#Maya x CoCo

[best-character-named-x-poll]

have you done your daily click

[majestico59]

I truly believe that Mymy and Kiki would become a couple if ongezellig continued.

[darlingshane]

Salt of the Earth ~ Part 3 (Final)

Pairing: Michael Berzatto x OFC

Summary: She was Carmy's best friend growing up, and Michael never looked at her as anything other than that until years later when she comes back to Chicago to start over. In the process, she turns his sorry excuse of a life upside down.

Content/Warnings: 18+. Explicit, Friends to lovers, Fluff, Heavy Angst, Smut, Shower Sex, BJ's, P in V, Family Drama, Dysfunctional relationships, Addiction, Alcohol, Pets, Pet names, Dialogue heavy, Undisclosed age gap.

Word Count: 12.3k // Chapters 8-10 // AO3 Link.

— Part 1 (Chapters 1-4) // Part 2 (Chapters 5-7)

A/N: This part includes my version of the famous 'Fishes' episode. Though having Maya in it changed a few things, most of it is pretty faithful to the actual script. I also borrowed some of the dialogue to keep it as close as possible.

Chapter 8: As warm as toast

Maya is hugging Michael’s back when the warm breath of her dog is pressed against her ear. She tells the dog to go back to sleep, but Coco, ignoring her request, whines a couple of times until Maya has no choice but to get up. Though it's still terribly early, she takes Coco out to the park down the street from Michael’s building. It's freezing outside, but that doesn’t stop Coco from zooming across the park a hundred times until she’s spent while Maya paces along the fence, wrapped in thick layers of hat, scarf, mittens and a bulky coat.

Upon their return, Maya fills Coco’s bowl and makes some coffee.

They’ve fallen into a nice routine with Michael. He’s made room in his life for them, as much as they’ve welcomed him open into theirs. Half a week they spent in his apartment, and the other half at Maya’s house.

While she sips on her coffee, she tries to guess what's inside the big wrapped box that has been sitting in Michael’s living room for a week. Curiosity has been killing her since she saw it the other day. Her fingers tap on one of the sides and lightly pull on the edge of the red and white paper, trying to sneak a peek of the box.

“I told you to leave that alone, Maybird. That’s not for you.” Michael catches her red-handed as he comes out of the bedroom.

“C’mon, Bear, let me open it already. It’s Christmas.”

“Uh-uh, it’s Christmas Eve.”

“Is it a sex swing? It feels like a sex swing.” She keeps tapping on the box.

“It's not a sex swing. Keep guessing.” Michael snorts, leaning over to kiss her good morning. “Your face is cold, did you go out?”

“Uh-huh.” She glances at Coco, who’s currently devouring her food by the kitchen. “She woke me up and dragged me outside.”

“At least she knows how to hold it and ask for the head.” Michael goes around the breakfast bar to fill a mug with coffee. “Remember that yorkie that Francie had that couldn’t stop peeing everywhere.”

“Well, training goes a long way.”

“That's what everyone kept telling her, but her parents ended up leaving a poor thing in the kennel.”

“I mean it's Francie. I'm not surprised. She really can't be trusted to take care of anything. How's she? I haven't seen her in ages.”

“She's around. I think. Last time I saw her was probably a couple of years ago. She’s banned from our house.”

“Why?”

“Beats me. It's a Sugar thing. I think Francie tried to hit on Pete or something. You'll have to ask Sug.”

“Really? Just when I thought she couldn’t sink lower.”

“Tell me about it.” He pulls up his sweats as he takes a seat on the couch next to her.

“Okay, stop trying to distract me. So, if it’s not a sex swing, or a pizza oven, which I really wanted by the way…”

“The sex swing?” He lifts a brow at her and takes a sip of his mug.

“The pizza oven, smartass. How about… a weighted blanket?”

“First, you don’t need any of those. You can cook pizza already in your oven, and why do you need a weighted blanket or a sex swing when you have me?”

“That’s true.”

“You know what? Go ahead and open it, but you’re gonna need Coco, cause like I told you, that’s not for you. C’mere Coco Girl.”

Coco’s floppy ears perk up at Michael’s call. The dog turns her head to look at Michael for a second before continuing chewing her food.

“She’s too busy to open presents right now.”

“Figures.”

They wait till she’s done, and Maya beams in delight, quickly tearing apart the flashy wrapping paper. That delight turns into a mocking frown when she finds out it’s a big, fluffy dog bed for Coco.

“Oh, you weren’t kidding. It’s not for me.”

“Aw, don’t be jealous, sweetheart. You know I have something else for you. She needed a bed here. This couch is so uncomfortable, no even a dog wants to lay here. She’s always either hoarding the bed or sleeping on the rug.”

“Yeah, I know.” Her lips curve up, watching Coco inspect her present before attempting to curl inside. “That’s it, baby, lay down. Good girl.”

“Are we still up for tomorrow?”

Maya sighs, “yeah, I think so. Did you tell them I was coming?”

“I said you might. Just in case you change your mind.”

“Do you want me to change my mind?”

“No,” he strokes her hair with his free hand. “I really want you there.”

“What are we going to tell, y’know… everyone?”

Everyone – meaning Carmy. Though their relationship is practically nonexistent, the last thing she wants to do is show up holding hands with Michael and flaunt it on anyone’s face without a warning.

“Well, Richie is the only one who knows.” Cause he caught them last week making out at their usual bar. “I guess Tiff knows too. Does it freak you out? Do you wanna back out now?”

“No, no. I just… I guess I’m not ready to announce it on a day like this. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s okay, baby. I get it. It’s driving me crazy, too.”

“If they find out, that’s great, but I don’t just wanna put it out there right away.”

“We’ll just have to keep a low profile, then. How hard can it be?”

“I’ve never had a secret relationship before. It could be fun pretending, even if it’s just for a few hours.”

“We just have to hope Richie doesn’t blow our cover.”

“Oh, we’re screwed.”

“I don’t know about that. But I can tell someone is about to get screwed. Shower?” His brow playfully arches.

“Hmm, you’ve read my mind.”

It’s that rush of excitement of being with someone new that leads them quickly to the bathroom. He undresses her just as fast as she pulls his sweats and underwear off him. He hasn’t finished taking off her bra and his lips automatically invite themselves into her neck as she fumbles to get the water going so it warms up before stepping inside.

Under the warm spray of the water, their bodies fuse together. Lips against lips share a vicious amount of kisses and laughs. Their arms tangle around the other, her hands become his, and vice versa. The steam filling the room boils hotter when Michael turns Maya around and presses himself on her ass while one of his hands slides between her legs. Her palms brace the tiled wall, as his mouth bites the flesh at the curve of her neck. Her moans and curses sound like heaven when the blunt tip of his cock slides into her opening. His hips push painfully slow as her walls stretch inch after inch. Once he’s fully sheathed in her tender pussy, his eyes squeeze shut, he lets his desire guide the pacing of his thrusts. Maya waves her hips at the same time, countering his moves until both find the same rhythm. One of his hands clutches the curve of her ass, keeping her secured, as the other stays right on her pussy, rubbing her swollen clit with passion.

His back turns red as the hot water keeps pouring over him. The fiery pressure rising up in his core makes his cock throb inside her. He looks down to see his length disappear inside her fast with each push. At the same time, his mind dissipates somewhere up, above the mist of the bathroom, somewhere above clouds. It’s like he’s traded one addiction for another. As long as he’s with her, he’s safe. It’s not the healthiest way to deal with it, but right now he doesn’t give a shit. The climb to that high is way faster, it feels better, it’s less toxic, but it lasts shorter. That’s the only downside.

“Michael… please,” her breathing swallows, as she inches close to the finish line.

“I know, sweetheart, shh…. Come for me. C’mon…”

Following her plea, he pushes a little harder, rubs a little faster until her body seizes up. She lets out a strained moan that bounces off the steamed walls, as her opening contracts around him harder than he’s ever felt. Maybe it’s the position. It feels like pure bliss to have her squeezing every last drop of him.

Catching his own breath, he hangs his head down to rest on her nape for a moment. While still riding that high, he slowly slips out of her and drops to his knees on the shower floor. His hands handle her body around so she's facing him. As her abdomen lines up with his face, he glances up to capture her glowing aura, stunning as ever. Maya’s still floating in that same sea of ecstasy he floats on. It makes her look like a goddess from his position. Her dark hair cascades over her shoulders, sticks to her skin as it touches the curves of her chest. Water trails down her body as if she was standing under a waterfall. And like the Goddess she is, he aims to devout himself only to her.

He gently holds one of her legs up, letting his lips glide across the surface of her thigh as he drapes her leg over his shoulder. His mouth waters as it gets closer to her center. Licking his lips, his eager tongue just to taste the heaven between her legs. It's slicked and tender, ready to consume. His mouth fits perfectly against it. Wide open. Desperate to please her with the flick of his tongue and ease his own affliction.

Maya leans her back on the wall, anchors her only feet hard to the floor, and grips at his soaked hair as his tongue works restlessly all over her sex. He sucks her clit between his lips, licks her folds, circles her dripping opening, and revels in tasting both, him and her. In a wild frenzy, he devours it all. It consumes his need and desperation for more. Her moans are exquisite. Her body writhes in his hold as she rises up gracefully to a higher plane.

Chapter 9: Bigger fishes to fry

“Are you really going to wear that?” Asks Maya as soon as she sees the outfit Michael has chosen for Christmas dinner.

“What’s wrong with this?” He gazes at his blue Under Armour shirt and jeans ensemble.

“Workout shirt, jeans and kicks, really? Why don’t you put on a nice sweater at least?”

“Baby, it’s just dinner at my house with the same fucking people I see every year. It's not like the Queen of England is gonna show up to have tea and biscuits.”

“C’mon, Bear, do it for me?” Maya pulls out her big adorable eyes and disarming smile.

“Ugh, alright, only for you.” Unable to resist her power, he easily yields and goes into his bedroom. From a drawer, he collects a dark blue fisherman sweater. Then he sticks his hand into the closet to pick up the vintage jacket she bought him for his birthday. To finish his new getup, he trades his sneakers for ankle boots.

Maya is taking out a dessert from the fridge that she bought this morning to take to The Berzattos.

“Wow,” her head turns when hearing his footfalls. “See, you look so much better now.”

“Yeah? You clean up pretty nice too,” he picks up her hand and makes her spin under his arm, capturing the stunning shape of her body hugged in a cream knitted dress that almost touches her knees. Right below, black leather boots cover the rest of her legs.

“Thanks, handsome bear.” After her spin, her head tilts to the side, capturing a chaste kiss from his lips.

“What’s that?” Michael points at the dish covered in tin foil on the breakfast bar.

“It's a strawberry tart.”

“You made a tart?” He lifts part of the foil to uncover the well-crafted pastry.

“What? Surprised that this tart made a tart?”

“Well, yeah. You almost poisoned me the last time you cooked.”

“You got me. I didn't make it. I bought it this morning when I took Coco out.”

Michael softly chuckles. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring that. Have you forgotten about pudding-gate? Donna's going to eat you alive if you show up with food.”

“Oh, I think that night was the first time I got drunk. I don't remember the details. But I do remember the pudding and eating a bowl with Carmy in the garage. Who brought it?”

“Uncle Jimmy's first wife.”

“That's right. She was never seen again after that. Okay, I guess I could bring a bottle of wine.”

“You're gonna make me look bad if I show up with nothing.”

“You could bring the tart, and say that you made it. I bet Donna will be delighted if it comes from the golden child.”

“That's a great idea, baby. It'll be a great distraction when she starts strangling me that people won't even notice this other tart.” His hand boldly squeezes her ass.

“Hey!” she swats his shoulder with the back of her hand. “I thought we agreed to keep our hands off each other.”

“I meant later. Here, I can still get a piece if I want.” He links his arms around her waist and peppers the curve of her neck with kisses, making her laugh with the coarse tickle of his beard.

“Oh, this is gonna be harder than I thought,” she whines when his lips nibble her earlobe.

“Yeah, tell me about it.” He laughs against her ear, gripping tightly at her hips. “I’m not sure how long I can make it without touching you like this.”

“Well, we better think of something…”

Ready to go, they hop in the car and drop Coco first at Maya’s house. While Michael waits in the car she collects a bottle of wine to bring for dinner.

It’s then that she gets jittery about the whole ordeal. It’s been years since she attended one of their functions. Christmas at the Berzattos was never a walk in the park, and as she has heard recently, they still aren’t. But she’s not the one to talk cause the Silvas have always had their own issues, proof of that is her desertion from her own family dinner.

“Okay, kiss me one more time,” she requests after parking at the end of the street. They both lean in to meet in the middle over the center console for a chaste kiss. “One more.”

Michael delves into her mouth a little deeper, hoping it’d ease her up.

As they walk up to the house, they pass Maya’s empty childhood home, and Michael just wraps an arm around her and kisses her hair.

“Their loss,” he mumbles. “Don’t think about them, Maybird.”

“I won’t.”

His arm unfurls away from her body as they get closer to the Berzattos’ house. When they reach the door, they stay there for a minute, filling their lungs with cold air as they muster the courage to cross the threshold.

The house is loud with people talking and laughing when they step inside.

Maya can see Michael's face changing as the door closes behind them. That raw vulnerability, his bashful expression he's not afraid to show her slips once again behind that mask he's fought so hard to get rid of. She can't hold it against him. Everyone has their coping mechanisms and this is Michael's.

She becomes suddenly the new sensation, everyone openly welcomes her as if they hadn't seen her in ages. Which is actually the case. She's bombarded with questions she doesn't really want to answer like — How are your parents? How does it feel being back? Are you seeing someone?

Mirroring Michael's, she just draws her best smile and tries to satisfy their curiosity while Michael takes a smoke break with Sugar leaving her to be eaten by wolves before she can protest.

To Maya’s disbelief, after the third degree, she’s welcomed with open arms by Donna Berzatto, who is just as intense as she remembers. Hair on point, makeup on point, fresh manicure softly scratches Maya’s jaw when she briefly holds her face.

“We've missed you, Mayhem Maya.” Donna actually coined that nickname after that incident when she broke one of her figurines when she was a kid. And she'd never live that down. It makes her feel like a child every time she calls her that or the way she manages to compliment her and patronize her at the same time.

“Hey,” she hears the familiar voice as Donna disappears into the kitchen.

Maya turns around to see Carmy climbing down the stairs.

“Hey, you made it,” she says a little hesitant, trying to decide whether to hug him or just shake his hand as he reaches the last step.

“You too.”

Hug. She goes for it and tucks her arms around his shoulders for no more than two seconds. It feels a little awkward and cold given their history but understandable. They're not as close anymore, and it doesn't come as natural as it used to. She tries to internalize that as best as she can, but there’s still something that doesn’t feel right. Maybe this wasn’t the best moment to show up back again into his life. Being Michael’s girlfriend, no less. Perhaps deciding to hide that wasn’t the best choice after all. It sounded reasonable when she chose that, but right now, it feels like she’s betraying him.

“How's Copenhagen?”

“Cold. How is being back?”

“Weird.”

“Tell me about it… Never thought I'd see you again in one of these functions.”

“Yeah, Michael insisted. You knew I was coming, right?”

He nods. “Sugar told me.”

They shoot back and forth meaningless questions without really diving into anything substantial. For the first time, she looks at his cold blue eyes and realizes they're not best friends anymore. She might have known everything about him once upon a time, but now it feels like talking to a stranger, and it breaks her heart not being able to pass that invisible wall between them.

Maya stares at him one last time as they are interrupted by the rest of the party. He’s dragged to a mindless conversation with Neil and Ted Fak, while Michelle brings Maya a drink and settles with her on the couch to catch up.

Carmy manages to escape the Faks and asks for some help from his siblings that were hiding outside.

Michael does another quick round before disappearing again somewhere with Richie.

“I thought you weren’t serious about bringing her.” Richie takes him to the garage where they open a couple of beers.

“I was dead serious. And please, don’t say anything. Tonight, we’re just friends, alright?” he gives him a menacing look.

“You’re dead for sure when Carmy finds out. Don’t get me wrong I love Maya, but is she all that? Is she worth the trouble, Cousin?”

“She’s all that and a basket of biscuits.”

Soon, Michael thinks. Soon everyone will know how much he loves her but for now, this is for the best. This is what she wants and he respects that.

When they go back into the house, Michael goes checking if she needs a break from socializing. Figures, she probably does as much as he does. She's not in the living room anymore, or anywhere on the first floor. He climbs upstairs and from the cracked door to his room, he finds her snooping around the bedroom with a glass of wine in her hand.

“Hey. What are you doing up here?”

“The bathroom downstairs was occupied, so I came up here, and I realized I never really saw your room. Was it always like this?”

“Kinda. It’s cleaner for starters. The walls used to be covered in Red Sox merchandise and movie posters. It’s all in the basement at The Beef now.”

“Traitor,” Maya mockingly squints her eyes before taking a sip of her glass.

“Why do you care, you don’t even watch baseball?”

“Yeah, but if I had to pick I wouldn’t even dream of going against my own home team,” she says, scanning a pile of CD’s on the corner of the desk and picking one from the middle. “Marky Mark, really? Who are you?”

“That’s Sugar’s.”

“Sure it is,” she laughs.

“This is why you came up here, to make fun of me?”

“Nope, I just like snooping.” She turns around and keeps flicking through those albums while Michael shuts the door to seize that as an opportunity to kiss her again.

“Hey, c’mere.” Quickly wetting his lips, he cups her face as it turns to the side and gently captures the flavor of her mouth soaked in white wine.

“Hmm, we’re a lost cause,” she says as his lips bounce a few times against her.

“I know.” Michael hums, unable to stop himself from going deeper into her mouth.

As she places her glass on the desk, his tongue swipes past her lips.

Michael moves his hands to her hips, as Maya links her arms around his neck, letting her tongue slowly play with his.

His mouth grows hungrier and desperate for more. She can feel it at the eager tip of his tongue demanding more action. He blindly guides Maya to the bed, and almost without breaking from the other, as she settles on her back, he pushes all the coats people left on his bed to the side. Michael lies on top of her, nestling between her legs, claiming ferociously another kiss from her mouth.

From zero to sixty, his hand slips beneath the hem of her dress and hikes the skirt up to her waist to grab her ass. He digs his fingers on her skin over her tights. He could rip the fabric apart in a second if he pressed a little harder.

Maya hums in his mouth, struggling to keep up with the burning passion he's pouring into her lips as the coarse texture of his beard scratches her face.

The setting is a little off-putting for her right now no matter how much she wants him and as his bulge hardens between her legs, she promptly puts a halt on.

“Michael, baby, shh. We can’t do this here.”

“We’re just making out. The door is closed.”

“We’re not just making out. You’re already hard. What if someone comes in?”

“There’s a lock on the door. I closed it.”

“The lock is not the problem. It's this place. This house.”

“The house is cock-blocking you?”

“Pretty much. Yeah. Let’s just take a breath and go back down. We’ll finish this later at home. See, this is why we can’t be left alone.”

“Okay,” he begrudgingly rolls to the side with a sigh, feeling a little disappointed to be honest and stares at the ceiling. “Is it the house or is it Carmy being here?”

“I don't know. Maybe both.” She leans on her elbow to look at him.

“I see.”

“It’s not like I don’t want to. I do. More than you know, Bear. I just feel weird about doing this right here. We said the other day that we should be honest with each other to make this work. And this is me being honest.”

“I know, baby. I get it. I just… All I wanna do is be with you right now. Can't stop thinking about you. That’s why this happens…” he gestures vaguely as his crotch.

“Now, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to give you blue balls. I know how much that hurts.”

“I don’t think you do,” he snorts.

“I’m sorry,” her palm covers her smile. “I really am. But I… I guess I could do something about it. Don’t move.”

Maya’s fingers glide over his crotch to undo his fly.

“Wait, are you changing your mind?”

“No, but I don’t wanna leave you like that either. Just trust me.” She shifts on the bed as her hand slides under the fabric to feel the pressure of his straining erection.

Biting her lip, she locks eyes with him as her fist curls around his shaft as Michael’s hand wraps around hers.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I wanna. Just because I can’t, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. Let me do this for you. Please.”

“You’re fucking amazing, you know that?” he sighs, letting her hand move up and down his hardness.

“I know. Just relax for me. I'll make it quick.”

Maya leans closer to his face to lock her lips with his. His low grunts echo in her mouth while her fist prompts him to spill his early drops of arousal. They help her pump more swiftly. He has to bury his sounds deep in his throat when she parts from his mouth and moves her head down his torso so he can finish him with a blow.

“Fuck, Maybird,” he moans as her lips wrap tightly around his swollen gland. Her hand keeps a nice pressure at the base as her head bobs quickly to have him climaxing all over her tongue.

She cleans him up, licks her lips and makes sure nothing was spilled on their clothes before taking a long swig of the glass of wine on the desk to get rid of the aftertaste of his cum.

“God, sweetheart, that was…” he stands up and pulls his clothes together while she finishes her drink. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

“You better.” She collects a pocket mirror from her purse to check her makeup. As she moves Michael's jacket out of the way, something falls from its pocket — a round pill container lands at her feet.

She means to bend down and pick up, but she freezes. It's Michael the one to reach and grab it. Maya stiffens, stares at him as he quickly tucks in his pocket. Unable to process any thought at all, she pins that in her head to revise later. As she intended to do, she fixes her hair and makeup.

Michael should have left those at home. He didn’t even mean to grab them. It was just exactly that– a habit he can’t break yet. Especially on a night like this.

“Hey,” he says softly, holding her chin under his finger and tilts her head up so he can capture her eyes. “We'll talk about it later, okay?”

“Okay.”

She checks her face in the mirror a second time to make sure there’s no visual signs of her just going down on Michael before leaving the room.

Their hands are still linked together when they step into the hallway, and it isn't until they spot Natalie coming from another room that they quickly pull them apart.

So much for being sneaky… There's no way she didn't see that. The shock flashing across her face is telling.

“Michael, can I talk to you?”

“We should go downstairs before… Carmy can't handle all those people.”

“This won't take a minute,” she says firmly.

He glances at Maya, and they nod at the other.

As Maya returns to the party, Sugar can't help but question Michael about it.

“I don't know what you saw, but it's not what you think, Sug.”

“You came out of your room holding hands. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to put two and two together. Are you dating her?”

“Would you have a problem with that?”

“I don't know… It's just… She's Maya. She practically grew up here. In this house. She and Carmy were… you haven't told him, have you?”

“Nobody knows yet. Well, just Richie. But it hasn't been going on for long, and we just thought it'd be best to wait.”

“And you brought her here tonight?”

“I didn't want her to spend the night alone. Do you think it's weird, me and her?”

“I don’t think it’s weird. I… I guess it's a little unexpected. It just caught me off guard. If you had given me a warning…”

“You wouldn't be so shocked. I'm sorry. I wanna tell everyone, but it's all so new, and she's…”

“Maya.”

“Yeah.”

“Look, it's an adjustment, but if you're happy with her, then I'm happy, Bear. Does she make you happy?”

“She does,” he smiles bashfully.

When Michael and Natalie join the rest, Cicero and his wife arrive. Uncle Lee follows.

The delicious smell of food cooking fills every nook with the house and Maya's stomach rumbles under layers of wine. She desperately needs to soak all that alcohol before it's too late.

She goes into the kitchen to find Michael casually leaning on the counter bantering with his mother as she works against the clock, cooking those seven fishes that’s the staple dish of her house.

