#its a burlesque club

[statementlou]

what's the dress code and entry free stuff for harry? i missed all that!

from what I saw being said by people who were looking up the place that he and Olivia were photographed at tonight, it's very expensive to get in (I saw £300 door price said by someone, and I just looked it up and it says private tables are £2500 minimum) and has a strict dress code; someone was laughing about Harry being let in even though he was casually dressed because, you know, he's Mr Harry Styles! who's gonna tell him no!

#the box london #its a burlesque club #known for very out there performances #harry is the proverbial 300 lb gorilla like yk where does a 300 lb gorilla sit #wherever she wants

[multi-fandom-things730]

Welcome to Burlesque

Summary: Y/N is a burlesque dancer who works at Taz’s club. She and his son Hook start developing feelings for each other as they navigate the complicated world of organized crime.

Warnings: mob au, guns, blood, injuries, fighting, cussing, violence, angst, fluff, Jack being a little traitor, club environment, burlesque club, creepy man not taking a hint, drinking

A/N: should I have been writing a speech for college today? Yes. Did I? No. I wrote this💀😂 this burlesque idea is a little thing I came up with while listening to the burlesque movie’s soundtrack😂 and I thought it would be something fun to combine with a mob au. There will be a part 2 to this, and I hope you all enjoy!!!!! 🤍And thank you as always to @99hook for helping me brainstorm and come up with different little ideas for this fic💛💛✨

Working at Taz's burlesque club was a dream come true to Y/N.

Was it a little bit shady? Yes.

Was she aware of the business the Senerchia family was in? It wasn't very hard to figure out being in the club as often as she was.

But did she care? She probably should have a lot more than she did. But she couldn't bring herself to.

Taz was undoubtedly one of the kindest men she'd ever met; at least to her anyway.

Maybe not to everyone else, but being one of the club’s most popular dancers had its perks.

The two ended up spending a lot of time together, as she performed almost every night. And Taz preferred conducting his business at the burlesque club to anywhere else.

He knew it was safe, and there were back rooms disguised as extra dressing rooms he used when business had to get a little messy.

Y/N knew it wasn't the most conventional dream to have, but she had wanted to be a burlesque dancer for years.

When Taz bought the business from the previous owner, Y/N watched as many of her coworkers left when they realized who their new owner really was.

She knew she probably should have gone with them, but she just wasn't willing to give up on her job.

She loved the club so much; she couldn't imagine working anywhere else.

And it may have also had a tiny bit to do with Taz's handsome son.

Y/N and Hook both remembered the first night they met vividly, and they knew they wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon.

Hook was sitting in a private booth in the corner next to his dad at the burlesque club.

Taz had bought it a few months ago, but he hadn't bothered to come by until tonight.

His dad was dealing with a customer who had put his hands on one of the dancers here, and wanted his men there to help him 'take care' of the problem.

Say what you wanted about Taz, but he and his people did not take that lightly.

The man showed up every Friday night, so they watched the performance while waiting for him to show his face.

Hook was itching for him to show up, ready to beat the disrespect out of the man's body.

But his mind was pulled away from the soon-to-come beat down when a song he vaguely recognized started playing.

It was an older song, but he couldn't quite put his finger on the name.

But when the curtains reopen, Taz laughs when he sees his son's eyes widen and he inhales sharply.

"That's Y/N" Taz informs with a smirk. "She's the most popular dancer here"

"She.. she's gorgeous" Hook mumbles.

Taz laughs and claps Hook on the shoulder. "Don't go getting too distracted, we have business to take care of tonight"

Hook clears his throat and nods, but his eyes quickly trail back to the woman on the stage.

His eyes scanned up and down her body as she sensuously moved across the stage, and her melodic voice floated around the room.

He was so enthralled by her that he didn't even notice when his father's men started shifting around the room.

It wasn't until Taz nudged his side that he snapped out of the trance Y/N had lulled him into.

Later that night, Y/N was sitting at the bar with a drink in her hand.

Her eyes stayed on the stage, watching her friends perform with a smile across her red lips.

"I recognized the first song you sang"

She spins around in her seat, and smiles at the handsome man who had spoken to her. "Yeah? Did you like it?"

"Mhm" he nods, and slides into the empty seat next to her. "But I can't remember the name of it"

"A guy what takes his time. Originally sung by Mae West" Y/N informs.

"You a big fan of her?" Hook asks.

"Very much so" Y/N replies with a grin. "She's such an icon"

"I have to admit, I'm unsure of who she is" Hook says with a sheepish grin.

"She's only one of the most famous sex symbols ever" Y/N says with a giggle. "She even was the first to say the quote 'Why don't you come up sometime and see me?' Rather scandalous for 1933"

"Extremely" Hook concurs with a chuckle, before sticking his hand out. "I'm Hook, but you can call me Tyler"

Y/N was caught off guard by that. Of course she knew who Hook was, but she had heard how he didn't let many people call him Tyler. She even heard a few stories of him beating people up who disrespected him by calling him his real name.

But weirdly, it caused butterflies in her stomach. She placed her hand into his and sent him a sweet smile. "I'm Y/N"

"It's a pleasure to meet you amore" He lifts her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles, and that combined with the Italian nickname had a bright blush flushing Y/N's cheeks.

"So" Y/N clears her throat before her face changes to a serious expression. "Is the problem taken care of?"

"What are you talking about?" Hook plays dumb, and if she wasn't already in the know she probably would have fallen for his charming smile.

"You know what I'm talking about" Y/N stares directly into his eyes, annoyance creeping into her gaze. "He comes here every Friday, and all the girls are scared. Taz told me it would be taken care of tonight. Was it not?"

Hook stares at her for a second, unsure of what to say. He couldn't believe she knew. Furthermore, he couldn't believe his dad was the one to tell her. And even further, why did she seem so fine with it?

Taz, who had been behind the bar checking inventory and eavesdropping on the two, decides to walk over and help his seemingly frozen son. "Good evening miele"

Y/N smiles at Taz, and leans over the bar to kiss his cheek. "Hello Taz. I was just asking Hook if the problem was dealt with, but for some reason he seems to be unable to answer me"

Taz chuckles. "Don't worry about him, he's not used to talking to such a vision. He was dealt with earlier tonight, during your performance actually"

Y/N chuckles. "Good"

"It's getting late, and you spend enough time in this club as is. Tyler, why don't you take Y/N home?" Taz proposes.

"No, that's okay. I don't want to impose" Y/N immediately replies.

"I don't mind at all" Hook finally speaks up. "I'd love to give you a ride"

"Then it's settled. Because there's no way I'm letting you walk home this late" Taz says sternly.

Y/N just smiles. "How'd you know I was walking today?"

"It's my job to be observant Y/N. And I heard you complaining about your car not starting" Taz answers. "So until that's fixed, you are getting a ride from someone. It's not safe to walk around here"

"Alright, just give me a few minutes to get my stuff" Y/N gives in. She stands from her seat and smiles up at Hook.

"Thanks Hoo.. Tyler" she corrects herself, and gives his arm a light squeeze as she walks by him.

Taz smirks over at his son, who is looking down at the bar in an attempt to hide his red cheeks. "Tyler? You just met her and she's already allowed to call you Tyler?"

Hook doesn't answer, which causes Taz to laugh.

"You know, she's a good girl. I think you would be good together" Taz says. 

"Really?" Hook asks softly, looking up at his dad.

"Mhm" Taz hums. "But she's not like those other girls you go out with. You can't flash her a smile and she immediately agrees to go out with you. You're gonna have to put some work in. And it better be good, or I won't let you"

Hook chuckles. "You're not gonna let me?"

"No" Taz immediately answers firmly.

Then Y/N walks out with her bag. "I'm ready to go"

Taz walks out from behind the bar and gives her a hug. "Have a good night Y/N"

"You too Taz" she smiles as they pull away.

Hook walks over and takes her bag from her.

"Thanks" she says, and Hook just nods before placing his hand on the small of her back to guide her out of the building.

That next morning Y/N woke up to a surprise.

Y/N furrows her eyebrows, and stops making her coffee when she hears noise coming from her driveway.

She quickly grabs a jacket before walking outside to see what was going on.

But a smile spreads across her lips when she sees Hook in her driveway messing with her car. "Good morning handsome"

He looks up and flashes her a sheepish smile with red cheeks from her compliment. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I was already up" She answers. "What are you doing?"

"Fixing your car" he says with a proud grin. "I already figured out what's wrong with it. The battery's dead"

"Is that bad?" Y/N asks, not knowing much about cars.

Hook shakes his head. "It's an easy fix. I'm gonna jump-start it and it should be good as new"

"Well, thank you so much" Y/N smiles. "You didn't have to do all this, but I really appreciate it"

"It's not a problem" Hook brushes it off. "I'm glad to help"

"Come inside when you're done. I’ll make breakfast"

And she did. The two talked and laughed the entire time.

It started becoming a routine for them to have breakfast together.

At first, Hook left after breakfast. But then he started staying a little later. Then he started staying for lunch too. And by the time he stayed for lunch, he may as well have stayed long enough to drive her to the club for her shift, right?

Taz couldn't be more excited watching the two of them walk in together every night, including tonight.

As usual, they walked in right at 5:00, making the most of every minute.

"One of these days you're gonna get here at 5:01, and you're gonna be the one in trouble Tyler" Taz jokes, making the two laugh.

"Don't worry Taz, I'll make sure I'm always here on time. I can't let my favorite Senerchia down" she laughs, and walks over to pat his arm.

Hook pouts, but his lips turn up when she pecks his cheek as she passes him on the way to the dressing rooms.

"How's it going son?" Taz asks once Y/N’s out of sight.

"I think it's going good" Hook answers. "I can tell she's hesitant though"

Taz nods. "Just be patient. She's used to men playing her, just keep showing her you aren't like that"

Later that night Hook was sitting in a booth with his best friend, Jack Perry.

He was standing up and applauding as Y/N left the stage, but not before blowing a kiss towards him.

He pretends to catch it before sitting back down next to a snickering Jack. "What?"

"Nothing" Jack raises his hands in surrender. "I can just tell that you really like her"

"Yeah" Hook mumbles. "But I don't know if she likes me like that"

"You told me you spend time together everyday" Jack replies.

"We do" Hook shrugs. "But whenever I try to kiss her or hold her hand, she always pulls away"

"She's probably just nervous bro" Jack pats Hook's shoulder. "I mean, with her job, she's probably had to deal with a lot of scumbags"

Hook nods. "I know. My dad said the same thing"

But before either of them can say anything else Skye, one of the other dancers, walks over to the table. "Hey Hook. I'm sorry to bother you, but there’s this guy at the bar messing with Y/N. He won't leave her alone, and she said she could handle it, but he's not stopping"

Hook immediately stands up, and scans the bar.

He spots Y/N almost immediately, and the guy next to her who is way too close for his liking.

"Thanks" he says gruffly to Skye before taking off towards Y/N, Jack following close behind.

Hook walks over, and places himself in the space between them. "Hey amore"

He can see the relief on her face as he gently pushes her to stand behind him. "Hi Ty"

She holds onto his arm as Hook stares the guy down.

"Excuse me, we were talking" the guy rudely says, clearly not knowing who he was dealing with.

"It's best if you'd leave man" Jack says from his place next to Hook in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

Y/N knew that if looks could kill, that man would already be six feet under from the glare Hook was sending him. So she pulls on his arm, indicating she wants to leave. And he almost does, until the guy opens his mouth again.

"I just said we were talking" The guy repeats.

"You were talking" Hook snaps, pulling away from Y/N to step closer to him. "She wasn't"

"Oh yeah?" The guy stands up, making both Jack and Hook tense up, clearly ready for a fight.

"You got a fucking problem?" Hook demands.

"Ty, Ty let's just go" Y/N says, grabbing onto his arm again. "Please?"

"Yeah, just go" the guy taunts, and Y/N's eyes widen when he pushes Hook.

Chaos happens so quickly after that. Hook immediately pushes him back, and then his fist connects with the guy's jaw.

Jack joins in, and holds the guy still while Hook rains punches down on him.

"Tyler! Tyler stop!" Y/N yells as the bouncers run over and pull the three men apart.

Y/N latches onto Hook's arm as the bouncers drag the guy out.

"Are you two okay?!" She exclaims, quickly scanning them for injuries.

"I'm all good" Jack says. "I'm gonna head out, that was enough excitement for me for one night"

But as Hook wrapped his arms around Y/N to comfort her, he didn't realize what was going through Jack's head. Unbeknownst to Hook, he had just revealed to Jack his weak point.

Y/N headed to work later than normal a few days later. She wasn't supposed to work that day, but Skye was sick and Y/N offered to take her shift.

Hook had some business his father needed him to deal with, so he wasn't there to drive her.

Y/N was headed into the club when it happened.

