#Camel Toe Averted

[smuttysabina]

Born To Be A Slut

(Male Reader x Shin Yuna x Hwang Yeji, 5k words) Tags: Romantic sex, Dating an Idol, Lovey dovey stuff, Adorable cuddling, Teasing, Lesbian sex, Some cuckolding, vaginal sex- hey what was that last part?, Oh, well if EVERYONE is cucking each other isn't that just a polyamorous relationship?, Yeah so group sex, Anal sex, Deepthroating, Cum eating, Threesome, Oral sex of all kinds, forceful sex (I mean, Yeji is involved, what did you expect?), Rampant sluttery, And smatterings of mutual understanding, Oh and fat sloppy creampies.

It was a particular agony to be a personal trainer for idols. The more mundane aspects of it certainly held painful tensions, sculpting the taut, supple flesh of gorgeous girls into ever more enticing shapes would be a temptation in and of itself. But the methodology of idol training requires a rather hands-on approach, which makes the sexual pressures nigh unbearable. Normally this stress would be easily resolved by the idol in question, in fact many "trainers" were on hand for precisely such an occasion; since the ladies themselves were hardly immune to the arousing effects as well. Unfortunately for the true professionals however, they were far too expensive to be used as fuck-meat and discarded. And so they would suffer from their pent up lusts, morosely watching as others were fucked senseless by the very luscious idols they had been training mere moments before. Of course, the more kindly or salacious girls would surreptitiously assist the poor trainers, briefly allowing them to drain their tensions into them before returning to a strictly professional relationship. Which was what was supposed to have happened to you, but sadly some idols simply enjoy breaking the rules...

You really shouldn't be doing this with Yuna. But it's hard to say no to her when this nubile vixen is staring up at you with such needy eyes. She had been teasing you for months, constantly glaring at you hungrily, wordlessly demanding your attention as well as your love. Yuna had put her body through its paces for you, relentlessly showing herself off during training, moving subtly so that your hands strayed where they should not. Which is not to say that she had not been quite verbal about her interest either, her sweetly innocent voice had been encouraging you to take liberties with her the entire time. Yuna's constant attentions had locked you in a sordid spiral, unable to think of anything but being here, yet unwilling to simply leave and end your misery. The easiest thing to do would be to give in, but that would create a whole host of problems, since you knew that you would be unable to resist giving into her demands after falling the first time. Lia had noticed your predicament, and a week ago had sympathetically led you into the bathroom and sucked you to completion; willingly swallowing your painfully bloated load that had festered in your balls for ages. But now...

Yuna presses against you, hot and sweaty from her exercise, her toned body lithe and ready for more intense... exertions. You awkwardly pry the young idol off of you, you're here to help her with her workout, not engage in unwholesome activities. Yuna submits to your entreaties with a sly smile, sighing dramatically as she returns to her stretching routine. A routine that seems to have gained some rather exotic positions since you last ran through them. Yuna presents her body to you from all imaginable angles; arching her back to show off her smooth abs and perky bodice, bowing down and thrusting her tight butt into the air, spreading her legs wide and leaning down to reveal her bulging camel-toe... All the while she watches you like a hunting cat, her poses growing ever less useful and ever more erotic as she slowly whittles down your will to resist. Yuna doesn't even bother averting her gaze from the obvious bulge in her pants. She knows you want her, so what are you waiting for? Give in.

Eager to shatter the final chains of restraint, Yuna flows upright and stalks towards you; hips swaying, chest thrust out with clear seductive intent. You stumble backwards into the wall, sliding down its mirrored surface, trying to find a way to escape, but Yuna will not be denied. She joins you on the floor, crawling the last few feet and between your legs until her face is inches away from yours. Her face is flushed with arousal, her eyes begging you wordlessly for everything you have. Kiss her, caress her, grope her, please her, fuck her, fill her, fill her with your seed, fill her until she is swollen with your love, love her, loveherloveherloveher- With a snarl you savagely kiss Yuna, your tongues wrestling greedily as you pull her body against yours. She moans in ecstasy, her legs wrapping around waist as she gyrates on you, her hands already groping at your crotch. Your hands clench around her petite ass before sliding lower to grip the fabric of her leggings. Fueled by lust, you rip them open at her crotch with brutal strength, exposing her already dripping pussy to the cold air. With mirrored enthusiasm Yuna painfully wrenches your cock out of your pants, before slamming herself onto your rigid manhood with a groan of pleasure. This virile slut had been teasing you for months, ever since you started working with her, and you pay her back for every excruciating second with interest. You jackhammer her tight cunt, pounding into her crotch with such speed that the wet slaps echo noisily throughout the empty room. Yuna blubbers with joy, taking every thrust with salacious enthusiasm, loudly begging you for your hot cum... Unable to resist her encouragements any longer, with a tortured groan you empty yourself into Yuna, making her squeal as she follows suit. Her pussy milks your cock greedily, squeezing out every last drop until your shaft has been fully drained.

Yuna lets out a content purr, her legs locked tight around your waist, her hands idly rubbing up and down your back. She stares deep into your eyes, her own wet with tears of joy, and kisses you possessively, you are hers now, got it? You belong only to Yuna...

Yuna howls as she squirms beneath her lover, her lithe body writhing as she takes every last inch of him, her greedy little cunt squeezing tight around his manhood. Her eyes roll back and she spasms as his seed erupts into her, her legs locking tight around his waist so that she receives every last drop of his love. Yuna snarls as he withdraws, but is quickly mollified as he is replaced by another fan whose cock is already dripping with excitement. This one takes her from behind as she slobbers on another member that appears like magic in front of her face. Yes, fill her up! Give her more...

"Oh! Be gentle," Yuna exclaims as you slowly push inside of her pussy, "I'm still so tight baby, so go slow with me..." She simpers as your cock fills her belly, nodding shyly in encouragement while pressing one hand against your chest, the epitome of an innocent lover. Once Yuna had caught you, her continuous seduction had mellowed, well comparatively so, she still teased you endlessly, just more in private now. And now whenever her temptatious stretches filled you with lust, you simply took her in whatever position she so happened to be in; it had gotten to the point that Yuna had joked that she should wear crotchless yoga pants, since you tore hers open so often. She hadn't, of course, she knew full well that nothing was more exciting than the anticipation that led up to the act itself, and kept her puffy lower lips shrouded to fire your imagination... Yuna moans sweetly as her legs bounce on your shoulders, you are so deep inside of her that a bulge forms in her belly from where your cock is buried in her, "Please, you're stretching me out, I'm not used to taking-"

"MORE! Give me more!" Yuna screeches as twin cocks piston her gushing cunt, her pussy slobbering fluids all over the pair of them as they plow her. The pink of her insides are clearly visible as her hole fails to grip them tightly enough, the slut too busy orgasming to even consider clenching down on their dicks. It's still not enough to fully satisfy her though, and soon another meaty cock is cramming itself into her already gaping cunt. Yuna wails with pleasure as her pussy is stretched out by three pounding dicks, gleefully scrabbling at the floor as her guts get brutally rearranged...

Your member noses curiously up Yuna's soaking slit before prodding gently against her anus, causing her to squeal in protest, "Wait! I want to save that for a special occasion! I'll need time to prep too you know!" She looks back at you and pouts, her ass still raised high in the air while her chest is pressed fully against the ground in a perfect arch. Yuna smiles affectionately as you lower your ambitions and push into the now-familiar warmth of her pussy, its wet folds welcoming you inside lovingly. You had been seeing Yuna for a couple months now, meeting with her in a disused practice room to provide a thin veneer of deniability; ostensibly she was growing stiff and required some extra assistance in working out the kinks. You certainly had been helping her stretch out, though the main area you focused on was her crotch and core. For her part, Yuna remained adorably endearing, lavishing you with attention whenever possible, even if it was mostly sensual in nature; her love language was undoubtedly sex. But still, you sensed she was holding back somewhat, contrary to the rumours about her, Yuna was delightfully wholesome and submissive once you got her clothes off; she was aggressive while teasing, but once your cock was inside of her she was like putty in your hands... You shudder with pleasure as your seed pours into Yuna as you hold her perky butt tight against you, causing her to gasp with delight, "I feel so warm inside..."

Semen spews out of Yuna's gaping asshole like a fountain as her guts empty themselves in a torrent of foul liquid after getting mercilessly pummeled by a gargantuan cock. The whore wails in distress as all the creamy love her fans had filled her with gushes out of her, as she desperately tries to squeeze shut her blown out asshole. Yuna's frantic bawling eventually draws Yeji's attention, who sighs in annoyance before assigning yet more meat to pump Yuna full again. Soon the slut is once more spasming in delight as her butt gets refilled once more, her filthy cunt drooling from the stimulation of having her ass violated by countless cocks...

Several weeks later, you and Yuna had secreted yourselves once more in the unused studio, going through actual stretches for once, as Yuna had strained her leg the other day while dancing. Though things had certainly started to hint at a more intimate sort of physical therapy, when the door suddenly slams open; and in saunters Yeji. Wearing naught but a towel, and crowned with the same, Itzy's leader appears fresh out of the shower, and more than a little amused to see you, "So this is where you've been hiding then," she smiles evilly, "don't think I haven't noticed you running off all the time, Yuna." Yuna sits upright from where she had been touching her toes and rolls her eyes in exasperation, "Well yeah, where else would I go to do some physical therapy in private?" Yeji sighs and stalks closer, as Yuna scoots between you and her protectively, glaring up defiantly at her senior, and Yeji meets her gaze with ease, "Yuna, tell me the truth, is this your new lover? It's been months since I found your last one, or have you finally grown up?" Yuna's pretty face twists petulantly, "No, he's just helping me do therapy, I've been a good girl, I promise!" Yuna's posture shifts from rebellious to submissive, affecting sadness at Yeji's lack of trust in her. It seemed all for sure, but even you felt a little moved by her performance, and it seemed Yeji did as well as her lips part slightly, "Oh, you promise?" her voice suddenly reduced to a husky whisper, the tension between the two felt like a familiar one, as Yeji stands directly in front of Yuna, so engrossed in her junior that she ignores you entirely; or you are merely beneath her notice, "So have you been a good girl Yuna?" she breathes. Yuna tilts her head forward and gives Yeji her best puppy-dog eyes, her face the very definition of purity, it was hard to refuse Yuna when she looked like that. Yeji twitches. Yuna lays it on like butter, "I promise I have not been a naughty girl, Yeji..." She flutters her eyelashes, smiling sweetly up at her leader, adorably shifting slightly from side to side as she maintains constant eye contact. Yeji's face flushes, as her lips draw back revealing clenched teeth, until with a snarl of pure lust she grabs Yeji's head and shoves it into her crotch.

"You lying slut," Yeji hisses as she forces Yuna's mouth against her cunt, "you filthy little whore, you've fallen in love again, haven't you?" Yuna lets out a whine of protest, even as she gorges upon Yeji's pussy, doing her best to try and pull away but unable to match her senior's strength. Yeji's towel falls to the ground from the violence of their sex, revealing her well-toned body and perky breasts; if she had any shame at being nude in front of a male coworker while forcing her junior to eat her out, she did not show it. Instead she groans brazenly as Yuna pleasures her, that nimble tongue and soft lips you knew so well now put to good use stimulating Yeji's hairy pussy; she crouches slightly as she pushes back against Yuna's head, hand gripping her hair tightly. And as much as she seems to struggle, Yuna still satisfies Yeji skillfully enough that soon she is shuddering as she approaches climax, "Oh fuck, eat it, eat it," Yeji moans loudly, even as Yuna squeaks in distress, which only seems to excite Yeji even further until she cannot hold on even longer, "Oh fuck, Yuna!" Yeji eyes roll back and she screams as her cunt squirts all over Yuna's mouth, forcing her to gulp down her fluids even as she struggles for breath, until Yeji stops quivering and regains her composure. Exhaling slowly, she releases her grip upon Yuna and allows her to collapse onto the ground like a piece of trash, where she coughs pitifully. Finally, Yeji acknowledges your presence, glancing at you with a sneer that conveys all too well her relish in cuckolding you, "Now then, strip."

You hesitate, knowing full well that company policy protected you from the idols' sexual demands, but unsure where your protracted tryst with Yuna left you on the scale of things. Were you still a professional trainer, or were you just an intern now, to be used and abused at will? Yeji cocks her head, "I said strip, or else I'll do it for you, meat." Yuna squawks in protest at this, but Yeji just laughs mockingly, "What? I thought he wasn't your lover, so why do you care so much?" While Yuna scrambles her brain for a response, Yeji returns her attention to you and menacingly raises an eyebrow, indicating you should get on with it. She eyes your nude form with the mild disinterest of a lady whose body count was in the thousands, before shrugging slightly and lazily stalking forwards. Her slow advance halts though when Yuna scrambles in front of her, arms outstretched, still bravely defiant, "You can't have him, he is mine!" Yuna snarls fiercely, you are unable to see Yuna's expression, but it must have been serious as Yeji blinks in surprise, "No, he is fuck-meat, he exists to be drained and discarded." "No," Yuna spits, "I love him, and he is mine!" Yeji groans in irritation, "How many times... Yuna darling, if you really loved him, would you have fucked literally hundreds of fans while he was yours?" You knew obviously, but you still feel a pit open in your stomach, before Yuna replies, "Those don't count! Those were just dicks, he is different! He is special!" she turns her head and gives you a reassuring smile before returning to staring down her leader; and the knots in your belly disappear, she did love you! Yeji rolls her eyes, and glance past Yuna to give you an exasperated look, before sighing wearily, "If he really loved you Yuna, would he be hard for me right now?" Yuna sniffs haughtily, contemptuously not even bothering to check to see if it was true (it was), Yeji continue as if by rote, "So if I were to fuck him right now, he would not stay hard at all, and would not enjoy himself?" Yuna nods confidently, "Of course not! But you would be able to force him to cum anyways!" Yeji smiles wanly, "See? If he can't stop himself from breeding whatever hole is wrapped around his cock, what makes yours so special? For all you know he's been plowing Chaery and Lia as well." "What, no!" Yuna stammers, "He's been giving all of his love to me! Plus he's a professional, so he's off limits!" "And what if I made him love me, would he just be fuck-meat then?" Yeji smiles slyly. Yuna laughs at that, "There is NO way you could do that, his love belongs only to me!" Yeji merely smirks, "Well let's find out then, shall we?" she looks at you, "On the ground meat, time to get fucked..."

You shiver slightly as you lay down, nervous about the ordeal to come, but Yuna gives you several kisses for support before pulling back and giving several more for your cock; as if claiming it for herself once more. Then Yeji arrives, "Oh good, you're getting it ready for me," as she grabs your cock and points it up, before slamming Yuna's head into it. Yuna's arms flail as she chokes on your meat, but Yeji simply leans forward, applying her body weight on her juniors head to keep her occupied. Giving you a faint smile, she murmurs in your ear, "Sorry, but this is going to be rough. Her lovers rarely last this long, so I'm going to have to make this... memorable," her smile becomes genuine for a moment, "enjoy this, because I will." Yeji pats your cheek before returning her attentions to Yuna, whose face is growing steadily redder by the moment as spit pools around the base of your shaft. She eases up enough for Yuna's head to jerk up, allowing her to gulp down what air she can with your cock still occupying her mouth, before Yeji forces her down again, "Didn't I say to get him ready for me? Fuck, you suck at this," she starts to piston her junior's head up and down your cock, uncaring of the massive mess she was making as Yuna slobbers and gasps desperately for air. You meanwhile are too busy groaning with pleasure to worry much about your lover, her wet tongue and throat driving your cock wild; you even start to thrust a little in time with Yeji's rhythm. At some indeterminable point Yeji grows tired of her sport, and hauls Yuna's drooling face off of your meat before depositing her nearby. She gives you a ravenous glare, "Time to fuck..."

With languid grace Yeji orients herself above your slippery member, holding position just low enough that her coarse folds kissed your tip. She gently sways her hips, running your cockhead through her moist, hairy slit, smirking as you shudder from the stimulation; she can tell how badly you want it. Yeji licks her lips as your hips begin to unconsciously hike upwards, your body desperate to breed her, no matter the implications, "You see Yuna," Yeji purrs to the prostrate form of her junior who was only now raising herself up onto her elbows, still hacking as she recovers from having her throat used like a fleshlight, "just a little teasing and now he is mindlessly desperate for me already. And this is why men are all worthless fuck-meat." Yuna whines despondently at this, but fixes you with a stare that wordlessly conveys her confidence in you; she nods in encouragement, she knows your love will not waver even if you are balls deep inside of Yeji. Speaking of which, Yeji finally decides to put you out of your misery, and with a feral groan slowly slides your length inside of herself until her folds kiss your crotch. She pauses her for a few moments, savoring the feeling of being filled, allowing you to feel the differences between hers and Yuna's insides; then with a crooked smile she rides you. Her pace is ferocious, almost feral, fucking you as if she were an animal in heat, her sopping cunt massaging your cock ceaselessly. Unlike the smooth tightness of Yuna, Yeji's cunt was practically drooling with fluids, roughly dragging against your shaft as she bounces atop you. After several minutes of this voracious sex, you can feel your balls already pulsating needily, and no matter how hard you tried to hold on for your beloved, you knew you were going to breed Yeji. Or not. Pausing on the precipice of your climax, Yeji waits until the moment has passed, before slowly starting again, hungrily she leans forward, her dark nipples rigid, and growls, "Say you love me." You refuse, and so she continues.

What feels like hours pass by, but it must have surely been far less, as Yeji continues to pry at your determination, urging you to give in. And oh how you want to, your balls throb in agony from being denied so many times, and your brain feels melted from being edged for so long by this cruel sexual goddess. All the while Yeji smugly provides a running commentary for Yuna, who is out of your view by this point, and no doubt worried sick about you. But even the thought of your dearest Yuna could only sustain you for so long, and like the experienced slut she was, Yeji could tell without you even needing to say anything. So when she runs her hands up your sweaty chest, and clasps your cheeks, she knows exactly how you will answer before she even asks, "Do you love me?" Despairing, you moan an affirmative, feeling absolutely wretched for betraying Yuna, but unable to resist your body's demands that you impregnate the woman atop you. Yeji smirks, her body similarly coated with sweat, her breasts heaving from her protracted exertions, her legs bulging with muscles, and lets out a little laugh, "No, you don't," Before finishing you off with a furious burst of riding that has your head spinning as your balls empty themselves into Yeji's fertile cunt. Who groans with delight as her pussy is filled, her narrow eyes widening slightly as the sheer quantity of semen pouring inside of her surprises even her. She slowly grinds on you as your cock finishes leaking its load into Yeji, "Fuck," she murmurs, "That was a lot, I'm almost impressed," she turns around and calls behind her, "Yuna dear, time to clean up! Oh stop masturbating and get over here already!"

You frown up at Yeji in confusion, masturbation, what was she talking about? Yeji grins mirthlessly down at you, "What, didn't you notice? The entire time you were doing your best to hold on for her, your supposed lover was busy finger-blasting herself silly like the perverted little cuck she is. That's right, she was enjoying your suffering, she was aroused by watching you getting taken by another girl. Pitiful, isn't it?" With that Yeji smoothly unmounts you, uncaring of the slick of semen leaking from her cunt down her glistening thighs; she was about to get cleaned off anyways. Then she drags the now completely naked Yuna towards you, who blushes shyly as she approaches, stammering awkwardly in embarrassment, "Honey! You're okay! You um, held on for so long! I'm so proud of you!" she gives you a sickly sweet smile, as if trying to distract you from the fact that her legs were absolutely drenched with fluids. The look of jealousy that flashes across her face is genuine though, as she smells the stench of another girl slathering your nethers. With a determined expression, she gets to work sucking and licking the evidence of your copulation off of you; cleaning you so enthusiastically that your member improbably starts to rise to the occasion once more. But Yuna's chore is not yet finished, after all, your delicious load belongs to her, so she takes her due.

Yeji groans as Yuna devours her sloppy cunt once more, the slut's lithe tongue scooping out its creamy contents before undulating it back down its length and into her throat. Yuna's ass is raised high in the air as she works, the tempting sweep of her hips put on full display, showing exactly why she was so often taken in this position. Your interest does not go unnoticed, even as her pussy is getting emptied, Yeji beckons you closer, leaning forward slightly so that she can spread her junior's cheeks, "Ready again? Good, now fuck her ass this time," Yuna lets out a surprised noise at this pronouncement, but Yeji uses a hand to keep her on task by holding her head in place, "Oh and don't worry about lube, she likes it rough. So, are you going to fuck her or not?" You hesitate, Yuna had said that she had wanted to save anal for a special occasion, but she had not helped you while Yeji was ravishing you, and instead had been aroused by your suffering... Your tip prods at her entrance, causing Yuna to quiver slightly until you grasp her wide hips to hold her in place as you force yourself into her asshole. You push inside of her vigorously, expecting to have to press through the cramped confines of her unused rear; instead, you slam yourself inside of Yuna's guts to the hilt. A muffled squeal emanates from Yeji's crotch, as Yuna's entire body jolts in surprise, and a gush of squirt splatters against your balls. The tight hole which you had been aching to fuck for so long, was loose from overuse, stretched out from countless cocks that had been plowing it while you had patiently waited. So you jackhammer Yuna's worthless asshole, now beyond caring about her discomfort as you relentless fuck her guts, causing Yeji to coo in delight, "See I told you she was a slut, make her pay for cucking you..." And oh how you do, you treat her asshole like a cheap fleshlight, uncaring of the pain you might be causing; though judging by the sporadic sprays of squirt that hit your thighs in balls, the whore was enjoying it. And you were too, though her anus was no longer the snug hole it used to be, her coils still had enough strength to massage your shaft as it slams past them. Your balls start to clench upwards once more, your thrusts deepen and grow in force, Yeji notes this and urges you on, "Do it, claim her fucking asshole, fill this bitch's guts with your cum," groaning loudly, you comply, spurting your seed deep inside of Yuna's innards while she spasms with ecstasy from having her ass bred.

