#a funny moment when two loves intersect

[familyvideostevie]

thoughts on Steve coming home to his girl just existing in his space, in his clothes, cooking dinner for the both of them, and he just has this like "man I'm so lucky how tf did I get here kinda moments?"

i had thoughts!! here's a wee blurb of them <3 | fem!reader, fluff, 0.9k

The streets are practically empty even though it's not that late. Steve drives through town, stopping at a red light. He's the only car at the intersection. Just a few more turns and he'll be back, he'll be pulling into his parking space and running up the stairs to his place, the bags from errands in hand. He's pretty sure you're going to be there already and he wishes he had just spent all day with you but life got in the way, as it so often does. 

But it's fine. Really, it is. He'd take mere minutes with you if that's all he got, but for reasons he still doesn't totally understand you're willing to be around him all of the time. Well, he knows one of the reasons. You love him. He smiles to himself at the thought. Who knew it would feel this good to be loved and to love in return? 

The remainder of the drive goes quickly. He imagines your smile, the creases at the corners of your eyes. The way you look at him with your full attention whenever he talks, the way you are always reaching for him without realizing it. Fingers circling his wrist, toying with the edge of his shirt. The way you lean into him when he's near like you're two magnets coming back together. 

When he unlocks the door with full hands he hears the radio and then your voice before he's crossed the threshold.

"Steve?" you call. 

"Hi, baby," he calls, mouth stretching into a smile. He toes off his shoes next to a few pairs of yours. There are traces of you everywhere. Your jackets on the rack, your books on his shelves. You brought over a blanket you love weeks and weeks ago and it's still thrown over the side of his couch. His shower has your shampoo and his sink has your face wash. There's a drawer of your clothes in his room and he knows that pretty soon he's just going to ask you to move in.

But for now, an evening together will do just fine. He pads to the kitchen, bags in hand, to find you facing the stove as you stir something. "Did you finish your errands?" you call, clearly thinking he's still at the front door. 

"Took forever, but yeah," he says. You look over your shoulder, a little startled, and break into a grin when you see him. His heart does something funny in his chest as he looks at you. You're in your own sweatpants but an old sweatshirt of his that seems to travel between the two of you. "Smells great."

He sets the bags on the counter and before he can start to unload them you slide into his space on socked feet and wrap your arms around his waist for a quick squeeze. Your lips press lightly to his and before he can lean into it you're back at the stove. "It's just pasta, Steve," you tell him. He debates pulling you back into him so he can hold you for a little longer, but he figures there will be plenty of time for that after dinner. 

"Best pasta I've ever had, I'm sure," he says. He pulls out the groceries, the movies for you two this weekend, the soap and paper towels. It's all so domestic, him unloading the bags and you cooking, humming to yourself, that his heart does that thing again. It's like someone is squeezing it, like he can feel the love and the peace of your life together clog all of his senses so that it's all he can think about. He's happy. 

"Are you okay?" you ask. "Is something wrong?" Steve realizes he's staring at the open fridge. He shuts it, runs a hand through his hair before holding out his palm. You move to him without hesitation, folding his hand in yours. 

"Yeah," he says and means it. "I'm great." You don't seem to be convinced.

"You're quiet," you say softly. Not that it's a bad thing, and Steve knows you're not accusing him of anything. He loves you for it. 

He smoothes your eyebrows with his thumb. "I guess I just wanted to hold you," he says. You duck your chin and blow a raspberry. 

"Steve."

He tilts his head and taps your chin with his knuckle. "What's wrong with me wanting to hug my girl when she's cooking dinner in my kitchen? Looking like a million bucks, might I add?" You roll your eyes at him but reach up to frame his face with your hands. You tilt his head back and forth, inspecting him, eyes warm and hands gentle. He allows it. This close, he can see every single one of your lashes, every mark on your face, every spec in your iris. 

"Nothing, other than being a sap." 

He grins, leaning into one palm. "Does something look wrong with me?"

You sigh like the most put-upon girl in the world. "No. You're just as handsome as ever, Steve." He laughs and feels himself blush. 

"You say it like it's a bad thing." 

You lean in close, so close that he closes his eyes, expecting a kiss. "Not a bad thing," you say, kissing his cheeks. "Just a distracting thing." You pull away again and he whines. God, he loves you.

"Oh, so I'm a distraction?" He starts to pull out plates to do something with his hands so he doesn't pull you back to him.

"A welcome one," you clarify. "A lovely one." Steve feels his cheeks heat again.

You finish up your work at the stove and bring the pot over to spoon pasta onto the plates he's set out on the counter. Your tongue pokes out and your brow furrows as you keep a grip on the pot and Steve loves you so much he feels like he might explode. He waits until you're no longer holding anything to cup your elbow.

"I just feel lucky, you know?" You look confused, so he slide his palm up your arm to cradle your jaw. "Coming home to you. I get to do that. I come home and you're here and I feel like I don't tell you how lucky that makes me feel."

"Steve," you say softly, food forgotten for the moment. "I--. Steve."

"You don't have to say anything," he says. He means it. He knows you love him, he knows you feel the intensity of this, the potential for forever between you. He just can't keep it in right here, in his kitchen, with you in his sweatshirt. "I guess what I'm saying is I love you." He says it like it's obvious, which he hopes it is, since he tries to tell you all the time. It's just a fundamental truth. He likes root beer. He sneezes at least twice, always. And he loves you.

"I know," you say. You kiss the corner of his mouth. He turns his head and captures your lips properly, finally, trapping your bottom lip between his. "I love you," you say into the kiss and he swallows it, feels it travel down to his heart, feels it flow through his veins. Steve is pretty sure it's magic.

thank you for reading <3 reblog, send feedback, masterlist here!

[emberfrostlovesloki]

Love is a Maze [Hotch x Reader]

Prompt: The character gets lost in a corn maze… meant for children. They begrudgingly ask a total stranger for help; aka the reader gets stuck in a corn maze and has to ask a total stranger (Aaron) to help her get out. 

Category: Fluff/Comfort 

Word Count: 3.7K

Content Warning: Mentions of drinking and alcohol. If you are not 21 this is a reminder that I do not condone underage drinking (in the U.S. I am 26 fyi). Please use sound judgment when drinking and never drink and drive. Nothing is worth you or someone else getting hurt. Language (fuck and damn). These are minor things that some might find triggering as well: Mentioning the legal system and online childhood safety. 

A/N: This is another @imagining-in-the-margins prompt for her Meet Cute September/October writing Challenge! I have been loving these prompts. I have three more fics planned. Thank you for all the engagement, it means a lot to me. I think this fic is great to have with a cup of tea or a glass of cider. I had to change my paragraph formatting because Tumblr was being weird. Sorry if there seems to be some odd paragraph spacing in this one. I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, likes and reblogs are appreciated. 

P.S. The reader uses she/her pronouns. 

List with all stories 

y/n = your name 

_l/g/s_ = local grocery store 

_p/g = parent or guardian 

_y/a_= your age 

_y/l/n_ = your last name 

_t/o/l_ type of law 

_y/b/f_ = your best friend 

_f/s/f/d_ = favorite spiked fall drink 

_e/c_ = eye color (i.e. green eyes, brown eyes, hazel eyes etc.) 

y/n looked at the three-way intersection. There was a thirty-three point three percent chance that one of the dusty paths would lead her to the exit in the corn maze, but at this point, she had tried all three of them at least twice and she was starting to give up. She knew about dyslexia and dysgraphia, and she was wondering if dys-mapia was a thing? She put her head in her hands for a moment. All of her life she had been told that she was ‘directionally challenged,’ and those people had been proved right again, and again, and again.

Her first memory in fact was one of her getting lost. It had happened when she was in _l/g/s_ with her _p/g_. She had been five and her _p/g_ had told her multiple times that if she ever got lost to ask an employee for help. As many times as she had been told this, when it happened in real life she had frozen. She really believed that she would never find her mom again. A kind stranger had found her in the produce aisle crying her eyes out. The elderly woman took her to the front of the store and her very concerned _p/g_ rushed forward and gave her a big hug. _y/n_’s _p/g_ had bought her an ice cream cone after they had finished shopping. Unfortunately for _y/n_, this had only been the first of many times she would get lost. Only last month one of her friends at law school had joked at the intern networking social that “y/n would get lost on a one-way street in a small town.” Everyone had laughed, and it would be funny if it wasn’t true. And this was why her being stuck, trying to make her way out of a corn maze was so fucking frustrating. She knew she had been at this intersection before because it was only one of two three-way intersections she had come across so far, and the clue at the start of the estuary was the one she had read six times now. She looked at the map in her hands and tried to parse the right path out of the maze but became frustrated almost immediately, crumpling the paper tightly in her hands. The at the entrance of the maze had said that it should take about half an hour to complete, and she had now spent double that in the dusty maze. More insulting than this was the fact that the age disclaimer at the start of the maze read: This maze is appropriate for all ages, however children under 12 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Essentially this meant that the maze could be completed by someone over 13, by themselves, and here she was _y/a_, unable to escape. 

y/n realized now that playing Truth or Drink, essentially Truth or Dare, except every dare meant drowning a shot was a mistake before trying to do a corn maze had been a mistake on her part given how bad she was with direction. She thought about her poor choices while waiting to find someone nice to ask to follow out of the maze. There was no avoiding it at this point. She needed help, and she knew it. As it turned out she did still value her dignity, so she had to wait awhile to find someone that seemed nice and normal. The first group that she didn’t ask was a group of three teenage boys. There was simply no way that she was going to ask them. They were laughing and looking at their phones and she let them pass undisturbed. The next people who didn’t pass her dignity test were two moms with strollers holding sleeping toddlers inside. y/n could only imagine the passive judgment of the middle-aged women in Lulu Lemon yoga pants and Gucci handbags would pass on to her. Her rather haggard appearance and evidence of imbibing before five o’clock were sure the elicit a few “tut-tut’s” from the moms and whispered words of disapproval just loud enough for her to hear. The last group she let go was a couple. She found it bad enough third wheeling with all her friends in relationships, doing that with total strangers didn’t bear thinking about.

y/n was wondering if an employee might come around every now and then to see if people or children more likely had gotten lost. Her thought process was interrupted when she heard someone coming close to where she was standing. It sounded. It was the voice of a man. As she listened she realized that his voice was actually quite nice sounding. There was a second voice, clearly from a child. From what y/n was hearing, this sounded like the best option she’s got, and she crossed her fingers hoping that the man that rounded the corner looked and seemed safe and normal. She had spent way too many mediocre Tinder and Bumble dates with guys her age asking her overly personal questions, and oddly why she hadn’t watched the live-action One Piece yet. This always stumped her. She had seen Attack on Titan back in the day -- didn’t that count for anything anymore? It’s not like she asked them if they had seen the 2005 Kiera Knightly Pride and Prejudice or the 1996 Collin Firth adaptation. Again she was pulled from her thoughts when the man rounded the corner with a little boy trailing closely behind him. She attempted to look at him without gawking. This was harder to do than she had expected because not only did the man have a nice voice, he was attractive as well. He was tall and wore blue jeans and a navy Patagonia jacket. His brown hair was cut short and neat with just a tinge of grey at his temples. y/n turned away from him and gently tapped her head, thinking, ‘You idiot. You’re not here to flirt, you’re here to get out of this damn corn maze. She turned back again to be able to see the man. He had picked up the boy she assumed was his son and they were both looking at the clue near the three-way path. The man was reading the clue aloud saying, “All right buddy, here’s what it says: Paths for three but only one for me. One of these paths leads to a dead end, one takes you to the center again, the last is the hardest as you will see, it had a tree of a sort, and when you see that you are nearly free.” The man looked down at the boy and asked, “What do you think Jack? Which of the paths would you like to try first?” y/n wanted to say, “Well the path on the right is the dead end,” but she held her tongue, knowing that if she said anything it would ruin the fun for the boy. After a second the little boy pointed to the middle path and the man let him down saying, “Alright middle it is.” 

It was clear the pair was about to venture forward into the maze and y/n finally gave up her pride and said, “Hey. um, sorry, could you wait a minute please?” The little boy was moving forward, but with a deft move he was able to get the boy’s hand in his and said, “Wait just a minute, son.” The boy stopped and the man turned to look at whoever had mentioned him. Now that the man was actually looking at her, she felt the flush of embarrassment course through her. y/n cleared her throat once and said, “Sorry, this is so embarrassing, but I’ve been stuck in this maze for about an hour and I’ve tried to get out. I’m just not cut out for this. Could I possibly follow you out? I’m y/n _y/l/n_, by the way?” y/n thought she might burst into flames for a few moments of silence as the man glanced at her. There was a ghost of a smile at the corners of his mouth as he said, “Yes, of course you can.” He extended his hand adding, “Aaron, Hotchner.” y/n took his hand and shook it, saying, “Thank you so much. Sorry, I’m just… just bad at these things.”  His grip was firm, but not uncomfortable. As they dropped the handshake, Aaron turned back to his son and said, “Alright Jack, let’s go. We’re going to help someone out of here, so we have to think really hard about what paths we choose!” Jack beamed and turned to look at y/n. She gave him a small wave and a smile. 

The trio moved forward along the center path, and much to y/n’s relief even Aaron, Jack, and she had to double back once to find the right path. The weather was nice and now that _y/n_ wasn’t as stressed out about being lost, it felt nice to be having a break from her busy life. There was a comfortable silence for a few minutes, but as they continued moving the silence became a bit awkward and Aaron turned his gaze toward the woman next to him, asking, “So, are you local?” y/n nodded no, replying, “No, I’m visiting some friends for the weekend. I’m living in New York.” Hotch nodded trying to keep the conversation going by saying, “What’s in New York, work, family…?” The team had been in New York last month for a string of brutal murders. He wondered if she was aware of them. y/n’s eyes flicked to him and she replied, “Columbia Law. This is the first chance I’ve had to take a break all semester, so I thought I should take it.” Hotch looked at her more closely once she brought up Law School. Having gone through it himself many years ago, he knew it wasn’t for the faint of heart. y/n then asked, “And you? Do you live around here?” Aaron replied to her question saying, “I’m local. My son looks forward to this every year. It’s kind of a tradition I suppose.” This was the first year without Hailey coming along. The divorce had changed a lot of things, and this was one of them. Hotch looked forward to Jack, who was a few feet in front of him and _y/n_. After a moment, Aaron added, “I went to Law School a long time ago. What year are you in? Have you decided on a specialty yet?” y/n’s lit up at the questions. She was excited to have something in common with Aaron. She wasn’t great at starting conversations, but now that they had a touchpoint she could easily be an equal speaking partner.

She replied, “I’m in 2L trying to decide between _t/o/l_ and _t/o/l_. Where did you study and are you still in practice?” The conversation stopped for a moment and _y/n_ stepped back and Aaron and Jack looked over the next clue together. Once Jack had made his choice they continued onward. She and Aaron fell into step again and he said, “I went to George Washington University. I was a criminal prosecutor, but I don’t practice anymore.” y/n nodded and asked, “What made you stop practicing?” Aaron let out a sigh at the question and crossed his arms as he considered how to phrase his response. For a moment y/n she had hit a sensitive subject and said, “I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer that.” Aaron chuckled but said, “No, it’s a valid question. Listen, please don’t take this as a bad omen for your career, it’s just in criminal prosecution I saw so many bad cases. People committed heinous acts against humanity and half of the time it would be a hung jury, or the system allowed bad people to walk free and innocent people to be put away for crimes that they didn’t commit. Eventually, I had to step away for my own health.” That wasn’t exactly what y/n had been imagining his answer would be, but she could see the weight of such a flawed and crushing system deteriorating the morale and faith in the people who work in it. That feeling hadn’t hit her yet, but she wondered now if it would.

