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twdgrxmes · 3 months ago

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Summer of Sin - Dbf Joel Miller x Reader (Part 1)

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Word count: 3.1k Warnings: None, Just an introduction chapter w/ a little bit of flirting.

The heat hit you first.

Stepping out of the car felt like slipping into a memory — familiar, warm, and just a little too much. The Texas sun hadn’t changed in the years you’d been away. It still wrapped around you like a heavy blanket, pressed against your skin, clung to your clothes, filled your lungs with dry, cicada-humming air. The wind carried that scent you hadn’t smelled in so long: sun-baked grass, barbecue smoke from somewhere down the block, the faint sweetness of honeysuckle growing wild along the neighbor’s fence.

You blinked against the brightness and adjusted the strap of your sundress, your suitcase wheels catching on the gravel of the driveway. The light cotton clung to your skin in the heat — pale yellow with little embroidered flowers, the kind of thing you wouldn’t have worn freshman year. You’d grown into it since then, into soft curves and the way your hips filled the fabric. No longer the scrawny girl who left for college with too much eyeliner and a suitcase full of dreams. Your hair was longer now, tucked half-up in a velvet bow, and your lips were painted with just enough gloss to catch the light. You liked who you were becoming — slower, surer, a little quieter.

College had been good to you. Not perfect — you still didn’t know what you wanted to do with your life — but it gave you something to push against. Nights spent cramming in the library, mornings nursing bitter coffee, a few friends who came and went, and one heartbreak that still stung a little when you let your guard down. You came back with more stories, stronger boundaries, and a new habit of biting your bottom lip when you were thinking too hard. You weren’t a kid anymore. Not by a long shot.

The front door creaked open before you could knock.

“There’s my college grad!” your dad grinned, arms wide, beer sweating in his hand. His face was a little more weathered than you remembered — deeper lines at the corners of his eyes, a few more silver threads in his hair — but that same easy warmth lived in his voice.

You dropped your bag and let him hug you, his flannel shirt scratchy against your cheek. “Hey, Dad.”

“Look at you. Dress, nails, little ribbon in your hair—you been hanging around those fancy art kids again?”

You laughed. “Maybe.”

“Well, you look beautiful, sweetheart.” He stepped back and smiled. “Grown up.”

You smiled, proud of gaining your dad’s approval.

As if on cue, he jerked his thumb toward the backyard. “Barbecue’s already going. Joel’s out back manning the grill.”

There it was.

That name. That twist low in your belly.

Joel Miller.

You hadn’t seen him since the summer before sophomore year. He’d sent a card for your birthday. Your dad’s best friend since forever. The man who was always around. Fixing things around the house, joining the two of you for breakfasts, lunches and dinners, teaching you how to check the oil in your beat-up first car. All those memories lived in the in-between spaces of your childhood — and yet, none of them felt innocent anymore.

Not since you started seeing him for what he was.

Not since you realized that the warmth in your chest wasn’t just affection.

You swallowed. “Still making him do all the hard work, huh?”

Your dad snorted. “He insists. Says I’d burn the place down if I tried to grill. And he ain’t wrong.”

You forced a smile, heart beginning to thud behind your ribs. “Guess I should say hi.”

You stepped through the house, past framed photos of old birthdays and middle school sports trophies, and opened the back door to a wall of sunlight and the scent of charcoal.

And there he was.

Joel Miller.

Standing over the grill, tongs in hand, a bottle of Shiner resting against his thigh. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, showing off strong forearms dusted with salt-and-pepper hair. He wore a worn button-down, sweat-darkened at the collar, and those faded jeans he always seemed to wear — snug around thick thighs, torn just slightly at the knee. His hair was longer than you remembered, brushed back and curling a little at the edges, flecked with silver. His beard was thicker, too — full and streaked with gray, making him look even older, even more…

Unreachable.

He hadn’t seen you yet.

But then, he did.

His gaze flicked up from the grill, and he froze.

Only for a second. But you saw it — the pause, the shift, the flicker of something behind his eyes.

You weren’t sixteen anymore. You weren’t a kid in jean shorts and braces calling him Uncle Joel. You were twenty-one, in a sundress, lip gloss shining, your hair catching the golden light.

And Joel Miller saw you.

His expression gave nothing away, but his hand tightened around the neck of the beer bottle.

“Well,” he said, low and measured. “Look who finally came home.”

Your smile trembled at the edges, but you held your ground. “Hey, Joel.”

He didn’t answer right away — just looked at you. Like he was trying to reconcile the girl he used to know with the woman standing in front of him now.

“College treat you alright?”

You nodded. “You could say that. Definitely feel more grown up”

That almost-smile tugged at his mouth as he gave you a slow once-over, his gaze lingering. “Yeah..Sounds about right.”

Your dad’s voice broke the spell as he stepped onto the porch behind you, clapping a hand to Joel’s back.

“She made it through all four years, can you believe it?”

Joel’s eyes lingered on yours for a beat longer before he turned back to the grill. “Yeah,” he said. “I believe it.”

But his voice was a little quieter than it should’ve been.

The backyard had always been the same: patchy grass, sagging patio chairs, the old oak tree you used to climb with skinned knees and a juice box in hand. But it looked smaller now, or maybe you had just gotten bigger. Older. The memories didn’t quite fit the same anymore.

Your dad handed you a drink — something cold and fizzy in a red solo cup — and you made small talk with neighbors you hadn’t seen in years. Mrs. Garcia still wore floral perfumes and overshared about her cats. The Murphy boys, once scrawny and sticky with popsicles, were now tall and awkward with half-grown beards and matching smirks. Everyone greeted you with wide smiles and some version of, look how much you’ve grown!

But you only half-heard them.

Because every time you glanced toward the grill, Joel was there.

And every time you looked, he wasn’t looking at you — but you wished he would. He moved slowly, deliberately, flipping burgers and handing off plates with a grunt, sipping his beer between tasks. But when he wiped his hand on a dishrag and caught your eye across the yard, your breath caught before you could stop it.

He still hadn’t said much.

But he didn’t have to.

The sun dipped lower as the evening wore on, smearing orange across the sky. You sat on the porch steps, bare legs crossed, drink cradled in your hands as the hum of conversation dulled into background noise. The food was mostly gone now, and your dad had drifted inside to grab something from the fridge, leaving Joel alone by the grill as he shut the propane off and packed up the tools with practiced ease.

You didn’t think about it — you just stood up and walked over.

“Need a hand?” you asked.

Joel glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning your face first — then slowly dropping lower. You felt his gaze like a warm palm skimming over your skin. Not obvious. Not inappropriate. Just a beat too long.

“Nah,” he said. “Almost done.”

You hovered anyway, arms folding across your stomach.

“It’s weird being back,” you admitted, your voice quieter now, just for him. “Everything looks the same, but it all feels… smaller.”

Joel made a soft sound in his chest, almost like agreement. He wiped down the grill and didn’t meet your gaze. “That’s how it goes. You grow up, and the places stay the same. Makes ‘em feel smaller, not ‘cause they changed—but ‘cause you did. You’ve definitely changed.”

That settled into you, deeper than you expected.

You studied his profile — the strong line of his nose, the scruff of his jaw, the faint crease between his brows. There were new lines around his eyes, and the hollows of his cheeks looked a little sharper. Tired, maybe. Or just older.

“I missed this,” you said softly. “The quiet. The barbecues”

Joel looked at you now, the intensity of it grounding.

His voice was low. “You miss me, Gabs?”

You froze.

Was he.. Flirting? No, it was just a genuine question, Gabriella, snap out of it.

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out right away. Your heart fluttered.

