#{ A FELLOW OFFICER // promo }

[ink-n-shadowfiction]

Still having bodyguard!Simon thoughts so just HEAR ME OUT-

Rockstar!reader has a song debuting with a popular male artist, so she has to do press with him. Interviews, red carpet appearances, a live performance, etc. It’s driving Simon crazy to see another man with his arm around her waist, holding her close, being face-to-face with her on stage - but he has to remain professional. Simon won’t crack, no matter how bad reader wants him to. Until one day, rockstar!reader is doing a slightly-spicy promo photoshoot with her male artist counterpart for the cover of their new single, and Simon’s self-control finally snaps.

It’s giving sexy, tense, angsty, flirty, juicy, dramatic L O L

Anything but Routine | bodyguard!Simon "Ghost" Riley

I LOVE THE THOUGHTS YOU HAVE so lemme indulge in them more. what if i made it fellow rockstar!keegan o_O

pairing: bodyguard!Simon "Ghost" Riley x rockstar!fem!reader, brief rockstar!keegan x rockstar!fem!reader (link to all works in this au)

genre: mainly angsty but also kinda sexy

word count: 2162 (kinda long but worth it i promise)

warning: mean!ghost, jealous/possessive!ghost, fighting with ghost, unedited (i'm sorry)

It was supposed to be a routine pick-up. Ghost was going to walk in, wait for you to pack up from the meeting you'd just been in with your producer about an upcoming single, and take you back to your apartment. That was supposed to be it.

But as soon as he walked in, seeing you on the leather couch of your producer's office with some burly guy's arm around your shoulders, he knew it was going to be anything but routine.

"Hey Ghost." You chirped as soon as you noticed him walking through the door, crossing your leg over your knee and sinking a bit deeper into the leather couch. "I didn't think you'd here until—"

Ghost's eyes narrowed, lingering on the way the guy looked so comfortable with you against his body. Too comfortable. He couldn't help the way his teeth ground down as his jaw tensed. "You said 2:30, dove. It's 2:30 now, yeah?"

Your eyes flitted down to the watch strapped to your wrist, letting out a grumbled curse and you nodded. "Guess it is, huh?" You giggled as you glanced over at the guy, pushing your hand against his chest as you sat up straight. "Sorry, this is Ghost by the way. He's my—"

The guy met Ghost's steeled gaze, his lips turning upward in an almost challenge smirk as he spoke. "Your infamous bodyguard, huh? Gotta say, the mask looks much more intimidating in person." The guy reached his hand out for a formal handshake. "Keegan, by the way."

Ghost didn't move to shake Keegan's hand, instead offering him the barest nod he could muster before moving his eyes back to you. "We've gotta go. You're on a tight schedule."

"Oh c'mon, Ghost. Not like I haven't been late before." You groaned as you leaned back against the leather couch, sulking a bit under his hard gaze. "You don't even wanna hear the first demo track?"

Oh, this was the artist you were collaborating with. Ghost remembered you rambling on about Keegan, talking about how big of a deal it was that a star of his caliber was wanting to collaborate with a lesser-known artist like you. It was a dream come true for you—but for Ghost, it was his worst fucking nightmare.

Instead of indulging in your offer, Ghost moved wordlessly to scoop your purse up from the floor, holding the straps in a vice grip in his palm as he strode back toward the door. "Now, dove."

Keegan snorted a bit as he watched you get up, an apologetic smile on your face as you went to pick up your phone from the coffee table. "He always this cold? Don't know how you put up with it. If my bodyguard talked to me like that, I'd have 'em on the street before they could finish talking."

"Trust me—this is Ghost being nice." You leaned down to give Keegan a quick hug, arms looping around his neck and one of his falling around your waist. "Thanks for handling the mixing and stuff—let me know when you get the demo done?" The hair on the back of your neck prickled, knowing that Ghost was probably staring daggers at you.

"Course, babe. Shouldn't take me and my team that long, so keep your phone on you, yeah?" Keegan pulled away and gave your waist a gentle pat, gesturing to the door. "Better go before he drags you outta here."

You smiled apologetically once more, giving Keegan one last nod before you turned towards the door. The scowl on your face was heavy, eyes flitting angrily to meet Ghost's as you brushed past him and out of the door he was holding open for you.

You were storming halfway down the hallway when Ghost caught up with you easily. "What's got you steamin', dove? The fuck did I do?"

Spinning around on the heel of your sneaker, you turned to face Ghost, hands pushing against his chest rather weakly as you let out an annoyed scoff. "Are you kidding me, Ghost? You just completely embarrassed me in there—in front of Keegan for fuck's sake! You gotta be an asshole to every fucking guy I interact with?"

Ghost took the weak shove and barely moved, lips twitching under the fabric of his mask before he swallowed down the smirk that itched to be on his lips. He liked when you were angry.

"Don't know what you're talkin' about. You seemed pretty cozy with 'em when I got there—surely he won't hold it against you." Ghost's words sounded bitter, like they left a bad taste in his mouth and he was desperate to spit them off of his tongue. "It's not my fault you have an interview in an hour—blame your fuckin' manager for scheduling things when you'd rather be foolin' around with some rockstar."

You stood there, mouth agape and eyes narrowed as your fists balled angrily at your sides. "Is that what this is about? You're fucking jealous of Keegan or something? This is a new low—even for you, Ghost." You rolled your eyes as you continued storming down the hall, giving Ghost no choice but to follow behind you.

There was a tense silence as you made your way to the car waiting outside. You didn't even let Ghost open the back passenger door for you as you normally would, instead opting to throw it open yourself and crawl inside to the seat farthest away. Ghost didn't speak until the car began moving, the privacy partition raised up and leaving you two practically alone.

"It's not jealousy. My job is to protect you, and if that means from some guy ogling you with his arm around you, then so fuckin' be it." Ghost stated matter-of-factly, his voice cold and bitter as he stared out of the window next to him.

You snorted out an angry laugh, shaking your head as you glowered over at him from across the backseat. "Right—'cuz Keegan is so dangerous that I need you to come rescue me. Seriously, Ghost. Just fuck off 'till you figure your shit out, alright?"

The topic didn't come up between you two again for a week or two—but it was still palpable. You two hardly spoke to one another, hardly wanted to breathe the same air as the other. But he was your bodyguard, and you were his charge. You had to be around one another.

It only came up when Ghost and you were once again in the backseat of your car, heading to a photoshoot to shoot the cover of your upcoming single with Keegan. You were still sitting on opposite ends of the backseat, your elbow perched on the door's armrest and your chin digging into the palm of your hand.

"He's gonna be there." You said coldly, flicking your gaze over to Ghost sitting silently beside you. "So don't embarrass me again."

He didn't breathe a word, just giving you a bitter scoff before nodding curtly.

Ghost didn't even look at you until you made it to the photoshoot location, watching from the shadows behind the camera as you came out from the dressing room with Keegan. You two were laughing about something together, and Ghost immediately clocked the hand you rested on Keegan's forearm as you walked.

You were dressed in a flowing white gown, hair done up and pinned in ringlet curls around your face. Your usual dark sultry makeup was replaced by something softer, the apples of your cheeks a rosy pink and your usual red lipstick replaced by a peachy gloss. You looked ethereal, and Ghost couldn't help the way his eyes ravished your look.

Keegan was the opposite, dressed in an all-black three piece suit with cold silver jewelry and chains adorning his skin. His dark brown hair was slick with pomade and pushed up away from his icy eyes, the usual stud punched through his lip replaced by a sleek silver ring.

"You know how much I hate these photoshoots?" Keegan told you as he let the photographer put him in the position they needed, knees spread and back straight as he sat on an all-black throne.

You laughed softly as you nodded in agreement, following the photographer's instructions and settling yourself on one of Keegan's strong thighs. "You and me both. At least you look cool—I look like a fuckin' church girl right now."

Your eyes flicked up to meet Ghost's in the very back of the room, cheeks tinging even more pink as you noticed the way he was looking at you. It wasn't angry like it had been for a week now—it was hungry, like you were the prey and him the predator. It made knots tie themselves in your gut.

The feeling of Keegan's hand splaying across your stomach brought you back into the moment, letting out a shuddering breath as you shifted yourself into place. "You alright, kid? Spacing off even before the camera starts clicking."