Still shuddering, you pull out of Yuna's ass, and are unsurprised when it closes immediately after you leave, sealing your semen inside of her. Panting, she looks up at Yeji for approval, her face flushed with arousal, her face smeared with Yeji's cunt juices. Yeji pats her cheek affectionately, "Fuck, you were born to be a slut, Yuna," the girl in question giggles shyly, before glancing back at you apologetically, "I'm sorry dear, I guess it wasn't love after all, I'm just a slut after all..." Yuna continues to breath heavily, and whines, "I need mooore," she pouts, "does nobody love me enough to give some?" Yeji lets out a knowing sigh, "I'm sure some of the interns are absolutely bursting with love for you Yuna, why don't you go ask them?" Yuna brightens noticeably at this, and beaming happily scampers up onto her feet and races out of the room, not even bothering to spare you a parting glance. And thus ended your relationship, if it could be called that, with Yuna. Yeji gives you a sympathetic look as the pair of you sit on the wooden floor, both uncaring of the fact that you are seated in a puddle of sexual fluids. Yeji clears her throat, "We're going to have to let you go, but don't worry, we know a few other companies with openings so you shouldn't have any troubles finding work. IVE in particular seem to be needing good physical trainers, those lazy brats," she gives you a level stare, "But first, fuck-meat, I am going to use you until I am satisfied. After all," she smiles cruelly, "I don't have to worry about being down a professional trainer any more..." Her smug boasting is cut off however as you jump up and shove your cock into her face, forcing her to clean the stinking ass-juices off of your cock as her eyes narrow dangerously. Once you are erect once more, you push her back onto the ground, where she growls huskily, "Feisty, I think I'm going to enjoy this more than I expected," Yeji smoothly assumes the position, sticking her butt up into the air and giving you a meaningful glance,

"Well pick a hole already, and don't worry, I won't let you stop until I'm satisfied. Now show me how you fuck an actual woman, and not some mincing slut..."

[deathbecomesthem]

Tommy

A Young!Eddie Munson story - 1.7K

CW: Violence against a child (source material typical)

Summary: Eddie and Reader are kids, and Uncle Wayne is telling them a story from his past.

A/N: I believe in Appalachian Munson and story telling designed to teach a lesson.

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It’s not the words that the old man says, it’s the way he says them. It’s the way he pauses, sits back against the slats of the folding chair, and lets out a heavy sigh. He looks up to the stars and contemplates. Thinks about whether he should tell you both these stories before resigning himself. 

It’s a show, of course. Because he always tells the stories. Sometimes, it’s a story he’s told dozens of times before, just tweaked a little. But he tells you both, and you know your roles. You’re meant to be shocked, sit closer to each other, scoot closer to the old man while your butts are in the dirt. You’re there to poke him, tell him, “Please Uncle Wayne! We promise not to get too scared this time.”

And he relents. Long suffering Uncle Wayne starts his stories the same way every time. He pats the front pocket of his flannel shirt, and pulls out a bent Camel from the soft pack within. He flicks his Zippo to life and holds the flame to the end of his cigarette. He takes a deep drag, and releases it. Then he starts.

“Now, you gotta promise me you’re not gonna go and tell your mama I told you this one.” You scoot yourself closer to Uncle Wayne’s booted feet while the campfire heats up one side of your face. The other side is facing towards the woods that sit on the other side of Eddie’s trailer. This is where the stories are told, out in the open air, mere yards from the place where they supposedly took place.

“And you, Ed,” Wayne points the fingers holding the smoldering cigarette at his nephew at his feet, “you gotta stay in your bed tonight if I tell you this one, ok?” 

An outsider might take this to mean that Eddie would be so scared, he’d climb out of his bed to find his uncle, but you know better. Eddie’s been sneaking out. He’s been climbing through the window at the back of his trailer where the only bedroom is located. And Wayne knows, it’s confirmed by this warning. Eddie has enough sense to avert his eyes and nod his head back at his uncle. He’s thanking his lucky stars that he’s not receiving some kind of a punishment. Wayne takes Eddie’s safety very seriously, and he trusts the boy. You can see the flush creeping up his neck and spreading over his cheeks at being caught - being scolded in front of his friend.

“I know I tell you a lot of tall tales, but this one is different, and I need to know you’re listenin’.” This time, both you and Eddie nod your heads together, and Wayne seems satisfied enough to continue spinning his yarn. “It was a night just like this when it happened. This is when me ‘n your daddy ‘n gran lived over on Maple. Long time ago, when I was about your age. My buddy Tommy lived in the park here.”

Your interest was piqued, even more than it would normally be for a Wayne story. You’re not sure, but you don’t think you’ve heard this one before. At least, you don’t ever remember Eddie’s uncle mentioning a friend named Tommy before. Maybe this one really is important. So, you scoot even closer, resting your knee on the steel toe of Wayne’s boot to show him that you really are paying attention. Eddie’s boney shoulder pushes up against yours. If he got any closer, he’d be in your lap. 

“I spent a lot of time out here when I was a boy. The park always had a lot of families. Lots of kids to play with. There used to be a jungle gym over by the woods.” Instead of his fingers, Wayne uses a long stick with a charred end to point at the end of the lane beyond the last of the trailers. “The monkey bars were Tommy’s favorite. He used to climb up on top of ‘em and walk across them like an acrobat. He only fell once that I remember, ended up climbing up there with a cast on his left arm for the last of that summer. Nothin’ stopped Tommy.”

Wayne’s sad smile looked almost sinister under the light of the fire. Flames danced in his eyes, and he was lost in his story. In his memory, you think. 

“I spent most nights with Tommy in this park, your gran wasn’t doin’ the best the summer of ‘55. She’d started gettin’ sick by then, and your gramps spent that year at the bottom of a bottle. That was also the summer me ‘n your daddy got the chicken pox. For one whole week, I wasn’t allowed to go to Tommy’s. And that’s when it happened.”

Wayne looked up at the sky for a minute. He’s searching the stars, you think, he’s looking to them for something. A reminder of a time long passed. He stays like that for several moments, and it seems like maybe he’s forgotten that he has an audience. That he’s forgotten that he was in the middle of a very important story. Eddie breaks the silence.

“What happened, Uncle Wayne? Did ya give Tommy the pox? Did he get real sick or somethin’?” Eddie’s voice is excited. His mind is trying to fill in the gap, get to the heart of whatever it is that Wayne was trying to teach him. These stories have a lesson, Eddie's learned over the years. He’ll get to hear them, but he needs to remember that there’s a reason Wayne’s telling it. You sit patiently, knee still resting on that hard boot, while you watch Wayne’s face for any hint of annoyance at Eddie’s intrusion on the quiet moment. There is none, only a sad smile that spreads across his lips.

“Tommy didn’t get sick, boy. No.” Wayne hesitates for a moment and looks at the small faces of both you and Eddie before continuing, “It was a night like this. Real warm even though the frost has started in the early mornings. Summer was still holding on tight in the late afternoons. The fireflies were out every night that summer,” 

You and Eddie loved chasing lightning bugs. You each had your own mason jar with holes poked into the top by Eddie’s pocket knife. Earlier that same evening just after the sun set behind the trees of the lot and sunlight had not been completely taken over by the night, you’d been running along the tree line with your mason jars. Seeing it is what triggered the memory in Wayne’s mind, made him know it was time to tell the story. Real horror, not something made up. 

“When I was stuck at home and sick during that warm week, Tommy went out by himself to chase lightning bugs. Brave Tommy must have heard somethin’ or maybe he was chasin’ a firefly that moved between the trees. He went into the woods. Old Mr. Johnson saw him go in there, but no one ever saw him come out.” Wayne’s eyes are fixed on the flames in front of the three of you. He’s lost in the story again. You and Eddie know enough to be quiet as mice while he works out how he wants to finish this one. How much he can say, what the lesson is. A small shift of your knee draws the old man’s attention to you, and he remembers what he’s doing.

“The next day, Mr. Johnson told Tommy’s ma that he saw him go into the woods. She went to every trailer in the park to see if anyone might know where he was. He wandered a lot, but he always went home at night. He’d never not been in his bed in the morning.” Wayne’s hand absentmindedly reaches back into the front pocket of his flannel shirt and takes out one final cigarette. The end was close, but he needed this little distraction to get to the heart of this one. It’s a story he had forgotten until he had his own little boy to care for. His own version of Tommy - the kid that wanders with open curiosity and no fear. It scares the shit out of Wayne.

“They went looking. What they found was one of Tommy’s sneakers covered in blood and his broken Mason jar. Right off the main path that goes all the way to the high school. I know you both know the one,” Wayne looks down at them in a knowing way. “And that’s fine. It’s good to have your spots in the trees, but never after dark. I know you’ve heard about the Hawkins Demon Dog, I’m tellin’ you right now it’s real. I have no doubt. I’ve heard it at night, and I know - I know - it’s what got Tommy.”

Wayne sees the open mouthed expressions on both of the children sitting in front of him and considers. Maybe it’s enough, maybe not. He’s got one more thing to say before he lets you and Eddie pull out the marshmallows to roast. He tosses his cigarette butt in the slowly dying flames in front of him before he leans down so this face is between yours and his nephew’s.

“I’m tellin’ you the truth right now. This ain’t no story. Tommy was a real boy that lived just 2 trailers down the way. And his Ma had to bury a casket with one single bloody shoe. I ain’t doin’ that for either of you. You stay away from those woods at night, especially if you see somethin’ that looks like a man crawlin’ on his arms and legs.” Wayne’s satisfied when he hears the way Eddie’s breath has picked up a little. He’s had a fright, and that’s good. “Go get the marshmallows. The skeeters are startin’ to bite.”

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #846

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Programs

Intoxicated

A program that can be skated only by Christophe Giacometti, who in terms of sex appeal can be beaten by nobody. The too-sexy music, with moaning as part of its lyrics, is a choice that could be made by only this one skater, who is proud of having a patent for 'adult sex appeal' registered. The choreography is, of course, also so sexy that it is difficult not to avert your eyes watching it. Miyamoto Kenji, who created this choreography, said that the image that he used for this program is that after a bath, droplets of water are still falling down Chris' body, as he wipes them with a soft towel - as suggested by these words, it is a very 'moist' program. Soft movements that seems effortless and use no strength, and viscous movements of his hands, that trace lines of his body, create an indescribable eroticism. So much so that Minako-sensei said during Cup of China, that it is a 'sex appeal weapon of mass destruction'. However, in terms of jumps, in the beginning of his program, he included a quad lutz, a very difficult jump, so it is not only the sex appeal that he focuses on, but technique as well. During Cup of China, Chris jumped triple flip + triple toe loop combination, but in the Grand Prix Final, he changed the first jump into a quad salchow, even though he didn't have enough rotations. For Chris, who has always been running after Victor, this season without him, was boring. And that is precisely why he wanted to make the Final into a special competition and changed his program composition - he wanted to show himself as the attacker. The theme of this season for Chris is 'passion', but probably that was the moment, when we saw the most 'passion' from him.

Short program, planned composition:

4Lz, change foot camel spin, combination spin, step sequence, 3A, 3F+3T (in GPF, 4S+3T), flying sit spin.

[di-in-al]

Californian Gold

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Reader

Warnings: Swearing, smoking, etc etc

Notes: So this is my jab at a Stranger Things fic. This is hopefully going to be a multiple part series, so lets hope for the best. Anyways, enjoy!

_____

“So you’re transferring from where again?” The hag of a woman sat across the desk, her white eyebrows were furrowed in aggravation. You huffed, wondering how many more times you were going to hear this question again. 

“New Harmony.” Her old fingers wrote down the information in a thick book. There were people hurrying in and out of the school’s office as you stood there. You watched as students excitedly walked and talked down the hallway. This made you groan, you were glad this would be your last first day of school. 

“What was that name again?” You whipped around and chuckled bitterly. There were two women sitting behind this desk, one is really young and has a permanent smile on her face and then this woman, that was currently scowling at you due to your lack of an answer. Unfortunately, you got stuck with this one. 

“Oh my Go- you know what? Is there anyway I can finish filling that out?” You snatched the pen and book away from her, sighing with relief when you saw how many questions she would’ve had to ask you. 

When you finished, you slung your book bag over your shoulder and snatched your class schedule from her bony fingers. Without another word, your feet left the annoying office and started down the hallway. There was still fifteen minutes until class started and you desperately needed a cigarette before you went back into that hell hole. Your eyes found a bench by the parking lot where no teachers could see you, and you tossed your stuff down. The Walkman headphones that rested on your collarbones softly played music. You rummaged through your book bag in hopes to find your lighter but to no avail. 

“Fuck off.” The words came out in a desperate moan, with the cigarette bobbing up and down with the syllables. The breeze caught under your jean jacket, cooling off your frustration. 

“You need this?” The first thing can came into view was a zippo with a well lit flame dancing in the breeze. Then you saw a tall figure to your side, leaning over the bench. He also had a cigarette dangling from his lips, and a smirk on his face. His baby blue eyes were staring directly at you, and his wide open button down shirt caught in the wind revealing a Virgin Mary necklace. How ironic. You could already picture what kind of person he is in this school. By the way his bedroom eyes and pink lips were watching you, you could tell he had one main objective.

You leaned over to catch the light, puffing a couple times before pulling the cigarette from your mouth. 

“Thanks man.” As soon as the words leave your mouth, your hands reach up and throw your headphones over your ears. You gather your stuff and head towards the front doors, all the meanwhile puffing on your cigarette. 

You sat in the farthest desk from the front, your first class being English unfortunately. Today was somewhat of an easy day, especially with people still getting their schedules fixed. This was good seeing as the teachers wouldn’t care whether your Walkman was wrapped around your head or your nose being stuck in a book. The book that was currently in your grasp was Dracula, and you were just getting to the good part. That was until you felt a tap on your shoulder.

You turned, seeing a boy sitting next to you with his happy eyes looking at directly at yours. His hair was in a pile atop his head and he was shining you a small open lipped smile. Your eyebrows shot up in question without taking the headphones off. He motioned towards them and pretended to pull them off. With hesitation, you slowly pulled them off with a huff. 

“Yeah?” Your finger held your place in your book while your attention was averted. 

“Hey, um, I’m Steve. Ironically, you moved into the house next to mine this weekend. So I see you’re new to Hawkins,” His hair bobbed up and down with each word, and you just couldn’t help yourself but to stare at it. It was just so...tall. His hand reached up to resituate the dark colored locks, his eyes awkwardly looking over to the side. “I just wanted to reach out and see if you needed anything. I’ve lived here my whole life so I’d know just about anything.” His eyes widened with an idea and he began going through his book bag. He ripped a small piece of paper from a binder. He scribbled something down and handed it to you. 

“Here’s my number if you ever need anything.” Just then, the bell rang to go to your next class and everyone stood up. Steve grabbed his stuff and you stood with your book. You couldn’t tell if he was giving it to you in hopes to get lucky or if he genuinely cared. As he walked away, you prepared yourself to talk. 

“Uh, thank you Steve. I’m Y/N by the way.” The smile that covered his face was brilliant and it caused you to grin. The first sign of happiness since you were dragged here against your will. 

“See you around, Y/N.” With that, his long legs carried him through the doorway, you followed shortly after. 

The day wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be. Seeing as you did absolutely no school work, it was actually pretty decent. You fumbled with the piece of paper that rested in your jean jacket pocket along with your lighter that you soon found deep in your book bag for some unknown reason. Your keys jingled in your other pocket which your fingers soon wrapped around. Your cherry red Datsun sat next to a pretty nice looking Camaro, both of them making this dirty parking lot look just a little nicer. You had a matching red pool ball key chain that accompanied your car keys. As you walked towards your trunk, you began thinking about how you’d fare here in Hawkins. So far it wasn’t that bad, you began thinking about how if you kept to yourself, you’d be fine. Before you took off, you decided to smoke one more time before you left. You slammed your trunk, pulling your Camels from your pocket. As you lit one, you saw the Lighter guy walking your direction. His brow was furrowed and he was grumbling to himself.

Your mind wandered as you watched him pull out a pack of Camels too, only to find that they’re empty. 

“Fuck!” His low voice cursed and you chuckled to yourself. That’s what you must’ve looked like this morning. Deciding to take pity on him, your hand dives into your pocket.

Your hands absentmindedly reached for yours and pulled on stick halfway out of the paper pack.

“You need this?” Your voice drifted between the two cars and his sandy blonde curls whipped in your direction. His eyes immediately went to the pack of cigarettes where his vice was extended towards him. 

Your mind couldn't help but to worry if he’ll take it or not. Your palms began to sweat, while his were balled into fists. Your day went great, knowing you, you’ll fuck it up before it has the chance to stay that way. 

“Yeah.” His voice broke the wall of worry and awkwardness and he plucked it from its fellow cigs. He lit it quickly and with that, you walked back around to the driver’s side of the car. You tossed your half finished stub and ground it out with your red Chucks. From your peripheral, you could see his eyes glued to you. You suddenly became aware of every movement you both took. You didn’t feel the need to impress him, but you two almost had an understanding. Even with the only two times you’ve interacted. 

With that, you opened your door and you were interrupted by his voice.

“Nice car.” His husky voice didn’t hold the charm it did this morning, it was almost as if he actually meant it. It wasn’t something to gain your attention so he could continue his flirting.

“Thanks, you too.” You slid into the seat, and started the car, reversing out and hightailing it out of there. 

You passed by the many stores that were in downtown Hawkins, hoping to spot a Hiring sign. Finally, the very last store had a piece of paper in the window with just those words in bold letters. 

Bingo.

You park in front of it, next to a green Pinto. Your Chuck clad feet take you inside the store and start looking for any sign of life. Your eyes check down each isle, not seeing a soul in sight. This might not be a great sign, you think to yourself. 

“Hello?” Your raspy voice calls out to the silence and that’s when you hear a loud bang. Your heart starts racing, and your feet start heading towards the sound of the noise. You’ve yet to hear any voices and that’s the part that’s worrying you so bad. You reach the register where you heart a small voice.

“Ow...:” Getting on your toes, your head pokes over the counter, seeing a brunette woman holding the back of her head. 

“Are you okay?” At the sound of your voice, her head snaps up and her mouth forms into a huge grin. 

“Yes! I just, uh, bumped my head I guess. What can I help you with?” Her small frame slowly raised up, causing you see how nice she looked. She had bangs that touched her eyebrows and her brown eyes had a warm feeling to them. Let’s hope she runs this joint. 

“I just wanted to inquire about the sign in the window?” Your fingers pointed to the white paper in the window and her eyes lit up. 

“Oh of course! Yeah, I just need someone around here when I can’t be. I’m here by myself most of the time unless one of my boys are here with me,” She walked out of the small cubicle behind the cash register. Her small hand extended towards you with a smile. “I’m Joyce Byers, I’m afraid I’ve never seen you here before.” That’s when her eyebrows and mouth turn up in question, running through her mind trying to put my face to any name she could think of. It was an awkward feeling, someone not knowing you. Especially when you come from a place where everyone knows you. You grasped her hand, shaking it firmly and grinning. 

“Y/N. That’s cause I just moved in last week.” Her eyes light up even more so, if that’s possible. She laughed and nodded. 

“That’s something we’re not used to here in Hawkins. So would you be interested?” Her arms motioned to the store. From the looks of the fully stocked shelves, there isn’t much business here and no other employees. That’s perfect.

“Super interested.” 

She had you fill out an application, just for precautionary reasons. After talking with her more, telling her you went to Hawkins High she understood when you’d be able to work. 

“My oldest son goes there. I have a younger one still in middle school too. Any siblings?” My eyes held their gaze on the shelf behind her and with a shake of my head she laughed.

“Me neither, I personally think it’s better that way.” You two spoke for a little while longer, her giving you a tour and then closing up. It started to get dark and that's when you remembered something.

“Shit.” You mumbled to yourself and then turning towards her. “Joyce? Do you have a phone here I can use?” Of course she did, and pointed you in the direction of it while she checked to see if everything was ready to close.

You grasped the handle and picked up the phone. You quickly dialed the number you were made to memorize last night.

The phone rang a couple times before it was picked up.

“Y/N?” The voice that flowed through the phone made you calm and somewhat happy.

“Yeah Daddy, it’s me. You want me to go to the store for anything?” You’d tell him about the job when you get home. He sighed and chuckled. Your dad stayed at home mostly and it was his idea to move to Hawkins, apparently growing up here through high school and before he went into the military. He was injured pretty bad In Vietnam and doesn’t really like to go out much.

