#Illegal Kickbacks

[trendfag]

so funny to me that i was 18 years old walking to the liquor store just off campus and buying everclear…

[slytherizz]

A Different Kind of Wager - Sebastian Sallow x Female!MC/Reader

Summary: Sebastian makes a wager with his girlfriend that will make the outcome of their final Crossed Wands duel before their graduation far more interesting.

My main fic has been sucking the life out of me with the angst and suffering. So here is some shameless smut I've been working on!

Word Count: 5.9k

Warnings: 18+, aged up characters, explicit sexual content, duelling as a questionable form of foreplay, Lucan Brattleby runs an illegal gambling operation

You can find all the tags on Ao3 :)

She nibbled idly on the end of her quill her brows drawn together in that cute little frown as it always graced her features when she was deep in concentration. With their NEWT’s closing in fast Sebastian felt like he’d barely seen anywhere but the inside of his dormitory and the dusty shelves of this library for weeks. 

Not that he was getting much work done. 

The blazing summer sun pouring through the windows made even the normally cool library stiflingly hot. Her tie was pulled loose where it hung around her neck, the top buttons of her blouse undone exposing the heat and blossoming beads of sweat on her clavicle were more than a bit distracting.

Over the last few weeks, Sebastian barely had enough time to sleep around his revision let alone spend any quality time with her outside of the library. Which had left him more than a bit frustrated that even a glimpse of skin was enough to have his thoughts so far from his own Potion’s essay.

So, he’d settled himself into the comfortable position of twirling her hair around one of his fingers whilst staring directly down her shirt. Sebastian hoped if he kept this up for long enough she’d eventually snap at his annoying prodding. If he got her wound up enough it would more often than not end in a frustrated fumble and if he got her seething which with how badly her history of magic revision seemed to be going was likely he’d work her up enough that she’d let him fuck her in the restricted section to release the tension.

A loud bang rang out echoing through the library as the heavy oak doors slammed pulling Sebastian abruptly from his fantasies. Sebastian cringed internally for the poor sod who had surely invoked Scribner’s wrath. He heard muffled apologies answer Scribner’s shrill scolding which rang through the echoing library like a bell. He’d been on the receiving end of one of the aged librarians foul moods more times than he cared to remember and did not envy the recipient.

Flushed with embarrassment, Lucan Brattleby scouted sheepishly once Scribner was satisfied he’d had an earful and moved her attentions elsewhere. Although taller now the fifth year was no less baby faced the scarlet of his robes accentuating the flush in his cheeks. As he spotted them from the far side of the library and hurried towards the back table where they’d sequestered themselves away.

“Ah, there you both are! Been looking all over the bloody castle for you.”

“Seventh-year Lucan,” she sighed rolling up her parchment with a smile “If we’re not in the library we’re crying in the toilets.”

“Not too busy for tonight I hope,” he smiled nervously, eyes wide in a pleading stare. 

Sebastian had forgotten, between preparation for NEWT’s and spending the week desperately trying to get his girlfriend alone a final match of the Crossed Wands was far from the top on his list of priorities.

“Don’t you worry we’ll be there,” she smiled before Sebastian could disagree with more than a few ideas of what he'd rather do with her in his free time.

Lucan breathed a sigh of relief “Good that would throw the entire betting pool out of sorts. Not that I can let you two in on the fun I’m afraid. Can’t have one of you throwing a match and making off with the pot,” he grinned, brown eyes alight with mischief “I have some class as to not allow insider betting…that and the Ravenclaws would have my head.”  

“Surely you can spare a kickback for old friends?” Sebastian quirked.

“You do it for the glory Sallow and you know it,” she grinned at him.

“Touché.”

“Slight change of plans for tonight,” added Lucan blushing clearly seeing it painted across Sebastian’s face exactly what he’d rather be doing tonight. “We’re in the Astronomy Tower. Too many close calls with Professor Weasley in the Clocktower Courtyard.”   

“Don’t you worry we’ll be there. One last hurrah before exams completely destroy our social lives,” she sighed.

“I’ll see you both tonight!” Lucan clapped his hands together with glee looking between them conspiratorially before hurrying off.

If Sebastian was frustrated with their lack of time for each other now, he realised that would only get worse with exams looming over them edging closer. Sebastian leaned back in his chair and sighed dramatically, and he swore he saw her roll her eyes.

“It’s been ages since we duelled. It’ll be nice to do something apart from our usual verbal sparring,” she encouraged. But Sebastian’s thoughts were far from duelling when the idea struck him.

“Shame to let Lucan have all the fun," he said slowly leaning in close enough so his breath could disturb the loose hairs around her face "Care to make this more interesting?”

“I know that look. What are you plotting?”

“How about a little wager?”

“What kind of wager?” she narrowed her eyes at him.

Sebastian's eyes flicked around the room, as Lucan slammed the door a second time sending Scribner once again on the warpath. Directing her spitting rage towards some poor Gryffindor second-years who had tried to smuggle pumpkin pasties into the library and had gotten crumbs and oily fingerprints all over their books.

Satisfied they were secluded away from any prying eyes he hooked his finger under the hem of her long skirt where it had ridden up over her crossed legs. His hand stroked purposefully up the bare skin underneath, ghosting up the inside of her thighs teasing the soft skin with a gentle scratch of his fingernails that sent a shiver through her.

She looked at him half amused, but he could see how her pupils had been blown wide from the lightest touch that promised everything.

“I have some ideas.”

***

Even Sebastian was baffled at the sheer number of students who’d managed to sneak out of their common rooms to make the long trek to the Astronomy tower that night. Whoever had done the imperturbable charm had done an impressive job not a sound could be heard from outside of the classroom, despite the deafening din inside. There had to be at least fifty students crammed into the observation deck. They clang to the railings hitching themselves up high to get the best view.

“Last call to get your bets in. Come on don’t be shy!” Lucan shouted over the hectic crowd that had surrounded him. Students jostled each other as they attempted to push forward to get closer to the board. “I’ve got some 20:1 odds-on Prewitt - put your money on the Underdog and you could walk away with half the pot.”

Lucan was truly in his element. His left fist clutched full of betting slips, he scratched frantically with his chalk at the betting pool he’d meticulously crafted on the blackboard he must have nicked from the arithmancy classroom and lugged up to the tallest point of the castle. Students inspected the match-ups before shoving galleons into his waiting hands.

Sebastian really did admire his entrepreneurial spirit. Taking over an unsanctioned duelling club in your third year was one thing but making a profit off of it was a stroke of genius. He’d begun his enterprise last year started in with a few well-meaning bets and had now spiralled to a size where even students who’d never participated in the duelling themselves would attend every match just for a piece of the action.

Sebastian cast his eyes over the crowded room, a couple of overeager fourth years were stretching relishing that they’d made it this far in the tournament at all. A few Slytherin second-years in their pyjamas who looked very pleased with themselves for having managed to sneak out of the common room to watch the show were whispering huddled in the corner.

His eyes connected with hers across the far side of the room. She was leaning against the rickety balcony he suspected was only still standing due to magic embedded in the castle. She was smiling at him, the moon high in the sky illuminating her features bathing her in an ethereal glow. Despite the commotion in the tower, the nerves of competitors were so palpable Sebastian felt he could cut the tension with a knife she looked beautiful and serene. For a moment he considered doing away with the tournament and their wager all together and dragging her off to her secret hideaway opposite the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy.

Sebastian battled against the grain of the crowd towards her. Weasley tried to grab his attention and pull him into a conversation about some combat-enhancing potions he was brewing but Sebastian patted the redhead on the shoulder placatingly never letting his eyes leave hers.

She smiled up at him a devilish glint in her eye as he came to lean against the banister beside her.

“You know if you want to back out of the bet I’ve thought of some creative forfeits,” he nudged her arm. She rolled her eyes; at the smug look he knew was plastered over his face. But he liked the way the small smile played on her lips. Lips that if he had his way wrapped around his cock before the night was up.

“Not scared of losing are you, Sallow?”

“Oh, not at all,” he leaned in closer, wrapping a strand of her hair around his finger to push it behind her ear. The smell of mallowsweet that always clung to her hair and clothes invaded his senses only making him more impatient to have that scent coating his skin “Just giving you the chance to save your knees while you still can.” He whispered into her ear low enough that only she could hear, relishing in the way she licked her lips instinctively at the thought. Despite the cool night breeze that came in through the open sides of the tower Sebastian could feel the heat creeping up his neck. Just as he’d decided to sack off the duels entirely and drag her away Lucan’s voice sounded over the muddle of raised voices.

“Right that it - Bets are closed. Sallow. Prewitt. Duellists take your marks for preliminaries!”

“See you in the final,” she winked and pushed him towards the middle of the tower. The red-head was already waiting looking insufferably smug as ever. Despite Sebastian’s general disdain for Prewitt, he did often find it amusing how even though he’d never once bested him in a duel he could delude himself into thinking this time could be any different.  

“This is my year, Sallow,” he called across from him taking an offensive stance.

“Sorry Prewitt, I have too much on the line to go easy on you tonight,” Sebastian replied not meeting the Gryffindor’s eyes instead turning slightly to wink at her.  

***

It wasn’t fate that landed her opposite him in the final duel that night. Sebastian had been quietly confident when he’d made his wager with her that it would always come down to the two of them. As much as Lucan insisted that his matchups were done completely at random, and he’d never sully his reputation with such cheap tricks. Lucan also knew people liked a show of seeing their two best duellers face off against each other. Having them knock each other out in the first round, well that would be bad for business.

Sebastian was certain he could live a hundred lifetimes and still remember the way she moved. As if it was seared into his brain that first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. She was like a raging storm, and he was a lost ship being pulled out to sea. That ancient magic in her veins practically glowing like an azure snake crackled amongst her fingertips like the poised lightning of a vengeful god ready to send his sails and crew to a watery grave.  

Their dance began. She still duelled as if she was some untamed wind whirling reactively and unrefined. Her wand lashing out from her fast like a whip, she cast with her whole body. The wand was not just a tool but a very extension of herself. Never one for fancy charms she sent a confringo towards him that singed the edges of his cloak and sent the crowd quickly leaping from their view around the railings as the curse hurtled towards them. She’d leave her left side fully exposed and just as fast as he’d send a curse flying in her direction, she’d pivot so quickly the vulnerability was lost in a flurry of robes and hair. He parried and struck with his wand missing his mark again and again as she moved like a knife through butter. As they twirled around the moving iron plates marked with stars, they used this new terrain to their advantage. Taking cover when the discs shifted blocking their opponent and their spells from view only to spring from the other side with curses of their own. Sweat glistened faintly on her brow, and a wide grin spread across her face that he knew was mirrored on his own.

His eyes met her across the devilish glint in her eyes practically stopping his heart for a moment. The rest of the world, the crowds slipped away and there was only her. Her fire, her perfect storm.

It took his brain a moment to right itself and realised he’d been hit, and he was now meeting her piercing gaze with his arse firmly on the floor. Her brow gleamed with sweat, hair tangled and wild, blazing with victory. A goddess of war, triumphant. And she was his.

As suddenly as they disappeared the crowds seemed to come flooding back in a riotous cheer as they surrounded her. Weasley slapped her on the back his face broken into a wide toothy grin. He peeled off from the crowd hand outstretched to assist Sebastian to his feet. He gratefully took it dusting himself off, chuckling to himself.

“Tough luck mate,” he smiled placatingly. “I would say there’s always next time but that was your last shot. I’m afraid you’re out of the history books now. I lost eight sickles betting on you as well.” He ran his fingers through his ginger hair frowning to himself stewing over his lost winnings.

Sebastian smiled at him apologetically despite the fact he couldn’t give two shits about Weasley’s shrapnel not when he had a debt of his own, one that he was eager to pay.

Sebastian leaned against the railings in wait for her. The crowd swarmed around her dragging her this way and that, chattering over each other each eager to get her ear. Some cheered some muttering reluctant congratulations looking away enviously as Lucan handed those who had bet on her their winnings. Not nearly as much as the house would take however as Lucan lined his pockets.

Sebastian was beginning to grow impatient, it felt like an eternity as he waited for the crowds to finally disperse. This earned him a few smirking looks, everyone thought he was embarrassed, and Hogwarts' self-proclaimed ‘best dueller’ had been bested yet again. He played the part of the good sport despite his growing frustration, laughing off the snide little barbs from the likes of the insatiably competitive Imelda and most shockingly even a mocking glare from old Puffskein Dunkein. The audacity of a man afraid of puffskein to look at him like that Sebastian almost laughed out loud.

When at last a pair of gushing fourth-year Hufflepuffs girls had finally left her side whispering and giggling as they left the tower to follow the rest of the crowd. Sebastian slipped up behind clearing his throat as she turned to him eyes bright with triumph.

“So…what was all that about saving my knees?”

“No need to show off, pet. It doesn’t suit you,” he grinned slowly encroaching in on her. The once deafening tower was now quiet and still. The only lights left were the soft moonlight and glowing stars. Sebastian thought if he listened hard enough, he could hear her heartbeat increase with every step he took towards her.

She released a loud undignified snort of laughter “That’s rich coming from you.”

Sebastian silenced her pressing his lips hard against hers in a desperate kiss that ignited a fire in his bones. With the pressure of NEWTs, he hadn’t realised how starving he was for her touch. He nipped at her bottom lip and she gasped parting her lips just enough so he could slip his tongue between them to tangle with her own. His hands ghosted down her sides wrapping around her so he could pull her flush against him. He knew she’d already be able to feel his already hardening length exposing exactly where his thoughts were as they pressed into her. He pulled away from her a little breathless, freckled hands coming up to clasp her cheeks.

