#<- doesn't drive and doesn't like long lyft rides

[lemort-vivant]

not to be a bitch but I hate christmas so fucking much. can't go out and do shit because everything is either closed or ungodly crowded. awful music is playing everywhere. just stuck inside waiting for this cultural storm to pass so life can go back to normal

[devondespresso]

Let Me Raise The Bar

T | 3,602 words | Steddie | also on ao3! | Modern AU, Meet Cute, Fluff

This fic is for the @strangerthingswritersguild fic exchange, by @starryeyedjanai and @devondespresso. Thank you to @dreamwatch and @bubblesandink for betaing for me!! <3

dividers by @/thecutestgrotto

edit: oh my god i forgot the keep reading the first time im so sorry guys

This night is going terribly.

He keeps telling himself he’ll delete all his dating apps for good, but the prospect of being alone forever always has him re-downloading them.

Right now, he’s remembering why he hates them so much.

He hates Tinder, specifically—guys on Tinder only want to fuck. And if that was what he was looking for, that’d be fine, great even!

But he wants a relationship and guys on Tinder will say they want one too and then turn around and leave right after they get what they want.

At least guys on Grindr are upfront about it being just a hookup—no one’s getting their hopes up or feelings hurt when it turns out to be just that.

Tinder guys will take you on a date and pretend to be interested in you as a person and then won't fucking text back after they leave your apartment the next morning. It’s annoying and it’s frustrating and it’s a waste of Steve's fucking time at this point.

And this guy tonight isn't even trying to pretend. He tried to get Steve to blow him in his apartment building garage before they even left for the date and he really should have taken that for the red flag that it was.

But Steve looks good, and he did his hair routine that takes entirely too fucking long for no one to appreciate it.

His date drives him to this hole in the wall restaurant that Steve must have passed a million times on the bus ride to his job without ever noticing.

He thought he might be able to turn things around when they got there—it’s a small Italian place, a real family-owned type vibe to it. He knows before he even orders that the food is going to be some of the best he’s tasted since moving here.

He tries asking the typical first date questions to get to know him, but his date keeps giving him short answers. So he switches to talking about himself a little, but then he realizes his date’s been staring at his mouth the whole time he’s been talking and Steve finally snaps that he isn't getting into his pants.

Steve breathes out a deep sigh as his “date” gets up and goes to the bathroom. Some fucking date this is—they haven't even gotten their fucking food yet. What a disaster.

“Hey,” he hears their waiter—Eddie, his nametag reminds Steve when he looks up—say after a minute of his date being gone. “I hate to be the bearer of super bad news, but I just saw your date slip out the back door, and I don't know if he’s planning on coming back.”

There's a lilt of sympathy in his voice and Steve can't help but snort.

“Of course he did,” Steve says. “Why can't guys just be upfront about what they want? It would save everyone so much time.”

He’s not looking for an answer, but Eddie's mouth twists and he says, “Guys are stupid. I mean, they’d have to be to give up the chance to get to know someone as cute as you.”

Steve can't really muster up a smile at the pity, so he says, “Well, whatever the case, he was my ride home, so I think I need to call a Lyft now. Can you box the food up and bring me the check?” At least he’ll have lunch for tomorrow, which doesn't feel like an adequate consolation prize for how shitty he feels right now.

Eddie shakes his head and says, “There’s no way I’m letting you pay for such a shitty date.” Steve opens his mouth to protest, but Eddie continues, “Tell you what, my shift ends in ten minutes. Why don't I show you how I’d treat you if we went on a date.”

Steve's heart thuds in his chest, a flicker of hope in this incredibly dull evening. “Seriously?” he asks.

Eddie nods. “Think of it as a trial run. See if I rank good enough for a real one.” He winks and Steve finds himself nodding dumbly, still shocked at the rapid turn of events.

“Okay,” Steve says, kind of breathless.

Eddie heads back to finish cleaning up his other tables before he ends his shift, and Steve fills Robin in over text about what happened.

He’s still waiting for a response when Eddie shows back up with two plates of food, setting one in front of Steve and the other where his date sat before sliding into the chair across from him.

He’s wearing a different shirt, Steve realizes. It also looks like he attempted to wrangle his curly hair into something more manageable, maybe sprayed some water on it to smooth it down.

The thought that this guy, this random guy who happened to be his waiter on this horrific night, would put in more effort than his previous date makes Steve's cheeks get hot.

Maybe this night really can turn around.

“Alright, names. Hi, I'm Eddie.” Eddie says, sticking his hand out across the table cartoonishly for a handshake. Steve suppresses a laugh and takes Eddie’s hand with a smile.

“Steve.” He says, and Eddie’s eyes brighten before he takes his hand back.

“So, Steve, what do you do for fun?” Eddie says, leaning forward slightly with vibrant confidence, tone feeling more and more noticeably rehearsed as he goes. “Other than light up the room with that smile, of course.”

Steve huffs a laugh, blushing despite himself.

“You practice that one a lot?”

Eddie shrinks back a little, still smiling even as he messes with the hair on the back of his neck, already starting to ruffle what he’d tried to tame.

“Yeah, it’s uh…”

“It’s sweet.” Steve leans in a little closer himself, trying to match the effort Eddie keeps putting in. “Almost as sweet as the smile you're wearing.”

Eddie flushes pink and lets out a little “Thank you” to cover a nervous laugh—and christ, Steve is already hooked.

Steve hums and grabs his fork to start eating and Eddie mirrors him.

“Thank you for this by the way.” Steve continues, “Tonight's been… ugh, you know.”

“A special kind of shitty?”

“Yeah,” Steve sighs, “So all this is… really nice.”

“I'm glad.” Eddie says, voice soft before he shrugs and continues casually “M’hoping I’ll at least do better than the last guy.”

“Yeah, of course, you haven’t even asked me to blow you yet or anything.”

Eddie turns red and busts out a nervous laugh, looking away immediately. God, he’s so fucking cute.

“Yeah, yeah, I'm not–” Eddie looks back at him, nervous still, but sincere anyway, “That's not exactly my style.”

“You a wine and dine kinda guy?”

Eddie shrugs lightly, then he seems to get an idea, leaning in again with a smile “Actually– ideally, I'm a dine and mine kinda guy.”

A smile takes over Steve’s face that he can’t fully tamp down, a little flustered and a lot amused.

Eddie preens, then continues with a shy smile.

“Though, uh, usually it's more dine and…” Eddie pauses, “Pine. Dine and pine. You know, like pining.”

Steve makes his face relax as he nods and leans back. “Oh, yeah, like the tree.”

Eddie stops and looks at Steve, and soon Steve’s smile breaks out again.

“No, I know what you mean.” He says with a little laugh that Eddie quickly mirrors.

Eddie visibly relaxes, slouching overdramatically to the side with a sigh.

“God, I swear I’m usually good at this sort of thing, words and stories and shit,” He groans, gesturing around almost like he’s talking to himself, “But apparently I meet one pretty boy and suddenly I’ve got screws loose. And they’re all falling out, all across the floor, ‘there they go!’, y’know?”

Steve bites back a snicker and hums a quiet agreement. Eddie notices, though, looks up and sees right to Steve’s amusement, so Steve decides to save them both the embarrassment and move on.

“So your job. You like it here?

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Eddie says, perking up and gesturing as he starts talking, “The owners are really cool, they were our neighbors– Wayne’s—my uncle’s—neighbors when I first moved in with him, way way back, and they were so chill, loved having people over. Then one time in highschool I mentioned saving up ‘cause I’m trying to make it big with my band, and they offered to give me a job here while we get there.”

“That’s awesome. Your band any good?”

“Depends on who you ask.” Eddie laughs, playing with the food on his plate, “Wayne says we’re pretty good, which is probably the equivalent of moms showing up to their toddler’s dance recitals, but it’s something.”

“Where'd you guys play?”

“The Hideout, a couple blocks down…”

Steve nods.

“Yeah, it’s, uh, pretty fun if you ever wanted to stop by.“

“Sounds like a great second date.”

Eddie blushes, playing with his hair again as he smiles and looks away.

“I’ll probably have to wear earplugs– not because of your band or–”

“No, no, no, you’re good–” Eddie says, almost jumping up to reassure him, “It’s metal, that’s normal– good, even.”

“Oh– good.” Steve says, a bit awkwardly, and looks back down to his food.

