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lunasohma · 8 months

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gone fishin’

[ ao3 / ff.net ]

Two exorcists wade into a river.

Alternatively: Natori and Matoba’s riparian adventure with an 80% chance of death or at the very least, grievous injury.

There is a hold-up at the pet shop. The sounds of a disagreement filter back through the shelves and Natori listens with the vaguest sense of disquiet. A separate queue has been formed so he moves along with it.

Matoba Seiji is arguing about aquarium dimensions at the counter.

"So, will you take this one, sir?" He watches the cashier age ten years in real-time.

Natori himself is next in line and there is nowhere to retreat.

"Yes, thank you." Matoba side eyes him when he finally steps up to the counter and he is all but pinned to the floor.

Natori Shuuichi can't help the sneaking suspicion that his day off won't be a day off anymore.

—

Once they're outside, Matoba generously offers the use of the trolley he's borrowed for Natori's bag of birdseed.

Natori relents.

The look Matoba fixes him with is innocently curious—the one he makes when it comes to potentially finding out something about his contemporaries.

So rather, it's carefully cunning.

"It's for birds," he blurts out inelegantly.

Matoba's expression morphs into bemusement and mild alarm. "Well, I should hope so, Shuuichi-san."

And so, as it always goes with Matoba, he feels the need to explain himself further.

It had started one morning with his half-finished breakfast. His last piece of toast had been spirited away before he could blink. The sparrow had glared at him in such a way that Natori had felt abashed.

Tossing a preemptive handful of crumbs before breakfast had turned into an investment of a bird feeder and birdseed. His elderly neighbor who shared his balcony space had turned up at his front door one morning.

"I find that they like these!" Natori had hurried to relieve her of the bag of birdseed that was more than half her height.

"So they'll grow big and strong," Tachibana-san had beamed.

While he ensured the safety of his future toast, the little bit of wildlife really was a respite in the city. He had found Hiiragi admiring them through the window on more than one occasion.

In fact, it had been Hiiragi who had sent him out this morning.

"They don't like this kind." They had run out of the usual brand. She was quietly devastated and Natori could not abide that, so he'd set off on his mission.

Of course, his luck had landed him in the same pet shop as Matoba Seiji.

"How sweet, Shuuichi-san.” Matoba is fighting a smile.

"I am." Natori lifts his chin and is pleased.

Matoba Seiji cuts a severe figure against the haze of the summer day. All harsh lines with his tailored suit and perfect posture. Natori would reckon that he was previously with a client. Or on the way to one? Either way, Matoba doesn't seem to be about to volunteer any information. Least of all about the fish tank.

So when he stops abruptly, Natori crashes into him and then knocks his shin sharply against the trolley.

"Shuuichi-san." He turns to him with a one-eyed stare.

"What." He rubs sullenly at his leg.

"I need to catch a fish."

"…What."

”Would you help me?"

It is with this plea and the look on Matoba's face—one that would sooner be seen on a basset hound—that Natori finally, officially, forfeits the rest of his day off.

—

There is a fish in the river.

This particular fish has been terrorizing the waterfowl and fauna. Growing at an alarming rate, it is poised to singlehandedly (fin-edly?) wreak havoc on the local ecosystem.

“Big. This big.” Matoba had held his hands apart, adjusting after a moment. “Well, thereabouts.”

Natori raised an eyebrow. “Very descriptive.”

”My informants were, yes.” Matoba said solemnly.

You’re being oddly cryptic, Seiji, Natori thinks.

“That’s about all they knew.”

Oh. Guess he said that aloud then.

And time is of the essence, apparently.

It wouldn’t be long before larger things were on the menu. The local poodle. The local poodle’s owner. That kind of thing. Natori makes a face.

”It��s not unimaginable,” Matoba says.

”I never said it was. Just improbable.”

”It’s not like you to lack imagination, Shuuichi-san.” A sliver of a smile.

“That is not something I’d like to imagine.”

“Me neither.”

—

Spells are out of the question for now.

“You don’t need to tell me that.”

”As you’d like.”

Water is difficult. The smallest ripple can and will push spiritual energy off course, disabling and dissolving a spell entirely. Forget about a river.

Conversely, if he were to believe the rumors he’s heard, if you have patience in spades, it is possible to work the ebbs and flows to your favor. Just a bit. Because ultimately, Nature has no qualms for your efforts.

Natori himself has a day job and finds solid ground preferable.

—

Currently, they are seated upon the bank, Matoba reinforcing his fish tank with pieces of spell paper.

”If only that kitty cat was here.” Natori smiles at the frown he can hear in Matoba’s voice.

“Natsume’s? He’s very conditional. I doubt you could afford his starting fee. Plus…” Natori lies back in the grass, catching sight of Matoba’s consternation in full. “For you, he’d probably refuse on principle.”

With a huff, Matoba returns to his seals.

After a while, Natori fidgets with the need to do something.

When he impulsively begins rolling up his pant legs, Matoba blinks up at him in surprise.

“Do you have any other ideas?”

”Well…”

“Exactly.”

Natori doesn’t miss how Matoba glances down at his left leg.

“Seiji.” The other man startles. “If this is it, promise me that you’ll finish me off.”

With that, he steps carefully down the bank.

And it’s true. Monster fish claims exorcist’s cursed left leg. Natori shudders. Even he is under no illusion that he would be able to live that down.

Is it really summer? Natori hadn’t been able to hold back a yelp when he’d stepped into the river.

“Something the matter?” Matoba calls from behind him.

“Oh, s’just fine.” Natori just barely keeps the chattering tremble from his voice. “Just lovely.”

You brought this upon yourself. A voice in the back of his mind chides. It almost sounds like Hiiragi.

I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy!

”Is it cold?” Natori turns with a beatific smile. Sparkles too, surely Matoba can’t be immune.

“Not at all. Come on in.” Matoba watches him warily, starting to back away.

Oh no.

It is on.

“You get in here!”

—

It is only once they have both been thoroughly soaked and have started to dry out on the bank that Natori starts thinking about poetry.

Because there is something of the sort at work here. An expanse of unfamiliar ground that they find themselves navigating together again.

Contrary to what one might think, Natori Shuuichi is not against poetic justice. The fluffy kind that his acting allows him to indulge in is the best fun. And the fact that it helps pay the bills doesn’t hurt either.

Then there are the ancient grudges and blood oaths he encounters in exorcist work that are all too real. But that’s kind of exciting in its own right.

And whatever he and Seiji have going on. Natori’s not blind. More… willfully ignorant. Ever trying for blissfully obtuse.

For today, Natori is not going to be the one to point it out. Perhaps some things are better left unsaid.

The clouds are that wispy kind, all gossamer and lace, combed out against the blue of the sky above.

It is all too easy to let his eyes drift closed. His dreams are full of poetry.

—

“Surely this is not how you operate nowadays, Shuuichi-san.” Shuuichi wakes up to find Seiji peering down at him.

“Only on my days off.”

“Oh. I apologize for that.”

“S’not a big deal.” Shuuichi stretches, feeling surprisingly refreshed. “Have you seen our fishy friend?”

Seiji shakes his head. “That’s why I woke you up.”

“What?”

“We’re going to buy bait.”

Bait is an assortment of sandwiches from a nearby convenience store. Two of them are for Shuuichi and Seiji. One is for the fish.

The sandwich does the trick.

—

And it has teeth.

Several rows, like a goddamn shark. Shuuichi knows this because he has the fishy fiend by the tail, an arm’s length away. What good that does him is anybody’s guess, the creature is a good deal longer. That leaves him with one arm to keep its jaws as far away from his person as he can.

A burst of panic had made quick work of the restraints they’d managed to cast.

“You want this thing alive?” Shuuichi staggers back, thrown by the yokai’s frantic thrashing. The spell circle they’d set up as a last resort is a tempting thing.

“If you can manage to keep it like that,” Seiji calls over his shoulder, with a lilt of challenge. He’s making last minute adjustments to the tank.

Shuuichi proceeds to exhaust every curse he knows and then some as he attempts to keep the fishy devil from taking a chunk out of his hand.

—

When all is said and done, it is an impressive specimen of a fish.

Fans of fins sparkle with iridescence and its eyes glow cat-like.

Shuuichi almost feels bad, seeing it in its glass prison. Granted, he feels like that whenever he goes to a zoo or an aquarium. Of course, those animals have never tried to eat two of his fingers.

