#October 15 hurry up

[jacarandaaaas]

YALL I JUST LOST MY MIND

I was thinking maybe a few madrigals BUT IS THAT ALL OF THEM!???

[bvtbxtch]

I Can Make You Scream | Eddie Munson

Day Three of Kinktober

Summary: Your first collaboration (a Halloween special) with one of the most popular cam boys, Eddie, leaves you breathless and waiting for the next shoot with him.

wc: ~6.7k (I got excited)

Pairings: camboy!Eddie/pornstar!Eddie x camgirl!reader

Warnings: This is literally all smut minimal plot, so 18+ MDNI!! Cam sex, blood and biting, fangs, lingerie, spitting, markup, overstimulation, not being able to cum, light bondage (restraining hands), softdom!Eddie, choking, oral (f and m receiving), overstimulation, squirting, protected p in v sex (wrap it up, folks). This is purely porn with a plot.

Shout out to my darling partner @darknesseddiem who will be posting their 15 prompts later in October. It is my honour to collab with you!

The knock at the door sent lightning bolts straight to your core. You hurry your way to the front door, ensuring to check that your makeup and hair looked perfectly effortless. You took a deep breath to exhume any last minute nerves before you opened your door. 

-

You had moved to Indianapolis from Detroit for school, but very quickly found out the hard way that college was not your thing. Now being stuck with the bill for a new apartment and no scholarships to foot the cost, you had to do what you always had thought about doing. At least now you had an excuse, right? You uploaded your ID and personal information to camwow.com, one of the most popular porn cam sites in the states. You bought yourself a new magic wand from the sex store down the road and took the plunge. Little by little, you gained a following. Money, brand deals and collaborations flooded through you. But the one rule you made for yourself, was you would only do solo work. 

Things changed when you looked at your private inbox. There sat a message that you had to look at four or five times to make sure it was real. The name “metalhead_munson” with a little blue checkmark sat bolded in your inbox, the subject stating plainly: hey :) You had heard of Eddie before, he was only one of the most famous cam workers on the site. Eddie’s message was professional - transactional almost:

I caught one of your shows the other night and was thoroughly impressed. I was going to be in the Indianapolis area on the 30th. My management is giving me a couple of days of free time and I would love to film with you. We could film on my channel and we could split profits 50/50. I would link your profile in the livestream so hopefully we can get your followers up. If you could give me the number to your agent so we can set this up, that would be great.

Cheers,

Eddie Munson.

Your heart raced as you read and reread the message. You didn’t have an agent. You barely knew what you were doing… but he was impressed? Did that mean that he was turned on? Did a huge cam star jack off to your stream? After hours of screaming into your pillow, dancing around your living room and staring at the email, you conjured up a response. 

Hello Eddie! Thank you for the compliment. It means a lot coming from such a big personality on the site like yourself. I unfortunately don’t have any agent contacts but I would love to work with you - thank you for the opportunity! I am free any time around halloween, but was planning a themed stream, if you’re interested?

You signed the message with your phone number and encouraged him to call or text you any time. You couldn’t deny that you hoped he would call. You had seen Eddie’s stream before, it often gracing the front page on camwow. The girls that he often had on his stream were beautiful, more beautiful than you, you imagined. But apparently you knew how to work your body in a way that got you some recognition. So you thought, fuck it? Why not see where this might lead. 

It was 2am when you received a call from an LA area code. You hastily picked up the phone and put on the sweetest most professional voice you could muster up.

“Hello?” You breathed.

“Hey, um is this Y/N?” The baritone rasp had your breath caught in your throat.

“Yeah, that’s me.” you let out a nervous giggle.

“Hey, It’s Eddie. I just wanted to touch base about the messages on camwow. You still up for it? I’d love to meet you.” His voice made your blood run cold. Even over the phone, the man oozed confidence and sex appeal. You couldn’t help but be intimidated. 

“Cool, yeah I would like that a lot. Umm, what did you think about the halloween theme I had thought about? If it’s stupid, we don’t have to but if you wanna I’d-”

“That’s a great idea, honey.” honey “I got a few ideas. I’ll text them to you, okay?”

“Cool, yeah. Sweet..” You were tripping over your own words, your brain short circuiting from the pet name. 

“Great, doll. Don’t be too nervous, okay? I know this is your first collaboration, but we can go slow if you want.” Although there was a lightness to his tone, you didn’t feel judged. You took a deep breath and thanked the man on the other end of the phone. You stayed frozen on the line long after he had hung up, unsure as to what had just happened. You’d see him on October 30th.

The next day Eddie had sent you four or five ideas that he had based around your halloween special. You both agreed on one and as much as the anticipation was killing you, your belly swirled with aroused excitement. You couldn’t wait for the two weeks it would take for Eddie’s arrival.

-

You swung your door open and your heart skipped a beat when you looked at the sight in front of you. There stood the man you had lost sleep over. He loomed over you in the frame of your door, but his lopsided smile eased your nerves. He donned a loose fitting white tee just sheer enough that you could see faint dark tracings of ink on his torso. His alabaster skin complimented the purple and green veins adorning his hands. The man twisted the chunky rings on his right hand. Your mouth watered thinking about where those fingers might be within the next few hours…

“You gonna let me in, or what?” His grin spread to a shit eating smile that immediately made you feel at home in your body. You gave the man a puzzled look as he shuffled past you into your space. Embellishing his canine teeth were fangs. Eddie noticed your confusion.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. They’re fake and they won’t hurt… that much” You follow him into your apartment as he takes in the sights. There was something magnetic about the mop headed man. You followed him around your puppy even though you were in your own house. You snapped out of your daze to remember you also needed to be (at least) a competent host.

“Can I get you anything to drink or anything?” you ask. He politely waved you off as he plops down on your sectional. 

“It’s a nice place you got here, doll.”

“Uh, thanks.” You awkwardly shuffled towards Eddie and sat yourself on the opposite edge of the couch. 

“So, I usually like to go over what we will and won’t do before we go get comfortable. Is that okay?” Eddie offered. There was no sense of annoyance or impatience with you. He was the perfect gentleman, which was making it harder and harder to focus on functioning like a normal human being.

“Yeah, that sounds good. I mean, I haven’t really done this before… but I guess I’m down for anything as long as we kind of chat about it first.” Eddie laughed at your bluntness. You hid your face in your hands and let out a soft giggle. You were nervous and embarrassed but not by him. Eddie rose to his feet and offered out his hands to you. You peered out of your hands and grabbed him with a curt smile. You let him pull you up and you suddenly felt breathless while he was invading your space; but it wasn’t a nervous energy. It was new and scary but you felt oddly at ease with the gorgeous stranger in front of you.

“Wanna show me to your studio?” he said with a wink and a genuine smile. You dropped your hands from his and began to walk to your room - which you had spent hours cleaning leading up to Eddie’s visit. You even went as far as getting new bedding to make your room look ‘cooler’.

You opened your door and let Eddie take in the sights. He took a few steps into your room and hovered to your small bookshelf nestled in the corner of your room. He eyed over your bed, cameras decorating different sides of the bed, their wires treading to your computer. Then his eyes softened when his eyes trailed to you, standing in the middle of your room, hands locked together in anticipation. God he couldn’t wait to devour you, but there was another foreign pang in his chest. 

“You okay? You still wanna do this, right?” Eddie stepped towards you, nervous that you were going to change your mind. 

“No! No, god no” You blurted, maybe a bit too aggressively. “I just…I just don’t know where to start.”

“Well before we turn on the camera, we should get more comfortable,” Eddie offered. You nod your head enthusiastically as the man stalks towards you, coming almost chest to chest with you.

“Can I kiss you?” His eyes looked pleading. You stared up at him with your bright eyes and he felt that pang in his chest again.

“Y-yeah.” you gasp. Eddie’s hands trailed up to your cheeks and he brought his face close to yours, giving you a split second to pull away from him if you wanted. You closed your eyes in anticipation of a forceful kiss, but you almost flinched in surprise of the man’s lips caressing yours. His lips were soft and warm, you felt like you could melt into him. His touches were careful, like he didn’t want to scare you off. You both pulled away and you couldn’t help the smile that grew across your face. You were surprised to see the same one mirrored on the brunette’s face. He cleared his throat and gestured to the bag sitting in your living room. 

“So, I uh- I brought costumes - like not crazy ones, but something just a bit different… you know, to add to these…” The man smiled and pointed to his prosthetic fangs. 

“Y-yeah, I did too, if that’s okay.”

“Sure. I’ll go to the bathroom and change, and I’ll leave you to it. Just open the door when you’re ready for me, okay, Honey?”

“Yeah, sure Eddie,” You gave Eddie a warm smile and he turned to leave you. “Um, Eddie? I uh…. I wanted to let you know that the main reason I do my cam stuff alone is because I have some performance anxiety.” You looked down at your socked feet in anticipation. You half expected Eddie to laugh and walk away; but he was suddenly back and tilting so your eyes were met with his deep brown ones.

“Doll, there’s no pressure at all. Let me make you feel good and if you come, I’ll be stoked. But if you don’t then we can stop and never talk again. Or if you just wanna stop let me know, okay?” You couldn’t sense any judgment in Eddie’s tone or his eyes. You felt dumb for blindly trusting someone you only just met in person. Eddie sauntered out of your room and gently shut the door. You turned to your closet to grab the dainty lingerie hanging neatly on the rack. You slid your jeans and tee off of your body and crumpled them into your hamper. You take off your panties and bra and quickly slide the teddy over your body. You stepped foot into your ensuite to give yourself one final look over and you couldn’t help but bite your lip in admiration. 

The soft pink lace held your tits in place, giving you a delicious cleavage. The corseted bodysuit hugged your waist perfectly, while the lace detailing let a small peak of your skin embellish the lingerie. The frilly lace straps adorn your shoulders that made you look almost virginal. Perfect. The small mesh skirt emphasized your waist. You turned to look at your ass, looking perky and perfect. You looked perfect. It was just what a vampire needed for a sacrifice.

You padded out of your ensuite to your bedroom door. You opened it and called for Eddie to join you whenever you were ready. You sat yourself at your computer and booted up camwow.com. You hated to admit, but your heart was in your chest. You shook with excitement and anticipation. You felt Eddie’s presence in the frame of your bedroom door and you turned to look at him. Your breath caught in your throat while you drank in his form.

He stood leaned tall over your doorframe. His pale skin was now on full display, highlighted by small drips of fake blood. It seemed, to your delight,  he forgot a shirt for his new costume. His toned abs framed a well trimmed treasure trail to where you wanted to see him the most. Highlighting his bulge were a pair of leather pants that caressed his curves perfectly.  His curly hair laid on his broad shoulders. He looked like an adonis. His eyes darkened as he bathed in your appearance, but his lips fell slightly open in awe. 

“Well don’t you look good enough to eat” Eddie teased as he kneels onto your bed. 

“I could say the same to you, Eddie.” your voice was saccharine sweet. Eddie couldn’t wait to hear how sweet your moans would sound…

“So, we’re all set up camera wise, if you just wanna log into your account, we’ll be good to go.” You stood up from your desk chair and Eddie’s brain short circuited. You looked delicious and he couldn’t wait to make you fall apart. He played it cool as he switched you spots and you perched on the edge of your bed. 

“So, I have some rope and stuff too… is that okay?” Eddie’s voice had become thick with lust. He could hardly contain myself. You hummed in agreement. “Oh, and… I gotta say, doll. You’re looking delectable, but there’s a big part of me that wants to rip that thing off you. You okay if I tear up that little number? I’ll buy you a new one.” His eyes turned from the screen and looked pleading, like he would die if he didn’t get the chance. Lucky for him, the thought of him ripping clothes off you went straight to your core. 

“Yeah… I’m sure we can make something work.” You giggle. Unable to control your giddy anticipation. Eddie raised slowly from the computer, and you saw the small red light appear on the cameras fixed around the bed. It was show time. 

“You tell me red light if you need me to stop, okay?” Eddie’s voice rasped, just above a whisper. “We’re gonna start and I’m gonna move a little fast. You ready?” He stood above you at the end of the bed, his chest was heaving. You could feel your heartbeat in your ears as you nodded up at him.

“Use your words, pretty girl.”

“Yes, Ed-”

“That’s sir to you, unless you want to be punished.” Eddie’s voice thickened with pure sex, making a shiver travel down your spine. 

“Yes, sir.”

Eddie leaned down by the end of the bed and grabbed two pieces of black velvet rope. Before you could compute what he had in his hands, he was climbing onto the bed on top of you, pushing you back towards your headboard. 

“Good girl. Make this easy and it won’t hurt as much. I’m hungry…” Eddie growled, his eyes fixed on you, pupils dilated like you really were his prey. He grabbed your wrists with one hand and slammed them above you onto your headboard. He tied one of the velvet ropes tightly around your wrists. You finally caught your breath and were able to comprehend what was happening. The boldness washed over you as you let go of your anxieties. You gave Eddie a devilish smirk then instantly twisted your face into one of horror.

“Please sir, don’t hurt me. I promise I’ll be good and do whatever you want.” You saw Eddie flinch at your words like they were wax burning his skin: a surprise, but a welcome and unexpected one.

“Keep your hands there and I won’t have to tie you down further then.”

“Yes, sir.”

Eddie smiled widely to reveal his fangs to the camera positioned at the side of your bed. He held his hands up to your throat and pressed down just enough to send static to your brain. You felt the cool sting of his rings that he kept on his body, but felt another surprise: adorning his pointer and middle fingers were rings that rested on his upper knuckle and formed into pointed claws. The sharpness sent another type of coolness across your skin. The glint of the metal poked into your neck and you hissed as Eddie continued to press into you. The delicious feeling of oxygen deprivation is topped only when Eddie presses his mouth to yours. You moan into him, all of your body already felt under the mop head’s control. 

Eddie’s mouth moved expertly against you, breaking the seal your mouths had to give you brief moments of breath. He pushed his tongue further into your mouth and you felt your body go numb, all feeling going to your already throbbing core. You wrestled with Eddie’s tongue in your mouth, eliciting a moan from him. You couldn’t wait to watch your recording back again and again just to hear his moan. Eddie bit down onto your lip and pulled hard. You whimpered at the sting and you tasted a metallic tang in your mouth. You went to lick your lips to rid of the small slit of blood sitting on them but Eddie grabbed your jaw and ran his tongue across your lips with a satisfied moan. Eddie looked you deep in the eyes, a silent check in, and what he saw filled him with excitement that went straight to his hardening cock. Your eyes had darkened with lust, already kiss drunk from him.

Eddied trailed his kisses from the side of your mouth to your jaw, to the pulse point by your ear. His mouth was saccharine sweet on your skin, like it belonged there. But in true Eddie fashion (as you’re learning), the sweet was often mixed with heat. You were just melting into his touch when Eddie took a hard bite down on your neck, eliciting a yelp of pain from you. You could feel two small streams of cool liquid trickle down your neck. You began to hyperventilate from overwhelm. Eddie softly grabbed your cheek for you to lock eyes with him.

“Relax angel, the hard part is over. You’re doing so well for me, I gotta be good to my girl… especially…” Eddie leans down to your neck and takes a long swipe up the side of your neck. “When you taste so good” The man’s smile was now tinged with the red of your blood. The lust had finally taken over your body and you happily submitted. You pulled Eddie’s mouth to yours feverishly. You pushed your tongue into his mouth. Your sweet mouth was now tainted with your own metallic taste. When Eddie pulled away, you both looked in satisfaction at your matching stained lips. It took Eddie a moment to compose himself and remember he had a scene to shoot. He sat himself up on his calves and ran his clawed fingers across your collarbone with enough pressure to send a constellation of goosebumps to form across your skin.

“I think we should get this off of you, so I can see you better.” Eddie groaned as he traced his fingers between the valley of your lace-covered breasts. You looked at him dough eyed and scared, but there was a glimmer of lust and wanting in your eyes. You really were going to drive Eddie insane. 

With a quick flick of his wrist, and added pressure to (what he was beginning to think was) your offending garment, to rip down the middle of your torso to your belly button, exposing your hardening nipples. You let out a gasp, the lines of fear and lust blurring further. Eddie’s mouth was immediately on your sensitive skin, his mouth danced across your left nipple while his hand pinched your right. You were barely cognisant of the small bead of blood still dripping down your torso. Eddie kissed his way down your stomach to the meeting of where your body was bare and clothed. He sat back up in fake disdain. 

“Now, this won’t do. I gotta taste that pretty pussy after your sweet blood. You need a reward, and I need my dessert” 

“Please Ed-”

“Ah, ah ah….” Eddie interrupted. His hands hovered over your hips. You were desperate for him to touch you, little did you know, Eddie was desperate to drop this facade and feel you clench around him.

“Please, sir. Touch me, please.” You whined. Eddie was happy to oblige you. He let a low chuckle escape his chest. 

“Since you asked so sweetly, and since I can see that you have already wet through these little panties you got on, I need to taste you.” Eddie took his claws and hooked the mesh covering your pubic bone and dragged down. Once he had a big enough hole he removed his clawed rings and tore the whole crotch of your lingerie. The cool air hitting your core made you shiver. You were suddenly more self conscious than you were before. You instantly remembered that you were on display not only for Eddie but for thousands of people. Almost immediately, Eddie looked up from between your thighs.

“Hey” he whispered quietly enough that cameras couldn’t pick his rasp up. “It’s just you and me, okay?” You gave him a small nod to keep going. 

Eddie quickly turned his gaze back to your glistening core. He pressed a smaller, gentler bite into the flesh of your thigh, eliciting a moan that was music to Eddie’s ears. He liked the mix of pleasure and pain, but hearing your gasps of pure ecstasy was something he definitely thought he could get used to… but he couldn’t think about that right now - wanting to spend more time with you. It was time to use you like a plaything. Plus, how did he know that you would ever want to see him again. 

He shook his head to physically shake the idea from his mind and ran his middle finger through the middle of your slit, which made you a moaning mess for him yet again. Eddie turned himself to the camera and held up his hands with your slick on it. 

“Look at how messy she is for me.” he popped his finger into his mouth and sucked down “mmmm, and so sweet too.” he cooed. He ran two of his fingers back into your folds and stuck them deep into your mouth. You moaned at your own taste, spurring Eddie on further. 

“Oh, my little dinner date is a slut, eh? I guess that means we should treat you like the succubus you are.” Eddie’s words went straight to your core and you clenched on nothing. Eddie let out a low chuckle into the apex of your thigh, sending shivers up your spine in anticipation. You silently begged for him to touch you where you wanted him the most. Your hips bucked in a last ditch plea for relief - and Eddie luckily gave it to you. 

With little warning, Eddie’s mouth attached to your clit and sucked hard. Eddie’s mouth worked expertly at your core, his tongue probing you in ways you didn’t know were possible. You were almost embarrassed, you were a moaning mess underneath him; but you felt too good to care. Your vision was going fuzzy and your chest heaving. You couldn’t help the elicit moans escaping you. You couldn’t help but make eye contact with the camera and you couldn’t help but let a smile escape you.

Your smile was wiped from your cocky face when Eddie stuck his tongue deep in you. Your eyes crossed and your breath hitched. It felt like you were being suffocated with pleasure. Your tied hands flew to Eddie’s hair and you pulled hard, desperate for something to ground you. Eddie moaned into your pussy and you could feel your finish rapidly approaching. You made the mistake of looking down at the mess of hair between your legs and the sight you saw flew you over the edge. The slender hips that sprawled across your bed were rutting into your mattress, his back heaving in desperation. Your blood ran white hot, stars flashed over your vision. A euphoric groan was ripped from your chest. Eddie’s assault didn’t let up once the waves of pleasure became overwhelming. Eddie moaned into your cunt as he tasted your essence. You shuddered under him as you pulled up on his hair, in an attempt to seize his raid on your body. 

