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#tar miki
300iqprower · 1 year
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Lostbelt 7 Rewrite (Prologue)
[Finals won't be finished for another week and change so here, have the beginning of the rewrite as a holdover until I can really get working on it]
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Aaaaand we're off to a bad start. As soon as Chaldea exits void space, the storm border is at risk of collapsing entirely from what seems to be a sort of deep sea pressure that normally shouldn't be a problem for Nemo, and yet it’s very much about to kill them all. But suddenly, Georgios is summoned! Without so much as a leyline! What’s more, his very presence seems to lessen the effects immensely. 
Using this chance, Mash and Georgios fight off some foreigner-class beings that seem to inhabit the depths of this tar(?)-filled cave system they’ve ended up in. who are unusually weak for such a class type, while Nemo and Da Vinci are able to make emergency precautions against the pressure and secure the storm border, but at the cost of being completely grounded where they are. 
It seems impossible to venture far however without the bounded field created by border protecting from the unknown corrupting influence. As a last ditch effort, they use a weak leyline signal to summon whoever they can afford, with Nitocris and Geronimo springing forth! It makes sense only casters can be afforded when things are so dire, and it’s certainly better than nothing, especially when Nitocris’s protection acts like a protective field around them that’s more than strong enough to wander! 
However, the summoning process didn’t go unnoticed. A massive corrupted beast slinks forth, big enough to devour the Border itself! …But before anyone can make so much as a weak attempt to fight it off, a figure comes crashing from above, caving in the beast’s skull in one blow. She then reveals herself to be none other than the Mayan goddess Kukulkan! Though, she er…doesn’t seem all that dignified. Inattentive, easily excited, with that power she may clearly be a goddess but she also clearly isn’t that worldly. She must have noticed the summoning, same as that horrible beast, so that’s one more good thing to come out of it! Though…she apparently doesn’t know what a servant or summoning even is?
Soon it becomes clear this isn’t the best person to answer any questions the group has, but thankfully Kuku knows someone who is! At her insistence to meet “Miki” the group are lead even further down into the caverns, but something about Kuku seems to be protecting the Chaldeans from the corruption that nearly overwhelmed them before. Thank goodness too, because it doesn’t seem like Nitocris could have handled much more of that…well, whatever this almost radioactive-like slag is.  
And so, after more talking with Kuku, with more questions for Chaldea than Chaldea has for her, they finally arrive at….the tree of emptiness?! ….….or, rather, its roots…? What lies before them is undeniably a tree of emptiness, but it disappears into the earth above, and seems weirdly small compared to something like Olympus. And yet, in spite of such, it’s visibly full of life; every tendril is in bloom, as if each root is itself a miniature glimpse into another galaxy.  But much more notable than what lies within is what lies outside of those roots. Strung up, as if crucified and bound, is a giant humanoid figure. A woman whose long raven hair flows from out of her shattered headdress, down and over her flat chest, what scraps of clothing she has doing little to hide countless scars across her body, none more pronounced than the one at her neck. 
Speechless at the gruesome sight, her head slowly raises and jolts the group out of it as she warmly addresses Kukulkan and gives her name:  “I…am Mictlan”
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busymagpie · 2 years
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What 5 favorite artists on here that you like?
Pheww there are so many I like and it‘s hard to pick a top five. So I went with the five where whenever I see a new artwork by them my brain does a thing.
With @mandhos' artworks I especially love the composition, the designs and colors. Honestly they‘re to die for!
@silmaspens' designs/costume designs are sooo good I wanna cry. The details!! Also everything looks so art nouveau-ish to me and I love that. Maybe it‘s not art nouveau.. idk, but her art style just tickles a my brain the right way.
@tar-miki draws the most beautiful faces with eyes you could lose yourself in. And let‘s not forget about the fashion! A banger every time!
@em-niwa‘s art has always tickled my brain a certain way, with her vibrant colors and insanely detailed artworks. Every piece of art feels so light and full of energy and character. Just.. magical.
All of @maedictus‘ designs slap! Both character and clothing. I am in awe every time I look at them. Also I love the earthy color palettes and the way everything looks so soft and warm, I can practically feel it.