Eddie leaves barely a moment of silence before he pulls the conversation back together.

“So what about you? You just a professional bad-Tinder-dater?”

Steve huffs and fiddles with his fork.

“Guidance counselor, actually.”

“Oh damn, really?”

“Yeah, Middle school.”

“Oh god,” Eddie groans playfully, “I can't imagine going back there willingly.”

“Yeah, I mean, it can get pretty rough,” Steve shrugs, “It's good though. Kids start thinking about who they are, I get to try and make that a little less shitty.”

“That’s a tall order.” Eddie laughed into his glass. “I respect it though. Hell, just having a queer adult exist around me would’ve made a lot of it easier.”

“God, yeah. I've got practice, at least, for when they need more than just some guy standing around in an office.” he laughed, pulling out sarcastic air quotes for the next part, “ I ‘babysat’ kids in middle school before I graduated. Bunch of little shits but they were good kids– still are good. They're like four years younger than me though, so they're more like siblings than kids.”

“Yeah, bet they don't take well to ‘kids’.”

“Oh, they hate it.” Steve laughed and Eddie followed with him, “Always hated it, but Dustin put his foot down after highschool. Rob and I call them my ‘twenty-somethings’ now.”

“God, wait, how old are you?” Eddie laughed

“Twenty-six.”

Eddie laughed a little louder, a lively and full laugh that looked enchanting on Eddie.

“You'd love them, they're all–

Steve’s phone buzzes.

Both of them look over to it on the table. Steve moves it to the seat next to him, looked up to Eddie with an apologetic smile.

His phone buzzes again.

And again, and soon Eddie’s eyes flick in that direction, eyebrow quirking with barely-restrained curiosity.

Then Steve’s phone starts ringing, the electric guitars of Hammer To Fall creeping up in volume way too fast for comfort.

“Sorry–” Steve cringes, grabbing his phone and answering the call in a furious whisper, “Robin, are you dying?”

“No, but thank you for confirming that you aren’t.”

“I texted you what happened.”

“Yeah and it was vague as hell! I reserve the right to be a worrywart with this shit.”

“Yeah, I know.” Steve sighs, but can’t really argue with her on it. “This was going well, though–”

“Is.” Eddie chimes in, not trying to be loud enough for the phone to pick it up, just for Steve to hear him clearly.

“Is going well.” Steve smiles.

“Oooo okayyy.” Robin hums and Steve can hear her cheeky smile through the phone.

“Goodbye, Robin.” Steve says, failing a half-assed attempt to cover his amusement.

“Oh wait no, tell him if he tries anything I’ll–”

“M’not doing that.”

“I will though, I’ll go after him–”

“Oh woah you’re breaking up, can’t hear you.” Steve deadpans.

“Steve, I know–”

“Love you, bye–”

“Steeeeve–”

“Don’t pull your hair out.” Steve says and hangs up, coming back to the present to Eddie watching him, thankfully looking amused instead of annoyed.

“Sorry about that.” Steve says.

“No, no, it’s fine.” Eddie leans forward again, propping his head up in one hand, “So… friend?”

“Best friend, has to be to get away with shit like that so easily.”

Eddie snorts.

“What was she calling about?”

“I wasn’t clear that this new date thing was gonna be a good thing.”

Eddie nods civilly.

“She worries,” Steve continues, “Fuckin’ tinder dates, y’know?”

“Uh, not really….” Eddie smiles.

“Good for you. They’re all the same asshole in a different haircut.” Steve says, and Eddie smiles, laughing a little with him before continuing with something calmer, a little more earnest.

“Then why keep going to them?”

Steve shrugs.

“Call me an optimist, I guess.”

Eddie hums noncommittally, like he’s thinking more than he’s sharing, and continues the conversation in a lighter direction.

_

The rest of the date is wonderful. A little less chaotic, especially once they start finally eating their food for real, but what it lacks in eventfulness it makes up for in comfort. They’re not exactly quiet, but Eddie’s energy always comes with a sincerity underneath, like he’s bold and fun because he just is, and not because he’s making himself be.

It’s refreshing. And as the night goes on, it becomes intoxicating.

So when Eddie offers to save him the Lyft fee and just drive Steve home, Steve agrees, just to get a little longer in Eddie’s bubble.

Eddie leads him through the restaurant and out the back into a small parking lot with a handful of cars and one big van, decorated with a clearly hand-painted dragon on the side. Which, of course, ends up being Eddie’s.

“Dustin would love this thing.” Steve says as he hops into the passenger’s seat, not really thinking twice about it as he looks at the interior, eyes lingering on the big fuzzy dice with too many sides hanging from the mirrors.

“So Dustin is…?”

“A Twenty-something.” Steve laughs as he spins the fuzzy dice to see all of its sides. “He’s like my little brother. Loves DnD and science and… all the nerd shit.”

“Nerd shit?”

“Yeah, I mean– it's not my thing but it’s cool. I’ve played with Dustin and them a couple times.”

“Oooo, a bit of a nerd, are we?” Eddie hums in a weird, almost witchy voice.

“Casually.”

“Mmm, but you’re already down the path~~”

“Just drive, dude.” Steve says with a fond eye roll.

“As you wish, your majesty.” Eddie hums in his normal voice, giving Steve a glowing glance before shoving the keys in.

“Alright, I'm about to push your nerd-tolerance to its limits.” Eddie says, pulling out his phone with a grin. He connects it to the car and quickly turns it down before drums and guitar erupt from the speakers, and Steve flinches at the volume.

“Sorry, sorry.” Eddie whispers and turns down the music again.

Steve nods, and after a second of the music playing much more quietly, he finds it much more comfortable. Nice, even. The energy is quick and alive like Eddie is, though the aggressive vocals fit his outward aesthetic more than his borderline goofy demeanor.

“It’s not the music, I promise.” Steve says, saying it casually but meaning it sincerely.

“You’re fine, I get it.” Eddie laughs, a little too cynically for Steve’s liking.

“No, I–” Steve reaches for Eddie’s hand between them, intertwining fingers and bringing both hands up between them, “I’m serious, I like it. My head’s a little sensitive, been hit a few too many times, but it’s nice. It’s bold and very energetic… stuff that I already like about you.”

Eddie blushes hard—a sweet cherry pink—as he slouches, bringing their joined hands closer to his face like he’s trying to hide behind them. Eddie rests his forehead against the back of Steve’s hand and huffs a quiet laugh.

“God, you’re quite the charmer, Stevie.” Eddie says, and Steve finds his face warming too.

“And I’m guessing it’s working?” Steve laughs.

Eddie looks up at him, smiling wide.

“Oh, it’s working very well.” Eddie says, and brings their hands closer to him again to plant a soft kiss onto Steve’s hand.

Steve’s face goes warm again, lights him on fire, and Eddie’s smile turns slightly smug before he looks away.

“Alright,” Eddie says, looking back to the front to drive but not letting go of Steve’s hand. He even reaches his left arm over to change the gears, leaning into how silly he looks to make Steve laugh.

It’s sweet, it's genuine, and it's everything to Steve.

Eddie starts driving, hand still firmly holding onto Steve’s, neither of them willing to let go first. Steve looks at it as Eddie drives, splitting most of his attention between their hands, Eddie’s profile lit up by the colorful city lights, and the road ahead as he navigates Eddie to his apartment.

And if they miss a turn or two because Steve’s tired brain doesn’t want to watch the damn road? Eddie doesn’t mention it.

_

“Alright.” Eddie says, putting the car into park with his left hand again, though far less comically now.

He sits there for a second, quiet like something’s on his mind, so Steve waits.

“Okay, uh,” Eddie starts, looking vaguely down as he wanders through what he wants to say, “I had fun, I’m assuming by how the nights gone that you did, too…”

Steve squeezes Eddie's hand, and Eddie laughs.

“I had a really great time. And I want to do this again, if you want to.” Eddie glances up at Steve for a second before his eyes dart away again. “But I want to be sure you’re… you’re not being an optimist with me. That you want want this, y’know, because you're an amazing guy, Stevie. I don’t know how you keep having such shit luck but believe me when I tell you it's not because of you.”

Eddie looks back up at him again and keeps his gaze there, looking more relaxed now.

“So, uh, I would love to take you out again.” Eddie says, “If you want to.”

If he wants to, as if that's not the most romantic thing Steve’s heard in his life.

