#I put a lotta time love and effort into this one

[opens-up-4-nobody]

I just need yall to know I started another Terror video editing project, despite my better judgment 😔

[wobbledogian]

one day people will realize all the "stupid" things you see in museums actually have a mountain of meaning and symbolism. like sorry if you don't get it but it's not really the artist's fault.

[purpledisastertwin900]

For all of the “Raph raised himself AND his brothers” fans out there I bring this train wreck of a thought (I’m a lil sleepy so sorry if it doesn’t make sense or if I repeat myself a lot-)

We do not in fact have any actual evidence that splinter was neglectful to the boys when they were little. In fact, we have the opposite.

All of these flashbacks indicate that Splinter acc spent a LOT of time with his boys-

With Mikey, he was obviously coached in his art, a smol child can’t paint like that no matter how talented they are so we can see that splinter put in the time/effort to get Mikey the supplies and teach him how to do it well. Which probably means he researched and learned it himself first, idk I just can’t really see Yoshi knowing how to paint/draw that well but that’s just a theory.

With raph and Leo, their lemonade stand is structurally sound: obviously not put together by an 8 year old, and there’s a lotta lemons lyin around that were probably a bit difficult to find, and just LOOK at their faces here they are definitely familiar with this kind of father/son shenaniganizing-also just LOOK at raph. That’s a happy child, one full of excitement and happiness, not a kid who had to grow up too fast. Also his dad is literally right there in the picture

And then with Donnie, I can’t really tell what he’s doing in the background (it’s a bomb) but what i take from that screenshot is that Donnie feels safe/loved enough to come to Splinter when he gets hurt. And Splinters taking care of him!! And, Donnie is wearing clothes, which shows that he went out and got clothes for them but also didn’t force the boys to wear them if they didn’t want to (see other screenshots lol) which also goes to show that he lets his boys choose who they wanna be and what they wanna do. At any point he could’ve forced all of them to train as ninja, at any point he could’ve made clothes mandatory, and at any point he could’ve forced them to drop things that made them happy like skating or science or art but nah. He was supportive every step of the way.

Now am I saying he was perfect? No. Am I saying he couldn’t have done anything better? No. What I’m saying is that Raph acc did not have to raise himself and his brothers. Splinter acc gave them a pretty good childhood, all things considered and it kinda makes me sad when ppl bash Rise Splinter or continue the neglectful parent trope. Again, I’m not saying he did everything right, he def could have spent more time with his kids on an individual basis and he should’ve been more present, but let’s cut him some slack bc he did a really good job at raising the boys. And he got so much better as the show progressed! But that’s another post lol. I’m also not trying to take away Raphs oldest sibling syndrome, he still def has that from being the leader and watching his bros while splinter was away-I’m just saying he didn’t have to do it ALL alone.

Look in the end he’s doing his best and his best was really good for what they had. He’s a good dad, he’s not neglectful.

[outisgivingpac]

Pick-a-card: What kind of lover you are attracting?

Hello everyone, I'm back (kind of?) to deliver my first love reading ever! 👀🔥 This PAC will look into what kind of romantic (but also platonic) relationship you are inviting to your life with your current energy. Basically, we will see what personality traits you like about each other and what makes your relationship work. Be mindful that your energy changes over time, and with this collective reading, only take what resonates 🍀✨

If you want to book a personal reading with me, check out my pinned post. There you will also find the masterlist of all my free PAC! Enjoy~ 🌞

🐱Pick a pile/image you feel most drawn to🐱

Pile 1. Pile 2. Pile 3.

Pile 1: Queen of Swords, 6 of Pentacles, 4 of Swords

First of all, the kind of lover you're attracting are drawn to you by your sharp wits, as well as your fierce and independent nature. Where others find your rough exterior difficult to deal with, this person finds charm and wisdom. They like how argumentive and opinionated you are, like you won't be afraid to speak up for the underdogs and can be real protective around your loved ones. In turn, you might like this person for their generous and forgiving nature. Though their ways of living might trigger your protective instinct at first, like how could someone be so comfortable laying their heart bare? What if someone take advantages of them?? (Lol) But soon enough, you will learn their kindness didn't come from naivety, but their rich life experiences; they are someone emotionally mature and capable to give and receive love from a healthy headspace. As someone who had to navigate through life with careful calculation and always on alert, you will grow to trust this person to mean what they say and be genuine with you throughout your relationship. Fundamentally, you both see each other as a sanctuary. You know the other got your back in the end of the day, and got to "recharge" just by spending time together. Platonic or romantic, this seems to be a wholesome connection that helps you stay grounded during turbulent time.

Pile 2: 4 of Cups reversed, Page of Swords, The Moon reversed

The first thing came up when I read your cards is how it feels like you guys meet/interact with each other in a highly specific environment. Meaning, you don't neccessarily have access to each other's personal life or have constant communication, but just expect to see each other at particular time and space. You could easily be classmate or colleagues, or are sharing a mutual friend. I hear some of you would refer to each other to a third person with a really specific nickname, for example "that guy who takes double expresso" or sth like that. You like this person because they're a social-butterfly with a lotta energy. They often poke fun with you and are fairly successful. On their side, they find you interesting, despite the first impression of you being quite standoffish. You managed to take them aback several times with some witty/funny remarks. They think you have a lot to offer, long as others put effort to help break the ice. This relationship seems to be of a casual and light-hearted nature. It sounds strange but, it just works when neither parties know where they are going, nor do they try too hard to stir the boat somewhere specific. It's the kind loose committal relationship that deepen slowly overtime, like the sediment at the bottom of a river.

Pile 3: 2 of Swords, Strength, Temperance reversed

The person you're attracting seems to be someone you would usually consider as "out of your league". Unlike you who always strike for a harmony in a group, this person has a strong and upfront personality, though I won't describe them as unkind or selfish. Quite the opposite, they are incredibly wise and have a big heart of an advocate. In your eyes, they have accomplished a lot of admirable goals with their talent second to their tenacity and hard work. Comparing to them, you might find yourself too indecisive and easily flustered to step out of your comfort zone. On the other hand, they see you as someone with many contradictions and complex inner world. In conversation with you, they can tell how you have many different interests and potentials, yet more often than not surrender your choices to the circumstances or other people. On the surface, it seems like a "I can fix them" kind of attraction, but at the same time I don't sense a strong desire to force themselves in your life from this person. In other words, they are not someone who would force others to change in order to match them. But they will wait and see if you will break out of the comfort zone, or from the harmony of "how things should be", with your own conviction. If anything, they want to be one of your conscious choice, not an convenient option due to the circumstances.

[devils-dares]

Give Up The World

summary: coming back home battered and bruised with a baby on the way makes matt rethink his nighttime activities.

pairing: matt murdock x fem!reader

warnings: canon typical injuries and blood, little bit of angst, whole lotta fluff

word count: 1200+

A/N: i was literally in the middle of writing for a celebration prompt when i had a brainstorming sesh with @galaxysgal and this idea came to life as soon as my fingers touched my keyboard. i'm pretty sure this was almost done in what i imagine was the first day of writing.

reblogs and comments are welcomed!

-----

You can hear the stairs groan under his weight, one boot step heavier than the other- he was limping… a lot. You cringe as he groans and whines down the rest of the stairs, making his way to you. He can hear your gasp when he comes into view, blood dripping from the bottom of his mask as he sways on his feet.

“I’m sorry,” are the first words out of his mouth.

“What happened?” You ask, tears welling up in your eyes.

“Ambush, I- ah!” He groans, grabbing his side.

“Should’ve seen it coming.” The words ring in your ears as he limps over to the table and sits on the chair.

“I should- let me- the kit.” You eek out, and he can tell you’re freaked.

“Angel-”

“I’m okay, just stay there.” You scurry off to the bathroom and he sighs, hearing your elevated heart rate accompanied by the smaller one that started in your tummy just a few days ago. He strips himself of his helmet and his top, leaving a wide array of bruises, scars, and slices on display. His side, the cut he was holding earlier, gushes dark crimson blood, a reminder of how brutal this job is.

He hears your breath leave you once again as you observe him on the chair, until your adrenaline kicks back in and shakes you away from shock. The feet that carry you to your husband leaving louder footsteps than usual, the extra weight in your tummy being something you have yet to get used to. Your fingers trace his face softly, brushing over a bruise that paints his cheek green and yellow, and he leans into your warm palm.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?” He nods and closes his eyes, readying himself for the stinging burn that comes along with rubbing alcohol. You press the rag to his cut skin and he inhales sharply through his teeth and grunts.

“I’m sorry, Matty. I’m trying my best to make it not hurt.”

“It’s okay, I know, you’re doing amazing.” The two of you fall silent after that, only the sound of Matt’s pained grunts permeating the suffocating quiet. Your heart rate rises every time Matt makes a noise, followed by a whisper of “I’m sorry,” or “I love you,” falling from your lips and his own heart breaks a little every time it slips out.

“I can’t…” He says, and it makes you pause.

“Matthew?”

“I quit, I retire, whatever you want to call it. I can’t be Daredevil anymore.”

“What are you saying?”

“I have the most important parts of my life in this room right now, and I’ll be damned if I get myself killed out there instead of taking care of the two of you.”

“A-are you sure? This is a big thing to just go cold turkey on.”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

In all fairness, he did go cold turkey and he stuck with it. He put all his efforts into house shopping, and all his aggression into the punching bags at Fogwell’s. Oftentimes he’d pause by the closet under the stairs that concealed the trunk that held his suit. You could tell he had an itching, a longing, to go back to his ways. His thumbs would begin tracing the scars on his knuckles from years of serving his penance, hands balled into fists, he’d twitch towards the hiding spot until his ears fell on you. On your growing baby and the small heartbeat that lay within your tummy. He’d remind himself of what lay ahead, what he quit for, why he continues to stay away.

You could tell it’d weigh heavy on his mind, flashes of aggression would show through, and he tried his best to channel it to more productive things, but with disagreements you could see it bleed through. His nostrils flared, his eyes went wide, his voice would drop an octave and suddenly you’d realize how exactly he instilled so much fear into his enemies. He’d always apologize as soon as he did it, though, it still hurt to know that he could unleash just a glimpse of unbridled fury against you.

It weighed heavily on your marriage, there were days where he’d stay up all night, listening to the sirens and knowing that he couldn’t do anything about it, just to be angry and irritable all day. You swore you’d never leave him though, and it paid off. After months of sitting in that darkness all alone, he let you in. He told you of all his intrusive thoughts, how he felt about anything and everything, what made him happy and what made him tick and why he couldn’t be near you on certain nights. It made sense, the way he explained it, why he did the things he does. It must’ve been a coincidence, but the second he shed a tear, your child kicked for the first time.

You gasped and grabbed his hand, placing it towards the side of your belly. He looks quizzically until he feels it, and the tears come quicker when he realizes.

“Oh-” He chokes up on his words.

“This. This is what we do everything for. This is ours, Matt, don’t you realize? I will never leave you for acting the way you do, I get it. But we have bigger priorities now.” He nods and laughs as he feels another kick, harder this time.

“Looks like you’ll be dealing with a mini-me.” He laughs.

“Unfortunately.”

-----

“Mommy, why does daddy have lines over here?” She points to his chest while laying on him. The three of you were laying in bed in the early morning, light shining through the windows of your Astoria home. Your four year old daughter, bless her soul, was the most curious kid on the block. She could smell your’s and Matt’s bullshit from a mile away when you wanted to appease her, and kept pushing until she got a real answer, or at least a high effort answer.

“So bumpy,” she observes, running her hand over his scars, “what is it?”

“It’s something… daddy always had.” Matt answers, and she tuts.

“Wrong, mommy, your turn.” Matt laughs at that.

“Lawyer’s daughter,” you huff, Matt’s laugh now shaking the bed, “well, baby, before you were born, daddy was a really good guy. He used to go out and save the world, every night! Sometimes, though, he’d get a little hurt, and mommy would have to fix his booboos-”

“Did you kiss em like mine?” She asks.

“No, sweetheart, that’s only for you.”

“Mommy likes me more!” She squeals at Matt.

“Anyways, sometimes when they healed, they left little bumps, or scars. It just shows how much daddy loved his city, and how he gave it away to love you now.”

“Thank you, daddy.” She buries her head in his shoulder and he holds her tight.

“I’d give up anything for you, bug, but you gotta give mommy the credit. I was hard to be around.” She looks up at you and tugs you into their cuddle pile.

Soon enough, she falls asleep, her puffs of air hitting Matt’s cheek as she lay on his shoulder.

“Thank you.” He mumbles sleepily.

“For what?”

“For staying with me, for giving her to me, for having faith in me when I was at my lowest.”

“I watched a building drop on you, I’m not letting you go over a few hissy fits.” He laughed at your attempt to lighten the mood.

“I know. I love you.”

“I love you too.” You yawn out, and Matt stays awake to listen to his girls’ heartbeats while they sleep peacefully.

[sugar-omi]

On the topic of moisturizing our ocean boy's lips... May I add a lil' idea on how making things easier...?

First: apply a very generous amount of your fav lipbalm on your lips.

Second: lightly tap the corner of your mouth with your index with an innocent smile and say "Cove, it's lipcare time, baby".

Third: Indulge and enjoy.

