#(​locally! so we support small family businesses)

[alienssstufff]

woooo happy 9!!!! looking forward to the big ten!!!

Thank you ^_^ there will be pizza party when we reach double digits

[baseballmomlesbiandad]

just ruminating on what a fun NYE I had since it's not usually a holiday I look forward to. but this year I really felt a sense of community. I was at my local bar and all the regulars showed up dressed to the nines. everyone was so lovely to each other and the comraderie feels so genuine, even with those where we don't know each others names but still laugh and talk and compliment each other. it's strange for me to feel so comfortable around a bunch of straight people, especially being out to everyone and there being such a wide range of characters that come round, but I truly feel like I'm wanted around them. it was just so...nice. what a lovely way to start the year.

[squiddy-god]

Twst cowboy/western AU

Omg ok so I have so many thoughts here we goooo!!! 

Tw: western Au! Mental illness, guns and gangs, I think that's it- this is a pretty wholesome au soooo

New tags! Town of Night Raven, twisted western, twst western!Au

Ok this au takes place in like the 1890’s in the small western town of Night Raven 

I'll go in order of the boys 

Riddle Rosehearts 

Managed to move away from his mama and go here, he still writes her but he's dead to her and it crushes him

He's a good ole english boy turned cowboy and night Raven is the only town that would take him 

He runs the town's stables and looks after the horses, acting as a sort of vet for their illnesses. Takes house calls to peoples farms so he can fix up their animals.

He has quite the temper and kicks like a horse himself 

Trey Clover 

Local dentist and doctor. 

Friends with Riddle but ain't much for horses

Definitely has this work cut out for him in this mess of a town. 

Came from the big city and knew Riddle as a kid before he moved back to London

Was shocked to see him in night Raven looking like he'd been dragged through hell 

Ace trapola 

Moved west for money and settled in night Raven only to never leave 

Causes a bunch of trouble for the law, always galavanting around town and getting in bar fights

Works at the stable with Riddle and deuce but barely is there to work and just messes around with the horses 

Punched riddle once when he first came to town and has not hit him since considering that Riddle got a lot better at fist fighting since you first came in

Deuce spade 

Used to be a gang outlaw before he came to night Raven and decide he wanted a quiet life to make his mama proud 

Hardest worker at the stables and dose all the lifting

Part time ranch hand out at the big farm Crowley owns 

Leona kingscolar

Runs a gang of outlaws and reeks quite a bit of havoc on night Raven

Came from a wealthy family but left the big city's to make his own path

Succeeded, his territory is pretty big in the West and he just needs night Raven to make it complete 

Only problem is night Raven has waring gang factions

A quick shot and a good rider

Ruggie bucci 

Used to be a street thief to support his town before Leona took over and things got better

Has been his errand boy and enforcer ever since 

Still steals but mostly from rich blokes he finds on the side of the rodes

He's a better shot than Leona, always has two 6 shots and a knife on him. 

Jack howl 

Honestly never wanted to be in a gang but Leona wouldn't leave him alone.

Only joined cause his family lives in a town Leona controls. 

Mostly works as a farm hand for Crowley because of his muscle

Is the one to break up epels bar fights all the time 

Has a mean right hook 

Azul ahsengrotto 

Runs the morstro saloon that he uses to conduct his under the table business. 

He co-owns it with vil

Octovinell is his gang, with jade too his right and Floyd to enforce his rules, 

Active in the night Raven gang wars but mostly just the dirty money he sweeps under the table for arms dealing and such 

jade leech 

Infamous leech brothers 

Escaped convicts that azul took in when they were first forming the gang. 

Handles most of the product side of things for the “business” and runs the front of the house with vil

Spent most of his early life taking care of Floyd and his troubled mind 

Floyd 

Troubled mind growing up, 

They ended up as orphans before they where 12 and had to fend for themselves

Killed three men in a town and ran, from place to place

7 bodies in total before they where caught and thrown in jail. 

Escaped and joined azuls gang at 17 and have been with him ever since. 

Relatively charming young man if you ignore the teeth and glare he sports in a bad mood 

Kalim al-hasim 

Moved west for peace and quiet and decided to bring Jamil along with him 

He's the kind but sort of naive shop owner

Runs the general goods store and has a real knack for business 

Partners with Crowley's farm to supply the store of most produce. 

If you need something bought or sold you either talk to kalim or azul 

Jamil Viper 

Resents kalim for dragging him west 

But he does like the freedom of the western deserts 

Works at kalims shop and chases off any of their more unruly customers (see : Leona and azuls gangs) 

Definitely learned how to shoot and became one of the best shots in town. 

Has his own horse named saffron who's just the most beautiful red! 

Vil schroheint 

Co-owns the salon with azul and runs the front of the house with jade! 

He's absolutely gorgeous, has a slight German accent and often gets mistaken for a lady. 

Was a singer and actor in Germany

Definitely a more effeminate man but after they watched him beat the snot out of some unruly customer they don't mention it. 

Rook calls him gorgeous. And that's it. 

Always mad at epel for bar fights 

Rook hunt 

Definitely a hunter

Always sells his game at kalims shop and always has the best catches

Most avoid him because he's an odd Fellow but no one can deny his skill at hunting. 

Follows vil around so much his nickname has become “the saloon owners dog” 

Epel felimer 

Farm hand at Crowley ranch after he quit working for vil. 

In this au he's a bit taller and more muscular

Realistically he's a strong farm boy, good at bucking hay and climbing trees. 

Mostly tends to the Apple trees but he also herds in the cattle 

Gets in a lot of bar fights 

Vil thinks he's too crass with his thick accent 

Idia shroud 

Rich city guy that moved here unwillingly 

But he's here and he's scared of the gangs

Mostly keeps to himself and is pretty paranoid 

Reads books like crazy, his little house is more of a library then it is a home- well ok it is the local bookstore but his room and or this are on the second story

Used to be quite the gunSlinger before ortho

Ortho shroud 

Takes care of his troubled brother and runs most of the errands! 

Brings home stray cats for idia and always plays with the dogs! 

He's a sweet boy who all but begs people to teach him to shot so he can be just like his big brother but no one budges 

Malleus draconia 

The marshal

With his black Stetson and those horns it has on it makes him look like the bloody devil

And to some he is. 

Really disomnia is more of a benevolent gang, but they enforce the law and keep things mostly peaceful 

Malleus himself is a sweet man but a scary one

All outlaws with territory bigger than leona could ever hope 

Lilia vanrouge 

Outlaw and ex mercenary before he settled down with disomnia 

Malleus right hand 

Fought in the war before he became a hired gun, then an old friend called in a favor and he raised malleus and settled down. 

Joined the gang malleus formed and was right into the thick of it. 

Now he's really settled, just a older gentleman raising his adopted son silver now. 

Silver vanrouge 

 The poor baby he found 

Technically Lilia is the one who made him an orphan but- he felt so bad he adopted silver. 

Now he's a strong young man who loves his pops 

A member of disomnia and works in the town as part of law enforcement occasionally

Besides that he helps Lilia with his little farm. A few cows and some goats, sheep and chickens. 

Nothing much but it still what he loves. 

Sebek zigvolt 

Joined disomnia after seeing Lilia and melleus in a shoot out and becoming an instant devotee 

Works full time as law enforcement. 

Has a penchant for trying to break up bar fights but ends up getting roped into them on accident. 

Denies it but he's so gentle with the horses it's insane to think it's the same boy always yelling and shouting. 

Dire Crowley 

Mayor of the town and a shady one too. 

Pays off all three gangs so they don't kill each other 

Runs a big farm on the outskirts of town that supplies a lot of work. 

Comes into town often but no one likes him much

Definitely a few skeletons in the closet. 

[joeybsversion]

Pathetic

Joe Burrow x Reader

Joe and reader see each other again years later

“Well thanks, Michelle! It was good to see you.” You smile and grab your bag from the older ladies hands. “I’m glad we caught up on the Athens, Ohio drama.” You laughed.

“Good to see you too. Don’t wait 5 years before you come back next time!” She called after you.

You were back in your home town, Athens, OH for the weekend dealing with a family dilemma. Athens was a small town, it really only had 2 main roads, both lines with gas stations, locally owned shops, and a few hotels. You grew up shopping at this same grocery store. Michelle had worked here since you were little and she recognized you the second you walked in. It was great to catch up with an old friend, but you were ready to escape this little town. You had stopped to grab a few things before heading to the hotel across the street for the night.

With another quick smile and wave, you pressed your back against the door to open it before it was quickly pulled away from you, causing you to lose your balance and almost fall backwards.

“Shit. Sorry!” Familiar hands reached up and helped steady you.

“Its ok.” You turned and were immediately frozen in shock. “Joe.” You gasped.

“What… oh my go—“ he nervously fiddled with his hands. “Hey.” He greeted you, clearly caught off guard. “What are you doing here?”

“Family stuff.” You nervously spit out. “What about you? Don’t you have practice or something?” You questioned.

“Bye week. Came home to support the local football team in play offs.” He put his hands in his pockets. “Are you staying at your parents?”

“No. Actually have a room at the hotel across the street.” You nodded your head in that direction. “I know it’s not the fanciest but it has a bed, and TV, and AC..” you nervously blabber. “Actually was just headed back to grab a drink and some dinner.”

Joe turned to look at the hotel before his eyes met yours again. “I’ll walk you over there.”

“Joe.” You laughed. “It’s literally 50 feet away. I’ll be fine.”

“I know… I just… would you… do you wanna catch up? Let me buy you a drink. It’s been what? 5 years since we’ve seen each other?” His eyes anxiously look around.

“Yeah sure.” You smile. “We probably have some catching up to do.”

You and Joe had dated for 4 years before you both left for colleges across the country from each other. He was now an NFL Quarterback and you were a wedding photographer. The breakup was messy, neither of you really got closure, and you hadn’t spoken since.

You followed Joe across the street and slid into the booth across from him. The room was dimly lit, the table sticky with booze, and the waitress was nosy. It was clear she recognized Joe, but he gave her one look after she dropped off your first round of drinks and made it clear she wouldn’t bother you both.

“So.” He cleared his throat. “How have you been? What’re you up to these days.”

You pressed your glass of wine to your lips and took a sip. “I’ve been good. Super busy. Started my own wedding photography business and basically spend all my time editing pictures.”

“Wow.” His eyes were wide. “Congratulations. I know that was always your dream.”

“Speaking of dreams, congrats to you Mr. Quarterback.” You teased.

He laughed and took a drink, shaking his head. “Yeah. It’s been a crazy ride.” A smile spread across his face. If there was one thing you still admired about Joe it was how humble he was. He’s graduated college less than a year ago and was already leading an NFL team to victory. “So, do you have a husband? Boyfriend?” He paused. “Girlfriend? Significant other?”

You laughed. “No, just me right now.” Your cheeks turned bright red. “Are you seeing someone?”

“Yeah.” He flashed the gold band on his ring finger. “Got married last year, just welcomed our first little one a few months ago.”

“Holy cow!” Your heart was crushed. “Congrats!” You faked a smiled and motioned to the waitress another round of drinks was needed. “Tell me about them!” You really didn’t want more details, but were just trying to be nice.

“My wife”, he flipped his phone around and his Lock Screen lit up, flashing a perfect picture of his beautiful wife and precious baby, “is truly superwomen. She’s taken on the roll of mom and NFL wife without an issue.” He smiled. “And baby Scarlett is just perfect.”

“You have a beautiful family.” You admitted. “Are they here with you?”

“No, just me. Hard to travel with a new born.” He looked at his phone again. “Actually if you don’t mind, I’m gonna go call them quick and say goodnight?” You nodded and he excused himself from the table.

You quickly finished your second glass of wine. Not sure if your face was hot from the alcohol or because you were holding back so many emotions. 5 years ago there was no doubt in your mind you would be Joes wife. But here you are, in a stuffy hotel bar single and talking about his newborn.

“Can I actually just buy a bottle?” You questioned as the waitress made her way around again. “And he’ll take another as well.” You motioned to Joes empty cup as she made her way back behind the bar to get your request.

Your face was buried in your phone as you googled Joe and his wife.

“Ordered me another I see.” Joe smirked as he sat back down across from you.