“Awww, was that too much for my little plaything?” Eddie growled. His hand flew up to your neck as he crawled his way back up your body. The pressure he squeezed onto you made another flutter flow directly to your lower stomach. Eddie had a talent of pushing you dangerously close to the edge of unconsciousness - a sense of bliss and fear all in one. Your fucked out face looked delicious to Eddie, still stained red with your blood. He leaned down and smashed his mouth into yours. You could taste the remnants of your orgasm and his desperation forcing its way into your mouth. You pulled away with a gasp and looked up at Eddie with your best puppy dog eyes. 

“Can I taste you now, please? Please sir?” you croaked. Eddie could come in his pants right now. He took a gulp and sent you an ear splitting, fanged smile. Willing away his urge to cum in his pants, he took some deep breaths while he undid his tight pleather pants and shimmied them down his lithe waist. His hard cock sprung free and Eddie let out an audible sigh of the relief it brought him. Your hands automatically drifted towards the man’s waist a mere inches away from you.You felt a sting against your wrists as Eddie slammed them back against your wall. You felt your shoulders scream at you from their sudden hyperextension. Eddie barked a dark laugh as you pouted. 

“Play things don’t get to touch. They get to be used.” Eddie ordered. He reached his free hand to tilt your neck backwards to give him purchase for another love bite. You cried out as hot blood trailed back down your clavicle. Eddie pulled away and his face looked similar to yours: your own crimson blood dripping down his chest. 

“Open.” He demanded. Your bottom lip quivered but you obey the man over you. You stick your tongue out. Eddie places his reddened cock onto the flat of your tongue in a hiss of pleasure. His tip felt heavy on your tongue; a salty sweetness that you were instantly addicted to. He was thick, his length equally impressive, and an anxious excitement panged in your throat thinking about how he was going to fit. Eddie slowly slid himself further into your mouth. He ignored your silent pleas to let you adjust to him in your mouth and continued to push into you until your nose was nestled against his manicured bundle of hair at the base of his cock. Your eyes pricked with tears and your throat closed around Eddie’s cock - eliciting a low groan from him. You are granted a brief moment of relief when Eddie slid his cock back out of your mouth, only for your deep gasp of air to be interrupted by him slamming back into your mouth, making you gag and making his dick twitch. Suddenly, Eddie grabbed the camera on the closest tripod and pointed it down at your face. 

“Look at this good girl… taking me so well.” The camera framed (what Eddie thought was) your perfect face, suctioned around Eddie’s cock. He stilled inside you, giving you an opportunity to suck hard and swirl your tongue around his tip. His precum dripped down your throat. Tears freely flowed down your cheeks. Your throat was screaming at you, your nostrils flared in desperation for air. Your throat constricted and relaxed around your scene partner.

You were in pain, his cock stretching your mouth to the absolute breaking point. You looked up and into the man’s gorgeous brown eyes in search for any more praise - begging for any movement, pleading for some sort of release. As much as your body was screaming at you, you had given yourself over to absolute pleasure. You loved the pain, the submission. In that moment, you knew you would do anything for Eddie - anything he asked any time. In that moment, there was a deeper connection than just two people fucking. You were his and he knew it. He could do anything with you, but he wanted to worship you just as much as you were worshiping him. He fastened the camera back onto the tripod, unsheathed himself from you and flopped onto his back beside you.

“Come on then, doll. Show me how much you want me.” Before Eddie’s words could leave his mouth, you were back on him, but you took it slow this time. Your doe eyes had darkened and you were ready to show him just how much you wanted him.

Your tongue ran up the underside of his achingly hard cock. Eddie hissed out praise as you wrapped your lips around Eddie’s tip and hollowed your cheeks. You hummed in satisfaction against him as you bobbed your head. Every suck, every kitten lick, you poured your heart into. You were hypnotized, obsessed, by the moans and praises escaping the head of curls on your bed. You thought he looked like a painting; ringlet curls splayed across your pillows like a crown, flexed biceps framing his face like a beautiful frame, his shirtless torso mimicked that of a marble statue. His abs flexed a contoured trail down to his member, his alabaster skin strewn with black markings. The finishing detail of this piece of art was the blood - your blood stained on his chin and neck. It was like your own signature on this masterpiece.

You were snapped out of your trance by two large hands cupping the sides of your face. His cool rings were like small slaps to your face. 

“As much as I want you to taste me, doll, I need to cum in that pussy. I need to mark you as my own.” Eddie untied your wrists and pulled you up so you were face to face and on top of him.

“I just got to get a condom” he whispered in your ear, ensuring the camera couldn’t pick up your conversation.

“Don’t. I got birth control” you purred, you kissed the sides of his mouth down to his neck.

“A-are you sure, doll? I mean I’m clean but I don’t want you to feel obliged.”

“Eddi- I mean - sir, I want you to cum inside me please. Make me yours.” You knew you were playing a role. This was all for show, but some of it felt real. There was truth in the words you spoke to him. You wanted to be his fully. 

Eddie slid himself up your headboard and he pulled your thighs up towards him so you were straddled on top of him.

“Okay, doll. Show me how well you ride that cock and you won’t get another bite tonight.” Eddie challenged. You agreed, it would be a challenge. Eddie was the largest guy you have ever been with. The wave of intimidation and nervousness flowed through you again. You felt a tight squeeze on your hips and Eddie’s eyes prodded for your gaze. When his golden brown irises met your glowing green ones, he gave you a reassuring nod. It was just the two of you.

You lowered yourself onto Eddie’s cock, slowly sheathing him inside you. You couldn’t control your eyes rolling to the back of your head. You felt deliciously full and you had only lowered yourself halfway. You could tell Eddie was concentrating on keeping his cool. His brows were furrowed and his tongue peeked through his blood stained lips. Beads of sweat were beginning to form under his curly bangs. Eddie peered up at you and immediately lost his composure. His grip became bruising on your hips and he slammed your body into his, pulling moans from both of you. 

Your eyes screwed shut in a mix of pleasure and pain. Your mouth hung open in a crooked smile. Your chest heaved, Eddie was worried your lungs were going to burst out of your chest. The shards of your lingerie dangled behind you like angel wings. An angel you were. Eddie had never felt this way about one of his conquests before. His heart was racing because of the thought of the money he was going to make from this gig, but he now felt another infatuation with you.

“Show me how you ride a cock, babe. Take that cock.” he cooed. You ground down on him, the friction of his base on your clit sent tingles all across your body. Eddie squeezed harder on your hips to ground himself. It was now his turn to be self conscious. He was going to bust way quicker than he wanted to if he didn’t find something to calm him down. He couldn’t look at you - his eyes insisting on staying screwed shut. He helped guide your hips up and down on his cock. 

“Fuck, sweetheart. You’re taking me so well. Squeezing me so tight… f-fuuuck it’s like your pussy was made for my cock, eh?” his assault of praises went straight to your core and yet again you felt yourself teetering closer and closer to the edge. Eddie’s name was like a hymn, you couldn’t say anything other than ‘Eddie’ and ‘please’. A satisfied smile ripped across Eddie’s face. His fangs glinted underneath you. The man snaked his dexterous fingers to where your bodies met. A few expert circles around your sensitive clit had you seeing stars again. You clenched down on Eddie’s cock, hurling Eddie dangerously close to his own release as well, but he wasn’t done with you. He guided your hips to grind down to guide you through your orgasm. 

Before you have time to come down from your high, Eddie flipped you over so he was looming over you.

“You have one more for me don’t you, pretty girl?”

“E-Edd, Sir I… I don’t think I can.” Eddie could look at your fucked out frown all day. Little did you know, he was studying every detail of your face so he could remember it later.

“Well sure you can. You’re gonna show me right now.” Eddie’s voice was more soothing than before. His face had softened slightly and his eyes were bright. He pulled your left thigh above his shoulder to assault your pussy at a deeper angle. Eddie’s rhythm was relentless and quick. Your sensitive pussy was quivering already, and had little to no time to recover from your previous orgasm.

“E-Eddie oh my god.” The angle of his cock hitting your g spot repeatedly had a whirlpool of pleasure and pain brewing in your core. You felt like you were going to float away. Eddie pulled himself out of you, making you whine from the emptiness. His cock was quickly replaced with his fingers and your legs dropped around Eddie’s waist. He angled his middle and pointer finger expertly inside you. If you thought his cock was relentless, Eddie’s fingers were just as, if not faster. The palm of his hand rubbed against your clit and you screamed out in overstimulation. You didn’t know if you wanted the assault to stop or to go harder. 

The wind was knocked from your chest as Eddie’s other hand pushed down on your pubic bone. With a yelp, you felt a white hot flash like you had never felt before. Your body shook and it felt like molten lava was coursing through your veins. 

“Fuck yeah, baby! That’s it, fucking good girl.” Eddie’s excitement was palpable. He stuck his cock back into you to feel you contract and flutter around him. Just your comedown was enough to make Eddie cum inside you. He pumped cautiously, cumming hard but using the shred of control he had to make sure he didn’t hurt you. He pulled out slowly, and leaned forward to give you a tender kiss on the forehead. Soon he collapsed beside you, both of you a mess of heavy breathing, your release, and his. 

Eddie guided you to sit up in front of a camera.

“Show them your neck, doll. Show them how good you did for me.” You craned your neck to the side, turning your face towards Eddie’s. The man reached out and cupped your cheek. You couldn’t help but melt into his touch. He then stood up for your computer and ended your stream.

“Sorry… I, I’ve never done that in my life…” your cheeks flourish in a red blush as you begin to explain to the man standing in front of you, pants now lazily covering his softening erection.

“Doll, I know you didn’t mean to. I wanted you to do that for me. It was fucking hot” Eddie reached for your hands and helped you up. You fell against his chest, your legs too weak to fully hold you up.

“Invoice me for some new sheets, okay?” Eddie winked at you. “Come on, let’s get you in the shower and let’s clean up.” 

You grabbed clean towels for the both of you as Eddie warmed the water to the shower. You sheepishly climbed in and waited for him to join you. You thought the man would fuck you, get up and then leave with as little as a ‘see you’... or a ‘you’re welcome’. But he stayed, and seemed like he genuinely wanted to stay. He helped wash you off, the warm water washing away any insecurities you felt after your shoot. You both talked about how much you enjoyed yourselves and how well you did for your first partner scene.

“I can’t lie champ, I’m pretty impressed.” Eddie poked at you while you both sat on your couch, pizza on the way, a blanket enveloping both of you in more warmth.”Sorry about your neck, though.” Eddie nervously chuckled and ran his hands through his damp curls. You grabbed Eddie’s hand and redirected his energy to you.

“Eddie. I liked it. I would have told you if I didn't, I promise. It was honestly the best sex I’ve had.” You admitted with a small blush highlighting your cheeks. To your surprise, Eddie’s face was redder than yours. 

“Can I ask you something kind of insane?” Eddie asked.

“What’s up, Eddie?”

“Can I kiss you? Like actually kiss you?” His eyes were pleading, he was already starved of your lips on his. He wanted to show you how much he liked being around you, even if you had only been together a half a day. You nodded slowly, a shy smile reaching your lips, but adoration in your eyes. 

Eddie’s lips were soft and gentle against yours. He didn’t want to scare you off by being too forceful. His mouth melded to yours like he was the only person you were meant to kiss. His arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you in close. His hand migrated up your face to softly cup your cheek. Time had slowed down and the only thing that mattered was the boy you were attached to; once a stranger, to someone you didn’t want to be without within the span of a few hours. 

“So, I can only extend my stay in town for a couple of days.” Eddie whispered after (begrudgingly) pulling his mouth from yours. “Can I take you out tomorrow?”

“Yeah, Eddie. I would like that… as long as you leave the fangs in your suitcase next time.”

Taglist: @aol19 @brinleighsstuff @poofyloofy @anxiousobserver @mmunson86 @filth-fiction-archive @vintagehellfire @sadbitchfangirl @kirstinjayjay @sluggzillaa @eddies-acousticguitar @hideoutside @ali-r3n If you would like to be added to my taglist, please fill out this form and follow me!

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman - Part 6

Ona Batlle x Lucy Bronze

Alternate Universe : Military school

Words : 4k

Masterlist

———————————————————————

Camp Wiegman part 6

Monday, October 19; 6:15 AM - Ona and Alexia's Room.

A new week is about to begin. I meditated a lot over the weekend. I now feel ready to move forward in the right direction. At least, I will try... The days are becoming repetitive. Wake up at six, preparations and check-in at exactly a quarter past six. That's what's happening right now. I stand straight as a rod in front of my bed while Bronze inspects our room.

"All right, you can go."

I only release the pressure once she gives the go-ahead. Her analysis has become quick since she has nothing left to reproach me for.

"Are you coming?" Alexia asks, waiting for me at the door. "Go join the others, I'll be right there."

She waits a moment to see if I'm serious before shrugging. I wait for her to leave the room before turning to Bronze with a smile.

"Did you have a good weekend?"

She raises an eyebrow, remaining stoic. My friendly approach fails miserably...

"Since when do you want to chat with me? I thought I was your number one enemy here?"

"Well... After Friday night... I thought we could continue on that note... Unless you'd prefer I go back to being the annoying student," I joked.

My smile fades when she ignores me. I start to wonder if I misinterpreted... I feel stupid for thinking she would stay friendly with me.

"Well then, are you coming?"

I lift my head to see her waiting at the door. I let out a sigh I hadn't even realized I was holding. I really expected her to leave me stranded in the middle of my room.

"We can chat on the way to the cafeteria, right?" "Yes," I nodded frantically.

I hurry out of the room before she changes her mind. She closes the door behind me and we start walking towards the exit.

"So... Did you have a good weekend?" I hesitantly ask. "It was good, and yours? Did you keep busy with Williamson?" "A bit. It was better than last week since I wasn't alone. We binged the Hunger Games saga." "Good to hear," she smiles.

I look around when I feel watched. It's really the case. People must not be used to seeing a student chatting with an instructor. Bronze doesn't seem to care, unlike me. It starts to weigh on me, being the center of attention. Don't they have anything better to do than follow my every move? I shake my head, remembering the reasons why I'm with Bronze.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Here we go. I knew there was something behind this."

"W-what? No way! I just wanted to take the chance to ask you..."

"If you say so," she shrugs. "What do you want to know?"

"I swear it's true... I just wanted your opinion on something."

"Hmm, I'm listening."

"Do you think there's a way I can get my leave this weekend?"

"For your birthday, I imagine?"

Her response takes me by surprise. I didn't know she knew my birthday. She offers me a small smile.

"Don't be surprised. I have a file on you, and your birth date is in it. Not to mention, I heard your brother mention it when I came into your room on Friday."

"What do you mean a file? Wiegman promised not to disclose anything to the educators!" "She didn't disclose anything. I'm the only one with this file, and it contains the bare minimum." "Oh... What's in it then?" "That's not the point, is it?" "Please...?" I begged with a pleading look.

I don't like being refused things, even answers. Especially when my curiosity has been piqued. Bronze has no qualms about doing it. She makes me feel like I've been a spoiled girl my whole life. She's the only one who went as far as confiscating my belongings; even my parents never did that.

"You're really something. You know that, right?" "I know," I said, biting my lip nervously.

"There's not much, it's like a sort of resume," she replies. "Name, first name, and all that. I can show it to you if it reassures you."

"You'd do that?"

"It concerns you, I have nothing to hide. Now that you've asked your question, can I ask mine?"

"I guess so..."

"I can understand that you don't want to disclose your information to strangers. However, I'd like to know if you at least confide in one person?"

"My best friend," I said without hesitation. "Completely?"

"Yes."

No, but she doesn't need to know. She knows almost everything. For what she doesn't know, she's created hypotheses that I never confirmed.

"Hmm..." she replies, skeptical. "Good. I was starting to worry about the shell you have. It's good to talk, so don't hesitate to do so with people you trust."

"I don't trust many people," I admitted.

"I figured. That's why you shouldn't hesitate to talk to them. Promise?"

I nodded gently. I don't understand why she's so insistent on this. She frowns at my reaction.

"Words, Ona. You're capable of speaking, so use that ability which isn't given to everyone."

"Yes, yes, I promise," I rolled my eyes. "No need to make a big deal out of it."

"It's important to do so, that's all. If you keep everything to yourself, you'll wallow in self-pity and sink."

"That's already the case..." "Well, you're going to make sure you're not anymore." "Easier said than done." "Luckily, you're not alone anymore."

I smiled sadly, thinking she's probably right. Surprisingly, it's her I think of first. It's been a long time since someone took care of me the way she does. She's authoritarian, but fair at the same time. It's exactly what I needed to get back on track. If she continues to behave this way, she'll certainly become the second person to find a crack in my shell. The only one who managed to do it before her is Mapi. We were close in high school, and she came back at the right time. She's the only one who knows part of what I've been through. Even my mother knows only the tip of the iceberg. She's seen me in all my states, but she never knew the reasons. I think that's what pushed her to send me here. She couldn't stand seeing me on the defensive and wallowing in self-pity. Bronze is right in saying I need to open up to get better, but it's beyond my strength. What I've been through is hard to confide. I was in an unstable environment where I had to fend for myself. I lost all trust in myself and people in general, especially strangers. However, I feel like Bronze is trying to be accepted into my little world. I'm resisting for now, but if she continues to stir up my painful memories, I might quickly crack without wanting to.

"You still haven't answered my question," I realized.

"You want my opinion for this weekend, right?"

"Yes..." I said, dreading her response.

"As I told you, I have a say in your leave. Even though it hasn't been very useful the first two times."

"Hmm..." I sighed. "Wiegman knows my every move, huh?"

"Yes. We have to send her reports during the week. So I'm obliged to talk to her about you." "I see," I sighed. "If you stay in line this week, I'll support your leave," she tells me.

-  Really?!

-  Really, she confirms. If you get through the week without any infractions, I guarantee you'll get your weekend pass. No delay in class, no more disrespect, no more fooling around, and everything will be fine.

-  I didn't know they reset the clock every week, I say, not hiding my excitement. This is great news! I was already imagining being stuck here because of my disastrous first two

weeks. If she wasn't my supervisor, I would probably jump on her out of sheer happiness. We stop in front of the cafeteria once we reach it.

-  You're not lying to keep me in line, are you?

-  Of course not. The pass is a reward for a successful week. I'm just warning you that Wiegman won't be lenient if you're even a minute late. His decision will be final.

-  Just one clean week... I think I can do it.

-  I hope so, for your sake. Can I go eat now?

-  Yes, sorry, I laugh. Thanks and enjoy your meal!

-  No problem. Enjoy your meal too. I do a little happy dance behind her back as she joins her colleague, who smiles amusedly at me. I immediately stop, my cheeks turning as red as a tomato, if not more. How embarrassing! She will definitely tell Bronze. I wait for them to enter the cafeteria before taking the same path. The usual noise fills my ears. It seems like nothing can spoil the good mood Bronze's answer has put me in. My attitude doesn't go unnoticed by my new friends when I join them at their table.

-  So, what's up with you? Since when do you talk to Bronze? Alexia asks right away.

-  Talking to Bronze? repeats her sister. Why did you do that?