“Yeah sweetie, I’m glad you asked. I completely forgot. Um, just pick up something to eat tonight and some milk. That’ll do. Thank you.” He was barely able to get through his sentence before he went into a coughing fit. 

“Alright Daddy, I’ll be home after that. Love you.” He reciprocated and you both hung up. While Joyce was still in the back, you ran to get some things from the store. You picked up a couple frozen pizzas and milk. With that, you were both off. Your eyes traveled up to the sign that hung above the doorway. 

Melvalds General Store.

You took off towards your house, travelling down a long back road. AC/DC pounded from your speakers and the wind howled through the windows. The weather was definitely different here than it was in Florida. It’s still hot as hell down there right now. Shorts and tank tops were most definitely needed. Up here, it’s cool. Even with a chill coming through in the mornings. 

Your thoughts were cut off as you saw smoke began to pour out of your hood. 

“Oh shit.” The brakes squeaked as you stopped on the side of the road, turning the ignition off and rushing out of the car. You popped the hood and when you let it open completely, a plethora of smoke came bounding at you. You could barely see, let alone diagnose what was wrong. 

Your throat screamed when it inhaled the smoke, causing you to cough erratically. Once the smoke cleared, you immediately noticed that your radiator reservoir was empty causing the engine to overheat. One of your hoses must have a leak.

You knew you didn’t have any antifreeze, so water would have to do. That’s if you had enough water to fix the problem. The only thing you had was a half empty bottle of water. 

“Fuck!” Your now dirty hand slammed against the hood of your car.This had to happen to you, on your first day. 

Of fucking course. 

You began walking to the nearest phone booth, hoping maybe they’re would be one near. Based on the looks of this road, most likely not. However, if you were paying attention you would’ve noticed the one not too far away. You began walking in the opposite direction in hopes to find one further up the road. You doubted anyone else coming down this road either, seeing how dead it was on your short drive on it. Not once did you see any fellow cars pass you. 

You walked for about twenty minutes without avail. That’s when you saw lights coming from behind you and the low rumble of an engine. You waved it down hoping it wasn’t a serial killer or something. Once that idea enters your mind, you figure that this wasn’t the best idea. 

Unfortunately, the car pulls over and due to the headlights, you couldn’t see the figure that stepped out of the car. The radio blasted Scorpions and you held your hand up to your eyes to see if you could get a glimpse of the person. 

“You need help, princess?” Your ears immediately recognized the voice and you groaned. That’s when his full body stepped from behind the cover of his lights. His curls blew in the breeze and he, like always, had a cigarette hanging from his pouty lips. “Saw your car back there, and the smoke. Doesn’t look so good. You need a lift?” He threw the cig onto the road and snubbed it out. He had that smirk back again, the one that didn’t amuse you in the slightest.

“I just need water for my radiator. So unless you got any of that, I’ll pass.” You didn’t want to have to deal with a broken down car and someone trying to get in your pants. It’s one or the other. You didn’t have the patience.

He softly held a hand to his chest pretending to act hurt.

“Damn, I was only trying to be nice.” He said it lightly and with a mischievous grin. 

“I don’t need you to be nice to me. I’ll be fine.” You turned your body away, clutching the jacket closer to your body due to the chill setting on the blank road. 

“C’mon princess. Don’t be like that. I thought we were getting somewhere.” You scoffed and stopped in your tracks. You whipped around to him where he sat with a smug look on his face. His hands were also in his leather jacket pockets and his cheeks were staring to flush. This caused your anger to grow, you knew that’s all he wanted. A reaction.

“Look, fuck off man. I’m not interested in anything you have to offer, unless it’s a jug of water.” With that, you turned and walked off without another word. You heard him get back into his car and take off in the opposite direction you were going. At this rate, you won’t be home until midnight. Your Dad was probably worried sick. As soon as you found a phone, you’d call him and let him know. That made you think, he has no way to get here and you wouldn’t want him to come all the way out here. The small piece of paper in your pocket called your name and you had an idea. 

Steve. 

He lives right next to you and that’d be perfect. You traveled for another fifteen minutes before the small gleaming light of a telephone booth caught your eye. You laughed and jogged after it, swinging the door open and reaching for the phone. You pulled out the piece of paper and started dialing the number. After a couple of rings, someone picked up.

“Hello?” The voice belonged to a woman and it caught you off guard. 

“Hey, is Steve there?” You question was answered soon after when you heard his voice.

“Hello?” Relief rushed over you in waves, happy to have finally reached someone. 

“Hey Steve, this is Y/N. I know we barely know each other but I just broke down. Do you think you could help?” He began talking away asking where you were and a million other questions. The only thing was that you weren’t listening because you heard the same low rumble of the Camaro. He pulled up next to booth, holding out a jug of water out of his window. He stopped and stepped out.

“Y/N?” Steve’s voice finally snapped you out of your spell and you focused back on the phone call.

“Yeah, Steve uh give me a second.” The guy stepped up to you and smiled smugly. He opened the door to the booth and slightly stepped in. 

“Oh no no, none of this.” He reached for the phone and wagged a finger.

“Steve? Harrington is that you?” He grabbed the phone from you, and began talking into it. 

“Look, she’s being taken care of. Don’t worry, Harrington. I’m doing a much-” You snatched the phone from his hand and held back up to your ear. 

“Hey Steve, look. I’m good now. Don’t worry. I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you.” With that, you roughly hung the phone back up and glared at the guy. He was walking back to his car where he grabbed the jug of water.

“You told me you’d only be interested in a jug of water. Lookie here. So now I do have something you’d be interested in.” You scowled at him, your eyes closing and your throat lets out a groan.

“So let me ask again, you need a lift?” You glanced down at the water and chuckled to yourself. You waited a moment, looking up at his smug face, slipping another cigarette in between his lips. You didn’t say anything before travelling over to his passenger door and waiting.

“The name’s Billy, you?” He’s gone out of his way to help you. Or get into your zipper rather. The least you could do is tell him.

“Y/N. Let’s go.” You kept it short and to the point. He chuckled, turning on the ignition and revving the car. 

“Aright Y/N, lets see what we can do about this naughty radiator.” He turned towards you and gave a wink. You rolled your eyes and looked out of the window. He gunned it down the long road, heading into the darkness. Literally.

__

[pbbpbt-blog]

Dark Piper — Andre Norton (1968)

Dark Piper — Andre Norton (1968)

Publisher: ACE Books First Ace Edition, 1969 Cover Art: Jack Gaughan Plot Synopsis (of cover): The Piper brought his magical instrument to his lips, and the world erupted. The strangeness of the music that had somehow become tangible through the subtle arts of The Piper filled the world with marvelous visions of spaceships and ghosts, both terrifying and beautiful to behold. Somehow, The Piper…

[cozysafechaotic]

Okay

So, I wrote this fic back in February, and I don’t think LJ’s taglist existed back then.... and if it did, I was definitely not confident enough to use it... but... I’m proud of this... and I want others to read it. So, without further waffling... Here is Hot Chocolate, Disney Movies and Blanket Forts. (Click the title to be taken to Ao3)

Today had been a bad day. This week had been rotten. It was barely a month into the new year, and Virgil was already done. Everything seemed so stressful and he was exhausted. When things got this way, there was only one tried and true option in Virgil's mind: Withdraw. Just close yourself off, let everything pass you by and eventually drag yourself from the swirling pit of anxiety after a good straw that breaks the camel's back meltdown. He hated the chaos of the aftermath, but he just didn't see how he could cope with all the overwhelming emotions on his own any other way.

It used to be easier, before he opened up to the other sides, to just disappear until the flood waters receded or the dam broke, but now that they'd accepted him, they also noticed him. Logan kept track of his sleeping and eating, reading the signs of the coming storm like a skilled meteorologist reads the barometric pressure. Patton, precious Papa Patton, could practically tell how he was feeling based on how many times he smirked in a day. Even Roman could tell when the darker side was feeling bad, pulling back on the banter when the barbs became less playful and more direct. He sighed and pulled his hood up over his unruly mop of hair, shaking his sleeves down over his hands as he trudged up the stairs to his room. Sometimes he wished he had never opened up to the other sides, life had been so much easier on his own.

He pulled up short, gripping the handle to his room. No, no he didn't. Things may have been easier, but they were lonelier. Maybe they got on his nerves, but they at least cared enough to be paying attention to him. They treated him like family, and it was the most precious thing to him. He sighed again, dropping his head back to stare at the ceiling. He knew what he had to do, it would be awkward and uncomfortable, but it would be far better than curling into himself on his bed and wallowing in his mind.

Letting go of the doorknob, he turned around and stepped across the hall, raised his fist, and knocked on Patton's door. There was the sound of a loud thump and Virgil's eyes shot wide. Some shuffling and scrambling was heard, along with a muffled "coming". Seconds later the door opened to a very disheveled Patton, his cardigan twisted, his glasses askew and his hair was sticking up at quite the angle. "Oh hey there kiddo! What can I do for you?" He cheerfully asked, leaning against the door frame and pulling the door close to his body to block out the rest of the room.

"Um, I just wanted to talk, but you're probably busy. Wasn't important. sorrynevermind" He stammered out, turning to cross the hall when Patton's hand fell onto his shoulder.

"Virgil, it's fine. I'm not busy." He pushed his door open to reveal a trail of blankets off his bed and towards the door. "I was just burritoed up and nappin' when ya came a knockin'" He turned with a smile and scooped up the mass of blankets, throwing them onto the bed where a mountain of pillows and other blankets lay. "So, on a scale of standing to snuggled in a blanket fort, what kind of conversation are we having?"

Virgil shook his head, unruly fringe falling into his eyes as a soft, broken chuckle escaped his lips. "Probably blanket fort. I think I'm having a Code Fuchsia Patton." Patton nodded his head gravely and began to arrange pillows, blankets and stuffed animals on his bed. Virgil smiled to himself. Patton had come up with the colored system as a way for the sides to communicate their mental state without having to find the words. At first, they'd thought to merely humor him, but when Roman had used it to let them know he was feeling underwhelmed and then a few weeks later, Logan had used it to let them know he'd needed a break, they'd all begun to give Patton the credit he and his system deserved. It had already helped to avert the crisis that came from not catching a breakdown before it happened. It was a clever system, working like a mood ring and a stop light all in one. The basic green for good, yellow for feeling meh, and red for a meltdown. Extra shades like lime for in between, or orange for when you were halfway to red, and colors like fuchsia and scarlet for when you were far closer to the edge than you wanted to be.

Patton quickly finished arranging his mound of warmth and fluff just so and gestured for Virgil to settle in and make himself comfortable. He made soft grabby hands from underneath his sweater paws when Patton sat facing him opposite on the bed. "Please." He whimpered softly, right now, he just wanted to be held. Patton was quick to move up next to the darker trait, wrapping his arms around him and carding his fingers through his hair and placing a soft kiss to the top of his head.

They sat in silence for a good while as tears slowly slipped down Virgil's cheeks. Patton didn't push him to talk, or prod at him to find the source of the problem, smoothing small circles over the small of his back, and gently scratching at his scalp. He knew that when Virgil was ready to talk, he would. He could sense in the way that the smaller side clung to him, gentle sobs shaking his frame, that this storm had been a long time coming, and if holding him tight helped it break gently, then he would do so all night. Soon enough, Virgil felt his tears stop and he nuzzled against Patton's chest. "Thank you" he whispered, breathing shakily as his breathing began to regulate again.

"Hey, anytime Virgil." Patton whispered softly against his hair, squeezing him tightly and pressing his lips against his forehead in a chaste kiss. "Now, wanna tell me what's goin' on kiddo?"

Virgil sighed and nuzzled into Patton's chest. "Everything and nothing." It was true, there was nothing truly going on to cause him to be anxious. Yes Thomas had announced he was taking a break, but he was taking a break to plan ahead and be prepared; and all the Fanders had been so kind about it. Insisting that he take time to take care of himself, that they'd patiently wait and there'd been no backlash about it. The Twitter messages had been overwhelming when they'd been staying up late working on projects, playfully scolding Thomas about being up late and admonishing him to take care of himself. Things were good but...

"You're waiting for the other shoe to drop, aren't you?" Patton asked, tilting his head up and looking into his eyes with a soft smile. He kissed his forehead when Virgil nodded. "You know, sometimes, things can just be good. There doesn't always have to be something awful lurking around the corner."

"I know..." Virgil pouted "I can't help it though."

"Hey, it's okay. It's your job to be on your toes, but maybe we oughta give those toes a rest before someone mistakes you for a ballerina." Patton chuckled as he slipped his arms from around Virgil and stood up. "Come on my strange dark son, hot chocolate is in order!" He declared as he pulled Virgil up from his bed.

"With marshmallows?" Virgil asked, a small smile forming on his face.

