I know there are a lot of good free websites to make mock ups of Instagram or TikTok profiles, but does anybody know one for LinkedIn lol ? Asking for me.
i want to beg you, as much as i can, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. and the point is to live everything. live the questions now. perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it live along some distant day into the answer.
― rainer maria rilke, letters to a young poet, “letter four,” tr. by m. d. herter norton
Every year for their anniversary, Shane and Ilya had gotten into the practice of getting each other gifts in the spirit of traditional anniversary gift giving. Much like everything they did, the gifts were usually a combination of practical, romantic and funny. For the first anniversary, paper, there was a large framed photograph of the lake at the cottage for their Ottawa home. There was a scrapbook of photos, articles, and ticket stubs from their history together, on and off the ice.
There was a “coupon book,” redeemable slips for massages, dinners, and a few naughty things that made Shane blush and Ilya smirk.
For the second anniversary, cotton, there were some luxurious and expensive towels and bathrobes. There were monogrammed pocket squares and handkerchiefs. There was a box with more cotton balls than anyone would know what to do with.
For the third, leather, there was a wallet for Shane expensive enough that Ilya encouraged him not to look up the price. For Ilya, there was a designer belt that made Shane’s brain short circuit when he saw how it sat around his waist. To that point, there was also a very finely crafted Cat o’ Nine Tails that they could not wait to put to good use.
For the fourth, fruit or flowers, there were the apple trees planted at the back of their property. There was the memorial garden Shane designed as a place where Ilya could go to honor his mother.
For their fifth anniversary, wood, they were at the cottage taking some much needed time between the season and the summer hockey camps. After breakfast, they had each brought their gifts to each other to exchange. Shane had gotten Ilya a custom wooden box meant for his watches, sunglasses and jewelry.
“You said you were running out of space for your collection,” Shane explained.
“This is really nice, thank you.” Ilya ran a finger over the top of the sleek wood and smiled.
Next Shane opened his and found that Ilya had gotten him a very beautiful and very heavy wooden chess set, complete with wooden pieces that had soft felt bottoms so as to not scratch the surface.
“You said you always wanted to learn how to play,” Ilya told him. “I figured when we retire and have more time, I can teach you.”
They had talked about it loosely. It wasn’t quite on their radar yet, neither of them were ready for that finality, especially now that they had been playing together. Winning together. Making their shared legacy one of love and not rivalry. It has always been the two of them at the top, but they had redefined it. Written the story they wanted to tell, were still writing it.
“Thank you.” Shane kissed him. Once, twice.
Ilya pulled him closer, his tongue teasing Shane’s lips until he was inside, tasting him. A faint hint of strawberry jelly. He chased that sweetness, deepening it. Shane’s hands roamed his body, across his broad back and down. Lower and lower until he pulled Ilya impossibly close to him by the hips. Until he felt Ilya straining against him, his own body responding to the heat. Ilya kissed his chin, his jaw, peppering his way along to Shane’s ear, sucking the lobe between his teeth and biting gently.
“I’ve got another wood present ready for you, malysh.” Ilya whispered in his ear.
“You’re an idiot.”
Shane moved to give Ilya access to his neck, coming undone at the feeling of Ilya’s breath ghosting over his skin.
“Mm yes, but I am your idiot.” Shane hummed in agreement. He had no argument there. “Do you want your other present or no?”
Shane pulled back just enough to look at Ilya properly. “Take me upstairs.”
i love fanfiction because unlike original work the plot and characters are all plotted and characterised for you to use so its a really good solution for those “i want to write but i dont know what to write” moods it lets you focus soley on the craft and its wonderful
Invisible String Theory - Chapter 1 - grumblesandmumbles - Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]
Invisible String Theory is the idea that two people who are meant to be together will always be connected by a tether, that it will pull them together when the time is right. Over any obstacles and beyond any reason. When Shane Hollander met Ilya Rozanov at just five years old, he knew very quickly that Ilya would be very important to him. What he could have never understood is how that connection would come to define their entire lives.
Invisible String Theory - Chapter 1 - grumblesandmumbles - Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]
Invisible String Theory is the idea that two people who are meant to be together will always be connected by a tether, that it will pull them together when the time is right. Over any obstacles and beyond any reason. When Shane Hollander met Ilya Rozanov at just five years old, he knew very quickly that Ilya would be very important to him. What he could have never understood is how that connection would come to define their entire lives.
Sorry, I am spiraling a bit, but I actually think we haven’t said enough about Ilya here. I know we focus on Shane because he’s experiencing first time anal, but Ilya is clearly on another planet.
Like he’s slack-jawed and staring like he can’t believe what’s happening. Yes, Shane pulls him in for a kiss, but he was going down anyway. I just keep thinking about how throughout this whole scene Ilya looks seconds away from just completely falling into Shane. Also, this face?? The way he just rolls his forehead against Shane’s?? He’s totally overcome by what he’s experiencing.
Anyway, justice for Ilya having his mind blown by Shane Hollander.
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