-  I needed to ask her something. I stay vague, not wanting to be bombarded with questions or reveal my intentions. At the same time, I understand their curiosity. Since my arrival, I've been saying how much I hate my supervisor, so it's natural for them to be intrigued. I still hate her, but in a different way now.

-  Is it related to your good mood? Patri asks.

-  No, because this is the first time we've seen you so... happy, Pina finishes.

-  Can you all just leave her alone? Leah grumbles. She hasn't even started eating yet. I thank her with a smile and finally enjoy my breakfast with the first bite of my chocolate croissant. It's my favorite meal, even though my tray looks very similar every morning. It's rare that I choose

anything other than a pastry. Not that I don't like variety; I also enjoy a bowl of cereal or homemade pancakes.

-  So? Lotte insists.

-  I asked her if I have a chance of getting my weekend pass. It's my birthday, and I'd like to go home. Alexia chokes on her food, and her sister has to pat her on the back to calm her coughing. Her eyes are almost popping out of her head.

-  Your birthday is this weekend?! she exclaims. Why didn't you tell us sooner?!

-  I didn't think it was that important, I giggle at her expression.

-  Of course, it's important! How could you think it's not? she scolds me I shrug nonchalantly. Given her reaction, I don't dare tell her that I don't enjoy celebrating it anymore. She'd probably come up with all sorts of arguments to remind me how important this celebration is. I don't see why getting a year older is something to celebrate. It's just a reminder that we're getting closer to our death.

- You're turning twenty? Patri asks.

-Obviously, she's turning twenty, Alba replies as if it's obvious.

-What? You never know! Maybe she's turning nineteen or twenty-one, she retorts.

-I'll be twenty, I interrupt their debate. If I were twenty-one, I wouldn't be here. I'm happy to have met you, but I hate this place.

-No one would ever guess, princess, Leah teases. Relationships and you, you're not friends.

Camp Wiegman part 6

I smile at the nickname she used. She's been teasing me with it ever since she heard my supervisor call me that. She used it when I tried to negotiate a reduced punishment while we were on dishwashing duty. Unfortunately for me, Bronze is never easily swayed.

-  Why? Claudia finally asks.

-  Why what?

-  Why don't you like maintaining relationships? Lotte asks.

-  It's complicated, I shrug. Attachments aren't my thing. They only bring trouble.

-  You shouldn't just focus on the negatives, Alexia counters. You're saying that like you only see the bad side. There are plenty of advantages to having friends.

-  You're my friend, Ale, I roll my eyes. But only because you make me... I say with a silly smile. She laughs and lightly pushes my shoulder, knowing I'm teasing her. We change the subject when they realize I won't say more. I've already had a lesson on friendship with Bronze this morning; that's more than enough. I know having friends is important, but it's become difficult to find the right people. That doesn't stop me from appreciating everyone at this table. We all have our stories, different contexts, and that's probably what binds us. They know I already care about them a lot, even if I'll never tell them. I think they're great, but I'm not at the point of confiding in them. If they don't know it, I'm not going to admit it. I hate opening my heart and revealing my feelings. I've lost track of the conversation because of my thoughts. I smile to myself, thinking about this week. I really hope it goes by quickly and without any problems.

Thursday, October 22; 5:15 PM - Dormitory hallway.

-  Do you know where Ale went?

-  No. I sigh in frustration. The week went by quickly, but it was very strange. I feel like everyone is hiding something from me, especially Alexia. She's been nervous for the past few days, and now I find out she's lying to me. After class, she said she needed to quickly join her sister to ask her something. I found myself alone in the hallway as she vanished into the crowd. Her excuse might have been believable if I hadn't just seen Alba in the dormitory hall with Leah. They intended to go to the common room rather than meet Alexia. I was determined to find Alexia, but Leah must have sensed it because she convinced me to let her walk me to my room, where I had planned to go first.

-  Why would she lie to me? I fume.

-  Relax, Princess. She probably has a good reason. Are you coming down to the common room with me?

-  No, I'll take advantage of Ale's absence to call my little brother and tell him I'm coming home.

-  As you wish.

-  Do you want to come in? I offer, opening my room door.

-  No, I'll head down to the common room to join the others.

-  Alright.

-  You know where to find us if you need us.

-  I'll probably come down after my call.

-  OK, see you soon then! I watch her walk away, hands in his pockets. She's definitely one of the people I get along with best here. If I had to name people in priority when I get back, it would be Leah and Alexia's. I like the others too, but the bonds are different. Patri and Claudia are the group's jokers, and Lotte, the most timid. I have a hard time trusting her since her mother is the school's director. She must sense it because she often makes awkward attempts to approach me. I often wonder what she's doing here because she doesn't seem like a troublemaker. The last member of the group is Alba. She's the complete opposite of Lotte. She has no trouble coming to talk to me. She even inserts herself into my conversations with others now. This week, I decided to have a talk with her after what Alexia told me. I preferred to put the brakes on immediately rather than let her have false hopes. I felt like it didn't go down well at first, but her ego took over, and she accepted that we become good friends.

And then, I have to mention Bronze too. I think we've turned a corner. We've made a little truce, leaving the commander and the princess far behind this week. There's no more tension since she hasn't had to punish me. I showed her I could be obedient, just as she wanted. I felt a bit proud when she complimented me this morning, asking me to keep it up. I must admit, it's much better this way. I've been able to establish a routine since I have free time after classes.

I throw my bag at the foot of my desk after grabbing my planner. Alexia is lucky I really need to call Joan. I have good news to share since I managed to go a week without any infractions. I still need to get through tomorrow morning to get a positive response, but I know my pass is almost guaranteed. I pass by my wardrobe to grab my phone. It's time to call home. I sit on the bed while dialing Sam's number. I would never risk calling the landline for fear of reaching my mother or Marcus.

-  Hey Ona, how are you?

-  Good, and you? I say with a smile, hearing her voice.

-  You sound like it. Better than your first days, huh? I’d be good if you're calling with good news.

-  Yeah, I'm finally getting used to the environment... And I haven't had any sanctions this week. That's why I'm calling... I have a good chance of spending my birthday at home.

-  That's great! How did you manage that?

-  By putting up with it, I chuckle. Is Joan around?

-  He's in the shower, I think... Surprise him; he'll be happy. When do you think you'll be home?

-  My plane is at 20:25. I think I'll land around eleven at night, I say while thinking.

-  Alright, I'll let Hector know to pick you up at that time.

-  Thanks, I say while flipping through my planner. I despair at the sight of the mountain of homework waiting for me tomorrow. They aren't lenient with us on Thursday nights. They always bombard us before the weekend so we can be free. It's nice, but annoying. Plus, I never managed to catch up on my backlog from the beginning of the year. I started working on it this week since we've begun having tests on it. It's hard to catch up on a whole month. Especially when I have extra hours due to Bronze's punishments. Needless to say, I have a lot to catch up on.

-  Do you want anything special for lunch on Saturday?

-  Surprise me. It can't be worse than my cafeteria food... Well, it's not as bad as I expected.

-  Don't tell me it's better than my cooking! he complains.

-  No way! I chuckle.

-  Phew, that's reassuring! Alright, I'll figure something out then.

-  Hmm... By the way, now that I think about it.

-  Yeah?

-  I'm really mad at you. You'd better make it up to me with food this weekend.

-  Really? What did I do? We haven't seen each other for two or three weeks and you already blame me for something?

-  Yeah! I was totally embarrassed because of you!

-  Enlighten me, he laughs.

-  The other night, when I had you on the phone... My supervisor was waiting for me! You told her I was gay !

-  Ooooh! I'm sorry, Oni, he laughs. Did she say anything?

-  No, I sighed. And fortunately for you!

-  So what's the problem? Why are you complaining?

-  Seriously! You shouldn't have done that. I was super embarrassed! I pout when he laughs. Knowing him, he probably knows the face I'm making. He always makes fun of me when I imitate a five-year-old who didn't get their candy.

-  I never understood why you can't accept yourself.

-  I don't know, but it's just how it is.

-  Anyway, I always told you you'd end up with a girl. I smile, remembering that conversation we had when I was sixteen. Samuel had just replaced our former cook. My mother opted for youth since he had just turned eighteen. We hit it off right away, to the point that I imagined he had a crush on me. That idea disappeared when he revealed he was gay. That day, we had a long discussion about it, and he also mentioned he could totally see me with a girl. I made fun of him for a long time for that idea he insisted on. I laughed less the day I introduced Mapi as my girlfriend. He was one of the few who knew I was gay , along with Lucie and Maps herself.

-  Did I lose you?

-  Sorry, what were you saying?

-  That I have to hang up, your mother will be home soon and I haven't finished their meal.

-  Oh, no problem. We'll see each other on Saturday anyway.

-  I hope so!

-  Don't worry about that. I'll do everything I can to make it happen.

-  Alright, good luck. I'll see you on Saturday then.

-  Yes! Have a good evening, Sam.

- You too, Ona! Kisses.

I hang up, smiling. I can't wait to hear Wiegman's verdict. I put my phone in the bedside table to hide it a bit, knowing that the room doors can't be locked. There are cameras in the hallways, but that doesn't stop everyone from having access. I stick to my plan and decide to join the others in the common room, not feeling motivated to work on my courses. This has become my little routine since I've been free after classes. I opened the door to leave. I'm surprised to come face to face with Bronze, her fist raised, ready to knock. Her expression shifts from surprise to a smile.

-  I was looking for you. They told me you were here.

-  I was about to go down to the common room.

-  I just wanted to tell you the news myself.

-  What news?

-  I just left Wiegman's office. She granted your permission. I remain still, trying to process the information she dropped so casually. I have to repeat her sentence countless times to realize... I let out a scream of joy, jumping on Bronze who wasn't expecting such a reaction from me. She laughs near my ear as my face buries in her neck. I quickly pull away, realizing our proximity and blushing from the embarrassment I just caused.

-  It's well deserved. She was surprised by your sudden improvement and so was I.

-  Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for everything.

-  I didn't do much. You can be proud of yourself. Let's hope you continue on this path.

-  That's not guaranteed.

-  Well, you know the price then. Alright, I have to get back. See you tomorrow. What time are you leaving?

-  Around noon so I'll have an early lunch.

-  I'll walk you to the gate then. Oh, and also. Keep this news to yourself. I'm not supposed to tell you until tomorrow morning. I nod, too happy to argue. She turns around and I wave goodbye before jumping for joy again. I thought I'd get the news tomorrow, but I'm really happy! She didn't have to tell me now. It's going to be hard to hide my joy from the others. I will sleep well tonight, without this endless wait. I'm finally going to go home! I'm finally going back to Barcelona !

[waywardxwords]

Home

Summary: All you wanted was a place to call home with Dean. You envisioned a home in the mountains with spectacular views, a wrap-around porch with a swing and somewhere you could build a life. (I guess this could be classified as AU, as this takes place after Season 15 and [SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED SPN] Dean is still alive, clearly, in this story lol)

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female Reader

Word Count: ~2.1k

Warnings: Slight language, lots of fluff!

A/N: This was meant to be Day 7 of the #flufftober (@flufftober) challenge - thanks to the flu taking over my household for the last week, I've fallen off the posting wagon a bit. The prompt was: Porch Swing. I hope you enjoy!

There was an overwhelming chill to the bunker—more so than usual. A shudder fell over you as your sock covered toes padded towards the kitchen, the coolness cut through the wool. A frown pulled across your face in discomfort as you pulled your arms around your chest in hopes that you might find some warmth. 

“Mornin’, sweetheart,” his voice was extra raspy in the grogginess of the morning as you turned the corner into the kitchen. He took a pull from the steaming mug of coffee in his hand. 

“Ugh, Dean,” you grumbled as you searched for your own coffee mug. 

“Somebody’s chipper this morning,” he teased as his eyes moved over you. “You wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” You rolled your eyes at him. 

“Yeah, the cold side,” as if on cue, your body shivered. Dean stood with a soft smile and made his way over to you in his gray t-shirt, black sweatpants and fluffy slippers. “See! It’s an icebox in here. You’re cold, too!” You pointed to his slippers, feeling validated as your body involuntarily shuddered once more. 

“Oh, please,” he cocked his head at you in a teasing manner. “Baby, I’m a freakin’ furnace.” He planted a soft kiss on your lips and wrapped you in his arms until you were firmly against his chest. His arms rubbed up and down your back, and you had to admit you did feel a little bit of warmth take over the cold. 

“Dean, this bunker is a dungeon,” your voice was hidden in the crook of his neck. 

“I know, I know,” he appeased, as this wasn’t the first time he had heard you complain about your living situation. 

“Sam and Eileen settled down in a house. I know it’s a sticky subject…” you pulled back just so you could see his face, your arms still wrapped around his lower back. 

He studied you for a moment before he spoke again. “I know, I hear you,” he sighed. “We won’t be in the bunker forever, I promise.”

You tried so hard not to roll your eyes, so you closed them instead. Take a breath, you told yourself; it’s not worth the fight. “I just…I just don’t understand why we can’t find a cute little cabin tucked away somewhere. A wrap-around porch, a swing that overlooks the mountains…I could make us sweet tea in the summer and apple cider in the fall.” 

“We will, baby. I promise,” he emphasized the last word. He moved his head down to drop another quick kiss on your lips. “How ‘bout you go get ready and we take a drive, hmm?” He proposed with a quick smack on your ass. 

“Dean,” you groaned, but you obliged as he pulled away from your embrace. 

“I’ll make it worth your while,” he winked as he reached for his mug and took another sip. “I promise.” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” you muttered. The chill of the bunker returned without his contact, much to your disappointment. “You’ve been making a lot of promises, Dean Winchester.”

“All of which I fully intend to keep, if you just hurry the hell up,” you tried to escape him as he poked at your side. You shuffled down the hall of the bunker, cursing every step as you tried to find warmth. 

It wasn’t much warmer outside the bunker on this October morning, but the sunshine brought a much needed warmth as you sat in the passenger seat of the Impala. 

“You wanna tell me where we’re going?” You glanced at the man in the driver’s seat. The rising sun set him in a yellowish-orange glow that made your heart swell. A small grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced between you and the open Kansas road. 

“Not yet, sweetheart,” he chuckled. “It’s gonna be a little bit of a drive.” You chewed at the inside of your lip in thought. 

“Hmm,” you hummed. “Can you tell me how long of a drive?” Surprises weren’t your thing, and Dean knew that. 

He couldn’t help the laugh that rumbled in his chest as he shook his head but reached down in the car door for his phone. After a quick glance, and with the utmost certainty you couldn’t see his screen, he slid it back in the door. “About six and a half hours, give or take,” he glanced back at you with a smirk when he noticed the way your thoughts overtook the features across your face. 

“Six and a half hours?! Dean! Where the heck are we going?” Your voice had risen as you turned to stare at the man you had to remind yourself you loved in that moment. “I didn’t pack anything! I can’t imagine you’re gonna drive us there and back in one day…” your voice trailed off as you contemplated once more how much you hated surprises. 

“Alright, take a breath,” Dean grumbled but reached across the bench seat and placed a calming hand on your knee. You found his gaze once more. “I’ve got it covered, alright? You trust me?”

You did as he said and took a breath before you nodded. “I trust you.”

He nodded as well. “Good, now sit back and relax.” He reached for your hand and brought it to his lips lovingly, his stubble tickled your skin. 

You waited a moment, before you continued. “Can I ask you something? Since we have six and a half hours, and all…” you gave him a look.

He chuckled but nodded. “Shoot,” he encouraged.

“Why the bunker?” The question was simple, but you weren’t sure if you had asked it the right way. It was a thought that had played over and over in your brain as time had gone on. You had moved into the bunker, at Dean’s request, almost three years ago now. Sam had left almost a year ago to move into a home with Eileen. They were planning their wedding, and living a mostly normal life.

“Why do we live in the bunker?” He asked as he glanced at you for confirmation. You nodded, and he took a moment (or three) to contemplate the answer. He kept his eyes on the road as he continued. You were ready for him to give some sarcastic response or change the subject entirely, but to your surprise, he didn’t. “As long as I can remember, we’ve been on the road. After the fire…after mom–we were on the move.” You knew all of this already, but you didn’t interrupt him because it felt important. “I never really told anyone this, well–except Sam–but I always wanted a place to call home, you know? My own room, my own space, my own bed,” he cleared his throat, but continued. “When we found the bunker, it became that for me. I know it’s cold, and dark, and not exactly homey. But it became home.” He finally glanced to look at you. You stayed silent for a minute, but when he didn’t continue, you reached for his hand again.

“Dean, I’m sorry,” you murmured. “I’ve been a jerk about the bunker. I know it’s home to you, and I’m sorry. I’m not trying to force you into something you don’t wanna do,” your gaze fell a bit.

“No, no,” he gave your hand a squeeze. “I do want to settle down. I want us to have our own place that isn’t damp and musty, and preferably doesn’t have concrete floors.” He gave you a small smile. “I just wanted to explain why it’s been hard for me to let go.”

“I get that,” you replied softly. “I support you a hundred percent. I won’t ask about it again, promise…Scout’s honor,” you held up three fingers with a smirk–the Girl Scout’s sign.

He chuckled and shook his head, but brought your hand back up to his lips. “I love you.”

“I know,” you smiled. You leaned towards him and planted a kiss against his stubble-covered cheek.

It was late afternoon by the time you were climbing the rolling hills of Missouri. Based on the time and how long you had been driving, you were officially intrigued. You turned to Dean with an inquisitive look, “The Ozarks?” You asked him.

A smile pulled at his lips but he kept his eyes on the road. “The Ozarks,” he repeated simply.

“Are we…are we staying in the Ozarks? Is this a vacation?” Hope bubbled in your chest. Dean wasn’t really the vacationing type. A vacation to Dean was going to Vegas, which you loved, but it was loud and dirty and exhausting–the complete opposite of what you’d call a relaxing getaway.

“Not exactly,” he responded simply. Huh. That didn’t give you much to go on. But you tried not to focus on your curiosity. This was important to Dean, whatever it was exactly. So instead, you tried to be calm, cool and collected.

The Impala took a few more turns before it pulled onto, what looked like, a private drive on the side of a hill. The old dirt road looked like it hadn’t been traveled in a while. Your eyes watched out the window at all of the incredibly tall trees and nature–it was so quiet and peaceful. The car slowed and you looked back out the windshield to spot a small log cabin tucked in the woods. It was absolutely beautiful and quaint. You silently prayed this wasn’t some job Dean had stumbled upon and decided to pick up, or that you weren’t visiting some long lost friend of his. The idea of spending a night in this quaint cabin with the man you loved sent the best kind of shivers up your spine (not the cold, musty bunker kind).

“Dean…” you breathed just as he slid the car into park. He was turned to you, a smile etched across his features.

“Let’s check it out,” he didn’t hesitate to open his car door, so you did the same. The air was cool up here, but it was a chill you didn’t mind. It was so fresh and almost freeing. There was a silence only interrupted by birds chirping and crickets starting to come out in the early evening hour. 

Dean came to your side and extended his hand for you to take. You followed his lead as he walked towards the steps that led up to the wrap-around porch. As you reached the top, you noticed a porch swing that looked hand crafted in the most beautiful way. You ran your hand over the smooth wood and felt your heart flutter. 

“Where are we?” You looked back at Dean—your heart hoped for a specific answer, but your brain reminded you to remain cautiously optimistic. Dean knew you hated surprises, and this would be a big one. 