"Extra marshmallows" Patton exclaimed as he practically skipped from his room towards the kitchen.Virgil chuckled and shook his head. Patton could be just as extra as Roman, but turning to him had definitely been the better option, he thought as he cast a glance at his bedroom door before following Patton down the steps.

~~~~~~~~~~

Logan had been sitting in the living room, calmly reading when the cry of "Extra marshmallows!" had come from the upstairs, followed quickly by the sound of Patton excitedly rushing down the stairs and sliding into the kitchen in his socked feet. Logan chuckled to himself at the playful sides silliness as he went back to reading. He was quickly distracted by the sound of a second person flouncing down the steps. Strange, I figured Patton was talking to Roman, but he struts more than anything. Perhaps, Misleading Compliment or Pranks had made an appearance today, the younger traits were still developing and tended to phase in and out as they waited on Thomas to confirm their existence.

He looked up towards the steps and quirked his eyebrow in shock, Virgil. Virgil was happily flumping down the steps, a smile on his face and sweater paws swinging by his side. He came to a stop at the landing near the bottom of the steps and looked at Logan sheepishly, his smiling fading slightly. "Oh, hi Logan."

Logan smiled at him "Greetings Virgil. You better get a move on or Patton will eat more marshmallows than he puts in the hot chocolate." He mused, tilting his head towards the kitchen before returning to his book. The lack of judgement seemed to comfort the timid boy as he jumped down the final two steps and headed into the kitchen to snatch a marshmallow from Patton, who had indeed been about to put one in his mouth.

"Logan, do you, do you want some hot chocolate?" Virgil asked from the kitchen, clearing his voice halfway through. Just because the sides accepted him, didn't mean it was always easy to speak to them. Especially the more scholarly side, who always seemed a bit intimidating to Virgil, if only because of the association with learning and grades.

Logan looked up in surprise, he hadn't been expecting that. "As a matter of fact, I would." He said, marking his place in his book and standing to stretch. His own sweater fell over his hands as he made his way towards the kitchen. At first, he'd been opposed to the zany design, but the warmth and comfort of it had grown on him, he'd been wearing it over his polo more and more often and had taken to ditching the tie when lounging.

Virgil noticed his sweater paws and practically giggled. Wait, giggled? Something had to be up, Logan thought. Virgil hadn't been laughing recently and he most certainly never giggled. He quirked his eyebrow at Patton who merely widened his eyes at him before smiling and passing him a mug of hot chocolate.

"You know what this hot chocolate party needs?" Virgil asked suddenly, "Fancy pants. That and whip cream, cinnamon, and chocolate chips to go with the marshmallows. I'm gonna go grab him, if you guys wanna get the rest of the toppings out." Before they could respond, he was gone, climbing the steps two at a time on his way to Roman's room.

Logan turned to face Patton, who looked far less astonished than he had a right to be. "What...?"

"We just averted a Code Fuchsia. If he wants to drink hot chocolate with all of us and watch sappy Disney movies you bet your bespectacled behind that's what we're gonna do." Patton answered, turning to gather the rest of the toppings that Virgil had rattled off.

"My behind isn't bespectacled, that wouldn't even make sense.." Logan muttered, shaking his head.

"Just hush and enjoy some time with our strange dark son." Patton teased as he placed the pantry goods on the counter and turned to grab the whip cream from the fridge.

"He's not your son, that's not how any of this works!" Logan exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation.

Patton laughed and squirted whip cream into his mouth. "They're just expressions Lo. I know your gluteus maximus physically can't wear glasses and that, while Virgil is quite literally my flesh and blood, he is not my kid."

"That's so unsanitary"

"Oh hush and open up." Patton laughed, tilting the can of whip cream upside down near his mouth. Logan rolled his eyes but smiled and did as Patton had asked, accepting the large heaping of whip cream. Of course, that exact moment was when Roman and Virgil re-entered the kitchen.

"Baby bird?" Patton asked them as they laughed at Logan's attempt to get the full pile of whip cream in his mouth and not on his sweater.

"After you Virge." Roman bowed with a sweeping gesture of his hand, laughter echoing as Virgil shoved his shoulder before dutifully opening his mouth and tilting his head back. Logan moved to stand by the counter and dropped a handful of chocolate chips into Roman's mouth when Patton had finished pouring whip cream into his mouth. Virgil snatched the can from Patton as he went to pour more into his mouth

"Stop it Pat! We won't have enough for the hot chocolate at this rate!" he laughed as he fought to keep the whip cream can away from Patton without spraying it onto the counter. This was of course unsuccessful and soon a streak of whip cream was on the counter and the bag of chocolate chips was knocked over as well.

There was a moment of silent panic, each side unsure how to react and fearing the reaction of the others before Thomas's giggling was heard from behind them. As if in slow motion, the sides all turned to face where he leant against the door frame, whip cream can still in Virgil's hands, Patton practically on top of him-hands around his middle reaching for the can. Logan cleared his throat and straightened his glasses as Roman wiped the stray whip cream off his face. "Thomas, we can explain..." Logan began.

"You better," Thomas said, attempting to glare at the four. "There's five of us and four mugs."

Patton was the first to laugh. "Sorry kiddo! Didn't know you'd be joining us" He said, managing to grab the can from Virgil who was still in a mild state of shock. "Baby bird?" He offered as Logan got down another mug down from the cupboard.

"As if I'd miss a hot cocoa party?" Thomas laughed as he tilted his head back for Patton to squirt the whip cream into his mouth as well. The kettle chose that exact time to whistle, startling Patton into spraying far too much into his mouth, sending them all into giggles once again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometime later, the five boys were settled into the living room, The Hunchback of Notre Dame playing on the TV, hot chocolate almost gone and pizza on the way. At Patton's suggestion, they had removed the couch cushions and tossed piles of blankets and pillows down the steps and built quite the formidable blanket fort. Logan had suggested they wear their sweaters and Patton had lent his cat cardigan to the pouting Thomas. Roman had brought down an assortment of Disney titles that sat stacked by the DVD player. He'd been surprised when Virgil had chosen this particular one, the whole outcast becomes beloved and accepted plot line seemed like it'd be far too real, but he certainly wasn't going to complain, especially when he'd agreed to also watch the sequel.

He'd been surprised when Virgil had knocked on his door and asked him if he wanted to bring some Disney movies down and have some hot chocolate. The normally shy trait had even looked him directly in the eyes, a fiery challenge in his eyes at addressing him as 'Fancy pants'. Roman had just shook his head and told him he'd come down only if 'You come in and pick the movies out Grumpelstiltskin'

Roman smiled as he spotted Virgil singing along to "Hellfire" out of the corner of his eye. He was glad to see Virgil in a good mood. The last week had been hard, he could see him slowly sinking further into his own mind, and as much as he acted at odds with him, he did enjoy Virgil's company greatly. Sometimes it felt like Virgil was still playing the role of antagonist, and Roman could only sympathize with him. He knew how it felt to play a role for so long that you feel stuck in it. Far too many times, he'd completed a play and spent more than a few days trying to remember what mannerisms were the characters and which had been his.

The doorbell rang, stirring Roman from his thoughts. Thomas went to collect the pizzas and Logan turned on a small lamp in the corner, curse the winter for stealing the sun away at such an early hour. Roman let himself settle further into the blankets as Patton collected the cups they'd used for the hot chocolate. As he rinsed the cups to be used for soda, Thomas carried the pizza boxes into the living room, Logan brought in a roll of paper towels and the soda they'd bought. Soon the movie was playing again and food was being eaten, but Roman found himself struggling to focus on the movie, staring at the amber glow from the salt rock in the corner of the room. What was it Logan had said about the salt rock and the air? He didn't normally listen to Logan's lectures, but for some reason, this one had seemed important, if only he could remember it....

The movie had ended and he still hadn't remembered. He would just have to ask, he sighed as Patton and Thomas cleaned the remnants of dinner and Virgil changed out one disc for the next. He reached over to where Logan was reading the back of the movie box and poked his temple.

"Yes Roman?" Logan asked in mild annoyance as he continued to read. "What is it?"

"Remember that little lecture you gave about the salt rock?" Roman asked, as Logan finally looked up at him.

"I do not lecture." Logan leveled a small glare at him "I do however remember telling you about the benefits of salt lamps."

Roman fought the urge to roll his eyes, angering Logan would not do well for the warm atmosphere that had built up in the living room. "Right that. Pretty please give a short summary of it." He asked, as politely as he could. "I find myself unable to remember and it is quite bothersome." He explained when Logan quirked his eyebrow up at him.

"Well," Logan said, pushing his glasses up from where they'd slipped down his nose, "While the extent is yet to be scientifically proven, the negative ions released can improve mood, increase serotonin and prevent illness. In general, they serve to balance out the energy of the air, and also the energy of those who breathe it"

"Thanks Specs." Roman responded, quickly cutting off a further explanation from the, at times, long-winded side. He smiled at him and nudged him with his shoulder to quell any possible irritation at being cut off as the movie began to play. Now that he knew what they did, he knew what he was going to do. Waiting until the movie had begun and the others were well and distracted, he slowly phased from the living room up to the upstairs hallway.

He snuck down the hallway and paused with his hand on the doorknob. This was dangerous. Not only entering Virgil's room without his permission, but also entering it alone. He steeled himself with a deep breath and opened the door slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible. He didn't need to enter the room, just to be able to see it. He smiled as he began to conjure items in the room, working as quickly as he could before softly closing the door and phasing back to the living room.

He wasn't sure his plan would work, but it couldn't hurt. Even if salt lamps didn't have proven medical benefits, Virgil had liked looking at it, so it would hopefully bring a smile to his face either way. He settled back into the blanket pile and allowed himself to be caught up in the world of Disney magic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan thought it had been weird when Roman had asked about the salt lamp, but as he saw him phase out of the living room and heard the soft creak of the door upstairs, he thought he understood. He caught Patton's eyes and the two shared a smile. In the shuffle of gathering the supplies for the blanket fort, they'd been able to pass along the nearly averted Code Fuchsia and it was heart warming to see Roman thinking outside the box for ways to help Virgil move further down the spectrum.

Logan sighed to himself as the movie continued in the background. It seemed everyone had found a way to help except for him. Patton had talked to him and made him hot chocolate, Roman had pulled out the movies and was now doing something with salt lamps, and even Thomas had shown up whispering small affirmations in passing and picking comfort foods for him. He wanted to help, wanted to make a difference, to show that he cared too, even if Virgil didn't realize what was going on.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Virgil stretch and rub at the muscles of his neck. That was it! He had been at a Code Fuchsia, Virgil must have been majorly stressed. Stress causes tension and tension leaves muscles sore and achy, and the muscular system was one that Logan knew like the back of his hand. He got up and went to fill a glass with water, grabbing a bottle of lotion from the counter and coming back to the living room.

It had taken him embarrassingly long to come up with this solution and the second movie of the night had ended. Virgil diverted the decision to Patton who chose Home on the Range because it was 'the perfect mix of childish comedy and angst' and had pouted at Roman when he attempted to disagree. As the movie was put in and the blanket fort revamped, Logan moved over to where Virgil was sitting and handed him the glass of water before sitting next to him. "Virgil. Are you alright?" He asked softly, not wanting it to seem like he was calling him out, or let on that he'd been made aware of the situation earlier that day.

"Um ya... I'm fine. Why?" Virgil stammered out, looking down at his hands.

"You merely looked tense is all. I was going to offer my knowledge of the muscular system in aiding your muscles to relax." Logan said, shrugging and moving as if to stand.

"Wait, you mean you were offering me a massage?" Virgil asked, shaking his head in an attempt to muddle through just what Logan had said.

"Well yes, I suppose I could have phrased it that way." Logan said, hiding a smile as he settled back on the ground next to Virgil. Of course he'd been right, use more words than necessary and they were guaranteed to ask for clarification. A perfect foot in the door technique if ever there was one.

"Do you even know how to massage? That doesn't seem like your normal area of expertise Teach." Virgil asked teasingly.

"Well Virgil, massage is the study of anatomy in braille." Logan responded with a smirk, grabbing the lotion from where he had tossed it onto the couch. "Care to test my skills?" He asked quirking his eyebrow and doing his best to convey that it was completely up to him.

"Um sure, I guess that'd be nice. My shoulders and neck have kinda been bothering me and" Virgil leaned closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper "no offense to Patton, but Home on The Range isn't exactly my favorite Disney movie. Too much of the angst happens before the happy ending."

Logan chuckled quietly "Mine either, but who are we to tell him no. If you would move forward a bit, I can sit behind you on the couch. Also, you may wish to remove your sweater so that I may have better access to your shoulders." He smiled softly as Virgil nodded and complied.

He settled onto the couch behind him and gently pulled on his shoulders so he would scoot back, leaning on the couch and nestled between his knees. He pumped a bit of the lotion into his palms and warmed it up before putting his hands on Virgil's shoulders. The movie began to play as Logan slowly worked at the tension in Virgil's shoulders, working further up into his neck as the movie progressed. Slowly, he felt Virgil begin to nod off, using his hands to tilt his head back to rest on his lap, rather than falling forward. He let his fingers work further up into his scalp as the side drifted deeper into sleep.

The movie ended and Logan managed to quickly hush them before anyone woke him up. Patton and Thomas began to sort out the blankets and pillows as Roman returned the movies to his room, and Logan worked to keep Virgil relaxed and asleep. As Patton lifted Virgil's bundle of bedding, Roman knelt down and gently scooped the sleeping side into his arms and began to carry him up the steps towards his room.

"You did good Logan." Thomas said softly as he finished sorting out the blankets. "All of you did. I hadn't even realized things were as bad as they were. How'd you know?"

"We didn't. Virgil went to Patton and asked for help. I think he finally trusts us Thomas." Logan replied, smiling softly up at the forms of Patton laden with blankets and Roman cradling Virgil as they climbed the steps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Virgil felt himself being jostled softly and snuggled deeper into the warmth enveloping him. He was vaguely aware of being carried but he was simply too tired to give it much thought. His stomach was still pleasantly full of pizza instead of nerves and laughter echoed through his mind rather than voices of self doubt.

"Here, lemme just get these blankets and pillows back on the bed real quick Ro." Patton said softly as he opened the door to Virgil's room. Inside the dark room was softly glowing as small salt lamps shifted through a rainbow gradient and large ones glowed a soft amber from the corners of the room. Patton turned to look at Roman, eyes wide with shock.

"Shh, just make the bed Pat. I don't want him to wake up in my arms. Goodness knows how that would end" Roman said, not quite willing to own up to being the one responsible for the lights.

Patton smiled and busied himself with laying out the blankets and pillows on Virgil's bed, slipping out and over to his room as Roman went to lay Virgil into the bed. Roman looked at him questioningly when he returned carrying a small black teddy bear. "It's got lavender in it, to help him sleep." Patton shrugged as he tucked it underneath the blankets next to Virgil and the two left the room.

Virgil smiled and cracked one eye open as the door closed. As he pulled the lavender scented bear closer to him and snuggled down into the sheets that also seemed to have been sprayed with lavender and vanilla, he closed his eyes and let the light from the salt lamps dance over them as memories of laughter danced behind them.

Today may have started bad, but it certainly hadn't ended that way. He knew that not every day would be perfect and that things were bound to go wrong, but as he drifted back off to sleep he was certain: so long as he had the other sides and Thomas, he would never have to face it alone again.

[plowstock99-blog]

A Full Advise to Prenatal Yoga

Most beneficial Yoga Poses for Pregnant Women- Prepare for delivery and enjoy a wholesome pregnancy. Hero Pose does look easy and is great for relieving the ankle and leg swelling during being pregnant. It will probably relieve fuel and help in better digestion of meals. This pose stretches the lower part of the physique and presents better steadiness and help throughout pregnancy. It additionally works for lowering blood strain precipitated attributable to being pregnant. Quick Respiratory: Any pranayama requiring breath retention or rapid inhales and exhales (similar to kapalabhati) should be averted. Begin to follow birthing breath (deep inhalations via the nose and exhalations by means of the mouth) as a substitute. This technique has a direct application to the birthing course of. Studying to give attention to the breath and use it to keep you anchored in the current second could be the most useful factor you be taught from prenatal yoga. This two-part pregnant yoga pose tones and strengthens the muscle tissues of the higher chest to higher help enlarging breasts It additionally strengthens the arms and wrists. Find the best prenatal yoga poses for all stages of your being pregnant. Prenatal melancholy can negatively affect the bodily and psychological health of both mother and fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention in the administration of prenatal depression. Times are getting exciting for pregnant girls. Whereas the final, properly-which means recommendation for mums-to-be a decade in the past was to lay off train and get plenty of relaxation, the tide has turned. The signature Bliss Baby Yoga philosophy and methodology fuses scientific data of protected practices with a holistic, spiritual understanding for a satisfying learning expertise. Thank you so much for visiting the Dolphin Technique website. We hope you will consider signing up for our mailing record. On occasion we send out details about our Prenatal Yoga Instructor Trainings, Womens Yoga Workshops, and Doula Trainings in addition to information about our movies, books, and different merchandise to help you have the perfect start you'll be able to have or help others with their pregnancies and births.

A Total Guideline to Prenatal Yoga

Camel posture works nice for the shoulders and the chest as effectively. Ustrasana is without doubt one of the greatest asanas of yoga for pregnant women during that time. It helps to stimulate the nervous system and improves the backbone flexibility. Your experience of being pregnant and giving start will bring physical and emotional adjustments. Full squat pose strengthens legs, thighs , calves, toes and ankles. It will possibly Yoga para Gestantes stretch the lower part of the body, including your spine. This train is extremely advisable for preparing the decrease physique for delivery. It might probably additionally assist you relieve gasoline from the physique and stimulate bowel actions. Forest plots of effects of yoga on depression scores for prenatally depressed and non-depressed women. (A) Forest plot of the comparison of the yoga intervention group versus the control group for depression scores in prenatally depressed ladies. (B) Forest plot of the comparison of the yoga intervention group versus the control group for melancholy scores in prenatally non-depressed women. Pre Natal Yoga promotes concord, pleasure, belief and self confidence all through being pregnant by rigorously adapted postures to ease aches and pains, breathing workouts, and meditation strategies, whereas Pre Natal Pilates helps women to feel the contraction of the pelvic ground muscle tissues but additionally the discharge, making certain flexibility.

[lowkeyenvy]

Just Like This - Prom ‘59

Synopsis:  Inspired by David Harbour's tweets: "Hawkins class of '60. She and Lonnie went to Prom winter of '59 and Hopper sat outside in his steel blue GTO smoking' camels." And "Joyce and I never slow danced. Lucille by Little Richard. On the dance floor we tore it up. We'd go somewhere else to do things slow."

Over 8,000 words of my take on the events that led up to why Joyce went to prom with Lonnie, along with the after effects, including Joyce and Hopper taking things slow. Pre-series fic.

Author: Lowkeyenvy Characters: Joyce Byers x Jim Hopper Chapters: 1/1 Words: 8,128 Rating: Explicit Warnings: NSFW, Smut Tags: @strangerthingsfics Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights and credits are to the Duffer Brothers and Netflix. 

Author’s Note: This one shot is based loosely on David's tweets and does not follow exactly how he envisioned it, but I think it gets pretty close. 

Hawkins 1959

“C’mon Hopper, if I’m late for Homeroom one more time, Cooper will write me a Saturday detention,” Benny complained from the passenger seat of Jim’s Oldsmobile.

“It’s Homeroom Benny,” Jim responded, “it’s not even considered a class. Cooper’s being a hardass and you know it.”

Benny glared at him, “I don’t care if he’s being a hardass or not, if I get Saturday detention because you want to spy on your girlfriend—“

Jim held up a hand and Benny instantly quieted. “There’s Karen’s car.” He tipped his head in the direction across the parking lot as a light blue Thunderbird pulled in.

Slowly, he slid his oversized aviators down his nose so he could peer overtop of them. He placed both of his hands on the steering wheel and leaned forward, squinting as he tried to get a better line of vision. As bad as it sounded, he wished he had a pair of binoculars in the car. He heaved a sigh, “Where are they?”

The car was parked, but no one had emerged just yet.

Jim blinked, internally speculating how this morning was about to go. He was either going to see Joyce emerge from the passenger side of that Thunderbird with Karen and all would be well. Or this morning was about to turn upside down if she didn’t. He reached in his pocket for his pack of Camels. Without averting his heavy gaze, he lit the tip of a cigarette and inhaled deeply. If this morning was going to go sour, he might as well prepare for it.

As if reading his mind, Benny asked, “Do you really think this is a good idea? Homeroom starts in six minutes Hopper. Six. Minutes.”

Jim ignored his question and simply inquired, “Do you really wanna miss witnessing me knock Byers’ teeth in if she doesn’t get out of that car?”

Benny chuckled. “Trust me, everyone would want to witness that. But aren’t you and Joyce over now? I thought you guys broke up last weekend.” He was treading lightly. “ Look Hop, it’s been almost a week now. She didn’t even show up to the drive-in last night and it was half off Wednesday!”

Jim shook his head obstinately, pressing his fingertips into the steering wheel. He was gripping it so tightly that it left his knuckles a shade of ghost white. If he pressed any harder he was sure he’d leave indentations. “We did not break up. It was just a fight.”

Benny frowned. “You haven’t spoken to her since. We’ve all heard the rumors Hop… sounds like Byers couldn’t wait to swoop in and snatch her up.”

Jim grimaced. He focused back in on Karen’s car, watching intently as he tried to keep his temper under control. Byers hadn’t shown yet either. If Joyce didn’t get out of Karen’s car, then there was a very likely chance that she would get out of Lonnie’s. If that happened… well he meant what he said. He’d knock Byers’ teeth in.

The driver’s side door to the blue Thunderbird finally opened. Jim watched as Karen stepped out into the parking lot. She threw her bag over one shoulder before pushing the door shut. Jim found himself holding his breath as his eyes narrowed in on the passenger’s side. “C’mon,” he whispered. Karen smoothed out her sweater dress before heading towards the high school. She was officially alone.

“Son of a bitch!” Jim hit the steering wheel with such force that Benny flinched.

“Hop, I know you’re pissed, but I have to be in Homeroom in two minutes.” Benny threw open the passenger door. Before getting out, he placed a hand on Jim’s shoulder. “I’ll catch up with you after third period.” He got out of the car and leaned down, one hand on the car’s top while the other rested on the door. “Try not to kill him.” He said before shutting the door and heading towards the school.