You nodded, honest. “Yeah. I did.”

Something passed between you. Not a spark, exactly. A recognition. A flicker of something old and unfinished.

Joel looked away first. He cleared his throat, straightened up, and wiped his hands on the rag again like he needed something to do.

“Well,” he muttered, “you’re home now.”

And somehow, that sentence made your chest ache.

You wanted to stay standing there. You wanted to ask him whether he missed you too, whether he thought about you in your absence like you did him. Why the look in his eyes tonight made it feel like he saw you — not as his buddy’s kid, not as a girl, but as something else entirely.

But your dad stepped outside again, and the moment snapped like a twig.

Joel took a step back. You took one too.

And just like that, the space between you returned — measured and polite.

But when the night ended and the yard emptied, when the folding chairs were stacked and your dad dozed off on the couch in front of the game, you passed by the front window and caught the headlights of Joel’s truck flick on.

You paused.

And through the windshield, he was looking at you.

He didn’t wave. Didn’t smile.

Just watched.

And then he drove away.

You stood there for a second too long after his truck disappeared down the street — the taillights swallowed by the dark, cicadas still buzzing like a warning in the trees.

The heat clung to you even now, long after the sun dipped past the horizon, turning the sky dusky purple. But it wasn’t the weather that made you press a hand to your chest. It was that look.

He had been watching.

And not like someone who’d known you since you were a little girl. Not like a family friend.

It was something else. And you couldn’t tell if it thrilled you or scared you.

Maybe both.

You locked the front door quietly behind you, your footsteps light across the hardwood as you climbed the stairs to your old bedroom. The posters were gone, the bedspread replaced, but it still smelled faintly like childhood — like lavender laundry detergent and sunscreen. You dropped onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling fan turning slowly above, mind reeling.

You miss me, Gabs?

He said your name like it meant something. Like it still meant something. Like he remembered you as more than the tagalong daughter of his best friend. Like maybe, in the quiet spaces between years, he’d thought of you too.

You rolled onto your side, hugging the pillow to your chest, trying to ignore the way your stomach flipped.

This was dangerous territory. You knew that.

Joel was older. Joel was your dad’s best friend. Joel was so odd limits and you knew it, but fuck, did it only make you want him more.

You spent the next few days slipping back into old rhythms — mornings on the porch with your dad’s too-strong coffee, afternoons spent sorting through boxes in the garage, evenings helping chop vegetables in the kitchen while the game played low on the living room TV.

Joel didn’t show up.

Not at first.

But his absence was almost worse than seeing him. It made your skin feel tight, your breath short. You kept waiting for that knock on the door, that lazy drawl through the screen — “Need anything fixed?” — like he used to.

Three days passed before he finally appeared.

You were in the backyard again, barefoot, wearing a white, cotton sundress that wrapped around your thighs when it blew in the gentle breeze.

You didn’t hear his truck.

You just turned, hearing the gate creak open — and he was there.

By the back gate. One hand on the latch. The sun behind him.

Your heart kicked once, then galloped.

“Hey,” he said, voice rougher than usual. “Your dad home?”

You blinked. “Uh… no, he ran to the store. Should be back soon.”

Joel nodded once. But he didn’t move.

His eyes dragged over you — legs bare to the thigh, the dress pinching in around your waist, hair pulled up with little wisps clinging to your cheeks in the heat.

It looked like it pained him to drag his gaze away.

“Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You’re not.”

Silence hung between you. Heavy. Charged.

He shifted his weight, glanced at the laundry line, then back at you.

“You doin’ alright?” he asked, and there was something softer in it this time. Something that sounded like concern — or maybe restraint.

You nodded. “Yeah. Just... adjusting.”

Joel's jaw ticked once. He looked down, then up again.

“You look different.”

You smiled faintly. “You already said that.”

He stepped forward, slow, careful. The kind of movement a man makes when he knows what he's doing is toeing the line — and decides to do it anyway.

“I mean it.”

You could feel it again — that coil tightening inside you.

Dangerous.

His eyes dropped to your mouth. Just for a second. Then back up.

Your voice was steadier than you felt. “You gonna help me hang these or just stare?”

That made him snort — low, almost surprised. “Bossy now, huh?”

“Grown up now. Remember?”

His mouth quirked and he stepped closer, took the clothespin from your hand without breaking eye contact, and reached up to hang the damp sheet. His fingers brushed yours as he did, and your breath caught.

It was nothing.

But it felt like everything.

You stood there, a damp sheet fluttering between you, its edge catching in the breeze and brushing against Joel’s shoulder. He didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch. Just kept his eyes on yours like the fabric wasn’t even there, like the rest of the world had faded out behind it.

He hung the last corner slowly. Deliberately. The clothespin clicked into place with a soft snap, but even that small sound felt louder than it should’ve. Like it split something open.

Joel stepped back, just a half-pace. Enough to stop touching, not enough to pull away.

You watched him — the way his shirt clung to his back in the heat, the sun gilding the curve of his jaw, the steady rise and fall of his chest. He wasn’t saying anything, and neither were you, but the silence between you was alive. Buzzing. Fragile.

“You still hate tomatoes?” he asked after a beat, nodding toward the scraggly garden bed behind you.

You blinked. It felt absurd, the question. Almost funny.

“Only when they’re raw,” you said. “Still think they taste too mushy.”

Joel huffed — a small breath of amusement that didn’t quite reach a smile. “Still dramatic.”

You walked toward the bed anyway, brushing past him. You swore you felt the heat of him as you moved — the way he didn’t shift out of your path, the way his eyes tracked you. You crouched near one of the plants, poked at the dry soil with your fingers.

“You always used to overwater them.”

“Oh, you’re the tomato expert then, are you?.”

You giggled, glancing over your shoulder at him, “Yeah, pretty much.”

You stood, dusted your hands off on the skirt of your dress. Walked back toward him slowly, your heartbeat ticking higher with every step. He stayed rooted in place. Waiting. Watching.

“You know I used to make excuses to come outside when you were working?” you said. “I’d sit on the porch just to hear you talk to my dad.”

Joel’s eyes snapped to yours.

“I know,” he said quietly.

You blinked. “You knew?”

“I ain’t stupid. You were a kid to me then."

“What am I to you now?”

That held in the air. Unanswered.

He didn’t confirm it — not with words. But he didn’t deny it either. His gaze dropped again, not to your mouth this time, but to your hands. Your fingers fidgeting at the hem of your dress. Then back up.

The space between you was so thin it felt like a mistake. Or a choice.

He took one step forward.

You didn’t move.

“You know I’m not seventeen anymore,” you said, voice barely above a whisper.

Joel looked at you then. Really looked. Not just with his eyes, but like he was trying to memorize the shape of your face. The softness of your voice. The edge of want in it.

“You’re trouble,” he muttered.

“Not scared of a little trouble, are you?”

His mouth twitched like he wanted to say something smart — or maybe stupid — but before he could, the sound of a car pulling into the drive broke the tension clean in two.

Joel turned his head, shoulders stiffening. You both stood frozen for a beat, like deer caught in sudden light.

Your dad’s voice called from the front yard. “Hey! Gabs, can you grab the eggs before I drop ‘em?”

Joel stepped back fast — too fast — like he needed the space to think straight. His hands went to his hips, his head shaking slightly like he was silently cursing himself.

“I should go,” he said gruffly.

You nodded, pulse still skittering in your throat. “Okay.”

He hesitated. Looked at you like he wanted to say more. Like he wanted to reach out and take something that had been on the tip of his fingers for years.

But he didn’t.

He just opened the gate, stepped through it, and shut it behind him with a soft click. Didn’t look back.