“You doing good?” He gives Maya a look as she props her hands on the breakfast bar.

“Hm-hm.”

“You hungry too?” He guesses and Maya only nods at his question as Donna points at the meatball casserole on the counter.

“Here,” Michael grabs one meatball from the casserole, dabs the sauce on the edge so it drips as he lifts it up to her mouth. His eyes light up as she carefully bites half of it directly from his fingers. Then he shoves the other half into his mouth. Smiling at the other, both thinking about what they did earlier as they fight the urge of eating each other's mouths again.

A beat after, Maya looks to the side to see Carmy standing by the door as Donna barks something at him. She swallows, watching people come and go out of the kitchen. The timer goes off as voices get louder all around. Maya helps herself to another drink in the middle of the whirlwind of chaos of the heart of the house while Carmy takes him upon himself to organize the mess of the kitchen against Donna's wishes.

“Ma, why don't you let him help you? It's all he fucking does.” Michael picks up another meatball and offers it again to Maya, but she declines this time.

“What was that?” Carmy glances annoyed at Michael. “Like uh, that was a shot or…”

“Wasn’t a fucking shot.”

“Mikey, he’s helping me. Back off.”

“Yeah, that was a shot.” Carmen states more sternly this time. “I'm the guy that does food. You're the guy that what? You-you, uh… You start 100 different businesses and have zero follow-through.”

“You’re the one to talk,” Maya rolls her eyes, taking a long sip of her wine.

“Yeah, what are you doing here? Thought you had a husband.”

“Wow. Leave her out of this, Carm. She’s here cause I asked her to.”

“It’s fine, Michael. Let Annie Oakley take her shots at me.”

“Okay, this is why I didn't wanna come home. This is why.”

“Fuck you!” Donna shouts.

“What the fuck? Why the fuck would you say that?” Michael raises his voice. “It's fuckin' Christmas. Why would you say something like that?”

“Whatever, okay? Whatever.”

“Maya, sweetie, can you bring some ice from the freezer in the garage?” Asks Donna in the middle of the argument, and she just silently agrees.

All their voices ebb as Maya disappears into the hallway that leads to the garage to grab some ice and pull herself together. She stays there for longer than she should, collecting her thoughts and checking her phone for all her friends and co-workers messages and sending some of her own. Her eyes pull away from the screen when the door swings open.

She tucks her phone in her pocket as Carmy climbs down the two steps into the room.

“What are you doing here?”

“Grabbing some ice.” She glances at the freezer where her ass is propped.

“No. I mean, why did you come here at all?”

She shrugs, folding her arms against her stomach.

“Michael invited me.”

“It’s pretty fucking weird, don’t you think?”

“Why? I used to come here all the time when we were kids. Hell, the first time I got drunk was right in this garage with you.”

“Yeah, that’s my point. You and I aren’t friends anymore, Maya. It doesn’t make sense that you’d come anymore.”

“You've made that clear but hey, you’re the one who stopped talking to me in the first place.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know. You tell me. I’m not psychic, Carmen.”

“Doesn’t really matter anymore.”

“No? It matters to me.”

“Guess I got tired of waiting for you.”

“Waiting for me? You’re completely delusional, you know that?”

“Am I? I thought you were different, but you’re just…”

“Just what? Are you going to call me a slut or something? You better watch your mouth.”

“No. You’re… reckless.”

“I'm reckless? For what? Living my life? Growing up? Marrying another guy?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d rather be reckless than be anything like you, Carmen. You think you're better than me, than anyone in here, but you're not. You're conceited. You've always looked at everyone down from your ivory tower like you've never made a mistake in your life. You said you were waiting for me? You had many opportunities to say what you felt, and you never did, why is that? Because you’re a fuckin’ coward. I’ve watched string along girls you weren’t into for longer than you should have. Anytime anyone has shown you an ounce of love, you’ve run the other way. You've shut down me and everyone out cause you don’t know how to love anyone but your self-righteous, narcissistic ass.”

“That’s rich coming for someone who’s fucking my brother.” His voice comes out deeply loud as Maya swallows. “You think I’m dumb? It’s written all over your face.”

Her posture stiffens all of a sudden. She opens her mouth to contradict his words, but she can't. It's pointless. He's chosen to attack, and she's going to stand and take blow after blow without throwing some of her own.

“You had your chance, Carmen, and you never took it. And the worst part is that you expected me to do something about it, but it really wasn’t up to me. I’m sorry I never felt anything for you… but I don’t think you ever loved me like you wanted either. You only thought you did cause I was there all the time. It was easy, right? We were friends. Best friends. And you ruined that.”

“So did you.”

“Yeah, we can agree on that.”

“It’s fucked-up, y’know?”

“What is?”

“You and my brother.”

“You know what’s fucked up?” She pegs him with a harsh twisted brow. “You. Coming here judging everyone and pretending you know anything about me or him. Say, when was the last time you said I love you just cause you wanted to and not because someone said it first? When was the last time you were in a relationship that lasted more than two dates? When was the last time you woke up next to someone and the thought of leaving them ripped your heart apart? I'd rather take risks and be called reckless than feel nothing, do nothing, say nothing at all, and turn into a bitter asshole like you.”

Maya walks past him and heads out the door without giving him the opportunity to respond.

As tears threaten to come out, she stops in her tracks and draws a fortifying breath to keep herself from falling apart. Though she knew sooner or later she’d have to deal with Carmy, that conversation was truly more difficult to deal with than she expected. She couldn't handle that better if he wasn't acting like an asshole.

Disheartened… Maya feels just at home. It really is no different from being with her own family. Next year, she swears she's going to take a trip or just stay at home with Coco, which sounds like something she should've done today. Coming here tonight was a mistake. If she could turn back time to earlier in the day and convince herself to stay at home she would.

In the never-ending night of riffs, she overhears Donna yelling at Natalie in the kitchen as she crosses the hallway. In the living room, Michael has everyone's attention while telling one of his stories. Every one seems entertained except for Uncle Lee that has to poke the bear as usual.

It feels like an eternity until dinner is finally served it doesn't get better once everyone is sitting at the table. No. Because, of course, there can't be a moment of peace, everything escalates from that point.

Maya’s taking a swallow of her glass when Lee starts telling the story about the seven fishes and the Dutch oven when Michael makes a buzzing sound and throws a fork at him. It hits his shoulder.

“Wrong answer.”

“Did you just throw a fork at me?” Lee's high-pitched tone breaks.

“I did,” Michael snorts.

They both start bitching back and forth. The tension strains harder after every word, every sentence interrupted, every thought unfinished.

She places her glass down as the animated conversation grows more heated by the second. The voices get louder. There's a countdown hovering over the table showing how many seconds are left for the bomb to go off. Maya hears the ticking in her head, or maybe that's just the sound of her own heart racing.

In the heat of the moment, Michael borrows a second fork from Fak and repeats the same action. This time he misses Lee's head by an inch.

Everyone tries to put off the fire before it rises, but Michael is too far gone into his own head, nobody can talk sense into him.

“Cousin, you're scaring the normals.” Richie nervously laughs.

“This is fine. It's nothing.”

“Mikey, can you hear me, buddy?”

“Not now, Stevie.”

“Cut it out.”

“Hey, look, here's the thing.” He leans back on his chair ignoring everyone. “You see, I can throw forks cause this is our father's house. My father's house.”

“Okay you have everyone's attention so go ahead, tell us a story we've all heard a million times already.”

“That's good Lee.” He laughs manically while Lee goes on a rant about him living off his mom and borrowing money from everyone.

“… I don't know what the fuck you're on, but if you can hear me through the fog, throw another fork at me, you're gonna get fuckin’ rocked!”

There's a long moment of silence. Michael scratches his beard and gazes to his side, where Maya is sitting trying to process the whole thing happening before her eyes.

“Hey, Maybird.” He says softly, and waits until she looks at him. “I just… You think I could just borrow that for one second…” he points at her fork.

“Michael don't,” she tries to say, but the rest of the table speaks louder over her voice.

“It's okay, baby.” It slips out as he picks up her fork. “This is fine. I’m fine.”

“Michael. Please don't do this!” It's Natalie's words that stand out over the others. “Hey!” She calls his attention and when Michael glances at the opposite side of the table and Sugar lowers her voice. “I love you. Okay?”

“I love you, too, Sug.”

“I'm begging you. Don't do it.”

He vaguely nods. But he's dead set on making everyone shift in their chairs as the ridiculous dispute picks up again.

The flames touch the ceiling, and there's nothing she can do to smother the fire.

Maya nudges his thigh under the table with her knee, and says his name softly, hoping it'd be enough to calm him down. But it's too late, he's already so riled up that not even her can't stop him from rising from his chair, fork in hand taunting Lee non-stop.

Petrified, she stares at the man she loves, the one who looked like a dreamboat when she woke up next to him this morning, turning into something completely different. The cracks of his mask can't hold any longer. Behind it, it all slips out. His haunted expression taking over the rough edges of his face, the sorrow in his eyes, and his tired voice, makes her heart hurt.

“Bear.” She resorts to a term of endearment, but there is no use. He's on a different plane now, guided by his addiction.

Her eyes well up as Lee keeps repeating that he’s nothing. She can see his gears spinning in a different direction and for a moment everyone stays still watching everything unfold until Donna comes into the room.

That only puts a temporary patch on the wound. It's only a matter of time before someone takes it away to let blood spill all over the table. Michael sits back down, pushing his hair back before clutching the fork again in his fist as Donna lights up a cigarette and takes a seat.

“What did I miss?”

“Nothing.”

“I missed something.”

“Uh, Stevie, Stevie's about to say grace, Ma.”

“Ooh, good, yes.”

“Go ahead and take it away there, Stevie.”

“I uh… I don't think…”

“Just say the fucking thing, Stevie.”

The tension eases up for those couple of minutes while Steve improvises grace. It all seems perfect for a moment, they all nod and smile a Steve’s kind words, but that countdown is still ticking down every last fucking second.

Everything afterward is a tableau of surreal events tangled together that would play in Maya’s head for years to come… Donna’s meltdown, Michael throwing the last fork, flipping the table and taking a more physical approach against uncle Lee, Donna losing her hinges and crashing the car into the house, the police attending the disturbance…

Out of all the memorable dinners she's had in this house, this one really takes the cake.

It's the shitshow of a lifetime that nobody will ever forget.

Chapter 10: Basket of biscuits

It’s past the witching hour when all the voices, all the noise, all the sirens, and rumblings of his own thoughts quiet down in his head when he closes the door as he settles on the driver's seat. And at once, the only voice he wanted to hear the most echoes in his head with one simple word — his name. The fear in her tone haunts him. He probably scared the shit out of her after what went down. Staring at the ruins of the front of his childhood home, Michael turns on the engine and takes a final look before steering Maya’s car out of that place.

Maya left earlier, after the police took everyone’s statement. Though she wasn’t as drunk as he was, he begged her to take a cab back home. While Donna refused to leave the house, everyone eventually left as well. Michael stayed all the way through while they boarded up the hole in the wall as a temporary measure.

Sobering down, the road gets clearer the closer he gets to Maya. He can't stand the thought of her being witness to his frantic meltdown. All he can see now, clear as day, the utter disbelief and fright in her eyes when she was pleading him to stop. He should have listened. He should have held himself better in that situation. Drugs or not, there's nothing or no one to blame but himself. That was… Embarrassing. Even for him. He swore he'd never sink that low, that he'd never let anyone see that part of him. It was bound to happen. He lost control and everyone saw. And if he wasn't for Donna interrupting his act, he's not sure how far he'd have gone.

For a split moment, he blames it on something else taking over his actions, like being possessed by one of his demons. But it doesn't last long. He can’t continue denying the fact that he’s the only one responsible for his actions. Claiming otherwise would only delay the inevitable.

They say all roads lead to Rome, and if keeps driving in the same direction, he’d surely find the only possible outcome to this. It’s time to veer off the path and find that there’s more world to see besides Rome.

He has to find a new way, and she is the only thing that could save him from this right now. However, after tonight, it wouldn't surprise him if she was already thinking about kicking him to the curve. He would blame her.

Christmas lights and empty streets quickly take him to her house. He can even imagine what’s going through her head right now… but it’s time to find out.

He parks on the driveway and takes measured steps toward the front door as the weight of the world perches on his shoulders. He feels like shit and the biggest asshole in the world for breaking his promise.

The glow of the TV and tree lights shine faintly behind the curtains when he knocks on the door. He should have called before, he realizes on that spot. Or even just text her to say he was coming so she would know what to expect. But there’s not going back now.

She takes her time to open the door and when she does, he’s met with the reflection of all his fears coming true. It flashes across her face the disappointment and disgust and utter terror of what happened at the table.

“I brought your car.” He reaches out to hand her the keys.

Hesitantly, she collects them, and makes room for him to enter before closing the door behind him.

“I… You shouldn't be driving.”

“It's fine. Sobered out pretty soon after… Where's Coco?”

“Upstairs. Hoarding the bed.” Maya puts the keys on the console table as they stand by the staircase railing. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah, Carm and Sug stayed with her at the house for the night. Everyone else left. ”

“She wouldn't leave?”

“No, she locked herself in her room.”

“That's crazy.”

“Yeah, another Christmas at The Berzattos. Hey, but at least none of us got locked up.”

“That's not funny, Michael.”

“It wasn't meant to be funny.”

“I think you should go… You should've stayed with them.”

“I wanted to check on you.”

“I'm fine.” Her tone says otherwise.

“Are you?”

“I was about to go to sleep.” She’s already slipped into her pj’s and was just watching TV cause she couldn’t fall asleep.

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“What do you want me to say? Of course, I'm not okay. You lied to me.”

“What… When did I lie to you?”

She fights the urge of rolling her eyes and instead, crosses her arms against her midsection to keep herself together.

“You said you weren't using when you were with me, but tonight you did. Instead of coming to me and saying — hey I'm dealing with this and that, you straight up hid it, and then you just… went off. I thought we were being honest with each other.”

He hangs his head down as she tiredly leans her back against the wall.

“I don't know how to help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on, Michael.”

“There's nothing you could've done.”

“Maybe not but you didn't even give me the chance to. I'm really concerned about you and after tonight… I don't know… I'm out of my depth here. I knew it was bad, but it's worse than I thought… If you're not seeing that, if you're not willing to admit that… Then maybe we should take a step back and consider our options before going further.”

“Consider our options? You're getting cold feet now?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just…” she sighs in exhaustion. “You should go. It's been a long night. And I'm not in the mood for this.”

“If you're gonna break up with me, just say it. Don't wait till tomorrow.” Though it’d be the right decision for her to do, he can’t stand the thought of not being with her now that he’s seen what it is to have her in her life. It would rip his soul and heart apart to hear her say those words.

“I don't wanna break up with you, but I can see that you're going through something right now, and I think it’d be best to talk about this tomorrow or the day after with clear heads.”

“Okay, okay…” he says under a heavy breath, as he shortens the distance between them.

Michael cups her jaw, and places his lips gently on her forehead.

“Can I stay here tonight?” He tries to not sound desperate but it fails so badly.

“Michael…” He grabs his wrist and takes a step back to detach herself from his hold.

“Please, Maybird, I don't wanna go. I… I can’t be alone right now. I’d… I don’t know what I’d do…” There’s something brewing inside him and if tonight wasn’t bad enough, not being able to be with her would send him down to that hole of despair he’s dug himself.

“You're scaring me, Michael.”

“Fuck, I know… I know I’m an asshole. I just…” He frantically runs a palm over his beard as he keeps pleading. “I need you. Don’t make me leave. I'm begging you.”

Those words put her between the sword and the wall. As much as he loves him, as much as she’d want him to stay, she’s still shaken and would rather be alone right now. But she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something happened to him because she sent him away.

Before she has the chance to reply, while she gathers her thoughts he dramatically drops to his knees on the verge of tears.

“Please. I’d do anything for you, but don’t ask me to go.”

“Michael…”

“Shh, shh, shh,” he grabs her waist, pulls her close, and links his arms around her hips, planting his full face on her abdomen. He swallows his sobs in his relentless ramble. “Please, baby, I need you… I’m sorry I lied to you… I’m so sorry that I'm scaring you… I swear I’d never hurt you…”

Her eyes brim with tears and unable to pull away she just holds his head protectively in her hands, threading her fingers in her hair to calm him down.

“You’re everything to me, Maybird. I know I’m a pathetic loser and that I don’t deserve you, but I’m fucking ready… just tell me what to do… I don’t know how to fix this… please just… let me stay…”

“Shh, it’s okay, Bear.” She’s so overcome by the love she has for him, she doesn’t have the strength to kick him out. So, she just gives up to his implore. “We’ll figure it out.”

Michael’s breaking point came like the most unexpected Christmas gift he didn't ask for. He can't return it or exchange it for something else. It's only up to him to either throw it away and pretend it didn't happen or use that as the catalyst to his recovery. They say that sometimes you have to break down to break through. And he went down so many levels, that there’s only one option but to go up from there. No because he feels like he has to, but he'd do anything to stay with Maya, and he knows the only way to do it is to climb out of the dirt.

After falling asleep in Maya’s arms, he wakes up in her bed alone the next morning. The clock says it is 10am when he looks up to her night stand and from the feet of the bed is only Coco, keeping a close watch of him. Her tail starts wagging when he gazes at her and extends his hand to scratch her head.

“Hey, Coco girl.” His voice rasps as she climbs up closer to lick his face relentlessly, slobbering all over his beard. “Okay, okay, that's enough, sweetheart.”

He holds her close and scratches her neck to calm her down, as Maya’s measured footfalls make the stairs creak when she climbs up. He looks to the door and watches her as she enters the room. She's fully dressed and by the amount of layers she's clad in, it looks like she's been outside.

“Morning.” She smiles softly as she proceeds to take off her hat and scarf.

“Morning.” He props himself on his elbow while Coco jumps suddenly out of the bed and circles around Maya’s legs before leaving the room at once. “Went out?”

“Yeah, just went for a drive and grabbed some breakfast. You two looked so cozy together, I thought I should let you sleep a bit longer. You're not opening today, right?”

“No. C’mere, sweetheart.” He finds her hand and gently tugs on it so she would sit down next to him. “I'm sorry about last night, I shouldn't have come here like that. I thought I was…”

“Sh, it's okay. You already apologized, hon.”

“No. That wasn't me. That was fucking embarrassing.”

“Is this you now?” She tenderly moves his straightened hair away from his forehead and combs it softly.

“Think so.”

“You look better.” Her fingers keep gently peppering him with caresses all over his head and neck.

“I feel like shit.” He gets a hold of her hand and kisses her knuckles. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No. I can’t really stay mad at you for long. You know that. And the good thing about all this is that since last night, I haven't really thought about being ditched for Christmas by my family.”

“Fuck, I'm such an asshole… I had all these plans with you after dinner… and I totally ruined everything. We didn't even get to open our presents.”

“It's okay. I promise. We'll try again next year. Maybe just the two of us.”

“You still think we'll be together next year?”

“I have no idea. But I'm hoping so… I want to.”

“God, you’re a fucking angel.”

“I’m not,” she laughs softly.

“Yeah, heaven-sent. You took care of me last night when you had your own thing going on. Not many people would’ve done that.”

Maya leans in and kisses his temple before wrapping her arms around his neck. She bathes him with love cause she’s not sure what else to do than to show him that she needs him just as much.

“How about we get some food in you?” She smooches his head and as she attempts to stand up, he curls his arms around her, pulling her down with him.

“Not yet, baby. Let's stay here for a minute. I'm not hungry.”

She relaxes in his hold and cuddles with him until his phone goes off.

“It's Sugar.” Maya sees on the screen. “Are you gonna pick it up?”

He vacillates, but he ends up taking the call while Maya dislodges herself from his embrace. She collects a tray and some food from the kitchen while Natalie tells Michael that they finally got their mother out of the house. She'll be at Nat's for a few days until they fix the front of the house.

“Yeah… I'll take care of it. See you later.” Maya overhears as she returns to the bedroom with his breakfast.

“Everything alright?” She sits down on the mattress, placing the tray in the middle.

“Yeah. She asked me to go talk to uncle Jimmy's friend. You know, the contractor? He said he could get it done fast.”

“That's good, yeah?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“What's wrong?”

“I don't know… I just… how can I look at these people in the face after what I did.”

“Because you're Michael fucking Berzatto. And you don't take shit from no one.” She tries cheering him up. “Uncle Lee was an asshole. Nobody cares that you threw a couple of forks at him. They're worried about you. And I don't think anyone remembers what you did. Donna upstaged the two of you, I'm afraid.”

“How do you manage to put a positive spin on everything?”

“Someone has to.”

As much as he loves hearing her talk like that is time for a reality check. Besides Maya being the brightest light in his life from the past few months, the rest have been hell. The restaurant has been struggling for way longer than he’d like to admit and has become the biggest failure of his life. His dependency has only been exacerbated by the pressure he’s put on himself to try to fix all by himself. All the lies, the high expectations, and the way his family look up to him for answers and comfort have become a lead weight on him.

The Beef was an inherited mess that was passed down to him when his father died. He took it upon himself to carry the family business to keep the family afloat, especially since Carmen and Natalie were merely teens, and there was nobody else but him to provide for all of them. He always thought he’d had his own restaurant and part of that pipe dream was bringing Carmy along. That dream faded as soon as he got hit with the hard cold truth that managing a restaurant, even a sandwich shop wasn’t as easy as his father made it look. But to be fair the late Berzatto didn’t have the best system either. It was all back door deals and handshakes and fucking agreements with this guy and this other guy. It made him wonder if the old trio had some shady business going on. Even Maya’s uncle was involved at some point, he recalls seeing his name a couple of times in one of the accounting books.

To sum it all up, he was set up with a business that was already failing before got it. His optimism and passion could only keep him trying for so long. The last couple of years have been hell, and at this point he’s not sure if he wants to run it anymore. He’s toyed with the idea of burning it to the ground and starting over, or just selling it and walking away. But there are a lot of factors in play that are stopping him from doing that. Like disappointing his family or the people who work for him. And let's not forget the big question of what Michael would do if he didn’t have The Beef.

With a heavy heart he finally pours everything out to Maya. If someone can understand, it’s her. She knew when her life needed a turn and took it. He’s at the same crossroads right now, but unlike her, he doesn’t feel brave enough to do what needs to be done.

Maya draws a breath, absorbing every single thing Michael has laid out. It’s a lot to process, but her mind is already spinning ideas and questions that could potentially help him.

“You could sell and start over. The Beef is not your failure. It wasn’t even your dream to begin with. And I don’t think anyone will hold it against you if you give it away.”

“I guess I’m not ready to give up, you know? I don’t know what I’d do if I walked away now.” He shifts in the bed, laying on his side, placing his head on her lap while she plays with his hair.

“What about the restaurant you wanted to open with Carmy? It was all you talked about once upon a time. ”

“I can't bring him into this. He's better off without me.”

“He's not. Your brother is fucking miserable.”

“How do you know that? Did he tell you that?”

“No… but we shared some words last night, I don't want to get into the whole thing right now, but I could tell that he's not happy either.”

“Last night… He gave me this thing. It was a sketch he did about that restaurant… I just don't know how to make you both understand that I have no idea how to make it true. He's worked so hard to be where he is now…. I won’t be the one to keep it away from all that.”