Yet the principle stands. So he is almost tempted to tip the tank and tell it to swim away as fast as it can.

Go on. Only if you apologize first. They make eye contact. A piece of Shuuichi’s shirt sleeve is still stuck in the fish’s jaws. It slurps the rest of it down before turning its tail to him. Ungrateful little brat.

—

“Hey, Mister! You caught it!” Shuuichi looks up to find two boys scrambling down the bank towards them. Dragging his heel through the last remnants of the spell circle, he watches them approach Seiji.

Seiji greets them with a pleasant smile. “Hello, again.”

The boys enthuse over the brooding behemoth at a safe distance.

“Oh yes, it put up quite a fight, but we managed.” Shuuichi rolls his eyes at the ‘we’.

They have placed bets on all manners of its features and now one boy owes the other a week’s worth of manjuu.

For some reason, Shuuichi feels his throat closing up.

“Dinner?” Seiji is saying. “No, actually this one’s going to be my pet.” He pats the tank. Absurdly, the fish seems to be enjoying the attention. It executes one lazy barrel roll.

The boys cheer.

Seiji turns to Shuuichi then, raising his eyebrows. “My informants,” he intones formally. The kids are amused.

Big. This big. Potential poodle devourer. It all makes sense. Shuuichi simpers internally.

He’ll spare Seiji today. Time for some Old Man and the Sea-esque regaling of their catch.

—

“Really? A pet?” Shuuichi asks. They’re waiting for Seiji’s car to come pick him and his new charge up.

“Maybe pet is a little generous. Rather… garbage disposal? And if it doesn’t work out…” Seiji gives a noncommittal shrug. Shuuichi shudders. Right. The Matoba are nothing if not resourceful.

“Don’t worry, Shuuichi-san, your efforts won’t go to waste.”

“The least I could ask for, I suppose,” Shuuichi sighs. He glances at the fish.

“It was nice.” Seiji watches him. “That you did that.”

“You know me, always a wellspring of goodwill.” His tone is light, a touch sardonic. The sentiment could float away to nothing. Shuuichi won’t let it.

“Yeah, you can be. Sometimes.”

Seiji doesn’t say anything. Shuuichi wonders what he’s thinking. But he won’t press that for now. Instead, he pursues the other thought nagging him.

“Do you think that they…” Shuuichi doesn’t know how to finish. At least Seiji gets the gist of it.

“Perhaps. Or perhaps it’s grown powerful enough to be seen.”

Shuuichi considers that. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah… okay.”

There’s nothing more to say, so they don’t.

—

Seiji is surprised when Shuuichi takes him up his offer to drive him home.

The birdseed is settled next to the tank in the back and the fish snaps at the colorful bird pictured on the front of the bag, knocking its nose soundly against the glass.

The sound Shuuichi makes can only be described as a guffaw. Seiji quickly shoos him into the car, not wanting to further cement this vendetta between them.

Shuuichi promptly falls asleep.

And then maybe it’s not the best time, but when has Seiji ever really been good at that?

”Thanks for helping, Shuuichi-san.” His head falls onto Seiji’s shoulder and Seiji doesn’t have to hide his smile.

“I’m glad you were here.”

Seiji wonders what Shuuichi will say when he wakes up to find their hands laced together.

He doesn’t mind waiting to find out.

#natsuyuu #natsume yuujinchou #horrible exorcists #natori shuuichi #matoba seiji #and one big ol’ fish #fanfiction #my fic #an absurdly long time in the making #i’m glad i can finally look at it #I. Am. Looking!!#🎉#it definitely got more indulgent over time #*cough*years*cough*

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hatterstan-shameblog · 3 years

Note

Smut, you say 👀

You're this cute, kinda innocent woman that gets the help of this handsome gigolo to not be as... innocent.

💕 The Professional: Chapter 1 💕

Chapter Two

Rating: PG-13 (for this chapter only)

Pairing: Danma Takeru (Hatter)/Reader (she/her

Tags: flirting, suggestive conversation, alcohol consumption, smoking, kissing

“Well, darling,” he says, voice low and smooth and so much closer than before, “I think it’s high time we got to the heart of the issue. The root of the root and the bud of the bud, as it were.”

“Uh,” you say, unsure of where he’s going with this but very much enjoying his simple touches, “what do you mean?”

“I’m just wondering,” he clarifies, pausing to let out a soft sigh, “when you’re going to give in and kiss me.”

Notes: This is a kind-of sort-of AU—in the show, Hatter references his involvement with the host club business, and mentions that he “would do anything” to be the best. Although host clubs do not usually involve sex work (as far as I know), I believe that he would definitely offer that “off the books” in order to win over his clientele.

You’re nervous. Nervous and jittery and—oh, dear, there’s a lot of feelings going on in here, and all of them seem to fall under the umbrella of ‘mild to moderate discomfort.’ Not that feeling uncomfortable is anything new; in fact, there are very few times where you happen to feel truly comfortable outside of, say, the warmth of your bed or the soothing calm of a late-night bath. Places where you feel safe. Places where you can let yourself breathe and be, unhindered by expectation.

The place where you currently find yourself—this strange little pocket of a room in the buzz and bustle of a Friday-night Kabukicho—is full-to-bursting with expectation. From the polished wood floors to the glittering gold chandelier that hangs from the center of the ceiling, there is an inescapable sense of opulent whimsy that is tinged pink with a blush of sensuality. There are even fresh flowers on the table in front of you—a vase of ranunculus, blooming bright and orange like a green-stalked bunch of tiny setting suns.

Something like an itch tickles your sweat-damp palms, making you ball your hands into tight fists around the fabric of your skirt. Oh, you should have worn something different! Something sexier, maybe, with a deeper neckline and a shorter hem, that hugged the shape of your body as opposed to ghosting over it in fluttering chiffon. Not that you actually, you know, owned anything like that, but—

The pop! of a champagne cork makes you jump. Hell, you feel like you’re about to pop, too, from the nervous energy boiling and swelling in your chest. It’s so very difficult not to fidget, to keep your toes from tapping out a frantic little rhythm on the rug.

Looking back, you realize that the paperwork had been the ‘easy’ part. Not that it had been particularly easy—who knew there would be an application process for this kind of thing?—but it was less stressful to fill out a (surprisingly comprehensive) questionnaire in the privacy of your own home as opposed to this agonizing waiting.

And what, exactly, are you waiting for?

Why, you’re waiting for him.

His name is Takeru—or, at least, that’s what he’s asked you to call him. Whether or not it’s a stage name is difficult to tell; but what you do know is that it sounded so very nice in the deep clear of his voice. The only thing that sounded better was your name, which he said in a gently-sultry half-whisper that made you feel…many thing, and not all of them innocent.

In a devastatingly well-tailored suit of lipstick red—a vibrant pop of a color you would so often consider buying at the makeup counter but always put back—it’s nearly impossible to look at anything but him. A small collection of rings glisten from his fingers, most of them delicate little things that wink a tiny gleam when the light hits them just right. The dizzying black-white-gold pattern of his shirt is unbuttoned just a smidge too low, offering you a tantalizing view of his chest.

And although his back is toward you, concocting some kind of magic at the bar cart along the far wall, you can all but feel the warm-dark of his eyes on you. Oh, he has beautiful eyes, dark and warm with the glitter of laughter—or perhaps mischief, if the situation calls for it. A slim nose leads down to a shapely mouth, handsomely framed by a neatly-trimmed beard and mustache.

Also, his hair—oh, that man has a great head of hair.

Aesthetics aside—he has been undeniably lovely. Slipping the coat from your shoulders when you walked into the room, fingertips skimming the slope of your shoulders with only the barest of touches. Offering you a glass of champagne (“Yes, thank you”) as he leads you to sit on the green velvet settee, hand hovering above but never touching the small of your back. A serene smile on his lips as he talks, as he tells you that your dress is lovely (“Blue is definitely your color, darling”) and letting out an airy chuckle when you mention that this was as good occasion as any to dig it out of the back of your closet.

It is impossible to ignore the way he is so very provocative—subtly so, in a way that makes you second-guess whether his flirtations had happened at all. Did his eyes really linger over the shape of your legs, or was he simply taking a moment to admire your (new, very cute) shoes? Did his fingertips slip over the curve of your shoulder as he removed your coat, or were you just imagining it?

His gaze tiptoes over your shape as he sits down beside you, two flutes of pink-tinged something in hands.

