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dilfwaynes · 2 years

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NEW GOTHAM | S.K

summary: the vampires successfully burned the world and rebuilding the edges in their hierarchy, gotham included — but selina’s thing for strays remains, just more enhanced.

⚢ pairings; dark!vampire!selina x fem!reader.

✗ warnings; dom!selina x sub!reader, noncon/dubcon, degradation, virgin!reader, choking, fingering, slight praise, selina claiming u as her little slave. NOT PROOFREAD/EDITED.

✎ word count; 2.2k.

gotham coalesced to a mass of utter disaster by the vampires, any ritzy of the city gone and longed with languid, and there was not one thing you could do about it, batman’s dead and so was the rest of your family; but nightwing emblazoned quite well his act of innocence with zero suspicion gained from you all on his below the surface.

you somehow survived, or richard allowed your breathing, far from delighted at his generous grace of kingship — you presume it’s his twisted way of making you suffer, knowing he was the grim reaper of your siblings and bruce, fooled them and betrayed them far worse than any enemy, and there’s nothing you can do about it, or at least knowing selina’s short lease keeps you tight far enough.

abrasive you suppose, but selina onuses herself for you when she’s farthest from being required to do so, and you hope your gratitude for selina beams brightly, maybe her reasoning for clothing, feeding you, guarding you from the despair of gotham and whatever else was some profoundly sense of duty of debt to bruce; you truly don’t know why selina took you in but you’re thankful regardless. you’re jaunty of selina, and in ways you know she retracts the same from the fact of her allowance of you sneaking in her room every night to seep comfort.

any buoyant of such is bleary tonight though, her reaction nulled to hearing your presence entering the living room, the large area purging somber and murk more than usual, and from the raised peaks of your top, colder too. the ambience blatantly indignant, perched perfectly cat-like on the stem in the nook under the window overlooking, her face scowled in anger.

“where’s harley?” you ask quietly and padding towards the nearby wooden table next to selina, genuinely curious, as well as wanting to spark a conversation, maybe also seeking some attention from her.

her gaze intakes yours with her attention focusing on you now, features algid and spleen, and for a second you think her brise fire is aimed at you, the mere thought almost has you bawling hot tears with a deep pout. her features softens from your flash of expression, her brows creasing a frown, albeit towards an approach.

“she left us, a stupid dream of escape out of gotham.” selina rolls her eyes and turns back to the darken green outside the glass, the angst of her mien side forge; induce flawed compared to her other acts of facades that it almost infuriated with the weak ink ticking at her nerves to put better effort, until she reminds herself you’re the naïve ever trusting human of hers, probably the only bat that ever trusted her. the thought of her being asinine about harley’s self demise is funny enough to take strength for selina not to laugh, with harley out of the picture you’re in the free ground of her complete taking. sparing a side glance to your reaction, deferring a hiss from the glimpse of excitement and hope in your eyes.

a burning rage engages in her chest, her gums throbbing in an effort of withholding her fangs, seemingly it goes unnoticed by you, probably endeavoring cloud your senses and surroundings with all sorts of rebellion and hopes to reunite with what remains of the justice league; she couldn’t —wouldn’t— allow you to have any dreams or chance for any of those thoughts and ideas swimming in your head. she’ll break you down and crush any batman form of sense and value in you, hallow you out to be perfect as minutes before, or even better than before.

“why didn’t you tell me? why didn’t she take me with her?” you ramble out frantically, vexation snapping your tone, why wouldn’t selina tell you harley found a way out of gotham? she’s privy to everything you could accomplish if your foot touches outside of the city. pinning on your heel impatiently for a reasoning, facing her and becoming taken aback at selina’s anger pointed at you, her jaw strained and lips stretched in a snarl. you swallow some and shake your head, in another state of mind you would probably be crying from selina staring at you with her expression but with any chance of being able to leave gotham has your full heed.” if i leave now i can maybe catch up to her.”

“no!” you stumble back in haggard afeard steps, selina’s hand gearing your head towards her now exposed fangs wide in a hissing, her eyes bright with scarlet instead of green, torrid acid strips your throat to your stomach; that quite literally feels like it dropped to the stone floor with your heart rapidly beating to the point for a good solid second you think it’s actually out of your chest with the intense drubbing. shock startles under all the nerves connected within, fear and a jolt of seething betrayal following suit. selina’s features still clinched with her fangs retracing barely some, her grip remaining sturdy.”greedy little brat, i clothe you; i feed you and you wanna leave me?”

“get the fuck off me!” you scream as your thrusts of your arms glosses-over, your attempt evidently occurred to her already at her lack of faze other than brief annoyance.”i fucking hate you, you’re one of them, a filthy leech.”

flaming skin presses against yours, strangling a choked high pitched whine with your head coming into contact towards the desk, selina fully towering over you with your back spread across the hard oak; the sharp of her slight abjured fangs now gleaning in full effort of their beauty. throwing your head to the side, screwing your eyes closed to escape your view, selina being a vampire slamming a jack hammer into the same wound of the realization of dick’s true self, maybe even more with your newly blossomed feelings since she’d taken you in.

her lips gliding back into a growl,”you’re mine honey, my darling human slave,” you keep your eye sight closed, wishing to close off her words as well, especially with the unwanted aroused pulling at your stomach. her nostrils twitch some before inhaling deeply, a smirk calming down the storm on her face”does my little bat likes being addressed as my slave?.”

you draw out a whine that quickly results into a hitch, selina’s nails engraving into your flesh as you feel a butterfly’s jitter against your senses, her lips barely brushing yours has you letting out a meekly moan unconsciously.

“i can smell you little bat, begging to be devoured extra tonight,” you opted still with silence, ignoring her words and the waving flood of embarrassment of unknown, your mind flashing of each time you were titillate by her throughout the months.”i’ll fuck you tonight, finally make you a woman, something bruce never had the chance to do..” you squeezed your already closed eyes, your legs following along as far as they can with selina being slot between them, her words painfully having an effect as she takes another deep inhale.

“open your eyes,” her demand that quickly gets dismissed from your lack of operating and sealing your eyes shut, bursting a gasp when selina’s hand coaxing one out of you, grasping your throat to it feels like your windpipe is crushing on itself, with you clawing at her hands serving no justice.”open your eyes sweetheart.”

unable to breathe you fly open your eyes and mewt her darken green ones, her lips craving into a smirk again, grip lighting but leaving her hand in place without the strength.” you look so darling like this,” she coo’s gently, composure smooth without any wrinkles from past seconds of behavior before, her fingers nimbly jutting downwards to the exposed opening of your sundress, ghosting along the lace lining of your panties. pulling and letting them snap back to your hips with a sting, exhaling a breathy whine out of you, enduring any sense stored in you from whatever twisted arousal you’re feeling.”stop.” you faintly whisper that goes undermined.

“if only bruce could see you now, sprawled out so pretty for me,” her words weighting down your guilt evermore, the heat from the confusing swirl of anger and lust directed at selina, she seems perfectly occupied with other matters with her hand gripping inch and inch your thigh under your dress, this time roughly pulling down your panties that you’re sure you heard a ripple, until you’re confirmed so when shreds of the material comes in your eyesight.”all mine.” she purrs happily in a possessively manner, nuzzling her nose up and down across the base of your throat.

her thumb pressing down on your clit while ravishing in your meek response of delight or complaint, you, yourself couldn’t separate the borderlines, she assumes it’s the first with your pitched whine when her lips attach in the dip of your shoulder blade and neck and kissing along, suddenly sinking her fingers inside you and earning a high breathy moan out of you with a jarring of your back going upwards, feeling her lips stretching into a smirk against your skin. open palm brushing your nerves as she set a steady trusting, clear that she’s not merciful in the path with her rhythm harsh and no warm-up, tears burning the back of your eyelids from the rush ample stretch of selina’s digits, the pain twisting itself in pleasure.

the pain subsiding some and the pleasure of selina rolling her fingers inside you taking over, biting your lip to contain any noise and give selina the satisfaction of letting her know she’s fucking you good, her fingers edging to the tip of your g-spot as she splits you open so good, her lips skimming your neck delicately that it reminds you of your selina, almost, blaring a gasp with sudden fangs barring into your skin; crying out in a blend of an intense added pleasure from selina’s fire sunk in, a weird feeling sense of burning euphoria, selina continuing to pump inside you roughly.

your legs shaking and only feeling selina to the point of being blind to anything else but her, your eyes beginning to roll to the back of your head and becoming faint with the blood selina is withdrawing out of your system, pulsating every jagged trust of selina’s. a white-hot flash comprehending your sense of awareness entirely, a strange coil-ready feeling emerging at the bottom of your stomach, selina tugging your clit forcibly gives you enough of a push towards your climbmax and has you crying out and seeing dotted jetted stars.

she softens her pace to help ride out your orgasm and releasing her fangs from your neck. “i wonder if you taste as good in other areas,” she questions teasingly and pulling out her fingers, staring at you while putting her fingers in her mouth, stopping midway abruptly,”but i do prefer to taste from the source.”