She pushed her personal feelings aside for a second and took a better look at the man. Yes, he had a few years on her, but there was something in her that wanted to know more about him. Was he happy? Did he have other profound things to say about the legal system, on life? Instead of asking those questions she simply inquired, “Are you working somewhere else, or are you retired?” He looked young to be retired, y/n thought, but it was still an option. That small smile returned to Hotch’s face as he said, “I work for the F.B.I now as a profiler.” y/n nodded taking in the information before asking, “Is the stuff you see in the F.B.I. better than what you saw in prosecution?” Hotch looked to the ground and said, “Often it’s worse.” He looked over to y/n taking in her optimistic face before saying, “But that’s life you know. We have to do the best we can with where we’re at. That can be the courtroom, the interrogation room, or maybe helping a stranger out in a corn maze.” Hotch gave her a wink and y/n almost fell flat on her face. Thankfully she saved herself and it wasn’t too obvious that his wink had nearly left her sprawling in the dirt. She was sure she was flushed now as the heat came back to her face. She was about to say something, but shockingly they had made it to the end of the maze and Aaron moved forward to walk out with Jack. y/n stood back for a second. Could she possibly find the courage to ask this man who had somehow magically slipped into her life for half an hour out? She hadn’t looked for a ring. He had a kid. Her thoughts were swirling around her head. She decided she would regroup with her friends, and get another drink, and if Aaron was still around by that point, she would approach him again. 

As she stepped outside back into the bright autumn light Aaron was slightly to the left of the exit retying Jack’s shoe. As she stepped out she raised her hand in the light and didn’t notice her friends snapping a photo of her. However, there was loud laughing and comments of, “What took you so long y/n? Did you get lost?” y/n lowered her hand and in joking exasperation replied, “Oh come on guys, it only took me twice as long as the sign at the front said it would. That’s gotta be a record for me!” She smiled slightly embarrassed and looked over to Aaron to see if he was still there and if he had heard any of that conversation. Her eyes met his and he looked a little upset. She tilted her head in confusion and his eyes moved over the her friend who had taken the picture of her, to Jack, and then back to her. It took a second but everything clicked and she mouthed, “Oh,” silently. y/n smiled at Aaron and said, “I got you. Sorry, and thanks again for your help.” Aaron’s face went back to its happier look. He and Jack moved toward the pumpkin patch set up near the food stands and y/n moved closer to her friends. Her _y/b/f_ asked, “Why were you talking to that guy? He was pretty cute by the way.”  y/n swatted at her friend and said, “Oh my gosh are we back in high school again? No, um, as per usual, I got really lost in the stupid maze and I asked him to help me out. He was surprisingly chill about it. And he’s a lawyer.” y/n stopped talking, realizing she was rambling, and her friend said, “Well it sounds like I’m not the only one who’s taken an interest in him. What’s his name?” y/n let out a long breath, realizing that her friend was right, and replied, “Aaron Hotchner.”

After a moment she remembered her unspoken promise to Aaron and asked her friend, “Hey can you delete that photo of me coming out of the maze?” _y/b/f_ laughed, saying, “Why, it’s funny. Are you too embarrassed for me to post it or something?” y/n rolled her eyes and replied, “No you silly. It’s just that Aaron’s kid might be in it? You know internet safely and all.” y/n’s friend replied jokingly, “When did you become such a worry wart?” y/n’s demeanor shifted to a more serious nature and she said, “Come on _y/b/f_ if the kid’s in it, delete the picture. You know there are bad people online just as much as I do. If you need a reminder of that the guy that helped me get out of that damn maze and whose son you potentially photographed is in the F.B.I. I’m sure he could tell you a few stories if you like.” At this, _y/b/f_ sobered and said, “You’re right. I’ll delete the pic.” After a moment, _y/b/f_ held out their phone with the camera roll pulled up, displaying that only photos from before the corn maze remained.” y/n smiled and said, “Thanks,” y/n sincerely replied. Now that the mood was lightened, _y/b/f_ said, “Damn, that guy’s in the F.B.I. he keeps adding points to his score.” y/n laughed again saying, “You’re hopeless. You have a boyfriend already.” _y/b/f_ nodded and said, “I do, but you don’t. You should go talk to him or give him your number or something. I mean you at least have to think he’s cute, right?” y/n looked away for a moment before saying, “He is very attractive. I actually told myself that I’d grab a drink after we got out and if I still saw him around after that, that I’d go talk to him.” At hearing this, _y/b/f_ said, well what are we waiting for? Let’s get that drink!” They both headed toward the food stands. y/n ordered a _f/s/f/d_. They sat at a table and started sipping the warm drinks appreciating the atmosphere and charm of the cool afternoon while catching up on gossip they had missed in their time apart. 

y/n finished her drink and _y/b/f_ said, “Right, time to find Mr. Hotchner and ask him on out.” y/n sighed and got up. She grabbed another drink to give her time to think about what she would say if she did see Aaron still around. A tiny part of her hoped he had gone, so she wouldn’t have to ask him out and most likely get rejected. However, Aaron was still at the corn maze. Jack had played in the pumpkin patch and seen the baby goats and pigs in the petting zoo. Now they were going to get Jack a hot chocolate for the car ride home. Jack had gotten sleepy and Aaron carried him on his hip, with one arm firmly holding him in place. As they waited in line he saw y/n apparently scanning the crowd for someone. She hadn’t seen him yet, but he was planning to go over and ask her something because she seemed like a nice person and he wanted to make sure she made smart choices. He wasn’t a narc, but he had noticed her drinking before and she had another in her hand now. Aaron didn’t want her behind the wheel anytime soon. He had seen far too many promising young people lose their chance at a future because they had made that choice. Aaron realized he was sounding like Reid as the statistics popped up in his head.

He pushed the mental numbers aside as he got to the front of the line and ordered. He stepped next to _y/n_ softly calling her name, not wanting to wake Jack. y/n turned around and immediately her skin flushed pink. Now that he was in better light he could see her _e/c_’s were beginning to dilate. He was flattered by her silent tells. He took a second to look her over once quickly. He spent such little time out in normal society that it was strange for him to be with strangers who might or might not fancy him. Finally, he said, “Hey again. I’m heading out and thought I’d just check in on you. Um… not to be weird, but you’re not planning on driving soon are you?” y/n smiled and said, “Thanks for saying hi, and no. Our friend is picking us up in half an hour - I’ve got a designated driver Agent.” She said the last word in a joking tone and he laughed softly. Aaron responded saying, “Good to know. Good luck in school, and I hope you have a nice rest of your break.” Aaron wanted to say more but couldn't figure out how. Thankfully for him, he didn’t have to because as he started to turn, y/n called after him. Once he was facing her again, she said, “Aaron, would you like to get a drink together tomorrow? I catch a red eye at one AM, but I’d like to see you again before I go. If you’d be interested that is.” Now it was Aaron’s turn to flush slightly and he replied, “That sounds nice.” They quietly exchanged numbers and set up a preliminary time and place. As Aaron walked toward the car with Jack, y/n turned to face her friend who had gotten close to try and overhear the conversation, but due to the subdued volume and others talking around them, they hadn’t been able to listen in. When y/n turned, the beaming smile on her face told _y/b/f_ everything they needed to know. They squealed in excitement and rushed forward, ready to get all the details. 

As y/n shared the information and plans for tomorrow, she realized that maybe corn mazes weren’t the worst place in the world to get lost after all.

[strwberri-milk]

Baizhu, Zhongli, Xiao, Dainsleif, and kaeya (separately) x reader who has the same element or powers as them? Like for xiao another adeptus and for zhongli another immortal geo user , Dainsleif could have a reader who is also immortal and used similar powers to his? Fluff plz

Also how are you ?

a/n - I'm doing alright!! I started a job so that does monopolise my free time now since it takes up the slots I'm not using for classes but it's going well! I hope you enjoy the read - im still learning how i wanna write these charas so its probably gonna be ooc :D - also, i totally made a reference to my "series" Eternity is a Little Warmer With You bc i just had to aejiofwajw also crying shitting screaming this has been living in here for FAR too long i dont even know when it will be posted im SOBBING the same way i was when my coworker tried to put [REDACTED] in my face to fuck w me (i think shes great no worries shes so funny oawejfwaiod)

I don't think he expected to see another Dendro user in the area, much less one with an unfamiliar face. He makes it his business to know everybody in the harbour in case they require his services.

But, when you show up one day with a minor illness and the Dendro vision hanging from your clothes it piques his interest, which led to his continued visits to you under the pretense of taking care of you.

When things begin to develop further between the two of you I think he'd love to experiment more with your visions!

I see him using his vision in conjunction with his research and when he sees how different the way you use your powers he decides to experiment a little himself and see how effectively he can mimic it.

Overall, he would be fascinated with your abilities and would love to mess around with it a little! Even more so since you're doing it with him.

He had a lot of reservations when he first met you.

You were a terrifying anomaly to him, stirring emotions deep in his chest that he could never understand. However, with time you taught him he was allowed to embrace such thoughts and feelings,

It was terrifying to imagine a single day without your smile, but he knew that he would never wish this curse of immortality on you. He could never hurt you like that, force you to bear a burden that he was cracking under.

But when he told you about his curse the tears that slipped from your eyes matched with a happy smile made him take pause. He had no idea why you were reacting that way and only held your hand silently, brushing away tears with his other hand.

His hand stopped as you told him you were the same, your grasp tightening around his fingers as the realisation sunk in.

He was so afraid to hope for some sort of dimly lit future that could have you in it, intimately aware of the trials and tribulations you had to go through.

Now, with your hands joined together he can only think that eternity will be a little warmer at your side.

Xiao was aware that not all of the Adeptus perished in the war. He's only heard of a few of the others, less famous than him but still just as deserving of the title in his opinion. After all, you both worked hard to serve your Archon and were continuing to do your best.

When the two of you first met it was simple. A nod of your heads and you were both on your ways.

Once your patrol routes began to intersect it only took time and a few conversations under the light of the moon for him to find himself endeared to you.

It was easy with your smile and lack of pretense around him, and fortunately it seemed that the humans really were capable of protecting themselves.

Both being Adepti made it easier for him to understand why you said or did certain things what with your shared background. If anything, it helped make your bond stronger because the moments of silence were filled with an innate understanding he didn't feel like he had to explain.

At its core, your relationship is full of trust and unexplained pauses that fit comfortably between the space of your bodies. He feels fully at peace with you and knows that he can trust you with his heart and life.

He's still worried his karmic debt may stain you but the soft words of reassurance you whisper into his ear calm the thundering rush of his heart.

When Morax decided to live as Zhongli he knew that there would be things he would have to grow accustomed to as a human but also lots of things to learn.

When he first met you he didn't think he'd learn about love.

But it came so naturally to you, what with your natural curiosity and penchant for charming in the most innocuous of manners. To him, it seems human to explore the feelings you give him and so he does.

It won't stop the nagging voice in his head reminding him not to get too attached lest you slip from his fingertips far earlier than you should.

When you confess to him that you're immortal as well he does a bit of a double-take. Sure, he doesn't personally hand out visions but he thought he would have at least been familiar with a fellow immortal Geo user.

Regardless, he discloses to you a bit of his own truth with a kind smile, hugging you tightly to his body when he sees your body slump forward with relief.

Maybe one day he'll be able to disclose the other half of his secret but for now he was more than content to know that you two were going to be spending a lot more time than initially thought.

Cryo users aren't exactly rare so that wasn't what caught Kaeya's eye.

Instead, it was the fact that you pushed him out of the way when a hillichurl came barrelling towards him so fast he barely registered it.

The cold blast of ice against his skin made him think somehow he triggered his own powers without thinking until he heard the clinking of your vision against your clothes.

From there on he decided that he'd have to return the favour, deciding the best way to do that would be training with your visions.

Paradoxically, the chill of both your cryo visions does nothing to abate the warming of your bodies as you find some sort of rhythm while sparring together.

In fact, it only serves to make you both warmer when he pins you down underneath him. His cold hands hold your wrists in place over your head with a cocky, albeit out-of-breath smirk as he tries to think up what he wants to ask of you for his prize.

[rachelsnotebook]

Wishes wrapped in Red String

Intertwine by Crescence Studio

Two souls, and an eternity to endlessly intersect. Intertwine lovingly takes the player's hand and leads them through glimpses of these souls' many lives.

You'd be hard pressed to find another game that feels uniquely special from the second the title screen pops up! It wasn't long before I felt a strong wave of emotion wash over, as noted during my first playthrough:

And it was gentle. Van and the player character's stories were worth every minute I spent playing (and replaying, and replaying...). How could anyone not latch onto that hope of finding your soulmate?

Intertwine is broken up into four short sections. Each one gives the player a satisfying taste, but it will leave you feeling greedy for so much more!

I love this game exactly how it exists, but I'd be lying if I didn't selfishly wish there were several more tales. For now, I'll just happily leave things to my wild imagination.

Reasons to Love:

- The writing reads like your new favorite book. The stories you'll find are charming, hopeful, laugh out loud funny, and romantic.

- Van might be my soulmate trapped in a visual novel for this lifetime...

I swiftly fell for his charm, and felt like a clown when the game called me out on my own cheesiness.

- I can't praise the voice acting enough! The subtle differences to each lifetime's Van was always filled with personality. The performance brought him to life and transformed these stories into very real feeling conversations.

- The replay loop mechanic was exciting. Each time back at the title screen felt like a treat. Where would Van and the playable character meet next?

- I adored the visual design of Intertwine's title screen from the start. As I learned the flow of the game it became clear that it also held a fun secret. That mechanic was delightful and unexpected. And also incredibly fun!

- As Van once said... "Fuck, this is embarrassing."

So, I think every CG scene got a surprised gasp out of me. The artwork is so lovely to stare at. There wasn't a single moment where I wasn't impressed!

- I know I already pointed out how special the writing is, but I need to throw extra confetti praise over the banter. This is probably my personal favorite aspect of Intertwine. The banter is so well done!

There's a lifetime where the player and Van are coworkers who hate each other, and then briefly worm their way into each other's hearts. I adored this change, and the chance at being a bit mean. There's something thrilling about a love that bloomed from a seed planted in frustration.