You quickly stashed your phone back in your purse. “I figured you’d be game for another round.” You laughed.

You and Joe spent the next few hours catching up, sharing drinks, and laughing about all of your old memories. The bar would be closing soon and you needed to get to bed, you had a long drive ahead of you tomorrow.

“I’ll walk you to your room.” Joe helped you from your seat, both of you stumbling and extremely tipsy.

“Thanks, Joe.” You slurred and took his hand.

You slipped your way into the elevator and up to the 7th floor before leading Joe down the hallway to your room. “Here it is.” You turned to him.

Joe grabs you around the waist, his hands shaking as though he might break you.

“Do you want to come in?” You whisper, your eyes locked on his.

He nods, his fingers still trembling and locked in your hips.

“You know I’m not going to break, right? I’m not as delicate as you think I am.” You giggle.

“I still feel like I’m going to break you.” His grip loosens even more. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be back here and-“

You place a finger to his lip, silencing him. “Kiss me.” You whisper.

Joe crashes your lips together. His hands hungrily tracing every inch of your body. He lifts you up and without hesitation you wrap your legs around his hips, falling onto him as he sits on the edge of the bed before laying back.

You spend the rest of the night tangled up with Joe, his lips attacking yours.

“You ever think about us?” Joe asks after your long night. Your both laying in bed as the sun peaks through the curtains.

“Of course I do.” You answer, your voice horse and your lips swollen. “I think a lot about how timing is everything. We had the love, we had the whole universe. We just weren’t ready for each other.”

You both look at each other. And just like back then, there is so much love in your eyes. And somehow, the timing is still not right. And it seems that’s how things will always be for you and Joe, your timing will always be a little off.

“I think you need to go.” You clear your throat and break the stare between you two.

“What do you mean?” Joe pulls you into him.

“This isn’t right. We both know that. I really think you need to go. You have a wife and a family Joe. This isn’t fair.”

“What’s not fair,” he says, rolling away from you and throwing the comforter off of his body, “is that your about of put your clothes on and force me to leave this room.” He stands from the bed. “And I don’t know why.”

You stare at him, eyes wide and nervous. “Joe.” You say softly. “This isn’t right. You have to go. You need to.”

He plants a kiss on your cheek. “I still believe we’ll get our second chance. Somehow, someway we’ll find each other again. It’s pathetic, really, how much I still hope it’s you and me in the end.”

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

The Birdcage

Jurassic Park: It's Ironic, by Meig of A-Dinosaur-A-Day

What follows is a retelling of the Jurassic Park story, mainly based on the 1993 film, with portions of the original novel used to supplement the story. The main point of divergence occurs when the park is unable to find workable nonavian dinosaur genetic material for cloning, since - as in the real world - dna degrades much too rapidly. Instead, the park consists only of extinct dinosaurs that can be brought back - birds from the last 2.5 million years. What happens after that is, as Ian Malcolm would say, an emerging pattern.

Infinite thanks to beta readers @plokool, @killdeercheer, and @otussketching! And extra thanks to @i-draws-dinosaurs for the killer logo! Happy 30th anniversary of the JP Film!

Link to the masterpost of chapters

Chapter One: Magallanes Basin, Chile

It was frigid at the dig site, with sharp winds battering everything they could, knocking over rocks and tools and even people. Some folks were shouting over the wind, while others were hurrying to protect precious material. The chaos was almost too much to deal with, but Donald Gennaro had work to do, and needed to consult with the dig site leader, Juanito.

Dig site leader was, honestly, not descriptive enough. Juanito Rostagno was one of the most respected paleontologists of South America, and he oversaw all the dig sites run by International Genetics Technology Incorporated, otherwise known as InGen. And it was precisely because of his competence and knowledge that Gennaro had made the trip so far south.

Magallanes Basin was as far south in Patagonia as you could get, near Tierra del Fuego. The freezing winds and icy temperatures prevented it from being inhabited in most locations, with only a few population centers popping up here or there. The dig site was near the sea, among the rocky crags and crevices, far away from the more famous Patagonian steppe. Snow was common, which made the dig perilous – at any point, the material could be lost forever. As it was, a miracle must have prevented the material around them from being swept out to sea.

“Hola Juanito!” Donald greeted, finally finding the scientist among the others, reaching out to shake his hand as he tripped over a few rocks.

“Hola! Bienvenido!” Juanito shouted, gesturing for Donald to follow him across the rocky terrain. He was dressed in khakis and a thick flannel shirt, not bothering to wear a hat for fear of the wind blowing it away. Donald had lost his own hat about fifteen minutes ago. But among the researchers and workers dressed more similarly to Juanito, Donald felt quite out of place in his business suit.

“So Hammond is back at the island?” Donald asked, trying desperately not to trip over another rock. In the distance, a group of penguins walked by the workers, to their delight as they attempted to talk and interact with them. Donald had been brushing up on his knowledge of local wildlife, and was pretty sure they were Magellanic Penguins, a small variety similar to the African or Humboldt. They were really very cute. Sometimes he could really understand the appeal of Hammond’s vision.

“No, he had to go back to California early. He sends his apologies,” Juanito explained, grimacing slightly as the pair made it to one of the sturdy tents tucked away against the side of the mountain. It was significantly warmer here, both protected from the wind and supporting a small space heater.

Donald bristled but kept his voice even as he responded, “We are facing a twenty-million-dollar lawsuit by the family of that worker! And you’re telling me Hammond can’t even bother to see me?”

“He wants to be with his daughter, she’s getting a divorce,” Juanito said, picking up a bone fragment and examining it.

“I understand that, but we’ve been advised to deal with the situation now. The underwriters feel that the accident has raised some very serious safety questions about the park. This makes the investors very very anxious. I had to promise to conduct a very thorough, on-site inspection.”

Juanito looked up from the bone, frowning at Donald.

“Hammond hates inspections, they slow everything down.”

Donald fought the urge to laugh as he responded, “Well I need to or they’ll pull the funding. That’ll slow him down even more.”

“Juanito! Juanito!”

Both men looked up to the tent mouth to see a young graduate student waving them outside. Donald grit his teeth and followed them, bracing himself for the wind as they ambled down the hill towards a more secluded spot. The rocks were tucked against the mountain, with a pit a few feet deep so hidden Donald almost fell into it.

“Qué tenemos aquí?” Juanito asked the student, as they both began talking in rapid Spanish. Donald had learned Spanish, of course – hard to consult with a company that did most of its business in Latin America if he hadn’t – but he still could not follow the native speakers as their words flowed seamlessly like rivers between them. He could pick out the occasional world – something about a skull, dirt, and a new specimen.

“A ver muéstrame, muéstrame,” Juanito finally said slowly enough for Donald to pick it out, following them down into the pit carefully. Donald tripped into it, as he had almost predicted, steadying himself against the side of the rocks.

“Watch your footing!” Juanito warned as they came into the main center of the pit.

“If two experts,” Donald continued, determined to move past the fact that he couldn’t walk down here, apparently, “Sign off on the island, the insurance guys will back off. I’ve already got Ian Malcolm, but they think he’s too trendy – they want Alan Grant.”

Alan Grant and his research team had been early consultants on the project, though they never really knew what they were consulting about. Now they were just on Hammond’s digsite payroll – always looking for that one in a million chance that, maybe, his original dream could still happen.

“Grant?” Juanito snorted, “You’ll never get him out of Montana.” He picked up a skull fragment and looked at it excitedly, calling for the students around him to come over to examine it with him.

“Why not?” Donald asked, irritated.

“Because Grant’s like me,” Juanito explained, smirking, “He’s a digger.”

“Well what about Spinoza, down in New Zealand? She was hired for consultancy when the project changed direction.”

‘Changed Direction’ was the official wording for the major speedbump that had nearly thrown the entire enterprise out the window. Even mentioning it made a small frown appear on Juanito’s face. Donald didn’t like even mentioning it, given how much of the original investment had been lost chasing impossible dreams. They had kept as much of that original idea as they could, of course – even continuing to consult with Grant, Sattler, and others, when their work was no longer particularly relevant – but there was no getting around it. Hammond’s big dream had to be downsized. The laws of nature were against him.

“Spinoza?” Juanito continued, “Maybe. I do know she returned to the States recently for a conference, so she may actually be available. But she’ll insist on Grant and Sattler coming, too.”

“Why?” Donald asked, eyebrows raising towards his receding hairline. He had not even understood why they kept them on the payroll.

“Because she’s Grant’s former student, and none of them know that Grant and Sattler are no longer our chief experts,” Juanito snorted, “This is the price of all our secrecy, is it not?”

Donald sighed, “I suppose. So, what, in the middle of this lawsuit and the investors getting nervous, I’m supposed to fly down a whole spread of experts, regardless of their actual relevance, to check out this park?”

“Sattler is still relevant,” Juanito pointed out, “And beyond that, Grant is one of the strongest researchers in behavior we have. He will still be helpful. If you can get him to leave.”

“Any idea how I can do that?” Donald laughed.

Juanito helped his students start to prepare the specimens before them for transportation. He turned to look at Donald, frowning.

“Well...” Juanito paused, taking a deep breath and looking Donald straight in the eye, “Funding for us diggers. Nearly impossible. As always.”

Donald sighed.

It always came back to money.

“Since he couldn’t be bothered to join this meeting, I’ll have John sell it. His boisterous enthusiasm and cavalier attitude towards money will make it more enticing, anyway,” Donald said.

“Certainly is a better salesman than you,” Juanito laughed. Donald couldn’t help laughing with him.

“Unfortunately I cannot come with,” Juanito continued, frowning apologetically at Donald, “After all, look what we have here.” He gestured to the new material, which looked just like more bone scraps to Donald. But he wasn’t an expert.

“Think that’ll be a new species we can add?” Donald asked.

Juanito shrugged, walking back up out of the pit and helping Donald with him, “Well, we’ll find out, won’t we?”

Donald wasn’t confident enough that the project would move forward to answer.

[a-pastel-edgelord]

Hiii. I saw ur inbox was open so I wanted to throw some brain rot at you?? I saw ur tags for the post u reblogged with Kyotani.... PLEASE GO ON. Great with kids, loves being around them, working with them—but never wants one himself? Would his partner be the same? Would he consider it with the right person? Is he immune to baby fever? SAVE ME FROM THIS TORMENT PLSSS ❤️ tyily

That was a hot fucking minute ago anon, but 🆗 tagging @mintmatcha because my idea was spawned from their text post.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

"You good?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?" You look up at Kentarō with a blink. The paper plate you'd been loading with food, is placed onto the end of the buffet table. "Is something wrong?"

The evening has been so nice—as far as you know. It's just a small cook out within the Sendai Frogs group. Tsukishima had surprisingly offered his backyard, and Koganegawa managed to procure a grill from somewhere. Daisho and Mika brought a generous amount of meat while you brought the veggies and rice. Yamaguchi and Yachi are going to arrive a little later with watermelon and booze (as an apology for having to work regular nine to five jobs). Tsukishima's older brother is in attendance as is his girlfriend(?) Saeko—she insists everyone call her by her given name.

There's laughter, music and good food. Everything is as it should be. So why does Kentarō look... anxious?

"Nevermind." He shakes his head as if to clear it. "Eat, go grab a chair."

You nod, picking up your plate and eyeing him as you go to sit. You find an empty spot next to Mika. Daisho just got transferred into the team from the Tamaden Elephants. Apparently he and Kuroo go way back. You can hear Tsukishima complaining about him with Daisho providing enthusiastic support.

You fight to keep a grin off your face and you end up catching Mika's eye. "Tsukishima's favorite pastime is shit talking."

"Oh, I'd call it Suguru's hobby!" You both laugh. "How long have you and Kyotani been together?"

Is this what Kentarō is worried about? Mika isn't the least bit scary. "Since highschool graduation actually. He confessed to me after the ceremony."

"Oh, so you two went to the same school!"

"Nah, I went to Date Tech—I was the manager of the volleyball team. Kentarō and I met through a local gym that had volleyball nights. Then our teams played against one another." You raise a cup in Koganegawa's direction, he promptly drops what he is doing to wave back—spilling water all down his front. Mika laughs again but you just sigh. "He skipped his own graduation ceremony just so he could cheer me on at mine."

