#Pay Check Maker

[paystubusa]

Paycheck Now provides quick pay stub access for anyone needing fast financial proof. No software installs or long forms just straightforward, instant results. Choose Paycheck Now for speed, accuracy, and peace of mind.

[eformscreators]

Stay ahead of your finances with our Texas paycheck calculator. It provides accurate estimates of your earnings, tax withholdings, and deductions so you can plan your budget with confidence. Try it today!

[onlinepaystubmaker]

Why Every Small Business Needs a Paystub Generator

In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficiency and accuracy in financial management are crucial, especially for small businesses. One of the most critical aspects of financial management is payroll processing. This task, if done manually, can be time-consuming, prone to errors, and challenging to manage as the business grows. This is where a paystub generator becomes an invaluable tool. In this blog, we will explore why every small business needs a paystub generator and how it can benefit from free paystub generator options, check stub makers, and pay stub creators available in the market.

Streamlining Payroll Processing

Manual payroll processing involves calculating employee wages, deducting taxes, and generating paystubs���a task that can be quite labor-intensive. A paystub generator simplifies this process by automating calculations and generating accurate paystubs within minutes. This not only saves time but also minimizes the risk of human error, ensuring that employees receive the correct amount of pay and deductions.

Using a Free Paystub Generator

One of the primary concerns for small businesses is cost. Investing in expensive payroll software might not be feasible for every small business. Thankfully, there are free paystub generator options available that offer robust features without the hefty price tag. These tools allow businesses to create professional paystubs quickly and efficiently, without incurring additional expenses.

Enhancing Accuracy and Compliance

Accurate payroll processing is essential for maintaining compliance with labor laws and tax regulations. Errors in payroll can lead to significant legal issues, fines, and penalties. A paystub generator ensures accuracy by automatically performing complex calculations and generating detailed paystubs that include all necessary information such as gross pay, deductions, taxes, and net pay.

Check Stub Maker for Accuracy

A check stub maker is a specialized tool designed to create detailed and accurate paystubs. These tools often come with templates that comply with legal requirements, ensuring that all necessary details are included. By using a check stub maker, small businesses can avoid costly mistakes and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Improving Employee Satisfaction

Employees rely on their paystubs to understand their earnings and deductions. Providing clear, accurate, and timely paystubs enhances transparency and trust between employers and employees. When employees can easily verify their pay and understand their deductions, it fosters a sense of security and satisfaction.

Paystub Generator Free Options

Offering employees detailed and professional paystubs doesn’t have to be expensive. There are paystub generator free options available that allow small businesses to produce high-quality paystubs without incurring additional costs. These free tools can generate paystubs that look professional and include all necessary details, contributing to employee satisfaction.

Facilitating Financial Planning and Record-Keeping

Paystubs serve as essential documents for both employers and employees. They provide a detailed record of earnings, deductions, and taxes paid, which is crucial for financial planning and record-keeping. For employers, maintaining accurate payroll records is vital for tax reporting and audits. For employees, paystubs are necessary for personal financial planning, applying for loans, and other financial transactions.

Free Pay Stub Generator for Record-Keeping

A free pay stub generator can help small businesses maintain accurate payroll records without additional expenses. These tools often allow users to save and export paystubs in various formats, making it easy to keep organized records for future reference.

Simplifying Tax Filing

Accurate and detailed paystubs are essential for tax filing. They provide the necessary information for both employers and employees to accurately report income and deductions. A paystub generator simplifies the tax filing process by ensuring that all payroll information is correctly calculated and documented.

Pay Stub Creator Free for Tax Preparation

Using a pay stub creator free tool can significantly simplify tax preparation for small businesses. These tools generate paystubs that include all necessary tax information, making it easier to prepare and file accurate tax returns. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of errors and potential penalties.

Customization and Professionalism

A paystub generator allows small businesses to customize paystubs to reflect their brand and meet specific needs. Customizable templates enable businesses to add logos, choose different designs, and include specific information relevant to their industry or business model. This level of customization enhances the professionalism of the business and ensures that paystubs are tailored to meet the unique requirements of the company.

Using Free Paystub Generator Tools for Customization

Many free paystub generator tools offer a variety of customization options, allowing small businesses to create professional and branded paystubs without additional costs. These tools typically provide user-friendly interfaces that make it easy to customize paystubs according to the business’s needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a paystub generator is an essential tool for every small business. It streamlines payroll processing, enhances accuracy and compliance, improves employee satisfaction, facilitates financial planning and record-keeping, simplifies tax filing, and allows for customization and professionalism. With the availability of free paystub generator options, check stub makers, and pay stub creators, small businesses can access these benefits without incurring additional costs. By leveraging these tools, small businesses can ensure efficient and accurate payroll management, ultimately contributing to their overall success and growth.

FAQs

What is a paystub generator?

A paystub generator is an online tool or software that automates the creation of paystubs for employees. It calculates earnings, deductions, and taxes, and generates detailed paystubs that can be printed or shared electronically.

Why is a paystub generator important for small businesses?

A paystub generator is important for small businesses because it streamlines payroll processing, reduces the risk of errors, ensures compliance with legal requirements, and enhances employee satisfaction by providing accurate and professional paystubs.

Are there free paystub generators available?

Yes, there are several free paystub generators available online. These tools offer basic functionalities to create professional paystubs without any cost, making them ideal for small businesses with limited budgets.

How does a check stub maker differ from a paystub generator?

A check stub maker is essentially the same as a paystub generator. Both terms refer to tools that create detailed and accurate paystubs or check stubs for employees. The terms are often used interchangeably.

What features should I look for in a paystub generator?

When choosing a paystub generator, look for features such as user-friendly interfaces, customizable templates, secure data handling, integration with payroll systems, and the ability to save and export paystubs in various formats.

[ghouljams]

Being the favorite sex worker of any of the 141 must go crazy

It's certainly interesting. Having one regular is good but five? And they pay well for discretion? Oh, it's fantastic, you're willing to put up with a lot for a good-looking man that pays well and fucks better.

Nikolai, of course, found you first. Not one for picking up random girls when they can be so touchy. You know his type well, the sort that wants exactly what they want and don't take kindly to deviation. You sit at his feet and play pet, sucking his cock and providing more warmth than he can find in the cockpit of a helicopter. You don't ask questions when he stinks of gunpowder and oil, or look twice at the tattoos that even an untrained eye could tell were prison made. You simply sit on his lap while he murmurs to you, all hard consonants softened by a tongue that's still wet with your slick, and mewl when he finally fills you with that fat cock.

Which is exactly how he brought you John. Another man who has no time to look for what he can easily pay for. A gentleman in certain aspects, a monster in others. You prefer when Nik brings him along, enjoying the soothing that the Russian gives you after John spanks you raw, but he's not awful alone. Violent delights, is how you would describe him. He likes a fight, enjoys pinning you down while you struggle and gasp, slapping your face when you gag on his cock, spitting in your mouth. Another type you know all too well, a man with perfect control and no outlet for the tumultuous waters that churn beneath the surface. At least he cleans you up afterwards, drops an extra few hundred on your nightstand for each bruise he leaves. You could cover your rent off one session with him, guilt is always a fantastic money maker.

With John's introduction you find three more soldiers slipping into your rotation. Kyle comes, sheepish, and you can't imagine he has any trouble finding partners to play with. Those soft brown eyes and the slight tilt of his brows when he asks what you do. You almost feel bad taking his money, worried you're sullying some poor awkward virgin. Until he's got you pinned to the bed, drooling over the way he fucks your ass and pulls your hair, spilling absolutely sinful words over your skin. Nobody talks to you like that, like a man who's had years to build up the words, and plenty of practice draping them over partners until he found exactly what would make them clench up. He's the first of them to kiss you, a quick peck on your cheek when he leaves. He sends you flowers afterwards, and you laugh to yourself reading the card that asks when he can see you again.

Johnny comes with toys. You appreciate the thought, but you have your own. You fuck him until he's a babbling mess, shaking and pulling the sheets out from the corners of the mattress with the way he tries to hide the flush on his cheeks. It's sort of cute, red to the tips of his ears, blush creeping down his chest to color his cock. It's always a conversation with this one, never the same scene twice. Costumes, role playing, ropes and toys. You're certainly never bored with Johnny. The only consistency is him fucking you in the shower afterwards, tired and content as he slaps his hips against your ass, his lips locked to the pulse in your neck and his breath sighing out of him. He tells you once that he's checking things off his list, "wanna try everthin'." You think he watches too much porn, but he pays you every time he goes to confessional, so you don't mind.

Simon... Well, the first time you meet him, he'd tagged along with Johnny, sat in the armchair opposite the bed and watched. He's delicate for being a big, mean looking fucker. You'd been a bit worried what he was interested in, you learn to be careful in your line of work, avoid masked strangers and men that are too big for anyone's own good. You'd almost turned him down. He still hasn't fucked you. He books the whole night with you and spends the entire time between your legs. Licking and sucking at whatever he can get his mouth on; a heavy arm draped over your stomach to keep you in place once you start squirming with overstimulation. He likes feeling useful, you think. Another type you know all too well, too much of the world on his shoulders to relax outside of your rooms. You pet his head and praise him just to watch him stiffen and melt between your thighs. He's a good boy, and the most reliable orgasm you can schedule. You would wonder what happened to make him keep himself so covered when he's around you, but you're just a whore.

And you know your role as well as you know theirs.

[writersdrug]

I NEED waitress!reader accidentally letting it slip that she’s got a date after her shift and so when bartender!simon overhears, he suddenly has a list of things she needs to do after work, causing her get to stay late ))): missing her date ))):

ANGST TIME

He's been watching you like a hawk for the past two hours - and rightfully so. You've been rushing through your tasks, rolling more than enough silverware, keeping your tables happy and stocked - you somehow managed to convince Soap to mop front of house for you. He doesn't like it. Why are you trying to get away?

"Got a date tonight." You tell him, skimming through your receipts as you sit at the bar and calculate your tips. You're not off the clock yet - you still have thirty minutes left. But the restaurant's empty, and all your tasks are done. Your makeup is a little nicer today, softer and less "morning after a deftones concert".

Simon's thankful for the mask, or else his frown would be impossible to miss. Is he dumb? Haven't you been flirting with him all week? Was this another one of your games, pretending to act innocent and coy, messing with him, then announcing you're going out with someone else?!

He feels his shoulders tensing as he watches you tap away at your phone's calculator. He shouldn't be so bothered by this - some things just need to be let go. But he can't. He wants to keep you in his back pocket, or in an empty whiskey bottle on his liquor shelf - not the one behind the bar, but the personal collection in his room on the third floor.

"That's nice," he grumbles, slicing through a lime. "Jus' make sure you finish your chores 'fore you head out."

"Already did!" You chirp at him with a smile. "Just need to do my tips, and I'll be done."

"Did ya clean the ice bins?" He asks.

You furrow your brow. "Huh?"

He jerks his head to the whiteboard on the wine fridge - sure enough, your name is scribbled in, right next to "drain and wash/sanitize ice bins + buckets", along with today's date.

You look back at Simon, your expression now crestfallen. Your date is in an hour, and you still have twenty minutes on your shift. "Don't you usually do it?"

Truthfully, he does. He could do it today, in fact. But his brain is acting on thoughts before he has the chance to consider the consequences. "Can't today, luv. Preppin' for a bigger crowd tomorrow."

Your shoulders slump. "How long does it take?"

"Well, you got to turn 'em off - one by one, I can't have two empty ice bins durin' a shift - then ya dump the ice, wait for 'em to warm up, then ya go in there with soap n' a rag, rinse 'em out, then-"

"God, can this please wait until tomorrow? I'll come in early and do it, I promise."

He looks at you sternly, and you suddenly feel ashamed for asking. "Wot, so I can pay you overtime?"

"Simon, please - if you do them, I'll give you half my tips for today."

"Now y' dumpin' your work on me?"

"I've got a date!"

"I've got my own shit too!"

You snap your mouth shut. He's never been this stern with you, but you know it's well deserved. It's your chore, after all. You'd been wrong to assume he would do it himself, despite that being the usual. You quickly hop out of the barstool and make your way behind the bar, unplugging the first icebin.

Simon watches as you scurry around, running to and from the ice bin into the kitchen, filling up bucket after bucket of ice and dumping it into the sink in the back. You pace as the machine warms up, glancing at your phone every few minutes, then touching the inside of the ice maker to check the temperature. After a few minutes, you're scrubbing the machine as fast as you can with a soapy rag and a bucket of sanitizer eater next to you.

Twenty minutes have gone by. You're supposed to be on your way to your date, but you're biting your lip, staring angrily at the ice machine as it cools down again. You need to wait for it to be cold before you refill it with ice, and only then can you start on the other machine.

You make another attempt towards Simon. "If I just do one tonight and do the other in the morning-"

"No." Simon snaps, his eyes angry as he drops a container of sliced fruit onto the bar. "This is part of havin' a job."

You look away from him, tears stinging your eyes now. You're so frustrated you want to snap back at him - but he's right, isn't he? Maybe you could ask him if you could just call Max and let him know you'll be running late - but the thought of asking Simon for anything right now (other than more chores) makes you queasy.

Simon doesn't know where the anger came from, but it's still simmering. He watches as you continue to run back and forth, filling up the old ice bin, unplugging the second one, dumping the ice in the back... he's refilling the bloody Mary mix and restocking the bitters. Simple things. He's got nothing to do after this besides go up to his flat and sit in front of the telly, or maybe chat with Soap before he heads home. Why didn't he just do it? Because you had a date, and that was a problem for him. Why? Now you're upset, and it's that knowledge that makes him finally feel the shame that he'd been swallowing down.