And just like that — the moment passed.

But it didn’t leave.

It clung to your skin like heat. Settled in your chest. And you had a feeling it wasn’t finished.

Not even close.

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kandlewick · 1 year ago

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Fake dating to get Magicam's most prized dessert is nothing to someone like Cater Diamond! And who else could he ask but his favorite little freshman? gn! reader x cater diamond

"Pleeaaase? Please, please, please~ Just for a a day, one simple visit!! All I need is you, a picture, and some cute and fancy desserts! Just until this fad dies down—"

"No, Cater! I already told you I don't have the funds to pay for expensive snacks this month!" You stopped and turned, nearly causing your upperclassmen to collide with you as you huffed up at him, arms crossed, "Crowley has been extra stingy with what little he gives me and I have to be able to afford Grim's fancy tuna. It's the only way I can manage to keep him from skipping study sessions with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum."

Cater stifled a laugh at your nickname for his fellow Heartslabyul students but was quick to hide it behind a well manicured hand, his shoulders shaking with amusement. If you weren't so miffed at his constant badgering, you would've almost had found it cute.

"You haven't even told me what I'm agreeing to, Cater." You quickly avoided his eyes, mentally slapping yourself for the momentary weakness as your words made Cater freeze and advert his eyes as well. He hid his mouth behind his phone but you could tell his lips were set in a nervous smile as he at least attempted to look shy. You raised your eyebrow at him "What? Is it like, super embarrassing?"

Cater hummed, twirling a loose strand of hair between his forefinger, "I mean, I guess, yeah? It's nothing like, totes awful or anything but you're literally the only one I could ask to do this. Asking anyone else is a total no go and Cay-Cay needs the engagement. My numbers have been so awful lately and It's driving me absolutely cray-cray."

Cater looked almost cherubic with how he kept batting his eyelashes at you. It was extremely annoying how cute he looked when he was like this, like he knew he could get away with anything as long as he knew how to press the right buttons. With a heavy sigh, you slumped your shoulders and gestured for him to continue. He let out an excited whoop as he smiled, the diamond on his cheek crinkling with delight.

"Aaah~ My favorite freshie to the rescue! I owe you one~!!" Cater grinned, taking your willingness to hear him out as a sign of acceptance. He pulled you close by the shoulder and swiped at his phone with practiced precision, pulling up Magicam within seconds. You glanced up at him as his eyes seemed to gleam in excitement, his eagerness almost infectious, "So there's this fad going viral right now with this local cafe nearby that has a couples special! It's this super cute dessert that's all the rage on Magicam and I neeeed it!"

"Why can't you just get it yourself?" You ask, watching his phone screen as he continued to scroll down his feed. You noticed as well that nearly every other post was about that supposedly super cute couples only dessert and couples sharing it between quick kisses. It was almost voyeuristic with how many couples openly shared their PDA with strangers on the internet. Cater was quick to roll his eyes and tap the screen again with his finger, his nail audibly clicking against the glass.

"I told you, it's couples only! You have to prove you're a couple and act all lovey-dovey for them to even consider handing it over!" He pouted, "Look, you know that I can't stand sweet stuff so when we're there, I'll buy you however much you want in exchange. You can even eat the special dessert! All I want is one little photo~"

You slid a hand down your face and sighed, eyebrows knitted in frustration. Why did you even have a crush on this guy? Normally you'd think anyone would jump for joy at the chance of a fake date with someone as cute as Cater Diamond but the way he words things can be so... flippant. It almost hurt! You glared up at him from between your fingers as he has since returned to his phone screen, entirely unaware of the feelings you kept close to your chest. Letting out a loud breath, you spoke up.

"Ok. I'll do it."

Cater immediately dropped whatever he was doing on his phone and quickly scooped you up in a tight hug, nearly lifting you off your feet with a twirl, "Yesss~ Thank you, Prefect! You're the best!!"

"Yeah, yeah," You mumbled, voice muffled from your spot pressed against his chest. The smell of his cologne tickled your nose. If you had any sense of shame, you'd resist taking a sniff but... You nearly melted in his arms. You mentally screamed at yourself, tearing out your hair. How dare he smell so good and play with your emotions like that even if he did it entirely unawares!!! It was unfair!!!

It was now the weekend. Free from any lessons and duties Crowley could throw at you, you were almost about to tuck yourself back into bed and drift off for a few more hours of sleep but you were quickly interrupted by the dorm's foyer door being thrown open and the cheery voice of your upperclassmen ringing in your ear.

"I'm heerree! And I brought MAKEUP."

You outwardly cringed and slammed your head back into the pillow, willing for it to swallow you whole and suffocate you in its feathery embrace but alas, it was not meant to be as Cater had quickly made his way up the stairs and down the hall, loudly greeting the ghosts. Grim, who slept beside you (he would never admit its because he liked the spot at your hip, he claimed it was simply because it was too dang cold in the dorm at night and shared body heat was great, in his words.) was quick to raise his hackles and growl in annoyance, blearily opening his eyes to glare at Cater as he opened the door and waved.

"Oi, you're interrupting my precious sleep time!" He whined, a puff of fire slipping out from between sharp feline teeth, "Go be loud somewhere else, pretty boy."

"Awhhh, does little Grimmy think I'm pretty? I'm totes flattered~" Cater ignored the obvious jab and instead chose to shake your blanket, lifting the corners up to grin at you, "Wakey wakey, Prefect. We got lots of preparing to do before our big date!"

A loud shuffling came from the couch besides the bed and a foggy eyed Ace erupted out of the covers, his bright orange hair sticking up in all angles while he let out a fierce yawn. He glared over at his upperclassmen in annoyance as a second figure emerged from besides the bed, the tell tale sound of a sleeping bag giving way to the sight of a barely awake Deuce. He had yet to notice Cater in the room and slowly crawled out of his spot.

"We... gotta get ready for class," He yawned again, tears dotting his eyes, "We're gonna be late..."

"We don't have classes today, stupid," Ace kicked at Deuce and sent him rolling back on to his sleeping bag, ignoring his choked whines of surprise, "It's the weekend and we're supposed to be sleeping in!" He glared up at Cater, "It's why we slept at Ramshackle instead of our own dorm!"

Cater giggled and attempted to look apologetic but it only made Ace more visibly annoyed as he huffed, throwing the covers back over himself and stubbornly tried to go back to bed.

"I'll get up, I'll get up," You whined as you slowly pulled yourself out of bed, pushing back your hair from your face. Ramshackle was bitterly cold in the morning and you mentally jotted down that you'd need to ask Sam if he carried any house slippers the next time you were over there. After ensuring you were awake and there was no threat of you passing back out in your bed, Cater made quick work of cleaning up your bathroom and making himself at home, finding spots for all his skin care and makeup. You shuffled in besides him and closed the door. Maybe the thin barrier between you and the others would keep them from getting too mad at whatever noise the two of you would be making.

Settling yourself down on the counter, you kicked your feet as Cater inspected your meager collection of cosmetics. Everything you had was stuff Vil had left you after the competition and while you didn't keep up with it as much as he'd like, you still tried to use some of it occasionally. You felt bad just leaving such an expensive gift unused.

"Do you want me to do your makeup or do you got it taken care of? Oooh, maybe I'll even let you do mine!" He grinned, "And then I can do yours?"

You were taken aback for a moment as you stared up at Cater, his smile never leaving his face as he returned your gaze. Did he really trust you that much that he'd let you do his makeup? You could feel your ears burn as you nodded eagerly, pulling him down by his sleeve so he was level to your face. He followed easily enough and made himself comfortable against your knees. He closed his eyes in anticipation.