"Wow! That's so romantic!" She sighs dreamily. "That'll be a good story for your kids, huh?"

Ah. Of course, you think, they wouldn't know. "Kentarō and I aren't going to have kids."

"Huh?"

You shrug, forcing nonchalance into your expression. "We talked about it and decided we're good as we are. We've gotten quite a bit of grief from our families about it too."

You don't look at Mika, not wanting to be disappointed. You like her, you don't want to give up being her friend. A hand falls on your shoulder. You meet her gaze, it's firm. "It's your business. A child is not a decision to be made lightly."

Relief, cool and sweet, sweeps through your bones. A smile blooms across your features. "My thoughts exactly."

You search for Kentarō, finding him rolling his eyes at Koganegawa's wet shirt. You barely have to stare at him for more than a second before he snaps his gaze over to you. You hold the contact, giving him a gentle wave. He signs to you, all good?

Yes, you sign back, all good.

[panlight]

What do you think the Denali Coven were like as humans, their interests or hobbies, or maybe do as a career? (Kate probably does martial arts or self-defense, Tanya could work in art, Eleazar in business, etc etc. They got that big mountain home somehow)

I'm skeptical of them having careers in the present day, given that they seem to have been staying in the same place since at least the 1930s. I guess now they could be doing some sort of remote work? Maybe in the past they wrote books or articles under pseudonyms, or just picked up odd jobs here and there. Or the sisters just had their boyfriends buy them things and pay for stuff?

(And I DO wonder about their house because Denali is a national park. Are they paying the government off to let them keep staying there? Is it so remote the government doesn't know about it? SM seems to suggest they live literally ON the mountain.)

As a human Kate seemed to be into martial arts and physical fitness, having served as a bodyguard of sorts to what amounted to a princess. I think she and Emmett would have had fun over the years testing the limits of vampire abilities. Maybe she does workout videos online.

Irina was from a small farming community, I imagine she had a quieter, more peaceful human life than Kate. Maybe she still likes to grow things? An Alaskan mountain cabin is not like, the most ideal place for a garden. Maybe she keeps an indoor herb garden? Or they are hiding a big greenhouse on the mountain too, lol.

I've imagined that Tanya was possibly from a more well-to-do background; Sasha was her great-aunt and had been watching over the family which makes me think the family was prosperous in some way. Maybe they were skilled craftspeople or involved in local government. We don't really get a sense of what Tanya's hobbies are (other than romantic pursuits), but she seems cultured and sophisticated, while still also fun. Keep thinking of her cannonball into the snow. Maybe becoming a vampire gave her freedom from the expectations of her family/society and that's part of the reason she so was so devoted to Sasha. She didn't feel like she robbed her of her human life, but that she gave her freedom from it. But I do like to think she is maybe into some sort of craft; maybe she remembers ancient weaving or ceramic techniques and sells them at craft fairs and on Etsy.

Eleazar seems like a scholarly sort, and Carmen gives musical vibes, although that might be because of the actress who played her in the movies. In my mind she sings, plays several instruments, dances. Eleazar enjoys these things too, but he is the harmony to her melody; he supports her, but it's her passion. Maybe she was a street musician when they met. Her siren song lured him away from the Volturi. I think Eleazar is like Aro and Carlisle, very curious, wants to learn and study, but perhaps more about history and culture than Carlisle's science/medicine angle.

[solaria-creates]

Hello everyone💖🍉

I am Bilal, one of the sons of Gaza, the place that taught us steadfastness and determination in the face of all difficulties. We lived through wars and tragedies, and survived the hell of bombing and destruction, but we did not find the security we dreamed of. So, we decided to move to Egypt ✈️ in search of a new opportunity in life.

After 150 days of leaving Gaza, we arrived in Egypt carrying in our hearts the love of the homeland and hope for the future. 💔 We started a new life, but the road was not easy. I now live with some family members in difficult and complex conditions, 🏠 and I face great challenges in obtaining residency and stability. 📜

We are now facing the pressures of alienation and living without stability, 🌍 and every day that passes is a new test of our steadfastness. 🇵🇸 Despite all this, we continue to struggle to achieve a dignified and safe life. ✊

We are currently working towards a financial goal of £5,500 💷, and we may have less than £500 left to reach this goal. 💫 Every support, no matter how small, is a step closer to the security we are looking for. 🙏

We believe that with patience and determination we will reach what we aspire to 🙂💖

Please go support Maher's campaign in any way possible!! Whether that be reblogging this post, donating whatever you feasibly can, contacting your local politicians about ceasefire, or spreading the word in your circles, we can all do our part to help these people experiencing something I can barely fathom. Below is the description pulled directly from the linked gofundme, please read and reblog!

Currently £5,099 raised of £50,000 goal

Hello, my name is Maher. My family and I fled from the devastating war in Gaza to Egypt. We lost our home, business, and everything we had. Now, we are trying to build a new life and need your help.

Our family of eight faces daily challenges. We urgently need funds for:

1. Education: Covering the high costs of schooling for my children and university fees for my daughters.

2. Debt Repayment: Paying off the debts incurred during our escape from Gaza.

3. Housing: Renting a safe and stable home in Egypt.

4. Psychological Support: Providing necessary psychological care for my children traumatized by the war.

Your donation can make a significant difference in our lives. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us move towards a stable and hopeful future. Please consider helping us rebuild our lives.

[jacksprostate]

Before Project Mayhem, before fight club, before Marla, before Tyler — there is still one sad sack of shit.

.

.

The hard part about work trips isn't making the plane or seeing another family of five burnt into their leather seats. It's missing support groups.

See, if you're lucky, the company will send you out to a major city. Cities are great. A little advanced work to find a slightly below average church or library, you're set each night you're there.

It's a bit of novelty, getting to be a new face all at once. People assume you've just been diagnosed. It's never the failed treatments, the degradation of their life and everyone in it, the continuous experience of knowingly dying — none of those things are the worst thing that happens to you.

It's finding out they will.

So people cry. They crowd around, I sob like I've been told I've got stage four colon cancer and three weeks to live. We all cry. I sleep soundly on the plane back or in the nice, four star hotel my company provides me.

Flying out to a small town, though. I'll be awake enough to be hallucinating by the time I get back for Remaining Men Together. The only mercy is that the next time I show for all the groups I missed, I can see who thought I died. I get to be resurrected.

The other part about small towns, you have to take a second, shitter plane to a local airfield, or you have to take a rental car. One of the most popular rental cars available right now, it'll light itself on fire if you use the cruise control at the wrong time. I know this because I sat next to another guy with my job, who worked for a different company, and he said I'll show you mine if you show me yours. So I told him about the faulty airbags, and he told me about the overheating switch.

I prefer to avoid driving.

All the rental place at the airport has left for me, it's one of those flaming cars. I use cruise control. If I don't, one of my narcoleptic spells will send me into the Jersey barrier.

When you drive into these small towns, you have to try to pay attention, or you'll end up a county over talking about the wrong wreck. They're otherwise interchangeable, but the miles on your rental car won't line up and those are the type of records that might get pulled out when the company is finally sued for the big one ten years down the line.

As a result, I see the same decor on the way in every time. Meth lab. Abandoned homes. Garbage fire. Classic Americana. There is no four star hotel here; I sleep the same.

The only reason I've been brought out here is because the poor shithead who drove his truck into the ditch drunk was driving my company's flagship vehicle. It loses power steering if the car jostles the right way going above 55 miles per hour. I've been told to keep track of potential incidents and make sure the company can firmly claim it's not at fault.

We've had this problem for decades, and we will for many more. Sometimes, everything is falling apart.

The job is simple, and I only get tempted by the town's blatant opioid addiction for a day and night. Painkillers would probably make me sleep. The thing about being a recall campaign organizer, though, is like recognizes like. It's not only other Compliance and Liability guys who tell you company secrets while sharing the aisle in business class.

When I'm finally back in my own town, after my own support groups, after crying my eyes out into Bob's meaty middle — I pick up my mail. There's the newest IKEA magazine. Half of it looks like shit. The type of thing you'd only see in some curated art deco, modernist, post-modern traditionalist bohemian minimalist apartment.

I have to have it.

I go to sleep, hard, like God himself tucked me in. I sleep with my wallet net four hundred heavier, because even an IKEA spree tends not to outweigh a work trip. I sleep, with my called in IKEA goods only two short weeks away, my job well done, and I know, my life is complete.

[chibrary]

The Chrimer: 2014, Formula Renault.

Charles' karting days are over: in 2014, he graduates to single-seaters.

Single-seaters are known to be difficult to master; their aerodynamics, light weights and powerful engines mean they're both incredibly fast and difficult to control. Charles makes the jump to the category with British racing team Fortec Motorsports. His signing gets announced in November 2013 for the upcoming season.

By this point, Charles has been working with manager Nicolas Todt (the son of a hugely influential Ferrari/FIA boss) for a couple years. Racing isn't cheap: Todt is instrumental in financing his move to single-seaters.

This was critical to the viability of Charles' career. In 2021, Toto Wolff estimated that a "good go-karting season costs €250,000, an F4 season €500,000, and an F3 season €1 million" while speaking about the difficulties young drivers aiming for F1 have.

The Leclercs' aren't able to drop that kind of money on racing: Pascale is a hairdresser, and Hervé works for the family business: a small plastics company.

In 2021, Lorenzo says (awkwardly translated into English):

 “Every year, in karting, we said to ourselves that it was the last season. Charles handled the pressure, knowing that if he didn’t have results, it was over, and that, even if he had results, we weren’t. not sure to continue. Hervé, his father, tried to make it run by all possible means. I was at the national level in karting. Being lucid, I saw that it would be impossible for me to go to F1. So I stopped, because the family bet was to find solutions at all costs for Charles to succeed. Because he, at 11, was already standing out from the crowd, with drivers like Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly."

And from Arthur in the same interview:

"At 14, I played my first full championship. But immediately we had to stop for three years, because for my father it was too expensive to support Charles and me at the same time."

In a 2021 stream, Arthur expands on the difficulties:

"With my father I never traveled once. He didn't have the money for Charles' karting or for me. He did not have the money to go & see Charles in the race, actually. We were staying at home and following Charles in the computer."

(As a note, Charles would work with his uncle once he reached F1 to sponsor Arthur's career.)

In classic Charles fashion, he tried to put a positive spin on it in a 2020 interview:

"I have learned that from my father, who quite often left me alone on the race weekend so that I grew up on my own. I am trying to do the same with Arthur and so far he is doing a great job!"

The Leclerc family has a complicated history with racing: Hervé actually comes from a very successful Monaco family. His stepfather, Charles Manni, was the founder of a local company that manufactures car parts. Here is Hervé showing his F3 car to his stepfather:

And Hervé with his half-brother (/Charles' uncle) Thierry Manni--

However... while Hervé and Thierry fell in love with racing, their father did not.

Thierry said:

"I often read that Charles comes from a modest family, but that's not true. We were the biggest employer in Monaco, but my father held on to a certain number of values. In the family, we do not write blank checks. He put limits on his participation, Hervé gave what he could and, at one point, we even found ourselves faced with an impasse. This is where Nicolas Todt intervened in 2011 to help us, under the leadership of Jules Bianchi. "

Once Charles' career appears to be in jeopardy, Jules-- Todt's first signed driver-- insists that they meet.

Todt is impressed by the karter, and steps in. Usually, a manager attempts to finance a driver through securing sponsorships; in Charles' case, Todt puts the money up himself.

In 2019, Todt says:

"I signed Charles at 14. He should have stopped karting because he ran out of money. I decided to help him. I introduced him to Ferrari a few years ago and today he drives there. And no one can say that he got there just like that: he's there because we did the job. For me, someone like Charles is my greatest pride, the fact that he went there and delivered."

Todt would later expand on this:

"I love finding future stars and helping them make their dreams come true. I am the only manager who does it that way, that is my specialty. It's easy to say: you have to do this, you have to do that. As long as it's not your own money, you can give advice. You can say 'buy this house'. But do you say: 'Buy this house, we make 50/50?' Then it's a completely different thing. If I believe in someone, then I invest. Of course, I also try to find sponsors who help me. But if I don't find sponsors, I'm the one who has to invest. I did that with Jules [Bianchi], I did it with Charles, and I do it with drivers who I think are special."