“A debt is owed, pet. Ready to collect?”

“What now? Here?”

“Did I not mention it’s a time-sensitive offer?”

She huffed out a surprised laugh as she met his eyes. But he noticed that telltale way she bit down on the inside of her cheek, noted how even in the low light her pupils were blown wide as saucers. He kissed her again more passionately this time, edging her towards the small table in the corner covered in ripped-up betting slips from sore losers and broken astronomy equipment.

In his haste, Sebastian swept the papers and objects littering the table a telescope clattered to the floor with a loud metallic clang. He gripped her hips forcefully and lifted her to plant her on the edge of the desk. He kissed up the column of her throat savouring every rasping vibration against his lips as her breathing caught in her throat.

“You were excellent, darling. Thought you might actually finish me off,” he murmured against her skin as he loosened her tie around her neck as he had done his own. He could already see a flush creeping up her clavicle as he worked the buttons exposing more of the stained flesh beneath. Her skin was salty on his tongue but after a week of nothing but longing looks and stolen kisses it tasted like ambrosia. He pulled the offending garment from around her shoulders throwing it unceremoniously to the floor. He pulled at the ribbons letting her stays flutter open before pulling the thin silky chamise over her head. Her nipples pebbled fully exposed as the night air swept in through the tower, mussing her hair. He brought the crown between his teeth tongue flicking out to tease the flesh and she groaned. Her hand came to settle on her neglected left breast pinching the twin between her own fingers. Wickedly gorgeous a movement that he knew meant she ached as much for him this last week as he did her. He released her from his teeth and kissed her quickly. Grinning Sebastian ran his hands up her thighs fingers pressing hard into those sinfully tight trousers she wore.

He hooked his fingers into her waistband as she lifted her hips assisting him as he peels her trousers and knickers off of her legs. She wriggled her feet out of the bottom and Sebastian discarded them next to her shirt in a pile on the floor. Bare and laid out before him he cursed himself for ever letting her wear clothes at all.

Dropping to his knees Sebastian coaxed her legs apart by peppering kisses along the inside of her thighs. Pausing momentarily to nip and suck small bruises on the tender flesh as he worked up towards the apex of her thighs. He bent her knees up to rest them on either side of his shoulders, he pulled her hips sharply forward spreading her out before him like his last meal.

“Did you like seeing me on my back as much as you do between your thighs?” he goaded. Her lips parted to reply but all that came out was a low whine as Sebastian flicked his tongue across her bundle of nerves. Her hips jolted forward in search of reprieve. More pleasure only he could give to her. A pleasure he now owed her.

He dragged his tongue across her clit more purposefully this time. Her hands shot down to knot almost painfully in his hair, as he kept him close to her aching heat demanding the payment that was due. Sebastian was a lot of things; ruthless at worst, an insufferable show-off at best but he was not a sore loser. He sealed his mouth over her aching heat, burying her tongue in her folds.

The sight of her above him he doubted there was a more perfect sight in this world. She was bare and spread out like a nymph from some Greek tragedy and he was a mere disciple who had come to pray at her altar. He chased her sounds, swirling his tongue around her nub lapping up every drop she offered to him. He dragged his tongue across her weeping entrance, a broad stroke with the flat part of his tongue. From the way her legs had already begun to tremble, he knew she had been aching for this, for his touch just as much as he had. He always marvelled at how quickly she came undone when he used his tongue, but with how much he’d been driven practically mad with need all week he wanted to savour this. Every flash of skin, the sway of her hips, when she leaned in too close, and her scent seeped into his mind had him as pent up as he had been before they were together and all thought of her had been a mere albeit all-consuming fantasy. So, he wanted to take his time with her, use that control he had over her and bring her to the brink and back until she was a crumpled mess.

She writhed sinful curses and breathy moans slipping from her lips as she ground her hips forward seeking relief on the flat part of his tongue. He was teasing her he knew. Edging her closer and closer towards that summit of bliss and that wasn’t part of their deal. But after a week of nothing but stolen kisses and fumbles above their clothes in quiet classrooms and hidden alcoves, he wanted her to come crashing down when she was near breaking and begging for release.

Just as he felt her legs begin to clamp together practically suffocating him between her thighs he ceased his ministrations of his tongue, sucking small bruises on the inside of her thighs. Not that Sebastian thought suffocating between her thighs was a particularly bad way to go out. He released her clit switching between sinking his teeth into her soft skin before swiping the marks with his tongue.

“Seb- what the fuck?” she groaned in protest, she bucked her hips towards him practically at breaking point in need of her release. Her fingers smoothing his mop of chestnut hair he guessed now looked even more tangled and wild than usual as she desperately tried to pull him back towards her aching heat.

Sebastian released his grip on her thighs, skimming his fingers along the inside of her thighs leaving goosebumps in his wake before he slid his fingers into her tight heat. Her eyelashes fluttered as he teased her open with two freckled fingers. He crooked his fingers and grinned as her light panting transformed into keening mewls as he hit that sweet spot inside of her that made her crumble from the inside out. He knew it was cruel to make her wait, she had earnt her prize fair and square, but he’d been starving for her for all week, and he wanted to feel her come undone harder than he ever had. Even if it took all night. He pumped his digits slowly coaxing her towards the brink again with each purposeful thrust. She was practically vibrating, so dangerously close to the edge Sebastian thought he saw the ghosts of tears in her eyes as she writhed desperately.  

“Sebastian, please. I can’t- Fuck,” she groaned desperately. Sebastian sealed his mouth over her clit and sucked - devouring the quivering nub.

The combination of sensations must practically set fire to all her nerves. Even if no one had heard the unsanctioned duelling tournament he still wouldn’t be surprised if they heard her now. The loud unabashed cry that she released as her earth shattered even her legs clamped around his ears did little to muffle her glorious sounds. Despite his own need twitching almost painfully in his trousers at the sight of her shuddering release; all Sebastian cared about was prolonging her bliss. He lapped purposefully at her swollen flesh as she rode his fingers forcing her hips down onto them. Each thrust is more forceful than the last. He’d gladly let her wake the whole castle with her strangled cries. Let them all hear the pretty sounds the Hero of Hogwarts only made for him.

Her legs at last went boneless panting hard as she collapsed back on her elbows. Her head lolled helplessly to the side as she gazed at him through hooded eyes of admiration and desire. She looked practically drunk at the sight of him still buried between her legs.

“My congratulations to the victor,” he said smugly. Licking the residual wetness that still coated his lips as he at last removed his fingers from her tight heat. His tongue laved at the bruises he sucked on the inside of her thighs soothing their ache. He travelled up her pausing only to run his nose through the sparse hairs at the apex of her thighs which made her groan again as his heated breath tickled her still-sensitive nub. Impatient at his torturous pursuit up her body her hands clasped his freckled cheeks to pull him towards her. She claimed his lips not caring to wipe his mouth. She nipped greedily at his bottom lip her tongue flicking out to meet his won as she tasted the need her body had for him still sweet on his lips.

Her hands ghosted across his hipbones that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The scratch of her fingernails had Sebastian’s hips instinctively jerked towards her. Chasing his own need for release rutting forward his still-clothed member twitching against her exposed heat. She captured the grunt he released with her lips her deft fingers frantically working the buckle of his belt. He encircled her wrists with a large hand stopping her pursuit.

“Ah- Ah. You won fair and square. No need for that,” he grinned. He could practically feel his own body cursing the part of his mind that wasn’t completely overcome with desire for the witch spread out before him and was still capable of rational thought. He focused on the need his cock had to claim her into his lips fastening his teeth over her fluttering pulse.

“Don’t make me beg,” she groaned. With the little room she had to move her hands in his grip she pulled him forward by his belt loops more forcefully until his hips were flushed against her. Even through his trousers, he could feel the heat from between her thighs that made his cock twitch demandingly.

“But I so love it when you do.” His hands buried into her hair in a possessive grip to pepper kissed along her jaw.

“Shut up and fuck me already,” she practically growled, palming his cock through the fabric. Sebastian knew he would grant any request from her lips. Taking her hips in a bruising grip she yelped as her backside was pulled sharply over the edge of the rickety table. He didn’t let her fall instead letting her weight pass to him flipping her around so she could take a firm hold of the table and steady herself. She turned to look at him, her eyes hooded pupils blown wide biting so hard on her bottom lip he thought she might draw blood. To the world, she was a triumphant warrior, a heroine forged in fire and bloodshed but for him and only him in secret moments stolen under darkness and moonlight, she would shed that armour. And give herself to being his to claim and conquer.

Sebastian shucked his trousers down forcefully kicking them off from around his ankles. His cock sprang free of its prison, arching proudly in front of him. Sebastian swiped his fingers through her still soaking folds coating his fingers in her slick and his spit.

“Please Sebastian-” she whimpered at the contact, desperate to feel more than just his fingers inside her. He teased her kiss-swollen bottom lip down, pushing his digits roughly into her mouth. She closed her mouth greedily around his fingers languidly dragging her tongue to clean them off. Her pupils were blown wide as black as the night sky; he almost came completely undone just at the lusty look she was giving him. He could wait any longer to be inside her and feel her around him. Sebastian angled his hips and breached her walls with a strong deliberate thrust. She released a strangled cry her head lolled against her shoulder her desperation to finally be filled by him satiated.

“Fuck-” Sebastian hissed. He didn’t wait for her to adjust to him as he took her hip in a bruising grip thrusting his hips forward. Still tender and swollen from how he’d already made her quake her oversensitive walls fluttered around his cock as she took the entirety of him. As he rocked his hips into her Sebastian thought he could rename every star in the sky with the speed with which filthy moans and praise to him and everything he made her feel tumbled from her lips. Each is more wonderous than the last.

He hastily undid the remaining buttons on his shirt to admire his incessant plunges into her warmth. Only caring about how she practically swallowed him whole.  

“Taking me so well,” he grunted, rough and low. Her spine curved at his praise drawing him in deeper. The head of his cock teased that sweet spot inside her. The more of her weight shifted backwards the more she arched towards him until she was flushed against him and rutting her hips back frantically in search of more friction. He slowed his pace to draw himself almost fully out of her before filling her again with a languid thrust. “Tell me how it feels darling.”

“Incredible. Fuck- I’ve needed you all week- inside me. Please Seb more,” she whimpered.

He wondered how many students dreamt of having her and how even they in all their wildest fantasies couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like to take her under the stars.

He pressed his forehead into her shoulder, wrapping his arm around her to settle on the curve of her stomach. Holding her in place so he could increase his tempo slamming home hard. Each thrust into her tight heat drew keening mewls as he edged her closer towards her second climax.

Sebastian could feel that coil inside him tightening threatening to snap. He wanted to feel her crash down around him. He didn’t just crave it. He needed it. Like a man lost in the desert and she was his oasis gulping down water greedily until he was sick with it. Sebastian curled his hand around her throat, squeezing just enough that a choked whine could still escape from her lips as her head began to spin. Each finger that pressed around her delicate neck said the words his sex-addled mind couldn’t make his mouth form.

Only I can make you feel like this. You are mine. I am yours. I love you.

He pulled her backwards harder onto his cock by her throat, spearing her with brutal efficiency. Curling his fingers tighter his other hand slipped down the planes of her stomach to apply soft pressure to her hooded bundle of nerves sending a shock through her like a burst of electricity. He could feel her body begin to clench and tremble around him in a way that was maddening. Whatever words she tried to speak came out as little more than a garbled cry over the grip around her delicate neck.

“Come for me, darling. Please- I can’t hold back any longer. I need to feel you come undone all over my cock,” Sebastian groaned into the shell of her ear as he began to tease furious circles over her still-swollen clit.

Sebastian doubted there was a more beautiful sight than the witch he loved unravelling under the full force of his fingers and his cock. Her walls clenched around him. Spasming and contracting as they sucked him in impossibly deeper into her cunt as she let out a shriek. With a final uneven snap of his hips that coil inside him snapped and his own release spilling inside her. His hips spluttered, pumping it deeper into her, her name and filthy praise erupting from his lips in a sound he could only liken to a primal whine.

Her body was flushed with a thin sheen of sweat that coated her glittering under the moonlight. His forehead came to rest between her shoulder blades he released his hold on her throat to wrap his arms around her as she struggled to stay upright on weakened trembling legs. He peppered soft apologetic kisses across the small bruises that were beginning to bloom around her throat. Still buried deep inside her his thumb stroking her nub gently, she whined and bucked her hips to try and shake off the overstimulation. She chuckled against her skin, and at last, releasing the small bundle of nerves she sighed with relief.

He removed himself from her aching core and she groaned at the loss of him inside her. As if she only felt whole when he was filling her completely. On shaking legs, he guided her over to rest gently on the edge of the desk again. He kissed her more gently now and she hummed against his lips. A pleasureful little sound that even despite being completely spent had him wondering if he could muster up the energy to take her again as his tongue flicked lazily out tangling with her own.

“I love you,” he smiled and she practically glowed. To him, she was brighter and more beautiful than any star that any astronomer could find in the farther reaches of the cosmos.

“You let me win, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he mused, pushing her hair behind her ears absentmindedly. 

“Either way the result was the same. You’ve been looking up at me from your back since you were fifteen,” she smiled slyly, her eyes twinkling with mirth. She bent down to scoop up her trousers before shimmying back into the tight material that he still had no idea how she got away with wearing the wildly inappropriate attire on the school grounds.

“Oh- You want a rematch? I’d be more than happy to take my winnings.”