#selina kyle imagines #selina kyle x reader #selina kyle smut #catwoman imagines #catwoman smut #catwoman x reader #wlw imagines #wlw smut #wlw headcanons #selina kyle #catwoman #dc vs vampires

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master-sass-blast · 2 years

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....okay so Tumblr's gonna crop the pic I put a lot of effort into drawing and coloring and detailing fucking SWEET. Edit: okay so it was just in making the post fucking fabulous thanks for the heart attack Tumblr 🖕

Anywho, I'm a firm believer in Butch Sevika, but then @sevikasleftpussyflap showed me this fanart of Sevika (and Jinx) in an evening gown and I have seen the light.

Gonna throw more close ups under the cut and some rambling about design because I am a fashion and character design nerd!

Also tagging @sxpphicfxiry for what I hope are obvious reasons.

F A C E.

So, while I LOVE the look she's wearing in the fanart I linked above, I wanted to design something that had more call back to her outfit in Arcane -specifically her cape/cloak bc red/maroon is such a gorgeous color on her, and because I thought it'd be a color nod to her original outfit design.

I also changed up her hairstyle because I thought it'd be fun and fitting for presumably what is a formal event.

I also wanted to add some body jewelry -in keeping with the theme from the linked fanart-because I love the contrast of Sevika's overall build and demeanor with the delicate, fragile chains. I went with gold because I thought it'd flatter her skin tone nicely, and because her cloak in the show has gold accents iirc.

I landed on the diamond/rhombus design by accident (which you see in the clasps of the jewelry and the structure of the hair piece and her "rings"). My main goal was having something that looked like a matched set because she deserves something nice -and because I also LIVE for Sugar Baby!Sevika where she has a wealthy Piltover GF to dote on her. If I were to do something like this again, I'd probably try to design something that infers her character more -possibly something gear shaped that would allude to her arm. But, for something I was just trying to whack out quick for my own satisfaction, I'm pleased with the results.

I kept the choker look she has going from Arcane because I think it looks fabulous on her, and the ring piece she's wearing -in my mind-can also function as brass knuckles because I love jewelry that is also functional to the character's role in the story. And also because I think Sevika would like/invest in fancy brass knuckles so that if she has to beat someone up at a ritzy gala, she can.

God I hope that you can click on the picture and it'll show you the whole thing or that the cropping is only in the post creation bc I actually put effort in on the shoes fUCKING DAMMIT.

This is mostly to show detail on the thigh jewelry and also LEG (mady, you're welcome).

All in all, I'm pleased with how this came out! I used markers for most of the piece -the dress, cloak, her body and hair, and the leather bands on the jewelry pieces are all marker. The trim on the dress and cloak, along with the base for the chains are done in colored pencil; I also warmed up her skin with some blended down colored pencil bc the tone of the markers were looking a little gray to my eye. I used a metallic gold gel pen to add some shine to certain parts of the jewelry, but that wasn't flashy enough, so I used some gold acrylic paint and white acrylic paint to add highlights to her jewelry.

I think I need to do this again. I've got an idea for a gear-themed look -in terms of jewelry-that I'd pair a blue dress in bc I think she'd look gorgeous with blue. Also @sevikasleftpussyflap mentioned a look of Sevika wearing a tight, skimpy body con dress and now it lives rent free in my head.

I did this piece over I think about a week? I wanna say it took between 3-5 hours in total.

So yeah pls reblog and interact bc I worked hard on this no I am not above begging thank uuuuuu 😭

#sass speaks #sass draws #sevika #my art #i am honestly so proud of this piece #i think she looks hella good #i have seen the light of glam sevika #like she's still butch in my heart #bUT SHE CAN ROCK A DRESS AND MY WORLD THANK YOU MA'AM #the way i want her to snap my neck with her thighs #she's also holding a glass of whiskey bc i can't see her drinking champagne #i think that'd be her one holdover #she's gotta have some proper hooch #might draw a background on this piece some day #probably not bc i am notorious for not doing backgrounds #but maybe #if something inspires me #also can we talk about sugar baby sevika because she takes care of us but i just want to take care of herrrr #(ignoring the fact i'm broke shhhhh)#i want to give her a life of luxury where she can drink smoke play cards and beat people up as much as she wants without having to work #okay that's enough simping for now sdlfjdslkjfldskjf

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dandymaximilian · 2 years

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Potential Bigslie fic ramblings below.

I love the idea of Leslie grappling with her confusing feelings for her boss. She can't help but be endeared by him, even if he is often incompetent. And everyday she's has a harder and harder time coming to terms with the fact that Mr. Big only sees her as his secretary. And a friend, at best.

One day, she's preparing his daily coffee, and she grips onto his mug until it leaves an painful imprint on her hand. Is this all she and Mr. Big will ever be to each other? Will he come up with countless of schemes for her to fulfill, until the business shuts down due too many complaints?What will Leslie do then?

She has the experience for another job, but will Mr. Big even care about her then? The thought of never seeing him again brings tears to her eyes, and one falls into the perfectly crafted coffee in her hand.

She has let her feelings go to far, she thinks bitterly, and she comes to the conclusion that she must go on a vacation to distance herself from him.

Unfortunately, Mr. Big misinterprets her idea, deciding that they BOTH should go on a month long vacation. He immediately books them an entire island to spend their time off together, and Leslie tries to discourage him at first.

Yet, the idea of relaxing on a private beach, with the best ammedies, is too appealing to fully reject. She finds herself ultimately agreeing.

The small, tropical island is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by crystal sands and clear blue ocean. Their rented, ritzy hotel is directly on the beach, and their shared room (with separate beds) has a balcony with a spectacular view.

Leslie has never been to such a incredible place, and she finds herself stunned by Mr. Big's thoughtfulness.

At first, the two spend their vacation together, simply soaking in the pleasant atmosphere and enjoying elaborate meals and drinks. Leslie finds herself opening up more to Mr. Big as time passes. He still acts like his silly, often socially ignorant self, but he's also funny and charming, moreso than usual. Talking to him feels effortless, especially when he isn't acting as a boss.

Soon enough, Leslie and Mr. Big are having a blast together. They play on the beach like children, making sand castles/bunnies and giggling about nothing in particular. She tries to spar him at one point, but he fails spectacularly, much to her amusement. He laughs it off, and gets his revenge in a splashing contest. Leslie wins, of course, but Mr. Big insists that he'll win eventually.

Leslie starts telling Mr. Big more about herself. Her love for Pretty Princess, her past, her worries and fears, and her passions. He listens intently, and begins to share some of his history, as well. He confesses that he was never able to be himself around his family, and that he feels more comfortable around Leslie than anyone else. She inspires him. He doesn't know what he'd do without her.

On their last day together, Mr. Big kisses her, but Leslie doesn't let him for long. What will happen to them once they leave their little bubble of paradise? Will their relationship go back to the status quo? Leslie doing everything as a secretary, acting as his inferior in their job? What does he even see her as?

Mr. Big is stunned, but for once, her words click completely in his mind. At once, he vows to make a change. He wants her to be his partner in crime and in love, and he promises that she'll be his second in command.

Leslie is amazed by his words, but tells him she needs to think for a while. He looks extremely hurt, simply giving her a tearful nod, but she remains steadfast in her decision. She doesnt know for sure what he'll do when they get back, and she doesn't want to put her heart on the line.

She spends the rest of the remaining day alone, deep in contemplation, and texting her friends for advice.

Their fly home is painfully silent.

When work begins again, Mr. Big is true to his word. He intentionally acts more considerate, credits Leslie's for her ideas, and most importantly, appoints her as the second CEO. She gets a immense raise, more than she had ever asked for in all of her time working for Mr. Big.

Leslie makes her final decision, however, when he takes her to a Pretty Princess Convention, despite having the perfect opportunity for a scheme on that day.

Mr. Big gleefully lets Leslie drag him around everywhere, carying the endless merchandise she can finally justify buying. He looks at Leslie with stars in his eyes when she rambles about Pretty Princess, fully immersed in what she has to say. He makes silly comments here and there, but he mostly listens.

Leslie completely softens, completely wrapped in warmth and adoration for the odd man she fell in love with. Without caring that she is admist a bustling crowd, she grabs him by his cheeks, and gives him the sweetest kiss of his life.

When Leslie parts, Mr. Big smiles wider than anything, and pulls her into a bear hug. She smiles, happily ignoring the complaining onlookers trying to get by.