"I cant believe you're trusting me with something like this," you breathed out, watching as his eyelids twitched, "What if you don't like it?"

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't be asking you for your help with the magicam date~" He giggled, moving his cheek to press against you hand, the soft skin nearly making you drop the brush in your hand. You audibly gulped at the intimate gesture but were quick to hide it behind a scoff.

"Don't blame me then if you end up having to wash it all off and start over then." You warned before reaching over, dabbing the soft bristles into the pallet and, with much trepidation, began working.

It was nerve wracking working on someone else's makeup... especially on the guy you had a crush on. His long lashes fluttered against his cheeks as he patiently waited for each stroke of the brush on his near perfect skin. You were glad for it. You wouldn't have to explain the near atomic levels of red dusting your face from just being so close to him.

"Aaaand there. Done." You finalized that with the click of the eye shadow pallet being closed. Your companion 's eyes flickered open before he abruptly threw himself in front of the mirror. He looked himself up and down, left and right and even reached and dug into his bag to pull our his phone. You nervously shuffled your feet as Cater remained quiet, inspecting himself in front of his frontward camera.

"You hate it." You whined, pretending your sniffling were only just for show.

"No! No - It's..." He was quick to silence your worries but his quiet inspection wasn't doing anything for your nerves, "It's different."

"A good different or a bad different?"

Cater hummed for a moment, "Just different. I look... cool?"

The stark difference to his usual makeup routine was much more anxiety inducing then he initially thought it was going to be and he inwardly cringed at how he must have worried you with something as trivial as his makeup. It took everything in him not to reach forward and douse himself in makeup remover and scrub till his face was pink but he knew that he couldn't. Your skills weren't even bad and he could tell your VDC lessons had bettered your skills but... he didn't know if he could pull this off... this.... cool him.

You reached forward and grasped his shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts with a soft look.

"It's ok if you don't like it, Cater. I won't be mad. Here, we can wash it off and you can start over fresh."

He bit his lip, his eyes darting over to the cleaners tucked safely in the corner of the bathroom counter, but his will eventually won out. He shook his head and offered you a shaky but genuine smile, "No, really, it's alright. This just means I'll have to work super hard to act cool when we're out!"

You inwardly deflated, sighing in relief. An honest Cater was not an easy thing to get,

"Now, enough about me!" Cater broke the stillness of the room with his usual cheery voice, eager to break whatever had just settled between the two of you, "I want to do your makeup!"

"Wow, Cater." You whistled, "You weren't kidding when you said this was all the rage on Magicam." Couples were lined up nearly front to back around the cafe and the start of the line was nearly impossible to see from your spot near the front. Cater was quiet from his spot next to you, obviously eyeing the line with a sense of a challenge.

"Mmm..." He hummed, "Hopefully the cafe will still have the dessert available by the time we reach the front."

As he looked down at his phone and nervously began swiping, you chose to instead be a little daring. You were supposed to pretend to be a couple, right? You nervously looked over at Cater, quietly admiring his profile, before taking a deep breath. With every ounce of your pride, you reached out and slowly wrapped your pinkie around his own. This startled him awake. He blinked, his eyes fluttering, before turning to stare at you with a small smile.

"Ah, right! The couple thing. Here," With the ease only Cater Diamond could pull off, he released your finger and instead intertwined your hand with his. His fingers squeezed your own. You returned his smile with a shaky one of your own but the slight dusting of a blush around his ears was enough to calm your racing heart. At least he was a little embarrassed about this experience too.

It didn't take much longer for the two of you to finally reach the front of the line, a frazzled but cheery employee greeting the two of you with a practiced smile. "Are you both here for the couple special?"

You both nodded, Cater more vigorously then yourself, "You bet!"

The employee raised her phone, "Then I assume you wouldn't mind taking a quick snap for our wall?"

"Of course not," You put on your best lovey-dovey act and leaned your head against Cater's shoulder, batting your eyelashes towards the employee.

"Okay then!" She gestured for you both, "Let's get a little smooch for the camera!"

You and Cater both blinked over at her in barely concealed shock. A kiss? You were supposed to kiss? Cater's eyes darted over at you, a nervous look plastered all over his face. He quickly tried to save the situation while looping his arm around your waist and pulling you close, a tense smile quickly forming on his lips.

"Ah - you see, they're really shy about PDA, you know? I don't think -"

The employee frowned and lowered her phone, giving you both an unconvinced look, "It said on the pamphlet that you needed to show affection to..."

"No, no! It's ok!" You were quick to butt in, nervously trying your best to act past your frayed nerves. You peeked over at Cater from under your lashes, "If it's what we need to do to get the treat..."

"Are you positive?" Cater blinked at you, taken back, before learning closer to you, lowering his voice so only you could hear, "I know I asked you to act like a couple with me but this wasn't in the deal."

You appreciated it, but you couldn't let this ''date'' go to waste. You shook your head, reciprocating his touch.

"Are you both ready then?" The employee asked, visibly tired.

"Yeah," Cater offered her a small smile, turning away from you, "Just..."

He was quickly interrupted by your lips swiftly meeting his own. Cater let out a small noise in surprise as you grabbed him by his jacket lapels, tugging him closer to you to better ease in to his lips. This was insane, you thought, but you weren't going to lose this chance.

He was slow to respond but after a few tense moments, his shaking hands slowly pressed against your waist, following your lead. You could feel a slow smile form on his lips as you pulled away. Rolling back on to the balls of your feet, you gave the shocked employee an expecting smile, "Did you get the shot?" If you had paid attention, you would've noticed the creeping grin on Cater's face as he quickly hid it behind his hand. His ears were burning while he watched you. You were so cute!

"Yeah... the dessert is inside to your left, it's free for the day. Please only take one."

"Thank you!" With a parting wave, you quickly shuffled ahead. You had to leave the two of them as quick as you could or they'd see the glowing flush all over your face. You bit your cheek and rubbed at your goofy smile.

The employee and Cater watched you go. She turned to Cater and blinked up at him, "You seem awfully shocked."

"Uh, mhm..." Cater twirled a strand of hair between his forefinger, "Yeah. I guess they really wanted that dessert... uh... but hey, can you send me that picture you took?"

#twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #twst reader #cater diamond x reader #cater diamond #reader insert #twisted wonderland

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fuckyeahfatpositive · 7 months ago

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Happy New Year! I know we're about to be inundated with people in our lives and ads everywhere acting like the ultimate new year's resolution is making your body smaller, and the body shame will be a-flowing, and it's gonna be suuuuuuper annoying, but listen. Listen.

your body is just fine as it is right now. you don't have to change a Damn Thing about yourself. here, have a list of possible resolutions you could make that have nothing to do with fad diets and unsustainable workout routines and hating yourself!!

read more books

volunteer with a local org

learn a new language

dye your hair

rearrange your bedroom

paint your nails more

keep a running list of good things that you see, hear, or do all year

get rid of that old stuff you haven't used in ages

drink more water

unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself on social media, whether it's friends or family, influencers, celebs, companies, whoever - cut that mess out!

or don't make any resolutions at all because it's your life you get to decide!!!

#i'm tipsy and i'm tired bu thpapy new year!!!!!!#mod post

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godsfavouritedog · 3 months ago

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hi ! can we ask tips for someone who's trans1980? (living in the time period especially)

TRANS1980 TIPS !

oooh I love this ask... sincerely someone who's very fond of the 80s and 90s :p

01 :

first - fashion! the 1980s was about bright colours, bold shapes, interesting silhouettes! if you dress more feminine, try shoulder pads and bright colours. it wasn't quite the era of flares yet, but bootcut jeans are a personal favourite of the time.

if you dress more masculine, a lot of the style was bomber jackets and denim at the time. don't be shy at the thrift store, and build up pinterest boards of what you like!