“Oh, I’m sure you would be.”

“Care to make it more interesting?”

“I’m listening,” she grinned. His little witch had always been a thrill seeker, but their rematch was a contest he wasn’t willing to lose. He didn’t just want her mouth. He wanted her hand.

[yaasirambles]

HeartRacer- Lee Jeno NCT

I wrote this a while ago for @jammingjaem and I decided to edit it and post it as a y/n piece!

Word Count: 2,687

Warnings: Mentions of illegal activities (street racing) and mentions of Consumption of Alcohol

Plot: In which you're Jeno's friend and he races with his motorcycle. He invites you out one night to come watch his race.

Racer!AU, SFW :) Cute lil thing

“Annndd done! Thank God. This essay was gonna be the death of me,” You say to yourself. You clicked the SUBMIT button and closed your laptop. You throw your head back on the chair. Closing your eyes and spinning slowly. 

*clink* 

You open one eye. Nothing around. You shrug your shoulders and close your eyes. Letting out a deep breath. 

*clink*---*clink*--- *clink**clink**clink*

You jump out of the chair and pull up your window, leaning out and looking down, scanning around the dark yard. Then, you see the cause of your disturbance. 

“UGH, YOU!” You shout in frustration

“Gee, nice to see you too.” Jeno rolls his eyes

“What do you want, Jeno?” 

“I’m coming up. Move back” 

“What? No, don’t you dare-” You back up. You hear him run, and his feet land on the wall as he climbs up the wall, the lattice screen on it helping him get a grip as he climbs, probably ruining the flowery vines on the way up. You saw his fingers at the edge of the window sill. He pulls himself up and jumps into your room, standing right in front of you. Barely an inch between you two. His face looked down on you. Your breath catches in your throat, and your heart flutters a bit. You back up and clear your throat. 

“I wanted to see if you’ll come to my race tonight. Please, please, please.”

“No, Jeno. I already told you. I just spent 4 hours on this essay, and my brain is burnt out.”

“Aha, see, I knew that might be the case. So I got you iced coffee, and it’s waiting for you. Chenle has it downstairs.” He looks at you with those stupid puppy eyes. 

“Uggghhh. Fine. But I’m going in the car. Not on that death trap you call a motorcycle.”

“Fine, fine. As long as you’re coming. Oh, there’s also gonna be a kickback/party type thing after, and we’re going to that too. It’s Friday, so I know you can’t use school as an excuse not to go.”

“Ok, whatever. Well, I need to change then in that case.” you sigh, walking to your closet. You didn’t hear anything, so you turned around. Jeno is staring at you, leaning against your desk. Arms crossed. “Ummm”

“What?” he raises an eyebrow at you.

“LEAVE. I’m not gonna change in front of you.” 

“Why? Scared we’ll end up kissing or something.” He smirks

“AGGHH, LEE JENO!” You throw a shirt at him. 

He throws his hands up in the air defensively. “I’m kiddiiing. I’ll be at the meet. Renjun and the other dreamies are waiting in the car downstairs. See ya there, my lucky girl.” He hops out of the window. 

You roll your eyes and rummage through your closet. You were slightly panicking because you wanted to look good. Not for him. Pfft nevvveerrrr. Okay, maybe just a little….whatever. You decide on a pair of ripped black jeans, gray vans, a red crop top that says “CHERRY BOMB.” and a light wash jean jacket. You rush down the stairs and hop in the back seat of Renjun's car.

“Where’s my coffee?” you demand, holding your hand out.

“Right here, Ma’am.” Chenle hands you the cup, and you take a long drink from the straw. 

“Ok, let’s go, kids,” you say. Renjun nods.

You end up on some long, empty streets. A crowd bustling in the middle. You thought it’d be smaller. It was a street race, after all. Kinda illegal… Not at all, somewhere you would be regularly. You walk with the dreamies, following them, trying to find your group. You’re a huge group, yet you always manage to lose each other. You spot your best friend and her Boyfriend, Jaehyun. They’re the couple of the group, and they've been together for two years. She’s in black jean shorts, fishnets, A black bralette, and boots. Jaehyun in black jeans, vans, a white t-shirt with rolled-up sleeves, one arm around her, the other hanging onto his Jean jacket slung over his shoulder. They are a power couple. You think to yourself, I wonder if Jeno and I could be like that...nope, no, ma’am. No interest in that hooligan. Cute, stupid, reckless-

“Y/N. YOU’RE HERE, YESSS!” someone shouts, snapping you out of your head. Your best friend was running to you. “I’m so glad you came! How’d he convince you?” she pulled you in for a hug.

“Bribery of the highest degree,” you say and point to the iced coffee. “I can’t resist free coffee.”

“Of course,” she laughs. “Well, c’mon. Everyone is further down. We’re all at the start line, so we can see Jeno come in first.” she grabs your hand and leads you to the rest of your group. Everyone comes walking towards you to say Hi. Johnny picked you up and squeezed you. You go through the round of hugs and cheek kisses as greetings.

You look around the area. Motorcycles are placed in the middle of the street, behind the start/finish line. Their riders hanging around, talking to people. You spot Jeno talking to some girl. A really pretty girl… Your heart drops a little as you see him smile at her. It's probably his secret girlfriend or something. He catches you, and his eyes light up. He jogs towards you, and the girl follows. He looks so good in that stupid race jacket. 

“Hey! Wow, you look… great,” he breathes out, staring you up and down. “Oh, um, this is my friend. She and Her girlfriend are race girls. You know, the one who waves the flags for us to go.”

“Ohh! That’s cool!  It’s nice to meet you! I’m Y/N,” You say

“I’m Min! So nice to meet you.” She pulls you in for a hug. “It’s almost time to start! I’ll see you at the party?” 

You nod, and she smiles and runs off to gather the riders at the start line. 

“You’re gonna be in the front, right?” he asks.

“Yeah, of course. It’s where the rest are. so you know..” You respond, playing with the hem of your shirt awkwardly 

“Awesome, cool, cool, cool. Um, well, I better get in position. Kiss my key?”

“Your key??” You raise an eyebrow at him 

“Yea. You know, for good luck. Please?” he holds it out. 

You roll your eyes and kiss the blade of the key. He smiles widely and runs off to his Motorcycle. Your heart flutters again…

You walk over to the front of the sidelines where your friends are. Jeno and another rider are the first, with four others behind them. Engines were revving up, and people were cheering for their chosen rider. You wave to him, and he waves back with a gloved hand. How the hell does he look so handsome with a helmet on?? You can’t even see his face, but you know he looks good. Ugh. 

“Are we ready racers?” Min shouts

“On our count!” her girlfriend shouts. 

“One!” Min raises her flags.

“Two.” Her girlfriend's flags go up as well.

“Three!!” the engines revving loudly. 

“GO!” they both scream, waving the flags down and kneeling as the bikes fly past them. You run into the street along with many others to see the bikes take off. Some people chase after them. The crowd moves back to the sides as the racers come back to finish the first lap—two more to go. Jeno is the 3rd to come in this lap. You bite your lip, praying he wins. The last lap comes around, and you peer out, waiting impatiently. You see his bike leading, and he burns through the finish line. Your group screams in victory, and he starts doing donuts in the street as the other racers trail behind. You run to his bike, and he hops off, pulling off his helmet, hugging you, picking you up, and spinning you. 

“See! I told you, my lucky charm.” He grins ear to ear. His eyes sparkled, and his chest rose and fell heavily. 

“I would have been so mad if I came and missed out on sleep just to see you lose” You rolled your eyes. Your heart flutters secretly. 

“Hey, you guys ready to head to the party?” YangYang says, walking up to you. 

“Yea. We’ll see you there.” Jeno said, taking your hand. “C’mon.”

“Uhhhh. I’m going with Dreamies,” You said, raising an eyebrow.

“Uhhhh no, you’re not. Ride with me. Please? I just won the race, and you saw I’m a safe driver, pleeeasssseee” He begged, again with stupid puppy eyes. 

“Fine. If I die, I’m killing you.” You huff and let him lead you to his motorcycle. 

He takes an extra helmet out and places it on your head. Smiling at you. He climbs on, and you get behind him. Your hands grip his shirt tightly. Too scared to wrap your arms around his waist. He revs the engine loudly, and you roll your eyes. What a show-off. Suddenly, the bike jerks forward, and your arms wrap tightly around him in fear of falling off. You can feel him laugh lightly.

“You did that on purpose, so I’d hug you like this,” you grumbled. 

“Maybe. Maybe not. Prove it.” He chuckles. You roll your eyes again, and he takes off. You keep your eyes closed the entire time. Too afraid to open them. The sound of you guys whipping past cars and the loud wind was already terrifying. You didn’t want to see the flying lights just yet. 

We arrived at a huge white house. It's seriously huge—pillars at the front porch. Magnificent garden. Different colored lights on the lawn, music blaring out the front door. You grabbed Jeno’s arm tightly, and he patted your hand. 

“Is this too much?” He asked, concerned

“No. No, it’s okay. I should be fine.” You smiled at him.

He nodded, and you walked inside. He was being greeted by people who knew him, congratulating him on his win at the race. 

“Ah, it was all thanks to my Lucky Charm here.” He says to the people,  smiling at you.

You continued to walk through the house, trying to find your group.

“Who’s house is this?” you asked. 

“Mins. Her parents left her everything since she has no siblings.”

“Oh. Is it just her alone here? It must be hard for her.”

“No, her girlfriend lives here. And she rents out the rooms to people for cheap. Mostly college students since the university is close by. Or for free if there’s a family or individuals who need help for a bit.” 

“Her parents are probably super proud of her for that. Wow.” you sighed.

“Hey!! Glad you got here in one piece.” Min came running up to you, hugging you both. “There’s tons of food in the kitchen, so please help yourself with anything you want. There are drinks too. Pool in the back as well if you wanna swim.” 

“OH, FOOD, thank god!” Jeno exclaimed. Throwing his head back. “Okay, we will be in the kitchen. Thanks, Min!” He started pulling you away, so you waved goodbye to her as she laughed. 

Mark was in the kitchen as well. He was getting pizza and a drink. 

“Hey, y/n. Do you want a drink?” He asks, “There's some jungle juice in here.”

“What’s that?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Like just a bunch of alcohol and juice or soda mixed. There's also Soju Lemonade.” 

“Soju Lemonade, please,” you say, and he nods and fills up a red solo cup with the drink. 

Jeno looks at you questioningly. “I didn’t know you drank.”

“Sometimes. Not often.” you sip on the lemonade. It was refreshing

“Hmm, hiding a wild side from me?” 

“Find out,” you smirk. The alcohol was making you a little brave already.

“Sheesh. I might” 

You walked out to the back, finding the rest of your group playing beer pong against each other. You watched and finished the rest of your drink by the time they were done with the game. 

“Wanna play next round?” Johnny asks you.

“I’ve never played before..” you say shyly.

“Don’t worry! I’ll be your partner,” your best friend says. “We can play against Jaehyun and Jeno.” 

“Oooooo, Boyfriends vs. girlfriends, I like that!” Johnny exclaims, 

“Jeno is not my boyfr-” you start to say before someone hands a ping pong ball to you. 

“Ladies first,” Jaehyun says, smirking at your best friend.

“You guys are going down,” She laughs. 

The game was competitive. A small crowd gathered around to watch. Unfortunately, you did have to drink as many cups as you made them drink due to making the ball in the cup. It was down to the last cup on both sides—your turn. If you miss, you lose. You concentrated on the opening and threw the ball. It landed, and the boys hung their heads in defeat. The crowd cheered, and you and your best friend high-fived and hugged. 

“I will request my prize later tonight,” She said to Jae, kissing him on the cheek. 

“And what do you want for yours,” jeno asked, looking at you. “A kiss?” 

“No. You can buy me coffee for a month,” you smiled. Chance at free coffee for a month. Imma take it. Hhehehe

“Fine,” He huffed. “Sure you don’t want a kiss with that?”

“I’m okay, thanks.”

You walk back into the house. You realize how much you drank and start to feel a little tired. You sit down on the couch, and Jeno follows. 

“You okay?” He asks. 

“I think I had a bit too much. But I'm okay.”

Then Haechan comes up and slumps down next to you, trying to give you another drink. Jeno shoots him a glare and takes the drink. 

“Don’t. No more for her tonight” He says, concern and sternness in his voice. Haechan nods and says sorry. Your heart fluttered again at Jeno’s words. 

Jisung walks up to you. 

“Do you need anything? A blanket? Food? Is it too loud? You can have your earbuds to listen to your playlist,” He says. What a caring boy. 

“No, I’m okay. Thank you, JiJi.” you smile at him. 

You spend the rest of the time watching your friends, talking and Laughing. Enjoying being with them. 

“How are you feeling? Ready to go home?”

Jeno asks, patting your head.

“Mm. Yea. I think I’m sobered up enough. Let’s go,” you say, standing up. 

You say goodbye to everyone, and you hop back on his bike. Your arms around him comfortably. This time, you keep your eyes open. The lights look pretty as you speed by. You look up and see the stars and the moon moving with you. It’s mesmerizing. You arrive at your house. He holds his hand out to help you off. He takes off your helmet and walks you to the front door. 

“Did you have fun?” He asks,

“I did, actually. A lot of fun. Thank you for inviting me.” You said,

“Thank you for coming. And supporting me. It means a lot to me.” He leans in and kisses your forehead.