"Sorry—just...got in my own head a bit." It wasn't a complete lie, but Keegan didn't have to know what had pushed you inside of yourself, didn't have to know that the way Ghost was staring at you like a man starved was the reason you were spacing out.

The photoshoot went on smoothly, the photographer snapping a few photos and maneuvering the pose ever so slightly. With each click of the camera, the photographer placed Keegan's hand higher and higher with each shot, the final pose eventually becoming Keegan's tattooed fingers splayed out on my throat.

Keegan was ever the gentleman he was, making sure you were comfortable and okay with the way things were going. All the while, Ghost remained a haunting figure both in the back of the room and the back of your head. No matter where you looked, your eyes always seemed to magnetize back to him.

You didn’t see Ghost again until you were back in the dressing room of the photography studio, makeup wipe in hand and scrubbing off the pretty makeup. You heard the door open and close behind you, but you didn’t turn around. “If you’re in here to say something snarky about today, save it, Ghost.” You mumbled softly, focusing on wiping the remaining gloss from your lips.

Ghost remained silent, his boots clacking against the linoleum floors as he stalked towards you. His arm stretched out, taking the makeup wipe from your hand and discarding it as he turned you to face him. This time, however, your eyes locked on the way his balaclava was pushed up under his nose to reveal only his lips, pink and puffed out as his tongue ran over them. You could see a glint of metal punched into the muscle of his tongue.

“Y’wanna know somethin’, dove?” Ghost’s voice was a gravelly whisper, rumbling deep inside of his chest as he held your body between his and the vanity you were standing in front of. “You were right. Maybe I was a little jealous—hell, still am, if m'being honest.”

You were breathless, eyes wide and lashes fluttering as your brain scrambled to catch up to the words coming from his mouth. You were too busy staring directly at his mouth, the closet you’ve gotten to ever seeing Ghost’s real appearance, your heart thundering in your chest as the sound of blood rushing filled your ears. “Why?” Your question was almost inaudible, the heavy breathing coming from both of your nostrils almost drowning it out entirely.

Ghost hummed softly, leaning down ever so slowly and making the bunched up fabric under his nose brush against yours. “Maybe I don’t like seein’ you with another guy. Y’know how much I wanted to fucking drag you off of that asshole’s lap today? To pull his hand off of your stomach, your chest, your throat? To rip him to fuckin’ pieces?”

Your chest heaved with ragged breaths, body fighting to keep itself from melting into a puddle on the floor below. You couldn’t help but grip onto the collar of Ghost’s shirt, eyes fluttering closed as his words washed over you like a tidal wave. “Ghost…”

“Tell me to stop.” Ghost hissed in your ear, his gloved hands moving from your shoulders and down your arms before finally landing with an almost bruising grip on your waist. The white fabric of your flowing gown bunched between his fingers. “You know how wrong this is? How much trouble I would be in for this? You’re my client. I shouldn’t want you this fuckin’ badly, dove.”

Your body squirmed in Ghost’s grasp, skin eager to feel him pressed up against you and snarling words into your ear. It was maddening in the best way possible. You couldn’t stop yourself. “Don’t stop, Ghost.” It was breathy and needy as it fell from your lips, but the groan it pulled from Ghost’s chest made it that much more powerful.

“Fuckin’ hell—you’re going to be the death of me, dove.”

(do i dare make a part 2 for this scene?👀)

[kookslastbutton]

Those Eyes Chico ༓ myg (m) | Teaser

✒ Summary: As the new marketing director for Min Yoongi’s upcoming D-Day album & tour, you’re expected to bring your expertise to the table. This shouldn’t be a problem—you’re the best in the business and you’re used to drawing a strict line between your professional and personal life. But what happens when the lines you’ve fought to keep as separate blur for the first time?

pairing: idol!yoongi x plus size!poc!reader

genre/AU: angst, fluff, smut, slow-burn, coworkers2friends2lovers, winter setting, forbidden love?

word count: tbd, 835 for this teaser

warnings: oc is 28, Yoon is 30, oc is not originally from South Korea, oc has light brown eyes, swearing, mentions of alcohol consumption, mentions of anxiety, panic attacks, body insecurities, fear of being blacklisted, emotionally restrained Yoon, mentions of smoking, unstable parental relationships, conservative parents, mentions of therapy, mentions of dating scandal, eventual sexual content, and more specific warnings per chapter.

now playing: Sweet Dreams by The Last Shadow Puppets

a/n: Okay this has taken over six months to release but it's finally beginning and I am super excited to share! 🫣 I am low-key terrible at choosing a proper teaser so hoepfull this works haha. ANYWAY, this series is dedicated to my wonderfully crazy friend and beta, Gloom @theuselessdaydreamingidiot, and to all our fellow Yoon lovers bc we miss our sweet man SO MUCH 🥺 Enjoy! 🥰 Also huge thank you to @itaeewon for designing this beautiful series header! Love it!!

Series Masterlist

“Did you get the files I sent to you?”

The woman nods her head in affirmation while sweeping a few pieces of her long, silky hair behind an ear. To strangers, she appears to look about 24 which is only four years younger than yourself but nonetheless she’s the same age as you. Hei-Ran is her name, meaning “graceful orchid” according to Korean translation.

Hei-ran is one of Hybe’s newest hires and based on her experience, a near perfect fit to being South Korean boy group Tomorrow X Together’s new marketing manager. Until about three months ago, this had been your job.

You never imagined giving up the position after three years of working in the role. But with December right around the corner Hybe had other plans for you.

"Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors degree in BTech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a MBA in Marketing from NYU Stern. You worked two years as a brand manager for U.S record label Atlantic Records immediately after graduating, and are now working at BigHit Music as a marketing manager for TXT including liaison with their global marketing team.”

You recall PD Bang’s voice vibrate in the back of your mind from mid-August. You thought you were called into his office to discuss details of TXT’s latest promo, so having your resume read back to you was a sweeping curve ball. Your determination must have far exceeded the heaviness you felt in your chest because before you knew it you, you were shaking hands with your boss in acceptance of your role – the new marketing director for Min Yoongi’s upcoming D-Day album & tour.

The tedious knot that’s formed in the nape of your neck reminds you that as surreal as the situation might be, it’s undeniably real.

Months spent drafting a comprehensive marketing proposal for D-Day; often until the wee hours of the night, inevitably takes its toll on even the mightiest of warriors. An entire new team of fifty people, all of who you’ll be in charge of orchestrating for the next eight months, doesn’t provide much to relief either.

You’re excited nevertheless. Working with one of the most respected artists in the music industry is an opportunity you couldn’t let slip by, especially since the album’s rock-inspired genre aligns closely with your own music taste.

“Thank you so much for helping me get settled __,” Hei-ran’s gentle voice returns you to the present. “I appreciate the time you’ve taken these last few months to train me despite the tight deadlines you have.”

Smiling, you shake your head. “It’s no problem at all and if there’s anything you need in the future, feel free to give me a call or stop by my office.”

“On the 16th floor right?”

“1656A. Take a left off the elevator and walk to the end of the first hallway. The door on the right is mine.”

Referring to any room on the 16th floor as your own is something you don’t take lightly. For one the offices are double the size of any other office spaces in the building. Yours in particular has a giant skyscraper window draped with heavy white curtains. Secondly, the floor above is the 17th floor which is exclusive to Hybe artists only.

"How's the proposal coming along, by the way?" Her curiosity is palpable, genuine in its nature. You’ve always appreciated that in an individual.

“It’s done,” you respond. “Only thing left to do is to prepare for our meeting with C-suite executives next Monday. It’s nearly perfect as is, but the presentation could use a bit of refining in terms of organization.”

Hei-ran is silent for a moment longer than usual before her next inquiry, which is undoubtedly the question on both of your minds. “I can't help but wonder what it'll be like to meet him for the first time,” she muses.

You don’t bother asking for clarification on who the “him” is; you’re already well aware that it’s Min Yoongi. The same subject has managed to intrude your own thoughts more and more as the date of meeting him draws closer. It's peculiar honestly, considering you’ve encountered him before. Granted, it was only a small handful of times the hallway, both heading in opposite directions. Min Yoongi typically greeted you with a hoarse 'Good Morning' those instances, along with a curt nod of his head. You would nod back with a brief 'Morning' yourself. Deep down you feel he'd make a quality friend, though it's only a premonition. It’s not like you actually know much about him beyond those small exchanges.