“I’ve taken the liberty of making something a little special,” he says, “Hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh, uh, thank you,” you say as he hands you one of the glasses, “it…it looks nice.”

“Know what it is?”

“Uh,” you say after a moment of silent deliberation, “Maybe alcohol?”

He huffs a short laugh at your half-joke—a rather polite response, and it manages to soothe the bubble of regret that had risen up your throat the moment you’d said it.

“You’re not wrong. More specifically, though, it’s a Kir Royale—or, my take on one, at the very least,” he watches the bubbles fizzle to the top of the glass, “I find myself more or less incapable of keeping with convention, even when it comes to alcohol.”

“Well, uh,” you say, “it’s pretty. I like the color.”

You taste the drink, bubbles like tiny fireworks tickling over the surface of your tongue. There is a dry bitterness, no doubt from the champagne, but it’s softened by a fruity sweetness. Something familiar, something that reminds you of summer and shaved ice and walks along the river and—

“Cherry,” you say, half-lost in the hazy-warm memory of days gone by—until you remember where you are and snap back to reality, “it’s, uh, it tastes like cherries.”

“Very good. Usually, the drink calls for creme de cassis, but I used Kijafa instead. It’s a dessert wine from Denmark, made from cherries,” his brow raises just a smidge, “I thought it appropriate, given the situation.”

And it takes you a minute to understand what he’s talking about. Cherries. You. Ah. A rather crass comparison, but accurate all the same.

“Oh,” you say, picking a very uninteresting spot on the rug to look at in an attempt to avoid meeting his eyes, “I, uh…”

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he adds, “In fact, virginity isn’t even a real thing. Completely made up. Means nothing, really.”

There is a kind of lag—he’s speaking, you know he’s speaking, but it takes your brain a few extra seconds to figure out what he’s actually saying. It’s strange, hearing someone talk to you so openly about sex. Not unwelcome, by any means, but you need a moment (or two, or ten) to adjust.

“That being said,” he continues, as if he’s discussing the weather, “just because it doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of life doesn’t mean it’s nothing to you.”

He’s fishing. He’s fishing, and you kind of want to take the bait, but…well, you’re finding it difficult to get your thoughts in order. He’s the very picture of calm, all while you’re floundering over a simple conversation.

“Apologies if I’ve overstepped,” he says, taking a slow sip of his drink, “I thought you might prefer to talk it over a bit. ”

“No, uh, you’re fine,” you answer quickly, “I’m just…I thought the paperwork kind of covered all that.”

“More or less,” he answers, “however, I’ve found that the person who fills out the forms and the person who ends up sitting across from me are not always of the same mind.”

He reaches a hand into the inside of his jacket and pulls out a silver-plated cigarette case. Although he is not gentleman enough to ask your permission to smoke, he is gentleman enough to offer you a cigarette before taking one of his own. You decline. He shrugs and quickly snaps the case shut before laying it on the table.

“In fact, it’s not uncommon for my clients to have a complete change of heart the second they walk through the door,” he continues, reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket, “Or, sometimes later on, for that matter. Depends on the person.”

Cigarette held between his teeth, he retrieves a lighter from his right trouser pocket. With a sharp little snick, he ignites it, pulling the little orange flame towards his face and hiding it behind his hand to let it catch.

“Really?”

You watch him intently, the way his eyelids flutter closed at the first inhale. The way his lips pucker around the filter and release, the red-pink sticking slightly as they pull away and let smoky white flow out and fade into the air.

“Really,” he confirms, “once, I had a client step inside, take one look at me, and promptly walk right back out. Never saw them again, which is fine. I’ll never fault someone for doing what’s right for themselves.”

“Are you, uh, trying to talk me out of it?”

“Not at all. Just making you aware of your options,” he says, “Doing anything for the first time is scary. Driving a car, swimming in the ocean, traveling abroad—sex is no different.”

“Yeah, well,” you respond, “you also get to do most of those things with your clothes on, so…”

“Depends on who you’re with.”

You can’t help but laugh a little.

“Well I still want to…you know,” you answer, “uh, do it. The…the sex part.”

“I’m happy to hear it.”

“Yeah, well, you’re supposed to say that.”

“It’s the truth,” he insists, “I can’t imagine anyone being upset at the thought of having a pretty thing like you in their bed.”

“I’m not—“

“Don’t,” he interrupts, taking on a tone that brokers no arguments, “I will suffer many things, but a liar isn’t one of them. You are an attractive woman and I refuse to be told otherwise.”

“Sorry, I,” you say sheepishly, “I guess I just…wasn’t expecting you to…like me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” He ashes his cigarette and takes another long, slow drag, “You’re very sweet. A bit shy, maybe, but I happen to like the shy ones.”

And there is something about the way he says it, the way his voice wraps around the words—oh, there are implications to those words, and you find yourself growing warm at the thought of what exactly those implications could entail.

You sip your drink. He smokes. The quiet between you is almost comfortable. Maybe it’s the alcohol working it’s bubbly magic, but you’re starting to feel a bit more at ease in this strange little place.

Moreover, you’re starting to feel a bit more at ease with him. The thought of kissing him crosses your mind, then doubles-back and crosses it again. Oh, that sounds nice. He would be good at it, too; starting gently, mouth pressed soft and sure against your own, and then just the tiniest tease of his tongue—

“And there you go, biting your lip again,” he says, snapping you out of your impromptu fantasy, “You have no idea how sexy that is, do you?”

He is sporting a devilish grin—not only is he aware that you had been daydreaming about him, but he’s relishing the fact that he was able to catch you so off-guard.

“Didn’t even realize I was doing it,” you admit with a shrug. But you can’t help but feel a thrill at the thought of being considered ‘sexy’—you never really let yourself feel that way, but now that it’s happening…oh, it’s nice.

“It’s absolutely delicious, darling. Makes me wonder what else you do when you’re turned on…”

And he’s got you—like a knife held under your chin, his sharp gaze pins you in place. He is impossible to avoid. Not that you particularly want to avoid him—there’s something irresistible about this man, something that you can’t quite name but definitely want more of.

It’s scary.

It’s exciting.

“I’m,” you say with a nervous chuckle, “not really sure, myself. Guess we’ll have to, uh, figure it out together.”

His gaze darkens. He takes one last lungful of nicotine before stubbing out his cigarette.

“I suppose we shall.”

And he’s moving now, sliding himself down so that he’s closer to you. He stops when there is barely an inch of space between the outside of his thigh and your own. His right arm has draped itself over the back of the sofa, the fingertips of his hand now skimming the skin of your shoulder in loose, mindless sweeps.

“Uh,” you say, unsure of where he’s going with this but very much enjoying his simple touches, “what do you mean?”

“I’m just wondering,” he clarifies, pausing to let out a soft sigh, “when you’re going to give in and kiss me.”

He plucks the champagne flute from your grasp and sets it on the table in front of you.

“I, uh—“

The fingertips on your shoulder continue to make their idle little circles, almost hypnotic in their swirling pattern. His left hand catches your right wrist, his thumb pressing above where your pulse thrums beneath sensitive skin.

“Bit fast,” he observes, pulling your arm closer as if inspecting it, “Could be nerves, but I think it’s more from excitement, don’t you?”

You have no choice but to lean into him as he brings your hand closer. Your shoulder presses against his arm, and you feel the solid shape of him through the smooth of his suit. He’s strong underneath all of those layers—warm, too, judging from the heat that radiates from his person.

“I’m—“

The thumb that had been testing your pulse inches higher, stopping when it’s pressing into the center of your palm. His eyes lock with yours, a heartbeat of a moment, and brings your wrist closer and closer until his lips are ghosting over your flesh. When he finally decides to make contact, you gasp—it’s a delicate sensation, but sends your heart skipping in a shaking staccato.

And, then.

Then he sucks.

The sound you make is halfway between an oh of surprise and a desperate little moan—oh, wow, that’s really weirdly unexpectedly hot—and you don’t even have the presence of mind to feel embarrassed by your own reaction. He’s not even doing much, not really; just a little bit of pressure, lips parted just enough to let his tongue slip out and have a taste of you.

But, oh, it feels…it feels filthy, it feels decadent, it feels like something you should not be doing but very much want to keep doing for the rest of your life. Takeru’s eyes have since fluttered shut, and he hums the tiniest sound of pleasure as he maintains his seductive tease.