I would share some of my favorite lines from that lifetime, but I'm afraid that I would end up with 80% of that section posted here. I took so many screenshots.

~~~

Intertwine came out swinging and hit a home run. Now I could be biased as a hopeless romantic, but this is my blog. It's safe to say that Intertwine leaves a lasting impression and going straight onto my Best Games of 2023 list!

This piece was originally posted on July 19th, 2023 at rachelsnotebook.wixsite.com

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Lost & Found - Chapter Twenty One.

Here it is, guys! I was able to take a little time this morning and edit it for you, just one chapter left to go now after this one and our story will be at a close. Thank you so much for being so engaging as always, you're lovely people :)

Previous chapters - One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty

Words - 3,835

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, Minors DNI. Recounts of kidnap, child trafficking, physical/verbal/sexual abuse.

“Yeah, we can head down, P. We just got into town. Yeah, okay, see you in ten.”  

Guero relayed the message to Gilly, who was doing the last driving stint, Lee dozing in the front, Emma just awoken from a nap at his side.  

“Alright,” he replied, readying to turn left at the intersection rather than right, looking in the rear view. “Emma, I gotta say it, that’s some next level sleep hissing, girl. You sound like an angry cobra!” 

She burst into embarrassed laughter, her cheeks pinking as she hid her face, giving Guero a shove with her elbow for finding the observation quite as funny as he did. “I know, it’s epic. My guy here is worse, though. Fucking brontosaurus!”  

Gilly’s laugh filled the car, Guero grinning, leaning to whisper in Emma’s ear. “Lucky for you, I got the dick to match, huh?” 

Her laughter continued, resting her hand on his leg. “I definitely prefer being kept awake by that than I do the snoring.”  

He winked, his arm tightening around her. He hoped the summoning to the clubhouse would be a quick affair, so he could go home and keep her awake in the way she preferred.  

“Oh, do we still have that pizza in the freezer? My stomach is rumbling, but since the takeout place is gonna close soon and we have to get to the clubhouse first, I wanna plan. Might take Axl up to Khalid if we don’t.”  

He thought for a moment. “Yeah, yeah I think it is.” It was a simple enough back and forth between them, but for Guero, it showed so much more. It revealed how much she was working on herself, and he was proud of her for that. Just a few weeks ago, she’d have probably protested that they grab a pizza first and not been interested in hearing an alternative to the plan that had been proposed, wanting her own way. Now, she viewed it through much more mature eyes.  

While they quietly chatted back and forth, Gilly kept one eye on the rear view, but not to intrude on their conversation. Since leaving the freeway, he’d noticed a car seeming to tail them from a distance, thinking nothing of it to begin with, but the further they headed through Santo Padre, it began to concern him.  

The location of the yard wasn’t close to any residential areas, so he hoped it would peel off before they reached the long street Romero Brothers was located upon, thus putting to bed his worry as simple paranoia. He relaxed when it continued straight after he’d swung left onto the street, glad to have it confirmed to be nothing nefarious. 

Once at the yard, he jumped out to heave the front gate open, making a mental note to go out and oil the hinges come the morning, since it seemed stiffer to move than usual. Just then, the sound of an engine roaring filled the space, a car with no headlights on, the same car he’d noticed tailing them screeching to a halt. He pulled his gun out, Guero exiting the car and doing the same, the SUV opening and six men spilling out. 

He recognised two instantly, from Lee showing him the mugshots of the guys he needed to be aware of while they were up in Tahoe.  

“Drop it, big fella,” Rocco spoke, holding his own gun aloft, turning to Guero. “You too, boy.”  

“Who the fuck you calling boy?” he spat, Rocco aiming his gun at him and pulling the trigger. The bullet missed him by a hair’s breadth. 

“Next time I won’t miss. Now, drop your guns.”  

They were outnumbered two to five, the girls not armed, Guero’s chest pulling tight, wanting to reach for Emma and pull her close, but knowing if he moved suddenly, they’d be shot. His eyes found Vincent’s, the no good, lying, untrustworthy underboss, his rage burning. His nostrils flared as he stared right through his cold, blue eyes 

“Fucking liar,” he spat, putting his gun down, loathed to do so, his eyes flitting between him and Rocco. How he hadn’t shot him in the head on sight was beyond him.  

Vincent’s face remained unmoving. “Did what I had to do, Guero.” He jerked his head in the direction of the open gate. “Hands on your fucking head and lead the way to your president.” 

Guero didn’t move. “I ain’t moving without my girl.” 

Rocco chuckled, approaching the car. “Who’s girl? Because it sounds like you think my girl is yours, and motherfucker, that ain’t the case. You rented her a while. I own.” Reaching in, his hand grasped the arm of a terrified Emma, another man reaching for Lee, elbowing her in the face when she attempted to fight him off. He only saw that in his peripheral vision though, his eyes not leaving Emma, who looked to him immediately as Rocco wrapped an arm around her chest, holding his gun to her neck.  

He kissed the side of her head, Emma wincing, her body stiffening as her chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes wide as her worst nightmare unfolded. “Time to come home to daddy. I’ve missed you. Don’t think I ain’t gonna punish the fuck outta you for this, though.” She felt sick and scared to the pit of her stomach, the bone chilling fear that never truly left her coming true, back in Rocco’s clutches. Here it was, the moment she’d be parted from the love of her life, her only love, forever. Rocco wouldn’t let them live after this.  

She wasn’t one hundred percent she would either, but she knew that she’d rather die in the dirt there with Guero and her friends, her little outlaw family, than be taken back to Staten Island for the rest of her life. The men were nudged forward by Mario and Paul, Salvatore pushing Lee to walk forward, her eyes finding Emma’s, just as Guero’s did before he was shoved, guns pointing at them as they began to walk through the gate.  

Those men, she’d thought they were all behind her, never again would she have to suffer seeing them, reliving the sickening ordeal of having them force their way between her legs, as the three all had. She should have known it would never have been that easy, her tears beginning to fall as another car screeching to a halt behind them. Emma prayed that somehow, someone was coming to their rescue, but her eyes picked out another five men as they exited, all of whom she recognised.  

It rocked her nerves to utter rubble. 

With every step along the path that led through the piles of rusting metal all around, she felt her heart crashing against her chest with fear, the same sick feeling of anguish she’d carried for nineteen years flooding her veins like poison. She should have always known she’d never escape him. Looking at the back of Guero’s head, feeling her throat tighten, hopelessness ate directly at her heart, knowing she was likely about to be forced to watch him die, a sob welling her throat.  

“S’okay, blue eyes. Don’t you cry, this ain’t nothing. It’ll be okay.” He didn’t even need to turn around to know the little sound of distress had come from her, Mario jamming the gun into his lower back.  

“Shut up, you wetback fuck.”  

Guero snorted. “Inaccurate slur, asshole. I was born in America.”  

Mario then punched him in the back of the head. “You wanna get shot, stronzo? Shut the fuck up!”  

By her side, Rocco began to chuckle, his grip tightening around her arm, towing her along. “Not got much in the way of brains, that piece of outlaw garbage you’ve hitched yourself to. Ain’t gonna matter soon, though. Not when I paint the ground with what fucking little he has.” 

“He’s a thousand percent the better man than you,” she spoke coldly, some of her newfound bravery shining through the dark clouds of her fear. 

“Not for much longer.” His chilly delivery was then added upon, Rocco beginning to laugh. “Hey, Guero. Did she ever tell you how much she liked it when I fucked her? I bet she said otherwise, but trust me, little princess here loved falling to her knees for me, even more what she got outta it. Best damned five grand I ever used to spend, buying her handbags and jewellery for being a good little whore. She make you do that for her, too? Or is she cheap now she ain’t around guys like me?” 

Guero felt his insides twisting with white-hot rage, wanting nothing but to turn, wrestle a gun from someone, and empty it into his head. If he even flinched, he’d be shot where he stood, and he couldn’t risk that somehow, there had to be a way out of this mess.  

As for Emma, his entertainment as delivering those callous lies intended to humiliate her and make Guero seethe made her stomach freeze. Ice chilled her guts like a Siberian winter as they came to the second gate, Lee being shoved forward to open it. God, how she prayed the men who had them would be outnumbered, being a Saturday night. The quietness was telling, though; to their disadvantage. Swinging the gate open, she looked towards the clubhouse, the windows not revealing the presence of more than a few of the club members within. Fuck.  

“Ezekiel Reyes!” Rocco boomed as they all lined up outside the clubhouse, his eyes scanning the windows. “Get the fuck out here right now, you double dealing fuck!”  

The door opened, revealing EZ, Bishop, Hank, Bottles, Nestor, Angel and Downer all stepping out, pointing their guns. “Let the girls go,” EZ began, pointing his gun right at Lombari, “they ain’t got anything to do with this.” 

Rocco chuckled, pressing his gun against Emma’s head. “Yeah? Ain’t like that from where I’m looking. This one here? She’s my property, and I object to having my property taken from me. You can have the tattooed hag back eventually, but my little blonde princess stays right here, where she belongs. Now, unless you want me to put a bullet in said blonde hag as well as the bald, tattooed fuck and the piece of shit whose been bangin’ on my girl, youse will lower your weapons. Now.”  

“Fuck you, Lombardi.” 

“Hey, Paul!” Rocco shouted, the guy holding a gun to Gilly’s head nodding. 

“EZ drop them!” Emma screamed, her eyes rounding. “Don’t try him, he’ll do it. You’re too outnumbered!” And they were, at a two to one ratio with the second car of men arriving, all standing behind them, guns aimed at the heads of the MC. 

He looked at a pained impasse, finally lowering his weapon and nodding to the others to do the same, the guys from the second car all walking around to cover them, making them kneel as they pressed their guns to the back of their heads.  

“Compliance,” Rocco began, nodding approvingly, his eyes darting over the line of kneeling men one by one. “I think we need a little more of it, gentlemen. Now, I’m a fair man, and in light of this little plot to go behind my back, I have a fair proposal. You continue to move everything I want you to, but for free for the next two years. Oh, and that one over there doesn’t breathe no longer.” He pointed straight at Guero. “Non-negotiable, gentleman. You either do or you die.”  

EZ lifted his chin, his brow furrowed, the internal wrestling with the proposition obviously paining him. There was no way out of it, and Emma saw that as she looked to Guero, stood one person away from her, Vincent holding a gun to the back of his head. It couldn’t end like this, but what the hell would save her, save them this time? They were condemned to live under the weight of Lombardi once more.  

Taking a deep breath, Ezekiel nodded softly, his eyes burning with bitter anger at the defeat. “I accept.” 

Her scream flew from her lips. “No, no! Don’t kill him! Please! I’ll come back with you, I’ll do anything you want me to, just let him live!” 

Rocco grinned, looking to his left, ignoring Emma’s pleas completely. “Vincent, kill the asshole who dared put his hands on her.”  

He stepped forward, sniffing as he nodded, his lips pursing. “With pleasure, boss.” Pointing his gun at Guero, Emma refused to watch, feeling as if razor wire was wrapping around her insides. This was it; her world was about to come crashing down. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach so violently, she couldn’t contain the wail of grief, feeling sick, scrunching her eyes tightly shut. When the gun fired, however, the only thing that fell was Rocco, Vincent turning at the last moment to put a bullet straight between his eyes.  

As soon as his body hit the ground, every single man stepped back, tucking their guns away, all looking to Vincent, who nodded curtly. He turned to Emma, his face softening. “I’m sorry to have put you through that, kid. Had to be done, though. It had to look real, so I couldn’t forewarn any of you about what was gonna go down, except for Ezekiel. He knew.” 

Looking down at the lifeless body of her captor, a myriad of emotions charged through her, her nerves jangling, her heart still pumping rapidly. He was gone. One single bullet had wiped him out, him and his nefarious, sickening intentions towards her, and every other child who had the misfortune to ever be sold under his brutal regime of trafficking.  

It was over, but god, she had no clue where to begin in processing that. 

She stood there trembling, silent and stunned, jumping when she felt two hands press to her shoulders, turning to sink into Guero’s embrace, her legs giving way.  

“Woah, I gotcha, come on.” He lifted her into his arms, turning to Vincent.  

“I’ll explain the rest inside.” His nod towards the clubhouse was the indicator that the men now under his control should follow, the MC heading in first, Bishop reaching for Lee and wrapping her in a hug, kissing her cheek repeatedly.  

“Love you, preciosa.”  

She smiled, letting out a long breath, her coolness only mildly dented, but the relief clear as she embraced her husband. “Love you, too, darlin’.” 

Once inside, most of the Italian American fraction of the men sectioned to one side, the club, plus Vincent and Salvatore congregating at two tables a few guys pulled together, a couple of the girls from behind the bar coming over with beers, asking the latter men their preference.  

“Vodka rocks twice, hon,” Vincent spoke, his eyes scanning his surroundings. It was much shabbier than the places he frequented, but to be expected. They were leather clad, Harley riding outlaws; they had no need or want for glitz. “Now, an explanation for youse who didn’t know. I had every intention of following through with what was brought to me by Emma and Guero, until the fatal flaw in that plan presented itself; the MC had offered to take care of Rocco, yet to facilitate that, it’d mean bringing him back over to the west coast, a place he don’t like to be in often. 

“Speaking with my guys, we needed a neat plan, and fast. They didn’t like the idea of the hit being handled externally, but to show good faith, I was prepared to do it on your turf, to show my sincerity. Also, I needed this one here to see it with her own eyes. Two decades of abuse and captivity, she deserved that much, to see the man who fuckin’ stole her goddamned life get what he deserved. I guess I had to make it right with god too, for being complicit for so long, so that was what I chose.” 

He paused to point at Emma, everyone at the table nodding in agreement of his statement. “Salvatore came up with the perfect plan to tie it all together. The guys, they ah, they wanted to handle it internally as soon as we arrived back in New York, but I said to ‘em, we gotta be smarter. You can’t just have a major player like Rocco fuckin’ vanish. Too much heat, gentleman, so we gotta go different. And we have. As far as anybody knows, all of us are all on a camping trip at the foot of Tahoe Mountain right now, which officially speaking, will be the last place any of us saw Rocco Lombardi alive.  

“When we head back, we’ll take to the wilderness where we set up camp, then report him missing come the morning. Hotel staff will confirm this is where we were, too. As will the receipts for the purchase of camping gear, and the ranger who saw us arrive, but not leave. We got his disappearance covered, and we’ll take a few limbs and lumps of flesh back with us, scatter them around the common places where bears are spotted. Nature will do the rest, and what’s left of him will be found, bone fragments, torn clothes and blood. That’s all that needs to be done. We now move forward away from this whole mess, business as usual, fellas.”  

It was all so simple, so flawlessly executed from the perspective of Vincent and his new underboss. Emma began to worry about the tiny details, though, until she realised that honestly, they were none of her concern. Any little detail she might’ve considered an issue had likely already been covered by Vincent and his guys, yet as she sat there on Guero’s lap, she still trembled, not feeling right.  

“You wanna go home?” Of course, he picked up on it. She nodded. “Guys, we’re heading off. All this, well... look at her.”  

They all nodded, Emma standing, Vincent too, opening his arms. She moved to embrace him carefully, the new boss patting her back. “I’ll tell your ma; she had a head’s up that it was going down. Needless to say, it was a relief that was long in the coming. She’s free too, now. Want me to pass on your number, so she can call you?”  

She nodded meekly, reciting her cell as Vincent punched it into his phone. “I’ll call her later, once we’re on the road again. You take care now, kid.”  

He pressed a hand to her shoulder, kissing her cheek, Emma still not really responsive to anything, her mind so muddled with emotion.  

“Guero, here,” Lee called from across the table, throwing him her keys. “Take mine and Gilly’s stuff out the back, I’ll get home with Bish. We’ll come pick it up in the morning.”  