I always have to take a break from whatever I'm doing when any of them post a new piece 💕
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Reduce the Harm of Smoking
TS is harmful to smokers and non-smokers alike, and it causes serious long-term health issues. Smoking also increases the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke. But there are a few things that can be done to reduce the harm of smoking.
The FDA Tobacco Education Resource Center features content for students, teachers, parents, and teens. The content is easy to navigate and optimized for each audience.
Camel Blue
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The Camel ts blue cigarettes are a new addition to the line of RJ Reynolds light cigarettes. These cigarettes are very mild in strength and offer a smooth, rich tobacco flavor. They are made with a premium blend of tobaccos and feature a unique crushable filter capsule. These cigarettes are available in both mentholated and non-mentholated versions.
The blue color code on cigarette packaging typically indicates a milder product, with lower levels of nicotine and tar than traditional red-labeled cigarettes. However, a cigarette’s overall level of nicotine and tar may vary depending on the brand and type of cigarette, and smokers should consult the label or their healthcare professionals for accurate information about the specific cigarettes they smoke.
The Camel Blue cigarette was one of the most popular brands in the US. The cigarette was a premium brand that used Turkish and domestic tobaccos. It was known for its great taste and high quality. The cigarette was also very affordable.
Chesterfield
Known for its mild taste and high quality tobacco blend, Chesterfield cigarettes are a great choice for those who enjoy a smooth smoking experience. They are also available in a wide range of flavors and packaging options, making them perfect for smokers with different tastes. In addition to their rich flavor, they also offer a unique smoking experience that cannot be found with other brands.
The brand is also well-known for its sponsorship of TV and radio shows. In fact, in the 50s, the famous TV show Dragnet was sponsored by Chesterfields and Liggett & Myers, while the popular radio series Gunsmoke was sponsored by them as well.
The name “Chesterfield” is often associated with the Goldsboro Weekly Argus, which ran an advertisement in 1914 featuring a woman wearing beads and a large Chesterfield cigarette. The ad reads, “Shirt Waist Rings the Latest Fashion Cry – at
Meyer’s Department Store, you will get them for free with your box of Chesterfields.” The cigarette was sold as a non-filtered 70 mm smoke and later was introduced in filtered 85 mm form.
Marlboro
This collection of oral histories and promotional materials documents the advertising history of marlboro red cigarettes. It was created in 1985-1987 and includes interviews with Philip Morris executives, advertising agency personnel (including Leo Burnett), photographers, production staff, and Marlboro cowboys. Interviews were conducted in the United States and abroad, in Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and West Germany.
The company used this branding to target male smokers, who embraced the brand’s Western heritage and cowboy imagery. These campaigns were incredibly successful and made Marlboro one of the world’s largest tobacco companies. The company also used its cigarette branding to promote its products through sponsoring rally drivers. This included factory World Rally Championship teams, such as those of Lancia and Mitsubishi, as well as drivers such as Markku Alen, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen, and Miki Biasion.
A recent study found that most smokers who use Marlboro are White or Hispanic/Latino. The study also found that a higher percentage of lesbian/gay smokers use Newport than heterosexual smokers. This finding suggests that the marketing strategy for Marlboro is effective for attracting sexually active smokers, especially those who are interested in macho imagery.
Winston
Winston cigarettes are a well-known brand of cigarettes that are made with a highquality tobacco blend and have a unique taste. They are also known for their innovative packaging design and range of specialty cigarettes. The company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact is evident in their use of responsibly sourced paper and recyclable cartons.
The Winston cigarette brand is famous for its advertising campaigns that highlight the differences between Winston and other cigarettes. These ads are often based on the idea that Winston cigarettes are free of additives and that smokers will experience a different taste. This ad technique resembles George Orwell’s 1984 motto: “Ignorance is strength.”
In the early 1950s, when researchers began to link cigarette smoking with lung cancer, only a few brands had filters. In 1954, RJ Reynolds introduced the Winston cigarette with a filter and it became the #1 cigarette within 10 years. This success led to the eventual formation of RJR Nabisco and ultimately the current owner, ITG Brands.