Somehow, I've got the feeling that Cove would be a real threat to MC's scented lipbalms/lipsticks/lipglosses. You know, like when you can't help but eat your lipstick once applied, because it's tasty and it becomes a habbit you absent-mindedly do...? Well, I kinda hc him doing the same, but to MC's lips.

I think it'd even reach a point where MC'd have a stack of lipsticks/balms only for his personal use (on MC's mouth). Pricey lipsticks would be worn only when sure he'd not be around. And i think he might pout and feel "cheated" if MC would ever dare wearing one of those long-lasting lipsticks (because he enjoys having you apply, re apply and re-re apply your gloss, so he can have seconds, thirds, as much as he wants, MC's mouth literally becomes Free Dessert Buffet to him).

Downside of it... your make up budget might explode, with how fast those lipsticks and balms are finished.

There's this french brand which sells this absolutely delicious lipbalm made with honey. You literally wanna scoop it from the bottle and eat it. Also, it's the kind of really rich and thick, blanket-like texture you'd apply before sleep. So if MC ever uses it... they'd probably have to either try keeping Cove away from their lips (at least enough time for the product to do its job on their lips), or benevolently sharing (cause it's caring), or resign to plan their lip moisturizing routine another day... or hide while doing it.

I think lipsticks/balms would end up being one of the most fav items Cove would gift them...

Sorry, I went a bit overboard with the topic... 😅

Rambling anon -

THIS IS SO GOOD

MC putting on one of their nicer lipsticks/glosses, or putting a lotta time/effort into their lips and limiting cove to 1 or 2 pecks. PECKS. not kisses. PECKS.

cove is pouting, his distraught... he just wants to kiss you, your lips look so nice n juicy n shiny and-

he needs his fix.

definitely make him buy some if not all your lip products. if he wants to keep kissing you silly, wants to keep smudging your lipstick/gloss n making it so obvious what you were just up to, then he needs to pay for it!!!!

imagine giving him a lil peck, and then it turns to 3, than 5, and now you're just kissing... your lip is totally ruined, lipstick n carefully lined lips totally smudged.

don't ask if he's proud of himself because he'll just laugh n rub his arm. or maybe he's just looking at you all love-drunk. doesn't care about all the lipstick staining his lips... hopefully no one walks around the corner this time

liz did once, n she does not let you live in it down... specifically cove. always teasing him with, "cove, theres lipstick on your chin" and snickering hysterically when he slaps a hand over his mouth n chin, trying to wipe off the "lipstick"

(she did it once, being totally serious, and cove was like "im not falling for that again >:(" and went to work with your lipstick on his lips...)

yall definitely lip makeup wipes n a compact mirror on hand at this point...

[dearsnow]

hi!! can i just request any two-bit fluff...like jus domestic warm fuzzy fluff ..maybe slight silliness...feel free to write whatever

AND YET

- you happen upon your very noisy “roommate” cooking away in the middle of the night (two-bit mathews x gn!reader, domestic fluff, lowkey so cute)

word count: 687

a/n - asther fulfilling a request??? within a reasonable time????? the world is turning upside down, y’all 🫡 i hope you enjoy 😭

“Keith, seriously?” Your voice is hoarse, a desperate whisper that borders on a shout. It is 2:42 AM, and your recently-moved-in, much-loved but forever annoying boyfriend is making a four course meal in your kitchen.

Surprisingly, this is the first time you have ever seen him cook more than microwaveable meals and the occasional pack of instant ramen. He looks up at you, clad in pajamas, fuzzy socks, and a shit-eating grin. “What, I was hungry!”

“You’re gonna be hungry when I kick you out.” You mutter. “Couldn’t you at least be quiet about it? I heard pots and pans and humming through our very thin bedroom walls.”

“You can’t kick me out, I’m too fun.” He smiles. He puts a lid on his pan of frying bacon and turns off the heat. “You love me. Admit it.”

You scoff, but when he takes your hands in his, your heart skips a beat.

“You looooooove meeeeee,” he sings, “c’mon, just say it.”

“I would love you so much more if you didn’t wake me up so early on a work day.” You say, trying desperately to hide the fact that the corners of your mouth are turning up. Like always, though, somehow he notices. It’s like every almost-smile from you is a win, one more thing to keep him going before he runs out of energy and crashes into bed, legs entwined with yours and mouth slightly open.

He spins you around, still humming a song you don’t think you’ve ever heard before. It wouldn’t surprise you if he had just made it up. “I love you, and you love me. That’s why you’re dancing instead of yelling.” You laugh. You’re supposed to be angry with him, but the tension between your eyebrows dissipates when you look at his smiling face. If Two-Bit had just one talent, it would be switching your mood to happy. No matter what, no matter how annoying he is sometimes, you’re happiest when you’re with him.

“Yeah, I love you,” you gasp as he dips you so close to the floor you can feel the cold tile sucking in your heat, “and I love that you can make me laugh,” he pulls you back up, “but really, what are you doing making all this food at such an ungodly hour?”

He wraps his arms around your waist, resting his head against your neck. He leads you in a few steps, his warmth smoothing the goosebumps on your arms. “I wanted to do something nice for once. You’re always making me breakfast, and you leave earlier than me, so I thought I’d make a bit of food that you can just heat up when ‘m dead asleep.”

“Really?” You move back to stare at him, eyes soft in the dim kitchen lighting. “That’s… that’s really sweet, Two. Thank you.” If you were being honest, you thought he barely noticed you taking care of him in that way. You figured that it’s just something that comes with dating someone who seems like they could burn water.

“Nah, it’s nothin’.” He turns his head, a blush creeping up his neck towards the apples of his cheeks. “I just want you to know I appreciate what you do. This whole ‘me movin’ in’ thing put a whole lotta stress on your shoulders, so some domestic effort from me couldn’t hurt. I’ll at least try be quieter next time, though.” He raises his eyebrows and presses a quick kiss to the back of your hand. You can feel your own cheeks heating up. “I don’t want you ruining the surprise again, hm?”

“Yeah, it sounded like an elephant was training to be a chef in here.” You tease. He laughs, the sound ringing in your ears like a sweet bell. It’s a sound you don’t think you could ever get tired of.

He slings an arm around your shoulder, pulling you close. He would drop anything to have you pressed against him at all hours of the day.

“And yet you still love me.”

You grin at him. “And yet, my love, I won’t ever stop.”

[medusa12346]

Choose a frozen character-YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE-EVERYTHING

I hope you enjoy!

Pile 1-

Pile 1, your future spouse is a very private person per se. They might be your opposite too. They’re very successful and abundant in their career, however, their personal life may be a bit wonky. They’re a very giving and materialistic person, however, they may not be the most caring or affectionate. They probably have an iPhone 11? That was specific lol… They may like dancing and may be into sports of some kind, I’m also seeing balanced energy between themselves, masculine and feminine both, with the masculine coming out stronger than feminine but the feminine leaving a harder impact than the masculine. I’m hearing that they have had an unhealthy cycle in their relationship, and the end of that cycle will be you. They will be holding onto you very tightly. This is a very valuable relationship, seems like they’ll never let you go and are quite possessive of you. Damn this person has a lot to say and to show, literally all of my thoughts are overlapping each other-They’ve broken down a million times and put themselves back together again…okay one thing they may not be big fan of animals though, especially rodents of some kind. They’re very mature, stable and practical, and grounded, which can make them a bit boring or dull sometimes but they’re usually really fun and nice to hang out with even if it’s not too extreme. Your person’s love language is giving time, gifts, effort, and money. I’m getting a lot of Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorn plus a bunch of mutable energy. OKAY OKAY extreme message, their house might have been destroyed in a fire once? Your person is a summer person and loves seeing you in flowy and comfortable dresses.OOH okay, they might be a POC, if you’re black then they might be the same but this applies to anyone who’s a POC! OKAY, so your person may have had a backward ascendance, like they might have been spiritual once but then lost faith? I’m also hearing that its no point in convincing them again tbh, let them be, it’s their journey and the universe is honestly okay with it. Your fs might be really close with your mom in the future or their mom too, but I’m hearing they’ll be close to yours, I don’t think they had a typical family environment. HOWEVER, they have definitely healed from this though, I get so much positive energy from them. They’re pretty confident about themselves and may be working on a major project currently? Most probably financial and material stability. If they’re a girl, they like to wear off-shoulder tops and if a boy then shirtless- if gender-neutral then according to their birth gender I’m hearing. They might like seeing you in boots, high heels, and drunk for some reason? (if you’re a girl) OOh, you will make them the happiest person in the world after agreeing to marry them/being a long-term partner. You two may have kids together if u want. They have a very fair mindset, sometimes a bit too much. Maybe they’re in law as well, and they value truth a lot. Even white lies would hurt more than the cold truth. They have a lot of compassion for the world, and charity seems to be important for them.

Pile 2-

OOOOHHHH yall are soulmates no cap. However, you may ignore your future spouse for the first time. They may be a player, and you might think they’re playing you the first time they ask you out or something. GURL, I UNDERSTAND NO WORRIES. There’s gonna be a whole lotta passion here, I also see new beginnings so you may be leaving something, a relationship may be, (friendship too) and going into this relationship. They CAN be a bit emotionally mature and sometimes a bit less understanding with a heavy demeanor, but in the end, they pepper you with kisses and cuddles, and hugs. I’m seeing in their previous relationships, they used to act tough with their sp when their friends were present, but with you, they are cuddly and baby even with their friends, oh and btw they probably got new friends LMAO-I get that they think you’re very smart, logical, practical, emotionally detached and commanding, and they absolutely love it, they go crazy for you HSDHSHSJSJSJ. HOLY JESUS SO MANY HIGHLIGHTS OF YOU TWO BEING TWINFLAMES/SOULMATES-ERNFJRJERF. UM basically, they’re also financially stable and love kids and pets. I don’t think they were born with a silver spoon, they worked hard for it and got it in the end. I’m getting major ‘daddy’ vibes from them SJSJSJ so maybe they’re a lot older than you? You’ll also be ending some sort of cycle with his person, like maybe negative thinking, anxiety and all of that will go to trash. You’ll also let go of some de@d family members, that you couldn’t ever let go of? BOIIII THEY HAVE CONQUERED all the challenges life has to throw at them, theyre one tough cookie.They will be majorly in business or in managing, i dont see a very ‘artistic’ person ig? But theyre very romantic, so they’ll probably try to be romantic. I’m seeing different people a lot, so maybe they change their appearance quite a bit, like dying their hair and putting on fake nose rings? I’m seeing you’ll gain a lot of confidence in this relationship, and also get more connected to nature and to earth. ALSO, YOU’LL START GETTING OUT OF BED SOON some of them could wear a turban or tie their hair up in that kind of way after showering? Specific NDNDJD.I’m seeing you two will majorly be the cool aunt and uncle, i don’t see you have kids if you don’t want to, but there are more chances of you two having nieces rather than your own kids. Your person could be Saturn dominant, and they always have instant karma either out to get them or to protect them.

PILE 3-

Your person is trapped in a difficult situation for now, and they have to be careful with what they do, and speak. They have a bucketload of work that’s been stressing them out, plus people are annoying the f out of them LMAO- they might be going through their first spiritual awakening? And they’ve become a bit immature during the process, but will come out better than ever after it. Oooh yeah, they've been going through it right now. Maybe they just swerved their way out of something (relationship maybe), and they recently might have lost a friend.For their personality, they’re definitely very sweet and creative and artistic, they love to experiment with colors and can be childish when they want to, but after this awakening, they’ll be a lot more mature and elegant in the way that they express themselves. Also, the crown chakra may or may not be important to them, maybe they’re focusing on rebalancing it after their work. They have messed up quite a few times this year, and they are working on moving past that shame and regret and guilt. I’m also seeing that blue may be important to them? As well as cars. They’re romantic too, and they set up the mood before asking you out on a date, possibly a Leo venus. They might also have been physically hurt once or more than that? There’s a need of going to the hospital a lot..mAYBE THEY’RE A DOCTOR? Oh, of they are, they work with infectious diseases and have to be really careful. I also see a toxic workplace, maybe their boss is really annoying and coworkers are not willing to compromise so everything is just wrong right now. They probably like traveling tho. They may have mars in 3rd and love debates. This person is really secretive I’m not getting anything here-AS for appearance, they could wear glasses, dye their hair grey, and have tanned skin. They also probably were impulsive once and that made them have a lot of anxiety but in the end, they got through it all. You could meet them through friends and online, but I’m also seeing a very dramatic meeting where y'all are MOVIE STARS OR SOMETHING. Sorry for it being shorter than the other piles, but i took half of the deck out and the majority of it gets vibes of renewal, toxicity, and hurt.

This is an old post. It is mine.

All coprights reserved to @amoretarot

[spiderispunk]

Okay, hear me out. I would love to see a Hangman drabble where it's like rough and dirty, trying not to get caught, sex. And there's definitely mentions in there about his dog tags or a chain or something... 🙏❤

Risky

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x F!Reader

Word Count: 2.8k

Warnings: Smut 18+ [minors do not interact]. Semi-Public Sex. Unprotected Sex. Gagging (w/fingers and his chain). Light Choking. Dirty Talk (like he says some really filthy stuff). Pet Names.