“The Ozarks,” he smiled a cheesy grin, which made you roll your eyes yet again. He chuckled as he took a seat on the swing, and you followed suit next to him. When you did, you realized this swing faced the most amazing view of the rolling hills; you had never seen anything like it. It felt like you were in a postcard. 

“I’ve gathered that,” you muttered. “What is this place?”

“Well, I’ve uh, I’ve been looking,” he spoke slowly at first as you continued to admire the view. When you turned to look at him, you realized he was just watching you. “And I felt like this place checked all your boxes…”

You felt like your heart was in your throat. The familiar feeling of hopeful tears stung at your eyes, and you wanted to kick yourself for feeling emotional. “Dean, are you saying…” you couldn’t find the words and you were worried if you kept talking, your voice might crack. 

“If you love it, this could be home,” he spoke softly and his eyes watched you carefully. 

“Yes!” You couldn’t help the enthusiasm as you practically threw yourself at him, your arms tangled around his neck and the swing shifted with your weight on his lap. “God, yes!”

His laughter rumbled against your chest as you pressed against him. “You haven’t even seen inside yet,” he chuckled. You pulled back and pulled his face to yours for a kiss. Your thumbs smoothed against his stubble as your eyes danced between his. 

“It’s perfect, Dean,” you whispered as you brought your lips to his once more. “Do you love it? I’m sorry, I got so excited and I wanna make sure you love it, I don’t want you to do this just because of me…”

“I love it,” he cut off your rambling. 

“I don’t want you to feel pressured. I know you have a soft spot for the bunker and that it’s your home,” your fingers instinctively found the hair at the nape of his neck where you played and twirled with the short strands there. 

“Home,” he started as he brought his hand up to tuck a fallen strand of hair behind your ear. His gaze found your eyes again before his hand gently cupped your cheek as he continued, “is wherever you are.”

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this little slice of fluff :)

Tag List: @jackles010378 @ladysparkles78 @hallecarey1 @zepskies @lacilou @lyarr24 @deans-baby-momma

[jongseonvs]

texts w/ bf! keeho ft. piwon/ brother! theo (reader is fm)

warnings: none!!

- key -

lover - keeho

theyoh - theo

souleater - soul

Morelos - a fake restaurant name that i came up w LOL

Today at 10:37 PM

lover: hey did i leave my jacket at your house

me : umm no, you put it in your bag before u left

lover: oh so we’re lying now ☺️?

me : 😭😭 you literally folded it and put it up, i think i would know

lover: my bag isn’t THAT big ….. stop gaslighting nd give it back 😒

*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•

October 7 at 2:35 pm

lover: do you wanna go shopping

me: duhh pull up ho

lover: okay I’m outside hurry

me: why didn’t you tell me you were already here, i have 2 get ready 😭!

lover: why do you have to get ready it’s just the mall

me: exactly??? what if evan peters or zendaya is there

*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•

{ lover , intak, +4 others }

June 14 2023

lover: bro what is jiung doing he looks silly..

intak: LMAO IKR

seen by everyone

June 25

Today at 12:55 pm

lover : some girl gave me a free t-shirt for her business promotion at the mall who wants it

intak: send pic

theyoh: who would do that for promotions

theyoh: if that was me, you’d be PAYING me to wear MY shii 🤣

you : literally shut up theo

soul eater: 😲

jongseob : oh my 😀😀

theyoh: girl no one’s talking to you why are you even in this gc

jiung: cs she’s keehos gf

theyoh: ok??? she’s my sister before his gf and i say kick her out who’s with me!!? ✊

lover has removed theyoh

jiung: LNFAOOOOAO

you : 😭😭😭

jongseob: brooo 😭

soul eater: “ψ (｀∇´) ψ

lover: LOL! 😆

intak: …..

intak: soooo are u gonna send the shirt pic????

seen by everyone

*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•

Today at 2:15 pm

lover: what are you wearing for pink out day at the studio

me: idk….maybe….something….. pink!

lover: 😐

lover: send me a pic before you leave, i want us to match

me: ohhh why didn’t you just say that silly 😝

lover: shut the hell up.

seen

*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•

Today at 6:45 pm

lover: let’s go out tonight

lover: i want to dance with you

me: aww where attt

lover: it’s a surprise!!

me: if its at morelos…..im not going.

lover: ……

lover: what’s wrong w morelos??!?!

me: all the waiters hit on you and give you their numbers

me: and pretend as if your beautiful amazing girlfriend isn’t next to you

lover: umm yeah i know you’re amazing and beautiful that’s why i purposely give their numbers to random people in the restaurant🤭

me: YOU WHAT

me: STEPH 😭😭😭😭

read at 6:50 pm

*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•°.*°.•*•

[a/n] this is my first time writing something like this so let me know what you guys think!! ty for reading! <33 feedback is always appreciated and I love reading your comments!

[jiminjamms]

sex therapy :: 14. sucker for pain

chapter tags/warnings: misogynistic! naoya. pet names ("bimbo"). dirty talking. nonconsenual undertones. infidelity/adultery. strong language. humiliation. classism.

word count: 3.8k

notes: i published this story for the first time in october 2021 on wattpad, and i'm so thankful for and overwhelmed by the support and love that sex therapy has received over the past year. thank you for watching me and my story grow. xoxo

fic masterlist | 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.

Eat. Sleep. Fuck. Repeat.

This would be the mantra Naoya would live by tonight.

The little date he was taking you on was merely a prequel to the chain of bedroom events he had schemed for the evening. Because warming up first was important, no?

As a wonderful husband, Naoya took his precious wife out to dinner at Shibuya’s Cé La Vi, a top-floor restaurant that may not be as vertigo-inducing as its famous Marina Bay Sands counterpart in Singapore, but offered a menu and skyline views second to none.

He had even requested an outdoor table under the fairy lights for the romantic atmosphere, where both the amber hues and soft jazz washed the vicinity with warmth and peace. Exactly what Naoya also needed after his last twenty hours filled with hurried negotiations with publishers, a long flight back to Tokyo, and many private lectures from his outraged father.

At least that was all done now.

Sighing, Naoya gestured at a nearby waiter, who disappeared and returned with a glass of expensive tequila several minutes later. Eight in the evening might be far too early for Naoya to down his third shot of Don Julio, but he needed to reward himself for completing a hectic itinerary without a wink of shuteye in between.

With the drink, he quietly soaked in the low hum of chatter that mingled with the gentle clinking of cutlery. The ambiance was so miraculous that Naoya didn’t know why he hadn’t taken you here earlier.

Now that he thought about it, when was the last time he had taken you out on a proper date anyway?

Oh, when he took you out two weeks ago to skydive in…

No, wait that was with Mari.

He was only two and a half glasses in, but the liquor was already messing with his memory.

So when…?

“We haven’t done anything like this in a long, long while,” you commented when you must have noted his extended silence at the dinner table, although Naoya found it quite funny that you seemingly read his thoughts instead.

He swirled the liquor in his glass but decided against another sip. “You think so?” he asked as harmlessly as possible. “When was the last time?”

Cutting into a scallop on your plate, you bit your inner cheek. “Our…honeymoon.”

Holy crap, that Caribbean trip was months ago. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” you deadpanned.

Oh.

Okay, he might have thought a lot more about spending time with his mistress, and he hadn’t exactly been keeping track of every single date he went on with you, but he certainly did not expect to have such an abysmal track record with his own wife.

Not that he felt guilty about his absence in your life.

Besides, you had the money to entertain yourself as you wished. Whether because you were blinded by sheer stupidity or his bank account, you thankfully didn’t complain much either. All Naoya had to do was to keep you happy and ignorant because—to paraphrase his father’s own words—if Naoya flopped this marriage with the COO's daughter, he would not be welcomed in the Zenin household again.

The difficult part, however, was that you were hard to please.

That was what happened to little girls who grew up spoiled by daddy’s money, Naoya supposed. Mari, on the other hand, would have absolutely been overjoyed in your position. Hell, even Naoya himself—who merely grew up as a spare heir—would have shown some gratitude.

“Sorry that I’ve been so occupied.” The Zenin CEO had to inject whatever sympathy and sincerity he had into his apology before sampling his risotto. “I’ve been buried in work ever since I joined the executive suite earlier this year. I’ve had a lot to catch up on.”

“I know,” you responded very matter-of-factly. “And I understand. You’ve been busy with meetings.”

Right. Meetings with his board in addition to his, well, other more discreet ‘meetings’ where he pounded his paramour into oblivion (but let’s not talk about that, shall we?).

As he pushed the thought away, he placed his fork down in exchange for his drink. “That’s why I invited you for dinner—to spend extra time with you. I’ll make things up to you even more later.”

You glanced up from your meal, blinking rapidly but the ambivalence apparent in your gaze. “Really? Like how?”

Sex, you motherfucking dimwit.

How much more obvious did he have to be?

Of course, he instead replied with, “You’ll see.”

He hadn’t told you his idea to rail your brains out because he didn’t feel obligated to, but if he wanted to a) get his father off his ass and b) be a baby daddy by morning, he had quite the mission to accomplish. Besides, if he calculated the numbers correctly in his head, today was still within your fertility window. A later day in the schedule, but still a fertile time for his wife, nonetheless. This was the perfect time to focus on you, particularly since he wouldn’t be distracted by Mari for some time. Perhaps arriving early from Mexico wasn’t too much of a bad thing.

Tonight, the deed didn’t seem too difficult to do either, thanks to how provocatively you dressed. Since when did you wear off-the-shoulder mini dresses? Was this from your New York fashion haul three months back?

“It’d be nice if you could apologize to me first.”

Naoya froze with his glass by his mouth at your unanticipated comment. What were you even going on about? “Didn’t I already say sorry for not spending time with you?” This was what he meant by how ungrateful you were.

Curling your lips inward, you inhaled sharply. “That wasn’t what I was—”

When the conversation was unexpectedly interrupted by a buzzing at the table, Naoya reached for his phone only to be greeted with a blank screen. Rather, he looked up to see you wiping your hands and staring at your device, mirroring Naoya’s own confusion as your brows creased at an unsaved number.

“Spam,” you concluded and pushed the device away once the caller eventually reached voicemail. “What I was saying,” you began even as your face contorted momentarily with reluctance, “was that you never told me you were away from Japan. I didn’t even know where you were or when you would be back had I not called your secretary.”

Wow, that was what you wanted an apology for?

What an entitled brat.

Admittedly, Naoya should have texted you before he vanished into thin air, but a homemaker like you certainly had no business in his personal schedule. Had he truly had an investor conference to attend, Naoya was certain you would have been just as meddlesome, which was why he found the situation even more sardonic when you confirmed his suspicions by adding, “Sending me a text isn’t too difficult, you know.”

Just who the hell did you think you were?

Don’t think he had not noticed how confrontational you had been as of late, criticizing his actions and then dishing out instructions as though you were anywhere near the place to do so. This change from your typically submissive nature was uninvited, to say the least. Like, at the bare minimum, you could look at your own husband as you spoke, and Naoya wondered if your actions were simply a phase in the relationship or a reveal of the real you. Whatever the reason, he wanted his good and obedient wife back.

“Well then, my apologies." His eye twitched as he spoke, and nothing now could hide the contempt rising in his tone. “Next time, I’ll make sure my assistants send you my entire itinerary from when I sleep to when I use the restroom to—"

Naoya couldn’t even think through his annoyance because, at this point, your phone was ringing for what must be the third time and that irked him even further.

“Please!” he scoffed, his vexation bursting through his voice. “Just excuse yourself and pick that shit up, good lord!”

At least that much you listened to. You pardoned yourself, stepping away just as Naoya pinched the bridge of his nose. On the one date he finally organized with his wife, you just had to ruin his mood with your shit attitude and table manners. Fantastic.

After one long huff, Naoya swung around in his seat and caught the attention of a nearby waiter.

The fuming executive then pointed at his glass.

“Another shot, ASAP."

As much as you were guilty of self-deprecation, you were not masochistic enough to simply swallow your husband’s insults over dinner.

‘Sex, you motherfucking dimwit.’

Simply thinking back to that line sent tiny pricks to your chest.

Did Naoya really think that, just because he mumbled that to himself under his breath, you wouldn’t hear him? What made you even more upset was that, when you asked for an apology, he could not even recognize his wrongs. There was more that you hoped to confront him about, too—particularly about the rumors of his extramarital affairs—but you had half the mind to shut up given his splenetic fury.

Whoever called you, however, thankfully provided you with a reason for reprieve.

You rushed out of the main restaurant venue as you curiously stared at your phone, noticing the missed calls from an unknown number. When the same contact information appeared on your screen in its fourth ring, you pressed the ‘Accept’ button only for the other line to greet you first.

“I still have your dress, kiddo.”

Kiddo.

Only one person called you that.

“Choso?” you nearly shouted in disbelief, unintentionally garnering the attention of some bystanders.

“That’s me alright,” the therapist answered, his reply cool and composed as though he never questioned the fact that his hands landed on your phone number. “I was just about to give up on reaching you.”

Overwhelmed, you sighed. “Sorry, I’m rather busy at the moment.”

“Right, right,” he mulled, a faint rumble sneaking in his tone. Choso then clicked his tongue against his teeth, and you could almost picture the blasé manner in which he would recline in a seat as some shuffling echoed over the line, which would have normally been irrelevant until he added, “Well, I’m downstairs.”

“What?!” was your first reaction. Now, you were certainly getting weird stares. Downstairs, as in, where? “Are you in—”

“Yes, Shibuya. You’re at Cé La Vi right now, aren’t you? Take the elevator down to the first floor. My car’s parked right outside the building’s main doors. That Dolce & Gabbana outfit I made you change out of before the club, I didn’t have a chance to return that since you stormed out of the meeting last night.”

You shut your dropped jaw. “The dress I remember but,” your gaze then narrowed, “how do you know where I am?”

The call suddenly grew quiet, the lull stretching for what must be an hour as Choso carefully contemplated his next words. “When you’re in the right business,” he hinted darkly, no doubt making a reference to his underbelly occupation, “information isn’t hard to come by once you know the right people.”

An assassin with eyes all over the city, huh?

Well, that explained how he got your number as well, albeit you would not be surprised if he had dug through the therapist office’s database for that instead. Sometimes, you had to wonder how an upper-class lady like you got entangled with a man like him, but a five-minute round trip to the first floor could not possibly hurt, right?

“I’ll meet you, then,” you eventually replied and ended the call.

Catching the first elevator car down, you had no trouble spotting the iconic blue Corvette convertible that stood outside the building’s entrance. Upon your approach, Choso rolled down his window and stuck his head out. This evening, his jet-black strands were pulled back into one low ponytail rather than two, his prominent jawline appearing even sharper against the nighttime backdrop.

No wonder this man had a whole harem in the club.

“Hey,” he hummed as his inky eyes ran down your figure, his gaze lingering a little longer on your exposed collarbone before traveling down to your legs. “I like your style.”

At the compliment, you looked away, feeling a bizarre prickle in your stomach. “I’m on a dinner date.”

“With Naoya?” Given how the therapists have recently revealed their disdain for your husband, you were not surprised to see Choso grimace. “Why…would you do that to yourself?”

Great question. “He’s paying, so I can’t complain.”

Choso pressed his lips outward, nodding when he could not argue against that. “I see.”

During the silence that ensued, you clicked your heels together, too busy floundering in the burning presence of your companion that you almost forgot the reason you were here in the first place. “Do…you have my dress?”

Nonchalantly, the man pointed to the back with his thumb. “In the trunk. What? You’re in a rush or something?”

You nodded slowly. “Naoya doesn’t know I’m down here," you explained but, given the psychological pain that your husband had inflicted on you, there was no good reason for guilt to be tugging at your lungs.

Even Choso narrowed his eyes. “You’re going back to that asshole?”

Another great question.

Without saying much, Naoya already made clear that his intention with you tonight was grounded only in sexual gratification, that he viewed you as nothing beyond—as he had put it—‘a motherfucking dimwit.’ Despite the pain, you never failed to find a reason to crawl back to the husband that lashed at your heart.

“Naoya is already angry at me,” you eventually remarked, twirling the edges of your dress. “If I don’t get back...”

“Then what? Even more of a reason to ditch him, to be honest. Maybe that will teach him a lesson for all the times he left you.” Choso was not the type to talk much, but he inevitably had the uncanny ability to leave you dumbstruck once he did. Oblivious to your state (or not), he then casually adjusted the braided bracelet at his wrist. “Better things to do with your time than stay with him.”

Funny that your first instinct was to defend Naoya again. However, even if you were to dutifully return to your husband, he would internally welcome you with apathy, his only goal to leave you smitten as a kitten just so he would have a pussy to play with.

Abandoning Naoya also came with one other problem, though. “There isn’t much else for me to do.”

How pitiful was that?

Sure, you had a stack of invitations to various charity dinners and networking parties, but—even with all the riches and respect in the world—you found those events pretentious, repetitive, and dull.

You half-expected Choso to mock you. (Because, really, who were you to complain about first-world problems?) However, the man just paused slightly, a dash of sympathy running over his expression as he then motioned to the empty shotgun seat.

“I could take you out for a ride.”

Your brows shot up. Tempting. “Where to?”

“Since I’m free tonight, I was going to take myself somewhere by Tokyo Bay—one of my favorite spots around,” Choso explained as he ran both his hands through his hair. “Although, if you’re interested, I could show you the area, too.”

At the proposal, you tried not to smile too obviously. Who knew that a hardened part-time hitman actually had such a soft spot?

“Then I’d love to.”

Choso drove off the second you jumped into the Corvette, the convertible greeting you with its familiar ashy honeysuckle scents and a The Neighbourhood tune. With a long exhale, you sank into the red leather seat and stared out the window, watching the nearby scenery transform from skyscrapers to highway signs.

Quietly, you relished the soothing silence in the car that was a refuge from the charged cacophony over dinner, reflecting on the steps that brought you to this moment. What a twist of fate, how the man who had detested you weeks ago was now a warm beacon that offered light in the merciless sea, providing you more comfort than you'd like to admit.

When you unconsciously turned in his direction, you tried to not stare too obviously at the metal on his ears, the piercings gleaming as they caught beams from bypassing streetlamps. You might have had a rough start with Choso Kamo, but you still found him ridiculously attractive with his oversized white sweater and black jeans, hiding his athletic physique underneath.

“Need me to pull up Google Maps?” you asked upon realizing your extended ogling.

“No,” he shot back. “I know this city like the back of my hand.”

And Choso sure seemed like he did.

He was focused solely on driving, his palms clasped around the steering wheel as his fingers drummed to the bass of ‘Sweater Weather.’

This close to him, you noticed how his hands were rough and calloused—almost definitive sign of working out. Right where he rolled up his sleeves, veins also weaved beneath his forearm tattoos, the inked vines something you never had the chance to examine extensively either.

This time, you weren’t too discreet given that he caught your gaze. “What?”

Oops. “Nothing.”

You turned away to look ahead, trying to calm your frenzied heart by observing some uninteresting cars on the expressway. A proper lady like you knew better than to gawk at someone for a prolonged time, yet you still got caught red-handed. How embarrassing.

Slumping further into your seat, you pouted as your weird way in mitigating the internal humiliation. “Just…keep your eyes on the road.”

While Choso did as he was told, he held back a low chuckle. “And you could keep your eyes on me.”

“But I wasn’t—!" A complete lie, but you still shouted with flailing arms, defenses hopeless.

Yet, what really disarmed you was Choso’s faint smirk.