All of a sudden she was grabbed from behind. She kicked and screamed as loud as she could as the men attempted to drag her into the trunk of their car.

She managed to scratch the hand of the one holding her mouth, causing him to let out a pained yell and loosen his grip.

And with her mouth free she screamed for help; she screamed for Hook.

Anthony, who was one of Hook's friends and Taz's men, heard a scream from his place at the door and ran outside.

Once the men saw Anthony running towards them with his gun out, they dropped Y/N and scrambled to get back in the car.

Y/N let out a yell when she fell onto the pavement and hit her head.

She was in a daze as she just laid there on the ground, watching as the car sped off and blood landed on the ground, dripping from her head.

Anthony kneeled next to her and pulled her into his arms. "Y/N? Hey, you're okay now. I got you"

She curled into his chest as he pulled his phone out and called Taz.

Less than ten seconds later every one of Taz's men in the club came running out with instructions to find the people who did this.

Then Taz himself ran over and kneeled next to them. "Hey hon"

"Hi Taz" she mumbles, sending him a weak smile in an attempt to assure him that she was okay.

He smiled back and brushed some hair out of her face. "You're gonna be just fine miele"

Anthony picks her up and carries her to Taz's car. He lays her down in the backseat before sliding in next to her.

Y/N was still a bit in and out as Anthony pressed a cloth against her bleeding head, but she heard Taz call Hook.

"Son, something's happened at the club"

"What do you mean? Are you and Y/N okay?" Hook asks urgently.

"Yes, we're all alright. But Y/N was hurt, son"

It was silent for a moment, but Y/N heard when Hook's breathing started getting heavier. "What happened?"

Y/N knew that tone. It was calm, too calm. She knew that he was furious, and it worried her that he would go out and try to find the people.

"I want you to come to the house before I tell you all the details"

"Why?!" Hook immediately snaps.

"Because I know you son" Taz replies firmly. "And the minute I give you any details you're going to go out and try to do something"

"Of course I am! Someone hurt Y/N! I am gonna hunt them dow-“

"I am not telling you a damn thing until you're at the house and that's final. Y/N will be there" Taz says with finality before hanging up the phone.

When Taz pulled into the driveway, Y/N was surprised. "You brought me to your house? I thought only the inside circle knows where you live"

But Taz just turns to smile at her. "That's right"

Y/N smiles after that, before sitting up with Anthony's help.

"Don't get ahead of yourself Y/N" Anthony says.

She just nods, and lets him pick her back up and carry her inside.

"Lay her down in the living room, I've got the doctor coming over" Taz tells Anthony, who nods and does as told.

Y/N thanks Anthony after he sits her on the couch, and he smiles and nods in return.

She looks around the room, and her eyes stop on a picture perched on the mantle. It was Hook and his dad when Hook was little. A smile grew on her lips as she stared at the photo.

"I love that picture too" Taz says as he walks into the room with a cup of water.

She thanks him for it as he sits down next to her.

"He hasn't been that carefree in a long time. I suppose that's my fault. Dragging him into this life" Taz sighs.

"No, I don't think it's your fault. He's told me how much he wants to be a part of it. I don't think you could have done anything to stop him" Y/N replies with a sympathetic smile.

Taz nods. "Thanks, hon"

It's then the door swings open and hurried footsteps echo through the house. "Y/N?!"

Y/N winces at his loud yell, and Taz stands up to meet Hook in the doorway. "Hey, her head is still hurting. No yelling, and be gentle with her"

Hook frantically nods before running over to her.

He kneeled in front of her and cupped her face between his warm hands.

Y/N leaned into his palm and closed her eyes. "I'm okay. Don't worry"

"You're not okay" Hook breathes out. "You don't have to lie"

"I'm okay now" she insists. "You're here now. I know nothing can happen to me"

Hook's lips turn upwards slightly, before he reaches up to pull her into a hug. "I was so worried"

"Don't be. I'm tough" Y/N replies.

Hook pulls away to press his forehead against hers. "Yes you are. My strong girl"

The two smile at each other, and sit like that for a moment. Hook was so thankful to be able to sit there and listen to her breathing while holding tightly onto her hands, reassuring him that she was okay.

Then Taz walks in with the doctor.

Hook sat next to her as the doctor cleaned up her cuts, and held her hand the entire time.

Meanwhile, out in the hallway, Taz was talking to his right-hand man; Tony Schiavone.

"I wanna find the people who did this" Taz says in a dangerous tone. "I want them found and brought to me; alive. Understood?"

"Yes" Schiavone nods. "Out of curiosity, what do you plan to do to them?"

Taz just smirks. "I think I'll let Tyler decide that"

Y/N woke up the next morning with a very sore body.

Every time she moved pain shot through her, and she had a terrible headache.

She slowly pulled herself into a sitting position, and took a second to brace herself before sliding off of the bed.

She looked to the bedside table for her phone, and smiles when she sees more than just the phone. There was medicine, a cup of water, a little bag of her favorite chips, and one of Hook's hoodies folded up.

She reached over and slipped on the hoodie, taking a moment to savor the smell of Hook's cologne that now swirled around her, before taking the medicine. Then she got out from under the extremely cozy blankets and left the bedroom.

She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hair before venturing out into the hallways.

She felt a little awkward making her way around the Senerchia house- well, more like mansion. She was a guest and didn't know her way around very well, but she was really hungry.

She let out a quiet cheer when she found the kitchen, and walked over to the fridge and pantry to see what they had. Y/N pulled out the ingredients to make pancakes, bacon, and eggs. She knew Hook would probably freak out over her cooking after just being injured, but she wanted to do something nice for them.

For absolutely no reason, the Senerchia's had taken her in and accepted her as family. Taz had done so long before she ever even met Hook.

Many people would be angry that they had been attacked because of the Senerchia family, but Y/N wasn't. She knew the lifestyle they lived, and she made a choice to be in their lives anyway. She just wished Hook realized that too. Y/N knew Hook would beat himself up about it for months to come.

As everything was cooking, Y/N was trying to figure out how their coffee machine worked. But she was stumped.

"Something smells amazing" she turns around and smiles when Taz walks into the kitchen.

"Thank you. I hope you don't mind, I just wanted to do something nice for y'all" Y/N says.

"I appreciate it" Taz smiles back.

"I was trying to make you guys coffee too, but I can't figure out this machine" she laughs, making Taz laugh too.

"You've done more than enough this morning" Taz walks over to the pot and takes it from her hands. "Let me make the coffee at least"

"What a great team we make" Y/N grins, before heading back over to the stove.

"I assume you're feeling better this morning?" Taz asks.

"I don't feel great, but definitely better than last night" Y/N answers. "Got a splitting headache though"

"That'll clear up in a few days" Taz comforts.

Y/N nods. "Thank you for taking care of me last night"

"Hey, you're one of us now" Taz says. "You will be protected from here until forever"

Y/N couldn’t stop the bright smile that took over her face, until the next words that come from Taz. "Unless you decide you don't wanna be part of this life of course"

"What are you talking about?" Y/N immediately asks.

"I'm not gonna lie to you Y/N, most people don't make it long-term in this world. The danger, the not knowing if someone will make it back home, the threat of the cops, it's not an easy life to live. And I know Tyler hasn't asked you to officially be his girl yet, but I know he wants to. And when he does, I just want to make sure you know that you have options. This incident.. I can't guarantee it, or something worse, won't happen again. I wish I could but I can't. You know we're gonna do everything we can to make sure no one lays a pinky finger on you ever again, but.. if it all becomes too much for you, I need you to know that I can get you out. I can send you away, somewhere even Tyler won't know. You can get a fresh start away from all of this"

Y/N stares at Taz for a moment, letting his words settle, before she smiles softly. "Thank you so much Taz, but I won't be needing any of that. Ever. I'm here for the long haul as long as Tyler will have me"

Taz just smiles back, incredibly happy to have Y/N as a part of their family.

Now all he needed was for Hook to man up and confess his feelings to Y/N.

Taz knew he was scared; scared of the danger it would put Y/N in. But it seemed that the danger was already present. And seeing it first hand had shaken Hook. The original plan that night was for Hook to finally ask Y/N to be his girl. They told Y/N that Hook had something Taz needed him to do; when really he was out getting some gifts for her. He had dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant, and he was going to pick her up from the club early and take her out. But of course, the night did not end the way Hook had hoped.

Then Hook walks into the kitchen, and his eyes widen when he sees Y/N cooking. "Y/N! You don't need to be cooking, you need to be resting!"

Y/N just laughs as he puts his hands on her arms and guides her to sit down at the kitchen island. "I'm feeling okay Ty"

"No, you need to rest amore" Hook says, and leans down to kiss her on the forehead before taking her place at the stove.

Jack sighed from his seat at the burlesque club.

He watched as Y/N performed, the gears in his head turning rapidly.

His plan to kidnap her had failed, and he was actually kind of glad about it.

He had realized since that night a few things. And the biggest one was that Y/N is fiercely loyal to Hook and his family. Even after almost getting abducted she stuck by his side, perhaps closer than ever.

He realized if his plan had worked, she wouldn't have told him shit about Taz's operations.

Jack couldn't ask Hook; they were friends, but he'd realize what was up if Jack started poking around.

But anyone who was an enemy of the Senerchia may kidnap Hook's girl to try and get information to take them down.

But Y/N wouldn't crack, Jack was now sure of it.

So he decided on a new plan:

Psychological warfare.

He didn't need to take Y/N from Hook, he was gonna make her want to leave.

#aew #aew hook #aew hook x reader #hook aew x reader #hook x reader #hook imagine #hook aew #send hook #aew x reader #aew fanfiction

[headfullofpresley]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏

Pairing: Elvis Presley x reader

Word count: 3,8K

Series summary: Elvis has worked hard to become the successful adult movie director that he is today and all that hard work is paying off by how well the public reacts to his work and how much money is coming into his bank account, despite the fact that porn is still very much illegal. Working in the adult industry is not something you saw yourself doing despite coming from a place where it always has been out in the open, but you soon find yourself swept up and away by a certain American director and right into the heart of the porn industry. The only question that remains is... will you sink, or will you swim?

Chapter summary: Working on his newest and what he believes his biggest project yet, Elvis flies to Amsterdam to shoot most of it. Everything is going well until he's forced to fire his leading actress on the spot and there's a stop being put to his work. But as he wanders into a cafe for a much needed drink in the bustling city, faith seems to be on his side.

Warnings: porn director!Elvis, European!reader, set in the year 1970 (so some details may be a little off?), obvious mentions of sex/porn etc, mentions of prostitution, Elvis giving reader a lowkey foot rub in public (honestly, he's going to be into feet in this series bc i'm feral), mentions of soft drugs, alcohol consumption.

A/N: hi! this idea was born from an ai but mostly from The Deuce (definitely watch it!), where i took most inspiration from. i'm super excited about this series, and honestly it's giving me a lot of inspiration to write in general again! this is going to be a short series- i'm thinking around 5 parts, but we shall see, hm? no smut in this part, but obvi there will be in future parts, as well as some darker topics. hope y'all enjoy! ❤

masterlist | want to be added to the taglist? just ask!

Who ever said Hollywood was a jungle has obviously never set foot in New York City.

They’ve obviously never experienced what a real concrete jungle is like and they definitely don’t know that the Golden Age of Hollywood has seen its best days. Directors were feeling pressures from the outside – from the public that wanted something different, something more than those cringy movie kisses. The smaller movie theaters were starting to ID their customers because their movies weren’t so family friendly anymore. Establishments that specialized in peep shows were popping out of the ground like weeds. Burlesque clubs were turning into proper stripclubs and people would rather spend their money on naked girls dancing in their faces than on overpriced cocktails at supper clubs.

They didn’t know that the world was changing.

They didn’t know that even though adult entertainment was far from legal, it was one of the most produced and exported and imported products in the country.

They didn’t know. But Elvis Presley did.

Having made his start as a director ten years ago when he was in his early twenties and was nothing but a naive Southern boy from Memphis, he crawled and clawed his way through shitty jobs in New York. From parking cars, to serving drinks in sketchy bars to being a bodyguard at a massage parlor and driving around hookers to their appointments… He’s seen it all, and he’s done it all.

He worked hard to get where he currently was – being one of the most famous porn directors in New York. Everyone knew who he was and everyone respected him. Times Square was home to countless of peep shows, stripclubs and whatnot and you’ll bump into a prostitute every five steps. Elvis never used their services but he was friendly with them, greeting them as if he had known them forever. Which in some girls’ cases, was true.

Most of those girls were looking for a way out, wanting to get off the streets and into the safety of a movie studio, but Elvis has learned from a previous mistake where he hired a girl who had a pimp and the leech tried to get him to pay them more than the other actors. Since then, Elvis stuck to actors and actors only.

The director was doing good for himself, owning his own studio and brand under the name of “Presley Productions”, and living in a spacious apartment in the city, yet he still wanted more.