A/N: Not 100% sure what came over me. I blame this on @ussgallifrey again. Seriously, they're an enabler. Heed all the warnings before beginning.

“Jake.” 

“Shh, baby. I know,” he mumbles low in your ear. “But ya gotta be quiet. Wouldn’t want the others to hear us, would we? We’d be in a lotta trouble.” 

The others. You can hear them all the way from downstairs. Their attention drawn towards the giant TV mounted on Mav’s wall. The Army-Navy football game was on, and though it seemed to be a sure victory for the Midshipmen, all eyes were completely focused. 

All eyes except four. Yours, slightly closed and out of focus, and Jake’s, glued to the reflection of your face in the bathroom mirror. 

Did you really intend to find yourself bent over the sink of the guest bathroom in the middle of the 3rd quarter? No, and Jake swears he hadn’t planned this either. 

You want to believe him. You almost do. But then you think of the lewd looks he’d given you out of the corner of his eyes. How he’d pulled you on his lap– much to the protest of Fanboy and Coyote who told y’all to take it somewhere else– and kept a hand glued to your inner thigh for the first half of the game. His not so innocent comments on the car ride over. And that damn chain of his that he kept fiddling with the entire time.

It was a weakness of yours. The solid gold links that nestled on his tan skin, accentuating the curve of his neck and strong collarbones. It was one he knew damn well, and always tried to play on. He loved your reaction to it. Loved when you used it to pull him forward so you could kiss him senseless. 

  And you loved when it dangled in your face while he fucked you, so win-win. 

A loud cheer from the others snaps you back into the present. The very real present, where Hangman’s hand is shoved down the front of your jeans. 

You bite your lip, stifling the loud noise that bubbles up in your throat. “Fuck,” you whisper. 

Jake pulls you back against his chest. He hooks his chin on your shoulder. “Just had to have you, baby. Couldn’t wait anymore.” He kisses the shell of your ear. “You look so good.” 

“A jersey and jeans did it for you?” You tease, though it takes a lot of effort to form coherent words. 

“My jersey.” Jake’s hand slips up your shirt to squeeze your breast. He rolls your pebbled nipple between his middle and ring finger. “And you know what these jeans to do me.” 

Yes, you did. Maybe you weren’t completely innocent either.

Your eyes meet his in the mirror, and you smile a little bashfully.  

Jake grins and nips at your jaw. His fingers swirl deftly over your clit. “Oh, honey. Don’t get all shy on me now. You put us here. Now what?” 

You want to say that he was the one that suggested your shared bathroom break after discreetly feeling you up for an hour, but the only sound that left your lips was a strangled moan as he put more pressure on your clit. 

“Huh, baby?” Jake presses an open mouthed kiss to your throat. “What’s it gonna be?” He starts to pull his hand away, and you grab his wrist. 

“No.” 

“No?” 

You shake your head. “Finish what you started.” 

His grin spreads. “Always do, darlin’. Always do.” Jake turns your head into a messy kiss as his hand resumes their movements between your legs. 

In no time, you’re close to coming. Such is the magic of your pilot’s hands. Your knees shake, head dropping back against his large chest. A couple moans slip through the cracks of your splintered sanity. 

By the third, slightly louder one, Jake slips two fingers in your mouth. You bite down on them, and a choked moan slides from Jake’s lips despite his best efforts.

“Ah shit, baby.” He grinds his hips against your ass. “Drive me fucking crazy.” 

Jake’s gaze holds yours in the mirror, green eyes boring into your soul. You can’t look away. You don’t want to. Hunger and desire is written all over his features. In the clench of his jaw, in the dark, thin ring of emerald almost completely eclipsed by his pupil. 

Trapped there under the weight of his stare. Held in place by the rock of his hips and the insistent rub of his fingers. It tips you over the edge. 

You’re grateful for the fingers that muffle you as your orgasm crashes over you. Your eyes roll into the back of your head, your jaw falls slack. 

“Holy shit,” Jake mutters, his voice slightly hoarse. “You’re so fucking hot. Practically dripping on my fingers” He pulls his hand from your jeans and sucks his finger into his mouth with an appreciative groan. “If I had more time I’d get my mouth on you, honey. Clean ya up.” 

But you don’t have more time. Someone’s bound to have noticed the two of you were missing, and if they haven’t asked questions yet, they would definitely start asking soon. 

Jake turns you around, lips messily slotting against yours. You can taste yourself when he licks his tongue into your mouth. His hands grip your hips tight, and he helps you up onto the granite counter. He messily yanks your jeans the rest of the way down your legs and steps between them. 

You tug at the waistband of his jeans and undo his belt buckle with shaky fingers. You get it undone eventually, and Jake just barely has time to push them down slightly before you’re wrapping your fingers around his aching cock. 

His eyes flutter shut, long blonde lashes fluttering against his cheek. Jake huffs out an expletive, rocking his hips forward into your hand. You kiss along the base of his throat, tongue peeking out to taste the sweat that dots his skin. 

“Fuck, baby. We don’t have a lot of time,” he says. 

You wrap a leg around his waist to pull him closer. “Well, you put us here,” you mimic his earlier words. “So, what now?”

Jake gives you his signature shit-eating grin. “Gonna finish what I started.” He pushes your hand away, and notches the head of his cock against your dripping pussy. “I love you.” 

“I love you, too.” You spread your legs a bit more. “But if you don’t fuck me, I think I’m gonna lose my mind.” 

He nudges his nose against yours. “Alright, alright. Easy, baby. I got ya.” He pulls your hips to the edge of the counter, and thrusts into you slowly. 

Your twin chokes of reverence echo through the bathroom, and you’re thankful for the distance between the bathroom and living room. Jake’s hips move slowly at first. A steady roll of his hips that allows you to feel every bit of him. It’s breathtaking. The sinful drag of his hips. The friction as skin meets your clit. His fingertips roaming your body, touching and squeezing all over. 

But it’s not enough. Not for your insatiable husband. Not for you. 

“More,” you whimper. “Harder, Jake. Faster, please.”

Jake breathes harshly through his nose. “Okay. But you gotta be quiet for me, honey. Can you do that for me?” 

You nod, but already your strength is fading. Sure, it would be downright mortifying if you were caught in such a compromising position, but you weren’t too confident in your ability to multitask at this point. 

He can see that tiny flash of indecision in your eyes. “You can do it.” He holds you close against him as his hips pick up in speed. “I know you can.” 

You pull his lips back to yours, tangling your fingers into his hair. He’s been growing it longer lately, and you’ve been loving the shagginess of it. Especially when the strands messily fall into his face like they’re doing now. 

The kiss is messy. A clash of teeth and tongue. Jake tucks little grunts into your mouth, and you give him a fair share of your own desperate noises in return. 

His hand slides down your body, and fits into the hallowed space between your thighs. The pressure on your clit sends lightning crackling down your spine. The high-pitched, breathy sigh leaves your lips before you can stop it. 

“Darling,” Jake drawls in warning, but also makes no move to stop.

You think he enjoys this, actually. Watching you struggle to stay quiet as he does all the things that would normally make you scream. Of course he does. Why else would he sneak you to the bathroom of a full house to have sex with you, if not for the thrill of it all?  

“I’m sorry. I’m trying.” 

“I know, I know. It’s hard, isn’t it? Staying quiet,” He whispers, a teasing edge to his tone. “Why’s that, honey? Feels too good, doesn’t it?” 

You nod. 

“Need something to keep your mouth busy?” He asks with a smirk.

Again, you nod. 

Jake pulls the chain out from under his shirt. “Here. Suck on this.” 

Your eyes widen. It’s not the first time you’ve had this thought, but his blatant offering makes your cunt clench. 

His hips stutter. “Jesus. Go on, sweetheart. I know you want to.” 

You lean forward, eyes locked, and suck the golden chain into your mouth. 

Jake groans with approval. “Good, baby. You’re so good. Just keep doing that while I fuck you– ah fuck.” A sudden gush of warmth floods your body at his praise. “You’re so wet.” 

The filthy sound of your writhing bodies fill the room. Your cunt squelches with each snap of Jake’s hips. You’d feel embarrassed about it if it didn’t feel so damn good. 

Jake’s free hand slides to the base of your jaw. He tilts your face up. “Look at me.” 

With great effort, you meet his gaze. Jake looms over you, body completely covering yours. When he speaks, his lips nearly brush your own. His warm breath fans over your breath, cinnamon and whisky heavy on his tongue. You’re so close you can see the brush of freckles over the bridge of his nose.  

“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His fingers lightly squeeze your throat. “Feel so goddamn good, honey. Gonna make me come. Gonna fill your pretty pussy up right here. Make you walk around with it inside you all day, so you can think of me with every step you take. You want that?”

Your answer in the affirmative is a small squeak.

“Dirty girl,” Jake whispers with gravel in his voice. “My dirty girl.” 

The effect his words have on your body is nearly instantaneous. Dirty talk is not a foreign concept in the bedroom, but this was a whole new side of Hangman that you definitely wanted to see again. 

“Think they know we’re up here?” Jake mumbles, lip loosed by the desire that twists low in his gut. “Do they know I’m fucking you like this? That you practically begged me for it? Begged me to fuck you here, even though anyone could walk right in and see. You like it don’t you?” His question is cut off by a shameless groan. He’s not even trying to hide it anymore. 

You nod. Jake is spiraling deeper into lust, and you’re just along for the wonderfully sinful ride. All you can do is hang on tight, while the thrust of his hips and his wicked words drive you insane.

“S’okay, darling. S’alright. I like it too.” His jaw clenches, eyes screwing up. His hips meet yours in a sloppy rhythm. “Don’t we make quite the pair?” He chuckles. 

Your head spins. You feel like you’re on a merry-go-round going a thousand miles an hour. Each snap of his hips makes your blood boil. Each swipe of his thumb on your clit, brings you closer to that wonderful warmth. 

“I’m gonna come, honey.” His voice is strained. “Want you to come too. Can you do that for me? Can you come all over me?” 

The chain falls from your mouth, slick with spit. “Yes. Please.” 

“I got you,” Jake whispers. “Just come for me.” 

You do. You rocket over the edge. Your whole body shakes with the force of it. It shocks you into silence, that’s the only reason the bathroom isn’t filled to the brim with your hoarse cries, the only reason you’re not caught then and there. 

Jake bites his knuckle, hips stuttering forward as the knot unravels in his stomach. He comes with a muffled grunt, toes curling in his boots. Fills you up to the brim and then some in waves that seem never-ending. His hips don’t stop moving, don’t stop fucking his cum back into you.

Your legs snap shut around his waist, holding him deep within you. “Oh fuck.”

“Godfuckingdammit.” Jake groans, and his hips finally still. He presses his face into your shoulder, trailing gentle kisses across his skin. Jake laughs. “Oh, Christ.” 

Neither of you move for a moment, you just bask in the post-coital bliss until your ragged breathing becomes even again. You’re too full, and Jake’s too warm to pull away. Lethargy fills your body, weighing down your limbs, filling your head with smoke. You know eventually you’ll have to face the music, but you don’t want to just yet. 

Jake cocks his head to the side. “I think the game’s over.” 

“Probably.” 

“It’s a miracle they haven’t started looking for us yet.” 

“I think they know better. They might not like what they find.” You grin up at him. 

Jake kisses your nose. “And uh…did you like it?” 

“I did.” You brush his hair from his face. “Didn’t know you were into that.” 

Despite everything he’s said and done, Jake blushes. “Yeah, I uh–” He rubs the back of his neck. “I got a little carried away.” 

“No, no.” The corner of your mouth ticks up. “I liked it…a lot.” 

He raises his eyebrows. “Really?” 

“Really.” 

Jake moves to speak again, but a knocking on the door makes you both jump. And the jump presses Jake’s still-seated cock deeper into you. Jake covers your mouth immediately, muffling the squeal you let out. 

“Hey guys!” Rooster calls. 

Your eyes widen. Jake shakes his head. He presses a finger to his lips.

“I know you’re in there. Everyone knows you’re in there.” 

No response. 

“Okay, well people are starting to ask questions, and I can only distract them for so long. Time to join the party,” he says. “Oh! The Navy won by the way. Seems like they’re not the only ones who scored.”

You don’t unfreeze until you hear his footsteps recede down the stairs. 

“Shit. I guess we’re lucky they didn’t come looking for us earlier,” Jake says. “‘M gonna pull out now, honey, okay?”

You bite your bottom lip and nod. Jake slips his softening cock from your cunt. You both groan quietly– you from the emptiness that aches after being so full, and he from the sight of his cum slowly dribbling from your folds. You don’t miss the hitch in his breath, and the slight twitch of his cock. 

“Don’t even think about it.” You press your hand to his chest. “We don’t have time.” 

You hear the opening keys to Great Balls of Fire. Rooster really was pulling out all the stops. 

“You’re right,” he admits, though he doesn’t look particularly happy about it. Jake grabs a spare washcloth and helps you clean up. “I should leave first. Probably less suspicious than if we show up together.” 

You watch him tuck himself into his jeans. He’s still hard. The realization makes your mouth water. 

“I’ll think of a lie on the way down. Say you weren’t feeling well, or something.” 

“Good luck.” You slide off the counter and pull your jeans back up. 