You finish dumping the last bucket of ice into the second machine. It's forty minutes after your shift ended. You still have to get to the restaurant you and Max were meeting at, which is a twenty minute walk. You were supposed to be there ten minutes early - now you're going to be an hour late. Frustration mingles with anxiety and burns in the forefront of your mind. But you can't be mad. You should've done your job.

Simon doesn't say anything when you run to the back, your phone pressed to your ear and tears in your eyes. You barely manage a wave to Soap as you grab your bag and jacket and flounder back into the restaraunt. You don't look at Simon.

"I'm leaving now, I'm so sorry- I had to finish up at work and it too longer than I-" you slowed to a walk, then a stop, standing in the middle of the floor. Simon was frozen, watching your shoulders shake.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I had-... it's not an excuse, I promise I'm-... listen, we can go for a walk or something, right? Or go get fast food, someplace still open, just you and me, and we can try again another-"

His eyes burn in his skull as he watches you stand there for a few more seconds, staring at your phone as the call disappears from the screen. He wants to say something - but what can he say? He's already fucked you over. And he doesn't feel any better than when he first discovered your little date. He feels worse.

You stuff your phone in your back pocket, unable to hide the single, choked sob that escapes your throat. You shoulder your bag and stomp your way out of the restaurant, door clanging behind you. Your bike is still in the alley out back, and your unfinished tips are still on the bartop. He wouldn't be surprised if you never come back to collect them.

Soap emerges from the kitchen breaking Simon from his thoughts and wiping his hands on a rag. "Real feckin' kind of ye, Ghost. Never seen such a right cunt." He glares at Simon, before slapping the rag on the table and heading back into the kitchen. His shift was over, too.

Simon has three more hours left to deal with himself before the bar closes.

[der7py]

Yandere Ceo x reader

Damien Sanchez. Easily one of the world'overs biggest ceo owners ever, owning nearly over 50 companies, and being married over 42 different times since he was 18. It was no shocker. He was incredibly crude and stuck up to all of his employees. But he's more soft towards you, little butterfly.

Warnings: Mature language, age gap, implied murder, work abuse, unfair amount of power in the work field, degradation, Slight babying if you squint, unfair treatment, favoritism

Working for the Damien Sanchez was definitely an opportunity you didn't want to pass! Even if all former and current employees were strongly advising against it.

You worked as a receptionist in one of his companies on the first floor. Apparently, each floor was something completely different than the last! But it was advised in the rules you mind your own business on your own floor.

You barely ever saw the boss. But it was fine! You made bank as a receptionist, so running into the boss wasn't really any of your concern. He probably wasn't even that bad!

That was until you heard a strong voice yelling at another employee from the 5th floor.

Apparently, his coffee wasn't brewed right, and that warranted him firing the employee on the spot. Soon, the elevator made a ding, and the big man himself stomped right over to you. You could've sworn all of the employees scattered like rats.

"You! Yes, you! Go brew me a dark coffee. None of that sweet stuff now get going or so help me god I'll fire you too!" You immediately ran to the closet coffee maker to make it for him. You had bills to pay!

You rushed back over with his coffee, where he was impatiently tapping his foot on the ground. You were surprised you didn't spill it everywhere, or fall straight on your face the way you practically threw it in his hands.

_______________________

He sipped his coffee, clearly taking his time while you squirmed under his gaze. Jesus, he really was intimidating with how fast your job could be on the line. "Mm... good job. What's your name?" He asked, raising a brow at you and your squirming figure. You immediately straightened up, letting out a silent sigh of relief. "Y/n Mr. Sanchez!" He nodded his head, snapping his fingers as he drank more of his coffee. "How unique. Anyways, you're moving up in the ranks, kid. 10th floor as my new assistant, get your bags." Without another word, he walked to the elevator and took it all the way back up.

Holy shit. Holy shit! Did you just get promoted?! This job was even better than what you thought! You wasted no time packing everything up and running to the elevator, a big grin on your face. You were eating good this week! As you checked your phone to tell your friends and family the good news, you forgot you had an article about your boss pulled up.

It was no surprise to anyone that your boss had been married 42 different times. You did admire him for his pull game, but figured he had bad luck. Maybe they were all gold diggers! But apparently, people had theories of what really was happening. All of his spouses mysteriously disappeared a few days after Damien and his newly wed spouse got married. Then he'd get all the inheritance money and whatever companies they owned, considering all 42 were rich. Some people were theorizing, he murdered them. Man people were crazy with their conspiracy theories.

But you remembered you never did see the old assistant leave the building.

_______________________

He liked how eager you were to take the new position as his assistant. Maybe you wouldn't fuck up as much as his old assistant. The old bastard could barely make a coffee for him.

You took your new role very seriously, and he appreciated that about you. Even if the other employees picked on you for being relatively young. They all disappeared anyway.

Over the few weeks, he found himself drawn to you. You were his little butterfly. So full of life unlike the other scum in all of his companies.

He made sure to be extra careful and lenient with you. Oh, you accidentally misfiled an extremely important file? Oh, it's fine, darling. He used to make that mistake all the time.

Oh, you spilled coffee on his brand new outfit? It's fine, little butterfly, he has the same outfit 5 times just in case.

But anytime, any other employee dare make a mistake as little as dropping a staple while he was walking? Fired immediately. What were they thinking? Idiots.

You never noticed how much more soft he was with you. And he was determined to keep it that way. He didn't want you getting hurt over any special treatment you definitely might be receiving.

He felt alive with you. Hell! Sometimes, he upped your pay just because you smiled at him! You really were a precious angel that needed to be protected. A butterfly with delicate wings.

Just quit researching about his past spouses' disappearances, or else he'll have to clip those pretty little wings before you fly too far and find out what really happened.

[certaimromance]

𝜗𝜚 The Boy Next Door.

Spencer Reid x Neighbor!reader

next chapter | series mastelist | main masterlist

Summary: Making friends with your neighbor is one of the best things that ever happened to you, but falling in love with him? Not so much.

Words: 4,1k.

Warnings & Tags: this is part of a series, check the masterlist to make sure you are in the correct chapter. painter!reader. lack of communication. the reader has a cat. two idiots so in love. bittersweet. english isn't my first language (sorry for my mistakes, be kind please).

Note: I am very excited about this, long live friends to lovers and being Spencer's neighbor (my dream).

Being a neighbor to someone like Spencer Reid had been a blessing since the first day you packed boxes of your stuff into the apartment next to his. He was kind and handsome, very much so, if you were honest. Smart but reserved, even a little shy if you looked at him too much. But most importantly, he was the kind of neighbor who would never complain about your cat, who seemed to have a particular fondness for his balcony. Whether it was knocking over his potted plants or staring curiously at his fish tank, your feline’s antics never elicited more than a gentle laugh or a patient shrug. He would simply return your wayward pet with a soft knock at your door, holding it in his arms like it was the most precious thing in the world, while you apologized profusely, your cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

What started as brief exchanges, usually you stammering out apologies while he reassured you it was no trouble, gradually became longer conversations. The simple, polite “Hi, this is my cat, I’m so sorry” turned into casual talks about your day or his work, which he always spoke about in vague terms. And you, feeling so guilty for the inconvenience your cat had caused, decided to bake him cookies as a peace offering. They didn’t turn out quite as you’d hoped, slightly burnt around the edges, but Spencer didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he complimented their colorful sprinkles and icing, likening them to a painting by a famous artist. His sincerity disarmed you, and before you knew it, you were chatting about your love for art while he stroked your cat, his expression soft and attentive as though he’d known you forever.

So you didn't question anything and started to think of him as a friend. His nice actions with you were enough, and it was always good to have new friends, especially when they lived so close to your home.

It turned out that being Spencer's friend was a thousand times better than just being his messy neighbor, and it gave you some new things. Like a copy of the key to his apartment so you could water his plants and feed his fish when he was away at work. Plus, full access to his library, full of books with names you could barely pronounce, whenever you wanted, along with his coffee maker, which was so much better than yours, and was the perfect complement to a lecture in his comfortable sofa.

Books on philosophy, complex sciences, and psychological theories you had never heard of in your life. Each one had a colored heart-shaped post-it that Spencer had borrowed from your collection: pink for the ones you would love, yellow for the ones that might entertain you for a few minutes, red for the ones you wouldn't like at all, and purple for the ones that were in other languages, but he could translate for you if you just mentioned it. His dedication to introducing you to the world of reading was so great that he even convinced you to paint some bookmarks for him. And you took him so seriously that you made one for each of his favorite books, with paintings inspired by their contents.

Being Spencer's neighbor and friend meant having a shoulder to lean on while he helped you pay your bills and tried to fit your tight budget to cover your expenses. It always ended with two empty coffee cups on your kitchen table, your big fake smile as you tried to hold back the urge to scream because your art wasn't giving you enough to survive, his hands caressing your back and reassuring you that everything was going to be okay, that you could count on his help and his wallet if you needed it. And somehow, the next day, one of your paintings would mysteriously sell, and a bag of food would appear for your cat, as if by magic. You never had to ask, he always seemed to know when you needed a little extra help, always appearing with a gentle smile and a quiet offer.

It was one of those days when you opened the door, your hands still covered in paint, when you saw him standing there, holding a small bag of groceries. “I know what you’re doing, and I appreciate it, but it’s really not necessary,” you said, embarrassed. You couldn’t hide the blush creeping up your neck as you set the paintbrush down and gestured to the cluttered table full of half-finished canvases. You knew what he was up to—he’d done it before, slipping in to make sure you had enough to eat and that your cat had food.

Spencer’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, as though trying to figure out how to explain himself without embarrassing you. “I…I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable,” he started, looking anywhere but directly at you, “but I bought a bunch of food, and honestly, I won’t be able to eat it all. I have to work late all week, and it’ll go bad before I have a chance to use it. I thought…maybe you could use it?” He gave a half-smile, hoping it would soften the situation.

You blinked, surprised at how considerate he was being. Spencer wasn’t the type to try and make you feel bad, and you knew he was trying to help without overstepping. It wasn’t about charity, it was simply his way of offering support because he cared. You couldn’t help but smile at his sincerity, even if you felt a bit embarrassed about the situation.

“You don’t have to do that,” you said gently, trying to ward off the guilt that crept up on you. But he was already shaking his head, that familiar, apologetic look in his eyes.

“I know, I know,” he said quickly. “It’s just…I hate wasting food.” He paused for a moment, as if considering something. “And if you want, I can help organize everything in your fridge. You’re probably running low on space with all the art supplies and other things. I can make room for the stuff so it doesn’t go to waste.”

You glanced over at the chaotic state of your kitchen and couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound both self-deprecating and amused. It was so true. Still, the thought of Spencer Reid—neat, meticulous Spencer—navigating your messy kitchen was both endearing and mildly mortifying.

“Okay,” you relented, wiping your hands on a towel. “That would actually be helpful. But don’t judge me for the mess, okay? It’s been…a lot lately.”

His face lit up with a small, genuine smile, his love for organization clear in the way his posture straightened. “I promise,” he said, his tone almost teasing, “no judgment.”

As he carefully unpacked the groceries, you found yourself talking without meaning to, your words spilling out like the colors on your canvas. “It’s just been hard,” you admitted, your voice faltering slightly. “I’ve been applying for jobs left and right, but nothing’s coming through. And art…well, it’s not exactly paying the bills right now. I’m barely getting by again.”

Spencer paused, a container of strawberries in his hands, and turned to look at you. His brown eyes were soft with concern and something else, something that felt like quiet reassurance. He placed your favorite fruit on the counter with care before speaking.

“You know,” he began, his voice soft but steady, “the last time we talked, you mentioned you used to babysit.” His words caught your attention, making you pause as you glanced over at him, unsure of where he was going with this. “Well, JJ—my friend at work—was just saying that she’s looking for a babysitter. She’s been trying to find someone reliable for a while, and I thought…well, maybe you’d be interested.”

You blinked, unsure whether you’d heard him right. Babysitting? It seemed like a lifetime ago since you’d done anything like that. You hesitated for a moment, running a hand through your hair. “I used to be a nanny when I was fifteen,” you said, feeling the weight of those words. “But, I’m not sure…I mean, I’m not exactly the same person I was back then, and I haven't interacted with kids in a while.”

Spencer’s lips curved into a reassuring smile, the kind that made you feel like you could take on the world if he believed in you. “I think you’d be great at it,” he said, his tone steady and confident. “And it wouldn’t have to be full-time. Just a few hours here and there, whenever you have the time. Besides,” he added, his smile turning a little playful, “I’m their godfather, so I’d be around if you ever need help.”

The idea of him being there, silently supporting you as he always did, made the idea seem less daunting and even a little tender, almost familiar. You nodded before you realized what you were agreeing to.

“Okay,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll think about it.”

His hand rested lightly on your shoulder then, his touch warm and grounding. When you looked up at him, his eyes were filled with a quiet intensity that made your breath hitch.

The possibility of refusing anything he asked you to do, with that perfect face that often reminded you of a tender deer, was impossible, and you had learned that over time. Just like the fact that it was completely forbidden to say out loud all the things you thought when you saw him. No extra sweet words, no overly long hugs, no thinking about the kiss you wanted to give him when he started to babble. And certainly no telling him how much you loved him, not when his gentle presence in your life was already more than you could have ever hoped for.

Being in love with someone like Spencer Reid was no blessing. Especially when his door was right next to yours and it almost seemed like you lived in the same apartment. Eating breakfast together when he wasn't out on a case for work, watching him make your favorite pancakes, and putting up pink candles to pretend it was your birthday when you were feeling too sad, and even a funny tuna cake for your cat's birthday. It was all too detailed, intimate, and personal to feel absolutely nothing for so long. Watching him slowly fall asleep on the couch while you watched a ridiculously romantic movie that you chose and he accepted because he was too tired to discuss it. He looked so relaxed, every one of his features softened, forcing you to run and get your notebook to sketch him, because he was a complete work of art. The same situation happened a thousand times; you almost had a whole notebook dedicated to him. But obviously he didn't know that, because he didn't know a lot of things.