Maybe it was the last bit of alcohol giving you courage, or maybe you were finally not overthinking things. But you kissed his lips without thinking. He froze a little. Surprised. Then his hands were on your waist, pulling you closer to his body, and the kiss deepened a little. His lips were soft. You pulled away. His face was full of shock.

“What was that for?” He asked.

“Part of your prize for winning the race. And you know, good luck for your drive home,” you said, trying to seem casual while your heart was beating up and out of your throat. 

“Ahh. Thank you. I hope I get those often.” He smiled.

“Maybe. You’ll have to find out. I’ll be expecting you with my coffee tomorrow.” 

“Yes, Ma’am.” 

you smiled and unlocked your front door. He doesn’t leave until you close it behind yourself. Maybe you’ll think less and just let things happen…

[wakandamama]

Routine

Yall been knew I had fallen down The Bear rabbit hole and have YET to climb out. So it was only a matter of time before I drop a Carmy x Sydney fic lol. So here it is! It's a bit of smut, a bit of sneaky around, a bit of character deep dive. A whole bunch of sexual tension, way too may food allegories. This is just a ONESHOT!

Sydney thinks about just how this became routine for her and Carmy.

It may have happened when he and her were the last ones left in the kitchen on a Saturday. Three weeks before the disaster of Pre-Order and the blessing of Tomato Money.

 Sydney’s highschool cousin had begged her to provide some of her family famous crab cakes for a graduation kickback for one of her friends. The friend remembered having them from way back when 18 year-old Sydney still had to babysit them as ever-hungry 10 year olds and never forgot. Honestly, Sydney felt honored that her food made such a lasting memory on a stranger just like Camry had for her-

Anyway, the kickback was at 8 and it was 7:20 and Sydney had just put the last sheet of crabcake from the oven. She called out absentminded goodbyes as Tina’s quiet “Night Jeffes,” and Richie’s brash “Night Cousin” kinda floated behind her.

 As she waited for the batch of paprika-savry crab cakes to bake, she was whipping up a creamy tabasco base sauce to dip them in. Carmy was softly in her space, like usually. He was precious in sharpening all the knives of the kitchen, old school style with a grit stone set, he stood catty-corner to her. His drilling blue eyes didn’t stare directly at her soul but instead to the delicately-deadly curve of the knife. 

For once it was Sydney stuck side eyeing him with a soft focus. Her cooking had come to  a quiet moment of waiting. Waiting for her sauce to set, waiting for the last batch and waiting for the batch before to cool, waiting to taste test.

Camry chuckled when he heard her mutter out a quiet yet frantic “hot hot hot hot” as she let her impatience get the best of her to taste her sauce with the crab cake. He shut up at her moan of delicious pleasure. A soft but throat-y sound of pure satisfied bliss. He practically tasted the seasoning of such a sound in the air and a craving to hear it again and again hit his gut, spreading warmth all over his skin. 

He glanced up from the black grit of the stone to see her all eyes closed, swaying in the taste and her crafted fingers still clutched half of the cake. He took her in further, she was dressed down from her kitchen wear, instead wearing the outfit for the kickback ( - supervising, one last babysitting gig I guess. Because I know those brats are gonna get high off their asses) 

A pair of black jeans that should be illegal on her body, a gray cropped sweatshirt and sneakers that would lead to certain death by slip in a busy kitchen.

 His eyes followed every line of hers like he was seeing the best grain to cut for optimal presentation. The curve of her calf into the curve of her thigh, into the curve of her tempting ass into the concave of her back. His eyes skirt the plane of her stomach onto the lines that made her shapely waist. Over her petite chest to the curve of her lean shoulders that connected to the slope of her neck that was still stretched back in bliss from a euphoric bite of damn good food. 

She moaned over the second bite. Camry licked his lips at the way her lips kiss over the crumbs and speckle of sauce left on her lithe fingertips. Fuck, he wondered how those plump lips of her witty mouth would fe-

Carmy bit back a curse as the grit of stone scraped with a rude sting over the side of his thumb to the heel of his hand. Like some punishment for allowing her to take his attention with one whisper of a sound and to greedily take in her beautiful shape when the fucking knives are dull.

“You good Chef?” Carmy asked. He brushed past her with a light hand on the small of her back to get to the sink. She finally opened her eyes and her nose scrunched cutely in slight embarrassment for moaning like that over a freakin’ bite of crab.  

“Sorry, it's just I haven’t made these in forever. I forgot how good I am at making ‘em. Shit, that probably sounds so conceited.” Sydney chuckled a bit nervously and Carmy shrugged.

“I only eat veal, if I cook it. That fact’s gotten me beat up by Mike once or twice.” he joked. It made Sydney smile. She grabbed another one with a graceful swoop of her wrist; she dipped it and came to his side.

“What do you think?” she asked, excitement in her eyes that Carmy was going to eat something so casual of hers. Carmy licked his lips at her obliviousness, her hands were still busy as he washed them and absently wrapped a bandage around the meat of his thumb. 

But he would never deny a taste test from her. 

Sydney freakin’ squeaked when he leaned his head close and ate the bite from her hand. Her body stiffened as she felt his lips grace off the side of her pointer finger and thumb. She is forced to focus on his working jaw as he chewed over it and gave a hum of pleasure himself. The sound made her bite her own lips, she wondered how such a sound would feel against her throat.

“That’s some amazing sauce Chef. Oughta add it to the menu.” he commented, looking into her eyes once again. Sydney gave a stiled nod that almost brushed their foreheads together. 

“Thanks. It’s- jus-just uhm, well y'know something I’ve perfected since I was a kid. My great uncle taught me how.” She rambled with a shuffled step back. 

“Whoa!” Carmy warned softly. His quick hands grasped her hips and pulled her back to him before she crashed back into the very full trash can. The movement collided her into his chest, his hands slid up to her waist and back to steady them before they ended up on the floor. 

“Uhm.” Sydney whispered as their noses bumped and she was nearly eye to eye with him. 

“Whoa uh-” he muttered back as Sydney’s hands fisted into the front of his shirt. 

It was awkward and exhilarating. 

Certainly, wrong and natural as they both found each other pulling their lips closer. Carmy closed his eyes tightly and Sydney refused to move her grip on his shirt because no-way was this real. Their lips placement is slightly off initially, they taste the same to one another and Sydney is pretty sure her foot is stepping on his.

Their next smack of lips was more of a moment to be connected yet adjusting. Sydney leads them to correct their posture, him leaning down more comfortably, one of her hands leaving his shirt to hold his cheek as their heads shift. Noses bumping once more but the kiss deepened deliciously. They got greedy with one another as they refused to separate for air. 

Sydney’s hand gripped down on his gold chain, locking him down as she started to trail her lips to his jaw. Carmy’s hand grabs at her breast and gives a soft squeeze as he forces her lips back to his and swallows her moan. 

 His other hand rubbed down her side until they gripped tightly on her hip. The combination of his caresses caused her to give a stuttering moan that sent lust running wild under Carmy’s skin. He turned them and lifted her with ease. Sydney pulls apart in shock as he sat her on the edge of an empty prep table with such swiftness. 

They are forced to breathe and look at each other now, their bodies still wrongly close. Sydney's hands slid down to hold his wrists as he still had a grip on her hips.

“Fuck.” they both whispered off wet, kissed bruised lips. They looked each other deeply in the eyes for a moment before Carmy turned away first. His hand instantly ran with worry through his hair as Sydney snatched her hands and crossed her arms, pressing into herself as she looked down at the titles. 

“Uhm, that wasn-”

“Shit, sorry w-”

They both hum to a quiet, lost for words at what they just did. 

And how they both liked it.

And how they both wanted it again. 

Sydney feels an embarrassed warmth under her skin to see her lip gloss over Cramy’s mouth and chin. Carmy went red and nervous as he saw how much he had hiked up her shirt.

“Sorry for uh… you good Syd?’ Carmy asked, still not looking at her. She slid off the counter, adjusting her clothes. She pointed her look past his head to the clock on the wall. 

7:55 pm.

“I’m good, Carmy. Are you?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

“I’ve got to go.”

Sydney has to bush close to him to get back to her counter to get the last batch and pack the food then getting the fuck out. Carmy flinched to see that his wet hands had left a drying imprint on her shirt. He passed her to the back door and collapsed into a resting crouch, lit a cigarette on instinct.

Five minutes later she was outside too, tupperware full of the best crab cakes and sauce he’s ever had and the girl that now owns his first kiss in 8 years.

 He hastily stood up and they gave each other tight smiles. 

“I’ll see you on Monday?” Sydney asked. She frowns a bit, that wasn’t meant to come out as a question. It doesn’t matter though with how fast she is walking away.

“Yeah!”Carmy called nervously after her, she turned just in time to catch him ducking back inside. 

Sydney is sure that’s not the start. Because they showed up on Monday and worked with their usual stressed ease. They each had their usual bicker with Richie, they each worked on prep, Sydney wrote in her little notebook, Carmy ticked over leftover paperwork, they sat across from each other during family and never met eyes.

They did the same thing Tuesday. 

They did the same thing Wednesday.

If she was trying to determine something official, it would be that Thursday. 

At the end of the day she swiped a piece of leftover lemon cake and two spoons as everybody left. She went into the office and Carmy looked up in soft surprise as she sat it on top of some random receipt book from 2015.

“What’s up Chef?” Carmy asked and Sydney shrugged.

“Just cake. I… we need to talk abou-”

“Shit, yeah, uh-yeah. We don’t-”

“Yes we do Carmen. That's the whole communication thing we talked about when I first started.” 

“Oh, right.”

They both went quiet as Sydney cleared some space on the desk and sat on the edge. She dived into a bite of cake and ignored the nerves created from Camry staring at her mouth again. 

“I’m sorry for kissing you like that.” Carmy said after a minute and Sydney handed him the other spoon. 

“I’m sorry too. That was unprofessional of us.”

“No, it’s on me Sydney. I’m older than you, I’m your boss.” he added, going for a bite as well. They are quiet as they share it down to an empty plate and yellow crumbs.

“I’ve liked you for a long time Carmen. Admired you even. I think you can go anywhere and do anything and it’s great.” Sydney said. Carmy let out a bitter chuckle at her statement.

“Sydney you have a lot of talent, creativity and whatever else makes a great person. From the moment you walked in the door you started lifting this place up. I’m a piece of shit compared to you.”

“Still like you though.” 

“... I like you alot too…”

It’s quiet again, no cake to fill in the time and space. Both chefs felt like they were going to bust and the silence was the only safe space. 

Ever impatient, Sydney is the first to break it. 

“Ya know… The first time I made scrambled eggs I was like 8. I set the fire alarm off with how high I cooked them. There was salt and pepper everywhere, somehow they were both browned as shit and still runny. I’m pretty sure I broke my dad’s heart fucking up his cast iron pan like that.” Sydney rambled and Carmy gave a soft smile at that.

“I’m pretty sure I broke my nan’s heart cause I broke spaghetti noodles in half before I boiled em. I had seen someone do it on Food Network and Sugar had to save my ass from getting beat with a spoon. I was 7 I think.”

Sydney couldn't help but snort at that. 

“Yeah, but we got better with practice right?”

“Yeah.”

“Not to be mean, but you could improve your kissing skills.” Sydney said, pointedly not looking at him as he settled back in his chair in shock and awe.

“... is this a complaint?”

“No.”

“No?”

“... it’s an offer to improve I guess. With practice.”

“Sydney.”

“I’m just saying! I liked it, you liked it. You could use practice. I could use pract- oh.” Sydney is cut off by Carmy rising up. He stood in the space between her legs and crossed his arms. Sydney couldn’t help but blink in surprise as he bent in slightly to look her in the eyes. 

“We can’t.” he scolded quietly. His voice is soft yet stern.

“We can’t?” Sydney rasped.

“It’s unprofessional.”

“...It is unprofessional.”

“It’s getting too close, even if we did like it. I can’t just make out and fuck you in the Beef like I’m some asshole line cook that only floats Waffle Houses.”

Sydney huffed then crossed her arms as well, leaning back and squinting at him. Her head gently bumped the shelf above the desk as she settled back. She can’t meet his eyes though, so she focused on his nose and thinks about how it bumped her the other night.

“This joint wishes it was a fuckable Waffle House. Richie might actually get a life.'' She smarted. Carmy jerked his head to a tilt, trying to force her eyes to his in disbelief. 

“Sydney!”

“Carmen!”

“We shouldn’t and aren’t doing this here.”

“Fine.” Sydney shrugged, plump lips pursing in attitude.

She finally got the nerve to meet his eyes but smiled to see that he was checking out her mouth. Carmy pressed the inch of space closer so her legs encompassed his hips. His arms dropped so that one hand braced on the shelves behind her head and the other rested on her knee, making her leg enclose his. She felt the subtle bulge in his pants settle against the desk and the edge of her inner thigh. She glances down at it and lets her posture correct up in a deep breath. 

The layer of their jeans blocking skin was fucking infuriating. 

Once again, they were dangerously in each other's faces.

“So, we aren’t doing this here?” Sydney challenged.

“Nope.”

They ended up half stripping in the back of his car, bruising each other's necks with hungry lips. 

Sydney finds out his hair is just as soft as it looks and he groans when you tug at his nape but flinches when you go too far up his crown.

Carmy learns to draw out moans from her. You had to kiss her down from the bottom of her ear, follow her jar and end at the center of her throat.

Sydney learns that holding his cheeks makes him cry. Carmy learns she likes to hide her face in her braids when her moans are out of control. Carmy learns that he’s really fucking handsy. Sydney learns that she’s a biter.

Both of them have very talented yet untrained hands that excel in finding the right spots.