02 :

hair was very fluffy and poofy at the time, so look into the style! brush it out, blowdry it, get perms! a lot of the roar was for big curls too, which is why perms are great. be careful it doesn't damage your hair, though!

03 :

of course, music! build up playlists of the songs you most like before moving more niche! a-ha, the police, madonna, mj, queen and nine inch nails were all very big at the time!

the 80s and 90s also had a huge boom of different genres. metal from acdc and motorhead, depeche mode and nine inch nails, anything! it doesn't just have to be the stereotypical radio music.

04 :

try to use less of the Internet, and instead the tech at the time! listen to the radio, tune in for your favourite channels on TV, use polaroids! film stores aren't really around so much anymore, so try game shops! shops like HMV also have big DVD selections, if you're in the UK.

speaking off - go the long way when it comes to music and movies! DVDs and CDs may take dreadfully long to make, but it definitely plays into the charm of the time!

05 :

play into the diet! of course, make sure to eat well, but play around with the foods! just from the research I've seen, some of the food fads consisted of monster munch/space raiders, pizza rolls, waffle fries, and LOTS of microwave foods. people realllyyy liked microwave foods...

06 :

obviously, living without your phone is pretty damn hard nowadays. but what you can do is style it to have a more retro style. likely you'll only be able to make it look more like it's from the 2000s, but using icon changers and third party settings apps, you can change the entire layout of your screen!

you can also make it have the design of an old player like a gameboy, if you prefer!

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janisbuggybones · 2 years ago

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Rent-a-yandere!....please, we're begging you take them off our hands.

Janis Foster (my oc) × gn!reader

Cw: yandere, rent a partner situation, trans girl yandere, poly relationship kinda, pretty short idk what else I could say, pretty boring tbh (only realizing this as I got to the elevator part :( )

Og idea is from @moyazaika on this post that I kinda spit balled off of and then got the motivation to write again.

You can't believe you found yourself coming to this. One too many late night browsing sessions led you to get overwhelmed with adverts about this new fad in the dating scene. Rent-a-yandere, the hottest site online where you could find a devoted lover for cheap.99 per hour. In all honesty, it did seem appealing when compared to the heartbreak and trauma you've expierienced prior, but you dare stoop so low?

"Hello darling, are you (y/n) (l/n)?" A tall girl said from behind you. She had beautiful pearly paper white skin and matching hair put in one long braid. She had piercing red eyes and dare you mention her height? She was at least nearly twice your height, but her body wasn't well built. She couldn't have been living very healthily If she was that skinny. She had a large chest, despite her skinny body, well in her description it had said she had some cosmetic surgery done before. It didn't look fake or anything and it's not like she showed it off. She wore a modest black turtle neck with small embroidered hearts on the cuffs and chest of the sweater. The sweater was paired with some baggy black jeans and simple black work boots.

Fuck yes

"Oh, yeah that's me...you're Janis Foster, right?" You found yourself asking after getting over the height difference. Shit, were you being rude? She's really pretty, come on, don't fuck it up.

"Yep, the one and only. Honestly I'd be surprised if anyone got me confused for someone else." She smiled softly, her soft pink lips looked tantalizing. "Well, let's be on our way then. I've arranged a breakfast date for us before a big day of fun" She said as she grabbed your hand with her own cold and large hand. Her nails lacked any polish and were neatly manicured.

You remembered you picked the option for her to come up with the itinerary. You hoped it wouldn't be too exhausting, the public can be a bit overwhelming. "A-ah okay!" You find yourself smiling slightly as you went along with her.

She took you to an animal themed Cafe nearby, themed after your favorite pet animal. "I thought you'd like this, darling" She giggled as she checked you both in, having made a reservation. You recall mentioning your favorite animal in the description of yourself they required you to give them.

"Nice and quiet, and they limit it to 10 customers in here at any given time, so I won't have to worry" She giggled innocently but you read between the lines. It made you blush at the thought of such an attractive woman getting jealous of you.

You two were taken to your seat, a seat in the back where one of the animals sat on the table. You promptly gave your order and she gave hers before you were left alone with her.

"Honestly I'm not much of an animal person..I feel like it's a good bit of upkeep that i couldn't keep up with. But I do have a little lavender bunny at home. His name is Geo" She said, starting a conversation as she looked around.

"Oh? Is he purple? I didn't know bunnies could be purple" you said, interested as you looked at the calm animal on the table before it left, instead taking the window sill beside your table as its resting place.

"Oh they do, it's a bit rarer than your average bunny so he cost a good bit, but he's Oh so adorable" She smiled, her bluish eyes landing on you. "I'd say nearly as much as you, cutie" She teased, which left you blushing slightly as you avoided her eye contact for a second.

"O-oh yeah?" You smiled slightly, you never were able to take compliments well.

"Mhm, oh look, food's here" She smiled as the waitress brought your orders. Janis had ordered a simple cup of juice, a bagel, and small bowl of a variety of fruits.

"Thank you for coming here today" the waitress said with a smile as she walked to serve another table.

Janis stared at her for a second with an unreadable expression before turning to you. "In my opinion, breakfast isn't that good. Lunch and dinner foods are far superior" She said with a sip of her juice.

That statement had ignited a conversation that then strayed to your favorite foods and then on to other topics as you ate and enjoyed her company. She wasn't too overwhelming and was sweet up until you two had been finished for a good bit and were asked to leave because her reservation had ended.

She pouted but complied, leaving with you to her next planned activity.

"You had mentioned you liked anime and movies, so I thought we could see that new studio ghibli movie together?" She said with a contagious smile. "You know the guy who writes them and all, Hayao Miyazaki? He keeps announcing his retirement but then goes back to the studio with a new script each time, it's pretty funny when in the interviews with employees they complain about that." She giggled.

"Oh? I can imagine the frustration they must feel" you smiled slightly as you two entered the theater. You then realized, shit, this place is gonna be crowded. Fuck, you hoped it wouldn't be too overwhelming. She then promptly paid for your tickets and some snacks to accompany your movie viewing.

You two passed the many movie posters on the halls as you walked to the movie screening. Dread hit you as you opened the door and you two went in, only to crumble away when the theater had been empty. Did she really book this entire theater room for you?

"Yeah I'm not too good in a crowd either, I'm a walking distraction" She smiled slightly as she led you two to a good pair of seats in the middle of the theater.

"U-uhm I don't know what to say-t-thank you, this is crazy. How did you get your company to pay for something like this?" You found yourself asking. "W-wait sorry I didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry..." you apologize a second later after seeing how that could be offensive.

"Oh? They'd never pay for something this expensive. While their other services are much more profitable, my section doesn't get nearly as many sponsored activities like this. I paid out of pocket so you wouldn't feel wierd in the crowd, darling" She smiled. God that smile, how she acted, you swore you'd fall for her before she fell for you.

Her explanation left you blushing and wordless as adverts started rolling on the big projector screen. You unintentionally just ended up staying quiet and watching the movie with her. At around the halfway point of the movie, when you both finished your snacks, she had began holding your hand. It shocked you at first, before you relaxed, discretely returning the gesture.

The rest of the movie went along swimmingly. The plot was heart wrenching and hadn't made you cry, but did arise sadness in you.

As you two walked out the theater and you winced at the bright light, she prosed a question.