Jim brushed Benny’s comment off. There would be no trying of anything. He was going to sit in that car until he got eyes on Byers. Then he was going to drag him out of his own car and beat the shit out of him. Something he’d wanted to do for months now. Ever since he entered the picture, he and Joyce fought often, which wasn’t out of the norm to begin with. But it was a lot more often so to speak, since Lonnie decided to act on the thing he had for Joyce.

He slumped back in his seat as the school bell rang signaling that Homeroom was starting. He reached in his jacket once more to pull out his pack of cigarettes. He figured he was going to be here a while. God only knows what Joyce and Lonnie were up to. He wondered if they skipped together. The thought made his blood boil with rage that was threatening to overflow. After flicking his lighter on and lighting the end of his cigarette, he tossed the lighter onto the dashboard.

Staring straight ahead, he kept his eyes on the entrance to the student parking lot.

It wasn’t until he heard the sound of heels click-clacking on the pavement behind his car that he peeled his eyes away. His gaze flickered up to the rear view mirror.

His view was blocked by a small petite figure. She was wearing an oversized grey sweater with a pair of light wash jeans. Her arms were crossed against her chest. Even though the mirror cut off the upper area of her body, Jim knew exactly who it was. Especially since he looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of a black Buick speeding out of the back lot, which undoubtedly belonged to her father. He felt like a jackass.

Huffing out a deep breath, he pulled on his door handle and nudged the door open with his foot.

Before he could get out however, she had strode over and slammed the door shut once more. He was barely able to pull his foot away from being squashed, but it did still end up pinching his pinky toe. “OW! What the fuck, Joyce!”

He hurled the door open this time, swinging it with such force that she had to dodge out of the way to avoid being knocked over by it.

“Were you trying to spy on me?!”

“No,” he lied, through gritted teeth. “I just pulled up.”

Joyce crossed her arms across her chest once more and tilted her head to the side to glare at him. “Oh really? Then why isn’t Benny with you? I know you picked him up this morning. The bell rang three minutes ago and I also know he had to be in Homeroom this morning or he’d get Saturday detention.”

Jim cursed under his breath. He really wasn’t helping his case. “Yeah well, maybe I wasn’t spying on you at all, maybe I was waiting for Chrissy Carpenter so we could skip.” He didn’t mean it. He just wanted to hurt her and make her feel the way he had only minutes ago when he thought she’d show up with Lonnie.

“I’m sure you were,” she muttered.

He glanced down at her and looked at her, truly looked at her, for the first time that morning. She was really, really beautiful, he thought angrily. Her dark brown hair that reached her shoulders was messy, but not in a bad way. Her oversized sweater clung to her skin along with her light wash jeans. She had a pair of black leather combat boots on that laced up in the front, with just enough heel to allow her to reach his shoulders, rather than his chest on most days. Her cheeks were a light shade of pink and her forehead was covered by two wavy strands from where her bangs had fallen loosely.

The most beautiful woman in the world was standing before him and he hated her for it. He hated how beautiful she was to not just him, but everyone else. He was selfish. He didn’t want anyone else to relish in her beauty or realize how wonderful she was. He wanted her to himself. It was her fault Lonnie was coming between them. If she wasn’t so beautiful then maybe Lonnie wouldn’t have paid her any mind.

His mind flashed back to what she initially had muttered under her breath. His eyebrows pulled together in confusion, “What is that supposed to mean?”

Joyce snorted. “Seriously Hop? Do you not remember why we broke up in the first place? Aside from your arrogance, your obsessiveness, and your ability to ruin everything!”

“It was a fight! Since when did we break up?!” He asked, incredulously.

She rolled her eyes, “Oh I don’t know, maybe when I said; I’M BREAKING UP WITH YOU!”

“For what?!” He yelled.

“You are unbelievable Jim Hopper!” She yelled, scowling at him. “You cheated on me with Chrissy Carpenter!”

“NO I DIDN’T!”

“YES YOU DID! I SAW YOU!”

Jim’s blood was positively boiling at this point. He merely leaned back against the Oldsmobile and asked mockingly, “If that’s the case then who’s really spying on who Joyce?”

“I wasn’t,” she said, more calmly this time, however her voice had become grave, “I was invited to Earl’s party too so anything I saw there is not considered spying.”

He shrugged, “Fine, but this is school property so if I want to sit in my car and observe my surroundings then that’s not considered spying either.”

“Fine,” she said gently, her voice soft.

“Fine.” He retorted.

Joyce hugged her arms to her chest. She was so angry with him, but the energy to fight was draining her dry. Her eyes were rimmed with a deep purple shade from dark circles. She hadn’t had a full night’s sleep since her and Hopper broke up. Nervously, she began switching her balance from one foot to the other as she stared down at the pavement. She could feel his gaze scrutinizing her. She sucked in a deep breath, knowing that what she was about to say was going to send him flying off the handle once more. “I’m not going to prom with you.”

Jim tossed a cigarette butt off to the side.

“I’m going with Lonnie.”

“What?” he said disbelievingly. He resisted the urge snap at her, trying his absolute best to maintain a calm demeanor. Maybe he had heard her wrong.

“You heard me.” She replied, her tone was stern.

The silence that followed between them was deafening. He and Joyce fought all the time. All the time. They’d been together for two years now and they argued at least every other day but it had never come to this.

Jim’s voice was monotonous, “I’m going to kill him.” He pushed past her, nudging her shoulder and making her stumble sideways.

Joyce’s eyes widened and she hurried after him. “Hop, wait—no!” She matched his quick pace, breathing heavily next to him. “Stop!” She reached out for his arm, but he shook her off. “JIM! STOP!”

He rounded on her instantly, making her already tiny frame, shrink even further into herself. His usual crystal blue eyes were now clouded grey with rage. She’d never seen them this dark before. The grey admist the blue looked like rocks against the shore that destroyed ships. They were torturous and above all… dangerous.

“You did this, not me,” she said breathlessly, her annoyance with him sounding diluted.

He placed his hands on his chest, mimicking a ‘me’ motion. “I did this? You broke up with me Joyce! For no goddamn reason other than—”

“Because you kissed Chrissy!” She interjected defensively, not allowing him to finish.

“SHE KISSED ME!”

“I SAW HER ON YOUR LAP!”

Jim threw his arms over his head in frustration. He pointed a finger at her, nearly jabbing her shoulder. “I’m going to tell you one last time Joyce. I did not kiss Chrissy. We were at Earl’s party, there were some drinks involved--not on my part. Chrissy was drunk out of her mind. You know she’s always been sweet on me. I’m assuming she took you not being there and her newfound confidence through alcohol to climb on my lap and kiss me. I. DID. NOT. KISS. HER. BACK. I pushed her off of me! But I guess you didn’t stick around long enough to see that.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why not? Because your new boyfriend told you a different story?” He paused, shaking his head with a slight chuckle. “Yeah that mother-fucking asshole probably couldn’t wait to tell you that made up bullshit.”

Joyce cringed at his choice of word usage.

He slowly leaned forward invading her personal space. Their noses were merely inches apart when she felt his hot breath against her face, “Enjoy your prom Joyce.”

Pushing past her, he left her standing there with a frown on her face. She could feel her eyes watering, blurring her vision as she looked over her shoulder to watch him walk away. It wasn’t until he reached the school’s main doors and was out of sight that she allowed the tears to spill over.

(XxXxXxXxXxX)

Joyce sighed and buried her face into a pillow. “Oh my God, Karen. How am I going to get through tonight?”

“What?” Karen replied hoarsely, “Your voice is muffled.”

Joyce picked her head up and gazed bleakly at her. “What if Hopper shows up? What if he and Lonnie see each other? What if tonight is disastrous? I mean, this is my life we’re talking about.”

Karen shrugged. “That’s too many what ifs.”

Joyce rolled over so that her back was lying on Karen’s bed. She stared up at the ceiling as she waited for her best friend to finish getting ready. The Winter Prom was tonight and she was dreading it. It’d been two days since her latest fight with Hopper. She hadn’t heard from him and she made no attempt to contact him herself either, at first. However, yesterday she did go outside between fifth and sixth period to their usual spot for smoking, but he wasn’t there. The thought of how empty she felt when she went under the steps to find him not there was agonizing.

“Almost done,” Karen chirped from the corner of the room. She was curling the last few strands of her hair. She looked at Joyce in the mirror. “Are you sure that’s what you want to wear?”

Joyce lifted her head up so that she could glare at her. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Karen yawned. “I’m just asking, okay? This is our junior winter prom! Your dress isn’t exactly…”

“What’s wrong with my dress?!”

“Nothing! I thought you’d want to have a dress that’s more prom-like that’s all.”

Joyce looked down at her dress. She was wearing a short, long sleeved, skater black dress that was tight around her chest and waist area, but flowed out at her hips. She had on a pair of black tights to match along with black heels. She also had a black leather jacket that she planned to wear overtop. Sure it was simple, but it was her. She’d never been into the fancy outfits that Karen always wore. In fact, she got this dress on sale and used at the local community aid store.

“Do you at least want to put some make-up on before we leave? I have red lipstick.” Karen held up a black tube and dangled it between her fingers.

“No.”

Karen shrugged her shoulders, “Suit yourself.” She fluffed her curls up with her hands and stood from her vanity. Her pale pink dress was over the top. It had ruffles and flowed effortless as she did a few twirls in front of the mirror. She stopped suddenly and turned around slowly to face Joyce.

Joyce spotted her uneasiness right away. “Karen. What is it?”

Karen gave a nervous sort of laugh. “It’s nothing, really Joyce. I just… I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to be upset.”

Joyce arched an eyebrow. “Didn’t want me to get upset about what?”

“Promise that you won’t get mad at me!” She paused, waiting for Joyce to promise. When she stayed silent, staring at her intently, Karen continued, “I thought it’d be better to just let you see for yourself but now that I’m thinking about it, I think it’d be better if you could prepare yourself.”

Joyce sat up fully on the bed and was leaning so far forward that if she moved any further, even by just an inch, she would fall off the bed. “Prepare. Myself. For. What.”

“HopperaskedChrissyCarpentertopromandshesaidyes!” She blurted out suddenly.

Joyce’s eyes widened.

“They’ll be there tonight, together.” Karen finished softly.

Of course. That was just the icing on the cake to this week for Joyce. She wasn’t sure if she was hurt or angry. Or both. Hopper swore up and down that he didn’t cheat on her with Chrissy and that she was the one who kissed him. That it meant nothing to him and he had pushed her off of him. But here he was asking her to prom. She scowled. She knew he was only doing this to get back at her for going with Lonnie.

Seeing her change in demeanor, Karen eyed Joyce critically, “Look Joyce, like I said, I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to be upset. But I also didn’t know if I should tell you because I wasn’t sure you’d even care. You’re the one who broke up with Hop. I thought it was pretty clear that you chose Lonnie over him.”

Joyce shook her head obstinately, digging her fingernails into the bedsheets. “I didn’t choose Lonnie over Hopper! I was mad at him because I thought he cheated on me with Chrissy! So I started hanging out with Lonnie more to make him jealous.”

“But I thought you like Lonnie now?” Karen questioned.

“I do!”

“But you still love Hopper?”

“Yes,” Joyce responded, sounding faintly annoyed. She really did like Lonnie. He had a crush on her since middle school. He was sweet, nice, and funny. They got along so well and she actually grew to like him since they started spending more time together. But he wasn’t Hopper.

Karen flipped her hair over her shoulder. She moved to stand in front of Joyce and placed her hands firmly on her hips. She held one hand up so that it hovered just in front of Joyce’s face. She was holding the tube of red lipstick. Smirking, she raised her eyebrows and whispered, “Then let’s go get your man.”

(XxXxXxXxXxX)

Prom wasn’t as horrible or disastrous as Joyce imagined it would be. And although her dress and makeup wasn’t as extravagant as the other girls, she felt beautiful. The cruella red lipstick on her lips popped against her all black outfit and pale features. She would never admit it, but she was glad Karen talked her into wearing it.

Her and Lonnie had spent about forty minutes on the dance floor tearing it up with a group of friends. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, but the thought of Hopper in the back of her mind kept her on edge. She found herself looking towards the gymnasium doors every five minutes or so to see if he’d show with Chrissy.

“Joyce?” Lonnie’s loud voice rang in her ears as he tried to be heard over the music, and pull her from her thoughts.

She turned to face him, “Yeah?”

“What’s going on, are you okay? You keep looking at the doors like you’re going to make a run for it.”

Joyce laughed, “No, no, I’m fine! I’m going to go to the restroom, I’ll be right back!”

She hurried out of the gymnasium and slipped through a side door into one of the school hallways. She didn’t even really have to use the restroom, she just needed to get out of there. She was practically suffocating from everyone’s warm bodies surrounding her, and her mind wondering in different directions with more thoughts of ‘what if.’

Still, she found her way to the restroom and thankfully it was empty. She stared at herself in the mirror for a few moments, her eyes narrowing in on every blemish. Shaking her head, she sighed and moved to leave, but she heard voices on the other side of the door.

Quickly, she went into a stall and locked it just as a group of girls entered the room.

“Chrissy you’re forty-five minutes late! What took you so long to get here?!” A voice asked, echoing off the walls.

Joyce cursed under breath. Of course it was Chrissy and her friends.

“She was probably getting down to business in the back of Hopper’s car!” Another voice chimed in.

“Girls!” Chrissy’s voice interrupted, scolding them. “Jimmy and I were late because he was late picking me up. He said he stopped to get me flowers.”

Joyce rolled her eyes. She hated hearing her call him “Jimmy.” It made her want to gag.

“Awe! He got you flowers! How sweet!”

“How sweet,” Joyce mocked in a whisper.

“That’s not all he got me,” Chrissy beamed. “He said that after the dance we could get a room down the street.”

The girls all let out a resounding gasp. They immediately started giggling and whispering but Joyce was too stunned to hear what they were saying. Her vision was blurring and she had to put her hand on one of the walls of the stall to steady herself.

“What about Joyce?” Someone asked.

This brought Joyce back to reality. She held her breath as she waited for someone else to speak.

“What about her?” Chrissy’s tone was ice cold.

“Yeah what about her?” Another girl followed.

“Jimmy dumped her last weekend,” Chrissy said matter-of-factly. “Besides, after tonight, after I’m finished giving him the time of his life… he won’t even remember who Joyce is.”

The girls all giggled again. “Let’s go get some punch! I heard some of the boys saying they were going to spike it!” The group retreated out of the bathroom.

Joyce emerged from her hiding place.

Shock.

It was not a word powerful enough to describe quite how she was feeling in that moment. Her jaw hung open and she gazed absently around the room, looking for confirmation that she wasn’t dreaming. That simply could not have truly just happened.

Joyce had only been in there to find a moment to relax in peace and quiet and get away from everyone. Of course Chrissy and her band of mean girls had to enter at the exact same time.

He said that after the dance we could get a room down the street.

Joyce ran to the nearest sink and braced her hands on either side of it. She turned the faucet on and splashed cold water onto her face. Her lipstick was still perfectly in place as she looked at herself in the mirror once more. She wasn’t going to let this ruin her night. She patted her face dry with a paper towel and then left the bathroom.

Keeping her head low, she headed in the direction that lead back towards the gymnasium.

“Joyce?”

She halted at the sound of his voice. Slowly, she spun around on her heels to face him. She swore she stopped breathing in that exact moment. He was wearing a black suit with a white button up under shirt and a black tie. His hair was trimmed and combed back. He looked very dashing and Joyce couldn’t remember the last time she saw him like this--if ever. The look he was giving back to her, told her that their thoughts weren’t very different.

“Hi…” she finally mustered before turning to walk away.

“Joyce, wait!” Jim called out to her.

But she did not slow her pace. She did not turn to look at him. Instead, she kept going in the direction of the gymnasium, but instead of going there, she cut down to the mathematics hallway.

Jim hurried after her, eventually closing the gap between them and when he did, he took hold of her arm. He froze in shock when Joyce wretched her arm out of his grasp and threw him an icy glare.

“Joyce, what’s wrong?” Jim asked, frankly taken aback by her behavior. It seemed like all his question did was worsen her mood.

“You better get out there Hop,” she spat back at him, “there’s a woman awaiting your attention.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Joyce flung her hands up in frustration, “Chrissy? Ringing any bells? You’re getting a room for the two of you!”

Jim stopped dead in his tracks, staring at her incredulously. He could not have heard the words that just came out of her mouth correctly. She was already walking away from him again, but he took hold of her hand. Joyce spun around and met his eye, though there was still anger in her gaze, there was also hurt. She did not pull away from him as resolutely as she had the first time. Instead, she averted her gaze, not at all wanting to look at him.

“Look Hopper, I’m sorry, okay?!” She blurted out. “I only agreed to come here with Lonnie to make you jealous. And I only broke up with you because I was mad at you!”

Jim watched her, his eyes softening. A horrible feeling churned in his stomach. He hated seeing her distressed, and he hated being the cause of it. But really, the idea of the past week’s events seemed almost laughable to him now. Joyce knew he loved her and he knew that she loved him. They spent the last week desperately trying to get back at each other over something so silly.

“I only brought Chrissy here to make you jealous too.” He admitted.

“And that’s the reason you’re getting a room?” She shot back with a scoff.

“Don’t be ridiculous baby, I’m not getting a room with her. You know she means nothing to me.” He tried to speak gently.

“Then why is she telling everyone that you are?”

Jim moved towards her, ducking his head closer to hers as he tried to cup her cheek. He just wanted to calm her. “Joyce listen to me, I’m not getting a room with Chrissy. I’m sorry I brought her here tonight. I’m sorry that all of this started over something so stupid. I never wanted her. It’s always been you Joyce. And it always will be.”

Joyce closed her eyes and leaned into his touch as he held her face in his hands. “I don’t want to fight anymore. I’m tired of fighting.” She whispered.

“So am I,” Jim took Joyce’s hand in his, caressing her open palm gently with his thumb. “Joyce…” he said softly and met her gaze, “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you.”

The words rung out around them and then there was silence. The truth can be a heavy thing, and in that moment, both of them alike felt its weight. They knew if they kept fighting in this way that it would only lead them down a road of destruction and heartbreak. One where they would both lose each other. Neither one of them could bear to think of that.

“You won’t,” she promised.

Jim smiled at her response.

“Do you want to go back to the dance? They’re playing one of your favorite songs.” Joyce offered.

They both listened as the lyrics to Little Richard’s Lucille played off in the distance.

“Lucille , please, come back where you belong. I been good to you, baby, please, don’t leave me alone.”

“It’s a slow one,” Joyce teased.

Jim smiled at her and moved to wrap his arms around her waist. “I was actually thinking we could go somewhere else to take things slow,” He pulled her towards him so that her body was flush against his. He could feel Joyce’s heart beating at a rapid pace. “You know my favorite part about us fighting all the time?” He asked with a chuckle.

Joyce found herself holding her breath, waiting for him to answer his own question, although she was pretty certain she already knew the answer. “Hmm?” She hummed.

He gave her a sly smile. His face moved closer, his lips nearly touching hers as he whispered, “Making up.”

Joyce grinned and before she could respond, his lips were on hers. He was gentle at first, nibbling at her bottom lip before they got more demanding, firmly massaging hers. Moaning, Joyce curled her hands around his neck as she kissed him back, moving her lips against his, shivering as heat flushed through her body.

He lifted her easily off the ground and her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. Her arms were still hooked tightly around his neck and she pressed her body against his, as his lips continued to kiss hers. Jim ran his tongue along her bottom lip before biting it gently. She let out a small gasp at the gesture.

Hardly able to control himself any longer, Jim stumbled forward, pressing Joyce’s back against the nearest classroom door. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue continued to dance with hers. Unhooking her arms from his neck, she gripped his shoulder for support with one hand and used the other to reach around and turn the door’s knob.

Jim stepped inside the classroom and kicked the door shut with his foot. He pulled away from her suddenly, both of them out of breath. They looked around the dark classroom, both of them taking a few minutes for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. “Oh my God, we’re in Cooper’s classroom.” Joyce said, throwing her head back as she laughed.

“Well I hope he doesn’t mind if we borrow it,” Jim said with a smile. He held her up with one arm and used the other to clear off a section of the desk at the front of the room.

“Hopper,” Joyce breathed against his lips as he pressed her down onto Cooper’s desk.

His mouth attacked her throat, his stubble scratching against her skin as his teeth scraped just above her collarbone. Exhaling a trembling breath, Joyce surrendered to his touch and let him pull her up into a sitting position so he could pull her dress over her head. Jim tossed it to the floor as he reached an arm around to unclasp her bra, pressing hot kisses along her shoulder blade as he did so. She shrugged out of her bra and he tossed that away alongside her dress.

The chilled air in the room had already hardened her nipples and Jim’s intense stare made them peek up, begging earnestly for attention.

Jim smiled as he pushed her back down onto the desk once more and Joyce smiled back, gasping as he flicked his tongue over her nipple. He sucked it between his lips, his teeth nibbling on the sensitive flesh.

“Hop…” Joyce moaned, her hands gripping his head when his mouth started to kiss dangerously slow down over her belly, resting right above the hem of her tights.

Jim peered up at her with a devious look in his eyes, “I told you we’re going to take things slow tonight.” With that, he hooked his fingers around the waistband of her tights and panties and slowly pulled them down. His fingers slid steadily down from her waist, to her hips, and then all the way down her legs to her toes.

From there, Jim started at her toes and worked his way back up her body, intent on giving her more pleasure than she had ever felt before. His teeth grazed against her smooth, silken skin as his tongue licked and sucked in various spots.

“Please,” Joyce tossed her head back, her body arched almost completely off the desk as she begged him to end the sweet torment he was performing on her body. “C’mon Hop! I want you.”

Jim scraped his teeth across her hip before he raised his head to look at her. His blue eyes met her brown ones, both of their gazes heavy with lust. “You have me, baby.”

A groaning sound was ripped from her throat, “You know what I mean.”

With a grin on his lips, Jim shook his head. “Slow, Joyce. We’re taking things slow.” After a week of not being able to touch her, to worship her and love her, he was intent on taking his sweet time in reacquainting himself with her body. He wanted to drive her absolutely insane with need.

A whimper escaped her mouth as he lowered his head once more to trail hot, open mouthed kisses along her inner thighs. She wanted him desperately. She didn’t know how much more she was going to be able to take and they only just started. She was all for taking things slow--but this was agonizingly slow.

He pushed her legs further apart and kneeled before her. He licked at his lips at the sight of her and with anticipation. Joyce shuddered as she felt his hot breath blow against her.

Slowly, she felt Jim’s fingers move her lower lips apart, exposing all of her to him. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as his tongue found her wet center. Slowly, his tongue traced circles on her clit, over and over. He began to flick his tongue against her wetness, touching her just enough to make her squirm. He grazed his teeth over her clit and Joyce’s fingers tangled into his hair.