One minute, you were frustrated and flustered; the next, you were simply stunned at the amused tilt in his lips, all because his smile was so rare. There was something enchanting about the cocky way Choso grinned as he stepped on the accelerator, the maniacal gleam in his eyes as he stared ahead, the bright colors of the Tokyo evening that glittered behind him.

“Jesus, take the fucking wheel,” you muttered like a starstruck teenager.

“What’s wrong?” he asked harmlessly because this man definitely heard you over the music. He threw you a quick glance even as the smile on his lips stayed. “I mean, you could keep staring if you want to, bimbo. I won’t judge.”

Mouth opened to back talk, your ambitions immediately got cut short as Choso moved a hand from the steering wheel to your inner thigh. While you hid your gasp at the unexpected contact, you only hoped that he did not notice the way you tensed under his searing touch.

But Choso noticed, alright.

“Hm, why are you so quiet all of a sudden?” Choso pressed again, his focus still on the lane as though he was not caressing you, massaging you, his thumb running in hypnotic circles centimeters away from the dull throb between your legs,

How he managed to maintain his composure in such a situation was a mystery given that you, unlike him, gripped hard at the side of your seat.

“Because…” you hissed after mustering all effort.

Then, you stopped.

How could you respond while completely distracted by the tightening in your stomach, practically holding your breath as his hand crept up higher? It was not helping that his fingers were so thick, that he had a small dagger printed by a knuckle, that his scent was reminiscent of burning maple leaves during a New England fall.

“‘Because…?’ Because what?” Choso asked, knocking your thoughts loose momentarily because he—on the other hand—did not miss your incomplete answer. His nails dug into your skin, nearly making you yelp at the incredible burn. “What’s the issue? I don’t remember you being this shy with the other therapists around.”

The steeliness that underlined his tone…

Was Choso still hung up about your frisky flings with Toji and Sukuna? Even though you should have never gotten sexually involved with them in the first place, you never would have thought that Choso would hold such a grudge.

In response, you cautiously observed his side profile. “Are…you jealous?”

He closed his eyes momentarily at the question, indescribable salaciousness etched on his lovely face, and he shuddered slightly. His eyes opened back as a sharpened glare, Adam’s apple bobbing as the result of a drawn-out swallow.

“Oh, baby,” he growled, and it was the backward tilt of his head that left your mind spinning, “you have no idea.”

Traveling beneath your dress, his hand roamed a little higher, then higher again, his pinky finger brushing at your panties’ seam such that if he decided to travel up any further, he might just feel how miserable and soaked you were.

Just hurt me, you begged silently, legs squeezing together subconsciously as you feel a delicious heat churning through your body, biting back a moan when Choso gripped hard at your thigh before smacking at the flesh.

“Harder,” you accidentally pleaded out loud, immediately clamping your hands over your mouth.

Unsurprisingly, your insanely handsome driver turned to you. When you met his gaze, you only wished that you hadn’t because Choso had a gaze that left you weak in the knees, the murky pool in his eyes enough to leave you whittled to a frantic and blubbering mess.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to—"

“Well, I'm curious what your husband would say,” he interjected, debauchery bleeding in his tone, “when I send you home my handprints on your ass cheeks?”

Wow, that really took you aback.

“‘When?’” you bleated. Not ‘if?’

“Yes, ‘when,’” he confirmed with a hoarse thrum. His overflowing confidence clouded your head with something heady, something intoxicating. As much as you think you should tell Choso to stop, words were lodged in your throat once he forced your legs apart with one firm pull, and while you found pleasure in the pain, it was his next suggestion that sent sweet vibrations straight down your spine: “Because I wonder what would happen once I spread you over the car hood and took you right there.”

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[meanscarletdeceiver]

What in the Sam Hill...

Before I tell you this story you must know the characteristics of the two men principally involved, drivers Sam Mitchell of Corkerhill and Sam McKnight of Girvan. Both were highly competent enginemen. Both knew that this was so, but Mitchell regarded all Girvan men as only one jump off the plough-boy, and lost no opportunity of taking them down. Both Mitchell and McKnight were well-educated men with a fine command of correct English, and Mitchell has a blisteringly sarcastic tongue. To hear those two conducting a conversation in polite phrasing, was a delight — McKnight infinitely watchful, weighing his words, Mitchell with the eye of an eagle, ready to pounce. They reminded me of two dogs, stalking round one another, with their hair bristling!

Good set-up. This too is yuri.

(Incidentally their engines at the time were, respectively, a Fowler Compound and an ex-G&SW Manson. The Compounds were distressingly prone to slipping on the Stranraer road in wet conditions.)

On 15 October 1930, Mitchell was on the 4.10pm through to Stranraer with No 1179. Harry McGeorge was firing. It was a beast of a night, stormy and wet, rain changing to sleet as the train went up the hill. They got to Girvan and the two rear coaches were detached for Turnberry, leaving 196 tons to go on south. The man with the Turnberry coaches gave them a push the length of the platform, then departed, and the van was scarcely off the platform end when No 1179 went into a furious slip and stuck. Most drivers would then have set back into the station and waited for assistance, but not Mitchell. He banged at it and managed to get away, but only went to the advance signal and stuck again. He got away and stuck twice up in Glendoune, off again by some miracle, only to stick finally up at the waterworks. Harry McGeorge had to take the tablet and walk back 2 1/2 miles in the dark.

Goddamnit, Mitchell. There were signs.

Harry got down eventually, but Girvan could not help him. He must wait until the local from Ayr via Turnberry came in, which arrived with Manson 4-4-0 No 14161 (ex-414 ex-73) with Driver Sam McKnight and Fireman Billy Rae. They were informed that they had to go up and bank Mitchell. McKnight was not at all pleased, for he was an elder in the parish church, and there was a Kirk Session meeting that night. However, he hurried up, rounded his train, stowed it in the siding, got Harry and his tablet aboard, and off to the rescue.

You got between a true Scotsman and his presbytery. This cannot end well.

By that time regular assistance in rear had been sanctioned for Glendoune bank. The banking engine would get a banking key from Girvan No 3 box, would not couple to the train, and at milepost 3 3/4, about a quarter-mile from the summit, would drop off and return to Girvan. But it was laid down that if an engine had to go to assist a train stuck in the section, then it must have the tablet belonging to that train, must couple to its rear, and go through the section to its first stop at Pinmore.

Well that just sounds annoying.

So they went up, found the rear of the train, Billy Rae got down to couple, and Harry went off with his tablet, McKnight telling him that he would give two crows when he was ready. Billy Rae climbed up again, McKnight gave two crows, Mitchell gave two in answer and off they went... for about a coach length, and stopped. McKnight glanced up; the vacuum needle was at zero! Billy Rae clapped his hand to his mouth. 'Oh,' he said, 'I've coupled the bags and forgot the coupling!'

Goddammit, Billy Rae.

It may sound funny but it's easier done than you'd think. Out in the dark with the sleet trickling down your neck, groping under a rear gangway for a stiff vacuum hose, you get set on the job of coupling that to the tall swan-neck on the engine, and forget the primary job of the coupling itself. McKnight and Rae got down to see what damage had been done. The engine was sitting about 10ft from the rear of the train. They examined the bag on the engine, which did not appear to be damaged. They replaced it on its plug. Then they groped for the van bag. It seemed to be all right; they put it on its plug.

The words "seemed to" are doing a lot of work here...

Also, LMFAO at the driver at the head of the train. I call him No-Chill.

All this time Mitchell had not tumbled to the situation at the rear. He was roaring, bashing and slipping, and just as they replaced the van bag he thought that he would try in reverse! McKnight and Rae were still down on the ground when back he came — Billy slipped out from between with not an inch to spare.

No-Chill, you nearly killed a man. Calm the fuck down.

Bang they went into No 14161, which rolled off down the 1 in 54! There was a situation, the old Manson moving off into the dark, with two desperate men in pursuit. McKnight was middle-aged, with some corresponding spread; he just managed to touch a buffer with the tips of his fingers. Wee Billy was like a whippet; running furiously, he got a hold of the side step, wriggled on to it, climbed up, and along to the cab and stopped her. McKnight met up. 'Come on,' he said, 'never mind coupling or anything.'

Pfffttt. It was always going to end this way.

He buffered up to the rear, and away with them. Up they went right to the top, then they had to keep steaming down through the tunnel in case they lost the train.

Coz so far we've all been playing it just a bit too safe tonight.

Finally they pulled up in Pinmore station about six feet from the van. The guard had to see to parcels, then he came and looked. 'Oh, you're tied off,' he said, 'Cheer-o, boys!' and off they went. Then 14161's crew tried to raise vacuum and could not do so.

Elder McKnight ain't ever gettin' to that kirk session.

The bag had been damaged. They took it off, went over into the wood, got a bit of stick and made a plug. When they got home, they just put in the repairs book, 'Front bag to renew' and no one ever queried it.

I believe I could give steam enginemen the random rubbish rolling about the floor of my car and with it they could patch up any vacuum brake in the land.

... Sam McKnight told me this story the following week, but extracted from me a solemn promise that never, must I ever let Sam Mitchell know what went on at the rear of his train that night. I never did so, but as all four participants have now passed on, I can put it in print for the first time.

I want the job of collecting all the company tea and publishing it to the world the second I can get away with it.

— excerpted (minus editorial comments and bolding) from Legends of the Glasgow & South Western Railway (in LMS days), David L. Smith

[callsign-phoenix]

I wrote this as a part of my falltober fics, I hope you like it!

It is a Natasha ‘Phoenix’ Trace x gn!reader imagine.

Thank you @famfan-1034 for proofreading!

Day 15: Chestnuts

Warnings: allusions to smut

Nat always came back earlier from work than you did, so she had taken it upon herself to prepare dinner for the two of you.

She wasn’t too bad of a cook and you were incredibly grateful for her help.

The only problem she occasionally had though was time management, which resulted in one or two kitchen fires.

After an exhausting day at work you were excited to go home, to find Nat with an open bottle of wine already waiting for you.

Just like you had expected she was already waiting for you, with a welcoming smile on her face.

You immediately went to her, wrapping her in a long awaited hug.

She wrapped her arms around you as well and moved her hands to caress up and down your back, and you reacted by connecting your lips.

Nat was an amazing kisser and before you knew it you found yourselves on the table, with your shirt off and her jeans unbuttoned.

One of your hands was just finding its way under her shirt when a blaring sound pierced your ears, which had the two of you jump away from each other immediately.

Nat was the first to realize what it was and she hurried towards the kitchen, where the smoke alarm was coming from.

You followed her quickly, throwing on your shirt, but she was already in action.

There was quite a bit of smoke in the room for the few chestnuts that Nat had put in the oven.

They emitted a lot of smoke for not being on fire yet.

Nat was quick to pull them out of the oven and throw them into the sink, letting the cold water run over them and creating steam as well.

The kitchen was a mess and you hurried to open the windows, while Nat shut off the alarm.

You were a bit irritated as you looked at each other, the mess in the kitchen sink still making hissing sounds as the burnt nuts started to cool down again.

“I might have forgotten the chestnuts in the oven,” your girlfriend whispered, pulling a grimace at her mishap.

You simply raised an eyebrow because you didn’t know what to say, so Nat felt the need to defend herself.

“I thought it would be romantic to make chestnuts in October,” she said sheepishly.

“You almost burnt down the house?!” You exclaimed in anger, but then you burst out laughing simultaneously.

The smoke and steam were slowly vanishing and you were able to eye the mess in the kitchen sink, finding the small fruits burnt to a crisp.

You chuckled again and moved towards Nat, wrapping your arms around her waist.

“Let’s eat the rest of our food, before anything else happens to it,” you whispered as you pressed a kiss to her temple, and you felt Nat nod slightly.

You ran a soothing thumb over the small of her back as you led her back to the table, and she took your hand and pressed a kiss to it in return.

“We can finish what we started after we eat,” she suggested with a grin, and you were eager to agree.

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[justimajin]

The Profit & Love Statement » Pt. 15

↠ Pairing: Seokjin x Reader

↠ Genre: Fluff, Comedy, Angst

↳ 4.5k / CEO AU

↠ Updated Summary: Through hours of endless training and hard work, Kim Seokjin is finally the CEO of Kim Electronics. He has everything at his hands - status, money, power. He owes it all to you, his rigid and sarcastic mentor who overseed his entire training. But as he steps into the shoes of becoming the CEO, he can only wonder what it means for your relationship now.

GIF credit.

↠ Next Update: Tuesday, October 10 (series masterpost here)

Heading into the office is like mission impossible. 

The first thing that catches your eye is the sheer amount of photographers surrounding the building, prohibiting your pathway and denying any access to the front door. You glance around with a frown at the display, attempting to politely ask for a pass through. 

It completely fails; the photographer briefly sends a glimpse in your direction before turning around all together. 

You try again and again, before giving up and ultimately having to shove your way through just to make it inside.

Unfortunately, the interior isn’t any better either.

There’s crowds of people littering the area, clumped together in suffocating groups. The sound of loud buzzing chatter barely gives you a chance to make out what’s going on, left simply staring in utter puzzlement.

A call of your name has you swiveling around.

Hoseok’s eyes light up and his hand reaches out, gesturing you towards him. You stride over and he pulls you aside, far from the accumulating crowd.

You end up following after him to a less crowded elevator, sucking in a harsh inhale.

“Good morning.” You manage to get out.

Hoseok chuckles at your exhausted tone, “Good morning to you too. I hope your day hasn’t been too rough.”

“Aside from all the lovely guests I had to encounter this morning?” You sarcastically retort, “Of course not! It’s been wonderful.”

Hoseok snorts and the elevator finally dings, greeting you a handful of five people inside right off the bat. You and Hoseok manage to squeeze through before the doors close and although it’s still not ideal, you’re grateful for the reduced quantity of individuals.

“What’s even going on here?” You retort, mind swimming with the amount of excess people flooding your office. Sure, you’ve had your busier days with plenty of meetings, but this was getting more and more absurd by the minute.

Hoseok shrugs, “I’m not too sure.”

You raise an eyebrow at that, but the curiosity is all thrown away once the elevator doors open again to another flood of people. You and Hoseok end up being pushed towards a corner, to which Hoseok ends up sheepishly laughing while you glance around in annoyance.

However, your curiosity spikes up once again when you notice that the people surrounding you aren’t in business wear, with no indication of name tags either. Instead, there’s camera’s looped around their necks and notepad’s lined in their hands.

You’re close to making a joke to Hoseok that it almost looks like there’s a celebrity within your office, but the realization dawns as the smile fades from your lips.

The elevator reaches your floor and all the individuals crushing you immediately exit. You’re left staring at their backsides, frozen in place.

Hoseok swivels, “What’s wrong, Y/N?”

“The date today…” You whisper. In an instant, you’re rummaging through your belongings, fetching your phone and unlocking the screen.

 Surely enough, it seems like your hunch is right.

“Y/N? Hello?” Hoseok waves a hand in front of your face, catching your attention.

In a hurry, you begin to explain, “It’s been two months since–“

“Mr. Kim, this way please!”

Your eyes flicker for a moment, solely picking up on the multiple heads surrounding one particular office until your vision finally focuses.

Your jaw drops wide open.

Because among the swarming group of people is a former intern that you can barely recognize.

Standing near his new office’s door – he dons a beige suit, dress shirt actually tucked in and jacket properly enveloping his shoulders. His hair is neatly combed and pushed back, a small smile lining his lips as constant flashes go off nearby him.

You’ve never seen him so put together before.

“Seokjin?!” Hoseok exclaims, whipping his head around, “Does this mean–?”

A lop-sided smile rises on your lips and you cross your arms, “Looks like the rest of Kim Electronics is meeting their new CEO for the first time.”

“No wonder….” Hoseok laughs in astonishment, “Should we go congratulate him?”

Hoseok shares the same thoughts running through your mind. You’re truly experiencing a mix of genuine surprise and joy, gladly seeking the opportunity to give congrats and playfully chide Jin for not telling you about the upcoming news.

But your feet falter upon seeing the sheer crowd surrounding him as he plasters on a smile.

“Maybe later.” You bring up, “I’m sure we’ll get an opportunity to officially give our congrats.” 

Hoseok nods and the two of you depart, swiftly weaving yourselves through the multitude of people to reach your work stations.

You, truthfully, couldn’t have been more wrong.

To be fair, you expected this. For the longest amount of time, whether it was through training Jin as an intern to working alongside him in the office, his lingering deadline was always out there and you knew that in time, he would ultimately step into the position he came to uptake since he arrived.

But you weren’t expecting this, that he would constantly be encircled by hoards of people, each demanding his attention in different ways. You weren’t expecting the sheer load of scrutiny on him, everyone either wanting to catch a glance at their new CEO or lined up for him to have work to do as the new head.

It’s all out of your expectations. You suppose that overtime, a part of you completely forgot why he was here in the first place.

And you also can’t help but wonder… if a part of you actually misses hi– 

The door yanks open and slams shut, causing your shoulders to jolt. You twist around in puzzlement, only for your eyes to enlarge. 

Because standing before you with his back turned, is Jin.

You blink wide-eyed, about to open up your mouth to ask what on earth he was doing in the printing room, until he slumps down and plants a hand against his forehead.

“Oh, thank god.”

Being left speechless, you decide to clear your throat.

Immediately he pivots around, expression full of alarm. But upon seeing you, he freezes.

“Y/N?”

You’re still not accustomed to seeing him look so professional, too used to his laid-back demeanor.

“It’s nice to see you, CEO Kim.” You politely smile, reacting as if you were mere strangers.

His features sour in an instant. “Oh, please. Not you too.”

Your professional smile breaks as you laugh and he sighs, playfully shaking his head.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t like me using your new official title?”

“You mean the title everyone has been calling me for the past couple of hours?” He chuckles, “No thanks.”

“Congrats, by the way.” You bring up with a grin, “Me and Hoseok saw you this morning, but I didn’t get the chance to tell you.”

“You did?” He says in surprise, “Why didn’t you just come over?”

“I mean, I could have, but I’m not sure I could have made it through the crowd that was surrounding you.”

“Ah, that’s true...” He agrees with a grimace, shaking his head.

“I know it’s just the first day, but how’s it been?” You wonder, “Training was enough, or no?”

“The training was enough, that’s for sure,” He states, “but it’s…a lot. Definitely a lot to handle.”

You hum and he continues, “It’s like I know what I’m doing, but there’s too much to do.”

“Right,” You nod in acknowledgement, “There is a huge difference in working at the company as an employee versus trying to run it.”

“Exactly.” He laughs underneath his breath, appearing a bit defeated. “I think I might just start living in my office if things keep going like this.”

You chuckle, “Well if I get the chance to step away from my work today, we should grab a coffee so you can get a break of some kind too.” 

Jin’s eyes brighten, “Yeah, we should. That sounds really nice…” 

Your wide smile matches his own. But then he tilts his head to the side and crosses his arm, raising a playful brow. 

“Wait, aren’t I technically your boss at the end of the day?”

Your nose scrunches up, “Oh, please.” 

Jin loudly laughs at your subdued reaction, something he truthfully hasn’t seen from anyone all day. 

“Woah, woah!” Hoseok waves his hands, staring at you flabbergasted, “Rewind a little!”

Your brows furrow, “What do you mean?”

“Wait, the guy I met was the Kim Seokjin?” Jungkook interrupts with wide eyes, “And he’s the CEO of the company?!”

Yoongi pats him on the back, “You’ve got a lot of catching up to do, kid.”

