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buckys-wintersoldier · 3 months

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Happy 107th Birthday

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 -> 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝!𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐱 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 -> “𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.“

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 -> 1941 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 -> 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐱, 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟

𝐀/𝐍 -> 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 @imtryingbuck. 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 ��𝐨𝐮. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡. 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇, 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐄.❤️❤️

𝐀/𝐍 -> 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 107𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 107𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 107 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 @buckybarnesevents 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 @firefly-graphics.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 -> 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐡 | 𝐓𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐖𝐒 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲, “𝐈’𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.“, �� 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 @buckybarnesevents

Masterlist | Bucky Barnes Masterlist

His ocean blue eyes finally light up again when he smiles. His lips curl up, and it reaches his eyes; the way he smiles is real; and all that because he has his beautiful doll, who loves him more than he could ever have wished for. The way the giggles leave his plump lips lets you shiver, and when he laughs, he makes people around him laugh too. Who thought that the broken man he was could turn into the happy and cute man he is now? His brown hair is short, his muscles are glistening with sweat, and when he turns around to face you, he has the prettiest smile on his face you have ever seen.

“Have you seen that, doll?” he asks, happy and excited while he holds up the engine for Sam’s boat.

He just lifts it off the trailer and places it next to it on the ground. Sam rolls his eyes playfully while you laugh.

“Yeah, Buck. She doesn’t even get her eyes off of you,” Sam says, laughing but with a playful, disgusted expression.

The man picks up some smaller things and brings them from the trailer to the boat. Bucky is still standing in front of you and smiling widely. You giggle and blush softly, especially when Bucky walks closer to wrap his arms around you.

He never thought he would deserve or find someone who loved him. Someone who never even dared to think about judging him, someone who understands his anxiety, his nightmares, and his past. A woman - like he says, - as pretty as the moon and the stars. Who's smile shines brighter than the sun, which can light up the darkest nights. Bucky needs you like the moon needs the sun to glow. When your fingers trail softly over his body, or every time he is around you, he feels that tingling feeling he has only with you. When his lips meet yours for the softest kisses the two of you can share and your arms are wrapped around his waist, all those small gestures of yours mean so much more to him. Bucky enjoys and loves those, and especially you, like nothing else. He never dared to imagine that someone would touch him in a soft and loving way, that someone would accept him and support him in the way he is.

“You’re not better than me, Sammy,” you shout, and you make Bucky chuckle against your neck.

“Don’t call me that,” Sam laughs and turns towards you; he then smiles mischievously. “I’m not screaming his name while I come all over his dick.”

“She doesn’t just come over my dick. My doll has at least two orgasms before she gets my dick to scream my name when she comes over it,” Bucky says, proudly of himself.

You gasp, looking at him with wide eyes and red cheeks. Sam laughs loudly and winks at you, making you blush even more. Before the two of you were together, Bucky would never have talked about his sex life or personal things in general like that, but the way you make him a better person lets him talk and make jokes about his sex life. Bucky’s arms slide up and down your sides, and he leaves kisses all over your neck. Then he looks into your eyes, and you get lost in them, the sun reflecting inside of them, making them even brighter, and the smile on his face grows. His hands slide higher until he reaches your face, capturing your cheeks softly before he presses his soft, warm lips on yours. Your stomach tingles, letting you smile into the kiss. Your hands find their way to his waist.

“Get a room,” Sam says, rolling his eyes, while he walks closer to the two of you.

Bucky looks up and smirks. One of his hands slides down your back until he reaches your ass, and he squeezes it softly.

“Buckkkkk,” you squeal.

You make both of the men laugh, and Bucky kisses you once again.

“We’re going to dance tonight, so we’re going to change clothes now. Come on, doll.”

You smirk and walk with Bucky to Sarah’s house.

“You look so beautiful; you know that, do you?” Bucky asks, his suit fitting perfectly and his eyes brightening in the light.

You giggle softly, walking closer to him. Before he wraps his arms around you and pulls you as close as possible, his lips trail along your jawline and your neck. His hands are warm, making you melt in his embrace. His kisses and the way he looks at you are almost hypnotizing, but full of love.

“Thank you; you’re beautiful too,” you mumble, making him chuckle against your soft skin.

“Ready to dance with me?”

You nod, taking Bucky’s hand in yours, and then the two of you walk out of the house. He kept his eyes on you the entire time, admiring you. It feels like the lights show just the two of you; everything around you is quiet while you walk to the club where he asked you to go out with him. His big hand is around yours, warming your skin; his warmth is rushing through your body; and you can’t stop yourself from smiling. When the two of you reach the club, he opens the door for you and lets you walk in first before he follows you.

It’s just a small room, but there's enough space for a bar and to dance. The music is perfect for Bucky, while the air in the club is warm and smells like alcohol. You immediately pull Bucky with you to the dance floor and place your hands around his shoulders. His hands find their way to your waist, and the two of you move slowly to the sound of the music.

“Not a drink before we dance?”

“We can drink later, but it’s one of your favorite songs, Buck,” you mumble, and you smile even wider when his eyes light up because you know it’s a song he loves.

He doesn’t say anything; he just leans closer to kiss you before he places his head on your shoulder. Your head rests against his shoulder as well, inhaling his scent. His embrace feels like home, and you know you’re safe with Bucky. It’s just the two of you. The love of your life and you. The two of you dance a while until he pulls you along with him to the bar, ordering your favorite drink and some snacks.

“Doll?”

You look around, meeting his beautiful blue eyes. He suddenly has an expression on his face where you don’t exactly know what to think of; he looks unsure, like he used to do before he met you. His smile is real, but his eyes don’t brighten the way they used to when he looks at you.

“What’s wrong, baby?” you ask, worried.

“Nothing, i-it’s. I really thought it would be easier to ask that,” he admits, scratching the back of his neck.

You smile, waiting for him to continue talking about whatever he wants to ask you. Your smile is kind, not pressuring. And Bucky can’t help, but his smile grows when he admires you. He then swallows harshly and runs his fingers along his neck - like always when he gets nervous.