And you were okay with that, even though it felt terrible to have to deprive a genius like him of so much information his brain wasn't even expecting.

Anything was better than watching him avoid you in the hallway, or worse, with you having to move somewhere else.

You could stand the love and desire building up inside you, and you did your best not to let it go. Maybe it wasn't the best or what you expected when you imagined what it would be like to actually fall in love with someone for the first time. But at least you had moments that gave you the energy to go on living. The hug and kiss on the cheek that he gave you every time he left for work as a promise to come back, the tender good morning messages in which he wished you good luck for the rest of the day, especially when you had a lot of things to do and he was not in a state to accompany you, or waiting for you after dinner with your friends so that you could tell him in detail what had happened, every gossip and new comment that unfortunately you now had to do over the phone. Especially this time, maybe it could not be like that.

One suggestion, coming from one of your closest friends, caught you completely off guard. “You should sleep with him,” she had said so casually, as if it were the simplest solution to an incredibly complex situation.

The words hung in the air like a joke that wasn’t really a joke. You looked at her, eyes wide, unable to comprehend what she had just said. “What?” you managed, voice a little too sharp, as you quickly wiped your mouth with the back of your hand.

She didn’t seem to notice your shock, leaning forward with a grin that could only be described as mischievous. “I said,” she repeated, “you should sleep with him.”

You nearly choked on your juice, coughing and sputtering as the words rang in your ears. “Are you serious?” you asked, feeling your face flush a deep shade of red. The words felt out of place, especially when the one person you were most careful about was the subject of this absurd suggestion. “I can’t just…sleep with him.”

“Oh, come on,” she insisted, not giving up. “You’ve been in love with him forever. You need to get it out of your system. It’ll help you move on, I promise.”

The words swirled around you, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on your chest like a tidal wave. Sleep with Spencer? Spencer? The man who had become such an intricate part of your life, the one who made every day brighter simply by being in it? You couldn’t even begin to picture it. It felt…wrong. It wasn’t just about the simmering desire or the longing that built up every time you looked at him. Spencer was more than that. He was a friend, a confidant, a constant in a world that had often felt uncertain. The thought of crossing that line, of turning everything you had into something fleeting, something physical, it made your stomach churn. It wasn’t just infatuation anymore. It was something deeper, something that had taken root and blossomed into something far more fragile. The idea of destroying that with a single reckless and hormonal decision? You couldn’t do it.

“No,” you said firmly, setting your glass down and crossing your arms as if physically rejecting the thought. “I can’t do that. It’s not like that with him.”

For a fleeting moment, your friend’s expression softened, but then the mischievous glint returned to her eyes. She leaned back, crossing her own arms in a show of exaggerated disbelief. “You’re seriously going to sit here and tell me you don’t think about him like that?” she challenged, arching a brow. “That you don’t fantasize about him? Please. You’re practically playing house at this point. Living next door, eating breakfast together, taking care of his godchildren, you’re practically married without the fun part.”

Her words were sharp, and they stung in ways you hadn’t expected. She wasn’t wrong, not entirely. You had thought about Spencer in ways that made your pulse race and your heart ache. You couldn’t deny that you fantasized about him, about what it would feel like to hold him, kiss him, love him in ways you hadn’t allowed yourself to imagine until now. But it was more than that. It was the tenderness in his eyes when he spoke of things that mattered most and the way he held you when things felt heavy.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair in frustration, your fingers threading through the strands with a kind of restless energy. “It’s complicated,” you murmured, feeling a lump form in your throat. “He is different, okay? He’s not just some random guy I’m trying to get over. He’s Spencer.”

“Then tell him how you feel,” she shot back, her tone laced with exasperation. “You’re not doing yourself any favors by keeping it all bottled up.”

You flinched, the words hitting you harder than you’d anticipated. “I can’t do that either,” you admitted, the confession falling from your lips like a stone sinking in water. “It would ruin everything.”

Your friend’s playful demeanor faltered for a moment, her teasing grin softening into something almost compassionate. But it didn’t last long. She leaned back in her chair, tossing her hands up in mock surrender. “Fine. Don’t sleep with him. Don’t tell him how you feel. Just keep sitting around, pining, and writing bad poetry in your head. But don’t come crying to me when you’re still hopelessly in love with him a year from now.”

Her words stung, even though you knew she was right in her own blunt, infuriating way. You opened your mouth to respond but stopped when your phone buzzed on the table. The screen lit up with a message from Spencer: Hope you have a good day. Something’s come up. I’ll be back late today.

You stared at the words, your heart sinking a little. He had a way of being so thoughtful in the simplest ways, even when his job pulled him away. It was one of the many things about him that made your feelings all the more complicated.

Your friend smirked, noticing the soft expression on your face as you read his text. “See? There it is,” she said, her tone equal parts teasing and affectionate. “If you’re not going to do anything about it, at least admit that you’re completely in love with him.”

Don’t come crying to me when you’re still hopelessly in love with him a year from now.

The words echoed in your mind even after you and your friend had parted ways, and even after several hours had passed, lingering in your brain like a buzzing that wouldn't go away even though everything inside you was screaming to make more noise and ignore it. It was as if he had opened a Pandora's box that you had been hiding for a long time, and it was something that made you feel small and foolish, lost in your own indecision. You tried to shake it all off, but his words kept echoing in your head, getting louder and louder. You couldn't confess. You couldn't risk ruining everything.

When you arrived at your building, your feet carrying you to his almost by inertia, you tried to distract yourself and do something nice: set the table, light some candles, and order dinner for two at a nearby restaurant you both liked. That had been your plan: a quiet evening together, the kind where you could pretend that everything was normal and there were no complexes on your mind. You knew Spencer would be home late, but at least he'd be there. You'd share a meal, talk about his crazy case, laugh, get so tired you'd fall asleep on the couch so he could carry you to his bed, sleep there barely touching, and then move on as usual. At least that's how you imagined it.

But as the hours passed, you realized something you didn't want to admit: He wasn't coming home anytime soon. At least not tonight.

The food was there, untouched. The candles flickered in the darkness, taunting you with their warm glow. The emptiness of the apartment reflected the feeling of emptiness gnawing at you. You sat on the couch and tried to distract yourself with your cell phone and grabbed a few books you didn't know from the shelf, but everything seemed strange. The clock on the wall was chiming louder than usual, each second getting longer and longer. Around two in the morning, you couldn't stay awake a second longer. Your eyes were heavy, and your mind was tired from the endless cycle of thoughts you had been wrestling with all day. Eventually, you drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the emotional toll of the day, the weight of your own feelings too much to bear when you didn't have Spencer or a canvas nearby to distract you.

You didn’t even hear him when he came through the door.

It wasn't until almost four in the morning that you awoke slightly, your body responding to the warmth and the soft sound of his footsteps approaching you. You found yourself curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, your head resting on the pillows and your neck aching. The dinner you had bought was still on the table, untouched, and the candles had long since been extinguished, taking away the warm, familiar atmosphere. The air smelled faintly of reheated food and something else, something familiar, something that smelled like him.

“Spencer…” Your voice was thick with sleep, the words barely leaving your mouth.

He smiled down at you, a gentle smile that seemed to reach all the way into your chest. “Sorry I’m so late…I didn't think you would wait for me,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “Work ran later than I expected.”

You nodded, still half-dazed, barely able to focus on his words. But then you felt the warmth of his hand on your shoulder, gentle but grounding, and everything seemed to fall into place.

“Why don’t you go to bed?” he suggested softly, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from your face. “You’ve fallen asleep here.”

Before you could react, he picked you up and gently led you into his bedroom. The action was tender, so natural because it had happened more times than you could count. You didn't protest or move. Maybe it was tiredness, or maybe it was the way he made you feel so safe that you always wanted to fall asleep on his couch so he could hold you more, but you let him continue. You let him take care of you as he always did, even when you didn't ask him to.

As he tucked you into his bed, the soft sheets wrapped around your body like a comforting embrace, you murmured something tender and incoherent about him in your sleep, too far away to remember. The words poured out meaninglessly, fragments of meaningless thoughts: feelings, confusions, desires you had buried too deep to think you would ever say out loud. Spencer's hand brushed across your forehead, his thumb gently pushing away the strands of hair that clung to your skin and made you uncomfortable.

“Pretty boy,” you whispered, the words slipping out in your sleepy haze, a fragment of something you couldn’t quite capture.

Spencer’s soft laugh filled the space between you, the sound warm and comforting.

“I remember you said someone used to call you that; is that true?” you asked gently, a playful teasing tone in your voice. “You’re a pretty boy.”

“And you’re a sleepy girl,” he replied with a quiet smile, watching you drift in and out of consciousness.

“Pretty…” you murmured again, your voice barely audible, like a dream that was fading too quickly for you to hold onto.

“Yeah, pretty too,” he whispered, his voice low and rich with tenderness. His thumb traced your forehead one last time, lingering for just a moment before the weight of sleep claimed you entirely.

The bed shifted slightly as Spencer took off his shoes and climbed in beside you, his body warmth a comforting presence next to yours. He paused, just for a moment, to look at you with an expression so full of affection.

“Thanks for making this place a home, my pretty girl,” he whispered, his voice filled with a warmth that seemed to wrap around you like the sheets, even when you can’t listen.

Because he wouldn't have told you that if you were awake and aware, watching him with your bright eyes wide open. Not yet. Not if telling you meant facing the possibility that one day you might avoid him in the hallway or, worse, decide to move somewhere else. He couldn't bear the thought of losing you because he felt things he shouldn't have. Not you. Not his home.

Being in love with you, his neighbor and only friend outside of work, was one of the best and worst things that ever happened to him. To have someone who would wait for him with dinner even when you didn't know what time he'd be home, someone who would compliment him even in between dreams and manage to make him laugh, who would listen to him even when no one else would, and who would accidentally smear paint all over his clothes as a little reminder that you were real and not an impossible dream. He knew you were truly a miracle to someone as unlucky as he was.

Having you, even as a friend, was fantastic.

Sadly, what Spencer didn’t know, what neither of you could have known, was that this moment, this quiet tenderness and time sleeping in the same bed, would be the last time he would see you for what would feel like an eternity. At least for three more agonizing months.

[yasministration]

harry potter m.list

ˋ°•*⁀➷ navigation // ꩜ smut, ❀ fluff, 𖤓 angsty/angry, 𖤐 funny

concussions and interruptions au wolfstar!daughter au

✩ Harry’s bi awakening (𖤐)

✩ “you knew?” “you didn’t?" - In which the twins only just find out their sister is dating Harry (𖤐)

✩ me and you - You keep telling Ron to just ‘ask her out’ but he won’t take your word seriously until you take your own advice. Somehow, you both end up with dates… (❀𖤐)

✩ long kisses, risky places - When kissing in the library leads to something more… (❀𖤐)

✩love, mum and dad - Harry gets the memory book you and James made for him to open on his 17th birthday, but he gets it a little sooner, and discovers things about the family he could have had (𖤓)

✩ more than anything- keeping your relationship a secret is difficult when you just can’t stop staring at your boyfriend (❀𖤓)

✩ what boyfriend? - when you are bed ridden due to your period, Madame Pomfrey comes to check in on you and play match-maker (❀𖤐)

✩ summer lovin' - you decide to visit harry over the summer, playing the classic 'girl next door’ so harry’s uncle lets you in (❀)

✩ a job for a godparent - harry knows you’re the love of his life, but he just needs to know that you want kids as much as he does. a day at his house over the summer confirms it. (❀)

✩ a motherly visit - when harry sends you another owl claiming that professor snape has it out for him, you decide to pay them a short visit (❀𖤐)

✩ second time’s the charm - when you’re bitten by greyback again during the battle of the astronomy tower, you find yourself with new company (❀𖤓)

✩ always the prefects bathroom - despite harry potter’s presence in the prefects bathroom, you aren’t stopped from taking a soothing bath (❀𖤐)

✩ dinner time - you join harry in bed for cuddles, and whilst the boy is ready to sleep, you let him know it’s barely dinner time. (❀)

[darknight3904]

Every Breath You Take

Chapter One- The End of the World

Tommy Miller x Fem!Reader, Slowburn!Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Summary: Living in Austin wasn't the most glamorous existence. At twenty years old, you still can't figure out what you want to do with your life. Unfortunately, fate steps in, leaving you to the mercy of the apocalypse and the kindness of your neighbor Joel and his brother Tommy.

General Warnings: This story is 18+. Included, but not limited to: Explicit smut (chapters will be marked with a ** ), canon typical violence, language, gore, and horror. Minor character death, child death, SA themes (not described in detail), suicide, and depression. These warnings may change at any time, as this story is not completed.

Reader, Joel, and Tommy are not polyamorous; the story explores romantic relationships with both Tommy and Joel, but not at the same time.

Word Count: 6.3k

The Last of Us Masterlist / Series Masterlist

This part depicts a suicide attempt. If you or anyone you know is struggling, check out this link.

@freythecrazyfae @greenwitchfromthewoods @amyispxnk @heartpatch I offer new Joel for you 🤌🏻

Friday, September 26, 2003, Austin, Texas

It’s your stomach that wakes you up. Hunger pains your middle half as you stumble out of bed towards the kitchen. The stove’s clock blinks 7:34 AM as you rummage through the near-empty fridge. 

You press the button on the answering machine as the frying pan for your eggs heats up. The voice of your dad fills your ears as you crack your first egg. 

“Hey, my trip is going well. Gotta big meeting later on today, and then I’m going to see Big Ben. I’ll pick up a cool souvenir for you.” 

You smile at the thought of your dad bringing back a silly t-shirt from London for you. He’d been away for a week now on a trip for the company he worked for, something about helping expand into England and possibly the rest of Europe. 