Jim slid a single digit inside her all at once, making her moan aloud. He pumped it in and out at a steady pace, plunging deeper each time as he continued. He added his middle finger, now pumping both into her slow and steady. His eyes were on her the entire time, watching as Joyce turned her head to the side, closing her eyes tight, and moaning sweet music to his ears.

Joyce writhed in pleasure as he went deeper, and she wrapped her legs around him to push him even closer to her quivering sex. She could feel the start of her climax build up as his fingers curled inside her into a ‘come hither’ motion. His mouth was back on her center at once, sucking on her clit between his lips and his tongue swirling. This, added with his fingers still thrusting into her, and the feel of his stubble brushing against her thighs from time to time, made the warmth that was pooling in the pit of Joyce’s stomach grow deeper and deeper. She could feel herself getting so close to the edge.

She sat up using her elbows as support, her eyes barely open enough to see his features--to see his hair against her skin, this man that she loved, worshipping her between her legs, so focused on her pleasure--on fulfilling her desire, as well as his own. Her eyes fluttered closed once again and she squeezed them tighter. Her back arched and she dipped her head back, her fingers reaching out to clutch onto his hair tightly. Subconsciously she moved closer to him, pushing her desire into his face more.

“Fuck, Jim,” she moaned. Her breathing became short, and continued to grow shorter as it hitched in her throat. She could feel herself pushing past the edge of no control.

“Cum Joyce,” He says and it’s all she needs to bring her undone.

“Oh my God,” she mumbled in a barely audible voice. Her entire body shuddered all at once. She could feel her walls clench and tighten around his fingers that were still thrusting relentlessly into her. Her muscles of her inner thighs tightened as well. All of the burning warmth that was pooled into her belly spread itself slowly throughout her entire body. Her hands, which were holding onto his hair tightly, began to slowly loosen their grip as she came down from her high.

His fingers slipped out of her and he maneuvered himself so that he was now hovering over top of her.

Joyce smiled as she reached up to hook her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a deep kiss. Their tongues swirled together and she could taste how sweet she was, with just a hint of bitterness. The product of her own want for him. The pleasure caused only by him.

As she continued to kiss him, her lips being bruised in the process, she gripped the collar of his suit jacket and stripped it off. Jim opened his arms to help her shrug it off. Her hands toyed with the buttons of his dress shirt, unbuttoning each as quickly as she could. Fuck going slow when she was in control. She stripped that off of him as well, tossing it to the side with the pile of clothes that was beginning to build up on the floor.  

She pulled away from his kisses long enough for her eyes to drink in the sight of him. Ever since joining the football team, his usual lean frame had toned out. She raked her fingernails down his chest as he sucked and nipped at various spots on her neck, being sure to leave marks. He wanted everyone to know what they did here tonight, to know that she was still his.

Joyce’s lips mimicked his own, against his neck, planting kisses as her hands moved to unbuckle his belt. She unbuttoned and unzipped his pants eagerly, pulling away from his neck so she could completely take his pants off. She pulled them down with both hands, Jim shifting to help her. He kicked them off in one swift motion. Joyce licked her lips, seeing him in his navy briefs, and slipped her fingers in the waistband. She pulled them down his legs, taking them off as well and tossing them aside. She watched as his cock sprung out, hard and throbbing for her, precum already oozing from the tip.

She took his cock in one hand, holding him at the base to guide him inside her.

Jim halted her movements suddenly, gently gripping her wrist to move her hand away.

“Joyce.” He warned.

She looked up at him with her big brown eyes and whimpered. She positioned herself below him and began to move beneath him, thrusting her hips up to meet his as she ground against him.

“Slow. Damn it, Joyce. Go slow.”

“I can’t.”

Jim wrapped an arm around her torso, pulling her impossibly further against him. Giving in, and not wanting to torture her any longer, he thrust his entire self into her, filling her up entirely.

Joyce cried out loudly, causing Jim to clasp a hand down on her mouth. “Shhhh, baby, don’t want anyone to hear us.”

She could feel him fill her all the way up to the hilt. She moaned loudly against his mouth, pleasure shooting through her as she tightened around him. He groaned in return, pulling out entirely from her.

She whimpered again in response, causing Jim to chuckle softly. He once again thrust himself into her.

Joyce moaned again, stretching her arms out around her in response, knocking various classroom instruments off of Cooper’s desk.

Seeing the effect he was having on her, Jim stopped playing his game of taking things slow entirely. Instead, he now thrust himself into her fast and hard. He didn’t even give her a chance to steadily adjust to his pace.

He replaced his hand with his mouth, kissing her with a fiery passion mixed with want, need, and possessiveness.

Joyce groaned and dug her fingernails into his back as he plunged in and out of her at an unforgiving and relentless pace. Once more the feeling of warmth pooling up in the pit of her belly. She knew that her inevitable release was beginning to build up.

Jim grunted as he gripped her hips tightly, leaving bruises. He groaned loudly, burying his face in her neck, allowing the pleasure that her tight cunt was giving him to course through him entirely.

“Jim,” Joyce moaned his name into his ear. In return, she felt Jim’s hands tighten on her hips, making her back arch for him. She let out another loud moan as he kept going--and going, and going. Her entire body felt hot.

Her breath hitched in her throat once more and she felt him let go of his tight grip on her hips. He moved his arms up to cup her face in his hands, pressing kisses all over her face. She reached out an arm, her hand clutching onto the edge of the desk as tight as possible, her knuckles white.

“Fuck, Hopper, please,” She begged.

Jim groaned loudly after she spoke. “I’m so fucking close baby.”

The room was filled entirely with the sound of their pleasures.

Then it finally came, where Joyce finally fell over the edge once more. She moaned his name loudly as the feel of the familiar warmth spread through her. Her toes tingled as she clenched around him, soaking his hard cock with her juices, dripping down her thighs and all over him.

And then Jim followed soon after her. She could feel his cock twitch inside of her, his hot cum filling her up, as he let out one last groan of satisfaction. He threw his head back in pleasure. His thrusts slowed, sighing heavily as he finally felt his own release. Once he finished, he pulled out of her slowly, his eyes looking at their intwined bodies.

He placed one last soft kiss against her lips. When he pulled away to look down at her, they were both smiling at each other. “I love you,” she whispered.

Jim closed his eyes, the words were like music to his ears. He pressed his lips to her forehead, “And I you,” he replied.

He climbed off of her so that he was now standing. Reaching his hands out, he took her own into his and gently helped her up from the desk.

Quickly, they hurried to put their clothes back on. Jim finished dressing first. He bent over to pick up the various objects that Joyce had knocked off the desk. He held up a plastic pencil sharpener that was cracked along with a broken tape dispenser.

Once she was fully clothed, Joyce looked up. She laughed with a shrug at the broken objects. “Oops.”

Jim laughed with her, “Fuck it.” He tossed the objects back on the desk. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement at one of the classroom windows. Looking in that direction, he breathed her name out, “Joyce.”

She looked up at him as she placed other various objects from the floor back onto the desk. She followed his gaze to the window to see flakes of snow shimmering under a street light. A cheerful demeanor lit up her face and she smiled a smile that reached her eyes. She held out an outstretched arm towards Jim, offering him her hand. He took it and allowed her to lead him out of the classroom. She hurried, nearly dragging him behind her through the high school’s halls. They finally reached the main doors and Joyce let go of Jim’s hand to push them open.

The cold, crisp air hit her skin instantly and she relished in it. Joyce ran to the middle of the parking lot and looked up at the sky as the snowflakes continued to fall. She spun around in a circles a few times, laughing. She held up a hand and caught a few snowflakes on her palm, watching as they melted away into tiny droplets. “Look at them Hopper! Isn’t it beautiful?”

“It sure is,” he admitted, but he wasn’t talking about the snow. He moved to stand next to her, staring down at her as she continued to stare at the sky.

Joyce averted her gaze to him. They were standing so close that Jim could see each crystal of snow that stuck to her eyelashes. She reached up and trailed her fingertips over his cheeks and down his jaw. She pulled him down towards her mouth.

The gentle touch of her lips to his made his heart stir. When she pulled away her eyes fluttered open to look into his blue ones. He reached an arm into his back pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He held the pack up between them and Joyce smiled.

They found Jim’s car in the parking lot and leaned back against it. Jim took out his lighter and flicked the flame up, lighting a cigarette. He took one short inhale before passing it over to her. She was looking at him carefully. “What?” He asked.

“Hop…” She spoke softly and averted her eyes down to the ground. “What do you think we’ll be like twenty, twenty-five years from now?”

Jim raised an eyebrow at her question. He wasn’t expecting it and he could tell it was something she had been wanting to ask him for a while now. He let out a sigh and moved to wrap his arms around her, pulling her close against him. He held her close as she wrapped her arms around his waist, returning his embrace. He ran a hand through her hair and placed a kiss on top of her head before answering,“Just like this.”

(XxXxXxXxXxX)

Hawkins 1983

Joyce stood in the parking lot of Hawkin’s Middle School, leaning against her 76’ Ford Pinto. She looked at the ground, her mind plagued with thoughts of everything that had happened. It had been one month since Eleven closed the gate, but her nightmares never stopped. Even now, as she stood outside the gymnasium, listening to the music from the Snow Ball, she wondered if her life would ever go back to some sense of normalcy.

Her thoughts were interrupted and she felt his presence before he spoke, “Hey.”

Looking up, she smiled as Jim walked towards her, “Hey.”

“Thought I might find you out here.”

She shifted nervously the closer he got. “Will wanted me to give him some space,” she shrugged a shoulder, “so I’m giving him a few feet.”

Jim smiled and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. He tapped on the box twice, “What do you say? I’m pretty sure that Mr. Cooper retired in the 70s so we might be okay.” He joined her against the car, their legs brushing against each other.

He took out his lighter and lit a cigarette between his fingers.

Joyce placed a trembling hand over her arm and gazed up at him. She couldn’t help but smile at how the two of them had come full circle. It seemed that only yesterday they were at their own winter dance, sharing a cigarette out in the parking lot. She watched as he inhaled a hit, before passing it over to her. “Gimme that,” she said as their fingers brushed together.

She took one hit and had to stifle a cough. He really was smoking the strong ones these days. But she supposed he needed them with how their lives had been in just the past year. She handed it back to him and her gaze fell back to the ground.

“How are you holding up?” His voice broke their silence.

Her hand came to her lips and she fought the urge to bite her nails—a nervous habit she had taken up recently. “You know.”

“Yeah, that feeling never goes away.” Jim took another hit, blowing the smoke out before continuing, “It is true what they say, you know. Every day it does get a little easier.” He passed her the cigarette once more.

She breathed in another hit, but didn’t meet his eye. She glanced up at him, wanting to believe him, that one day this she would wake up and this nightmare would be over forever.

Sensing her distress, Jim wrapped an arm around her, hugging her against his side. Holding his hand on her shoulder, he pulled her close. She placed her hand overtop of his, intertwining their fingers together as his thumb traced comforting circles on her arm.

Joyce closed her eyes and allowed herself to fully submit. She snuggled into his chest, wishing that she could freeze this moment in time. Where her and Jim could stay forever. Just like this.

[thehappiestandunluckiest]

The Time We Went on a Saga Holiday

Now, where do I begin with this one?

A SAGA holiday. Saga holidays are organised holidays for people aged 60+ and there are so many types. Cruises, excursions, couples exploring, and the best one, singletons holidays.

Let’s start from the beginning.

Back in 2016, we’d had a hard year (a little foreshadowing here, if we thought that was hard just wait a couple of years…). We couldn’t afford to go on our usual summer holiday but it was getting towards the end of the summer and we needed a break. So my mum and dad went searching and found this little summer town on the coast of Spain, only 3 hours away from us and they were having an end of season sale – perfect!

So we book, pack our bags for this two-night getaway and we’re off.

Looked it, booked it, fucked off! *it’s an inside joke*

So ever oblivious we wiz down to Spain in our beloved fiat 500 – far too fast, my dad likes to pretend he’s in fast and furious. And we get to the town.  It’s empty. It’s a ghost town! Now we didn’t care, after all, we live in the Algarve and we had had enough of tourists so some clean sheets, food and sun was enough. We rock up to the hotel, it's huge and promising, but! Now side note, my life seems to be filled with BUT’S and not the nice kind like Channing Tatum's butt- the bad kind, like when your mum says you can leave the table, but you have to take the rubbish out kind of but.

So outside this towering hotel that's guarded with palms and bird of paradise are 2 buses. Big buses. And swarming out of them is an army of 60 to 80-year-old Spanish men and women. 

Now, imagine this, you walk into a lobby, ready to dump your bags, change into a swimsuit and relax but instead, you're greeted by about 200 Spanish buzzing, imperial leather smelling, silver taloned old people. Now I don't want to offend anyone who’s of the 60 plus era, nor do I want to get the wrath of any angry Spanish people, but god it was a lot to take it. Now I have a Spanish godmother who I love dearly – shout out to Angela being the only godparent to stick by my side! But Latin blood boils FAR hotter than any other blood and the more mature the person – the worse. 

So my dad goes up to reception dodging the Spaniards like mines in a warzone. The reception is immediately so apologetic and transfer us to their sister hotel that’s 5 stars and just across the street. That’s great we drive over.

Oh -  but how the gods were against us on this one – or at least we thought that at first.

This lobby, equally as bombarded with OAPs* was a parallel universe to the last hotel but the difference was – they were single, 60 + year old Britons. This was going to be fun.

If I were to briefly and very broadly describe these lovely people, it would be like this. 

Some wore shell suits – they must have been jocks when they were younger, maybe they were playboys that never settled down. They leant against the walls chatting up the ladies. It was honestly very peculiar to watch and I did wonder what their pick up lines would be like? “My arteries are the only things that have hardened” *gags*

Then you have your cargo shorts, bright coloured polos and socks with sandals men - Now I’m not sure who the hell thought it was ok to send grandpa off with that many bad ideas in one suitcase, but they did. I would also like to take some time here to mention that MEN CAN GET CAMEL TOES TOO AND IT BURNT MY 16-YEAR-OLD EYES!

Next, we have similar to the last cargo shorts, socks and polos men but with trainers – now this is a special breed, the polos are usually less irritating to the eye (usually white or blue), they wear a belt a little too tight, and socks halfway up their calves. Usually, this specie is a university professor or a small town business owner. They don’t carry viagra pills with them everywhere and ask you about your family not your bra size like the jocks do.

Women. Now as most men would be able to confirm, explaining: describing; and understanding any woman ever, is like solving quantum physics formulae with a blindfold on whilst the room is on fire, but the women were mainly wearing fluorescent colours, lots of shawls and hot pink lipstick and ridiculously oversized beaded jewellery. They giggled like teenage girls talking about Harry Styles naked.

So, my brother and I had never gone on an all-inclusive holiday, and this was probably for our own good as we very quickly got on a sugar high that turned to a steep fall low off of all you can eat milkshakes and burgers.

 Literally, kids in a sweet shop.

It got to the evening and we went to the only restaurant open (my mum got food poisoning on our last day). We went back to the hotel for a nightcap – exhausting doing nothing all day. 

In the bar they were playing…. guess…go on……guess what they were playing…..BINGO!

Now the ever-competitive family we are, we had to join.

“TWO FAT LADIES- 88” “CLICKETY CLICK- 66!” – you’d think that’s what they were saying but no, that's not what they were saying. 

The two very Spanish hosts did not really speak English. Now if you speak very little of a language you usually don't know how to say 76, 89, you'd be lucky if you know 12, but god bless them, they were trying. They would pick the small bingo ball look at it to see if either of them knew how to pronounce it, shake their heads and choose another instead. It was very amusing. 

We were sat next to a sweet old man who, my best way of describing him is by saying – he was an exact look-alike of the pirate from SpongeBob square pants. So we are having that good old fashioned British banter with a stranger – super normal, but then he popped his eye out.

 HIS EYEBALL. 

OUT OF NOWHERE! 

Now we didn't know how to react to a strange old man passing us his glass eye with no context so we did the only feasible thing to do - grab it and inspect the ball itself but also the crater he just scooped it out of. God, I’m getting queazy just picturing him scooping it up out of his orbital socket like some rum and raisin icecream. *ew*

Minor distraction averted we win the game – more specifically my dad won the game and made sure everyone knew about it, and if looks could kill….

The grandmas weren't happy that he won a bottle of sparkling wine that costs about 6 euros to buy at the store and that you could get at the bar FOR FREE! Because it’s an all-inclusive holiday, but at the end of the day the famous saying goes ‘its the winning that counts!’ (that’s right, right?)

The rest of the night consisted of us talking to another family from the midlands who were actually on an intervention for their 40-year-old son who had lost his wife, custody of his kids and job to a gambling and alcohol addiction. He cried. A lot. It was very bizarre.

We went off to bed. At breakfast, we tried to avoid eye contact with the strange characters we had met the night before.

And left for home the next day.

Now, remember when I mentioned we travelled in our beloved fiat 500, which is the most glorious lawnmower motored vehicle to exist. Well, we didn't realise that we had to pay for parking and it got quite expensive. But oh so luckily the car is so small, that it fit on the sidewalk so we drove the car around the barrier on the sidewalk, ditched a small fortune and drove off into the sunset like the little parkour gangsters we are.

And that was the story of the family holiday that made my mum get food poisoning, my brother and I hate milkshakes and realise that we are in fact very lactose intolerant, and my dad win a very competitive game of bingo. This was the cheapest holiday we had ever been on and by far the best and funniest. We laugh about it often and its one that I can imagine sitting around the table 20 years from now still laughing at.

E. L. Wilson

[trenstation]

How to Prevent Wedgies When Working Out? (Most Useful Tips for Men and Women)

The wedgie problem is a very common one among both men and women. And it is a problem that, more often than not, arises and bothers during exercising. So how to prevent wedgies when working out? Well, the solution is not that hard to find and even implement.

There’s just no denying that wedgies are very annoying and uncomfortable to deal with. Your gym, running, cycling, or even at-home workout sessions get ruined when you have to constantly adjust your pants for avoiding wedgies. And let’s not even talk about how embarrassing that is to do.

So here are some very useful tips for preventing wedgies by choosing the right kind of workout underwear. For both men and women! Forget about why do wedgies happen. Rather focus your attention on how you can avert the tragedy!

How to Prevent Wedgies When Working Out for Women?

What Type of Underwear Works Best for Women?

Exercising helps to have a healthy body and mind

1. Go Commando

Many women simply ditch wearing underwear completely. For those new to it might find the whole idea very uncomfortable. But, trust me, it isn’t. However, I won’t deny that going commando is not for everyone. Nevertheless, being underwear-free during your workout sessions means no panty lines or wedgies to deal with at all.

But, like I already told you, not all women might like the idea of not covering up their camel toe. However, there’s no harm in trying. You’re highly likely to feel less suffocated down there. The actual downside to this is visible crotch and butt sweat. But we all sweat when we workout. So there’s nothing to be embarrassed about there.

2. Boyshorts

This type of underwear is the go-to option for many women for lounging at home. So do they also work well to prevent wedgies at the gym or when running? Fortunately enough, the answer is YES.

Boyshorts for women feel very comfortable to wear. And they offer maximum coverage. You might have to deal with visible panty lines here. But since they look like regular shorts, it’s not such a big deal.

3. Thongs

There’s no need for me to lie to you about anything here. So my honest opinion about thongs is that some women swear by the performance of thongs during workouts. And some women express just the opposite point of view. Meaning some love thongs while some hate them.

After you have had to deal with uncomfortable bunching and bad wedgies. The experience of wearing a thong for your exercise routine is nothing but satisfactory. On top of that, thongs are invisible under athletic wear. Meaning no panty lines. So that’s the answer to what to wear under workout leggings?

4. Bikini

The most common type of women’s underwear is the bikini style. But is it the best underwear to prevent wedgies? The classic and comfortable cut of bikini underwear is incredibly versatile, no doubt. So you can wear the pair for jumping jacks, running on the treadmill, doing crunches, etc.

In comparison to boyshorts, the bikini design feels a lot less suffocating. Panty lines are a problem in this case too. But not if you choose a pair of seamless bikini underwear.

Moreover, the bikini style fits most sizes and shapes. And generally speaking, it works the best as far as providing full coverage and ultimate comfort are concerned.

How to Prevent Wedgies When Working Out for Men?

What Type of Underwear Works Best for Men?

It’s time to settle the most popular debate of boxers or briefs for working out.

When it comes to men, the underwear category is mainly divided into 3 parts. This includes boxers, which are the best for a loose fit and more ventilation. Then comes briefs that offer a snug fit and great support. And the third style is the best of both worlds, the boxer brief.

To prevent wedgies, what works flawlessly is a pair of boxer briefs. They have a tight yet spacious construction. A structure like this keeps the underwear from riding up, bunching, chafing, and causing wedgies.

Boxers, on the other hand, are the worst choice. They constantly ride up and also crumple at the top. Never has the answer to “how to prevent wedgies when running?” been boxers.

What about briefs? Well, they may not be such a bad choice as boxers. But you should know that briefs chafe. In fact, they also feel a little restricted down there during workout sessions. Briefs may be a very suitable choice for casual, daily wear. But not so much for the gym!

Conclusion

Truth be told, wedgies are a serious problem if you’re a fitness enthusiast. Another truth is that the wedgie concern is not gender-biased. Meaning both men and women have to deal with it. So you should know that wedgies are not a problem caused by your athletic wear. Instead, it’s an underwear-induced worry.

Therefore, the only way to fix it is by wearing the right kind of underwear. For women, it may be boyshorts, bikini, thongs, or going commando. As for men, there is only one best choice. And that is boxer briefs.

About The Author

Kathy Harvey is a very enthusiastic blogger who unabashedly talks about underwear. And why shouldn’t that be when both men and women put on underwear on a daily basis. The top product recommendations and expert tips and tricks Kathy Harvey has to offer are evaluated based on important criteria. The blog, Undywears, is all about making the right underwear choices for the sake of your genitals.

The post How to Prevent Wedgies When Working Out? (Most Useful Tips for Men and Women) appeared first on Sandra's Blog.

source https://www.floeyeliner.com/sport-fitness/how-to-prevent-wedgies/

[ivisionsmart-blog]

The-yoga-asanas

On the off chance that you are continually stressed by the condition of your hair, on the off chance that you experience hair fall frequently, on the off chance that you locate that untimely turning gray is making you urgently race to the salon consistently, you are not the only one. Hair issues are very regular since they are affected by an assortment of components. From worry to natural variables and hereditary elements to flawed way of life propensities like smoking and drinking, your hair issues  the yoga asanas could be credited to numerous things. Fortunately, there are some simple to-do transforms you can realize in your way of life to guarantee that your hair doesn't endure. One of the best approaches to manage and anticipate hair issues is to do yoga. Here are some yoga asanas that can support your hair:

Camel represent: The Camel posture or Ustrasana can be viable for expanding blood flow in the scalp and averting untimely turning gray of hair. To do this, you have to get in a stooping position. Spot your knees and feet together and fix your spine. With your shoulders straight, hold your lower back straight and lift your chest, tilting your head back. Remain in this situation for a couple of breaths.

Descending confronting canine represent: This is otherwise called Adho Mukha Savasana. In this, you have to tilt your head down so the blood tenderly streams to your scalp. This can give you thicker hair, avoid hair fall and give you sparkly and solid hair. To do this, sit on your fours with the knees and palms on the ground. While breathing out, lift your knees off the floor. Delicately pull yourself in reverse extending your arms and supporting your legs on your toes. Push your hips upwards towards the roof. Your body ought to be in a modified V shape. Your head ought to be downwards.

Apanasana: This is called knee to chest represent: This posture will help clean your scalp up poisons. To do this, rests on your back and place your palms on your knees. Dismantle your legs to your chest and relax your hold. Hold this situation for quite a while.

[warriorsquest]

Hot Shower - with @TenaciousDoctor and @Warrior_MD

Jane:   *Life had a way of throwing rocks at you when you least expected it.  And lately the rocks turned into boulders.  It was hard to keep up with the constant influx of patients and I was close to burnout.  Even ghosts need a break.  I could feel myself edging closer to the ‘shout and slam doors’ phase and I knew it’s because I hadn’t slept much or not at all to be more accurate.  I had grown accustomed to long hours and little sleep.  That’s a surgeon’s life, but now there were emotions involved and that is what was draining me.  Manny had been avoiding me and I needed to talk to him before things got out of hand.  He was out of line when he operated on Crhis.  Cop asked me to talk to Manny about the situation.  It wasn’t fair that the brothers or anyone else in the mansion should be worried about putting their lives in the hands of a doctor.  The thing is, I had no idea how to bridge the subject with Manny.  He had shut me out and refused to talk about it every time I approached him.  I closed the clinic door behind me and walked down the tunnel to the gym where I knew I would find him.  Taking a sigh of relief as I walked in and saw he was alone.  Perfect.*  Manny, we need to talk.  Now.  And don’t give me that bullshit about being busy.

Manny: *I always liked working out it was my to-go-to place when not working. These days it was a shit load of working out and not enough working. I still hadn’t been allowed to leave the mansion, their name for this place I referred to as hell, comfortable hell but still hell. I still blamed it all on Jane, fair or not, my frustration had to be directed towards someone and she was an easy target. She and that damn man they called Cop was nagging at me to get with the program and it didn’t help the matter any at all because the more they nagged the more I felt that I had to rebel against it. That was all I had to play on. I refused to give in to them, to her. NO way in hell! I heard the gym door open and before I could stop the treadmill to turn around to see who it was I heard her voice. Out of spite I took the remote to the entertainment center and turned the volume up as far up as I could without it being painful and speed up the treadmill. If that didn’t say not interested I don’t know what would.*

Jane:    *Taking a step forward I stared at Manny.  Damn, he was handsome and watching him on that treadmill sent all kinds of sparks flying through my body.  I had to force myself to peel my eyes off his body.  My eyes narrowed as he turned the volume up, blasting the music loud enough to drown out any conversation.   A few more steps and I closed the distance between us.  My hand reaching out to slow down his treadmill and then taking the remote and switching the music off.  Crossing my arms over my chest I spoke firmly*  I am tired of your shit.  This isn’t a prison and you are not a prisoner.  Everything the Brotherhood is doing is to keep you safe.  I’ve told you this a million times.  For heaven’s sake, I know I tricked you before and you have no reason to trust me, but this can’t go on any longer.  Do you hear me?

Manny:

*If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to keep my focus on the treadmill and running I would have grabbed her arm just to get the remote back. But she’d always been quick and grabbed it stepping out of reach. The only way I was getting it back was getting off the damn machine and taking it back. I listen to the same song she sung many times since my arrival and she was amazingly gorgeous when she was mad, happy well fuck it when breathing, but I refused to let that deter me. I shut the treadmill off grabbing my water and towel and got off. “Keep it. I am done anyway.” I said sticking my face in hers before stomping off to the locker room. The second I got inside still annoyed with her presence but I wasn’t sure it was only that. I loved Jane, I’d always loved Jane, that had never been the problem, the problem it wasn’t reciprocated and that was why her betrayal stung so bad. Not only didn’t she love me, she didn’t respect our friendship. Toeing off my shoes, I pull my socks off throwing all of it in my locker, I heard her coming into the room as I pulled my shirt off. It made me hesitate for a second but only a second before I pulled my shorts and briefs off in one go.*

Jane:   *Following Manny into the locker rooms I didn’t notice him getting undressed until he removed his pants.  Oh God… He was beautiful.  I had never seen him naked before but this was a treat.  I didn’t avert my eyes, nor did I step back.  I kept my gaze on him and took in everything he had to offer.  I was vaguely aware of my breath catching and my hand sliding up to my throat.  I felt my body heat up and tingle all over.  The last time I felt this was was with Vishous and we all know that didn’t work out.  But this wasn’t a new man in my life.  This was Manny.  My oldest and most trusted friend.  Exactly.  Friend.  Why was I feeling this way?  I gulped a few times, trying desperately to swallow but my throat went dry and the camels were nowhere to be seen.  I felt my cheeks flush and spoke before thinking*  Uh.. I… we…. *Shit, get it together, Jane*  We need to talk once you’re dressed.  I can’t focus when you’re looking like that.

Manny: *Reaching into my locker for my towel, I knew there were dispensers in the showers with soap and shampoo, this place was even better than the Hilton when it came to service. I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of being naked and having Jane there but it was her gasp and then her blunt stuttering words that made me pay attention. Was Jane affected by the fact that I was nude? Not that I looked bad, I knew I had a good body, hell I worked hard enough for it but that and finding someone sexually attractive were two very different things. Dropping the towel back down I turn around to look at her, smug smile playing on my lips. Studying her it was obvious the way her eyes roamed over me that she enjoyed what she was seeing. Oh, this was too damn good, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes heated, just like that. I could feel my body reacting to the way she was reacting to me. She wanted me, I wanted her, she wanted to talk and sort things out, what I could offer her was angry sex. She wouldn’t know that. Moving slowly until I stand before her my smirk widens. “What’s the matter Jane, you’d think you hadn’t seen a naked man in a while. Let me help rectify that.” I reach for her blouse with my hands ripping it open sending the buttons flying and just as she is about to protest I pull her up against my sweaty chest and kiss her with all the power and hunger that I’ve collected since coming there.*

Jane:   *Everything spun.  The room. My head. Manny’s words were lost to me.  The only thing I could hear was the rush of blood and my head was pounding in a good way.  My entire body went on high alert.  My brain was giving orders to my limbs, but there was no obeying today.  My body had it’s own mind and it wasn’t listening to reason.  It was only responding to touch.  His touch.  His hands on my body.  His lips claiming mine.  I melted into his touch and didn’t hold back.  I wanted this.  I wanted him.  All logic went out the window and I gave in to the moment.  Letting him do as he pleases, even though I could feel his touch was rough and fueled by some level of anger.  It didn’t stop me from responding to him.  My hands moving up and down his chest and then down his arms and firmly resting on his hard ass.  Nails digging in at the same time my teeth cut into his lower lip.  Biting, scratching, scarring… I didn’t care.  I also didn’t care if anyone walked in and saw us right now.  Audacious, I know.  The only thing that mattered right now was Manny and rough sex with this glorious man*

Manny: *It did take me at a surprise when Jane collected herself as fast as she did. It only took seconds before her hands slid over my body, her mouth hot on mine biting, nibbling and kissing me back with as much passion as I did. With my hands still on her blouse I pull it down her arms and off dropping it where we stand before reaching up to undo her bra pulling that off too dropping it to the floor as I start maneuver her towards the showers. My fingers slid down her neck, collarbone to cup her breasts in my hand, my thumbs rubbing over her nipples pinching them between my fingers. She gasps and I swallow it right up taking the opportunity to explore her mouth with my tongue. Fiddling with the button and zipper in her pants I hook my fingers into them and push them down and over her hips letting them drop to the floor. Lifting her up I encourage her to wrap her legs around my waist as I walk us into the showers turning the first one on the second we get in there. My cock is fully hard rubbing against her as we move and all I can think about is how badly I want in her. To fuck her up against the tile and shot my load inside her, mark her, make her mine.*

Jane:   *My lips bruised as our kiss grew in intensity.  My skin bruised as his hands moved roughly over me.  I felt every touch and welcomed more.  My mouth eagerly opening and letting him in while my legs wrapped around his waist.  We were moving and the next thing I felt warm water coating me.  We were in the shower and I was naked.  Good.  This was where I wanted to be.  With Manny.  My brain was doing some kind of urgent plea but my body’s drumming response was drowning it out.  My back and head hit the tiles and within seconds I felt his hard muscle push into me, stretching me wide open to accommodate his thick length.  My head fell back, his mouth sucked and latched onto my throat. My orgasm was instant.  Waves of unbeatable pleasure washing over me and I knew he was only getting started.  My body’s reaction to his was unlike anything I had ever experienced and somewhere a voice told me I was his and he was mine*

Manny: *It was crazy the intensity, how we gone from fighting to sex, one intensity to another in matter of minutes. When her back hit the tiles both our bodies moved and cock was right there by her entrance and before I even knew it myself, barely, I pushed inside of her tight heat. A loud groan left my mouth, “fuck yes! So good, Jane, so tight and warm. Baby…” I slammed into her and just like that she came, the inner walls of her core massaging me as I moved into her. It was so erotic it almost felt like I was floating. I kept moving wanting to bring her to the edge once more and have her tumble over with me. “You going to come again for me Jane, huh?” My hips were moving fast my dick sliding in and out of her, my eyes locked with her. Her legs were tight around my hips, heels digging into my ass cheeks and her fingers clawing at my shoulders, but it only enhanced the connection. I could feel my orgasm start to roll through me. “Now!” I roared demanding her to come again hoping it would work. With a last push I buried myself in her and I came my body shivering with the intensity.*

Jane:  *The command in his voice was similar to the command in V’s voice but yet so different.  My fingers scratched a trail up his back and my toes curled as my heels dug into his ass.  The orgasm that ripped through me send bolts of energy throughout my body.  My core clenched around his cock, milking him while my own orgasm kept going.  My body trembling and relishing the feeling.  Every part of me felt alive.  Every part of me wanted and needed this.  Needed him.  I closed my eyes and whispered*  Your wish is my command, always.  *I didn’t open my eyes to see his facial expression.  His body’s reaction to my words were enough.  We both knew I was telling him that I would be willing to do what he wanted from this point on.  We also both knew that I was stubborn, but my words to him were a promise of some sort.  A submission.*

Manny: *I studied her, my eyes roaming over her face. Her eyes were closed and I knew she did that because she admitted to something, private? Intimate? Was this another game? It didn’t look like it, she looked honest and sincere but could I trust it? She broken my trust before and yes we had sex, and it had been amazing. Hell, give me fifteen minutes to rest, a redbull and I’d be set to go again, maybe. She did that to me. I’d wanted her so long and now when I had her, tasted her, scented her like this all sexed up there was no return. The locker room door squeaked as someone pushed it open, still buried inside of her, Jane’s legs loosely around my waist, I turned my head to yell at whoever it was. “Get out! There’s no room for you here.” I heard a dark chuckle and I recognized it to be Cop’s. “No room my ass, but it reeks of sex in here anyway.” I was about to tell him to fuck off when the chuckle ebbed out and the door closed. Slowly I slipped out of her but still holding her close. “We should probably wash up and take this elsewhere, hm.” She nodded with a smile and wink turning her back towards me showing off that sweet ass, that made my hands make grabby hands and turned her face up towards the water.* #HotShower #SASBDB

[queenbethbdb]

Hot shower

Jane:   *Life had a way of throwing rocks at you when you least expected it.  And lately the rocks turned into boulders.  It was hard to keep up with the constant influx of patients and I was close to burnout.  Even ghosts need a break.  I could feel myself edging closer to the ‘shout and slam doors’ phase and I knew it’s because I hadn’t slept much or not at all to be more accurate.  I had grown accustomed to long hours and little sleep.  That’s a surgeon’s life, but now there were emotions involved and that is what was draining me.  Manny had been avoiding me and I needed to talk to him before things got out of hand.  He was out of line when he operated on Crhis.  Cop asked me to talk to Manny about the situation.  It wasn’t fair that the brothers or anyone else in the mansion should be worried about putting their lives in the hands of a doctor.  The thing is, I had no idea how to bridge the subject with Manny.  He had shut me out and refused to talk about it every time I approached him.  I closed the clinic door behind me and walked down the tunnel to the gym where I knew I would find him.  Taking a sigh of relief as I walked in and saw he was alone.  Perfect.*  Manny, we need to talk.  Now.  And don’t give me that bullshit about being busy.

 Manny: *I always liked working out it was my to-go-to place when not working. These days it was a shit load of working out and not enough working. I still hadn’t been allowed to leave the mansion, their name for this place I referred to as hell, comfortable hell but still hell. I still blamed it all on Jane, fair or not, my frustration had to be directed towards someone and she was an easy target. She and that damn man they called Cop was nagging at me to get with the program and it didn’t help the matter any at all because the more they nagged the more I felt that I had to rebel against it. That was all I had to play on. I refused to give in to them, to her. NO way in hell! I heard the gym door open and before I could stop the treadmill to turn around to see who it was I heard her voice. Out of spite I took the remote to the entertainment center and turned the volume up as far up as I could without it being painful and speed up the treadmill. If that didn’t say not interested I don’t know what would.*

 Jane:    *Taking a step forward I stared at Manny.  Damn, he was handsome and watching him on that treadmill sent all kinds of sparks flying through my body.  I had to force myself to peel my eyes off his body.  My eyes narrowed as he turned the volume up, blasting the music loud enough to drown out any conversation.   A few more steps and I closed the distance between us.  My hand reaching out to slow down his treadmill and then taking the remote and switching the music off.  Crossing my arms over my chest I spoke firmly*  I am tired of your shit.  This isn’t a prison and you are not a prisoner.  Everything the Brotherhood is doing is to keep you safe.  I’ve told you this a million times.  For heaven’s sake, I know I tricked you before and you have no reason to trust me, but this can’t go on any longer.  Do you hear me?

 Manny:

*If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to keep my focus on the treadmill and running I would have grabbed her arm just to get the remote back. But she’d always been quick and grabbed it stepping out of reach. The only way I was getting it back was getting off the damn machine and taking it back. I listen to the same song she sung many times since my arrival and she was amazingly gorgeous when she was mad, happy well fuck it when breathing, but I refused to let that deter me. I shut the treadmill off grabbing my water and towel and got off. “Keep it. I am done anyway.” I said sticking my face in hers before stomping off to the locker room. The second I got inside still annoyed with her presence but I wasn’t sure it was only that. I loved Jane, I’d always loved Jane, that had never been the problem, the problem it wasn’t reciprocated and that was why her betrayal stung so bad. Not only didn’t she love me, she didn’t respect our friendship. Toeing off my shoes, I pull my socks off throwing all of it in my locker, I heard her coming into the room as I pulled my shirt off. It made me hesitate for a second but only a second before I pulled my shorts and briefs off in one go.*

 Jane:   *Following Manny into the locker rooms I didn’t notice him getting undressed until he removed his pants.  Oh God… He was beautiful.  I had never seen him naked before but this was a treat.  I didn’t avert my eyes, nor did I step back.  I kept my gaze on him and took in everything he had to offer.  I was vaguely aware of my breath catching and my hand sliding up to my throat.  I felt my body heat up and tingle all over.  The last time I felt this was was with Vishous and we all know that didn’t work out.  But this wasn’t a new man in my life.  This was Manny.  My oldest and most trusted friend.  Exactly.  Friend.  Why was I feeling this way?  I gulped a few times, trying desperately to swallow but my throat went dry and the camels were nowhere to be seen.  I felt my cheeks flush and spoke before thinking*  Uh.. I… we…. *Shit, get it together, Jane*  We need to talk once you’re dressed.  I can’t focus when you’re looking like that.

 Manny: *Reaching into my locker for my towel, I knew there were dispensers in the showers with soap and shampoo, this place was even better than the Hilton when it came to service. I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of being naked and having Jane there but it was her gasp and then her blunt stuttering words that made me pay attention. Was Jane affected by the fact that I was nude? Not that I looked bad, I knew I had a good body, hell I worked hard enough for it but that and finding someone sexually attractive were two very different things. Dropping the towel back down I turn around to look at her, smug smile playing on my lips. Studying her it was obvious the way her eyes roamed over me that she enjoyed what she was seeing. Oh, this was too damn good, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes heated, just like that. I could feel my body reacting to the way she was reacting to me. She wanted me, I wanted her, she wanted to talk and sort things out, what I could offer her was angry sex. She wouldn’t know that. Moving slowly until I stand before her my smirk widens. “What’s the matter Jane, you’d think you hadn’t seen a naked man in a while. Let me help rectify that.” I reach for her blouse with my hands ripping it open sending the buttons flying and just as she is about to protest I pull her up against my sweaty chest and kiss her with all the power and hunger that I’ve collected since coming there.*

 Jane:   *Everything spun.  The room. My head. Manny’s words were lost to me.  The only thing I could hear was the rush of blood and my head was pounding in a good way.  My entire body went on high alert.  My brain was giving orders to my limbs, but there was no obeying today.  My body had it’s own mind and it wasn’t listening to reason.  It was only responding to touch.  His touch.  His hands on my body.  His lips claiming mine.  I melted into his touch and didn’t hold back.  I wanted this.  I wanted him.  All logic went out the window and I gave in to the moment.  Letting him do as he pleases, even though I could feel his touch was rough and fueled by some level of anger.  It didn’t stop me from responding to him.  My hands moving up and down his chest and then down his arms and firmly resting on his hard ass.  Nails digging in at the same time my teeth cut into his lower lip.  Biting, scratching, scarring… I didn’t care.  I also didn’t care if anyone walked in and saw us right now.  Audacious, I know.  The only thing that mattered right now was Manny and rough sex with this glorious man*

 Manny: *It did take me at a surprise when Jane collected herself as fast as she did. It only took seconds before her hands slid over my body, her mouth hot on mine biting, nibbling and kissing me back with as much passion as I did. With my hands still on her blouse I pull it down her arms and off dropping it where we stand before reaching up to undo her bra pulling that off too dropping it to the floor as I start maneuver her towards the showers. My fingers slid down her neck, collarbone to cup her breasts in my hand, my thumbs rubbing over her nipples pinching them between my fingers. She gasps and I swallow it right up taking the opportunity to explore her mouth with my tongue. Fiddling with the button and zipper in her pants I hook my fingers into them and push them down and over her hips letting them drop to the floor. Lifting her up I encourage her to wrap her legs around my waist as I walk us into the showers turning the first one on the second we get in there. My cock is fully hard rubbing against her as we move and all I can think about is how badly I want in her. To fuck her up against the tile and shot my load inside her, mark her, make her mine.*

 Jane:   *My lips bruised as our kiss grew in intensity.  My skin bruised as his hands moved roughly over me.  I felt every touch and welcomed more.  My mouth eagerly opening and letting him in while my legs wrapped around his waist.  We were moving and the next thing I felt warm water coating me.  We were in the shower and I was naked.  Good.  This was where I wanted to be.  With Manny.  My brain was doing some kind of urgent plea but my body’s drumming response was drowning it out.  My back and head hit the tiles and within seconds I felt his hard muscle push into me, stretching me wide open to accommodate his thick length.  My head fell back, his mouth sucked and latched onto my throat. My orgasm was instant.  Waves of unbeatable pleasure washing over me and I knew he was only getting started.  My body’s reaction to his was unlike anything I had ever experienced and somewhere a voice told me I was his and he was mine*

 Manny: *It was crazy the intensity, how we gone from fighting to sex, one intensity to another in matter of minutes. When her back hit the tiles both our bodies moved and cock was right there by her entrance and before I even knew it myself, barely, I pushed inside of her tight heat. A loud groan left my mouth, “fuck yes! So good, Jane, so tight and warm. Baby…” I slammed into her and just like that she came, the inner walls of her core massaging me as I moved into her. It was so erotic it almost felt like I was floating. I kept moving wanting to bring her to the edge once more and have her tumble over with me. “You going to come again for me Jane, huh?” My hips were moving fast my dick sliding in and out of her, my eyes locked with her. Her legs were tight around my hips, heels digging into my ass cheeks and her fingers clawing at my shoulders, but it only enhanced the connection. I could feel my orgasm start to roll through me. “Now!” I roared demanding her to come again hoping it would work. With a last push I buried myself in her and I came my body shivering with the intensity.*

 Jane:  *The command in his voice was similar to the command in V’s voice but yet so different.  My fingers scratched a trail up his back and my toes curled as my heels dug into his ass.  The orgasm that ripped through me send bolts of energy throughout my body.  My core clenched around his cock, milking him while my own orgasm kept going.  My body trembling and relishing the feeling.  Every part of me felt alive.  Every part of me wanted and needed this.  Needed him.  I closed my eyes and whispered*  Your wish is my command, always.  *I didn’t open my eyes to see his facial expression.  His body’s reaction to my words were enough.  We both knew I was telling him that I would be willing to do what he wanted from this point on.  We also both knew that I was stubborn, but my words to him were a promise of some sort.  A submission.*