“I- You know I love you, do you?”

“Yes, and I love you too, Buck,” you say, softly laughing.

His eyes light up, his smile grows, and he feels stronger than ever before. He feels finally complete with you.

“And- Oh, Doll. I mean- In front of the mirror, it was easy, but now I feel like my tummy is going crazy,” Bucky mumbles, smiling shyly. “I love you so much, so much that I feel like I can fly when I’m around you. When we first met, I never thought you would love me the way I am. I never thought someone would love me in general. But then there was that beautiful, nice, and most adorable woman I have ever seen - you, my doll. My heart was beating so fast, and it’s still beating fast when I’m around you. With you, I’m able to be the person I always wanted to be. I’m happy, and that’s because of you. I would probably still be a grumpy old man if I hadn't met you. But happily, we meet, and you love me the way I love you- I- I still can’t believe how happy I am with you. You’re the love everyone is wishing for, but only a few people will find it.”

Bucky smiles, taking your hands and getting on his knees in front of you. Your mouth immediately falls open; his blue eyes are piecing in yours, and the smirk on his lips makes you shiver slightly. Your breath hitches, and while he takes something out of his pocket.

“And I wanna ask you if you- my doll - do you want to marry me?”

Tears fill your eyes suddenly, and your hands are shaking while Bucky opens the small box and exposes a small, shining ring. Everything around you is quiet, and everyone is staring at you, waiting for you to respond.

“A-Are you sure about it? I mean, y-yes I want to, but Bucky, please don’t feel you have to. I love you an-“

“Yes. I just finally know what I have to do, and I know in my heart that it’s right,” he says confidently, taking the ring to slide it on your finger.

“Buck-“

He interrupts you when he gets up and captures your cheeks with his big, warm hands. He leans closer and smirks before he presses his soft lips on yours. The moment your lips meet, something inside of you, like a soft sigh and a shiver, runs through your body. The tears that are streaming down your cheeks are nothing but pure joy.

“I love you so much. You make me so happy,” he says, his light blue eyes shining like the sun.

“I love you too, Bucky. So much, and-“

You interrupt yourself by kissing him. That kiss says more than words could ever do, the love, the trust, the happiness, and the warmth between the two of you. The people around you are cheering loudly, and then the music turns on again. Yours and Bucky’s favorite song, and he immediately pulls you with him on the dance floor, holding you close and dancing slowly.

When it’s midnight, you lift your glass to look around. All your friends are there, and Bucky stands in front of you. His smile is bigger than ever, and while he looks at you, there is pure adoration and love in his eyes.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SOLDAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE 107th. HAPPY 107th BIRTHDAY, MY FAVORITE GRUMPY MAN!” you shout and smirk at your fiancé.

He shakes his head but presses kisses all over your face, while the others laugh and congratulate Bucky as well.

“Thank you,” he mumbles. “Do I get my present now? I would like to have you naked in our bed. What do you think?”

“But you need to unwrap your presents.”

“I will. Or do you wanna take off your clothes by yourself?”

When you shake your head, his lips trail along your neck, and his fingers dig into your soft skin while he guides you out of the bar. Bucky licks his lips, hitting softly into your neck and smirking when Sam says something like, “Have fun, but don’t scream too loud, while you cum at least two times before you cum all over his dick.”

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨

𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

Taglist: @sergeantbarnessdoll @kandis-mom @nicoline1998enilocin @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @identity2212 @km-ffluv @lunaalovesyouu @blackhawkfanatic @armystay89 @suz7days @randomawesomeperson102 @rogersbarber @bucky-barnes-lover @felicitylemon @cjand10 @bookishtheaterlover7 @lives-in-midgard @casa-boiardi @futurequeen2018-blog @flstrawberry

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beebeedibapbeediboop · 10 months

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💗DM to claim 💗:

Payment via Paypal, specify the design and ask if still available first, once claimed it cannot be taken again) Please do not steal and do not tattoo unless you claimed it ~

100: Mouthbreather/ 101: Baby goat / 102: Reach for the stars/103: Running mushling / 104: Soft bone / 105: Rotten bones / 106: The star Tarot card Mr. Shinebright / 107: Goliath beetle

~First batch 1-2-10 still available

Second All sold

Third batch all sold

Fourth batch all sold

Fifth batch all sold

Sixth batch all sold

Seventh batch 68 still available

Eighth batch 76 and 78 still available

Ninth batch all sold

Valentine's day batch, 90 still available

Tenth Batch- 97 still available

#artists on tumblr #designs #tattoo designs #tattoo flashes #stars #beetle #bones #mushrooms #teeth #listened to everyone but I want to make more bugs ones!

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amnhnyc · 4 months

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Happy Fossil Friday! With sharp teeth, long legs, and sickle claws, Deinonychus antirrhopus was likely a formidable predator. This dinosaur, which could reach lengths of about 7 ft (2.1 m) from nose to tail, lived during the Early Cretaceous, some 107 million years ago. It belonged to a group of dinosaurs called maniraptors, or “hand-robbers.” Its hands and feet were equipped with sharp claws for catching and grasping prey. Like modern-day birds, it had hollow bones.

Fun fact: The Deinonychus on display in the Museum is a real fossil skeleton—and the only one of its kind on display anywhere in the world! See it up close in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs! We're open daily from 10 am-5:30 pm. Plan your visit.