He wanted to make a movie so good, it would get international attention. He wanted it to be so good that theaters wouldn’t stop showing it and he wanted it to be so damn good that it would get him a shiny, gold award on his shelf.

And whenever Elvis had his mind set on something, he made sure to accomplish whatever it was that he wanted to accomplish.

It would only be a matter of time before Hollywood would get whiff of his work, and who he was, and for him to open up a second studio there. Elvis didn’t believe in “Hollywood first, the world later” though – he was going to knock everyone off their feet, from the housewives in California to the business men in Hong Kong, all at the same time.

 

The script he had written for his newest movie had been done for months now and all there was left to do was the casting. The process went fairly simple and easy – his main actress was Annette Haven and she was a gorgeous brown eyed brunette, but for some reason he couldn’t get used to her.

Granted, he wasn’t the one playing in the movie and her co-star seemed to have no issues with her, so perhaps he figured he was just being too picky because he was so passionate about this project. Annette was friendly during the first few weeks of filming but as they got to Amsterdam, the sex capital of the world, to shoot most of the movie, her behavior started to change.

She was cranky on set, pranced around like she was the Queen and was late for filming almost every single day. To put it mildly, she was getting on Elvis’s nerves and when she showed up high as a kite one afternoon, the director was done with this girl.

He never was a tiran on set and always made sure everyone was doing okay, but right now it was like a bomb exploded and everyone watched and were awkwardly rooted to their places as Elvis had a go at the main actress and fired her on the spot.

“Take the rest of the day off. We’ll figure things out tomorrow,” he announced to the other actors and the crew. He gave them a bitter smile before he turned around and walked out of the studio they rented, angry and annoyed at the fact he lost a full day of filming, his leading actress and money.

He needed a goddamn drink.

 

Amsterdam was a crowded, bustling city and in some ways, it was much like New York but it was different in so many ways too. People were a little more laid back here (and he figured the many coffee shops where one definitely was not drinking coffee but getting high at instead had something to do with that) and instead of running into a lady of the night on a street corner, they were placed behind windows in certain areas. The Red Light District, for example. It was crowded with tourists and while there was a long canal outstretched in the middle of the district, there were shops, bars, coffee shops and sexual tinted business lined up on the sides, drawing people’s attention left and right. The infamous windows were located in the alley ways, the red lights that were on indicating a girl was working at the time. While he was definitely no stranger to sex workers and what the normal citizen would call “wildness of it all”, it was like he had stepped into a different world, yet it felt a little bit like home too.

Spotting a typical Dutch brown cafe on a corner, he stepped inside and was welcomed by the loud rumbles of laughter of men shooting pool and sitting at the tables and the bar and the smell of cigarette smoke and beer. Nobody aside from the waitress even spared him a glance as he sat at a table near the window and the second he looked at the girl that came up to him to take his order, a smirk spread across his face. In the middle of August, it was only natural for the girl to be wearing a pair of shorts and he was glad this place didn’t set any strict dress codes for their employees, because Good Lord, those legs looked like they went on for days. He noticed the red heeled sandals she wore on her feet and her fresh pedicure on her toes, drawing him in even more. The way that black little apron was tied around her waist did things to him and as his eyes shamelessly moved further up and noticed the size of her breasts that were filling up the tight top she was wearing, he could only think two things – first, he needed to get his hands on those things. And second, she would be perfect for the movie he was shooting out here.

Annette Haven who?

“Hallo?!” You spoke again, waving your hand in front of the dark haired man that just sat down by the window when he didn’t respond to you the first time. Instead, he was shamelessly checking you out from head to toe and working in a bar in the Red Light District, you were used to it but it still got you a little annoyed at times. At least some men tried to hide it and most men actually spoke, with actual words. As he excused himself in English and scanned the crowd for a second, you realised he wasn’t Dutch and decided to cut him some slack.

Perhaps he really was a creep, but your boss wouldn’t be too happy if a customer walked out without being served.

Happened before, because while other waitresses accepted the bold and creepy men that came to drink almost every single day, your mother had always taught you to stand up for yourself and to not take any shit from anyone.

Besides, this was 1970. What did men expect? For you to drape yourself over their laps and beg them to take you? Absolutely not.

“A beer’s just fine, honey,”

You bit your tongue to ignore the pet name and flashed the American a smile, looking him in the eye. “Anything else? Something to eat maybe?”

Elvis grinned and shook his head, watching you walk away to get his drink. You were a very pretty girl with a very pretty body and he realised he was going to amp up his charm if he wanted to see what was underneath.

And he definitely wanted to see what was underneath.

 

“There you go,” you said as you came back over to his table and put his beer down in front of him. Before you could make your escape once more, Elvis spoke up.

“You know, your English is pretty good,”

At this, you almost scoffed as you stood up straight and looked at him with a hand on your hip. These Americans were always so full of themselves.

“Thanks. It’s only a language spoken in countries all over the world,” you smiled sarcastically and Elvis grinned in amusement as he leaned his arms on the edge of the table, quirking an eyebrow.

Feisty. He was intrigued.

“I been to Germany back in the day and believe me, they definitely didn’t sound as pretty as you,”

You raised your eyebrows a little at the odd compliment. Didn’t sound as pretty? That was the first time you ever heard something like that. This guy looked exactly what you imagined a pimp to look like – gold rings adorning his fingers, dressed up nicely in a velvet crushed jacket despite the heat outside – yet he used the word “pretty”, instead of something vulgar like most customers did when they’d try to flirt with you.

You knew you had probably judged him too quickly and although you were intrigued by him the same way he was by you, you weren’t going to make it easy on him.

“Let me tell you a secret,” you whispered as you leaned down and closer to him a little, looking straight into his eyes, which you noticed were very blue and very pretty. “You’re not in Germany anymore, sir,”

Elvis let out a laugh as you gave his shoulder a playful pat and raised his glass, a sly smirk settling on his features.

“You got that right, honey,”

As you walked away, he didn’t fail to notice the playful smile you threw his way as you looked over your shoulder.

 

Elvis wasn’t planning on spending half the day in this particular cafe, but for some reason, he was already on his third beer and he just couldn’t leave.

He could say it was because he needed to clear his mind and think of a solution to fix the problem about not having a lead actress anymore, but the little voice in his head told him he was looking right at that exact solution.

You.

He knew it would be risky – you were just a waitress and you probably had never set foot on a movie set in your entire life, let alone an adult movie set, but he couldn’t stop imagining you in front of the camera, in all kinds of positions.

As he watched you move around the place, serving customers, it was almost like he was watching a movie right now. The way you moved so effortlessly on those little heels, the way you avoided customers that were a little too handsy and the way you were laughing with local customers who you’d probably served many times before.

The sound of your laugh was like music to his ears and he wondered how you’d sound while you were being fucked with those gorgeous long legs dangling in the air. Just imagining you moaning in pleasure had a shiver run down his spine.

And while you had pretended you didn’t like Elvis at all and he was just another annoying American tourist, you couldn’t help yourself from glancing into his direction every so often and making your way to his table to ask if he needed anything else.

When you did just that after talking to some locals at the bar, he looked at you and smiled.

“Sit down,” he told you as he nodded to the empty seat across from him as he leaned back in his seat. “Doesn’t the old man give you a break?”

You chuckled softly as he nodded to an older looking, grumpy man in the corner behind the bar. Your boss. He barely did any of the work and just sipped on his beer, watching his waitresses work their asses off.

For a shitty pay, too.

“Hardly,” you admitted honestly with a soft chuckle, noticing that your boss wasn’t paying any attention to you so you sat down opposite the dark haired man that had his eye on you the entire time. “So, what brought you to Amsterdam?”

Elvis was pleasantly surprised as you asked him that. Not only would it give him the chance to keep you at his table longer, but now was also the moment where he would have to tell you what he did. And find out your reaction to it.

So, he just came clean right away. In one way, it was a good test to see how open-minded the Europeans really were.

And if you were a full blown, crazed feminist.

God… please don’t be a fullblown crazed feminist, he prayed mentally.

“I’m here to make a porno.”

A silence lingered between you two, but it only lasted for about three seconds. You nodded your head and chuckled in an amused but friendly manner.

“Are you an actor?”

Thank God.

“No,” he laughed, shaking his head a little as he took a sip of his beer, licking his lips. “I’m the director of the movie,”

You leaned your arms on the table and sat on the edge of your seat, crossing your legs under the table as you swung your foot back and forth a little. Elvis looked at the way your breasts were pressed against your arms for a second before looking back at your face, an excited twinkle in his eyes.

“And why are you not directing your movie right now?” You wondered aloud, tilting your head a little.

“Well,” he let out a laugh as he tapped one of his rings against his glass for a second, looking at you. “My leading actress wasn’t as fit for the role as I thought.”

“Or maybe you aren’t as good as a director as you think you are,” you teased with a grin on your face.

At that, Elvis just looked at you with a raised eyebrow. He could tell you were pulling his tail, but perhaps far in the back of his mind… he wondered if that could be the truth. He decided not to let his insecurities get to him though, not right now, and when he felt your swaying foot hit his leg under the table, he reached a hand down and grabbed your ankle. You widened your eyes a little and stared at him as he gave you a cocky grin and removed your shoe, dropping the red heel to the floor before he put your foot in his lap.

You looked around nervously to see if your boss caught onto you slacking yet, but he was still busy with the locals at the bar. Elvis ran his hand down from your ankle to your foot and pressed his thumb against your sole, making you turn back to him and bite your tongue to hold back a small gasp.

While you certainly never let customers touch you, right now you weren’t trying to get away. Nor could you muster up a smart remark to throw at his head. You’d been on your feet all day, wearing those heels, and the little massage he suddenly decided to give you wasn’t entirely unwelcomed.

“I am a great director, sweetheart, trust me..” he grinned as he looked you in the eye, a kind but mischievous gleam in his blue orbs. This man definitely was bold and for the first time in your waitressing “career”, you were enjoying the attention of a customer. And a tourist, at that. “Some people just can’t resist the many coffee shops in the city,”

You chuckled, nodding your head as you tried to focus on the conversation and not his large hand rubbing your foot under the table.

“Ha! Bet she was A-American,” you mentally slapped yourself for the stutter (and the lame reply) but if he noticed it, he didn’t mention it. Instead he just grinned and caressed his short nails across the arch of your foot a little.

“Who said she was American?”

“Well, if she was Dutch, she could’ve.. resisted the tempting clouds of weed,” you countered back with a small, playful grin on your face.

He laughed as he cocked his eyebrow, his eyes staring intently into yours as he found your pressure point and pushed his thumb into it, making you nearly moan out loud right there in the middle of your work place.

You managed to save yourself with a small groan.

“Think you can do better?”

At this point, your face was flushed and he realised he was slowly breaking through that sarcastic façade of yours. Then again, he wasn’t exactly playing fair with the way he was shamelessly giving you a foot rub and while you had genuinely peaked his interest, he was a little desperate too.

He wanted to finish his movie and make sure it was good. It had to be perfect. And he didn’t want to get a professional actress now that he had laid eyes on you.

Porn wasn’t a strange concept to you despite never having been in a porno yourself. You lived in a city where sex was out in the open for everyone to see and consume and while porn was illegal here as much as it was in the States, it was tolerated. Perhaps it wasn’t such a strange idea for you to dip your toes into the world of adult entertainment.

“I know I can do better,” you said confidently, looking over at your boss who looked your way and you quickly pulled your foot out of Elvis’ grip, slipping it back into your heel. “Just tell me when and where,”

Elvis let out a hearty laugh as he widened his eyes at you a little. This had been easier than he expected – you were offering yourself for the job and while that was certainly surprising, he wasn’t complaining at all. You were perfect for this movie and the fact that you were inexperienced in the industry might even be better for the storyline.

After all, the lead girl was supposed to be a little naive and a whole lot of innocent.

You quickly urged him for a phone number and address when you noticed the sour face of your boss staring at you from behind the bar and Elvis quickly scribbled his contact information down on the back of a paper coaster as he realised he didn’t have any business cards on him at the moment. You grasped it from the table and shoved it in your pocket, getting up from your seat.

“Hold up,” he said after he paid for his drinks and you were about to walk off to the bar to get back to work. You felt him grabbing your wrist and you turned around, looking at him as your heartbeat sped up a little. “I didn’t get your name..”

“It’s Y/N,” You told him, gently pulling your arm out of his grip. You wouldn’t mind holding onto him a little longer but you felt your boss’ eyes burning in the back of your head.

“I’m Elvis. Elvis Presley.”

You nodded and flashed him a smile, tapping the back pocket of your shorts where you had put the coaster in. He grinned and nodded, slowly leaving the cafe, hoping you’d call him and go through with this.

A pretty girl like you shouldn’t have to work in a shitty place like this.

