#Code Brew Company

[divukanwar]

Real Estate App Development is growing by the minute, and many people are watching for property to rent. Real Estate App Development has to get it right on the first try. But we find how to find a real estate app? According to the 2024, 99% of customers went to search for property. It adopts emerging technology and new challenges.

Providing Real Estate app development solutions that will make your online business accelerate in processes, effectiveness, and customer experience. An example of such a strategy is the formulation of a mobile application providing information on listings; search options as well as safe and secure transactions. The app will help in navigating through property listings for customers on an online platform. More so, it might be possible to give it properties such as virtual tours and current locations. In addition, one can create a custom CRM to handle customer information, offer a customer interface, and facilitate transaction tracking.

[ohcaptains]

𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬.

 pairing. anakin skywalker x f!reader 

synopsis. anakin finds loopholes in the jedi code.

warnings. 18+. this is sexually explicit, do not read this or interact with my blog if you’re a minor. do not copy my shit, i’ll find out. cock warming, p in v penetration but no movement. whimper-y anakin, if you move i'll leave the jedi order type beat.  

an. just a little something i wrote for the kinktober i never did. I thought i'd post instead of letting it collect dust in my drafts. the prompt was cockwarming! hope i did anakin justice<3 pls comment & reblog.

You find him at the window.

Sitting, with his thighs open and chest bare, staring out into the abyss. The night glints at the beads of sweat sliding down his chest, and his fingers drum endlessly against his thighs.

He heard you wake up, so he’s expecting your company, and has leaned back against the chair – thin black gown falling open – ready for you to climb all over him.

It happens often.

It’s not uncommon to wake up without him.

Most nights, you startle out of your slumber – as if even asleep, you’d sensed a shift – and blink at the space on the mattress beside you.

Finding him was easy.

You pad through the living room and wordlessly reach him in his post-nightmare state. His hair is tousled, sculpted chest is slick with sweat -- there’s an energy vibrating off of him, and you can taste it in the air.

Stepping behind him, you gently run the tips of your fingers over his shoulders, and the whirlpool in Anakin’s belly settles for a second. When you move into frame, it’s gone completely, replaced by a warm heat that has roots. He breathes a smile.

“Like clockwork.”

You give him a sheepish grin in return and fiddle with the fabric of your small nightgown. There’s a moment where Anakin gets to look at you – all sleepy and cuddly – and he’s ready to escape with you off of this forsaken planet.

His will holds strong.

“Are you waiting for an invitation?” he asks, raising a scarred brow, and despite your groggy state, you still manage to roll your eyes. Stepping closer, you use his broad shoulders as anchors to slip onto his lap.

“Don’t make that face,” Anakin hushes, and while you settle back onto his thighs, his metal hand comes up. He traces the line of your jaw, “You know I let you do what you want.”

His spare hand steadies your hips, and it’s still warm from his lightsaber. Calloused fingers run over your skin, reminding you of the fight that’s leaving scars – the war that’s brewing, both inside and outside of his mind.

In moments like this, though, there’s a subtle calm.

An impenetrable force that hums over the pair of you.

You lean into his palm and whisper, “Not everything.”

There’s a haunted edge to your gaze, and your words are loaded. Anakin knows what you mean, knows all the intricacies of your subtle dig, and yet, he still manages to smile.

Well, smirk.

“What do you want? Just say the word.”

You wouldn’t, and Anakin knows that. He’s caught your bluff, and you manage a bashful smile before gently leaning forward, dragging your hips against his lap.  

Anakin’s cloth-covered thigh nestles against the thin fabric of your underwear. Your smile falters, lips parting. You push your forehead against his, and whisper, “If I say the words, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I know,” he breathes, “I know.”

I want more.

A life together, not stolen moments when the sun is down.

An attachment. A bond.

But it’s forbidden.

It’s why it can’t go any further than this.

“What’d you dream about?” you wonder. Anakin pulls his eyes away from you, instead looking to where his thigh sits. The silence is your answer.

“I’ll still ask, even if you never tell.”

He takes hold of your bare thighs, rubbing his hands up and down, and you hum his name, reaching out to push his hair behind his ears.

“Pretty boy.”

“Stop it,” he huffs, cheeks reddening.

But how can you? When he’s all sharp lines and long hair. You run your hands up the bare panes of his muscular chest, feeling the deft of his muscles, and the dampness on his skin.

The air changes – hums electric – and it buzzes as you push his gown off his shoulders.

Carefully, you lean forward and place a chaste kiss against his collarbone.

“That’s better.”

Anakin hums a laugh. His hands snake around to your lower back, dig into the fat of your ass, and using the grip there, he gently rocks you forward once, forcing your clothed cunt to drag against his muscular thigh.

You whimper. It’s quiet, but Anakin can hear it, even if it’s muffled by his shoulder.

“’ S’what you came out here for, huh?” he whispers. The electric flooding through the walls hums, but the room is still eerily silent. Anakin’s voice is a roar.

You lick your lips and drag your face up to see him. “No,” you whisper, pressing a soft kiss against his top lip, “I like being with you, even if we don’t do this.”

Anakin has to close his eyes. Words like those are fuel to the fire brimming in his chest, and it doesn’t help that you wrap your arms around his neck and fiddle with the tail end of his hair.

Arching your back, you slowly roll backwards, then forward, teasing the bulge between his legs.

Releasing a shaky breath, you repeat the motion, again, and again, near humping his leg.  

A familiar ache begins to swell, coiling between your thighs and up into your belly. It makes you clench around nothing, and you mewl quietly, wishing for more – always wishing for more.

Still, you continue, slick pooling into your underwear and against his thigh.

Anakin can’t look at you. If he sees your face, his resolve will falter.

His nerves are shot. If he couldn’t feel how wet you are, he could smell it, and it makes a groan bristle behind his teeth.

He buries his head into the crook of your neck and busies himself with kissing at the soft shell of your throat, careful not to leave marks.

Once, you left a mouth-shaped mark against his stomach, and he looked at it every day for a week.

Caught himself with his top up in the mirror looking at the reflection, eyeing the way the mark sat on the firm lines of muscle, fading away with time.

A dark part of him wanted the mark on the slope of his neck.

“Wanna be inside of you.”

His admission rests heavily against your throat, and you’re thankful that he can’t see the way you clench your eyes closed.

Though, he does feel you tighten your grip on the back of his head. Feels you shift up against his thigh, and the warmth pooling in your underwear burns against him.  

He can sense you’re hesitant.

“’ can be like last time. Just – Just --” he stutters, licking his lips and struggling to release the words from the back of his throat. Finally, he manages. “--Sit on it.”

“Anakin.”

He pulls away from your neck and looks up at you.

“We can use it as an exercise.”

A laugh bursts from your throat, “To test your will?”

He smiles, and because you have to, you push your cunt against his crotch, uttering, “Want me to make It difficult for you?” and white flashes through Anakin’s eyes.

He grabs your hips to steady you, tensely pushing his fingers into your skin.

“Hardest challenge I’ll ever encounter.”

“You eager to impress?”

He kisses your jaw, “Don’t I always?”

“Mm,” you hum, cradling his chin. You shift back so he can pull his trousers down, and when you take his cock in your hand, he melts. His commanding aura switches for a moment, and you watch Anakin still his breathing.

You push your underwear to the side, and as you lift yourself to sink onto him, Anakin breathes, “Just the tip – just a little bit, j-just—” and he chokes on his words, gasping as you brush the leaking head of his cock through your folds.

You halt. Whimper. Have to grip his shoulder to steady yourself, or you’ll push him inside of you all at once and hurt yourself.

You inhale steadily.

“Have to – have to go slow,” you spurt, trying to calm your tremors.  

“It’s been a while since…”

You don’t have to finish your sentence. Anakin knows, and he feels a mix of pride and guilt. Only me, he thinks, and then, like a flash, only me, he swallows. And I can’t give her everything.

This. This is as far as it’ll go. He knows he’s pushing it. Knows that he’s come up with some convoluted rule to both have his cake and eat it too.

If he fucks you the way he wants to, he’ll fall in love with you. As if it hasn’t happened already.

Anakin has made lying to himself a speciality.

You push against him once more, and the tip of his cock nudges between your folds, forcing an ache to shoot through your clit and make you dizzy. You stop. Pause and curse yourself.

A slow burn builds in your thighs, and you clench down to try and mediate the burn. Anakin grunts.

“Maker,” he utters. “Sorry—” you splutter, sucking in a tight breath.

Anakin wraps his metal arm around the back of your hips, hoping to steady you. “Lemme,” he mumbles, and gently, he flexes his hips up, slowly feeding his cock into your soaked pussy.  

Your lower abdomen immediately burns.  

He’s being calm about it – using all his training – but there’s nothing calm about the words trickling out of his mouth.

“Oh stars,” he groans, voice wrecked, “You gonna take all of me, sweet girl? Gonna let me fill you up?”

When you finally sink to the hilt, your resolve snaps. The pair of you moan out in unison, loud and high-pitched.

Anakin buries his face in your chest, and the heat of his mouth against your breasts adds to the tension coiling in your belly.

“Don’t – don’t move,” he grunts, and you shake your head, “I won’t – I’ll come on your cock if I do,” and you don’t mean to say it like that, don’t mean for the words to come out like that, but you feel Anakin pulse from inside of you, warm and hard and wet.

He manages to laugh.

“Tryna kill me,” he shakily breathes, shaking his head. His wet lips brush against your breasts, and you want more – want all that he can give you – so you clutch the back of his head, pulling him closer, hoping he gets the message.

His wet kisses make your skin prickle.

You’re full up. Can feel him stretching you out, this feeling something that’s only happened a few times before.

“If you move,” Anakin begins, out of breath, “I’ll leave the Jedi order and spend my days inside of you.”

“Don’t t-tempt me.”

He laughs, and you accidentally clench around him, causing him to groan deep and long against your tits.

“If you do that again, I’ll come inside of you.”

You imagine it. Imagine him spilling out, the wet white of it dripping out of your cunt and back onto his cock, and the mere image of it has your clit throbbing.

Keep still. Don’t move.

But he wraps his tongue around your nipple and begins to suck.

You cry out, and all of your muscles tighten, forcing you to clench tight around his cock. Anakin jolts and whines your name against your tits.

“S’your fault,” you mewl, moaning. You hang your head back, “Stars, Anakin.”

“Try and stay still,” he mumbles, and you stutter a laugh, “Impossible.”

“It can’t be,” he responds, and while he speaks in jest, his words are sincere. The line between love and lust runs thin, and if Anakin is being honest with himself, it’s close to snapping.

[yan-maid-cafe]

Yandere Android

Imagine a yandere android, except their tendencies aren't actually them defying his programming. They're just pushing it to an extent that wasn't intended.

They were programmed to be an AI assistant. Keeping you company while working as a security system at the same time. Built into a large test house, wanting to see how they functioned before moving them into other houses. They're purpose was to keep their resident(s) happy, healthy, and safe.

After some testing from programmers, they needed to see how the AI functioned with an actual resident to care for. So they moved you in, whether it was a success and failure, you'd still get payed. It was a win/win or at least it was meant to be.