With Todt's support, Charles is able to compete in the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Championship.

It is worth noting, though, that single-seaters weren't the only thing Charles learned to drive in 2014:

Charles starts his season off by picking his number... 17, which was also the number Jules was racing under in F1 at the time:

Charles starts the season strong. Charles manages to set a category track record at preseason testing: Kartcom's article summarizing the day was simply titled "Charles Leclerc leaves everyone in his trail in Barcelona".

Charles is quoted, saying:

"I don’t think the tests could have gone any better. It’s incredible being a rookie and setting the fastest overall time! We still have plenty of work to do, although I have learned a lot. Listening to the engineers is the key to making progress quickly. And although it’s nice to be quickest, it is still only testing. The races themselves will be a different matter."

Jules sends out his well wishes for Charles' first race in Imola:

And Charles returns it:

Charles might be a rookie, but he impresses his team enough to where they run him in another series concurrently.

Formula Scout would summarize the season:

Leclerc entered Formula Renault 2.0 for his rookie single-season season, embarking on the Alps series for Fortec Motorsports. He quickly became a frontrunner, making the podium at round two at Pau and then twice again at Spa. At Monza he won both races, and followed that with more podiums to secure second place in the championship behind third-year FR2.0 racer Nyck de Vries. Some of Leclerc’s most impressive performances last year came in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 as a guest entry. He took part in six races and finished second in the last three of those, up against lots of drivers with multiple years of experience in the series.

His first win single-seater win is in Monza, where he has a perfect weekend: he also wins that second race.

Of course, in true Charles fashion, he couldn't stop himself from a little self-criticism after the race:

"My start was not perfect and I’ve lost a place. Than I’ve managed to recover it duelling with Isaakyan. When my team told me of the 10” penalty assigned to Riener, I just focused in keeping my pace. This is a very special day as this is my first win ever in singleseaters."

Charles would finish the season with 199 points, 2 wins, 7 podiums and 1 pole position.

Formula Scout would summarize his performance:

After several starring years on the world karting scene, Leclerc’s car debut season was a long awaited one and it lived up to expectations. A non-score at the Imola opener aside, Leclerc delivered a superb rookie season, maturing and improving round after round, which culminated in a spectacular double victory at Monza and saw a further five podium appearances throughout the campaign. A protege of Nicolas Todt’s All Road Management firm, he has also been superb in his guest Eurocup outings and the chief 2.0 series appears to be a logical next step – one he’s more than ready for. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take a higher jump up the ladder than that. 

They were right: Charles would take his old karting rival Max Verstappen's now open F3 seat at Van Amersfoort Racing for the 2015 season.

As a final note, this year was also very tragic: Jules' accident would happen in October, on the same day as Charles' final race in Formula Renault.

I'm not going to go into the details, because it feels like it would be disrespectful: it was a tragedy, and it very clearly deeply affected Charles and his family. Jules was an incredible influence for Charles, both personally and professionally.

Through all of this, however, Charles continues into Formula 3.

But that's for the next chapter.

[fandomtherapy44]

Tommy x reader

I'm trying something new hope you enjoy!

==========================

Episode 1

POV (Y/n)

The smoke you could never really escape it. It would follow wherever you went and smack you in the face as soon you went outside. It being so thick from the factories and all the cigarettes that people would light twenty-four seven. The mud was slick and if you walked too fast you would find yourself face down in it. As a woman if you wanted a job there weren't a lot of options then being a nanny to the rich considered though not many people were rich here or to be a lady of the night and have to be humiliated just to make enough money to barely support yourself. Those are just some features of small heath that make living here Hell sometimes.

Luckily, I was one of the few women that got a job where that I could actually feel okay with it. That being a barmaid at the only good pub in my opinion in Small heath The Garrison. Harry being friends with my dad really helped me to get this job it’s not that Harry thought I couldn't handle Bar maiding it’s just he didn't want me to have to deal with all the fucking bastards that liked to get handsy when drunk and there were a lot of those here. But I was able to handle them just fine after I showed them my knife if they wanted to try again.

And then there are the Shelby’s the fucking Shelby’s or the Peaky Blinders. Our Local gang but they weren’t the typical gang. I mean they would beat a man an inch within his life, but they had a reason. And I use to be friends with all of them. I am still friendly with Polly and Ada. We sometimes get a drink to catch up. But Tommy Shelby I would have taken a bullet for, but it turns out he was holding the gun.

==========

“Hello Harry, how was the morning?” I placed down my things and looked at the man. “Uh you know our typical local drunks, but I did get a surprise this morning.” “Ohh please tell me it wasn't old man withers wanting to show his family jewels again.” I shuddered. “No no thankfully it was pleasant. It was a woman wanting a job around your age I think.” I was a little surprised. “Really and you gave it to her?” “Yeah, she seemed desperate so I was wondering if you could show her the ropes while I get some rest?” “Yes of course.” “Great thank you Y/n. She will be here shortly.”

I'm wiping down the counter when a blond slime pretty women walked in. “Hello, I'm looking for a Y/n Brown.” She had one of the most charming Irish sounding accents I had ever heard. “That would be me.” I put down my torn-up rag and held out my hand for her to shake it. “My name's grace.” “Well Grace welcome to small heath and in par the Garrison let me show you around.” 

“Well, that includes the tour any questions?” “Ahh just one who are the peaky blinders?” “I'm surprised you already known of them.” I leaned against the bar in intrigue. “I've heard whispers around and I just want to know who I'm serving here you know.” I breathed in deeply thinking about the family in question. “The Peaky Blinders are a group who don’t conduct not the typical business if you know what I mean.” “So, a gang.” “Yes, but you don’t have to be sacred they don’t hurt someone unless they have too, I mean they're a bunch of ares's but they are just people at the end of the day.” She was now intrigue with how I spoke. “You speak of if you know them.” “I do. Now.” I brought out some glasses and a bottle of amber filled liquid. “Whiskey.” “You're going to need it if you're going to work here.” I downed my glass like it was water and I just finished a race.

I let grace go home early sense there weren't that many people left. It was closing time, and a knock was heard on the doors. “Hello Ada.” I opened the door and there stood one of my last Shelby friends. “There any whiskey left from the night.” She quickly passed me to the bar seats. “I saved one just for you.” I poured a double. “So, I'm guessing from the state of you it was an amazing time with your mystery man.” That’s what I liked about being a barmaid not that I would ever share gossip but as soon as a person had more than one, they would open like a book and get so drunk that they would forget that you were the most trusted person for them for a couple of hours.

“It was, it always is.” She looked down in her glass wishing to dive in. “You know Ada who ever this man is he must be pretty special.” “He is.” “Well then why look so sad?” I wanted to know what was making my friend feel like this. “I can't tell anyone that were together not even you.” “Why?” “Because it’s dangerous.” “Well, if that's the reason then I'm okay not knowing just don't let it be a secret to long, okay?” I smiled and clanged our glasses together in friendship and secrets.

================

I came in early the next day I didn’t need to, but it was Saturday and there was football I didn’t want Grace deal with all that on her first day. “Hello Grace, Harry.” I put my apron on. “Y/n I thought you didn't work till later.” “Well Grace you are going to need all the help you can get today.” About an hour later the Garrison was filled to the brim with men who wanted a little luck for their bets they did. “Told ya.” I yelled out over the rowdy voices that clambering to get attention. But over all that I still hear the tapping from the window that was part of the Shelby’s private room. Grace went to answer it, but I stopped her.

“Wait grace why don’t I do that now so it’s easier for you in the future.” She nods timely in agreement. Harry looked nervous as well. I whipped the windows open without even thinking who it could be, and I was faced with the man who broke my heart. We both started for a moment before Tommy remembered his words. “I need a bottle of Rum.” He places coins on the bar even though he didn't need to. “Of course, Mr. Shelby which kind.” I was trying so hard to keep it professional.

“I don’t care.” Of course, he didn’t as long he could stupidly get drunk with his brothers. I grabbed our cheapest bottle of rum and gave it to him and then he turned to Grace. “Are you a whore?” If I had water, I would do a spit take. She didn’t know how to answer that. “Because if you’re not, you’re in the wrong place.” He took his bottle and left. She turned to me. “He’s one of the ones you told me about.” I only nodded. “Grace, you’re a friendly girl but be careful. If I say ‘on the house’ say nothing to whoever you’re serving. If they decide they want, you there’s nothing anybody could do about it.” Harry swigged a beer after that and went to attend to others. “Grace Tommy’s not like that he’s just not.” I felt some tears welling up, but I would not let them come out because I refused to cry over that man ever again.

==========

When I got home later all I wanted to do was crawl into bed but of course I couldn't. “Mom mom wake up.” I gently nudged her. “Mhhh Oliver I don’t want to.” Oliver my father’s name. “Come on mom let’s get to bed.” I helped her up from the table and led her upstairs. I set her up and went to my own bed where a photo of my Father hung. “Hi dad I hope I made you proud today.” I finger kissed the picture and layed down while my interaction with Tommy played on a loop.

================

The next day at work was a little better. Grace was singing for all of the drunk lovesick men which I did not know we were doing now. One of the men who I had known for a while suggested that I join her. “Oh, I don’t know.” I really only sang for someone I don't talk to anymore. “Come on, I remember you singing like an angel in church.” Other men decided to chime in. “Yeah!” “Come on Y/n.” “OK ok.” “I got up on the table and I felt as if there were a million eyes on me. “Alright Y/n you know the song well enough?” I shook my head.

“Let's go from three One... two… Three The boy I love is up in the gallery....” I sang out and closed my eyes and I remembered all the times I would sing for the Shelby’s on our weekly family nights but especially Tommy. I was so lost in the moment that I didn’t notice that the men and Grace had stopped singing with me. “As pretty as a robin. As gentle as a dove.” “We haven’t had singing in here since the war.” Harry said with a little fear that I was confused so I opened my eyes, and it was two of the Shelby brothers there, John and more importantly Tommy. Tommy did not look happy as he stared at me. “Why do you think that is?” He storms into the private room with his brother and slams the door.

====================== The night was cold like the kind of cold that almost had a kind of charm to grab a warm drink with a friend or to cuddle next to a fire. I had gone outside to get some fresh air when I saw Tommy walking again, we had made eye contact this was most interaction I've had with him in a while. I heard about Danny one of Tommy’s best friends I wanted to run to him to be there for him, but I just couldn't. I didn't know if I ever could again. 

==========================

So, this show is way different then a CW show so it's going to be interesting to say a least. But I'm excited to try a new show then in the CW universe Hope you enjoy see you in the next one. Also, if you like supernatural I have a Castiel x reader and the originals Klaus x reader.

[i-am-baechu]

♡ Summary: Being friends with a famous boy group is laughable but here is L/N Y/N, best friends with Bts. Years of friendship and trust but all of sudden they start acting differently and it makes her question everything

♡ Paring: OT7 x Reader

♡ Rating: Pg-14

♡ Genre: No romance (okay maybe a little with a member but shh), friendship!, cafe worker! Y/N, angst and fluff 

L/N Y/N is a normal girl. She worked at the local cafe, paid her bills a week later than it's supposed to be, lived in a small apartment and is best friends with Bts. Normal. You may be asking, how did she become best friends with Bts? Well, it all started in grade school. She met Jeon Jungkook and they became best friends. They were so close in fact, their families became close and they saw each other as brother and sister. She remembered how she met him...

It was the first day of second grade and Y/N just got settled into her new home but now she had to settle into her new school. Her father came back to run her grandparents tea shop and it was convenient because her brother got accepted to a college near there. It all worked out for the L/N family. Y/N hated speaking in front of people, it made her sweat and stutter. It was annoying. 

The teacher gave her a gentle smile and Y/N looked at the new faces that were staring into her soul. She swallowed some spit and rubbed her hands together roughly, “H-Hi, my name is L/N Y/N....I-I can’t wait t-to be friends.” 

She quickly turned her head to look at the teacher who continued to give her a gentle smile. The teacher looked out the seats and her eyes landed on an empty seat near the window, “Ah, L/N, your seat will be next to the window and Jungkook will be your seatmate. Jungkook, can you raise your hand?” 

