#Dewy Globes

[christiebenker]

Dewy Globes

‘Dewy Globes’ installed within RMIT’s gallery, 2023

Untitled (01-03, of the collection ‘Dewy Globes’), watercolor, sumi ink, and gouache, on 9” x 12” cotton paper, 2023

#Dewy Globes #RMIT #Dance #Video #Performance art #Painting #Electro acoustic #Music #Animation #Experimental #2023 #Christie Benker #The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology #Melbourne #Australia #Youtube

[getodrools]

𐙚 DRUNK IN LOVE. VARIOUS J. KAISEN! — in which, getting tipsy with your boyfriend is fun! especially when your eyes begin to glaze over with a little need…

PAIRINGS. bf! gojo, geto, nanami, toji, choso x f! reader

| 𝓲. | MDNI ৎ୭ separate smut. hcs and pov. dub con (only cuz both parties are drunk/tipsy) but this is all consensual sex. GOJO: dry humping, spanking, premature cumshot/creampie, he's whiney. GETO: public/bathroom sex, cunnilingus, squirting, he eats it from the back, almost anal? (oops!), he gets nasty. NANAMI: shower sex, cock warming, marking. TOJI: public/car sex, belly bulge, cervix fucking, pussy spanking, fingering. CHOSO: scent kink, dry humping, breeding, it's the curse in him istg, he's also vv whiney.

WORD COUNT –> est 2.4k+

໒꒰ྀི｡•̀ᴗ-꒱ྀི 🗞 OK OK i was obv listening to bae and was rlly inspired to write this ♡ it's kinda sappy and rlly horne ;o

⟡ | SATORU GOJO!

you both know he is a lightweight! gojo can't handle a single shot without tipping a little off to the side… gojo is always extra playful when he gets cold on rocks. he'd giggle and swoon easily – or try to annoy you and make you flustered more than he was before he'd start to mumble off… haggard and glued to you with nimble ideas spontaneously popping in his head, and you'd catch the bright flicker in his blue hues…

it's unavoidable once that switch blows off -- he's unavoidable when crapulous thoughts begin to brew.

gojo has a more dewy glow, almost sweating when he'd start to feel his cock growing in tight confines with little room – embarrassing for someone like him… he'd start to twitch and not just his hands. it'd make his cheeks kiss with a soft pink and pretty eyes to hood low when blood rushed faster the longer he gazed at you. he'd lean back, a little more relaxed with limbs more loose; legs spreading wider, and arms flinging over a shoulder and chair as if all hopes weren't on his own.

but oh, that damn tilt he'd sweep his head down with was evil! he'd peek right over at you through heavy lashes as his hair would cascade like it was payed, even a lose smirk annoyingly pokes at you… gojo couldn't help but squeeze at himself playfully when he'd try to bite at his lip, but the smile growing was unmeasurably too mischievous to hold back when you'd play along...

oh. this was horny sex.

your chest was mashed straight into the first wall of your house – the walk back from your usual date night was just as nasty; he couldn't stop poking and slapping at your ass all the way through… – now sandwiched as his own was pinned into your back, melting right into you, even spiked breath panting at the shell of your ear you could taste… it was sticky.

gojo kept himself stapled against you with no simple movement – it was a burning rub between you both. with his prodding dick meat bulging from his pant leg to the globes of your ass was like a hungry fly in honey. embraced so tightly he'd wind his hips in sync with yours to keep at it, mirroring you as hands fumble to dig at the soft curvature of your hips; squeezing before roving down the valley of your legs.

between fleshy thighs until rough fingers prodded at your wet and exposed lips. gojo chuckled roughly, and without being gentle he started to rub the sensitive skin. 

“wanna… 'm gonna fuck you so — hard.” the little shimmy you poke your ass out with in response was like cables to a car, to his engines firing off – giving you a mean swat. gasping between succinct sensations; his free hand was pinching through the front of your dress, hooking a finger beneath to toy at the puffy hood of your clit… pleasure riding close with delicious ache; still all while the other would drag welts across supple skin.

his kisses were dragging; tongue lapping sloppily against the side of your face with soft lips and almost teeth following. anything after was a subtle shift of piling hot need…

booting your legs further open to pry intentions. your cocktail dress was frilled over your ass. the cold air helped your buzz but the wwhiplash of fat meat irresistibly prodding at your sopping hole tinkered something else in your brain…

he was quick.

he felt thicker as he hotdogged himself between perk your ass. he was eager.

if you could give a peek over your shoulder to see the oozing bulbous tip, you would, and drool… but satoru kept his head at your temple, cheek to cheek, mushing right against you like he was stuck. the wall in front of you seemed to do the same, yet cooled off burning skin as you clung to it.

whispering sweet nothings, “hheeh, i’m cummingg.” gojo chuckled, almost bantering into a whine as battered spunk ribbons out across ridden flesh; hips jutting and without second thought he was dipping his tip between the slippery folds of your cunt. cum still oozing and pushing into you.

your hips rock and your sopping pussy clenches. uttering out long symbols of incoherent spews.

you could feel all of him; tipsy or not, he always filled you up, but inch through inch now felt deeper, practically feeling his hot knot warming you up.

gojo fucked right up into you ‘'til you both gave out – pulling at your arms through orgasm after another… you'd dog at each other until sunrise. clothes lost, and living room torn, and the dining wall stained with your lipstick and sweat prints of your figure…

⟡ | SUGURU GETO!

suguru can handle a few tall glasses before his bangs start to stick to his face. his hair would fall loosely and he'd run lithe fingers through it; flip it to the side, part it, twist it, even tuck some behind his ear – he looks like a nervous schoolgirl when he's buzzed! it's a small safe haven for him – noticing how he can't help but trace along your skin too and squeeze at for reassurance, seeming that's what he craves in a state like this…

he's unusually quiet but just as annoying; tilting his head, hair would fall right over his face but that doesn't stop him from smothering you with kisses. he thinks he looks like a prince kissing his princess – embarrassingly trying to be romantic with lopsided jokes and corny pickup lines. only covering them up with battering doe eyes.

suguru’s eyes tend to lay low and when he'd settle from the first stage of being tipsy – the giggling, the fun… he'd sit with a deep stare. he looks like he's pondering heavily as legs are sprawled wide across from you, and roven jet hair curtaining over most delicate, glowing features. it's soft at first glance; his brows winding up and lips pouting makes him look gentle, but sunken eyes fire off a different disguise… he'd stare at you intently but his lips would curl invitingly — well more of the bulge prodding between bouncing thighs...

it'd make you nervous – a powerful man like him would make anyone nervous. but you knew that feral gaze. it was a killer, and he knew it sparked you up too, a signal for the go, and one move was all you needed to be pounced on. he gets filthy when you gave him the cue.

“getoo... someone is goiing to see.” your hand squeezes at that one playing a dangerous game between your legs, and yet you spread them just a little wider…

too many people crowd the pleasant restaurant geto took you to for a few drinks – nothing more, he said… now his fingers lock into a hook right up your pussy beneath the table. the drinks and plates crowd at the table too, almost hidden in a leather, private booth but your faces were quite the contrary… you bat a worried look but it quickly sulks into a pinch; your eyes shut and lips squeeze in, sucking up that moan threatening to spill out.

suguru slurs. he yearns to feel your cunt sucking him up you right now, almost whining over it… you were right though, no doubt, he was—is making a scene the longer his tongue lapped at your neck like a dog… but it's all he was thinking about; spreading your pussy wide between his fingers – it's such a sight he adores, his eyes even flutter close and chin rests at your shoulder just to image it while your folds silk around him as he plunges working hands beneath your dress.

“heh, ‘s… ‘s ok… -- then let's go somewhere no one— heh, can…” the rogue hics…

. . .

“oh my god— suguru!” your eyes peel back wide as those teasing hands now smash down on your two doughy globes; spreading the supple skin wide just for himself.

he hums and his tongue doesn't hesitate to slide right between them.

your spine shivers at the slime delving between your puffy folds; the swirling of his wet muscle pokes in and flicks up – fucking you raw with his tongue. hot breath sticks to your skin and he almost gasps forgetting to breathe himself, too lost in lapping up the sticky web clinging to your sopping cunt.

you hold dear to the stall with one hand as the other locks a good chunk of hair at the back of his head. you groan as you mush his face closer ‘til the point of his nose tickles at your perk hole. suguru didn't need help but it was hot how needy you were, and it fired him right off the ecstasy cliff.

your eyes pop open wide, feeling him filthy glide up and around and past your perk hole… this was virtuously him, drunk and eating your ass in a bathroom stall… and it was making his dick stiffer by the second.

he bit at the tender flesh, gave it a jiggle, and went back in for more.

suguru knows all he needed was his working mouth to make you fall pliant. you know that too, already feeling your stomach coiling the longer he kept at it; his pace was frantic, yet knew where exactly to set a frenzy.

clapping a hand over your ridden mouth, your knees hook inward and your heart jumps. cunt quivering around nothing in desperate need, he pops a finger in just to feel you spasm… glistening a stream down the strong of his forearm you both pant.

heavy breaths escaped your mouth in short, quick gasps — in rough timing with the movements of your boyfriend continuing to fondle every inch behind you… suguru spat out a wad of spit; adding to the mess, sloppy as is, he tracks it and slurps it back up. the squelching and bubbles foaming echoed as he tongued harder past all your sopping openings, up your spine, and to the soft curvature of your neck.

“wow-- suguru… you're so— oh!” the tall brunette giggles and taps his cock head at your perk, now messy hole.

your hand instinctively grabs at his base, “oh–! not in a… bathroom… y-you wish.” he's too big, and you're too drunk to deal with such a mighty stretch at the moment…

“w-when we-- we get home… sit on my dick? then– please?” geto whines.

⟡ | KENTO NANAMI!

nanami will sip… and sip… and continue to sip on his “only one glass.” ‘til he notices that said glass has now turned into five – somehow. he can't keep up with himself! having such a strong subconscious of being responsible and yet, you'd still have to try to swat at his hands when he'd reach to pour another thinking he can pay attention himself! (he just feels extra relaxed with you is all).

nanami tends to get tipsier than flat-out drunk and when he does, he's surprisingly more laid back. a damper smile fading into features and more hand movement when he rambles on about life. never about work, or anything burdening his spirit – only just between you both. he'd fall pliant into you with future thoughts… he gets sappy.

his tie loosens up and a few buttons are popped from his suit, even his signature glasses get folded and stuffed somewhere. the more content he gets, the more he feels the atmosphere; he'd start to let it sink in, watching and admiring details more finely – like your beauty flaunting up front or to your little giggles – it all relaxes him.

he'd admire sometimes too hard. the liquor catching up. and he'd probably put his glasses back on to hide the droop and hard stare, but they'd steam up as his body does… nanami always gets extra hot when it would burn down his throat, even goring eyes to doe, blonde hair now getting shaggy out from its soft gel, and even his cock gets stiffer than a wedding dick…

“don't fall!” you shout with a giggle as your naked bodies slip around in soap, fondling ever so closely.

“only for you.” nanami almost rolls his eyes at his own line but you suck it right up with a bright smile, just how your cunt sucks his cock right up, warming his base with a sort of adore.

it's been a night, and nanami brought the idea up – a romantic. delicious home-cooked food and a few glasses of wine, tipsy and giggly, now playing around in the shower after a long night, soapy and just as giggly… and with sexes warming each other was just the cherry at the top.

your back presses firm into the marble walls and he doesn't let you worry about the rest of yourself; cradling your lower half close with a strong grip at your thighs that hook around the small of his waist. nanami planted himself between the sweet heat of your legs, bucking a slow rhythm in and out of your cunt, sometimes burying a little too deep your head almost crashes with his…

oh, you both were feeling this… the music from earlier still playing in the living room chants shallowly into the bathroom, both of you were tipsy and just together laughing, fucking raw and loving, cleaning each other through kisses too… content and full, you purr.

“you're so… beautiful. you are like-- no words can explain… you're so—” he was turning red like a little girl. he gets so bubbly when liquor rides his system, but it's softening to see this overwrought man finally loosened up...

“you too.” you're gentle with him… a soft rock in your hips rides up to his pelvis and down to his base. the pudgy walls sucking him in makes the blonde groan, even his head falls snug between the welcoming of your shoulder and neck. pecking ever so gently…

your soapy hands feather up and down nanami’s broad back as stiff dick-meat fills you up. spongey folds slurping wetly around the fat crown adorning your womanhood with a sudden pace – unhurried but enough to feel every nth inch pressing deeply into you.

exactly how this moment intended it to get.

his cock pumps with a soft throb, almost in sync with your walls clenching around him then and here… kento goes on to rock his hips, dragging out achingly longer than intended; too lost in the lodge of his cock stuffing your cunt full when he'd nudge himself right back in – firmly embedding nth throbbing inches of thick pale flesh into your sopping cunt…

“yeah…” he smothers close to you.

biting down a baring mark at your shoulder, you giggle at the sharp teeth skimming at your skin, “don't eat me now.” he hucks a chuckle with you, and he just might the way you cling to him.