True to his word, you can feel Jake’s cum pool in your panties. You rub your thighs together in a way you hope is inconspicuous, but of course, Jake catches it.  

He kisses your cheek. “Everything alright, baby?” 

“Peachy.” You smile at him.  

“Alright. I’ll see you down there.” His hand lingers on the waistband of your jeans. “Try not to get distracted.”

Jake throws you a wink over his shoulder and shuts the door behind him. 

Bastard. Smug bastard. Smug bastard that just fucked you within an inch of your life in the bathroom while his friends and boss watched football. Smug bastard whose cum you can feel sliding down the inside of your thigh.

As you dab at your face with another washcloth, and try to make yourself look somewhat presentable, you say thank you to whoever ruled the universe, and a quick prayer that this won’t be the last time you see this wonderfully filthy side of your husband again. 

[hellishboots]

top ten reasons why you should vote for the ramshackle trio in the @obscure-skirmish showdown

sponsored by my huuge special interest and infodumping tendencies

pls read it i put a lotta effort and time into it 👉👈 (but ig the tl;dr is im incredibly autistic abt zeddy and her work and i really want them to win)

first off, who are these guys? skipp (the blonde-ish happy one), stone (the skrunkly emo boi), and vinnie (the pirate gremlin) are three hobos who do whatever they can to survive on the streets. pickpocketing, other kinds of theivery, murder, and general mischief. anything goes! the world theyre in is old-timey (@zeddyzi, the creator, has described it as walking into an antique shop). it was originally a comic on webtoon/tumblr, and now its getting an animated pilot sometimes! isnt that cool!?

so, do you like hobo children? the found family trope? little guys? amazing, unique art? funny characters? ramshackle has all of that and more!! so much more!

onto the actual list :3

reason #1: the comedy. ive already said this but lemme elaborate on it a bit more here. if you like comedy w heart, ramshackle might be the thing for you. the trio is just some dummies (endearing) doing dumb things together and they love each other and just waahhhh look at themm

reason #2: the art. just,

look

at it. zeddy mostly uses what i like to call a dirt color pallete. im just using more colorful examples bc i can. fun fact, my art style is heavily influenced by hers, and she also inspired me to draw a lot more. you should vote for that right?

reason #3: im really autistic abt ramshackle 🥺 and, and if you dont vote for it 🥺🥺youre being ableist🥺🥺🥺 /j (obviously vote for who you want to lmoo)

reason #4: uhh, i think im talking abt zeddy more than the actual ramshackle trio, so ehm, skipp! a happy-go-lucky air mandolin-playing apple enjoyer

he eats apples whole, core and all :0 also since he has no money he plays the air mandolin (and keep in mind this isnt rlly recent info so maybe its not canon anymore hehe, i dont rly see timestamps on posts). hes so dumb and sweet, youd vote for him right?

reason #5: stone. where do i start? hes a sopping wet pathetic emo whos addicted to monster energy, ciggies, and the weird goo leaking outta the old shack downtown (ok that one may not be... confirmed. yet). he also somehow has most of the fandom simping for him

reason #6: vinnie! the money gremlin! whos also vaguely pirate themed! and may or may not have stabbed someone in the dick (theres a post abt this but i cannot find it 😭)

if you dont vote for her, she might stab *you* in the dick. just sayin.

fuck. reason #7: i put a lot of effort into this propaganda post

🥺👉👈

reason #8: do you honestly need any more reasons for that? i just feel like if this much propaganda wont sway you, nothing will

reason #9: are any of these technically reasons? or just me seeing an opportunity to infodump abt my favorite thing and swooping in?

reason #10:

please.

[slasherfckr]

While working on a Michael Myers x Reader fic and part 2 to the ModernAU!Thomas Hewitt x Reader fic, I had an amazing idea on what Bo's favorite punishment (NSFW) would be 🥵❤️

Enjoy!!!

⚠️ Warnings: Mentions of sex, cock warming, Bo being a dick (not that bad of one), no proofread so there's probably lots of mistakes ⚠️

Bo Sinclair - Cock Warming

Being the cocky bastard who just absolutely loves being in control, his favorite way to punish you is to have you warm his cock with your tight little hole

He'll absolutely jerk his hips right up into you from time to time and act all innocent about it as if he didn't just do it on purpose

If you even try taking it further and move yourself even an inch while on him, he'll grip your hips and make you stay still on him. (Obviously he isn't going to grip you extremely hard. Just a little squeeze to remind you who you belong and listen to ❤️)

---------------------------------------

"Bo...please, I'm sorry...."

You whined as you felt his thick cock twitch inside of you. You couldn't have been on his cock for more than a couple minutes but it's felt like an eternity. The man beneath you let out a chuckle as he flipped through the book he was reading.

"Maybe you should've thought twice before speaking back to me, hm? As much as I love that pretty little mouth of yours....it sure does get you into a lotta trouble."

He put his book down on the nightstand beside the bed you two shared and gave you a smirk as he jolted his hips up suddenly, sending a wave of pleasure through your body.

"Ahh sorry 'bout that baby. I just needed to adjust myself."

You gave the best glare you could muster as you tried your best not to start riding him right then and there. Despite your best efforts you eventually caved and started moving your hips in small circles, moaning as you felt him move in you. Before you knew it, Bo had both of his hand on your hips holding you in place.

"Now what do you think you're doing?"

Before you had a chance to answer, Bo lifted you up slightly so he could pull out of you. The sudden emptiness inside you almost brought tears to your eyes.

"What a shame.... can't even follow a simple task."

He was in the process to move you off of him to get up but you quickly put your hands on his shoulders to stop him.

"Bo please. I need you. I'll be good....I promise."

He smiled up at you.

"Look at how needy you are....you sure you'll listen to me?"

You shook your head fast. Bo smiled as he flipped you so you were now underneath him. You knew you were in for a long night

---------------------------------------

Ahhh yeah I'm double sorry for taking so long to come back!!! Stuff has been extremely crazy lately. Anxiety and Stress hasn't been very kind to me 😞😭

[gingerlee-holds]

Results of "Wake Up, Tword Asks"

From @softleesam's post!

As expected, MOST OF YOU ARE LEEESSSSS HEEHEEHEE

Neck won first as the spot most people enjoy for giggles, then sides, then tummy!

This is fascinating! Lotta people love tummies heehee

Congratulations to @sleepysheepytea, @fluffomatic, and @bigdumbtickler03 for collectively getting first place!! According to (my audience at least), you are the most flustering content creators! In second place, there's @mushiewrites and @made-by-jade-222, who are both so awesome!! And finally, congrats to our runner-ups: @ticklepinions, @lovelymessybubbly, @altheadajoysoul, @sweettallahassee, @coy-lee, @otomiya-tickles, @wormonastriing, @fluffystuffies, @twordish-ler, @parker-fluff, @obsessedwithseb, @touched-starved-switch, (myself! yay!), @massive-uwu-energy, and @shyticklemonster!!!! Each of you were mentioned by name at least once as being the most flustering!!! Congratulations, mwah mwah heehee

Yeah, this is about what I expected heh- If there's anything everyone agreed on, it was that YOU MUST RESPECT PEOPLE'S BOUNDARIES. NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS. Some people like tickling as a fun sfw activity that makes them happy, and for others, it's a kink. THAT IS OKAY!!!!!!!! Please just be kind, be understanding, and be respectful of people's boundaries.

Again, as expected, since most of you are lees xD I would like to take this opportunity to shout out the people who don't get enough attention!! Teasy Lees (*biiiiiig stretch, showing midriff to ler and smirking* "whatcha lookin at~?"), Shy Lers ("u-u-uhm,, c-can i tword you pleaseee? its okay if not but you look really twordish and i wanna tword you!!"), Stoic Lers ("Why are you laughing?" *as they poke*), and Gentle Lees ("You're doing great!! I love the way you're tickling me!" *through laughter and giggles*) But if there's one thing we love here, it's playfulness, and I wholeheartedly agree!!

Once again, you're all mostly lees, so the gravitation towards the 'very easily' side of the chart makes sense heehee (gosh i love trendlines look at that awesome trendline)

Wow! Almost a 3/4 split! That's pretty neat heehee

Interesting!!! Most people wanted to watch an animated movie (Disney, DreamWorks, Studio Ghibli, etc.), but a lot of people wanted to watch horror movies so that the tickles could help them relax!!

okay i know this is ugly but this question produced so many hecking characters i just wanted to include a lot of themmm (im sorry if i didnt get yours on theree) also Featuring: The Marvel Corner in the bottom right cuz you guys love marvel characters heehee

checks out!!! i wish i saw more back tickles in art and fics cuz they need more attentionnnnnnn

its getting very late and i had a lot of trouble trying to adapt this question into a chart but i did my besttttt (gosh im so tired im almost to the enddd)

(for context, the question is if you could choose one spot to tickle/be tickled in, which would it be) ooooo it's a tie between Sides and Tummy! and neck not far behind! interesting!!!

This was very flusteringg heehee you guys sure are creative with all the variationssss >/////////////<

the "how does tickling make you feel" question has a lot of really personal responses, and i dont feel comfy sharing them, even if they are anonymous

and the last question is sorta vague so everyone answered it however they chose, so I couldn't really make a chart out of it

WHICH MEANS IM DONE YAYYYY TIME FOR BEDDY BYE

so uhm I don't usually beg for people to reblog stuff but I put so much time and effort into this so if you'd be so kind as to, y'know ahem ahem, I'd really appreciate that, thank youuuu~!!!!!!!!

[krypticcafe]

How would Slashers (non DBD Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Bubba Swayer) comfort their partner after a nightmare? I thought it might be cute if it's not too much to ask for.

Slashers comforting their partner after a nightmare

rating: PG-13

character(s): GN!Reader, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Bubba Sawyer

warning(s): sprinkle of angst, lotta comfort, no beta read

a/n: I love these types of requests so much, gahhhhh- also this probably has so many grammar errors, I write at late hours :')

Jason

Admittedly, you kinda spooked him as well when you shot out of bed and nearly screamed.

Oh, but the moment he heard you sniffle while apologizing, he's holding your hands and tracing question marks into your palms.

You try to tell him, but you can barely utter a word in all your hyperventilating. It has him pulling you into a hug and enveloping you with his big arms.

You let a few tears escape when he's rubbing circles into your back.

After a while, he shifts off the bed for a bit to grab one of his coats and urges you to put it on. You comply, albeit confused.

He scoops you into his arms with ease and, for some reason, starts walking out of the cabin.

Your suspicions of where he was taking you were correct, finding yourself in the nearby grassy clearing you two often escaped to for some peace.

It became clear that Jason wanted to take your mind off of things by taking you here and showing you something out of a dream, fireflies mixed with a clear, starry night sky, a full moon to illuminate the area, and a summer breeze that wasn't too cold.

You two spent the night laying together in the grass, stargazing and trying to tell apart the stars from the bugs.

Jason would listen closely to whatever you talked about, whether a topic to distract yourself or the nightmare itself.

You appreciated that about him, how attentive and always had an ear out for you. He'd never interrupt and always respond in some small way even if he wasn't the most talkative. And he never, ever made you feel ashamed for rambling either, no he adored it.

When you've managed to keep the fear and memory of the nightmare at bay, you find yourself drifting into a deep sleep as he carries you back home.

Michael

Okay let's be honest, Michael wouldn't really wake up immediately when you jolt out of bed, your mind reeling with fear. He's a heavy sleeper, but he'd probably notice when the bed feels weirdly lighter and colder.

On the other hand, he might not be there initially, taking care of business as per usual.

There was a time when he wasn't home and you were alone. You went to the kitchen to grab yourself some water and that's when you heard a noise at the door.

Judging by how heavy the footsteps were, you knew immediately it was Michael standing at the doorway of the kitchen.

Just the sight of him standing there like some big oaf had you a bit humored. On the other hand, Michael was wondering what you were doing up at this hour.

You got the message and welcomed him home, letting out a small shaky sigh, "Just got a bit of a bad night's sleep, Mike, that's all."

You wanted to keep your composure, after all, your partner had come home after a supposedly long night, and you didn't want to burden him with your issues.

Unexpectedly, Michael dropped his weapon on the counter and walked over to you and grabbed your wrist, pulling you into him, and bringing you into a hug.

Was he a bit rough and clumsy with it? Yes. Was it comforting? Also yes. At least, you were 99.99% sure it was intended to be.

Usually after doing "business", Michael tended to be distant for a bit of time, for what reason you were unsure, but you had always respected that boundary of his.

Needless to say, this out-of-character effort of his to comfort you was a much needed and much welcomed surprise. And to you, it seemed like a big step in the right direction for your strange relationship.

Bubba

You wake up with a start, immediately clasping your hand over your mouth to keep anyone from hearing your gasps and sobs because you'd rather not wake the others right now.

It takes Bubba a minute to get up since he's a little sleepy-eyed, but when he feels you trembling and sees you looking scared, he's grabbing the knife on the bedside table and getting up to look for an intruder.

Putting a hand on his arm, you let him know that there isn't one, you just had a nightmare.

He sets the knife down (safely) and immediately scoops you into a hug, letting out concerned clicks and chirps.

You find yourself grounded in his arms, the way warmth radiates from his body and how his heartbeat gently reverberates in your ears. His hugs are what remind you most of home, safety, and comfort.