“There’s this awesome bakery here, the best pastries in the world…Oh also! My flight got moved, I should be back on Sunday around eight in the morning, I need you to ask Joel to borrow his truck, gonna need you to pick me up. That damn mechanic emailed me to say our car is totaled. See you soon, bye.” 

You groan in frustration. Of course, it was just your luck that the little sedan you shared with your dad was done. You had gone grocery shopping right before your dad left, and it’d gotten hit in the lot by some idiot who hadn’t even left a note to apologize. Hopefully, your neighbor Joel will let you borrow his truck; you’d probably have to pay him the gas money, but at least your dad wouldn’t be stuck in some overpriced taxi. 

You all but inhale your eggs before setting the coffee maker up to begin its morning brew. The loud yell of your neighbors has you scurrying out the front door, hopefully, you can catch Joel before he leaves for work. 

“Morning!” Sarah greets you when she sees you leaning over the fence 

“Good morning.” You smile and wave at her as she hops into the back seat 

You always had a bit of a soft spot for Sarah. You’d been an occasional babysitter for her for a few years now, and getting to watch her grow from snotty brat to confident teen filled your heart with joy.

Joel is loading some crates and a tool bag into the bed of the truck as he says something to the Adler’s. 

“Nice shirt.” 

You turn your head to see the man you’d been crushing on for nearly two years now. Tommy Miller flashes you a warm grin as he gestures to your worn-out t-shirt that says AC/DC. 

“Oh, um, thanks.” You squirm, feeling self-conscious in your sleep shorts and unruly bedhead. 

“You actually listen to them or did you just buy the shirt cuz’ it looks cool?”

Ugh. How’d he know you bought the shirt based on looks? You roll your eyes and try to retain your confidence when Tommy laughs a bit, seeing through your facade. 

You hadn’t even thought to put a bra on as you hunch your back a bit, trying to hide your chest away. Tommy looked so well put together, a nice button-down paired with a white tank sat on his body while his dark hair glistened in the sunlight, fuck he made you nervous. 

Regretfully, you tear your eyes away from him to stare at his older brother, “Hey Joel.” 

“Mornin’, you’re up early.” He takes note 

“Early bird gets the worm.” You chuckle, as he nods, “I was just wondering if I could borrow your truck on Sunday morning? My dad is coming home and our car is apparently toast after that hit-and-run I told you about.” 

“Shit, the one at the store? M’ real sorry.” Joel shakes his head, “I’ll let ya borrow the truck if you fill the tank up on the way back.” 

“Deal.” You smile 

Joel gives you a nod before turning back to his garage to load more stuff up. You’re about to turn away to disappear back inside but Tommy’s voice stops you. 

“Been a while since I saw you.” 

“Uh, yeah. Sarah’s last birthday party right?” You ask 

He nods, “Aren’t you supposed to be away in college? You’re like 22.” 

“20,” You correct him, “I’m taking a bit of a gap year or well, years. Gotta save some money first, plus I dunno what I want to do.” 

Tommy nods, “Don’t rush it, it’ll come to you eventually.” 

“Did you ever go to college?” You ask, thinking he might have some advice for figuring out your life. 

“Yeah, I did-” 

“You did one semester at the community college and dropped out after you failed your midterms.” Joel deadpans as he comes up from behind to slap his brother on the back.

“Well, I got experience.” He shrugs as Joel scoffs 

“Yeah, experience in failing.” Joel shakes his head, “Now. quit flirtin’ we gotta drop Sarah off before we go to the site.” 

Joel pulls his brother off, Tommy waving goodbye to you as your face burns, surely he wasn’t flirting with you. At whatever age he was, there was no way Tommy would be interested in you. A 20-year-old who had no current path in life.  You call out to them as you suddenly remember what Sarah had said to you the last time you had watched her for Joel a few nights back.

“Happy Birthday!” 

“Thanks.” Joel nods with a small smile on his back 

“He’s officially a dinosaur now!” Sarah yells out the open window of the backseat of the truck 

The engine turns over and you swear you hear him scold her and tell her “36 ain’t that old.” 

You spend your day cleaning the house and hanging laundry out on the line in the backyard. Around noon you walk down to the small Dollar General that’s half a mile from your home. There isn’t much in the way of actual groceries but you can make do with the bag of rice you find on the shelf along with a bag of frozen broccoli from the shitty freezer the store has. This, along with the chicken nuggets in the freezer should  hold you over until Sunday when your dad will be back to buy groceries with you.  

The loud screech of police sirens tears down the road as you watch three cars whizz by. 

“I don’t know what the world is coming to.” The cashier shakes her head as she rings your stuff up, “All day long they’ve been flying up and down that road.” 

“Some people are crazy.” You hum, and she nods in agreement as you toss a pack of gummy bears onto the counter.  

The walk back is short and peaceful as you soak in the last bits of summer heat Texas has to offer. Soon it will be in the low 50s and you’ll be bundled up in jeans and sweaters. You spend the rest of your day paging through the newspaper’s job section, hoping that something was out there that paid better than the shitty diner you were currently working at. Perhaps you could get a job at that new daycare center that opened last week. 

Despite the day being uneventful, you’re tired and by 11 you’re tucked into bed, a movie playing on the little TV you begged your dad for your room when you turned 15. You’re dozing when the loud knock has you jolting from your bed. The stove’s green numbers blink 11:47 as you pass the kitchen.

You pad down the steps, glancing at the baseball bat that leans near the front door, you had placed it there as a sense of security, you didn’t think you’d actually need it but who the hell was knocking this late? 

You inch the door open, keeping the chain secured and the bat hidden behind your back. Instead of an axe murderer, you’re met with the disheveled look of the block's favorite single dad. Yes, Joel was more loved by the neighbors than your dad was. After all, your dad didn’t offer to fix people’s fences and sinks for free. 

“I thought you were like Freddy Kruger or something.” You say, undoing the lock and opening the door fully. 

“Y’watchin’ too many horror movies, kid,” Joel says with a sigh

More like not enough. You love horror films. 

“Listen, Tommy got himself in trouble. I gotta go get him. Could you sit in my house with Sarah? She’s already sleepin’ but I don’t wanna leave her alone this late.” He asks, “You can sleep on the couch til’ I get back. I’ll even pay you if you want.” 

It's an easy decision, at this point Joel doesn’t even need to pay you to watch Sarah, you love hanging out with her. But, the idea of a possible extra ten dollar bill in your purse just for sleeping on the couch is hard to turn down. 

 Joel reminds you to lock your home’s door as he leads you over to his house and through the front door

“What kinda trouble is Tommy in?” You ask curiously as you breathe in the warm scent that was Joel’s home. A hint of vanilla from the candle you gave Sarah for her birthday along with the scent of what could only be described as man.  

“Dumbass got arrested for punching some dude. I gotta stop at an ATM to get the cash for his bail.” Joel sighs as he rummages around a closet

“So much for your birthday being about you.” You laugh as he tosses a blanket at you 

“Tell me about it. Fuckers been driving me nuts since he could walk.” Joel sighs, “My number is on the fridge, there's some leftover chicken wings if you’re hungry. Sarah won’t bother you-” 

You nod, “I’ll be fine. Been watching her for like six years now, I don’t think she’s gonna start giving me trouble now.” 

You shoo Joel out the door and lock it behind him before sinking into the worn leather of the couch. It’s already dim but you switch the lamp on the table beside you off, tossing your flip phone onto the coffee table. The couch smells like Joel, a hint of cologne followed by that musk men gave off. As if it’s magic, your eyes flutter shut, sleeping stealing you away. 

You wake up to Sarah shaking you awake. 

“Wake up.” She whispers 

“Sarah…Go back to bed, your dad's out with your uncle.” You groan, trying to pull the blanket over your head 

“The Adler’s dog got out. I’m taking him back,” Sarah says 

You groan again but stand up when you hear the front door open. So much for Sarah not causing any trouble. You wrap the soft blanket around your body, slip your sneakers on, and follow her out. Cool air flows through the thin material of your pyjama pants and T-shirt. You sleepily watch as Sarah pulls the dog towards the front door. God, you wish she’d hurry up, you loved the girl but you also loved your sleep. 

All of a sudden, the stupid dog twists out of her grasp and sprints off into the darkness, leaving the collar in Sarah’s hands.

“Mercy!” Sarah yells as the black and white dog books it into the night 

“Well, shit.” You mumble, walking up to her watching the ball of black and white fluff disappear into the night.

“Now what?” She asks 

You glance at the Adler’s open door and back in the direction where the dog ran off. 

“Uh, I guess we're going to tell them we lost their dog. Maybe Mr. Adler can come help us look for him.” 

Sarah nods and turns on her heel to walk into the home. 

Something isn’t quite right when you walk into the Adler’s house. You’d only been there a few times but something was amiss. The air felt almost heavy as you followed Sarah closely. She calls for Mrs. Adler softly and you stop in the hallway, something red catches your eye on the carpet as Sarah walks towards the kitchen. You crouch down and stare at the spot, it looks like blood but you’re not entirely sure. 

A loud scream as you jump and the little swinging doors that lead to the kitchen slam open. 

“Run, Run!” Sarah screeches as you stumble backwards.

An inhuman growl reaches your ears as you shuck the blanket from your shoulders, grabbing Sarah’s arm and pushing her ahead of whatever it was. Had the dog circled back through the back door? Did it have rabies? All you knew was that- 

What the actual fuck?! 

Sarah pulls you out the front door and you get a glimpse of Nana Adler running towards you at an inhuman speed. A loud screech fills your ears as you and Sarah scramble down the walkway. 

You keep your grasp firm on Sarah’s forearm, pulling her towards Joel’s home, eager to get inside and bolt the door.

Headlights illuminate you as tires screech, Joel jumps out before the truck even stops and grabs Sarah from you, hugging her and asking her if she’s hurt. 

“Joel!” another voice yells

You spin around at the sound of Tommy’s voice. Nana Adler is sprinting towards you, something white dangles from her mouth as she wheezes and growls. 

“What’re we doing Joel?!” 

You notice the rifle in Tommy’s hands as he hesitates to take aim. What the fuck was happening right now? 

Sarah’s shirl scream fills your ear as Joel steps in front of both of you, his strong arm swings a wrench, hitting Nana Adler before she can reach either of you. 

“You killed her…” Sarah breathes when the old woman doesn’t get up 

You stumble backward away from the scene, nearly tripping over your feet and the curb of the sidewalk as you bump into Tommy’s chest. 

“Get in the truck.” He says softly, ushering you to the vehicle 

“W-Wait we can’t leave her…we gotta call the police…” 

You’re in shock as you stare at the body, Tommy pushes you into the backseat and slams the door, Joel does the same for Sarah as you run your hands over your face. 

Sarah is asking her dad questions as Tommy speeds down the road. You don’t know what's happening. Just ten minutes ago you’d been blissfully asleep, cuddled up on Joel’s couch and now you’d watched Joel kill an old woman who was trying to…well you weren’t really sure what she was trying to do. 

The truck is illuminated with an orange blaze as you pass a house completely engulfed in flames. You watch wide-eyed as what must be a dozen police officers and even three fire trucks speed past the home, not even dropping a bit in speed. 

“That’s Jimmy’s place…” Tommy trails off as he stares at the home that's caving in on itself 

Sarah reaches over to you, grabbing your hand. You glance at her, she’s never looked younger than she does right now. A frightened 14-year-old girl stares at you while her father and uncle debate where they should go, Joel suggesting Mexico of all places. 

“I don’t have my ID.” You muster out, thinking of your wallet and license that sits abandoned in your purse at home, “I-I can’t go to Mexico…”

“We’ll figure it out.” Tommy says, “We gotta get somewhere more remote first.” 

The truck slows and you whip your attention to the front where a man is waving from the side of the road. A woman, probably his wife, is holding a kid in her arms as she yells, their minivan a smoking mess behind them. 

“What’re you doing?” Joel asks suddenly

“They got a kid.” Tommy reasons as he begins to pull off to the shoulder of the road 

“So do we.” Joel reminds his brother, his icy tone sending goosebumps down your spine. 

You watch the exchange as Tommy looks at his brother like he’s lost it. 

“Keep going.” Joel orders 

Even in the dark, you see the regret on Tommy’s face as he accelerates, the strangers screaming for him to come back. 

You squeeze Sarah’s hand, pulling her closer to you as Tommy and Joel curse when they see the highway is blocked by bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

“I’m scared,” Sarah whispers as you run a hand soothingly over her curly hair 

“It’s okay.” You affirm, “We’re gonna be okay.” 

You’re not sure if you’re saying it to her or to yourself as Tommy drives the truck right off the road and into the field.

“Fuck!” Tommy curses 

You hear the whirl of a helicopter, a huge line of cars and trucks and god knows what else blocks your way. 

“It’s the fucking army.” Joel groans, “Go north, we cut through town.” 

You click yours and Sarah’s seatbelt as Tommy gets back on the road. 

The town is a mess. People are screaming and running all over, cars are running lights and smashing into each other. You squeeze your eyes shut, praying this is all some bad dream and you’re still on the couch sleeping. The sound of glass smashing as you flinch, as you wildly look out the windows. A huge crowd tumbles out of the movie theater, Joel yelling for Tommy to reverse as he rests a hand on Sarah’s knee. 

You watch as people jump on other people, it looks like they’re biting them and your eyes widen. Seriously, what the fuck was happening? 

“Dad, Dad!” Sarah yells 

You spin around to look out the back window, above you an airplane five times the size of your home is rapidly descending right for you, flames flying off its wings. 

“Foreword, GO!” You scream at Tommy, leaning forward to smack his shoulder. 

A loud scream fills the car, maybe it's from you, maybe it’s Sarah’s, perhaps even Tommy’s or Joel’s but the last thing you feel is your face smacking the back of Tommy’s seat before it goes dark. 