“don't tempt me, sweetheart…” nanami still buzzed with a fizz in his brain, seeing how he drooped a nimble smile at you.

panting, his breath fans at the plump of your cheek, whispering sweet nothings as the flow of water trickles between your clashing bodies. a slosh began the longer he kept at it. he nibbles at your bottom lip, playing idly with nimble tongues, and he bucks up into you ‘till the warm water fogged the mirrors…

⟡ | TOJI FUSHIGURO!

you joke how he just might get a beer belly the way he can chug down a liter… and toji would joke right back and still chug another down, again. the older fushiguro doesn't drink much but when he does and has the chance to, he's like an irish man lonely in a pub. he's looking for fun mostly.

toji grumbles, a lot. he’d keep his head locked between stiff shoulders and peer down at his glass, mumbling on about something and anything. he's a brute, cold-stoned usually, sometimes playful… --playful?! he has a set of damn dirty paws on him when he's drinking, and he's fully aware how nasty he can and does get.

toji keeps his tongue playing at his scar when he looks at you; sweat beading at his hairline, and hair itself jostled around almost spiked and fluffed. he looks more haggard than normal; more scruffy and gruff, his build tensing up yet it shamelessly suits him when he hackles. it's manly. and it turns you on. it turns him on that your turned on.

toji has a foul mouth on him too. he gets more verbal, a little more daring with you. almost like his dick is doing all the thinking for instead. even getting bold by mocking to put a baby in you…

toji knew that look. it was more heavier than usual, no less burning. you flaunted it across the bar after a few shots deep into your fun date night, and he couldn't help but drag you outside to fix it.

“toji!” you slur with a pitch. hands slapping around at the windows and legs kicking at the roof… he would've fucked you just as hard over the bar table if he could right then and there, but you both settled into his truck not too far — in the parking lot off the side…

toji pushes his cock deep into you with a force – a kind of drunken power that makes him forget he's a strong man—too strong to just pound into you like a flesh toy… almost breaking a pelvis, he steadies your legs above your head and onto his shoulders, forcing a thick print to knot up. the bulge of his cock-head bashes right against your perk cervix when he found a good footing on the back seat.

struggling to fit his nth-inch bitch breaker into the vice of your cunt, you practically howl. this was a horny, raw fuck… the small space reeked with pure sex the longer you huffed into each other's mouths and it almost added to the high…

the sheer milk creaming and rolling down the thick shaft he pumps with was quickly swallowed up once more as he buried himself back in, stuffing you to the hilt. the car shook on its tires and the windows blurred.

pressing all the way into your guts, you felt lightheaded under the pressure of it all. cunt being abused from below, the jabbing of each inch of his hulking slab of dick-meat at a time deepened — movements in urgency as he worked your pussy wide. you tried your best to work with him, rolling your hips and raising them in time with his jagged gyrations but he held you down. sawing into your slit with haste.

booze impaired your judgment, no doubt, so you didn't notice the figure hovering at the window…

“hey! get outta here with that, you fucking animals!” the owner of the bar tapped his knuckles at the glass. it made you scream, flinch, and huddle into toji’s arm. toji himself didn't move, cock still firm and buried in you... but, he groaned – the audacity to interrupt his session with you, and he looks up; his face pearling with sweat, lips parted and panting, eyes low, not even snapping wide at the owner.

he pops himself out and the owner himself flinched, looking away quickly from the sheer mass dangling between your legs.

‘holy fuck, what. she takes all that?…’

. . .

you giggle into your hands and toji himself gave what happened a good chuckle as he drove off…

“nah, nono... don't think we're done.” toji keeps one hand firm at the steering wheel as the other finds itself back between your legs; slapping them open to give your pussy a good spank before popping a haste finger in. you groan and twist at the electric grope tingling up your spine.

the force of pumping his fingers into you lead to an instinctive bodily reaction, “pretty pussy still wet f’me.” he groans with you, missing the warmth you coated him with. his mouth waters and cock still twitches, but now it aches in tight confines… blue balled in his own damn car… feeling his balls spring up so tightly, ready to just pop, now his groin was left tense and waiting hungrily.

still tipsy and giggly – though he always has had a set of paws when it came to you… so, every stop sign and red light, his fingers played harder between your legs ‘till you both got home… finally left uninterrupted.

⟡ | CHOSO KAMO!

when choso drinks (which is rarely) he is always bound to get tipsy, never flat-out drunk. he enjoys a casual glass of wine here and there, especially when it's only you two. he feels a lot safer near someone (you) who he trusts to see him in such a ridden state.

but he only drinks with you because he knows (you both evidently know) how he can and does get. a sort of “you are women. i am man. we sex.” primal sense kicks into him like a dog. his body is constantly reminding him he has a dick and you have a sopping pussy he could dip right into. he's just meant to pop its knot into you and when he's boozed off the rocks it's all he could think of. it's like the curse in him trying to come out and the liquor riding through his system doesn't help – in his moral case.

choso peaks through fallen bangs; his hair lets loose and gorges into a mess. his eyes burn, almost a cry coming from him. he gets desperate and sweaty, a sort of glow than his usual sulk marinates at his features instead. he paces a little too, the alcohol swimming in his blood makes him shift around a lot; legs spreading open and closing or tapping together, his shoulders dropping, back straightened or hunched, and even to his hands try hard to keep off from you but they never seem to anyways.

choso is usually tame, quiet, and bordering on innocent with high care for his family. but he can become brutally honest. no matter how hard he tries to act fully human, that hard liquor always punches his curse straight in the face and breaks it out of him. as if that's all he ever was. every time. he'd tell you everything, to secrets, to stupid jokes, or how hard you get him, and how badly he needs to flip this table over and fuck you widely until your full.

your hips roll in a slow rhythm, sometimes catching the bump in choso’s pants between your legs...

cruising your clothed cunt against the bare skin of pale thick meat, it was almost antagonizing the way you played with him… lacey panties thin enough to feel your slick ooze through and gloss his shaft, even feeling lips kiss at the soft skin that rolls up and hides his bulbous, blushing tip every time you press against him—teasing him.

his eyes sulk and he left his mouth hanging, “wanna… stuff you… let me cum in you, please.” he needed to, it's where his cum belonged! he could feel his balls pushing up to burp spunk through the crown of his cock. it was aching now.

you've been at this for a while. about nine songs in and two full bottles left empty… enough with the teasing! his cock too hard to be ignored any longer. all the teasing you sauntered around with as liquor poured down your throats added to the fury. choso couldn't take you grinding on his cock anymore, he needed to feel you in this very moment.

that smell, that look. this is who he wanted. right now.

almost a chivalrous code – his cock throbs twice and the warmth of his body pulsing against yours, too close for a drunken curse to not want to lash out then and there… your pretty lips went to whisper out to him, but arms longer than you remembered swoop in like steel talons around your waist; sinking in fast with lithe fingers into your ribs and crushing your body flat into the couch with the haste of swiftness.

he was left on top now. you can see the dark stars in his eyes twinkling past sticking hair. your cunt clenched, feeling her purr with a need catching how he seethed above you hungrily.

choso’s own anchored you down quickly before you could react – his weight-gaining pressure to keep you still from wriggling beneath him, yet you still tempted him, like usual; limbs tossling in fevor and breath gasping into sunken moans.

“please…” choso humped against you raw; his cock clanging against your thighs like a church bell.

you peck at his lips, letting him shift your panties off to the side with a hooked finger. finally. he almost lets out the cutest whine too, sweating as he dips himself in slowly, yet surely.

the stretch was deliciously blissful. he angled his hips just right to make a smooth way; gummy walls sucking him in invitingly. he filled you up quickly, your walls to their hilt and your naked frame dragged beneath his. sharp and working into you snugly with a rhythm that let him soak this in before his greed began to consume him – or maybe it was the liquor overriding his system… or the breeding instinct in him kicking in…

either one, choso jackhammered down and deep into the spongy, tight walls of your cunt. your lips curl and open wide, panting out his name in a frantic frenzy.

“so warm.” his words lick up the nape of your neck – gliding the slick muscle to your temple and settling a keen kiss to your head, “‘s-- you want my cum? huh… tell me…” his own inclines and sweeps in; pressing hot mouths together firmly, deepening the wet kiss with the same ease, with a deeper, more lustful lock…

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#🌐 𝐿𝒜𝒱𝐼𝐼 𝒲𝑅𝐼𝒯𝐸𝒮! #ᝰ satoru gojo! #ᝰ suguru geto! #ᝰ kento nanami! #ᝰ toji fushiguro! #ᝰ choso kamo! #gojo smut #geto smut #nanami smut #toji smut #jjk #jjk x reader #jjk smut #toji fushiguro #toji x reader #gojo x reader #geto x reader #nanami x reader #choso x reader #jujutsu kaisen #tw dub con #tw public sex #choso smut

[anantaru]

cw. prone bone, fem! reader, dom! pantalone, rough!!!!!

prone bone with pantalone, and, oh, who would‘ve thought? he has you where he wants you to be, without lifting a single finger. face shoved into the pillows and your pretty cunt apart, so you could take him— fragile below his entire weight, your poor pussy jammed and crowded, dripping with arousal— he mouths a line over your dewy neck while exploring the premonition of your body under his hot lips, coaxing out a shrill cry and his cock stirs at the vibrations of your sobs.

but— the shallow, guttural noises stumbling over his lips kept you drawn to him, spasming strong on his erection as another low groan eases right into your ears. pantalone tumbles into you with another rough push forward, his velvety tip nudging over your spongy walls way too perfect— way too, calculated.

"hmm, so that‘s where you want it?" pantalone cocks a brow, licking over your neck and shoulder until pushing himself off you, eyes glued to where you‘re constricting around him— drizzling wet and filled up, the sheer amount of your arousal that had been smeared and dried on the insides of your thighs and around your folds only indicated the evident— that the insatiable harbinger had been having so much fun with you, for an incalculable amount of time.

"a-ah, yeah," you fervently nod into the dampened pillow, mind foggy with lust, eyes criss crossed and lashes soused with tears, "right there, h—hah!" and stammer your fists into the mattress as you felt a sudden heavy weight forcefully push down on the back of your neck, closing his fingers around with just the right amount of strength to drive you into the bed.

"what a shame, it appears like you’re getting way ahead of yourself again."

pantalone clicks his tongue and you listen to him, ears pricked up, but he feels how you're nervously guzzling down the large globe of saliva in your mouth— eyes pressed together and your ass obediently perked up, "— because i didn‘t give you permission to speak." his roughened voice had made it impossibly more difficult— because it turned you on, so fucking much and you're shimmying your hips into his groin— impatient — squeezing him, walls hugging him, so he could please please please fuck you still.

©2023 anantaru do not repost, copy, translate, modify

#this was supposed to be a thirst but got way longer than i had originally planned it to be #pantalone smut #genshin smut #genshin impact smut #pantalone x reader #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #pantalone x reader smut #genshin x you #genshin impact pantalone #genshin impact harbingers #pantalone x you #fatui harbingers

[slutforfinnickodair]

𝑆𝑊𝐸𝐸𝑇 𝐿𝐼𝑃𝑆 || 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝑁𝐼𝐶𝐾 𝑂𝐷𝐴𝐼𝑅

𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦: 𝐴𝑠 𝑎 𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 73𝑟𝑑 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒'𝑠 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑘, 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 @miiathemii '𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡.

𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠: 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑. 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓. 𝑁𝑜 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑌/𝑁, 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑌/𝐿/𝑁. 𝐴𝑁𝐺𝑆𝑇. 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑓 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒. (𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒.) 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑂𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑟. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔.

𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔: 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑂𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑥 𝐹𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟

𝐴𝑢: 𝑂ℎ 𝑚𝑦 𝑔𝑜𝑑. 𝐼 𝐴𝐵𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐸𝐿𝑌 𝐿𝑂𝑉𝐸 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑆 𝑂𝑁𝐸. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 @miiathemii 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡. 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑡'𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒! 𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡! 𝑚𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑏𝑜𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦! 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 <3

𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡: 6.1𝑘

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

The forest was always beautiful.

But like everything, it gets old too. You can see it yourself, if you have been around here for a long time by now you could sense the feeling of it growing older. The fresh smell of mahogany around its aura wasn’t the same anymore.

The whole look at the sky wasn’t the same anymore, but that was just because I grew older as well. When I was young I didn’t see the problems adult’s had. I didn’t see all of the suffering that was growing around our district. Nothing was the same anymore. Not that it mattered to the old ones that were fighting for their last years alive, but it mattered to me. This place was where I grew up, where I let myself be truthfully myself. I didn’t have to act like I belonged somewhere else. And I had to watch it go and vanish into nothing. 

After I bought the bread from the market and brought it home to mum, I didn’t have anything else to look out after this day so I came here. My favorite place of all times. At least it used to be. The air was salty and earthy while the grass around me was dewy. This wasn’t the same place anymore where I grew up. It made me want to escape the whole state, to start a new life. Somewhere else and not here where the only thing that could be sensed was the fear, and only the fear for kids.

The only birthday we didn’t really celebrate was the twelfth. 

I remember exactly the night before I turned twelve. Mum set me to sleep, tucking me in the covers while I asked her about the games and she started to tear up. She was afraid. I was waiting for it while being excited. Every one of my friend group was already thirteen or fourteen and yet I was just simply excited to attend the reaping everyone talked about.

Little, clueless me.

Ambrosia was reaped when she was fifteen. I was still twelve then. I thought that she would win and come back and then we would laugh about the whole thing.

She didn’t come back.

But even that didn’t stop me from wanting to attend the whole thing.

I wanted to help mum. Each year I got my name in the glass globe two times. For me and her as well. It all started when I was thirteen, by the time I reached eighteen my name was in the globe at least twelve times. I just wanted to help her out with anything that I could. 

I lost hope though when I reached eighteen. I wasn’t reaped until then and I could not say that I was jealous of the winners for getting all that income and be broadcasted on television while we sat at home and stared at the screen.