"So darling, my place or yours?" She asked "for our next little activity I have planned, a baking sesh" She added with a smile. "I had cute mochi and cookies in mind" She smiled "though mochi isn't baking, it's versatility as something you can shape into a cute thing is almost unmatched" She said

"O-oh-um" you said, taken aback by the idea. You had liked cooking to an extent and mentioned that, but wow. She really planned this out and it left you blushing again....wait...wasn't it in the terms and conditions that neither of you could go to the others house?.....maybe it was for their other service, rent-a-darling? You couldn’t recall and your place was a mess. "My place doesn't look the best...is yours okay?" You asked shyly

Janis giggled "of course! Anything you want is okay with me darling" She smiled as she held your hand and went with you in the direction of her apartment.

Surprisingly based on her ability to buy out a whole theater for you, her apartment was relatively average, though it ran a bit on the pricier side because of the economy lately. The inside looked clean and nice, and the elevator ride was relaxed as she started a conversation about her apartment complex.

"I dont mean to show off where i live, but i hope you like it. When I started living here, it was actually way cheaper than it is now, I'm glad they never raised the price for my rent though. I'm kind of friends with the owner. Not in a wierd way, but we hang out like once a month. They're in my friend group I've had since middle school" She said as she watched the numbers on the small screen above the door go up.

"Oh, that's interesting. I wish I had something like that with my landlord. I've recently been trying to save up for something I want, and it's not going too good in all honesty..... Damn gacha games, am I right?" You smiled, feeling comfortable, but then suddenly worrying you overshared.

"Oh don't get me started! I started playing this gacha game that recently came out and ahhh! The skins look so good, but two are locked behind a pay wall each update" She huffed slightly. "And all the characters have such diverse designs and tons of different ethnicities, how could I not pull for them all and be absoloutely broke in unilogs?" She laughed softly before the elevator stopped, the 6th floor. "Alright now to 603" She said as she held your hand and walked to her apartment.

Nothing was out of the ordinary about her apartment, it was pretty plain actually. Apart from the squishimallows instead of pillows on the couch of her living room. The kitchen was lightly messy, a bowl and cup in her sink with a few pieces of silverware and a stray rag just on the counter.

"It's not much, but it's comfortable for me" She said "well, settle in, I have to go check on geo real quick, I'm sorry darling" She said, excusing herself before leaving to the other room.

"It's fine" you find yourself saying quietly, overwhelmed by the events of today. This was all crazy....how were you now in a crazy hot girl's apartment?! The one chronically bitchless person of the high-school friend group, in this stunning woman's house? It was unbelievable...until you considered this was a paid date. Then reality sunk in. Shit...should you ask her out for real? Would that be okay? Would she be okay with that? She wasn't much of a yandere...it'd be okay, right?

"He was such a hungry little boy, he ate down all his celery in a minute" She giggled happily as she came back and saw you still had your bag with your outing necessities on.

"Oh want me to take that for you?" She offered and you obliged.

"Oh thank you...I feel like I haven't properly thanked you enough today" you said as you looked around.

"Oh don't worry, the pleasure is mine, darling" She smiled "now, shall we get cooking?" She smiled as she put on a pink frilly apron. Shit...you didn't know how to feel.

"Alright" you offered in response with a fake smile as you took the apron She handed you. It was your favorite color and had a lap pocket and chest pocket shaped in hearts of a slightly brighter color.

You two then spent the next couple hours baking cookies and making mochi, before settling down on her couch and watching the news, because nothing else was on, as you enjoyed the fruits of your labor.

"It's not too sweet is it darling? I heard cookies need some salty aspect to balance out all the flavors" She smiled softly as a missing persons report came on over the tv.

Geo Archviste, a 5'4" man with black and white naturally colored hair and blue freckles. Missing since this day 3 years ago, he would have been 21 by now.

That was terrible, his family must be haunted by their missing son...wait-

"Darling?" She asked, as you kinda ignored her prompt for conversation. "Everything okay?" She asked.

"Uhm yeah- that missing persons case...just seems sad." You found yourself saying as you swallowed the crumbly cookie.

"Oh...yeah...that boy was actually my ex...we broke up a year before he went missing but we were still on good terms" She said sadly. "I miss him...I named my little bunny after him" Janis said as she looked down.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't know......I hope he gets found" was all you could find yourself saying, but something didn't seem right. Not that what she said had any contradictions, but you just had this uneasy feeling. "Um restroom?" You asked

"By the door with heart decals on the left down the hall, darling" She smiled sadly and you excused yourself.

You walked down the hall and found the room, but the heart decorated room piqued your interest. She wouldn't mind...right? You opened the door and were met with darkness until you cut on the light and saw a figure sitting on Janis' bed, restrained on his feet and hands heavily.

All you could really see was their perfectly trimmed black and white locks that hid their sleeping face...matching the picture of the man on the missing persons report.

Chills ran down your spine as you went to grab your phone but it wasn't in your pocket. Shit you must have left it behind....how could you sneak out with the missing boy?

You struggled with yourself over this until you heard Janis coming and ducked into a open closet after turning off the light, shutting it behind you.

"Geo darling, I'm back" She smiled as she cut the light on and walked up to him. He looked at her tiredly and sniffled quietly.

"Remember my side gig to try and find you a buddy we can both love?" She asked "I think I found the one, they're so cute! And we baked some things, you could probably smell it" She giggled "I'll give you some when they leave...if they get to. I haven't decided if I wanna reel them in or just go in all at once and kidnap them like I did you" She said happily

"I'd say just kidnap them, two minds are better than one" he sighed, implying you could help him escape her.

"Come on now, I love you...you love me, i know it" She huffed

"Yeah true..which is why I want you to get help instead of doing this to me...." he sighed

"Stop it, i don't need help" She mumbled

"Yes you do. I love you and want to be with you, but you did this and refuse to get therapy. I only broke up with you because you killed my friend, remember. Get your head out of the past and live with me now. I'll stay and all like I've said repeatedly- just come-" he said before she interrupted him.

"Shut up! I don't need help! I'm perfectly fine and you need to shut up. You're only still tied up because you tried to escape the other month!" She shouted, less sad and more angrily.

"That was last year! I've been good for you so I can do normal couple things with you and we could have found our third lover together!" He shouted back, making her tear up.

"Shut up! I'm going back to (y/n)....I promise you'll love them as much as I do" She said shakily before you backed up a bit too far and bumped against the wall.

She looked dead at the closet in shock before walking up to it and opening it.

"Darling?"

#yandere #janis foster #original character #trans yandere #trans #yandere oc #tw yandere #date-a-yandere #Rent-a-yandere

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transcendentalyouth · 3 months ago

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what’s in and what’s out, summer of 2025 - a list by wren

IN: sewing, knitting, crocheting, and other fiber arts, embroidered clothing, linen and tencel fabrics, secondhand leather, wearing sunscreen regardless of complexion, meal prepping, archery, playing outside with your dogs, walking cats on a harness, brow piercings, climbing trees, not wearing nail polish, having dirty, beat up hands, reading classic novels, editorial makeup, gaudy and provocative clothing, going to the library, studying any language, big pine trees, saguaro cacti, women with facial hair, folk music, the banjo, jazz music, rib tattoos, weird perfume, summer-themed horror films, maraschino cherries, long phone calls, natural fiber jewelry with wood beads, listening to music by local artists, big brown eyes, hairy legs and armpits, natural bodies of water, lemonade mixers, shapeless clothing, HRT + SRS + gender affirming surgery, joint braces (ankle braces specifically), home videos, being moisturized

OUT: hot pink, frog and possum in a cowboy hat stickers, chocolate ice cream, grass lawns, rock stacking, chain bookstores, whisper pop or bedroom pop, skinny people, shaving, grapefruit, blackberries, milkmaid dresses, rock climbing gyms, salads with no protein, music festivals, random health fads, ragweed, tiktok, outdoor cats, leaving dishes in the sink, worship music, incorrect quotes blogs, wishbones, pregnancy, feeding wild animals, the concept of “bikini bodies”, corsets, particle board furniture, church, coffee shops, black eyelash extensions on blondes, shag carpet, stilettos, having your nails done, microfiber cloth, dry skin, American flags, Bermuda shorts, influencers, parrafin candles, names that end in leigh / lee / ly / lynn, complicated skincare routines, gildan tshirts, pork chops, ash blonde hair, staying inside all day

#wren.txt

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elwenyere · 5 months ago

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Safeword (MCU, Bellores a.k.a. Yelena/Joaquín, 722 w)

Tags: safewords, panic attacks, aftercare

Author's Note: with much love to the cabin crew, here's a wee ficlet for one of my favorite pool-noodle ships

.....