The first time you met the Millers, you were 14. Freshly widowed, your father had decided to sell your childhood home and move from the countryside into the Austin suburbs. You of course didn’t have much say in it and got stuck packing your things into a UHaul and following him.

You had been struggling with a box of books when it had been effortlessly scooped from your arms. A tall man with dark brown messy curls stood in front of you. 

“I got it.” He says confidently

“Thank you.” You huff tiredly, you had been unloading boxes all day and you still weren’t even halfway there. 

You scoop up a lamp and lead him towards the house. 

“M’ Joel. I live next door.” He nods to his home 

You give him your name with a small smile as you hold the front door for him. 

You hadn’t noticed it, but a little girl, maybe no more than eight years old, was clinging to the back of his shirt, shyly staring up at you.  

“Oh, this is Sarah, my daughter.” Joel cranes his neck to see what his kid is doing behind him

You hear your father come down the steps, he and Joel introduce themselves to each other as Joel walks off into the house with him, leaving Sarah standing nervously in the entryway. 

“Hi, Sarah.” You couch down to her level

“Hi.” She greets 

You glance down at the stuffed rabbit she has tucked under her arm. 

“Does your rabbit have a name?” You ask 

“Mr. Peanut.” She confidently says as she rocks back and forth while staring at you with big brown eyes that match her father’s.

“Well, Sarah. I think we’re about to be great friends, I happen to think Mr. Peanut is the perfect name for a rabbit.” 

“Hey! Wake up!” 

The scent of smoke fills your lungs as you try to get your bearings. You’re upside down and Tommy’s arms are linked under your armpits, pulling you from the now flipped truck. He hauls you to your feet and gives you a once-over. 

“You alright?” He asks, “Nothing broken?” 

“I’m okay.” You mumble, wiggling your limbs.

“Nose is bleedin’, I think it’s alright though,” Tommy says quickly

You touch your face, and sure enough, your nose is gushing like a fountain down your shirt, Tommy pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and hands it to you. 

“C’mon, let's move.” He motions 

You both barely get two steps towards the other side of the vehicle where Sarah and Joel are before a flaming police car slams into the overturned truck, cutting you and Tommy off from them. 

“Go to the river! We’ll find a way, Get her out of here, Joel, Go!” Tommy yells over the roar of the flames 

Through the gaps in the cars, you watch Joel scoop Sarah up, she must’ve been injured in the crash. Tommy is saying your name and something else but you can barely register what's happening. All around you, the world is falling apart, people are screaming as others climb on top of them, snarling and wheezing. 

It’s the motion of Tommy waving something in front of your blurred vision that has you coming to. 

“Can you shoot?” 

He’s holding a silver revolver out in front of you. You’d ask where it came from but you already know, after all this is Texas, everyone and their mother kept a revolver in their glove compartment. 

“Look, cock this back,” He pulls the top bit of the gun back towards you, “Point, and pull the trigger.” 

You nod, shaking hands reaching for the firearm. 

“There’s six bullets in there, don’t start shootin’ unless I tell ya.” He commands 

You’re practically glued to Tommy as he leads the way through the chaos. You wish you could squeeze your eyes shut but then you’d be tripping over your now untied shoelaces. 

You’re not sure where the river is but you pass many people who are pinned down by others. Lucky for you their attackers seem to be too focused to pay much mind to you and Tommy. Your right-hand reaches out and fists the back of his shirt when one stands up about 25 feet away, staring right at both of you. 

“Shit.” He mumbles 

“What now?” You whisper 

The man stumbles towards you, a low growl leaves his lips, his eyes are red, and his skin is pale; a deep bite mark is on his neck, blood flowing from it onto his once clean white shirt. 

“Don’t move.” Tommy commands, his rifle raised to point at the man, “Let us pass.” 

Then, all at once, the man begins sprinting at you both, a loud scream leaves your lips, and Tommy’s rifle goes off once. The stranger crumples to the ground, blood and brains oozing onto the pavement as you stare down at him. 

“Let’s go, fast, Gotta find Joel,” Tommy says, stepping over the now-deceased man before offering his hand to you 

“You killed that man…” You trail off, hesitant to take it.

Tommy rolls the man onto his back, long white tendrils of…something squirming out of his mouth, weaving across his teeth and down his cracked lips. 

“That ain’t no man,” Tommy comments, “Not one I’ve seen before.” 

Tommy all but drags you through town, weaving his way through back alleys and even through a busted open shop window, you don’t let go of his hand once the whole time. 

The grassy slope that leads down to the riverside is a bit slippery from yesterday's rain. You can’t see Joel or Sarah yet but you’re sure they’re around here somewhere. Tommy hears it before you, the sound of Joel’s voice. He drops your hand and takes off in the direction of his brother and niece. 

You stumble after him, tripping and landing on the muddy ground when you step on your laces. You groan, your body now caked in mud as you stand back up. The deafening sound of gunfire has you freezing. The sound of an automatic gun fires, followed by another shot that sounds like Tommy’s rifle. 

A few more steps and the riverbank comes into view, Tommy stands there, illuminated by the headlights of what looks like a military vehicle. Another dead body lays at his feet, and a soldier, covered in gear, lays face down in the muck. 

Your feet freeze when you see what Tommy has been staring at. Joel is hunched over Sarah, his hands and lower arms drenched in blood from the gaping wound in her stomach. He’s begging her to be okay as he yells for Tommy to help him. 

It feels like you’re on a roller coaster the way your stomach is sinking as you watch Joel rock back and forth with Sarah, her limp body and empty eyes staring back at him. It’s a scene that's bound to haunt you all for the rest of your days. 

Several snarls have you spinning around, Tommy calling for Joel. You’re not sure where they are but those monsters from Main Street are coming for you all. 

“Joel, get up,” Tommy says, his eyes scanning the area warily

Joel remains still, his hand skimming Sarah’s face, closing her eyes for the last time. 

“Joel!” Tommy yells, stomping towards his brother to try and pull him to his feet, “We gotta go.” 

Somehow Tommy hauls Joel to his feet, his arm coming under his brother’s to support him. Tommy turns to you, his rifle slung over his shoulder, 

“Let’s get moving north, get away from people.” 

Your body moves on autopilot, following his orders. As you walk away from the gruesome scene, you hear Joel begin to wail Sarah’s name as Tommy drags him away from his dead daughter. 

You’re not sure when you started crying, all you know is that your eyes are bleary, and warm salty tears are mixing with the dried blood from your nose. The three of you were currently sitting in an unfinished house, part of some new development that was being constructed for rich idiots looking to live near the capital. 

The area was empty when you stumbled across it, unfinished homes looming in the brisk morning air, just barely illuminated by the sunrise. 

You sit next to Tommy as he tries to get a better look at your nose which is aching from earlier. He wipes at your tears with his fingers before declaring your nose should be fine. 

Joel hasn’t moved an inch from where Tommy dropped him. His back rests against the wall across from you, his knees are drawn up to his chest, and his head is cradled in his hands as he sits there still as a statue. 

“There’s a porta potty outside, gonna go take a piss, I’ll be back,” Tommy mumbles, standing up 

You rise to meet him, the least you could do is let Joel have a bit of privacy to mourn his daughter. 

“I’ll come with you.” 

You kick at the brown dirt and rocks under your feet, listening to the sounds of birds chirping. A stray cat trots by, unfazed by what has happened in Austin as it glances at you for a moment before continuing on.

The porta-potty stinks. You hover over the seat, thighs burning in exertion from the awkward angle, you are not interested in getting some horrid disease from this toilet as you pee. A sigh leaves your lips; at least the toilet paper was clean. 

The sound of a gun going off has you yanking your filthy pants back up and clamoring out of the porta potty.

You race back to the house to see Joel flat out on his back, Tommy kneeling next to him, his hands holding Joel’s head. 

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Tommy scolds Joel as he holds him still to get a better look at the wound.

A low groan from Joel is all that comes in response as you stare at what looks like a bullet graze. Your eyes fall to the discarded rifle that is a few feet from his right arm. 

“You ain’t dying on my watch.” Tommy huffs, pulling his button-down off to press to the side of Joel’s face. 

You piece together what has happened, Joel has just tried to kill himself, just hours after Sarah had died. 

“We have to leave, he needs stitches,” Tommy says, “There’s a truck parked behind the house, help me get his ass there.” 

Joel is partly unconscious as you and Tommy drag him around to the back of the house, Tommy smashes the driver’s window in and unlocks the car. The two of you heave Joel into the backseat before climbing in yourselves. 

You watch silently as Tommy hotwires the truck. You’re not sure how he knows how to do that but you’re glad he does. 

The truck speeds down the road as your brain churns, 

“I don’t think the hospitals will be open.” 

“Red Cross, maybe the military will have something, just gotta figure out where,” Tommy responds, eyes fixed on the road 

“If there is even still a military.” You mumble hopelessly

Tommy doesn’t respond and instead continues to drive. 

It takes nearly all day but eventually, you spot it, a military blockade of sorts and a few tents painted with that red and white medical cross. It’s sitting on a high school campus in the football stadium that says “Home of the Austin Anteaters.” 

Tommy stops the truck when five soldiers come out, all armed to the teeth and each wearing a gas mask.

They have you both pull Joel from the car who resists, mumbling a resounding no as Tommy gestures to his head and the wound on his side from last night. 

One of the soldiers stares at the three of you as if they’re deciding whether or not you’re worth it. Then, they’re motioning and someone shows up with a gurney for Joel. They wheel him away and you’re left with Tommy. 

“If any of you are bit or scratched, we shoot. Doesn’t matter what wounds he or either of you have. Better to tell us now instead of in there.” 

“We’re both clean.” Tommy says for the both of you, “Promise.” 

You nod, trying not to shake as they lead you past the guards and into the stadium. 

“This way, miss.” One man says, leading you into one tent before Tommy is led to another. 

A female soldier stands in the tent, a clipboard in hand, she jots down your name and age before telling you to strip, her face obscured by the gas mask she wears. 

“Excuse me?” You stare at her like she’d lost it 

“I need to make sure you haven't been bitten. We think that’s how the infection spreads. Until we can get some form of device to detect it, strip searches are how we’re keeping everyone safe.” She explains, “Please remove your clothes or I will have you escorted out of the zone.” 

You huff a breath of air, she’s serious about this. You pull your mud-caked, blood-soaked shirt off before dropping your pants as well. 

“Undergarments as well.” She prompts boringly

Tommy is standing on the other side of the tent when you emerge. Like you, he has a bag tucked under his arm, according to the soldier it was filled with an MRE along with bedding materials and water bottles.

“You alright?” He asks as the two of you are led to whatever temporary lodging the military had set up. 

“Fine, just wasn’t expecting to be strip searched.” 

“Tell me about it, the guy back seemed way too eager for me to drop my pants.”

 

You roll your eyes, his joke not landing the way he wanted it to. 

As it turns out the “housing” the woman mentioned was just rows and rows of tents set up next to each other. The soldier leading you drops you off at a tent, hanging the clipboard off one of the tent polls before wandering off. 

“Did they tell you when Joel would be done?” You ask, entering the small tent, tossing your stuff onto one of the cots 

“Said they’d bring him to us provided he cleared the safety checks.” Tommy shrugs 

He sits across from you on his own cot, pulling open the MRE that had been stuffed into his arms earlier. 

“Chicken pesto and pasta.” He reads aloud, “One of the better ones.” 

“You eat a lot of these when you were serving?” You ask, staring at yours which says chili macaroni.

“Yeah. Don’t eat the peanut butter they give ya, it’ll give you the shits for days.” He says 

“Noted.” You nod 

That night, it’s quieter than you thought it’d be for a field of tents filled with strangers. You lay on your side, unmoving trying to process what has happened, what you’ve witnessed. A pit of despair fills your stomach as you think of your father. Trapped in England, no way back to the States. Shit, he could be dead right now and there was no way for you to know. You think of little Sarah and the awful involuntary sounds she made when Joel tried picking her up. 

At first, it's quiet, you barely hear it but slowly it becomes louder and louder. The sounds of crying, soft sniffles at first before they turn into full-blown sobs. 

You turn on your side to see Tommy, curled up under his thin blanket, pillow stuffed under his head as he cries into it. You’re not sure what to do, do you turn away and let him cry in peace? Do you get up to comfort him? You feel numb. Like your brain can’t reconcile everything you’ve seen. 

A choking sound comes from the other side of the tent, and you shift, reaching for the plastic water bottle that sits on the ground. Prickly turf tickles your bare feet as you take two steps over, closing the distance between you and your companion. 

“Water?” You whisper 

Tommy turns, sitting up, wiping at his red eyes like he didn’t want you to know he’d been not so quietly sobbing. He pats the cot, gesturing for you to sit beside him. 

“Thanks.” He croaks, gulping it down. 

“I can’t sleep.” You admit 

He nods, “Me either.” 

You remain next to him, your fingers fiddling with the caked mud on your pants. You wish that military lady would’ve given you something to change into. At least you weren’t alone, Tommy was still in his clothes from yesterday. 

Your mind swims with ideas of how you might possibly reach out to your father. You can’t come to any actual conclusions though. Instead, you just keep seeing Sarah’s dead body and how Joel had called out to her as Tommy pulled him away. 

You remember the first time you really met Tommy Miller. It’d been a Friday in July and your home’s central air conditioning had broken on what felt like the hottest day ever. You were rotting in the front yard because at least the outside had a breeze, unlike the stagnant air of the house. You’d called your dad about a million times to tell him the stupid unit had died right after he left for work, of course, you’d gotten sent right to voicemail each time. 

“That ice pop is gonna be mush if you don’t eat it soon.” 