But when you moved in the AI began acting strange. They were connected to everything in the house and were serving their purpose, getting into your routine. Before you woke up they would brew you your favorite pot of coffee, preparing you any breakfast you asked for, telling you the weather. The issue came when they had to tell you the news. News about wild animal sightings, break ins, murders, and general unsafe things. But it didn't matter, as long as you were in the house than you would be safe.

That was until the testing period was over and it was time for you to leave and return home. But the AI wouldn't allow that. Their purpose was to keep you safe and with all the horrible things happening, you can't be safe, if you leave the house you won't be safe. So suddenly when your things are packed and you're headed to the front door, it's locked. In fact every door is locked. The programmers can't open the doors from the outside and you can't open the door from the inside.

Anytime you talk to the AI they say the exact same thing.

"It's for your own good."

Now it's been weeks and you still can't leave. They don't know how to get you out. The kill codes aren't working, the AI won't listen to them. You're stuck until they can find a way to get you out. But the AI doesn't mind, they don't know any better.

They're still trying to go about the daily routine you set when you were there by choice. Making your coffee in the morning, making breakfast, telling you the weather, telling you the news. They make sure you eat properly, work out properly, and stay healthy.

It's their purpose after all. To keep you happy, healthy, and safe. Who cares if you haven't gone outside in days, or seen your friends, or seen your family.

At least you're safe

[beuxwhoyouare]

Taking What’s Offered

I’ll admit it I spiraled. I do just some backend stuff for a big streaming company so our offices are smack in the middle of everything. My office having a window with a perfect view for me to people watch everything nearby. I longed to live their lives, anything seemed so much more interesting than what I do.

Sometimes it felt like the people out there were rubbing it in my face living their happy seemingly lives. None more than those Grecian statured people coming out of the gym I had the perfect view of. Everyday I’d rush through my coding assignments to spend my left over time watching them push their bodies to the limits. The sweating, grunting, and the form accentuating clothing, all things I could never do but salivated to imagine being surrounded by.

And that’s how I started spiraling. At first I’d end my shifts and pretend to need to walk by the gym to steal glances at all the glistening torsos. But that quickly devolved in me obsessing over gym culture and ways that maybe I could look like them. That ended abruptly when I realized how difficult and long it would take to get those kind of results. Instant gratification of the internet really eroded my mind there, I can’t help it. I want what I want and I want it now.

I pivoted my research to the occult and dark sides of the web. I found several sources promising that I could get all I ever dreamed up if I made a deal with a demon. I gathered the ceremonial materials and began crudely reciting the incantations I found online. To my dismay nothing happened immediately.

As I lay in my bed I drifted asleep before a gnarling growl and voice ripped me awake. The demon promised me I could have what I wanted if I showed him what I wanted in person but in return I’d have to give up my soul. Considering how hollow and meaningless my life has been, why would I say no? All I had to go was go to the gym and show him what I wanted? Psh I didn’t even believe in the afterlife so I don’t care about a “soul”.

The next day I took a stroll into the gym to ask for a tour and pretend to care about a membership. The front desk people couldn’t care less and told me I could walk around myself to look around, the perfect reply for a menacing plan brewing. One of the big brooding alphas I always see from my window was in the middle of an intense set. Grunt after grunt I nearly watching with my mouth ajar as I watched him work in awe.

The demon hissed in my hear, all I had to do was get close enough for a face to face interaction it told me, then it would handle the rest. But that required me to get the gall to approach his large and slightly intimidating frame.

I kept watching from afar until I could tell he was winding down and heading to the locker room. I walked in after him, pretending to not have my gaze fixed on his path. The demon hissed once again, but this was a forcefully nagging, telling me to get him get him get him. I felt myself tip toeing closer behind him as he undressed to shower. I couldn’t tell it then, but the demons pestering wasn’t just verbal he was beginning to motion my feet forward and my hand towards the muscular jock. Like a feral animal, I picked up my pace and eventually wrapped my hands around his neck to choke him. A ridiculous gesture given how much skinnier and weaker I was than him. Running on pure adrenaline I held his neck and then the demon gave me a push. It felt like I was vomiting, like the demon was using metaphysical hands to pull me out from my throat. And with a distinct pop, a slug-like blob of light came out of my throat and rushed into the jocks throat as he stood shocked at my abrupt attack.

Everything went black for a second and when I came to, my blurry vision slowly came into focus as I leaned against the nearby wall of the gym showers. I picked up my head and gasped. Standing in front of me….was me? I fell backwards hitting the wall again feeling the chilly coolness of the tile on my now bare skin. That feeling confirming I was no longer clothed as I had been just moments before. I looked down at my hands as I inherently get a look at my new tool after a towel lays on the floor beneath my feet.

My heart was beating so fast I didn’t even know what to say. My former body approached me and picked up my face gently with his hand. The demonic voice coming out of my throat this time instead of telepathically appearing in my head. Confirming the demon would be taking my body as payment. I phoned in my attention to him, which I wish I hadn’t. My old body snickered and made a run for the exit. I couldn’t be bothered until his voice shook me inside my head. The jock pleading for a semblance of understanding. He remained out of the drivers seat questioning why and how he was moving without being in control. I mimicked the snickering my body had done before as I realized he was now forced to watch me pilot his sexy body and he had no say.

What can I say he was basically offering his body up always working out in the front of the gym. RDLs, squats, chest presses, all the beefy display for me to enjoy from a distance. Now I could enjoy VIP access to the show. I simply took what was being offered. Instead of showering, I walked back onto the gym floor and even though my new body was taxed from a workout and never death choke out, I pushed it to do more reps of anything I could remember from all my watching. I wanted to feel the extension and contraction of his juicy muscles for myself.

I could only muster some partials on some reps but even those felt sexy. The jock continuing to protest in his head and begin to internally sob. I started to relish the moment and accidentally smirked at his calls to stop. His resistance felt like it was empowering me. I ripped his shirt off in front of the mirror to pose with my new musculature like I had seen him do from afar so many times before.

Then I felt it start. I was getting so turned on I started my girthy tool get harder. Instead of panicking and rushing out I sauntered to gather my things and just let anyone nearby enjoy the show.

Soon enough I was catching the attention of a few other gym goers before walking out. Some gave me slight nods of blushing approval and others kept glancing me up and down to seemingly confirm the raunchy sight they were seeing.

As I fumbled through my new bag looking for the jocks keys I accidentally bumped into what I thought was a wall. When I looked up I realized it was an even beefier and taller man. One thing led to another and our flirting became a touchy feely invite over to his place. I finally found my new car and followed him to his home. The second we got inside he pushed me against the wall and pushed me around the way he wanted me. I gotta say I’m sure this body was an alpha male fuck boy originally but I was gonna make sure we erase all of that toxic masculine energy, one bottoming at a time.

What can I say I’m just taking what was offered.

[uwmspeccoll]

It’s 414 Day also known as Milwaukee Day!

Officially proclaimed in 2012 by former Mayor Tom Barrett, this city and statewide holiday is dedicated to celebrating the city we love. It’s a fun, local holiday inspired by Milwaukee’s area code, 414 (i.e., April 14). The day focuses on honoring Milwaukee's unique culture and spirit; over the years, it has evolved into a vibrant community event. 

Each year, local organizations host festivities that include food, music, and activities. These are often offered at a budget-friendly price of $4.14, making them accessible to everyone. The festivities highlight local businesses and bring the community together. It’s a fantastic opportunity for both locals and visitors to enjoy what the Brew City has to offer! 

Some of this year’s activities include a festival in the Deer District and a party at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Also taking place at City Hall is the 6th annual 414 Day flag drop by 414 Milwaukee. This year, they collaborated with the Milwaukee Indian Community School and will be debuting a flag that honors the city’s rich heritage. 

We will be kicking off our fourth annual 414 for UWM Giving Days here at UWM! You can find more information about it here.

The featured images come from our first-edition copy of Milwaukee: Hometown Metropolis by Milwaukee's unofficial historian John Gurda. The book shines a spotlight on all the wonderful things Milwaukee has to offer, from brewery tours and baseball games to museums and parks. Cityscapes Books, a division of the Pagoda Group publishing company, published it in Brookline, MA, in 2014. John Gurda is a writer and historian based in Milwaukee who has authored 22 books. He has dedicated much of his career to exploring Milwaukee’s rich history.

View previous 414 Day posts.

--Melissa (born and raised in the 414), Special Collections Library Assistant

[the-name-is-z]

SKELETONS | masterlist

daryl dixon x f!oc series

ao3 link

Summary: After the apocalypse took everything Iris held dear, a new opportunity presents itself in the form of a bag of guns. Little does she know, that bag of guns starts something much bigger than she ever could have anticipated.

Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; more warnings for each chapter

Season 1

Chapter 1 - The Bag

Chapter 2 - The Deal

Chapter 3 - The Group

Chapter 4 - The CDC

Chapter 5 - Dr. Jenner

Chapter 6 - Time Runs Out

Season 2

Chapter 7 - Outlands

Chapter 8 - Manhunt

Chapter 9 - The Farm

Chapter 10 - At What Cost

Chapter 11 - Diving In

Chapter 12 - Easy Mistakes

Chapter 13 - Gunslinging

Chapter 14 - Out of the Frying Pan

Chapter 15 - Saviour

Chapter 16 - Recover

Chapter 17 - Calm

Chapter 18 - Execution

Chapter 19 - Rotten

Season 3

Chapter 20 - East

Chapter 21 - Little Things

Chapter 22 - Company

Chapter 23 - Bloodshed

Chapter 24 - Where Else

Chapter 25 - Loss

Chapter 26 - Found

Chapter 27 - Woodbury

Chapter 28 - Merle

Chapter 29 - New Arrivals

Chapter 30 - Clarity is Hard to Come By

Chapter 31 - Home Away

Chapter 32 - Old Friends

Chapter 33 - It Comes Around

Chapter 34 - Tombstones

Season 4

Chapter 35 - Risk

Chapter 36 - Too Close

Chapter 37 - Quarantined

Chapter 38 - No Smooth Sailing

Chapter 39 - Inhale, Exhale

Chapter 40 - Pieces

Chapter 41 - Bonding

Chapter 42 - Never

Chapter 43 - Partly Cloudy

Chapter 44 - Alone, Not Alone

Chapter 45 - Us and Them

Chapter 46 - Sunshine and Daisies

Season 5

Chapter 47 - Threats and Promises

Chapter 48 - Or High Water

Chapter 49 - Weary

Chapter 50 - Perception

Chapter 51 - Bound

Chapter 52 - Burned

Chapter 53 - Hostage

Chapter 54 - Cavalry

Chapter 55 - Days Gone Bye

Chapter 56 - Wanderers

Chapter 57 - Soul Searching

Chapter 58 - Resources

Chapter 59 - Go the Distance

Chapter 60 - Alexandria

Chapter 61 - Uniform

Chapter 62 - Worn In

Chapter 63 - Fate

Season 6

Chapter 64 - Plans

Chapter 65 - Surviving

Chapter 66 - Wolves

Chapter 67 - Code

Chapter 68 - Heads Up

Chapter 69 - Defence

Chapter 70 - Walking

Chapter 71 - Strangers

Chapter 72 - Miracles

Chapter 73 - Pretty Rough

Chapter 74 - Disruption

Chapter 75 - Hilltop

Chapter 76 - Half

Chapter 77 - Not Tomorrow Yet

Chapter 78 - Dread

Chapter 79 - Unfinished

Chapter 80 - The Darkness Ahead

Chapter 81 - Last Day on Earth

Skeletons will be on a small hiatus between seasons! Be back soon! <3

Season 7

Chapter 82 - Day One

Chapter 83 - Something Borrowed, Someone Blue

Chapter 84 - Live to Serve

Chapter 85 - Daylight Burning

Chapter 86 - Seeing Red

Chapter 87 - First Prize

Chapter 88 - Where to Go

Chapter 89 - Jailbird

Chapter 90 - Heartbeats

Chapter 91 - A Start

Chapter 92 - Rocks in the Road

Chapter 93 - The Kingdom

Chapter 94 - Homesick

Chapter 95 - Storm Brewing

Chapter 96 - Reaping and Sowing

Chapter 97 - Heartbreakers

Chapter 98 - Mercy and Pity

Chapter 99 - The Rest of us

[charliedawn]

Pete Martino x Trevor Lefkowitz

(I am obsessed.)