Y/N looked and saw a boy with chubby cheeks and a bowl cut but his bunny smile made her smile. She bowed to her teacher and made her way to her seat ignoring the curious looks on her back. She sat down in her seat and the boy next to her leaned towards her, “H-Hi, my name is Jung-Jungkook. I hope we can be friends..”

“I hope so.” 

That was eighteen years ago and now she's friends with six other men that became important in her life. When Jungkook debut with Bts, he never forgotten about Y/N and her support. She would stay up with him every night practicing his high notes as his parents yelled at him for being loud and she would make him lunch for the days he would train. She met the rest of Bts by accident. She walked into their dance room and saw all the future members. They made fun of Jungkook for being friends with a girl but it bloomed into friendship. 

She was walking home with a coffee in her hand and dark circles under her eyes. She worked five days in a row and for ten hours straight. She was tired to say the least. She unlocked her door and did her usual routine (taking off her shoes, locking the door, etc). She entered her living room and her eyes widened when she saw food waiting for her. She glanced at the kitchen to see Yoongi cooking away. She felt her heartbeat faster at the scene but she quickly shook that off. 

“Yoon, what are you doing here?” 

Yoongi looked up from the pot and gave her his famous gummy smile, “Jungkook told me how busy you’ve been so I thought, I would make you food.”

She placed her coffee on the coffee table and ran into the kitchen with a smile. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and placed a quick kiss on his cheek, “Thank you...You didn’t have to do this.” 

“Shut up. I wanted to do it. Let's eat.” 

Yoongi poured some soup into bowls and Y/N grabbed the bowls from Yoongi. They made their way to the living room and they sat next to each other. She turned on the TV on some random channel and they started eating. She took a sip of her water and she looked at him with a soft smile, “Thank you Yoongi. I appreciate this. I really do.” 

His face turned a little red and he ran his fingers through his hair, “It’s no problem.”

“How is everything?”

“Things have been busy...the company is looking into something.”

She raised her eyebrow at this and wiped her mouth, “What is it?” 

“I’m not sure but they said they’re looking into something and it affects all of us.”

“Well that's extremely vague.” 

“I know, it's annoying. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s relax tonight.” 

She smiled at this and brought some rice to his mouth, “Yeah, just you and me.” 

『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』

“You're lying.” 

The next day the members of Bts were called into the office by one of the managers. Apparently someone posted unseen pictures of them on this forum and it was making its rounds around the internet. The pictures weren't crazy, just them at bars, vacations, and leisure time but it was private moments. Moments that were exposed to the internet. The managers traced it back and the members were shocked by the suspect.” 

The manager sighed and rubbed his forehead roughly, “Why would we lie about this?” 

Jungkook glared at him and let out an angry chuckle, “Y/N would never do this...I’ve known her for almost my whole life, she never would.” 

Jin nodded his head and looked down at the table, “Y/N wouldn’t.” 

Yoongi stood up from the table and went to look outside the window, “Y/N wasn’t even on her phone last night.” 

Jimin raised his eyebrow at this and glanced at the older man’s back, “How do you know?” 

“I was with her all night.” 

Taehyung let a smirk escape and leaned back into his chair, “Oh?~ Hyung you spent the night at Y/N’s place. Interesting.” 

Namjoon sighed and rolled his eyes, “Enough. I’m sorry, what do we do now?” 

“Don’t speak to her.”

Yoongi turned his head quickly to stare at the manager with wide eyes, “What?” 

“Don’t speak to her. Even you guys said these photos were on Y/N’s phone. No interaction until we can figure this out.” 

The guys looked at each other and Hoseok sighed, “F-Fine.” 

The manager nodded his head and stood up to leave but stopped at the door, “Maybe you guys don’t really know her.” And with that the manager walked out, leaving them with more questions than answers. 

Jungkook shook his head and looked at them, “There’s an explanation to this.” 

Namjoon sighed and rubbed his forehead, “We know Y/N took those pictures...we don’t know if she posted them.”

Yoongi let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head, “She didn’t have her phone at all last night. It was posted last night, explain that.”

Jimin sighed and shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe she had it scheduled to be posted last night.”

“Hyung, you believe this!?”

Jimin put his hands up towards Jungkook and ignored Yoongi’s glare, “I’m not saying I do...I’m just saying there's a way this can happen.”

“We can’t speak to Y/N...until this is done. Okay, Jungkook and Yoongi.”

Yoongi scoffed at this and turned back to look at the window, “Whatever.” 

“Fine...hyung.” 

Y/N entered the store and gave a smile at the person in front, “Oppa, thank you for fixing my phone.”

The worker, Jin-young smiled at her and handed her phone to her, “Technically it was Hanni that did it.”

“Whoever it was, thank you.” Y/N unlocked her phone and smiled when she saw the flower home screen. The flowers were from Yoongi when she graduated and they meant a lot to her. 

Jin-Young shook his head and looked at her, “You know you should get a new phone.”

“Stop, you've been telling me that for years.”  

“I wonder why. This is like the sixth time it broke this month.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, “You got money for a new phone?”

“No...”

“Then shut up. I gotta go, I’ll see you later.” 

“Get home safe!” 

Y/N walked out of the store and opened her messages with a smile. She quickly clicked on the group chat and sent a message, Hey guys! Sorry that I haven’t been able to message you! Been so busy : ( 

She didn’t want to tell them that her phone was broken because they would try to buy her a new one. She frowned when she saw no messages but shrugged her shoulders, they could be busy. Yoongi did say they had a meeting that morning. She put her phone back into her pocket and made her way back to her job. What she didn’t know was that her week was going to be like this, with no messages from her friends. Nothing whatsoever. 

『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』

She typed in the code to their dorms and slammed the door open. She made her way down the long hallways and usually, she would admire the artwork on the walls but not today. She put in the code to the second door and slammed it open causing all the guys to jump into the living room. She stomped her way into the room and glared at them, “What the hell is going on?”

Jungkook glanced at Namjoon who was staring at the shorter girl with a nervous look, “Noth-”

“Shut the fuck up Namjoon, I know you’re lying.” She glanced down at Jungkook and smirked to herself, “Kook, you can’t lie to me. Now, tell me.”

Jungkook looked into her angry eyes and then back down at the carpet with a nervous look. He’s only seen her mad like this once and that was when these kids bullied him in grade school. He slowly looked back up to see her still looking at him, “Y-You see...”

“The company said you posted the pictures that’s been circling around and blocked your number on our phones.”

She turned to look at Yoongi with wide eyes and then back at Namjoon, “You don’t think...”

Namjoon sighed and went towards but she took a step back, “Y/N, please.”

“No...You guys think I would do this.” 

“Jungkook and I didn’t think so.” 

Namjoon glared at Yoongi but looked back at Y/N with a small smile, “We were just listening to them...”

“They think I did this and you went along with it....Do you guys not trust me?”

“We do-”

“Then why would you believe them?”

Hoseok sighed and rubbed the back of his neck roughly, “It's pictures that you took and we know you had them on your phone...that’s all we know.” 

“I just got my phone back a week ago because it was broken.”

“Wait what?” 

“Yeah, you assholes. My phone was fucking broken so I didn’t have my phone for awhile. It couldn’t be me because I didn’t have it for almost this whole month.”

The room went silent and the members looked at each other with nervous eyes. She shook her head and left the room, the only thing that was heard was the door slamming shut. Jungkook leaned back onto the couch and gripped his hair tightly, “Fuck, we fucked up.”

“Who fixed her phone?”

Yoongi pulled out his phone and sighed, “It was probably Jin-young...I was the one that showed her that place. She wanted new headphones but I think she was lying about that now...” 

“Do you think it was Jin-young?”

“No, even though he fixes tech shit, he doesn’t know anything about the internet. He doesn’t even have a google account.” 

Yoongi put his phone on ear and looked at Namjoon, “I’ll find out who did this.” 

Y/N quickly went back to work with an annoyed aura. None of her coworkers wanted to talk to her but that was normal. Y/N’s boss, Jae noticed this and approached her, “Neh, Y/N is everything okay?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m fine...just got into a fight with my friends.” 

“Oh? Was it those boys you talk about?”

Y/N sighed and nodded her head. She stopped wiping the counter and looked at her boss with a frown, “How would you feel if your friends accused you for something that goes against your nature?” 

“I would be annoyed. I would also question if they truly knew me. How about you take a thirty, you’ve been working too much. I appreciate all the hard work.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, you need time to think about things.”

Y/N smiled at him and made her way to the corner table that gave her the window. She looked down with her glass of water and stared outside with a frown. Do they really think I would do that? I thought they knew me better...She sighed and took a sip of water, maybe they didn’t know her the way she thought they did.

『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』『♡』•『♡』•『♡』•『♡』

“I knew she didn’t do it.” 

“I’m so sorry Yoongi, I had no idea she would do this.”

Yoongi sighed and nodded his head at Jin-young, “It’s not your fault. We’ll take care of it, okay.”

“Sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Yoongi thought this whole thing was weird. Y/N’s phone was getting repaired when this whole thing happened and it was weird that the manager expected something to happen. So, Yoongi went to Jin-Young and asked him about Y/N’s phone and who worked on it. When he heard Hanni worked on it, he knew he found the person. Hanni was obsessed with him and had a crush on him but he never liked her back. He likes someone else but that's another story. When he asked the manager to his face if he knew about the leak, the manager confessed after he got Bang involved. Hanni and the manager worked together to frame Y/N, which angered Yoongi.

“It’s okay Jin-Young. I’ll see you later.”

Yoongi waved at Jin-Young and walked back to the van. He saw all the members except for Jungkook looking down at the floor with shameful looks. Yoongi shook his head at them and closed the door, “You guys need to apologize to her.”

“We know hyung....”

Jungkook let out a snicker and took a bite of his corn dog, “I know what you guys can do.”

Y/N walked back to her apartment and felt a form of deja-vu. It was another long day at the cafe and she finally paid her phone bill, making her feel less stressed. The only people she was talking to were Yoongi and Jungkook. The rest of the guys tried talking to her but she wasn’t in the mood. She was still hurt that they actually thought she did it. Integrity was the most important trait in her mind and the fact they didn’t see that, hurt. It really hurt. 

She opened her door and her eyes widened to see all the guys making dinner and cleaning her place. She raised her eyebrow and let out a small coughing causing everything to stop, “Y/N, welcome back.”

“What are you guys doing here? The only ones that are welcome here are Yoongi and Jungkook.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the rest of the guys who looked nervous. Taehyung let out a small laugh and rubbed the back of his neck, “I didn’t think you did it. The company kind of gave us no choice.” 

“What?”

Jin nodded his head and placed some bowls at her coffee table, “They said if we didn’t follow through then they would take away all forms of communication. We never had this problem before and we just listened because we didn’t know what to do.” 

“Y/N~! Please believe us, we didn’t want to do it but we had to!” 

She looked at Jimin who had a pout and she let out a small laugh, “So who did it then?”

Hoseok handed her water and sighed, “It was one of the managers.” 

“How did he-”

“Apparently, Jin-Young's worker, Hanni, was his daughter and he used her to take you down.”

She turned towards Namjoon who had some pillows in his hands. She furrowed her eyebrows and frowned, “Why would he-”

“Hanni wanted to date me and I didn’t like her...so this is how she got back at me. She saw us together at the store and probably thought we were together.”

She looked at Yoongi who walked out of her bedroom and she glared at this, “She liked you?”

“Oh~ Is Y/N angry?”

“Shut it Jungkook.”

Y/N sighed and looked down at her socks before looking at Jin, “You guys aren’t off the hook.”

Hoseok let out a small laugh and grabbed a little bag. He handed it towards her and she glanced down at it with a raised eyebrow, “We know that but we’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

She opened the bag and she frowned when she saw the newest Iphone. She sighed and looked at Namjoon, “How much was this?”

“Nothing. Y/N, your phone has been broken for months. Let us treat you, you’ve done so much for us.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes, “Fine...but your guys aren’t off the hook still.”

“We expected that. We have Pride and Prejudice waiting for you.”

Her eyes widened and smiled at Jimin, “That’s a start...come on guys let’s watch the movie!~”

“Yeah, hyung can be your Mr. Darcy.” 