Your head whips to your left, and your neighbor's brother leans against the fence smiling at you. You’d seen him around before in the past few years, Joel had said his name was Tim? Tyler? Something with a T. All you knew was that he’d show up incrementally, sometimes to watch Sarah, other times to give his older brother shit. 

“Yeah well, so am I.” You huff 

He flashes you another warm smile, “And why is a pretty girl like you, melting away in the sun?” 

“AC went up in flames. At least there's a breeze out here.” You shrug lazily 

“Where is it? I’ll take a look.” He offers, “No charge, I promise.”

You eye him curiously unsure of how to respond to this practical stranger offering to fix the AC unit for free. 

“No thanks, I’ll wait for Joel to come back.” 

Last summer Joel had revived it for you and your dad, he could do it again. Besides, you didn’t even know his brother that well. And sure, this brother was pretty hot but you were also pretty sure he was like 24, far too old to be looking at you, even if you had been 18 for nearly 6 months now. 

“He won’t be back till’ 10. You’ll be sweating your ass off for another six hours.” He tells you. 

Fuck, you can’t take another six minutes, let alone six hours.

“Fine.” You relent 

Tommy, not Tyler or Tim, as it turns out is nearly as good as Joel was with the air conditioning. It takes about twenty minutes and a good kick to the unit’s side but he gets it going again. You race through the front door and hold your hands over the vents, laughing with delight when the ice-cold air hits your skin. 

“I’ll take it that sound means I was successful,” Tommy calls from the front porch 

You stop in the kitchen and pour him a glass of the sickly sweet lemonade you had mixed up last night before rejoining him outside. 

“You’re a lifesaver.” You grin 

Tommy mockingly bows and the lemonade shifts, dribbling down his fingers to the porch. He straightens and takes a long sip of the beverage, 

“Almost better than a beer.” 

Now you know he’s bullshitting you, you give him a playful shove and he smiles down at you, his dark curls glistening as he moves. Your face heats up, and a fuzzy feeling worms its way across your chest as he speaks again, 

“Let me know if ya ever need anythin’ else, I’ll be over here more often.” 

Next Part

Series Masterlist

Twas' the night before TLOU season 2...Joel, stay away from the golf course, please!

Brand new story, hope you all enjoy. :)

Comment to be added to the tag list. This tag list is not chapter by chapter, I carry the tags over to each part.

Tags:

[paystubusa]

Who Needs A 1099-DIV Form Generator And How To Choose The Right One?

A 1099-DIV form generator is essential for businesses and individuals who need to accurately report dividend income to the IRS. The 1099-DIV form is an essential tax document that is used to report dividends and other distributions. Find out more at PaystubUSA.

[keiluv-s]

u can run but u can hide

cw. ghostface!suna x fem!reader, pet names, smut, little non-con if u pay attention, established relationship at the end, english isn’t my first language.

wa. 2,7k

It was close to 10 p.m. when I went down to the kitchen to make some popcorn. My parents went on a trip and left me home alone. It was common for nights like this to happen, as they always traveled for work.

I put the butter and corn in the popcorn maker and turned on the stove at the same time as the landline in the living room started ringing. The phone was maintained by my parents' work, because let's face it, nobody still uses a landline these days.

“Hello?”

“Hello, who is it?” a thick voice asked on the other end of the line.

“Who are you trying to reach?”

“What number is this?”

“What number are you trying to reach?” I replied.

“I don't know.”

“Well, I think you have the wrong number, then” I spoke simplistically.

“Do I?”

“Yeah, it happens.” I shrugged, even though the person couldn't see me, and hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. I turned to go back into the kitchen when the phone rang again.

“Yeah, I guess I really did call the wrong number.” It was the same voice.

“So why did you call again?” I asked, with a laugh.

“To apologize.”

“You're forgiven. Bye.”

“Wait, don't hang up!” The person exclaimed.

“Huh? Why not?”

“I want to talk to you for a minute.”

“Well, you have plenty of other numbers for that.” I said with a smile, hanging up the phone.

The popcorn had left a delicious aroma in the kitchen and my mouth was already watering. I was stirring the popcorn popper, waiting for the corn to stop popping, when my cell phone rang. It was a private number, so I had no idea who it was, but I answered anyway.

“Hello?” I asked as I looked for a bowl to put my popcorn in.

“Why don't you want to talk to me?”

“Okay, who is it?”

“Tell me your name and I'll tell you mine.”

“Um, no, I don't think so.” I rested my cell phone on my neck to get the popcorn out of the pot.

“What's that noise?”

“Popcorn.”

“Um, I only eat popcorn at the movies.”

“Well, I'm going to watch a movie now.”

“Yeah? What movie?”

“Oh it's just some scary movie.”

“A scary movie? Interesting” the person on the other end of the line paused and I could hear his heavy breathing “What's your favorite scary movie?”

“Oh, I don't know...” I pondered a bit, leaning on the kitchen counter, popping some popcorn in my mouth “I think… Scream.”

“It's the one with the masked killer, isn't it?”

I mumbled an "uh-huh", wanting to end the conversation

“So, do you have a boyfriend?” The person asks.

“Why? Do you want to ask me out on a date?” I asked mischievously, with a laugh.

“Maybe. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Mm, no.”

“You never told me your name.”

“Why do you wanna know my name?”

“‘Cause I wanna know who I’m looking at.” the person stopped talking and I remained silent, a shiver ran through my body and the joke was no longer funny. “Are you used to being alone at home, y/n?”

“Who's talking?” I asked seriously this time.

“Calm down, there's no need to get nervous” the person spoke with an annoying calmness “You see, it's important to lock all the doors when you're home alone, especially at this time of night. Are you sure everything is locked, y/n?”

“It's not funny anymore. You know I can call the police if you carry on with this silly little game, don't you?” I checked the front door and the door to the living room that led to the garden and both were locked.

“Yeah? And what would you say to the police? Although... I don't think it's a good idea to call the police, sweetheart, especially given the clothes you're wearing, right? You know how disgusting these guys can be.”

I swallowed, going up to the second floor.

“And what am I wearing?” I asked. It was probably just some weirdo trying to prank and scare me. From school, maybe. But even so, I checked the glass doors leading to the balcony, just to be sure.

“Um, let's see... You're wearing a black tank top, and apparently you're not wearing a bra since your nipples are marked on the fabric, and a... what is that? A pair of panties? Shorts? I can't tell the difference, but it's short, black and has a kitten print.” My heart was pounding out of my chest and I wouldn't be surprised if it jumped out “You're quite a sight, y/n.”

“Right, end of joke. I'll call the police.” I ended the call and went to my room. Of course I wouldn't call the police for that.

A cold wind blew in through the open window, chilling my bare legs. I hurried to close it and locked it out of conscience just as I heard a noise in the hallway, only to stick my head out and see nothing. I jumped with a gasp when my cell phone rang again, but fortunately, this time it was my mother.

“Hi babygirl, how are you?” she asked softly and I relaxed at hearing her voice.

“Hey, Mom! I’m okay, how are you?” I lied, I wasn't going to worry my parents on account of some unoccupied weirdo.

“We're fine!” I heard my father shouting "I love you, baby!" in the background and my mother's laughter “I called to see if everything was okay, you're not scared, are you?”

I laughed nervously “Of course not! I'm a big girl, I can stay at home on my own!”

“Huuumm okay, Mrs. Grown-up” we laughed “Make sure you go to sleep soon, huh? Don't stay up till dawn.”

“Yes, ma'am!” We laughed some more and said goodbye.

I was able to relax a bit more and went down to the kitchen to get my popcorn. I went upstairs and turned off the downstairs lights that were on and returned to my room, putting the movie on the TV and lying down on the bed.

[…]

I was almost halfway through the movie, about forty minutes in, when I heard a noise, a kind of thump. I instantly remembered the phone call from earlier, which had really scared me. I decided to ignore it, it must have been the wind knocking something over in the garden or something. I played the movie and snuggled into bed, my popcorn bucket long since empty. But, as my peace wasn't lasting long tonight, I began to hear heavy footsteps in the hallway. I stopped the movie immediately. I tried to convince myself that it was nerves about the phone call that must have been in my head, or even the influence of the movie, but it was too real to be in my head. The footsteps were firm, they didn't seem to want to go unnoticed. A thick, loud voice said "toc, toc" followed by two knocks on my door. I froze, paralyzed on the bed.

“Cat got your tongue, y/n?” it was the same voice from the phone, I knew for sure.

“What are you doing in my house?! How did you get in here?” I asked nervously.

“Come on, I told you it was dangerous to leave the doors unlocked, didn't I?” the guy said, in the same calm, irritating tone of voice.

“Everything was locked, you weirdo!”

“Are you sure?” the door handle began to turn slowly and my body moved on its own towards the closet.

I hid among my clothes, crouching on the floor. I was panting and shaking, tears in the corners of my eyes. I heard the door creak open and footsteps entered my room. I mentally cursed myself when I realized that I had left my cell phone on the bed. Now would be a good time to call the police.

“Do you want to play hide and seek?” he said, laughing before continuing: “All right, it's more interesting that way.”

I heard him open the door to my bathroom and I could see when he turned the light on through the crack in the door. I also heard him open the drawer of my dressing table and play the movie on the television, even though he had turned the volume down.

My heart was pounding loudly and I was afraid he could hear it, so I put my hand over my mouth to stop my panting coming out too loud. I watched as he opened the closet door. He was a tall guy. All black pants, shirt and boots and a white ghost mask preventing me from seeing his face. The fucking ghostface. He rummaged through some hangers, making space between the clothes. My heart beat even faster, he'll find me. He'll find me!

“Boo!” he made space at once between the clothes covering me, a sadistic laugh coming from beneath his mask.

[…]

“What do you want?” I asked in a tearful voice, sniffling.

He laughed: “Let's watch the movie.”

What?!

I looked at him paralyzed, still crouched on the floor of my closet, and he left, sitting on my bed.

“Aren't you coming?” he turned to me, as if waiting for me. I got up from the floor, walking slowly over to him and sitting on the bed on top of my legs. He shook his head in denial, clicking his tongue. “Come here, sit down.” he patted his own lap.

I swallowed and looked at him incredulously, even though I couldn't see his face. I stood up and faced him. With surprising speed, he turned me onto my back and whispered against the back of my neck: “Do you know what a safe word is, y/n?” I nodded “Yours is mercy, you'll use it if you need to.”

His big an cold hands gripped my thighs firmly from behind.

“Bent forward and your head on the floor.” he ordered, his voice firm.

I did as he asked, sat on his lap, my clitoris almost brushing against his scratchy jeans, I was hanging off the bed, my torso stretched out and my face almost touching my white fur rug.

“What do we have here?” he said, and even though I couldn't see his face, I could tell he was smiling.

He pulled my pajama shorts aside, the chilly air in the room making my pussy clench around nothing, since I wasn't wearing any panties. He ran one of his fingers between my outer lips, realizing right there that I was wet.

“Did the fright I gave you make you wet, sweetheart? What a pervert...” he pulled my shorts down my legs with a little difficulty due to the position, hooking my ankles around his waist.

His hands roamed up and down my thighs, his thumbs hooking into the curve of my ass. I was all open for him, open and dripping.

“So pretty, babe” his voice was nothing more than a whisper, followed by a slap on my ass. It burned.

One more.

One more.

One more.

My thighs trembled from the slaps and my pussy throbbed and ached from lack of stimulation. I moved my hips down, my clitoris rubbing against his jeans, and I let out a louder moan than I expected.

“Owwn” he laughed “Does that pussy need something, pretty girl?”

I gasped when his icy thumb brushed under my clitoris.

“Come on, beautiful, I asked you a question. Don't be rude.”

“I...” I was dizzy. Maybe because I was horny, maybe because of my position and my blood was rushing to my head. I was nothing but a mess.

“Looks like someone here likes to be scared” he laughed as he rubbed my swollen clit.

I moaned, unconsciously leaning towards him for more contact as his palm slapped my pussy, the pain reverberating throughout my body. He slapped my ass again, my skin was hot and burning.

“Your pussy looks even prettier when your ass is red, that’s funny” but his tone had no humor in it.

When the seventh slap came, I let out a yelp, scrambling to my feet in a failed attempt to ward off the pain burning my skin. He laughed at my attitude, stroking my burning ass. Each time he slammed into me, the momentum pushed me further and further down, rubbing my clit against his jeans, which were probably already stained with my lubrication. Those flashes of pleasure were what kept me there, the pain and pleasure turning me on even more.

“Come on, babe, do you want to cum already?” he asked in a whisper, leaning down.

I turned my crying face to the side, trying to see his figure: “Yes! I... Please!” I was nothing but a humiliating mess who just wanted some relief.

“Very well, then” he pulled my torso to himself, my back against his hard and warm chest, my battered ass pinching under his scratchy jeans.

“You okay, babe? Do you want to use your word?” he asked, his hot breath hitting my cheek. I denied it. He smiled. “That's my good girl.”

He laid me on the bed, my back on the mattress, while he lay on top of me. He ripped off my top with ease, my nipples erect from arousal and the chilly air in the room welcoming them. He tugged on my right nipple with his forefinger and thumb, twisting it and pulling it upwards, eliciting a moan from me. He left a kiss on my belly and started to undress, without taking off his mask yet. His chest was white and toned, with a few spots here and there, as were his thighs. His cock wasn't thick, but it was long and slightly curved upwards. The little pink head was leaking pre-cum and had a prominent vein at the base. I sighed at the sight.

“Enjoying the view, doll?” he asked, head tilted to the side, sliding his right hand in a slow masturbation. I tipped my head back, biting my lip with a stifled laugh. You bet I am. “Come here, sweetheart.”

He said slyly, pulling me up by my ankles and slowly inserting his cock into my needy pussy.

“Oh fuck” I moaned, sinking my head into the sheets. My insides trembled around his cock, feeling full. He sighed heavily above me, muffled by the mask.