“Is this what you need?” Yelena twists her fist into Joaquín’s hair and yanks backward until his mouth falls open with a gasp.

“Yes,” he pants. “Yes, please.”

“Do you deserve it? I wonder.”

“Please,” he says again. The skin across his cheeks is flushed. The light from the window catches on the sweat beads at the bow of his lips.

In the bed in the hospital, his face had looked slack and sallow, like a loose husk, shucked hollow underneath.

“Is that the best you can do?” Yelena scrapes a nail down the front of his throat, crooks her finger to find the corrugated dips of the cartilage – the grooves where the tube had held his airways open after the missile clipped him from the sky. “Mmm. Maybe you’re not sure. Maybe I should leave you to think it over.”

“No.” Joaquín shakes his head against her grip. “No, please, don’t leave. Please. I promise. I’ll be good.”

His voice cracks on the final words – breaking into a note that’s too raw, too young somehow – and suddenly Yelena’s heart is kicking frantically against her chest, her sense of balance lurching as if something had hooked behind her ankles and dropped her to her knees.

“McLean,” she gasps.

The room is dark and close. Something is clutching at her eyes nose mouth in a tight hot clammy clasp, and it’s – it’s her hands. She’s covered her face with her hands. She breathes. She feels the air drag toward her in a thin, whistling rasp through the meat of her own palms.

“Lena.” It’s a voice: Joaquín’s voice. “You’re okay. We’re both okay. It’s March 5, 2025, and we’re at the Hyatt House in Washington D.C. You’re safe. Everyone is safe.”

She jerks her head into a nod, keeps the heels of her hands pressed against her lips as she measures her breaths.

“Sorry,” she says, after a moment. “Sorry. I was somewhere else.”

—

It’s an hour before she’s ready to look at him again, and then she orders him onto the bed – wraps him in the thick, terry-cloth towels from the bathroom and brings him an armful of Cheetos and Sun Chips and M&Ms from the vending machine in the hall.

Joaquín lets her. He lies back on the pillows against the headboard, gives her the spot close to the door, and he doesn’t ask her where she’s been. Yelena wants to press the red lines from the ropes around his wrists to her breastbone until she can feel the bones in his fingers spreading her skin.

“I like feeding you, after,” she says. “Like a little hamster.” She illustrates by tucking an M&M between his lips. “I wanted one when I was young. My mother told me we couldn’t have pets because she was allergic. But of course the real reason was the Kalashnikovs in the garage.”

Joaquín’s eyes track the movement of her hand as she selects a chip from the bag and then jump up back up to meet hers, a smile blooming across his face as if she’d plucked it out of him.

“Let’s get a place together,” he says.

Yelena rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, okay,” she mutters, stuffing the Sun Chip in his mouth. “You’re loopy. Did I tie the knots too tight? Cut off circulation to your brain?”

“No, Lena, I mean it,” Joaquín insists, catching her outstretched hand in the curl of his own. “I left a lot of places too, when I was a kid. Sometimes it can feel like there’s nowhere anywhere that’s home to all of me, you know? It’s why I like being in the air. At least up there, everything’s moving – it has to be. But being with you is like: you touch me, and I know where I am. You show me the shape that I make – the places I can reach and where I stop. So I think if we had a place together, it would be...you know, we would have somewhere to land.”

Yelena takes a long breath, watching Joaquín’s face and feeling the slow, graceful arc of his thumb against her palm. Then she leans down to rest her head against his shoulder, burrowing her nose into the faded cotton of his shirt.

“Yeah, okay,” she says. “Okay. Let’s get a place.”

#mcu #bellores #my fics

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sheogayrath · 1 year ago

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most ghoulish thing on the market currently are these gendered fad diet meal replacement shakes sitting in every pharmacy over here where the blue one is higher in protein and overall calories and the pink one is higher in collagen for making your hair and nails look nicer and they're called 'the man shake' and 'the lady shake'. i can't even add anything to that it already feels satirical

#mine

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healing-through-reflection · 9 months ago

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When I was a kid, Halloween was so awesome because I got a stash of food that I could eat whenever.

A frustrating reality of my childhood was that we were food insecure but not because my parents couldn’t afford food, but because they chose to prioritize their own vanity. I didn’t get snacks, even at school, lunch was a slice of bread and cheezwiz, and no breakfast. Dinner was the only meal. Yet my mother had her nails done and her hair dyed at the salon on a monthly basis.

The house was relentlessly under construction, mainly projects that would benefit my parents (bathroom, walk-in closet, other upgrades that were meant to show company that they were sophisticated).

The food budget remained the same, 200$ biweekly for a family of six, and didn’t raise even when we all became teenagers, even when the economy got worse, even through all my father’s fad-diets (expensive health foods that took more than half the budget).

I was hungry all the time. I was underweight. I was exhausted. Yet when I complained, I was told “there is so much food in the house!”. When is ask to show me, I was scolded for “talking back” and told to shut up about it. My siblings and I all complained there was no food, and when there was free food offered at our high school, each of us were not allowed to go and get it. It was for “poor people and we are NOT poor.”

If I dare tried to contradict that statement, I was getting hit, verbally assaulted and then grounded.

So, Halloween was a great day. It was so much fun. The decorations, the costumes, the candy! We would strategically plan our route to get the most candy possible. And for weeks, I’d actually have food to snack on before school and a after school (I was not allowed to bring candy to school). If I could make the candy last until Christmas, then I could save my Christmas candy. Then Valentine’s Day. Then Easter. Then my birthday.

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻

#abuse survivor #estrangement #gaslighting #no contact #positive mental attitude #reflection #self help #halloween #delusional #delulu #food insecurity #doing better #trauma #malnourishment #underweight #poor #poverty

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storedapear · 7 months ago

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Unlocking the Secret to the Ultimate Meal Combination

When it comes to achieving optimal health, few things are as important as the meals we eat. The foods we choose and the way we combine them can profoundly impact our energy levels, immune system, and overall well-being.

But with endless choices and conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many of us struggle to find balance—stuck in repetitive eating habits, following the latest fad diets, or wondering if what we’re eating is truly healthy.

The good news? Achieving optimal nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated or restrictive. It starts with understanding how to combine foods in a way that unlocks their full nutritional potential.

The Importance of Meal Combinations

Proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals each play a vital role in your health. Individually, they’re important—but together, they’re transformative. A well-balanced meal helps:

Build and repair muscles (thanks to protein)

Fuel energy levels (with complex carbohydrates)

Support brain function and hormones (with healthy fats)

Aid digestion (with fiber)

Maintain overall health (with essential vitamins and minerals)

When we create meals with all these elements in mind, we’re not just eating—we’re fueling our bodies to thrive.