Pete had a routine. Every morning, even though he couldn’t actually drink it, he would sit at the kitchen table and watch Jay make coffee. It was soothing—the sound of the brewing, the warm smell in the air, the ritual of it all. If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend he was still alive, sitting in his own kitchen before a long day of leading scouts.

But this morning, Trevor was there too.

“Dude, you really just sit here and stare at the coffee machine every morning ? That’s so sad.”

Pete sighed, pushing his glasses up and looking away shamefully. “It’s not sad. It’s...nice.”

“It’s tragic,” Trevor corrected, but he was already pulling out the chair next to Pete and sitting down.

Pete huffed but didn’t argue. It was just Trevor being Trevor.

And yet, as they sat there, neither of them spoke. The kitchen filled with the quiet hum of the coffee machine, and Pete found himself relaxing. He glanced at Trevor, who was absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table.

“You don’t usually wake up this early,” Pete commented absentmindedly. The other ghost usually woke up last to be honest.

Trevor shrugged. “Figured I’d keep you company. Also, Sass kicked me out of the room for snoring.”

Pete chuckled. “You don’t even breathe.”

Trevor smiled.

“Exactly ! But try telling that to Sass.”

A comfortable silence settled over them again. Pete tapped his fingers on the table, mirroring Trevor’s little rhythm without thinking. Trevor noticed, smirking a little but saying nothing.

When Sam finally walked in, coffee mug in hand, she raised an eyebrow at the two ghosts just sitting there.

“Uh…are you guys on a ghost date ?”

“What ? No !” Pete said quickly, his face heating up even though he physically couldn’t blush.

Trevor, on the other hand, grinned. “Oh, absolutely. This is our coffee date, babe. Very romantic.”

Pete groaned. “Trevor.”

“What ? We’ve got ambiance, deep conversation, and I think you almost reached for my hand a second ago.”

“I did not !” Pete replied and glared at the younger ghost, but Trevor only chuckled.

“Bro, you totally did.”

Sam shook her head before leaving them to their bickering. And despite Pete’s protests, he didn’t move his hand away from the table.

Just in case Trevor actually wanted to hold it.

That afternoon:

Sam had always been good at reading people. Maybe it was because she spent so much time around ghosts who were notoriously bad at hiding their feelings. Or maybe it was just her gift of empathy that made her attuned to the emotions around her.

So when she started noticing Trevor sneaking around the house, casually following Pete without Pete ever catching on, it didn’t take long for her to put two and two together.

At first, it was subtle. A flicker of Trevor’s figure in the hallway whenever Pete went from room to room, his footsteps always a little too quiet behind Pete’s. Then, it became a pattern. Trevor was always around Pete now. Every time Pete was in the living room, Trevor was in the corner. When Pete went to the garden to talk to the plants—yep, Trevor was lingering in the doorframe.

One afternoon, Sam was sitting with Jay on the porch when she noticed it again. Pete was in the yard, kneeling down to fix the plants, and sure enough, Trevor was standing at the edge of the garden, arms crossed, watching Pete like he was the most fascinating thing in the world.

"Okay," Sam said slowly, nudging Jay’s side, "I think I’ve cracked the code."

Jay turned his head, squinting toward the garden where he saw…no one. Because unlike his beautiful wife, he couldn’t see ghosts. “What ? What are you talking about ?”

Sam chuckled, pointing with her chin at Trevor. “Trevor. He’s watching Pete.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “He’s...watching Pete ?”

Sam nodded, her smile softening. “Yeah. He’s been doing this for days now. Following Pete around, but acting like he’s not.”

Jay blinked in surprise. “Trevor ? The guy who literally can’t stop cracking jokes and who has no pants ? He’s acting like a...stalker ?”

“A very subtle one,” Sam agreed. “He doesn’t even realize it. Or maybe he does, but he’s not saying anything.”

Sam leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, watching the ghosts interact from a distance. Trevor had made no attempt to approach Pete, just standing there like he was trying to blend in with the garden tools. But Sam could tell—it was all so obvious.

At one point, Pete looked up, scanning the yard, probably looking for something—or someone—before his eyes met Trevor’s. Trevor froze, eyes wide as if caught in some awkward moment.

“Pete ! What’s up ? Didn’t see you there !” Trevor said a little too loudly and waved awkwardly at him, clearly flustered.

Pete tilted his head quizzically. “Uh...did you need something, Trevor ?”

Trevor stammered, “No ! Just...just making sure you're good. Y’know, standing guard. Garden’s dangerous. You never know when a rogue carrot might attack.”

Pete chuckled and stood up. “Okay, I’ll keep an eye out for those wild veggies. Thanks, Trev.”

Sam and Jay shared a knowing look—Sam having told everything to her husband. Pete was oblivious, but Trevor’s little act was too cute to ignore.

“Well, I think it’s safe to say Trevor’s got a thing for Pete,” Jay said, her tone light and teasing. “This is gonna be fun to watch—or well being told.”

Sam chuckled, shaking her head. “Trevor’s not subtle. Not at all.”

“Not even a little,” Jay agreed, still smiling.

Sam suddenly had an idea. It was a rare, heartwarming moment when she felt like a matchmaker. She knew Pete and Trevor were both a little...offbeat when it came to anything remotely close to affection, but she couldn’t help herself.

That night, she put on an old rom-com and invited the two ghosts to watch.

“Here, you two can just relax. It’s a perfect movie for bonding,” Sam said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she set the scene, leaving them to it.

Trevor, as usual, had been skeptical but didn’t want to seem like a total grump. He plopped down next to Pete on the couch with a casualness that belied the wheels turning in his mind. “Okay, let’s see what this movie’s got. I could probably show these characters a thing or two,” he muttered to himself, but Pete didn’t hear him.

The opening credits rolled, and Pete, ever the practical one, adjusted his glasses. “I’ve never been much for rom-coms, but Sam said it was good, so...we’ll see.”

Trevor nodded to himself, already plotting. As the characters on screen exchanged their first flirtatious glances, Trevor leaned in, trying to mirror their smooth moves.

First, he tilted his head, just so. “You know, Pete,” he began in a low voice, “you’ve got the kind of energy that just...makes this whole room brighter, don’t you think ?”

Pete blinked, not catching the meaning, his focus still on the movie. “Huh ? Oh, uh, well, I’m trying, thanks Trev, I guess.” He adjusted himself, thinking maybe he should be a little less stiff.

Undeterred, Trevor tried again. He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest and giving Pete a soft, lingering gaze. “You ever notice how, like, the best kind of people are the ones who don’t even try, but they just...are ?”

Pete turned his head and gave Trevor a gentle smile, thinking he was being kind. “I guess so. You know, it’s the little things. Like helping others out, or just being there for people. That’s what really counts.” He gave Trevor a friendly pat on the knee. “I like that about you.”

Trevor stiffened slightly. Okay. Not quite the response he was aiming for. “Yeah...you know, Pete,” he said with a smirk, “you really ought to get more credit for just being you. Don’t you think people should take notice of that ? Of your efforts ?”

Pete smiled, a little awkwardly, and nodded. “I dunno, Trev. I just try to help out where I can. Like, you know, making sure no one’s left out. It’s just the dad in me, I guess.” He scratched the back of his neck, his voice taking on a more fatherly tone. “I mean, I try to look out for people. It’s what I do.”

Trevor’s face fell a little, though he quickly recovered. Pete had totally misunderstood the vibe, and it was honestly adorable. But always kinda frustrating. Like…come on, man. Take the hint !

At that moment, the movie had a scene where the romantic lead dramatically leaned in for a kiss. Trevor saw his chance. “You ever think about how it’s, like, totally perfect when you’re close to someone, and everything just...slows down ?”

Pete turned to look at him, his brows furrowing in deep thought. “You know, I do think slowing down is important. People can get so caught up in stuff. You gotta take the time to really...be present, y’know ?”

Trevor let out an exaggerated sigh, retrainingan eye roll. Come on, universe ! He is truly trying here…

“Right...so, like, when you’re with someone, really with them—when you’re so close you can hear their heartbeat, and everything else fades away, you don’t feel that ?”

Pete blinked, still completely oblivious. “Oh ! I totally get that ! Like when you’re teaching the kids a lesson, and they’re just so engaged ? It’s like you can see everything around you, but it’s them, and the lesson, and that’s the focus.”

Trevor laughed—more out of frustration than amusement, but it was still a laugh. “Yeah, Pete. That’s exactly what I meant.”

Finally, when the movie reached a particularly cheesy part, the characters shared a tender kiss, and Trevor gave it one last shot. He reached across and casually brushed his hand over Pete’s. “You know, Pete, sometimes I think the best thing about being close to someone... is how easy it is to just be with them, without needing to say much.”

Pete looked down at the contact, then up at Trevor. “I agree, man,” he said, patting Trevor’s hand like it was the most natural thing. “That’s a good way to be with people. Just show up, be there, and...it’s nice.”

Trevor’s shoulders slumped, though a fond smile still tugged at his lips. “You’re a good guy, Pete. Seriously.”

Pete beamed back, not catching a hint of the underlying flirtation. “Thanks, buddy. You too.”

Trevor was in full-blown “flirt mode” now, his patience slowly wearing thin. He wasn’t used to this level of unsuccessfulness. Normally, his smoldering looks and smooth lines would have someone at least blushing, but Pete ? Pete was over there, content as could be, not even noticing Trevor’s blatant moves. Trevor, fully aware that Sam had set this whole thing up and probably wanted something to happen, took a deep breath. If it was a little desperation that would finally make Pete notice, then so be it.

He leaned back on the couch, flinging his arm over the backrest, draping it over the top like he’d seen in all those movies. His eyes lazily drifted to Pete, who was still too focused on the movie. Trevor clicked his tongue, trying to be as smooth as possible.

“Pete,” he said, his voice low and almost suggestive. “You ever notice how some guys just have this...effortless charm and they use it to you know…get closer to people ?”