“Have you ever thought that maybe you could learn something from him and that teaming up would solve all your problems?”

“Yeah, maybe. But I don’t want to take that chance. I won’t ruin his career. He’s where he’s supposed to be.”

“You know, you’ve talked a lot about not wanting to let everyone down and keeping everyone happy. But when are you gonna start taking care of yourself, Bear? All those people you’re caring for, they’re pretty much grown up. They don’t need you to keep holding their hand. Not Natalie, nor Carmy, nor your mother. And don’t get me wrong, the way you care for them is part of the reason I care for you… but at some point you’re going to have to care for yourself too. Cause I can’t keep an eye on you 24/7.”

“Did you go to shrink school or something?” He scoffs, glancing up at her eyes from his comfortable spot.

“No, I wish! It’s hard to put yourself above anyone else… I get it. But you’re going to have to, Michael. If you don’t, it’ll eventually catch up with you. The pressure, the pills, the need to please everyone…”

“What if it’s too late?”

“It’s not. I promise it’s not. I know it seems that way, but you, asking the right questions… That tells me it’s not too late. And the thing is that you don't have to decide anything right now. But hypothetically speaking, if you didn't have The Beef to take care of, and could do anything in the world, what would you do?”

“Well, If I could do anything, I'd stay in this bed, day, and night with you for a year.”

“Okay, let's say you've done that now. You wake up, get out of bed and where do you go?”

“I've always….” he pauses as the corner of his mouth pulls up.

“What? Tell me.” Her hand fists his hair without pulling.

“I've always wanted to buy a bike and drive across every state.”

“I could see you doing that.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Stop doing that. It's not an unattainable dream, Bear. You can do whatever you want.”

“Would you come with me if I asked you?”

“Hm, I don’t know… I’m not a huge fan of bikes. But I guess if I could follow along with my car and bring Coco with us, I’d go.”

“How about next summer?”

“Bring it on.”

“You know I’m joking, right?” He scoffs.

“I’m not. If you really wanna do that. Do it. What’s that thing you always say… Let one rip?”

“Let it rip,” he snorts and shakes his head, utterly amused by her way of messing up his motto.

“So, let it rip!”

“How? How do you walk away from everything?”

“You put one foot in front of the other and repeat.”

“Well, thank you for just describing walking, baby.”

“I’m serious, Michael. You take enough small steps and one day you’ll look back and won’t be able to see what you left behind.”

She holds his face firmly and dips to leave a small peck on his lips, then plants her forehead on top of his.

“I’d go anywhere with you. Would you?”

“Yeah, always.”

Michael’s palm slides along her jaw as his lips capture her mouth one more time. In this room, on this bed, he feels more safe and loved than ever before.

In the evening, Maya takes Michael to meet the contractor who comes into the house to survey the damage. After that, they swing by Natalie’s to check how Donna is doing.

Maya stays in the car. Her choice. She’s not ready to have another Berzatto reunion so soon.

She’s listening to the radio when all of a sudden a tap on the glass startles her. She glances to the side and finds Carmy motioning with his hand to roll down the window.

Sighting, she turns off the radio, as the glass slides down.

“Hey, can we talk?” His breath manifests in the air.

“I'm not in the mood for you to keep jabbing at me.”

“I wasn’t going to… I just…” he props his forearm on the roof of the car. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. You were right about… well, about almost everything. I have no right to tell you how to live your life and shouldn’t have talked to you that way. I still think it’s pretty weird that you’re dating my brother… but I guess I’ll have to get over it.”

Maya swallows, staring at her hands curling around the steering wheel. It feels forced to hear him say that so soon, but not completely dishonest. He’s making an effort, and she appreciates that.

“Thank you for saying that. I’m sorry that you had to find that way and that I called you a self-serving asshole that doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I know you cared about me… I just…”

“Hey, I get it. We both said a lot of things we didn’t mean.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I don’t know… I couldn’t sleep last night and Sugar and I started talking, we were up for hours… I guess she knocked some sense into me.”

“Do you think we could ever be friends again?”

“I don’t know.”

“Could we pretend that we are just for five minutes? I need to ask you something.”

“I… I suppose we could. Can I get in? It's freezing out here.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Carmy goes around the car and hops into the passenger seat as Maya closes the window.

“What is it?”

“How's Copenhagen? Are you liking it there? Is it everything you ever dreamed of?”

“It's one of the best jobs I've ever had.”

“That's not what I asked.”

“I… I don't know what you want me to say… I guess I always thought I'd end up here with Michael… But I don't think he even wants me here anymore. Why are you asking me this?”

“God, he's going to kill me for telling you this… But hypothetically, what if he was in trouble and was too prideful to ask for help? What if he wanted to build that restaurant you dreamed of but wouldn't want you to give up your career for him? What if he was thinking of selling the shop but was too afraid of disappointing all of you?”

“Fuck, that's a lot of what ifs, Maya. Is that all true?”

“I can't tell you that, but if that were all true would you consider coming back?”

“You know better than anybody that all I wanted to do is work with him. If he asked, I'd be here in a second. But he's not going to ask, is he?”

“I don't think he's ready yet. I'm trying to help him as best as I can, but I feel like I'm not enough.”

“What do you think I could do if he doesn't want anyone's help… ”

“I don't know… he's too stubborn to ask for help. I'm just running out of ideas here… and he's looking at me like I have all the answers…”

“You think if I came back that'll change?”

“Maybe not, but if there's just a small chance that you were considering doing what you always wanted to do… if he saw that you weren't going anywhere, perhaps it’d point him in the right direction.”

“It takes guts to ask for help like that. And I'm not talking about him. I know you wouldn't be asking if it wasn't serious.”

“Yeah, like I said, if he knew I was telling you this…”

“I won't tell, if you don't.” He smiles softly.

“Thank you.”

“I'll think about it though.”

“Yeah? I'll keep trying too.”

As Carmy leaves the car, Michael comes out of the front door. They meet in the middle and Maya watches them quickly sharing some words before saying goodbye.

“Everything good here?” Asks Michael once he's taken his seat and closes the door.

“Yeah, we were just straightening some things up. I didn't want to tell you earlier, but we had an argument last night. It's all good now…” and she feels like an asshole for going behind his back, but if Michael is too proud or ashamed to ask for help, someone has to. She'd love to have all the answers laid out for him, but she has no idea what she's doing half of the time.

“He knows about us, does he?”

“Yeah, we weren't as careful as we wanted. Even Sugar saw. I mean… you even called me baby at the table. Don’t think anyone really noticed but… I guess it’s out now.”

“Does it freak you out that they know?”

“No. It was never about that. I just wanted to keep it just between us for a little longer.”

As they drive back home they toy with the idea of recreating the Christmas dinner they never go to have the previous night. They make a quick stop at a couple of places to gather some ingredients and scramble something together.

Michael has a lot of faults, but he's a natural in the kitchen. He feels right in his element when he's crafting a meal, especially when it’s for her. There’s no pressure laying on the counter, no bills to worry about, but the need to impress her makes him rise to the occasion.

After dinner, they exchange those gifts they put under the tree in her living room a couple of days ago. There’s a gift basket for Coco with toys, her favorite snacks, a blanket, and bathing products. While the dog is distracted with a chew on the rug, they sit on the couch to open theirs.

Maya’s gift to Michael is considerably bigger than what he got for her, which is a thin flat box as long as her palm.

“You want me to go first?” Asks Maya.

“Yeah, sure. Go on, baby.”

She’s kneeled by his side on the cushion, and he closely watches her hand unwrap the jewelry box that contains a dainty gold necklace with two twin pendants. Two small discs share an M etched on one side but are different on the back. One of them has the outline of a bear, and the other a dog paw.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it, Mikey Bear.” Her free palm slides at his nape. “Thank you.”

“Thought you could wear this one,” he points at the one with the bear, “and I could take the other.”

“Yeah, that’d be perfect.” She inspects the pendants for a bit longer before sliding the one with the paw on it out the chain. “We’re kind of an institution now, like M&Ms.”

“Or Eminem.”

“For sure,” she laughs at the same time she clasps the chain around her neck. “Are you gonna open yours?”

Michael nods and extends his hand to open the big wrapped box waiting on the coffee table. In it there's a record player set with speakers and a couple of Otis Redding albums.

“You’re the best, you know that?” He holds his chin on top of his fist for a second, mesmerized by how much he adores her.

“Hm, I’ve been told.” She smugly slings her arm around his lower back as he inspects his new gift and starts setting all the components on. “Wasn’t sure if you liked Otis, but it’s one of my favorites.”

“Yeah, I dig it. Everyone loves the king of soul.”

Tucking her palm under the hem of his shirt, she kisses his shoulder, as he carefully slides one of the vinyls out of its sleeve before placing it on the platter.

“I haven’t used one of these in a while, let’s see if I remember…” he thinks for a beat, staring at the levels and buttons as he figures out how to set it up.

“You know, there are instructions on the box, right?” She playfully scratches his back.

“Don’t need instructions.”

“Typical male response,” she scoffs.

“Look, it’s done.” After settling the needle in position he hits the on button and stares at the record as it starts spinning. It rotates a couple of times before the first track comes out of the speakers.

Michael curls his arm around her, pulling her flush against his chest as they lean back on the couch. Maya drapes her legs on his lap, pillowing her head on his shoulder as the ever so beautiful melody of These Arms Of Mine plays on the speakers.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Maya tucks her hand in her jean's pocket to collect a keychain of a miniature motorcycle she got at the gas station earlier. “I also got you this when we stopped for gas. I didn't have time to get you a real bike in time but– what do you say, you wanna go on a road trip with me and Coco?”

“A Harley-Davidson? I don't think the three of us can fit here.” He dangles the keychain between his fingers. “But we'll see.”

Maya smiles against his shoulder as he kisses her head.

“Hey, can I tell you a secret?” His voice changes to a softer tone.

“Uh-huh.”

He knows this is far from perfect and that he's probably going to screw everything up at some point, but whether it's perfect or not, right here, in her arms, everything is like it's supposed to be.

“I love you, Maybird.”

She tilts her chin up so he can capture the glint of eyes. She doesn't say it right away, it takes her a couple of beats to build up the courage to say back…

“I love you too, Bear.”

The End.

[imagineredwood]

"Would you sit still? You're gonna get an infection if you don't get this cleaned up."

Requested prompt: "Would you sit still? You're gonna get an infection if you don't get this cleaned up."

Pairing: Creeper Vargas x female reader

Warnings: Mention of alcohol, blood/injury, angst if you squint

Word count: 1k wasn't supposed to be that long oops

"Oh, Jesus Christ. Go sit him down." 

You huffed as you motioned towards your living room, your ex limping into your home with the help of Angel and Coco. The outer men offered sympathetic smiles, knowing that bringing your drunk and bloody ex-boyfriend into your home was not something you'd had in the cards for tonight. Your eyes were slightly heavy, the pj's on your body, and the movie paused on the screen telling them you were probably already falling asleep if not asleep already when they pulled up. You'd been ready to argue and tell Creeper to go to hell when you'd seen his swollen eye and bloody jeans, Angel and Coco helping him walk. Despite the breakup and how messy it had been, you couldn't turn any of them away. Not when they needed you enough to stop by at this time. Creeper avoided your gaze and looked down at the floor as they passed you. 

You closed the door behind them while they situated Creeper in your dining room, helping him sit. You strolled off to the bathroom, grumbling under your breath to grab some first aid supplies. When you turned around to leave, you bumped right into Angel, the Maya offering you another sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Sorry, looks like you had been sleeping maybe. I just thought he needed someone to check out his knee. He twisted his ankle but that should be fine in a week or whatever. It's the dirt and gravel stuck in his knee from the fall that I think he needs you to look at."

You nodded and reached up to pat Angel's chest to show him you weren't mad. He helped take some of the supplies from your arms and carried them back into the dining room with you. You came to stand in front of Creeper and it was your socked feet in front of him and made him look up finally. His right eye was puffy, half closed with the swelling, and purple. The left knee of his pants however was tattered and bloody and you sighed, wondering what the hell he could've possibly gotten into this time. Pulling up another chair and scooting it towards him, you patted your thigh wordlessly. He hesitated for a minute, staring back at you in silence while you rolled your eyes. 

"Or would you rather take your pants off and I sit on the floor?"

Coco and Angel shared a glance and then excused themselves, sauntering off to your living room. Creeper cleared his throat and made no move to assist. With the jeans already shredded, you reached forward and grabbed a hold of each side of the fabric and ripped. The hole now widened until they looked more like shorts, the Mayan wincing at the feeling of the rough denim scratching his wound. Your instinct was to apologize, but after the way he had practically ghosted you, you figured a small deal of pain would serve him well. 

You leaned forward and grabbed onto his calf, bringing his leg up to rest on your knee and earning a hiss.

"Would you sit still? You're gonna get an infection if you don't get this cleaned up."

Creeper relented and silence hung in the air as you grabbed a saline-soaked gauze and began wiping at the wound. Creeper shifted uncomfortably in your chair, making small noises of pain and discomfort as you washed away the dirt and picked out the small pebbles, but he didn't pull away or interrupt. You had been quiet for so long that when you finally spoke, it started him. 

"So what the hell happened anyway?"

He looked up at you then, contemplating if he should tell you the truth or not, then shrugged. 

"Was at a bar with the boys and got into a fight."

He answered plainly as if it were obvious and you squinted at him. 

"That explains the shiner, but not how you sprained your ankle and banged up your knee."

"Cops pulled up, and you know I got that warrant. So I took off. I lost 'em, but jumping off a roof onto a dumpster didn't go as smoothly as it used to when I was 18. Last time I was young and quick. This time I'm old and drunk. Busted my ass." 

You stared at him in silence for a beat before laughing, your gloved hands falling to your sides as your shoulders shook. It was ridiculous and foolish, and so very Creeper. He chuckled a bit himself, not having realized just how much he had missed your laugh. Come to think of it, he hadn't realized how much he had missed you altogether. But not that you were there, in the flesh, right in front of him, he realized in full what a fool he had been to not take the relationship as seriously as he should've. 

Your laughter died down, and you resumed cleaning his knee while shaking your head. 

"Never did have the best luck."

"No. Never did."

It was quiet until you were finished then, his words hanging in the air. You tossed everything in the trash and then grabbed an ice pack from the fridge, handing it over to him. 

"For your eye."

Creeper nodded and took it from you, placing it down onto his swollen eyelid. He stared at you and you cleared your throat, not allowing yourself to be drawn into his charm. You had learned. Angel and Coco reappeared then and came to stand at his side again, listening as you handed over a stack of extra supplies. 

"Make sure he keeps that clean and changes the bandage twice a day."

Coco nodded and saluted you as he helped Angel stand Creeper up. 

"Yes ma'am." 

The three of them helped your ex hobble out to the front door and then out to the van that was parked in your driveway.

You watched as they put him inside and then got inside themselves, waving as they pulled away. You shook your head with a chuckle and closed the door, your thoughts still stuck on Creeper as you sat down to finish up your movie.

General taglist

@piccasoe @ateliefloresdaprimavera @gemini0410 @woahitslucyylu @my-rosegold-soul @that-chick212 @everyhowlmarksthedead @glimmerglittergirl @elcococruz @fanaticfangurl21 @encounterthepast @iambabyharry @svintsandghosts @starrynite7114 @saturnsaree @multiyfandomgirl40 @destynelseclipsa @sadeyesgf @queenbeered @iamthegraham @emoengelfurleben @all-the-boys-to-the-yard @otomefromtheheart @rosieposie0624 @papa-geralt-of-cirilla @beeroses @weirdosandhopelessromantics @kola95 @black-repunzel99 @xonickibaby @cruzwalters @myakai13 @mrsstevenbuchananstark @lyly00 @kaystacks17 @cole-winchester  @alexxavicry @kaykaysuh @savagemickey03  @fanfic-n-tabulous   @gangstaliciou06

Mayans MC taglist

@dazzledamazon​  @abunnykisses​ @briana-mishell24​ @angelreyesgirl @wrcn9fvlcver​ @peaches009 @capt-canadian @thesandbeneathmytoes​ @krysiewithak​ @darklingveracruz @appropriate-writers-name​ @cind-in-real-life @blessedboo​ @montanaraed @kkim120 @megapeacelovemusic-blog​ @emoengelfurleben​ @blowmymbackout​ @abby-splace​ @kola95​ @black-repunzel99​ @redpoodlern​ @xonickibaby @myakai13​

@cruzwalters​ @yosoynicolexo @mrsstevenbuchananstark @danimals1096 @po3ticb3auty​ @lyly00​ @im-just-a-mississippi-girl​ @kaykaysuh @angel-121​ @fanfic-n-tabulous​ @90sisthenew80s​ @lovelytricia

[every-character-ever-poll]

WEEK EIGHT LINEUP

We did it! Finally. Week Seven is complete, and we can move on to greener pastures - by which I mean we can slog our way through a new 'Week'! I can't think of anything funny to say here right now so let's just get into it.

Norah Jakobs - The Nice House On The Lake

Jaehee Yoo - Let Dai

Graham Ness Payser, the Pacesetter - Toontown: Corporate Clash

Amaya - The Dragon Prince

Lottie Matthews - Yellowjackets

Clippy - Microsoft Word

Gren - The Dragon Prince

Kafuka Fuura - Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Piers - Golden Sun

Ron - The Who Was? Show

Tohru Honda - Fruits Basket

Nightcrawler - X-men

Henriette de Pusay - Les Colombes du Roi-Soleil

Monsieur Tidbits - The Who Was? Show

Hariham Harry - Hugtto Precure

Chief - Animal Crossing

Venti - Genshin Impact

Geraldine - The Who Was? Podcast

Quote - Cave Story

Bait - The Dragon Prince

Dale Gribble - King of the Hill

Drizzt Do'Urden - Dungeons and Dragons - Forgotten Realms

Clytie Van Gogh - Fate/Grand Order

Madoka - Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Boston - Only Friends: The Series

Count Olaf - A Series of Unfortunate Events

Phosphophyllite - Houseki no Kuni

Battler - Umineko When They Cry

Mona Lisa Vito - My Cousin Vinny

Medic - Team Fortress 2

Gus - Sweet Tooth

Apollo Justice - Ace Attorney

Twigleg the Homunculus - Dragon Rider

Thirteen - Obey Me!

Daisy Buchanan - The Great Gatsby

John Yossarian - Catch-22

Hikari Kuina - Alice in Borderland

Jintetsu - Kurogane

Fantine - Les Misérables

Telemain - Enchanted Forest Chronicles

Mahiru Shiina - MILGRAM

Garroth - Mystreet / Minecraft Diaries

Nami - Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons

Amethyst Heart - Magical Warrior Diamond Heart

The Amazing Karnak - Ride the Cyclone

Marvin - Falsettos

Hearthstone - Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

M.X.E.S. - Five Nights At Freddy's

Draco Malfoy - A Very Potter Musical

Zombie Cleo - Hermitcraft & Traffic Life

Henry the Duck - 36 Questions

Lazarus - Ribbon Rabbit Daycare

Jeff - Doors

Almoral - Biz Mart

Prince Blueblood - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Maya Fey - Ace Attorney

Amanda Young - Saw

Molli Pop - Candies n Curses

Deckard Cain - Diablo

Zee - Total Drama Island

Hiura Erika - The Night Beyond The Tricornered Window

Takuto Maruki - Persona 5 Royal

Emma - Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race

Perona - One Piece

Noah - Total Drama

Gin Ibushi - Your Turn to Die/Kimi ga Shine

Cody - Total Drama

Kitty - Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race

Torchic - Pokémon

Amaya - The Dragon Prince

Guido - Cars

Mecha Mountie - Death Road to Canada

Oliver - Vocaloid

Yuki Takeya - School-Live

Eric Cartman - South Park

Harold - Total Drama

K.K. Slider - Animal Crossing

Shawn - Total Drama: Pahkitew Island

Spinel - Steven Universe

Junior - Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race

Applejack - My Little Pony Friendship is Magic

Fluttershy - My Little Pony Friendship is Magic

Wayne & Raj - Total Drama Island 2023

Mimikyu - Pokémon

Frye - Splatoon 3

Millie - Total Drama Island 2023

Ghetsis - Pokémon

Chef Hatchet - Total Drama

Minty - My Little Pony

The Arcanist - Flight Rising

Maud Pie - My Little Pony Friendship is Magic

Zell - Animal Crossing

Coco - Animal Crossing

Pearl - Splatoon 2

Big Man - Splatoon 3

Torachi - King of Prism

Bill Cipher - Gravity Falls

Sailor Venus - Sailor Moon

Kyubey - Madoka Magica

Mikan Shiratama - PriPara

Herobrine - Minecraft

[makaira-art]

Capcom Cafe Umeda 2023 Menu & Goods Translations

Translations for goods campaign and special collab menu for GS/DGS that ran Nov-Dec 2023 (Original Site)

I had edited the html for the menu into English when the campaign ran and took screenshots, so even if the menu site has changed to the newest collab you can see what all the dishes looked like! The menu descriptions are kinda fun, please enjoy~

CAPCOM CAFE UMEDA STORE "Ace Attorney" & "The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles" Collaboration Menu's big reveal!

From 11/10/23 (Friday) to 12/21/2023 (Wednesday), the Capcom Cafe Umeda store, on the Daimaru Umeda store's 13th floor, will offer menu and goods in collaboration with the Ace Attorney series. This time, the limited-time menu will be revealed! For more details on the release, definitely check the Capcom Cafe Umeda Store official site!

■ Ace Attorney and the Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Collab Menu Big Reveal! 1) Barok Van Ziek's Jet Black Holy Grail Curry (1980 yen, tax included) This is a menu item with Barok Van Ziek's motifs. We've created a curry that one would see at a Western cafe. Please enjoy the fried seafood placed in the shape of a cross and pitch black roux.

2) Maya's magatama pancakes Menu item with Maya Fey's motifs. This is a Japanese-style pancake in the shape of the magatama that Maya wears. Please enjoy with brown sugar syrup.

3) Apollo Justice's fruit punch This is a classic retro cafe style fruit punch with Apollo Justice's motifs. Lemon is sliced into the shape of his attorney's badge.

4) Phoenix Wright's retro cream soda This is a blue cream soda based on retro cafe's standard menu with Phoenix Wright's motifs.

5) Naruhodou Ryuunosuke's hojicha latte This is a hojicha latte with Naruhodou Ryuunosuke's motifs. Please enjoy it with the black tea jelly that was placed inside.

※ In addition, we have menu items such as "Phoenix. Apollo! Plate" (1980 yen), "Miles Edgeworth's afternoon plate (1980 yen), or "Susato's pudding a la mode" (1650 yen). For more menu details, please check the Capcom Cafe Umeda Store's official website. ※ The image of the menu items are just depictions. The actual merchandise may have a different design/specification than the actual product.

■ We also have original novelty goods to present! Those who order an original drink at Capcom Cafe will receive a coaster (one randomly selected from 10 designs). Additionally, for every 3000 yen spent on the cafe menu, you will receive a complimentary bromide postcard.

▼ If you order an original drink, you receive a coaster (one randomly selected from 10 designs) ▼For every 3000 yen spent on the cafe menu, you receive a bromide style postcard (one randomly selected from 12 designs)

FOOD MENU

Naruhodo. Odoroki! Plate A menu item with Phoenix Wright (Naruhodou) and Apollo Justice (Odoroki) motifs. Finishing touches in a western-style plate with a retro showa era feel. Ketchup rice is molded into the Ace Attorney logo.