It became routine. 

They’d work on Monday, then come in on Tuesday. They work like Carmen didn’t nearly crash his car with how good Sydney sucked him off on the drive to his place Monday night.

 They’d work on Wednesday. Pretending that the reason Sydney was walking so carefully is because she dropped a pot on her foot and not that Carmy fucked her thighs numb back at his apartment last night on Tuesday night.

The reason Sydney had to wear her braids in a high bun instead of her usual scarf this Thursday morning? She overslept and didn’t have time to grab one. Not the fact that it slipped off her bucking head last night and is under Carmy’s couch right now.

The reason Carmy wore a long sleeve rolled up to his forearms instead of his usual short sleeve shirt this fine weather Friday? He had to fight the alley cats throwing out the trash. Not the fact the ‘cat’ was most definitely named Sydney as she rode him in the back seat while they were parked outside her and her father’s apartment building. 

Friday was their exception. 

They alway went home separately and alone on Fridays. The dinner rush was too taxing on their bodies to be hungry for anything else but a sandwich, a beer, and to drop dead into bed. (Friday didn’t stop nudes however. It didn’t stop Carmy from getting hard at the videos of Sydney muffling her loud moans of his name into her childhood pillows. It didn't stop Sydney’s gut from tightening up at the obscene shot of Carmy beating his dick to the sound of her name) 

Work was work on Saturday. 

It was Sunday mornings like this. Where they woke up cuddling in Carmy’s bed. Him smoking out the window into the cool morning air and Sydney listening to his heartbeat in his chest in the soft light of sunrise. 

That she thinks about this, about how they got here.

She feels guilt forever getting in a situation like this. She’s fucking her boss, fucking her idol, fucking a man five years older than her, fucking a white man, fucking a Catholic, all the without a ring nor relationship in sight. Her father would burn The Beef down to the ground with Carmy inside of it and expose her to church ladies for correction. Her mother would just cackle out of the grave.

 “At least you didn’t dirty the kitchen, Syddie Kitty.” Sydney can picture her teasing out of plum-colored lips over a wine glass as funeral dirt shakes out of her locs.

Sydney turns over so that she and Carmy are pressed chest to chest. Her chin rests on his sternum so she can look over his face. His hand absently rubs a firm circle over the knot in her lower back as he continues to stare at their city waking up. 

He’s beautiful. 

She’s beautiful. 

Carmy huffs a laugh as he dodges her trying to take the cigarette out of his hand, blowing the cloud high as he snuffs it out. She sticks her tongue out and dodges back, making the kiss he aimed for her lips land on her cheek instead. 

Before they can tease each other again, Carmy’s phone rings. He cringes at the tone he has set for Sugar echoing over them. He grabs it and just stares at the screen as it vibrates and lights up with the picture of his sister.

Sydney taps her hand on his wrist, thumb ghosting on the green accept slider. Carmy is quick to deny the call, toss the phone back to the side table and twist into Sydney's body.

“You can’t keep doing that.” Sydney says after a while. He burrows further into their hold until she melts back. 

What would Sugar think? Every time he declined her calls or avoided weekly family dinners was because he was in the hands of his younger sous that he still hasn’t introduced her to. Yeah, the one Richie has been complaining about changing everything. That she was the only one that made him feel like he could breathe and that he hated church. 

He knew what Richie would say, that's for sure. He’d be all smug and smartassed and judgmental. Announcing that he knew all along baby Carmy despite the prestige of his NORMA bullshit, was just a bitch who fell for pussy and would drive The Beef and the lives the revolved round it into the ground for it. 

Both chefs are shamefully selfish this Sunday morning.

They make savory crepes and drink coffee with Good Eats playing in the background.

They shower together about it. 

Carmy drops her off at the farmers market.

Carmy cleans the Beef alone with a toothbrush as one of Mikey’s old mixed CD’s plays on the old Beef stereo. 

Sydney tosses her laundry in the washing machine as her dad plays Charles Jenkins & Fellowship aloud and remarks that he missed her at service again. 

Carmy shows up 8 minutes late to dinner at Sugar's with the wine his big sister likes. 

Sydney fries fish and makes smothered green beans for dinner, her father sets the table for them to play cards and watch Down in the Delta. 

Both chefs pray that this stays their routine. 

Taglist 🥰

@blowmymbackout @kdoxkeic @pantherxrogers @soufcakmistress

[omegaphilosophia]

Unmasking the Actions of Corrupt Politicians: A Closer Look at Political Malpractice

Corrupt politicians engage in a wide range of unethical and illegal activities to maintain and expand their power, often at the expense of the public interest. Some common actions and behaviors associated with corrupt politicians include:

Bribery: Accepting money, gifts, or favors in exchange for political favors, such as favorable legislation or government contracts.

Embezzlement: Misappropriating public funds for personal use or diverting money intended for public programs.

Nepotism: Appointing or promoting family members and close associates to government positions, often without regard for their qualifications.

Cronyism: Favoring friends and allies in political appointments, regardless of their competence or suitability for the role.

Kickbacks: Receiving a portion of the funds from government contracts awarded to certain businesses or individuals.

Extortion: Using threats or coercion to obtain money or support for personal or political gain.

Money Laundering: Funneling ill-gotten gains through legitimate financial channels to conceal their origin.

Corrupt Campaign Financing: Accepting illegal campaign contributions or using campaign funds for personal expenses.

Obstruction of Justice: Interfering with investigations, destroying evidence, or intimidating witnesses to avoid accountability.

Vote Rigging: Manipulating election results through voter suppression, ballot stuffing, or other fraudulent means.

Abuse of Power: Using one's political position to harass, intimidate, or retaliate against perceived enemies or whistleblowers.

Influence Peddling: Selling access to government officials or decision-makers to private interests seeking favorable outcomes.

Gerrymandering: Manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one's political party and ensure re-election.

Lobbying Malpractice: Engaging in unethical lobbying practices, such as misrepresenting facts or exerting undue influence on legislators.

Conflict of Interest: Failing to disclose or address personal financial interests that may compromise one's ability to make impartial decisions.

Corrupt politicians undermine the principles of democracy, erode public trust in government, and divert resources away from essential public services. It's crucial to combat corruption through transparency, accountability, and legal mechanisms to uphold the integrity of political systems.

[loving-n0t-heyting]

types of income that count towards the medicaid income limit in cali:

bribes

stolen property received

kickbacks

money made from selling organs

pulitzer or "noble" prize winnings

whistleblowers award

"income from illegal activities"

[liz-allyn]

Feeling greedy for your talents 📸 —v 🌻 mwah!

Oooh, thank you, Spicy @spidervee. You know what I'm greedy for? This beautiful AG right here.

Look at that baby face! Also wtf is he doing in this photo shoot? And who cares—look at his ARMS.

The more I stare at this picture, the more it becomes a different thing. It gets more complex with time. Like, it starts off as soft, innocent Peter Parker, but then there's something just slightly sinister in that look? So I'm gonna call this Workplace Rival!Peter.

enemies to lovers and something else sorta dark and nasty if you stare too hard at it, under the cut. go away if you're under 18 or you're too young to remember Phil of the Future on the Disney Channel.

Every war begins when one side fires a shot. In the case of the battle between you and Peter Parker, he’d admit that he’d taken the first one. It wasn’t his intention, but he struck a nerve.

It was during a staff meeting at The Daily Bugle. Since finally getting the staff photographer job, this was one more scheduled task that Peter had to juggle. 

On that fateful morning, he’d rushed into the meeting already in progress, ducking into the back and hoping to avoid J.J’s steel gaze. They were discussing what was going to be in Sunday’s issue. There was more room for feature stories and hot-topic debates. The juicier, the better. (And more profitable, since J.J. was pleased to put them behind a digital paywall).

That’s when Peter heard you chime in. “I’m interviewing Spider-Man,” you announced, to pen drops and quiet gasps in the pit. 

You—the cute little thing—bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, recently graduated top of your class at ESU’s journalism school. First tasked by Jonah to write an editorial calling for Spider-Man’s immediate arrest and for the public to stop coddling him. You huffed with disappointment at your assignment but still wrote a grand slam article. You pointed out the hypocrisy of local politicians who turn a blind eye to Spider-Man’s illegal vigilantism but refuse to decriminalize marijuana. Spider-Man gets a free pass while the police continue to sweep through impoverished neighborhoods and single-out minority populations as if they were hunting Jack the Ripper.

You.

You made a valid point. 

And just like that, you were the newest writer for The Daily Bugle. 

“Spider-Man’s Public Enemy Number One” Jonah proudly called you. 

You kept on writing the same anti-Spider-Man bullshit. It started to get a little far-fetched. 

No, Spider-Man was not secretly on the police’s payroll (unfortunately).

No, Spider-Man did not take kickbacks from the Mayor (he just doesn’t have enough evidence gathered yet to bring him down.)

No, Spider-Man does not torture chickens (that was a fucking accident and a misunderstanding and Peter would appreciate it if Mr. Cluck’s Chicken Shack would stop appropriating his IP in their ads to sell chicken sandwiches).

Jonah asked, and you delivered. 

Peter felt sorry for you, honestly. It must be hard being smart, and feisty, and adorable, and elbowing your way past senior writers to the front page. Despite how annoying it was to hear your articles constantly quoted on morning news talk shows. He felt genuinely sorry.

Until you turned out to be a little liar.

“Interview?” Another writer scoffed in disbelief. “With Spider-Man?”

Everyone turned to you, stunned. Waiting. As did Peter.

“Of course,” you stated with resolve.

Jonah’s face was lit up like a Christmas tree. Peter’s brain was melting. “Trash Sunday’s front page! Wait—when do you have this interview?”

“Um,” you replied, with the slightest bit of hesitation, “Friday night.”

“Trash Saturday’s front page!”

“Spider-Man wouldn’t interview you,” Peter blurted out. It was like a record screeching to a halt. All eyes turned to Peter, including yours. Burning with anger.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you sneered.

It was a standoff. Peter immediately regretted opening his mouth. But it was done. “Well, y’know… I know the guy, and—”

You bit off. “You take pictures of him for money.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m… I’m also sorta—I know ‘em pretty well by now, and—”

“Are you his personal assistant, too?” you coldly replied. “Do you manage his appointments? Do you sync calendars, pick up his suit from the cleaners, and get him soy lattes?”

“Uh… I…” Peter didn’t know how to respond to that. Except that he was an almond milk kind of guy. He decided against adding that.

“Don’t worry about my leads,” you said, ending the conversation. The public part, anyway.

It was after the meeting when you dragged him into an empty cubicle and whispered a threat through gritted teeth. “Don’t you ever call me out like that in front of our colleagues again, do you hear me?”

“I’m just surprised, s’all,” Peter defended, keeping his voice low. “He always told me he’s weird around reporters. Considering how much shit you give ‘em, I’d think you’d be the last person he’d wanna talk to.”

“I disagree,” you shot back. “I think he’d welcome the discourse. Unless he’s a coward.”

His eyes flashed angrily. “Look, I know you’d love to build your whole career on his back,” he sneered, “you should reconsider your occupation if you have to lie about it.”

Your face turned red. “A liar? Really?”

“Yeah, s’what I said. I call ’fake news.’”

“That’s rich coming from you, Parker.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, considering that you’ve been getting paid by the Bugle to lie about your photos for years!”

His heart skipped a beat. Suddenly wary. “Wha-what are you talkin’ about?”

“I checked the metadata on the last images you sent,” you sneered. “That bank robbery on Columbus? There’s no way that you could’ve taken those photos from the ground, with those settings, milliseconds apart. That means only one thing.”

Peter’s eyes went wide.

“Spider-Man took those photos of himself, and for some reason, he’s letting you take all the credit!”

Peter swallowed thickly to silence his sigh of relief.

“I bet it’s not so bad getting cash for your little charade!” You shoved your finger into his shoulder. “Must make you so popular with the ladies, being ‘friends with Spider-Man.’”

The lump in his throat bobbed. But that was all the evidence that you needed to know that you’d struck a nerve.

You glared at him. “How about this? Stay out of my way, Parker. And your secret’s safe with me.” You marched off, leaving a burning trail in your wake.

And that’s how the war escalated. That’s when his rivalry became an obsession. You were checking his metadata? (He can’t believe he forgot to wipe it on export.) Are you insane? What are you, a stalker?

Two could play at that game.

By Friday, you were visibly stressed, although you were an expert at not showing it. Peter could hear it in your heart from across the room.

By contrast, he was as relaxed as he’d ever been. Maybe a little excited, even. 

Peter heard a lot of things around the office. Gossip. Rumors. Too much personal information. 

Once he’d heard Ned talking about the details of the Bugle’s IT security and filtering system. Of course, Jonah would trust the cybersecurity of one of the most controversial publications in country... to one guy, in a chair. When asked directly, Ned filled Peter’s ear with tons of information about how the system worked and could monitor any computer connected to the wifi. All you needed was the IP address.

With this valuable information, Peter learned three things.

One. You were lying about having an interview with Spider-Man. He wasn’t exactly sure how you were going to get out of that one without throwing yourself off the Brooklyn Bridge. But Peter did see the email in your inbox about Jonah finally letting you take on different stories in addition to writing about Spider-Man, if you delivered a sold-out edition. 

The motive, he could understand. 

Two. Using the Bugle’s internet safety system (and Ned’s borrowed login), he was able to read your every keystroke. He could watch you through the webcam. He could even take control of your computer. Peter felt like a kid watching you freak out as the cursor on your screen started moving of its own accord as you typed in the middle of a paragraph. Your cursor pulled up a note, and the blinking line typed out a message to you.