He thanked her for the loan of her car, grasping Emma’s hand and getting her out of there. Lombardi’s body had been moved, likely by the prospects, his blood still staining the orange, dusty ground at the foot of the clubhouse steps. After walking back to the main gate and taking the bags out, Guero running them back to the clubhouse, they left, Emma silent the entire ride home, Guero’s hand not moving from where it rested on her leg.  

“He was lying, when he said I enjoyed it,” she mumbled quietly, Guero turning onto their street.  

He tutted softly, his eyes flitting to her. “Baby, you don’t have to tell me that. I know, because ain’t nobody who knows the real you like I do. I know. I fucking love you so much.” 

She nodded, a smile finally upturning her downcast mouth. “I know. I love you, too.”  

They pulled onto the drive, Emma exiting the car to see the curtains moving at Tyrone’s window, the big head sticking through them not that of the man himself, but of a face she’d missed over the last few days.  

“My little sir!” she cooed, Axl hopping from the window and rushing to her, tail wagging in frenzy, greeting her with many licks to her hands as he weaved her legs.  

“Hey boo!” Tyrone appeared, passing Guero the bag containing Axl’s things, nodding at the dog. “He been good as fuckin’ gold for his uncle T! Took the dude so many places, to the bar, dog park, groomers, strip mall, lil’ drag race event last night. He been spoiled to fuck!” 

“Thanks, Tyrone,” she spoke, Guero offering the same. 

“Anytime, y’all!” 

With that, they went into the house, leaving their bags at the door, Emma going through to the bedroom and flopping down. The emotions began to swirl, Guero finding her in floods of tears after he’d got Axl settled, expecting that she might break down in the wake of it all.  

“Come here, my baby.” Lying down beside her, he wrapped her in his arms, letting her cry it out against his chest.  

“I don’t even know why I’m crying!” she sobbed, clinging onto him tightly. “I just... I can’t... and it’s...” 

He kissed her head, hand stroking her back. “You don’t have to put it into words, but if I was to guess, I’d say these are tears of relief, and maybe the shit he put you through being stirred back up again, after seeing him tonight. Cuz’ of that, I know I can tell you it’s over now, but in your head, it might take a while for that to sink in.” 

His perception was remarkable, Emma nodding, continuing to cry. Finally, she was a hundred percent free, but for that moment, she felt far from it. Composing herself, she dried her eyes after allowing herself the emotional release of tears, Guero heading for a shower, Axl coming in to wag his tail at her and woof softly.  

“You need to go pee, little sir?” Immediately, the dog bolted in the direction of the kitchen, Emma sliding off the bed to go and follow him. Letting him out into the backyard, she stepped out too, the cooler night air blowing gently against her cheeks as she moved to the centre of the lawn and looked up at the stars.  

Often through her time held captive by Rocco, she’d taken comfort at looking up at the night sky and knowing that while they were far apart, at least she was under the same stars as her family. She still was, too, at least what was left of them.  

They still shared that same twinkle. 

Taking a deep breath, she held it in, slowly releasing it through her nose. She could finally go and find them again, connect the beginning and the present of her life now that the catalyst to separating them was no longer a factor in holding her back.  

Finally, she could be who she was without fear. Emma Louise Taylor. She didn’t have to hide any longer.  

Her smile grew exponentially for realising that.  

[guiraguira]

I love that despite you always describing Jakurai so angelic and pure in your works, you have his drink face as a profile pic lol..

So, maybe a fem! s/o just wanted to spend an evening with Jakurai and made a small party with dessert and cocktails.. but didn't warn him that this delicious drink is not just juicy but some sort of an alcoholic cocktail? And Jakurai suddenly confesses his love to her in this state? You can make it SFW or NSFW, as you wish!! <3

Just a little alcohol🔥

Ah, Now that you say it you are right Lol, His face drinking in the manga is very funny and I could not help it.

Oh! Jakurai drunk is something dangerous! You have to be careful! (I think I exceeded a little sorry)

Warnings: alcohol, personality change, some aggressiveness, masturbation, oral, dirty talk?

Jakurai drunk x fem reader!

° You had waited a lot of time for this little opportunity to invite him to dinner in your department, but being a coward you disguised him as a small party in which you also invited Hifumi and Doppo with the hope that understanding what you were trying to retire early. Two years have passed since you work with him as a nurse and gradually this feeling of companionship became love.

° As the night progressed you left the idea of spending more time with him in private, concentrating on at least enjoying the evening with everyone. Hifumi had a couple of dishes as well and as a gift gave you one of the best -selling drinks of his host club, sweet and alcoholic equally, of which he spoke very often.

° In part you felt grateful that he accepted even before knowing that his friends would also go. That gave you a little hope that perhaps, a distant future corresponded to your feelings and your fantasies of being his partner would cease to be.

° Hifumi's laughs were spreading everyone and although there was a background movie, nobody was really watching her. Each telling his rarest anecdotes of the week, even Jakurai participated in that unusually animated. You did not pay much attention to what he said, your mind was focused on how his lips moved while talking, something that he surely noticed.

° You were absorbed in their gestures, following every small detail. Barely testing bite of everything you prepared, see him feed is more than enough for you. When you broadcast a high sigh, I ask if you are fine since I notice how little you ate. You lie quickly saying that you ate during the cooking of the dishes and you are already full. His eyes interrogate you for longer and you feel like a slight blush dye your cheeks. It does not believe you completely, but accept what you say.

° Near midnight Doppo began to worry because the next day he had to go to work and was getting late, giving him the reason Hifumi also thought it was time to retire. Collecting the dishes of the table, your hands intersect with those of the doctor who removes them for you and takes them to the kitchen.

° Despite announcing that they should leave, they were so lively that they kept talking until the departure was inevitable. Guiding them to your door, you greet the three, assuming that Jakurai would also leave. But it was not so, he stayed by your side when they two left, closing the door for you and heading to the kitchen continued to clean.

° "You don't have to do that, I thought you were leaving, you don't have a job tomorrow?" You say something confused while you help it to clean it too. "Ah, but I have no job tomorrow, let me do this yes?" He slightly incline him head smiling, convincing you instantly.

° Your mind is stunned because unexpectedly you had managed to be alone with him in your apartment, not in the way you expected but that was not a problem. The problem is how silent everything was in contrast to a few moments ago.

° What are you supposed to do now? The tranquility is suffocating you no longer looking at it and without realizing they end up faster than expected. In a desperate attempt to spend more time with him you remember the drink that Hifumi leaves and you offer it in thanks.

° Do you leave a cup for each one and serve the drinks "actually ... I was thinking you were a bit distracted ... something happened?" Sitting gracefully in front of you now if you are totally exposed, you knew that you had small slips, but there was no way you were so obvious. "I talk about work too, it is not that you had mistakes or something alone ..." Leave the phrase in half and he take the first sip, abruptly swallow all the drink at once.

° You had never seen him take, so you didn't know that he enjoyed alcohol so much using another cup and swallowing it in the same way as before you are absolutely surprised. Suddenly his head falls on the table, but lifts it quickly.

° You hadn't even sat when he stands and shouts raising his fist in the air laughing "ahhhhh ~~ this is very good! The party must continue and it is better if we are alone"

° With a hidden face for his hair, he approaches you invading your personal space, he has a speed that is not typical of him, taking carefully, you take a step back to get away, but you can't go back behind from you is the kitchen's countertop with which you are trapped.

° The proximity is such that their purple strands obscure the light around you as a curtain. You look up to his face looking for his eyes and an explanation but he is so close that you can feel his breathing, you try to push him by putting pressure on his torso but he holds your hand firmly with both hands of his hands.

° "I need you to try this, Hifumi was not wrong is the best!" Without releasing your hand he reached the drink and wait for you to drink "that's!" Drawing with him serves another drink and takes the same cup that you had used, keep driving you a couple more times until you tell him that you cannot anymore.

° "No, no, you must continue drinking for cheating on me! I thought we were alone and it was not so" acting on a way again pushed you against the countertop. "It was the perfect opportunity to confess to me, I was sure that it would be today for that I asked tomorrow free" his arms close everything possible and invade your space again, but you still process what he said before.

° "were you going to confess?" Your eyes light up by leaving aside the situation. "What if I was going? Forget about that" stretching on you, intimidating you with your figure and bringing his face closer to the point where you can smell his breath low his voice to a more serious than normal. "S/O, I like you for a year but I didn't want to hurry things, every opportunity I had always interrupted" there is a blush on their cheeks but you don't know if it's for alcohol or his words

° "I am in love with you, this heart only be beating in this way from the moment he found out someone there could whom he could love" pressing your hand against his chest could confirm how agitated he was and how incredibly fast . "S/O, I adore every centimeter of you. S/o do you love me?" Your knees yield for the tone of your voice, closeness and sincerity.

° Timidly nods "I love you too Jakurai .." Then he kisses you, a little more aggressive than you would like but you cannot complain, slowly becomes softer until you separate in search of oxygen.

° "Now allow you to give you a real kiss that I have been holding on and let me keep drinking" I feel you on the table and kiss your crotch dressed keeping visual contact. You close your thighs for surprise and its unexpected strength. Damn that you liked more than it should.

° Removing your pants and underwear is only dedicated to kissing your older lips and clitoris, licking and devouring all your juices but without giving you more stimulation. It keeps you firmly open for him, panting sound and vulgarly without an apice of shame against your entrance, it is exciting and that warms you as much or more than his elegant personality.

° Your breathing is broken every time you think he will use his fingers, but nothing of that happens, at least not yet. You put a hand in his head asking more and he responds by sinking his face more, ticking you with your nose and breathing.

° "I hope you also have free tomorrow, because I do not plan to finish" it bites very close to your center causing a stab of pleasure that you know very well and you are ashamed that it happens so fast and for so little. Fulfilling his promise take to the last drop of your orgasm, containing your hip that did not stop shaking

° Ruborized and trembling, collapse on your back trying to stabilize your breathing. Nor did you know that you liked this kind of dirty things. He falls on you, crushing you, containing you against the hard surface. A few drops fall from their chin on your lips and he also cleanses them. You can feel the mixture of flavors and differently differentiate each one.

° One of his hands holds your waist and the other grabs your arm licking before bite. Start push with great power your center, he is still dressed, so you can barely feel his member but knowing that he is like that for you drives you crazy. Drag his mouth by your arm, you clearly feel how his groans die in his throat. His looks at you is melting your mind.

° Your juices stain his pants, but he does not seem to care looking for more friction "s/o ... s/or ... say ... that you love me ..." with difficulty and between gasps he pronounces those words, with a saliva thread shining in the corner of his lips, without stopping his thrusts.

° You open your mouth but you cannot say it, you are rendered, so that your body is not able to move and doubts even to be able to raise a hand. ".... I love ..." You move your lips just being able to say the latter. He understands perfectly.

° his hips stop his madness to give rise to his fingers that are finally introduced there. His enthusiasm clearly shows you that he has no intention of ending quickly and knows that he meets his words.

° Stop looking you for a second, scanning the doors of your department. You know you are looking for your room. Ahh damn, this was just beginning. Your mind, before surrendering to pleasure you think you should thank Hifumi properly after this.

[theia-eos]

So, what about Tellius in particular got you hooked on it?

TL;DR Everything. The Tellius games are very much my comfort games.

I think part of it was definitely the fact that the worst years of my life, so far, were from 2002 to 2006, and those games came out in 2005 and 2007. The messages of the games, the way Micaiah, Ike, and Elincia deal with their tremendous burdens without losing themselves, was something I desperately needed at that time in my life. Honestly, playing through those two games did more for my mental health than therapy was (recommendation: find a therapist who is a good fit for you. I have one now. She is amazing).

Beyond that, the world is just so interesting to me, there's so much to it and the characters feel very well written. Soren's adaptation from his childhood, Reyson and his combative personality, Jill unlearning her prejudices against the laguz, Shinon and Janaff's relationship, Skrimir's growth as a wiser leader. All of the character writing hits pretty hard, honestly, and there are no moments I can recall where I feel like "there is no way an actual person in that situation would say or do that," and the trauma responses felt both pretty accurate and treated with respect, not as over-top humor that falls flat. On the writing, there is just so much lore and so much to think about and before those two games, I'd never seen games with such world building or thought out characters before. I'd read books like that, of course, but to have this intersection of visuals, music, writing, and interactivity was truly captivating to younger me.

Speaking of the art, I've always loved the CG renders and how much they draw me into the world. I used to draw a lot more back when I was playing the games for the first time, and that style is something I very much used to want to emulate. The music is iconic to me as well, in that I can hear any song from the game and remember the feeling and image of the game when I was playing it and hearing that song originally, I can't do that with full game soundtracks normally. For years, I would play the galdr songs to soothe my anxiety, calm my mind and get to sleep.

The Tellius games, and Fire Emblem as a whole, are games that my spouse and I talked about a lot while we were younger and just beginning to date, and our mutual love of the series is very much a cornerstone of our relationship. My spouse has a very lovely singing voice and would sing the galdr to me if I was struggling with my mental health, or do the funny voices used for reading the scenes to lift my spirits when I was feeling down back then when the games were still new.

[yellowjacketsgayfanfic]

You and Shauna get into a fender bender, and she ends up leaving Jeff for you.

SUBMISSION: Shauna hits Reader's car, one thing leads to another and they start having an affair (basically the Adam situation in season 1) Reader falls in love with Shauna but is afraid to tell her because she knows she's married, Shauna leaves Jeff and gets together with Reader

In all honesty, you were definitely the one at fault for the accident. You had stopped short because there was an animal in the road. You had felt Shauna ram into you, of course, but your immediate first response was to run to the kitten trying to cross the intersection.

It looked dirty, so you removed your shirt and wrapped it around the little thing, lifting it safely into your arms.

Shauna got out of her car. "Hey! What the fuck!"

You turned around, cradling the poor thing, wondering where the nearest rescue shelter might be. "Hi!"

"You stopped short." She was exasperated, hands on her hips. "This is your fault!"

"I'm sorry." You smiled. "I would've run over this little guy, and I wanted to make sure that didn't happen."

Shauna eyed you, and then the kitten, and then you again. "Well. Now my car needs to go into the shop, so, I hope it was worth it."

You brought the cat a little closer to Shauna. "I'll pay for the damages, really. We don't even have to involve insurance. Just tell me how much it is, and I'll put the cash down."

She seemed bewildered by your honest to God kindness. "What is this? What is this... cute thing you've got going on here?"

You smiled. "Not trying to be cute, ma'am. I know it's my fault. How about we swap phone information?"

"Okay." She sighed, going back into her car to pull out a pen.

You walked over to her. "Write your number on my arm, and I'll tell you what mine is."