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tar-miki · 2 years
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november's issue : elu thingol . king of doriath and lord of beleriand [FA⁶⁶]
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ladythespera · 2 years
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when you don't wanna do a cover but you have to as part of ur job in the royal court~ tar-mairon vogue númenor concept that i'm not too happy with i'm so out of practice w/digital art idk how to do ANYTHING but imma post it regardless
[IMAGE ID: A VOGUE cover with a red background showing Sauron/Tar-Mairon, lounging on an un-specificied (not drawn lol) object and looking forward. He has pale skin and his hair is long and white with golden ribbons; the white becomes stained red with blood near the bottom. He has purple eyes with golden rings in the center. He wears a black robe with red embroidery and a slightly spikier, black version of the Númenorean crown. His hands are also red-stained, and white lines (supposed to be hinting at Roman columns) support them. Around the cover are various titles: "Eternal youth! Maia tells all"; "Inside the royal court (p.3)"; "Have you switched yet? Adûnayân tips (p. 10)"; "New! Anti-Aging Guide (p. 13)." There is a stylized N within the "O" of VOGUE.]
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raitrolling · 2 years
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vallis fell to the eldritch because of his curiosity, lusien fell because of his sense of responsibility. nancor likely won’t become a full victim to the eldritch, but if he did it’d be because of his guilt. feeling like he deserves it as the ultimate punishment for all the things he couldn’t do, and all the misery he has inflicted on other people because of his powers
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eol · 2 years
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the brittle prince.. for @tar-miki <3
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silmaspens · 3 years
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These little style homages have been going around so I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon, there’s so many great artists in this fandom it’s overwhelming! I singled some out and attempted to draw my Silmarillion character designs in their unique styles:
@busymagpie @celebrimbot @felixwhetsel @arlenianchronicles @cy-lindric @astronymus @mandhos @tar-miki
I had a lot of fun doing these and it really made me appreciate their artwork in such a deeper way,,, we are truly blessed to have each and everyone of them in this little corner of tumblr 💛
#I was gonna draw each of your character concepts too#but alas my style changes with every drawing and it wasn’t consistent at all :(#anywho let me tell you nice things about each artist in the comments :#busymagpie: friend your blending and coloring are next level! I couldn’t even come close to your technique! & I’m in love with your ears???#bless you#celebrimbot: master of anatomically correct posing and sephiroth bangs! your able to capture expressions so flawlessly it’s insane!#thank you for celeborn in new balance tennis shoes#I owe you my life#felixwhetsel: okay first off your style is adorable. the way you draw noses is precious and I’m a huge fan#secondly you’re amazing at simplifying and stylizing your characters forms! so much is portrayed through so little#masterful technique friend!#arlenianchronicles: um girl you’re kindness personified so jot that down real fast#and yeah??? your characters are all so consistent and beautiful and emotional??? I mean how do you do that so well??? teach me your ways#thank you for your wonderful contributions to this corner of the Internet 💛💛💛#cy-lindric: okay so you’re one of my major artistic inspirations! your drawings radiate this elegant playfulness and I’m absolutely in awe#the way you add highlights to hair and clothing and jewelry is just *chef’s kiss*#you are truly a master *not worthy* thank you for existing and blessing us with your beautiful artworks and animations!#astronymus: my rockin rolkien tolkien friend your Maedhros and Roberto drawings are my all time favorite things#your traditional pencil work is so confident and delicate at the same time it blows my mind#I wish I had half of your talent! thank you for the inspiration <3#mandhos: okay um... who gave you permission to color like that?? save some of that creativity for the rest of us friend!#you make highlight and shadow choices that I would never think to make and I’m so jealous of that!!!#all of your pieces are conceptual masterpieces and I didn’t even come close to replicating it! you’re incredible!!!#tar-miki: thank you for stopping on this planet while you traverse the galaxy bestowing wonderful art#your style is so unique and I had such a fun time trying to replicate it!#your loving attention to eyes is marvelous! there’s so much emotion packed in them it really just takes your drawings to the next level!#Omf and don’t get me started on your clothing and coloring choices??? perfection??? God bless you!#again theres so many more artists I wanted to include! maybe next time??? if I can make myself do it???#thank you for your contributions to the Tolkien community everybody 💛💛💛#silmart
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beolh · 3 years
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This is a love train to all amazing silmartist that contribute with amazing and super inspiring content! @sakasakiii @thyinum @navyinks @ibrithir-was-here @tar-miki @lidoshka @capriciousfanartist @atarince @arlenianchronicles @lindonwald @astronymus @celebrimbot @houndsofvalinor-art @runmien @vieryplus @foxleycrow
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Maglor is here to give all artists all kinds of love!