Steve almost says that. He also debates kissing him or pulling him into an awkward hug over the center console that he’s sure would be put up with no matter how uncomfortable it’d be. But Steve doesn’t, because Eddie continues before Steve can make a decision.

“What do you want?”

Steve resists the urge to say a cheesy ‘You’ and thinks about it, really thinks so he can put together words that make sense, so he can give Eddie a real answer.

“I want a long relationship. A real one, y’know?”

Eddie nods.

“And I want to get married, someday. I want someone who’ll stay that long, who will love and let me love them, all cheesy and clingy and shit.”

Eddie hums, searching Steve’s face.

“And?”

Steve looks down at the joined hands between them.

“And I’d love if it were you. You’re sweet, so sweet, but you’re also… alive. Everything you do, you’re…” Steve thinks hard for a moment, working out how to phrase it. “It’s like the world doesn’t weigh you down. And you’re so genuine and you’ll come and say what you mean like it’s nothing, and I think every one of the people in my life—my favorite people—would love being around you almost as much as I do.”

Steve looks back up to him, face hot with another intense flush, and tries to smile casually.

“Hate to break it to you, dude, but you’re kinda my perfect man.”

Eddie huffs a breathy laugh, face painted with disbelief and wonder.

“Okay, then. Case closed.”

“Yeah,” Steve hums, with as much fondness as possible. Steve leans in across the center console, bringing a hand up slowly, trying to signal that he’s leaning in for a kiss.

It takes Eddie a second, and Steve gets to watch him look down at Steve’s hand and look at Steve leaning in, gets to see the moment it clicked before Eddie lunges to meet him halfway and then some, making the hand that was supposed to cradle Eddie’s face hold onto the seat beneath him to keep their balance.

Eddie kisses him hard at first, bringing a hand up to card through Steve’s hair, excited and alive. Then Eddie seems to come back to his senses, moving back but taking Steve with him until they’re both leaning over the center again.

Their kiss softens, intensity melting out into fondness, gentle but passionate, warm and Steve wants to melt from it.

Still, Steve’s going home tonight, going to go upstairs to Robin and tell her all about it. He’ll get to have a good night's sleep in a bed that doesn’t need cleaning, and he’ll get to wake up to the idea of something new brewing fresh in his mind.

Steve pulls back gently and Eddie does the same, eyes flicking open one after the other, a smile on Steve’s face and another lighting up Eddie’s.

Steve catches his breath, feeling lighter now than he has in ages, and Eddie opens his mouth to say something again.

“Does this mean I can get your number?”

[lovekz]

dumb dick!

syn -> taiju’s bike isn’t the only thing you wanna ride of his.

warnings : smut, rough sex, p in v, oral (male receiving), squirting, use of the nickname mama and baby, overstimulation, taiju has a big dick, creampie

-

you stood inside of the fast food restaurant, waiting on you and yuzuha’s order.

the two of you decided you should have a sleepover to catch up with each other, as college work has been keeping you two apart.

however, you don’t think this was a great idea anymore, because nothing was going right.

your car had broke down so you had to take the bus, and you were stranded.

the walk to the shiba’s house would take pretty long and you don’t want the food to get cold.

taking the bus wouldn’t shorten the time either.

not to mention your horrible experiences with ubers and lyft.

so you called yuzuha and asked if she could pick you up.

“sorry babe, I can’t. I gave hakkai my car so he could take it to his friend to get it fixed.” yuzuha frowned, feeling bad.

she had the same problem as you, but hers had broke down only after she got home.

you cursed quietly, contemplating on what you should do.

you could risk it and get a uber (and possibly have to stay on the phone the entire time and drain your phone's battery) or risk your legs and walk.

neither sounded ideal.

“i can pick her up?” you hear a voice in the background catch your attention.

it isn’t a voice you've heard before, and you don't think yuzuha got a boyfriend during the times you haven't spoke.

"that would be amazing, tai. can you please? i'll send you 50 for gas." yuzuha immediately says, opening her phone.

"no it's fine. you don't have to." the alleged 'tai' had responded, before you heard a door close.

yuzuha had a big smile on her face, and you looked at her with a bit of a smug look.

"didn't know you had a boyfriend." you teased, grabbing your orders and sitting at one of the seats.

yuzuha scoffed, rolling her eyes and leaning back into the comfy couch that she bought.

"hell no. that's just my older brother, taiju." yuzuha replies, tucking a hair behind her ear with a hum.

you nod, not knowing your best friend had another brother considering you only see hakkai.

maybe he doesn't live with them or maybe he isn't really their brother at all.

who knows.

after a few minutes, you walk outside and see a guy on a cool ass motorcycle.

you recognize it being the one that's usually in the shiba garage, but no one ever touched it before.

probably because it was his.

the man looks at you approaching him, and you try not to cream in your panties.

he was so fine.

he had this piercing gold gaze with a scowl resting permanently on his lips, hair blowing wildly behind him.

he wore a turtleneck that hugged his muscles perfectly and a pair of dress pants, dior belt holding them up.

not only was he fine, but he had money just like his siblings.

"you must be zu's friend?" the man begins to speak, leaning back to rest on his bike.

his voice came out gruffer than it had sounded over the phone, fitting his intimidating look.

you couldn't bring yourself to speak, offering him a nod as you got closer to get on the bike.

he stops you, getting off and taking the bag of food from you and resting it on the handle.

then, he lifts you up into the air and places you onto the bike properly, making you even more flustered.

he doesn’t say a word to you, just gets on the bike himself and wraps your arms around his waist.

you hold on tightly as he starts up the bike, before driving off.

the wind in your face actually feels amazing, makes you feel like you have a a lot of freedom in the world.

not only that, but you were offered a ride on a really hot guy’s motorcycle with him on it!

you wonder if he’ll get mad if you just…

you begin to let your hands fall a little lower from his waist, waiting for any reaction.

when there was none, you press a delicate hand on his bulge.

you feel his breath hitch just a bit, before he stops at a red light and turns to you.

“playing with your life gorgeous. can't wait till we get home?” taiju teases quietly, giving you a little smirk.

you smile at him, letting him pull your hands back up to where they originally were.

“sorry. just testing the waters.” you joke, getting a bit closer to him.

you feel him chuckle from his back as he looks back at the street when the light turns green.

you hope he stays so you can ‘test’ more waters on him.

he doesn’t seem to mind.

-

four hours into the movie marathon, yuzuha is knocked out on the long end of the couch.

taiju was upstairs in his own room, probably asleep as well.

the two of you had finished some of your food and had some more to share for hakkai and taiju.

so now it was just you and the movie.

it was growing to be late, but you don’t really feel tired at all.

maybe it’s because you were used to staying up so late to do homework and projects.

so you stayed up until the movie was over, woke yuzuha up to go in the room, and then laid on the air mattress wide awake.

of course this would happen.

you sigh to yourself, before going back downstairs to grab something to drink.

when you get to the kitchen, taiju is sitting on the counter with a mug in his hand.

shirtless, with only a pair of sweats that hang loosely on him.

you catch his attention almost immediately, him give you a little smile in result.

maybe he forgot about what happened earlier.

“hey.” you greet shortly, before grabbing one of the cups and getting some water.

he raises a hand to you, before looking back at his phone.

you lean against the counter yourself, typing away at your phone.

it’s silent for a while, besides the sound of things crashing and booming coming from his phone.

you wouldn’t take him for the type, then again, the shibas are pretty unpredictable.

“how come you’re down here so late?” taiju questions, not looking away from his phone.

you look up from yours, before taking another sip from your glass.

“can't sleep. you?” you reply shortly, placing your phone down onto the counter.

he does the same, wanting to engage in a conversation with you.

“same as you, really haven’t slept here in a while.” taiju explains, nodding his head.

you nod along with him. so he did use to live here, but he doesn’t anymore.

probably just visiting.

it grows silent once more, and you finish your water quickly.

it’s thirty minutes before two, and you don’t feel like staring up at the ceiling in yuzuha’s room.

taiju must’ve caught onto that, and he hops of the counter and moves in front of you.

“if you’d like, you can come keep me company in my room.” taiju whispers in your ear, before making his way upstairs.

you’re flustered now, and he probably knows it.

but you won’t let him get away that easily.