She eyed you for a moment, feeling immensely awkward about touching you while you were only in your sports bra. She wrote her phone number on your free forearm, and then she wrote yours on hers.

"I'm gonna go get this poor thing to a rescue shelter. Feel free to call me if there's anything you need though." You said.

"Okay... uh, hey, what's your name?"

You were walking away now, so you threw your head back, "Y/N."

***

When she did finally decide to call you up, it was very late on that same night. You told her to come over to your place, you'd give her a check for the cash she needed on the car, and she agreed.

She showed up on your doorstep wearing the same outfit as you had seen her in earlier in the day. You on the other hand, were already in your pajamas, sweat pants and a tight fitting white t-shirt with your alma mater on the chest, including the year you graduated.

When you opened the door for her, she found herself looking down to your shirt and her eyes widened. "Oh my."

You looked down and let out a laugh. "What? Not a big fan of Ramapo College?"

"No, no." She shook her head. "You're just... a baby. You're a baby."

You cocked your hip to the side. "Well, this baby is about to pay for the damages to your car, so come on in." You handed her the check she asked for, and she took it into her pocket.

"Want a drink?" You asked.

"You can legally buy alcohol?" She joked.

"Oh, very funny." You trotted into the kitchen. "What are you in the mood for?" You opened the cabinets to your very large collection of booze.

Her eyes widened. "Oh, Jesus."

"I'm a bar tender. I sneak bottles home sometimes." You shrugged. "And I never get caught."

"Okay. So you save animals by day, and you're a criminal by night." Shauna observed. "Good to know."

You rolled your eyes in response, grabbing the fixings for a vodka martini. "You're being kind of bitchy for someone who is getting their car fixed for free."

She paused, a little taken aback by your suddenly vulgar mouth, but she couldn't help but find it attractive.

You placed the bottles and mixers on your counter. Shauna watched you as created two drinks, shaking the booze between two metal cups vigorously. She watched as you poured the liquid into two chilled glasses. You were a real professional. Her eyes landed on your chest once more, not because she was trying to read it again, but because it was hugging your breasts tightly.

You slid Shauna's drink over to with a sly smile working its way to your lips. "My eyes are up here."

And she did look into your eyes, which were dark and brooding. You raised a brow at her, bending over the counter she was sitting at. "You've been staring at my tits the entire time you've been here... Shauna, right?"

She nodded, incapable of forming a response to your very forward words.

"Something you want to say to me?" You asked, sipping on your drink.

"I'm married." She spat out. "And I haven't been with a woman since college."

"Happily married?" You asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I think he's fucking another woman."

You chuckled. "They always are. I'm lucky I don't like men, that would really suck for me."

"How did you know you were gay?" She asked you with genuine curiosity, shyly looking up at you.

You took the seat next to her, your knees touching. "Well, I knew I liked girls by the time I was five. I knew I didn't like guys when I was fourteen and slept with a girl for the first time. I really love eating box."

You could tell Shauna was getting increasingly more flustered, which was your objective, by the way. She squeezed her legs together tightly, a hand reaching down to her thighs.

"Shauna?" You looked down at her now quivering legs. "If your husband is fucking a woman on the side, you're well within your right to do the same."

She let out a breathy little moan when you said that, and within seconds you were attached at the mouth. Her hands were under your shirt, which she'd been fantasizing about doing this entire time, and you were tugging her jacket off. By the time you left your drinks behind in the kitchen to make it into your bedroom, you were both completely naked, and you spent all night fucking each others brains out.

The sun was rising when you'd both had enough. She was looking down at you, thinking you were practically glistening in the gold light of the sun through your blinds. "How do I know if I'm gay, or if I just don't want to be with my husband anymore?"

You eyed her, opening your thighs wide. She followed her gaze to you, fighting the urge to play some more. "How do you feel when you see me versus your husband?"

"Like I want to never get out of this bed." She breathed.

You smiled, closing up shop again and lifting your arms behind your head. "Ever felt that way with uh, what's his name?"

"Jeff." She responded. "And no. Never."

You shrugged. "Maybe you're gay. Maybe you just married the wrong person. Who knows. What I do know," you rolled onto your eyes and pinched Shauna's nipple in between your pointer finger and thumb. "is that I would like to see you again."

She lifted your hand to her mouth, giving it a kiss. "I'd like that very much."

***

If you were honest, you thought you were just having some fun. You never expected to be so head over heels for a woman you were certain was unavailable. You didn't feel bad for the affair, of course, considering how terribly Shauna's husband made her feel and his inability to put her first. But you were scared that if you were perfectly honest with Shauna about your feelings, you'd be left heartbroken. This thought kept you awake at night oftentimes. You'd never felt this way about another woman before, and it killed you that the woman you wanted to spend the rest of your life with was very married with a grown child.

Then, one Saturday morning, there was a knock at your door. You were playing with the very same cat you had picked up that day that Shauna had rammed into you. You couldn't help yourself.

You weren't expecting anyone, but you nevertheless went to the door to see who it was. Behind it was Shauna who had her hands balled into fists and her chin held high.

You smiled at her. "What are you doing here?"

"I filed for divorce." She breathed out.

You looked at her with wide eyes, your jaw slacking. "You what?"

She walked into your apartment. "Listen, I need to be honest. I really like you, and you taught me what it means to actually feel attracted to someone and be happy with them. You could be doing anything, and I would be so happy just to be beside you. I didn't want to live another day not knowing that kind of love, and it's fine if you don't want anything serious with me, because now I'm free to find that-"

"Shauna." You mumbled, closing the door behind her. "You're really leaving, Jeff?"

"I'm really leaving, Jeff." She repeated.

You pursed your lips tightly. "For me?"

"If you want me."

Your bottom lip quivered. "I was so scared you wouldn't leave him, Shaun."

Not expecting the tears, Shauna still jumped into action and took you into your arms. "Hey, hey, don't cry."

You gripped onto her tightly. "I love you. I was so scared you would just leave me behind."

"You love me?" She mumbled into your hair.

"Yes." You cried. "Oh my God, I think my heart might explode with how much love for you I have."

She gripped you even tighter then. "I love you too."

[lowkeycasanova]

Ghost of you

plot: Vinnie is now a single dad

Trigger warning: mention of death

*loosely based off the song Ghost by Justin Bieber*

masterlist

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

Vinnie kissed his six year old daughter’s cheek as she clutched her stuffed animal in her hands and shut her eyes, attempting to go back to sleep after yet another bad dream that she woke Vinnie up about.

She’s been receiving them almost everyday since the accident.

He gets off the side of her bed and walks out, shutting the door behind him, but not all the way. He makes his way over to the adjacent room, the one that belong to his four year old son, squeezing the handle and opening the door. He’s fast asleep.

Vinnie stands there for a moment, taking in his sleeping figure before turning away.

He walks back down the hall to where his room is. Upon crawling back into bed, he brings his knees up and rests his arms on them, taking a deep breath. The familiar sensation of grief, sadness, and anger stirring up inside him. He knew from hearing about strangers losing loved ones and he knew it would be bad, but he never thought it would be this bad. He was sick to his stomach.

His kids were still too young to really get it, but he was dreading the day they would fully understand what happened.

That mama isn't coming back.

Car accident. Some man not paying attention and speeding ran the red light and hit your car in the intersection on your way home.

So fucking unfair that the man is still alive while your life was taken from you.

He was in the denial stage for sure. Constantly texting your phone, praying that this was just a bad dream and wondering why God wouldn't wake him up. He had to come to terms with reality once the most recent message turned green, indicating that your number was no longer in service.

It's crazy how one moment you can be here, and the next moment you're not. Tomorrow isn't promised. Death is no respecter of persons.

It didn't seem real that you were actually gone. Someone that he saw nearly everyday wasn't here anymore. There were times when he wanted to tell you something funny or tell you something that one of the children did, but he couldn't. Every day since the accident has been gray and a blur.

The children were another thing.

Vinnie was now responsible for two kids. Two young kids. Being a single parent was going to be rough. It was already hard. He found himself getting frustrated often. He felt bad because he knew it wasn't their fault. He also felt obligated to put on a smile for them.

He didn't realize he was starting to cry until he felt a tear drip down his face. Quickly wiping it away, he laid down, pulling the covers over him. But just as he was about to close his eyes, they jolted open.

He swears he saw something from your side of the bed, which by the way, was still made up. Rubbing his eyes and trying to adjust to the darkness, he didn't see anything, but he let out a sigh.

From his point of view, he was looking into an empty space.

But you were right there. In your usual spot, with your head turned to face him. From your point of view, he was looking directly into your eyes.

You wanted to tell him that nothing could have prepared him nor you for this. You want him to go out and live his life. To let him know that he's got it figured out, even though he doesn't know it. And when he messes up, he'll get right back on track like he always does. All the plans he made will work out in your absence. That everything will go back to normal. Well, that was easy for you to say.

But not really. You were hurting too. You had crossed a bridge that your family can't follow.

You also wanted to move his curls out of his face. But you've always liked the longer hair.

But it's like he knew you were speaking to him. He immediately felt a sense of comfort wash over him. He reached over and rubbed a part of your spot on the bed, but from your perspective, he was gently grazing over your hand. He didn't even know it and you could have burst into tears right there.

He pulled away and did his best to go back to sleep.

Over the next few weeks, Vinnie was starting to get better. He has acknowledged his pain and accepted your loss. He's trying his best to move on. Waking up and getting out of bed, getting the kids ready for school/helping the oldest with her homework, cleaning the house, running errands, talking to friends, and supporting himself emotionally by taking care of himself physically. He was doing it.

He will find light in this world again, even though it's going to be hard without the love of his life by his side. But you'll always be there in his heart.

——————————————

“So if I can’t be close to you, I’ll settle for the ghost of you. I miss you more than life.”

[legolasghosty]

HELLO MY LOVE!!

10. for platonic Alex and Flynn please 👀

Hello my love, I am so so sorry for how long this took!!!! I have no excuse unless you count college. But here it is now!!!! I hope you like it!!!

Alex and Flynn had a funny kind of friendship. They'd first met when they got paired up in a middle school lab class. However, their first impressions of each other were formed months earlier when Flynn and her parents moved in across the street from Alex's house.

Alex's parents had taken one look at the lesbian couple unloading boxes at the old Murphy house and told Alex to stay away. Alex hadn't had the same aversion to their new neighbors as his parents, but he'd been too afraid of crossing them to actually go say hello. But he watched them sometimes.

Not in a creepy way. He promised. They just seemed so happy, the two of them and their kid. It made him feel a little less alone. Maybe it was possible to be happy being the way he was. That little family had managed it after all.

Regardless, he and Flynn didn't actually meet till September. There may have been an argument and some splashed sugar water during that first conversation. But after that, they got along surprisingly well. They didn't really hang out when they weren't at school though. They both had other friends. And Alex's parents were less than thrilled the one time they saw the pair walking home from school together. So they were lab partners and writing buddies and co-sufferers in math. It was simple and it worked.

It wasn't till high school that they really became proper friends though. Julie and Luke met and hit it off, and soon their friend groups were a big tangle of inside jokes and movie nights at Julie's and one big table at lunch. Alex and Flynn got closer, combining their snarky senses of humor against their friends and whining about how pretty their respective crushes were.

And after Alex came out at home, it didn't really matter who his friends were. His parents couldn't exactly resent him more. So he and Flynn started walking home together. No reason not to. Sometimes they walked in near silence. Sometimes one of them would ramble on and on while the other listened. Sometimes they talked about deep stuff like trauma and what happened when people died. Sometimes they joked around about whatever horrible concoction Luke had created for lunch that day. It didn't matter much. They were friends. They walked home together.

But then Alex turned 18. And well... his parents didn't exactly kick him out, per se, but Alex knew he was supposed to leave. Julie's dad, Ray, had already offered him the Molina guest room at least through graduation, so Alex spent his birthday packing up and moving out of his parents' house. At least it was a Saturday, so he didn't have to worry about school. All of his friends chipped in to help him pack and move everything over.

It was for the best. Alex knew that. But it was hard to think that way when he and Flynn were standing at the intersection of Birch and 13th Monday afternoon, where they'd always turned left together to walk home.

"So, I guess I'm going this way?" Alex said after a minute. Julie was already halfway down the block, unaware of the situation.

"Yeah," Flynn agreed quietly, glancing between Alex and her own route home. The route that wasn't Alex's anymore. "And I'm going that way."

They both stood there for a long moment, both unsure as to what to say. This was good, that Alex was out of the Mercer house. But what did they do now that they couldn't walk all the way home together? What did people do to say goodbye this early?

More than anything, Alex wanted her to know that nothing had changed. They were still friends, he would still be there for them at 2 am when they drank too many sodas and started rambling about her girlfriend. She would still smack him upside the head for letting people walk all over him. They would still talk about everything and nothing and anything in between. But how did he say that?

"Text me when you get home?" Flynn said suddenly, grinning.

Alex jumped, startled out of his thoughts, but then returned their smirk. "Definitely, you too," he responded. "No dying on the way home."

Flynn rolled their eyes and laughed. "As if you could get rid of me that easily, Mercer," she snarked, tossing her braids back over their shoulder. They paused for a second, then added, "So is this how we work now?" in a softer tone.

Alex took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "I guess so. Doesn't change us though, right?"

"Right," Flynn said, smiling. Years of friendship allowed Alex to pick up the traces of relief in their eyes. "See ya around then," she said, waving as she headed for her house.

"See ya," Alex echoed as he turned to follow Julie. He smiled as he walked away from the corner. He and Flynn would be alright. They'd been friends for ages, they could manage not walking home together. It might just take some work. They could do that.

[hamsterclaw]

Annoying

You love your husband, but sometimes he makes you want to wring his neck.

Part of the 7 hours series. Read the rest:

7 hours, Pornstache, Extinction Rebellion, Jinx, Illicit, Fall

Pairing: Taehyung x F! reader

Rating: 18+

Genre: Non-idol AU, smut

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: Sex, sexual innuendo, swearing, marriage problems

Tagging: @jdecalcomaniajk @reliablemitten

Your phone is ringing. It’s Taehyung, your –

Well, you’re not sure how to define Taehyung right now, at this particular moment in time, to be honest.

He’s technically still your husband because you’d never actually gone through with the divorce.

He’s been your partner since university, and you love him, but you also hate the bones of him sometimes.

He’s beautiful, charming, funny, amazing in bed, but today, the main adjective you’d use to describe him would be annoying.

He’s been annoying you since he woke you up this morning.

You turn your phone over and try to concentrate on booking a flight for Joan, your boss.

Your phone is vibrating, and you know if you answer it, it’ll annoy you.

Leaving it to ring is also annoying you, though.