 

You watched him go and the entire time your boss was giving you an earful about work ethics as you stood behind the bar, you barely heard the words coming out of his mouth. Quite frankly, you just weren’t paid enough to deal with this. You liked your co-workers but that’s all they were – co-workers. They didn’t pay your bills and neither did your shitty monthly pay that your boss gave you.

You wanted a change. No, you needed a change.

And maybe it was a naive and stupid thing to do, but for some reason, you had trusted that stupid American tourist.

Maybe he wasn’t even a director at all, but the longer your boss went on and on about your behavior, you decided it was worth the risk.

“You know what,” you interrupted him loudly, pulling your apron off and throwing it at his face. “I quit!”

Your boss threw a string of profanities to your head as you opened the cash register and grasped the amount of money he still owed you. He was too slow, and too fat, to stop you and before he could get to you, you were already halfway out the door. Though ofcourse, you didn’t leave without theatrically flipping him off.

 

You ran down the street, squirming your way through the crowd, and into a phone booth. Closing the door behind you, you fished the coaster out of your pocket and rang the number. You were connected to Elvis’ hotel and then put through to his room after several minutes. As soon as you heard his voice on the other side of the line, you inhaled a sharp breath of air and clenched the phone against your ear.

How bad could the porn industry really be?

The fact that you were a virgin didn’t strike you as a problem. Nobody had to know, did they? You were sure you’d be able to mask it.

Even from the director.

You stared at the people walking by the phone booth and leaned against the glass wall, your next words rolling off your tongue determinedly.

“When do I start?”

taglist: @powerofelvis @breadsquash @generoustreemystic @ab4eva @marriedtopresley @steph-speaks @notstefaniepresley @ellie-24 @dollksj @webbedwebs @re3kin @wivette @eliseinmemphis @18lkpeters @rosepresley @ccab @whatstruthgottodowithit @dkayfixates

#elvis x reader #elvis presley x reader #elvis smut #elvis presley smut #elvis au #elvis presley au #elvis x y/n #elvis presley x y/n #elvis #elvis presley #elvis series #elvis presley series #tamwrites #the curious female

[rockanroller]

opinions on angel dust... overall critique: angel dust feels less like a gay gangster from the 40s and much more like a modern-day drag queen. he's p much just alaska thunderfuck with a new yorker accent. (yes i know viv listed alaska as an influence, i'm just saying there's *so* much of the alaska vibes that i hardly see any 40s gangster vibes) specific ramble of today: the glitz and glam associated and portrayed with angel dust is much more burlesque/cabaret-adjacent, with aesthetics that are more associated with the 70s-90s, and everything sensationalized about its aesthetics in pop-culture after. pole dancing itself didn't start to get popularized or utilized the way we know it until the 50s, and even then it's so glitzed and glammed up in angel's portrayals that it reads more like a rupaul's drag race superstar performance than anything else. he also doesn't really feel like he's from the 40s to me. he feels much more like a young but traumatized 20-something from a more recent decade. and yes if he died in the 40s then he's been in hell for a long time where he'd've been introduced to these more modern things, but that kinda brings up another question of how are hell's aesthetics influenced, if at all, by the modern-day culture on earth? has hell just always existed with the modernism of the 21st century or does it align with earth's culture, and for that matter which part of earth's culture, only america? TL;DR: i think angel dust would be a stronger character if viv just ditched the 40s gangster bit altogether and had him be a 20- or 30-something drag queen from new york sometime around the 80s-90s (when there was an active drag scene, and there was also drug-use in the clubs which would also play into his character). it makes his aesthetics make more sense, plays into his story, keeps his accent everyone loves, and he would still have been existing in hell for multiple decades prior to the present day.

#vivziepop critical #spindlehorse critical #hazbin hotel critical #hazbin hotel angel dust #rambles #thoughts

[vintagelasvegas]

Colony Club, Las Vegas, Summer 1942

Photos from William Spath, on the right in pic. 3, drummer of a 6-piece band from Chicago, courtesy of Lee Spath.

Beyond the crossing of Fremont St and Charleston Blvd, once considered the outskirts of town and the start of Boulder Highway, there was a sparse nightlife scene in the 30s & 40s. Colony restaurant and casino opened here Jul. 4th, 1942, next to a club called The Dunes and nearby Meadows resort. The owners were a group of club and casino men from Palm Springs & Hollywood: Irwin Schuman of Chi-Chi club, Nola Hahn, and Milton “Farmer” Page who had just opened Pioneer Club. The location was approximately 2500 Fremont St.

During its brief two months in business, the club featured the entertainment of Cantu the Mexican Magician, the dance & parrot act of Yvette Dare, singer Al Herman aka ���the king of blackface,” and burlesque star Sally Rand in a show the club advertised as “girlorious, sexhilerating, and scandelicious.”

Thomas Hull, principal owner of El Rancho Vegas, purchased Colony and 20 surrounding acres a few weeks after its opening, but the club soon closed citing a problem with the deed. The unpaid contractor, former owner, and new owner all ended up in court. Colony and neighboring Dunes club were destroyed by fire on 7/5/44.

“New Casino Being Built Near Vegas.” Review-Journal, 4/9/42; “New, Smart Colony Restaurant Will Open to the Public Tomorrow Eve.” Review-Journal, 7/3/42; “El Rancho Vegas Owner Purchases Colony Restaurant.” Review-Journal, 8/18/42; “Colony Club to be Shut Temporarily.” Review-Journal, 9/12/42; “Colony Club Is Subject of Suit.” Review-Journal, 10/21/42; “Night Club Fire is Worst in History.” Review-Journal, 7/6/44.

#1942

[n3kk1tty]

Beast's of Santa Carla

(Beasts of Santa Carla is a AU of the Lost Boys. It involves adult themes, poly relationships, and is definitely not made for the underaged. If you don't like poly content, queer representation, shipping of the boys together or heavy sexual themes and violence. This story is not meant for you and that's okay. This story is made solely for my own enjoyment and anyone else who's along for the ride. )

𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊

If people thought the vampires were bad in the murder capitol of Californian then they would be in for a huge surprise for all the other creatures from the other side roaming around. From the succubus burlesque club to the witch shops selling god knows what. This town was riddled full of things people thought only existed in fantasy. It wasn't hard for this place to swallow people whole or pull them into this underworld.

Santa Carla was in fact a natural crossroads for the super natural and had long been established as a Pardoned territory for demonic kinds to hunt live and thrive. A underground society built under another a thin mocking of humanity's own social constructs held together by a mutual understanding , respect, and rules.

Rules set in stone such as not hunting in others territories. The board walk was strictly for Max and his pack of feral vampires and that's where they were supposed to stay. Everyone knew that a lot of what Max did was taboo in Vampiric society but with everyone too busy governing their own groups no one stuck there nose where it shouldn't be.

That was until Max's unwillingness to properly teach and watch over his boys led to whispers around town that there was a group of human boys planning to make a move trying to kill off the vampires. Anyone who knew of Santa Carla's underworld knew that you don't break the balance by killing off people especially not whole groups belonging to the underbelly. This was a pardoned city after all, humans were fair game but the supernatural were most definitely not.

Like in nature prey needed predators to keep the population in check, to keep the balance. To kill off a chunk of predators in a town overflowing with visitors and wash ups all drawn to its pull all the time would completely throw everything into chaos. Disrupt the whole ecosystem. The first place secrets go to die in Santa Carla was the burlesque house. With so much alcohol, drugs, and succubi pheromones swirling in the air you'd be lucky to leave with the clothes on your back let alone all your secrets.

Intoxicated people talk and they spread rumors quickly. So when you have a drunk warlock saying he heard kids in the comic shop researching how to kill vampires you don't take it lightly. You might as well have walked in and said you were lighting all of Santa Carla on fire. This whole ecosystem worked because humans didn't know or didn't care that the supernatural were in this place. The succubi knew the vampires wouldn't treat this seriously even if they told them. I mean human kids making a threat sure didn't sound like anything to be worried about.

They were creatures of the night, strong talented hunters. Max barely even made sure those boys were properly washing their own asses let alone their safety. A warning would be useless but it only takes just one person saying someone pissed in the pool for everyone to think someone did or is going to. It couldn't hurt to offer protection so nothing would occur. The boys were strong and usually kept mischief to themselves but if even one of them got injured or let alone killed then that's all it would take for all hell to break loose.

Living in a cave left too much opportunity for someone to sneak in during the day. They needed someone to stand guard out there while the boys slept just to make sure. If it turned out just to be a rumor then all that happened was some poor demon got stuck on babysitting duty but if it wasn't then this could be what makes or breaks the balance of Santa Carla in the time span of a day. The council quickly held a meeting selecting the best person for guard duty. Knowing the vampires wouldn't be too keen on having a baby sitter this all had to be kept on the secretive side even from Max.

The danger very well could be coming from inside the group itself. It didn't take a telepath to know the vampires were having trouble converting their last few members. Having fledgling vampires running around angry about being turned along with whispers of how to kill vampires was sure pointing to something bad. So the council decided to choose a demon who barely needed rest and was talented enough at providing all protection and care that could be needed without getting caught.

If anything the council wanted the demon to always be close enough to the boys for safety while others behind the scenes worked on taking out the boys who just painted the world's biggest target on their backs. This little rumor was either gonna end with three dead kids or five dead vampires and dead vampires was an outcome no one wanted. This is how a hybrid got stuck on baby sitting duty.

To be continued... ( Chapter 1 )

( this is just a little Au I had cooking in my noggin. I hope at least this can fuel a few others craving for lost boys content or imagination for new ideas.)

#the lost boys #au #tlb 1987 #poly tlb #tlb au #tlb david #tlb x reader

[uwmspeccoll]

Shakespeare Weekend

Shakespeare’s comedy Measure for Measure, is volume twenty-two of the thirty-seven volume The Comedies Histories & Tragedies of William Shakespeare, published by the Limited Editions Club (LEC) from 1939-1940. The play was likely first acted in 1604. It was first printed in the folio of 1623. 

Measure for Measure was illustrated by German Bohemian illustrator and stage designer Hugo Steiner-Prag (1880-1945). By his fifties Steiner-Prag had designed three hundred and sixty books and illustrated fifty-six books. He was for a time president of the Association of German Book Trade Artists. On illustrating this volume of he says:

I have always been deeply attracted by Measure for Measure with its bright and dark happenings, its glowing passions, its burlesque choirs, and with the frequently more than dubious personages that people this work with its threatening, fateful events that are the cause of such genuine pain and so many tears. It is therefore easy to understand my desire to illustrate it with pictures. 

His vibrant and imaginative illustrations were made in lithography and were printed by Mourlot Freres in Paris. 

The volumes in the set were printed in an edition of 1950 copies at the Press of A. Colish, and each was illustrated by a different artist, but the unifying factor is that all volumes were designed by famed book and type designer Bruce Rogers and edited by the British theatre professional and Shakespeare specialist Herbert Farjeon. Our copy is number 1113, the number for long-standing LEC member Austin Fredric Lutter of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

View more Limited Edition Club posts.

View more Shakespeare Weekend posts.

-Teddy, Special Collections Graduate Intern

#Shakespeare Weekend #limited editions club #LEC #measure for measure #shakespeare #William Shakespeare #Hugo Steiner-Prag #fine press books #bruce rogers #Herbert Farjeon #Press of A. Colish #Mourlot Freres #lithography

[critter-rarepair-reccs]

Happy Wednesday, friends! Hope you're all well. This week, we have seven recommendations for fics that are still being published! As always, you can find them below the cut and if you check any of them out, I encourage you to leave kudoes and comments to spread the rarepair love 💕

Three Card Spread by NephriteKnight (13,298 words, Explicit) Pairings: Mollymauk Tealeaf/Essek Thelyss (Shadowmauk), Mollymauk Tealeaf/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidomauk) Warnings: Accidental Voyeurism

Caleb is in romantic relationships with both Molly and Essek, though the two of *them* aren’t together. Essek is certainly interested, but tries to keep his distance, unsure of if Molly feels the same. That is, until one night while Caleb’s away…

Reccer Says: It’s very sweet!!! Domestic Shadowidomauk is so cute and so is Essek pining over Molly!

Cut Her Out in Little Stars by EchoingArias (7,956 words, Teen) Pairing: Keyleth/Vex'ahlia (Vexleth) Warnings: Anti Half-Elf Racism

While the twins are still living in Syngorn, a summit for leaders from across Tal’Dorei is held. Among the guests is the leader of the Air Ashari and his daughter, Keyleth. Vex is immediately smitten.

Reccer Says: The balance between the sweetness of the twins interactions and Vex’s crush on Keyleth and how awful Syldor and the other elves are is so good and perfectly heartaching.

between earth and sky by floralprintshark (2,536 words, Teen) Pairing: Ashton Greymoore/Dorian Storm (Greystorm) Warnings: None

An AU in which Ashton is earth genasi royalty and is arranged to marry Dorian, the youngest son of the Wyvernwind Clan.