“Jungkook, shut up before I beat you.”

“Sorry Yoongi...” 

Extended ending:

“Y/N! Can we be done?” 

She looked over her couch to see everyone but Yoongi and Jungkook washing all the dishes. She glanced at Jungkook and tilted her head, “What do you think, Kook? Should they be done?”

Jungkook took a sip of his water and looked at them with a small smirk, “Nah, they need to clean the whole kitchen and then that’s enough.”

Y/N nodded her head and looked at Yoongi, “You think that’s good, Yoon?”

“Yeah.”

Y/N smiled at this and looked at the guys, “You heard that guys, clean my kitchen.”

“Ugh!” 

[sakumichiblog]

Do you have any other characters besides Iroha and Anri?

Hi! Thanks for the question. We have more characters, we're going to draw profiles for each one, it's just going to take some time. For now we can give you some information about them (read below)

Saiki Rinka

Gyaru of Namimori Middle School and Iroha's classmate. A popular girl, she can't be called a school idol like Kyoko, however, every guy wants to date her. She gives the impression of a bright and friendly personality, however, Rinka is the most real fan of the occult. Ghosts? Local urban legends? Demons? She need this! Her grandparents own one of the big temples in Namimori. Hell knows what goes on in that girl's head... Don't judge a book by its cover. By the way, she doesn't believe in aliens.

Motoyasu Kaede

She is a quiet girl who is a part of the study committee of Namimori Middle School. She loves to read, spends most of her time in the library helping the librarian, is modest and quiet. She is not good at talking to people, preferring to write rather than talk, and goes everywhere with her notebook in which Kaede writes what she wants to say.

Karasuno Seiji

That name will say nothing to anyone in Middle Nami. Why? Because that guy only shows up at school once a month. And he's a part of the Disciplinary Committee! It's unclear what he's doing there, but Seiji seems to have some kind of big debt to Hibari which he prefers to keep to himself. In any case, he only shows up at the school when Hibari needs something. Constantly acts according to his own whims and desires, often without regard for the opinions of others. The problems associated with this guy are compounded by the fact that he's not afraid to take risks and interfere in matters that don't concern him.

Asahina Yuu

Yuu is the vice president of the student council, a guy who looks like a yanki but is actually a big supporter of order. He has bleached hair, which makes him look like a gangster, but he is one of the biggest nerds in the school. He keeps a close eye on everything that goes on in the school, reporting to Anri, and may be called the president's chain dog. He dreams of becoming a police officer, he found out about Vongola when he was following Gokudera in an attempt to find out if he was a criminal.

Li Fang

Anri’s bodyguard, her favorite "big brother". A professional sniper, a member of the Shui Zhi Xin faction since childhood, one of the orphans taken in off the street by Jason Han. His older brother Li Wen owns a fried noodle shop called "Bloody Tofu" while Li Fang is actually Anri’s personal driver, butler, cook and bodyguard in Namimori.

Yakushiji Chiyu

A member of the health committee, her parents own a small clinic. She dreams of continuing the family business and becoming a doctor, in many ways Chiyu is a typical "good girl". She studies hard, always follows the rules, and loves to nerd out and lecture any truant students like Seiji. However, she's terrified of literally everything and shakes like a leaf in the face of danger. Chiyu will be the first to scream that everyone is going to die. What's to say that she wants nothing to do with the mafia, but fate has its own plans for her.

Nagahime Akane

Half Japanese and half American. Moved to Japan as an exchange student, but is the daughter of one of the powerful American mafia families that is closely related to the Vongola. This fact makes her... Tsuna's fiancée, yes. What you wouldn't do for Vongola. Akane is her family's favorite and a slightly spoiled princess, she knows her own worth, loves herself very much and has an unrealistically huge ego. Totally unaware of how life works outside of her little world, so she sees no problem flying a helicopter into the school and getting the attention of all the students.

Caramel Purin

CEDEF agent, arrived in Namimori to test Tsuna by trying to kill him, but instead got lost in the city. The hand-to-hand combat master is actually completely blind, but that doesn't stop her from being a good fighter and performing her tasks perfectly, even if her spatial orientation is very poor. She likes to drink, and in Vongola it is said that not even her superior can overdrink her.

Mona

One of the few adult characters in this place. Owns her own store where she sells some crap. Antiques, lost items, you can buy anything you want there. Where she finds it all, however, remains a mystery, but Nana likes this store. She bought amulets there for Tsuna so that he can do well in his studies! He never did, but he got the amulets anyway. The friendly and sweet "big sister" is actually a very murky person who doesn't let anyone get too close to her. How she came to be in Namimori is a mystery, but one thing is certain: she is more connected to the mafia than anyone can imagine.

Astra Alice

Young genius of Varia, a year older than Belphegor, considered the youngest of the officers, and his close "friend". Head of the science complex in Varia, her passion is radio-electronic assembly. One of those who were able to understand and improve Gola Moska’s structure, she is considered its mistress, hates boredom and when her clothes get dirty. Despite this, is one of the best assassins in Varia, who followed the wrath of Xanxus in hopes of never being bored again

Dorothy

One of Varia's illusionists. Distinguished by unemotional behavior, rarely showing a wide range of emotions. Dorothy makes no conscious effort to understand people, and her level of empathy towards others, especially those she is not close to, is limited. She often ignores the feelings of others, especially if they are unfamiliar to her. Indulges in Belphegor's eccentric antics, perhaps because they are the same age they can be called friends?

[pretty-purple-pages]

𝓒 𝓗 𝓐 𝓟 𝓣 𝓔 𝓡 𝓞 𝓝 𝓔

synopsis: percy meets his crush and leaves a weird first impression

pairing: percy x annabeth (percy jackson and the olympians)

content: highschool!au, mortal!au, coffeeshop!au, enemies to friends to lovers, slow burn, annabeth's family is shit

word count: 1144

Percy Jackson was special. In a bad way. The type of special having a single mother, absent father, an abusive ex step-father, ADHD, dyslexia and a bad school record made you. 

Percy Jackson was normal. He had a loving mother and a step-father who had been there for him more than his biological father. He had amazing friends, who supported him through his hard times. He was trying his best to become a psychologist for children; to help little kids not have the nightmares he had everyday. He considered himself a normal high-schooler.

He also had a huge crush on the barista at the local coffee shop

Annabeth Chase was special. In a bad way. The type of special having a neglectful father, non-existent mother, an ‘evil’ step-mother , ADHD, dyslexia and running away from your own house at the mere age of 7 made you.

Annabeth Chase was normal. She had found her family; a girl named Thalia, who had taken the place of being her big sister and simultaneously her best friend. Thalia had practically raised her; taught her everything her mother was supposed to. Luke was her protector, not that she needed one obviously, but he was her guide. The one she turned to when things got a little hard. She worked harder and harder everyday. She wanted to become an architect because she never had something permanent for herself so she wanted to design something that would stay. 

She was also the barista at the local coffee shop. The cafe of love; cafe d’amour

Not her dream job; just something part time to pay her rent and feed her stomach. Her scholarship covered the tuition fee; not anything else. She had to work for it.

“ORDER NUMBER 31, KINDLY PICK UP YOUR ORDER,” her voice rang loud and clear in the small coffee shop, at the corner of the street. It was a monday morning, and mondays were always the busiest. 

“Hi- uh- its- uh- it’s my order,” a boy with tousled raven hair stuttered out, “Um uh- I am Percy. Uh- you must know me, I study in your school. We have one class together. Where you sit at the back. Uh, when some girl dropped coffee on your shirt, I was the one who gave you tissues.” he spoke proudly, like a puppy waiting for praise.

Percy Jackson. That name struck no significant memory in her brain, except she vaguely remembered some boy who tripped and fell face flat on the ground because he was busy staring. At her. He looked no older than 17 and he wore a blue hoodie that said ‘fish lives matter’ and black joggers. His face was flushed and he kept stuttering. A lot.

“I don’t know you,” she muttered flatly, mostly out of annoyance, “And that will be $18.34 dollars. Cash or card?,” the boy was still zoned and flustered, “Please collect your order and move ahead; there are customers waiting behind you.”

He cursed and mumbled a quick apology and made the payment. 

This boy was weird. In fact, this whole interaction was weird. 

Percy Jackson had one class together with the (slightly rude but cute) barista, Annabeth Chase (he found out her name from her work badge): Algebra. Percy hated maths in general, but algebra and statistics were the required courses in order to pursue his dream. Also he got to see the smart blonde who had his heart.

He was currently trying not to zone out in class. The teacher was babbling about her life or something, he didn’t care. He tried not to focus on one thing: There was no sign of Annabeth Chase. 

Usually she sat at the back of the class, playing sims or minecraft, but could still answer anything the teacher asked. She’d often argue with the teacher, but from what Percy heard, she would be extremely enthusiastic in classes she loved. In short, she made her presence known; and today she was nowhere to be found.

Percy always chose the far seat, at the back of the cafeteria. Nobody bothered him, that’s how he liked it. Hazel and Frank were on leave that day, probably doing something cutesy or their couples thingy. His best friend, Grover, was nowhere to be seen. Or Percy spoke too soon.

“HEY MAN,” Grover said with too much enthusiasm for Percy’s liking, ‘patting’ his back so hard that Percy’s face was shoved into his food. Grover was a 5'7 guy with an obsession with plants and animals. He was the person who’d ditch his plans to go on a nature protest.

“Hey,” Percy replied with the opposite level of enthusiasm, “Have you seen Annabeth? She wasn’t in class today.”

As if on cue, the said blonde walked into the cafeteria, heading to their table. Percy was awestruck; his brain unable to form coherent sentences. Although she seemed very distressed. And her eyes and nose were red. It took Percy less than a second to put two and two together; Annabeth was crying and probably had a panic attack.

“Hey Grover, about the nature trail plan we made, we’re rescheduling it. Something came up with my family.” she sniffled and Grover nodded like he understood. She flashed Percy a look of recognition, probably from their awkward encounter at the coffee shop. Percy had never blushed harder in his life; due to embarrassment of course.

“So, you call yourself my best friend, yet you didn’t tell me you were going on a nature trail with my crush?!” Percy confronted Grover as soon as Annabeth was gone, trying to make his voice deep to sound scary. He failed terribly. 

“I uh- I was going to tell-” Percy didn’t let him finish.

“And you never told me that you were that close to her where you go on trips,” Percy held his heart to mock being hurt. Grover took it seriously.

“Didn’t think you’d be that head over heels,” Grover grumbled and picked at his food,

“Also I couldn’t bring you on the trip; I actually was going to, but after your very weird encounter. Dude you actually sounded obsessed.”

Percy wanted to turn time back and erase that encounter.

Annabeth tried to be the best at everything she did; whether it was calculus or coffee making. Validation had never been given to her by her parents, so she craved it desperately. She volunteered at places, did extra-credit in her favourite classes and tried to be the best. She needed to be. She never had a competitor; she took them down as soon as they appeared. Annabeth Chase never gave up.

So on a slow Thursday morning, she didn’t expect a newbie to appear. Especially not the weird boy from before. And she definitely didn’t want to be the one to train him.

“Hey, I’m Percy Jackson. It’s my first day here.”

©reyna-obsessed | Not to be reposted, translated or copied on any platform

tags: @that-multi-fandom-hijabi @loife1m @moondust-on-the-hijabi @summersblossoms @hijabi-desi-bookworm

credit for the dividers: @saradika-graphics

[teaberrii]

Chapter 17: The Fiancée

After ending a five-year relationship, you pour all your energy into work. Your latest assignment? Staying at a popular bed-and-breakfast to gather information. It should be a piece of cake... If only the owner isn't the man you scolded on the street.

Jing Yuan/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

You part ways with Welt and Pom and quickly return to your cabin. You've just turned on the lights when Kafka picks up her phone.

“I didn’t think you’d still be up,” she says.

“Just goes to show how much this is keeping me awake.”

A soft chuckle. “Did I send you there to become a private investigator or to do market research?”

With a small smile, you say, “Why not both? Anyway, what did you find?”

"There was a meeting with the stakeholders and some of the higher-ups of the company. I briefly mentioned the project that involved Caelus and… I got an interesting response, to say the least."