Miles Edgeworth's Afternoon Plate A menu item with Miles Edgeworth motifs. This light snack afternoon plate pairs well with the tea that Edgeworth enjoys in the story.

Barok Van Ziek's Jet Black Holy Grail Curry This is a menu item with Barok Van Ziek's motifs. We've created a curry that one would see at a Western cafe. Please enjoy the fried seafood placed in the shape of a cross and pitch black roux.

Postcard Receive 1 per order of 3000 yen total order of food/sweets/drink. Distribution may end as soon as the stock runs out. Stock status will be announced on the official X (twitter) account.

DRINKS MENU

Phoenix Wright's Retro Cream Soda This is a blue cream soda based on retro cafe's standard menu with Phoenix Wright's motifs. Nata de coco, blue curacao, carbonated water, vanilla ice cream, marischino cherry, monaka wafer

Maya Fey's Retro Purple Cream Soda This is a cream soda based on Maya Fey's color, purple. It looks bright and cute and is made in one cup. Mona Jewel strawberry jelly, butterfly peaflower tea, lemon fruit juice, vanilla ice cream, strawberry

Miles Edgeworth's Strawberry Soda Inspired by Miles Edgeworth who loves black tea, this strawberry soda has a bright appearance. Please enjoy with whipped cream. Mona Jewel strawberry jelly, strawberry syrup, cranberry powder, whipped cream, blueberries

Apollo Justice's Fruit Punch This is a classic retro cafe style fruit punch with Apollo Justice's motifs. The lemon is sliced to resemble his defense attorney's badge. Canned fruit, canned mikan oranges, nata de coco, Mitsuya Cider, maraschino cherry, lemon

Naruhodou Ryuunosuke's Hojicha Latte This is a hojicha latte with Naruhodou Ryuunosuke's motifs. Please enjoy it with the black tea jelly that is inside. Hojicha latte, black tea jelly, whipped cream, almond chips

Kazuma Asogi's Red Bean Shake This red bean drink is inspired by Kazuma Asogi from the cafe main visual. By actually wearing the headband, please enjoy becoming Asogi. Whole red beans, milk, whipped cream, rice flour dumplings

Mikotoba Susato's Pudding a la Mode Drink This drink has Mikotoba Susato's motifs. This cup was created to look like the cute sweet that she is holding in the cafe main visual. Caramel sauce, strawberry milk, whipped cream, pudding, canned fruits, mint, and maraschino cherry

Barok van Ziek's Holy Grail Coffee This hot coffee has Barok van Ziek's motifs. Please enjoy the drink in a glass that is inspired by God's Holy Grail. Chocolate sauce, almond chips, hot coffee, melted cream, cocoa powder, raisin gold leaf

Cafe Latte of your choice A cute-looking cafe latte that relaxes your mind and body. You can choose one of eight different latte art characters to put on top of it. For an additional 1760 yen (tax included), you can make the mug into a set to take home. Cafe latte, printed latte art

SWEETS MENU

Susato's Pudding a la Mode This menu item has Mikotoba Susato's motifs. A retro cafe staple, this Japanese-Western style fusion sweet combines pudding a la mode and Susato-like matcha and sakura. It seems like you can also eat Ryuunosuke.

Scone Plate that spans the Japanese and British Empires This menu item has the motifs of Naruhodou Ryuunosuke and Kazuma Asogi. Please enjoy the fruit whipped cream, bean paste butter, etc. in the color of the two's hakama. For an additional 1540 yen (tax included) you can make a set with a mug to bring home. The katana chopsticks cannot be taken home.

Maya's Magatama Pancakes This is a Japanese-style pancake in the shape of the magatama that Maya wears. Please enjoy with brown sugar syrup.

[nightowlqueen]

Instead of making a giant collage I've decided to recap my daily Femslash February posting from twitter/bsky into just one post here (under a cut of course)

February 1st: Suletta Mercury x Miorine Rembran from Gundam: The Witch From Mercury

February 2nd: Falin x Marcille from Dungeon Meshi

February 3rd: Grandmother's of Yuri, Haruka x Michiru from Sailor Moon

February 4th: Yuzuki x Makoto from Skip and Loafer

February 5th: Korra x Asami from Legend of Korra

February 6th: Nomoto x Kasuga from She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki! It's an ongoing series that I HIGHLY recommend!

February 7th: Madoka x Homura and Kyouko x Sayaka from Puella Magi Madoka Magica

February 8th: Venus x Jupiter x Neptune from We Know The Devil

February 9th: Meryl Stryfe x Milly Thompson from Trigun

February 10th: Catra x Adora from She-Ra and The Princesses of Power

February 11th: Kiki x Namari from Dungeon Meshi

February 12th: Aerith x Tifa from Final Fantasy 7

February 13th: Harley Quinn x Poison Ivy from DC Comics

February 14th: A very special Valentine's Day femslash with Utena x Anthy from Revolutionary Girl Utena

February 15th: Dame Aylin x Isobel from Baldur's Gate 3

February 16th: Luz x Amity from The Owl House

February 17th: Athena x Janey Springs from the Borderlands series

February 18th: Princess Bubblegum x Marceline The Vampire Queen

February 19th: Alphys x Undyne and Susie x Noelle from Undertale/Deltarune

February 20th: Leo x Vega, Peony x Silkrose, and Bunny x Velvet all from indie comics Roadqueen: Eternal Roadtrip To Love, Goodbye, Battle Princess Peony, and Vampire Blood Drive by Mira Ong Chua

February 21st: Starfire x Raven from Teen Titans (2003)

February 22nd: Lana x Mia, Franziska x Maya, Kay x Ema, Aura x Metis, and Susato x Rei from the Ace Attorney series

February 23rd: Agott x Coco from Witch Hat Atelier

February 24th: Sorawo x Toriko from Otherside Picnic

February 25th: Lyn x Florina, Lissa x Maribelle, Edelgard x Dorothea and Dorothea x Petra from the Fire Emblem series

February 26th: Lady x Trish from Devil May Cry

February 27th: Elise and her three love interests Rozenmarine, Freya, and Lebkuchen

February 28th: Any combination of Shadowheart, Lae'zel, and Karlach from Baldur's Gate 3

February 29th: Elster x Ariane Yeong from Signalis

See you all next February!

[queermtl]

Queer MTL things to do: August 2024

Montréal n'est jamais aussi effervescente que lorsque le Festival Fierté Montréal arrive en ville au mois d'août, agrémentant la saison des festivals d'été d'un éclat arc-en-ciel! Et comme tous les mois, Montréal propose une foule d’événements, de soirées et d’expériences uniques qui font briller toutes les nuances de l’arc-en-ciel LGBTQ+. Entre prestations drag et activités communautaires, festivals bien en vue et événements underground, voici notre sélection des choses les plus gaies à faire dans la ville. Pour rester à l’affût de tout ajout, suivez QueerMTL sur Instagram, X, Facebook et Tumblr! Vous présentez un événement? Écrivez-nous!

✨ Pour connaître la programmation complète du Festival Fierté Montréal 2024, qui se déroule du 1er au 11 août 2024, consultez l'horaire quotidien sur leur site Web et retrouvez nos suggestions triées sur le volet ci-dessous! Les événements officiels de Fierté ont une étincelle à la fin de leur description.

Montréal is never prouder than when Fierté / Pride comes to town in August, punctuating summer festival season with a rainbow flourish! And like every month, Montréal is stuffed to the brim with events, parties and unique experiences painted in all the colours of the LGBTQ+ rainbow. From drag to community, circuit to underground, here’s some of our picks for the best LGBTQ+ things to do in the city. For further announcements, including those not announced at time of publication, follow QueerMTL on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr! Got an event coming up? DM it our way!

✨ For a full line-up of Fierté Montréal Festival 2024, which runs from August 1 to 11, 2024, check the daily schedule on their website and find our handpicked suggestions below! These official Fierté events feature a sparkle at the end of the listing. 

LEGEND

🎥 Cinema 👑 Drag 🥳 Parties 🎶 Concert ✊ Activism 🏳️‍⚧️ Trans 🏳️‍🌈 Community 😆 Comedy 🎭 Performance 💪 Sports 👯‍♀️ Dance 🎤 Karaoke 🎨 Arts 📚 Literary / Educational 👠 Ballroom / Vogue

Jeudi 1 août / Thursday, August 1

📚 Literary Pride presents Queer Académie: The Finals, Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal ✨ 👯‍♀️ SUPERNATURE Fierté Edition waacking battle with Aleera, Flame, Kiddy Smile, Moodz, Munezero, NGL Flounce, Paolo Askia and Prince D.-Serious, Le Club Soda ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Barbecue Saint-Michel en couleurs, Parc François-Perrault ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Gay Speed Dating—PRIDE Edition, Pastel Rita 👑 Afro Drag with Aizysse Baga, Bébé Elle, BiG SiSSY, Ekitwanda, Ellisim, Envy the Clown, Kuntiana, Manny Dingo and Sahira Q, Esplanade Tranquille ✨ 👑 Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Derek Wood presents Un affaire de Famille with Miss Behave, Mike Oxlong, Ben Addiction and Blueberry Moore, Cabaret Mado

Vendredi 2 août / Friday, August 2

🎥 Les Archives gaies du Québec present the AIDS in 4 Parts film loops from 21h00-23h00, Parc de l’Espoir ✨ 🥳 Pikete with CHIKA, Joya, La Niña Kiwi, mCherry, Moh Dafok, MUXXXE, Owen and Whorito, Esplanade Tranquille ✨ 🥳 Laylit x Fierté Montréal with Achraf El Abed, Anya Kneez, Manalou, Maya Tayara, MONSIEURMADAM and MNSA, Le Club Soda ✨ 🥳 Jhalak Montréal presents Bloc Bollywood with Bijuriya, DJ Deep, Kajol, Rameez Karim and Veils of Bollywood, Esplanade Tranquille ✨ 🐶 Launch of Weekend Pup Montréal, Bar L’Aigle Noir ✨ 📚 Literary Pride presents Transpoetry: An Evening of Poetry, Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal ✨ 😆 Des gags et des paillettes, a night of queer stand-up comedy with Mona de Grenoble, Charlie Morin, Coco Belliveau, Jessica Chartrand, Justine Philie, Saad Fennich, Sam Cyr, Tranna Wintour, Anne-Sarah Charbonneau and Maxime-Eve Gagnon, Théâtre Le National ✨ 🎶 Osheaga 2024 with Noah Kahan, Green Day, SZA and many more, Parc Jean-Drapeau 👑 Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Kiara, Jimmy Moore, Nana and Miss Butterfly, Cabaret Mado

Samedi 3 août / Saturday, August 3

🏳️‍⚧️ MTL Trans March / March for Trans Futures, starting at Station Mont-Royal ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 LGBT+ Family Coalition presents Brunch Familial LGBTQ+ with Barbada, Time Out Market Montréal ✨ 📚 Literary Pride presents The Safety Lit Workshop, Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal ✨ 📚 Literary Pride presents Diversity Spelled Out spotlighting BIPOC literary artists, Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal ✨ 📚 The Violet Hour Book Club reads Paige Maylott’s My Body is Distant: A Memoir, Archives gaies du Québec 🎭 10 Year Anniversary of Latino Burlesque Canada with Adriana the Bombshell, Lucinda Miu, Gay Jesus, Anaconda la Sabrosa, Miami Minx, Niko Lubie, Castro, Salty Margarita, Black Mamba, Cherry Topp, Dom, Lolita Blanca and Winona J. Fox, Jardins Gamelin ✨ 🎶 Lucky Love + Marilyne Leonard, Esplanade Tranquille ✨ 🎶 Osheaga 2024 with Noah Kahan, Green Day, SZA and many more, Parc Jean-Drapeau 👯‍♀️ FestiQueer Rimouski presents Set Queeré, a night of queer square dancing and traditional music, Centre communautaire Saint-Pie-X ✨ 😆 Tales of Gender Affirmation, comedy by trans, non-binary and queer performers, Le Basement 🎤 Bareoke: Strip Karaoke, Café Cléopatra 🥳 Transcendance with Miss Dupré Latour, DJ Sayana and the Transmasc Choir, Esplanade Tranquille ✨ 🥳 Weekend Pup Montréal hosts their Dance Pawty, Bar Le Stud ✨ 🥳 Lust Cove, Sweet Like Honey and Blush present FANTASME with DJ Tokyo Mamii, hadaxxah and Mansa, and pole and gogo dancers Aiko, Amethyst, Jinxxx, Tokyo, Dora Bones, Eden, Koshasha, Lia Jasmine, Mina Minou and Zaddy Paigne, Le Club Soda ✨ 🥳 Homopop presents Pleasuredome: Fierté Montréal Edition with West End Gays and Tommy Hart, Société des arts technologiques—Satosphère ✨ 🥳 Frky x Pride with Francis Engelhardt, Rafael Sanchez, Moka and Montrealhustleclub, La Sotterenea 🥳 La Piscine with Sandy Duperval, Rich Spence, Knox, Lady Boom Boom, Aizysse, Sasha and Skyler, Club LaCité 👑 Bingo du midi! with Miss Butterfly and BEA(Arthur), Cabaret Mado 👑 Jimmy Moore personifies Britney Spears, Cabaret Mado 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Kiara, Jimmy Moore, Nana and Miss Butterfly, Cabaret Mado 👑 Late Night with Jessie Précieuse, Cabaret Mado 👑 Drôles de Drags with Miss Butterfly, Ciathanight, Crystal Starz or Emma Déjàvu in rotation, Bar Le Cocktail

Dimanche 4 août / Sunday, August 4

🏳️‍⚧️ Jeunesse Lambda and AlterHéros presents Navigating the Tides of Identity: Voices of Trans and Non-Binary Youth, Pavillon Tranquille—Le Réfectoire ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Museum of Jewish Montréal and Queer Moms Nite Out presents the Queer Family Craft Brunch, Museum of Jewish Montréal  🏳️‍🌈 Marginalized Majority hosts the 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomer & Immigrants Meet-Up in the Park, Parc Jeanne-Mance 🥳 FeminiX + BBQ Lesbien with DJ Lady McCoy, DJ Kris Tin and Misstress Barbara, Esplanade Tranquille ✨ 🐶 Weekend Pup Montréal hosts a Poutine Lunch, Bar Le Stud ✨ 📚 Literary Pride presents War of 2SLGBTQ+ Words with Amélie Boivin-Handfield, Marie-Hélène Racine-Lacroix, Luc Arsenault, Leila Sofiane and Jordan Dupuis, Théâtre la Comédie de Montréal ✨ 🎶 Osheaga 2024 with Noah Kahan, Green Day, SZA and many more, Parc Jean-Drapeau 👑 Le Brunch aux Folles with Misty Waterfalls, Lana Dalida, Manu Syrius, Bar Social Verdun 👑 Le Tracy Show with Tracy Trash and special guests, Cabaret Mado 👑 Dimanche Show with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail

Lundi 5 août / Monday, August 5

💪 Club de Soccer LGBT+ de Montréal hosts a BBQ and Pride Match, Parc La Fontaine ✨ 🎭 Ciseaux with Geneviève Labelle and Mélodie Noël Rousseau, Cinquième Salle ✨ 👑 RÉZO and Équipe Montréal present The High Heels Obstacle Race with host LaDrag On-Fly, Sainte Catherine Street East between Alexandre-DeSève and de Champlain streets ✨ 👑 Rawxy et cie with Sasha Baga, Foxy Lexxi Brown, Adriana and Lady Boom Boom, Cabaret Mado

Mardi 6 août / Tuesday, August 6

🏳️‍🌈 T’es mon genre | Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Centre-Nord presents the Villeray In Colors BBQ, Parc de Normanville ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Italo Queer Montréal and ItalFestMTL presents the Italo Queer Montréal Festa Italiana, MEM—Centre des mémoires montréalaises ✨ 💪 Roundtable on Experiences and Prejudices in Sport with Ouissem Belgacem, Maison du développement durable ✨ 📚 Literary Pride presents The Bare Naked Truth of the Words, Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal ✨ 🎭 Jour J Impro, Théâtre Sainte-Catherine ✨ 🎭 Ciseaux with Geneviève Labelle and Mélodie Noël Rousseau, Cinquième Salle ✨ 😆 Stand Up St. Henri Open Mic focusing on women, non-binary, queer and allied comedians, Impro Montréal 👑 Camping chez Sami with Sami Landri, BlackGold, Zoé Duval, Sam Bouchard, Christen Marlot, DJ Hermano, Kiara, Xénia and J4DE, Jardins Gamelin ✨ 👑 Full Gisèle with Gisèle Lullaby and special guests, Cabaret Mado

Mercredi 7 août / Wednesday, August 7

🏳️‍🌈 Égides, Dignity Network Canada and the Global Philanthropy Project present the International Symposium: Canada and Québec’s Role in Promoting Human Rights for LGBTQI People Internationally, Centre Phi 🏳️‍🌈 ExChange hosts the Intergenerational Art-Making and Dialogue Event, MEM—Centre des mémoires montréalaises 🏳️‍🌈 Pride at Work Canada presents ProFierté Montréal, Sid Lee 🎥 Queer Cinema Club of Montréal hosts a screening of Paris is Burning starring Venus Xtravaganza, Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey and Octavia St. Laurent, Cinema Moderne 🎨 GRIS-Montréal celebrates its 30th anniversary with Hors cadres : artists’ perspectives on gender diversity, Écomusée du fier mode ✨ 🎨 Drink & Draw by @Hommehomo, Bar Le Cocktail 🎭 The Poly Mic open mic, Bar Notre-Dame-des-Quilles 🎭 Ciseaux with Geneviève Labelle and Mélodie Noël Rousseau, Cinquième Salle ✨ 🥳 Soirées QUARTZ lesbian event with DJ Flip Phone and DJ Nath, Club La Porte 👑 Bobépine presents Céline Dion, Cabaret Mado 👑 Slaysians Pride Edition with Manny, Kajol, Komodo, Khann, Ad’horrible, Bijuriya, CC Chanel, EmmÖtional Damage, Joy Rider, Korra Anarchkey, Lia Jasmine, Ken Antonio, Suri Racha, Rico Love and Psyberia, Cabaret Mado

Jeudi 8 août / Thursday, August 8

🎨 GRIS-Montréal celebrates its 30th anniversary with Hors cadres : artists’ perspectives on gender diversity, Écomusée du fier mode ✨ 🎨 Queer Bodies hosts life drawing community with Nicholas Bellefleur and Raphë, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 🎶 ICI Musique presents Hits Battle with Catherine Pogonat, Claudine Prévost and Eugénie Lépine-Blondeau, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 🎶 ICI Musique presents ImmiX with Antoniya, Elisapie, Marjo, Mitsou, Ouissem Belgacem, Passion Poire, Pierre Kwenders, Rossomodo, Sarahmée, Siibii and Lennikim, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 📚 Violet Hour and Italo Queer Montréal presents Violet Hour: Here & Now with Matthew Fox, Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Montréal ✨ 🥳 BLUSH presents Salade de Fruits : Happy Hour Queer, an event by and for FLINT+, Bar La Marche à côté 🥳 Tèt Kole dance party for queer women with DJ Nalee and Jolie Jei, Entre-Nous 👑 Fierté & Burger—Souper Spectacle with Eva Moist, Lady Boom Boom and Moh Dafok, Notre Boeuf de Grâce 👑 Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Bière et Métal—Spécial fierté with RV Métal, Baron Camion, La Freak du Show, Jay Show and Wheelly Hot, Cabaret Mado 👑 C’est ma toune! : Edition party de nuit with Jessie, Bobépine, Lady Boom Boom, Tracy Trash, Johnny Jones and Walter Ego, Cabaret Mado

Vendredi 9 août / Friday, August 9

🏳️‍🌈 Community Days, the Village along Rue Sainte-Catherine Est ✨ 🎥 Les Archives gaies du Québec present the AIDS in 4 Parts film loops from 21h00-23h00, Parc de l’Espoir ✨ 💪 ACCM—AIDS Community Care Montréal presents the Friends for Life Bike Rally Arrival in Montréal, Parc La Fontaine ✨ 🎨 GRIS-Montréal celebrates its 30th anniversary with Hors cadres : artists’ perspectives on gender diversity, Écomusée du fier mode ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Kinkster Land presents Explore BDSM with Kinkster Land, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 🎭 Wiggle Room Pride Special: A Celebration of LGBTQ Performers with Rosie Bourgeoisie, Quinzy Chase, Olivia Killjoy, Tristan Ginger and Frenchy Jones, The Wiggle Room 🥳 Unikorn with Gia Woods and THELIMITDOESNOTEXIST, Société des arts technologiques—Satosphère ✨ 🥳 Hot Flash queer dance party, Bar Le Ritz PDB 🥳 THROB: Fierté MTL Pride with NOUR, B’UGO DAHLIN, Chia and b2b Ashou, Bar La Shop 🥳 Virtualis Pride Rave with D. Blavatsky, Neo Edo, Kris Tin, Grenadim, Casakobrae, Palladium, Katamina, Marmad and VJ Anarnas 🎶 Vivacious DJ set with Vivacious, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 👑 Cabenuva presents Drag Superstars with Rita Baga, Sasha Colby, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Naomi Smalls, La Grande Dame, Venus, Alvilda, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Black Peppa, Tenderoni, Denim and Sisi Superstar, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 👑 MajestiX with Barbada, Adriana, Charli DeVille, Infernal Desires, Lady Boom Boom, Lulu Shade, Marla Deer, Mister Boogie, Moh Dafok, Rosa Golde, Sasha Baga, Suzie Slim, Taylor De Vil and Val the Freak, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 👑 Le G Stop with Gisèle Lullaby, VIQ section, Esplanade du Parc olympique 👑 Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Carmen Sutra, Manny, Nana and Océane Aqua-Black, Cabaret Mado 👑 Late Night with Jessie Précieuse, Cabaret Mado

Samedi 10 août / Saturday, August 10

🏳️‍🌈 Community Days, the Village along Rue Sainte-Catherine Est ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Kinkster Land presents Explore BDSM with Kinkster Land, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 📚 Queer South Asian Women’s Network hosts the Montréal Live Book Reading & Queer Social Mixer with Alyy Patel, L’Euguélionne 🎨 GRIS-Montréal celebrates its 30th anniversary with Hors cadres : artists’ perspectives on gender diversity, Écomusée du fier mode ✨ 🥳 Discoño with La Goony Chonga, LIZZ, Jerico, G Mako and mCherry, hosted by House of Old Navy, Atlas, Keke Jones and Lily, SAT—Société des arts technologiques  🥳 MUNDO DISKO with B’UGO, Crystal Waters, France Joli, Heidi Lawden, Jamie 3:26 and Lost Heroes, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 🥳 Bear-It presents Anges et Démons : Bear Playground with DJ TRND and Massimo Paramour, Société des arts technologiques—Satosphère ✨ 🥳 MPU presents MPU: Loud & Proud with Venus, Black Peppa, Kiki Coe, Sami Landri, Barbada, Frantastik, Jeffany and DJPØPTRT, Le Belmont ✨ 🥳 Queen & Queer Dance Party—Pride Edition with DJ Karaba, Sarahmée, Arielle Roberge and DJ Sam, Club Soda 🥳 La Piscine with Sandy Duperval, Rich Spence, Knox, Lady Boom Boom, Aizysse, Sasha and Skyler, Club LaCité 🎶 ÎLESONIQ with DJ Snake, Tiësto and more, Parc Jean-Drapeau 👑 Jimmy Moore personifies Taylor Swift, Cabaret Mado 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Carmen Sutra, Manny, Nana and Océane Aqua-Black, Cabaret Mado 👑 Late Night with Jessie Précieuse, Cabaret Mado 👑 Drôles de Drags with Miss Butterfly, Ciathanight, Crystal Starz or Emma Déjàvu in rotation, Bar Le Cocktail