I thought I wouldn’t be reaped, but when I heard my name being said all of the stupid things that I was thinking about left my mind. I remember I stood on the podium next to Owen Stewart, a thirteen year old boy whose parents were the market owner’s that year and while we shook hands I felt a pair of two eyes burn their gaze into the skin of my back. 

I opened my eyes swiftly and slowly looked around myself. This one spot, my comfort place.

The flowers that grew near the river were now shining with all of their might. The warm days gave them enough sunlight to reach their climax of colors. The whole forest looked like it was caged, but only this part of it not where I used to hang around when I was little.

Now if I looked at it the only thing I could sense was danger. Though I still came here whenever I was sad or anxious or anything. My feelings calmed down here in this one spot. If it would be caged like the rest of it I wouldn’t have anywhere to escape to.

Mum used to say that it was dangerous and I didn’t understand why until I lost someone. At that time kids I was friends with used to swim in the river, laughing and fishing. The first thing we learnt how to do even before learning to write or to read. Just remembering that each one of them was dead by now and I was the only one left alone made me look around the place I had known for around twenty years.

The trees were vividly green, the jabberjay's chirping and settling down on the branches of the living wood. I smiled occasionally when I heard them repeat chattering around the district. Old women talking with each other and discussing younger ones, the fish problems — that the river next to the little cottage houses was almost empty, a living creature not in it, or even just how old they grew and what they've been through already.

I wished I could have grown old like that. Without being chosen as a tribute. Now that I did win, there was no question that I wouldn’t continue living the life that I’ve always had before. When I sliced the last tribute’s throat open from district two, I thought that everything would be fine. Everything would continue running the same way as it always did. Maybe I would be chosen as a mentor next to him. We got the income from The Capitol, the house in Victor's village and all of this just because I killed people. Just that by now, I wished I would be rather dead than be alive between these circumstances. 

I thought that I would come home, give a speech in all of the twelve districts to show people respect and then go home. Leave The Capitol and never talk about it again. I should have felt easiness growing inside of me the day I turned nineteen, but I could not. How could I when so many people still felt grief, so many felt alone and betrayed? How can someone live with such feelings that they are the cause of many’s sorrow?

Here.

I was the worst, but at the same time the best example.

But I got what I deserved.

People thought that… that Finnick was this handsome looking fine young boy when he won. At least I thought so. When I was reaped I thought that it was going to be alright, the youngest victor ever will be my mentor. What are the odds of me getting killed?

He didn’t even speak to me after we got on the train. I was thinking maybe he hated me. That I wasn’t pretty enough to be even looking at him. 

Now I understood why he didn’t want me to come out successfully from this whole thing.

I tried to see it from his point of view. 

They were sex trafficking a sixteen year old boy. 

One night which was still spent at The Capitol I was awoken by the sound of glass shattering. The twelve year old boy who was my partner was sleeping like a bear and I was awoken by the slightest sound around the penthouse.

I thought maybe someone broke in, or something like that happened. When I walked out I saw Finnick standing over the counter, the drink that was in his glass now all over the marble tile, spreading while the remains of the glass were in his grip still. I rushed over, seeing that he probably crushed the glass with his own hand. 

My statement became true when I finally brought him to speak. His voice was low, raspy almost as if he didn’t want me to hear him. I sat him down to the nearest lamp and took his palm into my hands, it seemed large next to mine. The fresh blood was still spilling from the wound’s on his skin. Since I wasn’t mean enough to wake up our escort too, I searched up the whole apartment for a first aid kit.

While I was bounding up his palm we stayed quiet, though I did. When I was done he murmured something like a thank you and looked at my face like this was the first time he saw me. His eyes narrowed, making me pull my hands away from him and turn around my heel quickly rushing back to my bedroom.

I acted like nothing happened on that night after it, but with Finnick… it was almost impossible to keep up. One day he acted like he hated you, and then next week he would be jumping around you like a bunny. 

The blade of grass that I was picking at flew out from between my fingers, making me stare at it and where it disappeared. I wasn’t strong enough to live through another year as someone who was the most desirable female in my district. I wanted to live free. Live without the fear of the consequences of my actions. Every pair of eyes was watching every single move I made in The Capitol. I couldn’t act like nothing happened. Those two weeks were the worst I experienced. 

In these situations I let my thoughts wander, making me feel alive and well. I knew that somehow I have to protect mum. She was the only one I could count on. If not her, then I wouldn’t have anyone to put my trust in. No one in the whole existence of the Universe could replace her, not even if it was the most charming, blessed or dependable person.

My eyes slowly flickered to the sunset, the beautiful sun setting down while the sky looked as if an impressionist was playing with the color gradients. I wanted to feel young again, the feeling of being free and not caring about anything around me made me crazy. It was bringing back memories — memories that I thought were long dead in the deepest parts of my mind.

I sucked in a harsh breath before closing my eyelids and just listening to the sound of nature. The wind, how it flew around me and how it pushed the hair into my face. The ordinary bird’s flew around the river, the sound of the river colliding with the forcefield, the sound that it let out, making me flinch. The forcefield was the only thing that kept me back from taking my mother with myself out of Panem.

On a daily basis I tried to do something against it, crave a hole into it, shatter it to thousands of pieces. Anything that could make it disappear. The Capitol was being unrealistically protective with this pull. I was tired of going home everyday, every third day going back to the center and getting to sleep with someone I didn’t even know the name of. Why did I have to do this? Why couldn’t I just simply die? Why couldn’t I listen to him?

But no. I couldn’t be that selfish. I wouldn’t want mum to suffer. She needed to live instead of me too. She needed to live for herself to see a better future. I didn't care about myself at that point when I was almost suffocated by Irina Frank. She was on my mind. I only tried to win for her sake. It’s ironic how though I won, I still have to act like the flirtatious, sharp minded woman. I didn’t see the point of being a prostitute, yet I already was one. I was one. I wasn’t proud of it, but they forced me to. I wasn’t the only one. But still I felt like I was all alone, betrayed and hurt.

And I agreed because I was horrified by the fact that they could kill her in her own house. 

But the pleasure that I should have been feeling turned into disgust. 

A sigh left my lips while I threw a little rock into the river and stood up from the grass, taking my bag full of knives with myself. The road from here to our house wasn’t a long one, but if you kept walking slowly it could have been stretched out to ten minutes. I slowly walked up on the hill and went through the forest, passing by numerous trees. 

The feeling of being in love vanished for me. There was no such feeling. I didn’t know what being in love felt like after those encounters. It didn’t mean anything to me afterwards. They used it as a weapon against me. I knew it shouldn’t feel like that.

After the first time, the boy who was possibly the same age as me left the room while I stayed like that, staring up at the ceiling and waiting for something to happen.

Nothing did.

I was left like that, I was bleeding. My eyes were closed the whole time and I just kept wishing for it to be over. Then the next day the same happened, then next week, then next month and then the next year. I was told to keep quiet otherwise I could have suffered a lot more than I was doing.

I wondered how Finnick could still live like that. Visiting that whole shitty place and flirting with women at least ten years older than him. Once I remember we were invited to this whole celebration of the victor��s like two years ago. Even then he was with a woman who seemed like she was going to throw up from the amount of alcohol that was already down her throat. 

He was easing up around the whole place while I was being tight like a knot on a rope.

I wished I could do it like him. So simply, but in reality I saw something no one else did, except him. Fear. 

Not of death.

Rather fear for his loved ones.

He wasn’t this cocky male that they showed you on television. Even when we were kids he was charming, had all of the girls drool over him, even Ambrosia who was known not to fall for charm and playfulness.

When I reached the village I walked up on the stairs of the front porch in front of our house and opened the front door. I placed my bag down next to where our shoes were and closed the door behind myself. I took off my coat and hung it on the hanger, taking my steps towards the living room.

“Oh here she is.” Mum said while I straightened my back and stood in the door.

Oh speak of the devil.

I clenched my jaw while she got up from her armchair and walked towards me, taking my head in her hands, kissing my forehead.

“Mum.” I whispered while she looked back at me. “What is he doing here?” My voice came out struggling while she shook her head slightly,

“I will go and pour you some tea,” She said. “Darling, do you need another cup?” She asked the boy while I scoffed and sat down on the couch across from him.

“Thank you, Mrs Y/L/N.” Finnick nodded his head at her while she took his cup and I crossed my arms on my chest.

He looked up at me while I licked my lower lip, leaning my back against the leather. 

“Look I. I know we are not in the speaking phase…”

“What do you want, Odair?” I asked while now placing my thigh against the other. He looked at me, stunned at first then chuckling. I stared back at him with my brows knitted together, sucking in harsh breaths.

He started searching for something in his jacket, making me more anxious about his whole visit. What the hell did he want again? Mum as I saw was actually happy about him, like this was the first time he came to this house.

When his father died, my mother often visited their house since she and his mother have been friends since childhood. I didn’t really get along with him, he was always this “I know better than you do!” kid and he didn’t seem to change ever since that even though he was already twentyfour or something like that. 

“Here. Take it.” Finnick shook me out of my thoughts while an envelope was in his right hand. I looked at it for a hot minute before slowly taking it from him. I looked down at it, the front glowing with beautiful petal’s of a living white rose surrounded by golden dust. The handwritten letters made out my name, the district number and the address of Finnick’s house.

I looked up at him while turning the envelope to the backside. He only kept waiting for me to open it, but I hardly could. Why would they send a letter for me to his house? It made no sense. My fingertips gazed at the flap of the paper, the edges nicely painted with gold paint. They secured the letter with a seal, The Capitol’s emblem emerged from the maroon wax.

I ripped the envelope open, reaching for the piece of paper that was in it. It was an invitation. I pulled it out, taking a look at it while both of my hands held it. I read the words quickly enough, but still did not understand what was actually in front of me.

“This must be a joke or something.” I scoffed while Finnick stared at me. I looked up back at him. “I’m not going to attend a stupid event where I have to act like that again. I don’t want to be happy about what I had to do.” I said while my fingertips reached the top of the paper, ripping it into two pieces, then into another two and so on until there was nothing left.

“Tearing up the invitation is not going to make them forget about you. Look, I’ll go too.”

“You are not serious right now.” I chuckled. “You really want me to go with you? That’s why you came here?” I blinked while my face probably held a hilarious expression. “Keep dreaming.” I mouthed while narrowing my eyes, a smile on my lips.

“I won’t be dreaming for much longer Sweetheart.”  He said while mum appeared in the living room with a tray of two cups of English tea and a plate of chocolate chip cookies.

“Here you go. Oh, also. I hope you don’t mind Darling, but I have to leave. The textiles got shipped this morning and I have to keep sewing otherwise they will fire me.”

“It’s alright Mrs Y/L/N. Thank you for your lovely welcoming.” Finnick stood up while she hugged him, reaching up to her tiptoes. When she pulled away looking at him, she placed her hands on his cheeks, mouthing something as he chuckled. 

Once she pulled away her gaze got fixated on me. I looked at her while a huge lump was resting in my throat, threatening me to swallow. Something about her always made me nervous, even if I wasn’t in trouble, but this time it seemed like I was in a big one. 

“Behave yourself.” She said while pointing at me. I shook my head bringing my palm to rest against my forehead, closing my eyes. I pushed the loose hair strands away from my face, inhaling a breath that my lungs didn’t need. 

When I heard the front door close I stood up from the leather couch in an instant, walking towards the French windows. The sun was still setting down, the image beautiful. I really didn’t want to go. I really didn’t. I did not want to drink, dance or feel good about what I did even if it helped us out. I did not want to go over the same thing again.

I would never do something like that and not even Finnick could make me change my mindset. I pressed my fingertips into my eyes, leaning my head backwards while letting out a groan. When was the last time I did something that I actually wanted? 

I felt guilty and actually didn’t understand how the hell could he act like that. Like he didn’t care about all of those innocent adolescents that wanted nothing more than to just help their family. He was feeling absolutely amazing, while I felt like I was going to bury myself into Panem’s lowest point. 

Maybe the years, the years did it all for him. It has been already a decade since he won the games, why would he still feel sorrow? Even in this situation he came out as the one who held the truth. And I hated him for that.

Suddenly I felt the room shift, I leant my head against the window while I heard him get up from his seat. I closed my eyes, feeling the cold of the glass calm my nerves. I swallowed the lump that was in my throat and pressed my lips into a line. 

I felt him walk behind me. I calmed down my breaths before turning around slowly. Once I was sure I faced him I opened my eyes, crossing my arms on my chest as if to hide something from him.

“One chance. If you ruin it I won’t be talking with you for good Finn.”

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

The Capitol, as usual, did what they are the best at. 

The room, where usually the tryouts were held - now was decorated into a whole other room. I looked around, from the ceiling exactly thirteen stars hanging. Each star was shining with a number, representing the number of the twelve districts and the one place where The Capitol's people were sitting at a table. 

On the tables white silk was laid, on it glimmering textile that could have been the same material mum was bringing in her hands last night. There were different kinds of alcohol, from brandy to whiskey to vodka you could have found everything that you wanted to have. The meals weren’t on the table yet, though there were some snacks laid out. Biscuits, cake and other sweet things that a little child with nothing in their hands would have gone feral for.

Everyone around me was dressed formally, women having long, knee reaching and even very short dresses. There were a lot of people: the victors, their family, the judges and even photographers who were all around the place. I looked around the hall again, my gaze fixated on the walls of the ballroom.