Photo: © AMNH

#science #amnh #museum #fossil #dinosaur #nature #natural history #animals #paleontology #fossil friday #deinonychus #cretaceous period #early cretaceous #did you know #fact of the day #dinosaurs #cool animals #prehistoric animals

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justsomeunsurefancat · 4 months

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IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM BISAN

"Hi everyone, it’s Bisan from Gaza, I am still alive Alhamdullah.. it’s been 107 days of genocide, 15 weeks, 2568 hours of killing us, taking over our homes and lands in Gaza Strip, and forcing us to choose between leaving or death.. and sometimes we can’t even choose.. the Israeli air strikes simply kill us without any warnings." "Now, we are without any connection, neither the internet nor the cellular, we can’t reach each other’s inside Gaza, we don’t know if our families and friends are alive or not, wounded or not.. still in their places or not! We take hours of walking and searching to reach someone, while moving became very risky! We can’t reach to you as well! The footage, information and news from Gaza are not reaching you as before because the Israeli army intentionally destroyers the signal towers and the servers, even using the E-SIM requires being in a high place which is very risky!. I borrowed this vest to upload this post!" "I am not scared of death, but of being displaced, scared of losing my family or friends, scared of being wounded and can’t have my treatment because the health system is collapsed in Gaza, and to die in pain! I am not scared of the destruction.. I lost my work place.. my home and my family work place and source of income, I am terrified of being killed by an occupier, and to be forgotten, one oppressed Bisan of a whole occupied people." "The strongest governments and weapons manufacturers are supporting this genocide against my people, and you are our only hope! STRIKE globally and call for a ceasefire! Strike, protest, stop the economic movements and make pressure on your countries to stand against this and stop it, if ISRAhell don’t find the financial and weapons support, or governments to hide their crimes they will be forced to stop the genocide! Go to the streets, protest and Globally strike for a week, (21-28) January! YALLA Brave and free people of the world, CEASEFIRE NOW!"Hi everyone, it’s Bisan from Gaza, I am still alive Alhamdullah.. it’s been 107 days of genocide, 15 weeks, 2568 hours of killing us, taking over our homes and lands in Gaza Strip, and forcing us to choose between leaving or death.. and sometimes we can’t even choose.. the Israeli air strikes simply kill us without any warnings." "Now, we are without any connection, neither the internet nor the cellular, we can’t reach each other’s inside Gaza, we don’t know if our families and friends are alive or not, wounded or not.. still in their places or not! We take hours of walking and searching to reach someone, while moving became very risky! We can’t reach to you as well! The footage, information and news from Gaza are not reaching you as before because the Israeli army intentionally destroyers the signal towers and the servers, even using the E-SIM requires being in a high place which is very risky!. I borrowed this vest to upload this post!"

"I am not scared of death, but of being displaced, scared of losing my family or friends, scared of being wounded and can’t have my treatment because the health system is collapsed in Gaza, and to die in pain! I am not scared of the destruction.. I lost my work place.. my home and my family work place and source of income, I am terrified of being killed by an occupier, and to be forgotten, one oppressed Bisan of a whole occupied people."

"The strongest governments and weapons manufacturers are supporting this genocide against my people, and you are our only hope! STRIKE globally and call for a ceasefire! Strike, protest, stop the economic movements and make pressure on your countries to stand against this and stop it, if ISRAhell don’t find the financial and weapons support, or governments to hide their crimes they will be forced to stop the genocide! Go to the streets, protest and Globally strike for a week, (21-28) January! YALLA Brave and free people of the world, CEASEFIRE NOW!"

#palestine #free palestine #gaza #free gaza #palestinians #israel #gaza strip #palestinian genocide

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scoonsalicious · 2 months

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Unwanted: Chapter 13, Uncomfortable - Pt. 4

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Fem!Reader

Summary: When your FWB relationship with your best friend Bucky Barnes turns into something more, you couldn’t be happier. That is, however, until a new Avenger sets her sights on your super soldier and he inadvertently breaks your heart. You take on a mission you might not be prepared for to put some distance between the two of you and open yourself up to past traumas. Too bad the only one who can help you heal is the one person you can no longer trust.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, the last straw, arguing, violence, Sexually Explicit Content Minors: GTFO; I don’t serve your kind here (angry/rough PIV, fingering, degradation kink), memories of past CSA, self harm, Bucky really, really fucks up.

Word Count: 4k

Previously On...: Tony sent you a very expensive apology gift.

A/N: Ya’ll are getting this early! Just one thing to say:

I am so, so sorry.

Coincidentally, this is getting posted on the day I'll be coming home from NoLa, so I'll arrive just in time to hear you all say how much you now hate me. Yay. -_-

Banner By: The absolutely amazing @mrsbuckybarnes1917!

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

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You weren’t sure how long you sat there, lost in the dark colors, the reflection of the moonlight over the water. The sound of the door opening broke through your thoughts, and you turned to see Bucky shuffle into the room.

“Hey, sweets,” he said, toeing off his boots.

“Hey,” you said without emotion, turning your face back to the painting.

“Whacha lookin’ at?” he asked, coming to sit next to you on the couch.

“Apology gift from Tony.”

“What’s he apologizing to you for?” God, you couldn’t even muster up the energy to be angry at him.

“Calling out your unhealthy obsession with Jade in front of the team,” you said, voice flat.

“I do not have an unhealthy obsession with Vix,” Bucky said, annoyance coloring his words. “How many times do I have to tell you there’s nothing going on between the two of us before you start believing me.”

“Maybe you should stop telling me there’s nothing and start actually acting like there’s nothing,” you said as you stood up. “Because honestly, I’m tired of hearing your empty words.” You began to walk away, but Bucky reached out and grabbed your arm.

“They aren’t empty, Pocket!” he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it filled the room as if he’d shouted. “It fucking hurts like hell to hear you say that.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” You couldn’t help the sarcasm that oozed from your voice now. “Your feelings are hurt now, so that changes everything. Let me put aside the pain I’ve been dealing with for months to reassure you.” You yanked your hand free from his grasp. “I’m exhausted, Bucky. Nothing is getting better. In fact, things are getting worse, and I keep pretending that I can be okay with things, but you just keep picking her over me, time and time again. I don’t deserve that. Not from someone who’s supposed to love me.”

“Pick her over you? That’s fucking bullshit and you know it,” he said, voice rising.

“Is it?” you asked him. You pointed to the corner where your overnight bags sat waiting for a trip you’d never take. “Is that bullshit, Bucky? Cause we were supposed to be in the Catskills right now, but because that fucking cunt came crying for you, you went running to her and left me sitting here, alone and forgotten. Again.”