"Why is she fixated on a failed project?"

Kafka slightly turned to one of the directors who spoke. Was it just her, or did he sound defensive?

"Let me clarify," Kafka said. "It was something that she came across while doing her job. I think it's inevitable that this would come up. Finding out why that project failed would be a step forward in ensuring this project is a complete success, which is what we want, isn't it?"

The room went silent.

"There's no specific reason why that project failed except that he wasn't willing to work with us."

“But, all of us know what happened to the owner,” Kafka said.

The director who'd spoken frowned. "Let's not get off track, shall we?"

"I hate to say it, but it's hindering our progress. It's something we have to face. She says that the people of Xianzhou are still attached to what happened. The hostility is still prevalent. There's a lot of speculation about Star Rails's involvement in what happened to Caelus. Unless we clear the air about what happened, it's—"

“We aren’t the ones to talk to,” a stakeholder interrupted. “And if this is all she’s found so far, I question if she’s really doing her job. Our customers aren’t the locals. While having their support would be nice, it’s not a requirement.”

“That’s quite a different stance from before.”

Kafka held his cold stare before another director changed the topic.

“It’d make more sense for them to cooperate if they had nothing to do with the situation,” you say.

"Which is why I went to do a little digging." Then, you hear a couple of mouse clicks. She says a man's name, one that you don't recognize. "He was the one getting all defensive at the meeting, but based on records, he would've been the 'big boss,' the one in complete control of the project with Caelus. He was in a quiet family scandal a long time ago."

"Quiet family scandal? How did you find that out?"

"You weren't at the company yet, but someone had sent a message to everyone at the company that his wife was involved in an affair with a man who was also in the hospitality business. It was dismissed as a nasty rumour meant to smear his reputation. But there was also speculation that it was meant to garner sympathy since he was a candidate for a promotion... which he got considering he's in the role right now."

You remember the story that Jing Yuan’s ex told you about:

"He made a convincing case that Caelus's father once had a mistress and got her pregnant, and Caelus and Stelle were born out of that affair."

“How… How long ago was this?” you ask. “Just curious.”

"Oh, it was like… years and years ago. Twenty years, at least."

“Did they ever find the person who sent that message?”

"It was an employee who said he got a tip from someone anonymous. He got fired, of course. Why do you ask?"

"There was a story that Caelus's father once had a mistress. She got pregnant with Caelus and his twin sister, Stelle. Caelus's uncle was the one who knew about it. It just made me think, well, what are the odds that this director, whose wife was involved in a cheating scandal, was the big boss of the project Caelus was involved in?"

You lean back on the couch. It's your logic, but even you have difficulty processing it. This has to be a coincidence. However, if this is what you think it is, then people are absolutely terrible.

“Let’s sleep on this for now."

By the time you end the call with Kafka, it’s almost midnight. You’re looking at the ceiling with your arms on either side, wondering if you’re finally seeing where this all began.

◆◆◆

The next morning, you have plans to see Jing Yuan later in the day. For the time being, you head out for an early morning run, not expecting to bump into Dan Feng, who just stepped out of Luocha's clinic.

“Early morning run? The three of us should go together next time.”

“Three of us?”

“Yeah. You, me, and Jing Yuan. It’ll be a family activity.”

You almost roll your eyes, and Dan Feng smiles. You glance at Luocha's clinic, bustling with visitors. "Were you getting a check-up?" you ask.

“...No.”

You slightly narrow your eyes. “What’re you hiding?”

Dan Feng puts a hand over his heart. “You hurt me, Mother. Why would you think I’d hide anything?”

“Oh, I don’t know… Maybe it’s ‘cause you’re holding something that looks like painkillers.”

Dan Feng glances at the small bag of medicine he’s holding. He awkwardly scratches his head. “Yeah, okay, I can’t talk my way out of this one.”

“Are you okay? Did you get injured?”

“...My shoulder’s been acting up.” Before you can ask, he says, “But, I’m fine.”

You don’t have a choice but to take his word for it.

Then, you hear March say your name, and you turn and see her walking up to you with two drinks. "What's up with today? I just saw Jingliu and Dan Heng together a few minutes ago.” She hands Dan Feng a drink.

"So, that's where that kid ran off to this morning," Dan Feng says flatly, taking his drink. "He's been sneaking around recently."

“Oh, you’re exaggerating,” March says, rolling her eyes. Then, she looks at you. “Looks like Mom is out for a morning run.” She nudges you. “How are you and Jing Yuan, by the way? Has anything… happened yet?”

"What is that supposed to mean?" you ask with a chuckle.

Dan Feng coughs. "I'm still here, you know."

You're walking back to the bed and breakfast with March and Dan Feng when you say, "Hey, um, do you two know anything about Caelus and Stelle's mother?"

“She passed away,” March says. “When they were really young. Why?”

"There was a rumour that Caelus and Stelle were born out of an affair." March almost chokes on her drink. "And if this is true… Well, it'd be a step forward."

"An"—March coughs twice—"affair?!"

Dan Feng grabs March's wrist and pulls her back before she walks onto the road where a car zooms by.

“I guess you didn’t know about it,” you say.

"I most certainly didn't." She nudges Dan Feng. "Did you?" When he remains silent, she asks, "Why're you so quiet?"

The light turns green, and the three of you cross the street. "I just… I remembered something that Dan Heng said. Not sure if it's completely relevant to what we're talking about, but…"

Dan Feng pushed the locker room open. He'd just taken off his shirt, ready for a nice hot shower, when he heard his brother talking to someone. They had stayed late to train, so there shouldn't be anyone left in the locker room. Dan Feng walked further and saw his brother standing in front of their lockers. He was on the phone.

“...Stelle, calm down,” he said. “It must’ve been a mistake. Did you ask them to double-check?”

Dan Feng couldn’t make out her reply.

“...Okay.” Dan Heng turned and was a little surprised when he saw his brother. “...Yeah. Talk to you soon.”

Once Dan Heng got off the phone, Dan Feng asked, "Is Stelle okay? What happened?"

“She’s at the hospital.”

“Why? What for?”

“She wasn’t feeling well and went to the hospital for a check-up. They took some blood tests and…”

“...And?”

“Oi! Is anyone still in here? We’re closing up!”

"...It's like ending on a cliffhanger," March says. "So, he never told you, and you never asked again?"

"He later said she was fine, so I didn't ask about the details."

At the bed and breakfast, you see Jing Yuan talking to another man dressed in a casual suit. They shake hands, and the man gets into a taxi.

March watches the car drive off and then turns to Jing Yuan. “Lookin’ spiffy there, my man.”

"You're right on time," Jing Yuan says, taking your hand. Then, he notices the bag of medicine Dan Feng is holding. "Did you go see Luocha this morning?"

“Yeah. It’s, uh, it’s for my back.”

March makes a fist and lightly coughs into it, and Dan Feng shoots her a look.

“...Is something going on?” Jing Yuan asks, glancing between his two friends.

“Nah. Don’t worry about it.”

Jing Yuan looks at you. “Have you told them yet? About Caelus’s uncle being in town?”

“What?"

March and Dan Feng's simultaneous reply makes them glance at each other. Then, March asks, "Why in the world is he here?"

“We don’t know,” you say. “It’s also what we’re trying to figure out.”

“...Why is everyone gathered out here?”

“Oh, look who decided to show up,” Dan Feng says, turning to his brother. “Where’s Jingliu?”

Dan Heng walks up beside him. "Something came up."

March sighs. “Caelus’s uncle is back in town. Did you know?”

“...Yeah. Jingliu and I saw him at the restaurant yesterday.”

"What?"

Again, Dan Feng and March glance at each other. Then, she sighs. "I don't know if I should be surprised or what anymore…"

“Let’s talk inside,” Jing Yuan says, nodding towards the stone villa.

Soon, all of you are sitting on the sofas inside. Pom comes in with a tray with cups of tea for everyone and then sits on the last empty seat.

“I hereby start this meeting to discuss the big question,” Pom says, “What the hell are we going to do?”

March picks up a pink cup. “That’s one heck of a question, Pom.” She sips her tea.

“...Let’s start smaller, shall we?” Jing Yuan says. “Does he being here have anything to do with Caelus?”

“Probably not,” Dan Heng answers, and everyone turns to him.

“Why do you say that?” March asks.

“He’s here because of Jingliu.” March almost drops her cup. “He’s here to convince her to make a business deal.”

“Oh, God,” Dan Feng mutters. “Here we go again…”

You remember the man and the woman you saw at her gym the other day. “Were those people we saw at her gym involved with him?”

Dan Heng nods. “She didn’t accept their offer.”

"...So, he couldn't take no for an answer and decided to show up to try to convince her?" March asks. Then, she makes a disgusted face. "Ugh. Clingy men are the absolute worst."

“He might be here for Jingliu,” Jing Yuan says, “But… There might be another reason.”

Jing Yuan dropped Yanqing off at Clara’s house for her birthday party, and he was on his way to bed and breakfast when he got a call. He glanced at the number and took it via Bluetooth.

“I didn’t think I’d hear from you again,” Jing Yuan said sarcastically.

“Oh, trust me, Jing Yuan, I wouldn’t call you if I didn’t have to.” Jing Yuan’s car came to a stop at a red light. “Tell me, is your girlfriend still playing detective and investigating what happened to Caelus?”

“Don’t tell me you called just to ask me that.”

“Look, I don’t know how much she already knows. But, out of the goodness of my heart, it’s best to leave things in the past where they belong.”

"...Or, are you afraid we're getting closer to the truth?"

“The ‘truth’ that all of you are desperately pursuing… It won’t do anyone any good, especially your girlfriend who still works at Star Rails. You’d only be hurting her and her career. Think about it.”

Then, the line went dead.

“...Leave things in the past where they belong, huh?” Pom says quietly.

"Doesn't this mean he's just scared?" March asks. "He has something to do with what happened to Caelus, and he's framing it so we're the ones who'll get hurt if it gets out."

You look at Dan Heng. “Hey, there’s something I’d like to confirm.” After telling him about the possibility of Caelus and Stelle being born out of an affair and what Dan Feng told you about Stelle, you ask, “Do you remember what Stelle called you about that day? Why was she anxious?”

“...It had to do with her blood type.”

“Her blood type?” March asks.

“It didn’t match what she was told.”

“You’re at the hospital?” Dan Heng asked, eyes slightly wide.

“...I’m fine, Dan Heng. It’s just a check-up.”

Dan Heng had his suspicions. When Stelle had told him about her new friends, Dan Heng was happy that she was getting used to life in the city. They were all from broken families, apparently. But when he noticed changes in her behaviour and how she was “coping well”, something didn’t sit right with him. She’d reassured him that she wasn’t doing anything dangerous, and Dan Heng, who had his problems to worry about, didn’t have a choice but to take her word for it.

“Anyway, that’s… That’s not what’s important,” Stelle said.

“Then, what is?”

“When she got her blood tests back, her blood type was different from what she had always known.”

“That doesn’t sound like something to panic over,” Dan Feng says, raising a brow.

“I thought so, too,” Dan Heng says. “She started going on about how she heard from Caelus that their mother might’ve been someone else. I didn’t really take her seriously because…”

“...You thought it was the drugs talking.” Dan Feng says.

Jing Yuan puts down his cup of tea. "Let's try piecing together what we have so far. They were told their mother died when they were very young. At some point, Stelle had to know her parents's blood type for whatever reason. Caelus's father lied or got it wrong."

"...And if she had her suspicions, the blood test might've confirmed them," you say. 

“Aren’t we getting a little off track?” Pom asks. “Does this woman have something to do with all of this? Or even Caelus’s uncle?”

“She might,” you say. Then, you tell them about what Kafka told you.

“Wait. Hang on a darn minute.” March takes a small moment to gather her thoughts. “The wife of a director at Star Rails was the mistress?”

“...And out of spite… revenge… or whatever it was,” Pom says, “the director decided to take it out on the children like… twenty years later?”

"He probably didn't know children came out of the affair," Dan Heng says, sighing. "Until much later."

"Three guesses as to who fed him that piece of information," Dan Feng says flatly. "Caelus's motherfucking uncle must have told him! I mean... The dude must've known that his brother had a side chick and everything. Maybe he pieced together the puzzle and then served the information to our big, bad director on a silver platter."