TONIGHT. 11:30 PM. COME ALONE. 

- YOUR FRIENDLY, NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC ENEMY, SPIDER-MAN

Your face was priceless. You jumped up out of your chair and started looking left and right, with no idea that the messenger wasn’t even in the room.  

The message on screen vanished, and a set of numbers appeared instead. Coordinates. You grabbed a sticky note and started scribbling frantically. Once he was satisfied that you had them down, the note was deleted and you had control of your computer again. 

Peter knew you were smart, but you were also unable to turn down a challenge. You wanted to be a writer—a good one, and you’d do anything to be taken seriously. At least that’s what you’d say when you’d text that boring guy you were dating—Peter could figure out your phone’s IP address too. He was pretty sure that it wasn’t going to last long between you and boring man. And that led him to his third discovery.

Three. You were a great writer. 

At 11:00 PM, you were pacing a construction site anxiously. You checked the coordinates again and again, but they led you to an unfinished development of skyrise condominiums. The skeleton of the building soared into the sky at least 60 stories. A building without walls, the framework left exposed to high winds.

You thought this had to be a joke. You were seconds from turning back and going home when on your third lap around the block, you noticed the lock which secured the gate was broken. The gate swayed in the wind, chain ripped apart and discarded on the ground. On the gate was a lined sheet of paper with scribbled handwriting. 

47TH FLOOR.

The note was fixed to the gate by webs. 

A chill went down your spine. He wanted you to go up the elevator to the 47th floor. Of a building that hadn't been built yet. You stood at the cracked-open gate, bouncing on your toes, weighing your ambition versus your fear of heights. You bit your lip and tip-toed inside.

On your way up the lift, you prayed that 47 was one of the floors that was finished. It wasn’t. And once you timidly stepped out of the elevator shaft, you spotted the masked, red-and-blue figure leaning carelessly across a steel beam. 

You couldn’t believe your eyes. Spider-Man in the flesh, with arms pillowing his head, and nothing else but air beneath him and the unforgiving ground. You stopped in your tracks.

“I honestly wasn’t sure if you’d go through with it,” he greeted you casually. “I was worried. I’d hate to miss an opportunity to meet my favorite writer.” 

There was a slight chill in his tone. He could hear the way you gulped, probably realizing just how stupid this idea was. 

“Don’t worry, love,” he sat up straight and came to a stand on the beam. With a leap, he forward-flipped onto the exposed subflooring, landing with a thud. “I’m not planning on throwing you off the building,” he jested. “It would look a little suspicious.”

Your shoulders released some tension, but only a bit. “You... how...? How did you....?”

“Not so good with words now, are ya?” Spider-Man replied, sauntering closer to you. You were separated by the empty floorspace, but your feet were plastered to the ground by fear. “Heard you had a big interview with Spider-Man tonight. Hope you don’t mind if I join?”

You stared at him with wide eyes. “I... I’m... I didn’t...” You gulped again. “I-I tried to find you. I even looked through old photos at the Bugle for hours, trying to look for any clue—”

“So, if I didn’t show, you were just gonna... make the rest up?” He crossed his arms, leaning his weight on one hip.

“I-I’m sorry,” you blushed, genuinely. “I would’ve... I would’ve been nice. Respectful. Um, I wouldn’t have written anything, uh...” A breeze threatened to blow you over, and you caught yourself on a support beam. Squeezing your eyes shut, you continued with a tone of attrition. “I just— I-I didn’t think I’d get to actually meet you.”

Your hands were shaking. He remained a statue, gazing you with that expressionless mask. “No harm, no foul.” You watched him stroll to a stack of plywood as he hopped up on it to sit. “So let’s do this. I know you’ve got burning questions.”

You blinked in confusion, as if you’d forgotten what you were there to do. In a daze, you reached into your bag, pulling out a recorder. One that Spider-Man snapped out of your grasp with a line of webbing. You watched it crumple like an empty can as he crushed it mercilessly in his palm.

“Off the record,” he stated, unphased by the vandalism of your property. The recorder clattered to the floor and your eyes followed it down. “If it’s no difference to you, I already know what you’re going to ask.”

You glanced up at him, puzzled. He lifted a gloved hand and began counting on his long fingers. 

“Early 30s... Leo... Bi, and... honestly, it depends? I like being able to look into your eyes, that raw connection, y’know? But there’s something about doggy style that just... does it for me.” 

Your brow furrowed, face heating up. 

He pointed directly at you, “You nailed one thing, though. I’m definitely a giver. And I’m proud of that. Although I never necessarily came while eating someone out before.” Your jaw fell open as he tilted his head playfully, a lighthearted smirk in his voice. “Not yet, at least. Now. Do you want to take off your clothes, or should I just rip them off with my ‘rigid, gloved hands’?”

Your heart skipped for so long, he was certain that you died in that moment. Luckily, you roared back to life, a stuttering, babbling, frenetic ball of confusion.

“Oh, I’m sorry, which publication is this for?” he said with a chuckle. You were dumbstruck, unable to form words. “This is for your Spider-Man blog, right?”

In that moment, you did die. Every muscle in your body seized. Your breath caught in your throat. The horror on your face was absolutely delicious.

Peter knew that you were a much better writer than anyone gave you credit for. He’d spent the week monitoring your keystrokes and tracking your URLs. Ned told him that the system is designed only to catch obviously problematic URLs, and even then he only chooses to investigate half of them.

“Like, if you’re looking at PornTube from your work computer, obviously—that’s stupid and you’re gonna get caught. It’s the other sites, that are less obvious that, honestly sometimes it’s better just to let it slide. It becomes a whole thing,” Ned explained. “Because then, I’m having to go through Dennis from Accounting’s whole computer history for like, a year... make copies of his hard drive... figure out why he keeps typing the words ‘foot,’ ‘feet,’ ‘toe,’ and ‘toenail’ into his computer 70% of the time, and trust me... it’s better not to know.”

“What about a blog?” Peter asked, purposefully.

“Like Tumblr?” Ned scoffed. “Yeah, honestly, I’d let that be.”

“That is you, right?” Spider-Man asked you knowingly, with a cheshire grin hidden behind his mask. “You’re TheBlackCatxxx69.” Your eyes were so wide they could’ve swallowed the island of Manhattan. “You’re the one who writes all that Spider-Man erotica?” 

Your brow furrowed, automatically shaking your head. “Uh.... I....?”

“You’ve got quite the library. I’m impressed. Is this for Sinful Sunday or Thursday Thots?”

“I-I... don’t.... I don’t know...”

He was on his feet in moments, stalking toward you. “You mean you haven’t written dozens of tales about Spider-Man webbing you up and making you come on his fingers and on his... or, my tongue? You haven’t explicitly described in every juicy detail what it would be like to have my cock splitting you open on a rooftop?”

Every sentence came out darker and deeper than the last, and yet his voice was softer than a feather across your skin.

“You mean you don’t write naughty stories about being Daddy’s Good Girl while I sneak into your room and steal your innocence away?”

Peter stopped just inches from you, waiting for you to breathe again. You looked like you were going to pass out. Or drool. Both. He waited. Watched. Until your eyes got red. He could smell the salt of your tears even though you refused to let them fall. Your blood was pumping. Furiously. 

“Is this your idea of teaching me a lesson?” you whispered bitterly. You spun on your heel, legs wobbly, as you moved back towards the elevator. 

“Hey!” Peter called after you. 

You kept your eyes on the ground to keep from seeing the skyline. Or seeing anything at all. “I’ll stop writing about you,” you said, crossing the threshold of the elevator doors. "You win."

Your weight was pulled from your feet with the sound of a thwip. With a shriek, you were launched backward. He pulled you into his arms. You struggled against him, thrashing until he held you steady, your back to his chest. 

He could feel your pulse thrumming beneath his hands. The rage you felt wasn’t really directed at him, and you knew it. It was meant for you.

“I wasn’t trying to embarrass you,” he replied, extending an olive branch. He sounded so gentle compared to his sadistic vitriol moments before. 

You seethed. “So what is this? Payback? Blackmail? To get me to stop writing?” You felt like you were going to erupt, like a stick of dynamite in his hold. He heard you huff and pictured the pout on your face. You attempted to jerk away again, until he spun you around and pulled you up against his torso.

“Keep writing,” he replied, with genuineness in his voice. “You’re good at it. Just try to remember that you and I are on the same side? We’re both trying our best to fix things.” It was the sincerity in his voice that got to you. He was asking, not threatening. “Just think about maybe writing the truth once in a while?”

You scowled, about to take offense again, put paused before you blew up. You noted how your chest heaved against his. The proximity between you. His fingers gripped your upper arms, tight enough to leave a small mark. Your eyes locked on the emblem of his suit and the rigid muscles rippling beneath. You gazed around at the empty floor, a realization settling over you. 

Your eyes landed on a pair of sawhorses with a length of wood laid across. The board was secured to the bases with webbing. This was... familiar. All that was missing from the scene was you—your writhing, mewling, howling, naked form. 

“The construction worker request from two weeks back,” Peter explained. You stared up at him, jaw agape. “I figured we could start there?”

You pulled away from him and took a step backward, looking up in horror. But was it really horror? Peter waited. You considered.

The longest pause settled over you.

“I... I’m... seeing someone,” you replied, lifting your chin slightly.

Peter scoffed. “He doesn’t know about your blog.”

Your cheeks flushed and your brow furrowed. “What makes you think that?”

He snickered beneath the mask. “Because he doesn’t make you come like I do.”

A/N: Hey, now, there's a PART TWO.

Show your support for fandom writers! Cheer us on with a comment and/or reblog! And thank you 💜

[beardedmrbean]

Federal and local authorities arrested dozens of employees of New York City's public housing agency in a series of morning raids Tuesday linked to a massive bribery and extortion plot, according to prosecutors.

The raids, coordinated by Homeland Security Investigations and the city's Department of Investigation, netted the most single-day bribery arrests in the history of the Justice Department, according to Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

In all, 70 people were arrested in six states.

ILLEGAL MASTERMINDS OF NYC ROBBERY RING HACKED BANK APPS, RESOLD STOLEN PHONES OVERSEAS

"As we allege, the 70 defendants charged today allegedly demanded over $2 million in bribe money from contractors in exchange for giving out over $13 million of work," he said at a news briefing. "And if the contractors didn't pay up, the defendants wouldn't give them the work."

According to court documents, an unnamed co-conspirator allegedly texted another asking how much of a bribe she should demand: "1k per cool?"

NYPD RELEASES MIGRANT RAID PHOTOS AS SOFT-ON-CRIME LEADERS FACE NATIONAL OUTRAGE

"No problem babe, as long as your are being blessed," Angela Williams, a 64-year-old suspect who is not related to the U.S. attorney, allegedly replied.

The New York City Housing Authority, or NYCHA, is the country's largest public housing system and takes in more than $1.5 billion in federal funding every year, according to the DOJ. 

As a public entity, it is required to bid contracts for most repairs or construction work and go with the lowest bidder. But there is an exemption for essential projects, such as plumbing emergencies or broken windows, that cost under $10,000.

Management at each building was allowed to make "no-bid" deals for those jobs.

All of the suspects were NYCHA superintendents or assistant superintendents when prosecutors say they demanded cuts of between $500 to $2,000 or more per job, ultimately collecting $2 million of taxpayers' money since it came out of the funds contractors received from city and federal agencies.

"That's classic pay-to-play, and this culture of corruption at NYCHA ends today," Williams said.

The kickback scheme was so pervasive it took place in almost a third of NYCHA's properties, he said.

Investigators are asking contractors who may have been victimized by similar demands for pay-to-play bribes to contact the DOJ's whistleblower program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov or the city's inspector general.

Most of the suspects have been charged with taking bribes and extortion, which carry 10- and 20-year maximum sentences in federal prison, respectively. Several face more charges.

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Is there a single decent company in the music biz?

On May 23rd, 2024, the US Department of Justice and 29 states sued Live Nation-Ticketmaster for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. This company has been screwing over artists and music fans alike for far too long. I hope the DOJ is successful in breaking up this monopoly and the stranglehold they have on the industry.

I was going to post a snippet of the Jon Bellion interview that was making the rounds on X/Twitter about his battle with Live Nation, but then he made that ridiculous comment about JK's Seven and radio spins/payola so never mind.

Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam tried their best to slay the Ticketmaster beast back in 1995 but with no luck. The stranglehold TM/LN has on the music industry has continued to metastasize further since then. You can read a short version of the tale here:

And a longer version here:

I recently took the time and trouble to buy concert tickets directly from a local concert venue's box office. I did save quite a few bucks on fees, but not all of them, and I was sad to see the tickets were delivered electronically through Ticketmaster and it's a Live Nation concert tour. Tickets used to be relatively cheap because there was no middle man. Those were the days!

[elizabethblake]

That’s for me to know and for you to figure out - pt.11

Panic Imagine -- Dodge Mason x OC (Reese Silvers) -- pt.11

A girl from a wealthy family wants to get out of Carp just as much as everyone else. With the new guy in town, she seems to be a bit more distracted than she had hoped. And those who once were her friends just may be the ones who will throw her into the deep end. Will panic be what she hopes, or will she fall into the depths of deceit and lies?

“Luke Hall is taking bets on Panic. That’s why he’s back in town.” Heather said as she sat on my bed.

“To track the game?” I asked. 

“Or to fix it.” She said.

“Fix it?” I asked. 