Dimanche 11 août / Sunday, August 11

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Parade, Boulevard René-Lévesque ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 Native Montréal hosts the second Annual Indigenous Pride Brunch, Collectif MTL 🥳 Mega T-Dance with Diskommander, Ian Jackman, DJ Mohammad and Kitty Amor, Esplanade du Parc olympique ✨ 🎶 ÎLESONIQ with DJ Snake, Tiësto and more, Parc Jean-Drapeau 🎭 The Lucy Show with Tranna Wintour, Rola Z, Kyra Carlton, Mariam Khan, Elie Gill and Raquel Maestre, The Wiggle Room 🎨 GRIS-Montréal celebrates its 30th anniversary with Hors cadres : artists’ perspectives on gender diversity, Écomusée du fier mode ✨ 👑 Jimmy Moore presents Madonna: The Celebration Tour, Cabaret Mado 👑 Le Tracy Show with Tracy Trash and special guests, Cabaret Mado 👑 Dimanche Show with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail

Mardi 13 août / Tuesday, August 13

👑 Full Gisèle with Gisèle Lullaby and special guests, Cabaret Mado 😆 Stand Up St. Henri Open Mic focusing on women, non-binary, queer and allied comedians, Impro Montréal

Mercredi 14 août / Wednesday, August 14

🎭 The Poly Mic open mic, Bar Notre-Dame-des-Quilles 😆 Top It Off! Comedy Show with Sadie Moland, Notre Dame Des Quilles 👑 World … It’s Summertime! with Drag Race Philippines and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World season 2 contestant Marina Summers and special guests Kiara, Moh Dafok and EmmÖtional Damage, Cabaret Mado 👑 Crystal Starz and Jessie Précieuse personify Kylie Minogue with Lady Boom Boom, Cabaret Mado 👑 Disney Villains with Val The Freak, Mike Oxlong, Démone LaStrange, Selma Gahd and Esirenna, Cabaret Mado

Jeudi 15 août / Thursday, August 15

🎭 Les Folies Draglesques with Miami Minx, Uma Gahd, Esirena, Malinka Molotov, Olivia Killjoy and Rosa Golde, Cabaret Mado 🥳 L’Orage presents Jeudi diversité !, L’Orage Club 👑 Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly, Bar Le Cocktail

Vendredi 16 août / Friday, August 16

🎥 Les Archives gaies du Québec present the AIDS in 4 Parts film loops from 21h00-23h00, Parc de l’Espoir 👑 Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Lady Boom Boom, Misty Waterfalls, Nana and Sasha Baga, Cabaret Mado

Samedi 17 août / Saturday, August 17

🎶 Missy Elliott’s Out of this World—The Experience tour with Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland, Bell Centre 🎤 Bareoke: Strip Karaoke, Café Cléopatra 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Lady Boom Boom, Misty Waterfalls, Nana and Sasha Baga, Cabaret Mado 👑 Late Night with Jessie Précieuse, Cabaret Mado 👑 Drôles de Drags with Miss Butterfly, Ciathanight, Crystal Starz or Emma Déjàvu in rotation, Bar Le Cocktail

Dimanche 18 août / Sunday, August 18

👑 Le Tracy Show with Tracy Trash and special guests, Cabaret Mado 👑 Dimanche Show with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail

Mardi 20 août / Tuesday, August 20

👑 Full Gisèle with Gisèle Lullaby and special guests, Cabaret Mado 😆 Stand Up St. Henri Open Mic focusing on women, non-binary, queer and allied comedians, Impro Montréal

Mercredi 21 août / Wednesday, August 21

🥳 Soirées QUARTZ lesbian event with Dirty Marquise, DJ Dracula and DJ Flowher, Club La Porte 🎭 The Poly Mic open mic, Bar Notre-Dame-des-Quilles 🎨 Drink & Draw by @Hommehomo, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 So EmmÖtional with EmmÖtional Damage, Suri Racha, Jay Show and Aizysse Baga, Cabaret Mado

Jeudi 22 août / Thursday, August 22

🏳️‍🌈 i to i: Authentic Relating Workshops and Ecstatic Temple host Authentic Dating for men Montréal, Ecstatic Temple 🥳 L’Orage presents Jeudi diversité !, L’Orage Club 👑 Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Sami Landri presents Le Sami Party, Cabaret Mado

Vendredi 23 août / Friday, August 23

🥳 The Dark Eighties dance party, Cabaret Berlin 👑 Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Gisèle Lullaby, Crystal Starz, Nana and Erica, Cabaret Mado

Samedi 24 août / Saturday, August 24

🥳 LEZ DANCE lesbian party with DJ Lili Manseau, Stock & Soda 👑 Jimmy Moore personifies Lady Gaga, Cabaret Mado  👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Gisèle Lullaby, Crystal Starz, Nana and Erica, Cabaret Mado 👑 Late Night with Jessie Précieuse, Cabaret Mado 👑 Drôles de Drags with Miss Butterfly, Ciathanight, Crystal Starz or Emma Déjàvu in rotation, Bar Le Cocktail

Dimanche 25 août / Sunday, August 25

👑 Le Tracy Show with Tracy Trash and special guests, Cabaret Mado 👑 Michel Dorion presents a Tribute to Marie Carmen, Bar Le Cocktail

Mardi 27 août / Tuesday, August 27

👑 Full Gisèle with Gisèle Lullaby and special guests, Cabaret Mado 😆 Stand Up St. Henri Open Mic focusing on women, non-binary, queer and allied comedians, Impro Montréal

Mercredi 28 août / Wednesday, August 28 🎭 The Poly Mic open mic, Bar Notre-Dame-des-Quilles 👑 PoP Corn extra beurre with Marla Deer, Gisèle Lullaby, Tracy Trash, Bambi Dextrous, Bobépine, Clay Thorris and Johnny Jones, Cabaret Mado

Jeudi 29 août / Thursday, August 29

🥳 BLUSH presents Salade de Fruits : Happy Hour Queer, an event by and for FLINT+, Bar La Marche à côté 🥳 L’Orage presents Jeudi diversité !, L’Orage Club 👑 Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Starz Wars with Crystal Starz, Cabaret Mado

Vendredi 30 août / Friday, August 30

👑 Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion, Bar Le Cocktail 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Marla Deer, Tracy Trash, Nana and Bambi Dextrous, Cabaret Mado

Samedi 31 août / Saturday, August 31

🎶 Cigarettes After Sex, Bell Centre 👑 Jimmy Moore personifies Céline Dion, Cabaret Mado 👑 Mado Reçoit with Mado Lamotte, Marla Deer, Tracy Trash, Nana and Bambi Dextrous, Cabaret Mado 👑 Late Night with Jessie Précieuse, Cabaret Mado 👑 Érica et ses divas with Chibouki and Lady ZaZa, Cabaret Mado 👑 Drôles de Drags with Miss Butterfly, Ciathanight, Crystal Starz or Emma Déjàvu in rotation, Bar Le Cocktail

OTHERS / LES AUTRES

🤠 Club Bolo—Danse Country Montréal meet on Fridays at the Association sportive et communautaire du Centre-Sud.

👯 Tango/Salsa Queer holds lessons every Saturday, visit queertangomtl.com for information or contact tango.queer@hotmail.com or call +1 (514) 709-4678 for prices and signup information, Espaces des Arts.

🏐 Les Ratons-Chasseurs (Montréal’s LGBTA dodgeball group) holds regular events. Keep an eye on their Facebook for upcoming opportunities to join in and play. 

🕹Montréal Gaymers hosts regular gatherings including board game nights and gaming gatherings. Check their Facebook for what’s next!

🏃🏾Join the Out-Run run and workout club for people relating to the queer / sapphic experience. Details on their Instagram!

🐦 Bird lovers should keep their eye on Queer Birders' regularly scheduled birdwatching events and excursions. Join the Facebook group and get those binoculars at the ready.

👠 Twice a month on every second Tuesday, Bring It! hosts an OTA night of ballroom and vogue with commentator and DJ. Follow their Instagram for dates and details.

[princess-of-the-corner]

One thing to note about RWBY is that it REALLY "grew the beard" over the course of its runtime.

Volumes 1-3 were animated in Poser (software that wasn't intended for use in animation), with rougher backgrounds and more simplistic writing related to complex themes. They were also only ever intended to be an extended prologue to the ACTUAL show, with the Big Twist of the Volume 3 finale being that the climax was actually just the inciting incident to the show's ACTUAL conflict.

Starting from Volume 4, the crew switched to Maya (software that's intended for use in animation), got better at writing more complex topics (the White Fang is treated more sympathetically than in the "Beacon Arc"), and Jaune was actually an interesting character for the entirety of the "Anima Arc" that lasted from Volumes 4-6.

Volume 7 is probably the best season of the show (I don't have a Crunchyroll account and so I haven't had the chance to watch Volume 9 in its entirety yet, even if I know what happens there). It deconstructs the whole "America Saves the World" trope with Atlas, and has some pretty good political satire that wound up being eerily prophetic. Also, Robyn Hill is one of the best characters the show has ever introduced.

Volume 8 contains both the best and worst moments of the series. V8C1-V8C11 features some of the best storytelling and most tense action from the franchise ever, but V8C12 has the overall message of "Okay but, the people who dehumanized Penny over her mechanical body KINDA had a point, let's fix what isn't broken!", V8C13 is a pretty descent villain episode, and V8C14 is by far the most offensive piece of media I've ever been subjected to. But still, up until those last three episodes, it was basically flawless.

I've heard Volume 9 is pretty good, but I'm side-eying everything involving Jaune because I honestly DESPISE the direction they took his arc in. But if we ignore EVERYTHING related to Jaune's role in the Volume, I like basically everything I've heard about it.

RWBY: After the Fall is a very good spin-off novel focused on popular side characters Team CFVY and shows what they've been up to since the Fall of Beacon in Volume 3. it also has a really interesting gimmick, as every other chapter is a flashback to something that happened in Team CFVY's past, further fleshing out their minor roles in the show.

RWBY: Before the Dawn is actual garbage. Sun's character arc (wherein his hypocrisy from the show is actually acknowledged and challenged) and Coco's and Velvet's shiptease are probably the only redeeming qualities. Taking this book into account actually makes Ironwood's reluctance to call Vacuo for help look REASONABLE. 2/10.

RWBY: Roman Holiday is a prequel novel focused on Roman and Neo, but Neo is the true protagonist here. The first few chapters leading up to their first meeting alternate between their perspectives, with the book being largely Neo focused after they finally meet.

RWBY: Fairy Tales of Remnant is an anthology of in-universe fairy tales. You can read it at any point in the series, but the further into the series you are when you read it, the more hints to RWBY's overarching plot you'll notice. While all of the Fairy Tales are works of fiction, some of them are dramatizations of actual events in the shadow war that RWBY's plot revolves around.

RWBY x JL: Super Heroes and Huntsmen is a 2-part film series wherein Team RWBY teams up with the Justice League. Part 1 features the Justice League visiting Remnant (kinda) during the events of Volume 7, and Part 2 features Team RWBY visiting DC Earth after the events of Volume 9.

There's also some ambiguously canonical comics published by DC, as well as 2 explicitly non-canon RWBY/DC crossover comic series. One features alternate versions of the Justice League cast who were born on Remnant, another features Remnant and DC Earth fusing due to Salem tricking Lex Luthor into helping her by playing off of his hatred of Superman. Neither of these crossovers are in continuity with the crossover movies.

Fascinating actually

[jewish-ship-showdown]

Ships that have already qualified (read before submitting):

Jude Lizowski/Jonesy Garcia

Tyler Kennedy "TK" Strand/Carlos Reyes

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Gwen Stacey

Willow Rosenberg/Winifred "Fred" Burkle

Francine Frensky/Muffy Crosswire

Susan Ivanova/Marcus Cole

Kate Kane (Batwoman)/Renee Montoya

Barry B. Benson/Vanessa Bloome

Jake Peralta/Amy Santiago

Willow Rosenberg/Tara Maclay

Jack Zimmermann/Eric "Bitty" Bittle

Justin "Ransom" Oluransi/Adam "Holster" Birkholtz

Danny/Reuven

Larissa "Lara" Bogdan/Jasmine

Kelsey Pokly/Isabella "Stacks" Alvarado

Rebecca Bunch/Audra Levine

Rebecca Bunch/Greg Serrano

Rebecca Bunch/Nathaniel Plimpton

Samantha "Sam" Manson/Danniel "Danny" Fenton

Bruce Wayne (Batman)/Selina Kyla (Catwoman)

Bruce Wayne (Batman)/Clark Kent (Superman)

Clark Kent (Superman)/Lois Lane

Harley Quinn/Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy)

Barney Guttman/Logan Nguyen

Leah/Chanan

Shay Goldstein/Dominic Yun

Marvin/Whizzer

Trina/Mendel Weisenbachfeld

Perchik/Hodel

Tzeitel/Motel

Monica Gellar/Chandler Bing

Molly McGee/Libby Stein Torres

Rachel Berry/Noah Puckerman

Fiddleford McGucket/Stanford Pines

Cristina Yang/Owen Hunt

Cristina Yang/Preston Burke

Levi Schmidt/Nico Kim

Rose Lalonde/Kanaya Maryam

James Wilson/Gregory House

The Baker and/The Baker's Wife

Kim Possible/Ron Stoppable

The Jewish People/The Shabbat Bride

Alec Hardison/Parker

Max Eisenhardt (Magneto)/Charles Xavier (Professor X)

Steve Rogers (Captain America)/James "Bucky" Barnes

Arnold "Arnie" Roth/Michael Bech

Arnold "Arnie" Roth/Steve Rogers (Captain America)

Billy Kaplan (Wiccan)/Teddy Altman (Hulkling)

Bobby Drake (Iceman)/Hank McCoy (Beast)

Bobby Drake (Iceman)/Johnny Storm (The Human Torch)

Layla El Faouly/Mark Spector (Moon Knight)

Matthew Hawk (Two-Gun Kid II)/Clint Barton (Hawkeye)

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Betty Brant

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Eugene "Flash" Thompson

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/ Felicia Hardy

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/ Harry Osborn

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Mary Jane "MJ" Watson

Peter Parker (Spider-Man)/Wade Wilson (Deadpool)

Steve Rogers/Bernadette "Bernie" Rosenthal

Wanda Maximoff/The Vision

Midge Maisel/Susie Myerson

Hal Emmerich (Otacon)/Solid Snake

Casey Goldberg-Calderon/Lunella Lafayette

Fran Fine/Max Sheffield

Ben Gross/Devi Vishwakumar

Winston Schmidt/Cece Parekh

David Jacobs/Jack Kelly

Seth Cohen/Summer Roberts

Scout Touzani/Elias Wyrick

KJ Brandman/Mac Coyle

Lavinia Asimov/Poison Oak

Phineas Flynn/Isabella Garcia-Shapiro

Anon's Mom/Dad

The person reading this & their partner

Jerry Seinfeld/Cosmo Kramer

Simon Lewis/Isabel Lightwood

Danielle/Maya

Bram Greenfeld/Simon Spier

Miryem Mandelstam/The Staryk King

David Rose/Patrick Brewer

James T Kirk/S'chn T'gai Spock

Worf Rozhenko/Jadzia Dax

Kanan Jarrus/Hera Syndulla

Brian Jeeter/Krejjh

Bobby Singer/Rufus Turner

Jonah Simms/Amy Sosa

Reish Lakish/Rabbi Yochanen

King David/Yonatan

Devorah/Barak

Moses/Tzipporah

Ruth/Naomi

Yaakov/The Angel

Rowan Roth/Neil Mcnair

Klaus Hargreeves/Dave Katz

Cecil Palmer/Carlos The Scientist

Josh Lyman/Donna Moss

Little Ash/Uriel

Lucille "Lucy" Kensington/Dr. Edison "Ed" Tucker

Fox Mulder/Dana Scully

Anshel/Avigdor

Alec Hardison/Parker/Eliot Spencer

Wanda Maximoff (The Scarlet Witch)/Jericho Drumm

Bruce Wayne (Batman)/Shondra Kinsolving

Bruce Wayne (Batman)/Talia Al Ghul

Ben Grimm (The Thing)/Alicia Masters

Velma Dinkley/Daphne Blake

Velma Dinkley/Marcie Fleach

Didi Pickles/Stu Pickles

Velma Dinkley/Coco Diablo

Babushka (Tatiana)/Dedushka (Ivan)

Kitty Pryde/Illyana Rasputin

Natasha Romanoff/Wanda Maximoff

Marc Spector (Moon Knight)/Clint Barton (Hawkeye)

Hillel/Shammai

S'chn T'gai Spock/James T Kirk/Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

S'chn T'gai Spock/Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Frankie Bergstein/Grace Hanson

Annie Edison/Jeff Winger

Maxine Myers/Paula Cohen

Baby Houseman/Johnny Castle

Tevye/Golde

Michael "Mike" Wazowski/Celia Mae

Talmudic couple having gay sex in the attic

Tim Drake/Kon El (Conner Kent)

Violet Baudelaire/Quigley Quagmire

Reuben Kent/Feliks Kaufmann

Anshel/Avigdor/Hadass

Amram/Zelikman

Anshel/Hadass

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL MAY 8, 2023 @ 12:00 AM EDT

[densesindealer]

My Full Muse List, Updated

I decided to go through and update my entire muse list, adding and removing characters, and I decided to make a post with the list that I intend to give easy to find tags on my blog, or to pin it later on.

All male muses can be used for gender transformation asks, and any males from their series can be used for gender transformation asks so long as they follow the other rules of my blog. This applies even if a male character from the series isn't normally on my muse list as their male counterpart. I.E. Byakuya from Danganronpa as a woman with Makoto, or Bakugou from My Hero Academia as a woman with Midoriya.

Danganronpa

Makoto Naegi

Junko Enoshima

Mukuro Ikusaba

Celestia Ludenberg

Aoi Asahina

Sayaka Maizono

Kyoko Kirigiri

Sakura Oogami

Toko Fukawa

Chiaki Nanami

Mikan Tsumiki

Hiyoko Saionji

Akane Owari

Peko Pekoyama

Ibuki Mioda

Mahiru Koizumi

Sonia Nevermind

Komaru Naegi

Kanon Nakajima

Hiroko Hagakure

Kotoko Utsugi

Monaca Towa

Chisa Yukizome

Miaya Gekkogahara

Seiko Kimura

Aiko Umesawa

Ando Ruruka

Kirumi Tojo

Tsumugi Shirogane

Angie Yonaga

Tenko Chabashira

Maki Harukawa

Miu Iruma

Kaede Akamatsu

Himiko Yumeno

Spy x Family

Yor Forger

Anya Forger

League Of Legends

Ahri

Akali

Senna

Miss Fortune

Lux

Jinx

Vex

Xayah

Vi

Annie

Ashe

Caitlyn

Irelia

Seraphine

Morgana

Neeko

My Hero Academia

Izuku Midoriya

Momo Yaoyorozu

Ochako Uraraka

Mina Ashido

Tsuyu Asui

Toru Hagakure

Kyouka Jirou

Mei Hatsume

Melissa Shield

Nejire Hado

Nemuri Kayama/Midnight

Rumi Usagiyama/Mirko

Kaoruko Awata/Bubble Girl

Emi Fukukado/Ms. Joke

Ryuku Tatsuma/ Ryukyu

Yu Takeyama/Mt. Lady

Shino Sosaki/Mandalay

Ryuko Tsuchikawa/Pixie-Bob

Tomoko Shiretoki/Ragdoll

Inko Midoriya

Mitsuki Bakugou

Kinoko Komori

Tokage Setsuna

Yui Kodai

Ibara Shiozaki

Pony Tsunotori

Itsuka Kendo

Reiko Yanagi

Himiko Toga

Manami Aiba/La Brava

Nana Shimura

Camie Utsushimi

Chitose Kizuki/Curious

Fuyumi Todoroki

Rei Todoroki

Kaina Tsutsumi/Lady Nagant

Merlin (BBC Series)

Merlin Ambrosius

Morgana Le Fay

High Priestess Nimueh

Harry Potter

Harry Potter

Cho Chang

Luna Lovegood

Fleur DeLacour

Gabrielle DeLacour

Hermione Granger

Katie Bell

Alicia Spinnet

Angelina Johnson

Lavender Brown

Susan Bones

Hannah Abbott

Daphne Greengrass

Astoria Greengrass

Bellatrix Lestrange

Narcissa Malfoy

Pansy Parkinson

Nymphadora Tonks

Andromeda Tonks

Aurora Sinistra

Septima Vector

Tracey Davis

Rowena Ravenclaw

Helena Ravenclaw

Penelope Clearwater

Amelia Bones

Lily-Evans Potter

Rose Weasley

Lily Luna Potter

Sue Li

Romilda Vane

Padma Patil

Parvati Patil

Mirabel Garlick

AI The Somnium Files

Kaname Date

Aiba

Shizure Kuranushi/Boss

Mizuki Okiura

Iris Sagan

Amame Doi

Phoenix Wright

Phoenix Wright

Mia Fey

Maya Fey

Pearl Fey

Trucy Wright

Ema Skye

Franziska von Karma

Athena Cykes

Lana Skye

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

Ryunosuke Naruhodo

Susato Mikotoba

Iris Wilson

Nikolina Pavlova

Gina Lestrade

Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson

Hazel Levesque

Piper McLean

Annabeth Chase

Reyna Ramirez-Arellano

Thalia Grace

Zoe Nightshade

Clarisse La Rue

Rachel Elizabeth Dare

Silena Beauregard

Sally Jackson

Bianca di Angelo

Calypso

Athena

Artemis

Aphrodite

Hera

Demeter

Hestia

Hecate

Persephone

Scooby-Doo

Norville ‘Shaggy’ Rogers

Daphne Blake

Velma Dinkley

Thorn

Luna

Dusk

Tanis The Mummy

Sibella Dracula

Phantasma

RWBY

Jaune Arc

Ruby Rose

Weiss Schnee

Blake Belladonna

Yang Xiao-Long

Pyrrha Nikos

Nora Valkyrie

Coco Adel

Velvet Scarlatina

Glynda Goodwitch

Cinder Fall

Neopolitan

Emerald Sustrai

Ilia Amitola

Winter Schnee

Willow Schnee

Kali Belladonna

Summer Rose

Raven Branwen

Salem

Penny Polendina

Neon Katt

Saphron Cotta-Arc

Terra Cotta-Arc

Street Fighter

Chun-Li

Cammy White

Rainbow Mika

Mortal Kombat

Johnny Cage

Cassie Cage

Kitana

Mileena

Tanya

Jade

Sindel

Skarlet

Jacqui Briggs

Li Mei

Cetrion

Sareena

Fairy Tale

Erza Scarlet

Lucy Heartfilia

Brandish U

Konosuba

Wiz

Aqua

Megumin

Darkness

Yunyun

Avatar The Last Airbender

Katara

Toph Beifong

Azula

Ty Lee

Danny Phantom

Ember Mclain

Dani Phantom

Sam Manson

Jazz Fenton

Madeline Fenton

Desiree

Johnny Test

Johnny Test

Susan Test

Mary Test

Sissy Blakely

Lila Test

DC Comics

Bruce Wayne/Batman

Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn

Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy

Thalia al Ghul

Zatanna Zatara/Zatanna

Barbara Ann Minerva/Cheetah

Diana Prince/Wonder Woman

Teen Titans

Richard ‘Dick’ Grayson/Robin/Nightwing

Rachel Roth/Raven

Komand’r/Blackfire

Tara Strong/Terra

Jynx

Arrowverse

Oliver Queen/Green Arrow

Barry Allen/The Flash

Nyssa al Ghul

Sara Lance/White Canary

Laurel Lance/Black Canary

Thea Queen/Speedy

Shado Fei

Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost

Kara Zor-El/Supergirl

Marvel Comics/MCU

Peter Quill/Star-Lord

Peter Parker/Spider-Man

Leopold ‘Leo’ Fitz

Steve Rogers/Captain America

Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

Jean Grey

Emma Frost

Mary Jane Watson

Gwen Stacy

Gamora

Mantis

Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch

Elektra

Kamala Khan/Mrs. Marvel

Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel

Felicia Hardy

Kitty Pryde

X-23

Mystique

Ava Ayala/White Tiger

Lady Sif

Daisy Johnson/Quake

Jemma Simmons

Melinda May

Genshin Impact

Aether

Lumine

Amber

Kamisato Ayaka

Barbara

Jean

Beidou

Ningguang

Collei

Diona

Klee

Qiqi

Paimon

Eula

Rosaria

Fischl

Mona

Ganyu

Keqing

Yoimiya

Raiden Shogun

Kujou Sara

Yae Miko

Hu Tao

Sangonomiya Kokomi

La Signora

Lisa

Noelle

Shenhe

Sucrose

Xiangling

Yelan

Code Geass

Lelouch Lamperouge/Lelouch vi Britannia

C.C.