“Please,” you manage to sigh, sounding as breathless as you feel, “please, I, I want you to kiss me.”

His lips release from your wrist with a pucker-pop noise—which was no doubt intentional on his part, and does nothing to quell the thrill of desire in your belly.

“Hm. I’ll make you a deal,” he says, shifting a bit to the left so that he can turn to face you better, “I’ll kiss you for the rest of the night, but right now…you kiss me.”

And what a deal that is—you don’t even have to think about it, head bobbing in an affirmative nod as you wet your lips in anticipation. The hand that had so lovingly held yours is now guiding you to rest your palm just above his knee. You reflexively reach your other hand out to steady yourself, and it lands against his chest before you can stop it.

He’s so close now. There’s barely any space between your faces, barely room to breathe—

“Go on, darling,” he whispers, “if you want me, have me.”

And you do.

You kiss him like it’s the easiest thing in the world. The anxiety that has plagued you since the moment you entered the room hasn’t completely dissipated—it would be foolish to think it’d be that easy to banish those feelings completely—but all that is now secondary to the feeling of his mouth on yours.

Kissing Takeru is warm. It’s soft and it’s sure and it’s…comfortable, in a way. Safe, even. He does not press, doesn’t do much of anything except mirror the way your lips slide against his own. A gentle rhythm, a push and pull between the two of you that feels as natural as the moon guiding the tides to shore—yes, kissing him is good and right and something you want to do many times over.

Unfortunately, you have to pull away to breathe. He doesn’t let you go far, though, one hand cupped behind the nape of your neck and the other pressing into the small of your back.

“Oh, you are sweet,” he purrs, his gaze dropping to your freshly-kissed lips, “and, seeing that I’m a man of my word…”

As it turns out, being kissed by Takeru might be better than kissing him, yourself. He is still so very careful when he presses his lips to yours, but this time…this time, there’s fire. He tastes like the best part of a cigarette, like warmth and alcohol and cherries, and it only intensifies as he tests the seam of your lips with his tongue.

Little by little, you begin to test him, too. Hands cradle the curve of his jaw, feeling the way his face shifts as he moves against you. Fingertips run through the soft dark of his hair—oh, he likes that, if the half-sigh that slips from his throat is to be believed. And when you nip at his lower lip with your teeth (he had, after all, very much enjoyed the way you bit your lip earlier), he genuinely moans and pulls you even closer to himself.

It’s when he begins to wander lower, with his mouth skimming the sensitivity of your neck and his hand splayed across your lower back in a way that flirts with the idea of indecency, that you begin to want more. Fear—and maybe that’s not exactly the right word for what you’re feeling, but it’s the only one that comes to mind—begins to creep up the column of your spine.

The “what-if’s” start filling your brain; what if you mess something up? What if you do something he doesn’t like? What if you freeze up later and—

“Alright, darling?”

His voice is a low soothe against your ear; he’s retreated, just a bit, and his hand has wandered to a chaste and respectable area of your mid-back.

“I—“

You want him to take you to bed. You want him to take off your dress and kiss you in all the places you thought weren’t worth kissing, to let his hands trace sparks along the curves of your shape and let him be close to you in a way that no one else has. You want him, despite the uncertain ache that burns between your ribs and bids you to hide yourself away and leave behind the pleasure of his touch.

…But all you can manage is a nervous glance to the bed behind you (the one you had been avoiding thinking about up until this point) and a stammered “Can we, uh…?”

“Ask me,” he says, his index and middle fingers idly skimming the notch in your collarbone, “I’ll give you anything you want, as long as you ask me.”

It’s difficult to make eye contact with him—every time you try, you feel embarrassment swell up beneath your tongue.

But Takeru is, as you have come to learn over the last hour or so, decidedly patient. He shows no sign of relenting, appearing to be perfectly content with giving you an expectant grin and continuing his little touches as you try not to squirm in your seat.

“I,” you gulp, “I want…“

You bite your lip—oh, wait, he likes that too, and he’s staring at you with those sharp and sultry eyes, and it makes something behind your heart squeeze and unsqueeze itself and punches the air from your lungs and—

“Take me to bed,” you manage to spit out, and it all sounds like one word with how quickly you pushed the words into the air. The “uh, please” you tack on at the end is an afterthought, but perhaps it’s polite enough to pass muster.

“Was that so hard,” Takeru asks with a good-natured chuckle, “but since you asked so nicely…”

He takes your hand in his and brings it to his lips for a kiss—and even that, after everything, still has you feeling a flutter of something giddy in your stomach.

“Darling,” he says, “it would be my pleasure.”

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

…and now, you’ll have to wait until chapter two to get to the “good stuff!”

It’s been a challenge writing this—I’m trying to make the scenario believable while still keeping it vague enough to allow for people to make up their own little details. It’s also been unexpectedly difficult to write him, since he’s kind of being himself while also playing a character who’s trying to mold themself into their client’s fantasy…it’s a lot of layers, but it’s been fun trying to figure things out!

#alice in borderland #hatter #danma takeru #writings and such #spicy boy #alice in borderland netflix #takeru danma #we did it fellas. we finally wrote the first chapter.#I’ve been working on this for WEEKS #now to write the actual spicy stuff lol oh geez

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pxmun · 5 years

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Ch.2 Home Sweet Home

((Here is chapter 2, sorry it took so long. Again I apologize if the way its put together seems messy))

It was half past midnight when Sentomaru and the others had reached Wano’s waters. Using his geographical knowledge Sentomaru had helped steered the battleship through the maze of jagged rocks and determined what would be the best point of entrance into the country.

Sentomaru: It would be too risky to try to take the ship up the waterfall. The ship would be very heavy for the giant koi to carry and it is very noticeable. Our best option would be to dock down here and climb up.

Kizaru and the others gave a nod in agreement.

Sentomaru: Be sure to pack only the essentials and a bit of extra food. The climb up is steep and slippery so use extra caution.

With that the crew began their ascent. The climb was tricky and at times some of the crew would loose their footing but they managed to reach the top unscathed.

Once at the top the crew took a quick break to catch their breath. During that time Sentomaru filled everyone on the orders they would need to follow in order to not raise suspicion during their stay in Wano.

Sentomaru: It is very important that we keep our contact with the outside world to a bare minimum if any, in Wano contacting the outside is a serious crime. Only contact the outside if our situation is starting to look dire. That being said we won’t be using the normal baby den den mushi, instead we will be using the smart tanishi, don’t worry they function much like your baby den den mushi only on a smaller scale. Speaking of den den mushi the only other one that will be in use is Kizaru’s black den den mushi to help us keep track of the Beast Pirates.

Also, whatever you do don’t drink out of the river. The factories Kaido installed have polluted Wano’s sources of water, if you need to you can either purchase fresh water from a vendor or wait until the end of the day for us to bring up a new stock from the ship. I need to add on that Wano doesn’t use the Beri currency instead you will have to make your purchases using gold.

As a final note under no circumstances should any of you mock the shogun, don’t even laugh unless he has given the order to do so. It is a serious offense punishable by death! With that you are dismissed.

As Sentomaru finished his debriefing the soldiers began talking to each other, some concerned about how they would be able to survive the campaign in Wano.

From behind Kizaru approached Sentomaru.

Kizaru: Now all we need is a base of operations, someplace where we can stay instead of having to go up and down that cliff to get to the ship and back.

It didn’t take long for Sentomaru to think of someplace they could stay.

Sentomaru: My old home might still be standing, if it hasn’t been torn down or reoccupied we can use it as our base. I’ll go on ahead and scout it out.

Kizaru: Sounds good but you better hurry, the sun will be rising soon and we can’t risk being seen in the open.

And with that Sentomaru suited himself in Wano attire and headed out.

The streets of Bakura Town were dead silent not even the chirps of crickets could be heard as a low fog rolled over the town. Sentomaru had only a lit lantern to help guide his way. Sentomaru’s house was on the edge of town and as such he still had a bit of a walk ahead of him. As he passed by the empty streets Sentomaru began to remember the days when he was a child, the memory that stuck to him most though was the day he met his wife. She and her family had just moved into town one hot summer month, Sentomaru and the other neighborhood boys were in the shade battling beetles when they spotted the family.

Child 1: Looks like you got a new neighbor Sentomaru.

Sentomaru: They might be more than neighbors when I come of age.

Child 2: How so?

Sentomaru: I over heard my parents talking one night about an Omiai between the daughter and me, I think their planning an arranged marriage.