Reccer Says: This fic just started but I’m already very sold on it. The worldbuilding has intrigued me, the character voices for Ashton and the Krook House folks are super on point, and I’m very excited to see Dorian’s POV on the whole situation.

The Peacock’s Palace by WhoGroovesOn (59,145 words, Explicit) Pairings: Mollymauk Tealeaf/Essek Thelyss (Shadowmauk), Mollymauk Tealeaf/Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast (Shadowidomauk) Warnings: Discussions of Caleb’s backstory

Essek owns a burlesque club in Nicodranas, which Molly performs at. They’re perfectly happy and in love, though one night they want to try something a little different. Enter one Bren Aldric Ermendrud.

Reccer Says: It’s very very hot and very fun. The angst is a delicious side dish to the rest and the plot that’s been building is intriguing!

against all my sins and the candlelight by Solanaceae (13,813 words, Teen) Pairing: Astrid Beck/Jenna Iresor Warnings: None

Jenna Iresor (the Cerberus Assembly member who is secretly a doppelganger) takes an interest in Astrid. Scheming and wizard-speak ensue.

Reccer Says: Probably the definition of a rarepair, and SO good! Astrid’s characterization is on point and the political intrigue is so well thought out and interesting.

Can I See You Again? by lespetitesmorts (5,796 words, Teen) Pairing: Keyleth/Vex'ahlia (Vexleth) Warnings: None

Scanlan drags Keyleth with him to go see a show. Before it starts, Keyleth meets Vex, who happens to be the lead singer and bassist for the band in question. And they both may just fall a little bit in love in that moment.

Reccer Says: It is so cute! Keyleth is perfectly awkward and you can really feel just how hot Vex is lol. And Vex's strategy for finding Keyleth again is fun!

Something Happened On The Way To Heaven by SweetSilentSteps (24,014 words, Explicit) Pairing: Orym/Dorian Storm/Will (Dorymwill) Warnings: Kidnapping

A Dorymwill Ladyhawke AU! Dorian is captured by the Paragon's Call, escapes, and meets a mysterious (and handsome) half-elf with an odd raven companion on the road to Jrusar.

Reccer Says: I've never personally watched Ladyhawke but I am very familiar with the concept and love an AU based on it and this does not disappoint. The drama, the intrigue, the dynamics!!! It's so good. Updates monthly and its 4th chapter just went up so now's as good a time as any to catch up to follow along!

Thank you for joining us this week’s recc list! All the love to everyone who submitted a fic 💕 All enclosed recommendations were submitted by the community via our submissions form, which you can find here. All fic information is as it was provided by the reccer, so it may not be accurate to the author’s intent or the precise contents of the fic itself. Please assume good intent from all parties 💕

Submissions for next week’s list are already open! We’ll be featuring Angst. If you have any you’d like to highlight, you can send them in here. The week after that, the theme is Spring and the weeks after that we’re taking recommendations for Jester Rarepairs and Alternate Universes! Submissions for all of these themes are currently open.

If you want more rarepair fic, check out @cr-summer-wildflowers and their event collections on ao3! If you want some friendship after all this romance, take a look at @critter-genfic-events and their recc lists! And if you’re interested in everyone’s favorite wizards, you can’t go wrong with the lists at @aeor-is-for-reccing !

Thanks all and have a lovely day/night/timezone! 💕

#critter rarepair recc lists #shadowmauk #shadowidomauk #vexleth #greystorm #astrid x jenna #dorymwill #critical role #cr fanfic

[freeuselandonorris]

oh when he realizes he has to look down at her … its over. the little air kisses :(( i WILL be spending the first day of the year thinking about Them!!!!!! and omfg a full fic for them .. i would Die !!!

- DQLA (happy new year! ❤️)

drag queen lando has been plaguing my mind all day!! i have opened a gdoc and it is HAPPENING (albeit probably quite slowly)

-

It starts with an Instagram post.

Logan sends it to him with a row of question marks beneath. It’s some sort of club night: the curly pink writing reads CLUB FISH, with a subheading ‘Drag Kings and Queens, Pole Dance, Burlesque & More!’ There are some cut-out pictures in the background of what are either girls wearing a lot of makeup, or…not girls, wearing a lot of makeup.

What’s this? Oscar sends back, although he’s fairly sure he knows the answer.

Sure enough, a few minutes after it gets marked read, Logan bursts in without knocking.

“Mate,” Oscar says. “How many times? One day you’ll catch me wanking and then you’ll be sorry.”

“I can hear when you’re wanking,” Logan says dismissively. “You breathe really loud. Anyway, you coming? It’s tonight. Liam can get us cheap list of that girl from Feeld she was fucking.”

#mctwinks #drag queen lando norris

[eddiesghxst]

Eddie and reader who are enemies and cant stand each other she hates his flirty attitude and dopiness and eddie hates her short fuse and the fact he thinks shes the prettiest girl he’s ever seen

And one night him, harrington wheeler and buckly are drunk and walking the streets of hawkins and it comes to their attention that the new burlesque club has opened up and they think why not find some entertainment i mean who doesnt like pretty girls dancing to good music

Reader whos finally found a way to maybe just maybe make her way out of hawkins and showcase her talent on stage to whoever might be watching

The lights drop and she walks out onto stage a mic in hand and starts singing ‘tough lover’ and eddie swears hes never felt so light headed, maybe its the fact his drunk maybe its the fact there are so many pretty girls around and he doesnt know what to do with himself

Untill the lights pick back up and eddies heart drops when he notices that the pretty girl thats got him feeling so high is the same pretty girl that hates his guts…. And shes half naked

Readers loving the attention until she shes a few friends of hers and that stupid munson and his pretty fucking eyes sitting right at the table in-front of the stage she swore was empty before she walked on stage

But the show must go on and eddie swears hes never been so hard

🎸annon

Got bored and brain full of ideas hope you don’t mind lovely 🫶🏻

Also The way i dream to work in a burlesque lounge but have no coordination what so ever but a girl can dream

OHHHHHSHDVEJSBDKWTDBF

LITERALLY ME RN, IM EATING THIS UP

MARK MY WORDS I AM WRITING THIS. I LOVED THE MOVIE BURLESQUE THIS IS LITERALLY THE MOMENT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR OMFG UR A GENIUS STINK

and what if at the next gig corroded coffin has at the hideout, the gang drags you along (because they don’t know about the little feud you and eddie have going on) and eddie ends the show with a cover of the song reader danced/sang to and and and🫠

#🎸 anon #AGAIN #UR MIND #SMOOCHES FOR U #rachie’s moots 🫧 #ask #wips

[dejwrites]

♡ ˙ ˖ ✧ — the story of las vegas's biggest bootlegger & his favorite burlesque dancer.

♡ �� ˖ ✧ — she/her pronouns, i guess sugar daddy nanami but like reader and him around the same age sooooo, reader is black, nanami lowkey a simp in this tbh, set in the 20's, racism mentioned, slight voyeurism, creampie, usage of alcohol, usage of drugs (cigarettes), slight history inaccuracy, slight timeskip where reader + nanami are in their 30's, but in flashback they're in their 20's, yes i know i'd rather go blind didn't get released until the 60's but i kept listening to it during one scene i wrote in this lol, flashback is in italics, the story told in third pov, wc: 5.3k minors dni pls !!

♡ ˙ ˖ ✧ — @earlesskitten '555 collab event', congrats once again on your milestone.

THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD [Y/N] [L/N] HAD SIPPED AT HER TEA STARING at the two young journalists Nobara Kugisaki and Yuji Itadori. Their curious eyes watched as she sipped at the hot liquid with ease before clearing her throat and leaning back into the seat of the cafe located in Malaysia.

"So where should we start? You two are doing research on bootleggers and came to me? I'm no bootlegger, nor was I ever one." The woman answered as she looked at them.

Nobara's eyebrows raised in curiosity as she twirled her fountain pen around her fingers with ease. The redhead was known to challenge every person she interviewed and she wasn't leaving here until she got the information she needed. Although, her coworker Yuji liked to take the stern way of interviewing and capturing the story. Nobara just loved the high of making people sweat and squirm in their seats when she interviewed them.

"Oh come on, it's no secret on who you are Ms. [L/N]." Nobara says. "You're literally the only person we could track down that's not in jail, dead, or disappeared that knows the infamous Nanami Kento." Nobara said as she looked at the older woman. "So, how about you start when the two of you met?"

"Jeez, you don't have to be so hard on her," Yuji sighed as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"It's okay. You guys came a long way to get information about him for this research and I'm going to give it to you." [Y/N] answered.

The Roaring 20's was a time period filled with nothing but adrenaline, especially in Las Vegas. The women's dresses were getting shorter, teasing men with the sway of their hips with each step. The party scenes were even chaotic if you knew the right person. The illegal selling of alcohol right under police officers' noses by many bootleggers in Sin City. Twenty-four-year-old [Y/N] was just looking for an escape, she city hop every year due to her not knowing what was purpose in life. She couldn't bear to marry some man her mother set her up with at their church simply because she wanted to live her life a little more before settling down.

Of course, her parents didn't agree with that. They hated it. Cursing her that if she leaves, she's never to speak to them again. She would send postcards from every city she visited but never heard back from them. Settling down in Las Vegas, the woman was in need of a job. She tried waitresses, many restaurants were hesitant on hiring her due to the color of her skin. Others gave her the option to just work in the kitchen to avoid the weird stares. It was that one night when she met the charming duo of Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru, owners of one of the biggest burlesque clubs in the city. [Y/N] entered the club with her head held up with so much confidence, asking if they were hiring.

She still remembered the sly grin Gojo had on his face when his crystal blue eyes landed on her. Geto who was sipping at the brown liquid in his glass was sitting at one of the tables, his toned thighs spread apart as he eyed her like a predator looking at its prey. The guys shared a look before Gojo's long digits are twirling around motioning for the young woman to twirl. She did what she was told, twirling slowly showing off her figure that her momma surely gave her.

They both looked impressed.

"Can you sing?" Gojo questioned.

"I mean, I used to sing for my church's choir." [Y/N] replied.

Geto chuckled. "A church girl coming to our club wanting a job, interesting." He says. "Can you dance?"

"I mean, I guess. I'm a fast learner." She answered truthfully.

The two men shared a glance once again. "Great. You're hired, our lead burlesque girl got knocked up and ran away with her fuckin' boyfriend," Gojo's arms instantly go around [Y/N]'s shoulders as he led her away from Geto.

"How much are you guys paying?" [Y/N] questioned.

"Oui, a girl that's after her money. I like you already." Gojo answered. "We pay our angels perfect pay. Free food, drinks, get to keep any tips they make to themselves." Gojo explained as he led [Y/N] backstage. "We're the most popular speakeasy in Las Vegas."

"But, what about the cops? I'm sure they're always snooping around wondering if you guys are selling alcohol." [Y/N] responded.

"There are some cops that don't know when to mind their damn business, but there are others who love our angels a lil too much that it gave us plenty of evidence to blackmail them." Gojo bluntly admitted.

"Wait, we came here to hear about Kento, not how you met two of the greatest duos as club owners," Nobara interjected.

"Maybe, she was getting to that part before you interrupted her," Yuji added as he gave her a sarcastic look.

"I mean, did you two not hear me. I worked in a speakeasy burlesque type of established. You really think those two were handing out coffee, teas, and orange juice to men and women that were there to see pretty women dance and stuff?" [Y/N] questioned.

"I met Nanami Kento there. It was a bit cliche, but after that, he just kept appearing in my life." [Y/N] answered truthfully.

Twenty-four-year-old Nanami Kento's bottom of his shoes stopped out the cigarette he was previously smoking as he watched some of his men transport crates of liquor in Geto and Gojo's club. He walked into the back of the club, navigating his way to where the main stage was at. He knew the club from the back of his hand. After all, he's been doing business with the two since the lousy prohibition law was set up in the first place. When he saw the duo looking over paperwork as some of their dancers were practicing, Nanami's eyes landed on one particular woman. She stood out from them all when he saw her. His eyes lit up similar to how they lit up when business owners handed him the suitcase filled with cash after doing business.

"Kento, we may be ordered another batch from you sooner than you think," Geto said as he was flipping through the folder.

"What? You guys just increased how much I sell to you two months ago. Business is doing that good for you two? Even with the increase of cops snooping around?" Nanami asked as he looked at him.

"It's because of our new employee [Y/N]." Geto motioned to the woman Nanami was previously staring at before he approached the duo.

"When she told us she could sing, we didn't think she can sing sing." Gojo answered. "We never particularly had a black lead burlesque dancer before due to the racist cunts in the city, but they love her," Gojo added. "You should stay for the show tonight and hear her sing."