"I'm not sure what to expect, honestly," you admit. "I imagine it'll be similar to previous professional collaborations—composed, focused, and intense. D-Day is poised to become a global sensation for the next year, so it's going to need our full, undivided attention."

Hei-ran gives a knowing nod. “Good luck __,” she wishes you well as you head towards the elevator doors. Breaks over, back to work.

a/n: Chapter one will be released soon 🙃 Thanks for reading the teaser!

Masterlist | Requests: closed | Taglist | Fic Recs

no reposting, copying, or translating my work– © kookslastbutton

[louthestarspeaker]

[ID: A collection of six images of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory promo material. The images are in the style of a magazine, with a cover and interviews from each of the Nublar Six, minus Brooklynn.

The cover has all of the Nublar Six lined up on the docks in Costa Rica, just after they made it back to the mainland. Yaz and Sammy are holding hands, Kenji has a hand on Brooklynn's shoulder. All the kids are smiling nicely, with the exception of Darius whose smile is kind of awkward and looks a little uncomfortable on camera. The title of the magazine, The Dino Times, is splashed across the top of the page. Just below it is the subtitle "Who are the Nublar Six?". Below the photo of the campers is text that reads, "Meet the miraculous survivors of the Jurassic World catastrophe in this exclusive, celebrating the anniversary of their return."

Each of the interviews has a picture of each of the Nublar Six as a young adult, their name printed large, and a little logo for The Dino Times in the corner. A transcript of the text of each interview reads as folllows:

Darius: Dino Nerd Turned Hero

Darius Bowman never would've expected a shy, nerdy kid from Oakland could become the leader of the Nublar survivors.

"Back at Camp Cretaceous I had to learn to trust myself and my friends to make it through. It was a terrifying experience, but what they were doing to those dinosaurs at that facility just wasn't right. Somebody had to do something."

Since his return, Bowman has traveled all over the country giving talks about dinosaur conservation, and has worked with the Department of Prehistoric Wildlife.

Ben: Brave Soul Against All Odds

Ben Pincus had perhaps the most dramatic metamorphosis as a result of his experiences at Nublar.

"I was terrified of pretty much everything," he said. "Germs. The dark. Non-organic snacks. And then all of a sudden we were up against actual dinosaurs."

Luckily, Pincus found an unlikely ally in a baby Ankylosaurus he named Bumpy.

"Bumpy is my best friend. She helped me face my fears and see how much I had to contribute to the group."

We'll have to see if the campus office can make an exception for Bumpy as Ben gets ready for college in the fall.

Sammy: Cattle Rancher, Dino Wrangler

Sammy Gutierrez lived with her parents on a Texas ranch before Camp Cretaceous. Ever the optimist she remarked, "At least I was already used to big animals before that whole fiasco! There;s really not much difference between a longhorn and a Triceratops if you think about it."

Back at home, Gutierrez maintained that positive attitude by staying busy.

"I have my own ranch, now. And my girlfriend, Yaz. And tons of pies to bake! We don't have time to keep worrying about all that running for our lives stuff!"

Yaz: A Track Star and Her Team

Yasmina Fadoula went from national track star to Nublar Six survivor in the span of months, and the aftermath hit her particularly hard.

"I wasn't used to feeling helpless. Before, I would just push through to the finish line no matter what. Nublar made me realize you can't win all your races alone."

She credits her relationship with fellow survivor Sammy Gutierrez as a major source of support.

"I've been going through a lot of anxiety since coming back, and Sammy's been there constantly. I want to show her I can be the strong person she sees in me."

Kenji: Cool Kid Finds New Family

Kenji Kon has declined to comment on his father's incarceration.

"All that matters is my new family. They're the ones who always had my back."

The Nublar Six have been instrumental in Kenji's return to normal life, from his relationship with Brooklynn, to his best friend Darius.

"All I wanna do is chill, you know? I've moved out somewhere peaceful. Started my climbing school. All is good in Casa de Kenji."

End Transcript. The page of Kenji's interview has a ragged edge, like the page next to it has been torn out. There is no interview for Brooklynn. End ID]

[sydsaint]

Appreciate the loml finally winning stuff! 💛

Summary: The reader finds herself working her ass off to help Knight and asks for nothing in return. But after Knight wins the battle royale, he decides that he can't let the reader go unnoticed any longer.

It's late on Friday night and Smackdown is almost over for the night. You are in your office going over your last-minute pitch to make sure that LA Knight gets into the SummerSlam battle royale tomorrow night.

Pearce is sitting at his desk on the other side of the room watching you frantically pour over your pitch one last time.

"Is something funny over there, Adam?" You ask Pearce when you've finally had enough of his barely audible laughing.

"Funny? No, not at all." Pearce snickers and turns back to whatever he's got sitting in front of him. "I just don't think I have ever seen you work this hard." He adds. "What are you even doing over there."

Your nose scrunches in annoyance and you shut your folder of papers. "Nothing you need to worry about. Thanks." You assure him and run a hand through your hair.

"Okay." Pearce chuckles again.

You grit your teeth and decide to take a walk before you end up hitting your fellow GM. Plus a walk might calm your nerves for this last-minute meeting that you managed to get.

You head out of the office and wander around backstage for a while. Since Smackdown is almost over for the night, the place is starting to wind down. You pop by the staging area set up by the guillera just in time for a certain megastar to be out in the ring cutting a promo.

You stand and watch the crowd go wild for every word that comes out of LA Knight's mouth. They drink in his charisma and charm like it's a drug and they're all looking for a fix. You smile to yourself as you're reminded why you've been working your ass off these past few months. Him.

Knight's promo comes to an end and you watch him head up the ramp through the monitor. Once he's out of sight you turn to the curtain and wait for Knight to come through it.

"Well well well, would you listen to the crowd?" You muse when Knight comes through the curtain. "They were eating you up out there."

"Y/N! You watch Knight's exhausted expression switch to his usual flirty one in an instant upon seeing you. "Now what could the beautiful and oh-so generous GM of Smackdown be doing out of her office at this hour?" He asks you with a grin.

You smile to yourself, drinking in Knight's charisma just like all the fans do. "I'm just checking in on my investment, that's all." You tease with a grin.

"Is that all?" Knight chuckles, staring down at you with a look that would bring most women to their knees.

If only you weren't in such a position of power over him. If you were a superstar then the two of you would have been involved a painfully long time ago. But you can't bring yourself to take advantage of Knight like that. Sure, you honestly don't think he'd care much. He's made it clear more than once that he's into you. But other people would. Pearce would be on the phone with the higher-ups in an instant. And you've worked too hard to get this job to let one charming guy ruin that for you. As hot and undeniably charming as he is.

"That's all." You nod in a calm and indifferent tone. "I've got a meeting after the show to pitch getting you into that Battle Royale tomorrow night." You inform him. "So do me a favor and stick around for a bit after the show, yeah?" You ask him.

"Of course." Knight nods. "I'm sure that you'll get the job done, boss. You always do." He grins.

You stifle a laugh and can't resist the urge to make a small quip. "Well, who can resist this face, right?" You joke.

"Amen to that, sweetheart." Knight agrees. "I'll see you after the show darlin'." He winks and heads off toward the locker rooms.

You shake your head as you watch Knight head off. Those broad shoulders of his flexing under the fluorescent lights of the hallway in the most sinful way. You take a moment to clear your head, 'Y/N, no.' You tell yourself.

Back in the office, Pearce is packing up to head back to the hotel for the night. He walks over to your desk before he leaves and offers you a rare smile. "I don't know what you've got planned," Pearce explains. "But whatever it is. Good luck."

"Thank you, Adam." You return his friendly smile.

The time comes for your meeting and you head down to the conference room. You take a breath and step inside where, Hunter, Shawn, and a few other board members are waiting for you. You lock eyes with Shawn and he offers you a subtle smile which is just enough to will you forward into what is got to be the pitch of your life.

A little over an hour later you exit the conference room with a neutral look on for face and disheveled files clutched to your chest. The door closes and you begin making your way back to your office with the same calm look.

You round the corner to your office and find Knight leaning on the wall by the door. He looks up from his phone when he hears your heels clicking down the hall and you find that you can't contain yourself any longer.

"Well? What's the news, gorgeous?" Knight asks you as he puts his phone away.