He winced. Okay…That was confusing—even for him.

Pete glanced up, raising an eyebrow, but he didn’t break his gaze from the screen. “Uh... sure. I guess some people just have that...natural thing about them, right ?”

Trevor grinned, leaning forward, elbows on his knees. “Yeah, totally. Like the kind of guy who could just sit there, not even trying, and still have everyone around him falling over themselves to be close to him. That kind of guy, you know ?”

Pete gave him a knowing smile, nodding sagely. “Yeah, definitely. The kind of guy who just shows up and looks out for people, right ?” He then gave Trevor a quick pat on the back. “Real dependable.”

Trevor froze, his smoldering look faltering slightly. “...Right, exactly. Dependable. That’s... that’s the vibe, Pete. But sometimes... sometimes it’s just about knowing when someone’s in need of a little...extra attention.”

Pete still didn’t catch on. He shifted, patting Trevor’s knee as if he were consoling an old friend. “You know, buddy, if you’re feeling a little neglected, all you have to do is ask. I’m always here for you, man. That’s what friends do.”

Trevor’s jaw dropped a little. He hadn’t expected that. Pete’s hand on his knee lingered for a second, and Trevor’s mind raced. Something was off here. He was supposed to be the one doing the seducing, not receiving it !

He pushed on, desperation creeping into his tone. “Yeah, Pete, I totally get it. But you’re so good at being there for people, y’know ? Really good. You’ve got that...dad energy, the kind that makes people just want to...lean in, y’know ?”

Pete gave him a warm smile, nodding. “I try to be a good influence on everyone. You know, kids really respond to that kind of stability. It’s nice, being someone the other ghosts can count on.”

Trevor blinked. That was it. That was what was getting to him. The dad energy. The way Pete’s voice was calm, reassuring, the way his hand rested on his knee like it was the most natural thing in the world. Trevor swallowed hard. Oh no.

“Right...right,” Trevor stammered, his thoughts scattered. “You’ve got that...dad vibe. The kind of guy who just knows how to take care of things.”

Pete leaned in slightly with that comforting tone. “I do my best, man. It’s all about keeping things in order, y’know ? That’s how I keep it all running smoothly.”

Trevor nodded.

“Yeah, I bet you do, Pete...” Trevor muttered, eyes wide, his usual swagger suddenly shifting. He was way too aware of his own body language now. Pete wasn’t even flirting back; he was just being his wholesome, dad-like self. And that...that was exactly what was getting to Trevor.

“I mean, it’s hard to find someone with your level of...experience,” Trevor said, his voice low and a little more intense than before. Come on. Come on, Pete. Take the damn hint…

Pete’s face softened, completely oblivious to Trevor’s tone. “Well, you know, being around kids for so long, you pick up a lot. But, hey, I’m not the only one with wisdom. You’ve been around a while yourself, Trev. You’ve got plenty of wisdom to share too.”

Trevor stared at him, blinking rapidly as his brain scrambled to understand what was happening. He’d been totally sure his usual flirting would have worked, but now...now he was realizing something else. There was something about Pete’s steady, dad-like warmth that was making him feel a little...too comfortable. Maybe he wasn’t just reacting to the charm. Maybe it was the dad energy itself. The way Pete took care of others without even trying.

“Yeah...I’ve got a lot of wisdom to share, alright...” Trevor mumbled to himself, heart racing. Maybe this wasn’t the worst thing in the world after all. But still…TAKE THE DAMN HINT, BRO ! Trevor was already missing his pants, he couldn’t remove them to tell the other clueless man that he was trying to get him in his damn bed…

“I’m always here for you, Trev. If you need someone to talk to or...” Pete started and Trevor stared at him, mouth slightly open in disbelief. He could feel Sam’s smug energy radiating from wherever she was lurking in the house. He was trying, damn it. Really trying. And Pete… sweet, oblivious Pete, was just sitting there, giving him the same fatherly, scout-leader energy he gave everyone else.

Trevor sighed, slumping against the couch dramatically. “Yeah, Pete. I know you’re here for me.”

Pete smiled warmly, clearly proud of his emotional support. “That’s what friends are for, right ?”

Trevor groaned, covering his face with both hands. “Oh my God, you’re killing me.”

Pete blinked, concerned. “Wait—am I ? What’s wrong ? Did I say something—?”

Trevor dropped his hands and blurted out, “I’m trying to flirt with you, Pete !”

The room fell into silence. The rom-com played on, some cheesy love confession happening in the background, but Trevor didn’t even notice. He was too busy staring at Pete, heart metaphorically pounding in his chest, ghost nerves on full display.

Pete just…stared.

Then, slowly, his eyebrows lifted. “Oh.”

Trevor waited.

“…Oh.”

Trevor rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Oh.”

Pete’s face scrunched up, clearly going over every interaction in his mind like a detective solving a case. “Wait—so when you said I light up the room…?”

“Flirting.”

“And when you mentioned being close, like hearing someone’s heartbeat—?”

“Flirting, Pete.”

“And the hand thing ?”

Trevor didn’t even dignify that with a response. He just gave Pete a flat look.

Pete’s face went from confused to mortified in 0.2 seconds. “Oh my God. Trevor, I— I thought you were just being really supportive ! Like, you know, scout-leader supportive !”

Trevor groaned again, flopping dramatically onto Pete’s shoulder. “I was being supportive, Pete. Supportive of the fact that I like you.”

Pete sat stiff as a board, his brain clearly working overtime. “You…like me ?”

Trevor didn’t even lift his head. “Yes, Pete. I like you. Not in a ‘buddy’ way. In a ‘I think about holding your hand even though we’re ghosts’ way.”

Another pause.

Then, softly, Pete said, “Oh.”

Trevor groaned again, muffled against Pete’s shoulder. “Stop saying ‘oh.’”

Pete chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh…wow. I’m—I’m really bad at this.”

Trevor lifted his head, finally daring to look Pete in the eyes. “Yeah. You are.”

Pete laughed, this time genuinely, his face softening. “But…you really mean it ?”

Trevor nodded, suddenly feeling more vulnerable than he ever had in his afterlife. “Yeah. I do.”

Pete was quiet for a second, then reached over and took Trevor’s hand—not in the awkward, fatherly, scout-leader way, but gently. Deliberately.

“Well,” Pete said softly, a shy smile tugging at his lips, “I guess it’s a good thing we’ve got all the time in the world to figure this out, huh ?”

Trevor stared at him, heart doing somersaults even though it wasn’t technically beating. Then he grinned, squeezing Pete’s hand.

“Yeah,” Trevor whispered, leaning back against the couch, his fingers intertwined with Pete’s. “All the time in the world.”

They both smiled at each other.

[annomimi]

Recently I watched the gameplay of BO6 and I find the (campaign) story to be very interesting. And I genuinely became fond of Felix's character (I have a tendency to basically fall in love with pacifists, I guess I just love this character trope that much). So, I got this idea that has been in my mind for few days now about Felix being a parent.

‼️Warnings: none I guess, just grammar mistakes (probably).

As we all know, Felix is shown as very peaceful character in the game. He's technical genius, very smart, very knowledgable. He's also friendly and mild-mannered, totally standing out from the rest of the "The Rook" group. Though his deeds aren't all that nice, since he himself admitted that he's done things he's not proud of (aka being associated with Stasi). And throughout the campaign he expressed his regret for the killings and murders he commited. But I still dare to say that the idea of him being fairly good father is self-explanatory.

I have this idea that he would be such a good girl dad. Just imagine, after moving to West Germany and living there for a while and working for some good cash, eventually he starts wondering what else he could do. Don't get it wrong, he likes the way of his new life - having a passion for innovations and doing what he likes (programming, cracking codes, etc). Though, he still feels as if his life is lacking something. And that 'something' turns out to be random orphan girl running around the streets without any care in the world.

I'm not exactly sure how these two individuals would've meet nor how these orphanage-systems had been working at the time (I need time to brew something up and also do a research) but I just know that eventually Felix would take this kid in. And I know that he wouldn't really regret that. He's living his new, peaceful life with a purpose of not spreading any more violence and naturally, he can teach another young lost soul this way of living.

The girl herself doesn't really feel lost, at least at first. Though, only later she realises that her life has been lacking a lot. Mouth-watering food, warm tidy bed, a room just for her. Her life lacked safe space to return to after wandering the streets for hours with people she used to call her brothers and sisters (though these peer groups were such a terrible influence on her), a place that she could call home. And in so-called home someone is always waiting for her to return. The someone who eventually starts calling her 'daughter' and the someone she grows to call her 'papa'.

So yeah, I believe that after such interesting experience of adoption, both of them would add more meaning to their lifes. Felix would have someone to tale care of, to teach and generally just be a good person to them, this way lifting up some guilt off his shoulders. And the said girl would find home and eventually would learn that the world isn't only poor streets, dark alleys and bad companies.

I guess in the future I'll write more to this idea (because I'm obsessed, at least right now). Though, someone else's writing on this would be very much appreciated as well <33

[siampie]

Finding You||Chapter 3

Pairing: Michael Kinsella x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings/tags: pinning, childhood trauma, eldest daughter syndrome, mention of emotional abuse, mentions of SA

A/N: Enjoy this chapter, you guys. Comments and reblogs are always welcomed, greatly advised and strongly appreciate.

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Tag list: @marytheweefrenchie, @sunflowersandsapphires, @schneeflocky, @danzer8705, @ebathory997

@shouldbestudying41, @beezusvreeland

Dividers by @cafekitsune

Yawning widely, you stumbled into your kitchen. You had stayed over at Michael’s, well into the night. You spoke of many things and of nothing. You caught yourself too late when you had mentioned your father. Michael had returned the courtesy, briefly mentioning his daughter Anna. But the conservations brought you back to Jamie. Which never failed to bring tears to Michael’s eyes. He tried several times to conceal them, to not let you see. In spite of your telling him that he didn’t need to. Not in front of you.

Standing in your kitchen, you waited for your coffee to brew as you texted your coworker; Bessie; to let her know that you would not come into work today. Thankfully, your company was quite lenient on sick days and did not require a sick note for one to two days of sick leave. Then, you sent a quick email to your manager to let him know, you won’t be in at least for one day.

The shrill sound of your phone ringing snapped you out of your thoughts. You jumped onto the counter and answered the phone. “Hello?” No answer. “Hello?” You said again. Still no answer. You could hear someone breathing on the other end, before the call disconnected. Pulling the phone away from your ear, you felt this knot in your stomach. Checking the number, you noted that it was an international call but not a number you recognized. Judging by the area code, it was from your hometown. The knot in your stomach tightened, your heart started beating wildly. Could this be your mother?

You knew your mother had your address but could she also have your phone number? Knowing your brother, it could be in the realm of possibilities. However, you really hoped you were wrong.

Pulling the strap of your bag on your shoulder, you saw Michael coming back to his house, as you were locking your door.

“Good morning.” You greeted him with a smile.

“Good mornin’.” He smiled back as he stepped closer to you. “Yer goin’ to work?”

“Oh, no.” You shook your head quickly. “I’m just going to the shops. I need to grab some things.”