“Reese think about it, he was at the jump last year. He graduated years ago, isn’t it a little bit weird that he comes back the same summer that two of the leading players die in like freak accidents? That really seems like one hell of a coincidence.” She said. 

“Yeah, both Jimmy and Abby’s deaths are connected to the game, but if Luke is taking bets. Then maybe he’s connected to them too.” I said. 

“Look, I gotta get home but I’ll call you later okay.” She said before leaving.

After Heather left I headed over to Dodge’s place. I walked up and knocked on the door.

“Hey can we talk?” I asked as he answered it.

“Sure, come in.” He said and we made our way to his room. 

“What is it?” He asked. 

“Heather says people are gambling on Panic.” I said.

“Some of them are putting $10,000, $20,000 on each challenge. They think Luke might be in charge.” I added.

“Hmm.” Dodge hummed.

“You’re not surprised.” I said. 

“Because you knew didn’t you?” I asked. 

“Yeah.” He said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Cortez suspected ever since he found out about Panic, but he didn’t know enough about the game or how it worked in order to build a case so um he needed a way in.” He said and I scoffed.

“So you’ve been helping him?” I asked. 

“He wants Luke in jail. This is the only way.” He said. 

“Oh okay, so what you’ve been like spying on us this whole time?” I asked. 

“No, I’ve been trying to win.” He said. 

“How does that help Cortez?” I asked.

“It’s not illegal to gamble in Texas okay. But it is a felony to be the house that’s how we’re going to catch him. If I win, we can prove that Luke is getting a kickback as the bookie. That’s what Cortez needs.” He said. 

“So you’re doing this for revenge?” I asked. 

“Cause Heather told me about your sister. I’m not mad that you lied to me, I’m just curious as to why you thought you couldn’t tell me. I told you everything about what happened and you still kept it from me. But it’s really none of my business I guess.” I said. 

“I’m playing for Dayna.” He said. 

“Yeah. I get that. But you lied Dodge, repeatedly. And I just. I can’t trust someone who lies.” I said as I turned around to leave. 

“Reese.” He said. 

“No. I’m out of Panic. I’m done, our alliance is over there’s nothing else to it.” I said. 

“Really? Was sleeping with me just part of the alliance too?” He asked. 

“No. And you know that. But this mess with Cortez, I don’t want any part of it. I’m trying to burn my broken bridges and go down with them and if any of this gets caught up with me it’s going to be a shit show. So I am sorry Dodge but I can’t have anything to do with Panic anymore.” I said before I left. 

When I got home I noticed my brother’s car and made my way inside.

“Hey, didn’t think you’d be home.” I said. 

“Yeah, haven’t been out much lately.” He said and there was a silent pause.

“Rhett, I’m out of Panic. I got eliminated.” I said, and his eyes shot up to meet mine. 

“I swear to you, I’m gonna get the money. I will help you find a way.” I said and he only sighed.

“Reese, this isn’t your fight you need to quit trying so hard. I got us into this, you weren’t even supposed to be involved in this.” He said. 

“But I am. And if you don’t find the money Rhett. He is gonna kill you.” I said. 

“Maybe not.” He said.

“Maybe we could go to the cops see if Cortez can help.” He said. 

“Thats a bad idea, the cops won’t help if they know why you were there and Cortez is dirty Rhett.” I said. 

“What do you mean?” He asked. 

“Cortez is trying to pin something on Luke, something big. But I know Luke didn’t do it.” I said. 

“What?” He asked. 

“On Halloween 3 years, Dodge’s sister was in a hit and run and it left her paralyzed. Cortez has Dodge convinced it was Luke who hit her but I know it wasn’t.” I said. 

“I was with Ray on Halloween that year. It was freshman year, Ray wouldn’t shut up about how his brother was sitting in jail for some stupid thing that he did. But he was in jail, he wasn’t out roaming the streets and hitting people and driving off.” I said. 

“So what? Maybe Cortez got it wrong.” Rhett said.

“Cortez would know Luke was in jail that night, he would’ve already looked into where he was. That would be the first thing, which means I think Cortez is dirty.” I said. 

“Just stay out of it. Don’t get yourself caught Reese.” He said before leaving, but then stopped. 

“Oh this letter was on the porch when I got home.” He said, picking up an envelope with my name written in bold and handed it to me. 

“Thanks” I said, and he left the room. I opened the envelope and a paper was inside. 

TUMBLEWEED MAZE 10PM. ASSIST DODGE IN HIS TASK RULES DOWN BELOW

“Shit.” I muttered. 

I pulled up to the place around 9:45 pm and after about 10 minutes I saw Dodge’s car pull up. 

“What the hell?” He asked as he got out of his car. 

“You’re the welcome committee?” He asked. 

“I guess so.” I said. 

“At least you don’t have to pay for admission.” I added and began walking. 

“Tumbleweed maze? I’m almost offended.” Dodge said. 

“Judges...they’re looking for a specific key. Find it and you’re in. You have one hour. And keep it moving, because every minute you spend looking, well that’s just another point you won’t get.” I said. 

“In three, two, one.” I counted down and he walked towards the barn. 

The next morning we were told to meet at the motor lodge, when I pulled up I went inside and saw that most everyone was already there, I walked over and sat at the table with Heather. 

“Hey.” I said. 

“Hey.” She said. 

“I’m sorry you got out.” She said. 

“It’s all good, Sorry about you too.” I said. 

“Friends, players, former contestants, the results of the individual challenges have been tallied. All the points have been scored. Shawna quit, so she’s out of the game. Dodge is in first place and will be heading to the Joust. The player competing against him is as yet undetermined.” Diggins said. 

“What?! Why?” Ray asked. 

“I mean I stayed long enough in that shithole cooler, didn’t I?” Ray asked. 

“Not long enough to beat Dodge’s time” Summer said.

“The individual challenges aren’t done yet Ray. By order of the judges, Natalie Williams is disqualified for reasons of false representation and failure to complete the required challenges. As punishment the player’s points have been retroactively invalidated.” Diggins said. 

“English please?” Drew asked. 

“The judges wiped Natalies score because she cheated.” Diggins added and Ray laughed.

“She was never in Spurlock’s house. Shouldn’t have even made it to Graybill let alone the final four.” Diggins said. 

“That’s, that’s bullshit. All right that’s hearsay” Nat said.  

“True. We heard you say it.” Summer said.

“That’s a good one Summer.” Nat clapped back.

“No you admitted it in your video that you trapped me underground. That’s nowhere near the house, right?” Heather said.

“Plus someone ratted you out to the judges.” Diggins said. 

“All right, fuck you guys.” Nat said before getting up and leaving.

“You were outside watching the house, Dodge covered for you.” Diggins said, and I turned to look at Dodge. 

“What?” I whispered to Heather and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Wait hold on hold on hold on, wait a second. If Dodge helped Natalie get through the last challenge then why is he still playing?” Ray asked.

“Well he was stealing for two, lucky he didn’t get double the points.” Summer said and people started talking over each other.

“All right settle down, settle down. At the time of the judge’s selection of the Final Three, excluding Natalie, the players in order were Dodge, Ray, and Heather.” Diggins said, and I turned to look at heather with a open smile on my face.

“But Heather missed a challenge.” Drew said. 

“Well she still has her immunity.” Summer said. 

“Given that and Natalie’s disqualification, an exception has been made. Congratulations Heather, the judges ruled you may move on to your individual challenge. Good Luck.” Diggins said. 

As we were leaving I walked out with Heather. 

“Holy fucking shit. This is amazing.” I said to her. 

“I’m so nervous.” She said. 

“Heather this is your chance to win. You have to do everything you can.” I said. 

“And I’m sorry about Nat. She’s a bitch.” I said which made her laugh a little. 

“Looks like it’s down to you and me for joust.” Ray shouted, and I rolled my eyes. 

“I’ll leave you to it.” I said to her as I walked away and headed home.

Later once I was home the doorbell rang and I went downstairs to get it.

“Dodge.” I said as I opened the door. 

“What can I do for you?” I asked. 

“Can I come in?” He asked. 

“Sure.” I said. 

“I’m sorry about before. I’m sorry we argued.” He said. 

“It’s fine. Honestly don’t worry about it.” I said. 

“I’m sorry Natalie screwed you over. I could’ve warned you on that part.” I said. 

“Look I know you’re all set on trying to help Cortez take down Luke Hall but I think you’re exhausting your efforts.” I said. 

“I didn’t come to talk about that.” He said as he walked closer to me as I leaned against the counter in the kitchen.

“Looking back on it, we never really had an alliance did we?” I asked. 

“What do you mean?” He asked. 

“You were always working with Natalie. Trying to get ahead, but I didn’t know. So we never really had an alliance because I couldn’t really trust you even if I didn’t know it.” I said. 

“Did you ever really like me? Or was it a ploy?” I asked. 

“Reese I never would have planned out to get close to you and sleep with you to get an advantage over you in Panic.” He said, sounding a bit hurt that I would suggest that. 

“You suggested it at one point.” I said. 

“I didn’t mean it.” He said.

“I know.” I said. 

“You know, I really did like you Dodge. A lot.” I said.

“Did? As in you don’t anymore.” He said, twisting his lips to the side. 

“So much has happened in so little time, this summer has been crazy but the one thing i’ve managed to keep constant is you.” I said. 

“So no Dodge I didn’t sleep with you because of our alliance, I didn’t just magically erase the feelings I have for you, but things are crazy and if we aren’t on the same page. We cannot do this.” I said. 

“How do we get on the same page Reese? I’m trying.” He said. 

“Cortez is dirty. Plain and simple, you cannot trust him.” I said. 

“I’ll keep my eye out I promise.” He said. 

“And from now on, I’ll tell you everything going on, no more secrets.” He said. 

“Good.” I said, I then leaned in and kissed him, running my hand to the back of his neck. His hand snaked around my waist as he pulled me into him. I broke the kiss only a moment to speak. 

“My brother is home just so you know to keep the volume down to a minimum.” I said, lacing my fingers with his I lead him upstairs and into my room. 

I slipped on my shirt and pants as Dodge put his on. 

“You know Joust is like a big thing in Panic.” I said, sitting back down on the bed and facing him.

“I know.” He said. 

“I’m worried.” I said.

“I am too.” He stated, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand.

“I’ve gotta go, but I’ll meet up with you later okay?” He asked. 

“Okay.” I said with a smile and he leaned down to kiss me before heading out the door and downstairs to leave. 

After a little while, I heard arguing through the floor and I went out to see what was going on. 

“Do you know how dangerous this is Rhett? You could be killed, you could get your sister killed for god’s sake.” I heard my dad shout.

“Dad?” I asked as I made my way downstairs.

“Reese, why didn’t you tell me about any of this? This is crazy you know better, you both know better.” He snapped.

“Dad I can explain.” I said softly.

“So you do know how bad this is.” He said.

“George.” My mom said.

“No Lemon, you were right in your motion to try and send her off to boarding school. It would have been for her own good, because now she decided to help her dumb ass of a brother get out of situation he ain’t ever shoulda been in to begin with.” He yelled.

“Daddy it’s not as bad as you think.” I tried to reason.

“I always told you that Hall boy was no good for you darlin’“ He said.

“I’m takin this to the cops.” He said.

“No dad you can’t.” I said as I ran to the door. 

“Why Reese.” He asked.

“There is so much that you don’t know okay, but you can’t trust them.” I said.

“At least not Cortez.” I added.

“You’re not makin any sense honey.” My mom said.

“Cortez is dirty okay. He is caught up in bets that are bein made on Panic. I don’t know if he is in on them but if he is it means he’s got his eyes glued on me and everyone else in this stupid game so we cannot trust him. He is trying to take Luke Hall out, and if we aren’t careful he is going to find out what happened and we are all gonna go sinking down with that ship.” I said.

“You’re going to tell us everything.” He said.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Michael de Adder

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

January 30, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JAN 31, 2024

Today, according to Clare Foran, Manu Raju, and Morgan Rimmer of CNN, House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told his Republican colleagues that he will not bring forward the bipartisan immigration bill senators have been working on for months, calling it “absolutely dead.” 

Although Johnson insisted in November that border security was so crucial that he wouldn’t bring up aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and Gaza until such legislation was attached to it, Trump has made it clear he wants immigration and border security left on the table for him to use as an issue in his run for the presidency.

Instead of addressing border security through legislation, House Republicans instead are moving forward with their plan to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. They wrote articles of impeachment even before holding hearings. Today, members of the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing to mark up those articles, which claim that Mayorkas committed high crimes and misdemeanors because he allegedly breached the public trust and refused to enforce immigration law. 

In all our history, only one cabinet officer has been impeached. William Belknap, whose eight years as secretary of war under President U. S. Grant had been marked by ostentatious displays of wealth and apparent kickbacks from army contracts, was charged with corruption in March 1876 just hours after he tearfully handed Grant his resignation. 

The House charged Belknap with “criminally disregarding his duty as Secretary of War and basely prostituting his high office to his lust for private gain.” The Senate agreed that it had jurisdiction to hold an impeachment trial even for a former government official, for an officer should not be able to escape justice simply by resigning. After hearing more than 40 witnesses, a majority of senators voted to convict Belknap on each of five charges, but no vote reached the necessary two-thirds threshold for conviction, and he was therefore acquitted. 

Almost 150 years later, the impeachment of Mayorkas would be the second effort to impeach a cabinet member. Yet there is no suggestion that Mayorkas has done anything but try to implement the law, even as the administration has repeatedly asked for more funding to make it possible for him to do his job.