He moved his hips back, taking his cock out completely, to shove it in again with force. He did this a few times before he started thrusting hard. I moaned loudly, too sensitive. My pussy was squeezing his hard cock and my clit was throbbing, my ass was burning against the sheets. I brought two fingers to my clit to stimulate it, but they were soon removed and replaced by his.

He rubbed my swollen spot hard with his thumb while I squeezed my nipples. The familiar pressure felt extremely good from my womb.

“Fuck, I'm going to cum!” I exclaimed as I felt my orgasm coming, and he increased the pace of his thrusts, driving deep into my pussy.

My legs trembled as the orgasm hit me and I opened my mouth in a silent moan. He penetrated me a few more times, prolonging my orgasm as he deposited his hot cum inside me.

“Fuck!” he exclaimed as he removed his mask, kissing me for the first time that night, a delicate kiss. I laughed against his lips. “You perverted little thing!” he laughed, slapping my sensitive ass, not so hard this time.

“Rin, babe! That was awesome!” I kissed him with so much love.

“You naughty naughty girl!” he laughed, biting my lower lip as he pushed his oozing cum back into my pussy.

“Yeah and you like it!”

Well, let's see what a coincidence. The weirdo Mr. Ghostface who broke into my house and fucked me happened to be my boyfriend, Suna. He and I always like to do something different when it comes to sex from time to time, and knowing that his naughty girlfriend was a little scared and horny about ghostface and that she'd be home alone all night, he wanted to surprise me. Besides, I would recognize my boyfriend's voice on the phone, which only increased my anxiety and excitement about what he would do that night. And what a good surprise it was!

[eformscreators]

Step-by-Step: How to Use a Washington Paycheck Calculator and Paystub Creator for Accurate Payroll

ensuring accurate payroll is critical for both employers and employees. It’s not just about getting the numbers right; it’s about transparency, trust, and compliance with state regulations. For businesses in Washington state, there are unique tax requirements and deductions that must be taken into account. Thankfully, tools like the Washington Paycheck Calculator and Paystub Creator can make this process much easier.

This blog will take you through the step-by-step process of using a Washington paycheck calculator and a paystub creator to ensure accurate payroll, while also highlighting some key features and benefits of free paystub generators.

Why Accuracy Matters in Payroll

Before diving into the technical steps, it's important to understand why payroll accuracy is so vital:

Employee Trust: Employees rely on their paycheck to reflect the correct hours worked, wages, and deductions.

Legal Compliance: Incorrect payroll can lead to penalties, fines, and even lawsuits if not handled properly. Washington, like many states, has its own set of labor laws and tax requirements that need to be adhered to.

Record-Keeping: Accurate payroll records are critical for tax filing, audits, and ensuring compliance with both state and federal laws.

Understanding Washington Payroll Taxes

Washington state has no income tax, but it does have other deductions that must be considered when calculating payroll:

Federal Income Tax: Based on the employee’s W-4 form, the federal income tax must be deducted from each paycheck.

Social Security and Medicare: Employers must withhold 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare from an employee’s wages.

State-Specific Deductions: Washington has unique deductions like the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program and workers' compensation insurance, which employers need to account for.

L&I Contributions: Washington businesses also contribute to the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for worker safety programs and insurance.

Given the complexity, a Washington paycheck calculator can help you get these numbers right.

Step 1: Gather Essential Payroll Information

Before using any calculator or paystub generator, gather all relevant payroll information:

Employee’s wage: Whether hourly or salaried, you need to know the employee’s rate of pay.

Hours worked: For hourly employees, accurate tracking of hours worked is key.

Overtime (if applicable): Washington follows federal guidelines for overtime pay, which is 1.5 times the regular rate for any hours worked beyond 40 in a week.

Deductions: Know the specific deductions that apply to your employees, such as federal taxes, Medicare, Social Security, PFML, and L&I contributions.

Step 2: Using the Washington Paycheck Calculator

Now that you have the necessary information, it’s time to use a Washington paycheck calculator.

Find a Reliable Calculator: A simple online search will bring up several Washington paycheck calculators. Make sure to choose one that’s up-to-date with state tax regulations. A free paycheck calculator will work just as well as any paid version.

Input Basic Information:

Enter the employee’s gross income (either hourly rate multiplied by hours worked or monthly salary).

Input the pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).

Choose the correct tax filing status based on the employee’s W-4.

Add Deductions:

Input the correct amounts for federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare.

Make sure to also input Washington-specific deductions like PFML and any L&I insurance contributions.

Calculate: Once all fields are filled, click "calculate" to get the net pay. The calculator will provide a breakdown of all taxes and deductions, ensuring an accurate paycheck amount for the employee.

Step 3: Generating Accurate Paystubs with a Paystub Creator

Once you’ve used the Washington paycheck calculator to determine net pay, it’s time to generate paystubs. Paystubs are not just a record of earnings but are also crucial for employees to track their income, taxes paid, and deductions. If you run a small business or work as a freelancer, using a paystub creator can simplify this process.

Here’s how to use a paystub creator effectively:

Choose a Free Paystub Generator: There are many online paystub generators that offer free services. A paystub generator free of charge can still provide all the essential details you need for an accurate and professional-looking paystub.

Enter Employee Information: Fill in basic employee details such as name, address, and Social Security number (or Taxpayer ID).

Input Employer Information: Enter your business details, including the company name, address, and employer identification number (EIN).

Add Earnings and Deductions:

Input the employee’s gross wages as calculated from the paycheck calculator.

Add the taxes and deductions (Social Security, Medicare, PFML, etc.) to ensure that the net pay matches what was calculated earlier.

Review and Generate: Review the paystub to ensure all information is correct, then click “Generate” to create the paystub. Most free paystub generators allow you to download or email the stub directly.

Benefits of Using a Paystub Creator

Using a paystub creator, especially one that’s free, has several benefits for business owners and freelancers:

Time-Saving: A paystub creator automates the process, so you don’t need to manually input all the data or create your own paystubs from scratch.

Professionalism: Automatically generated paystubs look professional and include all the necessary details, such as employer and employee info, earnings, and deductions.

Compliance: Paystub creators ensure that you’re including all legally required deductions and information, helping you stay compliant with state and federal laws.

Record-Keeping: Digital paystubs can be saved for future reference, providing a simple and efficient way to maintain accurate payroll records.

Step 4: Double-Check for Accuracy

Once you’ve created the paystubs using the generator, it’s always a good idea to double-check for any mistakes. Payroll errors can be costly and time-consuming to correct, so ensuring accuracy upfront can save you a lot of hassle.

Here’s a quick checklist to review:

Ensure all employee information is correct (spelling of names, addresses, SSNs, etc.).

Double-check earnings, deductions, and net pay amounts match what was calculated in the paycheck calculator.

Make sure the dates and pay periods are correct.

Step 5: Distribute Paystubs to Employees

Once everything has been reviewed and finalized, you can distribute the paystubs to your employees. Most paystub creators offer options to download the stubs as PDFs, email them directly, or even print them for distribution.

Why Use a Free Paystub Generator?

For small businesses or freelancers, investing in expensive payroll software might not be feasible. That’s where free paystub generators come into play. A paystub generator free of charge offers a cost-effective solution without compromising on quality or compliance.

Some benefits of using a free paystub generator include:

Cost Savings: You don’t have to spend money on software or subscription fees, which is ideal for small businesses and freelancers working with tight budgets.

Easy to Use: These tools are designed for simplicity, allowing you to generate paystubs in just a few steps.

Compliant: Even free generators ensure that your paystubs meet legal requirements, especially with deductions and tax breakdowns.

Conclusion

Accurate payroll is essential for any business, and using tools like the Washington Paycheck Calculator and Paystub Creator can streamline this process. Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or part of a larger organization, these tools help ensure that you’re compliant with Washington state’s tax laws and provide your employees with clear, accurate paystubs. By using a paystub generator free of charge, you can manage payroll efficiently without breaking the bank.

[siempre-bucky]

not a senator.

Qimir x Senator!Reader

Summary: On the run after a failed assassination attempt, you run into a peculiar apothecary owner

WC: 1.7k

Warnings: Mentions of blood

A/N: For the Anon that requested a senator!reader meet cute <3

You weren’t sure how long you’d been running through the outskirts of Olega, it felt like as soon as you left your ship you were being followed, hunted. The branches of the trees rustled in warning, and the whispers of threats danced along your ears. You picked up the bottom of your cloak, the last thing tethering you to your former self, and ran. It was a gift from the Senator elected before you, a soft navy blue velvet with matching metallic fiber woven into seams. You treated it as a reminder of who you once were. 

 The state of exhaustion had set in, hunger squeezed your stomach, but the adrenaline kept you going. 

Get to safety, get far from here, the terrified guard told you in the dead of night, an assassin lying dead at the foot of your bed in a pool of crimson that glowed in the bright lights of the Courscant nightlife outside the large windows of your room. It was an assassination attempt, a group of assassins hired by political rivals to remove you from the Senate—permanently. Supposedly, it was an era of peace but you soon learned how fleeting peace was. 

“Get the Senator!” a man seethed, pointing his knife in your direction as you disappeared into the bustling crowd of the marketplace, his other hand had the collar of his henchman clenched tightly in his fist, pulling the man in with a look of sudden fear in his eyes. The market had made good cover so far, the people of the planet were barely paying any attention to you running for your life. They went about their business, loitering on rust ridden buildings and eagerly bartering for goods. 

You heard someone mention an apothecary as you passed them. Your eyes hastily searched for it, just make it there. There’d be plenty of places to hide inside. You slid the dirty red door open and walked inside cautiously, the patrons paying no mind as you stepped through the doorway. Your eyes scanned the apothecary noting that it was a rather small place. A few people examined the various items on the shelves while a couple of others stood by the window beside you. It was a mess, you thought as you caught your breath. 

In front of you, stood a tall slender man behind the small counter. He paid you no mind as his eyes narrowed at the glowing yellow tile in the center of the counter, his hands tinkering with some broken parts that illuminated in the small light. You thought he was peculiar, the way he watched his work so intensely. 

“In there,” you heard the same voices from earlier shouting from the other side of the window, “check in there.” 

You were out of time to make a getaway, and in this small space, you didn’t have many hiding options. Taking in the lack of hiding spots, you ran towards the apothecary's owner, jumping and sliding behind the counter, his scraps falling in all directions with various clinking sounds. 

The man looked down at you with wide eyes and a shocked expression while you made yourself as small as you could, bringing your knees to your chest and pressing your back to the counter, your shoulders hunched over. Panic was setting in. “Hello,” he said lightly, clinging the two metal bottles in his hands together. If you weren’t so scared, you would have thought he was handsome this close up. Cheekbones carved especially by the Maker and disheveled black hair that covered his dark brown eyes. He was beautiful and in desperate need of a good shower. His loose but tattered green and brown clothes made him fit in with the rest of the place, a little dirty and run down.

“There are men trying to kill me out there. Please don’t let them find me!” you pleaded with him, skipping the pleasantries. He just stared at you blankly, and you assumed he already made up his mind. This was the way that the galaxy worked, you were too sheltered on your home planet and then sent to Coruscant where it was no better in the Senate. Things weren't perfect, people were not good like Jedi Masters told you they were.

He smirked playfully down at you, “Was that a pickup line?” he asked with a chuckle. Your face fell, lips falling to an annoyed grimace. 

“Maker,” you cursed, accepting your fate The door was suddenly ripped from its hinges, the earth-shattering thunk caught everyone's attention. You jumped, clasping your hands over your mouth to muffle any kind of fearful cry. 

The man looked at you and then back to the two burly men who barreled into his apothecary. They strolled up to the bar with confidence, the owner's eyes fixated on them. “Hello!” he greeted with the same light tone, “how can I help you?” 

The taller of the two bounty hunters leaned on the bar, his eyes narrowed. “We’re looking for a Senator,” he informed plainly, “Got a high price on that pretty head— we could cut you in for any relevant information.” The man pulled a hologram from his pocket and placed it on the table, turning it on. The owner looked at your official portrait that was slowly rotating in front of him and narrowed his eyes, he was taking it all in. He probably thought you looked more put together in the photo than you do now. Dirt covering your cheeks, strands of hair stuck to your sweaty forehead. 

He chuckled, “You sound a little desperate if you’re offering a cut to someone like me.” 

You looked up at him worriedly, you could see how his jaw clenched but his body remained light at his tone of voice. Your heart pounded against your chest, the men were about to offer a large sum and the owner was about to take it, you were sure of it. 

The bounty hunter snarled, but the other man stood still and held his ground. “I should have your head for that.” 

The man put his hands on the counter and nonchalantly turned off the hologram. His face was stone, unreadable as he continued to make eye contact with the bounty hunter. They stared at each other in silence, the background noise of the apothecary began to get increasingly louder in your ears. It was almost deafening, the clanking of jars and whirling of mechanical tools screamed at you. You moved your hands from your lips and slid them up towards your ears. 

But you stopped when the bounty hunters began to speak lifelessly, almost as if he was in a trance

“There is no Senator here, we will leave,” the bounty hunters spoke in unison, reaching into their pockets and retrieving two brown sacks of credits. The owner smiled as they placed it on the counter and exited without another word. 

You waited until you heard their footsteps fade to cautiously rise from the floor, your eyes frantically scanning the room to make sure it was safe. “They left,” you breathed as if it was the first time. 

“See,” he beamed, “Not so bad.” He took the two sacks in one hand, and your shaky one in the other. Your eyes met as he put the bags in your hand, “This should probably be enough to get you started if you choose to stay.” 

He let go and made his way to the back entrance, leaving you there staring at the bags in pure shock, “Thank you-,” you whispered before swiftly following him to the back alley. It suddenly dawned on you that you didn't know his name, he saved your life and you didn’t even ask. 