March’s shoulders fall. “Angry and annoyed… Our big, bad director probably wanted to ruin whatever they had.”

"Caelus's uncle would be able to fulfill his motives as well," you say. "...Whether that'd be getting some control over Caelus's hotel, money, or pressuring his nephew to do the unthinkable."

“And then they hatched a plan which got Jing Yuan’s ex involved… and… Augh!” Pom frowns. “My head hurts.”

“...But we still need some kind of proof that they did it with the intent to harm,” you say quietly.

"Also, if this is true…" Dan Heng looks at you. "Then, the warning he gave to Jing Yuan… It's real. This director could possibly fire you."

“Yeah, but he’d have no reason to, right?” March asks. “She, well, us… We just know about it. To fire her because of something she knows? That’s suuuper suspicious.”

“It'd be proof that everything we just speculated was true," Jing Yuan says.

“But, how well will that hold in court?” Dan Feng asks.

You sigh. “Truth be told… I don’t even know if I want to go back anymore.”

"...I don't mean to raise more questions," Pom says, and everyone turns to him. "But… What happened to the woman? One is the mistress, right? So, Caelus's dad was married or was in a relationship with another woman. What happened to her? None of us have ever met her."

“Should we put up missing posters?” Dan Feng asks in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Suddenly, March’s stomach growls loudly.

“Sorry… All this thinking got me hungry.”

Dan Feng stands. “We think better on a full stomach anyways.”

March innocently looks at Jing Yuan. “Is it the boss’s treat?”

He gives her a look but finally says, "Fine. Just this once."

March fist pumps the air. As she, Dan Feng, and Pom head out, Dan Heng walks up to Jing Yuan.

“...Hey, do you have a minute?”

You and Jing Yuan glance at each other, and you walk ahead as the two men stay behind.

◆◆◆

You, March, Pom, and Dan Feng are sitting at a table when Jing Yuan and Dan Heng arrive.

“What were you two talking about, hm?” March asks.

“Nothing,” Dan Heng says.

Dan Feng, with his elbows on the table, slightly leans forward. “What’s with you and secrets lately, huh?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You randomly disappeared this morning, and it turns out you were with Jingliu,” Dan Feng says. “You also didn’t join us for dinner the other day.”

“Did you and Jingliu have dinner together?” you ask, half-jokingly.

“We did.”

Everyone, except Jing Yuan, looks at Dan Heng. Dan Feng and March are the ones who look the most surprised.

March scoots her chair closer. "So… It was like… a date?"

“Is it that surprising?” Pom asks.

“Oh, well, it’s just… I’ve never imagined her going on a date with anyone.”

“Speaking about secrets,” Dan Heng says, looking at his brother. “I’m not the only one with something to hide.”

“Hey, man, I ain’t secretly going on dates.”

“I believe he’s talking about your shoulder,” Jing Yuan says.

March nudges her friend. “I told you the others would find out sooner or later,” she mutters. She looks at Jing Yuan. “But, how’d you know?”

“The painkillers.”

“Ah…”

Dan Heng looks at his brother. “...I overheard you and March in the bathroom.”

Pom looks from March to Dan Feng and back to March. “Um… Why were you two in the bathroom together?”

“Because someone dragged me in there,” March says, frowning.

“That raises more questions than answers,” you say.

“Anyway"—Jing Yuan looks at Dan Feng—“...How’s your shoulder?”

“Not bad. Nothing to fuss over.”

“What about your training?” Pom asks. “Don’t overdo it!”

"...Yeah… Well… about that… I…" Dan Feng sighs. "I'm going to drop out of the Games." The silence is brief before he says, "Gosh, don't go all silent on me. It's awkward!"

March puts down her fork. “You… You mean that, right? You aren’t just saying it to get everyone to stop worrying.”

“Would I lie to you, dear March?”

“Then… That means you’ll go through with the surgery, right?”

“Surgery?” Pom asks, eyes widening. “It’s that bad?”

“...Yeah,” Dan Feng says quietly. “I’ll go through with the surgery.”

You watch as March leans over to give him a tight hug.

“I’m so proud of you!”

“Get off me, March,” he deadpans but gently pats her back.

“This must’ve taken a lot of courage,” Jing Yuan says, and everyone turns to him. Then, he smiles. “But, it’s a wise choice.”

Just as March lets him go, Pom says, “I think so, too. Health should always come first!”

“Have you decided on a date?” you ask.

"Not yet. The sooner, the better, I suppose…"

“...Perhaps I’ll be your rehab trainer,” Dan Heng says.

“Is that a joke?” Dan Feng asks. “You’d be too busy training.”

Pom looks back and forth between the brothers. “...My confession senses are tingling.”

Dan Heng puts down his chopsticks. “I’ve been thinking about going into sports psychotherapy.”

“Really?” March asks. “Wait… What sparked this decision?”

“I think it suits you,” you say.

“...So, you’re going to give up?”

Everyone looks at Dan Feng, and March asks, “Hey, why so serious? I think it suits him, too.”

“You can still compete," Dan Feng says, ignoring her. "This might be your last chance of getting another gold."

“...And what would be the point of that?” his brother asks calmly.

“I want to compete but can’t. You can compete but won’t.”

“Now, now…” Pom cuts in before things can take a turn for the worse. “Let’s finish eating, shall we? The food’s getting cold.”

◆◆◆

After lunch, everyone breaks into pairs and heads back to the bed and breakfast. March and Dan Feng take the lead while Pom keeps Dan Heng company. You and Jing Yuan are a little behind the others. You've noticed that the brothers haven't really spoken since that conversation at the table.

As if reading your mind, Jing Yuan gently squeezes your hand. "...They'll be okay."

“I hope so…” Then, you turn to him. “Was everything okay earlier? Between you and Dan Heng?”

“He was looking for some advice.”

“Advice?” Could it have something to do with the conversation earlier?

"...He wanted to know the best way he could support Jingliu without being nosy."

"Caelus's uncle must be giving her trouble," you mutter.

Jing Yuan sighs. "I wouldn't be surprised if he is."

"...Speaking of him… Herta's friend reached out to me, and I got some new information."

“Oh?”

Then, you tell him about the man and the sister.

“They were friends with Caelus's uncle. I don’t know what I’ll get out of them, but I think it’s worth asking if they knew about anything that was happening with Caelus or maybe even the rumours and what Caelus’s uncle was planning.”

“It doesn’t seem like they have a motive to hide anything,” Jing Yuan says.

“Right?”

“The more information we have, the better.”

"I think so, too. I don't know if we'll ever get Caelus's uncle or Star Rails to confess, but if we can get evidence that they did it with malicious intent, we could get people on our side."

“It’d be hard to fight back.” Then, Jing Yuan takes your hand, to your surprise. Both of you stop just shy of turning a street corner. “Now, all of that aside… Would the lovely lady be interested in joining me for dinner at my place tonight?”

“How can I say no?”

"Good. Because there's a new recipe I want you to try. If it's good, it'll be made available to our customers."

“Oh, I get it,” you say jokingly. “I’m just your guinea pig.”

"It's a dessert I made with you as my muse. So, of course, you have to give it the final approval."

Trying but failing to hide your little smile, you ask, “Since when did you have the time for this?”

“When there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“Well, I’ll see you tonight then, General.”

◆◆◆

You know you should focus on work, but your eyes keep wandering to the clock. It's late afternoon, exactly two hours when Jing Yuan's going to pick you up. Your heart's racing out of excitement at the thought of the date, but there's a part of you that cannot leave things hanging. So, you pick up your phone and dial the woman's number.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings.

“Hello?”

Looks like luck is on your side.

After briefly exchanging pleasantries and introductions, you tell her why you've called. By the end, you say, "I know he threatened you and your brother, but has it ever got to the extent that he made threats on your life? Or… perhaps he was making comments that made you feel like you had no way out?"

“...You’re asking if he wanted to push us to do the unthinkable.” A pause. “The fallout that he and my brother had was their business. I didn’t have anything to do with what happened between them. Looking back on it now, I shouldn’t have gotten involved.”

"Mind if I ask why you did back then? Surely, something was motivating you to take action for your brother."

“...Out of spite.” You’re about to ask when she says, “...Because he was the brother of the man I dated.”

The brother of the man—

Your eyes widen upon connecting the dots. “Wait… Are you saying you’re—”

“Caelus and Stelle’s father… I was his fiancée when he cheated.”

Chapter 18

End notes: If everything goes according to plan, there should be only three chapters left.

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @lxry-chxn @seirenspinel @immahuman @queencybow @nqctre @grimreapersscythe @winterpein @asakenajustexistshere

[drakeanddice]

Mausritter this week was light on adventuresome hijinks, truth be told. The Waywatchers have been away from their home in Fox Cross for a full week (rigorous timekeeping being a key pillar of Old School play, y’know) and the dangers and treasures of the world had them bending their feet back to their beginnings.

Dragging all the treasure their little mouse backs could carry, they spent the first hour of game night hiking from the southern extremity of The Patch to the very north, reminiscing about the things they missed most about home. Birch, being not just Team Dad but a consummate family mouse, told stories about his wife and nine children. Fennel reminisced about Grampus, the de facto lynchpin of Fox Cross’ Guild of Messengers, a gruff and vaguely put-upon iconoclast of the Patch’s erstwhile postal system. Bindi, thinking always with her stomach, wondered about the first marzipan of the season (made by Marni, Birch’s wife in their family shop) and how Chester, the retired sewer-guide who runs the Waystone Tavern was getting on.

And they all were excited to get their weekly stipend from Horatio, the town Aldermouse. Granted they were carrying more treasure than they could strictly carry, but it would be nice to have some pips in their pocket that they hadn’t had to drag out of the danger and darkness of the world beyond Fox Cross’ walls. Plus, they had plans for the spoils of their adventuring, already.

Mausritter leans into the old adventure game mechanic of treasure being experience; 1 Pip (the coin of the realm) equals 1 XP. But it does a neat thing where every 10 Pips invested in a community or spent charitably grants an additional XP. This cleverly encourages the PCs to—if you’ll excuse the terrible pun—buy in to the characters and factions that exist back in civilization, far away from the dangerous wilds. And so, financing improvements and business expansions and defenses and helping to fund the further goals of their communities is a way to advance their characters and overall shape the ongoing narrative of the world.

That’s good tech.

Anyhow, this episode was all about building a supporting cast that the players are excited to come and check in on again and again. So, Birch’s enormous family got screen time. Grampus the angry retired mail mouse got some screen time. Chester the anvuncular innkeeper got some screen time. Horatio, the harried bureaucrat Aldermouse got a little screen time.

But we also got:

-Thorne, the warhawk of a smith who was in the Regiments lo those many years ago and thinks that direct action against the problems brewing in the south is the only way to get things sorted, damned be the costs.

-Sweetgum, the local representative of the Dairybell Company who believes anything can be solved with careful application of Pips. Also, as long as problems are far away, they aren’t her problems.

-Berthold, the head of the Almondiers, the mice who tend the almond grove just north of town on the edge of the spooky Estate. He’s made of ghost stories and local legends.

-Lucretia, a caravan leader built more like a hamster than a mouse. She wears an enormous ruff and travels with a small band of adventurer mercenary-mice. She desperately wants to add the Waywatchers to her retinue.

-The Papas, five unconvincingly-disguised least weasels who run the Foxcross Ferry. They sneak in a low-country brogue and hide themselves under oilskin cloaks and nor’easters, but the fact that they were once part of a gang and are in hiding until they deem it safe to retrieve their ill-gotten gold is an open secret. One is on duty at all times. The others are engaged in a game of cards that has been going on for years. They are Tall Papa, Kind Papa, One-Eye Papa, Split Papa, and Wet Papa.

All in all, a cozy session with a goldmine of characterization and hinting at plots that could be coming down the pipeline. Next week, we’re taking the first pigeon out of town and back down to Swamp Farm to consult with the Speaker-for-Ghosts. Hopefully we’ll meet Tam down there and we’ll be back to adventure.

Sometimes a breather and a little bit of downtime is exactly what you need to get the pot back to boiling.