"I did it!" You exclaim as loud as you can without raising any suspicion with any bystanders that may be listening in.

Knight's excited grin matches yours and you find yourself off your feet and crushed to his chest in a hug before you can get another word in. "Hell Yeah! Knight celebrates. "I knew that you could do it!"

"Awe, it was nothing." You laugh and Knight sets you back on the ground. "Just promise me that you'll win. Because there's no scripted winner for this one." You inform him.

"You can count on me, Y/N." Knight nods as he begins to calm down. "Thank you." He adds. "Seriously, Y/N. I don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing without you."

You shake your head and bite the inside of your lip. 'God, there's that look again.' You curse yourself silently. The man somehow manages to make you feel like the only woman in the world with one measly look. And it makes your insides melt like butter.

"You'd probably still be in NXT jobbing out to Breakker or Hayes." You manage to push out a joke instead of asking Knight out for a drink.

"Yeah, probably." Knight chuckles. "Can I buy you a drink to say thanks? No strings attached." He offers. "I swear by it. Just a friendly drink."

You bite the inside of your lip again. You hate how badly you want to say yes. Your whole body is screaming at you to just let the man take you home and have his way with you.

"You know I can't," You let out a calm sigh.

"I know." Knight nods. "But I had to try, right?" He winks at you.

You smile at him again. You've lost count of how many times you've turned his various offers down now. And yet, he still always comes back. And he still always asks with the same unrelenting charm, despite the fact that he knows that you're always going to say no.

"Right. I'll see you at the show tomorrow mister mega-star." You turn the knob to your office door. "Don't let me down."

"I'd never dream of it." Knight grins and walks off.

The next afternoon you are backstage for the SummerSlam pay-per-view with Pearce. It comes time for the battle royale and you watch LA Knight make his way past you and through the curtain.

"You've got this." You whisper to yourself as Knight steps through the curtain.

The packed arena all cheer for him as Knight makes his way out to the ring. Goosebumps litter your skin at the sound of people cheering his name. 'This is his night.' You think to yourself. 'He's going to win it.'

Half an hour later and it's down to just two people left in the ring. LA Knight and Sheamus. You stand next to Pearce and stare at the tv monitor with eager anticipation. "Come on. Come on. You can do it." You mumble to yourself.

"What was that, Y/N?" Pearce turns to you.

Annoyed, you turn to Pearce to answer him, but the bell rings as you turn your head. Your gaze snaps back to the monitor as the crowd erupts into cheers so loud you can hear them from backstage.

"Yes! He did it! Yes!" You scream and jump for joy before you even register what you're doing.

"Y/N?" Pearce furrows his brows as he watches you freak out.

You quickly come down from your high and face Pearce. You begin formulating an explanation for your outburst when Knight's voice cuts through all the noise of the crowd.

"I know that I'm probably going to get in trouble for this. But well, I don't really care." Knight retrieves a microphone from the announce desk. "I've got to say thank you real quick. Thank you to all the fans that have been behind me this past year. I appreciate you all. But the truth is, I wouldn't even be here right now if it weren't for a special someone working her ass off to get me here." He preaches to the crowd.

"Oh no." You feel blush creeping up on your face.

"Y/N L/N. I know that the last thing you want right now is a spotlight on you. But damnit, you deserve it! I've seen how hard you've worked to push me to the top, and I can't just stand here and pretend that I did it by myself. So if you could come out here so I ain't standing in this ring alone like an idiot, that'd be great." Knight continues with his speech.

You turn to find Pearce reaching for his phone like you've always known he would. As he takes it out of his pocket you reach for it and snatch it out of his hands. "Not yet, Adam." You feel a jolt of courage surge through you. "You're going to want to wait before you make your call." You hand the phone back to him and step through the curtain.

To your surprise, the crowd cheers as you walk down the ramp and out to the ring. Knight parts the ropes when you make it to the ring and lets you inside.

"Here she is ladies and gentlemen!" Knight introduces you. "The woman that made it all happen. The women that made LA Knight!" He beams at you with a smile so wide it looks like it might hurt.

"Thank you." You smile nervously. "But all I did was pitch some ideas to some cooperate guys. You're the real star." You insist.

Your heart rate picks up when a chant starts echoing through the arena at an almost deafening volume.

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

"Well?" Knight holds the microphone away so he's just talking to you. "Is this the day that you finally say yes?" He asks you.

"I think it is." You nod. "You deserve it."

"Darlin', we both deserve it," Knight replies and lets the microphone drop to the mat.

The kiss is just as sweet as you've been imagining it would be. The crowd of thousands all cheering wasn't part of your daydreams. But now you don't think you'd have it any other way.

[bitebackbaby]

hey everybody!! so delighted to announce that i will be participating in @clonebang as the writer of team 6!!

this fic, “the losing game”, is the deep dive on krell’s battalion that i’ve been hinting at for so long. It has drama, it has heartache, it has the inevitable loss of the clone wars — and the undeniable love that comes with it.

im working with the lovely @whatislifewithoutangst who has even gone to the trouble of making a bonus (!!) piece of art just for this promo! check it out along with the fic preview, and give them some love!! full fic will be released january 27th, 2024 <3

"You’re not on your own,” they assured him. “That’s the good part of this whole thing. We’ve always got each other's backs. Look to your fellow officers for guidance if you need it. That’s what we’re all here for.”

CT-8118 huffed, his posture loosening, the Commander’s calming presence easing some of the anxiety chewing through him.

“Shouldn’t that include me, sir?” he quipped, and Osha laughed.

“True, true,” they snickered, and used their grip on CT-8118’s shoulder to pull him closer, slinging their arm around him. “I get the feeling you’re going to be the nice one, though.”

CT-8118 smiled, a little unsure. “And that’s… a good thing?”

He sure hoped so, anyway.

Osha gave him a friendly shake. “Sure it is. You need one in every battalion, that’s just procedure.”

“Oh, good,” CT-8118 relaxed.

Osha seemed to find that funny, chuckling as they shook their head.

“Yeah, you’ll be good for them,” they said, eyes crinkling with the force of their smile. “I can tell them what to do, Stereo can drag them into medbay by the hair, and all the rest of us can yell and dish out punishment and act tough. You? You can be the nice one. The safe harbor. It really is necessary, you know. Despite what the Kaminoans would say, we do perform better with a bit of positive reinforcement. You get me?”

The Captain blinked. It was like a fog had lifted, giving him a glimpse of a world he had only seen through a dark veil, hiding the true vastness of its expanse from view.

“Yessir,” Harbor said. “I understand.”

[obscurushydrae]

KAR ASTER’S RP PLOTTING CHEAT-SHEET

Want new-and-exciting plots for your character? Long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? Fear not! Fill out this form and give your RP partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted. Be sure to tag the players whose characters YOU want more cues to interact with, and repost, don’t reblog! Feel free to add or remove sections as you see fit. Template here.

Mun name: Kar, Karmun, or if prefer to separate mun from muse, use my middle name, Asher.

OOC Contact: Here, or on @stellevatum or @karthonic or discord on request.

Who the heck is my muse anyway:

Main Verse: She's a Primordial god of destruction that got reborn as the abomination child of Hecate; raised by Jewish lesbians in 90s NYC after the BPRD found her in a sarcophagus. She is constantly fighting against her inherent Ogdru Hem nature of destroying all reality, and just bein being a regular person. Inherited her mom's position as Queen of the Crossroads a few years back and juggles that and BPRD duties.

Points of interest:

Resting bitch face ahoy, and if she's not wearing her glasses (which assume for the most part she is), her eyes. She also has fangs which are more obvious when talking or smiling. Supernatural muses may feel free to 'sense' an odd or unsettling aura around her.

What they’ve been up to recently:

Main timeline: rebuilding the BPRD, lobbying for more supernatural rights, outreach and opening dialogue between the worlds for at least tolerable co-habitation. Guest Lecturing at colleges. Possibly writing a book on early bronze age cultures, and in talks on hosting a doc for BBC.

Where to find them:

New York, Fairfield (BPRD Headquarters) mainly, but her job(s) take her everywhere. Her family house in Limbo/Erebus and sometimes bothering the Hadean court. (Their Wifi sucks though.)

Current plans:

Not really? Just remade her blog to in-character shitpost, but if wills want more plotted stuff I'm down but I'm keeping it very chill here.