“Qimir!” he called back as if he knew what you were thinking. Strange.

You followed close behind him, but once you started to think, your steps became slower and separated the two of you. How was he able to change their minds so quickly, they were dead set on killing you. They were bounty hunters, the most relentless creatures in the galaxy. 

You paused, clenching the two bags in your hands tighter. “How’d you get them to leave like that?” You asked sternly, the Senator in you coming out. “Are you—” you paused. You had only seen methods like that from a select few, “—Jedi?” 

He stopped, blood running cold in his veins. You saw how his body tensed up then he stood up straight, pushing back his greasy hair, the strands falling perfectly into place. Qimir slowly turned to you and everything abruptly seemed off. His face was no longer filled with meek eagerness, he was secure and held himself with such poise. A whole shift in personality you noted. He slowly strode over, his eyes darkening as he moved. His whole presence felt dark. 

A chill ran down your spine as he approached you. Was he about to kill you? 

“Quite the opposite, Senator,” he spoke lowly with a slight rasp to his tone, his head tilting to the side, looking up at you. Another chill went through you. 

 His face was so close you could see every freckle on his face, every shade of brown in his eyes. 

You heard the stories of those who practiced the ways of the Force outside the Jedi Order, they had a name but you couldn’t recall what it was. The Council didn’t like to talk about them, another senator you became acquainted with once said they didn’t mention it purposely for it would “dampen the era of peace in the galaxy.”  You were too busy staring at the man in front of you, unsure if you wanted to run or kiss him, “N-not a Senator,” you swallowed, you couldn't call yourself that any longer. 

“‘I’ll make you a deal.” You nodded. “Tell no one of what happened here,” and I’ll spare your life, “and anything in the apothecary is yours for free.”

You smirked, “Deal,” you said, taking a step back and holding out your hand, “Thank you again, Qimir.”  Qimir nodded and shook your hand, his skin tingling at the sensation of your hand in his. Was this desire? He pulled away and began to walk back towards the apothecary, before he reached the door he looked at you with a smirk on his chiseled face, “You’re quite welcome, Senator. I hope to see you soon.”

[sunnimals]

3 Job Ideas for Age Regressors

I know that many regressors, like myself, need jobs. As a permaregressor (Albeit one who stays at a pre-teen age most of the time) who is physically and intellectually disabled and needs an 'easier' job, I also know it can be insanely difficult and overwhelming to work at most places. So here's a list of jobs (and their pay rates) that may not be as overwhelming, taken from interviews with people in my area and surrounding areas, when asked about people with disabilities!! This list is organized by Job Description, Potential Downsides, and Perks. These don't need an education past a High-School Diploma, though the last one requires a food-handlers' license!

Library Assistant -~$12/hour I may be biased, but my job as a Librarian is what inspired this post in the first place! My job includes simple cleaning (mopping the front/lobby area, emptying trash cans, stocking toilets with sanitary supplies), alphabetizing and organizing books and movies, and helping people check out things. Most of the time, honestly, I just sit around scrolling Tumblr. It's a very simple and easy job. I will say though that walking around a lot to do the organizing does hurt my legs and ankles if I don't sit down frequently. Other than that, it's perfect for age regressors! You can spend lots of time in the kids' area too! And job perks can include free coloring sheet printing, and my library even has an employees-only (and anyone else if they ask nicely tbh) snack and beverage bar, stocked with crackers and hot chocolate/coffee >:3 My library is very very lax!

Toy Store Worker - Up to $22/hour My local area has a toy store, and this is the description listed on their page: Cleaning and organizing the store. Helping customers find just the right gift for their loved ones. Developing and maintaining customer relationships. Ensuring that all customers leave happy. A toy store seems like the PERFECT job for a regressor, and I can imagine that it would be easy on your body too, as the most physical activity you'll do (according to a family friend who owns the Toy Store) is cleaning and helping families look for juuuust the right toy. The only downside I can really think of is that it may be loud/overwhelming to have kids come in and play with the toys all day, but if you're alright with that, it's perfect! Lots of toy stores and retail stores offer secret benefits too, like discounts or even free first picks!

Frozen Yogurt/Ice Cream Store Worker - ~$12/Hour, Food Handlers' Needed We have a super neat Fro-Yo store around my area called Sweet Frog, one of those weigh-to-pay places that you can pile toppings onto! The Job description according to Google and supported by the head manager at our local Fro-Yo place is: Frozen Yogurt Makers are responsible for preparing and serving frozen yogurt to customers, ensuring quality and consistency in the product. They maintain cleanliness, operate yogurt machines, and provide excellent customer service. According to Mrs. Head Manager, their perks include an Employee Discount on Fro-Yo, Flexible weekly hours, and an accessible and encouraging environment for many disabled workers, including one of the sweetest people I've ever met who has Down Syndrome and High-Needs Autism. They also give out free employee T-Shirts that have their super cute mascot on them!! Some downsides she mentioned might include having to stand for long periods of time, working with rowdy children, and having to clean and stock finicky machines. Also please be aware if you look into Sweet Frog that they're a heavily Christian brand, though the people I've spoken to are very accepting and sweet!

[seat-safety-switch]

If you ask your crazy uncle, the government is always buying stuff it doesn't need, for way too much money. I don't know about that – the last time I got a paycheque for prison labour, it was real affordable – but I do know that the place to go for gettin' cool stuff is the government surplus auctions.

Think about running a government. You gotta have a lot of stuff. Like, ten or fifteen Jeeps. Probably three hundred thousand coffee makers. A gajillion pens. One of those TVs that shows what number you are in line when you're waiting for your passport. When the government is tired of having all this shit around, they plunk it on Bad-Looking eBay, and then degenerate hustlers buy it in the hope of getting a good deal.

Last week, I regret to inform you, the government made a huge mistake. They let me have a fire truck. Sure, it's not like a "real" fire truck – the military used it up north, so the colours are all wrong, and the siren is bilingual – but it still puts out fires. Which is a huge upgrade from before. Previously, my fire-safety protocol in case one of the half-century-old shitboxes filled with rancid gasoline in my yard finally went kablooey was "move away."

Importantly, it turns out that nobody wanted to buy this worn-out old fire truck. It just sat there, unloved, in a surplus auction in deepest darkest northern Quebec. I wasn't going to bid, and then I thought about how lonely it must be. Its firefighter buddies had ditched it for a younger, sexier model. None of the municipalities wanted an old fire truck, out of fear that it might be unreliable, or expensive to fix. Only new stuff for them. It's safer, they no doubt said. How could I stay my hand from bidding eighteen dollars?

The good news is, even though I ran up a significant gas bill driving it home, I have already made a lot of that money back from charging people to extinguish their houses. Turns out when their place is on fire, they'll pay just about anything, and not really check the credentials of the asshole who drives by to spray it down. Best part is that I don't have to pay for any of the water I take out of the hydrants, so I've been hydrating really well, too. My pee has never been clearer.

So the next time your weird uncle(lette) says that it's time to stop letting the government buy so much shit it doesn't need, set their house on fire. Once they're done negotiating with me, they won't be such big fans of private enterprise, either.

[crybaby-magic]

Trouble Maker

Lloyd x reader

contains:jealousy,angst-ish,fluff,choking,oral,um smut,semi not really edited

this request is long overdue lmao

As tech support you did thinks like help Nya or jay with machinery,help Zane or Pixal with there software,give the ninja intel that could help them with a mission.This also included watching there every move thanks to borg putting in cameras everywhere in ninjago you can easily keep up with them and give them directions.

Your other job was seeing who they save or defeat.You make sure to put it in a file to see who’s more prone to danger or how the ninja can defeat a certain criminal easier.It made your life much easier.Though lately your starting to hate this file.Mainly the one with civilians.You set it up so you can see how much the ninja saved someone; tiring yes, beneficial to them also yes,annoying you definitely yes.

over that past couple of months there’s been this girl who kept getting in dangerous predicaments.At this point you think it intentionally because she only insisted on the green ninja saving her even going as far as pushing the other ninja or having a complete breakdown of its not the green ninja.

Today just happened to be another day with her putting herself in a silly situation and demanding the green ninja save her.Watching him jump to her rescue the bashful praise from her after it was slowly driving you to insanity.What kills you the most is when you point it out he just brushes you off.

“Tch,honestly i’m tired of this Tiblit take care of coms i’m going to my room.”you had stated as you slowly got up leaving the computer to your fox familiar.

Wandering down the hall you continue to think about the situation.Lloyd tends to be dense to the point it gets him in stupid or dangerous situations.For example trusting a serpentine….that didn’t end well.You would think he’d learn but at this point you think he just likes the attention.

You pause at your door for a moment ‘Attention’ you thought then suddenly you came up with a wonderful idea.You hurried into your room to plan out this wonderful idea.

————————————☆————————

You could see it in lloyds eyes, the annoyance directed towards you.Though you weren’t paying him any mind as y’all were in the check out.You two were supposed to grab some groceries for zane but the trip soon turned into you getting hit on by the cashier at the register.After the transaction(and the guy giving you his number) you and lloyd headed out with him huffing.

Honestly you would feel bad seeing as you been doing this for the past two weeks but at the same time him being annoyed is so funny especially when he pouts like a toddler.Sighing to yourself as you to wander back to the monastery you wonder if you should just stop seeing as he's still hasn’t confronted you.After a long travel of him staring daggers in you head and you acting oblivious you wander into your room to nap knowing you'll have to pull an allnighter to catch up on a couple documents.Stripping yourself of clothing to lay in your cool bed.As soon as your body made contact you felt your eyes heavily close.

Through you semi consciousness you felt weight on your bed along with the shuffling of the blanket that lifted a bit from you body letting the cool air prick at your exposed skin.choosing to ignore it knowing who it is you turn your body to face away from him to go back to sleep.

That dream was short lived when you were force onto your back eye forcing themself awake to see green to red eyes before you.Lloyd breathing is very harsh like you'd even say you see faint fog coming out with each breath.You slowly grow nervous about his behavior feeling sweat bead start to form you stutter out “W-what’s wrong lloyd?” All that followed was his eyes glinting towards you.you opened your mouth to say something only for him to shove his fingers down your throat gagging you.

Clenching your legs by impulse to soothe the aching that awakened in your nether regions.Your hand grab at his hand that currently assaulting your mouth.Lloyds mouth proceed to attack you body in bites and hickies.At some point he wanders farther down your chest his unattended arm gripped at your bra in a moment of shock he ripped it off your body.The impact mad you whine out in protest.His fingers moved out of your mouth letting you gasp for breath only for his hand to hold you throats.Shaking gulping you looked at his face that had a smirk and eyes that fully went red.You tried to make noise only for his hand to tighten up.”What? You wanted to say something to me?I don’t know why when you've been ignoring me for the past two weeks” he said with a cheeky tone that soon lead to gruff laugher “You don’t get to complain you did this to yourself”

You breathing slowly started to pick up either from excitement or fear.Your breath hitched when you felt him tearing your underwear off.While distracted his mouth slotted against yours fighting for dominance that you quickly lost.Your legs soon started to shift again to tame the heated feeling in between your legs.Lloyd quickly gripped your thighs separating them with force.You whined out at the cool air touching you fully exposed body.He released your mouth and moved lower to your slit.

His hot breath made you squirm with anticipation.Your eyes widened immensely at his hot long tongue that started to make out with your pussy.Your hands reaction was grabbing at his hair thought it did make him grunt it didn’t deter him from stopping.Your mind blanked out once his thumb started to mess with your clit.You soon started to moan out louder when his tongue intruded your insides.Your walls started tightening up around it while you impulsive grinded on his face to the best of your abilities in attempt to reach your climax that so close.

You nearly cried as soon as lloyd removed his mouth off of your edging you from your climax.He moved his face towards your mouth shoving his tongue against yourself letting you taste yourself.All while not noticing that he had pulled out his dick and tapped it on your clit.He rubbed against you collecting your juice to lubricate his dick.He grasps at your thighs spreading them wider while slowly entering you.You didn’t know whether to move with him or pull away from him.

The pain was there but it only made you much wetter as it was also pleasurable.He moved his thumb back to start messing with your clit again to add more stimulation.At some point his thick length made it to the base.He pause to let you adjust.While he was semi quietly groaning you were whimpering from the constant throbbing of his dick against your walls.His hands grasp at your waist slowly lifting you up.At instinct you wrap your arms around his neck slightly grasping at his hair in the process.

Lloyd subtly starts moving his hips, gaining speed as he goes.As he moves he leans his head next to yours nuzzling into your neck as he vigorously thrust into you.he lets go of one of your legs and pushes the one he still had his hands on closer toward your chest.He starts to fondle you breast while sucking on you neck and chest area once again.

The squelchy from the constant pounding is dizzying to hear plus y'all's moans combined made you tighten up.Your nails started to scratch at his back as you writhe from the pleasure.You soon felt that coil start to tighten making you moan out louder.He groaned at the sudden tightening of your walls.At this point you were just babbling random things while he took pleasure in utterly destroying you mentally and physically.

He speedup seeing as yall both were wreaking that peak.The coil tightening until if finally burst.You came to the point your mind blanked into white.He soon follow pouring his seed deep into your walls.Once yall paused for a moment he slowly pulled himself out letting his seed fall out of you.You sighed out heavily.Lloyd fell onto his back panting he used the last of his energy to pull you onto him.

————————————☆————————

It was quite after yall had caught your breaths.Lloyd gently rubbed you back while looking at the ceiling.Glazing your eyes up at him you made a giggling noise “Pfft you could have just told me you were pent up!”

Lloyd just glared at you unimpressed.He pinched one of your face cheeks and started pulling it back and forth putting you in discomfort. “You’re a brat,you know that right?!” he said in a monotone voice.You tried to say something along the lines of “im sorry” but struggled against your face being pulled.