The walls were painted with golden flowers, all over the place. Sometimes if you looked closely you could actually see how butterflies appeared on them. The place was beautiful, just that the people who made it look beautiful were ruined from the inside. I looked down, only to see the frills by the end of my dress. 

It was gorgeous. Mum has been sewing it ever since Finnick appeared with the envelope. She was very excited, brought home tons of textiles and kept measuring my stats over and over. I occasionally even enjoyed the whole thing. I loved seeing her doing what she loved. From the beginning of the day she sat down at our dining table, sewing, sketching on her notepad and decorating the flattering piece of clothing with beautiful pearls.

The dress was plantation teal, just to show where I belonged. Mum thought the color was beautiful either way and suited me very much. I couldn’t disagree with her. At the chest the fabric was covering most of my breasts, but leaving a line between them. The corset hugged my waist perfectly, shaping an hourglass which wasn’t exactly how my body was truly shaped.

It had a long skirt, reaching down to the floor. The ends were shaping frills, if I spinned around they looked exactly like I was in a fairytale. The back was beautiful as well, strands to tie across my back. I was thankful that I had a mother like this, actually caring about me and not just because I needed to bring home my wealth. I couldn’t say I didn’t love her more though.

My thoughts were again distracted by the one and only, Panem’s shining victor - Finnick Odair.

“Hi.”He said while I looked up at him, trying to force a smile on my lips. I succeeded partly, a slight smile took its place on my lips. “You look gorgeous.” He said while I suddenly felt weird. I could feel warmth creeping up into my face.

He wasn’t the first one who noticed me, and wasn’t the first one here that complimented my looks, though when he said it, it was different. I felt different. Maybe because I was already so close to him that even just a little compliment made me feel flushed.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I said while he smiled down at me. I felt my own smile getting wider.

I would have said something right there and then, but someone interrupted me.

“Hi, sorry. I’m Christie. Would you like to dance with me?” The voice of the female couldn’ be more high pitched. She sounded like a kid while looking like someone you would have a time with between the dark alleys. Her blonde hair was tousled up into the sky, makeup covering even her neck. I don’t even think I have to mention her dress.

I raised my brows at her, which probably earned me a bad reputation in her eyes. I scoffed.

Rolling my eyes I suddenly walked away from the two. Everything that has been building up since he picked me up from my house died down, sadness taking over its place. Heavens, why wasn’t I so brave to ask him for a dance? Am I too…cowardly?

I walked through the ballroom, my eyes searching for someone to keep a conversation with but no one there seemed to grab my attention. I was nervous, what the night held for me. Thinking about how I probably needed to be brought home by someone. If I showed up here there was no question that I was going to be having one of the worst nights in my life all over again.

At these times I kept asking myself “Why did you have to win?” Even if I knew I was being selfish. If mum knew what they brought me into she would have bore the death of me better than this. 

Even the idea of suicide creeped my thoughts, because all of my wealth was at home with her, in her house. If I died, they wouldn’t take it away from her. No, because I still had one year to become an adult. 

If only I had the strength to. To end my life, but I was too caught up about the people around me. So I didn’t. I kept faking smiles, desires and everything else that The Capitol needed from me. Not like it was hard to act like the flirtatious, gorgeous woman, but it was exhausting. By the end of the day when I watched my interviews back with Caesar Flickerman I kept closing my eyes at the sound of my voice. I didn’t recognize myself.

I couldn’t believe what they turned me into. Of course, no one knew how I acted before I was chosen as tribute, but back then I hoped that I would get out the same. Just maybe, happier. 

_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

The music was crawling its way into my ears, the melody of the soft song that the woman sang made goosebumps appear on my skin. It was beautiful. I stared down at my glass of sparkling water, tapping my fingers on the cold glass. 

It has been exactly two hours since I arrived. Some people came up to me and congratulated me for winning two years prior. I couldn’t even thank them. I just nodded, turning away from their burning gazes. 

People I knew showed up too, for example Johanna Mason. I got along with her, though she only kept talking about this whole third quarter bullshit and how it is not fair that they want us to fight again when we are well over the age of eighteen.

I was biting my lips the whole time. I only knew that the only male victor from district four who was still alive was Finnick. I didn’t want him to fight again. I don’t know why, but suddenly I got worried about him, because the actual thought of the third quarter reaping didn’t really seem interesting to me. As I thought before, I wanted to die. The chances though for me becoming the victor next to Finnick were low, because there was Mags who raised him up and a redhead girl, Annie Cresta who has won the 70th Hunger Games.

When you think that you are on the edge, it’s only the beginning of the things that can turn into your worst dreams. I would have never noticed or cared about the third quarter reaping if Johanna didn't show up to talk to me. 

This was me. Everything about me could change in a matter of two seconds. This was how I felt about Finnick now. Who knows how I will feel about him tomorrow, next week or even next month? But did it count? If you thought that you aren’t worthy of love? 

“Mind if I take you for a dance?” A low, smooth voice whispered in my ear. Oh, Finnick. His hands were on my shoulders, warm hands on my cold skin. I smiled slightly, closing my eyes as his voice sent tingles down on my spine. I stood up from the table, staring up at him while he took one of my hands and slowly led me where other people were dancing as well.

Waltz. Should be fine.

When he faced me, I suddenly got the urge to swallow. Before I could place one of my hands on his shoulder, his was already on the top of my waist, his fingers laying on the delicate fabric of my dress. As he looked down at me I felt all flustered, in my stomach knots started to form. My breath suddenly got shallow like I was nervous. His hand on my skin felt heavenly, I almost let out a sigh by the feelings. Finn ran his fingers down on the skin of my right arm, making goosebumps appear on it. He slowly reached to my hand, taking it with his and holding it out so we were in a familiar position like all the other dancers.

I suddenly felt like all eyes were on me, making me inhale breaths that I didn’t know my lungs needed. He seemed to notice that, because his fingers started to rub my waist, the hand of mine that was holding his was rubbing my knuckles. His lips formed a smile, while mine were probably left open. 

“Relax, it’s just a dance.” He whispered before he took the first step, making us turn around while the frills by the end of my dress went after his steps. I pressed my lips into a line, trying to move after him at the same speed as he moved.

“Loosen your limbs…” His voice came out softly, “-don't focus on it convulsively, let the music take you with itself.” 

It was so easy to listen to his voice, it was music to my ears. 

I breathed calmly now, moving after him with ease. We passed many pairs as we were spinning around the whole ballroom. To him, it was nothing but listening to the rhythm of the music. Maybe he didn’t even pay attention to it, because his face was focused on something completely different.

“You know, if you are not throwing death glares at me I must say you are really beautiful.” His quiet voice brought me back to real life again, out of my thoughts while I registered what he just said to me. I let out a scoff.

“Stop with the charming behavior. We both know this is not you.” I said while he leant his head to the left side, looking at me with a slight smile on his lips.

“Saying the truth is charming to you?” Finnick asked while raising his arm with mine up above our heads making me twirl around. 

I turned back towards him as he pulled me in by the waist, his hand slowly sliding down. I stared at his lips for a moment before I leant my face a little bit away from his. He was too close to me now.

“You know how to twist out my words, don’t you?” I asked while leaning my chin up, staring into his sea green eyes. “Finnick, don’t make me regret my decision.”

He chuckled.

After some time I realized that my head has been resting on his shoulder for quite a good time now, and he was swaying us both to the music. It felt comfortable, I don't think I ever felt like this since the age of ten. 

He smelled really nice, fresh and earthy. My nose was really close to his pulse point, my ears able to hear the pumping of his blood between his veins. His hand was now completely leaving my waist, resting on my hip. In fact, he had his lower arm draped around me. Finnick was holding me impossibly close to him, letting me feel the warmth of his body. His hand that was holding mine still, intertwined his fingers with mine. My hand slid down from his shoulder to his biceps, squeezing the skin under his suit jacket. 

I slowly raised my head up as I heard the soft music overlap the previous one. That’s why I didn’t hear it change. 

“How long has it been?” I asked while he looked behind me, then right back into my eyes.

“Three songs.” He whispered.

“Aren’t you tired?” I asked while he let out a small laugh.

“No, but I’m afraid that your feet will hurt because I assume you are wearing heels.”

“Oh, no. I’m wearing sandals, they have a heel, but it’s only an inch, maybe two.” I muttered.

He bit his lower lip slightly while I kept looking up at him. Suddenly I felt like it was only the two of us in the whole ballroom and no one else mattered. I felt my lips form a genuine, real smile.

“What I said a minute earlier…” He started, “- I really meant it. You are hopelessly gorgeous. I know that we are not pretty close, and we aren’t really the best kind of friends, but that’s enough for me. It’s enough, because if you act like yourself around me I feel like I already earnt something. Because I lo…” 

Before he could say it I leant up on my tip toes and pressed my lips slightly against his, making Finnick close his eyes as our lips slowly moved against each other in sync. 

In that moment I felt like I was high. Like I accomplished something that I knew that was inside of me for a really long time now. I never wanted to be left alone again. I never wanted to leave his side again. I wanted him to claim me like no one else did before.

When I pulled away for breath, he opened his eyes in a swift motion. I then stared at him, and something changed in his eyes. His pupils dilated, the blood rushed into his cheeks and his lips became swollen making him look desperate. His skin felt warmer than before, making me inch more into him.

“Do that again.” He breathed against my mouth while I let out a chuckle, kissing his sweet lips once again. 

There were probably some girls, even women who stared at you, but I couldn’t care less. How could I when I was caged in his arms feeling safe as ever? I wrapped my left arm around his neck, my right one leaving his as it slid up from his chest up to join my other one around his neck. His arms wrapped around my waist, his lips feeling up mine while I sighed into his mouth, my knees buckling suddenly. 

When he pulled away, a wide smile on his lips I leant my head back down on his shoulder as he kept swaying us to the gentle sound of the music.

Oh, Finnick Odair, you bring the best out of me. And I completely, truly and undoubtedly love you for that.

#finnick odair #finnick odair x reader #finnick odair imagine #finnick odair fluff #finnick odair fanfic #finnick odair x fem!reader #finnick odair x y/n #finnick odair x you #thg finnick #the hunger games fanfiction #the hunger games #catching fire #mockingjay #mockingjay part 2 #sam claflin #the hunger games fandom #peeta mellark #katniss everdeen #josh hutcherson

[ozarkthedog]

18+ only — mdni — this is a love note to Steven’s booty

Imagine coming home to a naked Steven humping his bed. Blankets in a rumpled mess on the floor. His feet slipping on the soft sheets as he frantically thrusts his shapely hips into the mattress.

Grated moans and sharp gasps. His muscle twitching beneath dewy skin. His supple ass on display like you’ve never seen before. So juicy and round, you want to sink your teeth into the meaty rump. The thick muscle of his ass bounces on every thrust like lewd waves of flesh crashing on the shore. His powerful thighs shake, full of pleasure and tension, as he creeps closer to the edge.

One. Two. Three shoves and his body quivers in sweet relief. His plump ass goes tight like exquisite hand carved marble as he gasps your name and stains his sheets.

He collapses into the sticky mess with a tired groan, relaxing into the hazy lull, while you’re left breathless at the sight of his globes while they call you home like the setting sun.

#steven grant #idk what this is but here #ass lovers unite! #oscar isaac

[chara-hugs]

a/n: Hey! This is my contribution to the Princess Philly Birthday Challenge! Happy birthday, lovey! 💛

Don’t get any ideas though, me writing isn’t going to become a regular thing because I’m preeeetty sure this is hot garbáge.

Here’s a link to the challenge prompt (which is on going, btw).

The prompt I chose was: Jodeci - Freek’n You + Syverson

Warnings for content: SMUT! MDNI 18+ I must make that abundantly clear. You are responsible for your own media consumption, and will encounter: unprotected piv, domestic fluff, auto shop owner!Sy (ig?), a pinch of existential angst, and terrible writing.

Word count: ~1.5k

It had been one of those paperwork days that Sy just fuckin’ hated. He knew they were necessary, but he didn’t like the feeling of being chained to a damn desk. He liked to be moving— go where he wanted, when he wanted, and do as he pleased. He’d spent enough of his life on somebody else’s clock. His facial hair was at the itchy stage of growth and he knew he needed to shave. If it got any longer he’d start seeing someone in the mirror he wasn’t prepared to meet with again just yet. All he could think about was getting home, calling you, and trying to unwind from the day. He sighed, easing his truck into the driveway.

Then he noticed your car.

All his heavy thoughts left him as he made the short walk up the front path, cleared the three steps up the porch, and swung open his front door. The house smelled amazing.

Coming in further, Sy found you sitting on the couch in one of his old t-shirts and a pair of ratty sweats. Your hair was out of your face, covered by the silky scarf you liked to wear when you cooked or lounged around. Your face was bare; dewy from your skin care. You turned your head, smiling at him where he stood in the doorway. You were an angel; a vision. He could swear he was half-hard at the sight.

“Hi, baby!” Your voice was so sweet sounding after a day of grumbling and metal clanging out in the garage. A breath of fresh air. “Dinner’s just about ready.”

He was listening. He promises he was listening. Sy heard everything about you stopping over on your lunch break to get the beef stew going in the crockpot. How you hoped he didn’t mind you using his key, but you wanted to make something comforting tonight because you knew how much “your man of action” hated office days. How you’d made a quick bread when you got home after work. How the stew was just thickening a bit now. He was listening, you were just distracting.

“Babe?” He watched your eyebrows furrow. “Are you feeling alright?”