Desired interactions:

Cracky, fun, casual with little high stakes stuff at the moment is ideal. But more planned out stuff is possible. Bureau Shenanigans (Like The Office/WWDITS) style shit that's a little weird, crazy, but slice of life because that's life at the BPRD, especially HB/Kar sibling shenanigans. (But it doesn't have to be!) Fellow Chthonics/Gods just being regular jagoffs in the mortal realm is a vibe I like. (Example: Like her and other Psychopomps having a group chat to settle who's covering what that night, etc. Dropping memes or whatnot.). May open her up to ship again but not sure yet. Just started and haven't vibed enough yet and I'm not assuming any of my old partners are interested in picking things back up.

Offered interactions:

Archaeologist by training, can do expeditions or research. BPRD Agent/Director, can be involved in investigating the paranormal & supernatural and arbitrating on it. She's a goddess of the underworld, envoy of the Fates, etc etc, so dealing with the dead, dying, and politics of the other underworlds. So you can play into that. Or just hit me up I can tool something!

Current open post/s:

Open Posts | Memes | Calls | Optional Interest Checker

Anything else?:

Guidelines | Bio | Promo

Tagging:  @ourcwnside @voxiiferous @rebelgodking @mystxoak @realmyths and anyone who sees this and wants to fill it out!

[injuries-in-dust]

A random memory returned to my head.

I'm not sure if it was an April Fools joke, or just me mixing the memory with something else, or maybe it's just a total Mandela effect.

Back before The Walking Dead series was about to start and we were getting promo shots similar to this:

I swear I read an article that was talking about the premise of the show and it said something along the lines of:

Sheriff Rick and his fellow officers are charged with protecting one of the last pockets of humanity against the zombie hordes; a gated community where the wealthy residents do their best to pretend the apocalypse isn't happening. Rick and his team risk their lives to keep both the zombies and reality out of the neighbourhood as the rest of the population go about their regular daily routine.

Maybe it wouldn't have worked as a series, probably better as an episode of Black Mirror, or something. But I remember being intrigued, at the time, to see how they would pull it off and keep it fresh.

[l-lend]

The ideas and a lot of the pre-writing and outlining have been a collaborative effort between myself, @kelpiesummer, and @ghostlythunderbird in discord and in google docs. I owe them so much for allowing me to write on this. Y'all are awesome!

Pairing(s): Crosshair x OC

Warning(s): swearing

The high pitched chirp on the nightstand was soon silenced by a hand groping blindly towards the offending noise. Fingers swiping across the screen before bringing the phone to the bed.

“T-bird.” A cool voice spoke from the device, “We have a promo meeting in thirty.”

“Yeah, I'm on my way.” T-bird replied stifling a yawn, yet it remained noticed.

The voice on the phone sighed, “Just try to look presentable. This'll be good for Mythic if we land this deal.”

T-bird rolled out of bed attempting to smooth down her bed head with one hand.

“Relax, Sy, but I have to ask they're feeding us, right?”

T-bird could almost hear the roll of her manager's eyes.

“They have been kind enough to offer donuts and coffee.”

“Dope, I'll be there in 10.”

She tapped the screen ending the call and set out on the hunt. A shirt that still looked clean, pants in a similar condition. With a few hops to get dressed, a quick stop to step into her boots, and diving her hand into the glass bowl for her keys, she went to her baby.

The elevator took its time to reach the parking deck. But she was out as soon as the doors slid open. Her babe resting right where she left him still snuggled up under the cover. With the same care one would give a lover, T-bird lifted the cover to her motorcycle. After stashing the cover in a tank bag, she straddled her iron steed and the engine kick started tearing off towards the highway with its helmeted rider.

It was a quick jaunt into town. T-bird was quick to weave her way in and out of traffic as if the fellow motorists were stationary traffic cones. A few other bikes were scattered in the inbound traffic. Some familiar makes and models that would offer a wave if prompted, but they often gave the local stunt junkie a wide birth.

The speedometer's needle began its return trip to the left as stoplights began interrupting the cruise high. Although it seldomly stayed on the low end, T-bird heaved a sigh offering a fog to obscure the world around her. The stop and go gridlock of urban motorists nursing the twitch of her fingers begging to rev the throttle. The red light hung above her, mocking her. After what seemed to be an eternity, the light changed and the twist of the throttle surged her bike forward. A brief flash of something in her peripheral caused her to choke her brake.

Another motorcyclist had surged out from a side street nearly taking T-Bird on a slide. A few cars blared their horns behind her as she threw up her hands in a general 'what the hell is your problem?' gesture. The inciter on the incident mirrored her gesture before revving up and turning into the lane.

Oh. No. He. Didn't.

Another twist of the throttle and the roar of her engine brought her to the next red light. The another rider she had named 'dumb fuck of the day' idling in the lane next to her waiting for the light to change. A glance towards his ride caused T-Bird's lip to curl in disgust. All that bike and the bastard almost let it eat pavement. The world is just cruel sometimes. His visor turned towards her, his gaze hidden. There was a heartbeat where perhaps maybe he would come to his senses and maybe apologize for not noticing her in the lane already. That hope of decency was dashed when he abruptly leaned towards her slapping the button on her handlebar. Her engine was silent as he tore off down the road. The light above them now emerald.

The embarrassment of being kill switched at the light was mostly soothed with a coffee from one of the local shops as T-Bird pulled into the parking lot. Kickstand down, cardboard sleeved lifeblood in hand. She stripped off her helmet shaking her hair loose off its cage before strolling inside of the office space. The mundane identical halls giving way to her destination. She opened the door with a free hand.

"Sorry I'm late, Sy. Some asshole pulled out in front of me."

The room was dead silent. Siren was seated at the table as white as a sheet. Across from her was a man. Despite his button up and jeans, his tattoos and longer hair set him apart from the usual stiffs Siren would have to wrangle.

"Your stunt rider? " he asked Siren, his voice gruff from either drink, smoke, or chewing gravel. The jury was out.

Siren cleared her throat, "Yes, this is T-Bird."

She then gestured to the man across from her, "Bird, this is Hunter. We're just about done with everything. It'll be a joint promotion with you and his talent."

T-Bird gave a casual wave with two fingers as her mouth was currently occupied with nursing her coffee. Her helmet soon found a place on the meeting table with its owner soon folding down into one of the swivel chairs.

“So your talent got a name?”

“You could've asked at the light.”

T-Bird adjusted her gaze to the far end of the table where the voice came from. He was still in his riding gear with his own helmet perched on the table. A toothpick between his lips as he met her seething gaze with his own exuding boredom.

“Yeah, no. Sy?”

Siren's manicured hand went to T-Bird's shoulder keeping the cyclist seated.

“Perhaps you two got off on the wrong foot. T-Bird this is Crosshair. He's th-”

“The smug face of GAR Motorsports' Bad Batch. And last I heard you're one to work solo.”

He reached up plucking up the toothpick from his mouth, “Believe me, I'd rather be treating road rash, Birdie.”

T-Bird wrenched herself free of Siren's hold before snatching up her helmet. A few strides and the slam of the door punctuated the exchange. There was a three second pause before Siren exhaled with a soft smile.

“Well, she didn't hit you so that's a positive.” She turned her attention to Hunter, “I'll get some work ups of the promotional materials and have them to you by Wednesday.”

[esonetwork]

Sweet Tooth Season 2 Review

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/sweet-tooth-season-2-review/

Sweet Tooth Season 2 Review

Gus and his fellow hybrids continue to seek sanctuary from a sick world that hates and fears them. Mike, Mike, and Joseph Martinez discuss the mysteries and revelations contained in the second season of the Netflix series. All this, along with Angela’s A Geek Girl’s Take and Shout Outs.

We want to hear from you! Feedback is always welcome. Please write to us at feedback@earthstationone.com and subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcast, Stitcher Radio, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, wherever fine podcasts are found, and now we can be found on our own YouTube Channel.

Links The Earth Station One Website Earth Station One on Apple Podcasts The New Earth Station One YouTube Channel Earth Station One on Stitcher Radio Earth Station One on Spotify Past Episodes of The Earth Station One Podcast Angela’s A Geek Girl’s Take Ashley’s Box Office Buzz Michelle’s Iconic Rock Talk Show Kameleon Cosplay Kamikaze Vol. 3 Unique Crafts by Jenn

Promos Tifosi Optics The ESO Network Patreon ESO Network Tee-Public

If you would like to leave feedback or a comment on the show please feel free to email us at feedback@earthstationone.com

[rwwinton]

Okay guys, you know I rarely make promo posts here, but since I just had to buy a new computer after my old one finally gave up on me (it did an amazing job for 7 years, rest well old buddy), I need to put this out here. But I’m going to include a short story at the end for anyone to read!