You snatch up your phone and answer.

‘Yes, darling?’ you ask, an edge to your voice.

‘I’ve been in a car accident,’ Taehyung says. ‘Can you come get me from the hospital?’

***

You burst into tears when you see Taehyung.

He’s sitting up on a hospital bed. There’s a cut over his left eye, and his left arm is in a plaster cast.

‘Tae,’ you cry, rushing towards him.

He pulls you to him, kissing your hair. ‘I’m ok, baby.’

‘What happened?’ you ask. You’re looking at him as he speaks, trying to see what else is hurt.

Taehyung tells you about a truck barrelling into his car at an intersection and you listen in horror as he tells you about his car flipping over. Thankfully, everyone’s escaped with minor injuries.

‘Don’t cry, baby, I’m fine.’

You hadn’t realised you were still crying. You swipe at your tears, trying to regulate your emotions.

‘You’ll have to drive us home,’ Taehyung tells you, gently.

You pull yourself together. ‘Let’s go.’

***

Taehyung shuffles into the living room.

‘I’m horny,’ he announces.

You hit mute on the virtual meeting you’re attending.

It’s been two weeks since Taehyung’s car accident. The cut over his eye has healed nicely, it’s barely noticeable now. He’s grown proficient at doing things one-handed.

Everything except one thing, apparently.

You tell him, ‘I’m in a meeting, Tae Tae. I can’t help you with that.’

Taehyung scratches his beard.

He’s got a genuine excuse for not shaving, but you know just how much he loves his facial hair.

Taehyung flops on the sofa behind your laptop. From this angle, you can see each other, but the rest of your colleagues can only see you.

He pouts at you.

‘Your tits look beautiful,’ he tells you.

‘Thanks,’ you say, briskly, trying to concentrate on the discussion.

‘When’s your lunch break?’ he asks, hopefully.

‘I’m not having lunch,’ you tell him. ‘I’m never eating again.’

Taehyung rolls his eyes.

Jinx, your grey shorthair, jumps onto the sofa next to Taehyung, settling in his lap.

Taehyung shifts uneasily. ‘Don’t touch my boner, Jinxy,’ he mutters, brushing Jinx off.

Jinx flicks her tail and wanders off.

‘Are you hard, Tae Tae?’ you ask, sympathetically.

‘So hard,’ Taehyung tells you. He shifts again, showing you the outline of his cock against his shorts.

You sigh. You need to get some work done, but since his car accident, you’ve been reminded how much you love him, how big a part of your life he is.

Taehyung, sensing your change of heart, smiles at you.

You’ve always been a sucker for his smile.

‘Ok,’ you relent. ‘But can I shave you, too?’

‘You can do anything you want,’ Taehyung tells you.

***

You’re sitting on the bathroom counter with Taehyung standing in front of you. You pull him between your legs to keep him still whilst you shave him.

Taehyung leans forward to help you as you run the razor through the foam on his face and dip it into warm water to clean it off.

‘I think my beautiful husband is under here somewhere,’ you say teasingly.

Taehyung smiles. He leans one hand on the counter next to your thigh, his thumb rubbing circles into your bare skin.

‘Your beautiful husband can’t wait to get between these beautiful legs,’ he says, voice low, the husky tone of it making you shiver.

You wipe the foam off, looking for any spots you’ve missed.

‘We’re done here,’ Taehyung says. He’s barely looked in the mirror whilst you’ve been shaving him, choosing instead to let his eyes roam your body. The intent in his eyes is so blatant you feel like your skin is warming everywhere he looks.

‘Let me check,’ you say, putting a hand on his chest.

‘We’re done. I can’t wait any longer, baby,’ Taehyung tells you.

The razor lands with a clatter by the sink as Taehyung pulls you off the counter and into your bedroom.

***

‘Watch your arm,’ you warn Taehyung as he climbs on top of you. ‘Let me be on top.’

Taehyung drops his head between your breasts, huffing out a frustrated breath.

‘You don’t have to be the boss all the time, do you?’ you ask, teasing, letting your hand trail over his boxer briefs.

Taehyung flops onto the bed, flat on his back. He looks up at you as you straddle him. His good arm comes up to cup the side of your face, thumb brushing your cheek.

‘How do you not know, by now?’ he asks. There’s a note in his voice that makes you look at him.

‘Not know what?’ you ask, lowering yourself to nuzzle his freshly shaved jaw.

‘You’re the boss,’ Taehyung tells you. ‘I’ll do anything you want.’

You look at him quizzically.

‘When I saw you crying in the hospital, it was more painful than getting my arm set,’ he tells you. He’s looking straight at you. ‘It was more painful than these stitches.’

He noses under your chin to kiss your neck.

‘I’m yours,’ he tells you.

You look down at your beautiful, romantic husband, and you wonder how you ever thought he was annoying.

‘I don’t want you,’ you say, lightly, smiling to let him know you’re joking.

‘That’s the problem,’ Taehyung replies, smoothly. ‘You keep lying to me.’

You squeal, outraged, as he pulls you down to him.

‘Pull my boxers down for me, baby,’ he says, his voice low, sexy.

You oblige, and he groans as you rub yourself over his cock.

‘So wet,’ he says.

He tugs at your bra with his teeth. ‘Take this off for me, baby.’

‘You have hands,’ you reply.

Taehyung just smiles. ‘Don’t you want my mouth all over your breasts?’

You’re unhooking your bra, expecting Taehyung to laugh, but instead he lifts his head, mouth opening wide to take as much of your breast in his mouth as he can fit. His tongue works your nipple, and you hum with pleasure.

The arm with the cast lifts up off the bed, and you push it back down gently. You weave your fingers through his, pressing him back onto the mattress.

‘Don’t hurt yourself, my love,’ you tell him.

Taehyung’s free hand is curled over your hip, helping you slide over his cock.

‘Can I get inside you?’ he asks.

‘Yeah,�� you say. You line him up and sink down onto him, sighing when he’s in all the way.

‘Your body looks different,’ Taehyung grunts.

He laughs at the look on your face.

‘Your body is fucking banging, my love. I could come just from looking at you.’

‘Oh my god, Tae. Shut up and fuck me.’

He does.

***

Taehyung’s dropping things into your cart at the grocery store, humming a song you heard on the radio on the way over.

‘I’ll make dinner tonight,’ he says. ‘I want Korean food.’

‘I’ll be your sous chef,’ you say, saluting.

‘You’re an idiot,’ Taehyung says, fondly.

You raise an eyebrow. ‘You going to do all the prep one handed? You can’t do anything one handed.’

‘Why use my hand when I can use your mouth?’ Taehyung asks.

‘Disgusting,’ you tell him, dropping some food for Jinx into the cart.

‘Or your –’

You cut him short with a look.

Taehyung smirks.

You’re loading your groceries into the car with Taehyung ‘supervising’. You shut the trunk and step back. In an instant Taehyung’s hand closes around your arm, yanking you back towards him.

You turn your head as a car passes, too close for comfort.

‘Idiot,’ Taehyung growls, glaring at the car that’s nearly hit you.

‘Is your arm ok?’ you ask.

Taehyung nods. ‘I’m fine. Are you ok? I didn’t mean to grab you so hard.’

‘I’m ok, Tae baby.’

You’re about to wheel the cart back when Taehyung stops you. ‘I’ll do it. You get in the car.’

Taehyung returns the cart and jogs back.

‘You haven’t been eating much lately,’ he observes.

‘I’m not that hungry,’ you tell him. It’s true. Work’s been busy, Taehyung distracts you when you’re working from home, and you haven’t really felt like eating. You’d assumed it was a phase.

‘I’ll make kimchi-jjiggae,’ Taehyung decides. ‘You need to eat.’

Taehyung’s a decent cook, but you groan inwardly at thought of the mess he’ll make in the kitchen.

Taehyung’s watching you in the rearview mirror. ‘I’m getting my cast taken off in a couple weeks.’

You feel bad.

‘I don’t know,’ you tease. ‘Maybe I like having you incapacitated with one arm down.’

‘Want me to break it again?’ Taehyung asks. He grins at you crookedly.

You laugh. ‘It was scary enough the first time. Don’t get hurt ever again please.’

‘I like you waiting on me hand and foot,’ Taehyung muses.

You laugh again. ‘I know you do, baby.’

He’s quiet as you park up and start unloading your groceries.

You spend the afternoon trying and failing to get any work done as Taehyung sings to himself and prepares dinner.

***

You’re working on some briefing notes after dinner when Taehyung comes into the room.

‘Come to bed, baby,’ he says, dropping a kiss on the back of your neck. He’s careful not to lean on you with his heavy cast.

‘I’ve just got to get this done,’ you say tiredly. ‘Joan needs it for next week.’

‘Is me being at home distracting you?’ Taehyung asks. He rubs your neck with his good hand.

‘I like seeing so much of you,’ you say, honestly. ‘I can’t remember the last time we’ve had this much time together.’

‘Once we start having kids I’ll cut back on my commitments abroad,’ Taehyung tells you. ‘I’ll be around more.’

‘I don’t know whether that’ll be nice or annoying,’ you say.

Taehyung laughs. ‘Oh, definitely annoying. But at least I’ll be here.’

He kisses the top of your head. ‘Want a snack?’

‘If you offer me your dick –’

Taehyung just laughs again. ‘There’s leftover tteokbokki. I’m having some.’

‘Sure,’ you say.

Taehyung watches you finish off the rest of the tteokbokki, a pleased smile on his face. ‘I love watching you eat.’

‘Sexy, right?’ you ask.

He thumbs a smear of sauce off the corner of your mouth.

‘Ready for my dick now?’

You groan, and Taehyung laughs. ‘I’m just kidding baby.’

He leans forward to kiss you.

‘Don’t stay up too late, ok?’

***

You and Taehyung watch as his cast is split and broken off.

He lifts his arm.

‘Does it feel ok?’ the nurse asks.

‘Yeah,’ Taehyung replies. He flexes his arm a little. ‘Feels great to have it off.’

He smiles, and you see how the nurse blinks at how gorgeous he looks. You can’t blame her. You feel the same.

Taehyung wipes off his arm, then slings it around you.

‘Let’s get brunch to celebrate me having two arms again,’ he says.

‘Where do you want to go?’ you ask. You can’t deny it feels good to have Tae’s arms around you again.

‘What do you want to eat? We can have anything you feel like.’

You’re waiting for a table when the smells of the fried food hit you, making you feel a little nauseous.

Taehyung’s watching you carefully. ‘You ok, baby?’

‘Just a little nauseous.’

Something flickers in Taehyung’s eyes.

‘Baby,’ he says, gently. ‘When did you last have a period?’

You stare at him. ‘Wh – what?’

‘You’ve been emotional lately, you haven’t felt like eating, you’ve been more tired, and your tits are definitely bigger, I’m not being an asshole about it.’

You flounder, surprised that he’s noticed so many things about you that you haven’t noticed yourself.

Taehyung nods. ‘Let’s get a test.’

When you go to the tiny shop by your apartment, Taehyung takes the lead. ‘Do you have any pregnancy tests?’

The cashier gives him a bored look and gestures to the shelf behind him.

‘We’ll take two.’

‘Why do we need two?’ you ask.

‘We actually don’t need any, I’ve suspected that you’re pregnant, for a while now,’ Taehyung says, lifting his phone to pay.

He lifts a brow at you. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to notice.’

The cashier hands you the tests, and Taehyung puts his hand on your back to steer you out of the shop.

When you get into your apartment Taehyung unwraps the cellophane around the boxes and nods to the bathroom.

‘I’ll wait outside.’

You pee on the sticks and leave them on the side of the sink.

Taehyung’s right outside the door.

‘It’s a few minutes for a result,’ you say.

Taehyung nods. ‘This is exciting, baby.’ He curls an arm around you.

‘What if I’m not?’ you ask.

‘Then we get to keep trying,’ Taehyung says, reassuring.

‘What if I am?’ you ask.

Taehyung grins. ‘Then we get to have lots of pregnancy sex.’

‘Why is sex the answer to both questions?’ you wonder.

‘Sex isn’t the answer. Love is the answer. I love you, whatever those sticks show.’ Taehyung rubs your back reassuringly. ‘Want me to go check?’

He goes into the bathroom. He’s in there so long you lift your hand to knock on the door.

The door opens, and Taehyung steps out. He’s got a look on his face you haven’t seen before.

Instead of talking, he pulls you into his arms and kisses you.

‘Fuck. You’re having our baby,’ he murmurs, lips warm on your face.

You pull back, trying to see his face.

‘Tae?’

He smiles down at you, and nods. ‘You’re pregnant, baby.’

He pulls you into another hug, arms wrapped tight around you.

You can feel his hardness pressing into your belly.

‘You’re horny, now?’ you ask.

‘I’m thinking about how you’ll look with our child in you. Fuck. It’s like my biggest fantasy.’

You look up at him, incredulous. ‘You fantasized about me pregnant?’

Taehyung just smirks. ‘Milky tits, a baby bump, what’s not to like?’

‘You’re romanticizing the realities of pregnancy,’ you scoff.

Taehyung grins, eyes bright. ‘I love the idea of us having a baby.’

You look up at him smiling down at you and realise that you do too.

©hamsterclaw 2022

[jerzwriter]

A Mixed-Up Valentine (Intern Year)

Book:                   Open Heart (Book 1 Timeline)

Pairing:                Tobias Carrick x F!OC, F!MC, F!OC

Rating:                 Teen +

Category:            Fluff

Warnings: Suggestive thoughts/language; implied sexual activity. Nothing explicit.

Summary:   What happened on Casey & Tobias's last Valentine's Day before they met? See how Casey's night went... Tobias's too... and how they nearly intersected.

Words: 3,000 (sorry!)

A/N: This was going to be a short piece about Tobias & Casey's last Valentine's Day before they met. 🤡🤡🤡 In fairness, though, this is a couple fics in one, as we get to see what Casey's night was like, what Tobias's was like, and how they intersected. I hope you enjoy it. I got a follow-up anon, so I wanted to give a little more info. In this world, Ethan and Casey kissed in Miami, then things ended. She was attempting to move on, but they ended up getting together at the end of book 1, only so split for good when he left for the Amazon without telling her. This takes place during Casey's intern year. She is single when this occurs. Participating in @choices-february2023 Day 14 Valentine's Day and @choicesficwriterscreations Valentine's Event 2023. @choicesholidays - Be My Valentine (it might be a stretch, but I'm trying lol) and @choicesmonthlychallenge To be or not to be, "to be" (for one pair) I'm Urs, "not to be" (for another two) "thank u next".

Valentine’s Day 2020 – Casey’s Intern Year

Casey’s Night:

Running down icy Boston streets in four-inch heels was something Casey would never get used to, especially on 9-degree nights like tonight. The warm glow of Donahue’s neon sign was visible now and not a moment too soon. She was freezing; she wanted her friends, and she needed a drink.

Being alone on Valentine’s Day didn’t bother her one bit. She always felt the day was about love in all its glorious forms. She was blessed to have plenty in her life… her family, friends, and even her patients. She had spent her day spreading cheer and planned to cap it off with a night of revelry with her friends… until Ethan soured her mood. 

Miami was less than a month before.   It had been a culmination and an end of all she hoped they could be. She couldn’t tell you when she fell for Ethan Ramsey. Her feelings moved fluidly from admiration to friendship, to compassion, to… more. It happened so quickly that she almost didn’t see it happen, and she never dared to imagine he felt the same. Then, with a tantalizing kiss, he made it clear that he did. And now that memory was seared in her mind no matter how much she tried to push it away. They were never going to be, and that would have been easier to accept if she believed he didn’t want her as much as she wanted him.

But Casey did what she always does - she chose to find the bright side and muddled through. Valentine’s Day was a test, but she was passing with flying colors… until he handed her the damn rose. The look of disappointment on his face when she turned it down left her sad… and angry. If they weren’t going to be more, then she wasn’t playing the game… but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Thankfully her shift was at its end, and now, salvation was just steps away. Gingerly crossing the icy path, her hand was nearly on the door when an oblivious couple pushed by, sending her careening onto the snowy pavement below.

“Hey!” She yelled after them as they took refuge inside her bar, but they were too enamored to notice her. Although, someone else did.

The sound of her friend’s laughter only added insult to injury as she struggled to her feet. 

“Did you start drinking without us?” Bryce laughed, offering his hand.

“Very funny,” Casey huffed. “They were such jerks!”

Bryce tilted his head and let out a slow whistle as he assessed his friend… formerly with benefits. The red patent heels – so inappropriate for a Boston winter, her jeans that fit like a second skin, and a midriff-baring red sweater left him wondering how anyone could miss her.

“Looking good,” he winked. “You planning on picking up tonight?”

“Hardly!” She spat. “I’m over Cupid and all the trappings that come with him.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t dress like that,” Jackie teased, “because you’re looking like a sweet snack, girl!”

“I was going to say a spicy snack,” Bryce argued.

“Either will work,” Jackie surmised.

“Guys, can we just get inside?” Casey whined. “I’m freezing!”

Bryce opened the door for the ladies with an exaggerated flourish. “Maybe next time wear a coat then?”  

The bar was more packed than she anticipated it would be on a night dedicated to love, romance, and the carnal acts that accompany them. But as her eyes scanned the familiar room adorned with cheesy red décor and twinkling pink lights, it was plain to see; she wasn’t the only one celebrating “Singles Appreciation Day.”

“Want to sit at the bar? Or will our usual booth do?”

“Our Booth,” Casey insisted. “Is that even a question?”

“Might be?” He needled. “I thought you’d want to be seen, and the bar is a better place for that.”

“In that case, definitely the booth, and I’m sitting on the inside.”