Jungkook glances at him in disbelief, but Hoseok shushes them, “Wait a second! Y/N, you have to go over everything again!”

“What is there to go over?” You wonder, noticing even Yoongi and Jungkook turning their attention over to you. All of you were seated inside the break room, taking your lunch breaks together. For the most part, the conversation lingered on how Jungkook was finding his new job, but then Hoseok brought up Jin becoming the new CEO – which led to many questions on Jungkook’s behalf – and you had mentioned running into Miyeon, which spiralled into–

“I was over at his house and had breakfast with his family in the morning,” You mention with a shrug, “Afterwards, he dropped me off at home.”

Hoseok lets out a gasp and Jungkook’s jaw drops. Yoongi stares at you with wide eyes.

Their collective reactions have you raising an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You were at his house for the night…” Yoongi calmly says, despite his perplexed expression.

“–and had breakfast with his family–“ Hoseok pitches in.

Jungkook quite literally stands up. “And then had the CEO of the company drop you home?!”

You furrow your brows, “You guys are literally just repeating what I said.”

“Because you make it sound so normal!” Hoseok loudly says, right as the door to the room opens and two individuals emerge.

Taehyung grins, “Hi guys!”

Behind him, Jimin peers around with curious eyes.

Yoongi snorts, “You’re just in time.”

“Time for what?” He wonders, slipping into the seat next to Jungkook. Jimin walks over and sits next to you, greeting you with a kind smile that you return.

“Time to hear that Y/N apparently went over to Seokjin’s house, met his family and then was given a ride by him in the morning.” 

Taehyung nearly chokes, “You what?!”

You stare at all of them with unamused eyes, “Why am I getting the sense all of you are blowing this out of proportion?”

Jimin innocently taps your shoulder, “Sorry, who is Seokjin? Your husband?”

Your mouth falls agape and Jungkook bursts out laughing. Jimin’s eyes widen slightly and he glances around in confusion.

“I-I’m sorry, was I wrong?”

“Don’t worry about it, Jimin.” Hoseok says with a grin, taking in your expression, “But I think Y/N’s finally discovered what we’ve been trying to tell her.”

You shake your head with a huff, snapping out of your daze. “I didn’t go there on purpose! Remember Miyeon? My friend who I reconnected with?”

“Sorry, I completely forgot about it once you mentioned the CEO.” Jungkook brings up with a cheeky smile and you scoff, rolling your eyes at him.

“Anyways, yes, the person you bumped into is the CEO.” You mention to Jungkook, before turning to Jimin. “Kim Seokjin is the new CEO of the company, but he was hired as an intern and trained by some of us before taking up the position.”

Jimin hums in awe, all the loose dots finally beginning to connect.

“Our training was truly the best for him.” Taehyung brings up to his new friend, “He wouldn’t have made it without us.”

Yoongi frowns, “Didn’t you train him for the shortest amount of time?”

Taehyung pouts. “Don’t undermine my contributions.”

Jimin furrows his brows, “How long was his training? If I can ask?”

“About two months.” Taehyung mentions.

Jimin blinks, “Two months?”

“The original head of the company and who is also his father, CEO Namjung, was looking to retire.” You explain and Jimin nods, “When Jin first came as an intern, it was already planned that his training would lead up to him becoming the CEO.”

“Wow….” Jimin whispers baffled, “I don’t know, that just sounds like a lot.”

“It is.” Hoseok glances at you, “Speaking of which, he did look pretty stressed this morning.”

Yoongi hums, “I can’t imagine having all these reporters around was pleasant either.”

“Taking up the position of new CEO would be stressful and unpleasant to anyone.” Jimin concludes from their thoughts.

You slowly nod, agreeing with their notions. Although Jin seemed fine to you when you spoke earlier, you distinctly recall the words he had used – that this all was just simply a lot to handle.

After a very long conversation at lunch with Hoseok constantly pondering if there was something going on between the two of you during lunch, you ultimately headed back to your work area. In light of the company going through changes and having a new head, it seemed that your workload had simply increased with more things on your plate than you would like.

You decide to take a break after a couple hours pass by and there’s one too many yawns slipping by your lips. Glancing over at Yoongi’s side, you were able to question if he wanted to tag along with you – but then you realize he’s preoccupied with his own tasks, namely being on the phone and scribbling down a bunch of numbers on a notepad as he stares at his own monitor.

Heading over to the break room, you vaguely recall promising Jin that you would drag him out from the confines of his office if there was a chance you could step away from work. Your feet falter, and it’s not long before you’re standing near the cubicle, a crease in between your brows.

You know that the conversation you were having today at lunch was simply just joking around, that Hoseok and Jungkook were merely pestering and probing you about the encounter as much as they could. But it’s at this moment, you can’t help but think things might have shifted.

Namely, you would have never hesitated to drop by Jin’s work area and ask if he wanted to grab a coffee together. But things are different now and on top of that…

Is it just you or does the door to the CEO’s office right in front of you seem a bit daunting?

You pursue your lips.

Should you even ask? Would that be weird?

You stand frozen there, still contemplating the choice. If anything, the recollection of Jin quickly slipping into the printing room with ease and barely reacting to being called CEO emerges, and you have to remind yourself of something you did when you first met him.

Regardless of his new status, he’s still the same person that throws out casual self-praises and will tell you terrible jokes till no end.

Raising your hand, you knock against the door.

It takes a moment for it to open, but when it does, your hopeful smile falls.

“Yes?” A young man in a formal black suit greets you. There’s an employee tag hanging from his suit, but otherwise from that, you can’t recall seeing him around anywhere.

“Uh, I needed to speak with the CEO…” The request feels odd to say, but the man nods, opening the door for you.

“He’s currently in a meeting right now, but should be back soon.” He states, guiding you inside, “Can I ask what you need to discuss with him?”

“Oh–“ You hesitate, not really expecting him to ask you. In an attempt to quickly conjure something up, you blurt the last thing you were working on from the top of your head, “I-It’s about the budget for the latest product.….”

He nods, gesturing to a chair in front of a long desk, “Please be seated.”

You do as you’re told and the man turns, exiting the room. Letting out a breath of relief, you muse over your poor attempt in creating an excuse just to see Jin and you can only wonder what his response would be.

“Seriously? You came to talk to me about a budget?” He shakes his head, “Are you holding a grudge against me or something?!”

A light laugh leaves your lips, but you quickly conceal it when you realize you’re still sitting in an office that technically belonged to the head of your company.

A deep sigh escapes you. You know you convinced yourself that this isn’t at all strange, but it’s harder to abide by that when you’re seated in front of a huge room that’s twice the size of every office you’ve been in.

Time stretches out longer than you would like and when you find yourself gazing outside the glass door only to catch employee’s working for the CEO, the more it dawns on you.

Maybe you can just postpone… You think, It’s just coffee…and it’s not like you can’t see him outside of the office.

Standing up with an exhale, you decide it would be best if you had just left.

However, that’s when your knee bumps into the desk in front of you.

A pile of files spill onto the ground, spreading out in different directions. Sucking in a sharp inhale, you rush to grasp onto them, quickly stacking them together with occasional glances at the door.

You reach out to grasp the last one, stuffing the contents back in until you realize–

There’s a red seal on it.

A frown mars your features, having never seen the specific marking on a company file before. Carefully placing the papers back in, your eyes unconsciously land right onto the detailed writing.

“Building approval….” You mumble. Was the company moving elsewhere? “Contractors agreement…budget of–“

You blink at the moment, knowing that it wasn’t possible for such a low budget to exist within your company.

You focus back onto the contractors agreement, “Equipment and furniture must be bought, as well as labour that will be include servers and chefs–“

Your eyes flicker for a brief moment, as if all the loose dots have been connected. Blinking your eyes rapidly, you quickly secure the files back and place them back onto the desk.

Turning around, the door to the office is open and leaning against it is the same man that approved your entry.

He frowns, “Is everything okay?”

“Uh, yes–“ He doesn’t seem to have noticed that you basically knocked down a hoard of confidential files, “I-I should get back to work. You can tell Ji– I mean the CEO that he can follow up with me later.”

The man’s frown doesn’t change, but you decide not to stick around for that. You walk away before he can question you more, heading straight back to your work station.

Only this time, your mind is buzzing with a million thoughts.

“You’re back.”

Yoongi remarks, watching you return back to your cubicle with a small smile. There’s a couple of sheets with filled out paperwork in front of him, namely the ones he was working on before you left.

You sit down silently, brows furrowed.

“Y/N?” Yoongi calls out in concern. Your daze snaps and you whirl around, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Huh?”

Yoongi raises a brow, “Everything okay?”

You blink, “Uh, yeah…I just–“ 

You pursue your lips and Yoongi glances over in confusion, leaning closer to you, “What is it?”

“Well…” You warily peer around, something Yoongi notices. “I went to go see Jin…”

He also notices that you’re whispering, “Yeah, and?”

“And he wasn’t there, so they let me in and told me to wait…” You quickly explain, “It was taking a while and there were a lot of people around, so I decided to come back to work but then I knocked over some of his files.”

Yoongi has a puzzled frown. “Okay…”

“And well–“ A corner of your mouth quirks, “I found plans in it. For a new restaurant.”

Yoongi’s eyes enlarge. “For the company?”

You shake your head, “As a project. Like, something he was working on the side.”

He blinks, “I don’t understand…why would he try to open a restaurant on top of everything he has to do here?”

You faintly smile.

“It was a childhood dream.” He clarifies quickly, eyeing you carefully as you nonchalantly stare back, “Just a dream, but I…I thought one day, it would be cool to own one.”

“I think of a couple of reasons,” You remark, “but it seemed like it was still in the planning stages, and some of the plans were even dated back a few years…”

Yoongi brings up, “So it’s been in the works for a while–“

“And maybe he hasn’t gotten the chance to complete it, until now.” You finish. 

“I guess so.” Yoongi says, “I don’t know if it’s such a good thing though. He’s just become CEO and now to open up a restaurant?” He shakes his head, “Sounds a bit risky.”

You hum, recalling the low budget and how none of the plans had been finalized, “It looks like it could work, but it just needs some–“

“Support?” Yoongi raises a brow, staring at you suspiciously. You laugh sheepishly, avoiding his scrutiny.

“I’m just saying–“ You protest, but Yoongi isn’t having any of it.

“But are you?”

“Fine, let’s stop talking about this.” You raise your hands up in defense, “I just thought I’d bring up and we could discuss it through–“

Yoongi’s smile stretches, glancing at his monitor. “As I so coincidentally happen to be well versed in numbers and finances?”

You grow flustered with his keen observation and he laughs.

***

As much as you’d hate to admit it, Yoongi is right to a certain extent.

Seokjin’s plan, as pre-planned as it is, is risky and you would be blind not to see that. But it didn’t come off as much of a surprise to you as it did for Yoongi, already being able to piece the dots together.

However, the plan can only remain a thought if there are no practical implications. You can already identify that the budget is far too less, not being able to cover additional costs associated with promotions – something the lack of finalization just further proves.

In addition to this, you believe some of the plans are far too detailed. It almost makes you think that Seokjin perhaps had a specific image in his mind that he was trying to create, as ambiguous and interesting as it is. But for a project that’s just begun, there has to be leniency – flexibility to say, in case future profits and revenues don’t meet up with expectations.

You let out a sigh, knowing that one simple glimpse at the contents in the files is making your mind run haywire. It isn’t enough to say it grabbed your attention, but when you can see the potential, see through his perspective, it’s difficult for you to erase any lingering thoughts about it.

Aside from him, it’s risky on your part, but somehow you can't help but wonder if you can do something.

Heck, you want to at least try bringing it into fruition.

But where would you even begin? You’re a sales representative – someone who has basic understanding of how the logistics work but not exactly enough expertise for execution…

A shoulder roughly bumps into yours, nearly knocking you backwards. You stagger for a moment, but two hands shoot out, steading you immediately.

You’re left making eye contact with a familiar face.

“Are you alright?” His deep voice ponders, concerned gaze latched onto your features. You blink for a moment, a smile instantly breaking out onto your features.

“Namjoon?”

He peers at you, a bit confused until he mimics your smile. “It’s been a while.”

You warmly nod, “I’m alright, by the way. Was just a little surprised.”

He hums in response and you step off to the side, assuming he was headed somewhere. But when he turns to leave, your lips suddenly move and–

“Say, do you have a minute?”

“Of course.” He instantly spins around and shifts closer.

Your eyes squint, “Have you had the chance to check in with Seokjin lately?”

“Uh– a little.” He sheepishly laughs, “I have seen him since he’s become CEO, if that’s what you’re wondering, but talked to him…I’m afraid I haven’t gotten the chance.”

“I see…” You mutter.

“What is it? Did you need to tell him something?”

“Oh, no. I was just…. curious about a matter.” You pursue your lips, “Do you know about any side projects he’s been invested in?”

“Side projects…” Namjoon questions, a little taken back with your inquiry. His expression is telling enough of his knowledge, a deep frown etching onto his features.

“I don’t think so.” He responds after a moment, “The most I’ve heard him discuss something other than work is about his cooking hobby.” A grin surfaces on his features, “I remember he once asked me what it would take to open a restaurant in theory. I told him it was an ambitious move that he would have to put a lot of thought into.”

Namjoon tenderly laughs from the memory, but your eyes flicker, staring at the man in awe.

“He was asking about opening a restaurant….?”

“Yes, in theory.” He shakes his head, “I doubt he would ever seriously consider it.”

You gnaw down on your lip, Namjoon’s words swaying you elsewhere.

  “And what if he was?”

His brows knit together, “What do you mean?”

Sucking in a sharp inhale, you detail the encounter the same way you had explained to Yoongi, giving him a general gist. You watch as Namjoon’s eyes grow wide with every word you speak, his expression clearly showcasing he was not expecting the turn of events.

Once you’re done, he’s shaking his head, “I….I can’t believe he was even considering this.”

You shrug, “Me either, I just happened to come across it.”

The daze in Namjoon’s eyes breaks and his gaze shifts over to you, intent residing within them.

“And is it safe to assume you brought this up to me with a purpose?”

You nod, “I want to know if anything can be done. If you can see the same potential that I’m seeing.”

Namjoon blinks wide-eyed, not expecting that response.

A small smile curls at the corner of his lips. “I can see your train of thought, but it highly depends on the current plan.” His eyes grow stern, “When will this all be finalized? Who are we getting permits from? How much are the costs? The questions are practically infinite.”

“But not impossible?” You remark and there’s a certain glint to your eyes that Namjoon is quick to pick up on.

“But not impossible…” He retaliates in confirmation, sharing a knowing glance with you.

He clears his throat. “When do you want to get started?”

Your response is instant. “As soon as possible, if that’s okay.”

Namjoon nods in agreement, his smile not fading. The two of you part ways in opposite directions, but there’s a determined look in your eyes that only seems to mimic the intrigued ones Namjoon holds. 

[instruth]

FACTS IN A MIX

Put the facts in a mix

Stir, juggle, spin for a fix

Evidence slips in a scurry

No time to lose, hurry

Go now, before sunrise

Time for a big surprise

Years of patient wait

Since we laid the bait

Finally, a midnight bite

In the dark of the nite

Witnesses, on videos with sound

Close ups with details profound

Catch the culprits in their acts

Squash the denials, show the facts

Culprits in the final mixes, re-enact

©Johnny J P Lee

15 October 2023

A Gogyoshiren Poem (15)

Photos: Album

(Photographers Unknown)

[kumoriyami-xiuzhen]

Hakuoki Shinkai Tenun no Shou Stellaworth Booklet "Her Long Day" part 3

The downside to me sleeping early is that I wake up way too early (before 7 am), and as that causes me to feel super tired for most of the day... I've had a hard time staying awake, which causes my attention to detail to plummet like a rock. Anyway, I don't know if I'll be able to consistently translate in October and November since I have a licensing exam that I really need to study for...

I'll worry about that later. Because I am genuinely sleepy right now.

For now, enjoy!

Hakuoki Shinkai Tenun no Shou Stellaworth Booklet "Her Long Day" part 3

Translation by KumoriYami

Wèishí·Nagakura Moment 《13~15 o'clock》

"——Alright, form two lines! Is everyone here?"

"Yes, Captain Nagakura!"

"Then let's hurry up and start today's patrol. Shimada, can you lead the squad?"

"No problem, leave it to me."

"Alright, let's go! Chizuru-chan, remember to not leave my side."

"Yes!"

Following the sound of orderly footsteps, the Shinsengumi Second Division passed through headquarters' gates.

I had completed my morning chores without incident, and welcomed the afternoon...

Today I was going together with Nagakura-san while patrolling with the Second Division.

"I'm sorry, Nagakura-san. I'll be troubling you to take me along for patrol."

"Don't worry about it. You'll be asking the people in the streets today about Kodo-san, right?"

"Yes, although there haven't been any results, I still want to press on."

"It's been hard work for you too. As long as you don't give up, you'll certainly find him one day."

"Yes!"

I obediently followed the team members in their uniformed haori.

Perhaps t was because the Shinsengumi's reputation had increased…

There were no troublemakers in sight, and there was a tranquil atmosphere over the streets.

"The streets of Kyoto have been calm lately."

"Yeah, everything's peaceful, almost as if nothing will happen again… I'm sort of reminded of what happened when I was at Shiekan."

"Shiekan… That's the dojo that Nagakura-san and the others belonged to when you were still in Edo, right?"

"Yeah. Back then, everyone was poor, but everyone was happy every day and their smiles never stopped. Of course, that hasn't changed even now."

Nagakura-san looked up towards with the sky with some nostalgia, and mumbled.

"….In the future, it'd be nice if these days could like this."

"......Nagakura-san......"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Chizuru-chan, I'll only make you feel awkward if I say that. One day, we'll help you find Kodo, so that you as father and daughter, will be able to return to Edo."

"Ah… yes. One day…"

Although I responded like that, I however still felt speechless for a moment, what was the reason for that.

I came to Edo to find my father, and that has never changed.

But lately, whenever I think there inevitably being a day when I have to leave everyone, I feel a bit lonely.

"Sorry, I said something weird. Let's go think eat something delicious later, and not think about difficult things until later."

Nagakura-san smiled as he said that to me, then turned towards the other members.

"Alright, you guys listen up! After today's patrol ends, this Captain-sama will treat you all to dessert from a teahouse!"

"Eehh…? Since you're treating, I'd rather go to a bar!"

"Bastard! I really want to drink…. No way! We have to have something sweet today!"

"Then I want to eat anmitsu. There's a shop that I can recommend going to!"

"Shimada's recommendation is definitely going to be too sweet…"

"You guys… If you complain again, I'm not going to treat you!"

Seeing the Second Division's members laughing and joking around as they walked, I couldn't help but smile/laugh.

"Nagakura-san and the members have a really good relationship…"

I was as happy as Nagakura-san was, as if that was my own matter, and for the sake of not falling behind everyone, I quickly followed them.

Shintoki·Sakamoto Moment 《15-17 o'clock》

"Um, I'm sory, we're looking for someone…"

"....Hm? Looking for someone?"

"Yes. May I ask if you know a bald Western doctor named Yukimra Kodo?"

No. There are many bald monks that I've seen…. but I haven't heard of a Western doctor with that name."

"Is that so... thank you."

I bowed to the owner of the pharmacy and sighed as I walked out the door.

And as I asked around at clinics, pharmacies, and other places related to father work's work while the Second Division patrolled….

"Chizuru-chan, how was it?"

"Ah, Nagakura-san… Unfortunately, there's nothing here too."