“Pocket,” Bucky ran a hand over the back of his neck, a sure sign you were ruffling him. “She needed someone to support her. She’s not like you– she doesn’t–”

“Oh, shut the fuck up, Barnes!” you interrupted, shouting now. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m breaking up with you because of her and you still just stand there and defend her!”

Bucky’s face paled and his eyes went wide. “No,” he said, his voice barely audible.

“What?” You weren’t sure you heard him.

“I said ‘no,’” he said, his voice louder, but still soft. “You're not breakin' up with me. Doll, please. I need you. You said you were gonna fight for us, fight for me. That’s what you said!”

“I’m so tired of fighting for you when you’re off fighting for her! I can’t do this anymore, Bucky,” you practically sobbed. “You are fucking destroying me and feel like you just. don’t. care. I can’t just sit here and let it keep happening. You say you need me, but you’ve made it clear time and time again that you don’t give a shit about what I need. Every time I’ve asked you to put a boundary between you and Carthage, you’ve stomped right over it. And I can’t keep living like this. Yesterday was supposed to be a celebration of one of the greatest accomplishments of my career, and she ruined it.”

“It wasn’t her fault she got bad intel!” Bucky shouted.

“Could you just FUCKING STOP?!” you screamed. “Stop defending her! She either royally fucked up or she set them up on purpose! Those are the only two options! Either way, the entire thing was her fault. Rhodey is unconscious– almost died– because of her! She’s got you so wrapped around her fucking finger that you can’t even see it, and I am SO. GOD. DAMNED. OVER. IT! You promised me you’d make it up to me,” you continued shouting at him. “You fucking promised! But as soon as she bats her lashes, your promises don’t mean shit! You keep making excuses, you keep saying you’re sorry, but you keep doing the same fucking thing over and over again, and the only thing your actions are promising is that she means more to you than I do!”

“That’s not true!” he shouted back at you. “You mean more to me than anything!”

“I don’t fucking believe you!” you screamed, your voice going hoarse.

“I’ll fucking prove it to you!” He grabbed your elbows and pulled you to him, kissing you with such force it would have knocked you over if he hadn’t been holding you up. The moment he broke the kiss for air, you slapped him across the face. Only to immediately kiss him again.

Within seconds, you were ripping at each other’s clothes, desperate to feel one another, skin to skin, your tongues battling against each other as though whomever could dominate the kiss could win your fight. Bucky literally tore your shirt in half before you pushed him down onto your bed. Crawling on top of him, you scratched your nails down his chest, hard enough to draw blood.

Bucky hissed into your mouth, reaching down to yank off his pants and boxer briefs. You hastily pulled them down and off his legs before climbing back up to his mouth. Your kisses were passionate, angry and feral, each of you trying to prove a point to the other.

You felt both of Bucky’s hands grasp the waistband of your jeans and rip them open, sending the button and zipper teeth flying. “Those were my favorite fucking jeans,” you warned.

“I’ll buy you another pair,” he growled, shoving a hand into your panties and finding your clit. You arched your back as he pinched and rolled it between his fingers, the aggression in his movements igniting your blood. You gasped as he shoved two fingers into you while simultaneously flipping you so you were now on your back and he loomed above you.

He pulled his hand from you, leaving you aching and empty. He kissed you as he divested you of what was left of your jeans and your panties. “Taste yourself,” he said, shoving his fingers into your mouth. You sucked on them, savoring the tang of your essence on his skin. Bucky groaned at the sight before pulling his fingers out and kissing you again.

“You’re mine,” he growled, grabbing at your breasts and roughly kneading the flesh. “Look at me, Pocket. You’re mine.” You turned your head away, not wanting to meet his eyes, but Bucky would have none of it. Gripping your chin tight enough to leave a bruise, he yanked your head back so you were looking him in the eye. “I said, you’re mine.” He entered you then, the force of it nearly splitting you in half. “You’re mine and I’m fucking yours. Forever.”

He pounded into you as if his very life depended on it, and you clutched at his shoulders for dear life. “God, yes, Bucky,” you cried, all your resolve finally leaving you as the pleasure rose within you. “I’m yours, and you’re mine. Only mine. Only fucking mine!”

With a roar, Bucky picked up one of your legs and draped it over his shoulder, the new angle allowing him to hit you deeper as he drove into you. His thrusts were punishing, as though he were trying to see just how deep he could get himself inside of you before you actually broke in two.

"You like that?" he murmured as he rutted his hips into you.

"Fuck, yes, please, Bucky-- just like that," you moaned. He had you close. So, so close. "Keep going."

"Yeah, I thought so, you dirty slut," he grunted.

"What?" you asked, pulling your head back into the pillow so you could stare at him, wide-eyed as he continued to pound relentlessly into you. His words had taken you aback-- this was not something your loving boyfriend had ever said to you before. You dropped one leg from around his waist and tried to pull the other from his shoulder.

"Knew you loved taking my cock. God, you're such a filthy whore for me."

"Bucky, stop." You pushed gently against his chest, but he was already so far gone to his lust that he didn't seem to hear you.

"Such a good fucktoy for me," he grunted, his pace quickening as he neared his release. You felt your breath coming hard and fast now, but not from your impending climax, which had died with his words, but from an oncoming anxiety attack. “You goin’ dumb on me already, like a good little cockslut?”

Flashes of your miserable childhood flickered through your head, the way Darren would call you his "good little money-making whore" after you'd been raped by yet another of his clients, or when he decided to violate you himself, calling you his own personal slut, his special fuck toy.

"Bucky," you shouted, punching him with your fists, desperate now to get him off you, out of you. "Stop! Get off of me! GET OFF OF ME!" You screamed, thrashing at him. You saw the moment your words registered-- his eyes lost their haze of lust and his hips stopped pumping into you.

"Doll?" he asked, looking down on you in confusion. "What's wr--"

"Get off me, get off me, get off me!" you shrieked as you rolled out from under him, your entire body suddenly on fire with shame and disgust. The second your feet hit your bedroom floor, you were reaching for your silk robe, wrapping yourself in it as though the thin fabric could protect you from his words. From him.