~~~~~

Tobias’s night:

The sounds of soft jazz echoed through the meticulous, well-appointed home. It looked more like a set for a photo shoot than a place someone actually lived, but that’s how Tobias Carrick liked things. His place was picture-perfect on any given day, but today wasn’t any day. It was Valentine’s Day, and as the music, fragrantly scented air, and abundance of candles just waiting to be lit suggested, on this day, he took things up a notch.

Sauntering toward his dresser, he splashed on more cologne than needed before appraising himself in the mirror. He wasn’t one to lie, and modesty wasn’t his strong suit. He knew he looked good. As he put on his cuff-links and adjusted his suit, he had no doubt Lydia would be pleased. He was equally as confident that he’d be pleased, too. After all, it didn’t take much for the raven-haired, amber-eyed beauty to suck all the air out of a room, but the preview she sent him of the barely there black sequin dress she planned to wear… well, the man hadn’t been able to think of much else since.

Like him, Lydia wanted no strings. Recently single, she had a world to explore, and he was happy to let her start the exploration with him. This would be their third date, and if the past two were any indication, tonight would be one to remember.

His phone vibrated with news that Lydia was running a little late. An ER nurse at Edenbrook, she was still waiting for her replacement to show, but she assured him it wouldn’t be long. They agreed to meet at Donahue’s at 9:00. She felt terrible that they’d miss their dinner reservation. Still, when she explained how she intended to make it up to him, he didn’t give a damn about his lost deposit, nor the meal he’d miss… desert would more than make up for it.

So when he strutted into Donahue’s thirty minutes early, he had no qualms. The festive atmosphere and taking in some of the beautiful… sights… would keep him more than occupied until Lydia arrived.

~~~~~

Donahue’s

Casey didn’t notice Bryce’s sparking smile as he placed fresh drinks in front of his friends. Having already downed three, she was still eagerly waiting for the festive, or at least numbing, effects to kick in. But tonight, each fancy, iced beverage only left her more morose.

Bryce’s eyes were fixed on her as he popped another bottle of beer open. 

“Why so down, Case? You were the epitome of cheerful Hallmark joy at work today… it was almost endearing.”

“It was nauseating,” Jackie grimaced. “Try living with her and Sienna. If this holiday had the equivalent of elves… they’d be it.”

Casey shot a dirty look at her friend. “Well, if happiness and joy are such a turn-off to you, then I suppose you’re happier with me now?”

“Nah!” She shook her head. “I like when you’re fun! And sexy! Dancing with me and shit. The opposite of schmaltzy is not glum, and I know what will fix this!”

“Do, you? How?”

“Shots! Not this grown-up juice box shit Lahela’s buying us!”

“Hey!” Bryce defended. “I thought you liked them!”

Jackie stood up with a chuckle, “Sure, for breakfast! But if we’re here to party and celebrate our single status… and we want to cheer Debby downer here up… we need shots!”

“I don’t know,” Casey started. “I have a morning shift and….”

“Silence!” Jackie ordered with a wave of her hand. “We’re getting shots, and we’re going to have a good time.”  She had barely taken a step away from the booth when her face fell. Sienna was supposed to be out with Mark, but instead, she was heading their way. Knowing her challenge was now greater, she muttered, “even more shots” to herself.   

When Jackie returned to the table, with double shots for all and orders issued to Reggie to send more as soon as they were through, Sienna was doing her best to remain her perky self, even as she explained how her boyfriend stood her up… again… on Valentine’s Day.

“…. so when he got to the T, they said service was suspended, so I can’t really blame him for going home….”

“Yes, you can,” Jackie insisted. “It’s called an Uber, Sienna. Or a cab. If a man wants to get to you, he will, and if he’s not making you a priority, you need to stop allowing him to be one of yours.”

Casey saw Sienna trying to hide her pained expression when she looked Jackie’s way. While she hated seeing her friend hurt, she’d be lying if she said she didn’t welcome the distraction from her own problems. Besides, if Sienna could solider through when her long-time boyfriend was an utter asshole, Casey could surely put her silly pining aside to enjoy a night with her friends. Clearing her throat loudly, she drew attention her way.

“I think what Jackie was trying to say is that you deserve to be treated a lot better than that, today of all days. So now, we’ll see to it that you are.”  

Casey’s heart warmed when she saw Sienna smile genuinely, and suddenly, all she wanted to do was have fun herself.

“And that starts with me getting you a pleasant drink, not these thimbles of rubbing alcohol Jackie is pushing!”

“HEY!” Jackie yelled.

“What would you like, Si?”

“I would really like a Cosmo,” Sienna beamed to Jackie’s chagrin. When Bryce went to stand, Casey, placed her hand on his arm to stop him. “Nope, this round’s on me.”

~~~~

He didn’t notice when 9:00 had passed, not even 9:15. But with 9:30 approaching, his swagger wasn’t lost, but there was a slight burrow in his brow. He checked his phone… nothing. He went to call but stopped… he knew how hospitals were, and Lydia would reach out as soon as possible. He put the phone back in his pocket when it rang, a look of relief on his face, but it wasn’t who he expected.

He had known Audrey for years now… in every way. When the knockout redhead began her nursing career just shy of five years before, she was the talk of Kenmore. It was easy to see why, and Dr. Carrick wasn’t immune. Those curvy, long legs seemed to have no end, though he absolutely tried to imagine where they did. Her wavy auburn hair bounced with each step she took, and he would have noticed that… if he were looking at her hair. But, eventually, he did because it always hung low, covering one eye, sometimes two, requiring her to brush it away or pull it behind her ear when she looked at him. That’s when her sparkling turquoise eyes took over, casting as much of a spell on him as he did on her.

Yes, Audrey Kenner was a sight to be seen. Not long after meeting, they found themselves in a bar, not much different than this, where she made it painfully clear that she was his for the asking. And ask he did. An unused closet at the end of the hall was all that was needed for them to discover that they were… well-matched. Afterward, he was clear; he wasn’t looking for anything more, and she didn’t mind. That led to an on-and-off arrangement that spanned the next four years. Sometimes at his place, sometimes hers. When the urge was too great, an on-call room would do. She was more than a booty call, but not by much, and they put things on pause every time Audrey met someone who wanted more. 

He caught a glimpse of the clock… almost 10:00, so he sent a message to Lydia to see if she was all right. He started watching the Bruins game… not quite his plans for the evening… when melodious laughter caught his ear. He looked to the end of the bar and found the culprit. He couldn’t see her face, which was covered by her long, blonde hair, but Reggie’s smile made it clear she was someone who could captivate all. His eyes wandered from her red heels, over the curves of her legs and beyond…. Damn. Was all he could muster. If only he didn’t have a date… then his phone chimed; it was Lydia, and he was reminded he did. 

“I’m just going to be a little longer. I’m getting dressed now.”

Normally he’d be witty… telling her not to bother when their clothes wouldn’t stay on long anyway, but right now, he could only say OK. The unknown beauty walked away carrying a small tray of drinks. When she lost her footing and swayed, he felt himself rise to help her, only stopping when he saw a bright smile with far too much hair product jump up to help her. Her boyfriend? He thought. Of course, she was there with a boyfriend. No one like that would be alone tonight. But he was surprisingly pleased when he saw she didn’t sit next to him. Then, his phone went off again.

Tobias inhaled sharply. He knew what this meant. Whenever one of Audrey’s relationships ended, she called him, and the consolation sex was epic. Though she talked a good game, he knew how much she needed it to pull her through. Now, it was Valentine’s Day – she could fake bravado all she wanted, but he knew her too well. But he had a date… and even if he didn’t… when Audrey started seeing Nick, he swore they were done for good. Four years was too long. She said she was fine with things as they were between them, but he knew she wanted more with someone, so why not him? There was too much potential for things to get messy, and something told him Audrey was not someone he’d want to do messy with. 

Without permission, his eyes shifted to the back of the bar, where that laugh enticed him again. How the hell was he even hearing her? The place was packed… loud. He squinted to get a better view, and while he didn’t see her clearly, he saw enough to know she was gorgeous. Her blonde hair spilled around her as her head flipped back in laughter. He felt his breath hitch… perhaps, he didn’t want Lydia to show up tonight after all.

Tobias’s eyes shut tight. It didn’t even matter. He and Lydia were nothing more than a good time. Still… it didn’t do anyone’s ego good to be stood up… and ghosted… on Valentine’s Day. He went to call Lydia when the pretty blonde that was making him lightheaded strutted by him on her way to the bathroom. Their eyes met only for a moment, and he forgot his damn name when she smiled at him. She turned away quickly, with a flush of pink on her cheeks. Maybe he didn’t need to call…. Then his phone beeped again.

Valentine’s Day. Tobias Carrick hadn’t gone without getting laid on Valentine's Day since he was 17 years old, and he wasn’t about to let that eighteen-year streak come to an end. Audrey was a sure thing. Too much of a sure thing, and he promised himself there was no going back. Not this time.

Then there was that laughter again. He looked to the back, a bewildered smile on his face when he saw her sitting crisscrossed on the floor… a few others started sitting around her. She looked his way, and though it was too far to know, he swore she smiled at him again… but turned away just as quickly… what was going on?

His phone started buzzing again, and he looked to find two messages.

Before he could even answer, the DJ’s voice blared over the speakers.

“Happy Single’s Awareness day, folks! Come on, we know you’re not celebrating Valentine's Day if you’re hanging here tonight! So, in hopes of getting some of you… un-single… at least for the night. Let’s go back to middle school! We’re gonna play a game of spin the bottle! That’s right! I said to spin the bottle. You’ve got a couple of minutes to brush up, get some gum, maybe that ol’ Binaca blast… then get your butt on the floor if there’s someone you might want to kiss here tonight!”

Tobias reached into his pocket and put a breath mint in his mouth without realizing he was doing so. His phone vibrated again, reminding him he had only checked one message.

But he didn’t pay the text any mind. Instead, he turned back to the dancefloor where his eyes locked with Casey’s. He could feel his pulse rise, and his heart began to race. Stepping up, he buttoned his blazer jacket. He started to walk in the mystery woman’s direction when he felt a delicate hand on his shoulder, followed by an arm wrapping around his waist. He turned around to find Audrey staring up at him… a mix of desire, need, and sadness in her eyes.

“Hey, T….” she whispered with a tiny smile.

His head flung back in the beautiful blonde’s direction, then back to Audrey. He knew what he wanted to do… He and Audrey had never been more than sex, but the pull he felt in this stranger’s direction was overwhelming, and he wanted to understand why. But he couldn’t turn Audrey away. They were… sort of… friends. Right? And contrary to what many believed, he had a heart… even though that heart… and his eyes… were pulled back in another direction.

“Look at that, the bottle landed right on me,” bright smile and hair gel grinned. Then the guy crawled across the floor, causing the beauty to laugh hysterically until he pulled her into a kiss. Tobias knew it was unreasonable. In fact, it was insane, but he could feel anger rising in his cheeks. But it was just a game, right?

He felt like a voyeur watching the couple kiss, not breaking his gaze until their lips parted, and he felt a sense of relief in his chest…. until she pulled the dude back. Kissing him even more passionately as onlookers began to howl and cheer. Tobias felt like a fool. Clearly, they were a couple, and this connection he had been confident they both felt was apparently one-sided.

Audrey tugged at his jacket sleeve, and he turned back to her with a slight grin.

“Wanna go back to my place?”

A look of relief, mixed with gratitude, desperation, and unbridled lust, washed over Audrey’s face. 

“I thought you’d never ask!” She beamed. “Come on,” she smiled, taking his hand. “Where are you parked.”

“Right out front,” he mumbled, holding her close if only to peer at Casey over Audrey’s shoulder again.

He was doing the right thing. After all, an eighteen-year streak is an eighteen-year streak! Within the hour, he and Audrey would be doing things that would horrify most of the patrons at the bar… the idiots had no idea what they were missing. Still, as he and Audrey drifted to sleep in each other’s arms, his mind returned to Donahue’s once more. With a shake of his head, he turned off the light. He was being ridiculous. Besides, if there was anything there, they’d meet again… that’s how it worked. Right?

A/N 2: Casey and Bryce had a lot to drink, and after spinning the bottle, they ended up making out in a corner. But Momma Si was there, and she interrupted and took Casey home, knowing they'd both have regrets in the morning. But no, they didn't rekindle any friends-with-benefits arrangements. :)

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

[loosesodamarble]

Bringing in the New Year (300 Follower Special)

Hello and welcome to my 300 Follower Special~! 💖

Thank you to all my followers for checking out my blog and keeping up with my antics.

To celebrate, I'm gonna be writing up a storm for those who send in a request. The two event options available are: CC & Reader/OC/CC Scenarios, and OC Interactions.

The fandoms that I'm open to writing for during this event are: —Black Clover —Demon Slayer —My Hero Academia

And that's all. I... haven't been keeping up with JJK so I'm not confident about writing for the characters at the moment. And any other series that I am into, I'm not including.

Event Masterlist

..........

A Moment in Time (CC & Reader Scenarios)

Notes and Guidelines —There will be twenty (20) slots for this event option. —A prompt can be requested multiple times. —A character may be requested multiple times. —For reader scenarios, I will default to gender neutral unless otherwise requested. —I will aim to keep the scenarios between 500 and 1k words. —You can request fluff/general/angst/etc but I will likely lean towards fluff. —Regarding requesting a scenario with a specific OC, I ask that you include either a link to a profile or a basic rundown of the OC so I can get an understanding of them. —I will only write for one OC per individual. —If you make an OC request for A Moment in Time, you can still make a request for Intersecting Lives. —For romantic scenarios, I'm keeping it SFW. Please be mindful of that.