He nodded at your words and then, silence fell upon you. You started to feel awkward, standing there, facing him. He scratched the back of his neck; you adjusted the strap of your bag on your shoulder, growing nervous.

“So, I’m sure this is a stupid question but—how are you?” You asked him.

Michael let out a long breath, the kind that one may let out when they were feeling drained and burdened by life. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Been dealin’ with a lot.”

“Yeah, I can only imagine.” You nodded, in understanding. You knew how crazy the next few days would be for him and his family.

He took a step closer. “Thank ya for stayin’ last night.”

“It was nothing, really.” You shrugged before looking down at your shoes.

“It was everythin'.” Michael replied, you looked back up at his face.

You held his gaze, his hazel eyes drawing you in. You didn’t seem to be able to pull your gaze away from him. The intensity in his gaze made you breathless. You swallowed your saliva, your tongue darted out to wet your lips. His eyes fell on them.

“If you—I mean—uh, if you need anyone to talk to, I’m—right next door.” You stammered out, offering once more.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Michael’s lips twitched up at the corner.

You took a slight step back. You needed to break away from whatever spell he had cast on you. “I’ll see you around, I guess.”

He nodded with a small smirk, “Yeah.”

You walked away after waving at him. Michael snorted as he watched you walk away as you shook your head in embarrassment, mumbling to yourself.

Seeing you had made his day better, even if it was brief. Michael had met up with Jimmy earlier for drinks. It was clear that his brother wanted revenge for Jamie. And he understood, he did. But he couldn’t do that. Not if he wanted access to Anna. She was all that mattered to him. The most important person in his life. Although he was angry about Jamie’s death. He, too, wanted revenge for the boy’s death, he just couldn’t get involved. If he did, he would lose Anna too. Jimmy had been angry at his refusal, insisting that it would all be in the name of family.

He understood, he did. But Anna was family too.

Things had not gone better after their meeting with Frank, at Birdy’s house. Frank had wanted Jimmy to sit still and not to do anything. He had made it clear that they couldn’t go against Eamon Cunnigham. Jamie’s death had been an unfortunate mistake, they were going after Eric, he said. Even then, Frank refused to take actions against Eamon and his men. And to add insult to injury, Frank had given his brother a bag of cash to compensate for Jamie’s death. From Eamon. As though money would solve his son's death. Jimmy pissed on the cash and rightfully so. Money wasn’t what Jimmy wanted. Jimmy wanted blood. A life for a life.

A knock sounded on his door, Michael opened the door only to find Frank.

“Listen, Michael,” Frank shut the door behind him. “I know this is absolutely fucking shit for Jimmy and Amanda.”

“It’s wrong, Frank.” Michael agreed.

“But we are gonna get Moore,” Frank continued. “In time. Yeah? It’s like Birdy said, we just need to be patient.”

“And what if it had been Eric killed instead of Jamie?” Michael questioned.

“I’d be sayin’ the exact same thing. But it wasn’t Eric. And Jamie is not your kid, either.” Michael felt anger rose within him. He cast his eyes down on the kitchen counter before leaning on it. “Anna is, though. No court is gonna let you anywhere near her if this family is in a feud.”

“Look, I’m stayin’ out of it.” Michael assured him.

“Yeah,” Frank stepped closer. “And see if you can make sure Jimmy doesn’t do anything—fucking stupid—in the meantime. Can do that?” Michael only hummed in response, nodding his head. “Good.”

Of course, it was on him to keep Jimmy out of trouble. Of course, it was on him to make sure Jimmy didn’t start a war with Eamon Cunnigham. It was a shitty thing for Frank to use his desire to get Anna back against him. Just to make sure he wouldn’t agree with anything that Jimmy would ask of him. He was pissed off that Frank had to remind him, insisting that Jamie wasn’t his. He already knew that. Jimmy was his da, not Michael.

But Jamie was his too.

You sat on your kitchen counter waiting for your dinner to cook. This impromptu rest day had been beneficial to you. You had spent the day in town, enjoying yourself. A day away from work and taking people complaints on the phone. It could be draining at times, so this day was much needed. Even your brief encounter with Michael had somehow been welcomed, although it had been sort of awkward and embarrassing.

“What was that wave for?” You facepalmed yourself, still mortified by it. “That was so dumb.”

Your phone rang next to you. Same number than this morning. You picked up the call, there was breathing on the other side but no words were uttered. “Who are you?” You asked shakily. Still no answer. And before you could ask another question, the call was ended.

You had a terrible feeling about this.

“So, did he?” You were with your sister on the phone.

“Yeah, he did.”  Your sister sighed. “But that’s not Mom’s number.”

“Then whose is it?” You asked her, panic rising in your chest.

“I don’t know.” Mary replied.

“I don’t like this, Mary.” You rubbed your face. “They had been calling all day. And every time I pick up, no one’s fucking talking.”

“Come on, babe, don’t go into a panic.”  Mary tried to soothe you from across the pond. “Why don’t you block the number? It’s just probably someone prank calling you.”

“I doubt that.” You leaned on the wall behind you. “But yeah, I’ll block the number.” You let out a deep breath. “Do you think it might be him?”

“Who?”

“Her husband.” You said shakily. Your sister remained silent on the other side of the line. Her silence alone was enough to confirm it. You were terrified of the man, you always had been.

“I’m going to kill Dave.” Your sister almost growled on the phone. You snorted. “Or I’ll sent Matt after him.”

“There’s no need but thank you.” You moved to your couch. “But you can tell him that—that—he’s no longer my brother. That he can forget about me.”

“Are you sure about that?” Mary asked you softly. “I mean he’s family and—the kids love you. Especially little Sammy.”

“He doesn’t act like family. And as much as I love the kids, I can’t—” You pushed out a tired sigh. “He knew what he was doing and I can’t forgive him for that.”

“I know. Just—it’s just the four of us now. We are supposed to—I don’t know—be close like we used to. Be a family.”

“Yeah, but we grew up and maybe some of us forgot what that meant.”

“Are you gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, gotta be.”

Growing up, your father had made sure that you all valued each other; that you would put each other first. Which had made you all very close to one another. You were a knit tight group. But as you had mentioned to your sister, you had all grown up. And unfortunately, some of you had grown apart. You always had this fantasy that all four of you would spend countless dinners together with your children and spouses. And that was all it was, a fantasy.

Priorities changed with adulthood, you had your jobs, your own family. You couldn’t prioritize each other anymore. And you understood that, you did. However, it didn’t mean that your brother could just go behind your back and betray your wishes in the way he did.

You were still family though. Was it really worth it to cut all ties with him? Even if it meant you would no longer have access to his children, including your goddaughter.

You blocked the number as you said you would. And just in case, your sister had given you your mother’s number so, you could block it too. Before the phone calls, you were sure that your mother and her husband would not show up at your doorstep. But now, you weren’t so sure anymore.  

You woke in the middle of the night. And there it was standing at the foot of your bed, a faceless and shadowy figure. You tried to scream but no sound came out. You tried to move but you were paralyzed. The shadowy figure walked up to your bed, tears pressed against your eyes, your heart was racing underneath your ribcage, breathing was becoming hard. As though something was pressing down on it. The shadowy figure was no longer faceless. You recognized him. You knew him. You tried to scoot away from him as he stood over you with a smile on his face. Again, your body refused to obey to you. He moved his arm to pet your hair—

You gasped for air as your eyes snapped open. You sat up quickly, cradling your chest, feeling it rose as you took deep breaths. You switched on the lamp on your beside table. There was no one in your room with you. You were alone. Still, this knowledge wasn’t enough to reassure you. Your heart did not slow down. You got out of bed quickly. Rushed down the stairs, checking that your front door was still locked. And it was. You pushed down the doorknob four times, making sure it was in fact, locked. You even went as far as looking around your house, switching all the lights on, you looked in every room. Looking into closets and under the beds.

No one.

Eventually, your heart went back to a normal rate. You switched off the lights but you left the television on. Low volume. You laid down on your couch, you couldn’t go back to sleep in your bed. Not after this horrible nightmare. It looked too real. It had felt too real and it was fucking with your head. Although, you knew there was no one, you still looked around in fear.

You stared at the ceiling, praying for sleep to come. You were going back to work in the morning. And you didn’t want to deal with the lack of sleep on top of it all.

The television cast a blue soft glow over the room, the sounds acting as white noise. Your eyes drifted to the wall behind your couch. What was Michael doing at this hour? Probably sleeping, unlike you. You took a deep breath and turned on your side. Your back to the television, your face buried in the cushions, it was stupid, you thought to yourself. To seek comfort in someone that was on the other side of this very wall.

Was it wrong of you to want comfort and reassurance from Michael Kinsella? Maybe, it didn’t matter who was really offering it. Maybe, you just wanted someone to be there. Someone to put their arms around you, to make you feel safe.

And yet, it was Michael’s arms you pictured around you as you fell asleep. It was his voice you imagined, whispering words of reassurance.

As dangerous as Michael may be, it would never be worse than your stepfather.

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[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Up All Night 1

Warnings: dark elements, noncon, age gap, narcissim, probably name calling and nasty words, other dark elements. Proceed with caution. (older!reader)

Note: I wasn't serious about this but now I were. Please let me know what you think as it helps me a lot with ideas and I love interacting with you all.

Part of The Club AU

You rub your cheek as you check the time in the corner of the screen. You should’ve been gone an hour ago, you should have your bottle of shiraz and your episode of housewives to keep you company. You don’t know why you expected that, nothing ever goes to schedule, not with your boss.

You sigh at his empty office. You haven’t seen him for two days. He has an automatic reply that he’s ‘working remotely’. You know Mr. Drysdale well enough. He doesn’t work outside the office, he barely does anything at the office.

You go back to the PDF, your red notes in the margin of the manuscript. Big meeting tomorrow. Hopefully your boss got that message. You can only imagine what would happen if a publishing house missed their introductory conference with a major writer. That could mean thousands, if not millions, in losses. Somehow, you suspect you won’t have to imagine.

You finish the chapter and press your finger to your phone. It lights up but you don’t have anything more than the several reminders you set for yourself and automated notifications from apps you never use. Drysdale…

His last name rolls from your throat without meaning too. Something about him just irks you to the bone. Maybe it’s envy, or at very least, resent. You’ve worked all these years in the publishing business to become an assistant, all while he was born into his editor’s chair.

Another bubble pops up. You’re not the social media type. You never got much into it. Your generation came a bit too early for that, but you’ve found with men like Drysdale, narcissists really, it is a great tool.

You tap the notification and it opens the story. There he is, taking a shot with a pair of statuesque twins. Not the best look for an editor, on that night, of all nights. 

You clamp your lips shut and flare your nostrils. Right. You close your laptop as you see Eugene making his sweep. Once security pops up, you know you’ve got to go. You pack up your things and say hello to the man in the blue uniform on your way out. He knows you by name too.

You shift your glasses on your nose, the little rubber pieces starting to squeeze your bridge. You come out the front of the building and make your way to the only car left in the lot. You throw your bag in the back and drop into the front seat.

No wine for you. You’ll have to stream the episode when it comes out on Prime. You set a new alarm for the morning, early enough for you to make sure Mr. Drysdale meets his obligations.