"Pocket," Bucky watched your movements, his eyes betraying his bewilderment at your actions. "What's going on? What did I do?"

"Why would you call me that?" you asked, your words coming out in between your desperate gasps for air. "Why would you say those things?"

Bucky sat up, reaching for you, but you moved away from him. "Baby, what things? What did I s--" Realization dawned on him then, and his entire face fell. "Shit. Oh, God. Oh, Pocket. Sweetheart, I am so sorry. I didn't think--"

"Why would you say that, Bucky?" you asked, fighting back the tears that so desperately wanted to break free. "You've never called me a-a-..." you couldn't even get the word out. "How could you do that?"

"Fuck, Baby..." Bucky began, running his hands through his hair in response to your distress, "I never... I thought you'd like it. I should have realized, after Darren..."

"Don't say his name!" You hadn't meant to shout at him, but you were damned if you were going to invite the ghost of your tormentor into the sanctuary of your room. "Please," you cried, "don't say his name."

Bucky got up and tried to wrap his arms around you, but you pulled away, feeling too vile, too dirty, to even let him touch you.

"Sweetheart, please," he began, reaching for you again, "you're shaking. Let me hold you." You shook your head as you moved away from him yet again, trying to steady yourself.

"Where did that even come from, Bucky? Why would you think... What would even make you think that was something I would want?"

Bucky's hand went to rub the back of his neck as he looked up at you from behind his lashes. "I... I heard girls... like that sort of thing. That it turns them on."

"You can't just start it out of nowhere," you cried, "It's something you need to agree on first! You can't just say it without making sure your partner's okay with it! And I can't believe you'd ever think I would be okay with it! God, who even told you that?" You couldn't imagine any of Bucky's friends saying something like that to him; hell, Steve would have a coronary before even suggesting it. Did he read about it in some degrading kink group online?

"I was talking to Vix, and she said--"

"You what?" you spun to face him, your words sharp in your shock.

"Vixen. Jade. I was talking to her during training one time and she said girls like it when guys talk to them like that during sex. Well, she said she likes it. Said it, uh, turns her on."

Your entire body froze as if you'd been doused with ice water. "You were talking to Jade Carthage about sex and what gets her off." Your voice was hard and clipped. It wasn't even a question, just a statement that made your stomach twist, but you had to make sure you had understood him correctly.

"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds bad," Bucky hemmed, "but sweets, I swear, it wasn't like that."

You called for FRIDAY to turn up the lights, no longer wanting to be trapped in the intimacy of the semi-darkness with him.

"It wasn't like that? Then please enlighten me, Bucky, what was it like? Jesus, how did you two even stumble into that conversation in the first place?"

"Baby," Bucky looked frantic as he grabbed his boxer briefs from the floor and tugged them back on, "I don't even remember how we got on the subject. We were sparring and I pinned her and--"

"You had a conversation about sex while you were lying on fucking top of her?" You could barely contain your rage; you were seething, about to vibrate out of your skin with revulsion.

"Honey, it's not that big of a deal, really."

"Not that big of a deal?" you asked, knowing you were about to tread into some very dangerous territory, but needing him to understand you. "So, it wouldn't be that big of a deal if I let Steve get on top of me and had him tell me what gets him hard? What makes him come?"

Bucky's jaw tightened immediately at the mention of Steve. "Don't," he growled. "Do not bring him into this. It's completely different."

"It's not, Bucky! It's a thousand times worse! God," you threw your arms above your head as you began to pace in front of your bed. "I can't tell if you're actually this naive or if you think I'm fucking stupid."

"I don't think you're stupid, Pocket," Bucky's voice was quieter now, more restrained. "I... God, I just messed up. I'm an idiot. I didn't think it through and..." He trailed off and slumped onto the edge of the bed, his hands pushed into his hair as he stared down at the floor.

You could see his muscles craving to pull you back into his arms, but he resisted. His eyes flickered to you before darting away again, like looking at you caused him physical pain.

"Do you want to sleep with her? Were you imagining her while you were fucking me?" It was a reckless question to ask--a question that you didn’t want the answer to--but it slipped out before you could stop it.

Bucky's head whipped up, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at you. "What? No!" He stood abruptly, hands outstretched towards you. "Baby, no! God, no! I would never... I can't even believe you'd think... Don't even talk like that."

"But you took her kinks, her turn ons, and you brought them into our bed. You spoke words you knew another woman-- a woman you know I fucking loathe-- wanted to hear, you... you used them on me, knowing my history, and you didn't give a shit about what saying them might do to me!" Your voice was trembling with accusation, your body shaking with tremors of hurt and betrayal.

"No! No, sweetheart... it wasn't like that." He kept repeating himself, his words rushed, his face pale with shock and regret. "I didn't mean to disrespect you like that. I heard her say it and I thought... I mean, she's a woman too, right? So, if she liked it, I thought maybe you..." He trailed off, his expression one of sheer desperation as he tried to find the right words.

"But I'm not her. It wasn’t about pleasing me; it was about using what pleases her." You shook your head harshly, a lump forming in your throat. "You don't even see how wrong that is. And you shouldn't even have been having the conversation with her in the fucking first place!"

"What can I do?" Bucky pleaded, his voice a strained whisper as he raked his fingers through his hair again. His face was etched with pain, regret seeping from every pore of him. "How can I fix this? Tell me how to make it right."

But you were too overcome by anger and heartbreak to think straight. You moved further away from him, wrapping your arms around yourself as if you were trying to shield your heart from further damage.

“What did you tell her?” you asked, but Bucky looked at you with confusion etched across his face. “You said it was a conversation. I’m assuming she didn’t do all the talking. What did you talk about? Did you tell her what gets you off? What you like? Were you sharing intimate details about our sex life with a complete outsider? Did you tell her about your ‘sergeant’ kink?”

He didn’t need to speak for you to read the truth in the expression on his face.