Cornelia li Britannia

Euphemia li Britannia

Nunnally vi Britannia

Kallen Kouzuki

Villetta Nu

Kaguya Sumeragi

Shirley Fenette

Milly Ashford

Nina Einstein

Cecile Croomy

Infinite Stratos

Ichika Orimura

Chifuyu Orimura

Madoka Orimura

Cecilia Alcott

Laura Bodewig

Lingyin Huang/Rin

Charlotte Dunois

Houki Shinonono

Tabane Shinonono

Tatenashi Sarashiki

Kanzashi Sarashiki

Maya Yamada

Guilty Crown

Shu Ouma

Inori Yuzuriha

Hare Menjou

Haruka Ouma

Mana Ouma

Tsugumi

Ayase Shinomiya

Durarara!!

Mikado Ryuugamine

Celty Sturluson

Anri Sonohara

Super Mario Bros/Super Crown

Luigi

Bowsette

Booette

Rosalina

Princess Peach

Princess Daisy

Shy Gal

Undertale

Frisk

Chara

Toriel

Undyne

Muffet

Temmie

Five Nights At Freddy’s

Toy Chica

Roxanne Wolf

Glamrock Chica

Vanessa

Vanny

Every Male Animatronic As A Female

Kingdom Hearts/Disney

Sora

Kairi

Aqua

Xion

Larxene

Namine

Mulan

Elsa

Go Go Tomago

Belle

Cinderella

Alice

Snow White

Rapunzel

Helen Parr/Elastigirl

Violet Parr

Mirage

Judy Hopps

Your Turn To Die

Sara Chidoun

Maple

Tia Safalin

Reko Yabusame

Kanna Kizuchi

Huniepop

Tiffany Maye

Audrey Belrose

Kyu Sugardust

Kyanna Delrio

Celeste Luvendass

Nekopara

Chocola

Vanilla

Coconut

Azuki

Maple

Cinnamon

Spartacus

Spartacus

Ilithyia

Mira

Persona Series

Yu Narukami

Akira Kurusu/Joker

Chie Satonaka

Yukiko Amagi

Naoto Shirogane

Rise Kujikawa

Margaret

Marie

Ann Takamaki

Shiho Suzui

Makoto Niijima

Haru Okumura

Futaba Sakura

Kasumi Yoshizawa

Sae Niijima

Tae Takemi

Sadayo Kawakami

Pixie

Angel

Succubus

Silky

Apsaras

Cybele

Yaksini

Ishtar

Leanan Sidhe

Clotho

Lachesis

Atropos

Hua Po

Lilim

Maria

Pokemon Series

Hypno

Rosa

Elesa

Hilda

May

Dawn

Jessie

Lillie

Lusamine

Bea

Serena

Misty

Officer Jenny

Nurse Joy

Nessa

Cynthia

Flannery

Marnie

Lorelai

Mallow

Serena

Sonia

Akari

Mai

Arezu

Irida

Palina

Magma Admin Courtney

Nemona

Iono

Tulip

Professor Sada

Professor Juniper

Rika

Dendra

Carmine

Doki Doki Literature Club

Monika

Yuri

Sayori

Natsuki

Overwatch

Hana Song/D.VA

Amelie Lecroux/Widowmaker

Ana Amari/Ana

Angela Ziegler/Mercy

Lena Oxton/Tracer

Olivia Colomar/Sombra

Fareeha Amari/Pharah

Elizabeth Caledonia Ashe/Ashe

Brigitte Lindholm/Brigitte

Echo

Mei-Ling Zhou/Mei

Kiriko Komori/Kiriko

Illari Quispe Ruiz/Illari

Zero Escape

Sigma Klim

Phi

Alice

Clover Field

Mira

Luna

Hazuki Kashiwabara/Lotus

Akane Kurashiki

Resident Evil

Ethan Winters

Leon Scott Kennedy

Mia Winters

Claire Redfield

Jill Valentine

Sherry Birkin

Ada Wong

Rebecca Chambers

Sheeva Alomar

Bela Dimitrescu

Ashley Graham

Eveline

Dragon Ball Z

Broly

Android 18

Android 21

Cheelai

Bulma

Chi-Chi

Towa

Vados

Kusu

Marcarita

Bioshock Infinite

Booker Dewitt

Elizabeth Comstock

Helltaker

Modeus

Lucifer

Cerberus

Judgement

Azazel

Malina

Pandemonica

Justice

Beelzebub

Zdrada

Kim Possible

Ron Stoppable

Bonnie Rockwaller

Shego

Kim Possible

Monster High

Draculaura

Clawdeen Wolf

Cleo de Nile

Lagoona Blue

Toralei Stripe

Abbey Bominable

Venus McFlytrap

Spectra Vondergeist

Final Fantasy

Tifa Lockhart

Aerith Gainsborough

Yuffie Kisaragi

Jessie Rasberry

Stardew Valley

Haley

Emily

Abigail

Leah

Maru

Robin

Jodi

Caroline

Animal Crossing

Isabella

Ankha

Fauna

Judie

Diana

Infamous Second Son

Delsin Rowe

Abigail ‘Fetch’ Walker

Saints Row

The Boss

Shaundi

Kinzie Kensington

Asha Odekar

KiKi DeWynter

Viola DeWynter

Supernatural

Sam Winchester

Ruby

Lilith

Jo Harvelle

Ellen Harvelle

Ava Wilson

Bela Talbot

Sarah Blake

LOTR’s Shadow Of War

Talion

Shelob

Idril

Adventure Time

Marceline The Vampire Queen

Flame Princess

Ice Queen

Scream TV

Noah Foster

Riley Marra

Brooke Maddox

Piper Shaw

Dishonoured

Corvo Attano

Emily Kaldwin

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Xander Harris

Buffy Summers

Dawn Summers

Willow Rosenberg

Cordelia Chase

Jenny Calendar

Amy Madison

Drusilla

Faith Lehane

Tara Maclay

Darla

Until Dawn

Chris Hartley

Matt Taylor

Emily Davis

Jessica Riley

Samantha Griddings

Hannah Washington

Beth Washington

Corpse Party

Ayumi Shinozaki

Seiko Shinohara

Naomi Nakashima

Yui Shishido

Date A Live

Kurumi Tokisaki

Tohka Yatogami

Yoshino Himekawa

Gravity Falls

Dipper Pines

Pacifica Northwest

Tambry

Wendy Corduroy

Total Drama Island

Gwen

Lindsay

Heather

Bridgette

Courtney

Chuck

Charles ‘Chuck’ Bartowski

Ellie Bartowski

Sarah Walker

Carina Miller

Lou Palone

Anna Wu

Alex McHugh

Skyrim

Serana

Lydia

Aela

Beautiful Creatures

Ethan Wate

Lena Duchannes

Ridley Duchannes

Olivia ‘Liv’ Durand

Jurassic Park

Alan Grant

Zach Mitchell

Owen Grady

Ellie Sattler

Lex Murphy

Claire Dearing

Zara Young

Telltale’s The Walking Dead

Lee Everett

Javier Garcia

Clementine

Carley

Lily

Violet

Eleanor

Kate

iCarly/Victorious

Freddie Benson

Carly Shay

Sam Puckett

Jade West

Tori Vega

Trina Vega

Cat Valentine

Alice In Borderland

Ryouhei Arisu

Hikari Kuina

Rizuna An

Yuzuha Usagi

Asahi Kujō

Saori Shibuki

Elden Ring/Souls Series

Melina

Ranni

Sellen

The Fire Keeper

Lies Of P

Pinocchio

Sophia

Eugenie

Laxasia 

Belle

Red Fox

Youngest Of The Black Rabbit Brotherhood

Mascots

Wendy’s Mascot

Starbucks Girl

Samsung Sam

Miscellaneous

Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family)

Lola Bunny (Looney Tunes)

Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer)

Chika Fujiwara (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)

Hinata Hyuga (Naruto)

Akeno Himejima (High School DxD)

Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night)

Hestia (Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon)

Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)

Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)

Samus Aran (Metroid)

Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars)

Juliet Starling (Lollipop Chainsaw)

Morrigan Aensland (Darkstalkers)

Kitty Katswell (Tuff Puppy)

Palutena (Kid Icarus)

Faith Seed (Far Cry 5)

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)

Lois Griffin (Family Guy)

Vanessa Doofenshmirtz (Phineas & Ferb)

Ciri (The Witcher)

Quiet (Metal Gear Solid)

Loona (Helluva Boss)

Tigress (Kung Fu Panda)

Frankie Foster (Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends)

Super Sonico (Nitroplus)

Faith Connors (Mirror’s Edge)

Mavis Dracula (Hotel Transylvania)

2B (Nier Automata)

Alice Angel (Bendy And The Ink Machine)

Piper Wright (Fallout 4)

Saeko Busujima (Highschool Of The Dead)

Komi Shouko (Komi Can’t Communicate)

Rem (Re:Zero)

Raphtalia (Rising Of The Shield Hero)

Velvet Crowe (Tales Of Berseria)

Smurfette (The Smurfs)

Lady Love Dies (Paradise Killer)

Tatsumaki (One Punch Man)

[phoenixlionme]

Pieces of Media that prove the whole "Go Woke, Go Broke" slogan and those with that belief is utter bullshit

NOTE: No ranking involved.

A Different World

Aliens franchise - specifically the first two

All of Us Are Dead - Korean zombie TV series

Arcane

Atomic Blonde

Avatar The Last Airbender

Avatar the Legend of Korra

Bad Boys franchise

Barbie 2023

Beef 2023

black-ish franchise

Blackkklansman

Blade trilogy

Blue Eye Samurai

Bones TV show

Bridesmaids

Brooklyn 99

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Cagney and Lacey

Candyman 2022

Captain Planet

Carmen Sandiego franchise

Charlie's Angels - not the most recent one

Cinderella 1997

Craig of the Creek

Crazy Rich Asians

Creed franchise - sequel movies to the Rocky franchise

Cyberpunk Edgerunners

DCAU's Justice League

DCAU's Static Shock

DCEU's Aquaman

DCEU's Wonder Woman

Disney's Aladdin

Disney's Amphibia

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Disney's Big Hero 6

Disney's Elena of Avalor

Disney's Fairies franchise

Disney's Filmore

Disney's Frozen franchise

Disney's Gargoyles

Disney's Kim Possible

Disney's Lilo and Stitch

Disney's Moana

Disney's Mulan

Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves 1937

Disney's Tangled

Disney's That's so Raven

Disney's The Emperor's New Groove

Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney's The Litte Mermaid

Disney's The Owl House

Disney's The Princess and the Frog

Disney's W.I.T.C.H.

Dora the Explorer franchise

Dreamworks' Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

Dreamworks' She Ra and the Princesses of Power

Dreamworks' Trolls franchise

Eve's Bayou

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Fresh Off the Boat

Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood version

Get Out

Girls Trip

Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim

Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth

Hair Love short

Hairspray film

Halloween franchise

Harley Quinn 2019 TV series

Heartstopper

Hidden Figures

Insecure TV series

Invincible 2021

I Love Lucy

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken

Kill Bil Vol 1 and 2

Kill La Kill

Kim's Convenience

Laika Studios' Coraline

Little Women 2019

Living Single

Love Simon

Mad Max Furious Road

Matilda - the one with Danny Devito

Maya and the Three

Moonlight 2016

MCU's Black Panther

MCU's Black Panther II

MCU's Captain Marvel

MCU's Daredevil

MCU's Jessica Jones

MCU's Luke Cage

MCU's Shang Chi

Molly of Denali

My Life as a Teenage Robot

Never Have I Ever

Nimona 2023

Paper Girls

Pixar's Brave

Pixar's Coco

Pixar's Inside Out

Pixar's Turning Red

Pose TV series

Powerpuff Girls

Prey 2022

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Rent - musical movie

Reservation Dogs

RRR - Indian film

RWBY

Sailor Moon

Scream franchise

Searching/Missing movies

Sex and the City

Silence of the Lambs - first one

Sony's Spiderverse franchise- ITSV and ATSV

Spawn - Todd MacFarlane TV series

Spy Kids

Squid Games

Star Trek - mainly the OG one

Steven Universe

Studio Ghibli in general

Teen Titans animated series

The Book of Life

The Casagrandes - sequel to The Loud House

The Dragon Prince

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (only the OG one)

The George Lopez Show

The Golden Girls

The Last Of Us

The Legend of Vox Machina

The Legend of Zorro

The Loud House

The Nanny

The Old Guard

Thelma and Louise

To All The Boy I've Loved franchise

Totally Spies

Winx Club

X-Men 1990s animated TV show

Yellowjackets TV series

Yotsuba!

Yuri on Ice

Please feel free to add but be respectful.

[darlingshane]

Salt of the Earth ~ Part 2

Pairing: Michael Berzatto x OFC

Summary: She was Carmy's best friend growing up, and Michael never looked at her as anything other than that until years later when she comes back to Chicago to start over. In the process, she turns his sorry excuse of a life upside down.

Content/Warnings: 18+. Explicit, Friends to lovers, Fluff, Heavy Angst, Smut, HJ, Fingering, P in V, Family Drama, Dysfunctional relationships, Addiction, Alcohol, Hangover, Pets, Pet names, Dialogue heavy, Undisclosed age gap.

Word Count: 7.5k // Chapters 5-7 // AO3 Link.

— Part 1 (Chapters 1-4)

Chapter 5: Eat Humble Pie

One more mistake turns into a lesson learned for Maya.

She climbs into her car before breaking in front of him and drives back home after the party to dwell in her misery.

It was silly of her to make herself available for someone who doesn't take her seriously half of the time. She should have seen it earlier that he's just an asshole, but being blindsided by guys like him is one of her many flaws.

Against her better judgment, she put herself out there for the first time in a long time. He knew that was a huge step for her, and he just had the nerve to dismiss her feelings.

She's not the one to play games with. If Michael can admit that there's something between them, then she's not going to invest more time on this or push for something he doesn't want. Maybe she’s being a little arrogant, it wouldn't be the first time someone told her that, but this wasn’t a one-sided thing. He’s been definitely reeling her in just as much. She felt that every morning she went into the beef before work, every time they went out for drinks, every time he came over, every call, every text… He initiated a lot of those. Who does he think he is to make her feel like she's crazy? Like she made that up in her head? It could be possible, she tries to internalize. Perhaps she latched onto Michael so desperately because he was the only person that made her feel welcomed. It was strange for a long time being back in Chicago and being with him felt like being home.

Her mind jumps back and forth, trying to find a logical explanation. She doesn't find any, but she's sure he has his reasons.

Trying to forget all that and more, it’s not easy.

A week after his birthday, there’s still a part of her that keeps holding onto all those moments and memories they’ve made together. From painting her room, to the day she took care of him when he got his wisdom teeth removed. To all the many nicknames he gave her. And that time, he dog-sat for Coco when Maya went out of town for a couple of days. He’d just sent pics and videos of them playing, so she wouldn’t worry. It’s still fresh in her memory the day he invited her to his Sunday Braciole tradition. They weren’t as frequent as they used to be since Carmy left, but at least two Sundays a month they got together to cook and eat, and just have a good time with friends and family. For the past two months, she never missed one of those Sundays, but it was a hard pass this week. She got a text from Natalie asking if she was okay, that they missed her and Coco, but she was far from okay. Maya just replied with some bullshit about coming down with something.

Many times she’s found herself wanting to pick up the phone and call him as she used to. She willingly had to fight that need every day until it disappeared.

One evening, when she comes home after work, pulling up on the driveway, she spots Michael sitting on her front stoop, having a smoke under the light of the porch. It’s dark and cold and the last thing she wants to do right now is face him, but there’s no way around it.

“Hey,” She mutters, walking up to the door as he puts out his cigarette and stands up.

“Hey, can we talk?” His breath manifests in the air, as he exhales that last puff he took.

“Depends on what you have to say,” Maya crosses her arms against her chest.

“Just wanted to say I’m sorry for being an asshole the other night. I never got to say thank you for the party. That was really nice of you.”

“That's fine, Michael. I'm over it. I got the message,” she says dryly.

“This isn't as easy as you think it is.”

“I think it is. Either you want me or you don't. But you can't string someone along for months, and then make them feel like shit for wanting something more. It's fucked up.”

“Yeah, I agree it's fucked up. I'm… fucked up.”

“I'd say.”

“Hey, you're no picnic either, sweetheart.”

“You're right, I'm not. But at least I'm honest about it. I admit that I can be a little intense and inconsiderate, but I don't try to hide it. You on the other hand hide behind layers and layers of fake smiles and charms and bullshit stories, cause if people were to look closer, they'd see the real Michael. The one that I see.”

“You're also unbelievably obnoxious, did you know that? You don't know shit about me.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Have you even considered my part in all this, huh? You're Carmy's best friend. I knew you as a kid. How am I supposed to look him in the eye when he comes back in a few weeks and say – hey, by the way, I've been seeing Maya… Your Maya. What do you think he’s going to say? He's gonna hate the both of us.”

It's good to know he's considered all those things that didn't cross her mind. Yes, it'd hurt her to know that Carmy could potentially be affected by this. She wouldn't want that either, but no matter what, someone is getting hurt here.

“Well, I haven't thought about it that way, but I was never his to begin with. I’m my own person. I get to decide who I want. Not you, not him, not anyone. And even if something happened between you and me, it’s not like I’d rub it on his face.”

“Maya… You don't understand. You were everything to him.”

“Were. You’ve just said it. It's been a long time since high school, do you really believe that he's still hung up on me?”

“What if he is? What if you two were meant to be together?”

“Saying that out loud over and over won't make it come true. This isn't a fairy tale. And you should know that I haven't really talked to him, not one real conversation, since last year. Last time I heard from him was a text telling me he got the job at Noma. I said hey, congratulations, I'm proud of you… And he never spoke to me again. Told him I was moving back here, and crickets. And you know what? I still love him cause he's Carmy, but I'm not in love with him. I wish it was that easy. It'd be great if people could fall in love with the person they were supposed to be with. But it doesn't work that way, Michael.”

“Look, I know it's hard to understand, but I'm not the right guy for you. I'll never be. I thought we could be friends, but I can tell that's not enough for you, is it?”

“No, it isn't. If you feel that way, you should just go. It’s cold. I’m tired. And I should…” Defeated, she vaguely gestures at the front door before climbing the porch's steps.

“It hurts for me too, you know?” He mumbles as she unlocks the door.

“How’s that my problem?” She scoffs, incredulous at the gall he has of driving up there just to cause her more grief, and guilt-trip her. At least that is how it seems right now to her. “You’re the one that is too scared to feel anything real. I told you how I feel. I kissed you, for Christ’s sake! Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

“Maybe if you had stayed away from me, this would have never happened.”

“Are fucking serious right now?” she glances over her shoulder, letting her blood instantly come to a boiling point. “You gonna put this on me? This is just as much of your fault as it is mine. You knew that I was having a hard time adjusting, that I missed my friends, that I couldn't even turn to my family, and you took advantage of that. Go fuck yourself, Michael! Take your damn pills and go get high like you do every night to forget you're a fucking loser!”

Maya doesn't give him a chance to respond. She slams the door shut, turns on the light, and closes her eyes for a second as Coco comes out of her room to welcome her. The dog whines, happily wagging her tail, circling around Maya's boots.

Leaning down to pet her dog, she places her bag down on the floor. Coco lowers her ears as Maya holds her head and scratches her head.

“I'm so sorry I yelled, baby. C’mere,” she hugs her neck tight, taking some extra comfort from her pup cuddles and kisses for a moment until they both hear a shy knock on the door.

Hoping he’d just leave, she closes her eyes again and ignores it.

It’s worthless.

He knocks twice again.

And again.

“Maya? Open the door… Please. I’m… I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m a fucking loser. Let me try again… Please, I didn’t mean…”

“What do you say, should we open?” She asks Coco as she tilts her head to the door.

“Maybird. Mayhem. Can you hear me? Maya Papaya?”

It’s crazy to even consider going for round two, but she’s like a moth to a flame, unable to escape the appeal of that alluring heat.

Drawing a fortifying breath, she stands up and hesitantly unlocks the door.

“I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

“I'm a lost cause. Can I come in?”

“Are you going to behave?”

“I promise.”

She lets him set foot inside to be warmly welcomed by Coco hoisting her front paws up to his chest, wagging her tail, sticking her head out to lick his face.

“Hey, Coco girl. Have you missed me?” He pets her fondly.

“Coco, get down. He doesn't deserve kisses right now,” Maya sighs, gesturing at the dog, and she begrudgingly obeys, getting down and finding her bed in the corner of the living room. “Okay, say what you gotta say? You have one minute.”

“That's not a lot.”

“You're wasting time.”

“Straight up. Alright… I came here to apologize, and I blew it cause you're right I'm a loser. I uh… I thought that by pushing you away was doing you a favor, but I can see now that's not how it works.”

“No, it doesn't,” Maya says firmly.

“Truth is that I don't know what I’m doing… I thought that if I came here and gave you some closure, we could just move on. But I'm looking at you right now, and I don't think I'll be able to do that. It'll be pretty hard to forget about you after everything…”

“Stop trying to sabotage yourself. Live a little. Isn't that what you told me that day when you helped me unpack? Why don't you take that advice for yourself?”

“Because I'm a piece of shit and I don't deserve you.”

“That's not true.”