"Yeah, give you and your men a break for once and let our angels take care of you guys," Geto's arm clasped around Nanami's shoulder. "Think she sings this song and by the time the song is over she's holding this huge feather covering her bare body. She gives her underwear to some random drunken customer and the crowds lose it."

"Ah, last week, she gave it to some actor and he gave her a huge tip," Gojo answered.

Nanami listened to them gloat about their newer employee. Even mentioning that they had to ban some men due to their inappropriate behavior towards her. Geto even mentioned punching someone for her.

"Fine, I'll let my men know that we're staying here for an hour or two. I want the table front and center near the stage." Nanami told them as he went to go tell his men.

And Nanami Kento was front and center during the show. His eyes couldn't leave [Y/N] as she danced across the stage. Each step she took in her sparkly attire that only left just a tad bit of imagination what was underneath was filled with sex appeal. Her voice was like a beautiful hummingbird on a Saturday morning in Paris. Nanami now understood why the people showed up every night to watch her. She was breathtaking and her singing was angelic.

He could tell that she knew he was eyeing her each step she took and each sinful word escape her mouth. As she was singing the last words of the song, she gracefully waltz around the room holding up what seems to be the only thing that left mean wondering what was underneath.

By the time the end of the song, Nanami was grasping at the red lace fabric as he watched the cameras drop. His cheeks were stained with a crimson color as they radiated with so much heat. In the back of the club, Geto and Gojo were laughing up a storm watching their friend get flustered considering it was them who told [Y/N] to give her underwear to him.

When the club finally closed and Nanami was standing outside the entrance waiting for his driver to bring the car around, a cigarette in between in his lips as his eyes stared up at the moon that shined down his tall stature. He could feel the presence of someone standing next to him and when he saw [Y/N], he quickly looked ahead letting out a nervous cough.

"Did you enjoy the show?" She would ask as she looked over at him.

Nanami's blowing the intoxicating smoke in the air before looking at her and nodding. "Yes, you're an amazing entertainer." He complimented.

"Thank you," [Y/N] responded as she glanced around. The young woman was waiting for her co-worker to leave since a group of them usually left around the same time (if they haven't been snagged up by a charming person tonight).

When Nanami saw his driver pull up in front of the club. He placed the cigarette he was smoking out, tossing it carelessly before his hands are digging into his slacks pockets. He's tugging out her underwear to give back to her but she only chuckles pushing his hand away. "Keep em', as a souvenir from your favorite angel." Her lips curled into a smirk once she saw his face flush of its color.

"You used to give strangers your underwear?" Nobara questioned.

"I mean yeah, you'll be shocked to know what kinks men like. This one man who used to come to my shows would give me so much money just to get my underwear," [Y/N] joked. "I would always say he probably sniffs them when he left the club."

Yuji adjusted himself in his seat uncomfortably. His cheeks turned a red color from the sexual topic he was hearing. "Okay, but did you see him again?" He asked.

"Of course, I did. A lot of times actually. He showed up to countless of my shows when he was doing alcohol drops." [Y/N] answered.

"You must have been his favorite," Nobara pointed out as she looked at [Y/N].

[Y/N] carelessly shrugged her shoulders, "I mean obviously. He always stayed later than usual to talk to me, make sure I got home safely, and the list goes on." She explained. "And I can't forget the flowers that would always be near my vanity backstage when I came to work."

Nobara watched as a smile curled into the woman's face. She adjusted herself in her seat before speaking once again, "So, you would say he fell in love with you?" Nobara asked.

"Of course, he was the first to say that phrase in the first place." [Y/N] admitted as she sipped at her coffee.

Nobara's eyebrow raised in curiosity. The young journalist was eager to know more about that. How could one man say he was ever so in love and leave his love behind when he disappear?

[Y/N] remembered driving by this particular restaurant and dreaming of eating there. When she stepped into the restaurant looking beautiful as ever and wanting to treat herself, she should have known she was going to meet with hardships. Her head held high as she requested a table. She was met with 'we're booked for the evening' even though she was staring at a clear table right in the back. Her parents raised her to never pester to want to be in spaces that don't want her. She brushed the feeling off until she had a usual date night with Nanami.

Her eyes glistened with curiosity when she was standing in front of the restaurant. While she awkwardly shifted her weight from one foot to another, she glanced at Nanami, "Can we go someplace else? I don't really think I'm wanted here," She huffed.

She could feel the tip of Nanami's finger brush against her lower back as he brought her closer. The two of them have been seeing each other for quite some while, settling in for dates inside his fancy office or at her job, but never out like this. Which [Y/N] appreciated due to the fact that she was able to see Nanami period. With your schedule becoming quite hectic due to the popularity of the club and then on top of Nananmi doing a lot of traveling for alcohol shipments. He wanted tonight to be special.

"Your co-worker mentioned you wanting to go here and was turned away," Nanami said as he glanced over at [Y/N] just to meet with her questionable gaze. "So, I brought the place."

"What? You're lyin'. Please tell me you're lyin'. I told you about this Kento," [Y/N] felt her cheeks grow hot as her hands went up to feel at her cheeks. "Just because I make a comment about wanting something, you shouldn't just go and buy it. It'll make the cops even more suspicious of you."

Nanami grabbed a hold of the woman in front by the waist, tugging her closer to him. "It's no big deal. It'll actually cover my tracks because it's actually in your name. You're the owner."

[Y/N] eyes enlarged at his comment. "I don't know a damn thing about running a restaurant," She said.

"I know, that's why I already hired a whole different staff to handle it for you or help you. Just in case you want to walk away from the burlesque business." Nanami leans down to place a peck on the woman's gasped lips. "Now let's go, we have a very special table." He says as he grabbed a hold of her hand to pull her into the restaurant.

When the couple entered the restaurant, [Y/N] was astonished at how differently it look. It looked much brighter, like something you would see outside a fairytale book. Her eyes glanced at the glass chandelier that hung from the ceiling right in the middle of the restaurant and soon to the live band that was playing music. The restaurant was filled and everyone was having a good time. She was completely speechless as she clutched Nanami's arm. He did all of this for her and she could feel herself get emotional while he was tugging her towards the stairs of the second level of the restaurant. She remembered that before this portion of the restaurant was exclusive for important people like politicians and congressmen. However, when she looked around it was completely empty. With only one table in the center of the floor that was set up so romantically.

Nanami scrambled to tug [Y/N]'s seat out before she sat down and he quickly occupied the seat right across from the burlesque performer. The soothing sound of the band still could be heard clearly on the second floor of the glamorous restaurant. The staff was urgent, which [Y/N] assumed the sudden urgency was because Nanami wanted alone time with her. [Y/N] knew that at any given moment one of his men could usher in with a quickness stating that it's been a problem that needs to be handled.

The small talk about each other day was subtle, but [Y/N] could tell Nanami was paying attention to her. It was something he was good at. He paid attention to small details as if it was the most important thing ever. "You still didn't have to go out and do this. I'm being dead serious. The gesture was more than nice—"

Her words were interrupted by Nanami. His hand extended across the table to touch hers before he's speaking, "I told you it's okay. It's just an investment for our future, mainly yours though."

A low chuckle came out [Y/N]'s mouth before she's speaking, "You're really serious about this?" Her free hand that wasn't currently being fondled by Nanami motioned between the two of them.

"Please be realistic, this could get us both killed." [Y/N] answered as she looked at him.

Perhaps she was overthinking. Her heartbeat increased when those words left her mouth. Especially given that she hasn't mentioned this before. Maybe she was deflecting. Afraid that this fairytale wouldn't end the way she wanted to, so she had to end it herself. Even though those words left her mouth, Nanami's gaze didn't change. He still looked at her with that lovesick look before tugging her out of her seat to sit on his lap.

The young woman was forced to endure getting a whiff of the scent that she adored so much. Her skin felt like it became hotter as she waited for him to respond. "Please say something." [Y/N] said as her hand went to fix his tie.

"You're pushing me away," Nanami said firmly. She could the flat of his thumb on her thigh. "Why?"

"I'm just being realistic Kento," [Y/N] responded. "I don't want you to get hurt. This country is cruel."

"Everywhere is cruel darling, some just better at covering it," Nanami answered truthfully. "Stop trying to push me away, [Y/N]. I take the risk with what I do for a living and you think I'm worried about what bigot people in this country think?"

[Y/N] was silent as she realized he made a good point. "I'm just overthinking. I'm sorry, I'm just worried. With how the government is cracking down on these laws, just feel like you stick out the most as a criminal due to who you're dating." [Y/N] explained. "You kinda stick out."

Nanami chuckled at her statement. "And I'm okay with that. A lot of these cops aren't very smart and can be bribed. But tonight, we're not going to be worried about that right?"

Now it was [Y/N] turn to chuckle at her boyfriend's statement. "You're one interesting man Kento." She stated as she looked at him.

Nanami smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. The woman didn't do anything as she melted in his touch to feel her some more. Her hand grasped at the back of his neck to deepen the passionate kiss as he adjusted her in his lap. Now both of her legs were by his side in the chair he sat in. "Someone is going to see us." [Y/N] mumbled through the brief moment they split apart.

"Let them." He only said before his lips were back on hers, tasting her delicately as if it was the last time his lips were going to be upon hers.

He stands up with eagerness to place [Y/N] on the table, the sound of expensive chinaware crashing to the floor was ignored as the couple continued to make up. Indulging in the idea that it was just them in the restaurant instead of just the second level private floor. The taste of harsh liquor lingered off Nanami's tongue while [Y/N] was gracefully begging for more.

The two of them were so caught up in each other that before you knew it Nanami's pants were hanging loosely around his waist with [Y/N]'s panties dangling from her ankle. Her cunt throbbed with anticipation at the thought of someone catching them in the act. Even though they were pretty high up from others, any person curious to just look up could see them. The sound of the band helped with the moans that would ring in Nanami's ears with each jarring thrust.

When the bootlegger felt the way [Y/N] clutched around him, he was in love. Well, he was that way before this moment. But he wasn't sure why tonight made it so different. They've spent months together, and they've had sex countless times, but tonight just was different for Nanami.

His hand grasped at [Y/N]'s thighs not wanting to move until she was comfortable for him to do so. The flat of his thumb rubbed small circles until he heard gasp out his name like a sweet melody. Similar to when she performed in Gojo's and Geto's clubs. Like a madman losing his insanity, Nanami's continued to trash forward. For split moments the two shared breathless kisses while tugging each other closer at the moment. The table [Y/N] was placed upon as Nanami was in between her legs shook violently, but Nanami was sure to make sure his girl didn't fall. However, the silverware that was on the table was broken beyond repair.

"Fuck, you feel so good." He moaned out as propelled forward some more. The lewd wetness sound between [Y/N]'s thighs had Nanami seeing stars at this point. Completely pussy drunk past his limits as he looked at [Y/N]'s fucked out expression.

Her pretty mouth gasped open hiccuping moans of desperation and Nanami's name. Her lipstick smudged off her lips and Nanami was sure was practically all over his lips. Her eyes glistened with so much passion as she looked at him.

He was in love.

The couple was so close, grasping each other body parts as they both were pulling each other towards cloud nine. Muffled moans from sharing short kisses to not overpower the band's sound to interrupt the guests on the lower floor. The sensational pit at the bottom of [Y/N]'s abdomen finally explodes in time for Nanami to fill her up to the brim. The intense feeling of his thrusting towards her grows sloppy just like the mess in between her legs. His cock was coated with her sweet essence and his cum as he finally pulled out of her.

Nanami's blonde hair that once was combed back to perfection was disheveled on top of his head as his body seemed to slouch upon the table. His forehead falls gracefully upon [Y/N]'s shoulder. The both of them basked in the passionate moment as they were trying to catch their breath and composure. Nanami placed soft kisses on her shoulder before the next words that left his mouth shook [Y/N].

"I love you [Y/N]."

[Y/N had so many thoughts in her head as she found herself toying with the ends of Nanami's shirt as she still was sitting on the table. Her eyes met with Nanami's, "I love you too."

Nanami's cracked a grin on his face before he's leaning down to kiss [Y/N] once again until the both of you could hear some footsteps. However, despite Nanami's eagerness to continue the kiss, he ignored the incoming footsteps behind him.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! The staff stated that you guys were wrapping up!" Yu Haibara stated as his words just kept rambling on. He made his way up to the second level with urgent news for Nanami, but he felt bad interrupting such a romantic moment between the couple.

He instantly turned around away from the couple that was quickly tugging to fix their clothes. [Y/N] felt the burning wave of embarrassment wash over her body as she could feel Nanami zipping up the back of her dress. "I'm so sorry, the server said it was okay to come up." Yu apologized with his back still turned. "I can come back, but what I have to tell you is extremely urgent." He rambled on.

Nanami would glance over at [Y/N], who knew what was going to come out his mouth next. It wasn't anything new to her, but she didn't want the night to end. Especially after the obvious heated exchange the two just shared. "It's okay, this gives me time to meet my staff, huh?" You asked him.