Child 2: Looks like it will be a bad end for you then.

Sentomaru gave his friend a puzzled look.

Sentomaru: Why is that?

Child 2: The family looks like they run a tailoring shop and the women of the family all appear to have pink hair.

Sentomaru: What does that have to do with my demise?

Child 2: Didn’t you hear about the family that was murdered by a tailor?

Child 1: I know about that my older brother told me the story. I forgot where it took place but there was this tailor woman with pink hair that thought that her husband was cheating on her with three other woman. She tried to look more appealing for her husband by dressing in a similar way as the three ladies. Well as it turned out she had murdered the three ladies and stole from each a kimono, sash, and hair pin. When she finally confronted her husband she asked him if he found her beautiful only for him to act like she was a stranger. The man wasn’t her husband, instead he had been the father and husband of the three the seamstress killed and in the end he too was murdered out of envy.

Sentomaru started to feel uneasy by the time his friend finished the story. At this point his mother walked up to him letting Sentomaru know that they were going to invite their new neighbors over for tea and that Sentomaru should go wash up. His friends looked on in worry as Sentomaru followed his mother home.

Child 2: It was nice knowing you.

As the families sat around the table Sentomaru was trying his best not to stare at the girl sitting across from him.

Sentomaru: Am I really in danger? What if this girl is just like the crazy tailor? Will she murder me if I just so happen to even glance at another girl?

Sentomaru sat there quietly until his father spoke up catching Sentomaru’s attention.

Father: Son don’t forget your manners, you should introduce yourself to our guest.

Sentomaru stood up and introduced himself to his guest.

Sentomaru: Hello, its a pleasure to meet you I’m Sentomaru.

Girls Father: Its nice meeting you Sentomaru. This is my daughter O-Etsuko.

Sentomaru looked over to O-Etsuko who looked like she was on the verge of laughing.

Mother: Sentomaru why don’t you take O-Etsuko to the garden and show her around while the adults talk to each other.

Knowing that there wouldn’t be any use in arguing Sentomaru did as told.

He lead O-Etsuko into the back of his house where the garden was. All the while feeling on edge knowing that they were going to be alone together and that she might try something.

When they finally arrived at the garden O-Etsuko burst out laughing causing Sentomaru to flinch.

Sentomaru: What is so funny?

O-Etsuko wiped a tear from her eye.

O-Etsuko: I’m sorry but you look like a girl!

Hearing this caused Sentomaru to blush a deep red. For some reason every now and then someone would mistaken him for a girl.

Sentomaru: I’d rather look like a girl than a crazy murderer!

O-Etsuko stopped her giggling, a sly smile formed on her face.

O-Etsuko: So, you think I’m crazy do you?

Sentomaru gulped and before he knew it O-Etsuko had pounced on him, causing Sentomaru to fall backwards onto the grass. The two were nose to nose with O-Etsuko on top of Sentomaru. Fearing the worse the boy prepared himself for whatever the girl was about to do. O-Etsuko then proceeded to give Sentomaru a painful flick to his nose.

Sentomaru: Ow! What was that for?

O-Etsuko: I overheard you and your friends talking about the envious tailor. That is very childish of you to think it is real.

Sentomaru: Its not real?

O-Etsuko: No, it’s just an old folk tale told to remind people not to let their jealousy get a hold on them, and besides even if it was real you should not judge a person based on their looks.

Sentomaru: Oh, I’m sorry for judging you then.

A look of guilt was on Sentomaru’s face.

O-Etsuko: That's okay I forgive you.

The two children sat in peaceful silence before they both busted out laughing at the silliness of the accusation Sentomaru had made.

Back in the present Sentomaru had found himself in front of his old home. It was a typical Wano home, nothing to fancy just a small house. Sentomaru made his way up the wooden steps which creaked under his weight. He hesitated for only a second before finally sliding the front door open and entering. The inside of the house was dark,the only source of light being Sentomaru’s lantern. On the floor he found O-Etsuko’s sandals still by the door as the day he left them when she passed.

Sentomaru: O-Etsuko I’m home.

He knew there would be no answer but Sentomaru found comfort in it.

Then there came a set of footsteps rushing Sentomaru’s way. An old lady charged from out of the shadows. Sentomaru had barely enough time to react as the old lady swung a broom at him.

Old Lady: Get out of this house intruder, it is not yours to take from!

She yelled while continually trying to hit Sentomaru. It had taken a while for Sentomaru to recognize her voice.

Sentomaru: Grandmother its me!

The old lady instantly stopped her assault, stunned and confused by the person before her.

Grandma: Sentomaru is that really you?

Sentomaru raised the lantern up to reveal his face.

The old lady looked like she had seen a ghost.

Grandma: I can’t believe it your alive! We were worried that you didn’t make it out!

Sentomaru: Yes I was able to get out. I also have good news, I brought back help.

Grandma didn’t have any family ties to Sentomaru but the old lady had helped him out tremendously after O-Estuko’s passing by helping the new father care for Toko. She had become family to both Sentomaru and Toko and right now she was on the verge of tears.

Grandma: Finally our prayers have been answered!

However her happiness was short lived as she noticed that Toko wasn’t with him.

Grandma: Where’s O-Toko?

Sentomaru: I just got here, I’m finding a base for the marines to use while we’re here.

Grandma had a look of dread a sense of urgency surrounded her.

Grandma: You need to get to the flower capitol now!

Before Sentomaru had a chance to speak up the old lady pulled out a newspaper from her sleeve and showed a recent article from the page.

“Child wanted for dishonoring the shogun. Reward for apprehension is set at 200 gold”.

Sentomaru felt his heart stop as he saw the picture on the opposite page, it was Toko. Sentomaru’s worst fear had come to light.

#one piece #sentomaru #fanfic #one piece fanfiction #one piece wano #wano country #wano kuni #wano

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littledizzyhurricane · 7 years

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Our Last Summer

The summer air was soft and warm when Y/N and Harry fell in love during a chance encounter whilst Y/N took a gap year to travel the world, first stop was Paris. Harry was there on a mission with the Kingsman, he had been a Kingsman for around a year and was enjoying every moment of it. It beat any desk job he could have had after University.

Feelings coiled around Harry's heart as his breath was taken away as he watched the young lady he knew now to be known as Y/N walked past him, her hair blowing in the light breeze, her sweet scent engulfing his nostrils. A small piece of paper dropped from her pocket and Harry made it his mission to give it back to her. "Mademoiselle!" He called out as he raced along the Elysee to catch her up. The young lady turned around at the call of his voice. "Excusez moi, Mademoiselle," Harry smiled as he tried his best French to speak to the lady before him.

"British right?" The girl smiled as she eyed the smartly dressed man. "Oui- I mean yes," Harry replied nervously, he had never seen such a beautiful woman before. He then stuttered out, "I believe you dropped this," Harry held out the piece of paper to the woman, who took it from him, "Thank you, Mister..." she trailed off. Harry flashed her a charming smiled, "Hart. Harry Hart." Y/N's heart began to beat quickly and she grinned, "Well Mr. Hart, as a thank you, would you accompany to a cafe and I will buy us a coffee?" She twisted her feet waiting for a reply. "It would be an honour, Miss..." She chuckled softly. "Y/L/N, Y/N Y/L/N, Mister Hart." Holding out his arm to her, Y/N softly took it, "Please, just call me Harry."

The pair took a seat in a small café and ordered coffees. Y/N listened to Harry as he spoke of politics and philosophy whilst Y/N just smiled like the Mona Lisa at each of the words that came. That moment they began to take a chance in building a blossoming summer romance.

Walking the streets of London, high heels strapped to her feet, she avoided each puddle as she daydreamed about that summer. She could still recall it so clearly. The walls they took hand in hand along the river Seine and the laughter that would emerge from their lips as the rain began to fall. That summer she spent with Harry Hart, those memories still remained clear in her mind.

As Harry put up his umbrella and stepped outside onto the streets of London, his eyes saw the reflection of light in the rushing water into the drain. A smile came across his lips as his mind took him back to the times he spent in Paris with the Y/N.

They made our way along the river and Harry laid a blanket in the grass in the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. It was their first date after the night they met and Harry was so thankful and happy that they had met. They were so young then, not a care in the world, no regrets to be had. Yet, as Harry walked along in the Thames, Big Ben in sight, he began to realise he regretted the moment he was called back to London, leaving Y/N. Seeing the flowers that grew near the Thames, he chuckled to himself at the thought of the daisy he tucked in her hair.