I know I haven't included half of the creators I know aaaaah! So please feel free to continue the train so we can all discover new amazing peeps!
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the-lady-auri · 3 years
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A quick Curufin for @tar-miki
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ibrithir-was-here · 3 years
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Alright! Time for another style challenge! This time it’s my oc Gilruin, a young Maia of Aule
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The lovely artists I tried to copy this time where
@arlenianchronicles My goodness I just love your style so much! It’s so soft and compelling
@tar-miki Your style is so fun! I love all the amazing details you put on your costumes
@sauronisnotamused hoooow do you do what you do with light ?? It’s amazing and was sooo hard to try and recreate x)
@yuinevo your style is such a standout! Love the way you handle the subtle coloring in the skin
@silmaspens man I just love your linework and detail, and your color palettes are always so perfect
Hope you all like my attempts at your wonderful styles!
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brighter-arda · 3 years
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South Asian Tolkien Week is finally here and I am very excited! To start the week I have gone back and found some of my favourite pieces of South Asian Tolkien fanart.
In art it can be hard to know if what am I seeing is what the artist intended, especially when thinking about the ethnicities and cultures represented. If anybody would like me to remove their artwork from this post then please let me know and I will take it out immediately.
Luthien leaning on her hands by @ehhhtelion
Luthien in a blue dress by @tar-miki
Luthien and Morgoth by ebe-kastein (via @tolkien-heroines)
Caranthir in indigo and Caranthir in green by @starwrought
Arwen by @m0ntygue
Haleth in a wedding dress by @schneegurochka
Galadriel, Luthien and Glorfindel by @tumblerislovetumblerislife
Varda by @art-calavera
Vaire by @scarletstatic
This Irmo and Vaire (the Irmo always reminds me of my friend's brother!) by @southaway
And of course as we all know @arwenindomiel's beautiful blog, which has many South Asian (and other poc) edits and has been such a wonderful influence on this fandom. It is amazing to have this event! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
If you have a piece that you would like me to add to this list then please do send to to me or submit it and it will make me very happy! I will most likely make a second post after this week is over, to show the new art that I know that amazing artists in this fandom will make over the week!
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tar-miki · 3 years
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I birthed feanor after one month art break and he drained all life out of me
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busymagpie · 3 years
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I love your art I wish I could paint like that 🥺 your Celebrimbor/Maeglin is soooooo cute I love them ❤ good luck with your further art, have nice day!
Thank you for your kind words 🤗 Though I think you might be talking about this beautiful piece that was done by the lovely @tar-miki. But I'll pass it on ;)
I hope you have a great day too!
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ayaosguqin · 3 years
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hi! just wanted to say i love your art style and the way you use colour and light. honestly i'm shocked your art doesn't have more notes, because all the pieces i've seen are amazing.
Thank you so much !! I'm glad you like the lightning and color , getting it right is a struggle 😂😂
I have seen a lot of artist with great arts that dont get likes as much as they deserve , I think as a whole it's the way this app is .
Anyway I have to say that I love your art as well :000 (so if anyone is interested in star wars fanart give their blog a look, @krownest )
At the end I'm gonna put some art blogs here , they all have beautiful unique styles ( I'm not gonna put a @ to not notify them needlessly but do check them out if you haven't yet !! )
foxleycrow / tar-miki / orntlgst / navyinks / sheeswee /thyinum /houndsofvalinor-art / vieryplus / mandhos
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cin-dy-moon · 4 years
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touch // tai x mc
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AN: so, I needed to take a break from writing my other projects and I was struck with inspiration elsewhere… so: I present something filled with angst and longing instead. I just KNOW physical touch is Tai’s love language. No one will be telling me otherwise lol.
Rating: No actual smut, but Tai is a grown man so… his thoughts aren’t exactly always PG-13. Sexually explicit themes. Cursing.
Words: 3,639
Synopsis: After the waterfall, Tai has been holding himself back from touching you all the time. He didn’t want to disrespect Camilo, at least not to his face. But without even trying, (some trying) you were becoming more and more irresistible.