Sy nodded, the corner of his mouth quirking up as he cleared the living room in four long strides. He braced one of his big paws on the back of the couch, levering himself down to kiss you soundly. Lips cloying and devouring, tongue rolling sinfully against your own. He left you dazed as he drew back.

“I’m gonna fuck you good, then we’ll have dinner. Alright?” His eyes locked on yours with such intensity, you could only nod. He made a pleased rumbling noise in his chest.

Sy grabbed you up by your hips, lifting you effortlessly into his arms, and marched off down the hall to the bedroom.

“Alotta nerve you got. Sittin’ on my couch, makin’ me dinner, lookin’ like ya do,” Sy grumbled, voice and accent thickening. If you didn’t know him better, you would think he was upset. His large hands palming the globes of your ass said differently.

“Yeah? My sweatpants doing it for you, baby?” You teased, running your nails lightly over his scalp.

He stops in the middle of the hall, his body pinning yours to the wall as he rolled his hips. You could feel the heat of his hard length as he pressed against your core.

“Sugar, everything you say, everything you do. In silk and lace, or one of my old t-shirts, you are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Sy panted against your temple, his hips rutting against yours made your head tip back.

He plotted kisses over your exposed neck, one hand winding its way over the top of your thigh and into the cradle of your hips. Slipping under your waistband, Sy cupped your mound. Dexterous fingers stroking to find your entrance, wet and desperate. He teased your clit as he sucked on your pulse point. Gratified as you arched into him, exposing more of that elegant neck.

“I dream about you. Your smile, your laugh. How you’re too fucking pretty to be real.” Sy sank two fingers into you with ease. You keened, body feeling electrified.

“Miss Kitty’s so needy for me, ain’t she, pretty girl?” He purred, fingers hooking to rub at that spongey sweet spot. “You gonna let yer man take care’a you?”

You nodded, frantic.

“Good girl.”

~*~

You were face down, ass up, creaming on his cock. You weren’t sure how half the pillows and the duvet wound up on the floor, you were more focused on clinging to the bed sheets. Sy was gifted. He stretched you and stuffed you and fucked you so deep, you could feel the head of his cock kiss your cervix as he pressed himself to the hilt.

You arched your back, pressing your face further into the mattress; desperate to muffle your incoherent babbling. He could get you to promise him anything when he fucked you like this. Working orgasm after orgasm from your body. Sy wasn’t lying when he said he was going to fuck you good.

His large, callused hands roamed over your back and sides. His fingertips sank into your hips as he ground against you, feeling your walls clench as your body tensed, then drooped to the bed below.

Sy withdrew from your weeping hole carefully, and gently rolled you over. His cock was still hard and beading precum when he settled back on his haunches. Sy splayed your legs how he wanted, and the thrill of being so boneless that your man could move you around however he pleased tickled something at the back of your brain.

He wore the softest look as he stroked the flushed, wet head of his cock through your puffy, glistening folds. Sy was transfixed with each twitch and jolt of your body at his teasing.

“You know the first thing I saw when I got home today? Hmmm?” He asked, his flared head nocking at your entrance. You shook your head. The best reply you could give was a ‘nuh-uh.’ Lost in the feeling of Sy slowly sinking back into you.

“Your car in your spot in the driveway,” his voice was a rumble in his throat. The way he tenderly plotted kisses over your face and neck a contrast to his sharp, punctuating thrusts.

“And I knew you were home.” Kiss. Thrust

“Where you’re ‘posed to be.” Kiss. Thrust.

“With me.” Kiss. Thrust.

Your legs came up to lock around Sy’s waist. Needing to cling to him as his pace picked up. Overstimulated, slightly overwhelmed, but desperate for him to cum.

“Every bad thought left my head,” he swiped a rogue tear off your cheek. Enraptured once again by the beauty of you, and the pleasure he could pull from your body. “Everything was replaced by you.” You keen, back arching as his fingers find your clit to work circuits over it again.

“All I do is think about you,” he grunted, climbing closer to the edge. “How I’d take ya on the hood of a car in the shop, or how you’d look in a weddin’ dress. How good you taste, or how sweet you smile.” His pace was bordering on brutal now, wet skin slapping in time with the bed frame’s creaking. Your limbs tightened around him, cresting one last time; blocking out light, sound, anything that wasn’t the feeling of pleasure and the hot puffs of Sy’s breath against your chest. Did you scream? You weren’t sure. You watched his brow furrow and wiped the sweat from his temples as lucidity began to bleed into your consciousness.

He came with a roar and a gush of sticky, sweet release. Hips grinding down into yours to prolong the feeling of you, stuffed full and shivering around him. He nuzzled into your neck, breathing deeply. Sy shivered at the feeling of your blunt nails tickling the skin of his back.

You basked in the afterglow for a moment. Relishing in the feeling of his heartbeat and sweaty skin against your own.

“You okay, baby?” Sy broke the silence, voice husky and soft.

“I’m perfect,” you reply, craning your neck to kiss Sy.

“Good,” he slipped from you, spent, but was quickly on his feet. He took you in for a moment. Skin dewy again (but for a different reason this time), and prickled by beard burn, pussy stretched and stuffed. “You stay right there and look pretty, I’ll bring dinner back for us.”

“We’ll get breadcrumbs in the bed, babe.” You would have cringed, if you weren’t so blissed out. Sy shrugged.

“Gotta change the sheets anyway, baby.” He threw a laughably bad wink over his shoulder to you, then left the room. You sat there and watched him disappear down the hall toward the kitchen, naked as a jay bird.

(This is insurance so the page break doesn’t eat the end.)

#princesspbdaychallenge #captain syverson #syverson fanfiction #i wrote a thing #be gentle. more poor little heart can only take so much

[dostoyevsky-official]

I love the poetry challenge and reading the submissions so far! My first will be “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, which is very much an old dead white guy poem but I first read it in high school and it really spoke to me as an anxiety-ridden kid and it comes back to me when i feel directionless

I also really love this from Cane by Jean Toomer (i forget if it’s a titled poem on its own, i just have a screenshot of a book page):

Whisper of yellow globes

Gleaming on lamp-posts that sway

Like bootleg licker drinkers in the fog

And let your breath be moist against me

Like bright beads on yellow globes

Telephone the power-house

That the main wires are insulate

(her words play softly up and down

dewy corridors of billboards)

then with your tongue remove the tape

and press your lips to mine

till they are incandescent

I get a lot of great writing by living creators in my inbox from the website Electric Literature too, so I recommend them & will be checking there for more once I’m on my computer again :^)

Out of the night that covers me,      Black as the Pit from pole to pole,    I thank whatever gods may be      For my unconquerable soul.   

In the fell clutch of circumstance    I have not winced nor cried aloud.    Under the bludgeonings of chance      My head is bloody, but unbowed.   

Beyond this place of wrath and tears      Looms but the Horror of the shade,  And yet the menace of the years      Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.   

It matters not how strait the gate,      How charged with punishments the scroll,    I am the master of my fate:   I am the captain of my soul.

#i memorized this when i was a very moody 15 year old #still have it on tap #thanks for sending! #2024 poetry challenge

[poppiesandpromises]

I remind myself I am not

Atlas, I unstrap this globe

From my slumping back

And it is beautiful

Outside the finches fly

The cardinals call

The hawks hover

I unfold

Untucking the frayed edges

Of old origami

I am no swan, I'm simply

Soil and bones

There is an ache in this—

The way the grass smells

So dewy and new, like we both

Are born again

#poem #poetry #original poetry #original poem #poets on tumblr #spilled ink

[ddossed-psp]

Paint Me, Touch Me, Taste Me.

Muse! Jing Yuan x Painter! Reader

As a skilled painter, you had little inspiration for your paintings. The only inspiration you got was from your muse, you called him Yuan but his name was Jing Yuan. Your muse was playful, he was an interesting man. He often gave you interesting poses for you, he was probably interested in keeping his job just to be naked for you to paint.

Every stroke of your brush made you feel more invested in your muse.

You sometimes felt your muse sneak away from his position, he would take your arm and make you touch his chest and more inappropriate places. He told you it was "feeling art in its truest form," and he also told you that "you need to have art at all angles." He made you feel shy, he wasn't someone very closed-minded. You two were beyond mutual trust so it was ok.

Jing Yuan was mysterious, his personal life was a mystery to you. The vigor of a painter that had a good standing with your brand and style didn't care what the background was for a muse as long as they weren't a criminal or have any real stains on their record. A man who was keen on you feeling his body for your work was oddly poetic and intriguing for you.

You liked using vermillion and viridian as common tones for Jing Yuan, usually for the cloth or contours of his skin. The most time consuming was a painting of him with a sabre crushing a globe while holding a lighter.

At this point, you put down your palette and took a break out of being stumped for more ideas. The muse walked up to you with little sound apparent, coming up to you to give a soft kiss on your head. Though no words were spoken, you understood. His talk about "romance is strong in gestures," was coming through all the while. He'd been so mysterious and charming that you had figured out what he meant by the time he was now saying all that time.

"Take a break. Those passionate eyes seem so drowsy from staring and focusing, that artwork is true beauty...just like it's subject and creator." Jing Yuan spoke softly in a sultry tone. The man urged you to sit with him, on him, while he sat in the chair. Seeing the chance right there, you took it. He immediately lifted your chin to examine your face. "Hmm, a shade of baby pink is your natural blush, your eyes have a thin chrome pattern like a circular ruler, and your lips a perfect dewy nude. Very nice of the heavens to sculpt and breathe life into a face like this..." He whispered and then kissed you while rubbing your thigh.

"Tasty, as if a tea was coated naturally on your lips. Oh my star, all you need to do is get a hands on experience. I have seen you wanting to be more romantic in your paintings, just trust in me and you will get some inspiration." He rubbed your thigh and kissed you with passion slowly in between some mutters. "Lemon...ultramarine...florescent...jade..." The sweetness of his tongue made you think, new shades, angles, props, and more.

However, your paintbrush wouldn't be picked up until the next morning...but your legs were coated white, but not with paint but it was a work of passion.

Nsfw : you've been warned :3

Jing Yuan started with little kisses to your neck after that kiss. He took you out of your art studio and threw you onto the couch. Jing Yuan had been quite rough, yet he was soft in many ways like those whispers to you. "I'm going to be the painter now sweet dear, I'll paint your thighs and maybe your walls white like loose samples dripping off a canvas after the first stroke." Jing Yuan whispered those sweet nothings so softly while practically yanking your pants and underwear off.

"Prepare yourself, I'll be soft with the first strokes but they'll become more...per say...detailed...." Jing Yuan's nature was a fluctuating string of ideas to say. As he slid himself in he kept to his word for only three "strokes" before starting to go at a ravenous pace with few inconsistent rhythms to keep you on edge. The rhythms would be like an accelerated heartbeat to like pulling a wire that ricochets slighty to like a car horn in a parking lot.

This tactics were used by him moving youvand himself constantly, the breathless moans from you were unending as Jing Yuan kept up what he did so sweetly. As precum rolled down his thigh, the rhythms became sloppily as he pushed you into the couch before your juices came out on him. He firmly pressed against you as his trobbing member had painted your walls white.

You were his muse just as much as he was yours.

#fanfic #honkai star rail #jing yuan #xianzhou luofu #writers on tumblr #writblr

[deedoop]

Asleep

CW: consentual somnophilia

Billy looks unreasonably pretty when he sleeps, lips parted, skin dewy with sweat. He looks like a fallen angel. Steve lays beside him, watches Billy moan and groan in his sleep, watches him shift. Steve cant help but grow hard in his boxers, just thinking of taking Billy like this. Taking his perfect sleeping beauty and waking him up with a massive cock rearranging his guts. He rubs himself, feeling his cock drip with pre and twitch with desire. He wants to breed the sleeping man next to him, use him as a personal fleshlight. Billy shifts again, his legs spreading slightly. Steve bites his lip..the bed creaks with his movement as he moves to kneel behind Billy. Billy who is laying on his belly, ass hanging out of red boxers. He looks so ripe for the taking.

With a shaking hand he massages the two globes of flesh, spreading them to look at that gorgeous pink hole. His breath catches in his throat, he cant believe hes doing this. He spits onto the fluttering hole, Billy barely moving, but once Steve slowly presses two fingers in, Billy is burying his face into the sheets, moaning out all whispery. It goes straight to Steves dick. Hes fingering Billy as he sleeps, his heart pounds with the utter wrongness of this situation. Steve feels like a freak, not even Jonathan would do this.

He spread his fingers, stretching the greedy hole before him. Even sleeping Billy was such a slut. "Ungh.." Groaned the sleeping body before him. Steve paused, stilling, didnt want Billy to wake, atleast not yet. He pulled out his fingers, wet with spit. He couldnt help himself as he sucked on them, tasted Billy's insides. Fuck if he didnt fuck Billy now he might cum all over just from his taste.

He quickly spit in his hand, stroking it over his cock before lining up with Billy. Fuck..he was doing this. He was really going to do this. The tip pressed against the entrance, his cock so big he had to shove it in. That woke Billy up. "Huh..? Ssteve?" He slurred, sleep in his voice, "What are you-" Steve quickly buried himself to the hilt, fucking into him with brutal pace, fucking up into his guts with his monster cock. Billy's eyes were wide, a high pitched confused moan clicking out of his throat. He had to cling onto the sheets, bury his head into his pillow, crying out as Steve took advantage of him.

"Youre mine Billy." Came a soft whisper pressed to the shell of his ear. "I can take you whenever I want, youre mine to fuck." Billy shuddered out a gasp, his own cock hard and dragging with every thrust against the now sticky sheets. "You like that princess? Like that I can just take you?" Steve growled. Billy nodded quickly because God being Steve's fuck toy sounded like the best thing in the world.