Unfortunately, he parts for a moment, gently squeezing your shoulders to reassure you that it won't be for long, he'll be right back.

And while you don't want to let go, you resign yourself, having full faith and trust that your partner wouldn't just leave you there. He would never dream of doing so.

Moments pass until the sound of wood creaking draws your attention as your lover walks into the room with two mugs in hand.

Based on the smell that had your stomach instantly rumbling, he had made you fresh, homemade hot chocolate. This sweetheart found marshmallows to put in and even brought you your favorite mug, too.

You almost want to sob at that. But instead, you press a kiss on his lips and thank him.

Even with no exchange of words, you bask in the comfort of simply enjoying a rich drink with your partner in bed, your mind finally at ease.

When you go back to sleep, Bubba makes sure to hold you even closer and you know he won't budge even in his sleep and that alone is enough for you to know that you'll be safe to sleep again, especially with him to protect you.

[btshoseong]

👣. !!: EVENINGS IN NEW YORK WITH YOU ‧₊˚

↺ 💌 ࣪ ˖ ∿ author’s note , @ this actually turned out way differently from what i had initially planned lmao 😭 but i love it either way

SUMMARY : hoseong, jimin and taehyung visit jeongguk in new york for his seven promotions where they celebrate his solo debut.

WORD COUNT : 2.6k words – PAIRING : park hoseong x kim taehyung x park jimin x jeon jeongguk

GENRE : just a lotta fluff and gay – WARNINGS : minors dni , suggestive moments + comments , all of these boys are seriously just lowkey horny tbh , lots of making out , jm was grinding on hs at one point

“Did you tell him we were coming?” Hoseong queries passively, fingers cascading along the fabric of his clothes as he folds and puts them into his bag. A lone strand of dark hair has been settled over his eye for the past minute now, having escaped the clutches of slick hands trying to push his curls back.

Jimin watches him with a curious glint, specifically eyeing the tendril that sways with Hoseong’s light movements. “He’ll find out either way,” The younger states, his voice carrying an airy tease, as if the answer was quite obvious. The older pauses, staring at nothing with concentrated effort, before a noise of realisation escapes his lips, tsking.

“Do you think people are already waiting at the airport? At this time?” He returns back to his former passivity, although the hint of disappointment falls easily in place from the pout on his lips. Jimin understands the sentiment well, reaching his hands out for Hoseong, who guides himself within the comforts of soft palms that caress up his arms, squeezing his biceps and reaching up to cup his cheeks.

Jimin sits on the edge of Hoseong’s bed, pulling his face down at a level that requires the older’s taut muscles to rest on either side of his lithe body, tipping their heads together, searching for that ever increasing lick of closure that burns along the backs of their spines. “He’ll be grateful either way, you know. Don’t beat yourself up over things we can’t control.”

Jimin leans in to place a soft kiss against Hoseong’s lips, comfort driving him to giggle shyly when the older’s hunger overpowers the intimate moment quickly, leaving previous feelings discarded by the foot of the bed. Hoseong nibbles on Jimin’s plush bottom lip, adding weight and pushing himself forward in a way that threatens to collide Jimin’s back against the mattress completely.

Alas, the sweet hum of Hoseong’s front door pulls his attention back into reality, grounding him as he pulls away and stands up straight. It’s only seconds later that Taehyung walks through the doors of the bedroom, pausing, with fingers resting against the cool interior of the frame. His eyes do a series of quick rounds, back and forth between Jimin’s stretched form lying on the bed and Hoseong’s clearly crinkled shirt and swollen lips, tsking lightly. “Yah, do you guys ever quit? We have to leave in, like, ten minutes tops.”

Rolling his eyes, Hoseong holds his hand out with a visible effort to suppress his smile. “Just say you want a kiss, stop complaining, and come here.”

Jimin sits up in the meantime, watching his lovers exchange a childish standoff. Or more so, Taehyung actively huffing, looking towards the hanging painting stationed above the headboard of Hoseong’s bed. “No, who said I want a kiss? I’m saying hurry up. It’s always-”

“Aish, this guy,” Tugging on his arm, Hoseong pulls Taehyung to his chest with a visibly proud smirk, feeling accomplished at the younger’s immediately silenced rant. His thumb lifts to caress Taehyung’s jaw, humming quietly, as if coming to a realisation for an unspoken question. “Such a bratty maknae, hm? It’s only ever you.” He states, shaking his head lightly, teasing. Taehyung pouts, avoiding eye contact until Hoseong simply turns his head back once more. He leans in to place that same kiss he’d previously shared with Jimin, sharing that same eagerness and that same passion, in turn melting Taehyung’s legs into pure jelly as his arms rest on the older’s shoulders, whimpering in defeat.

Hoseong soon pulls away then, brushing his thumb over Taehyung’s swelling lips before urging him Jimin’s way who opens his arms with a loving warmth that Taehyung falls into, kissing him, too, with great adoration. This is how they would always greet each other; one kiss shared between four partners, one of which is currently in New York promoting his first ever solo single. Hoseong, Taehyung and Jimin couldn’t possibly be prouder of their Golden Youngest, and thus they have freed up their individual schedules in order to make time to go see him together. To congratulate him, to spoil him on his special day.

Spritzing himself with a nice hint of Gucci owned perfume, Hoseong moves over to his bag and finishes up by placing the fragrance inside, along with some gum and his charger. The two younger members lay sprawled together on the bed beside him, intertwined legs and arms that drape over each other’s bodies lazily. Hoseong loops his arm through a singular strap of his bag before gliding his hand across the boys’ legs on his way out. “Come on. You can do all of that in the car too.”

The trip to the airport is brimmed with faint whispers. Jimin and Taehyung push Hoseong into the middle of the car seats, sandwiched between two maknaes who swallow him whole with sweet kisses and nuzzles to his neck and cheek. The suddenness of their overloaded affection comes with the halt of group activities, nurturing an ever increasing awareness of deprivation in their hearts when apart from one another — something which is only ever fulfilled again through stolen touches under an oblivious eye.

Unfortunately, all boys are also painfully aware of the other side of the coin; a reality in which marks on skins of gold will not simply be ignored. They know they still need to keep up a professional front for their fans, who call and scream for them as they exit through car doors into Incheon Airport. They follow the usual protocol, bowing sensibly and waving to the people, and posing just outside of the entrance to the terminals before making their way to the flight awaiting their arrival.

A chartered flight leaves them with some time to rest, and upon their landing into LAX Airport, they repeat the same processes on their way out into the cars again.

SOMEWHERE ── IN ── NEW YORK

Slouched along the edge of the car door, Jeongguk’s eyes droop with the passing of city buildings and middle class citizens — a lone body that is accompanied by his producer who taps away on his phone with quiet breaths, almost lulling the maknae to sleep. He was currently on his way to the studio of GMA for his interview, having just finished his live performance for the fans at Central Park. The schedule was packed with promotional material, leaving his adrenaline pumping and body erratic to please.

“Oh, Jeongguk-ah, did you see this?”

On his producer’s phone sits an article confirming Hoseong, Jimin and Taehyung’s departure from Incheon Airport where they had just recently landed in America moments ago. Jeongguk’s eyes widen ever so slightly, grasping the phone in his hand to follow up on the full details.

They were coming here? Wait, they are here? Did they come to see him? Why didn’t they say anything?

“Thanks, hyung. Uh, can you just give me a second?”

As the producer proceeds to nod with a knowing half smile, Jeongguk pulls out his own phone. The screen blooms to life, displaying a picture of himself, and the very hyungs that were currently here in the country, as his ever beloved lock screen. It was taken at his home at exactly midnight on the day of his birth two years ago now. The memory brings reminiscence of the events that had occurred, and Jeongguk’s lips twitch at the simple thought.

With the phone clumsily situated on his dining table, the boys had been splattered with audacious amounts of icing and cake on their faces — a clear result of the inner child which is set free in the presence of mischievous and comforting lovers.

At the bottom on the floor sat his Hoseong hyung, pulling two thumbs up with his cutest smile to date, shirtless somehow and very proud, but his eyes always led him back to a place that held undoubted promise, looking up at his boys with that heart pounding glint in his eyes which would always grab Jeongguk’s attention, like on the first days that they met.

And then, on top of him, pokes his Jimin hyung’s head with arms wrapped lazily around Hoseong’s shoulders, and chin resting on top of his head. He had that pretty eye smile during the picture, something which always drives a longing in the rest of the boys’ chests, manifesting a possessive feeling that Jimin needs to kiss away with added affirmations.

Then there was his Taehyungie hyung, and well, he honestly almost malfunctions a little every time he sees this hyung’s face in the picture. Another reminder of their wide eyed past as rookie idols who knew very little about the industry. Taehyung’s face was a time capsule of his old self, a fluttering feeling that sits at the pit of Jeongguk’s stomach as he eyes the image, and then moves to the head on top of Taehyung’s which is his very own. He was completely enamoured staring down at all of his hyungs. He thinks he might have actually cried at some point after taking the picture, too, but the memories soon begin to make way for new ones as Jeongguk attempts to call Hoseong.

“Hello? This is Seong.”

THE ───── MEETING

Upon the completion of his interview, the car was now gearing towards the hotel in which he’d be staying at for the duration of his time in New York. His initial call to Hoseong had gone something along the lines of the oh-so-funny hyung pretending to pick up an unknown number, even when he’s clearly aware Hoseong saves every single one of his new numbers, no matter how many times he changes it.

“Are you in LA right now? Do you have something scheduled?”

“Oh? Who are you? Why do you know I’m in LA? Are you one of those crazy stalkers?”

In the end, Jeongguk had won triumphantly, finding out Hoseong, Jimin and Taehyung’s business here in America and how they wanted to be the first ones to congratulate their baby boy in person, and though he may not always like being babied, his heart had melted in that one moment, his back lying plush against the leather car seat and holding his phone close, tickling the tip of his twitching nose.

He was already impatient from that point on. He had always been one of the needier partners in their relationship, and so the halt of car wheels couldn’t have come at a sooner rate. Jeongguk is hopping out immediately, way before the engine is killed, and the car is parked properly, because he hasn’t seen his hyungs in almost a week and it’s eating away at the few strands of sanity he has left and— “Yah, what’s the hurry for, hm? Who’s so important that you’re running off to see them?”

Taehyung.

His fingers encase Jeongguk’s waist, holding back from that usual roughness which often leaves light imprints on his golden skin, keeping him at a distance before stepping away. And ah, that’s when Jeongguk recalls that they’re standing outside of a public parking lot, leaving his inner child whiny and desperate to go inside immediately. “Hyung,” He pouts, and it’s enough to earn a sweet smile from Taehyung before he intertwines both of their fingers together.

The producer waves them off, allowing them their privacy as Taehyung leads Jeongguk towards the doors of the elevators. It’s only once they step inside, alone with the hum of the elevator taking them to their designated floor, that Taehyung opens his arms for the maknae to slip into, earning a light purr from the younger. “Missed you. You should’ve told me you were coming.” He mumbles against Taehyung’s chest, nuzzling into it. The older cards his fingers through Jeongguk’s hair, resting his back against the wall with an acknowledging smile.

“We wanted to surprise you. This is the best we could really do with the whole world watching.” He chuckles, soon lifting Jeongguk’s head in order to place a kiss against his lips. Jeongguk basks in the attention the entire way to his hotel room where upon opening the door, he’s greeted with the bodies of his two older hyungs on the couch, making out. Jeongguk is immediately scandalised.

“Yah! Did you come here to just make out with each other or to celebrate my solo debut? You couldn’t have waited until I arrived?”

Jimin purposely ignores the maknae, a small smile visible on his lips as he kisses Hoseong passionately, sat upon his lap and rutting against his body lazily. A single arm of Hoseong’s is strewn across the head of the couch, nails digging into the fabric with a deep grunt, whilst the other attempts to tug Jimin away by his hair. The older succeeds after the second try, catching his breath as he looks over to Jeongguk making his way further inside. Taehyung locks the door behind him.

“Congrats on the new single, my love. Come to hyung.” Hoseong opens his arms wide just as Taehyung had done minutes prior, and Jeongguk, though sulky over Jimin’s obvious teasing, heeds the older’s command and plops himself down beside Hoseong, wrapping his arms around the male’s waist as Jimin moves off of him. Hoseong places a kiss on the crown of his head as he pulls Jeongguk close. “How are you feeling? Was the performance at Central Park what you expected?”

Jeongguk’s eyes droop to a close, holding Hoseong tight. “It was nice to see ARMY, you know? It’s always nice to perform in front of them, and they were so responsive… I really liked it, hyung,” He informs, earning a satisfied hum from Hoseong who caresses his hair. “But we couldn’t do everything. It started to rain, and the weather was getting bad. We had to finish earlier than planned, so that was disappointing. I felt sorry to the ARMYs who were waiting.”

“But you know that’s not your fault, right? Either way, you did very well. We couldn’t be there for the performance, but we watched it together when it aired. You’ve come so far, baby,” Hoseong says, and Jeongguk’s head lifts with a set of cute doe eyes that glint under the artificial lights. Hoseong cups his bread cheeks, squeezing them gently before pulling him into a deep kiss, resulting in the maknae’s tensed muscles which quickly relax as he whimpers quietly, bunching the older’s shirt into his fist.