“It is. You said outside… For the longest time I've been pretending to be something I'm not, that I'm not sure who I am anymore. I thought you fell for that version of me that isn't real. But you didn't, you saw through all my bullshit, and you fell for me anyway… Why?”

“Why? Because I'm probably out of my mind.” She can't help but scoff a little. “I keep falling for all the wrong guys. But believe it or not, you're not the worst I’ve dealt with, Michael. You're not perfect. Nobody is. You say you’re pretending you’re something you’re not… that must be exhausting. I can see it's catching up with you already…”

“It is exhausting.”

“So stop doing that.”

“It's not that simple. I'm not you.”

“The best things in life are hardly simple, hon. It'll hurt like a motherfucker to undo all the damage, but once you make it to the other side, it'll be worth it. I've been there. I’m not perfect, either.”

“I think you're pretty perfect to be honest.”

“I've done plenty of shit that says otherwise.”

“Yeah, but you admit it. You're not afraid of putting it out there, even if people don't like it. That takes guts.”

“Well, I've realized that you can't please everyone all the time.”

“You should have been a shrink, you know that?”

“No, I'm not very patient with people. That's why I work with animals, remember?”

“You've been with me. It's been over a minute, and you haven't thrown me out yet.”

“Cause I'm a sucker. And beyond all reason, I believe everything you've just said.”

“So, what do we do now?”

“You're asking me?”

“Yeah, you're the one with all the insight.”

“Whatever happens now it's up to you, Michael. I’ve already forgiven you. You say you don’t wanna be with me but refuse to leave, and come in here for an encore. What did you expect from me?”

“I guess I keep hoping you’d change your mind about me. It’d be easier to leave if you hated me.”

“Do you want me to lie to you and say that I despise you?”

“No, unless you do.”

“Well, prepare to stay here all night, cause as much as I want to, I'd never hate you. So, it's just a matter of, do you wanna stay or go?”

He takes a deep breath and surrenders, “I… I think I wanna stay. If that’s okay.”

“That’s okay,” she exhales softly, echoing his words.

Neither of them are sure how to go on from there.

They’ve said so much, and yet there is still so much left unsaid. But the fact that he’s stopped letting that inner turmoil of shame and guilt keep him from her is a big step in the right direction. It grounds him, and gives him some peace of mind knowing that she’s looked him in the eye, and said — yes, I know everything about you, and I still want you.

Maya accepts who he is with an open heart, mind, and arms. She doesn’t seem fazed by it because she’s the most powerful force he’s ever encountered. He’s finally willing to give into what was meant to happen all along. He's tired of fighting himself. And if someone like her can find something redeeming about him, maybe he can try to be better for her.

“Can I…” hesitant, he takes a step closer. “Can I kiss you?”

“Only if you want to.”

“I wanna,” he barely mumbles below the sound of a breath. “I shouldn't have pulled away the other night. I understand if you-”

“Shh, just kiss me,” Maya's cuts him out. “Don't overthink it, Berzatto.”

“Okay.”

Drawing a shy smile, his head leans forward, as one of his hands cup her jaw.

“God, forgive me. You're so beautiful, Maybird,” he utters an inch away from her lips before sealing them shut.

This time, he closes his eyes, quiets the voices in his head, the ones that tell him he doesn't deserve her. In between the cracks of the walls he's put up, something else emerges. The relentless desire that comes with the same force of a waterfall. He lets it take the wheel as he savors the thrill that are her plump lips. Tenderly she kisses him back. Links her hands to his neck, begging him to keep kissing her, to consume her, to take her last breath. And he does. He delves deeper. Sends his tongue to soothe that aching that made a home in his chest. He's never felt his heart beat louder than now. It's like he's been dead for years, and she's bringing him alive kiss after kiss after kiss after kiss…

Chapter 6: Life is a bowl of cherries

Like most things in his life, Michael has a tendency to sabotage his relationships right before things start to get serious. He never follows through, a lot of people would agree. Perhaps, it isn't as much of a tendency but a result from his dependency to something else entirely.

The commitment to his work, the pressure to provide for his family has driven him to a very dangerous path. It’s never been more clear as it is now. His eyes are wide open. Forcefully. And for the first time ever, he’s willing to admit he has a problem that he can’t solve on his own.

It’s way past time to face the music, and he’s scared shitless to put that into words. Once the truth comes out, everyone will know how much of a failure he is.

He and Maya still haven't tackled that issue. She's not oblivious to it. She's the first one who saw that something wasn't right. She called him out on it and felt like a dagger laced in shame poked into his heart. Like most addicts, he never thought anyone would notice, he believed he was going so careful. But Maya Silva is not just anyone. She's insightful as she is sharp. She could spot his bullshit from miles away if she wanted to.

Having someone putting that into words was probably one of the hardest truths he had to hear about himself. He didn't realize it was getting out of hand until she verbalized that. They didn't touch it beyond that. While she's not a stranger to challenges, this is out of her depth. As much as it is for him.

While he got rid of a handful of demons, there are still hundreds that haunt him. They make all his fears come true the day after their kiss…

In an attempt to make a better man out of himself for her by breaking the habit, he tries to go just one day without the comfort of reaching to his hidden stash. He manages to go a few hours in the morning without it, but eventually, it becomes harder to go through the day to stay sober. He takes a lower dose, which is an achievement on its own, but it only shows how much he was relying on that.

Michael desperately wants to follow through for once, and makes the executive decision of not using while he’s with her. He’s aware that trading one addiction for another is not the best way to deal with it, but when they're together, it's easy to forget and ignore all those demons making noise in his head. It's when he's alone that he feels that devious hand trying to pull him into the dark well of desperation that his name carved on the walls.

At this moment, there's another different hand, a cold one, holding his own as they walk between rows of Christmas trees while Maya surveys each of them to choose one to bring home.

It’s the first week of December. They’ve easily slipped back to hanging out as much as they used to. And officially, they’ve been out a handful of times since that night he showed up at her door. They've been talking a lot and taking it slow, which feels nice for a change. Sometimes he wishes he could rush through all this part to see what the future holds for them. Thinking about the future in general has always been scary. However, thinking about a future with her gives him just a sliver of hope that things will get better.

Lacing his fingers with hers, he captures the glimpse of a smile as she keeps hauling his ass deeper into the tree farm. They had driven here, an hour out of the city, so she could cut her own tree, cause she read it was better for the environment. There’s no more fight left in him to chase away this overwhelming warmth, and new kind of love that envelops him. If she’d ask him to fly up to Mars, he’d do it.

His other hand is occupied by the end of Coco's leash that walks by his other side. The dog stops as Maya comes to halt to point at the chosen tree.

“This one.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. This one will fit perfectly in the living room without taking too much space.”

“Alright. Let’s haul it out.”

With the help of a saw they carefully cut the trunk at the base and then, aided by one of the farmers, then sleeve it in a net and load it into the truck.

It's a nice drive with his two favorite girls. Coco sits between Maya's feet and props her head on her thigh while she's pampered with lots of caresses and ear scratches. The dog quickly falls asleep like a baby and doesn't open her eyes until the truck has pulled up on the driveway.

They bring Coco inside, unload the tree, and put it on the stand. As Michael busies himself whipping out something for dinner, Maya brings the decorations she bought earlier and starts hanging them on the tree.

It's a pretty damn picture of the two of them, sitting on the couch, sharing food in front of the fire. He wishes he could frame that moment when she glances at him with that vivid glint in her eye that makes his heart melt.

Maya climbs onto his lap after putting the dishes away. Sitting sideways, her head pillows his shoulder, while his arm curls around her waist. One of her hands holds his bearded jaw, having her fingers softly petting his hairs.

“Thanks for helping me today,” she utters, enjoying his embrace and the cozy decorated room.

“Anytime, Maybird,” his palm slides over her legging-covered thigh.

Maya lifts her head and presses her curved lips sweetly on his cheek.

“We should go on a drive sometime again. It was nice.”

“Yeah, it was. Maybe for New Year's.”

“It's a date,” Michael squeezes her knee as her head leans to the side to capture his eyes.

Maya throws one of those disarming smiles that drives completely out of his mind. He holds the back of her head and seizes the temptation of her lips he’s come to know so well in a matter of days. He revels in the way their mouths fit together like two puzzle pieces.

They lose track of time while their tongues swirl slowly to the same cadence, savoring every second of it as if it was the last. Their arms are loosely locked around the other when Maya swifts her position to straddle his thighs instead. Her body dangerously rezones, sitting over his crotch. His adventurous hands travel to her ass, while the lock of their lips remains strong. He can’t help but pull her hips flush against his as the kiss heats up.

They've never gone further than second base until this point. Though they agreed not to rush into anything, tonight might be the day. He wants to. And so does she. But there's still that part of him that's holding him back from crossing that line with her. Maya's special. He's known her for so long, he wouldn't forgive himself from ever hurting her.

“I thought we were taking it slow.” At the most inconvenient moment, he breaks the kiss and takes his hands away from her when his body demands more of her.

“We’re making out… slowly.”

“Not anymore.”

“Do you have a problem with that?” A sly grin flashes across her face as one of her eyebrows arch.

“Don't look at me like that, Maybird.” He throws his head back on the edge of the couch.

“Like what? I’m not doing anything,” she laughs and leans her face closer to his. “Is it that bad to want you? Don’t you want me?”

“Of course I want you, sweetheart.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The problem is that doing this with you feels pretty fucking weird.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew you as a kid. You were practically a baby when we met.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said, Bear. First, stop thinking about me as a kid. That's creepy. Second, you aren't much older than me, Mister. And third, do I look like a fucking baby to you now? Or… Do I look like a babe?”

“A babe. Definitely a babe,” he emphasizes, lifting his head and running his tongue across his lips, letting his eyes roam the beautiful curves of her body hugged in a tight t-shirt and a pair of leggings.

“So treat me like a babe. Fuck going slow. Kiss me like you mean it, goddammit! Stake your claim. Grab me. Touch me like the world is about to end and the last thing you wanna do is spend your last dying moments with me.” She demands so passionately, it sends a chill through his body.

He swallows, as his eyes become glossy in lust. Michael grabs her chin to keep her face still. Chasing that desire, he ravages her mouth like he’s never done before. Drinking her in, letting his tongue run wild as his hands go down to grip at the curve of her hips. He unabashedly handles her body to press harder on him, over his growing bulge, that makes her moan into his mouth every time it hits the right spot.

Maya is beyond pleased to have him finally give in to that shared crave that only grows bigger by the second. He grows bigger even quicker once he’s jumped over that line.

Without breaking from his eager kiss, Maya stops moving on his lap and sends her hands to undo the fly of his jeans. Beneath the denim fabric, she can tell how his erection strains, begging to be released by the kindness of her hand. He groans a couple of curses into her mouth when she peels back his underwear.

Maya doesn’t have to look down to know how big he is. Her palm curves around his swollen cock. It fills up both her fists as she stacks one on top of the other. There’s some wetness already that she spreads down to the underside that helps her jerk him off nicely.

Michael loses momentarily his ability to breath and parts from her lips to draw some air. He captures her eyes that hold a darker shade as both of her fists tighten around him. After a moment, he glances at her diligent, handy work that might have him come earlier than he’d want to. Michael hasn’t been touched like this in a long time. At least not with someone he had a connection as deep as this.

“Does it feel good?” Asks Maya with a grin splitting her face, as she shifts on his thighs to straddle just one and rub herself against the toned muscles of his leg.

“So fucking good,” he says under his breath as his head falls back, clutching his fingers to her moving waist. “I… fuck… fuck me… Are you riding my leg?”

“Uh-huh. Do you want me to stop?”

“Hell no. That’s…” his breathing keeps faltering as she picks up the pace. “You getting all wet for me?”

“You have no idea, Bear,” she purrs over his lips.

All his blood flows down to fire consuming his center, letting him dangle from one lousy thread.

“Don't have to hold it. It's okay if you wanna come.”

“It's just… I don't want you to think…”

“Shh. There's nothing to prove. Just close your eyes, and relax. Let me give this to you.”

Following her guidance, his mind clears completely as he closes his eyes and stops clenching every muscle of his body to let her bring him to ecstasy. His hips buck up a few times. And in just a few more pumps, his cock twitches in her hold before covering her hands in the warm spill of his orgasm.

Maya’s hips come to a halt. She tenderly kisses his exposed Adam's apple without letting go of his hardness that still throbs for a moment as the orgasm ebbs. Then she wipes her hands on her leggings while his mouth finds hers. He presses a couple of soft kisses at the corner of her mouth as his breathing recovers.

Michael cradles the back of her head and pulls it down to his shoulder. He plays with her hair, while she listens to his heartbeat as it evens.

“I’m gonna make it up to you,” he says under a breath.

“You don’t gotta.”

“I wanna. Just need a sec.”

“Okay.” She smiles to herself, hugging his chest as he descends from his high.

Once his strength returns, he’s seizing her lips again at a gentle pace. His tongue swims in that endless well of affection she offers freely.

When he's ready, he picks Maya up and carries her to the bedroom to finish what she's started. Clothes are quickly discarded in the dim lit room they both painted together. When he frees her from her leggings and underwear, she's still wet.

He's dumbstruck by the beauty of all her, all bare just for him, laying as the most precious offering.

Smiling bashfully, he props one elbow on the bed, and lies by her side. His fingers gently slide across the surface of her inner thigh. Her skin forms goosebumps beneath his palm as they ascend closer to her groin.

Aiming for that sweet spot between her legs, he locks eyes with her and watches her expression as they land on her folds. Drawing a breath, her chest swells as he tenderly craws circles around her clit. The arousal wrapping around his fingers and the sighted moans he coaxes out of her mouth makes his cock harden again.

“A little harder,” she demands between pants, placing her hand on top of his to show him exactly how hard he can go.

“Like that?”

Maya nods and then holds his bearded jaw with both hands, pulling his face closer to capture his mouth, while his fingers move quicker. She jolts at the sensation of two of them suddenly slipping into her opening. He keeps his thumb steady massaging her clit at the same time. The delicious mixture of movement makes her core thread in a tight knot of pleasure that begs to be untied.

“Michael, baby… I'm almost…” His name has never sounded as good as the way she cries to it the closer she gets to the edge.

“I know, sweetheart. Come for me, beautiful.”

His fingers slip in and out gradually faster until her body is left shuddering by the final impact of that sweet orgasm. The soft fabric of her skin buzzes beneath his palm as she rides that wave of pleasure that takes her to a higher plane. All her muscles seize up for a split second, and then her body becomes jelly.

Inhaling a long breath, Maya turns to the side and curls against him, hugging his torso.

They stay in comfortable silence for a long moment, enjoying the calmness of being wrapped around the other.

Maya kisses his neck softly while his fingers run up and down her spine.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you are like this?” He whispers.

“Yeah, I think you did,” her head tilts up to look at him.

One of his fingers draws her jaw, “I mean, you’ve always been stunning, but I’ve never seen you glow like this. It's like staring into the sun.”

“You're so fucking corny.” She smiles shyly before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “You look different, too. More relaxed.”

“The power of orgasm.”

“That must be it. When was the last time you had sex?” She blurts out, and regrets immediately after seeing his eyes slightly widen. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“Sweetheart, you can ask me anything now. I mean, we’re both fucking naked. It can’t get more intimate than this.”

“That’s true.”

“To answer your question… the last time I had sex was a few months ago. It wasn’t anything serious. There was this girl in my building, we used to hang out sometimes. And then… then there was you, and I couldn’t…” he doesn’t have to finish for her to grasp the concept that he couldn’t be with anyone else but her.

“Well… If you’re up for it, we could go all the way.”

“I suppose we could. We’ve come this far… Why stop now, right? It’s the end of the world, after all.”

“Right,” she laughs, pressing her lips to his shoulder.

Feeling more energized, she guides him to lay on his back, stretches his arms above his head while she mounts his hips. Leaning over, she nibbles his bottom lip as her ass rotates over his dick, getting it to become hard-rock again with such little friction.

“Are you clean, you know, STI wise?” she mumbles over his mouth.

“That is the sexiest thing anyone has ever asked me.”

“So, are you?”

“I am. You?”

“Clean and safe, if you’re wondering. That’s sexy to me.”

“Bet it is,” he chuckles, grabbing her ass and pressing her harder against his building erection.

She moves like an enchantress, cursing every inch of his body with her charms to use for her pleasure. He welcomes it. He’s never felt this excited in years, and that’s all she is. Her impulsivity, her passion, her vitality… It's the perfect cocktail. She adds all of her to it, doesn’t leave behind an ounce of anything. It’s all or nothing. That’s why he easily falls in love with her more every day. He wants to drink her all in, absorb every drop until she becomes part of him.

When she sinks onto his cock for the first time, he’s mesmerized by the way she looks at him with nothing but radiant warmth and lust. Her hands brace his chest, as she slowly takes him all the way down. It feels like his world spins on its axis as she experiments with her hips. First, waving gently, then when she’s used to being filled with him, she starts bouncing on top of him.

Nothing ever felt more right than having her like this. Her skin melts beneath his palms, and all he wants to do is explore every corner of her body. She throws her head back and moans at the air as her hips go back to rocking back and forth when they get tired.

Michael slings an arm around her waist, pulls her down against his chest, and gingerly swifts her body around to be on top. His thrusts suddenly come sharp and measured, hitting all the right spots within her tender walls, earning a few good cries mixed with his name. He holds one of her breasts in his palm, as he madly makes love to her. He feels her nails scratching roughly along his back as they both swim closer to the edge. There’s a force taking over his hips that pushes him to his limit as if it was a matter of life or death. It is. At this moment, nothing matters more than chasing that ultimate reward. He makes it his life mission. It consumes everything in the room, makes his whole body tremble in ecstasy as he ascends with her closer to that pinnacle.

He doesn’t stop until she’s left breathless with her body shaking underneath him. And this time, he can hold on for just one more second till she comes apart to let go and have all his seed spilled inside her.

This becomes their most memorable night to date. That room becomes their safe haven to explore and love each other in ways they haven’t done before. They disappear into a daze of sleeping, fucking, and repeat. It becomes primordial and sacred. He finds new ways to worship her body. She finds new ways to reach into his soul, carve herself deeper.

Chapter 7: That's the way the cookie crumbles

Michael is sitting on the couch, absentmindedly surfing between channels on Maya's TV when Coco sprints down the staircase, anxiously whining after hearing a string of loud popping sounds outside. The dog hops onto his lap with her tail between her legs. She lowers her head, tucking it beneath his arm, trying to make herself as small as possible. He glances out the window to see a few kids playing with novelty fireworks across the street.

“Are you scared of fireworks, Coco girl?” He pets her head softly. “Shh, It's okay, baby.”

Maya's out tonight with some of her coworkers she's made friends with, and he's decided to stay with Coco. She doesn't need babysitting, but he likes staying here. To be honest, he's been sleeping at Maya's most nights since they started having sex.

He soothes the dog with lots of cuddles and a couple of treats until the kids go back home and the big scaredy-cat pit bull finally stops trembling.

They both doze off for a while, and he's awakened by the ringtone of his phone when Maya calls him to ask to be picked up. She said she had a few drinks and didn't want to drive. So, he takes Coco with him and drives to a bar that is only a few blocks away from his own apartment.

Maya is more wasted than she sounded on the phone. Her friends are only halfway there. He makes sure that all her friends have someone to give them a ride before taking Maya home. Instead of driving back to Oak Park, he decides to take her to his apartment.

It concerns him to see her in this state. She barely mumbles a word, but he can clearly see that there's something going on that she can't bring herself to say. Michael shouldn't judge. God knows how many times he's drowned his sorrows in a bottle, but this doesn't seem like her at all. She was so excited earlier to go out and now there's nothing but sadness plastered all over her face.

Upon their arrival, she vomits everything she had drank earlier and some more. Michael holds her hair and soothes her back while she leans over the toilet until there's nothing more left in her. He dutifully takes care of Maya and brings her some juice to settle her stomach after getting her to lay down on his bed.

In the morning, he quietly slips out of bed, takes Coco out on a walk and feeds her before Maya even wakes up. By the time they return, Maya is already up. She's taken a shower, and now she's just sitting on the couch, wearing one of his shirts, sulking and eating some crackers she found in the kitchen cabinets.

“Morning, sweetheart.” He kisses the top of her head while Coco goes around the couch, wagging her tail, demanding some attention.

“Hey,” Maya greets back, glancing at him while holding the dog's face and kissing her nose. “Was she good last night?”

“Yeah, she's the best.” Michael sits down on the coffee table and pats the dog's spine as she lays down on the floor. “Did you know she's scared of fireworks?”

“Yeah, she's not a fan.”

Maya tucks a knee to her chest, catching Michael's vexed look that creases his brow as he props his elbows on his knees and tensely links his fingers together.

“What?” She asks dryly.

“I didn't say anything.”

“There's clearly something in your mind. I can tell.”

“Of course you do.”

“C'mon. Out with it, Berzatto. What is it?”

“Nothing. I just… I'm worried about you. You didn't seem like yourself last night.”

“Bear, you don’t have to worry about me. I just took a few more shots than I should have.” She shrugs it off with little importance. “But I'm fine… Well, you know, besides the killing headache and the hangover. I shouldn’t have drank that much.”

“Then, why did you?”

“I don't know… Why does anyone drink at all?” She annoyingly deflects.

“You seemed okay when you called. But when I picked you up… You could barely stand.”

“Look, I'm sorry that I called you. I'll think twice next time.”

“It's not that, sweetheart. I loved that you called… I'm just trying to understand what happened.”

“People drink. Big deal. I went out with some friends and had fun. That's it. Why are you grilling me about this? It's a little hypocritical coming from you, don't you think?”

“I'm not grilling you. I'm trying to figure out what happened. It’s obvious you're trying to hide something.”

“Yeah? Tell that to your stash drawer. You wanna lecture me about drinking? Start explaining why you need that many pills.”

“You went through my drawers?”

“I was looking for a shirt.”

“You know what? It doesn't matter, cause we're not talking about me right now.”

“How convenient. You're the one that has a real problem. I was upset last night and I got wasted. The end. I'm not going to drink tonight or tomorrow or the day after that, and probably it won't happen again, cause I know my limits. Do you know yours?” She jabs sharply, meaner than he's ever heard her.

Michael hangs his head down, shame washing all over him, stares at the floor for a long moment before answering.

“I wasn't trying to start a fight or lecture you. I just wanted to know if there was something bothering you– I guess it was just a matter of time before you found… You're right… I'm… I have a problem. But I don't use when I'm with you… I…”

Maya stands up and faces the window. Looking outside, she comes to realize how tactless that was on her part. Tears slip out of the corner of her eye. She never wanted to confront Michael like this. Let alone let her own insecurities get the best of her.

“I'm sorry. I didn’t mean…” She wipes her tears, and picks up the phone from the table.

She unlocks it and presses play and speaker for him to listen to a voice message she received yesterday. In it, the voice of her sister suggests that Maya should consider not attending Christmas dinner to avoid upsetting their mother like the year before. The message goes on about their-sister-in-law being pregnant, about to give birth around the holidays, and that she doesn’t need that added stress to that night, since they’re the ones hosting this year somewhere in bumfuck, Utah. She babbles for a while about how Maya has made her situation even worse for herself when she decided to move back to Chicago and hide it for months; along with a string of excuses that she's heard many times before.

They've always been subtle with their dismissal, saying it was fine if she had other plans. But that call is the first time they've openly asked her to refrain from attending a family function.