"I promise to make it up to you," Nanami responded as he brought her knuckles up to his mouth.

[Y/N] felt the softness of his lips on her knuckles, "What more could you give?" She asked. Her head innocently tilted to the side waiting for a response.

"The world," Nanami answered bluntly before he placed a kiss upon [Y/N]'s temple, flashing a smile down at her, and disappearing with his friend.

"Awww, that's so uh—sweet," Yuji answered as he doodled in his notepad. His cheeks glowed a crimson color hearing the faint memory that [Y/N] told them about her and Nanami having sex.

Nobara rolled her eyes at her coworker's comment, "I'm guessing that this is where the story goes to shit."

[Y/N] let out a laugh, "Wouldn't say go to shit. More like the police got much stricter on prohibition laws. He was one the most known targets selling illegal goods all around America and the fact that he had an informant in his group didn't help either." [Y/N] explained.

She watched the two young journalists' mouths gap open in shock. Assuming that they didn't know this information from their previous research. "You two didn't know that?"

"No. We did as much research as possible and didn't know that he had a rat in the inside," Yuji was jolting down his notes.

"He told you this?" Nobara asked as she let the end of her pen brush against her lip as she was thinking.

"One of the last things he told me other than I would always love you," [Y/N] says.

[Y/N] remembered vividly her coworker told her Nanami wanted to speak with her in the back of the club. With quickness, the burlesque dancer was tugging on her robe to cover her attire to speak with him. She assumed he would have already taken his seat in the audience, that's when [Y/N] knew something was wrong. The show was about to start in fifteen minutes also. When she stepped outside and saw Nanami leaning against the brick wall. He didn't look like himself.

He looked stressed.

His hair that would be nicely combed back was out of place. He had a cigarette in between his lips and he was even missing his tie. Even he would get on some of his men in his crew for not having a tie on. "What's wrong?" You asked as she looked at him.

"I have to leave Vegas, [Y/N]. Like as soon as possible." Nanami admitted. He dropped the cigarette on the ground letting it burn out under his dress shoes.

"What? I'm not understanding. Where are you going? Let me go with you. I have been thinking about quitting here to—" [Y/N]'s words were interrupted by Nanami.

"No, it's too much of a risk for you to go and I don't need you getting hurt." He grabbed her hand letting the pad of his thumb rub comforting circles on her hand. "It's an informant in my crew. I think he's been there for a while and it wouldn't be safe for you to come with me." He explained.

For some reason, [Y/N] felt like she should have been the one comforting him. His whole empire was crumbling down because of a rat. [Y/N] stepped closer and just let her body fall into Nanami's, her arm wrapping around him to hug him. She could only take in his savory scent because she knew that this could be the last time it lingered up her nose.

"Hey! [Y/N]! Geto and Gojo want to start the show early since the crowd is getting a bit rowdy!" [Y/N] heard her co-worker yell out the crack backdoor of the club.

It was Nanami who was forcing her off his body. His hand soon cups Y/N's face innocently before he's placing a loving kiss on her lips. When the two of them pulled away, she felt him drop something in the palm of her hand. "Returning the keys to your place because I left something there for you."

[Y/N] stepped back as she watched him walk away before he's turning around once again. "I will always love you, remember that." He let go of her hand before eventually disappearing in the darkness of the night.

"Okay, so what was it that he left for you?" Yuji asked as he looked at [Y/N].

"Money, some stuff I left at his place. But mainly money." [Y/N] answered. "How else would I be able to be here other than my dancer savings?"

Nobara closed her notebook, she let out a sigh of frustration as she watched the older woman tug on her pastel pink colored pea coat. She had placed the ringgit bill on the table. "I just don't believe that after that night you didn't see him again. No one saw him again. It was as if he disappeared in the night." She challenged.

"Maybe he realized that the illegal selling life wasn't for him anymore, plus he was technically on the run also due to informant situation. Las Vegas district attorney wanted his head." Yuji pointed out as he had looked at the two women.

"But it just doesn't make sense to leave behind the woman you supposedly love." Nobara chewed at her lipstick-covered lips before throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "Thank you for your time, Ms. [L/N]."

[Y/N] could only give them a smile before wishing them well for the research they were conducting. When she exited the small cafe, she would make her way to her private driver. The driver glanced in the mirror giving her a kind smile, "Should I take you home Miss?" He asked and he watched as she nods.

The woman felt so hot practically lying to the two journalists. However, she had to do what she had to do to protect herself and her newest family. The ride to her home wasn't that long, considering that she did major research on the area before deciding to move there. Her driver would ask questions about how the interview went and she could only tell him that she answered their questions the best she could. After all, they traveled so far to get information on him. When she felt the car stop in front of her home, she would step out with such elegance. Her heels clicked the pavement with each step she took towards the front door. Unlocking the door, she stepped into the house undoing her jacket and glancing around her surroundings in the nicely decorated home.

"Hun?" She calls out loudly.

The sound of footsteps could be heard and she wasn't sure if that was her broadening husband or her five-year-old son. But seeing both of them walking into her eye view caused her face to light up.

Former bootlegger that was on America's Most Wanted Nanami Kento had fled town as soon as he heard the news that it was a rat within his own operation. Accumulating enough wealth for himself to move to the paradise that he's been dreaming about since he was younger. He just was missing his one true love in this paradise.

His once blonde-colored hair that he gelled back to perfection years ago was now dyed a dark brown color. He was aging gracefully now that the weight of an alcohol business was no longer on his shoulders. He had everything he wanted. A beautiful wife and a child.

"Did they really believe the leaving you all alone with all my money story?" Nanami questioned as his muscular arms snaked around [Y/N]'s waist tugging her closer.

A smirk appeared on the woman's face, "Well, one of them was very challenging. But, I think she brought it."

"Good because I don't want anything breaking up what we have here."

TAGS — @indiecursor @maydayaisha @gojosmari @fiona782 @thicksimpx @luffysthickwaifu @gabzlovesu @misss-chrisss @fairiechuu @yuujilove @itzgabz22 @etherealluvrr @caribbeanwifey19 @sindinminpin @bbgiirlll @gardenof-venus @littlemochi @queenmjp @po3ticb3auty @sunkissedebony97 @gaiasmight @rinhoes @caramelanins @maideneyes @thenerdyrebel @reiners-milkbiddies @woahhajime @sleepy3 @festive @rowsn @little-aruma @imperatorkhaleesi

#— [555 collab] #nanami kento x reader #jjk x reader #jjk x black reader #nanami kento x black reader #anime x reader #anime smut #anime x black reader #black reader #x black reader #fem reader #nanami x reader #kento x reader

[driftingmoonmenace]

Club AU Lore

(cw suggestive themes, kidnapping, and violence)

It takes place in a slightly dystopian futuristic city where robots have literally just gained more rights and freedom to live independently. Though because it's in its infancy stages, it's not a very widespread mentality yet.

Sun and Moon were made to be daycare attendants (the pizzaplex does not exist in this au btw) and were happy working there with the kids. Unfortunately they became targets to a gang leader (a human) who had them kidnapped to work for him at his club. Since the laws are new, there wasn't much of a fuss between the daycare owners and law enforcement, so there's not much hope of anyone really out looking for them. It's more of a 'eh they're robots, it's not like their people or anything' kind of situation. Which is why the gang mostly preys on robots in general, because it's essentially free workers they can just yoink off the street.

The club is run entirely by the gang and is catered to the underground lifestyle, so its patrons are criminals and the like. Hard to get into and hard to find, but to the gang and patrons it's a little spicy slice of heaven. It's a mixture of a nightclub and a 'gentleman's lounge' so it's adult oriented. Patrons can enjoy teasing burlesque-themed shows on the main stage or they can buy out the entertainers for a more private show, if they prefer. There's also entertainers that are just more than 'happy' to lounge with you in the booths to keep you company.

Sun was forced into the role of an entertainer, he'll flirt and schmooze with patrons, getting them drinks, and put on main (or private if you pony up the money for his high prices) shows. Moon was forced into a bartender role, and a backup bouncer if things get too rowdy. He's also not off the table for private shows (expect to pay more), and special ribbon dancer shows, that he loathes. Both animatronics are a package deal so if one is defiant, the other gets just as much punishment. Push too far and they'll both end up as scrap, so Moon keeps in line, though barely.

Both wear collars, although Moon keeps his covered up under his bandana, that serve as trackers and shock devices. Both have been through hell and back during their time at the club. All hope has been pretty lost between them since they've been there for a few years now.

Until Y/N comes in!

New to the city, Y/N ends up getting a little too turned around and winds up lost. They happen to find themselves in a back alleyway that ends with one single door that's unlocked. Couldn't hurt to open it and ask for help right? Until they wind up with a concerned Sun-themed animatronic trying to shove them back out the door cause they don't belong there and earn a new nickname, "Little Bird".

Y/N can't help but feel bad about Sun (and eventually Moon's) circumstances, so they keep coming back even when they're threatened cause Y/N just has help 'em out, working all the shifts they can get to pay all the ridiculous fees and scheme up a plan. So maybe hope isn't all lost for Sun and Moon just yet!

#menace speaks #club au #club au lore

[handeaux]

Overwhelmed By Advertising? The Battle For Cincinnati Consumers Has Raged For More Than A Century

Depending on the source, it is estimated that each American is confronted by 6,000 to 10,000 advertising messages every single day. That immersive media onslaught swelled as we started carrying little video screens around wherever we go, but invasive and obnoxious marketing has bothered Cincinnatians for much more than a century.

For example, on 20 July 1871, a correspondent for the Cincinnati Times related an enjoyable voyage he had undertaken down the Ohio River. After praising the service of his riverboat’s staff, the remarkable scenery along the river, the picturesque little town he floated by, the writer registered one complaint, about a cliff near the town of Hanging Rock:

“High up on the face of this wall of white sandstone, hundreds of feet beyond the reach of a scaling ladder, I noticed a patent medicine advertisement. It was penciled there by a man let down with ropes from above, and the letters are large enough to be read from the deck of a steamer two miles distant. I was sorry to see this defacement. It is bad enough that all the fences throughout the land should be made to lie for patent medicines without debasing the hill-sides with such marking. I suppose that when the ‘chemical affinity necessary to be the motor of some immense flying machine’ shall be discovered, some enterprising patent medicine man will be plastering the face of the moon with some of his ‘wonderful remedies.’”

If only the poor man knew what lay ahead! Even in the 1870s, almost every vertical surface in Cincinnati was slathered with posters, placards and bills advertising shows at the local theaters, patent medicines and political candidates. Cincinnati was the center of the bill-posting world. For one thing, Cincinnati was among the top printing cities of the United States, with the mighty Strobridge Lithographing Company dominating the poster industry.

Also, Billboard magazine was headquartered here in Cincinnati. What we now think of as a music magazine, Billboard was founded in Cincinnati as a trade publication for men who posted “bills” on walls. From its first issue in 1894, Billboard covered the entertainment industry, such as circuses, fairs and burlesque shows, and also created a mail service for travelling entertainers. Initially it covered the advertising and bill-posting trade and was known as Billboard Advertising.

Far from inspiring civic pride, advertising rankled Cincinnati residents as they witnessed visual pollution encrusting the region’s hillsides. Leading the opposition was the Municipal Art Society – a sort of ad-hoc predecessor to today’s Urban Design Review Board. The opening shot was fired 24 August 1896 when the Enquirer reported:

“A matter that will undoubtedly be of interest to the business men is the fact that war has been declared by the Cincinnati Municipal Art Society against advertising signs on fences along the car routes and drives of the city. The art society maintains that these signs mar the beauty of the city, especially in the case of landscape scenes on the hills and in the suburbs, and that they are offensive to the public taste.”

The Society was persistent. It took five years but the Cincinnati Post reported [24 November 1901] that the Baldwin Piano Company had demolished 200 feet of billboards erected on company property along Gilbert Avenue. The Post described this as the “first result” of the Society’s campaign.

The Municipal Art Society was soon joined by some strange bedfellows. The Cincinnati Business Men’s Club, among whose members were certainly a number of advertisers who employed billboards to disseminate their messages, created its own Municipal Art Committee to lobby for restrictions on outdoor advertising. On 1 June 1907, the committee circulated a postcard illustrated with a photo of signage clogging the view from the Grand Central Depot, with the sarcastic caption, “A Nice Welcome To Cincinnati.”

As early as 1895, the city chased the Fountain saloon’s advertising off Fountain Square, but appears not to have drafted a comprehensive law about outdoor advertising until 1909 when, as part of a broader safety ordinance, the city adopted limitations on the size of billboards, their placement near thoroughfares and the materials to be used in their construction.