-

when you make it into taiju's room, you notice how well done it is although a bit childish.

he has drawings of what are supposed to be sharks with hakkai and yuzuha's name scribbled on it.

the year at the bottom left had read about 10-13 years back.

his bed sheets were perfectly a deep blue with fluffy dark grey covers over the bed with a clean smell.

they must be fresh out of the dryer they had in their laundry room.

he had a comfortable little couch there too, it was where he was sitting right now.

also where you were kneeling in front of him, between his big beefy legs that could suffocate you if he wanted.

as of right now, you were trying to fit half of his cock into your mouth with a whine.

"you want it baby? gotta get it wet first." taiju encouraged, bucking his hips into your warm throat.

you gag around him just a bit, holding the base of his cock with both hands as you look up at him.

he's looking back at you with a shit eating grin, knowing you can't take more than the four inches you have down your throat.

taiju was a pretty big man, you should've expected him to have a big dick as well.

after a bit more of you struggling, taiju lifts you off of him and brings you closer to his face.

"breathe mama, s'okay. you'll have more practice." taiju whispered, cupping you through your panties.

just from sucking him (and playing with yourself in the first half), you were more than ready to try and take him a different way.

he sits you in his lap and lifts his hips up to shuffle the rest of his pants off, before pulling your panties off.

"want you t'ride me. that okay with you?" taiju whispers, kissing your jawline softly.

even if you didn't want to before, you were so gonna do it after he asked.

taiju doesn’t let you respond though, just lifts you up and lines himself up with your sopping hole.

you hold yourself up on your knees and keep steady with the help of his broad shoulders.

he teases your clit softly, making you roll your hips with a hitched breath.

eventually, he’s stops playing and sits you down onto his tip.

a hiss leaves your mouth immediately, the stretch being something completely foreign.

you weren’t a virgin, but you’ve never been with anyone much bigger than you.

let alone raw.

taiju rests against the couch a bit more, holding your waist to keep you still on top of him.

he’s watching as you sink yourself onto his hard cock, shaking ever so slightly and taking deep breaths.

taiju bores his eyes into your closed ones, feeling you rest your hands on his chest.

eventually, you sit down completely and open your eyes to stare back into taiju’s gold ones.

“you okay?” taiju teases quietly, rubbing your hip in slow reassuring circles.

you nod quickly, letting out a quiet sigh and leaning closer to him.

he notices how much you were tightening around him, and presses his thumb against your clit.

“s’okay. just relax for me, gonna make you feel good.” taiju reassures, rubbing in tight circles.

you moan quietly, following the movements of his thumb with your hips despite taiju trying to keep you still.

"mhm.. open up that pretty pussy for me." taiju groans, grinding up into you.

you begin to bounce and grind just a bit, already feeling overwhelmed from the size of him inside of you.

and you barely started moving.

taiju gains your attention by giving your hips a tight squeeze, staring into your eyes.

"you'll tell me if it's too much, okay?" taiju practically demanded, glancing down at where you two were connected.

you nod immediately, picking up the speed a little more.

soon enough, you were nearing your second orgasm, holding his hands and bouncing erratically on his dick while moaning a bit too loud.

taiju wasn't worried though, he knew his sister has slept through many things she probably shouldn't have.

loud claps echoed through the room every time you slammed your hips down onto him.

"m'cumming!" you cried out above him for the second time tonight, squeezing his hands tightly as you threw your head back.

taiju knows already though. he's mesmerized by the way you squeeze and ride him more desperately.

"go ahead. make a mess on me, baby." taiju grunts, feeling your insides squeeze against him more.

and at his command, you're crying out loudly and releasing on him one more.

taiju groans quietly, letting go of your hands and grabbing your waist.

he lifts you up and practically tosses you onto his bed, before pushing your legs up to your ears and sliding into you again.

you press a hand against his stomach, squealing as he presses directly into your sweet spot.

"w-wait taiju! s'too much!" you gasped out, scratching at his abs to try to push him out a bit.

"mm-mm. move it. it's never too much." taiju says gruffly, slapping your hands away and pounding into you.

you toss your head back and moan, feeling your legs begin to shake like you had to cum again.

taiju lets your legs go and they end up wrapped around his waist tightly, trying to still his movements.

but it does nothing, since taiju is much stronger and bigger than you.

he reaches between the both of you and begins rubbing your clit feverishly, relishing in the feeling of you pulling him in.

you feel something begin to build up in your tummy, something stronger than before.

you cry out loudly, still trying to get him to let up on his thrusts.

"g-gonna make a mess! please!" you squeal, feeling his hand begin to press on your tummy.

"i know mama, can feel it." taiju grunts out, still battering your poor pussy senseless.

before you knew it, you were squirting all over his stomach and the sheets below you.

the extra wetness made the thrusts you continued to receive much louder and wetter than before.

"hope you're on the pill." taiju says to you, feeling his hips begin to stutter and lose its rhythm.

you don't let it bother you, too overstimulated to understand anything he could be saying to you.

he wraps his hand around your throat to keep you still as he pushes deep into you, cumming hard.

his scrunches up his nose and groans, shutting his eyes tight.

and although your sight is a bit blurry, you can't help but watching him closely as he rides out his orgasm.

when he's finished, he pulls out of you and watches his cum drip out onto the bed before moving his attention back to your face.

you were spent, and on the verge of falling asleep.

taiju presses two or three kisses to your lips, before rubbing your thigh comfortingly.

"don't go to sleep yet. m'not done." taiju whispers in your ear, gathering some of the cum up and pushing it back into you.

and you definitely did have a feeling he wasn't.

-

the next morning, you wake up in the airbed more sore than you thought you'd be.

the numerous amount of rounds you and taiju did might be the reason, and not because of the airbed have little to none air.

you get out as best as possible, before making your way to the bathroom and brushing your teeth.

yuzuha was already out of bed and was probably downstairs.

when you finish, you go downstairs and see all three of the shibas standing around in the kitchen.

now that you realize it, they all shared more similarities, though hakkai looked much more like taiju standing next to him.

"good morning sleeping beauty. how ya feeling?" yuzuha teases, oblivious as to what happened last night.

you stretch out your limbs and pick up a piece of fruit from her bowl, chewing on it.

"sore, actually. feels like my body was bent wrong." you complain lightly, sitting on the counter next to her.

hakkai spits out his coffee, before coughing loudly and holding onto taiju for support.

the three of you were confused, watching as hakkai wiped his mouth with paper towel.

"uhm.. okay. when did you come back, kai?" yuzuha questioned, shrugging off her brother's odd behvaior.

when he came to his senses and finished cleaning up, he leaned against the counter with a bottle of water.

taiju rolled his eyes and took a sip of his coffee, waiting for hakkai's response.

"sometime around two or three last night." hakkai says hesitantly, drinking his cold water.

taiju then spits out his coffee and you begin to choke on the piece of strawberry in your mouth.

you play yours off with a laugh, covering your mouth as you lean on yuzuha so she laughs too.

he had came in around the time taiju had you in his bed, which is probably why he reacted the way he did.

now it was taiju cleaning up his mess and drinking water.

"i don't get it. what's going on?" yuzuha questioned suspiciously after her laugh dies down, looking at her brothers.

taiju shakes his head, looking at hakkai with a unreadable expression.

hakkai clears his throat after another sip of water, before looking at his older sister.

"the coffee is shit, yuzu. is it dark roast?" hakkai questions, pointing to the bag of coffee grounds.

she checks, and (luckily), the coffee that was in the machine was dark roast.

yuzuha curses quietly and tosses the bag in the garbage, along with the pot of coffee that was made.

"shit, my bad. i'll go get another one now." yuzuha says, grabbing her wallet and keys before turning to you.

she was silently asking if you would be okay staying here while she runs to the store.

you wave her off, massaging your hips just a little bit.

"i'm still sore, so i'll probably lay down for a bit." you explain, flashing her a little smile.

yuzuha nods, before changing out her shoes and offering you a smile.

"i'll bring back some painkillers." yuzuha lets you know, before walking out of the house.

when it's confirmed that yuzuha was out of the driveway, you and taiju turned to hakkai.

"i got one hundred dollars if you keep your mouth shut." you say, pointing your fork at him.

hakkai scoffs, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter with a smirk.

"one fifty sounds like a better bargain honestly." hakkai says, looking at you with a raised brow.

"how about two fifty and you eat for free." taiju bargains with him again, crossing his arms to mock hakkai.

you go to protest about the amount of money, but taiju holds his hand up to you.

it shuts you up almost immediately, especially when hakkai's eyes widen with a grin.