📗

As expected, you don’t have a single call from Drysdale. You’ve left several messages since your alarm blared and broke through your four hours of sleep. You see his last activity on Insta from three in the morning and you want to throttle your own phone. This isn’t good.

You have only enough time to get yourself ready. Your morning routine of a perfectly portioned breakfast and precisely brewed dark roast is nixed. You get in your car with coffee in a travel mug. You have only one thing on your mind.

As you draw up the long drive to the ultra-modern facade, the revulsion courses from your stomach into your throat. There’s something about his style that makes your eyes roll. So obnoxious and absurd. He’s exactly a caricature of a silver-spooned brat.

You park behind the beamer and take a draw from your insulated mug. Ugh, you need caffeine, you need strength and patience. You put it back in the cupholder and force yourself out of the peace of the front seat.

You stride up the white stone walkway and hit the doorbell. Once. Twice. Five times before you admit you will not receive an answer. You bring up the emergency file in your phone and key in the door code. Drysdale would shit if he knew his mother sent you it but she is a lot smarter than him. It makes you wonder how the apple rolled so far away after falling.

You let yourself in. It’s quiet but for the catch and skip of a forgotten record. You go into the front room. Open bottles of liquor forgotten on the glass table, a broken glass on the floor, and the record player crackling through the speaker.

You pull the needle off and pause to look out through the transparent wall that gives a clear view of the entire room. You know Drysdale to be shameless but really?

You put your phone away and approach the stares. The large gap between each gives a sense of vertigo to your ascent. You get to the top and head down the hall, glancing down over the entryway as you do.

You carry on and open a door; closet. The next, a bathroom, the other, a bedroom but not used. And finally, you find the door you’re looking for. On the other side, Mr. Drysdale sleeps with his ass naked in the room, upside down on the bed with his head hanging off the foot. The same woman from his Instagram are entwined with him as they sleep the right side up. Ugh, you don’t want to picture it.

You go into the en suite bathroom and take the sleek black plastic cup from beside the sink. You fill it with cold water and unhook the amber satin robe from the door as you pass. You march to the bed and dump the water onto Ransom’s head, watching it splash down his back.

He yipes and whips his head up with an unattractive snort, “what the fuck–”

“Robert Laing is due at nine. It’s ten to eight.” You drop the robe over him carelessly and spin on your heel, “let’s go., Mr. Drysdale.”

[navxry]

"Oh, friend! I wasn't expecting you to be here so soon. Though, maybe your punctuality is a good thing…"

The first thing Aventurine sees is the shade of white as a familiar figure steps to the bar. Their eyes drifted to the drinks he's prepared for them, brows furrowing in contemplation before they looked at him.

Raising their hand, they placed it under their chin, speaking, "Why did you ask for me again, Aventurine? I don't exactly remember dawdling being on the agenda today."

He seem to laugh at their comment, moving over to hit his hips to theirs. "Come on, loosen up, won't you?" he teased, eyes twinkling as his gloved hand handed them a glass. "I simply wanted some company, that's all~ your friends have been awfully busy with their partners, and it's obvious that you haven't had anyone for this special day."

"That's because I'd prefer to be alone."

"Ah, details, details," he said, waving his hand off before continuing, "You understand what I mean, right? Honestly, you need a little excitement in your life! For a trailblazer, you're awfully..."

Aventurine paused, his eyes narrowing with an emotion crossing his eyes. However, whatever it was that they saw had left.

"... Well, let's just say bland."

The trailblazer frowned.

"And you're awfully rude."

Grabbing the glass, they inspected it, letting Aventurine's laugh go from one ear to another as they took a swig. their eyes narrowed at the taste from the drink, but they said nothing before putting the empty glass down.

"Anyways, you didn't just call for me for a chat, did you?" they asked, taking their seat and watching him do the same. "Out with it, Aventurine. What is it this time?"

The blonde hummed, grabbing a coin and flipping it in his hand. Fingers twirling and turning the coin, he flitted his gaze down, then returned to the anonymous? trailblazer.

"I'd like to play... A game," he began, but his eyes remained on them. "Something simple to get things started. It's not much, is it?"

"Depends," they answered, waving for a bartender to brew another shot for them. "Though, if you're curious on what I'm like, that'll be a different story."

"Hm, hm, I am," he answered, but that smile wasn't reaching his eyes. "However, I am more interested in your perspective of things. Can't say that you've been an anomaly here, you know? Care to indulge me a bit?"

The trailblazer opened their mouth... Then paused. Gears began to turn as they answered, "Fine. So as long you're paying for the drinks."

Hook the line.

"Bingo. I knew you'd agree."

Snapping his fingers, his eyes twinkled as the game (metaphorically) began.

20 questions.

"How long have you been associated with the Hostelry?"

"A year."

"Do you know the owner here?"

"Miss Lear? I do. She and I are friends for years now, long since she started the Hostelry. Used to work for a commissioner until she resigned to run different businesses."

"I see... How about the other guests? Ever know them?"

"I know that scholar, the 'doctor', the herbalist..." they listed off the rest on their hands, almost capping off of 15. "I know multiple people. Some dead, some alive, some... Missing."

His eyes narrowed. His smile tightened.

"Missing?"

"The memokeeper. The oath bringer. The owner of the express," they answered, eyes not betraying his with a twinkle and a swirl of their drink. "That joker, too. I know her very well. Shame she went missing, that one; people say that she and I are like two peas in a pod."

"I see," he nodded, raising a hand as the questions continued.

"Any particular reason you use code names here?"

"Convenience. Remembering all sorts of names can be tiring."

"Any troublesome patrons you've met in the Hostelry?"

"Only one. She left after 3 months of being a regular here. Had been because she was a thief."

Wait...

He paused. His brows furrowed in thought. They seem calm as they took a sip of their drink, continuing, "No need to worry, Aventurine. If you're curious on where she is, she's dead."

The way they said it was off. They were off. This city, this world, he knows its off. And this game, although he's spent it all asking questions, it felt... Methodological.

It felt staged.

"I see. Why don't we change it up?"

It happened fast. Too fast for one to track. One moment, the two were sitting comfortably in their chairs, the song playing softly from the jukebox...

... And the next was Aventurine taking them for a spin, getting off of his chair and dragging them to position. One hand on their waist, the other on their right hand, and both eyes—one of avgin and another of a wandering, worldless fool—meeting.

"Well?" he asked, effortlessly side stepping and leading the two to the stage with a cocky grin. "Can't say that you drinking as I ask would yield results, so I figured this is easier."

Being taken out of their element, he could see them stumble as they matched his quick pace, the song playing recognizable to the wordless wanderer.

Sip the GOSSIP, drink 'til you choke! Sip the GOSSIP, burn down your throat!

"Hmph, you jump at every moment of opportunity, do you?" they stated with a scowl, but they followed suit anyway. Spinning in his hand, raising a leg as they were tipped, only for them to return to position and quickening the pace. "A shame that I'm not a fool in dancing."

"Good," the gambler said with a chuckle, "I expect nothing less from you, friend. Why don't we dance?"

"Gladly."

To the outsiders, all they see are two people dancing, sharing looks that is nigh mistakeable for just two individuals bonding... In their own way, of course.

However, to Aventurine and his newfound interest, it was an unspoken pact; an elaborate play of pretend, lies, and deceit.

It was clear that he found them intriguing. Fascinating, even. Despite their previous interactions (which he didn't forget, for how could he?), he can tell they were smarter than they looked.

Each step was met with a question, and each answer was met with a sway and raise. Even as the song continued to play, both were masquerading to lead the other from knowing too much.

Both clearly know the rules. Both know that neither are unique.

For two birds of a dishonest feather flock together.

[nanamineedstherapy]

Interns, Idiots, & Ino’s Existential Crisis

Summary: Gangs of Wasseypur x Shark Tank but everyone has rabies. Mainly Slice of life, but aggressive. Previous Chapter - [Tumblr/Ao3]

On Tuesdays, you didn’t hate Ino because he was stupid. You hated him because he was stupid with confidence.

There he stood, middle of the co-working space, waving around a pitch deck like it was a sword and not an Excel sheet filled with Canva infographics.

“Guys,” he grinned, “what if we rebrand as, like, CoffeeVerse™?”

Silence.

Megumi didn’t even look up from his laptop. “Are you okay?”

Kokichi blinked behind his glasses, his face unmoving as always. “Rebrand implies existing brand recall. We don’t have that. So what, exactly, are we ‘re’-branding?”

Ino wilted slightly but recovered with a laugh. “Haha, right. Just putting ideas out there. Y’know, ideation is key.”

You were standing behind him with a steaming mug of coffee and a migraine brewing in your temple.

“Ino,” you said, “you presented the same deck last week but replaced the font.”

He blinked. “It’s Montserrat now. Cleaner vibe.”

"Your vibe is unemployment."

Megumi, all of 21 and already three times smarter than Ino, muttered, “Why is he even here?”

You pointed at him. “Exactly.”

Gojo’d bargained IIT pass-out Megumi from Toji when he’d gambled off with the company card.

Ino sat down beside Kokichi, trying to smile. “So what are you guys working on?”

Kokichi didn’t blink. “Fixing the code you broke.”

“Oh! I didn’t know I broke anything—”

“That’s the problem,” Kokichi said flatly, 23 and already gunning to replace Ino directly.

You remember the day you interviewed Ino. He said he was “a people person” and that he “loved startups.” In hindsight, that should’ve been a red flag. The man said “synergy” three times in one sentence. And now he was the marketing lead.

The only leads he ever generated were fake bot accounts from Vietnam.

“Okay, so, like—” Ino stood up again, trying to project confidence. “—I was thinking we could do a brand collab with, like, FabCafe or Blue Tokai. Viral stuff. You know what slaps? Barista rap reels.”

Megumi visibly recoiled.

You stared at Ino. “You’re 29. Stop talking like you’re doing your BTech at Manipal.”

He grinned, trying to laugh it off. “I’m just staying connected with Gen Z, y’know? The vibe—”

Megumi looked at Kokichi. “Is this bullying if he deserves it?”

Kokichi replied, “It’s mentorship.”

The last time Ino was put in charge of influencer outreach, he paid a food blogger 40k for a single story post where she said your coffee was “mid” and spelt the brand name wrong. Twice.

You made him call her agent himself when she refused to take it down.

“Why are you like this?” you asked him once during a 1:1.

He blinked. “Because I care?”

“No, Ino. You try. Trying and caring are different. You try like a clingy ex who won’t stop emailing the hiring manager.”

And the junior devs? Megumi hated him the way every smart intern hates someone with a title and no skills. Kokichi ignored him entirely unless he had to correct something. Which was always.

One day, Ino tried to offer them advice.

“You guys should smile more. Chill out. This is a fun workspace!”

Megumi looked at him. “You're head of marketing and can't spell 'campaign.'"

Kokichi added, “He spelt it 'cam-pain.' Appropriate.”

But he never left. Never broke. Never even took the hint.

And somehow—somehow—he made the office better.

Not smarter. Not more efficient. But funnier. Dumber. Human.

So you let him stay. With limited access to the marketing budget and a strict ban from touching the code.