The silence hung in the room, heavy and oppressive, as Bucky fought for words. A nerve twitched in his jaw, the only movement in his otherwise frozen face. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he finally spoke.

"I... Yes, I did," he admitted, his voice a mere whisper. "I didn't think it through. I didn't mean to... I just..."

His voice trailed off again and he sunk back onto the bed, looking completely defeated. His hands covered his face as if he were desperate to hide himself from your accusing gaze.

“Get out.” You couldn’t even stand to look at him. This was a betrayal beyond anything you’d ever have expected from him.

Bucky’s head snapped up at your words, his eyes wide with shock. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He just sat there on the edge of the bed, staring at you as though he was seeing you for the first time.

"Get out," you repeated, each word a dagger. "I can't... I can't stand to even look at you right now."

Still, Bucky didn’t move. He just sat there in stunned silence, his face pale and his eyes filled with regret.

"I said get out!" Your voice was shrill, filling the room with a chilling echo that seemed to reverberate through every fiber of your being.

Bucky flinched at your tone, and finally roused himself to his feet. He looked at you one last time, his steel-blue eyes so full of pain that it made your heart ache despite everything. For a moment, it seemed like he might say something else, like he might try to explain, but you’d had enough of his ‘explanations’ for the evening. Hell, maybe for the rest of your life.

Bucky swallowed hard, his eyes filling with a mixture of fear and dread as he nodded slowly. "Okay... yeah," he stammered. "I'll give you some space."

“No. I can’t do this anymore. I’m done, Bucky. This… this is unforgivable. We’re finished.”

"Doll," he breathed, the pet name he had given you sounding like a prayer on his lips, but a curse to your ears. "I love you... I'm sorry. I messed up, I know. But I love you."

“I don’t believe you.” You felt like your heart was being ripped apart as you watched him standing there, consumed by remorse. You had never seen him like this before, his usual charismatic confidence replaced with fearful uncertainty.

“Just go,” you whispered, turning away so you wouldn't have to see the pain in his eyes. You felt a sob rising in your throat, but you held it back, refusing to let it out while he was still there.

With every inch of him screaming resistance, Bucky walked over to the door and hesitated at the threshold. "I'll... I'll do anything to make this right, sweetheart," he promised, his voice choked with emotion. "I'll fix this... We can fix this."

But you remained silent, your back still turned to him as you tried desperately to keep your tears at bay. The sound of the door opening and closing behind him was deafening in its finality.

You wrapped your arms around yourself tighter, suddenly feeling cold. The room was suddenly too big, too empty without Bucky's reassuring presence. You sunk onto the bed, burying your head in your hands as the events of the night washed over you with overwhelming force as you began to sob in earnest.

You weren't even sure what you were angriest about. He’d broken yet another promise and left you waiting, your romantic getaway forgotten so he could be by her side. He'd called you a slut and a whore. He’d discussed your sex life with Jade-- the one woman you hated above all others, and openly discussed her kinks with her, and his own desires in return. He'd forced her kinks on you without your consent.

And then there was the worst part of it all, the bit that made you feel sick and hollow: he'd failed to see what he'd done wrong.

You had thought Bucky knew you better, that he respected you more than this. You'd shared secrets and fears with him, things you'd never shared with anyone else, not even Tony. He knew your past, knew how much trust meant to you - knew how difficult it had been for you to open your vulnerabilities up to something more than just casual sex - and yet he'd violated that trust in such a profound way.

This was just beyond anything else that had come before it. You couldn’t see a way to move forward after this.

Numbly, you began to strip off the sheets from the bed, your hands shaking as you balled them up and threw them into a corner of the room. You couldn't sleep on them now, nor ever again. You couldn't bear the thought of lying down where he'd... where he'd...

Tears started to spill down your cheeks as the reality of what had happened set in. You tried to blink them away, tried to swallow down the lump in your throat. But it was too late. Tears blinded you as you moved through your space on muscle memory alone, grabbing a garbage bag from under the sink in the kitchenette and shoving the offending sheets into it to dispose of later. Boiling them in chlorine wouldn't be able to relieve them of the taint they now carried.

Once the offending sheets were securely bagged and out of sight, you stumbled your way into the bathroom. Turning the shower on as hot as it would go, you stripped from your robe and stepped under the scalding stream from the waterfall shower head.

Hissing as the water hit your body, you let yourself succumb to your emotions. You reached for your loofah and began scrubbing at your skin, doing everything in your power to wash away the intense feeling of shame that had permeated deep under your dermis. You scrubbed until your skin was red, until it was raw and cracked and bleeding, but it offered you no relief.

The sensations were familiar, the burning heat, the stinging of newly torn flesh. It had been so long since you had felt the need to ritually cleanse yourself like this, you had desperately hoped you'd finally found yourself beyond the need to do so, but just a few words from Bucky's mouth had sent you reeling backwards, back to being that worthless, vile, used up girl that no number of college degrees, fancy company titles, or board-approved computer programs could fully erase. It was in your DNA, and you couldn't escape it. You scrubbed and scrubbed until time had lost meaning.

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#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky x you #bucky x reader #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky x female reader #bucky barnes fic #bucky barnes fanfiction #james bucky buchanan barnes #james buchanan barnes #mcu bucky barnes #james barnes

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jinwoosungs · 8 months

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{ 107 }

constellations.

lies of p

pinocchio x reader

{ with freckles like constellations | i just want a new sensation. }

- valentine by COIN

your eyes were basking in the beauty of the expanse of the universe settled directly on your lap.

pinocchio had always been a puppet that greatly fascinated you. an utterly beautiful boy in a strange, tragic world that drew you in. from his true blue eyes to his chestnut strands of hair, geppetto's puppet reminded you deeply of the princes you read in fairytales from long ago.

you were one of the few human survivors left in the wake of the petrification disease, and it was thanks to your good fortune that you were lead to hotel krat, where you met with the owner, lady antonia. she was a kind and giving, always welcoming guests like you with open arms.

and it was here that you came into contact with pinocchio.