"you got a deal-" "but only you! and maybe mitsuya." taiju restates, cutting hakkai off before he got a big head.

hakkai scoffs, before nodding and saying a short 'fine' under his breath.

hakkai leaves the room after giving taiju his cash app, and goes upstairs.

"i don't have two fifty." you sigh, leaning back and letting him find yourself in between your legs.

he presses a kiss your your lips and then along your jawline.

"don't worry about it. i'll pay him." he whispers, massaging your hips for you.

you nod, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as you pull him into a kiss.

you hope hakkai doesn't see this, or you fear he'll ask for more money.

[evreeone]

i have been thinking a lot about lonely people.

I have a medical appointment coming up.

A test that requires a very minor procedure, but nonetheless needs the hospital and anesthetic to get done. As the specialist went over the appointment with me, she highlighted and underlined details--including the part where it specifies that I need a family member or friend to pick me up. No ubers, taxis, lyfts or ride-shares allowed. No release if not into the hands of someone familiar.

Originally, my mom was meant to take me. But then, she's since been under the weather, possibly (but hopefully not) with covid, and has since had to tap out. Thankfully, I do have a friend in range who has told me they're available for the day of. But if I didn't? I'd have no one.

And what then?

What happens to the people who don't have family, who don't have friends? I wasn't offered alternatives. Would someone just have to skip on important medical things because they're alone?

In the past few weeks, a close friend's elderly neighbor has lost lucidity. He stays up all day and night, steeped in delusion and shouting death threats and rambles about crucification and the burning of sinners. He stands in the middle of the road like a zombie for hours at a time, only activated when someone comes close enough for him to remember to yell. He's tried getting into my friend's apartment, thankfully stopped by the lock on the door. Unshowered for weeks, with a clear lack of capacity to take care of himself.

Mental health services and law enforcement have been contacted multiple times and the response has been the same: they know for a fact it's a mental health crisis, but they can only hospitalize him if he consents....or if someone can admit or consent for him. Family. But he doesn't have the lucidity to consent. And no one is coming for him.

I've been anxious right along with my friend, just hoping day by day that things don't escalate. I can't imagine the stress they're going through. And even though my care and concern is more for my friend who is having to abruptly move to regain any sense of safety amidst the constant terrorizing and death threats, I can't help but feel for the old man who is being left to rot because there is no one there for him.

Is that just what happens when you're alone at the end of everything? When you're old with no family to come get you. No friends that visit. He's likely getting evicted in the coming month or so, according to the landlord. It's sooner easier to make him homeless than it is for anyone to help ground him.

Yesterday while in the garage I saw a blanket neatly folded in a plastic hospital bag. I remember the exact circumstances that lead it to be there, many years ago, though I'd thought it'd been thrown away. My older housemate, who I do view as family, had had a severe health crisis. The scene was gruesome, and has long since been so embedded in my mind that I can't enter his room anymore without feeling my heart start to race. At first he'd insisted and reassured that he was fine while he'd stayed behind a closed door. I felt he was lying to me, though I couldn't place why. I'd had to call my mom to drive over to help check on things when I started getting a gut feeling something was really wrong, before I knew for certain, before he let me see him. She was more direct, I knew, and wouldn't let him lie to her or keep his privacy if she'd started getting the same bad gut feeling I'd been getting.

When she arrived and insisted on seeing him, the crisis hit its peak. We'd had to use the blanket to carry his body outside when he'd begged for fresh air while the ambulance arrived as his body poisoned itself from a health issue he'd tried to ignore or wait out. He was in the hospital for a while after that evening. Months. And if I hadn't been there, if my mom hadn't answered my call and listened to my instinct, if he'd been alone, he would've just died in his room. And no one would've known.

I dunno.

I just kind of look at everything and wonder if there's much point to waiting to get to the end at all. Old age, where health will decay faster. I'm mostly alone right now, minus my mom and one friend in reach who won't always be as age starts to set in for all of us. I can go so long without uttering a single word sometimes that my voice cracks when I finally have to use my words. If way further down the line I needed anesthesia, I'd have no one to pick me up. If I lost my mind to psychosis, I'd have no one to get me somewhere safe. If I got really sick while alone in my room, I'd have no one to call for help.

I know there's a lot of talk, often, about learning to be happy alone, learning to be okay alone. But is that really a life worth living at all? Finding peace in it won't save you when you desperately need someone there for your own well-being. When you need the hospital, or when you're struck with unexpected dementia or a mental health crisis.

When I was younger I used to not want to go past 25 if I hadn't accomplished anything. That came and went despite the parameters being failed to be met. When I started having health issues, I wanted more and more to be able to see old age as it started feeling more and more out of reach. But sometimes I look down the line and wonder--is there even a point?

Last month I'd talked to a friend about how I still remembered the name of every teacher I've ever had, because I did. And this week I almost had a crisis upon realizing every single one of those names, names that'd been in my memory for decades have suddenly vanished. I can't remember a single one now, despite remembering them all just a month ago. I try not to make eye contact with my grandfather's growing dementia symptoms and how much it scares the shit out of me. How much my own decaying memory scares me too.

Nothing has really changed for me in the past decade, and for half of that almost every single day has been nearly identical. Maybe I'm starting to lose it a bit in the sheer monotony. But I'd be lying if every time I try to look further down the line it doesn't look entirely bleak. Empty and alone, if there at all.

It makes me wonder why I keep going to begin with.

And I don't really think I have an answer.

This world isn't really made for lonely people, I don't think.

And it feels almost inevitable that I will end up one.

[disgracefulthings]

So I've had 2 very different interactions with Uber and Lyft, and I have experienced that Uber does way too little for their customers, while Lyft might do a little too much for theirs.

On my last Uber ride, my driver was texting and driving (which is very obviously a crime!), so I asked them to stop. My exact words were "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't text while driving", trying to be polite even though they shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. My driver said their texting was related to their work, which was apparently more important than my safety and the safety of others, so I repeated myself. They said if I didn't like it then I could get a different driver, and they pulled over, so I got out because I didn't feel like dying. I just have to point out that this person felt entitled to commit a crime, and not just any crime but a crime that could end up with people dying! How do people think like that?! Anyway, I was in a place I didn't know and was kinda freaking out. Thankfully there was a restaurant nearby and the workers allowed me to chill there while I waited for a Lyft driver. However the bullshit didn't end there. I called Uber support and had a chat about what happened, and I was told I would get a refund, but guess what? A week passed and my ride wasn't refunded, and in fact I received an email from Uber about MY BEHAVIOR!

WTF! I had to contact Uber again, tell them that not only was the driver texting and driving, but the ride wasn't even finished! It was like 2 minutes long. I got a refund and I heard nothing about this incident from them ever since. So you know, I don't use Uber anymore.

Now I only use Lyft, but recently I had a weird experience with their support team. The other day I had an Lyft driver ask me who I was voting for, and me being socially awkward and not down to talk about politics with a stranger, I said I didn't want to discuss it. The driver then told me who they were voting for and the conversation ended there. It was a bit annoying for them to not let the conversations go, so I left a note to Lyft support and proceeded to forget about it. I got a message from them this morning asking if I was safe (which if I wasn't, this happened a day ago so too little too late, but I never said anything about feeling unsafe so ???). I said I was and they asked me what happened and I told them. And holy shit, this thing ended up being blown out of proportion. They made sure to let me know that they will deal with the driver and refunded my ride. I hope I didn't get the driver fired! They just need to be told 'if a rider doesn't want to talk about something, then don't talk about it', I gave them 4/5 stars, it wasn't that big of a deal. This was an overcorrection, but when I tried to tell this to Lyft support they just told me they were taking this VERY SERIOUSLY. Either I was talking to an AI, or someone who cares too much about awkward conversations.