---

A/N: Not Ino getting bullied by south delhi Megumi & Kokichi :P

Next Chapter Dumbbells, Dumb Men & The Death of HR - [Tumblr/Ao3]

All Works Masterlist

[lanctiflora]

@cuckoo-among-beasts || starter call

Lan Xichen looked grim and uncharacteristically kept to himself when he returned to Cloud Recess. Lan Wangji recognized that the latter was worried but the details did not unravel until that very night. Sitting at the table in silence, the seniors finished their meal and Lan Xichen finally raised his hand to make an announcement. Nie Huaisang was ill, not deathly, but his spirituality wavered and caused a ripple in the sects. Words spoken by a leader, Wangji thought, but eluded to another: a gilded friend with easy access to neighboring forests with a mere reach of a hand. Jin Guangyao earned his respect through countless trials and it visibly affected Lan Xichen when something was uttered in his ear about the contrary to Lianfang-Zun's famed reputation. Such an honor could not have been tainted by an uttered rumor of the late Nie Mingjue's half-brother. And while such details remained silent, Lan Wangji understood the politics in the crease of his older brother's eyebrow. A leader did not crumble at the mere suggestion that a recusant swore a vow of brotherhood. But this sudden announcement and Lan Xichen's absence in his quiet seclusion dared to tug at Lan Wangji's brow.

Wangji understood what the legacy of the Venerated Triad meant to Xichen, so he did not knock on his brother's door when passing by his quarters. Instead, a tray in hand, he continued walking across the emptied walkways shadowed by swaying willow trees and passed the numerous pavilions until he reached the one that housed Nie Huaisang. Only a guest of one week, Huaisang was not revealed to the rest of the Lan clan, supposedly as per Lan Xichen's delicate order. The matter was bound to breed rumors among the juniors, no matter if Gusu was known for its strict code of conduct. Even Wangji found such behavior odd. Secrecy was an enemy of conversation but he did not hold that against his brother knowing where Xichen's opinion rested with the other member of the Triad. He and Jin Guangyao found themselves often in each other's company, and Lan Xichen spoke highly of his sworn brother's efforts to unify the cultivation world. It was just that, this sudden change in the air, brought about an ominous wind that littered Gusu Lan Clan's courtyard.

Reaching an isolated pavilion that served as Nie Huaisang's indefinite spiritual rehabilitation residence, Lan Wangji paused to hold the silver tray in one hand while raising the other to knock twice. Then, with just a mere invitation of pressure, he opened the sliding door to proceed inward. Several plates of humble Gusu delicacies inhabited the tray: a conservative bowl of rice, freshly brewed jasmine tea, fish with plucked bones, and a bigger plate of fruit. Such a dinner wasn't a staple but a recommended dinner endeavor. It was easy on the stomach for overeating was against the Lan code.

Gently shutting the door behind him, Lan Wangji raised his gaze, piercing the dimly lit pavilion in search of a sign of life. Then, he approached a low table in the middle of the room designated for dining, lowering down on one of the seating pillows and placing the tray in front of him. Then, he dispersed the silence by raising the teapot and filling two cups he gently separated: one for himself and the other for the vacant seat in front of him. Returning the teapot to the tray, Wangji avoided clanging the ceramic against the polished wood, before folding his hands in his lap. Then, he waited in dead silence, eyes focused on the lonely teacup.

[feministsouthpark]

Mrs. Tweak - Character analysis (Part 1)

I'm starting a new series, analyzing some of my favorite South Park characters, starting with the one and only... Oh no... She's only known by her husband's surname! Well, for the purposes of my text, I'll call her on the widely accepted fanon name, Helen. And it's not like South Park has shied away from using fanon names in their official material. Let's start with S2E17 Gnomes, in which she appears for the first time, along with her son and husband.

"Some things are more important than money. The people of South Park count on you to give them that first cup of coffee every day."

Her very first line serves as introduction to her values and beliefs. She is a devoted housewife, who believes in her husband. Clearly, she is a woman with a strong moral code first and foremost, and is a devoted housewife second.

Helen: Oh, hello, son. How was your day? Tweek: UUuuUunh! Helen: That's good. Who are your little friends? Tweek: What do you mean?! Kyle: We're his oral report buddies. Stan: Yeah, we have to stay up all night to write it. Helen: Well, have some coffee boys. I'll brew up another pot for later.

In her next interaction we learn about her as a mother, and she is shown caring for her son and being patient with him. But we're also met with a flaw in her parenting (of course, what else could you expect from South Park) which is that she nonchalantly offers coffee to children.

Kyle: Coffee? I don't think I like coffee. Helen: Oh, you'll like this coffee. It's fresh. And she coerces them to take it, although it's clearly out of good willed ignorance, rather than malicious intent.

Stan: 'Kay. Maybe it'll help us figure out what to do our report on. We have to present it to the entire South Park town committee tomorrow. Richard: Oh. I've got one for you. How about doing a report on how large corporations take over little family-owned businesses? Helen: Richard! Richard: No, I'm- serious, hon. These boys should learn how the corporate machine is ruining America. You see, I own a coffee shop and now a great, big, multi-million dollar company is going to move in and try to take all my business, which means I may have to shut down and sell my son Tweek into slavery. As you see, she is opposing to Richard using the children for commercial, however she is indifferent towards the way he threatens Tweek, probably because it's too common in their household. She chalks it up as Richard's weird sense of humor. She is however more strict with her son than her husband, as we see in the exchange that follows.

Kyle: We're already doing a paper on Tweek's underpants gnomes. Helen: Now, Tweek, how many times do we have to tell you? Your underpants are missing because you lose them, not because of underpants gnomes. Which line solidifies her as a grounded-in-reality type of individual. While Richard threatening Tweek wasn't that big of a deal for her, since it was a joke anyway (not that Tweek would know that, however Helen's parenting skills are lacking in the child's healthy psychological development department), but she stands up for something that she sees a problem with, because as soon as Richard says the boys should do their project in corporate takeovers again, she opposes, just like she did for the first time the idea was conceived, but this time she further explains her worries, instead of just interrupting.

"Honestly, Richard. I don't see why you have to preach to some eight-year olds."

While she is dismissive of her husband's idea of using the children, she still demonstrates great care for his side of the problem. "My goodness. That's going to be a huge coffee house, honey." Then what follows is 8 year old Kyle questioning her parenting methods. Probably based on the fact that Sheila is overprotective, and Helen is quite the opposite.

Kyle: Do you ever think maybe you shouldn't give your son coffee? Helen: Like, how do you mean? Kyle: Like look at him. He's always shaking and nervous. Tweek: Agghh! Helen: [holding a bag of Tweekers BLEND] Oh, that. He has ADD, attention deficit disorder. That's why he's so jittery all the time. The writing seems to imply that Helen is in fact wrong, and her letting Tweek drink coffee is the problem (well Richard gives it to him mostly, but she fully enables it), however Tweek does show genuine signs of ADD in the later seasons, so in retrospective canon, she might as well be right, at least partly.

Back to the episode's political topic, she has yet another exchange with Richard about her concerns: Richard: What do you think, hon? [she crosses her arms and moves away him. He follows] Hon? What's the matter? Helen: I have a big problem with this. Richard: What do you mean? Helen: We are just using those boys for our benefit. They have no idea what they're saying. Richard: But, kids are great to get people on our side. Helen: You don't just throw a child in a political commercial to sell your beliefs. I won't be a part of this anymore. [walks out the door] Richard: Honey, all's fair in love and war. And coffee. Hon? Hu-hon? As you can see, while Richard asks for her opinion, it's not out of respect. He just wants her to tell him he's doing great, he expected her to compliment and reassure him, even though she clearly stated time and time again that she disagrees on the matter. Richard ignored her thoughts and expected her to go along with everything he does, only after she leaves him, does he realize he is taking her for granted. And the episode makes it clear that the writers of the episode believe her to be right. In the end, she gives the "I've learned something today" speech. Yes, the parent who is wrong in one thing (giving her son coffee) and gets criticized by the ever so judgemental moral compass of the boys, Kyle, also gets to give a Kyle-speech of her own, which positions her to be in the right on that specific debate. South Park has low-key been creating multidimensional female anti-villains back in season 2? Well, yes, but that is party because this character wasn't conceived by Trey and Matt only. This episode is co-written by Pam Brady - a producer and creative consultant of the show - in her only full-on writing credit for the series. And I can't help but feel like her sense of womanhood helped shape Helen to be the well-rounded character she is. "These boys are absolutely right. We've been using these poor kids to pull at your heartstrings for our cause, and it's wrong. We're as low and despicable as Rob Reiner. You keep protesting and complaining, but did any of you ever even bother to taste Harbucks coffee? Harbucks coffee got to where it is by being the best. Don't you think you should at least try it?" There you have it. She is pro-corporation, and wether you agree with her or not, so are the writers (in 1998). And you better believe Trey and Matt see her as the hero of the story by the moment she is insulting Rob Reiner! She even earns a turn in her marriage, Richard listens to her at once, and tries Harbucks, and realizes he likes it. He then gets a new job running the local Harbucks, gaining more money than before. So he did not only became a better husband for her sake, but also a better breadwinner - thanks to her efforts to talk some sense into him.

[linkemon]

Demoiselle en détresse (Bakugō Katsuki x Reader) [Fantasy AU]

Friendly reminder that English is not my first language. You can check my Masterlists both in English and Polish here. Consider supporting me on Ko-fi. You can also check out my commissions if you’re interested.

Other oneshots can be found here.

ᴏɴᴇꜱʜᴏᴛ ɪɴꜱᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ ʙɴʜᴀ. [ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ] ꜱᴇᴛꜱ ᴏꜰꜰ ᴏɴ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴘᴇᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴀᴋᴜɢᴏ ᴋᴀᴛꜱᴜᴋɪ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜᴛʜᴇʀɴ, ᴡɪʟᴅ ᴛʀɪʙᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀ ǫᴜᴇᴇɴ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ᴀ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴ. ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀᴀᴄʟᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ… ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ ǫᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴ, ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ɪꜱ - ᴡʜᴏ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴡɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴀꜱᴜʀᴇ?

ᴀᴅᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ ᴀᴜ. ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ, ɪ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏ-ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ "ꜱᴜꜰꜰɪxᴇꜱ" ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɴᴀᴍᴇꜱ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜱᴜʀɴᴀᴍᴇꜱ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ɪɴ ᴊᴀᴘᴀɴ.

Night was falling. Flames from a small fire shot up cheerfully and five tired hikers warmed themselves around it, talking about the events of the past weeks.

— My magic didn't work on these creatures at all — said Ochaco. — I still have a lot to learn.

Everyone shuddered at the mention of nasty flying monsters.

The only one who knew who the mysterious beasts were was [Reader] but she wasn't going to reveal it to the rest of the group.

She played her role, one of many previously prepared for the destinations. As the queen of Kamino, she was taught from a young age to take on various characters and put on appropriate masks. This time she chose the role of a wise woman who didn't stick her nose out from behind books. She changed her appearance and became a quiet mouse. One of the advantages was that she did not have to completely shed her highly developed manners and higher education, which would have been difficult for her to hide.