My MC: Minji Song, 24, 5’6”, a conservationist researching how to prevent coral bleaching for her PhD, moved to the UK from Korea for university, she had lived in the US for 8 years during her teenage years, yawns at recouplings, a firecracker.
Tai was genuinely excited to have a sleepover with the boys. It was a good way to get to know everyone and have a chance to bond with the guys. Coming into the Villa could be pretty intimidating, especially when you come in later. Tai wasn’t afraid of being liked or not. He was already a pretty likable guy. But on Love Island, sometimes the difference between winning and losing was about who liked you. Bonds were important to form.
It was fun, lots of laughs and time to get to know one another better. Tai was sure that there was plenty there for the show runners to use for content. Bill was curious about how everyone was coming off outside, but Tai could tell that he just wanted to know if he was popular. Honestly, Bill was a mixed-bag. People either loved him or hated him. When Tai told him this, he was pretty chuffed about it, finding the mixed reviews as something to take pride in. It was a pretty Bill reaction; he lived in polarized opinions.
Bill was the reason the pillow fights started.
The actual sleeping part was where Tai found his trouble. The quiet and the darkness only amplified his thoughts. They were all drifting to her.
Nicky seems like a really great guy. He’s loyal to the people he attaches himself to. He’s really made himself an older brother/father figure in the Villa. He’s fiercely protective of Minji… Minji.
Harry’s a cute kid with wild ambition. He needs a strong work-ethic to pull it all off. Minji works so hard… Minji.
He suddenly had become hyper-aware about how the sheets felt against the palms of his hands, his legs, his stomach. They were soft and smelled like fresh linen. He closed his eyes and thought of the way she smelled. Peach. A hint of musk. Some kind of flower. With her sweat, it morphed into something that reminded him of something nostalgic, something he couldn’t put his finger on. Like picnics on the beach. Salt. Sunshine.
His eyes shot open, startled by the intensity of this connection to her. Realistically, they had one morning with a good conversation and a really great date that resulted in some… pretty big bits. He’s had one-night-stands before, but he rarely ever had such an instantaneous connection to somebody. He never had that connection lead to sex so quickly. Mind-blowing, earth-moving, award-winning sex.
Tai ran his hands over his face. He needed to get some sleep, but his slong was starting to get other ideas. The pulsing was getting more intense. There had to be something else he could think of.
Ciaran seems like a great guy, also a potentially great work-out partner. His eyes just light up whenever he starts talking about his dog or dogs in general. I like my fair share of pups, but Ciaran was on a whole other level. In fact, sometimes his nose will scrunch a little as he’s speaking and the smile on his face is so wide and contagious…
Shit.
He turned so that he was on his side, staring blankly into the night. His imagination was in full gear with the wondering of what it would feel like to have her arms snake around his waist right now, to fall asleep to the feeling of her nuzzling into his chest, to wake up with her absentmindedly kissing up his jaw. He closed his eyes again determined to chase away the ghostly memories of her touch.
Count sheep, Tai. He was maybe too familiar with the operations around sheep, how dorky they looked without their wool coats fully grown, how they smelled. The smell of barnyard was certainly a boner-killer. He settled better into his pillow. The memories of his time spent volunteering at a sheep farm the summer before secondary school crept into the forefront of his brain. The sun and the shit mingled together to create the worst smell in existence. The heat and the air thick, stuck to the insides of his lungs like tar.
One…
            Two…
                        Three…
And then it was morning.
He awoke to chatter, something he might have to get more used to considering that he was going to be sharing a bedroom with twelve people. He yawned and stretched his large arms across the bed. Camilo said something about making breakfast for the girls as a surprise. With that suggestion, Tai had to suppress the instinct to grimace. He didn’t want to be obvious about his disdain at them being together. But he sure as hell wasn’t smiling.
He knew that Camilo wanted to make breakfast for Minji specifically, to woo her. Tai couldn’t blame him, though. Minji was something else. A clear and vibrant color against softer hues, like the bright orange in a sunset. There wasn’t much competition when it came to her. Honestly, a lot of the commentary from before he came to the Villa seemed to be about who Minji would win with. She was a blazing inferno. The others were great, but…
She lit up every room she was in.
After getting ready in the bathroom, they made their way into the kitchen. Ciaran exchanged looks with him, both unsure of what to do with themselves.