he was twitchy, at first, and it was abundantly clear that he was a puppet. and despite how unnatural his movements were, your eyes were always drawn to his beautiful face.

his pale skin was littered with freckles, and each and every speck reminded you of tiny little stars being dotted across the skies. his gaze was steadfast, unflinching even, as you kept your eyes on him. you admired each and every part of him, even finding yourself reaching out to him.

pinocchio continues to give you a blank stare, not even stepping back when your hands unconsciously reaches out to gently grace at his cheek. you admire the soft and smooth surface of his face, allowing your fingertips to brush back his flowing locks of chestnut hair, revealing those endearing freckles.

finally realizing what you were doing, you gasp and attempt to step away. "s-sorry pinocchio...ah?"

he says nothing, simply closing his eyes before placing his cheek against the palm of your hand. you watch as pinocchio's eyes flutter close, his eyelashes brushing against your skin as soft as a butterfly's wings.

he remains in this position for a few more beats before opening his eyes fully. not saying a word, pinocchio relinquishes his hold of your hand before walking away from you-

leaving your heart a mess of rapid beats and palpitations, threatening to explode within your chest.

despite how pinocchio was a mere puppet, you couldn't stop yourself from admiring him (or having that admiration turn into something much deeper, akin to fondness.) as he continued on with his journey through krat, the more he became... alive.

it was hard to explain. maybe it was due to his soft beauty, or how you witness him treating hotel krat's cat with such a gentle curiosity and kindness, but something about p made him feel more human than puppet.

and that just made your heart yearn for him even more.

as night fell across krat, and you were in the comfort of your own room within this grand hotel, you found yourself unable to sleep. you were settled on the settee placed near the window, giving you the full view of the city and the wide expanse of the night sky. the dim lighting of the candle flickers with the night air as you drank in the sight of the fading stars, somehow feeling your thoughts drifting back to pinocchio.

"i hope he's safe."

earlier, you had voiced your concerns to eugénie and sophia, yet both women had told you not to worry, that p was strong and would likely come back unscathed.

"if it truly worries you, perhaps i can send your beloved puppet to your room?"

sophia's gentle smile and teasing words were enough to make your face heat up in response, with you weakly holding up your hands in mock denial before hurrying back to your room, your face burning at how sophia seemed to know.

so you found yourself unable to sleep, feeling embarrassed and shy at the thought of pinocchio coming in here.

as you continued to stargaze, your reveries were interrupted by a gentle knock at your door. your voice was raised a few octaves when you said, "c-come in!"

you figured it was sophia or eugénie coming to call you down for supper, but what you weren't expecting to see was pinocchio himself come in.

"pinocchio?!" his name comes out of your parted lips in a choked gasp, heart beating almost painfully now at the mere sight of him. despite how he was still technically a puppet, you could see the changes he was beginning to display.

the p that stood before you now no longer had those wavy locks of chestnut hair. instead, his hair has grown longer, and a bit lighter as well. it was difficult to describe the color of his hair, but if you had to try, you'd say it was like the shade of a full moon. those gentle strands shone like spun silver against the moonlight, and he was so utterly beautiful that you found it hard to breathe.

he closes his eyes, seeming to take in a deep breath before letting out a whisper of your name. hearing the familiar syllables causes a shiver to run up and down your spine, and you could feel your heart melting within your chest at the sound of it.

"hello pinocchio." you greet him in the same, gentle manner, never once hiding your smile from him. you watch as his lips seemed to quirk upwards just the tiniest bit before making his way toward you.

he remains silent, simply laying down on the couch with you, settling himself on your lap. this sudden action was so...different and unexpected that you weren't sure how to respond or what to do.

your stomach was in knots now, and all you could see was pinocchio's achingly gentle beauty. as his hair was spread out across your lap, you could see his freckles clearly now, the sight of it all being much more captivating than the stars above.

with the puppet seemingly asleep, you took this chance to admire your personal constellation, allowing your fingertips to trace over his smooth skin like you did during your first meeting with him. truly, everything about p drew you into him, and you wanted nothing more than to bask in him, drinking him in as you burned his very visage into your memories.

your touch was gentle, not wishing for him to feel any discomfort or pain.

your touch was reverent, never once taking him for granted as you praised him for his bravery and strength.

as you continued to admire him, you felt a strange trembling in your lips, filling you with a desire to press them against the parted, rosy lips settled below you. you slide your eyes shut and whisper his name before allowing your lips to gently press against pinocchio's.

his reaction was immediate, eyes opening as true blue irises met with your own gaze. with a gasp, you pull away, an apology already set at the tip of your tongue when the puppet stops you.

using his hand, he brushes back your hair while letting out a sigh of your name, kissing you again as he closes his own eyes in response.

with pinocchio kissing you back, you found yourself melting into his arms, clinging to him. the kiss was awkward, with your teeth either bumping into his lips or his nose meeting with yours-

and yet it was still so utterly sweet. as you cling to him, you could have sworn you felt the tiniest bit of warmth exuding from him-

and a gentle flutter within his chest, reminding you of a heartbeat.

when the need for air proved to be too much, you pull away from pinocchio with adoration in your eyes. his expression was gentle and filled with tranquility, closing his eyes before pressing his lips against your forehead.

while being in pinocchio's embrace, you found your anxieties all but melt away, allowing the pinpricks of slumber to mar your consciousness. you end up falling asleep within his arms, unaware of how pinocchio held you and took you to back to bed.

as he held you, he presses his lips against your temple once more, silently vowing to remain forever by your side.

a.n. - pinocchio is utterly sweet, and with lies of p fully released, i had to write something soft for him. this is unedited so do forgive me for any glaring errors 🥹

all stories are written by rei; reposts, translations, and plagiarism are not allowed.