If you want to read about my gay Boston coffeehouse owner, Nathaniel, and how he and his friends end up basically accidentally becoming rebel spies and witnesses to the beginning of the American Revolution, check out Let it Begin Here. And if you want to read about my aromantic and asexual privateer captain, Miles, and his adventures with his crew of queers on a stolen British frigate, check out Where Cannons Roar. If you already read and enjoyed these books, please remember to rate and review them wherever you purchased them, and tell your friends! Reviews are incredibly helpful for indie authors! My books are not pro-war, they are more like slice-of-life in a world where people just had to do whatever they could to make it through.

I also have a Patreon and a Ko-Fi.

If you’re into queer fantasy, I have a few things on Tapas, including a current project.

And as payment for enduring a self-promo post, here is a fluffy short story I wrote last year when I got really pissed off about some Twitter (RIP) thread with the theme of “those poor women in the past who had to endure their gay husbands cheating on them behind their backs.” My response was a purely sweet polyamorous story instead, also set in my Revolution world but after the war. (Content warning for mentions of war and also a dude trying to deal with society’s ingrained attitudes toward sexuality in the late 18th century.)

Noah looked out from the window of his house and watched as his neighbor, Luther, tossed feed to the four chickens in the yard, then walked toward the field and the two cows waiting peacefully inside. Noah had nearly lost those cows, but they had been spared by both the British and American armies that had marched across his farm. Perhaps it was because Noah had been among the American soldiers and had informed his officer that the farm was his, and had offered up three other cows to feed his fellow soldiers. He'd had more chickens before the war had begun, and two horses, but they'd not been there when he had returned.

He and Luther had served together. They had been neighbors all their lives and, being close in age, had always been friends. They had faced hell and more together in the late war, watched men killed by cannon and musket, saber and bayonet. They had marched without end and with poor supplies. Battled Redcoats and the elements. Felt the terror of battle, surrounded by the smoke of gunpowder and the cries of the wounded. They had courted death and come out nearly unscathed but for minor wounds and the nightmares that plagued them both in the early morning hours.

One morning, not long after returning home, Noah had decided to walk outside after being awoken by one such nightmare. He wanted to watch the sun rise over his small farm, to see open space where his mind expected other soldiers camped close to him, to not fear the British beyond the horizon. A treaty had been signed. That was why he was home, after all.

Luther had been sitting outside his own house, which was close enough that Noah could see him in the soft glow of the dawn, but not call to him without being too loud for so early an hour. He had invited Luther over with a wave, and Luther had soon joined him.

"I wanted to remind myself where I was," Luther had explained. "It isn't easy to sleep again when the dreams wake me."

"Will you help me with the farm?" Noah had offered.

Luther had nodded. "I would love to."

And so had begun a routine that had lasted for nearly a year. Luther came to the farm every morning and helped Noah with his daily tasks. It had allowed Noah the time to return to his business of watch and clockmaking and repair to ensure he had the money he needed to survive. He had considered selling the land for some time and moving to town, but he enjoyed the peacefulness afforded by the farm that had been his father's, where he had grown from boy to man. He knew his father would not have objected to the sale, as he had always been supportive of Noah's desires to perfect a skill and grow a business. He had secured Noah his apprenticeship to learn watchmaking, using what resources he could to send his only child to Philadelphia to be educated. He had sold pieces of the farm to pay for it, and Noah had been determined not to disappoint him. He wasn't the greatest watchmaker in all the country, but he had many customers both in town and outside it - friends and family members of locals who saw pieces he had made or repaired and wrote to him for their own pieces.

His mind wandered to the piece he had been repairing for Luther's mother, and he dreaded how he would deliver it to her once it was complete. Perhaps he could do it while Luther was at work in the print shop.

A gentle hand touched his back and he momentarily flinched, drawn from his thoughts abruptly. Another benefit to Luther's assistance was that it had also given him the time to court Penny, another friend he had had since childhood. He had been stunned to find out she had waited for his return, ignoring all other suitors until he could make it clear if he wished to marry her or not. It was an idea he had never been certain of. He certainly loved her and had for much of his life, but concerns over his own nature had prevented him from doing what any other man surely would have done many years before. But, having seen war and death, he longed for the comfort of family. With his only living relation a brother who had chosen the other side in the war, and who had left the house in shambles when he had chosen to depart, Noah had had no one else to turn to. Luther had been there, of course, but surely he meant to seek the comforts of his own family and leave behind the painful ties of war.

The memory of having had those thoughts caused sorrow to flare in his chest. He had been so terribly wrong in so many ways.

Penny slipped her arm around his waist and set her chin on his shoulder, gazing out the window at the farm lit by morning light. "You have been unhappy for a time now," she said quietly. "And it has been nearly a month since Luther joined us for dinner. If the two of you quarreled, why is he still doing work for you?"

"I don't know," Noah admitted, swallowing his pain. "I truly don't know."

She sighed and gently guided him away from the window. They sat down at the table, where breakfast had been set out while his mind had been so distracted from the present. As she sat, Noah noticed, as he always did, the growing swell of her belly that was their first child.

"Will you tell me what has happened between you?" she asked. "I don't wish to see my husband so distressed."

Noah sipped his coffee, but it did not settle well in his stomach. He swallowed heavily. "I don't wish to burden your thoughts with me. You have far too much to concern yourself with."

She gave him a sharp look, an intensity in her gray eyes that he was not used to having directed at him. "Including the concern that my husband, the father of my growing child, is struggling with something that he won't discuss." She reached across the table and gripped his hand, her expression softening. "I love you, Noah. That is why I want you to tell me. You've told me of the war, of the things you experienced - though I'm certain you failed to tell me some of the most terrible details. Yet you won't tell me this?"

Noah squeezed her hand and looked away. "It is because I love you that I don't wish to tell you."

How could he? It would destroy them. It would destroy their marriage and their family before it was truly formed. A family was all he longed for, and he could not lose his.

She sighed and stood without finishing her breakfast. "Speak to me when you've come to your senses," she told him as she left the room.

"Wait," he said, surprising himself.

She stopped and turned to him, walked up behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Go on, love."

He did, before he lost his courage. His body shook as he confessed the truth, spoke the confession he had secretly longed to make. He told her how, nearly a month previous, Luther had assisted him in repairing the fence. The weather had turned on them, but they had persisted until the first drops of rain had become a torrent. They had run to the barn with the intention to return to their work once the downpour had ceased. They had arrived sputtering and soaked through, and had laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Luther had stumbled in the near darkness, and Noah had caught him, and they had laughed again. They had laughed until something had come over them, standing there in each other's arms, and then they had kissed. For Noah it had felt like the awakening of something he had long repressed, and he was powerless to stop, to remove himself from Luther's arms or end the passion growing between them. And so they had pleasured each other there, in the nearly empty barn, their moans and gasps lost in the howling of the wind and the lashing of the rain. 

But Noah had been consumed by guilt from the moment it had ended. He had left Luther there, looking painfully heartbroken, and fled to the house despite the continued downpour. Since that day he had not spoken to Luther, had not left the house when Luther was on the farm.

"I cannot undo what has been done," he concluded, still shaking and stunned to still feel Penny's hands on his shoulders. "But I am terribly sorry. You cannot understand how sorry I am. I have wronged you, sinned against our marriage twice over. I can only promise it won't happen again."

"How can you promise that?" she asked. Her tone was gentle, but her grip on his shoulders was tight. "Do you mean never to speak to him again?"

The thought pained him. He already missed their conversations and their quiet morning work terribly. Penny knew what he had experienced in the war, most of it, but Luther had lived it with him. He had seen the things Noah had seen. He longed for the same comfort Noah did. At first, Noah had thought that the sole reason for his attraction and his yearning for his neighbor, but he knew it went farther into his past than that. He had always desired Luther, always seen him as wonderfully handsome. Yet, he had always been able to ignore those thoughts and desires by reminding himself that such a thing was not right. He'd focused his thoughts on beautiful women, especially Penny, and found his desire for them to be just as strong. It was a relief, he thought, to feel that way, to be able to distract himself from handsome men and remind himself how he ought to be. But his shared wartime experiences with Luther had brought their friendship closer, and even as he confessed to his patient, loving wife how he had sinned twice over against her, he felt shame at being unable to ignore the ache in his heart over the loss of Luther's companionship.