The outcome was as I witnessed it, and the hope I had for today was dashed again.

Nagakura-san narrowed his eyes and patted my shoulder.

"In that case… Nn, we'll be walking around in this area, so you can investigate wherever you want as long as you're within my range of sight."

"Okay, thank you."

Hearing Nagakura-san's consolation, I walked up the street again. But I couldn't begin to feel happy.

——Truly, will it be possible to find him.

This worry in my heart has constantly been growing in my heart had lately been dulling my steps.

I've already asked so many people, yet there still wasn't the slightest bit of information, so was it possible that my father has….

“……”

"….Why the drawn face? What a waste to your cute face."

"Huh...?"

"No, your appearance in men's clothes is handsome cute, which ought to be said outright. I'll correct that, and just call you a beauty."

"Sa-Sakamoto-san...?"

In the face of this acquaintance that was publicly known to be an elusive person, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

"Why are you here...?"

"I just came to find you. I heard that people from the Shinsengumi were on patrol here, so I came to try my luck. It's great to have met you."

Sakamoto-san, who claimed to be a ronin from the Tosa Domain, looked at me with a smile on his likeable face.

"So, why are you feeling so sad? As long as you're willing to talk, I'd be happy to listen?"

"….Uh….?"

For a moment, I hesitated to tell him, the desire to tell someone prevailed, so I decided to speak.

"Actually...."

"——So that's how it is, you haven't found any clue about your father."

"Yes… I've been wondering lately, is it really okay to be continuing like this…"

After listening to me finish worried confession, Sakamoto-san fell deep into thought.

"…Maybe, the means of finding this person/someone are wrong?"

"The means of finding someone… is it?"

If your father went into hiding for some reason, then it's unlikely that he'd be walking down the streets with a bald head and with the characteristics/traits of Western doctor displayed, right? If that's the case, even if you ask around repeatedly, you won't find anything."

"...Are you saying that my father might be disguised?"

"I'm only saying that this is a possibility… that's why, you should try searching areas that aren't just related to medicine."

Sakamoto-san spoke thoughtfully.

"He's a Western doctor, right? Apart from pharmacies, you might also have to search bookstores that sell books related to Western studies, or possibly places that make medical equipment."

"Ah… it's as you say… thank you…!"

Sakamoto-san looked at my inspired expression and used a finger to poke my cheek.

"Although my conjectures might not necessarily be accurate, it's good to occassionaly change your way of thinking. Ah, of course, remember to bring have the Shinsengumi escort you/take along a guard from the Shinsengumi when you go."

"Yes...!"

"In that case, I'd should hurry back before those awful guys appear show up again…. If you want to thank me, go on a a date with me to eat something delicious next time."

"....Um, I'll have to about that carefully."

---to be continued----

reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anmitsu

also i almost always spell "publicly" wrong... huzzah for spell check pointing out that error every time that happens...

[fdelopera]

Welcome to the 19th installment of 15 Weeks of Phantom, where I post all 68 sections of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, as they were first printed in Le Gaulois newspaper 114 yeas ago.

In today’s installment, we have Part III of Chapter 8, “Où MM. Firmin Richard et Armand Moncharmin ont l’audace de faire représenter « Faust » dans une salle « maudite » et de l’effroyable événement qui en résulta” (“Where MM. Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin Have the Audacity to Have ‘Faust’ Performed in a ‘Cursed’ House and the Horrifying Event Which Thereby Ensued”).

This section was first printed on Friday, 22 October, 1909.

For anyone following along in David Coward’s translation (the link is to the Kindle edition on Amazon US), the text starts in Chapter 8 at, “Moncharmin, ever a man for a joke, said, ‘Actually, quite a good house for a theatre which has a curse on it!'” and goes to Chapter 8, “But a few, who seemed slightly better informed, agreed that 'they'd kick up a storm' at the start of the ballad of the King of Thule, and hurried off to the subscribers' door to tell La Carlotta.” Please note, however, that a large portion of this section was omitted from Leroux’s 1st Edition.

There are some significant differences between the standard 1st Edition text and the Gaulois text. In this section, these include (highlighted in red above):

1) This section in the Gaulois was sadly cut from the 1st Edition:

The Persian was a living enigma who was starting to irritate Paris. He spoke to no one. He never smiled. He seemed to love music since he attended all of the musical productions, and yet he was not enthusiastic, he did not applaud, and he did not become impassioned.

Here is how M. A.D…, a former journalist who had been the Opéra’s secretary, spoke of the Persian:* “For many years, he has been sneaking his way through our Parisian lives, always alone, always silent, but loving and seeking out the crowds, carrying in broad daylight and by lamplight a stone-faced countenance and a slightly hesitant gait, appearing at every performance with his perpetual costume, a Persian hat and a great, black houppelande coat,** in the sleeves of which he continuously wrings his unceasingly nervous hands.”

That evening, like every evening, our Persian was thus dressed in Persian attire; but the new Ambassador of Persia himself was dressed in the latest Parisian fashion, and there was nothing surprising about this, since he had come directly from London.

The seat occupied by the Persian was located right below the Ambassador’s box. At the close of the curtain, the Persian rose and remained standing, turning his back to the box. But certainly he would soon turn around, and the Ambassador would see him. What would he do? Would he recognize him? Was there even anyone in Persia who knew the Persian? There were those who said that he was a very important figure; well, they were going to see!

They saw nothing at all. M. Moncharmin relates in his Memoirs that the Persian appeared before the Ambassador of Persia without even acknowledging him and that there was in the demeanor of the former more aloofness and quiet disdain than usual. In this regard, M. Moncharmin writes that the Persian was one of the most handsome men that one could see, “of average height, with even features, an expressive and masculine face etched with a profound melancholy, with black eyes*** that are intense and sad, a jet black beard, and an amber colored complexion made golden by the Oriental sun.” M. Moncharmin recounts that when the public’s attention turned to the Persian, one heard in the house the discrete sound of rattling keys. The spectators were wary of the “evil eye.” And he says nothing more about that incident.

When the Managers were once again alone in their box, M. Moncharmin said to M. Richard, still with a light-hearted air: (this is where the 1st Edition picks back up)

*NOTE: As revealed by Raj Shah in his article, “No Ordinary Skeleton" (read more about his research here), "M. A.D…" was M. Adolphe Dupeuty. He described a real incident which happened at the old Opéra in 1857, in which the Persian Ambassador attended a performance at which the "Persian" (Mohammed Ismaël Khan) was also present. This article was published in "La Vie parisienne à travers le XIXe siècle: Paris de 1800 à 1900 d’après les estampes et les mémoires du temps,” edited by Charles Simond.

In his “factional” style, Leroux “borrowed” heavily from this article in writing his fictional account of the Persian and the Persian Ambassador. The quote from “M. A.D.” was taken verbatim from Dupeuty’s article.

**NOTE: This is possibly the outfit that Dupeuty was describing, and that Leroux copied into Le Fantôme de l'Opéra in the above paragraph (Leroux also described the Persian wearing a "houppelande" in his narrative).

This image is from Les Célébrités de la rue, by Charles Yriarte, published in 1864, a book that listed notable figures in Paris in the early to mid 1800s. It was published seven years after the incident described in Dupeuty's article, and so is reasonably contemporary with his account.

***NOTE: Throughout the rest of the narrative, the Persian’s eyes are described as being “jade” rather than black. This was a case of internal inconsistency. In the Gaulois text of the chapter, "The Vicomte and the Persian" (as well as in the 1st Edition), Leroux described that the Persian had ebony skin and jade-green eyes (instead of bronze-colored skin and black eyes).

It is also worthy of note that the Persian as a character is an example of Lerouxian trope subversion. The Daroga is a foreigner and an outcast. The Parisian operagoers make no attempt at hiding their prejudice against him. And yet he is one of the heroes of Leroux’s novel, and he puts his life on the line to save the vary Tout-Paris who rattle their keychains at him.

2) This sentence was cut from the 1st Edition:

Yes, this was the appointed replacement for the old madwoman, and with her in place, they would see if Box 5 continued to cause a sensation.

3) This paragraph was cut from the 1st Edition:

None of the sounds of the sort that are heard at séances and which, as everyone knows, are generally attributed to interference from the beyond, resounded against or within the partition walls, the ceiling, or the floor; the chair upon which Richard was sitting behaved itself in the most admirable way possible, and the voice, the notorious voice, still remained silent. The Managers were busy noting this, when the door of their box was abruptly flung open by the panic-stricken stage manager.

4) This sentence was cut from the 1st Edition:

They would see to this in a little while.

5) Sadly, this section in the Gaulois was cut from the 1st Edition, and replaced with a brief summary:

At this time, MM. Moncharmin and Richard descended from their box. The wings were already overrun. Having arrived on the stage, they headed immediately to the right, towards La Carlotta’s dressing room, whose windows overlooked the administrative courtyard. They then ran into La Sorelli, who was rushing to see the Comte de Chagny before he returned to his box.

They gestured to her, which she understood, for she straightaway left the Comte and came over to the two Managers who begged her to discretely ask the Comte about what might be the basis of the rumors of a cabal organized against La Carlotta.

While they awaited La Sorelli’s reply, they entered La Carlotta’s dressing room. The room was full of friends and comrades, and above all of the various conversations, one could hear the singer’s voice, which proclaimed a thousand threats against La Daaé.

Of Spanish origin, La Carlotta had retained an accent of a very particular flavor, and when some excessive emotion, like anger, hurried her speech, she expressed herself in such a way that it was difficult for those listening to refrain from smiling. And so despite the gravity of the situation, there were many smiles that evening in La Carlotta’s dressing room.

The two Managers approached the singer, who was in the process of placing upon her magnificent tresses, blacker than the night, another no less magnificent coiffure, paler blonde than the dawn’s first light. It was the wig with two thick plaits worn by the gentle Marguerite. The twinkling of La Carlotta’s jet black eyes stood out even more within this golden frame. She rose when she saw “these gentlemen,” and placing a hand upon her heart, she professed her sincerest feelings to the new management so passionately that certainly MM. Moncharmin and Richard would have been moved to tears if they had been able to understand a word of that astounding gibberish. Finally, she handed them a piece of paper whose writing in red ink had the effect of commanding the interest of the two Managers. They had no difficulty recognizing it.

6) Minor differences in punctuation and capitalization.

Click here to see the entire edition of Le Gaulois from 22 October, 1909. This link brings you to page 3 of the newspaper — Le Fantôme is at the bottom of the page in the feuilleton section. Click on the arrow buttons at the bottom of the screen to turn the pages of the newspaper, and click on the Zoom button at the bottom left to magnify the text.

[our-time-is-now]

October 15, 2019: How was it with Patrick? How’s your grandmother doing?

(previous play)

You can find more information about the authors, translators, content warning and additional information about the plays in the pinned post on our blog.

Tuesday, 8:17 pm:

David: ~has met up with Patrick after uni and they went to eat and drink something~ ~they really had a nice conversation and eventually he noticed that he really felt like there never had been a break in contact between them~ ~never would have thought that they would find back to a normal and usual relationship with each other that quickly~ ~of course they also talked about the time in which they had no contact with each other and he told him a lot about his new group of friends and his two holidays~ ~eventually he gets on his way back to the flatshare, after all - not because he doesn’t want to be there anymore, but because he’s been awake since 6:30 am, had a long day at uni and because he can feel that he’s pretty spent - and also because he misses Matteo, who he hasn’t seen since 7:30 this morning and who he hasn’t really talked to all day, because Matteo was still half asleep when he had to leave the house~ ~so he cycles back to Moabit and hurries up the steps to the flatshare~ ~unlocks the apartment door and first sees that everything’s quiet in the kitchen and the living room, therefore takes off his shoes and jacket in the hallway and immediately goes to Matteo’s and his room~ ~sees Matteo on the bed half sitting half lying against the wall at the headboard and has to smile automatically~ Hey… ~finds it incredible that his heart still does a little jump when they haven’t seen each other for a while~ ~throws his backpack in a corner while he closes the door and joins Matteo on the bed~ ~kisses him briefly but tenderly and then immediately puts his head down on his shoulder and wraps his arm around him~ ~buries his face in the crook of Matteo’s neck and takes a deep breath~ ~murmurs quietly~ I have to recharge my batteries…

Matteo: ~arrived back home at a quarter to 7 as always~ ~knew that David wasn’t there but still found it stupid to arrive to an empty flatshare~ ~didn’t feel like cooking and only made himself a sandwich~ ~retreated to his bed with the sandwich and his phone and called his grandmother~ ~has talked to her for a little longer than usual and managed to waste some time doing so~ ~then tried a new game on his phone and waited for David this way~ ~then finally hears the apartment door and can immediately feel this anticipatory tingling when he recognizes his steps~ ~smiles immediately when he comes in~ Hey, na? ~immediately holds his arms out for him~ ~wraps one arm around him straight away when he joins him on the bed~ ~kisses him back and grumbles slightly when the kiss is too short for his tastes~ ~squeezes him a little closer when he hears his words~ Me too…. ~presses a kiss to his head~ How was it with Patrick?

David: ~thinks once again that it really feels like home when he’s back with Matteo when Matteo squeezes close~ ~can feel himself relax and feels content immediately~ ~grumbles quietly at Matteo’s question and murmurs into the crook of his neck~ Nice… ~but then thinks that Matteo wants a little more detail, presses a tender kiss to the skin on his neck and then emerges again~ ~puts his head down comfortably on his shoulder and tells him~ We were in this pub in Charlottenburg… it was quite cozy… and somehow… no idea… it was almost like it used to be. When I think about it then it really is a little scary how quickly we got back to that point considering how long we didn’t have any contact… but somehow it’s also really nice… so familiar somehow… ~slightly shrugs one shoulder and searches for Matteo’s hand to entwine their fingers~

Matteo: ~grumbles contentedly when he kisses him again~ ~but then slowly turns his head a little so that he can look at him~ ~nods slightly when he talks and then smiles~ But that’s nice… that only shows that the connection is still there… that’s great. I’m happy for you. ~squeezes his hand and then presses another kiss to his cheek~ And Patrick really is pretty cool, very easygoing, I can see very well why he was your best friend…

David: ~moves a tiny bit away from him when he realizes that Matteo wants to look at him, and returns his look~ ~also smiles slightly at Matteo’s words and nods~ Yes, that’s really great… ~laughs quietly~ But somehow also weird and creepy… ~shrugs one shoulder again~ Well, but I shouldn’t complain and instead be happy, that’s true… ~then smiles again at Matteo’s next word and nods~ I think to some extent, it’ll stay that way… well, also if now there’s Alex and the rest of the guys… but I’ve just known Patrick for forever… that’s somehow different… ~slightly squeezes Matteo’s hand and adds~ By the way, he told me to say hi… and to ask you if you wanted to test some game that’s supposed to be released next year… I forgot what it’s called… maybe you could just text him over the next few days…

Matteo: ~also laughs slightly~ Yes, that’s true… you weren’t really expecting it anymore… ~smiles slightly~ But therefore it’s even better that you dared to do it and that it was worth it so much. ~then looks surprised when he says that to some extent, Patrick will stay his best friend~ ~somehow wasn’t expecting it~ ~has a weird mix of feelings that he can’t really sort properly~ Oh really? I wouldn’t have thought so… but yes, of course, you’ve known each other the longest… ~then tries to define again why it feels so weird for him~ ~but then gets interrupted when he hears David’s next words~ Really? How cool! Which one? Man, Schreibner, why can’t you remember? ~briefly has the urge to reach for his phone, but would have to let go of David to do so, and doesn’t want that, either~ I’ll text him later…

David: ~briefly frowns when he realizes that Matteo is really surprised at his words, and tries to explain~ Well, it’s somehow… not better or worse than Alex but just different… you can have several best friends, can’t you!? I mean… you’re my best friend, as well… in addition to being my boyfriend… although you count very differently… and with Patrick it’s just a feeling from the past where I don’t yet know if it’ll stay like that in the future… but right now it feels like it… and Alex… well, I think that it’ll stay the way it is between us… but it doesn’t really matter anyway how you define it, right? ~then has to laugh when he sees Matteo’s reaction to the computer game~ Yeah sorry! Next time I’ll immediately text you about such fundamental life-changing things to inform you properly… although, you don’t really have time at the moment to play anyways… for the next few nights and weekends we’ll be busy with searching for an apartment… ~looks at him curiously~ Speaking of: How’s your grandmother? Did you tell her?

Matteo: ~laughs slightly when David explains and justifies himself~ Yes of course you can have several best friends. It wasn’t meant as an attack or anything… I was just surprised. And by the way, you’re also my best /friend/ and my best /boyfriend/. ~grins slightly~ ~was just about to kiss him when he hears him make fun~ Pfff, /when/ I test it, then YOU are not allowed to play if you only make fun of me. ~but then nods when he says that they don’t have time~ Yes, true, by the way, during lunch I called this one apartment that you sent me, but they didn’t answer the phone whenever I tried… ~but then grins when he asks about his grandmother~ She’s doing great, I’m supposed to say hi to you and yes, I told her. She laughed very hard and asked if I’m doing it to prove something to her. I also laughed and said that I actually make some decisions without thinking about her… she was briefly affronted, but then she was too curious, after all. She was a little disappointed that I couldn’t tell her much more… but then I’ll hopefully be able to tell her more next week or the week after that.

David: ~smiles when Matteo admits that he’s also his best friend and squeezes his hand slightly~ ~can’t really define thins thing with Patrick and Alex himself, but then thinks that maybe he doesn’t even have to~ ~then has to laugh when Matteo says that he isn’t allowed to play~ Hopefully I’ll live… ~tenderly brushes the hair off his forehead and gets a little more serious again~ No… I’m happy if you have fun with such stuff… ~hears his words about the apartment and sighs quietly~ Okay, thanks… then I’ll try there again tomorrow… ~listens when he talks about his grandmother and smiles at first~ ~but then has to laugh quietly, after all~ That would be something… if we only did it to prove something to her… definitely tell her hi back from me next Tuesday. I really hope that you can tell her more by then… ~lets go of his hand and instead wraps his arm around him again and scoots closer~ ~murmurs a little sluggishly~ Maybe I’ll also be there next Tuesday and can listen along a little… since I understand more, it's a lot more exciting to listen to you guys… ~grins slightly~

Matteo: ~pffs slightly when he says that he’ll live~ You don’t even appreciate it… ~but then laughs slightly, after all~ ~nods when he tells him to say hi back~ I’ll tell her… ~then also wraps an arm around him again and scoots down a little~ Oh yes, she also asked about that and I proudly told her that you’re very busy with learning Italian and that you already learned quite a lot. She was really happy about that… ~grins~ Maybe next year you can already have a conversation with her.