#lies of p x reader #lies of p x you #pinocchio x reader #p x reader #lop x reader #.stories

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bethanythebogwitch · 23 days

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Wet Beast Wednesday: epaulette shark

Stand at attention for the epaulette shark, the honorable (and adorable) general of the tide pools. These little guys really go against the image of a shark in media. Hollywood insist on portraying sharks as massive, violent predators that prowl the waves and will eat anyone and anything they find. The Epaulette shark, by contrast, is small, lives in the shallows, and couldn't hurt you if it wanted to.

(Image: an epaulette shark resting on the seafloor. It is a small, skinny, and long shark with a short snout and highly elongated tail. The two dorsal fins are located on the back half of the body and the pectoral and pelvic fins are long and paddle-shaped. Its body is a sandy brown and dotted with black spots. A large black spot is behind the pectoral fins. End ID)

Epaulette sharks average 70-90 cm (27-35 in), with the largest one on record being 107 cm (42 in). Over half of that length is made of the caudal peduncle, the part of the spine that the caudal (tail) fin grows out of. The actual fin itself is fairly small and does not have a lower lobe, making it look very slender and distinct from the caudal fins of other sharks (though other members of its family, Hemiscylliidae, share this tail structure). This tail structure makes them less efficient swimmers than most shark species. As a result, they tend to stick to the seafloor and do not often rise into the water column. Their bodies are light to dark brown with many dark spots and one large spot behind each pectoral fin. It is these spots that give the sharks their common name. Their placement makes them resemble epaulettes, decorative shoulder pieces that were and still are often used to demonstrate rank in many European and European-derived militaries. The coloration of the shark is used as camouflage against predators, with the smaller spots breaking up the silhouette and the epaulettes resembling the eyes of a much larger animal. Juveniles have a stripy pattern to their skin that fades as they age.

(Image: a juvenile epaulette shark resting on sand. It has the same body shape as the adult, but its skin is pale with darker stripes. End ID)

Epaulette sharks mate from July to December, late spring and summer in the southern hemisphere. Females will often initiate mating by following and nipping the males. Males will use their mouths to hold onto the females while inserting one clasper (the paired reproductive organs of sharks and other cartilaginous fish) into her cloaca. 14 days later, the female will release egg cases, usually two per mating and abandon them. The egg cases will usually get caught in seaweed or coral and remain there. After approximately 120 days, the juvenile sharks hatch. Females are able to mate again immediately after laying the egg cases and can lay up to 50 times per season. Juveniles are born 14-16 cm (5.5-6.5 in) long and grow about 5 cm (2 in) every year. They reach sexual maturity at around 7 years of age when they reach a length of 54-64 cm (21.5-25 in). The maximum lifespan of wild specimens is speculated to be 20-25 years. There have been rare cases of females in captivity reproducing through parthenogenesis after living in tanks with no males.

(Image: an epaulette shark egg case. It is an ovoid brown, translucent object. Visible within the egg case is the developing shark. It has the adult's body plan, but is attached to a large, spherical yolk sac. End ID)

Epaulette sharks are found in coastal water from southern New Guinea to northern Australia. They prefer water under 50 m (160 ft) deep and can often be found in extremely shallow water, especially around coral reefs and shorelines. These sharks are often found in tide pools and have a number of adaptations for this lifestyle. While they are capable of swimming, the sharks prefer to walk. They undulate their bodies while using their paddle-like pectoral and pelvic fins to push against the seafloor. The fins have modified skeletons to allow each fin to rotate, increasing their effectiveness as limbs. Using their fins, the sharks can even walk over land, which they do to move into and between tide pools. Because of this, epaulette sharks are studied by biologists for use as a model organism for the transition of vertebrates onto land in the distant past. Epaulette sharks are nocturnal. During the day, they hide from predators in crevices and other places large predators can't enter. At night, they come into the shallows to hunt. They use smell and electroreception to hunt for prey buried under sand. Their preferred food is crustaceans, worms, and small fish. Juveniles prefer soft-bodied animals like worms and fish while adults consume crustaceans primarily. Their teeth can lie flat, allowing the sharks to switch between sharp teeth for eating worms and fish and a hard plate to crush crab and shrimp exoskeletons.

(GIF: an epaulette shark walking through tide pools and over land, showing the motions it makes from different angles. End ID)

Epaulette sharks often get stuck in tide pools overnight. Life in tide pools is harsh as there is a limited supply of dissolved oxygen available and all the animals in the pool use it up. As a result, epaulette sharks have several adaptations to hypoxic (low oxygen) environments. When in hypoxic water, the shark can drop its heart rate and the rate it passes water over the gills. It then dilates certain blood vessels to divert blood to the heart and brain and away from other organs. This causes its blood pressure to drop by over half. It can also lower metabolic activity for parts of the brain, freeing up ATP (the chemical that provides cells with energy) to be used for more critical brain functions. This is aided by shark rains requiring 1/3rd the ATP as the brains of bony fish, further increasing the survivability of the shark. All of this means that an epaulette shark can survive in extremely hypoxic water for 3 hours while still remaining alert and responsive and can survive with no oxygen for an hour with no negative effects. It's notable that they do this in warm water as most animals that can tolerate extreme oxygen deprivation need to be in cold temperatures to do it.

(Image: an epaulette shark resting in a tide pool. The water is barely deep enough to keep it submerged. End ID)

Epaulette sharks are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though they are locally threatened in New Guinea. Their primary threats are habitat loss and bycatch. As they are commonly found in coral reefs, coral bleaching threatens their habitat. In addition, it has recently been found that the warming ocean is resulting in pups being born smaller and weaker than they used to be, reducing juvenile survival rates. They show little fear of humans and wild ones will allow humans on the beach to approach them. They have also been known to approach swimmers and divers. Encounters with curious people can harm the sharks, while their only method of defending themselves is a minor bit and they're too slow to crawl away. Their gentle natures and small sizes make epaulette sharks one of the easiest shark species to keep in captivity, both in public and private aquariums. There is now a small demand for captured epaulette sharks for sale on the pet trade.

(Image: an epaulette shark in an aquarium touch tank. It is resting on sandy sediment while a human arm reaches in from above, touching it with two fingers. A stingray and two small yellow fish are visible in the background. End ID)

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