“Why don’t we tag-team breakfast for you, me, and Yasmin?” Ciaran suggested. Tai smiled, grateful for the way that the three of them had bonded, and nodded in agreement. They got to making scrambled eggs and avocado toast. Ciaran looked contemplative as he watched Tai cooking and then grabbed some fruit out of the refrigerator, taking blueberries to the sink to wash. It was easy to forget about the cameras in some moments, but when the entire kitchen was crowded and bustling and hot, it was painfully obvious. He was just going to make the most out of it, doing his best to make the most aesthetically pleasing and Instagram-worthy dish.
As Tai was plating things, he looked up to see Minji making her way across the lawn towards the kitchen. Camilo jumped to his feet to greet her, and Tai couldn’t ignore the small pang of jealousy he felt in his chest. The slices of avocado on his toast got mushed up more than normal. He let the corner of his mouth pull down slightly.
Her lilted voice carried across the lawn loud enough for him to hear her excited chatter but not what she was saying. Her checkered bikini hugged her ass like it was molded onto her. How do you go about knowing what someone looks like in their most vulnerable and intimate state and then have to go about pretending like you haven’t? She looked up at him. They made eye contact for a moment. Time halted to a standstill, like it was giving Tai the grace to let her warmth shine on him for just a little longer.
She looked away first.
He cleared his throat lightly and brought out the plates to Ciaran and Yasmin, who both gave him a short applause for his work. He grinned, flooded with appreciation for his new friends. Something was going to go well this morning. Then, he noticed that the only seat with them was near Camilo and Minji.
Great.
“It was weird not having you in bed last night,” Camilo muttered. Tai mentally rolled his eyes. They shared a tent together. “Also, I made you some food.”
Minji took her plate gratefully, eyeing it down without glancing back up.
“Perfect timing,” she was bursting. “I was so hungry.”
“Well eat up then, babe.”
Tai lost his appetite.
Actually, who was he kidding. He would be hungry in five minutes if he didn’t eat now. He picked up his fork and started to poke at his eggs before putting a small bite into his mouth. There was a little too much pepper in the eggs, but it was still good. He glanced at Bill, who was heartily helping himself to his fry up, mayonnaise in the outer corner of his mouth. Tai sort of just stared for a moment at Miki wondering how on earth she was sitting there eating her own food and smiling at him. She reached over to wipe his lip, and he just muttered a thanks before delving into what rules of etiquette were “actually important.” Abort. Shift attention to anything else.
Tai watched as Minji started to go in on her own breakfast. He knew that Camilo was a great chef, but there was some instinct to hope and try to out-do him and cook something Minji could gush over. Maybe it had something to do with his pride or with him being a Leo, but he wanted to be the best for her. He knew he could be.
His eyes honed in on her hands, the way they held her fork, how they absentmindedly held her cheek as she listened to the banter between all of the islanders. She was calculating the best way to reveal their antics from last night.
“We gave each other oily massages last night,” Minji divulged, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. “It got handsy.”
That peaked everyone’s attention, whether or not they believed it was actually true. Ciaran and Harry both fell for her joke, ever so naive and young. It made him wonder how Harry was going to succeed and not be taken advantage of.
Tai sat up straighter. Of course, she had to mention massages. He swallowed the food he’d been chewing, remembering the way her hands felt in his hair, the way that her fingertips trailed lines of fire across his body, the way her ass felt in his hands, the feeling of her around his—
“I’ve never had a massage before,” Ciaran admitted. Tai couldn’t pass up the opportunity to flirt a little with Ciaran. He was too precious to leave alone. He blushes so easily.
“Don’t worry, I have experienced hands,” Tai said with a smirk. “I’ll give you a good kneading if you’d like. I’ll leave you feeling very satisfied.” He winked. Ciaran blushed and the conversation continued, mainly light and still about the respective sleepovers from last night.
“I crushed everyone in a pillow fight,” Minji said, a fiery look in her eyes. She certainly had a competitive streak. It was hot. Her eyes met his, and for a small moment, he felt a rush in his veins and warmth spread all through his body. Her eyes left his, and then it was all gone. Like the worst kind of instant withdrawal.
All he did was crave her. The touch of her soft hands on the nape of his neck, her lips on his, her legs wrapped around his waist, her body pressed against him, his fingers curled in her hair.