Jimin approaches a minute later, balancing his weight on his knees as he, too, leans in to caress Jeongguk’s hair, guiding him into another kiss and allowing Hoseong to catch his breath as he watches his two dongsaengs over him. He turns to Taehyung who had been placing his watch and other accessories onto the table by the corner. “Tae, get the alcohol from the fridge?”

With a simple nod, the younger obliges. Here’s to celebrating Jeongguk’s solo single release the fun way.

💬 — HOSEONG’S TAGLIST.

@pandorasword , @ateezsora , @bts-dream , @fairiepoems , @kaitieskidmore97

[gothcsz]

𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒆 / Chapter XI.

GIF by tomshiddles

PAIRING: Javier Peña x Original Female Character

SUMMARY: Truths are unveiled and Javi begins to regret ending things with our MC.

WORD COUNT: ~7.4k

RATING: 18+ Explicit topics such as sex, drugs, murder, the occult, religion, cannibalism and other triggering matters will be explored in this body of work. Minors DNI.

CHAPTER SPECIFIC TAGS: discussions of religion, light smut but not between our main couple (rip), another case of detective!javi, lotta plot stuff/exposition dump, other things that I'm probably forgetting.

DISCLAIMER/WARNINGS: The Javier Peña referenced in this body of work is solely based off of the character that appears in Netflix’s Narcos and not the actual person. Very canon divergent and I will tweak things as I see fit to compliment the narrative of this story. While efforts have been made to be accurate in terms of canon timeline, a lot of details will be fictionalized.

A/N: hola primas we're back again with another installment of wtf is going on in this fic?! lmfao i had a little too much fun writing this chapter so i hope u all enjoy it and thank u for reading <3 i may or may not be an august stan idk how we feeling chat?! as always feel free to drop any type of feedback/support on this blog or ao3. i'd really appreciate it <3

♰  read on ao3. ♰

♰  playlist | pinterest | series masterlist ♰

“A woman, a mother, a mother is a very special thing and other than the Lord Jesus Christ, I think that a mother is one of the most precious gifts that God gives to this world because the mother is the one who loves the Lord and always seems to be there when we need her. A mother is a very special thing. A mother is a very special thing.” –– Family Tree (Intro), Ethel Cain.

“No peekin’, okay?” August whispers against her neck, his voice filled with playful insistence.

Paloma can’t help but laugh, the sound light in the quiet night. “That’s the third time you’ve told me that. I promise, I ain’t lookin’!” she assures him, her eyes squeezed shut and her free hand covering them for good measure. Her heart races with anticipation, wondering what surprise he has in store for her. She can feel his warmth and the gentle pressure of his hand guiding her forward, heightening her excitement.

Sneaking away from home had been surprisingly easy. She told her father she was going to spend the night at Sloane’s and would be back the next morning, not really feeling like doing her usual show at the bar. At first he had been skeptical, but a few well-placed batts of her eyelashes and a practiced pout later, his resolve softened and he relented with his usual father spiel. She knows she was pushing her luck, but the thrill of the evening and the promise of August’s plans makes it all worthwhile.

She was also cautious not to reveal the location of Sloane’s new home. Instead, she told him that she was just going to the motel in town, maintaining the illusion that her friend still resides there. This little deception is necessary to keep him at ease, even though it means bending the truth.

Now, she finds herself being led to a mystery spot where he has prepared their long-awaited date. She has no idea what to expect, but it doesn’t really matter. The mere fact that he has put so much effort into planning this is more than she can ask for.

As they walk, she feels the summer evening breeze brushing against her skin and the soft rustling of leaves underfoot. The night is alive with the distant chirping of crickets and the faint, sweet scent of blooming flowers.

“Just a little further,” he says softly, his voice laced with a hint of excitement that matches her own. Paloma nods, biting her lip to contain her smile. She trusts him completely, knowing that whatever awaited her would be worth the secrecy and the suspense.

They come to a halt, and he gently squeezes her hand before letting go and moving to stand behind her.

“M’kay, you can open ‘em now,” his southern drawl is like syrup in her ear, his breath warm and inviting. She blinks her eyes open, her vision adjusting to the soft glow, and she gasps softly as she takes in the scene before her.

They’re in the greenhouse, transformed into a romantic haven. Various candles are scattered around, casting a warm, flickering light that dances across the glass walls and lush greenery. In the center of the space, a picnic blanket is spread out on the floor, adorned with an assortment of dishes that she assumes make up their dinner. Cutlery and plates are neatly set aside, everything meticulously arranged.

“Oh, August…” she breathes, her voice filled with awe. Her hand instinctively comes up to clutch her chest then she turns to face him, eyes glistening with adoration. Unable to contain her feelings, she pulls him in for a sweet, lingering kiss; a silent thank you for his thoughtfulness.

“You like it?” he asks with a hint of nervousness. She takes a step forward, her eyes wide as she absorbs the sheer beauty of the setup.

The moonlight streams gently through the skylight window, casting a silvery glow over everything. She almost pinches herself to make sure she isn’t dreaming, the scene is so perfect.

“Like it? I love it! You did this all yourself?” she exclaims in genuine admiration. The flowers that surround them appear even more delicate under the soft glow of the candlelight. Unable to resist, she leans forward to sniff at the peonies nearby, their sweet fragrance filling her nose.

“Had some help, but for the most part, yeah,” He replies with a modest smile. “Here, come sit.” He beckons her over, and she complies eagerly, settling herself next to him and smoothing out the skirt of her dress.

“Well, you outdid yourself. This is the sweetest thing ever,” she leans her body weight against her palm, gazing up at him with a gentle, appreciative stare.

“Let this be the first of many sweet things I do for you, pretty girl. You deserve it,” he replies, winking. Her blush deepens and she finds herself fidgeting with the hem of her dress, her heart fluttering at his words.

Their date goes effortlessly, filled with lighthearted flirting and laughter. He boasts about his cooking skills, and Paloma playfully challenges him, only to be quickly proven wrong when she takes her first bite of the lasagna he’s made. It’s fucking delicious.

She feels a sense of enchantment growing with every passing moment, the romantic setting amplifying her emotions. She mentally chides herself for not pursuing him sooner, for wasting time on the mustached older man who had occupied her thoughts for far too long.

They finish their meal, and just when she thinks the evening couldn’t get any better, he pulls out a small angel cake with the perfect arrangement of strawberries and whipped cream from the picnic basket.

“How did you know this is my favorite dessert of, like, all time?!” she exclaims, eyes wide with delight.

They share a knowing look before answering simultaneously, “Sloane.” Her smile widens, her cheeks aching from how the expression has hardly left her face since she arrived.

August scoops a spoonful of the cake and brings it up to her lips, his eyes twinkling with playful intent. She opens her mouth, maintaining eye contact as she takes the sweet dessert.

She moans softly as the flavors meld in her mouth, the light, airy cake complemented perfectly by the sweetness of the fresh strawberries. “Delicious,” she murmurs, savoring every bit.

He watches her, a satisfied and boyish grin on full display. “I’m glad you like it,” his voice is low, seductive. He takes a bite himself, nodding in appreciation of the treat they’re sharing.

They take turns feeding each other, and she is completely absorbed in his company. He makes her laugh, his eyes swimming with mischief and warmth, and she feels a connection she hadn’t thought possible.

She looks at him, beaming with gratitude and something more profound. “Tonight was amazing, August. You’ve really made me feel special.”

He reaches out, moving a strand of her hair that had fallen forward aside. “You are special, Paloma. And s’just the beginnin’.” He holds her stare briefly and she softens, “Night’s not over yet, girl. There’s still somethin’ I want to show ya.” His words promise more surprises, and she feels her excitement renew, eager to see what else he has for her.

“I’ll be right back,” leaning in to place a tender kiss on her lips, he tastes a hint of the whipped cream lingering there and it takes all his willpower to pull away.

She sighs wistfully, watching him leave. To pass the time, she busies herself by cleaning up. She carefully moves the empty containers into the basket and stacks their dirty plates before pushing them aside.

He returns not too long after, holding what looks like a photo album. Her curiosity piques immediately. “What’s that?” she asks inquisitively, shifting in her seat so her legs are tucked beneath her as he lowers himself beside her.

“A scrapbook…” He trails off, and she can sense the nerves radiating from him. Her brows cinch together, waiting for him to continue.

“‘Fore I show you this… I need you to understand how unique you truly are.” He sets the book down between them, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek affectionately as he gazes deeply into her dark eyes. She doesn’t know what to say to this, so she remains quiet but offers him a reassuring look that encourages him to go on.

“Knew it from the moment I set eyes on ya. At the time, I didn’t know what it was. I jus’ assumed it was another crush on a pretty girl. But then I got to know you, and slowly but surely… everything started makin’ sense.”

There’s an unidentifiable tone in his voice, one that makes her heart beat a little faster. “What do you mean ‘started makin’ sense’?”

He takes a deep breath, his hand dropping from her face as he places the leather-bound book into her lap. The force of it feels significant, almost like it carries the gravity of his words.

“This is goin’ to be a lot, ‘n I understand if you dunno know how to process it all after I show you everythin’. But… can you promise to wait ‘till I explain ‘fore you react?” His eyes search hers, pleading for understanding and patience.

Her heart races with anticipation and uncertainty. “August, you’re scarin’ me,” she giggles nervously, her hands growing clammy at his elusive words.

He flips the book open to the first page, revealing a photograph of a group posing in front of a grand, old church. The faces in the picture seem frozen in time, their expressions filled with a mix of hope and solemnity.

“There was a group in Italy,” He begins slowly, “that believed a new age of peace ‘n tranquility was nearing. They devoted all their time and resources to prepare for it. They were convinced a woman would be the one to bring it into fruition, so they searched for her all over the world.”

He turns the page, revealing more photos of the group alongside the majestic church. The images capture moments of gatherings, rituals, and serene landscapes. she can’t help but feel a strange sense of connection to the story, though she remains unsure why he’s telling her this.

“Why are you showin’ me this?” she voices her thoughts, her curiosity mingling with apprehension.

“Because, Paloma,” He says, turning another page to reveal a faded, hand-drawn map marked with various locations, “They documented everythin’ , kept records, and followed signs. This group believed that the woman who would bring about this new age had certain qualities, certain... traits.”

Her eyes scan the map, noting how meticulously it’s marked, the sense of urgency and dedication evident in the detailed annotations. Her confusion deepens, but she remains silent, partially engrossed by the unfolding story.

He turns another page, revealing a photograph of a necklace, a delicate cross pendant with intricate engravings. “This pendant,” he continues, “was said to be a key, a symbol of her identity.”

Her heart races as her gaze falls to the piece of jewelry. She inhales sharply, her breath snagging. It’s the same pendent that had belonged to her mother. Her fingers absentmindedly go to her collarbone that’s bare since she opted out of wearing it tonight. “What does this have to do with me, August?”

He takes a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that makes her pulse quicken. “The more I got to know you, the more I realized you embody everything this group was searchin’ for. Your kindness, your strength, your spirit—it all matches what they described.”

“Are you saying… you think I’m this woman they were looking for? Don’t be ridiculous––”

“Just let me finish.” He cuts her off, looking away briefly and trying to collect himself before relaying the next bit of information. “Then they found her. The woman they’d been preparin’ and searchin’ for. She lived halfway ‘cross the world in the orphanage where she was raised. After gettin’ in contact with her, she agreed to move to Europe.”

She listens intently, her body buzzing with a feeling she can’t explain as she absorbs his words. She waits patiently, her eyes fixed on him.

Another turn of the page, and this time, she gasps loudly as her eyes land on the photo. It’s her mother, clear as day. A photo she’s never seen before, but it’s undeniably Abilene Leighton. She is always told that she resembles her, but seeing her at about the same age Paloma is now is uncanny—they look identical.

“Mom…” Her voice trembles with emotion as her fingers trace the photo, tears welling up in her eyes. He watches her carefully, studying her reaction. He wants to give her a moment to process this revelation, to come to terms with the implications, but at the same time he’s eager to keep unveiling more.

“Her real name was Calmana. The women that raised her in the orphanage didn’t think she needed a surname. From the moment she arrived in their care, they knew she was special. Seemingly dropped off on their doorstep. No one ever adopted her. She was different from the others…” His voice is filled with reverence as he speaks, his words weaving a tale that feels so foreign.

Calmana? The name sends a shiver down her spine, leaving her speechless as her eyes trace every detail of the picture. There’s a haunting beauty to her mother’s image, a sense of mystery that lingers in the air.

He presses on, his tone solemn yet tinged with awe. “Don’t know how they did it, but they were able to figure out part of her family tree. Paloma… you come from a marked lineage, akin to the story of Cain and Abel.”

Her world stills, mind reeling at the magnitude of his words. Her heart pounds in her ears with a mixture of disbelief and wonder.

“According to some religious traditions, Cain and Abel had sisters,” He continues, his voice steady as he delves deeper into the mythic lore. “Calmana was the oldest daughter of Adam and Eve and, in plenty’a sources, the twin sister of Cain. Others say she was his wife. That would make her the first female human who was born naturally. You, your mother are direct descendants of somethin’ fuckin’ divine.”