 Manny: *I studied her, my eyes roaming over her face. Her eyes were closed and I knew she did that because she admitted to something, private? Intimate? Was this another game? It didn’t look like it, she looked honest and sincere but could I trust it? She broken my trust before and yes we had sex, and it had been amazing. Hell, give me fifteen minutes to rest, a redbull and I’d be set to go again, maybe. She did that to me. I’d wanted her so long and now when I had her, tasted her, scented her like this all sexed up there was no return. The locker room door squeaked as someone pushed it open, still buried inside of her, Jane’s legs loosely around my waist, I turned my head to yell at whoever it was. “Get out! There’s no room for you here.” I heard a dark chuckle and I recognized it to be Cop’s. “No room my ass, but it reeks of sex in here anyway.” I was about to tell him to fuck off when the chuckle ebbed out and the door closed. Slowly I slipped out of her but still holding her close. “We should probably wash up and take this elsewhere, hm.” She nodded with a smile and wink turning her back towards me showing off that sweet ass, that made my hands make grabby hands and turned her face up towards the water.* #HotShower #SASBDB

[thefreckledone]

fluff friday “gas station” {borage}

is it still friday? hell no, but I don’t care!

A bracing chill greets Sakura as she opens the cooler. She draws out a glass bottle of Coca-Cola, enjoying the jolt of cold that sweeps through her as her fingers encircle its body. As she meanders toward the counter, Sakura grabs a few different types of sour candy, a sickeningly sweet bar of white chocolate, and a bag of Hershey kisses.

She places her spoils upon the counter in front of the cashier, whose bored gaze looks over her items, unimpressed. “Will that be all?” he asks, scratching along the raggedy mustache he wears to appear older than he is.

Sakura hums, looking at the display behind him. “A dozen packs of Camels, three of Marlboro, and one Lucky Strike.” She rocks on her heels, ignoring the cashier’s suddenly incredulous look. “And two lotto cards; any type.”

“Are you even old enough?” he asks.

Sakura frowns at him severely, tossing him her ID. She bites back her automatic retort of: “Are you?” and settles to looking out the window.

The shadows are growing long and Sakura hums in distaste. He is far too impatient for his own good, despite his proclamations of disinterest.

“Your total is $86.78,” the boy says, tossing the candy and cigarettes into a bag.

Sakura nods, swiping her card and plucking her beverage from the counter. “Have a nice day,” she says sweetly, flouncing out the front.

Sakura removes the pump from her car fondly, patting the hood with genuine affection. “You’re doing wonderfully, Edelweiss. Not too much longer now…” She glances down at the stretching shadows, far too long for the time of day. “Patience. I’ll deal with you in a moment.”

Sakura climbs into her car, grinning into her rearview mirror. “You are far too hasty,” she says, dumping the contents of the plastic bag into the empty seat next to her.

The candy falls, but all of the cartons of cigarettes are caught, suspended by a strange translucent but dark matter. Sakura has long since gotten used to these strange shadows, though they still mess with her peripheral vision. The heavy scent of smoke fills the vehicle as a grunt of dismay is made.

“Lucky Strike, really? You know how much I hate the taste.”

“Just trying to keep you on your toes, Shikamaru,” Sakura replies, resisting the urge to glance to the backseat where his voice emanates. He will not be there; she hasn’t expended enough energy to bring him fully to this plane. “You know how I like to tease.”

“Torture more like,” comes the muttered reply, breath warm against her ear.

Sakura refuses to jump and Shikamaru exhales against her ear before leaning back.

“You bought lottery tickets too!” Shikamaru says, shadows picking up the tickets. “You know your chances of winning anything…”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Sakura replies. “Relying on luck here.”

“Better to not expend your luck on a waste like this. We don’t have the luxury to spare.”

Sakura shakes her head, cranking up the car. In truth, she bought the tickets just to heckle Shikamaru. She doesn’t particularly care what he chooses to do with the tickets.

Sakura shifts gears, moving the car out around to the back of the gas station where a dirt trail begins. The shadows thicken as the car moves beneath the trees, blocking out the sun. Sakura turns, catching the flickering form of Shikamaru’s body.

“You’re growing stronger,” Sakura comments, turning her eyes back to the road as it begins to get bumpier.

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” the still ill-defined shadow figure says.

Sakura rolls her eyes affectionately. “We’re here,” she says, parking the car on the side of the road and grabbing her satchel, candy, and Coke.

“What are you planning?” Shikamaru asks, suspicion clear in his voice.

“The same thing I’ve been planning since this all started,” Sakura replies, heading into the copse of trees.

It is even darker here and Shikamaru’s form is almost fully visible. Sloe eyes, claw tipped hands, and long, strong arms become visible against the shadow backdrop of his body.

Sakura looks around, nodding decisively and sitting down beneath a tree that towers high above them. She unwraps her sour straws, popping a few in her mouth as she opens her satchel. Her fluorescent pink candle is set up quickly and she tests the ground with her metal stylus. It gives way easily and Sakura sends a quick prayer of gratitude to the heavens for the recent rains.

She draws out a strange combination of hieroglyphs and runes in a circle around the candle.

“You’re summoning him?” Shikamaru asks with distaste, the scent of cigarettes overpowering the sour sweet taste in her mouth.

Ash coats her tongue, bitter and acrid, as she replies, “He has the best information. I have to find her.”

Shikamaru sighs, smoke wafting around Sakura’s head in a haze. “Try not to overexert yourself,” he says, hand clasping her shoulder.

Sakura notes that he is fully present now, pale claw tipped hand firmly resting on her shoulder. She feels a jolt of energy and glances up at him severely. “No helping,” she says. “You did enough last time.”

“Troublesome,” he mutters, but he pulls his hand away and sinks into the shadows of the trees. “Tell me when you want me to send the bastard away.”

Sakura shakes her head, eyes slipping shut as she breathes deeply. She feels a flicker within her chest, a timid flame burning at the wick. Sakura blinks drowsily, looking down at the candle.

It is lit.

There is a low rumbling in the air, a soft hum that lulls and soothes. Sakura refuses to close her eyes.

“Madara,” she calls quietly. “Madara, I know you are here.”

She is hit with the scent of cloves and myrrh, an interesting combination to be sure, but a welcome relief to the cigarette smoke that clings to her like cobwebs.

“Never can trick you, can I?” is breathed so close to the shell of her ear that she cannot keep from flinching.

Madara appears in a fit of laughter, red eyes amused as he stares her down. His are eyes of death, the harbinger of ill tidings. His are eyes that truly see.

It is the reason she has summoned him after all.

“And how may I assist you today?”

“I need intel,” Sakura says, ripping into a pack of sour chews. She feels the zipping shock of energy that keeps her focused. It is rather difficult to tether two others at once. “I need to speak with the information broker but he has been quite elusive.”

“I am an information broker,” Madara says, looking strangely upset. “I possess the Sharingan, the seeing eyes.”

“And can you give me information on her?” Sakura presses. “You are good, Madara, but your leads on her have run cold and dry. I need something new.”

Madara frowns, averting his gaze as he taps his fingers along his knee in what Sakura has come to recognize as a thoughtful gesture. “And my reward?”

“A kiss, as usual,” Sakura replies evenly. “Unless you want to change the price?”

“No, a kiss is just fine,” Madara says, smirk sinuous. “Very well. As you well know, we brokers function on different planes and separate domains from each other. Keeps down the bloodshed. While no other broker comes close to my level of skill, the second best option is probably Kakuzu.”

“Kakuzu,” Sakura murmurs, unfamiliar with the name.

Madara nods. “He’s a stingy bastard, but his information is always good. He’s not like the rest of us; he’s tetherless.”

“Tetherless?” Sakura asks. “How am I supposed to speak to him if I can’t summon him?”

“He doesn’t need to be summoned,” Madara says. “He lives within the mortal coil.”

“Is he…” Sakura trails off.

Is he like me? remains unspoken.

“No,” Madara replies. “No, he is of a similar type to me. Kakuzu has discovered a way to linger in your realm without human assistance. He refuses to reveal the secret, but he will not long be the only one.”

“Anything else I need to know about him?” Sakura asks, biting into another piece of candy. It is so damn hard to stay focused in these moments, to tether two beings at once.

“He’s a bounty hunter,” Madara says. “That’s why he stays so connected with all that happens within this realm. You need to be careful; you already have a bounty on your head.”

Sakura glances at Shikamaru, smirking slightly. “We’ll manage.”

“Well you need to head here.” Sakura sways as a map appears in Madara’s hand and he passes it over to her. “Kakuzu lingers at the Blind Donkey.” Sakura wrinkles her nose. Madara chuckles. “I never said he had taste.”

“Thank you for your time Madara,” Sakura says, bowing her head and reciting the words to break their contract.

“And my kiss?” Madara asks, eyes lidded.

Sakura tosses him the bag of Hershey kisses. “Here.”

Madara examines the bag, a wide, triumphant grin curling his lips. “This isn’t a new type of kiss,” he says. “You’ve given me this kind before.” He stands and moves toward her, tilting her head up with gentle fingertips. “Pucker up.”

Sakura raises a hand to block him, taking the bag from him. “These are ‘air delight’ Hershey kisses,” she says. “They’re aerated milk chocolate. I haven’t given you this type before. My debt is paid.”

Madara scrutinizes the bag, shoulders slumping. “Well, it was worth a try.”

His wry smile is the last thing Sakura sees before he is engulfed in golden, shimmery light and disappears.

Sakura rocks back on her heels, limbs heavy. Something cool touches her shoulder. She looks up, meeting Shikamaru’s gaze.

“Here,” he says gruffly, thrusting the chocolate bar into her face.

Sakura pulls away the paper, biting into the overtly sweet chocolate. “Thanks.”

“I don’t like relying on Madara so much. We know what he wants,” Shikamaru says, hands tightening on her shoulders. “What do you plan to do when you run out of different Hershey kiss types?”

“Then I’ll give him a different type of kiss, just as our contract says,” Sakura says, rolling her eyes. “I’ll kiss his hand or something.”

Shikamaru hums, distaste clear but Sakura is thankful that he doesn’t comment further. She leans up against his chest, her flushed cheek pressed to the cold skin at his throat. They sit in silence as Sakura eats the candy bar and regains her strength.

Finally, Sakura stands firmly, gathering her materials.

She turns to Shikamaru, smiling. “Let’s go.”

Sakura drums her fingers along the steering wheel, staring at the bar across the street. It’s one of those holes in the walls without the eccentricity to make it quaint. The neon sign with some burnt out letters informs her that this is where she needs to be.

“I’ll be there as your shadow,” Shikamaru says. “I’ll be ready if things go south.”

“It’s fine,” Sakura says, patting her Apache revolver. “I’ll have Borage at my side as well.” She glances into the backseat, biting her lip as she weighs whether to bring her rifle or not. “I don’t think we’ll be needing Gladiolus today.”

“As you say,” Shikamaru says. “Try not to get into a troublesome situation.”

Sakura laughs, shaking her head as she climbs out of the car. “No promises.”

She tucks her revolver into the holster at her waist, slips on her coat, and briskly makes her way across the street. She smiles up at the bouncer, flashing him her ID and stepping into the bar.

The room is clouded with smoke and the thrum of jazz music seeps into Sakura’s bones, livening her. The patrons huddle into small groups, shying away from public view. It is rather obvious that Sakura does not belong here in her spring green dress, calf-high boots, and white pea coat. However, she feels at home here, waltzing over to the dingy bar and sending a dazzling smile the bartender’s way.

The bartender snaps to attention, making her way over to Sakura. “What can I do you for sugar?”

Sakura leans against the bar, smile still coy. “I need a person, Kakuzu.”

The bartender blinks, crossing her arms and frowning. “Never heard of him.”

“I need some information from him,” Sakura says, ignoring the bartender’s body language.

“Can’t help you—”

“He’s upstairs,��� someone else interrupts.

Sakura turns, taking in sweeping silver hair and a single tired eye. “Thanks,” she says, feeling the strange sensation of Shikamaru pulling at her shadow. He doesn’t want her here.

“Staircase is over there,” the man says, pointing.

Sakura nods, weaving her way through the crowd to the rickety staircase in the corner. She glances around as she steps onto the stairs before kicking out at her shadow.

“What was that for?” Shikamaru hisses.

“Why did you pull on my shadow?” Sakura asks, turning away from the bar. “You know how uncomfortable it is!”

“That guy at the bar was…odd,” Shikamaru replies. “There was something off about him.”

“Well…he isn’t what I’m here for,” Sakura says. “What I’m here for is upstairs.”

“Just…be careful,” Shikamaru says, shadow form flickering as he brushes against her. “Something about this whole thing is making me uneasy.”

Sakura presses her fingers against the shadow on the wall. “I’ll try.”

She hears his muttered, “Troublesome,” as she heads up the stairs. The blare of the saxophone thrums through the walls as Sakura approaches the door at the top of the stairs. She pushes open the door, glancing around inside.

She immediately feels his presence. Kakuzu lounges behind a desk, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose as he leafs through the papers piled high on his desk. Sakura notices that despite his casual position, he favors his left side, where she assumes he keeps a weapon.

“State your business,” he says, not even looking up at her.

“I need information,” she says, striding forward and sitting primly in the chair across him.

“And what will you give me in return?” he asks, looking up. His eyes are a striking red and green and they narrow in behind her. “Well, well, looks like you have a managed to tether a familiar. Congratulations, you have my attention.”

“What is it you want in return?” Sakura asks.

Kakuzu leans forward, folding his hands on the desk. “I’d like your name.”

“Okay—”

“Your clan name.”

Sakura swallows.

“Sakura, don’t!” Shikamaru says.

“Do you have information on Ino Yamanaka?” Sakura asks, ignoring Shikamaru’s protestations. “She…fell into the between eight years ago. She’s human but she’s the most stubborn person in the world. If anyone could survive the between, it’s her.” Sakura jumps as Kakuzu begins to laugh uncontrollably. “What is it? What the hell is so funny?”

“You,” he says. “You are unbelievably naïve. It’s adorable frankly.”

Sakura leaps onto the desk, fisting her hand in his shirt and pulling her revolver from its holster. She presses the blade against his throat. “Do you know where she is?” Sakura demands. “Do you know?”

“Sakura!” Shikamaru says, manifesting in full form.

Kakuzu looks up at her, face serious. “It is interesting to see how undone this makes you. I could easily raise the price and you wouldn’t even fight it, would you? Nevertheless, my price remains the same. Your clan name for information on Yamanaka.”

“Sakura, you can’t give him that power—”

“Haruno,” Sakura says, staring him down unflinchingly. The blade of her gun is still pressed to his throat. “Now give me what I want.”

“Haruno,” he says, almost tasting the name, and his voice makes something within Sakura tremble with fear and anticipation. She presses the blade closer to his throat and watches the rivet of ichor that rises beneath the weapon. The revolver is cocked and the barrel is loaded. She is ready to break him if he backs out of the deal. “Calm yourself. I never break a contract.”

Sakura glances back to Shikamaru who is back in shadow form and sullenly silent. She will receive no help from him. She hops off the desk, pulling out a vial and allowing the golden ichor to drip into it. She knows better than to waste ingredients, especially one as valuable as this.

Kakuzu watches with an air of detached amusement. “Ino Yamanaka is a well-known name among those from between. I am surprised you have not heard yet.”

“She’s alive?” Sakura asks, needing the verbal confirmation. After so many years…is her journey finally at an end?

“She’s more than alive; she’s thriving.”

“She’s alright? She’s well? Then why hasn’t she returned?” Sakura presses her hands against the desk, staring Kakuzu down.

“You misunderstand me. She’s thriving by our standards. Ino Yamanaka is one of the rising rulers of the between. She’s been able to travel between your realm and ours for years without a tether.” Kakuzu leans forward, eyes dancing wickedly as he says, “Ino Yamanaka has made a name for herself as the bloodiest of the rulers of the between. She’s killed hundreds of your kind and thousands of mine.”

“No,” Sakura mutters, stumbling backwards.

“She’s been able to visit you for years. The only reason she hasn’t is because she doesn’t want to see you. Face it; you’ve been forgotten.”

“No!” Sakura screams, turning and fleeing from the room. She is unaware of the way all the lights and bottles at the bar have shattered. Everything is a blur as Sakura runs to the haven of her car.

She comes back to full awareness with her head down, staring at her scraped knees as she sits in the trunk of her car.

“How are you feeling?” Shikamaru asks, pressing a bag of sour gummy worms into her shaking hands.

“Terrible,” Sakura manages to say, rubbing at her eyes before digging into the candy gratefully.

“We shouldn’t have gone to Kakuzu. He’s going to take advantage of your clan name, I just know it,” Shikamaru says, clucking over her with worry like a mother hen.

“That’s not it,” Sakura says. “I can handle Kakuzu.”

“Then what is it?” he asks, ashy breath hot against her face.

“It’s Ino,” Sakura says, face crumpling. “Don’t you see? It’s my fault!”

“No it’s not!” Shikamaru replies vehemently.

“Ino didn’t fall,” Sakura says quietly. “She was pushed. By me. She didn’t come back because she hates me.”

Shikamaru falls silent, lost. He doesn’t know how to fix this.

Sakura stares down at her hands with a scowl, tormented by her memories.

“Ha!” Shikamaru crows, uncharacteristically loud.

Sakura startles, turning around and looking into the backseat of the car.

Shikamaru waves something in her face, smirking.

It’s the lottery ticket.

“Guess who just won you $500?” Shikamaru says. “Looks like our luck is looking up!”

Sakura glances up at the stars, suddenly aware of the fact that, somewhere, Ino is looking at the same sky. She stands, palming the offered ticket. She smiles at Shikamaru and closes the trunk.

“Yeah, I guess it is.”

yes, sakura names all of her possessions after flowers because ino taught her the language of the flowers. she’s sentimental like that.

borage means courage

edelweiss means nobility, purity

gladiolus means strength of character, honor, conviction

[stunningvacationtips]

35 of the Greatest Man Vs. Wild Moments

In 2012, Bear Grylls and the Discovery Network couldn't settle on a new contract, and also "Man Vs. Wild" satisfied an unforeseen end, much to the dismay of aspiring survivalists all over. This unfortunate reality can do little dampen the body of work that Bear Grylls left behind over the program's seven-season run. And also, thanks to the Net and also YouTube, many of Bear's greatest hits survive forever.

In those seven seasons, Bear drank and eat even more gross things compared to you could depend on your fingers and also toes. He made fatality resisting runs away, unsafe passes across deep gorges, and even demonstrated some survival strategies that would offer you well if you were ever before locate on your own stranded in bushes. There could be little question after seeing him in activity, that whatever it is that Bear Grylls is constructed of, it's not the exact same stuff that makes up the ordinary person.

So, come take a look at 35 of the best "Male Vs. Wild" moments. If you have actually ever questioned alternate usages for your very own pee, you'll find a couple here, consisting of just how you can consume it (# 35). And, if you have actually ever wondered how to catch a stingray at night, you'll figure out just how when you get to # 34 on the list.

1. Munchin' on Some Zebra

His name may be bear, yet you 'd assume his name was Lion based upon the way he's feasting on that zebra carcass.

2. Scaling an Old Railway Bridge

If you're the type of person that hesitates of heights, after that you might dream of to avert as Bear ascends a disused train bridge. It's not the climb that's frightening, it's exactly what he does to make all of it the method to the top.

3. A Daring Quicksand Escape

Dangerous quicksand would certainly be sufficient to eliminate the majority of people, however not Bear Grylls! Not only does it not kill him, but likewise he shows you ways to run away under your very own power.

4. Mmm… Maggots!

When you're out surviving in the wild like Bear Grylls, you've obtained to consume just what Mommy Nature gives. And also, in some instances, her offering to you is a rotting log loaded with tasty maggots.

5. A Broken Bridge

When Bear aimed to cross over a river in Alaska on a log, points really did not exactly go as he 'd planned. However, when you eat zebra for a living, such things are just a part of the job.

6. Urine Hat

Out in the suppressing desert heat, Bear keeps one's cool by doing the only trait he recognizes how: peeing on his shirt and also then covering it around his head.

7. Helicopter Free Fall

Bear just has to reach this private island, as well as a boat trip just won't do! That's why he decides to make a treacherous 9000-foot drop from a chopper into the open ocean.

8. Deadly Game Traps

Ever needed to know how you can establish a catch that will crush a chest or one that can spike a terrific elk? Well, Bear Grylls can show you!

9. Elephant Dung Smoothie

Struggling with thirst in the center of the desert, Bear finds a much-needed provision of water hiding in a flawlessly regular pile of elephant dung.

10. Makeshift Vehicle

It's not Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, it's simply Bear creating a makeshift automobile to cross a dried-out riverbed.

11. Bear Forgets His Wet Suit

But that's not a trouble in any way, because there's a seal carcass close by. With a couple of flicks of his knife, he's obtained a brand-new wet suit!

12. Catching Eels

With an unscripted lure, Bear captures an unsafe eel and after that battles with it ashore. He advises that you needs to feel your victim prior to killing it, as it aids to attach you with its energy.

13. Snake: The Various other White Meat

After guillotining a serpent and burying its head, Bear shows how you can correctly enjoy a dish of raw serpent meat. Yum!

14. Spearfishing for Salmon

Fashioning a spear from a tree branch, Bear goings out into the shallows and captures a fresh Alaskan salmon. That's not all. Wait until you see just what he does next.

15. Bear Grylls Goes Noodlin'

He's not the initial to catch catfish using this method, yet you need to tip your hat for the method which he honors the noodlin' tradition.

16. Fishing For Piranha

Using a bow and arrowhead to fish for piranha in a body of water he "assumes is secure", Bear grabs one, cooks it, and afterwards eats it.

17. Insects for Breakfast

When you're Bear, you don't require eggs, bacon and also coffee to obtain you going in the morning. You need a protein-rich mush of insects. It's the morning meal of champions!

18. Speaking of Eating Insects

In this clip, Bear eats an absolutely unique pest, the tree weta, while he's in the woodlands of New Zealand.

19. Cooked Bullfrog

Holding a gigantic branch aloft, Bear swings down as well as plucks the life from a bullfrog in a small pond. After that, he roasts it over an open fire for dinner.

20. Swollen Face

Things go pear-shaped when Bear attempts to steal honey from a beehive. This clip will have you grabbing your EpiPen or chuckling at Bear's alien-like face.

21. Pulling a Luke Skywalker

Just as Luke took sanctuary inside a tauntaun on the frigid landscape of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, so too does Bear effort to make a shelter out of a camel carcass.

22. The Spiders!

They claim that people swallow crawlers regularly while they're resting. Bear Grylls eats them while he's wide-awake.

23. High-Flying Antics

Bear Grylls isn't just a monster on the ground, he's a monster overhead, also. This is exactly what he verifies in this death-defying stunt.

24. Skinny Dipping

How should one cross freezing arctic waters? By stripping down to one's birthday celebration fit and also swimming across with a block of ice, of course!

25. Buried Alive

Have you ever before wondered just what it would resemble to be buried active in an avalanche? Well, Bear Grylls is greater than pleased to reveal you almost specifically just what that would certainly be like.

26. Sleeping Up In Trees

Animal bears could be quite an issue in the Alaskan wild, which is why this Bear puts together a makeshift hammock to hold him up in the treetops.

27. Bear Give Himself an Enema

Floating on a makeshift boating in the center of the water, Bear gives himself an enema. Literally.

28. Raw Sheep Heart

By eating the raw heart of a sheep, Bear Grylls came to be a lot more powerful compared to he ever before was before!

29. Bear's MacGyver with Shoelaces

If you thought that shoelaces had absolutely nothing to do with drinking water, after that you've never seen this clip of Bear Grylls before.

30. Speaking of Water…

When you locate on your own in the desert without your reliable shoelaces, you can constantly collect water from cacti, as Bear shows here.

31. Almost a Bear Pancake

Remember when Bear climbed that railroad bridge? Well, afterwards he determined to puncture a railroad tunnel, barely getting away with his life.

32. Bear Crosses a Canyon on a Rope

If you had a look at the log-crossing video earlier, after that this one is going to appear eerily acquainted ...

33. Do You Want Lunch?

With the globe constantly teetering on the side of armageddon, one would be well suggested to enjoy this helpful Guy VERSUS Wild clip, where Bear explains how you can catch rats for eating.

34. Fire, Water, Burn

Building a fire over the water to entice in a stingray, Bear uses a handmade spear to snatch one right from the water.

35. Drinking Urine

He's attracted water from a selection of various resources. In the long run however, Bear proves that his body can be a closed system when he consumes his own pee. We're sure it was an alright vintage!