Steves thrusts only got harder, got faster. All Billy could do was just sit there and take it, his hitching gasps had turned into full on wails. "Stevie! Fuck youre so big!" The brunette laughed, "Shhh princess just relax." He was getting close, chasing after his orgasm. It was Billy who pushed him over the edge, Billy cumming with a long pathetic mewl, squeezing and wringing the orgasm out of Steve who filled Billy til he was leaking. Steve's exhausted body fell forward, pulling Billy close. He couldn't believe he did that.."You okay Bills?" He whispered. Billy's lidded eyes just looked at him, his lips a thoughtful smirk. "Im just mad it took you six months to finally go through with my idea." Steve rolled his eyes, going to insult and tease, but Billy was dead asleep before he could utter a world. "Gonna kill me Billy." He snorted quietly, burying his face into his chest.

#billy hargrove #stranger things #harringrove #steve harrington #lemon #writing

[tmarshconnors]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Happy St. David's Day! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Today, I'd like to mark the rich culture of Wales as we honour St. David's Day, a day that holds a special place in the hearts of the Welsh people. This day pays homage to the patron saint of Wales, St. David, whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of Welsh identity.

🌼 Daffodils and Leeks: The national emblems, the daffodil and the leek, take center stage in today's celebrations. The bright yellow daffodils bloom as a symbol of renewal and the coming of spring, while the humble leek, worn traditionally by the Welsh, is a nod to the vegetable St. David is said to have recommended to his soldiers in battle.

🎶 Eisteddfodau and Song: St. David's Day is also a time when the Welsh showcase their artistic talents. Eisteddfodau, cultural festivals, bring communities together to celebrate literature, music, and performance. The Welsh are known for their beautiful hymns and stirring choral music that resonate through the hills and valleys of this picturesque land.

🏰 Heritage and History: Wales boasts a rich history that stretches back centuries. From its ancient castles, standing proudly against the test of time, to the poetic verses of legendary bards, every corner of Wales echoes with tales of valour and tradition. St. David's Day allows us to reflect on this heritage and appreciate the resilience and strength of the Welsh people.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Community Spirit: Today is not just a celebration of the past; it's a celebration of the present and the future. St. David's Day encourages a sense of community and unity among the Welsh, fostering a spirit of togetherness that transcends borders.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! (Happy St. David's Day!) I join hands, whether in Wales or across the globe, to honour this day and cherish the Welsh spirit that continues to thrive. May the red dragon fly high, and the sounds of Wales be heard far and wide. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

#StDavidsDay #WelshTradition #CymruAmByth #WelshHeritage #DaffodilDay #LeekSymbol #Eisteddfod #WalesHistory #RedDragon #CommunitySpirit #WelshCulture #CelebratingWales #DyddGŵylDewi #Hiraeth #WelshPride #AncientCastles #ChoralMusic #StDavid #GlobalWelsh #SpringCelebration #today on tumblr

[ohheyidothat]

Grass Pokémon Prevalence

Post in progress hehe :3

Backyard Finds

Oddish: nocturnal patterns mask this Pokémon’s population density. While Gloom and Vileplum are less common (due to migration away from creatures offended by its odor and toxins), Oddish can reproduce vegetatively, and thus their population can grow rapidly without evolution

Hoppip et al: Hoppip have had ancestral ranges across the globe and continue to thrive worldwide. They’re often considered weeds, due to their ability to thrive in places where they are unwanted. In their natural wild homes, springtime will bring flocks of pink-rooted Hoppip to the skies. While Hoppip and Skiploom don’t actively migrate (unlike Jumpluff), they are content to be carried with the wind, and thus spread very far, very easily. Skiploom are harder to spot. Whether this is due to a smaller population percentage or due to their green bodies providing far superior camouflage from humans is unknown. Jumpluff go where they please. Predators are often encouraged as a preventative measure. Some places, such as golf courses, sometimes even purchase trained Pokémon from professional birdkeepers to guard their soil. However, throughout the growing season, it is effortless to see several of each evolution, simply by going outside.

Sunkern et al: In another region, Sunkern might be listed as “Garden Select” or “Common Finds, Conditionally.” This guide is written in a place gifted with native Sunkern. Other places sometimes consider them weeds, due to a unique combination of survival strategies. First, the large seed is fairly equipped to survive the occasional hard time. While they cannot thrive without proper moisture, they are able to survive long enough for conditions to improve or long enough to seek a better habitat. Secondly, they are hard to spot. Sunkern exist with very little movement or noise. They can fulfill their primary need—water—by finding shelter in foliage and drinking morning dew. Sunkern will absorb nutrients from the environment if the conditions allow it, but if it finds a sufficiently dewy and concealed place, it is capable of surviving and evolving without needing to seek out fresh nutrients. Upon evolving, Sunflora shed this shy nature. In smaller city populations, this is observed as small groups and individuals stubbornly chase the sun. The luckiest might find sunny place and only move a few feet each day, walking around a building or structure to remain in the sun. However, competition, predation, and human interference commonly drives Sunflora to constantly migrate in search of an ideal location to produce seeds. For better or worse, Sunkern are often caught and taken to shelters for relocation (or simply driven out of the city and dropped off in rural areas by non-professionals). Sunflora require more nutrients than other weeds, but they can produce a significant generation of Sunkern once they gather enough energy. In their native homes, this process follows an annual cycle. Sunkern emerging from the underbrush is a sign of their growing numbers and competition. It is a common class project to lure a Sunkern to a specific artificial habitat, where it is happy to stay and be cared as school children learn about Grass types and life cycles and ecology. The late-summer Sunflora migrations can occur in spurts and in large fields of moving flowers. And even though they are considered weeds by various cultures across the globe, there is always a gardener somewhere who has learned the beauty of the species, even if they only raise specific breeds that have been partly domesticated to be more compatible with a single garden range.

Garden Selects

Bellossom: the stubborn and persevering gardener is fully capable of raising an Oddish to a Bellossom. The Gloom stage must be carefully monitored for toxic contamination (and the scent can make neighbors reasonably grumpy), but the wise gardener knows when and how to apply a Sunstone. The resulting evolution is universally adored and enjoyed. Twin blossoms bestow a herbaceous stone-fruit scent. Their gently energetic personalities charm everyone as they dance and play. And since they are only a foot tall usually (opppsed to Gloom, who can stand above two feet, and Vileplume who can rise above three), their needs are small as well, since their stature requires less nutrients to maintain.

Common Finds, Conditionally

Bellsprout: Once common in a greater diversity of ecosystems, Bellsprout now thrives in select protected zones. Previous populations were overharvested by people attempting to use the leaves, roots, and even stem and bulbs, for medicinal purposes; and from being classified as pests due to their toxic tendencies and dangerous evolved forms.

Exeggcute et al: Originally limited to specific tropical environments where it utilized sea-faring dispersion, this beloved classic has been spread worldwide. It is a popular choice for larger landscaping projects. While it doesn’t occur naturally in many of these places, it has become so popular that most businesses with moderate outdoor property will have one or more. They can be seen around most cities in hotel landscaping features, hospital flower beds, parks, colleges. Some even survive indoors (at least part of the year) inside malls and other large well-lit places.

Botanical Garden Rarity

Bulbasaur et al. While Bulbasaur can survive various environments due to its photosynthetic+omnivore nature and its nutrient-rich bulb, they are a rare find due to Ivysaur and Venusaur needed more specialized conditions to thrive and reproduce.

Celebi: This Pokémon is known by every professional botanist and Grass trainer. While the public is only vaguely familiar with Celebi, it is an exciting topic for those who dedicate their life to Grass Pokémon, either through career or hobby. Any respectable botanical garden will have a Celebi Shrine. These are given daily maintenance and care. Celebi tend to only appear in tranquil environments, so the shrines are kept clean, with no aggressive plants or Pokémon or people nearby. Fresh fruit and nectar-rich flowers are kept nearby. When a Celebi does appear, the news is heard worldwide by professionals and enthusiasts. Celebi tend to linger for a while, and thus it is common—almost expected—for people to travel to see it if they can. Some may travel across the globe. Schools are not allowed to visit with their full population, but usually select a handful of mature and respectful students to visit and see Celebi. It is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

#ohheyisaidthat #blossompokemon

[fantodsdhrit]

in therapy someone using words like gaslighting unprecedented gratuitous to be defeated by demon king or five fratricidal classic freaks climbing higher than heaven state celebrity media jargon incessant ear thunderstorm thoughts of you with each raindrop trickle as kudzanai hwami breast expressionism passing through vivid coloured walls taxes raised maps atlases globes rubber plant cleanup sunday noon late drizzle evening sweat hypothermia bought otiose elephant carcasses dashed by trains inside for table decor crows perched on electricity pole karma as soy milk opinionated retribution defeats the purpose glued van gogh climate activism kimono aesthetic exploits images similar to how you project your insecurities onto something that isn't there but you find extraordinarily beautiful like masking your emotions with wedding cake whiteness with a tinge of grey for hunting party beliefs and superstitions monetary policy tightening always under surveillance everything with eyeliner preciseness to reassure yourself with outside time validation paradox this innateness which sort of clashes with guns bombs cannons temerity stands out symbolically as another symbol ready to be manipulated by your dewy arithmetic milk skin

#poetry #dhrit #analysis

[rikalovesrice]

The Eternal Day : Tales of Arcadia - Epilogue

Previous Chapter

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Epilogue

Two Years Later

Saturdays were usually easygoing. Online classes Monday through Friday, and Sundays brought the dismay of doing it all over again. But Jim was moving quicker this morning while fixing brunches. Their monthly tradition happened to fall on the same day as the ceremony so he had to hustle. 

The television murmured in the background.

“Eepa is the first troll youngling to be enrolled in an elementary school,” the news anchor said. “Some members of the staff have voiced their concerns, but the kids are nothing but thrilled.”

“Towns and cities all across the globe are finally being restored to their former glory, with many thanks to neighboring troll communities for their donations and reconstruction contributions.”

“Last week an unauthorized man was caught trying to chip off a piece of Harmonia’s Heartstone but was promptly arrested, and rescued, by human law enforcement.”

“Later this evening, we’ll be joined by Commander Zadra of Akiridion-5 as we further discuss the prospect of a new Earth ambassador and the future of galactic relations.”

“A tragic update for the ladies as Master Wizard Douxie Casperan, one of the leaders of the True Order, was recently seen with a ring and new pink tattoos on his left hand.”

“According to members of the True Order, Nari of the Eternal Forest still has yet to return.”

“The Great Eternity, father of the ancient wizards who called themselves the Arcane Order. Interesting enough, it seems the vast majority of Magickind had no idea who he was or that he even existed.”

“Wet socks and moldy bread. What do they really taste like on the troll palate? Food scientists and enthusiasts reveal their recent culinary crimes in their quest to understand. Some theorize it’s just a weird mythical-magic thing. After all, eyeballs and raw livers are a common snack among magic practitioners…….”

Jim glanced at the clock. Three hours.

“Okay, we’re good, we’re good,” Jim mumbled as he stepped out of the kitchen and rounded the corner to his parents’ bedroom. They always kept their door slightly ajar, Walter’s snore humming in the short hallway. Jim gently bumped the door wider with his hip and slipped two plastic wrapped plates of bacon and spinach omelets on the nightstand. He stepped back, taking a moment to gaze at Walter and Barbara sleeping in each other’s embrace, and smiled softly. “See you guys in a bit.”

He grabbed his phone, keys, and garment bag on the way out, hitting a button on the wall to open the garage door. Bits of morning light glinted off the silver sheen of his vespa. Jim hopped on, carefully folding the bag behind him, turned the key, then rolled out onto the driveway before cruising down the road towards town, admiring the sunrise.

Neighbors waved and smiled as he passed by, including the troll couple who’d recently moved into the chiseled stone abode four blocks down. The mail truck made its rounds while a Stalking followed above, digging rolled up magazines out of a pouch and tossing them onto doormats.

“Morning, Champion!” it squawked.

 “Hey, Hookwing!” Jim said, then nodded at the mailman. “Good to see you, Hank!”

Arcadia Oaks Square bustled with townsfolk heading to work and opening up shop. Benoit’s had finally reopened a month ago, the line up for coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries already wrapped around the building. A troll strolled out while gobbling down five lattes, cupholders and all. Kids played kickball and jumped rope in lots between structures, left empty for whatever reason after being cleared of debris, though some were blocked off and displayed signs promising department stores and new restaurants. Others were turned into quaint flowerbeds with wooden benches, birdbaths, and the occasional arrangement of glowing gemstones. 

Jim rode past the dewy park where people jogged and walked their dogs, sidestepping bunches of gnomes haphazardly trimming the grass with scissors. Up ahead was Trollmarket Street, evident by the Heartstone getting bigger and closer. Jim went straight for another five minutes then made three turns, the last carrying him through the threshold onto Brilliant Avenue, the roads lined with multicolored crystal clusters, and the town opened up into a different world.

Brickwork and townhouses became cobblestone dens and smooth rock towers all studded with glittering jewels and rainbow sediments. Trolls went about their morning, pushing barrels of geodes, selling and buying wares, crafting totems and charms at their posts. Jim was greeted with waves and laughter as he made his way to the base of the Heartstone, where his friends were all waiting.

“There he is,” Douxie said.