Bumping into a woman, Harry quickly apologised, "I'm terribly sorry," He supported the woman who wobbled in her heels. Harry's mind was else where when he bumped into the women. His thoughts were laced in Y/N, where she was, what she was doing, was she happy? The time they spent together in Paris, though happy, was filled with fear of growing up. They took their chance with their romance and now Harry regretted the moment he left France.

"No apologies needed, I should've been looking where I was going," The woman laughed as she regained her balance. The sweet tone in her voice sounded familiar as Harry fully took at the woman who he held in his arms. Her piercing eyes and her puckered lips caused his mind to jump back to that summer. It was all so clear to him. The tourist jam around the Notre Dame. "Sorry, do I know you? You seem so familiar," Harry asked taking his hands off of the girl. "Hart? Harry Hart?" The girl questioned, a surprised look on her face.

Harry nodded as the pair stood under Harry's umbrella as the rain began to pour. All the memories they shared together that summer. The Paris restaurants, the morning croissants they shared. The times they lived for the day, all their worries were so far away. The times they could laugh and play without a care in the world. "Gosh, how long has it been?" Y/N questioned, stepping closer to Harry as drops of water dropped from the edge of the umbrella. Her scent drifted across his nostrils, the same scent that he had come to love all those years ago.

He shrugged, wrinkling his suit slightly, "Years, say, would you like to get a drink, I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on," He held out his arm like he did the first day they had met, a soft smile graced her lips, "I'd like that," Y/N replied as they began to set out to a local bar.

"So let me get this right, you're working as a tailor?" Harry nodded, "And your a big football fan?" Y/N questioned, a smile tickled her lips. All those years ago, she wouldn't have taken Harry to be the typical English family man. "Yes, all correct, but I'm still single. The closest thing I have to a family was my dog Mr Pickles, but he pasted not too long ago." Harry confessed as he watched Y/N's beautiful features in the bar light as he sipped on some whiskey. "That life seems so dull," Y/N admitted, "My life is just as dull if I'm completely honest." She would never admit she followed Harry back to London and had been living here ever since. She saw how happy he had become and how he easily moved on. Yes, it broke her heart to watch him move on but he was still the hero of her dreams.

"I can still recall our last summer Harry," Y/N said, swirling her finger around the rim of her glass. Her eyes didn't meet his. "I do too, the walks along the Seine. You kicking up the puddles in the rain," Harry laughed as he lifted up her chin, to meet his eyes. "Why did you leave me?" She asked as she pushed away his hand. Guilt coursed through Harry's veins. He could never tell Y/N about his job, his real job. "Why did you leave behind all the memories that we made?" She questioned as she pushed away her chair. "I urm I," Harry stuttered.

"I followed you to London, only to see you moved on Harry, it broke my heart, yet I'm still in love with you...I've been in love with you for all these years. Yet, you've still only met me with disappointment and heart ache," Harry watched tears well in her eyes. She scrolled something on a small napkin. "Call me when you're ready to admit why you left behind all our memories," Y/N said bluntly, her voice shaking. Harry watched her walk about if the bar, his heart breaking.

#little dizzy hurricane #harry hart #harry hart x reader #a young harry hart #kingsman #kingsman x reader #kingsman golden circle #kingsman reader insert #kingsman secret service

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universedel · 4 years

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Last week, I was invited along to the River Island Spring Summer 2020 press day and I was thrilled to see all the gorgeous fashion on show.

Although I don’t purchase many fast fashion items anymore, I still love seeing all the trends and getting inspiration for the new season.

I have also found that River Island‘s footwear and clothing to be quite hard-wearing in comparison to many other high-street stores.

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Some of the gorgeous #SS20 stock coming to @riverisland soon. I am in love with these boots 😍😍 . . . . #cowboyboots #riverislandSS20 #riverislandpressday #riverisland #riverislandboots #springsummerfashion #fashionphotography #fashiontrends #westernboots #womenswesternfashion #westernfashiontrend #canonphoto #canonpix #canon550d

A post shared by Edel (@joyofblogs) on Jan 26, 2020 at 8:31am PST

Here are the key trends for 2020:

Western

I’m a sucker for Western-style clothing and a good cowboy boot.

I have several pairs of ankle boots in this style from River Island but I have yet to buy a longer version.

These cowboy boots immediately caught my eye

They might be tricky to pull off but I think these would be gorgeous with a floaty dress or fishnets and shorts for a festival.

These are available online for £85/€113, shop on the UK site and order them to your local store to save a few quid.

River Island cowboy boots

Another stunning piece from the Paris Texas story is this cream fringed jacket – I’m in LOVE.

Cream fringed jacket. Pic: PRshots.com

And I’m a big fan of this soft bleached denim dress with big 80s-style gold buttons. This is available online for £55/€65.

Denim dress

If like me, you were a teenager in the 00s, you probably wore a diamante item or ten back in the day.

So, while you might be hesitant to relive that trend, it’s definitely making a comeback.

These diamante western belts are so cool, I want them in both colours but the black is probably a classier option for everyday wear! These are €40/£30.

Diamante western belts

Another eye-catching accessory is this black fringed shoulder bag. I’ve been looking for a round bag for ages and this one is really cute.

Black fringed bag

Western-style

Faux leather shirts are still a big trend this year and I love the braiding detail on this one.

Black faux leather shirt. Pic: PRshots.com

90s style shoes

Delicate strappy 90s style mules and sandals are going to be huge this summer and River Island have a great selection.

I loved these snakeskin square-toe sandals and the punchy lemon yellow and coral mules.

Yellow and coral mules

90s style mules

Romantic pastels and ruffles

Ditsy florals, puffy organza sleeves and pastel lilac, pink and green hues caught my eye as these are all right up my street.

But as well as the more feminine pieces, there was some sharp tailoring, such as the vibrant green three-piece suit to the left of the rail, which comprises of shorts, a waistcoat and blazer.

Pastels and florals

Lilacs, pinks and greens

Romantic pastel shades

Pastels and florals

Even though tailoring isn’t really my thing, I admired this lemon shorts suit with a funky double-breasted blazer – It’s giving me serious Dynasty vibes!

Yellow shorts suit

Yellow double-breasted blazer and shorts

Meanwhile, this adorable lilac handbag with chain and rivet detail was probably my favourite accessory on show.

River Island lilac bag

Lilac handbag. Pic: PRshots.com

As for sunglasses, long resin chains and dainty pearl detailing are key.

I’ve lost and mislaid more pairs of sunglasses than I care to remember so maybe a chain would be handy!

Western-style accessories

Pearl embellished sunglasses

Whites/Monochrome

There were also lots of delicate floaty white and monochrome pieces and I really like the contrast of the black ribbon and buttons on this beautiful dress.

Floaty white dress. Pic: PRshots.com

These tiered white shorts have a cool vintage look and would be perfect for a sun holiday.

White shorts with lace and floral detail. Pic: PRshots.com

The kids’ range was adorable as always, leaving me wishing some of the pieces were available in adult sizing.

Kids clothing River Island

I’ve flagged the items which are already available online and the entire range will be instore from March.

PS, this isn’t a sponsored post but I was gifted a voucher which I look forward to putting towards a pair of shoes!

Hope you all enjoyed this sneak peek at the new collection and drop me a comment if you’ve any questions, just click the grey speech bubble icon below right.

Thanks for reading and if you would like to follow me on social media, check out my Instagram and Facebook page.

Edel

River Island Spring Summer 2020 Last week, I was invited along to the River Island Spring Summer 2020 press day and I was thrilled to see all the gorgeous fashion on show.

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svetlanawagner-blog · 5 years

Photo

We heard about the long days in Alaska, but it felt unreal to experience it in person. Dinner at 9pm felt like an early dinner with our plates perfectly lit up by the window light. At am, we had to pull the blackout curtains, because golden hour last for several hours. It was all very trippy, and I thought to myself, I could live here for a summer.

A big thank you to Nation’s Vacation and Denali Park Village for hosting our trip and sponsoring this post. All opinions are always our own. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

First Published: July 26, 209

7 Unforgettable Things to Do in Denali National Park

After spending 5 days exploring Denali National Park, we’re already putting together a game plan on how get an RV and slow travel through Alaska!