#wordgirl #leslie #mr big #bigslie #ramblings

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cinnaster · 3 months

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RS RAMBLE HOUR

Lots and lots and LOTS of notes about Radiant Souls Chapters 1-3!

THE CHAPTER TITLES

Apart from the prologue (Chapter 1), all chapter titles have unique names. Many of the titles have references, word play, and idioms all while trying to encompass the subject or feel of the chapter, so I really try to stretch my creativity.

Chapter 2, "It's Apocalypse O'Clock Somewhere", is a reference to the Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett song "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere". The song (which is very fun BTW and is seen on many vacation playlists) references the common saying as a way to justify day drinking after doing a lot of work. Isyris, similar to the song, justifies his day drinking (and vacation in general) as an "I did a lot of work so I deserve this" sort of thing.

However, the title references the apocalypse happening in place of the time. Interestingly, while the saying suggests that locations have a different times to justify day drinking, NYC and Aruba actually share the same timezone. This illustrates that Isyris is sitting on his ass drinking while in NYC his family is getting pummeled by alien invaders, and also illustrates the urgency. The apocalypse more or less comes to Isyris' attention whether he likes it or not, and it was only a matter of time.

Chapter 3, "So Long, Paradise", is a lot more simple. While there's no specific reference or pun I had in mind, paradise is often considered a place to be gained or lost, to find or to leave. In Isyris' case, it was cut off before he was ready. (Funny that even before he knew about the invasion, his paradise wasn't quite perfect. He knew something was missing and was trying to force his way through enjoyment.) He does not explicitly say goodbye to Aruba, but he takes one last look at the sunset. He's so dramatic lol. Meanwhile, the gargoyles get to spend all the time they want in paradise, chanting it as they run off with Isyris' card.

ISLAND LANGUAGE

Aruba is your typical case of European colonization. It is currently a state of The Netherlands, though historically Spain and England also had control over the island at some point. Isyris speaks neither Dutch nor Papiamento, which are the main languages of the Caribbean Dutch island states (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), but the English-speaking tourism there is well-established. Most people on the island (especially if they work in the tourism industry) speak multiple languages.

Isyris was in Orangestad, the capital city, and he was also more on the northwest coastline where the majority of ritzy hotels and resorts are. Most of his interaction with others had been with those in the tourism industry (tour and museum guides, workers at hotels, bars and restaurants, etc.) who spoke English, so he had no trouble with language.

He also went in early June, so it's right at the start of summer vacation for many American families (and himself). The location and timing meant he was around a bunch of other English-speaking tourists, which is why he was able to understand others around him and why the TV at the grill & bar was tuned in to an American news station.

YOU THINK I HAVE MONEY IN THIS ECONOMY?

Isyris does not really have much Aruba currency, the Aruba florin, because he's simply using his credit card for most things. He does know how credit cards work in general (he understands debt and interest), so he's not necessarily pulling money out of nowhere because he knows what he needs to pay back.

But yes, he is certainly living slightly past his means by going on this trip. Isyris is riding into dangerous territory (he has not worked long enough on the surface to gain significant savings, hence the credit card usage). He's knows he's at risk but figures that because he is a working man that after summer vacation he will be back to the cafeteria grind, so it isn't the end of the world and surely he can pay it off with time.

He's not being overly safe as it is, but this is because he has a background of wealth and is still getting used to, you know, not being rich. It takes time to kick habits and old ways of thinking, especially when you have then suddenly do not have. The idea of getting a summer vacation was sprung on him so suddenly that he was like "Yeah you know what I do deserve Me Time the moment I get a break from work" and did not think much about it beyond that. Just use the credit card and don't think too hard about it. Speaking of which...

CREDIT CARD WOES

The goyles, Merry and Pippin, don't really understand credit cards. Not because they can't understand it or that Yōkai don't have similar concepts in their society (canon Yōkai taxes and currency exist, after all), they're just idiots. They're confused because Isyris no longer lives a life of luxury yet can "pull money out [of the card] like magic", so they're under the impression that he chooses to live this way as part of his Soft Good Guy shtick. They (particularly Merry) are frustrated with this and think he needs some serious help. Pippin is a little more cautious, not wanting to suffer any more of Isyris' bouts of anger, but Merry will gladly criticize his boss for it, especially because his financial decisions affect them.

Merry also took Isyris leaving the note as a sign for them to do whatever they need to do on their own (instead of doing what Isyris meant, which was to come home immediately as soon as they could get a flight). Isyris had to rush home sooner and didn't care to take the time to drag them back, which he knew would have inevitably been a Whole Ordeal. It'd be like trying to get a cat or dog into its travel crate when it already knows it's going to the vet or some equally unpleasant place.

But this all feeds into the goyles not feeling remorseful (or fearful) for using Isyris' credit card the way they are. They're about to massively fuck this man over financially by being cute little idiots lol.

Oh well! It's as Honey said in Chapter 8, at least Isyris doesn't have rent to pay anymore. When Isyris lamented that he doesn't have anything besides the clothes on his back and in his suitcase, it's not really an exaggeration. He and Angel lost everything in the apartment fire. For Angel it was a far more serious and meaningful loss, as she had been living there for a majority of her life. For Isyris it hadn't been long, although he had managed to slowly turn the dingy apartment into something more presentable. But what little he has is gone, and now on top of it, his debt will be massive. Oops!

WASTIN' AWAY AGAIN IN MARGARITAVILLE

Out of all the details to get hung up on during writing the first chapters, what alcoholic drink Isyris had (and was originally just a long set-up for the spit take) was one of the hardest. In fact I left it as "[drink]" in my draft for the longest time lol. "A tropical drink that's not piña colada because that's too basic" was my goal. I went through a lot of cocktail sites to find some good options. A drink called Aruba Ariba was on the table because it's an emblematic drink of Aruba, only found there, but I felt that it was a little too on the nose.

After a lot of thought, I went with a Mai Tai. (I've never had one but it honestly sounds delicious.) It's not a Caribbean-specific drink, in fact historically more a US west coast thing, but it's associated with the sort of tropical commercialism that the area of where Isyris was staying advertises. It's touristy and amusingly inauthentic, just like his general vacation experience.

THE PORTAL SIGIL

I put a fair amount of research into the sigil Isyris makes to portal himself to NYC, and I made it accurate for what I planned. All of the symbols he made in the sigil are important. They're astronomical or alchemical symbols, representing different celestial bodies or elements.

The unit of measurement he uses, scrobi, is a made-up Yōkai one. But I based it on an ancient Egyptian/Greek/Roman unit of measurement called a schoenus, which was used for surveying. This was fairly convenient for the story because roughly the amount of miles he had to travel almost rounded out nicely to an even number, but not quite. (Isyris thinking it was exact, along with other tiny imprecise measurements or alignments, led to his little Upper Bay Adventure in the following chapter.)

When Isyris spun the compass-like sigil to align all the symbols with the celestial bodies, I had him actually align with what would have probably been in the sky. I used a fun website tool to figure out what stars would have been in the sky (even though they couldn't be seen, as it was still light out/evening), at the time and location he was, which was Oranjestad, Aruba, in early June. So the constellations that he listed as being at the zenith (right above his head) are actually accurate.

The idea is that for sigil portal magic to travel long distances, it needs reference points. Whatever symbol is put in the center becomes the main reference. In Isyris' case, he's on Earth, so he uses the Earth symbol in the center. All the other symbols around in the different tiers are how to align it. He aligns it with the Sun and with the more distant stars in the constellations, puts in the distance he wants to travel, and tells it that it's crossing land and sea.

There is one symbol in the sigil that isn't clearly defined on purpose. That one's special. You'll see.

OVERALL

Despite Isyris' dangerous money situation and his soon-to-be massive credit card debt, this big dumb sheep is still extremely catered to, just as any American tourist often is. While he didn't do nearly all the things he lied about much later in Chapter 8, nor did he have as much fun as he wished he had, he still got to experience a fairly nice vacation up until the point of hearing about the invasion.

He did in fact get to sit on the beach and see beautiful views, go to restaurants and bars, go on tours, etc., but he did so alone. He pretends like he was interacting with locals or something (or pretends that people think he, a painfully average American dad tourist in the eyes of others, is noteworthy and worth approaching) when that is very much not the case. While he was lying to make Masaru jealous, one has to wonder if a part of him did want a grander vacation experience that included other people in the picture. And not just the pretty women.

He didn't truly stay in Aruba that long, though; it had only been a few days. Had the goyles not taken and used his credit card, the trip would have been of little consequence to him, especially since he did not stay for the full duration that he planned.