Her mind spins with the implications of this revelation. The idea that her bloodline is tied to spiritual origins feels dreamlike. Fake. Isn’t everyone technically descendants of Adam and Eve? It’s what she’s been taught growing up.

But as she looks down at the picture again, she sees her mother in a new light—a woman with a story.

She can’t help the way her hand comes up to cover her mouth, overwhelmed by everything he’s saying. It feels like the ground beneath her has shifted, leaving her reeling in a sea of uncertainty. As he continues to flip through the book on her lap, showing proof of every bit of his story, she feels a rush of conflicting emotions—astonishment, skepticism, and a growing sense of unease.

It’s too confusing, it simply must not be true. Yet, with all the texts he’s had her read and all the books they’ve both bonded over, there is a nagging possibility that all this is actually real. The thought has goosebumps curling at her skin, her mind racing with a million questions and doubts.

“No, no way.” She shakes her head, her voice trembling as she moves the leather book off her lap and places it between them. She feels like she can’t breathe, despite being surrounded by fresh air and all this greenery. Every fiber of her being screams for escape, for a return to the familiar, to the world where such tales belong only in the books that she loves to read.

She quickly stands, her movements frantic as she turns to make her exit. August’s eyes widen in alarm, and he follows after her, his voice pleading as he reaches out to stop her.

“Paloma, wait––” His words are urgent, filled with desperation. “I asked you to wait ‘til I was finished to react. Please… just hear me out, ‘n then you can decide what it is that you wanna do.”

His words hang in the air, a silent plea for understanding and patience. She pauses, her heart pounding in her chest as she wrestles with her unrest. She knows she can’t simply walk away without giving him a chance to explain, to unravel… whatever the fuck this is.

Her back is to him and she wipes some of the tears that managed to spill. With a shaky breath, she turns to face him, her eyes searching his. “Okay,” she whispers, her voice barely audible above the rush of blood in her ears. “I’ll listen.”

He lets out a brief sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing as he beckons her over again, eager to resume the exploration of the scrapbook together. She hesitantly steps over to him, her body still trembling with the heaviness of her mother’s past as she lowers herself back into a seated position on the blanket.

“Your momma… well she was the one who was supposed t’ bring this new age into order,” He explains, his tone informative, “but the group disbanded before they could follow through with it. They lost track of one another, and she ended up here in the States with a whole new life.”

“August,” she begins, her words trembling with shock, “How do you know all this?”

A silence falls over them like a veil.

“The woman that left me all this…” His voice is somber, his gaze distant as he recalls the memories. “She was part of the original group. Told me stories whenever I helped her out. At first, I thought she was some crazy old broad, so I jus’ let her talk. Then she started showin’ me photos and all kindsa crap, and that’s when I actually started payin’ attention to her ramblings.”

Her eyes widen in realization as his words sink in. The pieces of the puzzle start to click into place, connecting the dots of the journey.

“She’s the reason I started this group, s’why I started lookin’ into things on my own. She moved away abruptly, and it wasn’t ‘til I got this house and found that scrapbook that I knew why she left it all to me. She wanted me to find that woman and carry out what they couldn’t back in Rome.”

This feels like an out-of-body experience, really, as if she is standing outside of herself, watching as her mother’s past is revealed to her.

It explains so much, she thinks, her mind jumbled as she recalls all their shared memories. How she was cagey when Paloma asked about her childhood, how she was always so vigilant of her growing up. Now that she knows this new side of her mother, she doesn’t know what to make of it. The woman she thought she knew, the woman who raised her, suddenly feels like a stranger—a mysterious figure shrouded in secrets and untold stories.

Who was she, really? Did her father know all of this?

Her silence is deafening, in the air like a dense fog, and he tentatively reaches out to caress her forearm, gently urging her to look at him. She meets his gaze, her misty-eyed expression a mix of emotions—sadness, confusion, and a glimmer of something else.

“Then I found out she had passed years ago, which left you, the next in line to fulfill this… prophecy,” He continues, his voice soft yet filled with conviction.

“Me?!” She can’t help but snort, though it’s tinged with tears. The idea feels absurd, impossible.

“Yes, you, my little dove,” He replies with unwavering intensity. “I told ya you were special, ‘n you can’t sit here ‘n tell me you haven’t felt the magic that’s embedded in your bones. You’re one of a kind, Paloma. A gift to humankind that must be treasured. Think of all the pain and suffering in this world… think of how you can be the one to end it all.”

The enormity of this newfound responsibility is too big for her to fathom. She looks into his eyes, spotting the earnestness and sincerity there, and for the first time, she allows herself to entertain the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there’s truth in the stories that are intertwined with her own life.

As they sit together in the quiet of the greenhouse, surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight and the scent of flowers, she feels a sense of purpose stirring deep within her—a spark of something powerful, waiting to be unleashed upon the world.

He was right. This is a lot.

Her face must say it all because he draws nearer, enveloping her in his comforting embrace. She doesn’t move at first, but then he places a soft kiss to the crown of her head, and she lets herself go. Her shoulders drop, a heavy sigh leaving her as the weight of it all settles in her chest.

“If you need time ‘n space to process this––I understand,” he murmurs, his voice soothing. “I jus’ had to tell you, angel. Had to make sure everythin’ was alright before I dropped it on your lap. Knew if I had told you the first day we met you woulda called me crazy ‘n sent me on my way.”

“M’tempted to do that now…” she mutters jokingly against his neck, nuzzling her face there and taking a deep breath, letting his scent fill her lungs in an attempt to ground herself.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest, and she melts further into his touch. “Go ahead. Told ya you were free to do as you pleased after I was finished… ‘n well… s’all I have for ya.”

Okay, there are no more twists. That comforts her some. She pulls back to look up at him, her tear-stained cheeks and beautiful brown eyes glowing softly under the romantic lighting, making her look breathtaking. Like a true angel, one that can bring so much good into this world.

Her mind is still reeling, but in his arms, she feels a sense of security. “This is a lot to take in, August,” she whispers, her voice barely steady.

His eyes soften, and he gently brushes a strand of hair from her face again. “You’re stronger than you think, Paloma. ‘N whatever comes next, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone in this.”

His words wrap around her like a warm blanket. Much needed reassurance. She takes another deep breath, feeling the overwhelming storm of emotions begin to settle.

She leans in to press their lips together and he hesitates at first. He murmurs her name in protest, but she deepens the kiss with a sense of urgency. Her lips are soft and plump, molding against his with a fervor that he can’t resist. The heat between them is palpable, the shift in the air thick with their shared desire.

His resolve drops as he succumbs to her. It’s not long after that he’s got her spread out on the blanket, naked and his tongue buried in her cunt while her fingers tangle in his hair. 

She cries his name out while she comes, her legs trembling as he kisses his way up her body, whispering sweet affirmations and filthy promises against her skin.

You deserve the world. I’ll treat you right. You’re such a good girl.

He takes her right there, fucking her passionately. His kisses are devout, his touch tender yet insistent, as he shows her just how beautiful and remarkable she truly is. She feels utterly vulnerable, caught up in the overwhelming intensity of the moment. Every fiber of her being responds to him, her senses alight with the raw, unfiltered emotions coursing through her.

The perfect date he orchestrated was already enough to sweep her off her feet. But then he gave her more: life-altering revelation of her family history, a truth so profound it has reshaped her understanding of herself.

She clenches around him, coating his cock with her slick release as her orgasm rattles her harshly. He follows not much after, filling the condom then collapsing onto her. His weight presses her into the floor before he rolls onto his back, taking her with him so she straddles his hips. Still joined, they savor the afterglow, their breaths slowly returning to normal as their hearts pound against each other’s naked and sweat glazed chests.

Looking into his eyes, she sees a reflection of a future he envisions for them—a future where she can make a difference, bring about change, and fulfill the destiny he’s convinced she’s meant for. And in this euphoric state, with her heart and soul laid bare, she knows she’ll believe anything he tells her, because with him, anything seems possible.

The next part of Javier’s investigation involves diving deeper into Jessica Valdez’s background. She was the only one to be taken and held captive for a period of time, indicating that there is something specific about her that caused the perpetrator to deviate from his usual methods.

He isn’t sure what to expect from her family. Families react in a myriad of ways to an investigator’s presence, especially when he needs to look through personal belongings with a fresh perspective. As he arrives at the Valdez home, he prepares himself to be as sympathetic as possible, turning on his Southern charm to its full effect. To his surprise, Jessica’s parents are eager to help. This relieves him, and he can’t help but note the distinct difference between them and the Thornton family. While the death of their daughter had shattered the Thorntons, it seems to have brought the Valdez family closer together.

Mrs. Valdez guides Javier to Jessica’s room, her presence lingering at the doorway as if reluctant to leave. She offers a small, encouraging nod before stepping back, leaving him to his investigation. He surveys the room, taking in the floral pattern of the bedsheets and the posters that decorate the walls. He doesn’t find anything at first, just typical things you’d come across in a twenty something year old’s bedroom.

He can’t help but compare it to Paloma’s room, thinking about how similar yet distinctly personal each space is. Javi scoffs. No matter how hard he tries to focus, she always finds a way to sneak into his thoughts, her presence lingering like a stubborn fucking ghost.

He rummages through the vanity, but finds nothing unusual—just makeup products and other miscellaneous items. Frustrated, he stands in the middle of the room, hands resting on his narrow waist as he rolls his tongue over his teeth, deep in thought. What had the assailant seen in her that made him want to keep her captive? What did she possess that the others didn’t?

Determined to find answers, Javier makes his way to her closet. A distinct groan from the wood flooring stops him in his tracks. Intrigued, he retreats a few steps and hears it again. His brows furrow as he shifts his weight, pinpointing the source of the sound. Kneeling, he notices one of the floorboards is slightly raised compared to the rest.

His blunt fingers try to pull it free, but it doesn’t budge. He quickly goes back to the vanity, grabbing a metal nail file to help loosen the board. With some effort, he manages to detach it completely, revealing a shallow hiding spot beneath. There, lying in the small cavity, is what looks like a diary. He wastes no time in taking it into his possession.

The diary has a fragile lock, but with the nail file still in hand, he carefully jimmies it open. As the lock gives way, he flips through the pages, his eyes scanning for anything that might shed light on why Jessica was different. The entries are personal, detailing her thoughts, fears, and dreams. He feels a pang of guilt for invading her privacy, but he knows this might be the key to understanding what set her apart.

One entry catches his eye, dated just two weeks before she was taken. Jessica writes about a man she noticed watching her, how she felt both intrigued and unsettled by his presence. The details are chilling and Javi’s pulse quickens. This could be the lead he’s been searching for.

As he continues to read through it, Jessica talks about meeting this guy who’s promising her the entire world. Her writing is whimsical, capturing the excitement and mystery of young love. She doesn’t go into detail, carefully avoiding specifics. She explains that this mystery boy told her that if she dared speak or write about all he’s revealed, none of it would come true.

His jaw tenses. To him, it sounds like a classic manipulation tactic, designed to keep her quiet and compliant.

“Bullshit,” he mutters under his breath, his exasperation amplifying as his fingers dig in to temples; alleviating the building migraine. He can’t believe she fell for such a transparent ploy, but he also understands the allure of a charming stranger spinning grand tales in small towns like these. It pisses him off that this guy—whoever he is—managed to weasel his way into Jessica’s life and fill her head with empty promises. He probably did the same with the others.

He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. He knows getting irritated won’t help him find the answers he needs. He forces himself to focus, flipping through more pages to see if there’s any additional information about this mystery guy. The eccentric tone continues, filled with hopeful musings and vague references.

He has to identify him, the one who captivated Jessica and possibly led to her captivity. He gently closes the diary, his mind racing with new questions and a burning desire for justice.

With renewed purpose, he exits the room, ready to confront whatever challenges lie ahead. Her fantasy-filled writings might have masked the danger, but he sees through it. Her descriptions of a mysterious suitor aren’t just youthful reveries—they’re potential clues.

He tucks the diary securely under his arm and heads downstairs, stopping to make conversation with her parents on the way out. Very subtly, he asks them questions about any new people in Jessica’s life, a boyfriend or a close guy friend she might have been spending time with recently. They aren’t much help in this regard, reiterating the same information they’ve already provided in various statements. Of course, Jessica wouldn’t have mentioned this secretive relationship to them, but he still had to ask—just in case.

The drive back to Seminary is quiet as he mulls over this discovery. He can’t shake the gnawing feeling that he knows who’s behind this, but his thoughts are muddled by the disdain he harbors for the blonde, tattooed sleaze that fits the vague description Jessica had written in her diary.

The charming promises, the elusive nature of this mystery man. They match the profile of the younger guy he’s had his eye on for a while—this local troublemaker known for his smooth-talking and shady past. This connection is worth looking into, especially since he already has the plans to tail August’s group.

Entering the sheriff’s department, he immediately notices Romeo chatting with Lorraine, who is gathering her things to leave for the day. Javier glances at his watch, seeing that he should have left hours ago.

“You workin’ a double?” he asks, flashing the older woman a charming smile as she bids them both goodnight.

“Had a meeting with Abbott over the phone then I did some paperwork. Paloma’s out with her friend ‘n won’t be back till morning. M’not really lookin’ to bein’ at home alone. Might stop by the bar to kill some more time.”

