he has no prospects in life. 

Now he can't fall asleep without listening to the radio.

Hi Ralph. Why are we talking about your feet? 

Frances is fucked essentially. 

Yeah, going in for a mistrial was the right option. 

Yeah, no. Nothing would have changed if Ben told Ralph the truth the moment they met. Good on Ralph! Giving our protag a bit of closure on this whole thing. Telling that none of this was really his fault.  

Yep. He had his last few free years of youth ripped from him. 

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

Final thoughts:

I think the fact that this was a mob member being the real murder and that it was covered up was the real thing here. The entire point and moral the audience was meant to learn. It didn't matter if Ben had the best case, the entire Crown was against him. Ralph and his team could have been the best defense lawyers in the world and it still would have gotten buried. I'm happy the final evidence came out, obviously, but Ben was fucked over in so many ways. Now what life does he have? He lost his friends, his trust in his family, and is now destined to fall back into the system he knows. It's a shame. 

Con: 11+/10. Long hair AND glasses AND he's Exhausted! Perfect role. I want him. I want to be him. He's divorced, and sad, and I love it.

Ralph saved this series for me personally. He was so much fun. I will be updating the Con list here soon to include bit TV roles. Ralph is going to be high on my ranking. We are given a Con character who has REAL impact on the story, introduces the audience to the rules of this world, AND GETS A HAPPY ENDING! It's brilliant. Obviously, there are moral issues to him being such a good defense attorney to allow criminals to get away, but this whole story was about giving Ralph a different perspective. He's a slime-ball but he's not totally against change. Willing to look at other perspectives. He started to genuinely care about his client, and didn't treat it as some weird game of chess. Him genuinely helping the younger defense attorney was nice, especially because he rarely blew up at her for her choices. He did his best to help where he could and didn't take things personally when shit blew up. 

Con's acting here is so fun and fluid! I hate being a person that ties OFMD into everything, but this is kind of what I want Izzy to become. Con's allowed to be fun! He's allowed to be mad, suspicious, have doubt etc. There are a few scenes that got me chuckling just by his face! He feels really confident and comfortable in this role. He talks with his hands! He's a dick, a total slime-ball, but he really cares about getting things done right! I love it. 

Everyone else: 8/10. Nothing really stood out besides our protagonist, and after a quick google, he won an award for this role. Which is deserved. He does great. I liked the characters the show wanted me to like, and vice versa. 

Story 7/10: Intriguing. I had fun, but this show sits more in the turn off your brain and gets swept along by the bullshit, vs trying to solve it yourself. 

Overall. 9/10: I highly recommend it if the tags don't worry you. Con is in this enough to justify a Con watch. I have a thing for Professor esk Con. I will not be ashamed about that. His whole speech about how he was perceived was nice. Now, this is about five hours of commitment, but If you need something longer I'd recommend it.

#ralph stone #criminal justice (2008) #con oneill #con o'neill #ralphposting #criminal justice #I want his gender. #Con's Conography

[it-happened-one-fic]

One Hell of a Team - Childe

Author Notes: This one kind of halfway stemmed from a song by AmaLee & Divide Music called "One Hell of a Team." It's actually a song for a fandom I know nothing about but listened to while writing this. It was actually interesting writing for this character. The debate about whether to call him Childe, Tartaglia, or Ajax was a difficult one. As per usual reader is gender-neutral. Also I decided to start including word counts in my posts to give everyone a length estimate. I might go back through and them to past works at some point.

Type: Fluff/slight flirtation, romance hinted

Word count: 1465

Childe, Tartaglia, Ajax. The eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers went by several different names and at this point I didn’t even know which one was the real one. But his numerous titles were fitting considering the many masks he donned for his duties. To some he was a murderer, to others he was a comrade, and to some he was a brother. But to me…. To me he was a pest.

“Y/n!!” I turned to see the redhead trotting over, one hand waving in the air as he grinned at me. How he managed to find me whenever I was working on a commission was beyond me. But he always showed up with some excuse. Taking care of Fatui business, out for a walk, avoiding a coworker. You name he’d said it. But I’d come to realize quite some time ago that he merely showed up to bug me. 

Well… That and I always ended up fighting something on my commissions. 

I sighed, stopping in my tracks as he bounded up alongside me like a rather excitable dog. His oddly flat blue eyes, which I’d learned the hard way he could be quite touchy about, managed to show a faint glimmer as he came to stop next to me.

“Fancy seeing you here,” I ignored the flirtatious lilt to his words and rolled my eyes slightly. 

“Quite.”

He had the gall to grin at my flat tone, “So what daring deed are you venturing off to do today? Mind if I tag along?” I glanced over, barely meeting his gaze before I quickly broke eye contact.

It was hard to maintain eye contact with him. He always seemed to take it to mean something since he was always reading into every single action anyone took. Even if it didn’t actually have any meaning to it. 

“There’s been sightings of some aggressive Geovishaps in this area and rumors of a missile wielding monster which is probably a Ruin Guard.” I voice was calm as I answered him but in truth I was carefully watching him, gauging his reaction to my words.

He frowned slightly but in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it change of expression his somber expression was quickly replaced by his usual smile, “Ah, you really have got to let me come along if there’s a Ruin Guard. My little brother, Teucer, loves those things.”

Ah yes. Teucer. I’d met him briefly and had been incredibly concerned. He’d handed me a bag of money in request to take care of him. Which I did with more than a little confusion and concern. I later found out he’d apparently done this to the Traveler as well but that was neither here nor there.