Sadly, things do not always turn out the way you want them to when your name is Baron Isyris Draxum. Even if you do actually have your heart in the right place for once by returning home immediately to make sure your family is okay.

#this is only the notes i'm thinking of atm #radiant souls #rottmnt radiant souls #asterisms

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vancouverkitchenrenovation · 10 months

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Unleash Creativity: Inspiring Design Elements for an Artistic Kitchen Renovation

Incorporating design elements that evoke your creativity into your kitchen renovation is an excellent way to make it feel more personal. Whether you are looking for a rustic look with wood or something more modern with quartz, the options are limitless.

Open shelves offer space to display unique home decor, dishware, and cookbooks. They also make a room feel more spacious and provide easy access to frequently used items.

1. Mixing Textures

Mixing textures is one of the best ways to add visual interest to your kitchen. Texture can be added in a variety of ways, including adding a brick backsplash, using raised or recessed cabinet doors, choosing tile with varying materials, colors and grout lines, or mixing wood elements in your kitchen design.

It’s also no longer against the rules to mix metal finishes in your kitchen. Mixing warm and cool metals can create an attractive contrast that brings attention to your space. The key is to find metals that attract you and blend them in a way that complements your kitchen’s overall aesthetic. Little touches like switching out your drawer pulls or faucet handles to a different metal can make a big impact on your kitchen’s look.

2. Adding Inspirational Quotes

When it comes to personalizing your kitchen, the options are nearly limitless. From unique backsplash to colorful dishware, there are countless ways to make your space feel like it’s all your own. For instance, a menu board featuring an inspirational quote or a framed chalkboard wall can instantly bring personality and a hint of whimsy to any kitchen. The Rambling Redhead chose to create a stunning back-wall using natural elements that blend seamlessly with the rest of their gorgeous kitchen.

3. Adding a Touch of Whimsy

While you’re remodeling your kitchen, it’s a great time to bring in some fun and creative design elements. Choose bold colors, unique shapes, and unexpected materials to create a kitchen that’s both functional and artistic.

For example, install a funky pendant light over the island or designate one wall for a coffee corner complete with a fancy espresso machine and personalized mugs. Or, use a colorful backsplash to add drama and interest to the room.

While many people assume that kitchen art is expensive, there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to incorporate creativity into your remodel. For example, replace your countertops with a colorful laminate or butcher block option instead of a more expensive material. Or, add open shelving to showcase your favorite dishes and cookbooks.

4. Adding Dramatic Lighting

Adding elements like reclaimed wood, hand-painted tiles and unique countertops to your kitchen renovation can be an effective way of adding some artistic flair. However, these elements can also be quite expensive. Thankfully, there are many other less-expensive ways to add an artistic touch to your kitchen.

For instance, accent lighting is a great way to highlight items in your kitchen. You can use sconces to frame a piece of art or recessed lighting to spotlight cabinets and drawers. However, it’s important to avoid overdoing the accent lighting, as too many fixtures can create visual clutter.

If you’re unsure where to start when incorporating an artistic element into your kitchen, look for inspiration in unlikely places like ritzy restaurants, cozy speakeasies and luxe hotels. These unconventional design details can help you develop a kitchen that reflects your personal style.

5. Adding Artwork

Incorporating unique materials and textures can add an artistic element to a kitchen. For example, wood veneer cabinets or reclaimed wood walls are both great options for an organic kitchen design. Similarly, tree-patterned wallpaper or hand-painted tiles can create a dramatic effect in the kitchen. For lighting, try a chandelier with interesting shapes or colors.

Backsplashes are another area where you can incorporate an artistic flair. Choose a tile pattern or mural to create an accent wall that can match your color scheme or provide contrasting texture.

A framed botanical drawing or floral painting can be a beautiful focal point in the kitchen. However, if you’re concerned about lowering the resale value of your home, consider hanging a gallery wall with prints of tropical scenes or beach landscapes instead.

Metro Vancouver’s Premier Kitchen and Bath Renovation Company

The kitchen is often the heart of the home and plays a significant role in determining its overall appeal. If yours feels outdated or dated, you may feel less motivated to spend time cooking and eating in it. That’s why Vancouver kitchen Renovation is proud to bring you a Kitchen Design and Renovation package that will transform your space into something truly timeless and functional. Our Kitchen Design and Renovation packages will create a space that reflects your lifestyle and personality and gives you everything you need to cook delicious meals and entertain guests.

We understand that to be successful is to stay ahead of the curve. That means staying current with the latest technology and design trends. We always want to improve our products or services without breaking the bank. That’s why we stay connected to the latest technologies of NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association. In addition, at Vancouver Kitchen renovation, our primary focus is providing sustainable kitchen design and renovation packages, and we believe in sustainable living. Sustainable living is a way of life in harmony with nature. It is a lifestyle which focuses on the preservation of our environment. Sustainable living is a philosophy emphasizing respect for the environment and concern for its well-being. This means we should take care of the planet and treat it as if it were our home. We should try to preserve what we have and protect it from destruction. If we do this, we will enjoy the benefits of the earth’s resources for many generations. Whether you’re planning a major remodel or adding finishing touches to your current kitchen, we’d love to discuss your project. Book your showroom consultation online.

Main Areas of Service in British Columbia:

Vancouver

North Vancouver

West Vancouver

Burnaby

Coquitlam

Squamish

Whistler

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step when designing a kitchen remodel?

This is a difficult question to answer because every kitchen remodeling project is different. Each one will require a different approach. It is essential to have a clear understanding of your unique goals and needs before designing a new kitchen.

You may need to meet with an architect or professional designer to discuss your ideas.

Once you have a sense of what you want, it is time to start planning your budget. Finally, creating a timeline for your kitchen renovation is crucial to stay on track and avoiding any stressful surprises.

Working with an architect or professional kitchen designer will allow them to take charge of the design planning. But it is still important that you clearly define your goals and requirements from the beginning. This will ensure that your final design is in line with your expectations, and that you are satisfied with the end result.

When measuring your kitchen space, including the overall square footage and the dimensions of individual areas like countertops, cabinets, appliances, windows, and doors. It would be best if you also noted any existing structural elements that cannot be removed, such as support beams or load-bearing walls. If possible, it can be helpful to create a floor plan layout so that you can visualize how the new design will come together.

A mood board (or inspiration folder) is a great way of narrowing down your options for kitchen design. Pinterest is a wonderful resource for finding inspiration and images of kitchens you love. You can also pull out pages of magazines and collect paint chips or fabric swatches. This will help you plan your renovation.

Once you have a clear idea of how your new kitchen should look, it’s time for you to begin thinking about the timeline and budget. How much do you have to invest in this project? What are your must-haves versus nice-to-haves? When do you need the renovation completed? Answering these questions will allow you to move forward in your planning process.

If you plan to renovate your kitchen yourself, consider the cost for materials, appliances, cabinets and countertops. It is important to factor in the cost of materials, appliances, countertops, cabinets, and disruptions to your day. Contractors will most likely give you a detailed estimate, which includes all costs and a time frame.

A timeline is crucial for kitchen renovations. It will help you stay on the right track and prevent any surprises. Once you have an idea about when each step should take place, you will be able to begin to plan a more detailed schedule. Be sure to allow some flexibility in your timeline in case unexpected delays arise.

Following these steps can help you develop a plan to renovate your kitchen. This will allow you to ensure the end result is what you want and the entire process goes smoothly.

What are the four basic kitchen plan layouts?

The basic kitchen layouts are L-shaped U-shaped T-shaped, Ushaped, and Open-concept. These layouts depend on the space available and other factors such as the number of appliances. It would help if you considered these different kitchen layouts to create a functional kitchen design for your home.

L-Shaped Design: The L shaped kitchen is the most common layout. It’s easy to customize and efficient. This layout is ideal for small to medium-sized kitchens as it doesn’t need a lot of space. If you have the space, an island can be added to this layout.

U-Shaped Kitchen. This kitchen design is perfect for large to medium-sized kitchens. You can customize this layout with an island but it is not necessary.

T-Shaped Kitchen. This kitchen design is ideal for large kitchens. It offers lots of counter space and is very versatile. You can customize this layout with an island but it is not necessary.

Open-Concept Design Kitchen: An open-concept design kitchen is great for large rooms and homes that you wish to create a light, open feel. This layout is ideal for entertaining because it doesn’t have any walls or borders.

How to save money on kitchen remodel costs

If you plan to remodel your kitchen, here are some tips that may help you save money on a kitchen remodel costs.

Do your research.

Do your research before you begin any kitchen remodel project. This will help you get a clear picture of the final outcome you are looking for in your kitchen remodel. In addition, doing your research will also help you identify potential cost-saving opportunities.

Set up a budget.

Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your kitchen remodel, the next step is to create a budget. This will help determine how much you can spend on the project. You should also make sure you don’t spend too much.

Check out other websites for specials and discounts.

Always look out for discounts and deals when shopping for appliances and materials. This will save you money when remodeling your kitchen.

Get a trustworthy contractor.

It is important to find a contractor that you trust and who has a solid track record when remodeling your kitchen. A reliable contractor will provide quality work at an affordable price.

Do it yourself.

You might be able do the work yourself, if you have the skills. This will save you money and give you satisfaction knowing you did it yourself.

These tips will help save you money when remodeling your kitchen.

Is it a good idea to leave during a kitchen renovation?

If you’re good at takeout, there’s no need to move. But if you have young kids or pets, you might want to consider staying at a friend’s or family member’s house during the renovation. It will be easier for you to keep your pets safe and not worry about them getting hurt or in danger. Also, it will make your life easier if there isn’t any construction noise or dust. If you decide to move out, get a written estimate from your contractor of how long the job will take. That way, you can plan your relocation around their timeline.

How does a kitchen remodel affect home value?

Up to 20% increase in value can be achieved by renovating your kitchen. A major remodel can be expensive, ranging from $40,000 to $150,000. You need to decide how much you can afford and whether you’ll get a return on your investment.

It is important to choose a kitchen design that appeals to many buyers if you are planning on selling your house soon. To avoid alienating potential buyers, stick with classic styles and neutral colors.

You are more free to design your own kitchen if you don’t intend on selling your home soon. Consider the purpose of your kitchen, as well as how it will look and feel. Are you a frequent host? Then you may want to consider a layout that allows for plenty of prep space and room for guests. Do you love to cook? Then you may want to splurge on higher-end appliances.

No matter what your plans may be, a kitchen remodeling project can make your home more valuable. You will get the best results if you do your research and choose a trusted contractor.

If I’m looking for a new kitchen, where do I start?

It is a good idea to begin by creating a list with your requirements and wants. This will help you communicate with potential kitchen designers, remodelers, or contractors.

Budget: How much money can you afford to buy a new kitchen?

– Size. How large is your kitchen. Will you need to expand or reduce the size of your kitchen?

Layout: How is your kitchen laid out? Are you going to need to alter the layout?

– Appliances. What appliances are you looking for in your new kitchen.

– Storage: How will your kitchen store all of your food and supplies?

– Style: What type of kitchen do you desire? Traditional, contemporary, rustic, etc.

– Colors – What colors would you like to see in your new kitchen’s design?

Now you are ready to start planning your new kitchen.

Statistics

This is rather grim, but according to Business Insider, 12 percent of couples consider getting a divorce while renovating their home! (familyhandyman.com)

Keep 10 to 25 percent of List 2, depending on the budget. (familyhandyman.com)

In large firms, the commission charged by the GC ranges from 15 to 25 percent of the total job cost. (thespruce.com)

According to Burgin, some hinges have this feature built-in, but it’s an add-on cost for other models of about $5 retail, adding up to $350 to $500 for an entire kitchen, depending on size. (hgtv.com)

Your most significant cost investment for a kitchen remodel will usually be cabinets, typically comprising 25 percent of your budget. (hgtv.com)

External Links

houzz.com

Houzz

Kitchen Workbook: 8 Elements of a Craftsman Kitchen

forbes.com

Amazing Kitchen Remodel Ideas that Will Refresh Your House

thespruce.com

Open Floor Plan: History and Pros and Cons

Find professionals to estimate kitchen remodeling costs

homeadvisor.com

Find out how much it costs for a kitchen remodel by Compose: Search Engine Optimization.

How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Increase Home Value? – HomeAdvisor

How To

Ten small kitchen renovations you can do yourself.

You can easily renovate your kitchen by yourself. DIY Home Improvement Tips for the Average Joe

Small kitchen renovations are not something that you would want to undertake. If you’re looking to make your home feel new, this is the right thing to do. It’s possible to do many things in your kitchen without spending a lot. These are some simple kitchen renovation ideas you can do.

Install a backsplash. If your countertops and sink are not covered with tiles, then a backsplash can be a great option. It can be used to add colour and style, as well as make your kitchen seem larger and cleaner.

You can replace your cabinets. Cabinets are a great addition to any kitchen. They keep your walls safe from water, spills, and stains. They give your kitchen a stylish look. You should replace your cabinet doors if they look tired.

Paint your kitchen – Paint will not only change the appearance of your kitchen but also help you save money. Painting your kitchen gives it a new life and makes it look more modern. It will also make it easier to clean.

Make your appliances more efficient – This will not only prolong their life expectancy but also give them a new look. If you know exactly which appliance needs to be updated, then you can do it. Or, you can find someone who can install these appliances.

You can also add a bar to your kitchen. This not only gives you more work surface, but it also allows for entertaining guests.

To create a breakfast spot, you don’t need to spend a fortune. A small table and a few chairs are all you need. You can even add cushions to make the experience more comfortable.

Add a pantry – A pantry is a necessity in any kitchen. It’s an excellent place to store food, meals, and other household items.

Install an island. This gives your kitchen an open feel and allows you to work from a large area. It looks great when paired with wood flooring.

Add a wine shelf – Wine racks usually can be found at wine bars or restaurants. But you can also use them in your home. They are available in many sizes and styles. You can choose what best suits your kitchen.

Helpful Resources:

35 Best Outdoor Kitchen Ideas | Kitchen Design 2023 | Kitchen Cabinet Design | Kitchen Design Ideas

Outdoor kitchen design ideas 2023. #kitchendesign2023 #kitchendesignideas #kitchendesign #kitchendesign #kitchenideas

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prof membrane is a dilf

#invader zim #invader zim enter the florpus #mod tater #my art #ritzys art #ritzy rambles #ask #anonymous #professor membrane #iz dib membrane #iz professor membrane #dib membrane #SIDE NOTE: it is currently 1:24 am and idk what im doing answering asks at this time

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ritzy-biscuit · 10 days

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After a few months, I'm motivated to draw again. I'm still struggling to get going with new ideas so I thought I'd redraw old drawings.

This one may look familiar to anyone still around who I am/was mutuals with way back when. Lol.

#ritzy rambles

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god-i-dreamed-there-was-an-angel · 3 years

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There’s SO much symbolism in the show. I think one of the most heartbreaking things is that Moritz took his father’s gun. The gun his father was cleaning when Moritz told him he failed. And honestly, Moritz could’ve chosen so many other ways to end his life, but I feel like he chose his father’s gun for a reason. Yes, one could argue it’s spur of the moment, because it’s the first thing he sees after his dad storms out. But I feel like the urge for that gun specifically was huge.

Moritz thinks he’s failed everyone around him: the teachers since he couldn’t learn, his classmates because he holds the class up, Melchior (and Frau Gabor, but mainly Melchior) because he just weighs his intelligent friend down. But most importantly, his parents were the final shove. Moritz could care less about his grades—he’s accepted the fact he can’t learn. But his parents, they’re so disgusted with him, so disappointed, they can’t handle him. And that’s the final shove. His dad asking how they can show their faces, Moritz probably applies that to everyone he’s close to. How can they let their names be associated with such a failure?

He takes his father’s gun to end his life, and it honestly just adds more into the thought as to if he lived in an abusive household. Obviously he didn’t have the support from his parents, but Moritz was barely shocked when Herr Stiefel hit him. So if his father were physically abusive at times, and Moritz was running away from it all because he couldn’t deal with letting others be tainted by association, then the gun adds another sad element: Moritz thought his father would be the one who would end his life.

I mean it’s a stretch, but it does make it a lot more upsetting. And even if it wasn’t that exact thought, the gun still belonged to the man who brought the most pain into Moritz’s life, and it still belonged to the man who gave the final push.

Though it’s not really a stretch because little details hold so much information?

And, yes, Moritz had signed something like “Father, please!” (can’t remember exacts right now but it was similar to that) however that was really the only protest. So it kinda made me think that maybe Moritz was scared that once his father came back, after his mom was told he failed, the punishment would be worse. So Moritz’s brain was just runrunrunrunrun because he couldn’t do it any longer.

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chrisodonline · 3 years

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Okay, so, live-blogging tonight when it airs on my affiliate. Ep title is “War Crimes.” Wow. What a fun time to have!

Also, it’s a JLJ ep, but there’s GQ Callen. So let’s give it a go! We’re several minutes out so if I get tired of typing GQ Callen, Hightown Hanna, and Ritzy Rountree know that I’m just trying to move on to the next post. But I will not be tired of seeing any of them in suits at any point during the episode. That is just not possible.

Please also know that the whole time I’m watching, I will be re-framing things from Devin’s POV because at the end of the day he is 100% going to go home and title his journal for that day “My Two Dads.”