Anyway just wanted to rant about my experiences with these two apps. Don't use Uber, and if you use Lyft, know that they take things very seriously. If someone on here is a Lyft driver, please let me know if this is something a driver could be fired over or if they will just get a reprimand. I seriously hope I didn't get someone in too much trouble just because I'm socially awkward

[starryeyedjanai]

Find the Word Tag Game!

tagged by @spicysix and @sidekick-hero💜 rule of the game is to search for the words given to you in your WIP(s), post the snippet with the word, and then, if you want to, tag other people and give them new words to play along

from lui: brink, repeat, initial, admiring, interesting

and from sandy: breath, hair, smile, fingers, blue, love

repeat (from a secret gift fic)

“Hot,” he says, because apparently all he can do is repeat what Steve’s saying. He still isn’t one hundred percent sure he’s not dreaming right now—maybe he fell off the stage and hit his head and is laying concussed on the floor right now, dreaming this all up or something.

initial (from my RBB)

Before she knows it, the sky outside is starting to get dark. Somehow, they’ve been talking for hours, even after they were done with the joint a long time ago, even though she’s felt less of the initial high for a while now.

interesting (from chronance vampires chapter 2)

She was expecting to go home with someone else. She was expecting to find some guy or girl who looked even half as interesting as Nancy and Robin and let them feed from her, let them put their hands on her body. But there they were, sitting in the same booth as last time. Chrissy flushed when she met Nancy’s eyes like she’d been caught out.

the rest are under the cut!

breath (from wing!fic)

He hears Steve walk further inside, covering the short distance to Eddie's room quickly. Steve peers inside through the cracked door and his breath catches. “Please don't freak out. I really need your help,” Eddie says. Steve opens and closes his mouth a few times like he can't seem to find the words.

hair (from a secret gift fic)

Steve sits there next to him and plays with his hair and steals sips of his beer because he’s not 21 yet and he doesn't act like there’s this big thing hanging between them—the depth of Eddie's feelings somehow not driving a wedge between them.

smile (from bad tinder date)

Steve can't really muster up a smile at the pity, so he says, “Well, whatever the case, he was my ride home, so I think I need to call a Lyft. Can you box the food up and bring me the check?” At least he’ll have lunch for tomorrow, which doesn't feel like an adequate consolation prize for how shitty he feels right now.

fingers (from a sub!eddie week fic)

Steve brings his hand up to Eddie's mouth, fingers pressing at his jaw to get him to open up.

blue (from famous/not famous au)

He turns his phone around and shows him a text exchange between him and someone named Dustin. The blue text from Dustin is a mile long, excitedly talking about his band. It’s weirdly endearing to see someone praising his band like this, probably because Dustin was just gushing to a friend about Eddie and his band—it's not something Eddie was ever really meant to see.

love (from famous/not famous au)

He’s cold and more than a little miserable tonight and misery loves company, so he ducks into the first bar he comes across.

tagging: @figthefruitfaeth @pearynice @penny00dreadful @matchingbatbites @lexirosewrites @emchant3d and anyone else who wants to do it!

your words are: agree, present, need, wall, start

[intrepimid]

Before I had options like Uber and Lyft, I would have to take the bus from the train station to my convention the few times I went each year. I once missed the bus I needed. 10 minutes later, it was back. I WISH I had public transit that snappy where I live. My work office is like a 5 minute drive away but I can't drive and would either have to depend on rides from coworkers/family or take the bus. You know how long it takes to get from my place to the office by bus? An HOUR. We have one. bus. in. this. town. Thank GOD I'm now WFH permanently. But God it pisses me off people in this town bitch about "why do we even pay for this system it doesn't make any money!" and it's like no shit when you only have one bus it kinda makes it impossible to rely on.

If you are thinking about it on paper, the bus running every half hour doesn't sound so bad, until you're waiting at the stop and you miss a bus or it's delayed. Then you're waiting a very, very long time. To people who never take transit, that's probably fine. Why do you care. To people who only take transit, they're expecting it, it's baked in their lives. But the important part, what really impacts our cities, is what happens to people for whom transit is an option.

The spiral goes like this. You go to take the bus instead of driving, thinking "I'm going to o have a couple drinks" or "I don't want to worry about parking where I'm going." So you take bus. First bus is right on time. But then you transfer from your neighborhood line to the line that takes you where you actually want to go. And your bus is delayed. And it only comes every 30 minutes. And then you're waiting, 40 minutes later, wondering where your bus is, knowing you could have driven there in 20 minutes.

Why would you ever chose to take a bus again? The bus made you waste precious time on your day off just sitting there. So next time you drive. Ridership goes down. When the transit authority asks for more money for more buses and more drivers, people point to the ridership numbers and say "why should we pay for this instead of paying for our schools/police/baseball stadium/parks/police again (let's be real that's who's taking all the money)?" If we want to increase ridership we need to actually design and fund functional transit networks. If we want people to actually ride the bus we need to make it a better option than driving, which means reliable service, which you don't get with a bus every 30 minutes.

Every 15 minutes, everywhere, all of the time.

[travelnestcarrental]

What Makes Travelnest Car Rental Stand Out in Orange County’s Crowded Market?

In the heart of Southern California, where palm trees stretch sky-high and traffic never sleeps, one name keeps rising above the noise—Travelnest car rental. Locals love it. Tourists keep coming back. Rideshare drivers are raving. Whether you're diving into rideshare rentals, booking uber rentals for gig work, or planning a beach escape in a hybrid, Travelnest is built for flexibility and comfort.

Orange County’s rental scene gets crowded real fast. Chain giants, flashy apps, and too many fees confuse the whole process. Travelnest flips that on its head. They offer freedom. Simplicity. Real support that doesn’t vanish once you leave the lot. And they do it all from Costa Mesa with pricing that makes sense.

Local Power. Real Difference.

Think about it. You’re searching for rental cars for Uber, maybe on short notice. You want something clean. Affordable. Easy to book. You don’t want to wait in line or get slapped with charges for things you didn’t ask for. That’s where Travelnest thrives.

This crew understands Orange County’s rhythm—its college life, family visits, airport runs, and all those last-minute ride share car rentals. From fuel-efficient sedans to spacious SUVs, they’ve got the keys you need.

Why Choose Travelnest Car Rental?

1. Flexible Plans That Actually Flex

Not everyone wants a 7-day deal. Some drivers work weekends only. Some families need two days in town. Others stay for a month. Travelnest bends with your schedule. You book what you need—no pressure, no fine print circus.

2. Fuel-Efficient and Eco-Friendly Rides

Hybrids? Yes. Compact gas-savers? Yep. Travelnest gives you modern vehicles that sip fuel, not chug it. It’s great for your wallet and even better for OC’s air. Especially useful if you’re stacking hours behind the wheel for Lyft rentals or other driving gigs.

3. Real Humans When You Need Help

It’s 8:12 PM. You’re locked out of the rental. Some companies send you a chatbot. Travelnest sends help. Their support line isn’t a dead end. It’s staffed with folks who know the area and understand the urgency.

4. Prime Costa Mesa Location Close to Everything

555 Anton Blvd puts you right in the action. SNA Airport? Minutes away. I-405? Even closer. Beach cities like Huntington and Newport? Short drive. Whether you're a tourist or a rideshare warrior, pickup and drop-off are smooth.

5. Designed for Rideshare Drivers

For folks grinding in gig work, Travelnest offers tailored rideshare rentals with unlimited miles, flexible returns, and vehicles that pass inspection every time. Clean interiors, great mileage, and comfort for you and your passengers.

6. No Sneaky Fees or Weird Charges

Transparent pricing means what you see is what you pay. You won’t find an extra $79 for “fuel processing” or “tire sanitation.” Just straight-up good value that keeps renters coming back.

FAQs – People Want to Know

1. Can I rent a car from Travelnest to drive for Uber or Lyft?

Yes! Travelnest supports both uber rentals and Lyft rentals. Their rides are up to code and ready for apps like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash.

2. What if I only need a car for a few days?

No stress. Travelnest offers short-term rentals without forcing weekly minimums. Even one-day bookings are easy to arrange if the schedule’s tight.

3. Are the cars in good shape?

Every ride goes through routine checkups. Oil, brakes, tires—everything gets a look. Travelnest doesn't roll out junk. You get clean, road-ready vehicles every time.

4. Do you have hybrids or eco-friendly cars?

Absolutely. They’ve got multiple hybrid models perfect for saving gas on long drives or daily delivery routes. It’s also a great fit for people choosing ride share car rentals and looking to boost their income.

5. Can I extend my rental if I need it longer?

Totally. Just give Travelnest a quick call. Extensions are easy to handle and won’t wreck your budget.

6. What makes Travelnest different from national chains?

They’re local. They're flexible. They don’t bury you in paperwork. Support feels human, not robotic. Plus, you get way more car for your cash.