“Good morning, Master Jim,” Blinky said.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jim said, parking his vespa at a big geode fountain then jogging over. 

“You’re fine. We all just got here, too,” Claire said. She took his hand. “Come on.”

They gathered around and faced the base of the Heartstone where a great golden statue had been erected, showcased on a wide pedestal of faceted glass and intricate granite marble. It depicted four beings standing tall and proud. A troll in the center, an Akiridion on its left and a wizard with a staff on its right. In the troll’s hands was a sculpture of Earth. The Akiridion cradled stars between their fingers. The wizard balanced the sun and moon in his palm. Risen behind them was a dragon, roaring at the sky with its wings fully spread in a protective stance. Inscribed upon the pedestal were hundreds of thousands of names. The names of every person and creature who’d died that day.

Every month for the past year and a half, the Champions of Daylight met here to be still and silent. As always, they lingered on the names that stood out to them.

Nomura. 

Every now and again, Jim and Barbara would find Walter listening to classical music and zoning out. Pieces by Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Edvard Grieg. Nomura’s favorites. Sometimes he would start crying, then they would settle down and weep with him.

Charlemagne the Devourer.

They all missed his stories and bloodberry pies and awful puns. Douxie and Archie had gotten to the point where it didn’t hurt as much. They could even joke about it at times, their “father issues.” But now it wasn’t just Douxie periodically waking up with tearstained eyes and an aching heart. Those nights, he held Archie close with all the love and comfort he’d been given.

Elijah Pepperjack.

Steve knocked his fist against the lettering and bent forward. He always tried to keep it together, always thought the next time would be a little easier, give him a little more peace. Instead his heart would hurt that much more, and the void left in his life would hollow out his bones. Aja hugged his shuddering back. Krel touched his shoulder, sobbing, too.

A few passerbys stopped to pay their respects as well. The crying and sniffling gradually quieted. Douxie and some kept their eyes closed, while Zoe and others fixed their pensive eyes on the statues. Jim skimmed over each name. Aja folded her hands over her chest as if praying. Toby leaned into Aaarrrgghh’s side, weeping softly.

After a long while, Jim checked his phone.

“Crud, we better get going guys,” he said, wiping his face.

Everyone cleared their throats and shook themselves back to the present. Tears were dried and tight embraces were exchanged among them, tender smiles breaking out.

“It’s time, little brother!” Aja giggled. They’d both gone with their human forms today.

“Best go and get ready then,” Blinky said to Jim and Toby.

“Big day,” Zoe said, patting Claire’s cheek.

“Yup. Actually can’t believe it’s happening.” Claire conjured a shadow portal before joining Jim on his vespa.

“Make us proud,” Douxie chuckled. He mounted his shiny black motorcycle, streaks of blue flashing as he revved the engine. Archie settled around his shoulders and Zoe climbed on after them. “See you in a bit!” They tore out of Trollmarket Street, tails of magic streaming behind them.

Jim rolled his eyes. “Show off.” 

Toby, Steve, and Krel hopped through the portal first before Jim accelerated into the darkness. They warped to the parking lot of the school’s sports field then booked it to the outdoor restrooms to change. Soon students were showing up in droves, some fixing their hair and makeup and others bumbling with garment bags to also get ready on sight. 

“Chop, chop, lemme see some hustle!” Coach Lawrence shouted.

“Ten more minutes, children!” Ms. Janeth said, counting heads with her pen. “Oh you all look stunning!”

The students filed into the lines they’d rehearsed, fidgeting in their gowns and fixated on the crowded bleachers and the rows of empty chairs set up in front of a constructed stage. Principal Uhl took his place at the podium. At his cue, whoever was the mascot today started thumping out chords on a keyboard and the procession began. They marched across the field to the hundreds of folding chairs and fumbled to their assigned seats. Jim glimpsed the left stack of bleachers. Barbara watched eagerly from the middle section with Blinky and Aaarrrgghh. The Blanks were a row down, armed with cameras and a cardboard cutout of Krel’s human face. Varvatos and Nancy Domzalski sat beside them, smiling sweet and holding hands. Douxie, Zoe, Archie found seats right above Barbara. Aja hurried to sit with them, playfully bumping against Zoe’s arm. When the mascot’s performance became too much, Principal Uhl coughed into the microphone.

“Uh…Wonderful. Yes, thank you,” Uhl said. Everyone clapped, either halfhearted or with questionable overenthusiam. The mascot stood and skipped to stand at attention behind Uhl with Coach Lawrence, Ms. Janeth, and Walter, nearly running into the table stacked high with diplomas. Uhl shook his head then adjusted the mic. He smiled. “Good afternoon everyone.  Thank you all for joining us on this momentous day. We’ve seen our fair share of global catastrophes. Our town is still recovering, but we’ve pushed through. And now, I’m proud to present this graduating class at last.” Uhl glanced at Jim, Claire, Toby, Steve, and Krel. “Well done to you all. You’ve truly earned it. The first row of students may rise and come up. Excellent. When I call your name, please come forward...”

Students claimed their diplomas and snapped photos with Uhl in alphabetical order, whoops and hollers buzzing on the packed bleachers. Seamus Johnson puffed his chest and grinned awkwardly at the camera. Shannon Longhannon squealed and did a jig off the stage. Darci Scott and Mary Wang took selfies with their teachers. 

“Tobias Domzalski!”

“Wingman!” Aaarrrgghh cheered. 

“That’s my Toby Pie!” Nancy said.

Toby snapped his finger guns and attempted to moonwalk down the stage ramp.

“James Lake Jr.!”

Barbara and Blinky jumped to their feet, clapping and shouting. Jim waved at them, then looked back at his stepdad and smiled. Walter nodded back, arms crossed and eyes soft with pride.

“Claire Nunez!”

“That’s my baby!” her dad yelled. Her mom hurrayed while bouncing a giggling Enrique on her hip.

“Way ta go, sis!” NotEnrique laughed.

“Steven Palchuk!”

Aja bounced on her heels and screamed in delight. Coach Lawrence clapped Steve on the back before squeezing him to his side. Red as his face was, Steve couldn’t help but grin.

“Krel Tarron!”

Lucy went ham on the camera, the flash strobing like crazy as she took hundreds of pictures in a matter of seconds. Ricky waved Krel’s cardboard face high.

“That’s my little brother!” Aja shouted.

“Glorious!” Varvatos bellowed. “The King In Waiting has received his paper certificate of great knowledge!”

Krel received the diploma, smiling big and bright. Uhl hugged him to his side.

When all the students returned to their seats, a quiet fell over them. Uhl stepped back to the mic, breathing deep as his eyes went glossy.

One more name.

“Elijah Pepperjack.”

A beat of stillness. Then heads turned as Eli’s parents approached the stage, Mr. Pepperjack rubbing his crying wife’s shoulders. Ms. Janeth sobbed and honked into a tissue. The moment Eli’s diploma passed into his parents’ hands, Steve rose from his seat, his fellow graduates and everyone on the bleachers following, and the entire field erupted in heartbroken applause. The Pepperjacks made small smiles and bowed their heads in gratitude before tearfully returning to their reserved seats.

“Your son was one of our brightest students,” Uhl said, voice cracking. “He was such a kind boy. And we know now that he was also very, very brave. He lost his life protecting this world. Arcadia Oaks will never forget him. And I’m sure he knows how proud all of us are to have known him.”

Steve buried his face in his hands. He couldn’t have agreed more.

After tassels turned and caps were thrown, the ceremony came to a close. The table, podium, and keyboard were replaced with a drum set, two big amps, and a much better keyboard. Three long white tables were set up and loaded with trays of catered food. Students stripped off their gowns before skipping and hurrying back to the field with their loved ones, all dressed for a party.

Feedback screeched through an amp. Cheers and squeals burst forth as Douxie and Zoe took the stage, testing levels and tuning their instruments. Archie squatted at the drums and Claire plunked out chords on the keyboard.

“Congratulations to all you lovely graduates!” Douxie said into the mic, getting a cacophony of excited, praising shouts in response. He grinned wide and leaned on the mic stand with both hands. “We’re Ash Dispersal Pattern. Most of you have seen me and my beautiful soulmate’s face before.” He gestured to Zoe, heart full to bursting when he glimpsed her left hand, the ring on her finger and sky blue soulbond mark swirling over her knuckles. Zoe did a lighthearted eye roll. “But I’m thrilled to announce our guest performer. C Bomb herself, our very own Claire Nunez on keys!”

Claire waved sheepishly at their claps and cheers. 

Archie hit four counts on with his drumsticks and the stage amps boomed the melodic screech of Douxie’s guitar. The crowd roared and jumped to the wild, energetic tempo. Douxie belted lyrics into the mic before shredding his expert fingers all along the frets, throwing his head back in rapture. Zoe headbanged next to him, then she popped off her bass and sang the next verse, Jim and the others awestruck at her amazing, passionate tone they’d heard so much about. Douxie played along with her voice, his gaze gravitating right to her. Zoe caught him staring and smiled. The two stepped back and rocked out at each other, eyes locked, hearts and improvised riffs synchronized. Their harmony crescendoed with Claire’s accompaniment and Archie wailing on on the toms and cymbals. He beat out a spirited final lick and the audience went wild with applause. Not even a second later they were chanting for an encore.

“Thank you, thank you everyone!” Douxie breathed a laugh. “Don’t you worry, we’re nowhere near done yet. If I could have your attention for just a moment…” Everyone settled down. As he looked out at all their faces, his heart thrummed with care. “We were facing some pretty dark times two years ago. None of us were sure if we’d make it to tomorrow, let alone to a high school graduation.” His eyes found each of his friends, all of them sharing his sadness. “We lost so much. Too much. At one point, we didn’t know if we could keep going.”

Douxie thought about Nari, just as he had every day since they’d parted ways.

“The Earth is calling for me. I must go away now to bring my healing, and to show Bellroc and Skrael the beauty of life. But I will come back to you again, I promise.”

“But the thing about darkness is that all it takes is a single spark, just a glimmer, and the room is lit,” Douxie said. “That’s the power of hope and love and… believing. When we were scared and angry and hurt and confused…there was still hope. It’s what got us through. It’s what brought us back to,” he gestured around, “this!”

“I don’t know what many of you are facing right now, the pain and darkness you’re dealing with. Maybe you feel like the world is on your shoulders. But just as the sun never stops shining, even in the worst of storms, hope is never truly lost. And if you can’t find the light now, that’s alright. I believe one day you will, cause it’s not going anywhere. Have faith. Hold on to hope. Keep love in your hearts and always let it win. Rise to the occasion, just as you are. Take care of each other.” Douxie took a breath. Another look at his friends brought tears to his eyes. “Yeah. Take care of each other. Then I think we’ll be alright.”

There was hardly a dry eye left in the crowd when Douxie finished. A few found the strength to clap while the rest blew their noses and dabbed their faces. Douxie took a moment to rub his own tears away. Zoe swiped his cheek with her thumb.

“Right then,” Douxie said, going back to the mic. “We have more tunes for you today. But we do have one more surprise.” Zoe and Claire moved a table on stage, complete with a multicolored soundboard, two more amps, a laptop, and twin electric blue turntables. Smoke machines shrouded the stage in a rolling mist. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the one, the only, the nuclear and lively, DJ Kleb!”

Krel burst through the haze with the blare synths, layering his set up with holographic bright blue discs of buttons, volume sliders, and fluctuating sound waves. Headphones on and body grooving, Krel spun out slapping beats in time with Douxie banging out new chords, hyping the crowd right back up. The field reverberated with delighted, raucous shouts as a medley of synthetic rock electrified their eardrums, fans bouncing high on the balls of their feet to the infectious rhythm. The performers all looked at each other, beaming and laughing at the awesomeness, the music fueling their souls like the air they breathed.

They played like they could go for hours on end.

Danced like they’d never have to stop.

◇

Pink and orange flushed the sky as the sun drifted behind Camelot’s towers. Beneath the shadow of the castle, the Champions of Daylight spread out on the soft grass of the Bluff, finishing up hamburgers and potato salads, chatting and laughing while reclined on picnic blankets.

Walter turned off the grill while Barbara and Jim went around picking up plates. Claire, Aja, and Zoe went for more tacos from Stuart’s truck. Steve and Toby chilled on Aaarrrgghh’s back, debating about the worst actors in sci-fi movies. Darci brought over the last helpings of Nougat Nummie pie, to which Toby slid off his Wingman’s back to smooch her on the cheek. Varvatos and Nancy snuggled and made eyes at each other under a tree before being disrupted by Ricky and Lucy rattling off recommendations for honeymoons. Jim, Krel, and NotEnrique tossed a frisbee, which ended up flying right into Luug’s mandibles and being horked down. While Jim fetched the spare, Luug flopped after Archie in endless circles until Douxie rescued him. Chompsky looked between Zoe and his Sally Go-Back wife, sputtering at the resemblance. She glanced perplexed at Blinky, who just shook his head and shrugged.

An early moon made its appearance, a full spherical ghost hanging low and shepherding the first smattering stars through the falling evening.

Another hour or two past, Douxie and Zoe singing softly while he strummed a gentle melody. Lovers held one another close, enjoying the sweet music. Walter and Barbara did a tiny waltz. Jim hugged Claire to his side and kissed her hair. Steve rested back against Aja’s embrace, her four arms wrapped snug around him. Toby held and kissed Darci’s knuckles. Varvatos pressed his lips to Nancy’s forehead. Chompsky fell asleep in his plastic wife’s lap and the Blanks swing danced to an entirely different tune.