"If that is what I must do," he replied, his voice tight, tears wetting his cheeks.

She squeezed his shoulders. "Do you love him?"

The question was unexpected and brought him pause. He cleared his throat and confessed, "What I feel in my heart when I think of him is the same as when I think of you."

"You love him."

He bowed his head, covered his face with his hands. "I do."

She sat down beside him then, and pulled his head to her shoulder. "Then how could I ask you never to speak to him again? How could I ask you to give him up?"

He pulled away from her abruptly. There were tears on her cheeks and she looked utterly, terribly sad. "I won't abandon you," he declared. "You are my wife. You carry our child. I'm a husband, soon to be a father. I love you, and I'm committed to you and our family. I can't abandon you for such a life of sin." A thought suddenly occurred to him and he realized what her words might truly have meant. "Unless you wish for me to leave. I understand if you don't wish for someone as vile as myself around your child."

"Our child," she corrected. She reached out and gripped his hand firmly. "I love you, Noah. I want you to know your child, and I want more than one child. I want you to be the father of them, because I believe you will be a great father. You are not unnatural or vile. You are as God made you to be, with the ability to love deeply. Had you told me it was only something done out of lust, not because you love him, I would feel different I suppose. But Luther is a good man, and I know he must feel similarly toward you. Look how he still comes and helps with the farm work despite you acting as if he no longer exists. You have known each other all your lives, just as I have known you all of mine. If there is love between you that is happily expressed through kisses and sex, who am I to deny that?"

Her frank words left him staring dumbly at her.

She ran a hand through his dark brown hair, flecked in places with gray, then caressed his freshly-shaved cheek. "I love you, Noah. I want to see you smile and laugh again, as you haven't since this happened between you and Luther. I want you to speak to him, to repair your friendship if he'll allow it. I want him to visit again, to sit at our table and be a welcome uncle to our children."

He could scarcely believe what he was hearing. "Penny...?"

She smiled and leaned forward to kiss his forehead. "There is only one thing I fear," she added.

He swallowed. "What is it?"

"That you will forget me," she said quietly. "That you will prefer his company to mine."

"No," he swore, reaching for her and holding her tightly. "I love you all the more for this and I could not possibly forget your kindness and love. If there is ever a time you feel I am neglecting you, I want you to tell me. Even if Luther won't have me now and it is only us. I have a duty to you, as your husband, and I don't wish to ever disappoint you."

"I promise you," she said, sliding her arms fully around him. "I love you, Noah, for all that you are."

"Thank you," he breathed, and then broke into sobs, face pressed to her shoulder.

That evening, Noah walked to Luther's house when he knew Luther would have returned from his daily work at the print shop. It had taken him some time to compose himself after his conversation with Penny. He had not even gone to town himself to work in his shop, which he knew would put him behind on several orders. But Penny's unquestionable love and acceptance had left him feeling raw and exposed, yet not in a terribly bad way. He could put forth no other words to describe how he felt. He and Penny had spent the day together, assuring each other of their love. They had made love in the afternoon, and afterward Penny had listened thoughtfully while he had attempted to decide what he would say when he went to speak to Luther and offered her own advice.

He still felt terribly unprepared as he walked to the door of the house. Smoke drifted from the chimney, telling him that someone was home, though he didn't know if it was Luther or his mother. He took a deep breath and knocked.

It took a long moment for anyone to answer, but the door opened at last and Luther stood in the doorway. He looked disheveled, pieces of his dark hair fallen from his queue and his plain blue waistcoat partially unbuttoned. His face looked drawn, his eyes shadowed and stubble evident, the scar on his cheek from the ball that had nearly cost him his life or his jaw standing out among the dark shadow of hair.

"Noah?" he asked, his surprise obvious in his wide brown eyes.

Noah was immediately uncomfortable and his heart ached at the thought of what his appearance might mean. "I shouldn't have come unannounced," he said quickly. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your evening."

He almost turned to leave, but Luther seemed to realize his meaning. "I'm alone," he said quickly. "Mother is visiting her sister. I had a drink and fell asleep by the fire. I haven't been sleeping well."

Noah shifted uncomfortably and nodded, feeling foolish. "I'd like to speak with you."

Luther stepped back and motioned for him to step through the doorway. "Come in."

Noah did so and followed Luther to the chairs by the fire. Luther poured them each a drink, then sat across from him. He looked uncertain and swallowed a long drink of his whiskey.

"I wanted to apologize," Noah began.

"No need," Luther replied before he could say anything more. "It was wrong of me to instigate what happened between us. I didn't mean to cause you or Penny any pain. It was selfish and thoughtless of me."

"I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly," Noah continued, ignoring Luther's apology. "I hurt you. I should not have run as I did. What happened in the barn that day was something I had wanted to happen between us for years. Many years."

Luther appeared surprised. "What of Penny?" he asked. "I know you love her. You always spoke of her and wrote to her constantly."

"I do love her," Noah said with a nod. "The way I feel about you is the same. You mean much to me, Luke."

A look of pain crossed Luther's face. "You mean much to me, but please, don't tell me this. I won't allow you to harm your marriage. Penny doesn't deserve it. I never believed in the the sin of sodomy because it hurts no one unless it's forced - and then those forcing themselves on others are guilty of something far worse. But adultery harms others. I don't want to cause her any pain when she discovers you have been unfaithful to her. I can't allow myself to be involved in any more of it."

"She knows," Noah told him, earning another surprised look from Luther. "I confessed it all this morning. She doesn't wish to come between us."

Luther looked away. "She's ending it then?"

"No," Noah assured him. "She accepts you - me - us. I admitted how I felt toward you and she wishes to make you a member of our family, if Uncle Luther is a title you are willing to accept."

"She wants that?" Luther asked, his voice tight and his fear evident, as if he didn't dare believe Noah's words.

"She does. She encouraged me to seek you out and right the wrong I committed by running from you. I love you, Luther, and Penny believes you are a good man. I believe it, too."

Luther wiped tears from his eyes. "How could such an arrangement work?"

"I don't know yet," Noah confessed, "but I know we will sort out the details and find a routine that pleases all three of us. I believe it possible, and Penny does, as well. It is only a question of what you wish for, what you desire."

Luther laughed lightly. "I desire you, and the ability to tell you everyday that I love you. I wish to share our pain together, and comfort each other. I desire to dote on your children and spoil them as an uncle would, as neither of my sisters seem ready to give me nieces and nephews to fuss over. I wish to be a friend to Penny so she need not fear that I plan to steal you entirely away from her. I love you, Noah, and what I desire more than anything is to share a life with you, if you'll have me."

"Of course I will," Noah replied. "If the world were different I would have thought to marry you before I thought to marry Penny. She is a true friend and I love her dearly, but she did not endure what we have endured together. She knows me, understands me, but you know me from our shared experiences. But I want children, a family, also."

Luther chuckled. "I certainly can't give you those."

"You used to tell me you weren't certain if you wanted to marry and have children," Noah said, thoughtful. "Do you truly mean that?"

Luther shook his head. "I don't wish to marry or be a father, but it would have been difficult to admit the truth when it is all because I have no desire for women. I have always expected to support my mother until she is gone, then see to any children of my sisters. Had my father lived to see me now he would certainly have his own opinion on the matter, but Mother simply wants me to be content, even if it means lifelong bachelorhood. I think now I truly will be happy."

Noah stood, and Luther followed. They embraced and held each other as tightly as they were able. Noah felt Luther tremble and tightened his hold even more.

It was some time before they released each other and dried their eyes.

"I love you," Luther whispered.

"And I love you," Noah replied.

"Will you stay a few more hours?"

Noah smiled. "I would love to. Will you come inside for breakfast tomorrow? I believe Penny wishes for us three to talk."

Luther nodded. "Of course." He then leaned close again and, cupping Noah's face with both hands, kissed him softly.

The kiss quickly turned passionate, and only ended long enough for Noah to follow Luther to his small bedroom.