Contact Travelnest Car Rental Today

If you're in Orange County and need reliable wheels—whether for work, school, or fun—Travelnest car rental is your best bet. Fast service. Clean rides. No nonsense.

Address: 555 Anton Blvd Suite 108, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States Phone: +1 (949) 696-2971

Don't settle for chaos. Book smarter. Drive better. Save more. Travelnest.

Let me know if you want this turned into a press release version too!

[prose-ejector]

I'd like to thank the world for being there when I wake up

I'd like to thank my phone for deciding the fifteen minutes between morning alarms is the best time to force an update

I'd like to thank the powers that be for gutting airplane safety within months of my family moving to the opposite side of the continent and telling me i could visit whenever

I'd like to thank my friend for inviting me to his wedding which also requires cross country flights

I'd like to thank the little proteins that make up my wife for cursing her with a condition that denies her the career and life she dreamed of right as she began to attain them

I'd like to thank health insurance companies and the social security administration for twisting that particular knife whenever possible

I'd like to thank the dog for being built weird and suddenly becoming two grand more expensive at 1:30am because she has a degenerative condition that, ironically, echoes that of the love of my life

I'd like to thank my best friend for driving us to the pet ER in the middle of the night with no questions asked

I'd like to thank lyft for offering a 'Pet Ride' option that doesn't actually inform their drivers when they accept a ride with a pet

I'd like to thank last night's lyft driver for taking us home anyway

I'd like to thank the country for being built around cars instead of people

I'd like to thank the system of debts that allows me to get treatment for the dog and eventually buy a car at the minor cost of indenturing myself for the foreseeable future

I'd like to thank the world for continually providing punches to practice rolling with, except I'm starting to get really dizzy and i don't know how long I can keep spinning

[kotav]

DO YOU PREFER TAKING RISKS OR HAVING A SAFETY NET?

♡k 09/14/2024-09/17/2024

I preferred having a safety net for a really long time. I think in a lot of cases, you should always have a safety net. But sometimes you can't always have a safety net.

For example, since moving out on my own, I’ve been taking the risk of getting over my anxiety and fear of driving. The more I practice driving, the less nervous and scared I am after each lesson. I feel excited getting behind the wheel now and going faster (still going the legal limit) than what I’ve done before. I still can’t believe I went faster than 50mph. I can’t believe I even touched 60!! (edit: 09/17/2024, I drove on the freeway for the first time!!)

A year ago, I wouldn’t even have dreamed of going any faster than 20mph. Learning how to drive has taught me that I am in control of myself and my situation. I have overcome the biggest obstacle of my life and as I continue to practice driving, I feel like I could do anything! I hope in 2 months, I will be so comfortable driving that I can, not only finally take my driver's test, but also go out on my own without fear, without worrying if I have enough money for rides for the week or even waiting on someone to bring me to places! (ex., ubers/lyfts and friends/family helping me run errands)

I hesitated taking the initiative to practice driving for so long for many reasons that slowly snowballed into avoiding it completely up until this point. One of the main reasons was my fear of getting into a car crash. I believe it rooted from my childhood and teenage years from hearing my immediate and extended family getting into accidents (either it be their fault or the other driver involved). It's also expensive for the permit test(s), driving lessons, getting to and from the driving lessons and/or DMV, taking the driver's test(s) and the potential expenses of having and maintaining a car.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still worried but it's more of a financial worry now. I feel way more confident driving compared to 6 months ago and I believe I will get better as I continue to practice driving but I have to learn to accept the fact that I will owe and possibly be in debt to something or someone to have and maintain certain things in life such as a car and/or being a homeowner. I've always been afraid to be in debt and owe money. I have a "if I can't buy it in full, I can't have it" mindset. I grew up poor.

Driving doesn't really have a safety net option because although I would like to avoid getting into an accident, coming across car problems and owing a large amount of money, it's bound to happen whether I like it or not. I must decide if I want to swim or drown because either way it'll be hard but in the long run of having the ability to drive, it'll help make things easier for myself rather than not having my license at all.

Some times you have to jump the gun and go for it. You never know what it'll bring you and I hope having the ability to drive will bring me lots of opportunities in life that I would never have dreamed of a year ago! (ex., new career opportunities, independence, freedom and new life experiences)

(edit: 09/17/2024, I came across this Instagram reel and thought it was relevant)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @opusreality

[xxmu5hxx]

So thanks to Florida fucking me over from long distance I'm unable to drive my car, so I gotta take a lyft to get to and from work.

It's weird how many hefty religious people drive for lyft. Like straight up sat down in a car and my hello was drown out by a loud choir. It went on for half the car ride before it changed to some country song with a slide guitar about how "he" has come and "he" is all around.

I have a bunch of other tiny stories of people attempting to slide in the word faith into the convo or question if I really should be thinking about going to college because "do you really need to learn everything they are trying to teach you" which I quickly sidestep into rambling about how college is a scam for anyone who doesn't need the papers to do their job.

[metroshareluxury]

On the Move: Detroit Airport Transportation for Every Traveler

Introduction

Traveling can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it often comes with its fair share of challenges, particularly when it comes to Detroit Airport transportations. Detroit, known as the Motor City, is a major hub for both domestic and international travelers. As such, it offers a plethora of transportation options to accommodate the diverse needs of every traveler. In this discussion, we will explore the various modes of transportation available at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and the surrounding area, catering to the needs of both leisure and business travelers.

Airport Shuttle Services

For travelers looking for convenient and hassle-free transportation to and from the Detroit Airport, shuttle services are a reliable choice. These services typically operate on fixed schedules and pick up passengers from various locations, including hotels and transportation hubs.

Shuttle services are an excellent option for those traveling in groups or with a significant amount of luggage. They are also cost-effective, making them a budget-friendly choice. Passengers can book their shuttle rides in advance or find them at designated pick-up points at the airport.

Taxi Services

Taxis are a classic choice for travelers who prioritize privacy and convenience. In Detroit, taxi services are readily available at the airport terminals, making them easily accessible to passengers. Taxis are ideal for those who want to reach their destination directly without any stops along the way.

While taxis are convenient, they can be more expensive than other transportation options, especially for longer distances. However, for travelers who value door-to-door service and a quick ride to their destination, taxis remain a popular choice.

Ridesharing Services

The rise of ridesharing services has revolutionized airport transportation across the globe, and Detroit is no exception. Passengers can use popular ridesharing apps to book rides with drivers from companies like Uber and Lyft. These services offer a balance between affordability and convenience.

Ridesharing services are particularly advantageous for travelers who are comfortable using smartphone apps and want the flexibility to choose their pick-up and drop-off locations. Additionally, these services often provide estimates of ride costs upfront, giving passengers transparency about the fare.

Public Transportation

For budget-conscious travelers, Detroit offers an extensive public transportation network that includes buses and the Detroit People Mover. The SMART bus system provides routes to and from the airport, connecting travelers to various parts of the city and surrounding areas.

The Detroit People Mover is an automated, elevated train that circulates within the downtown area. While it doesn't directly serve the airport, it can be a convenient way to explore downtown Detroit for travelers with longer layovers.

Public transportation is an environmentally friendly option that can save travelers money, but it may not be the most efficient choice for those with tight schedules or a lot of luggage.

Rental Cars

Many travelers prefer the flexibility and freedom of renting a car when arriving at the Detroit Airport. Several car rental companies have counters conveniently located in the terminals, making it easy to pick up a vehicle upon arrival. Renting a car is an excellent choice for those planning to explore Detroit and its surrounding areas extensively.

However, it's important to consider factors like parking fees, fuel costs, and potential traffic congestion when opting for a rental car. Additionally, travelers should be aware of the specific rental policies and requirements of the chosen company.

Airport Parking

For travelers who prefer to drive to the airport, Detroit Airport offers a range of parking options to suit various needs. These include short-term parking, long-term parking, and valet parking services. The proximity of parking facilities to the airport terminals ensures convenience for passengers.

Short-term parking is ideal for those dropping off or picking up passengers, while long-term parking is suitable for travelers leaving their vehicles for an extended duration. Valet parking offers the utmost convenience, with attendants parking and retrieving the vehicle for the traveler.

Conclusion

In the bustling metropolis of Detroit, transportation to and from the airport is a crucial component of the overall travel experience. Fortunately, the city offers a diverse array of options to cater to the unique needs and preferences of every traveler.