While we were there, a lot of the people we met were just passing through on a cruise. Most people only spend a day or two in the Denali area before heading to their next destination on their Alaska itinerary. We stayed 5 days and still felt like it wasn’t enough. Meet you there next year?

Content Menu

What You Need to Know Before You Visit

You can only drive the first 5 miles into the park. From Savage River Check Station, you must either take a bus, bicycle, or hike in. Most people see Denali National Park by either shuttle bus or interpretive bus tour.

Mt McKinley was renamed Denali in 205 so you’ll still hear both names.

Weather is fickle. Our driver was told us that only 30% of people get to see Denali. A lot of the times, it is shrouded in clouds. For your best chances, go as early morning as possible. Clouds tend to come in during the day.

Bring a map (NatGeo Denali National Park) or hike with a guide. Denali is wild. It’s the backcountry and there are not many well-maintained trails. It’s easiest to hike when you stick near river beds but you can expect bushwhacking and stream crossings as well.

Bring Bug Spray. If you make it out to Wonder Lake, bring a bug net. They might look stupid, but you will feel stupid after getting dozens of bug bites on your face.

How the Buses Work - 4 Types of Buses

This was probably what confused me the most before I arrived in Denali.

Free Shuttle Buses only travel the first 5 miles of the park road. It connects visitor centers and points of interest where you can already drive your own vehicle.

Tour Buses are narrated and can travel further into the park along Denali Park Road. There are

Tips for Buses

Specific schedules are subject to small adjustments throughout the season. Always check the latest schedule when you arrive.

When you purchase your tickets, you will be charged the park entrance fee. Be sure to bring your annual park pass (good for up to 4 people) with you. If you forgot it like we did, you can bring it the next day and get a reimbursement.

Bus trips range from 4.5 to 2 hours. Keep that in mind while you’re planning your days. If you plan on trying to catch a bus back, be patient. Those who have tickets for that particular bus will have priority.

Visitor CenterS

The Denali Visitor Center is only open in the summer from 8am to 6pm. This is the main visitor center near the entrance of the park. Watch the park film, check out exhibits, or join one of the ranger led programs. You can also get backcountry permits here.

The Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) is the main visitor center during the fall, winter, and spring. It is also located at the front of the park and showcases research from living laboratories like Denali National park. It is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm.

The Eielson Visitor Center is also only open during the summer. It’s located at Mile 66 and can be reached by most shuttle buses and the Kantishna Experience tour bus. There are ranger-led programs, a small art gallery, and beautiful views of Denali on clear days. It’s open from pm to 3pm in the summer and 9am to 5:30pm the rest of the year.

The Denali Bus Depot (formerly Wilderness Access Center) is only open in the summer. You can busy bus tickets, reserve campsites, and check in for existing reservations. It is located near the park entrance and is open from 5am to 7pm. There is a small coffee shop, bookstore and is where you will catch your bus.

The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station is located about 00 miles south of the Denali National Park and Preserve in the town of Talkeetna. This ranger station is the center of mountaineering operations. Climbers who plan on Denali or other peaks in the Alaska Range need to stop here first. It is open year round from 8am to 5:30pm.

. Nenana River Whitewater Rafting

With Explore Denali Rafting, you can either hop on a mild Wilderness Float Trip where you can simply enjoy the views, or get your adrenaline pumping on a Paddle or Canyon Run.

We did the Paddle Run and hit some gnarly rapids! There were only four of us in the raft in addition to our guide, where we all had to paddle. Another raft floated along with us on the Canyon Run, where the guests just hold on while the guide does all the heavy lifting. BUT did you really raft if you don’t paddle? We’ll let you decide. Either way, we highly recommend experiencing the Nenana River.

You’ll be on the water for about 2 hours and 3-4 hours total including pickup, instruction, and gearing up. They provide all the equipment you need, including dry-suits since the water stays cold year round, transportation to and from your hotel, and experienced river guides.

Photo: Old Sourdough Studio

2. See the Big 5

Out of the Big 5, the only ones we didn’t see was the last one.

Caribou / Reindeer

Dall Sheep – look for a white dot

Grizzly Bears – look for a golden bail of hay

Moose – look for a large brown mass

Wolves

More Denali Animals to Look Out For: Collared pika, coyotes, golden eagles, hoary marmot, lynx, porcupine, red fox, snowshoe hare, wolverines, and more. See the full list here.

400 mm on a crop sensor. Unless you’re lucky, most of the animals are far away. Keep in mind that it’s not a zoo, and you’re never guaranteed to see wildlife. We’ve been to plenty of national parks where we didn’t see much, meanwhile, everyone and their moms would have epic sightings. This was by far our luckiest trip for seeing wildlife.

3. The Tundra Wilderness Tour

When: June – September 2 Time Needed: 7-8 Hours Distance: 63 Miles to Stoney Hill Overlook then Back

We rode both the narrated bus and a shuttle bus, and actually recommend both if you have the time. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is great because you have more time to see wildlife and our driver was insanely good at spotting wildlife. They even have a camera where they can zoom in so you can see them closer on the bus monitors.

During the tour, the driver shared the history of Park Road and stopped at every opportunity to see wildlife, where you had plenty of time to take photos and watch them in their natural habitat. When Denali is visible, you also get some of the best views of the mountain. The bus stops roughly every .5 hours for bathroom breaks and to stretch your legs.

There are 3 Interpretive Bus Tours with different itineraries. All tours stop every .5 hours for restroom breaks and offer either a snack or full lunch.

Denali Natural History Tour (4.5-5 hr, 30 mi one way) – History of humans in the park

Tundra Wilderness Tour or Toklat Shoulder Season Tour (7-8 hr, 63 mi one way) – Focus on wildlife

Kantishna Experience Tour (-2 hr, 92 mi one way) – Focus is on the landscape. Out of the 3 interpretive bus tours, this is the only one that takes you to the end of the Park Road, the only one that stops at Eielson Visitor Center, and the only one with an Interpretive Ranger from the National Park Service that joins you at Wonder Lake.

4. Triple Lakes Trail Interpretive Hike

When we go on our own, we miss a lot of details because we’re focused on getting to the destination or worried about running into wildlife. The Triple Lakes Trail Interpretive Hike was a great way to learn more about the boreal forest, where to keep an eye out for wildlife, and the best vantage points.

Our guide tailored the hike to what we were interested in, helped us stay on pace, and answered questions about the local flora and fauna. He also gave us suggestions on other hikes to check out and places in town we should stop by.

5. Denali Flightseeing Tours

These views were jaw-dropping. The mountains went on forever, and you get to soar above the clouds for better chances to see Denali.

Denali Air navigates through the park through their small aircrafts giving you views of mountains, glaciers, and even Denali up close. Our pilot pointed out the different basecamps of the mountaineers too.

During our trip, it was amazing to see the park from land, water, and air.

6. Meet the Canine Rangers at the Denali Kennels + Sled Dog Demonstrations

If you love dogs, this is a must! Denali National Park is the only park that uses sled dogs, and these canine rangers have worked alongside their human counterparts since the 920s.

The kennels are roughly 3 miles into the park and open year-round. During the summer, you can stop by to meet the pups and watch a sled dog demonstration. During the winter, the dogs and rangers are frequently in the park, so be sure to check at the visitor center before making your way to the kennels.

7. Stony Hill Overlook (Mile 62)

his was our favorite view of Denali and the last stop on our Tundra Wilderness Tour. When we took the transit bus out to Wonder Lake, we were hoping we might make a stop here again, but since the Eielson Visitor Center is just a few miles past this, the driver didn’t bother stopping here.

8. The Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66)

If you only do one thing in the park, visit the Eielson Visitor Center. You get amazing views and see a lot of the park on the way – Josh, Youth Volunteer

The Eielson Visitor Center is only open in the summer and has great views of Denali on clear days. There are daily ranger-led programs, a small gallery of art, and has some of the few established trails in the park.

9. Murie Science and Learning Center

The Murie Science and Learning Center is also Denali’s winter visitor center. Check out exhibits and learn how to be better stewards of national parks in Alaska.

0. Wonder Lake (Mile 84.5)

Wonder Lake is a popular campground with 28 sites and the closest to Denali (although it’s still 26 miles from the mountain). Our initial plan was to come up here to find Reflection Pond, which is next on the list, but since clouds covered Denali by the time we were here, we decided to enjoy the lake for a bit then head back.

bug nets.