He wondered if she ever felt the same.
“Why are there bean bags everywhere?” Miki asked.
“We jousted with them,” Nicky explained, but there was still confusion.
“One boy, the knight, sits on the back of another boy, the horse. Then they face another team. The bean bags are used to knock each other off with,” Tai gave them a shrug and chuckled lightly. “My mates and I made this game up when we were smaller.”
“Harry got destroyed,” Camilo added. Tai forgot that he existed for a moment. It was nice while it lasted.
“Oi, it was because Bill was a rubbish horse!” And the arguing started. Tai couldn’t help but look between the two of them and be reminded of the kids he coached. In petty arguments like these, it was best to just deflect.
“It’s not all Bill’s fault,” he interjected. “Ciaran and I just made a great team.”
“Sounds like I could kick your ass at jousting,” Minji chimed in, eyes challenging him. Sparks.
“Oh ho, tough talk from Minji,” he raised a cocky eyebrow. “We’ll see if she can back it up.”
“Keep talking smack and you won’t have to wait,” Minji retorted, eerily calm. “Pressure’s gonna be riding you just like Ciaran was last night.”
“So, you just assumed that I was on the bottom?”
“If you weren’t, you will be.”
“Is that cause you’ll be the one doing the riding?” he was getting dangerously close to revealing too much. Minji’s expression didn’t change, but she couldn’t do anything about the blush that appeared on her cheeks. She leaned back in her seat.
“You wouldn’t be able to handle that,” she was careful in her words. “Besides, I wouldn’t want you to go home early before any of the fun really begins.”
Tai was smoldering. He could’ve gone further. He was so tempted to. But the atmosphere had already gotten weird with this challenge-flirting that the two of them were doing. Camilo shifted in his seat awkwardly before clearing their plates.
Minji glanced around, only now seeing how people were slowly finishing up and cleaning around them. The cameras had been focused on their conversation, probably keeping a close eye on the two of them because of their exploits behind that waterfall. She bit her lip like she was trying to stop herself from laughing. When no one was looking, she winked at him. Then, she walked away.
“Let me do the wash-up, since you guys were kind enough to cook,” Yasmin said, her voice was like spiced apple tea. Cinnamon. Clove. Nutmeg. He said a quick thank you while his eyes followed Minji, who’s been pulled to the side by Nicky. Their friendship was instantaneous. People on the outside appreciated how they challenged each other, or rather, how she challenged him with his outlook about his sister.
Tai glanced away quickly, asking Ciaran something about his dog. That would get him talking for a while, and it would make it seem like he was having a conversation rather than being a weirdo and just staring at Minji. Nicky teased her about something and she laughed. God, what a laugh. Unrestrained and inelegant, it threw her head back a bit. She winked at Nicky, who took his turn to laugh.
“Kelly is so smart, I swear,” Ciaran’s voice interrupted his people-watching. It had more of his Irish sing-song quality whenever he got excited about something. “She can tell when you’re speaking to her and what you’re saying. One time, I was trying to…”
Tai’s eyes darted back to Minji. Her mouth pulled down at one corner, annoyed by something Nicky said. Her eyebrows furrowed a bit, listening to whatever Nicky was saying. Tai would bet money that he was talking about his sister again.
All at once, it hit him just how much he was into her. There was no one else on the island for him. Honestly, he should have known that as soon as he heard her voice for the first time, since before she discovered them in that tent.
Knowing how she acted, she was probably snooping outside of it. He knew it was her from the sound of her sneeze. Tai could pick out her voice in a crowd. Minji’s voice was coated thick with honey, fresh and ripe watermelon that dripped down your hands, the pleasant warmth that bloomed from inside when you’re drunk, the song that you play when you’re driving late at night with your dearest friends.
Little things like that hook him so easily. The last time he felt anything like this, it was three years ago. Thea’s eyes sparkled all the time. They made him feel like he could achieve anything as long as she kept looking at him like that. Of course, that didn’t work out at all. Breaking up had incapacitated him for a while. How was it that he was so enamored by Minji after knowing her for such a short period of time?
His heart wanted to leap into the entirety of her, but his head still had some reservations. He can get so caught up in the imagination and perception of a person that he forgets that they are just human. There was still so much of her that he didn’t know, that he wanted to get to know. Uncover her hidden truths and secret desires. Figure out what she was keeping behind the facade in her eyes.