#Ncis la #war crimes #z rambles on #gq callen #hightown hanna #ritzy rountree #getting those tags started so they auto-populate more quickly

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milk-carton-whump · 3 years

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Modern AU Ritz fluff with @unicornscotty 's ocs Alex and Willow.

Tagging: @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @sideblogformindtrash @tears-and-lilies @unicornscotty @abitefullofeverything @getyourwhumphere @whumpasaurus101 @lektric-whump @twistedcaretaker @skunkandgrenade @heathenville @freefallingup13 @sunnysunfire @alliecat5594 @whatwasmyprevioususername @redstainedsocks

CW: fluff, cookie baking, implied bad home life, secret telling, Ritz tells a 5 yr old about his secret modeling life, modern au, babysitting, caretaking, overexhaustion

Baking Snickerdoodles

The sound of soft snoring came from his bedroom, Alex was over again to spend a few nights in safety with their sister Willow. Ritz held the young girl, likely around 5 years old, on his hip as he went about grabbing supplies to make cookies. He smiled as she pointed at the cinnamon and mumbled the word.

"Alrighty, little miss. Ah hope ya like snickerdoodles, cuz they're my favorite an' ah'm sure ya will love'em too." He said in his normal thick drawl.

He set her on a chair so she could help him put the ingredients together. He handed her a measuring cup and helped put flour in it, slowly they added each ingredient to a mixing bowl.

"So little miss, can ah trust ya with a secret?" He asked softly as he helped her mix the ingredients into a dough.

She looked up at him with her wide but warm eyes and gave him a nod.

"I can keep secret, Ritzy!" She said genuinely.

He smiled sweetly and rolled a ball of dough to show her how. As she made her own, he rolled the dough ball in a sugar cinnamon mix. He took a breath before speaking.

"Now ah'm gonna trust ya with this info, it's a secret so ya can't tell anyone, alright? An' that includes Alex." He said just to make sure.

She nodded again as he handed her a ball of dough to roll in the sugar.

"Ah'm a model, not necessarily cuz ah wanna be, but it treats me well enough. Sometimes though, ah wonder if it's worth it… cuz ah come out worse for wear a lil too often." He began to ramble about his secret life of being Witt's photography model and all the pros and cons he could remember.

He wasn't even sure if Willow was listening but that was likely for the best, he just hoped she wouldn't tell Alex about it. He sighed softly as he finished telling her about his life, a weight felt like it had been lifted from his shoulders since now someone other than Witt or himself knew the secret. He pulled the tray of hot cookies from the oven and picked Willow up again.

"Ah'm sorry ta dump all that on ya little miss, but Ah think you're a mighty fine listener." He said as he held her on his hip and handed her a warm cookie.

The sound of movement on his bed in his room gave him a good idea that Alex had awoken to the smell of food. He let her pick up another cookie for her sibling. He carried her over to the door to his room and knocked.

"Alex, ya awake? Little miss Willow has something for ya." He said gently.

He heard a grunt in response and opened the door, the room was dark since the curtains had been pulled and Ritz didn't bother turning on the light. He entered and kept his movements slow so he didn't startle them. Alex was still waking up and was laying on their stomach with their arms folded under their head.

"Your sister made ya a cookie, isn't that right miss Willow?"

Willow nodded and held out a cookie for her older sibling, it was still warm and smelled good. Alex yawned and tiredly opened their eyes, a small smile crossed their face and they gently took the cookie in their hand.

"Cookie for Alex, have cookie." She said happily, an accent resembling Alex's was starting to make itself known.

"Thank ye kindly, Willow." They said softly and propped themselves up to eat the offered cookie.

Willow reached over and patted their head with a smile as they finished a bite of their cookie.

"Ye be good." She said with a fake stern voice and patted their head again.

"We'll let ya get back ta sleep now, an' don't ya say ya don't need it." Ritz interrupted their protests.

Ritz stood back up and carried Willow back outside of the room to let Alex get some much needed rest. He was sure that Alex hated asking him for help like this but honestly wished he could help more. He set her down on the counter and handed her another cookie. He enjoyed having company that wasn't Witt and he assumed that Alex, while they wouldn't say it, appreciated the chance to be safe with their sister. Even if it was a few days.

#fluff #secret telling #implied bad home life #modern au #overexhausted character #caretaking #babysitting #ritz #willow (unicornscotty)#alex (unicornscotty)

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sugaredseduction · 3 years

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@friedsewerrat

They deserved being robbed blind. Such was all Lucian could think as his nose wrinkled while the businessman leaned on him, rambling on about how he smelled great and how he could give him anything he wanted if only the petite blonde would come to a bar with him. As he rambled, seeming high as a kite, Lucian was rifling through his coat pocket and eventually he pulled out a wallet. He pulled his best puppy dog face and asked if the kind sir could lend him a bit of money for drinks, and as was to be expected, the man readily agreed. With a small scoff, Lucian pocketed a hundred dollar bill and stuffed the wallet back into the fool’s pocket.

With a crooning little farewell, he voluntarily switched the pheromones off, leaving the man blinking in confusion as he started to turn and stroll down the street. It was always exhausting, keeping it on long enough to get people to that sort of delirious state and yet that was the easiest time to take from them. Certainly, he often kept it low and used traditional flirtation and flattery to boost the effect when in ritzy clubs, but when he just needed a little extra pocket change it was better to amp it up. Keeping it low would take a few hours to induce that sort of constant euphoric high after all and he could only stand so much of rich idiots. He sighed heavily, glancing back over his shoulder down the street. That one was likely going to be feeling a little giddy for a while. Keeping up appearances was all he could do to fuel his lavish lifestyle. It wasn’t like a quirk that could mostly only be used for manipulation would ever be useful for hero work, and those people always ended up defending the types that ignored or treated him like he was useless anyway. He huffed. Maybe he hadn’t taken enough.

#friedsewerrat #closed rp #bnha verse #ey there it is

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anywhozits · 4 years

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All I Really Want Chapter 4

Rating: M

Pairing: Kristanna (at some point lol)

Verse: 90s High School AU / frozen retelling

Chapter Summary: Hans and Anna go on a their first date.

Notes: This chapter has some extra warnings—there are references to and conversations about underage sex. Nothing graphic, nothing explicit. None of that will be in any chapter of this fic. However, while reading this chapter specifically, it is important to note that this is a fictional account of one character’s experience. This is definitely not meant to be a universal depiction of how adolescence is “supposed to go” or anything to that effect. Everybody has their own timelines for things like this, which is perfectly valid, and in fact, exactly how it should be—individualized.

Read on Ao3

Anna took a deep breath, sighing contentedly while smoothing out her pink silk dress. She knew Hans didn’t mean to be late or keep her waiting or whatever, but she sat here, ready, for the last twenty minutes and he said he was going to arrive ten minutes ago. But Anna didn’t even know whether to trust his word at this point.

She didn’t even know him, really. She didn’t even know what he was like…

Yeah. True. Ugh—shit. Kristoff was right. She didn’t know that much about him.

Well. Okay—his last name was Westergaard. He had 13 brothers.

Um.

He had red hair and green eyes and this really pointy nose that looked really hot and cute at the same time. Like hotute or umm maybe hute. Nah. Hotute was much better.

So, yeah. He had red hair, green eyes, and a hotute nose.

What else…

He lived in Newport Beach.

And… she also knew that…

They had a lot of fun together! They had the most fun together she’d ever had with anybody in her whole life.

And this fun, well—she moved a little quickly with him. It was her decision to take things past kissing on their second night together. And duh—kissing him brought out some kind of really nice jolt of electricity, and it felt so absolutely amazing to actually share that electricity with someone else. So, she couldn’t help it. She was happy to move… quickly. She was more than happy to. They hadn’t done everything yet, but...

Well, it meant they didn’t do much… talking, exactly.

Of course, Anna still found the words somehow in between kisses and um—other things—to monologue about whatever consumed her mind.

But Hans didn’t say much at all. About himself, at least. He still asked a lot of personal questions about her life.

Maybe she should ask him some for a change. Besides, they couldn’t make out throughout the whole dinner, either. That felt like a big no-no in such a super ritzy establishment as Five Crowns anyway. So, they had to talk.

Her stomach suddenly sank.

It was like… she was nervous?

About spending the night with her… friend… with? benefits?

But that seemed so wrong? Why would she be nervous about spending a couple hours gnawing on steak and delicious soufflé and talking with the guy she loved most?

Why did the entire concept of conversation make her want to barf on the spot?

Her stomach fell to her knees.

Maybe Kristoff was right. Maybe love at first sight didn’t exist and she was just lying to herself because she wanted it so badly and…

No. No. Kristoff was getting in her head. It didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t mean anything.