. Reflection Pond (Mile 85.3)

Photographers love Reflection Pond. As its name implies, you can get beautiful photos of Denali and Foraker reflecting off the surface of the pond. We were bummed that Denali was covered in clouds by the time we got there. Next time, we’ll have to camp at Wonder Lake to take advantage of the morning light and increase chances to see the mountain.

2. Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre

Enjoy a family-style dinner and show at Denali Park Village. The show shares about the local history through music and humor. Set in the early 900s, the cast is talented and charismatic and they do a great job getting the crowd involved.

3. Old Sourdough Studio

We’ve never taken old-timey photos before, but Alaskan themed old-timey photos? Down! They use authentic clothes, help you get dressed, and make the experience really quick and smooth. Everything in the photo was real except for the snow and husky.

4. Hike the Backcountry

If you want to explore more of the park, much of it is done in the backcountry. Stop by the Wilderness Access Center to get all the info you need about camping and backcountry in Denali. The six million acres are divided into 87 backcountry units (each unit is tens of thonds of acres). 4 of those units have a limit on the number of people allowed to camp each night.

Tips:

Your entire party must be present when obtaining your permit.

You must have a backcountry permit before purchasing a camper bus ticket.

Supplies are limited in the Denali area. Try to purchase items you need before arriving.

Backpacking units are subject to availability. They are only issued the day before or the day of your trip. Your best chances are to arrive at 8am the day before your trip to get your choice in unites.

You will need to complete a backcountry orientation and it will be good for the season. You can even save time by watching the video at the Denali Visitor Center before the day of your permit. Just be sure to document with the park staff that you watched it.

Have a few units picked out ahead of time so you can select the one that is available. You can read more about each unit here.

If it’s your first off-trail backpacking trip, these units are a good starting point: (features a trail), 9-3, 8, 34, and 42.

Read more about how to plan for your trip here.

5. Bike Denali Park Road

Cycling is a great way to see the park plus visitors are allowed to bike all 92 miles of the Park Road. You can check out trip ideas here. More Tips:

You can ride on park roads, parking areas, and campground loops. Bicycles are prohibited on all other trails.

Electric bikes are not allowed beyond the first 5 miles.

Bring your own repair kits.

Eielson Visitor Center at mile 66 is the only place to refill water.

Be aware of wildlife. You cannot cycle faster than a bear (they can run up to 35 mph).

Remember weather can be fickle. Be prepared for all types of weather.

Photo: NPS

6. Take in the Northern Lights (Winter)

September is my favorite time of year. The weather is perfect, the bugs are gone, and you get a chance to see the Northern Lights. – James, Our Local Hiking Guide

Summer is amazing because you get such long days, but if you visit in the spring, fall, or winter, you also get a chance to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The sky is usually dark enough starting the second week of August.

7. Win the Road Lottery

Every year, they open the Park Road to the public through a lottery. Applications run from May -3 and they only award 400 passes each day. If you’re lucky enough to win the lottery for this 4-day event in September, you can drive as far as Wonder Lake (mile 85). Otherwise, you’ll have to join the rest of us via bus. Find more details here.

More: Hardest Outdoor Permits to Get in the US

Map of Denali National Park

More Things to Do at Denali National Park

Become a Junior Ranger – always a fun way to learn about the park. It’s great for kids, and most of the time they don’t discriminate against adults. ;)

Fishing – although it’s not a super popular fishing spot because of the glacial silt, you can fish at Wonder lake and a few clear streams that flow into Savage River.

Ziplining

Best Overlooks and Views in Denali

9 Mile Marker – first view of Denali view (you can access with your own car)

0.6 Mile Marker – both Denali peaks are visible

3 Mile Marker – Mountain Vista Trailhead. See Denali on clear days.

6 Mile Marker – Primrose Ridge – you can see Denali, wildflowers, & wildlife

30 Mile Marker – Teklanika River Bridge

46 Mile Marker – Polychrome – colorful mountains (watch for grizzlies, moose, caribou)

53. Mile Marker – Toklat River – caribou and other wildlife

6.95 Mile Marker – Stony Hill Overlook – one of the best views of Denali

66 Mile Marker – Eielson Visitor Center – 33 miles from Summit of Denali

85 Mile Marker – Wonder Lake – moose here at dusk and dawn

Denali Hiking Trails

Horseshoe Lake Trail (2. mi loop, 393 ft △, easy) – look for moose

Mt Healy Overlook Trail (4.3 mi roundtrip, 666 ft △, moderate) – a lot of exposed trail

Savage River Area

River Loop Trail (2. mi loop, 43 ft △, easy)

Savage Alpine Trail (8.2 mi roundtrip, 44 ft △, strenuous)

Eielson Visitor Center Area

Tundra Loop (0.4 mi, 52 ft, easy)

Thorofare Ridge Trail (2. mi roundtrip, 020 ft, strenuous)

Gorge Creek Trail (3.8 mi roundtrip, 095 ft, moderate)

Triple Lakes Trail (8.5 mi round trip, 3690 ft, strenuous) – the one we did. It’s the longest established trail where you see three lakes, blueberry patches, bears, waterfowl, beavers.

Rock Creek Trail (4.4 mi, 944 ft, moderate)

McKinley Station Trail – easy, 3.2 mi

Visit this page for a complete list of day hikes.

More: 5 Best Day Hikes in the US for Your Outdoor Bucket List

Photo: NPS

Where to Eat

If you spend all day in the park or do the guided tours, bring food with you. We opted to get the sack lunches from the Gold Rush Dining Room (if you do this, you need to order your lunch the day before). By evening, we were so exhausted, we stayed close to home.

Gold Rush Dining Room – We had most our meals here since we stayed at Denali Park Village. They have different menus for lunch and dinner. Our favorite dish was the Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut (we recommend you order it medium if you do get it).

Lucky Miss Saloon – It’s attached to Gold Rush Dining Room. They open until pm so it’s a great option after being out all day.

Denali Thai Food – Some of the best Thai food we’ve had anywhere. I know.. it’s a shocker, and we didn’t believe people until we tried it ourselves. They outdoor seating at the food cart, but we brought it back to our room to hide from the mosquitos.

Cabin Night Dinner Theater – Family-style buffet dinner. They do move you through dinner first so they can get to the show.

What to Pack for Alaska

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Denali Park Village

Denali Park Village was the perfect home base during our stay in Alaska. You can choose between The Lodge or Cabins. Either way, you have easy access to all of the grounds and its amenities.

The main Lodge has beautiful views of the river, an indoor fireplace, a shop, and restaurants. It’s where you will meet for any tour pickups and they also provide a free shuttle to the National Park. You can also hang out at the Miner’s Plaza, which has a general store, Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, and outdoor stage, a museum, shops and more.

Camping

If you’re looking to camp in Denali National Park, you can make reservations online as early as December of the year before your visit. Campground fees will be between $2-27/night and is free in the winter (late Sept to early May)

Riley Creek Campground (Mile 0.25, Year-round) – RVs and tent camping

Savage River Campground (Mile 4, mid-May to mid-Sept) – RVs and tent camping

Sanctuary River Campground (Mile 2 May 20 – mid Sept) – tents only

Teklanika River Campground (Mile 29, May 20 – mid Sept) – RVs and tent camping

Igloo Creek Campground (Mile 35, May 20 – mid Sept) – tents only

Wonder Lake Campground (Mile 85, June 8 – mid Sept) – tents only

More Camping Info:

Check in & checking out is am

There are no spaces for RVs over 40′ long

None of the campgrounds have electrical or water hookups for RVs

All campgrounds have toilets (some flush, some are vault-style)

Campgrounds all have potable water except Igloo Creek and Sanctuary River

All campgrounds have recycling containers for aluminum cans, glass, plastic jugs and bottles ( and and plastic containers ( are allowed on campground roads and Park Rod, but not on trails on in the wilderness

You can have fires in established grates in Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River. Fires may not be used for cooking

There is a 4 night maximum in the summer season

Click here for more info on campsites

You can find backcountry camping info here

What's Nearby

More Resources

Denali Guide to Hiking, Photography, and Camping

Backcountry Companion for Denali National Park

Complete Visitors Guide to Denali, Wildlife, Outdoor Activities

Denali National Park NatGeo Trail Map + Wildlife Guide

Watch Extreme Alaska – Denali National Park

Have you been to Alaska? Any other things to do in Denali National Park that we missed?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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