“I got it during dinner and I just… I don’t know, it’s like a switch flipped in my head, and I started throwing back shots to forget… I wasn’t trying to hide it. I just didn’t want to talk about it or think about it right now.” She explains, placing the phone, and then paces the length of the living room a couple of times.

“I get it,” Michael sighs and stands up, running his palm over his beard, putting a stop to her feet.

“I’m sorry that I went through your stuff and that I used that against you… I shouldn’t have. That was a low blow.”

“Guess we're both kinda messed up. I wasn't trying to hide it, either. You already know that I'm fucked up. It's just… We've been in this bubble and I wanted to enjoy that for a little longer before having to deal with all that, y'know?”

“I know,” her hand gently cups his bearded jaw. “When you're ready to talk about it… I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Bubble or not. I… I've never been happier with anyone, Michael. It might be incredibly naive and idealistic of me to say this, but I feel like if we're honest with each other, there's nothing we can't face.”

“I feel that too, Maybird.”

Michael holds that same hand that's placed over his beard and prints a soft kiss on her palm, tickling her skin.

Then, he releases it and perches his hands on her waist as Maya links her arms around his neck.

“What are you going to do with the whole don't come home for Christmas thing?”

“I don't know. Part of me just wanna show up and ruin their night. But I know if I stay, they'll see that they're just as miserable with or without me. They just need someone to blame for their misfortunes, and I’m it.”

“Hey, maybe you could come have dinner with us like you used to.”

“Christmas at the Berzattos? I'm not sure which one is worse.”

“C'mon, they both suck. It's our first Holiday since we started this, it'd be nice to spend it together, don't you think?”

“I guess… I could think about it.”

[adamburt1984]

My Wafius (Updates)

Anime: Chisato Nishikigi, Takina Inoue & Kurumi (Lycoris Recoil), Rebecca (Cyberpunk Edgerunner), Akame (Akame Ga Kill), Black Rock Shooter, Karen Araragi (Monogatari), Suzuha Amane (Steins Gate), Ouka Yuuouji (Noucome), Karuta Roromiya (Inu-x-Boku-ss), Miu Fuurinji, Kurumi Ebisuzawa (School Live).

Video Game: Obera Dia Vanille (Final Fantasy XIII series), Marie Rose and Honoka (Both Dead or Alive series), Cammy White (Street Fighter series), Kasumi (Dead or Alive series), Hitomi (Dead or Alive series), Red Dress/Checkpoint Fairy (Spyro Reignited Trilogy), Zoe (Spyro Reignited Trilogy), Fauns from Fracture Hills (Spyro Reignited Trilogy), Bianca (Spyro Reignited Trilogy), Bella Goth, Liberty Lee, Candy & Yuki Behr, Summer Holiday, Pleasant Twins, few others in The Sims 4, Kasumi Yoshizawa (Persona 5 Royal), Sumire Yoshizawa (Persona 5 Royal), Hifumi Togo (Persona 5 Royal), Lavenza (Persona 5 Royal).

Genshin Impact: Hu Toa, Lumine, Amber, Yoimiya, Raiden Ei, Kamisato Ayaka, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Xiangling, Ganyu, Kaqing, Kirara, Noelle, Jean, Kuki Shinobou, Navia, Charlotte, Jeht, Rana, Ying'er, Estelle, Eremite Dersert Clearwater, Zhiqonq, Nilou, Faruzan, Candace, Dehya, Layla, Idyia, Ningguang, Yun Jin, Xinyan, Yan Fei, Lynette, Sucrose.

Cartoon: Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender).

Pony: Derpy, Minuette, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimour, Twilight Sparkle.

Equestria Girls character: Derpy, Sunset Shimmer, Lemon Zest, Pinkie Pie.

Comic Books: X-23, Honey Badger, Batgirl (Stephanie Brown), Spiderwoman.

Other: Hatsune Miku, Rin Kagamine, Kasane Teto, IA, ONE, Yukari Yuzuki, Wendys (Wendys Mascot), Kizuna Ai, Kaguya Luna, Kiyru Coco, Gawr Gura, Usada Pekora, Minato Aqua, Inugami Korone, Watson Amelia,  Hoshimachi Suisei, Shirakami Fubuki.

Female I dislike most: Ume Shiraume (Ben-To), Agnes Joubert (Tiger & Bunny), Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya), Suphia Myne (The Rising of The Shield Hero), Quinella (Sword Art Online Alicization), Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Maya Ibuki (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Ran (KonoSuba), Most girls in A Certain Magical Index, Three typical girls who don't want to be bothered, say they got boyfriends and busy fliping their phone (from an Anime).

[crimedawgbylaw]

2022 FAVS

RAP SONGS

Fr33bandit, Quelly Woo & Set Da Trend - “TRY YA LUCK”

Babyface Ray - “Let Me Down (feat. 42 Dugg)”

seiji oda - “aero3″

26ar - “Roll it”

Bru-C - “No Excuses”

Mike Sherm - “Ballin”

Bad Boy Chiller Crew - “BMW”

Chicken P - “Homer”

Cash Cobain & Chow Lee - “SLIZZY LIKE”

MarijuanaXO & Joe Pablo - “Fire Brings Ice”

Veeze - “let it fly”

2Rare, PGS Spence & D STURDY - “Sri Lanka”

TGE L Masi - “Broke Da Scale (feat. Joe Pablo & MarijuanaXO)”

Stunnaman02 & Drew Banga - “Wit a Twist”

ZahSosaa - “Stripper Anthem”

BlueBucksClan - “Who We Are”

Rucci & Wallei the Sensai - “House Party”

Kamaiyah - “Comme Des Garcons”

Bandmanrill - “FREE BRO”

Viviane Chidid - “Sweet Game (feat. Bass Thioung)”

Dino BTW - “Baby”

MarijuanaXO - “Belly”

Ice Spice - “Name of Love”

Bear1Boss - “Nike!”

Coco & Clair Clair - “Cherub”

Mike Mike & Chicken P - “Lottery”

Asian Doll - “Get Jumped (feat. Bandmanrill)”

03 Greedo & Mike Free - “Pourin (feat. BlueBucksClan)”

Tony Shhnow - “Don’t Look At Numbers Remix (feat. Brent Faiyaz)”

Lil Trav - “Threw The Day (feat. Realstasher.50k & Baby D)”

D4m $loan - “Drive Who Crazy”

Lil Ken, FayFay & Ghost - “I Got Fire”

NLE Choppa - “Do It Again (feat. 2Rare)”

Papo2oo4 & DJ Lucas - “Misinformed”

Gino Bonazzi & Bad Boy Chiller Crew - “Alize”

Desto - “Free Slatt”

Benzz - “Je M’appelle”

AD - “All I Do”

Cico P - “4AM In Charlotte”

Mula Mar - “Just Powered On”

Sus - “Covid”

Wiki & Subject 5 - “Silent Meeting (feat. DJ Lucas)”

Peezy - “2 Million Up”

2219 Lee & Cash Cobain - “Slizzy Bop”

EBK Jaaybo - “Free Mad Maxx”

Sickboyrari - “BOW WOW”

SME TAXFREE - “Stay Focused”

Kevin Gates - “Shoot My Shot”

A1 x J1 - “Don’t Lie (feat. Nemzzz)”

Thaiboy Digital - “I’m Fresh”

NOT RAP

Olley & Neville Sigauke - “iDlozi (feat. DJ Jabs)”

Asake - “Sungba Remix (feat. Burna Boy)”

Burna Boy - “Last Last”

Two Shell - “home”

Popstar Benny - “Swagging! v4″

Cabo Snoop & DJ Aka-m - “Controlla”

Charli XCX - “Beg For You (feat. Rina Sawayama)”

ROSALIA - “LA COMBI VERSACE (feat. Tokischa)”

Ruti - “Safe & Sound”

Nia Archives - “Ode 2 Maya Angelou”

Deize Tigrona & JLZ - “Monalisa”

Mura Masa & Erika de Casier - “e-motions”

Cowgirl Clue - “Trailblaze”

Bad Bunny - “El Apagon”

Koffee - “Pull Up”

ERU - “Trust Issues”

Brent Faiyaz - “PRICE OF FAME”

Lay Bankz - “In My Bag”

NewJeans - “Ditto”

TisaKorean - “Backseat”

ALBUMS

Cash Cobain & Chow Lee - 2 SLIZZY 2 SEXY (DELUXE)

Charli XCX - Crash

Seiji Oda - lofi // HYPHY

Hikaru Utada - Bad Mode

Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti 

Burna Boy - Love, Damani

Babyface Ray - Face 

BlueBucksClan - Clan Way 3 

Cash Cobain - Slizzy Timing

Tomu DJ - Half Moon Bay 

Chicken P - Bussabrick Vol. 2

Coco & Clair Clair - Sexy

Two Shell - Icons

Nia Archives - Forbidden Feelingz

Bad Boy Chiller Crew - Disrespectful

RANDOM OLDER SHIT I ENJOYED

Baby D - “Let Me Be Your Fantasy” (1996)

Blümchen - “Herz an Herz” (1996)

The Jacka & Liqz - “Die With My Styrofoam (feat. Berner)” (2012)

Julie Stapleton & Ashaye - “All The Way (Guitar Mix)” (????)

Liquid - “Rise” (1995)

Madonna - “Nobody’s Perfect” (2000)

MC Genno, MC Triken & DJ Shorty - “25Nov08 PART 2″ (2008)

Moa Pillar & Ушко - “Zmeya VIP”/”Змея VIP” (2020)

SoulDecision - “Faded” (2000)

Tyla - “Getting Late (feat. Kooldrink)” (2021)

[kumkaniudaku]

FRIENDS (One)

A/N: This is HELLA late, but also on time considering @bribrisback is here to be part of it. I decided to split this into parts because it’s 5k words and counting. So, here’s to part one of another Maya x CoCo collab. Enjoy. 

Seasons had come and passed, families started and extended since the Boseman and Udaku tribes had been able to reconnect in person. What felt like an insurmountable distance didn’t keep the two couples from speaking almost weekly, or exchanging updates and gifts whenever necessary. Unfortunately, plans to spend the New Year in Wakanda fell through due to work commitments on both sides, further extending the time between visits.

Once the heatwave of late Spring rolled through, talks began to intensify about a concrete arrival date for Maya and T’Challa’s inherited family.

“So, Co, I have a surprise for you,” Maya sang on the other side of their FaceTime call.

“Is my girl a Delta yet? My Mala is crossing?!”

“Okay, number one, it’ll be hell to pay if that happens,” the Queen scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “Number two, no. I have a surprise that actually makes some damn sense.”

“Alright then, girl. When can I see this sensible surprise?”

“Well,” Maya started, chewing her bottom lip. “Challa and I were hoping you and Chad were still open to coming for a visit.”

“You know what’s crazy? We were literally just talking about the trip in bed last night.”

“It’s good to know y’all were thinking about us in the bedroom.”

Tasha watched Maya wink playfully before both ladies burst into laughter, “You are a mess.”

After much preparation and having to convince her husband and King, the Boseman’s were set to visit Wakanda.

“I’m so excited. Thanks, baby.” Maya stood on her tiptoes to give T’Challa a kiss.

Playfully rolling his eyes, he kissed her back. “Yeah, yeah.” Pulling back, he placed his hands on her belly. “Are you okay?”

“Fine, now let’s go tell the kids and Erik and Jas.”

“And the Milaje. Remember background checks are crucial.”

Maya walked away and shook her head, “You are ridiculous.”

“Just trying to keep everyone safe. That is my job, entle.” While he was partially joking, T’Challa took the subject of visitors seriously. And while he knew the Boseman’s were great people, he still took proactive steps. Maya called him paranoid, he called it precautious.

Maya called a meeting and was giddy when her family gathered around her. “Baby.” Jada, Erik and Jasmine’s daughter, rubbed her Aunt’s belly and giggled.

“Babies, Jada. Remember there are two.” Abdul said, sitting near his mama.

“Right.”

“So what are we in here for?” Erik asked, trying to read everyone’s faces. 

“Well, I have some exciting news.”

“TRIPLETS!” Mala stood up and squealed.

“Girl no!” The Princess and her father mumbled their disappointment. “Wait, were you banking on triplets? T’Challa, you know what the surprise is!”

“I know, I know, Kitten but I thought that was at least a possibility.”

The Queen could feel herself growing rapidly agitated with her daughter and husband and their absurd wish for her to have another baby. She just wanted to get the news out of her friends coming or she was going to burst into tears and flames.

Her emotions were quickly getting the best of her and she had to calm down, “Can I finish?” She asked.

“Of course.”

“Anyway, I have some exciting news. No additional playmates in the womb but our friends, the Boseman’s, are coming over!”

Mala gasped, “Really? Even little Mikey?”

“Yes and Noah.”

“WHO?” Erik asked and looked between Maya, Mala, and T’Challa.

“I met CoCo, I mean Tasha, at the Women’s Empowerment Conference after my, um-” She rubbed her stomach and avoided saying the word because she was too afraid she might jinx her pregnancy.

“Well anyway, Tasha and I met and hit it off immediately. We visited them for Christmas and then we went to see Bey and Jay’s concert in Paris with them. They are a lovely couple and a cute little family.”

“Damn, so you are inviting the couple you replaced us with?”

T’Challa rolled his eyes, “No one replaced you. We literally try to invite you two everywhere but you decline.”

“Whatever man. So who are these people, again?”

“Co does some consulting work with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chadwick is an actor.”

“A very good one.” Abdul hinted at the resemblance Chad and his father shared.

“Eish,” T’Challa bit his tongue and let Maya finish. 

“So Mala, Jai, and Jada you’ll be responsible for making sure Micah feels like the princess she is. She’s so sweet so I’ll know you’ll love her. Erik, I’m going to need you to be nice. Abdul, no calling Chadwick your dad or vice versa.”

“Dang it.” Abdul had already made up in his mind he was going to do just that.

“Hold up, hold up. What?” Erik was confused.

“Oh yeah, um, Chadwick and Challa look alike. There was a whole Black Panther movie out based on your blind rage to get revenge and the guy who played you looks exactly like you.”

Erik jumped up, “WHAT?!?”

“Yeah, Michael B. Jordan. Except he is cute but he doesn’t like black women.”

“First of all, how the hell did I not know I was in a movie. Second, I’ve seen him and we look nothing alike.”

Jasmine scoffed, “Yes you do. He just has more chin than you.”

Everyone laughed except for Erik, “Keep it up Jas.”

“Erik and Challa will make Chad feel welcome but when they get here we’ll do a tour and all that good stuff.”

Everything was set and Maya began texting Co, asking her what the family wanted to see and do the most.

T’Challa was prepared to deal with his wife’s constant reach for perfection. “Their room has to have goodies and engraved robes and slippers. Co likes chocolate right? I’ll ask. Micah’s room is going to be beside theirs or should she sleep in there with them or-“ T’Challa rested his hands on her shoulders.

“Kitten.”

“Noah! We have to-“

“Maya!”

She stopped and looked up at him. “Yes?”

“Relax. They won’t even be here until a few weeks. We have time. And I don’t want you stressing.” He motioned to her stomach.

“I’m only 4 months, Challa but I get it. I’ll relax.” He smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Thank you.”

“And we didn’t even get their background checks, yet. So do not get too excited.” His tone was playful which put Maya at ease.

“Whatever you say, but I do need to ask does she want cotton or feather pillows.”

“Oh Bast.”

-----

In California, old school R&B competed with the screams of children that were supposed to be taking afternoon naps, slowly increasing Tasha’s blood pressure.

With only days left until the trip, her quest for neatly packed suitcases and checking off a carefully planned to-do list was becoming more of a novel idea than a reality.

“Aaron, stop making them scream.”

Chadwick took a pause from tickling Noah and Micah to shoot his wife a look, “Baby, they’ve been stuck in the house all day. At least let them have fun.”

“Oh, my problem is not with them having fun. It’s with you not having your bag packed and we leave in three days.”

“I got this, girl,” he boasted as he stood to wrap his arms around his wife. “You and I both know this ain’t about packing. What you nervous for?”

Years of companionship helped Chadwick to see through his wife’s misplaced frustration. Thankful for his comforting touch, Tasha let go of pent up tension through a deep breath.

“I guess I’m worried we may not fit in. We’ve been with Maya and T’Challa alone so many times that I forget they have an entire family back home that they’re comfortable with. What if they don’t like us?”

“Then I’ll have to get them together. Isn’t that how you and the girls say it?” Chadwick’s joke lightened the mood as he intended, making Tasha laugh until tears stung the corner of her eyes. “Things will be okay, Cookie. If the rest of the family is anywhere as dope as Maya and T’Challa, we’ll fit in just fine.”

Turning to face him, Tasha pressed two kisses to both sides of Chadwick’s face, “Thank you, baby.”

“Anything for my girl.”

“I’m glad you said that. Get yo’ ass in here and pack your bags. I’m not lending you my deodorant because you left yours like last time.”

Chadwick scoffed at his wife’s implication that he was irresponsible while watching her take his place as the household tickle monster. A glance at the mounds of folded shirts and underclothes made him wince. The longer his eyes scanned the room, the more he realized one thing: he should’ve listened to his wife sooner.

————

Even with an ocean and a chartered jet separating the two friends, both Maya and Tasha were riddled with a mix of excited and nervous energy.

Chadwick and Micah sat near the window of the futuristic aircraft, eyes glued to landscape unfolding beneath them.

“Daddy, look at all the trees! Are we going to the jungle?”

“No, Princess,” Chadwick laughed. “We’re going to someplace way better.”

A decorated member of the Milaje smiled at the interaction before interrupting, “If you are interested, we are approaching the border. I think you may enjoy the scenery much better from up here.”

Together, the Boseman family crowded to the cockpit of the jet to witness the breathtaking entry into Wakanda.

“Are we going to hit the trees,” Tasha questioned while sharing a look with her husband.

“No, Sister. Look.”

Asha adjusted the controls to the designated latitude with pride as the family behind her watched in awe. Before their eyes, the foliage lining the sky vanished, allowing the jet to break the near-invisible barrier between the outside world and the foreign country.

Buildings and landscape glittered in the high noon sun, resembling precious jewels. Each Boseman whispered various phrases of wonder and surprise as they flew through the city to the landing pad.

Turning to address her passengers, Asha smiled, “Welcome home.”

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

T’Challa leaned on the threshold of the twins’ nursery and watched his wife fold the same white onesie three times. “Entle, come. Their jet should be breaking through the dome at any moment.”

“Is this too much?” Maya turned around and motioned to the extravagant nursery.

“No! It’s a nursery for two princes.”

Maya chuckled, “I’m glad you’re so confident they’re boys. And not the nursery, the way I’m presenting it.”

“No. Isn’t it a thing between you two? You both surprise each other and cry over the joy of a baby.” Walking forward, he brushed her braid out of her face.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Well,” Their conversation was interrupted when Ayo knocked on the door.

“Their jet just came through the border.”

“Okay, okay!” Maya’s calm demeanor went out of the window and she pushed T’Challa out of the way. “Okay! GET IN FORMATION!” She screamed out into the hallway, making the servants scramble.

“Maya, everyone is already out on the landing pad,” T’Challa informed.  

“Good,” Maya high stepped to the pad and gave her family the rundown, for the umpteenth time.

“Okay, greet them. Make them feel welcomed. Remember this is new territory and a completely different way of life from the states.”

Ramonda put her hand up, “Maya, dear, we as you always say ‘Got dis’!” Her grandchildren laughed at her odd way of saying the term while the adults nodded in agreement.

“Fine, well, I’ll see you all inside!” Maya turned around to head back to the nursery while still rattling her brain for more instructions.

Abdul watched, “She is going to turn around in 3, 2,-”

“Also don’t forget to-”

“GO!” Everyone yelled.

“Eish. Okay! Okay!”

————-

Orchestrating the family, Mala led a countdown as the ramp of the jet lowered to reveal the guests of honor. “One, two, three -”

“WELCOME TO WAKANDA!”

Smiling faces, familiar and foreign, greeted the Boseman family with warm hugs as they exited the aircraft. Chadwick shook his shoulders to the welcome music, earning a laugh from Abdul.

“He dances just like BaBa,” the prince whispered as he nudged his sister. “I am going to record this for Aunt Shuri to use. For research purposes, of course.”

Ignoring her younger sibling, Malaika hustled to the front of the crowd to lead the welcome wagon.

“Aunt Tasha!”

“My Mala!” The duo embraced each other in a spirited hug that seemed to last forever. “You look just like your mama, girl! Look at this outfit!”

“My outfit is the least important part of this conversation. Look at the baby!” Mala’s voice went up in pitch as she observed Noah who was focused on chewing his way through his teething ring. Distracted by the presence of a new babyface to pinch and kiss, she nearly missed the light tug at her skirt.

“Do you remember me?” The small voice, fragile and sad, drew Mala away from Noah and to the source of the question.

Bending to balance on one knee, she smiled, “Well, who wouldn’t remember a princess? Especially one as pretty as Princess Micah?”

Micah’s eyes lit up at Mala’s compliment before she rushed into her arms for a hug. After ending the welcomes at Chadwick, Mala led the family to the remaining Udakus. Queen Mother was the first to notice the incoming guests, her smile transitioning between its usual ray of sunshine to a confused from.

“Son, you have invited an imposter into our borders?”

“No, Umama” Irritation began to etch itself into the lines of T’Challa’s forehead as the rest of the group picked up on what was happening.

Jas and Erik whispered amongst themselves while shielding their children from the danger. Only Shuri found the humor in the situation as she stepped forward to examine the “intruder.”

“It is impossible that this one can be an intruder. Bast would not make two idiots that look exactly alike. That is cruel and unusual, even for the ancestors.” Her joke pulled laughs and murmurs of approval from the kids and Erik, but none from T’Challa and Queen Mother.

“Shuri,” Ramonda scolded, earning a quick ‘sorry’ from the princess. Her eyes scanned Chadwick for a few more moments, picking up subtle differences in his appearance compared to her son’s. When she was at least partially convinced that Chadwick was not a murderous doppelganger, she slowly extended her hand.

“Everyone, this is Chadwick Boseman, his wife Tasha, and his children Micah and Noah. They will be joining us for a few days. You are to treat them with the same respect that you show me.” T’Challa could sense Erik opening his mouth to answer with a rebuttal, prompting him to alter his statement. “With more respect than you show me. Please, no jokes.”

All collectively agreed to remain on their best behavior before exchanging hugs.

“Aunt Tasha, Mama wants you and Uncle Chadwick to meet her in another part of the palace. If you do not mind, BaBa will lead you all while we take Micah and Noah to play.”

T’Challa could sense the apprehension from both parents at the mention of leaving their newest addition alone with people that they weren’t quite familiar with. Knowing this, T’Challa motioned for Ramonda to step forward.

“My mother is the baby whisperer. Each one of the children here have gone through her. I promise to you, both Micah and Noah are in the best hands we could offer.”

Noah, a usually shy child, felt an instant connection to Ramonda and her warm smile. His arms extended to grab hold of the woman, laughing and smiling at the jewelry that adorned her ears and neck.

“You remind me of my Abdul when he was your age,” She cooed before looking to Tasha and Chadwick. “No harm will come to them. You have my word.”

With a smile and a gesture of thanks, Tasha turned to T’Challa, “Well, my friend, after you!”

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

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