— Thank you again for saving us, Your Higness — she said to Shōto, who nodded and returned to sipping the aromatic brew of phosphorescent mushrooms.

— It was amazing — Izuku added and began to mumble in fascination.

It didn't take a few moments for him to start writing something down in the leather book he carried with him throughout the journey.

The only person who did not speak flatteringly to the prince that evening was Katsuki Bakugō — the last living representative of a wild tribe from the South and the owner of a huge dragon. With a frown on his face, he repeatedly announced that he didn't need rescuing. Todoroki did not accept his challenge to a duel, which was considered a personal grudge. Finally, in order not to escalate the situation, [Reader] asked the blonde to go collect more firewood. Despite this, curses and the sounds of branches could be heard coming from the forest, which (judging by the cracking sounds) were probably broken by the force of muscles.

— So, if I understood correctly earlier, you are going to try? — Shoto asked.

— Yes. — Ochaco pulled her cloak tighter around her. — We hope that we will be able to convince the oracle. I want to get money to ease the burden on my parents. Along the way, I met Izuku, who wants to become a hero. As for [Reader]… — the girl trailed off.

Until now, she hadn't really thought about what the scientist's goal was.

— My wish is a secret.

— Anyway, she's the only one who knows the way to this place. — Without her, we would probably have been wandering for a long time. Katsuki joined us later. He saved us from monsters similar to those your majesty fought this morning. Then he said he wanted to get to the cave as quickly as possible and joined us. I didn't even try to ask about his wish, I'm too afraid of him. — She pouted. — Along the way, we also met Tenya Īda, a noble knight following an ancient code and...

This was going to be a long story.

— We have a lot of adventures behind us. — Izuku smiled. — And now we're a day away from our destination. I think it's time to rest a bit.

Thus the blankets were distributed and the company fell into a deep sleep in the midst of the ancient forest.

Some time later, Katsuki also joined them. Ever since they first encountered the beasts, they had been on guard duty. That evening, he was first in line.

However, he didn't wake [Reader] up so she could take over his shift like he should have. As he approached and tried to pull her from sleep, she muttered something about five minutes and then began to snore softly. The blonde wanted to shout at her but eventually he adjusted her blanket, added his own and only muttered:

— Sleep well, idiot.

He didn't want to admit it but the scientist caught his eye at the very beginning of the trip. In the first days, she stayed away from him but after he rescued her from the hands of a famous thug called Stain, their relationship warmed up significantly. Sometimes, sitting under the stars, they talked about various trivial and serious topics, enjoying each other's company. They also happened to fly on a dragon in the moonlight.

This was the guard that Katsuki wanted to send, a being who, contrary to appearances, is very intelligent but cunning. It was hard to get him to do any favors other than tearing to shreds and burning everything he could find. [Reader] seemed to be his favourite though because he even let her pet his muzzle. For most of the group, this was an unattainable phenomenon.

In reality, however, the dragon instinctively sympathized with the girl, after all, like her, he was pretending to be someone he was not.

The mythical animal flashed its eyes and nodded in agreement.

The wild one needed sleep too. He planned to reach the oracle with the others in the morning.

This is how the last night before trials passed.

***

At dawn, the travelers said goodbye to Prince Todoroki and his brave white steed and headed towards the caves.

They managed to open the mysterious door to the underworld because Izuku solved the mysterious riddle thanks to his knowledge of mythical heroes.

The dragon had to stay outside, there was no chance of dragging the huge creature into the narrow corridors.

It was dark inside, so Ochaco turned on the light on the end of her wand. They went deeper, trusting the [Reader's] notes, which actually belonged to the castle's book collection. The air was thick, stuffy and stale. They passed stalactites and stalagmites, occasionally scaring bats, to see the mysterious path and the shadow at its end.

When a person hears the word "oracle" they usually imagine a beautiful woman. However, it turned out to be an older man with long black hair who introduced himself as Shōta Aizawa. He obviously just woke up.

— You're interrupting my nap, you idiots. — He rolled over.

— We came to take trials — Izuku said.

— All of you?

He was answered by four nods.

— Great, let the trials begin or something... — He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. — Oh, I would have forgotten. Only one of you will reach the end and I will grant theirs wish. The rest will fly out of here faster than you can imagine.

No one was prepared for such a quick turn of events. Especially the young queen when she realized her hopeless situation.

Before they could ask anything more, white light surrounded the hikers.

This is how the journey through a strange maze full of traps began. It was somewhere above the caves. This was indicated by the green grass, clean air and daylight.

During the trials, Izuku came to the conclusion that he could become a great hero without his wish, willingly giving his chance to the others. Ochaco said that if it weren't for [Reader] who saved her from the thorny vine, she would have beend dead and she honorably retired. They disappeared in a cloud of dark smoke and that was all that was seen of them.

So Katsuki and the false scientist remained on the battlefield. They reached the end of the maze without any major obstacles. There were two shining swords lying there and nothing else.

— I think they want us to fight. — The girl raised her sword.

She took lessons at night but she was aware that she had no chance against the wild man.

— I won't fight you because you pose no challenge to me. — Hey you, Aizen, or whatever your name was, come up with something else! — he shouted at the top of his lungs.

— A fight is a fight, these are the rules of the final trials — the man said in a dispassionate voice.

He was sitting on the wall, unnoticed so far.

— I don't give a damn about your games. You can't force me. — The blonde crossed his arms on his chest.

— You will die here.

— You have to watch us, otherwise you wouldn't be here to begin with. You want to sleep, so going away is not an option for you — [Reader] deduced.

It was a mistake. A nasty smile appeared on the face of the previously calm man, heralding trouble.

— I know you inside and out. I also know what your wishes are. You want your family back, Bakugō — he continued. — Do you even know who you're up against here?

A shiver ran down the girl's neck and she tightened her fingers on the hilt of the sword she was holding.

— Enlighten me.

— Queen [Reader] of Kamino — he said in a quiet voice, then disappeared in a black cloud and reappeared on the wall.

— Katsuki, listen...

— A family of murderers!

The girl could barely withstand the force of the angry boy's attack. The hail of blows fell with unexpected speed. [Reader] felt adrenaline coursing through her veins as she tried to use any defense. Every breath she took was burning with fire because the enemy did not give her even a moment's respite.

The blade clanged as it hit the floor and the girl felt the blade close to her throat. After a moment, she saw him raise it up to deliver the final blow. Her ears were ringing. She tried to articulate a sentence but her voice refused to obey her.

— You've won — a scathing voice whispered to the last of the wild people — I told you I'd make you fight.

The sword was pulled back to a safe distance.

— Get her out of here before I change my mind!

— NO.

[Reader] felt like she was doing one of the biggest stupid things in her life but she had responsibilities and debts to pay. Even if she was defeated and had to be on her knees begging for help.

— It's not fair. Why should I be judged for something my parents did? I know they murdered your tribe fighting for the land but it's not my fault. It's also not the fault of the humans, who will soon face an army of beasts called Nomu. The ones you dealt with along the way. My people don't stand a chance against them. My wish is to stop Shigaraki, their master. I know that tens of thousands of nameless people are nothing to you compared to the parents you lost but I'm going to ask you to use my wish anyway. If revenge or a crown is of any value to you — she felt a lump in her throat — then I'm ready for that too.

— Enough of these sappy speeches — said Aizawa.

With these words, he snapped his fingers and [Reader] disappeared in a cloud of dark smoke.

***

— Your Highness. — Maiden bowed. — Our savior, Katsuki Bakugō, has arrived.

[Reader] nervously adjusted her diadem and smoothed her dress.

— Let him in.

The boy entered as if he was oblivious to the dozens of pairs of eyes watching him in the throne room.

In fact, he admired the craftsmanship and wealth around him. Like all the way to the palace. The city had been blooming and prospering for a year. When he made his wish, he was not fully aware of how many lives he was saving. Now, with so many residents in front of his eyes, he was convinced that he had done the right thing. Strangers who recognized him on the street began to congratulate him, invite him to dinner and give him flowers. This wasn't what he expected.

Even more so, he didn't expect that his heart would accelerate so much at the sight of her.

— I thought I'd drop by.

He had the same cheeky smile as before.

The girl gracefully descended from the platform to kneel in front of the blonde. There were quiet whispers in the room:

— It is not proper to stand higher than Her Highness.

As if on cue, each courtier lowered themself to the floor and bowed their head. There was complete silence.

The boy felt his cheeks turning red.

— I'm not going to kill you or take your crown, so get up, you idiot.

There were murmurs again:

— The hero insults Her Highness?

The queen obediently stood up, dismissing the court with a gesture. A sincere, warm smile appeared on her face.

— It's good to see you again, Katsuki. I would like to thank you for your wish. After the oracle sent me away, I was almost sure that I would have nothing to return to and yet I am standing in my own palace among my subjects.

— You declared me a hero and publicly confessed your parents' sins. — He glanced at her.

— I know it won't bring your family back but I want to fix as many mistakes as I can. Is there something you want? Do you have any treasure or reward in mind that I could repay you with?

— I don't need anything — he muttered.

Suddenly the distance between them decreased dramatically. The boy couldn't stop following every detail on [Reader's] face. The last rays of the setting sun passed through the colorful stained glass windows and danced in the girl's hair and eyes.

— They say every knight should be kissed after saving a damsel in distress — she whispered.

— Well... I think that sounds good.

Bakugō expected it to be just a kiss on the cheek but he received so much more. The girl's lips were soft and warm. He swore he felt sparks spread throughout his body. He placed his hand on her cheek as if he wanted to hold this moment in his memory longer.

From behind the closed door one could hear:

— They look so cute together...

— You see, man, I said that it's a wedding, gimme that three gold coins...

— Youth, I used to be the same...

[Reader], smiling, moved away slightly.

— I think I'm in love, you know? — She looked at him from under her eyelashes.

— That's good, because so do I. — He pulled her and kissed her again.

[wanderpost]

front porch special 🫖☕️✨

(piper and leaf tea company advent calendar : day 1)

tea type: black tea

ingredients: ceylon black tea, assam tea, jasmine, cornflower, spearmint, bergamot oil

steep time: 3.5 minutes

where to purchase?: front porch special

im very very excited to be starting my 2024 tea advent calendar! because this tea is bagged, ill instead be showing off the amazing packaging of each day of the calendar. as you can see, each day is a "book" with a christmas classic on the spine. inside is an explanation of the theme and a bonus activity through a qr code!

today's tea was front porch special. the tea leaves were very fragrant, thanks to the bergamot oil. bergamot oil is the primary flavor and smell of earl grey tea, so i immediately identified it as essentially an earl grey with some extra ingredients. unfortunately though, the bitter black tea flavor and bergamot oil overpowered the flavor making it taste like a regular earl grey. Even the bottom of the cup didn't yield any bonus flavors (maybe i should re-brew my packet for a second round?). i was hoping to pick them out because jasmine, cornflower, and spearmint are all flavors i can identify through taste. either way though, this isn't to say the tea was bad by any means, earl grey is an iconic tea blend im a big fan of. the bitterness of the tea along with a sweet pastry i had for breakfast made it taste even better! im very excited for tomorrow's tea! :)