David: ~grins broadly~ Of course I appreciate it! But I also know that you would let me play if I wouldn’t survive it… ~kisses him and shuts him up this way to finally put a stop to that topic~ ~then smiles when Matteo tells him that his grandmother asked about him and smiles even more when Matteo tells him what he told her so proudly~ ~then laughs quietly~ Well… /a lot/… I somehow get ahead… probably I’d really have to speak it more instead of only reading and studying it… but I don’t know if your grandmother would be the right conversational partner… ~grins~ I mean… considering how fast and much she talks… I surely wouldn’t be able to keep up…

Matteo: ~grins when he gets a kiss and when that obviously ends the topic~ Yeees, you have learnt a lot! ~then laughs~ No, I wouldn’t pick my grandmother as a practice subject, either… maybe better Mama or me… and sometimes you already text me in Italian… ~shrugs one shoulder~ But if you want to, then we can only talk in Italian from now on. ~grins a little, because he does consider this a little awkward, after all~

David: ~laughs~ You have to say that because you’re my boyfriend and so that I’ll stay motivated… ~presses a kiss to his throat because he can’t reach any other spot right now and because he’s too lazy to stretch~ ~murmurs~ Still thanks… ~hummms~ Yes, but texting isn’t the same… I have enough time to think about it… and to look stuff up if I don’t know something… ~then smiles at his suggestion~ ~thinks that this would probably really be a good exercise - at least sometimes every once in a while~ ~but then stretches a little and says~ Meglio domani. Sono troppo stanco oggi… ~cuddles back into Matteo after his stretch~ I think that this would really be of benefit… you’d probably learn everyday words more easily… or idioms… stuff that Duolingo doesn’t teach you…

Matteo: ~laughs~ I don’t /have/ to do anything… ~also humms~ Yes, okay, that’s true… ~then grins when he really speaks Italian~ Ma per essere stanchi, è stato molto bello. ~also wraps his other arm around David when he cuddles close again~ Yes, we could really do that sometime… so just start and then I’ll join in… ~then looks down to him~ Did you eat anything with Patrick?

David: ~smiles when Matteo praises him and murmurs quietly and a little embarrassed~ Grazie… ~then also humms in agreement~ I will… tomorrow or sometime… ~then humms again~ Yes… fries and Currywurst… was quite good… ~tenderly strokes over Matteo’s stomach and then looks up at him~ And you?

Matteo: ~grins slightly~ Prego. ~humms when he mentions fries and Currywurst~ Yeah, I made myself a sandwich… didn’t feel like cooking… ~puts his head down on David’s~ And now? We could put on Friends to chill out? Or do you still have to do work for uni?

David: ~nods when Matteo mentions a sandwich and murmurs sluggishly~ Tomorrow, we’ll cook again properly… ~humms at his words about Friends and then groans quietly and a little agonized~ I still have to read a text… but I can also do that while Friends is on… ~but still doesn’t move for quite a while and instead enjoys being close to Matteo~ ~eventually they start kissing, but then he pulls himself together, after all, when they are finished to get his laptop to put on Friends and his backpack for the uni stuff~ ~luckily, is finished with the text quickly and can then enjoy the rest of the evening together with Matteo~

(next play)

[0nlythrowharrybeaux]

The teacher series!!!!!!! Seems so so exciting. I'd love to read more of it xx.

Ah OK! I'll give you a sneak of part 2 because you're the person to respond 😊🫶

It was about to be the first week of October and homecoming was just around the corner. It was cute to see the girls and boys getting asked to the dance. It reminded her of her time in high school. Her and Harry were sitting in her office, planning the schedule for their next drama club rehearsal.

“Did you go to homecoming?” She asked randomly and he glanced up at her.

“Yeah, I did. But I only went my junior year.” He said.

“What? Why?” 

“Well we don’t have that in England, or at least not the school I went to. And I moved here when I was 15, so my sophomore year I didn’t go as a protest to my mum dragging us here. I only asked someone my junior year and went with them. But then my senior year I actually got a concussion while we played a scrimmage football game and I was in the hospital.” He laughed.

“Wow, that’s wild.” She shook her head.

“And you?”

“Yeah, I went every year. Mostly with my girlfriends.”

“No one ever asked you?”

“I mean, they did to prom… I was just a little weird in high school.” She giggled.

“I see. Are you gonna chaperone?”

“Yeah, they asked me yesterday…” she mumbled, “Have to be there from 7 to 9pm.”

“Oh perfect, we’ve got the same shift.” He smiled and she glanced up.

“Really?”

“Yeah!” He grinned wide.

“That’s awesome. At least I won’t be alone with Brian.” She giggled jokingly and he nodded.

********

“Niall, please!” Harry begged.

“No way, Harry! I do not want to do the 9 to 11 shift. There’s no way.” Niall said crossing his arms to show his unwillingness to switch chaperone shifts with his friend, “Hey! No roughhousing!” He shouted to some students as they played some basketball for P.E.

“Please mate, Y/N is on the 7 to 9 with you and she thinks I’m on that shift as well.” He pleaded.

“Why would you tell her you’re on that shift if you’re not?” Niall asked and Harry huffed. 

“I mean, why wouldn’t I? C’mon Ni, please.”

“Does she even like you back? Are you sure this might go somewhere?” He asked, eyes careful on the games at hand.

“We kissed.” He said and Niall glanced over to him with a smile.

“What? When?” He grinned in excitement, all of his unwillingness melted away at his friend’s small victory.

“When we met to cast the winter musical. We caught a film after and we kissed and we haven’t kissed in almost a month now so this is the perfect chance! If we get off by 9 we might get the chance to go out again or something.” Harry explained.

“Ughhh, fine.” Niall grumbled, “All in the name of love.”

“You are the best, I owe you!” Harry called out as he hurried out of the gym to make it to his class.

[spritehouse]

ShortMC's Whumptober 2023 Masterlist

Works

Fandom: Criminal Minds Final Word Count: 29.8k All works are Ralvez/Ralvez-related *Recommendations/Personal Favorites

*Terminal Velocity: Prompt: Safety Net (no. 1)

Hate Myself: Prompt: "They don't care about you" (no. 2)

*I'm Getting Desperate (losing my mind): Prompt: "Make it stop" (no. 3)

Kiss Me Before I Start to Think: Prompt: "You in there?" (no. 4)

*The End is Near: Prompts: Part 1: Pinned Down (no. 5) + Radio Silence (no. 7) Part 2: "It should've been me" (no. 6) + "It's all for nothing" (no. 8)

The Sky is Overcast (I'm sorry): Prompts: "You're a liar" (no. 9) + "You said you'd never leave" (no. 10) + Goodbye Notes (no. 24)

Wide Awake, Spiraling: Prompts: Captivity (no. 11) & Insomnia (no. 12)

I Can't Hide From You (like I hide from myself): Prompts: Infection (no. 13) + "Just hold on" (no. 14) + "I'm fine" (no. 15)

Please Hurry, Leave Me (I can't breathe): Prompts: Drugging (alt) + Touch Aversion (no. 17) + Tortured for Information (no. 18)

*It Hurts to Hope for More: Prompts: "I'm not as stupid as you think I am" (no. 19) + "You will regret touching them" (no. 20) + "Don't move" (no. 21)

*It Gets so Dark (so you can see the stars): Prompts: Vehicular Accident (no. 22) + Shadows (no.23) + Storm (no. 25)

Destroyed Everything & Spit Us Out: Prompts: "You look awful" (no. 26) + Scars/"Let me see" (no. 27) + Bloody Knife (no. 28)

Put Down the Knife (we're not swapping blood): Prompts: "What happened to me?" (no. 29) + Reluctant Whumper (alt) + "Take it easy" (no. 31)

Whumptober 2023 Playlist

Every song I used for a fic/chapter title

Hate Myself (dodie) Hate Myself + I'm Getting Desperate (losing my mind)

Four Tequilas Down (dodie) Kiss Me Before I Start to Think

I Know The End (Phoebe Bridgers) The End is Near | I'm Not Afraid to Disappear + When I Call, You'll Come Home

Two Birds (Regina Spektor) The Sky is Overcast (I'm sorry)

Emily I'm Sorry (boygenius) Wide Awake, Spiraling

True Blue (boygenius) I Can't Hide From You (like I hide from myself)

First Love/Late Spring (Mitski) Please Hurry, Leave Me (I can't breathe)

Afraid of Heights (boygenius) It Hurts to Hope for More

Black Hole (boygenius) It Gets so Dark (so you can see the stars) + Destroyed Everything & Spit Us Out

We're In Love (boygenius) Put Down the Knife (we're not swapping blood)

Scrapped Ideas/Work

Ideas Dumpsite: Ideas/concepts that didn't make it to a final draft

Scrapped Scenes (pt. 1): Short Scenes, dialogue, etc. that didn't make it into a final draft

Give it up to You (I surrender): Scrapped Work | Moreid | Prompt: Shock (no. 4)

Doors a Kid Shouldn't Walk Through: Scrapped Work/WIP | Moreid/Ralvez | Prompts: Pinned Down (no. 5) + Recording (no. 6)

more coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who read/interacted with any of my works/rambling this October & thanks so much Whumptober team!

[thatsneakymedic]

October Writing Challenge Day 15 Pumpkin

With permission and the trust from Mother Nonou, Kabuto walks hand to hand with Aina as they head back to Aina's farm to go pick up some crops for dinner. Today it was Kabuto's turn to go with Aina to bring the food back as part of his lessons about running errands and learning basic math when it comes to money.

The other two nuns insisted that Nonou teaches Kabuto these things early as times like these when children need to learn quickly. Since even they might need to learn the value of chores and doing errands for their parents long after they get adopted.

Dragging the empty old utility grocery cart behind him with a handle, Kabuto looks around the trees and the cloudy skies. He's wearing his own warm scarf and his boots since the weather has been getting colder these days and Kabuto had just recovered from his own sore throat two weeks ago. He did however love how the trees and the leaves are falling about and decorating the ground with the red, yellow, and orange colors.

"I didn't know that you live just a bit far from us Aina. I can't believe that you walk from here to our place and then to Konoha. But it must really be tiring and stressful when it gets dark, rains, or snow. Winter is in a few months after all." Kabuto says as he does a little hop on the leaf to crush it under his foot to give it that good satisfactory crunch sound.

"Well, first it helps t' get up at th' crack'a dawn. Get all th' chores done you need done 'fore anythin' else. Which's why it's import'nt to go to bed early. Plus by now, I've done learned all th' shortcuts 'round this place. An' when a place's very far or I got a big load t' carry, I take my tricycle an' wagon." She answered as she leads the way to the farm, which is lucky that the wooden fence is the main clue that they're going the right way. On the same road as them, a couple using a large wagon pulled by a horse that carried quite a lot of vegetables on the back of the cart and they both were heading back to the village.

"Hello you two." The wife of the man greets them in a friendly manner as they pass through. And both Aina and Kabuto step aside to let them pass and they bow as they leave. As soon as they pass, Kabuto then tries to look on ahead when they're at least a mile from the farm.

"That man and his wife. They bought a LOT of vegetables! Like as if they're planning a large dinner or festival! I think we should hurry. What if all of the vegetables are gone by now?" Kabuto said as he is now slightly rushing towards the place, holding Aina's hand while also trying to drag the cart behind him too.

Aina though she's not too worried about the vegetables running out, she does notice that Kabuto was concerned so she decides for his sake to also hurry by walking quickly while helping Kabuto pull the cart.

The view of the small farm is now getting closer and closer as the brown fence is reaching the bend and towards the farm. Kabuto slows down his steps as he now looks around the small farm from the front. From far away, he sees a figure moving about before heading inside. Probably Aina's mom or another customer?

"Is that the place? It's a lot different than what I imagined. I thought that you guys would live surrounded by large fields of hay and stuff. Like in the pictures of story books or magazines. But it still looks pretty and comfortable."

She giggles but she's also glad that the boy isn't dragging her so much anymore and now they're able to walk at a normal pace, "Ahaha, oh, Kabuto. You mus' be thinkin' bout people with manors. Those farmers got much more land than we do. Yep, farms act'lly come in all shapes-n-sizes. But we're happy with ours. Ain't never let us down."

"And considering if that couple that passed us that might've bought the vegetables back there. That means that your crops must be really good, even if your place isn't as big. Different and all shapes and sizes... I like it. Since bigger isn't always better." He looks around the outside of the house as they get more closer till they are right at the doorstep.

Now not so much as in a rush since there's nobody there other than him, Aina, and the woman in the store. He is the first to knock on the wooden pillar to let her know despite that she had already seen them coming.

"Aina, is that your mom in the store? She looks a lot like you." He assumed that she would be as kind and friendly like her too.

"Yes she is." Aina nods, though she did worry about if Kabuto won't be intimidated by her personality since even she knew that her mother isn't as friendly as she is.

He stands in front of the various vegetables and he reads the numbers and the names on them. Though reading the list that he has, he looks around more for the other vegetables that were not on the display. Aina guides him to shed and his eyes widen as he sees the tomatoes and sweet potatoes that he needs to pick up.

But before he could move, he pauses when he feels someone staring at him and he turns to the dark skinned woman with the apron who was counting the money, even though she's already done and is now putting it away in a box, she is giving him a rather serious stare. Her attention however is on the Konohagakure Orphanage symbol on his kimono.

"Keep an eye on that child, Aina. Last thing I need is a troublemaker messing up my store. And leave that cart out since I don't want you hitting anything either." She said sternly while turning to Aina for a moment before looking back at him.

Great. Another child from that place and an unfamiliar one that is not the mature one with the hat and birthmark on his nose. She hopes that Kabuto isn't like the insolent girl from the Orphanage who tried to haggle with her with the prices on the strawberries. The girl called her an "stupid old hag" for not willing to deal with the outrageous cheap price and then kicking a display stand's wooden foot so hard, the foot broke and the fragile plums that she cherished herself all fell onto the ground, bruising and ruining the entire bunch. If it weren't for Aina getting between them, she would've not only beaten the girl, but also refused the money and dragged the snotty brat out of the store by the hair. Even if it has been months ago when it happened and Mother Nonou thankfully paid for the damages, it still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Y-yes ma'am! I promise that I won't cause trouble for you or Aina." Kabuto politely bowed to her despite being unnerved by her intimidating stare before turning around and gently putting the right amount of tomatoes in the bag and then with his fingers. Counting on the prices while also keeping his hands to himself. Kabuto was thankful that there was plenty of vegetables left even though it looked like it was just about to run out. While waiting, Airi noticed how Kabuto would casually put the produce in their right places and in order while looking around for the items he need when he didn't need to. Seems that this child knows how to clean up and organize.

8 tomatoes 3 cabbages 6 sweet potatoes 8 regular potatoes 6 carrots 2 cauliflowers 3 eggplants

Kabuto was careful with the costs of the items and even counted quietly on both money and the produce. Or at least he thought he did as he picked the biggest ones he could find and he put them on the cart.

His attention was caught on the perfectly shaped small pumpkin that was on one of the displays along with the other larger ones. He has been curious to know how pumpkin tastes like since Urushi told him that he has been craving for pumpkin pie the other day and how it's always delicious to eat around this time of the year.

Perhaps he could buy it for him and maybe Mother would be happy with it too? A small one of course, since the big ones were way too expensive and too big for him to carry home.

He looks at the cash in his hand and he counts what would he have left if he could buy it.

Being so sure that he could get it, he picks up the one that catches his eye and he puts it on the cart. "I think I got everything Aina. I think I have enough money for an extra item too."

He smiles as he immediately heads to the counter with the money ready in hand. Aina then follows him and starts to take out the scale in hand, "Oh, oh wait. You gotta let us--ahaha, 'lettuce'--ah, let us weigh it. Our prices're ain't based on how many of a fruit or vegetable ya got. We figure it out based on how many kilos your pick weighs."

Kabuto's happy face slightly frowns, though he did catch the joke but he had no time to laugh at it, "What? I... I didn't know that. Oh no, I picked out the biggest ones I could find..."

"At least you'll know and be aware of that next time boy. And don't hold the money out in your hands like that. You're easy pickings for thieves to steal from you if you're not careful." Airi advised rather strictly while waiting for Aina to finish weighing the produce. Kabuto gulped as he puts the bills of money in his pocket quickly. Not that there was any need to worry since there was no one around other than the three of them.

Fortunately for Kabuto, he had enough money for all of the produce that was on the list, except for the pumpkin.

"You don't have enough for the pumpkin boy." Airi commented as she puts the pumpkin on the table away from the bags.

Kabuto frowned at that. "Oh no, I'm sorry ma'am. I'll go put it back for you once I pay you the money for these items." He sadly looks at it as he hands the money to Airi who slowly counts the money he gave her, just in case. Kabuto thinks about how he could take out at least two of the produce, but then that would mean less food for just one item and Mother did say to not try to buy unnecessary things.

Airi eyes Kabuto for a moment as he's trying to calculate on what to do even if he is willing to accept that he won't have to buy the pumpkin. She hesitantly sighs as she pushes the small pumpkin toward him, it's the least she could do for his good behavior and because she needed to get rid as much of the produce as she can for her and Aina's planned trip outside the village. "You can add this to the cart, boy. It's on the house and nice job putting the items back in their proper places for me."

Kabuto's eyes open and he slightly gasps as she presents the pumpkin he was holding to him, he was smart enough to know that not every kind act would get him free stuff. But he had no idea that she was paying attention to him cleaning up and putting the items back where they belong. Even though she was scary, she does seem nice after all.

"R-really? I can have it? Are you sure? T-thank you, ma'am!" He picks up the pumpkin and he holds it in his hands. Feeling the smoothness of the skin on his fingertips.

"Make it last, boy. Next pumpkin ain't gonna be free." She said while waiting for Aina to be done helping Kabuto put the items on the cart.

"Yes ma'am. I'll remember that. Thank you for the crops. Goodbye now." Kabuto politely bowed to her before adding the small pumpkin to the cart. Neatly right on the spot where it won't crush the other crops or fall off.

Before Aina could leave with Kabuto, Airi then calls for her to wait and she hands her an list of orders from other customers, "Oi. Kame. If you're gon' take that boy back to his place, go on an' take up that basket over there. Here's th' order list. Get these deliv'ries t' ev'rybody on this list, an' get back here 'fore dark. Got it?"

Aina nods, "Yes Mama!"

"Repeat back t' me what I done tol' you t' do." She crosses her arms.

"Take Kabuto home, make these d'liver'ies, get back here 'fore dark." Aina repeats with her eyes closed and with her hand clenched onto a fist while one hand counts the three things to do.

"Good. Now get goin'." She nods as she puts the money that Kabuto gave her into the money box.

"Thank you again, Ma'am. Have a nice day!" Kabuto said kindly as he also bows to her again before leaving with Aina while holding her hand and helping her pull the cart even though she got it covered. As if giving her extra strength to pull it.

"So Aina, I overheard that your mother wants you back home before dark, and I did see that there was some things put away like storage boxes. Are you going somewhere after this and would you guys be okay to travel when the weather changes? I don't think you should travel too much around this time of the year." The boy holds onto her hand a bit tightly as if to show her his concern.

Aina thinks as she helps him pull the heavy wagon for him while he follows her. "Well, ah, I wouldn' say we travel that much. S'only th' sea turtles we really care about in th' world outside Konoha. We go twice a year. Th' first in May, th' second in October." Her feet step over a few leaves on the path as she continued, "Me an' Mama go t'gether, jus' th' two of us. We camp as much' we can--which's actually very fun once ya learn how t' do it well!--an' rain never bothered me. We need th' rain t' live, don't you know! "Snow? Ahahaha! Well now, I ain't never been through a lotta snow! So I can't say how I'd cope if I did get caught in a blizz'rd. Hafta get back t' you on that."

"So this would mean that you won't be out in the winter then? Thank goodness for that! Aina, your mom even though she is scary. She sounds like a nice lady, especially when she gave me this pumpkin for free. I know that she won't give stuff for free, but I'm really happy that I can bring one since I've never eaten pumpkin before."

The walk back to the orphanage was a nice and peaceful one, and one that Kabuto would always remember when Aina's mother is mentioned in their talks.

A planned drabble with my friend @super-kame-love

Also tagging you @lunyraartistry