When the sun began to dip below the treeline, Aja and Steve stood with their hands linked.

“I think it’s time,” Aja said. On cue, an Akiridion vessel crested the cliff, a ramp extending into the grass from its bottom hatch. “Little brother?”

Krel nodded, sniveling. Everyone took turns hugging him close.

“You sure you can’t stay?” Douxie said as he pulled away.

“It’s time for me to become King,” Krel said, gazing at each of his friends with a sad smile.

“What a glorious King you will be,” Varvatos declared.

“I second that,” Douxie said.

Zoe and Claire bundled Aja into their arms.

“We’ll miss you, girl,” Zoe said.

“And we’ll miss you,” Jim said, clasping Steve’s hand to pull him into a hug. “What’re we gonna do without our Creepslayer?”

“Beats me,” Steve said. “You nerds will just have to hold the fort while I’m busy being an ambassador. Just don’t do anything cool while I’m gone.”

“You got it.”

“Oh my sweet little Toby Woby…” Nancy cupped her grandson’s cheeks. “Remember to check that note I left, it has everything including ointment for your rashes and the soap I use for your underw—”

“Thanks, Nana!” Toby blurted, cheeks going scarlet. But within seconds he was smiling and hugging her close. “Thanks, Nana. I love you.”

“Oh I love you, too, so much Toby Pie.”

Varvatos and Nancy boarded the ship hand in hand. Aja collected Luug in her arms before facing her friends with Krel and Steve.

“Don’t be strangers, you here?” Barbara said.

Krel smiled. “This is our home. We could never be strangers.”

“If you ever need us, just send the word. We’ll be there,” Aja said. 

And with that, they turned and embarked up the ramp. The Blanks looked on with fondness shining in their artificial eyes, all while comforting a crying and snotting Stuart. Their friends waved and shouted final messages.

“Love you guys!” Toby said.

“See you later!” Claire called.

“Safe travels!” Douxie shouted.

“I’ll save a spot for you at Hex Tech for when you come back, Krel!” Zoe hollered.

The ship rose into the air, its passengers waving and calling back before the ramp retracted and the hatch slid closed.

Douxie hooked his arms around Jim and Claire’s shoulders. Ricky ruffled Toby’s hair and Lucy gave his cheek a light pinch. Zoe crossed her arms and leaned against Aaarrrgghh, Archie settling around her shoulders. Blinky came up behind Walter and Barbara to place his hands on their backs. 

They watched with tears and smiles on their faces as the Akiridion ship rotated and rocketed towards the clouds, looping through the darkening skies before vanishing in a blip of cyan light.

“What’s next for you guys?” Douxie asked Jim.

Jim smiled, tired but content. “College.”

“A job,” Claire added. Archie flew into her arms and bunted her chin.

“And most likely saving the world again at some point,” Toby finished.

“Sounds about right,” Zoe chuckled.

“We’ll be with you when it happens,” Douxie said.

They all wrapped each other up in a group hug.

That night, Douxie and Zoe stood on their bedroom balcony, resting against the cool stone parapet beneath glittering specks of starlight. The Heart of Camelot whirred softly below the castle, its brilliant blue glow dusting the surrounding stretch of midnight woodland. From here, they took in their restored little town of Arcadia Oaks in the distance, bathed in the full moon’s silver and Trollmarket’s luminous prismatic hues. The vivid Heartstone rose high above the rooftops, its warm fiery crystals blooming in the night, a towering bonfire chasing away the darkness. 

Zoe turned in Douxie’s arms, smoothing her hands over his chest. She went on her toes to kiss him.

“I think I’ll turn in for the night,” she said.

“Sound,” Douxie said, running his hands down her sides. “Be there in a minute.”

A gentle breeze fluttered over the castle as he marveled at the intersecting light sources for another serene moment. Douxie closed his eyes and breathed in the night one more time before turning to head to bed. Just as he did so…

Glowing spring green flecks drifted into his vision, first a pinch, then lambent clusters. They coalesced into dazzling flowers, shades of forest, jade, emerald, chartreuse, and mint falling all around him. 

Tears flooded his eyes as a petal kissed his palm, and her sweet voice reached him.

“Douxie.”

Breathless, he turned around…and smiled.

⁕

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Author’s Notes : Did...Did I actually do it? Did I actually finish this fic? o__o

I never thought I’d get back into writing again. But my love for the Tales of Arcadia franchise and unbridled hatred for that gross excuse of a “grand finale” (truly ROTTen, amirite?) summoned old author Rika lol

This has been such a journey for me as a creative. I’ve learned so much about myself as a writer and I want to continue to do so.This has to be one of most draining self-inflicted experiences I’ve embarked on, but believe me when I say that it’s been a blast. This was so much fun, and I’m so blessed, thankful, and blown away by how many people actually wanted to read it. And people who’ve actually, like, enjoyed it haha

I will say, though, that past month has been really rough on my health, emotionally and physically. Even as I write this now, I’m like...really lightheaded rip But! I wanted to see this project through to the end and I hope was able to craft an ending that did this incredible series and my children these amazing characters even a smidge of justice. If not, well, I sure did try :’) Regardless, I’m so thankful to the Lord and for everyone’s support that got me through to the finish line. I’d love to hear your thoughts and even answer any questions you may have! Headcanons galore >w<

Rika’s gonna take a nice long break now lol  

God bless and thank you all so much again for reading. 

Until the next one ~

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[cheekymoonfilms]

Scientists Explain the Vengaboys

A temporal physics lecture by Cheeky Moon

Transcript:

Alastair: “Boom boom. Boom boom.”

Claire: The heartbeat of a generation. 

A: We all know the Vengaboys for their humanitarian work and their geopolitical influence. So it’s sometimes easy to forget that they began as lively pop musicians.

C: 1998 was… a difficult time, for those of us who still remember. In that bleak, post-Diana, post-Seinfeld world, there was a certain void that needed filling. A certain absence of meaning. Our hearts... they longed to sing again. And then suddenly, out of the blue…

Cue music sample: Boom boom boom boom! I want you in my room Let’s spend the night together From now until forever

A: “Let’s spend the night together… from now until forever.” How can all of eternity take place in a single night, in a single room?

C: Over the course of this 12-part non-refundable seminar, we’ll be examining just how the Vengaboys’ Milli Vanillian verse fits in with our current understanding of temporal physics.

A: Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you: The Vengaboy Paradox. 

A: Einstein theorised that time is relative. It can pass for each and every one of us at different speeds. Let’s say, for instance, that this room were travelling a million miles a minute. One night could pass in this room, but many years would pass to those in the outside world. This is, of course, highly improbable. Unless this room were on board the... The Vengabus.

CC: Indeed, to find the answer, we can’t just look at one song. We must factor in the broader picture the Vengaboys have been delicately brush-stroking throughout their two-album contract deal. 

Cue music sample: The Vengabus is coming And everybody's jumping New York to San Francisco An intercity disco The wheels of steel are turning And traffic lights are burning

A: “The traffic lights are burning.” The thermonuclear consequences of burning traffic lights imply astonishing speeds - far beyond those of any other pop artist recorded on the Sanity Top Ten Singles Chart. Even S Club 7, another musical group well known for their non-stop parties. 

Cue music sample: Don't stop movin' Can you feel the music DJ's got us goin' around (round) A: Let’s assume the S-Club party commences a-groovin while the Vengabus begins a-movin’. 

C: By the time the Vengabus reaches its itinerant destination of San Francisco, a single night will have passed for its occupants. However, at traffic-light-burning speeds, let’s assume the party bus has circumnavigated the globe 70 million times. Long enough for these beautiful, dewy skinned-dancers and DJs to wind down their S Club Party and age into obscurity.

A: Indeed, to an S-Club member’s fading mortal eyesight, this party in motion will have simply vanished. One moment it’s there, now it’s gone. This unit of measurement is known to those of us in the field as an Mmmbop.

Cue music sample: In an mmmbop they're gone In an mmmbop they're not there C: And so, the eternal Vengabus party may very well span the life of an S Clubber such as Rachel, once body-rocking, now hobbling on a replacement hip. 

A: Or Bradley, once jiggy with it on the d-floor, now unable to pull himself up. 

C: Or Jo, who had the flow, but now just shakes her head and wonders what it was all for. The party must end for us all. 

A: And yet… one must hope that the Vengabus’s wheels of steel are turning still, transporting a star selection of loose people cross country, teaching us always that time is what we make it. 

C: And that one sweet day, it will take us all away into that sweet, eternal night.

#vengaboys #the vengabus #Boom Boom Boom Boom #mmmbop #s club 7 #s club #temporal physics #time travel #time travel problems #lightspeed travel #90s pop #brisbane comedy #live comedy

[tudkunwoman]

Beauty Blender Sponge 101: Everything You Need to Know for Picture-Perfect Makeup

Welcome to the vibrant world of beauty blenders, where every dab and bounce leads to a flawless makeup application that can make anyone feel like a pro. The beauty blender sponge, a game-changer in the cosmetics industry, has transformed the way we apply makeup, offering an airbrushed, picture-perfect finish that makeup enthusiasts around the globe covet. Whether you're a seasoned makeup artist or a beginner, this guide will take you through the ins and outs of beauty blenders, ensuring your makeup game is nothing short of impeccable. So, let’s dive in and explore everything there is to know about this tiny powerhouse of unique beauty!

The Origins of the beauty blenders

The journey of the beauty blender began as a simple idea in the mind of a Hollywood makeup artist who sought to achieve a seamless makeup application for high-definition TV. The traditional makeup sponges, with their edges and lines, couldn’t provide the flawless finish required on screen. The egg-shaped, edgeless beauty blender revolutionized the way makeup was applied and blended its way into the hearts of makeup lovers everywhere.

Why Beauty Blender?

The unique shape and material of the beauty blender sponge allow for an incredibly smooth and even application of products, from foundation and concealer to cream blushes and highlighters. The key lies in its open-cell structure, which, when dampened, fills with water. The open-cell structure ensures that the makeup stays on the surface rather than being absorbed into the sponge, resulting in less product waste and a more dewy, natural finish.

Choosing the Right Beauty Blender

Consider this when choosing beauty blender sponge: not all sponges are created equal. Here's what to consider:

Original Beauty Blender: Known for its iconic pink colour, the original beauty blender is a safe bet for all-around use, from foundation to contouring.

Size Matters: The size of the sponge can make a difference. A larger beauty blender is great for quick application on larger areas, while a mini blender is perfect for precision work around the eyes and nose.

Sets and multipacks: A beauty blender set can offer versatility, with different shapes and sizes for every makeup need, ensuring you always have the right tool at hand.

Material Quality: Look for sponges made from hydrophilic polyurethane, which ensures they are latex-free, non-allergenic, and expand when wet.

Brand and Reviews: While the original Beauty Blender brand is a staple, other brands like TUDKUN have also made a name for their quality makeup sponges. Always check reviews before purchasing.

Using Your Beauty Blender

To get the most out of your beauty blender, follow these steps:

Dampen Your Sponge: Always use your beauty blender damp. Run it under water, squeeze out the excess, and, if needed, give it a gentle towel squeeze. This prepares the sponge to deliver a dewy finish and prevents product waste.

Dot Your Makeup: Apply your foundation, concealer, or any cream product in dots over your face.

Bounce and Blend: Gently bounce the beauty blender against your skin, blending the makeup into a seamless finish. The stippling action helps in achieving an airbrushed look.

Use the Pointed End for Precision: The narrower end of the beauty blender is perfect for under the eyes, around the nose, and other hard-to-reach areas.

Maintain a Clean Sponge: Regular cleaning will ensure your beauty blender remains hygienic and extends its lifespan.

How to Care for Your beauty blender

Proper care is essential to keep your beauty blender in top condition.

Clean Regularly: Use a gentle soap or a blender-specific cleanser to wash your sponge after each use. This keeps bacteria at bay and maintains the integrity of the sponge.

Air Dry: Post-cleaning, let your beauty blender air dry in an open, ventilated space. Avoid storing it in closed, damp places to prevent mould.

Replace When Necessary: Even with diligent care, beauty blenders need to be replaced every three to six months, depending on usage.

The eco-friendly aspect

As the beauty industry moves towards sustainability, many brands have introduced eco-friendly beauty blenders made from biodegradable materials. These options offer the same flawless application while being kinder to the planet.

Beauty Blender Hacks

Here are some genius ways to use your beauty blender:

Cream Products: Besides foundation and concealer, use it for cream blush, bronzer, and highlighter.

Baking: Use the damp sponge to apply loose powder for setting under-eye concealer.

Skincare Application: Apply serums, moisturizers, and even sunscreen with a beauty blender for a quick and even distribution.

Custom Coverage: Mix foundation with moisturizer on the back of your hand and apply with a beauty blender for sheer, custom coverage.

Beauty Blender vs. Brushes

While both tools have their place in a makeup kit, beauty blenders offer the unique benefit of providing a more skin-like, natural finish. Brushes are great for buffing and precision, but for a dewy, airbrushed look, the beauty blender takes the crown.

Final Thoughts

The beauty blender sponge has undeniably become a staple in makeup bags worldwide, offering an unmatched ability to create flawless, camera-ready looks. With the right care and technique, this little sponge can elevate your makeup routine, making it easier, faster, and more fun.

In the end, the beauty blender is not just a tool but a gateway to expressing your individuality and creativity through makeup. So, embrace this game-changer and let your beauty blender lead the way to endless beauty possibilities.

#beauty blender #beauty blende #beauty blender sponge