Building the Perfect Meal

So, what does the ultimate meal look like? Here’s a breakdown of how to create one:

Start with Protein Protein is the building block of muscles and tissues. Great sources include grilled chicken, salmon, lentils, or tofu.

Add Complex Carbohydrates These provide sustained energy throughout the day. Choose options like quinoa, brown rice, or sweet potatoes.

Incorporate Healthy Fats Fats support brain health and hormone production. Avocado, nuts, seeds, or olive oil are excellent choices.

Don’t Forget Fiber and Omega-3s Fiber aids digestion, while omega-3 fatty acids are essential for heart and brain health. Add steamed broccoli, sautéed spinach, walnuts, or chia seeds to your meal.

Round It Out with Vitamins and Minerals Brighten your plate with colorful vegetables or a side salad. A mix of greens, cherry tomatoes, and a citrus vinaigrette makes for a simple, nutrient-packed addition.

Tips for Incorporating Balanced Meals

You don’t need to overhaul your diet overnight. Start with one balanced meal a day and experiment with combinations that excite your taste buds.

For example:

Lunch Idea: Grilled salmon, quinoa, and roasted asparagus with a drizzle of olive oil.

Dinner Idea: A hearty salad with mixed greens, avocado, walnuts, and a zesty lemon dressing.

Remember, it’s not about restriction. It’s about smart choices that empower your body.

The Role of Dapear Nutrition

At Dapear, we’re passionate about helping you live a healthier life. That’s why we offer premium supplements designed to complement your balanced meals and fill any nutritional gaps.

Our products include:

Collagen for healthy skin, joints, and hair

Biotin for glowing skin and strong nails

Plant Protein for a clean, high-quality protein source

Multivitamins to support overall health

Fish Oil for omega-3s that boost heart and brain health

Explore our range at dapear.com and find the perfect addition to your wellness routine.

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jodidoeshairblog · 7 days ago

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A 5-Step Guide to Choosing the Perfect Hair Extensions

Step 1: Figure Out What You Really Want

Start simple: What is the dream? Are you picturing super long mermaid hair, way more body, or maybe a fun color without the dye job? Your goal is the boss here. Want serious length? Sew-ins or tape-ins create that smooth, long flow. Need fullness for thinner hair? Clip-ins or halo styles are perfect. A recent beauty survey found 65 percent of people pick extensions based on goals, yet half wish they had been clearer upfront. Do not be that person. Seriously, write down your target: length, thickness, flexibility. Unclear goals equal poor purchases.

Step 2: Invest in Good Stuff, Skip the Cheap Finds

Quality costs money, but it matters. Top-tier human hair extensions, especially Remy hair, are the winners. They blend perfectly, handle styling, and last months with care. Synthetic ones? Sure, they cost less. But they knot up, lose color fast, and look obviously fake. A recent report showed 70 percent of people buying cheap extensions hated them within weeks. When hunting for hair extensions, focus on salons that offer 100 percent human hair. It hurts the wallet now, but your reflection will be grateful later.

Step 3: Select the Attachment Method That Fits Your Life

How extensions go in is a big deal, and methods vary wildly. Clip-ins are simple: put them in, take them out, zero commitment. Great for sometimes, but they might slip if you are busy. Tape-ins are semi-permanent, lasting over a month, but need a pro to put them in safely. Sew-ins are built to last but need braiding and can feel heavy. Halo extensions are super easy for new users, but limit styling. Everything has pros and cons. A salon study found tape-ins win for balancing lasting power and ease. Be honest about your life: do you crave daily freedom or a low-effort set it and set-it-and-forget-it look? Choose what works.

Step 4: Get the Texture and Color Spot On

This is where many slip up: extensions that do not match look fake and cheap. Your extensions must disappear into your real hair texture and color. Got curls? Get curly extensions. Hair straight and fine? Stick to silky, light ones. Matching color is just as vital: do not guess! Most salons offering hair extensions will match it for you; pros can even dye them custom for a flawless blend. Going solo? Order sample swatches or chat with a stylist. A bad match screams wig, and honestly, who needs that hassle? Take ten extra minutes to nail this.

Own Your Look, Own Your Confidence

You have the plan now. Finding perfect Cleveland Ohio hair extensions is not about quick fads or saving pennies. It's knowing your goal, buying quality, and picking a method that fits your life. Do not hurry this. Visit a good salon, ask all the questions, and insist on the best.

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sabbirahmed120202 · 13 days ago

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The Importance of Nutrient Balance: A Key to Lifelong Health

In the age of fad diets, fast food, and conflicting nutrition advice, one principle stands out as essential for overall well-being: nutrient balance. While cutting calories or avoiding specific food groups might offer short-term results, maintaining a well-balanced intake of essential nutrients is the cornerstone of sustained health, energy, and disease prevention.

What Is Nutrient Balance?

Nutrient balance refers to consuming the right proportions of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to support the body’s complex functions. It's not just about what you eat — it's about how much and in what combinations.

Achieving balance means:

Getting enough of each nutrient

Avoiding excesses that can lead to toxicity or health issues

Supporting your unique lifestyle, age, and health needs

Why Is Nutrient Balance Important?

1. Supports Metabolic Function

Your body requires a constant supply of nutrients to carry out critical processes — from generating energy to repairing tissues. For example:

Carbohydrates provide fuel for the brain and muscles.

Proteins supply amino acids needed for building and repairing cells.

Fats support hormone production, brain function, and vitamin absorption.

Without balance, these systems can become inefficient or dysfunctional.

2. Boosts Immune Health

Vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium are essential for immune defense. Deficiencies can leave the body more susceptible to infections and inflammation.

3. Promotes Healthy Growth and Development

For children, teens, and pregnant women, balanced nutrition is especially crucial. Nutrients like iron, folic acid, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids play key roles in brain development, bone formation, and preventing birth defects.

4. Aids in Disease Prevention

Long-term nutrient imbalances are linked to chronic conditions such as:

Heart disease (linked to excess saturated fat or lack of fiber)

Type 2 diabetes (influenced by poor carbohydrate quality)

Osteoporosis (from insufficient calcium and vitamin D)

Anemia (often due to low iron or B12)

A balanced diet reduces these risks and promotes long-term vitality.

Common Causes of Nutrient Imbalance

Even in developed countries, nutrient imbalances are common due to:

Overconsumption of processed foods (low in nutrients, high in calories)

Restrictive dieting (cutting out whole food groups)

Lack of variety in daily meals

Medical conditions that impair absorption or increase nutrient needs

Age-related changes that affect appetite or digestion

Signs You May Have a Nutrient Imbalance

While blood tests offer the most accurate insights, the body often gives clues:

Persistent fatigue or weakness

Brittle hair and nails

Poor wound healing

Frequent colds or infections

Mood swings or cognitive fog

Digestive issues

If you notice these signs, consider evaluating your eating habits and consulting a healthcare provider.

Tips for Achieving Nutrient Balance

Eat a Variety of Whole Foods Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your daily meals.

Follow the Plate Method Fill half your plate with vegetables, one-quarter with lean protein, and one-quarter with whole grains.

Practice Mindful Portion Control More isn’t always better — too much of even healthy nutrients can cause imbalances.

Stay Hydrated Water is essential for nutrient transportation and metabolic processes.

Supplement Smartly If you have deficiencies or dietary restrictions, supplements can help — but always use them under professional guidance.

Watch for Special Life Stages Pregnancy, aging, and active lifestyles may increase your need for certain nutrients.

Final Thoughts

Nutrient balance is not about perfection — it’s about consistency, awareness, and making informed choices. By prioritizing a well-rounded diet, you’re investing in a stronger immune system, better energy levels, improved mood, and a lower risk of disease.

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