What was important was that he adored Ruin Guards and was, I was fairly certain, the main reason Childe now liked to follow me around.

“He’d be thrilled if I were to send him a letter about how his nice adventurer buddy and I found some Ruin Guards while on a walk one day.” At Childe’s words I sighed but nodded.

“Alright, you can come along. But this had better not have anything to do with Fatui business I told you-”

“I know, I know. You don’t want anything to do with the Fatui,” I at last met his gaze openly and found he was smiling down at me. Strange, since he usually smirked or grinned. 

Strange until his oddly sweet smile turned conniving and he held up a camera, jostling it slightly, “Buuut you won’t mind it if I take a picture as proof to send to Teucer, Right?”

I could practically feel my eyeball twitch, “If you can manage to get a photo of us and a Ruin Guard without getting killed to send to you brother then be my guest.”

He smirked. Challenge accepted evidently enough. Cocky little-

 “So where are we headed?” His question was speedy, cutting off my less-than kind thoughts as if he somehow knew what I was thinking.

I idly pulled my map out and unrolled as he leaned around me to better see the lines on the paper. Though he didn’t have to get that close…

 “Not far, just right over in these caves,” I pointed towards the proper area on the map, indicating where we were headed.

He let out a hum, reaching around to grip the paper as he scanned it, “And your commission is what exactly?”

This was the odd thing about Childe accompanying me. He always wanted to know the specifics of the commission. According to him it was because he only did jobs if he could totally complete them, but he never accepted any of the reward. 

Instead I was the one that got any and all bonuses for completing the commission beyond the commissioner’s expectations.

His excuse of only doing jobs he would be successful at didn’t make any sense anyway. I knew for a fact he didn’t care what the other harbingers thought of him and I also knew he didn’t mind losing a fight. In fact he always took it as a challenge to get better.

Despite my confusion, I found myself explaining the particulars of the commission, “Kill as many Geovishaps and Ruin Guards as possible and make the area safe again.”

 I watched in vague amusement as Childe made a confused expression, turning his head so he could eye me, “Why does the area need to be safe? No one ever goes that way. It’s not a mine or something is it?”

I shook my head, still studying the map for any additional exits from the caves that I might need to worry about,“No. It is the location of some ruins that are of interest to some excavators though.”

“Famous ruins?” His eyebrows rose as he questioned me and I grinned despite myself. There it was. The legendary lack of knowledge of Childe who had been staying in Liyue for at least a year now.

I nodded in response to his question, “Very, they supposedly have something to do with Rex Lapis’s achievements during the Archon War.” 

To my surprise he grinned, at last releasing my map and straightening from his half-bent position, “So there might be treasure hoarders?”

I felt my smile fall as understanding slapped me upside the head. He was hoping for more opponents. As if Geovishaps and Ruin Guards weren’t enough. 

I shook my head, rolling up my map and slipping it back into my bag, “I certainly hope not. That would be a few too many opponents for me.”

His arm fell across my shoulders, an unexpected weight that almost made me stumble as my eyes widened at its appearance, “Don’t worry about it Comrade. I can handle any excess opponents that you can’t.”

I glanced up, sighing slightly at his confident smile. I received a wink as soon as I made eye contact which caused me to shake my head and look away, before smiling despite myself. But he didn’t need to know that.

Despite his annoying nature, Childe was right, I thought to myself. He was reliable when it came to a fight.

These were thoughts that I soon regretted. 

We had beat everything and he’d even managed to get the picture, but at what cost? There had been three Geovishaps, one ruin guard, and a whole motley crew of treasure hoarders. We had beaten all of them but we’d also destroyed a fair bit of what was already ruins. I could only hope that none of it had been important.

I was huffing as I pulled my sword out of the last Geovishap. Childe waltzed over, a cocky grin on his face as his weapons disappeared, “Tired Y/n?”

I rolled my shoulders and nodded, not even bothering to hide it, “Naturally, look at everything we had to fight.” I gestured to the corpses of Geovishaps and still steaming Ruin Guard Childe had just slaughtered.

Luckily the treasure hoarders had fled after just a bit of fighting with me and Childe. That didn’t mean it had been any less tiring though.

Unbothered as ever, Childe grinned and walked around behind me. One hand landing on my shoulder while the other extended out and gestured to the scene I just pointed out to him, “‘And look at everything you and I beat together.”

Especially when I’d been dodging boulder sized chunks of wall that the ruin guard had broken up during its attacks.

I’d nearly been crushed. Twice.

I glanced towards him just as he leaned around me so he was looking directly in my eyes with dull blue ones. Our noses were almost touching.

 I blinked in surprise at his closeness and leaned back slightly which only seemed to make him grin more, “We make one hell of a team huh?”

#Childe x reader #Genshin impact #Genshin impact x reader #Childe #tartaglia #Ajax #Fatui are mentioned #Gender-neutral reader #Reader is an adventurer #Teucer is mentioned #Tartaglia x reader #Ajax x reader #Childe x Y/n #Childe x you #Tartaglia x y/n #tartaglia x you #Ajax x y/n #Ajax x you #Genshin impact childe #genshin impact x y/n #Genshin impact x you #mywritings #fanfic #One hell of a team #Amalee #divide music #Liyue #Geovishaps and Ruin guards mentioned