While the city pondered how to encourage commerce while maintaining attractive views, the entire billboard industry was gaining momentum through a Cincinnati entrepreneur named Philip Morton. Before Morton, “bill boards” were basically fences on which bill posters slapped printed advertisements glued up with a flour-water paste. Morton took outdoor advertising to a new level, according to Jay Gilbert, who has researched his influence on marketing [Cincinnati Magazine September 2016]:

“By 1898 he’d become the Steve Jobs of roadside blight. Doing business as Ph. Morton, Phil was an early pioneer of putting ads into free-standing frames called ‘bill-boards’ and plunking them down everywhere. Eventually every railroad route and motorway in America had its view ruined by a Ph. Morton billboard.”

Even the powerhouse Morton found himself in the city’s crosshairs. Parks Superintendent John W. Rodgers, according to the Enquirer [20 September 1907], exasperated by Morton’s billboards blocking the view of Inwood Park, erupted.

“Park Superintendent Rodgers yesterday tore down over 12,000 feet of big billboards that stretched along for a distance south of Hollister street, facing Vine street, in front of Inwood Park. The billboards were 12 feet high, about 1,000 feet long and contained the advertisements of leading firms of the city, and were illuminated at night with electric lights. They had been at that place for years.”

All of those billboards were leased by Philip Morton who, as coincidence would have it, dropped off a check to pay the lease while workmen were busily engaged demolishing his thousand feet of signage. This was the Boss Cox era in Cincinnati where the right hand was very often ignorant of the left hand’s activity. And so it was, while the Park Superintendent was demolishing billboards on Vine Street, the Board of Public Service pondered a lease for billboards along Gilbert Avenue. That’s right – the same Gilbert Avenue divested of billboards just six years earlier.

A common theme of cartoon artists at that time was the eventual coverage of all available exterior surfaces with advertising signs and slogans. In response, Cincinnati Post cartoonist Elmer Andrews Bushnell sketched City Hall wrapped from sidewalk to parapet in advertising while George Barnsdale Cox and his minion, August “Garry” Herrmann, happily apply more posters and Mayor Julius Fleischmann hides behind a billboard.

The battle raged for decades. Photographs from 1927 show dozens of billboards crowding the hillside over the Brighton overpass to Central Parkway and the Enquirer [24 March 1929] begged for relief because billboards and other unsightly structures had a negative effect on property values:

“What of the gaudy billboard that intrudes itself into a residential district, the sign which girds the tree or telephone pole, the roadside ‘shack’ which is made more ugly with bizarre advertisements? Do they affect values?”

A century later, we hardly notice billboards anymore. We’re too busy texting while we drive.

#cincinnati advertising #cincinnati billboards #billboard magazine #philip morton #boss cox

[clementineskesh]

its crazy how my personal life has been so good in 2024...regularly playing ttrpgs, seeing and connecting with friends, book club, burlesque show, movie nights, film festival, weekend trip, taking a course for the career I want....like idk I'm having SO much fun

#90% of this is just reconnecting with my dear undergrad buddies

[emmatiedemann]

Gypsy(1962) Panel Presentation

How is the film related to the social context of the country during the film’s production?  

This film was released January first of 1962 at the start of the second wave feminist movement. Some of the second wave feminist movement’s concerns were unequal pay, employment discrimination, and issues of rape and domestic violence. It also urged a more general break from suburban life and rejection of the idea that women belong solely in the home. These ideas are evident in the film which places women at the heart of its story. More specifically, an extremely determined, complicated, authoritative, decisive, and passionate, unmarried woman. Her two daughters also display a sense of autonomy and conviction, aware of the role they play in providing their family with income by working at a very young age.

1962 was also in the midst of the civil rights movement, counterculture movement, and the Vietnam war. The film casts almost no people of color except for minor, tokenized roles. The musical itself is set in the early 1920s and documents the popularity and eventual death of vaudeville by the great depression. This musical’s depiction of the depression seems to call for national solidarity while its 1960s audience is spearheading the tumultuous and divisive counterculture movement.

In what ways are the performance spaces separated from the narrative spaces in the film?

Performance spaces are separated from narrative spaces with set design. Performance spaces are designated to a stage and take on the “performance within a performance” format where an implied audience is present and sets are colorful and extravagant. Narrative spaces are often more realistic looking in the film. Dreary, worn, and polluted. These narrative spaces are highly contrasted by the vibrant and showy sets, stages and costumes. These differences play a key role in the film's plot and tone. They show that the life Mama Rose creates for herself, her children, and Herbie is exhausting and difficult. Everything seems to be used up to fuel Rose's fantasy of fame and performance.

Narrative Space

Performance Space (00:38)

How is spectacle integrated into the film’s narrative? 

Spectacle is the film’s narrative. The plot depicts a pursuit of spectacle, through spectacle. Whoever dictates performance–who gets to perform, when and how– has the power. Louise and June are forced into performance by their mother and she determines who becomes a spectacle and how–forcing June to act young, forcing Louise to dress like a boy. Big producers and higher-ups in the industry however hold power over Mama Rose. This is seen in the musical number “Mr Goldstone” for example. At the end of the film, when Louise becomes Gypsy Rose Lee, she makes her own costumes and decides her own numbers. This transfer in “control over spectacle” is made evident by Rose’s frightened, angry, and heartbroken reaction to her daughter’s control and autonomy.

What is the role of dance and movement in relation to the film’s narrative and spectacle?

Repeated choreography helps to emphasize the overworked, overplayed nature of Mama Rose’s productions. The same choreography plays over the same musical cues over and over which helps the energetic numbers to read as sad and desperate rather than entertaining and lighthearted. Choreography also shifts to show the passage of time and changes in the character’s aspirations. For example, when Gypsy Rose Lee performs at the end of the film, her choreography references the type of spectacle she used to perform with her sister when they were young. This reference now that Gypsy Rose Lee performs at a burlesque club emphasizes the complicated and initially depressing trajectory of her career.

In what ways does impossibility within the film ensure the audience escapes from reality?

Time jumps and montages help the audience to escape from reality into Gypsy Rose Lee’s success. In the film, her slow rise to fame seems more immediate and satisfying. Similar to the structure of Show Boat, Gypsy shows most of the characters’ lives, from childhood to adulthood. The narrative’s treatment of time allows for impossible jumps that cut right to action and conflict and eventually success. This allows the audience to escape from reality and be “told a story”. Rose’s voiceover narration is another impossible element that contributes to this storybook escape for the audience. 

Bonus Video :)

Questions

Do you notice shifts in color palate in your film or other elements related to spectacle? What do these changes tell the audience about the narrative?

Is dance and choreography gendered within the film? If so, how?

How are power dynamics explored through spectacle? What’s the relationship and hierarchy between performer and audience, on-stage and off stage?

#oxyfilmmusical #@theuncannyprofessoro #panelpresentation #Youtube

[romaine2424]

Weekly Blog July 21, 2023

Well, I didn't mean to take this long to get back to my blog, but priorities. LOL. The priority was my WIP fic. I've yet to find a beta, but what I did find was Grammarly Pro. My daughter has a subscription. She uses it for final papers for school. I'm sorry, but I'm old and didn't know this AI app existed. So I ran each of my 20 chapters (110K) through the app, and wow, did I learn a lot. As I said in previous posts, what I needed help with was SPAG, sentence structure and word usage. My alpha and I cover the plot continuity and canon issues. It's canon divergent after HBP, so sometimes things slip in that happened in HPDH. *oops* I also ran my the @hd-fan-fair fic through it.

The app does have its problems with what it suggests sometimes. But it's easy enough to work around those. As it doesn't understand the content, it continuously dings me for using pronouns, especially He. And no, I don't want every time I use the word order to be Order or cloak to be Cloak. But thank you for showing me that I use the words just, that, and over a ridiculous amount of times. And thank you for fixing all the double spacing between sentences in the chapters I wrote in 2007 with a simple push of a button. And thank you for reminding me that when someone is going to sit that I don't need to specify that they are going to sit down, or rose up from the chair, or walked over to the exit door.

So, that's what I've been doing, along with a bit of reading. I have two recs! One Drarry and the other Narcissa with a side of Drarry. Both fics are new!

What I've been reading:

The first fic comes from @hd-wireless, which is currently posting. About This Place (10K) by Anon. Here's the Summary:

Harry left everything, including Draco. Harry’s returned to everything, including Draco. Things are never quite so simple, though perhaps they could be. Based on ‘You and I’ by Lady Gaga for Wireless 2023.

This fic is dripping with atmosphere. The majority of the story takes place in a small burlesque bar called Ronnie's. Well, the author is much better than me in describing it:

Within the tiny burlesque bar (or, not-quite-burlesque bar, as Ronnie would say) are the queers that are a shade too queer for the regular gay clubs. Trans butches are ogled by confused twinks, a pretty femme in the middle of the room teases salivating straight women who came here just for fun, and a tall drag queen with an auburn wig flowing down to her waist is on the main stage, singing with a sea of androgynous dancers behind her, winking at her pianist as she launches into a song they most definitely did not rehearse beforehand. The pianist looks annoyed, but really, he’s good enough that he can handle anything Ronnie throws at him. His long blond hair is half up in a bun, and despite his winged eyeliner and red lips and high heels, he’s probably the most unassuming person in here. He’s very pretty, but also concentrated in a way that doesn’t invite people in; you would feel intrusive saying hello, or asking for his number. He’s wearing all black: high waisted jeans, a well-fitted turtleneck—his uniform.

The story, as the summary stated, is about Harry returning to London after travelling for a few years. He and Draco had been in a relationship before he left, and now Harry wants him back. Love this trope. Draco was hurt that Harry left, really hurt. And now, when Harry walks into Ronnie's, he knows he'll succumb to Harry's wants, but there will be resistance. Working through the turmoil of misunderstandings and being scared to take a second chance can sometimes be frustrating to read with this trope. BUT NOT HERE. The author's writing is so beautiful and poignant you become fully immersed. Harry's revelation about his time away, why he went away, and why he's back is just guh! Draco doesn't stand a chance. LOL. Still laughing about the couch!

About This Place by Anon on AO3

The second fic is Night Dragon, Dawn Bird (20K) by Xenjyn (AO3). As the author says in her notes, this is the story that gives Narcissa the agency she deserves. And it is pure poetry. The Summary is just two lines:

"Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?" "Yes."

It begins with the time period right after the war but before the trials. The location is Malfoy Manor, where Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco are living in the midst of the destruction left by Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Narcissa is lying in bed as Lucius sleeps soundly next to her, and she's contemplating all that came before that led the family to this point in time. Draco is traumatized and coming into his own revelations.

Draco is alive and hidden in one of the midnight dark parlors, knees drawn to his chest, sitting in a chair which used to swallow him when he was young. Now he’s too tall for it, his long legs curled to his chest and his hands clutched tight around them, his face hidden in his knees. He’s sleeping, or weeping. Shoulders rising and falling. Or trembling.

...

Perhaps he sleeps less than her, now. The blanket she conjures flutters around his shoulders, weighted, warmed with a charm. It barely touches him but his eyes open, a frightened start, and then her hand is in his hair, thicker than she remembers it, curling at his temples, stroking over his scalp. “It’s only me, my darling. Sleep.” “Mum,” His voice is so small, so rasping, like he were ill, in the deepest clutch of a fever. His hand finds her wrist, squeezing tight. “ Mum . ”

There is a dreaminess to this story. We're immersed in Narcissa's thoughts, and they flit from the past to the present and conjecture of what's to come. And there is a background voice in her thoughts: Bellatrix. She's always there pushing Narcissa with her comments. It's quite creepy but oh-so-delicious.

Bellatrix spins, pulses at her, a star-shine fading in and out, closer and distant, like the voice that used to sneak into her room, like the whisper of a laugh when they were girls, like the hiss of madness outside Severus’s door. Cissy, Cissy, Cissy. She calls, I can ’t sleep, Cissy. I’m bored, Cissy. Play with me, Cissy.

There are four relationships (Narcissa/Lucius, Narcissa & Draco, Narcissa & Harry, Harry/Draco) that we are privy to, and the most surprising is the one between Harry and Narcissa. That forest scene was a nexus point for both. They're connected. But the most heartbreaking is between Lucius and Narcissa. We're treated to their past and how they got together. How much they were in love, but then, Lucius fucked up. I won't give it away, but it was one of the most insightful scenes I've read in dealing with their marriage. There is a side of Drarry in the story, and it's like a soothing balm with everything else that is going on.

I feel like I'm failing to say how good this story is in how beautiful it is to experience Narcissa and her path to her agency. Never forget she is a Black witch. Bellatrix says it best. Cissy, not a threat?

Night Dragon, Dawn Bird by Xenjyn on AO3

I hope you get a chance to read both these fics and please give them comments of love.

I would love to know if you use or have used Grammarly and what you thought of it.

That's all for now,

Rom

#romaine2424 daily blog #july 2023 #drarry fic recs #Narcissa is a BAMF #grammarly