She and Hans would make wonderful conversation at their friends-with-benefits-dinner-date and it would be all fine and dandy and wonderful.

She’d ask him some questions. She’d get to know him. And then she’d show Kristoff! She’d show the shit out of him and that grumpy BFF of hers would be totally wrong!

Except Hans still wasn’t here. So, Anna nervously fidgeted with her dress again. She tried to smooth it out. She clipped and unclipped the two hot pink sparkly snap clips that were on either side of her middle-parted red hair.

After her seventh time fiddling with the clips, she heard the intimidating chime of the doorbell.

Thank God.

She counted to twenty-five before she allowed herself to open the door, needing him to think she had better things to do than twiddle her thumbs and wait for him.

The second she saw his handsome face, her entire bundle of nerves completely disappeared. “Hans!” She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a passionate kiss on the lips. He stumbled back a little bit, not quite ready for this show of affection, probably, but he caught himself easily, finally relaxing into the kiss and bringing his hands to the small of her back.

“You ready, babe?”

She kissed him again. “Mmhmm,” she mumbled into his mouth.

“Let’s do it.”

And all of a sudden, the nerves were back. Now that she had to contemplate how they would make it through dinner before getting back to this whole smooching business.

But she gave him no inkling of any of these likely-Kristoff-induced-second-thoughts and smiled brightly. She followed him to his black Mercedes and bit her lip for the entirety of the car ride. His hand rested on her thigh, squeezing it ever so slightly.

Only letting up when they pulled off Pacific Coast Highway and into the Five Crowns Parking lot and Anna caught herself shaking.

Nervous, still.

Thankfully Hans took her hand, guiding her into the restaurant in a way that felt more… relationship-y than she was expected. This wasn’t friends. It certainly didn’t seem like friends.

Oh, crap. Maybe she needed to have this conversation with Hans tonight, too. Crap. Crapity crap crap crap. That was not at all what she wanted.

But the fact that there were about five hundred million butterflies eating away at absolutely everything in her stomach right before she was about to chow down on some delicious and expensive food that she actually really wanted to enjoy…

She should do it. Yup. She should do it. All she had to do was wait for the perfect window of opportunity and then she’d just—bam get it all out there out in the open and then they’d say I love yous for days and then go back to his car for some making out and it would be glorious and perfect and probably the best date she’d ever been on.

Wait.

Date. This was a date.

She and Hans hadn’t really… been on a date since they met in February. Not a real date, at least. They went to the movie Vegas Vacation but classically sat in the back and made out the whole time, like, so much so that she didn’t even know exactly what the plot was besides the Griswolds going to Las Vegas and oh yeah—Wayne Newton was also there at some point?

She didn’t count that as a date, exactly. Because of the lack of… talking.

And all the other times they only hung out at each other’s houses.

Which meant… this was her first date. What better time to figure out if they were hopefully something more than just friends? Because friends with benefits wasn’t really what she wanted out of any of this. She knew she should be thankful that she had love. They loved each other. That was great. But… she wanted a relationship, too.

Okay. So that was the game plan. All systems very much go.

When she looked around at the restaurant, taking in the English Tudor / nautical hybrid décor, she began to feel a little out of her element. Her silk dress suddenly became itchy. Everybody else in the restaurant had to be at least 40 years old at a minimum and she thought she must seem like a child. Her pink dress and her pink glitter snap clips and her pink eyeshadow only further proved this point.

This made her even more nervous. Uncomfortable. It made her worry she’d never find the right opportunity to have this mature and important conversation when she felt like she was eight years old and at her father’s birthday dinner again.

But she’d try…

When they sat down next to each other at their corner booth, Anna’s stomach lurched. Still very worried. Still very young and out of place. Now was definitely not the right opportunity.

The right opportunity didn’t arise when they ordered their French Onion Soups and Filet Mignons.

The right opportunity didn’t arise when they received their French Onion Soups, when they slurped them up, when Anna realized her breath probably reeked more than she cared to admit.

But once the French Onion Soups were cleared, once Hans placed his right arm comfortably over Anna’s shoulders, so she could lean in close… she thought maybe now was the time.

But Hans wanted to talk, too.

“What classes are you in this year?”

This question jarred her. She hadn’t realized they somehow hadn’t covered any of this basic information in the last month. “Oh. Um. I’m taking Geometry Honors, Spanish II, World History, Conceptual Physics or whatever the freshman science is. Oh! And also, studio art because that sounded fun!” She had to take a break for a bit to catch her breath. “English I, too. But I’m not that happy about it because I really wanted Honors English but apparently that doesn’t exist for freshmen? Which seems really dumb because obviously there’s a lot of us who can handle it. I’ve already read like all of the books on our English I reading list. Like, Sense and Sensibility? Jane Eyre? Catcher in the Rye? Honestly? That feels like middle school to me but whatever.” Anna didn’t usually let that many people in on her secret middle school classic literature obsession, but once she got going she couldn’t stop herself. “Um. Sorry. I got all rambly again. I just really like English. It’s my favorite subject. If you couldn’t already tell…”

“Yeah. English is solid.”

“Mmhmm! And what are you taking?” Anna asked. “Let me guess. You look like an … AP US History guy. French III? Regular English. Ummm.. I don’t know what math. And probably um chemistry honors?”

“Close.”

“So, what is it?”

“I’m in Latin. And yep. APUSH, regular English, Chem Honors. I’m in AP Stats this year. I was so over calculus. Such a bullshit class. Tried it for a day but that bitch Ms. Maloney fucking hated me for no reason.”

“Oh. Okay.” Anna bit her lip. This was stagnating. And he was way too oddly aggressive about that calc class. Her stomach dropped again. She wanted to make sure they had the best conversation of their entire lives at Five Crowns on her first real date. “So, then what’s your favorite subject?”

“History.”

“What do you like about it?” Anna asked.

“Wars are hella dope. Cool to learn about.”

“Ah,” Anna said. “Any one in particular?” She tried her best.

“I dunno. I’ve always been into The Great War.”

“That’s World War I, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Sounds like that’d be a good one.” Anna cringed. Her whole body tensed. She hoped he didn’t notice. This conversation felt awkward. She needed to change the subject. “And you play baseball? Any other sports?”

“Nah,” he said as he squeezed her shoulder. “You had that track meet last weekend, right?”

“Yeah. I did. All day Saturday,” she explained, leaning in closer to him. “I did the pole vault, triple jump, and a relay.”

“That sounds pretty fly.”

“Mmhmm. I guess. But…” Anna sighed. “I kinda wish I hadn’t gone. It was, like, the whole day and I came home to a message from Elsa, so. I don’t know. Maybe I’m not meant for track.”

“What’d Elsa have to say?”

“Not too much, really. It was a short message…” Anna’s voice got a little lower. “But she said she’s pretty nervous because she’s meant to hear from colleges soon.”

“Ah,” Hans said. “Well, I wish her luck.”

“Me, too.”

Anna sighed. Sustained silence fell between them for a short while. And Anna couldn’t help but realize… maybe this was her window of opportunity.

“Um… Hans?

“Wazup?”

“What… are we?”

“What do you mean what are we?”

“Oh, duh. Yeah. Well, it’s not—I don’t mean like—what are we—like humans or whatever. It’s not… deep like that,” Anna winced at her futile attempts to explain her nervous thoughts. “I just mean… what are we? You know—in our… relationship or friendship or whatever it is.”

“Oh.”

“You get it? Does that make sense? I can try explaining it again if it doesn’t…”

“I get it.”

“Okay,” she exhaled. Then inhaled. She bit her lip again. For probably the 50th time that night. “So then… what are we?”

“We’re us.”

“Right. And what is us?”

“We’re having fun. Aren’t we? Didn’t you have hella fun watching Vegas Vacation?

Anna’s cheeks flushed red. “We didn’t watch—”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. But didn’t you have a blast, anyway? Aren’t you having fun right now?”

“Of course I am, I just meant—”

“That’s all we’re doing, babe. We’re having fun.”

“So we’re… so you’re not my—we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend is what you’re saying?”

“We’re having fun.”

Anna could feel her heartbeat quickening. Her stomach couldn’t drop any lower than it already had.

Now they were confirmed just friends. Even though she wanted this date at Five Crowns to mark the start of something a bit more serious…

But maybe…

Maybe they didn’t need labels to be serious. Maybe they were already serious.

Thinking of this, Anna stared into his green eyes, catching some swirls of what she hoped was sincerity hidden within. “You love me though, don’t you?”

“Of course I love you, babe. I’ve loved you since the day I met you.”