Non-romantic A1. “Were you just insulting me in your head?” “No…” A2. “If you don’t wake up, I’m going to pull a prank on you.” A3. “Have you ever (random action) before?” “(Yes/No).” “Funny, I got the exact opposite feeling about you.” A4. “When you ask ‘Do you mind?’ do you take ‘yes’ as a denial or approval of what you’re asking about?” “Before I answer that, why do you need to know?” A5. Taking all their past interactions up to that point into account, long story short: things would (not) be going in their favor that day. A6. “My normal confidence is gone! I may be a chess master but my opponent is a checkers master. And the game we’re playing is poker!” A7. They kept thinking and thinking, but they couldn’t come to a decision. They let out another sigh. A8. “I can’t help but notice there was a really awkward pause just now.” “No there wasn’t.” A9. “So… What kind of small talk would you prefer to break the silence?”

Platonic or Romantic (Please make sure to indicate whether you want the line used platonically [&] or romantically [x]. If I'm not given specification, I will opt for platonic.) B1. (Blank) was 99% sure—no 100% sure that they were doing it on purpose. B2. Looks like I’ll have to use my secret weapon: crocodile tears! In execution it’s more like puppy dog eyes, but still! B3. “If I tell you the real reason, can you promise you won’t be weirded out?” “Something tells me I’m gonna be weirded out regardless.” B4. “Can you quit pointing out my least favorite attributes? You’re ruining the touching moment.” B5. All the questions at the tip of their tongue disappeared. B6. Unexpected. Not unwanted, just unexpected. B7. They had summoned all their courage to say it, but the attempt ended in failure. Awkwardly, they averted their eyes.

Romantic C1. “They called me their partner! Hee hee! I’m so excited!” C2. Their pouty face was so unbearably adorable, (Blank) couldn’t help but swoon a little. C3. Once (Blank 1) lifted (Blank 2)’s head and placed it on their lap, they snapped back to reality. C4. “You’re so adorable.” “That’s not gonna work on me.” But on the inside, it was totally working. C5. “So, now that you’ve agreed to take me out on a date, what day are you available?” C6. “What are you laughing about?” “I’m just happy to hear that you love me.” C7. “You want to know why I kissed you? Because you’re special to me.” C8. “It’s easy to look your best for someone who loves you.” C9. “It would be selfish of me to want to be with you, right?”

.....

Intersecting Lives (OC Interactions)

Notes and Guidelines —There will be six (6) slots for this option. —Here are my OC Profiles in case anyone has forgotten my ocs./lh+j —I will only have an OC be interacted with once. First come, first serve. —One request per individual. —If you make an OC request for Intersecting Lives, you can still make an OC request for A Moment in Time. —Like with the scenarios, please provide info about an OC. —Crossovers are fair game (if you have Black Clover OC and are interested in one my Demon Slayer OCs, I know how to bs my way into a crossover). —If you want to collaborate for this, I ask that you be willing to communicate through Tumblr dms or Discord.

Possible Interactions (these aren't exact prompts, just ideas of how OCs can interact) —OCs meeting for the first time —OCs having a disagreement —OCs being in on a secret —OCs helping each other with a problem —OCs talking about family

[iminaloine]

A Tangent on Why Queer Family Matters to Me (pretty long)

One thing that really irritates the fuck out of me is when homophobes try to denounce same-sex parents under the guise of their kids needing a proper mother and father figure in their life. Now obviously I think that's complete horseshit. The funny thing is I didn't realise why it irritated me so much until earlier this year.

When I was younger I would question why I was so unbothered by the LGBTQ+ community despite coming from a country that actively reviles it and views it as a crime (Nigeria). Even figuring out that I was bi and nb didn't really feel like an 'aha!' moment. I literally just straight up got a crush on a girl in the middle of high school and spent a month reevaluating my entire being and just came out the other end like "huh. guess that's a thing now". It never felt like a big deal, because it never felt like it was "out of the ordinary" to be queer in the first place.

I only just realised early this year that it's because I was raised by two women; my mom and her childhood best friend platonically moved in together way before I was born. My dad dipped early, so I literally grew up in a household that was completely different from the heteronormative structure that a big chunk of society still views as the norm. And yeah, even though they're both the biggest cishets to have ever cishayed, they still raised me and my sibling well. Pretty fucking well, in fact. And in doing so they taught me that there is literally no concrete picture of 'family'. As long as you love the hell out of each other and stick together then you meet that criteria. That fact is something that will always be important to me. And it honestly boggles my mind that despite this pretty clear-cut concept, a lot of people still find it hard to grasp? Like I've gotten into so many arguments with people who think that this belief is the mic drop of the year, and like—it's really not??

And hearing about more people who were raised in homes that didn't make gender/sexuality out to be something that's set in stone (because it isn't) makes me feel really happy because like, YEAH! A person's identity 1. isn't something that they have to be sure of right off the bat, and it's okay (healthy, even) for parenting styles to support that, and 2. DOESN'T make your parents terrible people because they're depriving you of the father/mother you never had, or whatever. Like I understand that there are some levels of nuance to this argument but just. To anyone who has this opinion, I just want to stress this.

Dysfunctional families are not caused by same-sex parents. They are caused by dysfunctional parents and/or family members, irrespective of sexuality or gender identity.

Those two ideas can coexist, and even intersect! But one does not equal the other. And having the conventional idea of the nuclear family be basically mythologised by conservatives or homophobes (or both) just paints queer people as horrible parents for just existing, while upholding the idea that as long as a family has a mother and a father, they're Perfectly Splendid. Which is a pretty damaging narrative to hold on to. I know I'm definitely privileged to have the family I do because a lot of queer people don't, and that's why this whole thing makes me so mad. Because according to some, maybe a lot of people, my family isn't valid. It's other. It's wrong. And that's a really ignorant take.

But yeah, that's my way too long, extremely unstructured tangent that was probably just a rant but I needed to get it out of me. But hey, I'm barely an adult, my opinion on this topic probably doesn't even matter anyway, thank you

[purgemarchlockdown]

Haruka seems Very Nanami-esque to me. what if I killed an animal that you, my family member, held dearly. because I want you to just fucking look at me and care about me like you did when I was younger. I think he's also haunted by a sunlit garden, an extremely idealised version of the past where everything was fine and he and his mother were happy. which may be warped from the truth. I dunno how you would fit this in the prince/rose bride analysis but so much of Milgram seems very Utena to me and I'm so glad to have found people in the "milgram fan" and "utena fan" intersection

Oh hello! I'm glad its not just me who thought this! I swear these two works are surprisingly compatible.

As A Big Nanami Enjoyer (Nanami Kiryuu my beloved Nanami Kiryuu-) I can see where your coming from! However I'd like to point out that Nanami sort of exists in a weird area where Othori's rules and ideals haven't really sunk into her yet. She's the only duelists that fights after her rose breaks for one. The one who tends to question and poke at Othori's world.

The comedy of Nanami Kiryuu is also pretty important to her character, I talk about this with a friend. There's something really insidious about the Nanami Kiryuu comedy episodes, your Primed to find Nanami annoying and funny, to not take her seriously. With every Nanami Kiryuu Comedy Episode getting slowly and slowly less funny until it reaches Nanami's Egg, which is Funny but also a intricate character study into her and her feelings of growing up and abandonment.

This is really funny to say out of context but the Touga Homophobia Moment really sells it, what Touga says is so horrid but also you know Nanami is talking about the egg she laid. It's funny but you can't shake the awful feeling it gives, it's great I love it. Nanami's Egg is the Best Utena Episode.

(Maybe its character bias, but like...Amane is like Nanami to me-)

Good point on the Sunlight Garden...honestly I'd say Haruka is like...the image of Anthy that people in utena have in their heads...pitiful, weak, needs help. But like Anthy he's of course a bit more than that, and also he actively portrays himself like that to gain "love" and "attention"

[vespersposts]

Reap what you sow

Chapter 4 is where you try to convince a stubborn D to help you out following your way. Too bad you're not compatible at all, too bad you're impatient and he... Well, he's kinda taken aback.

Hope it's a good read!

Love,

Vesper.

"She's fine," you explain, glancing at the street lamps in the park beyond the intersection, "She just wanted to give me some time alone with you”. 

Your walk is running out, and the clock is ticking. In less than ten minutes you will be standing in front of the entrance to your apartment. 

Satsuki had been so good at making her need for a visit to the local pharmacy seem real; that even Tetsuya had had no objections when your foursome had split into two pairs at the previous traffic light. The big boy, however, was probably racking his brains to find out what Momoi needed. It amused you to think that his mind was rolling with a colourful spectacle; in which the serenity of period painkillers was contrasted with the sheer terror of a pregnancy test or, worse chance, the requirements for a couple's sexual activities.

Daiki huffs and scratches the back of his head, but doesn't answer. Then he stays still, making you stop walking at a random point. You see his gym bag swinging to the side, his big hands going into his pocket, and finally he starts to say something.

"Listen, you're pretty, but..." he mumbles, squeezing his shoulders.

"I'm pretty, but what?" you repeat, unable to resist the urge to nudge him. 

"I... I don't want to get involved in a story, a girlfriend... problems, in short.  But if you agree… We could... " and he pauses, because you can't help laughing. He looks at you with the face of someone who is ashamed of what he just put on the table.

"I don't want to sleep with you, dummy !" you exclaim in a hurry, trying to stop yourself from giggling, but the situation is so funny, and his face is so surprised, that it is an almost impossible task.

"So, what do you want?" he replies piqued, looking away from your smiling face.

"A friendly helping hand and a bowl of hot ramen, my treat! " you reply, pointing to the diner across the street, earning another frown.

"Come on, I'm starving!" you add, turning to look at him, watching the flow of cars, looking for the best moment to cross. You know he'll follow you, if only to make sure you don't reveal to his sweet Satsuki what he'd just suggested.

“You get on my nerves!" is the first thing he says to you, after he has spent the entire ten minutes at the table staring at you with contempt.

"Bear with me, at least I know how to choose a restaurant, and I am pretty, am I not?" you reply, enjoying the sight of the waitress placing a steaming bowl of fragrant goodness in front of you.

"Not sure anymore, the lights aren't doing you much good" he affirms, pausing as soon as he notices he has your attention "I wouldn't have accepted that thing anyway " he finishes, taking a bite at the noodles.

"Of course, you were only suggesting, or rather not suggesting!" you say wryly adding, for good measure, an ecstatic sigh as soon as you taste the dish.

"This is because … Honestly I don't give a damn " he retorts boredly. 

"All you give a damn for is Satsuki, everyone knows it" you nod "Everyone except her boyfriend and Kuri, obviously!" you conclude, resting your lips against the cold glass.

Then he really does see you.

You feel them, his blue eyes on your lips, on your face, you feel his stern gaze trying to defeat yours.

You know you're playing the whole game right now, so you try to be as spontaneous as possible, even though you know you're gambling on the reactions of someone you've known for an hour.

"Help me and I will help you " you offer, chopsticks in hand. "Let's make a good play to teach your stalker a lesson, and in the meantime you'll get the attention of the woman of your dreams. That sounds very convenient to me! " you finish and continue your meal, as if nothing had happened.

Daiki continues to stare at you, but there is no longer a hint of arrogance in his expression; it is almost tender to see how much a mere mention of Momoi can reveal his nature as a disappointed lover. His lips tighten in a grimace, and he twirls the noodles in the bowl before lifting them up, as if deep in who knows what unpleasant thoughts.

"Annoying girl got a lot of time and nothing to do, huh? " he replies without further ado and takes a noisy sip of his broth.

Such an idiot.

"At least I don't pine away. That's such a winning strategy, big boy " you retort, ruining all your good intentions.

"I'm not pining for her, I'm just being protective!" he tries to reason, getting angry when he notices you smirking at his words.

"Protective!" you sneer "You're just a phoney coward who doesn't have the guts to take responsibility. Tell me, how long do you think you can go on slobbering over Satsuki and then turn to her boyfriend to apologise? You're lucky that Tetsuya has the soul of a saint, any other boy wouldn't have had his composure. You are indeed one hell of a friend! " you say at the end, sticking your chopsticks into the bowl.

"Bloody psycho! " he snarls as he gets up from the table, almost dropping his chair, and stands in front of you for a few seconds, as if waiting for a reaction. 

That poor, innocent soul! 

He will find no upset or flushed face, no tears in your eyes, no pleas for him to stay. 

Screw him and his overbearing ego.

When the waitress worries, you smile and assure her that the unpleasant scene was due to an emergency, not the boy's nerve-wracking gesture.

As promised, you pay for your meal and, as the cool air touches your cheeks, you turn your back on him, ready to walk away without even saying goodnight, but then you hear his voice calling your name and adding "Sorry".

You let him catch up with you and made your way to the entrance of your building.

"Never mind, you said you found me irritating from the start, but I've only made it worse. I guess we're even " you replied, knowing that you would have to apologise in return. "We made each other's dinner a nightmare. But at least the ramen was good! " you conclude, smiling up at the sky filled with clouds.

"You really know how to choose restaurants” the boy agrees with an amused look.

"And I'm pretty too, you always miss the most important detail! " you point out, making him laugh heartily.

" Do you really need to hear that?" he asks, stopping in front of the crossroads that will separate you.

"No, not at all. I don't mind not being your type. In fact, I find it very nice that no one is your type, since your feelings for Satsuki run so deep. You certainly don't need me to get her attention, but that's exactly why you could have fun with other girls. You chose otherwise. I respect the way you want to protect your feelings and hers too" you confess to him as you pull out your house keys and prepare to say good night. 

"It's not really a choice, it's that I can't help it" he admits. "It would all be easier if I were an unemotional person with the truth in my pocket like you, but Satsuki… “ he huffs, looking away “Every time I try to move on, I end up right back where I was before, even more bitter than I was before. Does that make sense?" he concludes, watching you nod.

"You have to do what you feel, there's not much more to say. As you said, I'm blessed to be more of a vengeful person. Kuri has been giving me a hard time since primary school and she likes you. I just wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine. There is no romance or a loved one like Momoi involved. We came from different paths, so you're probably right, this whole idea is crap!" you explain, shrugging your shoulders and smiling.

"Well, that girl's a real pain" he nods, pulling out his mobile phone to open the contact book and placing it in your hands. "Give me a few days to think about it, ok? " he says, returning your smile, surprised at the name in the address book.

 "Are you serious?" he laughs and shakes his head.

"You can change it, you know my name " you simply point out.

"Nah, 'Pretty' sounds just as good to me. See you later, psycho pretty!" he grins, waves farewell and disappears around the corner.

You stand there for a few minutes, turning the house key in your hands, because you know there's something deeply wrong with flirting with someone you don't care about, just to hurt her. The cutesy scripts to get his attention, the unnecessary flirting, the emphasis on that fancy adjective. All those thoughts running through your head, all because you don't like him very much either, but once again Kuri has made up your mind for you. 

And now you are going along with it, like a good pet.

"What the hell am I doing?" you sigh as you open your door and call it a day.