For those seeking a cost-effective and communal experience, airport shuttle services provide a reliable solution. Taxis, on the other hand, are perfect for those valuing privacy and direct transportation. Ridesharing services offer a middle ground, combining affordability with convenience and transparency.

[the-one-true-nobody]

Having worked as a rideshare driver for over a year, I still somewhat prefer it to food delivery—the apps themselves are just a lot less aggravating to use while navigating around and you get work more consistently throughout the day. But I absolutely despise the specific tipping culture around rideshare, which is:

"You don't need to tip your driver! You paid a lot for that ride as it is, and they must be getting a huge cut of that! They're making enough!"

No. No, we are not. We do not see the amount you paid, and we are not getting a "huge cut." To put it bluntly, we're getting an amount based on the miles driven, time spent driving them, and (as a very small item) the time spent waiting for you when we get there. More recently, though this may be region-specific, pay has shuffled around so that we're also being paid for the distance driven to pick you up. But to offset that, I think the actual per-mile rate was decreased. Wouldn't want to scare customers off with expensive prices.

But the point is our pay is based on the specific time and distance we drive, and not on some "cut" of whatever amount you paid. There is a very good chance, in fact, that some of the fees and stuff you paid to Uber or Lyft or whatever are fees that go right to Uber or Lyft, and we do not see a penny of them.

Now, realistically-speaking, a lot of the time the amount of money we make per trip is... enough. It's not a lot. That lofty-sounding $20+-per-hour that Lyft and Uber quote in their advertisements is before fuel, and I don't think it even subtracts the toll reimbursements, which get lumped in which our "earnings" in the big ol' money tab at the top of the app, artificially inflating them whenever they start to accrue. Realistically, when you subtract fuel and food for the day and discount the toll reimbursements, I'd guess we make something like $10 an hour on average.

So. Putting it bluntly, we would really appreciate it if riders tipped us more, the way they do food-delivery drivers. 'Cause we aren't exactly rolling in money and full-time rideshare work is expensive to maintain in the long run, because it means more frequent auto maintenance and oil changes. And we aren't always able to maintain efficient revenue-flow throughout a given day or week, since some jobs inevitably waste more of our time and fuel than others, or leave us in a part of the state that just doesn't have many rides for drivers to pick up.

Tip your drivers if you can, even if it's just a piddly one-dollar tip or something. If nothing else you'll be offsetting some of the cost, and that's always a help.

And for the love of muffins, tip your driver well if they're picking you up late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. The drivers who do that are putting up with the most stressful, least lucrative time window, and also just the weirdest drama with their customers. I once picked up a customer at a convenience store who insisted that I take a roundabout route to get where he was going because he thought someone was after him. It was the most nerve-wracking five dollars I've ever made, and I've tried to avoid those time slots ever since.

AND IF YOUR KID SPILLS THEIR DRINK IN THE BACK SEAT SAY SOMETHING, GOD DAMN—

*Ahem.*

...Anyway, if I didn't have other sources of income, this would absolutely not be sustainable for me. So, tip your drivers.

[fishgut]

530 thoughts

I'm still thinking about the Lyft driver I had that turned into an impromptu support session. There's something about nowadays where people long so desperately to have someone to talk to who will just listen.

Guy was a year older than me despairing not having a job or a degree, when I was younger than him working at an engineering firm. (didn't have the heart to tell him it doesn't make you any happier or that my job was a major factor in my attempt.) He talked about how at least he had his car (it was his baby) and how he wanted to get into school or a coding program to work on games. His brother did that, had his schooling paid for by the military somehow because his brother had been enlisted. He didn't really know what he wanted to do, but he looked up to his older brother. I said there's still a lot of time to decide. He was said that was true but he hated feeling so aimless. At least Lyft was doing a special promotion to do 30 rides and get 500 (one time offer) and he'd figured he would start driving again at least to get that money. the ride he picked up before me was an addict who was going to a rehab center with all her stuff. he wished me a good life, I wished him luck deciding what he wanted.

I know other people struggle with the same feelings of want that I do, but moments like that really just remind me how little we connect with each other despite that. He talked about more than just that and I wonder if he regrets being so vulnerable with a stranger, why I was the one he opened up to, or if it helped him decide what he wanted to direct his life towards. Our lives have so much richness and emotion it makes me kind of sad that connection doesn't come easier. That it has to be suppressed to the point of bursting at the seams in a waterfall, rather than flowing openly.

I think we're all worried about being human enough or that we're not doing "being a person" right when there is no straightforward path, between the worries I read other people post online, my coworkers', that Lyft driver's, the others's that were with me in the psych hospital unit's, everyone thinks someone else is doing it right and need to vent that out when no one has it down perfectly. the world is so small and people so starved of being seen and acknowledged and I don't know how we can even begin to collectively listen

[pftones3482]

Here's the thing, from someone who's 25 and still doesn't have a license:

We live in a society that shames you for not owning a car and not being able to drive. Despite the fact that people acknowledge that driving can be dangerous, it's expensive to own a car, and it's expensive to take care of a car, people still ridicule you if you refuse to get a license or drive.

Never mind the fact that most people who don't drive have a very good reason for not driving. The reason that I don't drive is because I get intense anxiety and I dissociate a lot when I'm doing one task, and I don't want that to happen when I'm behind the wheel of a vehicle that could kill somebody.

But even if I didn't have those two mental things going on oh, I still wouldn't want to drive. It's not fun for me, I don't like how other people drive, and it's terrible for the environment.

Cars are confusing. We weren't taught anything about them growing up (unless you were super into them), they break down for the dumbest reasons, and they're two ton heaps of metal that can cause literal death even when you do everything right, because even if YOU do everything right, not everyone else does. We mock the people who can't pump their own gas, but if no one ever taught them how to, why should they know?

Can YOU change a tire? Do you know how to change the oil? Where does the windshield wiper fluid go? How do you clean your AC vents? What happens if your brakes go out? What does "Neutral" really do? What's the safe level for a seatbelt to rest at? Who has the right of way at a four way stop? Did you know all cars are made with male models, so no car on the market has been fully tested with AFAB people in mind? Which means AFAB people are more likely to get severely harmed or die in crashes because the safety gear doesn't protect us the way it does AMAB people? Did you know that distracted driving (texting, drinking, having animals in the car, children in the car, changing the radio, eating, etc) is the number one cause of vehicular accidents in the United States (and is something EVERYONE is guilty of)?

Do you know every single one of those things? Likely not, and if you did, you're in the minority.

There are a lot of people out there who drive who actively should not be driving. People who are too old, people who drink and drive all the time, people who do weed and drive (being high is a form of intoxication you morons, stop taking an edible or smoking a joint and then getting behind the wheel of a car). People with intense anxiety, people who have frequent seizures, people who just don't want to drive, but they feel forced to because otherwise they can't get anywhere.

Let me say that more simply: the only reason a good chunk of people drive is because they're forced to, not because they want to. Most Americans don't live in walkable neighborhoods, and many neighborhoods are not made with pedestrians in mind.

And speaking as someone who doesn't drive, let me give you a couple of tips:

- don't expect your friends to drive you everywhere.

- take advantage of rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber. I know there's a lot of anxiety behind using these and being in cars with strangers, but as long as you're smart and rate the driver's accordingly, you'll be fine (If a driver ever makes you uncomfortable, you can report them to either app, and they will never pair you with that driver again). Most Uber and Lyft drivers are just trying to make a living.

- if you can, walk to your destination. Get a bicycle. Both are good forms of exercise, they're good for your mental health, and it costs nothing (other than the initial bike expense)

- if you do need to get a ride from a friend, offer to pay them for gas, or get their next meal, or buy their coffee.

- look up your local public transport systems. I know they're kind of shitty in a lot of places, but you might be surprised as to what you find.

Also please just remember that even if you don't have a license or you choose not to drive, you're not stupid. Our society more than most puts an emphasis on driving, and it's purely fueled by the automotive and oil industry (which is WHY our public transportation is so bad in the US).

So if anything, if you don't drive, at least you can be proud that you're not giving in to capitalistic ideas.

Oh and hey also? If you're one of those people who shames somebody for not having a license or not driving a car, you're a piece of shit. Like absolute garbage, and I hope you grow up.

do any other neurodivergent people have trouble learning to drive a car or am i just an idiot