At the mention of her, he feels that all-too-familiar internal reaction—the one he experiences every time she’s brought up. No matter how hard he tries to bury his thoughts of her beneath his work and other bullshit distractions, it’s impossible when Romeo talks about her so frequently.

And why wouldn’t he? Romeo is none the wiser to what Javier and his daughter have been entangled in for the past few months. His guilt and desire swirl together once again, creating a complex cocktail of emotions that he has to suppress each time her name is mentioned.

He knows exactly which friend she’s with, and considering what he just discovered in the diary, he can’t help the way his heart races at the thought of Paloma being in danger. His rational mind tells him there’s no actual threat—everything is circumstantial. But he’s desperate for answers, and unfortunately, the person who currently fits the bill is too close to her for comfort.

“She not doing a show tonight?” Javier asks, his tone laced with practiced nonchalance. It’s Friday, and he knows how much she loves and looks forward to her weekend performances.

“Nah. Said she was havin’ a sleepover with Sloane at her place. Well, shit, the motel. S’where that poor girl is livin’. Dunno why they didn’t just stay at the house––she kept sayin’ that she doesn’t wanna be there all the time and that she’d just be in town. So I figured, what the hell, she is twenty-six years old. I shouldn’t be so goddamn strict on her all the time.”

He processes this new information. The fact that Sloane lives at the motel is news to him. If she stays there, it’s possible that others in their circle do too. He wonders what information he can get about them from the employees.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Javier responds, forcing a smile. “She’s an adult and can take care of herself. Still, you’re a good dad for looking out for her.”

Romeo’s face softens with appreciation, but his thoughts are already elsewhere. He needs to visit that motel and scope out anything he can get. The urgency of his mission pulses through him, driving him to take steps he might later question. But for now, he’s only focused on getting as much dirt as he can on this group.

He taps his fingers rhythmically on the surface of the entrance desk, his mind resolutely focused on his goal for the night. “Seems to me like you should be enjoying a child-free night. Just don’t drink yourself to death down at the bar, alright?” His lips quirk up into a small smirk, eliciting a chuckle from Romeo, who agrees with him before gathering his things and leaving Javier alone in the station.

His eyes drift to the clock on the wall. The overnight deputies are due in an hour, giving him a small window of time to prepare.

With his notes updated and a clearer picture forming in his mind, he closes the diary and slips it into an empty drawer at his desk. He stands, stretching his legs and rolling his shoulders to shake off the tension before heading towards the door, a determined set to his jaw. He tells the two deputies he’s going out over his shoulder, not giving them the time to reply before he’s in his cruiser and heading towards the Trails End motel.

The first car he sees when he arrives is Paloma’s, and he isn’t sure if he should be relieved or not. Parking right by the entrance, he finishes his cigarette, the neon lights of the flickering sign casting an eerie glow over his hardened facial expression.

He wonders what room she’s in, what she could be doing to pass the time, what she’s wearing. Javier curses under his breath, his lips tingling at the phantom feeling of her soft skin beneath his touch. He recalls how he could feel the pulse in her neck amidst burying himself inside her, each beat syncing with his own racing heart.

What an evil fucking thing it is to reminisce on such a memory like this. It’s regressive, the opposite of what he should be doing, but she has such a tight grip on his heart–– he wants her to squeeze it until it pops into a bloody mess. Maybe then he’d be free of this torment of yearning for her.

He exits his car, flicking the finished butt of his cigarette into a nearby bin. The cool night air doing little to calm the heated thoughts swirling in his mind. The motel’s façade is weathered and uninviting, everything one would expect from a dingy place like this. He pauses at the entrance, drawing one last deep breath before stepping inside.

The lobby is dimly lit, a faint smell of stale smoke and cleaning products hanging in the air. The clerk at the front desk looks up with a bored expression as Javier approaches.

They engage in small talk for a moment before Javi is pulling out the mugshots of August, Sloane, and Gabriel. He slides them across the counter and asks the man what he knows about them.

“Oh yeah. That’s Miss McCarthy!” The attendant points to the picture of Sloane. “A real sweet thing. Stayed here with those boys for a good while before she moved out a few weeks ago. Her checks from the bar still get mailed here, and she’s back every week to get ‘em.”

“Moved out? She’s not living here anymore?” Javier’s eyes narrow, intrigued yet confused.

“Nope. Got a house out there somewhere.”

“Is she here tonight?”

The man gives him a wary look but quickly backs down under the intensity of the sheriff deputy’s stare.

“No. Haven’t seen her since last Sunday when she came in to get her check.”

He digests this information. Sloane’s absence complicates things. He had hoped to walk away tonight with maybe a few more bad stories about her and her companions. Instead, he’s left with more questions.

His jaw clenches as he exhales through his nose, collecting the mugshots and shoving them back into his back pocket. “Alright, thanks. Mind if I take a look around before leaving?”

“She ain’t in no trouble, is she?”

“No trouble. Just following up with something.”

The attendant shrugs. “Suit yourself. Just don’t cause any trouble.”

Acknowledging him with a nod, Javier bids a brief goodnight before stepping out of the stuffy office and into the dimly lit parking lot. His footsteps echo against the pavement as he makes his way towards her car.

His frustration mounts at the revelation of the unlocked door. With a touch, it swings open easily, the interior bathed in the soft glow of the overhead light. His brows furrow as he scans the car, his irritation growing with each passing moment.

He conducts a brief search but finds nothing of significance until he flips down the visor. The keys tumble out with a muted thud, landing on the seat. Javier curses under his breath, his exasperation boiling over at the sight. She left her car unlocked and the keys inside—an invitation for trouble.

With a resigned sigh, he returns the keys to their place, his movements deliberate. He closes the door with a little more force than necessary, the sound ringing out in the quiet night.

Turning away from the car, he resumes his patrol of the motel grounds. He glances at the few rooms with lights shining from within, unable to discern which one she might be in—but he knows she’s not here at all. This fuels him to continue sleuthing.

The realization of her absence only gnaws at his unease. Where on earth could she be? Is she in some kind of trouble? Did she purposefully lie? Is she being shoved in the back of a van to meet her demise? These questions swirl in his mind, his fists clenching at his sides in a futile attempt to contain his growing anxiety. His nostrils flare with each agitated breath, the tension radiating off him like heat from a flame.

He knows he shouldn’t let himself get so worked up, but he can’t help it. The mere possibility of something happening to her fills him with a sense of dread that he can’t shake.

Determined to find something, He presses on with his search. He even manages to corner one of the motel’s housekeepers, hoping for any shred of information that might shed some light. Unfortunately, she offers nothing new, echoing the same vague responses he received from the front desk attendant.

Feeling like he’s hit a dead end, he retreats to his cruiser, the frustration mixed with anxiety pressing heavily on his shoulders as he goes through the motions of lighting another cigarette.

It isn’t until days later that Javier spots her leaving the library, a spring in her step as she rounds the building towards the alleyway. His heart races as he quickly exits his truck and crosses the street, determined to catch her alone. His conscience whispers for him to turn back, but he ignores it, driven by his relentless need for answers.

He calls out her name, and she freezes, turning sharply to face him. He opens his mouth to speak, but the words elude him, leaving him feeling foolish for being so easily affected by her presence.

Rolling her eyes, she begins to walk away. “Wait!” he calls after her, but she shows no signs of slowing down. Closing the distance, he reaches out and grabs her forearm, hoping to halt her retreat.

“Don’t fuckin’ touch me!” She hisses, pulling viciously from his touch and the action hits him straight in the gut, having him set his jaw firmly because he knows he deserves this.

“Where the hell were you last Friday night?” Javier demands, his words sharp and impatient, as if he holds authority over her whereabouts.

She stares at him incredulously, a disbelieving laugh escaping her lips. “You’re unbelievable,” she scoffs, shaking her head. There’s a new intensity in her gaze, a depth he’s never seen before, and it unsettles him. Though always spirited, her demeanor now is charged with an unfamiliar energy, conveying emotions he struggles to decipher.

“You use me, break my damn heart, have the audacity to tell me to leave you alone–– and when I finally do, you’re actin’ like this,” she accuses, her voice heavy with vexation. “Treatin’ me like I’m just some doll you can play around with ‘til you get bored then get possessive over when you can’t control her. Have you not already caused me enough pain?”

For a fleeting moment, she softens but she can’t help it with the way his mopey brown eyes tug at her heartstrings. Even after all the hurt he’s caused.

He’d miss the flash of vulnerability in her stare if not for how attuned he is to her. She’s right, and he fucking knows it. He’s made a bigger mess of things, a realization that pierces through him like a dagger.

But then he remembers the anxiety that had crawled over him once he realized she wasn’t at the motel, how pissed he’d gotten at her recklessness.

“That’s not what this is about,” he retorts through gritted teeth, “All this shit that’s going on and you’re just disappearing off into the night. There’s a psychopath out there, preying on girls like you and I’m just––” 

“You’re just what?” she interrupts, her voice laced with a mixture of defiance and exasperation. “Please don’t tell me you’re ‘looking after me,’ because that’s a damn joke. I can take care of myself. Like you said–– s’not your job to be babysittin’ me. Go do what you’re here to do, Javier, and leave. me. alone.” she concludes, her tone mirroring the sharpness he had directed at her that night at the party. “And stop followin’ me around.” With that, she turns on her heel and walks away, leaving him standing there, tussling with the burden of his own sense of wrongdoings.

His gaze follows her retreating figure with a heavy heart. He catches sight of August, leaning arrogantly against his motorcycle with an air of superiority at the end of the alleyway. Javier’s entire body tenses, standing there seething like a furious statue. Anger flares along his skin, transforming his melancholy into fury.

August’s smug posture, coupled with the intimate embrace he shares with her, ignites a jealous fire deep within Javier’s chest.

Every movement, every touch between them feels like a taunt aimed directly at him, a reminder of what he has lost, even though she wasn’t his to begin with.

His hands curl into tight fists, jaw twitching as he watches his possessive hand boldly grope her ass. It’s a sight that downright torments him as his mind is consumed by thoughts of what could have been and what she currently has with this piece of shit.

Paloma dons the helmet and straddles the bike behind August, pressing herself against him, and that is enough to finally get Javier to tear his gaze away. The roar of the motorcycle engine echoes in his ears, drowning out the sound of his own tumultuous emotions as they disappear into the distance, leaving him alone with his bitter regret.

[bugsnax-community-questions]

BUGSNAX COMMUNITY QUESTIONS ~ POLL #23

Letters below cut.

FILBO:

"Dear buddy,

Thanks for walking me back home, and also for saving me from the brink of starvation!

I figure since you'll be staying in snaxburg for a while, you might need some basics!

Here's a care package with everything I could scrape together. I hope you find yourself at home soon!

Best wishes XOXO,

Mayor Filbo Fiddlepie."

--

WAMBUS:

"It's good to be home, Stranger. Feels like a fresh start.

If you're ever fixin' to grow a farm yourself, here's somethin' that oughta help.

- Wambus "

--

BEFFICA:

"Hey, Bestie, thanks for convincing me to come back.

I forgot how nice it is to have a real bed lol!

Since I'm not camping anymore, you can borrow my old sleeping bag if you want.

;0P Enjoy!

~ Beffica "

--

GRAMBLE:

"Thank you again for helping me and my little ones get to a better home.

I sent you a lantern in case you also get real scared of the dark.

Charwee, Joewee, and Ashwee send their love!

- Gramble"

--

WIGGLE:

"Aloha darling, It looks like we're neighbors now!

Well, I hope you'll accept a token of my appreciation for earlier.

May this be the light of your life, and inspire you the way you inspire me!

- Wiggle"

--

TRIFFANY:

"Hi there, I thought ya might need this map to help navigate the trickier trails of Snaktooth!

Y'know it feels weird bein' back in civilization, but I'm happy for it all the same.

Feel free to stop by for a chat any ol time!

- Triffany "

--

CROMDO:

"Cromdo Mart is back in action and it's all thanks to you, Pal!

You can find enclosed one subscription to Cromdo's Gratitude Plant™.

Put it outside to show your friends how much I like you! And because I'm such a generous guy, your first month is totally free!!

- Cromdo"

--

CHANDLO:

"Brooo, thanks again for helping me and snorpy come home!

I found a lotta choice wood up on the mountains, so if you ever need me to swap out your paneling, you let me know!

- Chandlo"

--

SNORPY:

"Greetings, Chum!

I am having a fine time in Snaxburg thanks to your efforts.

I thought I would give you this random gift of news and foils because it makes for great insulation and NOT because it blocks a certain wavelength of mind beams.

Good day to you!

- Snorpington"

--

FLOOFTY:

"As you are aware, I have returned to Snaxburg with your assistance.

I've been since cajoled into rewarding your efforts with a welcoming gift.

You may have this plant that I found.

- Floofty"

--

SHELDA:

"In returning from the wastes, One overflows with gratitude to you who finds the lost.

May this herbaceous token bring you peace of mind, clarity, and a better overall smell.

- SHELDA"

--

EGGABELL:

"Hey. Thanks for giving me the space I need and, well, for finding me in the first place.

Even though I'm still up here, I'm still thinking of all of you.

Sometimes I look at this picture to brighten up my day, and I hope it does the same for you.

- Eggabell *Sent via Filbo, Hi buddy!*"