When Noah returned home it was only slightly later than he had originally planned. Penny had not waited for him, but had gone to bed without him. He changed quickly into his nightshirt by the light of a single candle, hoping not to disturb her, but he heard the bedropes creak as she turned over on the bed to look at him.

"Did the meeting go well?" she asked.

"Yes." He extinguished the candle and slipped into bed beside her. "I believe all is well. He will join us for breakfast to discuss it."

She found his hand in the darkness and squeezed it. "I'm happy to hear that. I had hoped it had gone well and that was why you were delayed."

Noah chuckled. "That is precisely why I was delayed, yes." He rested his head against her shoulder and drew a deep breath. "Thank you."

"Of course," she murmured. "You are more than welcome."

When Luther entered the kitchen the next morning, Penny did not hesitate to embrace him, and he did not hesitate to return the gesture. She kissed his cheek and welcomed him, and Noah saw the tear that escaped his eye.

"You are welcome in this house as long as Noah desires it. I visit my mother and sisters often, and I have much to do myself. Don't allow my presence to disturb you."

Her frankness seemed to surprise Luther, but he nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course," she added, "once the babe is old enough to notice things, more care will be needed to ensure your safety."

"When the time comes I may simply add a lock to the barn door," Noah suggested, only partly in jest.

Luther smiled at that. "And there is my house, though my mother needs to be considered." He turned his gaze back to Penny and took her hand. "You will never truly understand how grateful I am to you, and I promise I will never seek to demand Noah's full attention. We both love him, and he loves us both. I thank you for this opportunity to become a member of your family."

She smiled and patted his cheek with her other hand. "And I promise the same to you, for the same reason."

Noah, feeling deeply emotional, stepped forward and embraced them both, thankful to have such an accepting future.

[televisionpromos]

The Company You Keep (ABC) Promo HD - Milo Ventimiglia series - A night of passion leads to love between con man Charlie and undercover CIA officer Emma, who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the “family business” so he can get out for good, Emma’s closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie’s family debts in hand – forcing them to reckon with the lies they’ve told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences. The series is based on the Korean Broadcasting System series entitled “My Fellow Citizens.”

[dragonthusiast]

I posted 3,206 times in 2022

That's 2,997 more posts than 2021!

147 posts created (5%)

3,059 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@missdrarrydawn

@covenscribe

@dingdongyouarewrong

@foodie-semi-evil-witch

@casmick-consequences

I tagged 388 of my posts in 2022

#writeblr - 181 posts

#amwriting - 132 posts

#original writing - 124 posts

#cute - 62 posts

#bunny - 55 posts

#writing - 47 posts

#creative writing - 43 posts

#original character - 39 posts

#writers of tumblr - 38 posts

#my writing - 38 posts

Longest Tag: 100 characters

#less is more i always say as i fumble to give enough information not to be suspicious but stop there

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Me sprinkling some sweetness into a story after my characters have earned it through suffering horribly

24 notes - Posted April 16, 2022

#4

Could anyone recommend some indie books to me?

I just finished reading a book, and now I’m craving another that I can get started on, and I’d like to support fellow indie writers, particularly ones that haven’t had much exposure, rather than picking up something trad published. I prefer fantasy and sci-fi, but I’m up for almost anything.

If anyone wants to recommend something or self-promo, please do. I’d love to check whatever you have out : )

25 notes - Posted September 20, 2022

#3

Writeblr Intro and Book Masterlist

Hi, my name's Gabs, I'm 24, and currently I'm studying the riveting subject of English linguistics at university. 

I love writing, particularly fantasy and sci-fi with LGBTQ+ characters, and theoretically also drawing, though I'm really not good at that. When I either get better or stop caring, I'll probably make a graphic novel or a webcomic.

I've written and self-published several books in several series, most of which are still ongoing, which you can read more about below :) Or you can also check them out here and here. 

My current project is called Break the Day, a medieval-ish fantasy with people who have various powers. You can read the WIP intro post here and the character introductions here. 

See the full post

31 notes - Posted January 1, 2022

#2

They say write what you know, which is why all of my characters are idiots

37 notes - Posted August 8, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The Darkling is trans actually and whatever registry office the Grishaverse has just refuses to change his name from Morozova to Morozov. It’s definitely not just bad research into how slavic names work

37 notes - Posted August 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[livemusiclexi]

Week 2 of my Internship

The second week of my internship was even more fun than the first week! I only worked one concert, which was the "Bone Thugs N' Harmony" show on September 5th. For this concert, I was the only intern that was able to work the show. I had to take care of all the responsibilities that are usually spread out to all the interns the day of the concert. Like the last concert, I still had some office hours that needed to be done before doors open to the audience. For these office hours, I did some of the same stuff as last time. I computed the data from the marketing surveys into the office computers. From this data collected, my supervisor will pick the most requested bands that are collected on the marketing surveys and present the ideas to management. So, people's input does matter in these surveys! It's exciting to see which bands have the most votes, especially if I really like the band! After this, I had to change out all the posters throughout the venue. For each show, the posters reflect on the band that is performing that night and we want people to be interested in upcoming Stage AE shows. Since "Bone Thugs N' Harmony" is in the rap genre, I had to see which upcoming shows were in that same category. Some posters needed to be printed out, so I had to print out 15 of each new poster from the office computers. From this, I went all around the venue and changed out the posters to rap genre posters. I even had to change out the big calendars that are located on the top floor by the bathrooms. After all of this is completed, my supervisor told me that I didn't need to stay for the promo table for this show only because it was a smaller crowd unlike the last concert I worked. So, I signed out from the office and made my way back to campus. Since I only interned at one show at Stage AE, I wanted to get more office hours for the week. My college had a career fair that lasted about 3 hours, and Stage AE had its own table set up. I helped my supervisor with getting students interested in upcoming concerts, and well as handing out marketing surveys. If the students filled out the survey, we gave out free Dunkin gift cards. I thought it was nice to talk to my fellow classmates about Stage AE, and to get to know what bands they are interested in to coming to the venue!

One of the last things that I did this week was more street teaming. I was assigned to hang Stage AE calendars for September to promote the bands that are playing this month. It took me a while to hang all the calendars since I had to go into campus buildings, ask permission to hang the posters, as well as traveling back and forth to do so. All in all, this week was very busy even though I was at Stage AE for one concert. I had to be at the career fair for a few hours, and I had to street team for some of the week. I try to spread out my street teaming throughout the week so that I don't need to rush to hang the calendars up. I am looking forward to working more shows this coming week at Stage AE!

[tomreview]

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[cantalooprat]

Aesthetic Formula

What I Liked

how love is "i only sleep w people who match my aesthetic standards" to "you are now my aesthetic standard" and "work and life are separate things" to "i want to spend work and life with you"

they r both actually p wacky ppl like ding yinan might seem like "the sane one" between him and huo zhixiao but he's actually also rly fussy in a whole different way but it's precisely bc of that, it's like seeing complementary puzzle pieces come together when they fall in love

i love my office romances

i also love my hot smut scenes that last office play they did before ding yinan resigned like ofc they had to do that...

😭😭😭 not the "massage stick" being a running gag but also lmao when ding yinan reverse uno'd huo zhixiao with the video and then huo zhixiao just came banging on the locked door

that said mmm yes ding yinan riding his boss. his "motor movement". the smut scenes were 👍

also their cute dog!! they're raising a dog!! and how huo xun finally accepted their relationship... i'm glad.

a mundane story like theirs is also very fun to read, it's just two adults who more or less know how to communicate and navigate their lives finding their other half. a sweet n smutty modern romance <3

What I Disliked

the random shuraba that felt like happened a lot esp w ding yinan's cheating boyfriend... but then there was no mention of him again lmao what a tool guy he was literally just a plot device

less abt like. the actual story. but like. being called for work when ur vacationing is rly... as a fellow corporate slave i felt war flashbacks

Notes

in this promo pic ding yinan has a rly nice ass

[officerianhowell]

            GEY CEY PEY DEY!

                                         INDEPENDENT AND SEMI-SELECTIVE

                        GOTHAM CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER SIDEBLOG,

                                       PRIMARILY WRITTEN FOR FOX'S GOTHAM.

                                 RULES | ABOUT | PROMO CREDIT (thank you adam!)

         lovingly penned by beyond, formerly ianhowellgcpd. follows back from justonebadspray