In the hearing today, Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI) noted that “across the system, we are at and above capacity, and so, what should the secretary do? The secretary, because he has not received the funding to provide adequate detention capacity, has to use his judgment for who to detain and who to release. That is not illegal. It is certainly not impeachable. And it is the exact same kind of discretion that every other director before him has used. In the last two years of the Trump administration, 52% of migrants apprehended at the southern border were released, not detained…. Nearly a million people. I did not hear my Republican colleagues trying to impeach the secretary or acting secretary under the Trump administration during those years. But here they are, trying to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for doing the exact same thing.”

Rather than passing the laws the country needs, the extremist Republicans appear to be determined to tee up an issue on which Trump can run for president in 2024. House speaker Johnson has demanded “ZERO” illegal crossings into the U.S., but this is a standard that no previous homeland security secretary has met because it is impossible to wall off every single means of entering this country by water, air, or land. And—despite Republicans’ false claims that Biden has established “open borders”—immigrants were more likely to be released into the country during Trump's term than during Biden’s. 

What is going on here is an attempt of the extremist Republicans to undercut the administration by attacking a key cabinet officer not for actual misbehavior but on policy grounds.  

There is no chance the Senate, dominated by Democrats, will convict Mayorkas even if the House, with its razor-thin Republican majority, impeaches him, but the extremist minority in the House that is going after him is attempting to set a precedent that a minority can stop the government from functioning. 

The cost of that obstruction has been clear in domestic politics over government funding, but it has now become a global issue over the question of U.S. support for Ukraine. Johnson had said he would not bring forward a bill to provide supplemental funding for Ukraine unless it included measures for increased border security; now his rejection of a bill to provide that border security threatens Ukraine aid. 

Ukraine is defending itself against an invasion by Russia, but the struggle there is larger than one between two countries: it is the question of whether the rules-based international order put in place after World War II will survive, or whether the world will go back to a system in which stronger countries can gobble up less powerful ones. 

Military aid for Ukraine is widely popular among Americans and among American lawmakers, who recognize the larger questions at stake. But extremist Republicans are siding with Trump, who has made his preference for Russia and its autocratic leader over Ukraine clear. The realization that a few extremist Republicans are scuttling Ukraine aid has prompted officials from both parties to warn of the consequences if the U.S. stops providing support to Ukraine.

In Foreign Affairs today, Central Intelligence Agency director Wililam Burns noted that the war has weakened Putin’s Russia significantly. Aid to Ukraine has amounted to less than 5% of the U.S. defense budget, “a relatively modest investment with significant geopolitical returns for the United States and notable returns for American industry,” he wrote.

“For the United States to walk away from the conflict at this crucial moment and cut off support to Ukraine would be an own goal of historic proportions,” Burns said. The secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jens Stoltenberg, has been in Washington, D.C., this week, urging Republicans to back the aid, if only on the grounds that most of the money appropriated goes to support jobs in the U.S. 

The man behind the extremists, Trump, was in the news today for the fact that the political action committees that back him spent about $50 million covering his legal bills in 2023. That money came from donors and arrived primarily in the months after the 2020 presidential election, when Trump lied that he had actually won the election and needed financial support to challenge the results.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[dogtoling]

Can I talk about weapons and injuries? I love weapons and injuries

I was thinking about dualies and how they’d likely cause wrist injuries after extended use

The force with which you fire ink from them is great enough that it would function similarly to how dual wielding pistols functions in real life- hell on your wrists because of the kickback from the weapon among other problems

It’s probable that if you use dualies often, you’d end up with wrist and arm problems, especially if it’s a grizz co weapon (I kinda headcanon those to be illegally modified to do way more damage to both the user and the salmon, not to the point that the ‘official’ grizz co weapons are but still)

Dynamo users would likely also experience future problems considering the pressure that carrying and rolling something that big and heavy around would cause. E-liters and other heavyweight weapons are in the same boat- a lot of care would need to be taken to not shred your muscles. Plus, that kind of heavy exercise on a teenager would be highly detrimental to their growth and development (this is assuming the inkfish work the same way as humans though)

this is a good topic to think on, though with Inklings not having bones they're probably not as prone to injuries like this, which is not to say their muscles couldn't still suffer long-term. I think with dualies specifically people dont really consider how insane your sense of direction has to be and how nimbly you have to move and react on a split second basis to ACTUALLY USE THEM, even though Inklings probably naturally have a better built-in sense of orientation due to their swim form and bipedal form, swimming, and Super Jumping.. basically, they're used to spinning and being upside down on occasion. With Dynamo Rollers specifically though, and BRUSHES, i could see it being really easy to tear muscles by going too hard.

Another question is if Inklings CAN even tear muscles judging by how much their bodies stretch and bend and literally turn into goo and back and just by Zipcaster existing that might literally not happen. if you start thinking too deep into how Inkling bodies actually operate (which i am NOT in the brain space to start doing right now) it turns out that they might just be immune to most physical damage, ESPECIALLY if you start considering the logic of them being able to liquefy their organs for a period of time and just............ live. How their muscles react to stuff like repeated strenuous exercise becomes a bit muddied when the reality is that their body can just be between the consistency of chewing gum or thick soup, depending on not even the day but literally seconds.

[mediamonarchy]

https://mediamonarchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240521_MorningMonarchy.mp3 Download MP3 Video purges, Tetris records and human antennas + this day in history w/banning facial recognition in the Bay Area and our song of the day by Ibibio Sound Machine on your #MorningMonarchy for May 21, 2024. Notes/Links: Star Witness Michael Cohen Admits Stealing Tens of Thousands From Trump Organization https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/star-witness-michael-cohen-admits-stealing-tens-of-thousands-from-trump-organization-5653415 Mortgage Brokers Leak Sensitive Data to Facebook https://reclaimthenet.org/mortgage-brokers-leak-sensitive-data-to-facebook Thieves target electric vehicle charging stations, likely for copper https://www.fox29.com/news/thieves-target-electric-vehicle-charging-stations Video: BREAKING🚨 The Biden Administration is set to allow Jewish billionaire Dan Gertler to cash out his mining positions in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has enraged human rights activists… Gertler is responsible for thousands of child slave deaths in his illegal cobalt and diamond mines in the DRC… (Audio) https://x.com/resist_05/status/1792415747253428416 Biden open to easing sanctions on billionaire Gertler in return for Congo exit https://www.miningweekly.com/article/biden-open-to-easing-sanctions-on-billionaire-gertler-in-return-for-congo-exit-2024-05-17 Progressive Biden staffer who furiously resigned over White House support for Israeli ‘genocide’ is daughter of weapons company executive who’s helping Netanyahu government https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13433217/lily-greenberg-call-biden-israell-resignation-father-rtx-raytheon.html MIT students stole $25M in seconds by exploiting ETH blockchain bug https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/05/sophisticated-25m-ethereum-heist-took-about-12-seconds-doj-says/ LockBit Claims Wichita as Its Victim 2 Days After Ransomware Attack https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/lockbit-claims-wichita-as-its-victim-two-days-after-ransomware-attack Reddit partners with OpenAI to integrate content into ChatGPT https://www.searchenginejournal.com/chatgpt-to-surface-reddit-content-via-partnership-with-openai/516605/ User Outcry as Slack Scrapes Customer Data for AI Model Training https://www.securityweek.com/user-outcry-as-slack-scrapes-customer-data-for-ai-model-training/ UK Disinformation Unit Minutes Reveal Consideration of Placing Government Employees Inside Social Media Companies https://reclaimthenet.org/uk-consideration-of-placing-government-employees-inside-social-media-companies Google’s New Conversation-Listening Tech Could Embolden Governments To Mandate On-Device Speech Scanning https://reclaimthenet.org/google-scam-listening-privacy-scanning French Government Blocks TikTok To Curb Civil Unrest in New Caledonia https://reclaimthenet.org/french-government-blocks-tiktok-new-caledonia Former Facebook and Nike DEI manager sentenced to 5 years in prison for fraud scheme; Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, admitted to stealing millions from Facebook and Nike in kickback schemes https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/former-facebook-nike-dei-manager-sentenced-to-5-years-prison-for-fraud-scheme Belgium and Hungary Launch Controversial Digital IDs, Vaccine Passport, Ahead of EU Regulations https://reclaimthenet.org/belgium-and-hungary-launch-controversial-digital-ids-vaccine-passport BREAKING: Klaus Schwab Resigns as World Economic Forum Chairman https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/05/21/breaking-klaus-schwab-resigns-as-world-economic-forum-chairman/ UK PM Sunak Endorses Facial Recognition, Implicitly Backs Mass Bank Surveillance https://reclaimthenet.org/uk-pm-sunak-endorses-facial-recognition-implicitly-backs-mass-bank-surveillance UK Army Unit Labeled Accurate COVID Reporting as “Malinformation” https://reclaimthenet.org/uk-army-unit-labeled-accurate-covid-reporting-as-malinformation YouTube Removes 35,000 EU Videos for “Misinformation,” Enhances Content Censorship Ahead of 2024 Elections https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-removes-...

[itshaejinju]

Marvel Mafia Headcanons Part 2

The Avenger Mob

Boss- Tony “Iron Man” Stark

Consigliere - Bruce “The Hulk” Banner

Underboss - Steve “Capt America” Roger

Caporegime - Clint “Hawkeye” Barton

Caporegime - Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff

Caporegime - Bucky “Winter Soldier” Barnes

The Avengers deal in military grade weapons funded by the Stark family. It’s barely legal, their selling to the government to get kickbacks and immunity it’s common knowledge but if you speak too loud you will get taken out. The more illegal side of the weapon trade it to any mob family with enough cash to dole out. They also deal in high level assassinations.

Tony’s mob family was created out of need to tussle with the Asgardian mob to help even the territories. The inside informant of the government by the name of Fury assembled them. Tony took to the life like a shark in chum infested waters. He likes the flashy take on the lifestyle and tends to push the other families.

Bruce as his right hand man is more of a shadow that scares people into behaving. Just the threat of his Hulk form tends to keep people in check. Most of the time he works side by side with Pepper Potts managing all the work Tony “delegates“ to them making sure that they are continuing to keep the businesses running and other families in check.

Steve is the underboss he feels he is the actual face of the family. The one keeping everything in check making sure everything runs smoothly and justifying all wrongs. He has some issues with Tony’s views on how to compete with the Asgardian mob. He spends a lot of time trying to be one step in front of the other families.

Bucky works closely with Steve as they have been friends for a long time. Bucky runs the weapons on the more illegal side while Tony works the military side. He has rules no weapons for kids, no weapons for revenge sake but for safety. He always teaches basics of one asks. His soft spot for cats and a certain witch name Y/N has him visiting a speak easy in enemy territory often.

Natasha along side Clint manage the assassinations and protection runs. Both work together like two peas in a pod. Natasha is requested all over the world for her skills of interrogation and takedowns. Her team brings a lot of fear and respect to the Avenger mob.

Clint runs more of the protection runs than Natasha. His team makes runs daily collecting fees and legitimately protecting those streets they walk. They are by far the safest spots to walk around. Of families that try to take down the safe zones get knocked out quickly and effectively.

(I might do more…with some convincing)

[magnoliamyrrh]

Today, Friday 5 February at 08:30 CET, WikiLeaks releases a collection of documents that open up a corrupt multi-billion dollar war by Western and Chinese companies grab uranium and other mining rights in the Central African Republic (CAR) and escape paying for the environmental consequences. Among the hundreds of pages in this publication are detailed maps of mining rights, mining contracts with illegal kickbacks and secret investigative reports. The documents have been long sought by fraud investigators. In December 2015 a case was filed against Areva, alleging corruption related to the €1.8 billion purchase of three uranium mines in 2007.

Effective oversight process by the local authorities is subverted either by duping state officials with deceiving front companies, such as the UN registered World Sports Alliance (WSA), now recycled into a cover for mining companies, or by corrupting them through the payment of 'cash bonuses'. After a profitable exploitation of resources, companies such as Areva – a French multinational group specialising in nuclear power – abandon the country, leaving behind nuclear contamination without having launched any of the promised investments.

[beardedmrbean]

WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - A Georgia man who was convicted late last year for his role in a $463 million genetic testing scheme to defraud Medicare was sentenced to 27 years in prison on Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

Minal Patel, 44, of Atlanta, owned LabSolutions LLC, a lab enrolled with Medicare that performed sophisticated genetic tests. Patel conspired with patient brokers, telemedicine companies, and call centers to target Medicare beneficiaries with telemarketing calls falsely stating that Medicare covered expensive cancer genetic tests, according to prosecutors.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people over 65 and the disabled.

After the Medicare beneficiaries agreed to take a test, Patel paid kickbacks and bribes to patient brokers to obtain signed doctors' orders authorizing the tests from telemedicine companies, prosecutors said. To conceal the kickbacks and bribes, Patel required patient brokers to sign sham contracts, they said.

Patel was convicted by a federal jury in Florida late last year of health care fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and payment of illegal health care kickbacks.

From July 2016 through August 2019, LabSolutions submitted more than $463 million in claims to Medicare, including for medically unnecessary genetic tests, of which Medicare paid over $187 million, the Justice Department said. In that time frame, Patel personally received over $21 million in Medicare proceeds, prosecutors added.

Patel was indicted in 2019 on charges of healthcare fraud and paying and receiving kickbacks to and from marketers who collected cheek swabs from patients for genetic testing.

Back then, U.S. federal agents raided genetic testing laboratories, and 35 people were criminally charged in four states in a crackdown on genetic testing fraud that officials said caused $2.1 billion in losses to federal healthcare insurance programs.