She smiled now, snuggling into him further, content. It didn’t matter what they were, it didn’t matter what they called themselves. They had each other. They had snuggles and smooches and smiles and now a real, legit, super-fun date and they loved each other since the very second they laid eyes on each other.

Take that, Kristoff. Mr. Grumpy-Doesn’t-Believe-in-Love-At-First-Sight man. You lost today, sucker.

She planted a gentle kiss on his lips, a kiss that deepened, continuing until their orders of Filet Mignon were placed gingerly in front of them.

Without the constant pressure of the impending scary and mature conversation, Anna gobbled up her food with ease, quickly, in fact—because she was starting to look more and more forward to the after-date than the date itself.

So much so that she considered skipping out on the chocolate soufflé entirely. And chocolate was her favorite thing in the world. Period.

Once the chocolate soufflés arrived, though, she realized that would’ve been a grave error. No way no how.

Naturally she inhaled the chocolate soufflé. In a way that left Hans laughing and laughing, trying as hard as he could to wipe the chocolate off of her mouth and her shoulders and her dress… and also the walls and some areas of the booth… safe to say, Anna had made quite the mess.

And with him touching her and laughing with her, Anna became giddy. When Hans paid with his Visa platinum and signed the check, taking Anna’s hand again and helping her out of the booth, Anna’s giddiness turned ecstatic.

He thought she was funny. He laughed at her jokes. He laughed at her antics. He helped clean up her mess.

And they had a good conversation about school and a really informative conversation about their relationship. And they loved each other, of course. That was important, too.

Still overjoyed, Anna sat again in Hans’s black Mercedes. Hans drove to one of the Crystal Cove beach parking lots. They parked the car.

The entire area was dark. Nobody was there. Not a car. Not a soul. Not even a seagull.

Anna knew where this was going.

Her heart beat quickly for a new and exciting reason.

Their lips touched with sparks of electricity; a fervent move that sent them shimmying into the backseat of the car.

Anna was no stranger to the black leather seats. She was no stranger to this position.

She’d moved quickly with him. She recognized that. But hearing a chorus of Hans’s delectable I love yous made fireworks ignite within her soul. And so, it didn’t seem quick at all. It seemed just about right. Perfect. If they loved each other on the first night, then everything naturally had to follow at lightning speed to match.

Right?

“Hey, babe?” Hans whispered in her ear, so close that it tickled her a bit and she giggled.

“Yeah?”

“Can we do it?”

She giggled again. “I mean—sure. Yeah. When were you—”

“Tonight,” he said. “Now.”

“Oh.” Anna was out of her element again. Yes, she liked moving quickly. Yes, she liked everything else they’d done, but… this? Tonight?

She didn’t think she was ready. She didn’t feel ready. Did anybody ever feel ready? Did it matter?

It was then that she realized Arendelle Academy had failed her. The school had failed them, more like. She had the period talk in the fifth grade. But since then… all she had to do was some dumb assignment about chlamydia in the Human Development class she took last semester.

That wasn’t enough. Clearly.

And here she was—terrified.

Because, sure, she knew what it meant to do it. But only because of a healthy mix of Sex and the City (Anna knew she was a Carrie), Friends, and Anna Karenina. As a curious middle schooler, Anna learned more than she’d like to admit from Anna Karenina’s spicy affair with Vronksy.

But that suddenly felt all… abstract.

It was like she knew nothing. Nothing at all. In the backseat of Hans’s car, she was about to flunk out of doing it class.

The only shred of information that remained in her brain was her vision. Her perfect, wonderful vision of how she both imagined and desired it to happen.

She pictured herself sixteen or seventeen… on her birthday. One of her favorite days of the year. After some kind of wonderful birthday surprise party all planned perfectly by her boyfriend, the two of them would dash off to a swanky hotel, and when they would get to their wonderful suite, there would be rose petals scattered around the bed. They’d have bottles of some fancy champagne… oh—and some chocolate covered strawberries, of course.

But most importantly—boyfriend. She’d said boyfriend. Obviously. Because she imagined it happening with the boyfriend she loved with all of her heart.

That was just for it, though. The Big It.

For any of the other stuff—stuff they’d already done—she never had the same kind of perfect vision. So, it was easy enough to just… full steam ahead do all of it.

But not this it. Not the Big It.

So many parts of her vision were missing. She needed it to be special. She needed it to feel like the most intimate expression of love for another person possible.

Because…well—that’s exactly what it was to her.

So she couldn’t do it tonight. Not like this. But at the same time, she didn’t want to let him down.

She didn’t want to lose him…

“I don’t know,” was all she said.

“Well, why not? We’ve done everything else. What’s the difference?”

“I want it… to be special. And I’m only—I’m, like, young. Isn’t that bad?”

“No.”

But this didn’t comfort her very much. Because she was young.

Elsa would say that she was too young.

“You don’t think it’s bad? That I’m…” Anna gulped. She worried saying the word fourteen out loud would make him see her as immature and naïve. “You don’t think I’m gonna be bad?”

“No.” He kissed her, then, romantically. Anna relaxed a bit into the kiss. “You’re gonna be great.”

“Have you ever… um—have you done it before?”

“A couple times.”

She’d figured as much, and it made her nervous. Really, really nervous. In her vision of how this should play out, it was her first time and it was her loving, doting, wonderful boyfriend’s first time, too. There were no expectations. There were no comparisons.

Her mind flashed to Kristoff, eyes crinkled and mouth wide in that wonderful smile of his.

No. Don’t do that. Don’t do that, Anna.

She needed to shake herself clear of those thoughts. Of that visual…of that desire, maybe. If that’s what it was.

No. No. It was about Hans tonight. HansHansHans. His hotute nose and his beautiful green eyes.

She loved Hans. She wanted Hans in this way, yes. She did.

It was just…

“I think I want it to be special,” Anna said, her voice small.

“This is special, babe. Just you and me here in my car… loving each other.”

“No, no, no. I mean special special. Like… really romantic special. On a really big event or a really big milestone or something. I want it to mean a lot. And I’m not saying that I don’t want to do it with you because I really, really do want to—like…I want to, and my body wants to and… I just think I need to wait um… a little bit.”

“Okay,” Hans said, sighing. “We can wait.”

Anna’s heart soared. Now she just needed a new vision of how she wanted it to go down. She figured he wouldn’t want to wait that long and really neither did she. If she really wanted him to be her boyfriend and not her friend-with-benefits then she needed to double down. She couldn’t keep him waiting for too long.

But if she were worried about being too young… and if she were worried about what Elsa would say, and she wanted it to happen on her birthday, ideally. Then… she should just say it.

“My birthday.”

“What about it?”

“My birthday. We can do it on my birthday, okay? That’s… three months away,” Anna explained. In three months, she’d be fifteen. And fifteen seemed old enough.

Right?

Right. Fifteen felt right. Her birthday felt right. Elsa had to understand. And maybe Elsa would even be proud that she waited those three months instead of diving right in.

Shit did Anna want her sister to be proud of her.

She continued, “I know it’s awhile, but. It’s an important day and we can be together, and I think… I think that’s perfect. I think then it’ll be really special.”

And then… when it happened, she just knew he’d decide he wanted to be her boyfriend for real.

Hans nodded. “Okay. Deal. June 21st, right?”

And her heart leapt at the sheer fact that he remembered.

They made out some more. They got close, really close, to doing what he wanted, but they didn’t. He respected her wishes.

He respected her.

And when Hans dropped her off at home that night, Anna knew what she needed to do. It was late. Again. She always called Elsa so late. It was self-sabotage, really. Elsa’s world operated three hours later than Anna’s…

But she picked up the phone and dialed her sister’s number anyway.

Nothing but ring ring ring ring times infinity and then that condescending beep. Another beep… another message destined to be unanswered but not unheard.

Anna still couldn’t believe that stupid track meet had kept her away from Elsa’s once-in-a-blue-moon phone call.

“Um—Els. Hey. It’s me again. Your sister. Anna…” Anna shook her head. Elsa would recognize her voice. Duh. Anna always had to make everything so awkward. No wonder Elsa hardly ever called her back. “Um, anyway. I, uh—I’m so sorry I keep calling and I’m so sorry I keep leaving all these messages and I’m, like, the most sorry I missed your call Saturday—I wish I’d been home. I…I can’t even tell you how much I wish I’d been home…” She balled up her hands into tight fists and squeezed, hard, trying to keep a lid on all of her emotions. “It’s just—I really, really miss you and I have…” Anna knew what she wanted to tell Elsa, but she didn’t know quite how to frame it. She tried to squeeze her fists harder. “I, um—I did something. And I think…” But she couldn’t help it—her emotions had no lid. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she took a deep breath in a futile attempt to hide the trembling within her voice. “I think you’ll be really proud of me.”

#kristanna #fanfic #frozen

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