A cacophony of burps completely derailed any more thoughts. Minji chuckled, “Maybe we need to work this off.”
Tai lit up. He quickly convinced them into doing “Tai” chi, something he first started doing to mess with his teammates.
“Tai is the best!” He shouted, delighting in the idea that every islander was just praising him for no real reason. He slowly shifted his weight from one foot to the next.
“Tai is the hottest,” he heard her voice float through a knowing smirk. He could’ve kissed her right then. His expression was completely smug before his gaze even met hers. She was stirring the pot by grafting on him in front of everyone again, and he was welcoming it. Nothing big had happened in the villa yet. Wouldn’t it be interesting for the audience to see how far he could push this? The temptation was too good to pass up, and the way she was looking at him made it harder to restrain himself.
“Think we need another waterfall to cool down with, Minji?”
She fought back her smile, though her eyebrow was still arched and her eyes still held that tempted look. He knew: she had a taste and she wanted more too.
“Tai’s got the cutest bum here!”
Everyone was amused when Seb was the first to affirm, especially with how certain he was about it.
Tai wanted to see if Minji would take the bait again, “Tai’s an incredible and passionate lover!”
“He sure is…” she mused, almost like it was just a thought accidentally said out loud. But she was looking right at him, eyes bored into his innermost being. For a moment, he wondered if it was a dare, egging him on to take her again there on the lawn. Prove it to them, to everyone.
But he didn’t, he resigned himself, “How could you possibly know that?”
Before Tai could say anything else, Camilo whisked Minji away. Tai chi was officially over for the day.
He made his way over to the kitchen determined to make his perfect cup of tea. It would help him feel better about this whole morning. Plus, holding it should help preoccupy his hands and mind from drifting into the memory of what it was like to explore her body, to make her utter his name.
It was at the point in the morning where it was too warm to have a hot drink, but there was something almost meditative about the whole process. Waiting for the kettle to reach its boiling point, measuring out the perfect amount of tea leaves, watching how the tea stained and spread in the water. He took a long and slow sip. It was perfect.
Camilo rushed by him with a grimace on his face. The space between his eyes knotted with frustration. He glanced at Tai for a moment. His eyes were cold. Instead of saying anything, Camilo just made his way inside. Tai stared at the place where Camilo had disappeared and then to the direction of the loungers. He placed his mug on the counter and abandoned it there, the cup half-full.
He saw her lying down, an arm draped over her eyes to block out the sun. Tai nudged her foot with his leg. When she saw him, a smile broke out on her face. It was wide and bright. His heart leapt.
“Well, hello,” Minji spoke and he drank in every word. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“I make it a point not to leave beautiful women unaccompanied,” he told her, sitting himself down on the lounge chair next to her. He stretched his body across it, making sure to lightly flex as he did. He could feel her gaze on him. His smirk found its home on his face.
“I see that,” she said simply, and then she laid her head back down. A silence fell on them like a blanket, but it was getting hot out laying in the sun. Tai let the silence continue, curious to see what was going to happen. The silence continued, though. He wondered if she was doing it on purpose.
“So, did you only come here to lay down next to me?” She was fishing for something. Tai turned his head towards her.
“Did you want me to do something else?”
She smiled but didn’t say anything at first. He could see her thinking about something. Her eyes pierced him, exploratory and unfamiliar. He wanted to know what she was looking for; he wanted to know if he would be willing to give it to her.
Her head snapped to the lawn and her smile dropped. A cameraman was making a beeline towards them. Exploration over. No discoveries could be made.
Tai glanced between her and the cameraman, unsure of what to do himself. He wasn’t happy. Clearly, there was something she wanted, but she couldn’t do anything with their privacy invaded. He was frowning.
“I want to know you,” she said simply. She was quiet and resigned, not at all like how she presented herself normally. Her voice was the same kind of honey-comb comfort, but it was more clear, ringing like a bell. It resonated so deeply in him. He didn’t know what to do with it. With five simple words, he was left without his footing.
Her phone went off. The moment was over for her. Wordlessly, she gets up to go. Minji let herself get one more look at him before she left, a small smile on her face.
And then, she was gone.
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